#mind blowing ai tools

[digitalmarketingwithzuny]

Sell Smarter, Not Harder: Unleashing the Power of AI in Sales

In today's fast-paced, hyper-competitive business landscape, sales teams are under immense pressure to deliver results. Traditional sales methods, while effective in the past, may no longer suffice in the age of digital transformation. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) can make a significant difference. By leveraging AI-powered tools, sales teams can streamline their processes, improve customer engagement, and ultimately drive revenue growth.

Understanding AI in Sales

AI refers to the development of intelligent systems that can learn, reason, and act autonomously. In the context of sales, AI can be applied in various ways to enhance performance. Some of the key applications include:

Lead Generation and Scoring: AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets to identify potential customers and score them based on their likelihood to convert. This helps sales teams prioritize their efforts and focus on leads with the highest probability of closing deals. Personalized Sales Outreach: AI enables personalized communication by tailoring messages and offers to individual prospects. This improves customer engagement and increases the chances of conversion. Sales Forecasting and Analytics: AI-powered analytics tools can provide valuable insights into sales trends, performance metrics, and customer behavior. This information can be used to optimize sales strategies and make data-driven decisions. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Automation: AI can automate routine CRM tasks, such as data entry and lead nurturing, freeing up sales reps to focus on building relationships with customers. Benefits of AI in Sales

Implementing AI in sales can offer numerous benefits, including:

Increased Efficiency: AI can automate time-consuming tasks, allowing sales teams to focus on more strategic activities. Improved Lead Quality: AI can help identify high-quality leads, reducing wasted time and resources. Enhanced Customer Experience: Personalized communication and targeted offers can lead to a better customer experience. Data-Driven Decision Making: AI provides valuable insights into sales performance, enabling data-driven decision making. Boosted Revenue: By improving efficiency, lead quality, and customer engagement, AI can ultimately drive revenue growth. Implementing AI in Your Sales Strategy

Here are some steps to consider when implementing AI in your sales strategy:

Identify Your Needs: Assess your current sales processes and identify areas where AI can add value. Choose the Right Tools: Select AI-powered tools that align with your specific needs and budget. Train Your Team: Provide your sales team with the necessary training to effectively use AI tools. Start Small and Scale: Begin with a pilot project to test the benefits of AI and gradually expand its use as you see results. Conclusion

AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a reality that sales teams can leverage to gain a competitive advantage. By embracing AI-powered tools, sales teams can sell smarter, not harder, and achieve sustainable growth in today's challenging market.

[fakoa]

Top 10 Mind-Blowing AI Tools You Should Be Using Right Now

Introduction AI tools are advancing at a rapid pace, offering incredible capabilities that were once unimaginable. In this blog, we will explore the top 10 mind-blowing AI tools that are not only free but also compatible with mobile devices. From creating stunning videos to enhancing images, summarizing YouTube videos, generating logos, and much more, these AI tools are revolutionizing the way we…

[lifefactsstuff-blog]

Top 10 Mind Blowing Artificial Intelligence Tools (AI)

Top 10 Mind Blowing Artificial Intelligence Tools (AI) Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various industries by offering innovative tools that streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and improve user experiences. Here are the Top 10 Mind Blowing Artificial Intelligence Tools (AI) 1. Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT and virtual assistants…

[natures-uprise]

[txttletale]

Your discussions on AI art have been really interesting and changed my mind on it quite a bit, so thank you for that! I don’t think I’m interested in using it, but I feel much less threatened by it in the same way. That being said, I was wondering, how you felt about AI generated creative writing: not, like AI writing in the context of garbage listicles or academic essays, but like, people who generate short stories and then submit them to contests. Do you think it’s the same sort of situation as AI art? Do you think there’s a difference in ChatGPT vs mid journey? Legitimate curiosity here! I don’t quite have an opinion on this in the same way, and I’ve seen v little from folks about creative writing in particular vs generated academic essays/articles

i think that ai generated writing is also indisputably writing but it is mostly really really fucking awful writing for the same reason that most ai art is not good art -- that the large training sets and low 'temperature' of commercially available/mass market models mean that anything produced will be the most generic version of itself. i also think that narrative writing is very very poorly suited to LLM generation because it generally requires very basic internal logic which LLMs are famously bad at (i imagine you'd have similar problems trying to create something visual like a comic that requires consistent character or location design rather than the singular images that AI art is mostly used for). i think it's going to be a very long time before we see anything good long-form from an LLM, especially because it's just not a priority for the people making them.

ultimately though i think you could absolutely do some really cool stuff with AI generated text if you had a tighter training set and let it get a bit wild with it. i've really enjoyed a lot of AI writing for being funny, especially when it was being done with tools like botnik that involve more human curation but still have the ability to completely blindside you with choices -- i unironically think the botnik collegehumour sketch is funnier than anything human-written on the channel. & i think that means it could reliably be used, with similar levels of curation, to make some stuff that feels alien, or unsettling, or etheral, or horrifying, because those are somewhat adjacent to the surreal humour i think it excels at. i could absolutely see it being used in workflows -- one of my friends told me recently, essentially, "if i'm stuck with writer's block, i ask chatgpt what should happen next, it gives me a horrible idea, and i immediately think 'that's shit, and i can do much better' and start writing again" -- which is both very funny but i think presents a great use case as a 'rubber duck'.

but yea i think that if there's anything good to be found in AI-written fiction or poetry it's not going to come from chatGPT specifically, it's going to come from some locally hosted GPT model trained on a curated set of influences -- and will have to either be kind of incoherent or heavily curated into coherence.

that said the submission of AI-written stories to short story mags & such fucking blows -- not because it's "not writing" but because it's just bad writing that's very very easy to produce (as in, 'just tell chatGPT 'write a short story'-easy) -- which ofc isn't bad in and of itself but means that the already existing phenomenon of people cynically submitting awful garbage to literary mags that doesn't even meet the submission guidelines has been magnified immensely and editors are finding it hard to keep up. i think part of believing that generative writing and art are legitimate mediums is also believing they are and should be treated as though they are separate mediums -- i don't think that there's no skill in these disciplines (like, if someone managed to make writing with chatGPT that wasnt unreadably bad, i would be very fucking impressed!) but they're deeply different skills to the traditional artforms and so imo should be in general judged, presented, published etc. separately.

[ay-heart-collection]

Story writing: The Assassin Lesson

Greetings everyone. I am trying to get back some story ideas of heart back in my mind with AI support.

I understand that many people feel resistant to AI currently, but I think it could be a chance for some of my buried ideas digging back to light. I think it should be OK for make use of it for drafting and brainstorming. Wish you will accept it and like it.

-------------------------------------------------------

The Assassin Lesson

In a training site of an assassin group, the mentor lady of the group stood before her class of aspiring young assassins. The leather suit covered by hooded cloak outlined her beautiful body curves. Her piercing gaze surveyed the room, which cause the atmosphere become thick and heavy, but brought a hint of anticipation to the class.

As one of the master of assassin in the group, the lesson of the mentor lady was focusing on the fatal spots of the human body. Before she began her lesson, she brought a beautiful female with a slender figure to her students. She was a young thief captured in an incidental encounter during a mission. Her upper body had been stripped naked, with her wrists bound with tight restraints, stood at the front of the class. Her eyes wide with fear.

"Today, we shall delve into the skill of piercing the human heart."

The mentor lady began, her low and commanding tone sending shivers down the spines of her students. With a swift motion, she spread out a drawing of a human heart, its delicate form sketched meticulously on a piece of parchment.

Walking towards the captive, the mentor caressed the girl carefully, and made use of some simple drawing tool against her bare chest. Soon, a line art appeared between her petite but firm breasts, aligning it with the actual size and position of her ribcage and her heart beneath. The students leaned forward, their eyes fixated on the scene unfolding before them.

"Now, observe," the mentor said, her voice unwavering.

"The human heart was protected beneath the ribcage, nestled within the chest cavity. To truly strike a fatal blow, one must understand its position and structure."

She pointed to the various parts of the heart drawing on the captive, her finger tracing the major arteries and ventricles. The young thief’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath shallow and uneven. Which felt like the mentor’s finger directly touching her myocardium.

"The atria, the ventricles, the aorta," the mentor continued, her voice filled with an unsettling mix of knowledge and detached fascination. "Each component is vital to the heart's function, and each represents a potential fatal spot."

The young thief visibly trembled, her eyes darting around the room, searching for an escape that was not forthcoming.

"One wrong move, and the heart's delicate rhythm is disrupted," the mentor said, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "A swift and precise strike, however, can send the body into an irreversible state of shock."

At this point, the mentor paused, allowing her words to hang in the air, the weight of her lesson sinking in. The students exchanged glances, fully aware of the power they were being entrusted with.

"Now, my dear students," the mentor said, her voice rising with an unsettling intensity, "let me introduce the tools we mainly use for piercing the heart.”

The mentor's eyes gleamed with an aggressive pleasure as she revealed an array of common weapons used on the table with a quick motion. As she began explaining each weapon in meticulous detail, the captured girl's terror was palpable, her eyes widening in fear as she gazed upon the deadly tools before her. Feeling as if these sharp edges had already torn her horrified heart.

"First, we have the thin, needle-like stiletto blade," the mentor said, her voice dripping with a chilling enthusiasm. "Its slender form allows for precise entry, slipping between the ribs without causing unnecessary damage."

As she spoke, the mentor demonstrated the correct posture for piercing, gently pressing the stiletto against the girl's exposed skin, mirroring the intended action. The girl's heart beat erratically, a visible thumping against her left breast. She shivered, her body tensing involuntarily at the sensation, a cold sweat forming on her forehead.

"Next, we have the wickedly serrated dagger," the mentor continued, her voice filled with a sinister delight. "Its jagged edges can tear through flesh and bone, ensuring a quick and devastating stab."

With a swift motion, the mentor mimicked the piercing action on the girl's skin, her hand moving in a delicate manner. The young thief let out a stifled gasp, her heart pounding even harder in her chest, as if resisting the impending violence. Beads of crimson blood welled up where the blade had made contact, as a testament to the sharpness of the weapon and the fragility of human flesh.

The mentor's eyes narrowed, relishing in the power that played out before her. She continued her lesson, each weapon explained and demonstrated with excellent precision.

"Now, behold the slender yet deadly rapier," the mentor said, her voice taking on a haunting resonance. "Its long, piercing blade can navigate the narrowest of spaces, reaching the heart with deadly accuracy."

The mentor positioned the rapier against the girl's skin, her hand poised to demonstrate the thrusting motion. The captive's breathing grew shallow, her body trembling uncontrollably under the weight of her fear. As the mentor made a swift but soft thrust, the young heart skipped a beat, as if mirroring the terror coursing through her veins.

As the mentor moved through the remaining weapons, the captured girl's terror only intensified. The mentor's explanations were accompanied by demonstrations on the girl's soft skin, each movement were calculated and precise. The pain and fear etched on the captive's face mirrored the darkness hidden within the mentor's own soul.

"In the next section," the mentor lady paused a second, staring at the captive. "We are to demonstrate the precise locations where the weapons should enter the body, piercing the heart." The terrified thief stood frozen, her eyes wide with fear, as the mentor approached her with a gaze of dominance.

"Pay close attention, my dear students," the mentor commanded, her voice laced with an eerie calmness. "As we delved before, the human heart was well protected within the chest cavity. To penetrate the heart efficiently, we must aim for specific entry points. Allow me to explain."

The mentor positioned herself behind the captive, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders, as if guiding her through the macabre lesson. The captive's body trembled beneath the mentor's touch, her breath was quick and shallow.

"First," the mentor began, her voice resonating with authority, "We have the area between the 3rd and 4th rib, near the sternum. This position allows for a quick and efficient stab, aiming directly at the center of the heart's chambers."

With precise movements, the mentor's hand mimicked the action of a weapon, her fingers hovering just above the inner side of the captive's left breast, indicating the location. The captive flinched, a shiver coursing through her body, as if she could feel the cold steel of an imaginary blade piercing her flesh.

"Next," the mentor continued, her voice low and steady, "we have the space between the 4th and 5th rib, commonly known as the apex of the heart. Representing the tip of the left and right ventricles. Striking here can disrupt the heart's rhythm and lead to swift incapacitation," the mentor paused a bit, "And this is actually my favorite piercing spot."

The mentor's hand shifted slightly lower, held tightly under the left breast of the young thief. Her heart raced in response, the rumbling apex hammering against the palm of the mentor. She bit her trembling lip, her eyes darting nervously between the assassin students and the weapons displayed on the table.

"Moving on," the mentor said, her tone filled with a chilling precision, "we have the area below the xiphoid, right below the heart. Here is the blind spot of the ribcage coverage. A well-placed strike here can cause severe damage from the bottom of right ventricle."

The mentor's hand descended further, hovering just above the captive's abdomen, her fingers poised as if preparing to strike. The captive's breath hitched, her body tensing as if bracing for impact. The room seemed to grow colder as she saw the focused eyes of the assassin students.

"And finally," the mentor concluded, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper, "We have the area over the clavicle. This position allows us to bypass most of the chest armor and ribcage, to penetrate the atria and aorta directly, provided the weapon is long enough."

The mentor's hand moved to the captive's collarbone area, caressed the pulsating veins underneath. The captive's eyes widened, a mix of terror and realization reflecting in their depths. The mentor's teachings had painted a dark path ahead, one that demanded a cold and calculated approach for her fellows students.

"And NEXT..." the mentor scanned the room, her eyes flickering with amusement.

"Is the time for PRACTICE."

Hearing this, the captured girl’s heart sank to the bottom of abyss. She knew that her doom was imminent. Her heart raced uncontrollably, pounding against her chest as if desperately trying to escape its impending fate.

The mentor asked her students if any of them would like to recommend themselves for the upcoming practice session. Excitement filled the air as most of the girls eagerly raised their hands, their faces lit up with anticipation.

With a sinister smile, the mentor selected a student from the eager faces. The chosen student stepped forward, took down her hood, her eyes shined with expectations and determination. The mentor allowed the student to have her pick of weapon and piercing spot, relishing in the power dynamics that played out before her.

The student's gaze lingered over the arsenal of deadly tools, selecting a weapon with a menacing aura. She ran her fingers along the blade, savoring the anticipation that filled the room. With a wicked grin, she turned to face the captive girl, her voice dripping with delight.

"I choose the serrated dagger," the student declared, her voice tinged with a chilling excitement. "And I want to strike at the apex of her heart, just like the mentor I admire."

The captive girl's eyes widened in terror, her breath catching in her throat. The mentor's own smile widened, seeing the fear etched across the captive's face. She nodded approvingly, allowing the student to proceed with her choice.

The student approached the captive girl, her movements deliberate and calculated. The air grew heavy with tension as the serrated dagger glinted ominously in her hand. The captive girl's heart was beating in an insane rhythm, facing the incoming intent to kill with full of fear and despair.

As the student positioned herself, the mentor watched intently. Her eyes glimmering with a twisted joyous. The student's hand trembled with anticipation, staring at the throbbing point below the left breast of the shivering young thief. Her blade poised to strike. The captive girl's body tensed, her eyes locked on the weapon that would soon pierce her vulnerable flesh.

"Don’t blame me." whispered by the young assassin.

In one swift and merciless motion, the student thrust the serrated dagger right between the 4th and 5th rib, torn the captive girl's heart from the apex. The room seemed to freeze in that moment, the sound of the blade piercing flesh echoing through the air.

The captive girl let out a choked gasp, her eyes widened with agony. Her body kneeled down, convulsing with the searing pain that seeped through her being.

"Come, my dear," the mentor held up the young thief, and let the outstanding student to listen to her last heaving chest. "Remember this faltering heart sound, representing our power, and the fragile of life." Her desperate heartbeat, staggered with the spurting sound of blood, echoed in the mind of the student.

Her heart, the very core of her existence, reacted with a final surge of desperation. It beat wildly, as if fighting against the intrusion, a futile attempt to cling to life. But the cruel reality of the situation prevailed, and with each weakening beat, the girl's life force slipped away.

The mentor watched with a twisted satisfaction as the young thief's body slumped, lifeless and still. The room fell into an eerie silence. The mentor's eyes gleamed with a sense of accomplishment, reveling in the darkness that had unraveled within her students.

"Observe, my dear fellow students," wiped the stains on her student’s cheek, she declare to everyone with determination. "This is what we have, the power deciding life and death. But remember, the fleeting nature of life binds us all. We have to be skilled to avoid becoming the next fallen heart."

The End

[berry-s0da]

AI “art”

Yesterday I argued with an idiot that thought giving directives to an AI makes you as much of an artist as someone that is actually capable of creating art. It’s extremely worrying that our youth is so incapable of understanding this topic, too self absorbed on their own rigid conception of reality and utterly detached from the real world and the importance of the people you share it with, of consequences, of tangibility. They don’t know how to define art, such a core concept for our species, they are unaware that it’s an exclusively human practice a machine cannot produce by itself or for them.

Some of Oxford Language Learner's Dictionary definitions if you want tangible sources for something that has existed for longer than any piece of technology;

Definition of an Artist: a person who creates works of art, especially paintings or drawings.

3 definitions of Art:

1) the use of the imagination to express ideas or feelings, particularly in painting, drawing or sculpture.

2) the skill of creating objects such as paintings and drawings, especially when you study it.

3) an ability or a skill that you can develop with training and practice.

(defining a piece through words could turn into literature, writing is an outlet for creativity and imagination too, the problem is that they want to claim a graphic piece they had no part on as their creation…which makes no sense for obvious reasons. This might blow your mind but you actually have to be involved in the making of a piece in order for it to be an artist. Writing a brief description of what you want the AI to make for you is not a form of creation, it’s a directive for a machine to do what you can’t)

If you don’t have mental resources, talent, skills, capacity of handling different tools, mediums and techniques then you are not an artist (and that’s okay), but you could be if you tried. Writing a prompt is not making art, everyone with enough mental capacity can come up with a concept for a piece, people that commission artists do that and that doesn’t automatically make them artists.

An AI won’t do shit the way you request it even if you say it does. An AI makes an interpretation of the request but asides from mild guidance, you have absolutely nothing to do with the process or the final “piece” (Frankenstein monster of already existing pieces, taken with or without consent).

An AI without regulation isn’t a new medium or something comparable to the fucking Industrial Revolutionjust, specially considering it isn’t a new, easier way to do the same task (like with an art software). It’s but a shameless way of reusing or straight up stealing pieces produced by the same artists you deem to be now useless and outdated. What you call the future is nothing but plagiarism, the usage of things that already existed in a much higher quality, a wonky replica that is only valued because it’s free for your cheap ass.

“Good artists have nothing to worry about, only shitty artists will disappear” im sorry you have to find out this way but every good artist had to be shit first. We reached a point where we are unaware of periods of time any artist needs in order to grow and develop. This logic is baffling because if only good artists are worth of being respected and having stable jobs then we’ll eventually run out of artists, which is not only silly but impossible. This is but an excuse to avoid the obvious issue that represents stepping over people and making it seem as a fair, natural process.

Finally, If you wanna draw, learn to draw first, nobody stops you but yourself. If you wanna paint learn to paint, if you wanna sculpt, learn to sculpt, if you wanna be an artist then get your ass to work. Not everything is laid out for you in life, you actually have to put work into something, as shocking as it sounds. There are people that draw masterpieces holding pencils on their mouths, you have no excuse other than self pity for being useless, being jealous of those that can actually make things and, ultimately, the unreserved, unapologetic disinterest in those affected by this monster y’all wanna have fun with.

[tangibletechnomancy]

What truly blows my mind is how many business types trying to abuse AI fundamentally don't understand how it works, or at least are banking on other people not understanding it and not even getting slightly curious.

Namely, that it can ABSOLUTELY let one random creative make a larger professional-scale production than they could by conventional means, without a production company - but it very much CAN'T let a production company create new Products with no human creative input.

The entire point is that it expands on human-input ideas. Contrary to what Black Mirror would have us think, it can't algorithmically predict what shows will sell and produce those shows - if anyone tried, the result would be the most boring, samey bullshit you could imagine, and absolutely riddled with nonsense and inconsistencies without heavy editing. Indeed, things that are AI-generated with minimal human input tend to be...bad. I see so many people point this out to hate on the entire concept of AI, to which my response is, so you agree? Making things actually GOOD with AI requires a type of skill?

But use it as a tool to bring something from your own human brain to life, and suddenly you're not limited by things like the need to spend years and years practicing 10 new skills that you appreciate but have no interest in learning yourself except for this one project, have working hands, spend tons of money that most people don't have, or figure out how to turn every hour of your time into the equivalent of 10 man-hours if you want to finish your project to your standards within 10 years.

I look forward to the day that Midjourney Default Style and the like is seen as a cheap-out in large studio productions but endearing indie-jank in single-creator ones.

[thessalian]

Thess vs Performance Review 2024

Well, performance review finally happened. Not that I was particularly stressed about it - honestly, I don't have the energy for that shit. I know damn well they can't afford to lose me, and that must translate to a good performance review, right? I mean, surely they know as well as I do how much they can't afford to have me not doing even the hours I currently do.

...I had no idea quite how much they understood that. Not even last year's apparent triumph.

Before the review even got underway, it was, "Oh, hey, did you ever hear back about that monitor you asked about?" When my response was, "Nooooooo and I did ask again back in July, and I also noticed it's been giving me headaches that sometimes spark migraines", Scruffman was very much on it. As an aside - just to have it on record, as we were talking about equipment - I mentioned that I'd figured out why I kept having the electronic patient record system crash on me. It's not the server that's lacking memory - it's this very old i5-running POS laptop. I checked out Task Manager earlier, and it turns out that that fucking machine is quite often hitting 100% CPU and RAM capacity. Like, regularly. I mean, it's hardly a surprise, when you think about it - Windows is now rolling out some of its AI features onto Win10 machines, which is a resource hog right there on top of Win10's usual bloat, plus the various security features that have to be running on a machine handling patient data. But that old Dell just can't handle that shit without horking occasionally, in the same way you shouldn't feed very small children whole grapes - you have to cut them in half first.

Anyway, Scruffman was very much, "Oh, okay, we should be proactive about this because we want you to have all the tools you need." I was ... a little stunned, but said I'd email him a summary of our conversation about my current equipment so he could escalate it to Head Honcho. He was, again, very jazzed about this. I swallowed my surprised blink as best I could, and on we went.

Honestly, I wasn't surprised for long, because we got right into the "core values" section, which ranks a bunch of workplace stuff from Needs Improvement to Exceeds Expectations. I actually put "Exceeds Expectations" on a few more things this year than I did last year, and Scruffman told me it still wasn't enough. We had the same conversation where I explained that I just have very high expectations of myself. But he said something different this year. This year, he said, "Yeah, just I really want to make sure you get the maximum possible money because we really love having you and would really hate to lose you".

So ... I ... can apparently expect a raise?!? For some reason, this blows me entirely away. There's not a lot of that about these days. But ... I mean, hey, if he thinks I've earned ALL THE RAISE, I'm not going to argue with him.

Anyway, upshot was that I am apparently magnificent. Which ... I guess. I do my job to the best of my abilities and this is somehow some kind of miracle. Then again, given...

Yeah, there was a conversation about the others too. My dedication to prioritising workload properly (urgent cases, then chronologically) was lauded, and I did point out the cherry-picking going on. (Seriously, it only takes a look at the archives to see it. We're still on yesterday's long-ass bullshit and New Girl was grabbing the short-and-easys from today before yesterday's typing was finished. I can't blame Temp for this one because she wasn't in today, but I figure she does similar.) Let's just say that Scruffman was not pleased. He very seldom gets grim and determined-looking, but I guess given today's performance review, there was a feel of, "Okay, we're going to have to actually do something about this shit because this is the one thing that my star secretary complains about and it probably needs to stop". I can't expect him to stop it completely, mind - he'd have to be hovering over their shoulder at all times - but the fact that he's going to have a word at all is saying something.

Not that that helped at the end of today, or anything. By the time my performance review meeting was finished, my forms signed off by both parties, and my overworked ass was sitting back down ... well. There was almost nothing in the queue that didn't top five minutes. The first three on the list were 9, 6, and 20 minutes respectively. (Yeah, you read right - twenty fucking minutes. Of course it was Breast Guy.) Now, my meeting was in the afternoon, I still had some mid-length but persnickety stuff in my queue, there was a five-minute urgent case that no one wanted to touch, and I hoped that someone would pick up at least one or two of the longer ones by the time I was done. Just so that it wouldn't all be sitting there for the duration. Nope. New Girl picked up a thirty-second one from this morning at about 4pm and was gone after that. (I still don't know what hours she works, but I have a feeling it's not as many as her contract states...). Goblin tried, but ... nope. I did the nine and six minute ones, which took a half-hour between them because they were from one of our worst word salad individuals. I could obviously make it make sense - that's my job - but it takes time. So ... well, that twenty minute long Breast Guy monstrosity is someone else's problem.

Thing is ... there's a reason I try not to do long dictations at the end of the day. It's because by then, I'm tired and usually having pain flares. Today's no different, but I had to vent a bit. And maybe brag a tiny bit.

Anyway, happy Halloween / Veilguard day! I'm pondering treating myself to takeaway. I did good. (And also I hurt a lot and not-cooking feels like a thing.)

[jellycreamjammedart]

Lost and Found (Super)Stars

PT. 3 (index/parts) (Tag: desktop/mobile)

FNAF Security Breach Ruin, post-"betrayal" elevator ending hurt/comfort, Found Family, something I like to call "Hopeful Horror"

Summary: Having had her kindness stomped on then spat back at her, betrayed by who she thought was her friend, and now stuck at the ruined remains of Freddy Fazbear's Mega PizzaPlex, Cassie tries to find the slightest bit of meaning and worth in all of this.

Everything was foggy at the seams, colors blurring together, but Cassie could make out a birthday cake before her (carrot cake, her favorite,) with a familiar wolf and bear as they both sung her a birthday song, a boy clapping along to the tune. She can feel her own face beaming with a wide smile before she blows the candles on the cake, somehow blowing everything and everyone around her as if everything was smoke of several colors, the singing fading away.

-

Cassie opens her eyes and blinks, looking up to see Roxy looking down at her with what she could imagine was a worried expression if she still had her facial features. She could feel the wolf's hand on her back, likely to stop her from being flat on the floor. "Huh... what happened?" She asks, bringing a hand to rub her eyes with her thumb and index.

Roxy's ears gave a light twitch, glad to hear the girl's voice. "It looks like you suffered a dizzy spell. From hitting your head in that elevator, I assume." It wouldn't be a stretch, given Cassie clearly had blood trickling down her head every now and then.

"Dizzy spell?" Cassie parroted, trying to sit herself more upright. "How long?"

"Not long. Around two minutes." Roxy, being a robot, could be sharply precise at counting time, but rounding it up seemed far more useful. "How are you feeling now?"

Cassie, took her hand away from her face, blinking her eyes a few times as she contemplates Roxy's concern. "... better. I think the dizziness passed." She looks down, seeing the V.A.N.N.I mask resting on her lap. Wordlessly, she puts it back on, immediately getting greeted by not only Helpi, but M.X.E.S as well, as the two digital beings look down at her along with Roxy.

"Oh, hey! You're finally awake!" Helpi exclaims, his blue eyes twinkling in relief and joy. "You had us worried there!" He glances back at the cybernetic rabbit. "Isn't that right?"

M.X.E.S rolls its eyes, crossing its arms as it glanced away. It didn't refute Helpi, however.

Helpi just chuckles slightly, winking at Cassie. "Don't mind them! They just need to get used to sharing the V.A.N.N.I system with me!"

Cassie blinks at the little bear. Sharing the V.A.N.N.I system? Helpi seemed to sense her inquisition. "When you configured the mask into a security node for them, it allowed them integration into the V.A.N.N.I system, just like me!" He paused to give Cassie a bemused smile. "It sure is something I've never considered possible, or considered at all! No one thought of this before. But perhaps it is good that you did." Helpi goes a little more serious, despite his adorable looks. "... their integration into the system appears to have expelled something else from the system." From serious, the tiny bear also expresses remorse, his smile fading a little. "... if I ever said or did anything that misled you and contributed to your plight, I am terribly sorry. That... might not have been truly me."

For an AI programmed to be just a work tool full of that soulless corporate talk, Helpi really does look like he feels guilty for unwittingly setting Cassie up, even though it's likely that he either didn't notice something was wrong or had no say in it. With M.X.E.S integrated into the V.A.N.N.I system, it seems the rabbit turned into an extra protection for the system including Helpi's AI. "I don't remember those moments really, though; it seems that in the process of securing my AI from further interception, my memories from those moments got corrupt. They might be repairable, but I don't see it happening anytime soon."

Well, bummer, if he could remember, he could pinpoint exactly when that thing intervened to lie to Cassie, but perhaps it's the price to pay for a more secure system thanks to M.X.E.S. The rabbit was single-handedly keeping both their minds safer.

Helpi shakes his head at himself, trying to switch back to his more peppy self. "But enough feeling bad! We have work to do, and you've proved to be cut for the job with your thinking outside the box! You'd make an excellent Faz-technician, if you were old enough Fazbear Entertainment would hire you on the spot!" Okay, that's a bit of the corporate talk junk, but beggars can't be choosers.

But either way Helpi was right: they have work to do.

"Think you can stand up?" Roxy asks cautiously as she felt Cassie stirring, keeping her hand on the child's back just in case. The girl lets out a positive hum in response.

"Yeah, I don't feel dizzy anymore."

"Good!"

But Cassie was careful anyways as she stood up to her feet. She looks from Roxy in her holographically reconstructed self, to Helpi, then to M.X.E.S, before briefly glancing to the bunny's server now up and running okay... then to that Glamrock Freddy backpack close to a collapsed vent. She picks it up in her hands, staring down at it. "It is Gregory's."

The name prompts a very low growl from Roxy somewhere behind Cassie but she doesn't say anything. She stares rather intently at the little nametag close to the bottom of the backpack, before her gaze shifted to what looked like muddy smudges from the vent. "I'm pretty sure this is his, too." She pulls out the Freddy-talk from her pocket, which she had collected from the other room before Roxy saved them both from being flattened by a boulder. The same Freddy-talk that thing used to lure her in.

Her grip on the cute little device tightened, her hand shaking slightly with a feeling of bitterness.

It's Gregory's fault that all this happened in the first place.

He was so careless in not only leaving his Freddy-talk behind but also his entire backpack. This carelessness was what gave that old thing an opening to reach her.

Why does Gregory get to commit such mistake and get away with it, but she has to be punished not only for hers but his as well? Why does she have to pay for what was his slip-up so that he can wash his hands at her expense!?

It's not fair.

The longer Cassie stared at the nametag, the more it was as if she was looking at the most insulting word in the entire vocabulary. "He was never my friend." She mutters out bitterly.

She would've thrown the Freddy-talk to the floor in frustration, but couldn't bring herself to do it due to Glamrock Freddy's image. Instead she tucks it back into her pocket to free her hand, then she tugs the tip of Gregory's nametag with her nail until she can pull it, ripping the adhesive off the backpack like a nasty bandaid. She crumples the little tape into a fist and tosses it away, before glancing back at the other three. "Finders keepers."

That seems to amuse Roxy, who barely suppresses a snort. "Hah! It's just too bad it's not a backpack with my face." She says mostly jokingly. But otherwise pays it no mind; Truth be told, she does miss the bookish bear, along with all the good times of the PizzaPlex. "Either way, that will sure come in handy. You're risking losing things from those tiny pockets of yours." Seriously, why are pockets in female clothes borderline unusable?

Cassie opens the backpack, and proceeds to tuck in both the Freddy and Roxy-talkies, then her Faz-Wrench and flashlight, as well as anything else she may have found along the way, then things she had shoved at the bottom of her pockets, which turned out to be a little bunch of cereal bars; Hey, she had prepared a little for what she thought would be a straightforward rescue mission!

Roxy's ears perk up at the sight of the treats; Those kinds of snacks might be the only things in the PizzaPlex that are still safe for human consumption... if they find any more of it. That's something the wolf keeps in the backburner; Cassie certainly will need to eat at some point, being human and all.

"So," Cassie turns to fully face Roxy, as well as Helpi and M.X.E.S, tucking her arms through the backpack's straps to carry it on her back. "- are we ready for that race, after all?"

Roxy's torn up chest emulates a puff forward in pride towards her twice number 1's initiative. "I thought you'd never ask." She gathers Cassie up into her arms then onto her back. "Hang in there, it's a bit of a bump road ahead!" She heeds, leaving the basement room through the hole back into the earth tunnels up which led back to the remains of the old pizzeria. Cassie had to slide the mask up off her face since that area was out of the V.A.N.N.I network zone, but she knew Helpi and M.X.E.S weren't far off.

To Be Continued...

[elderscrollsconceptart]

totally agree with you on AI. it makes me so sad how pervasive it is… i work in a library and literal librarians are fine with using it for work and it just blows my mind. why not just hire a real person who can actually do it! sighs

I don't work in the library field but yeah, I've heard a similar situation from a former library studies professor.

Apparently they're incorporating AI into more and more toolsets for the universities library and archival projects.

It wouldn't be so bad as *just* a tool for an archivist, but the kicker is when I was there they didn't even have a dedicated archivist for the department!

Their proper archivist had retired years ago and they pulled in someone from another department to semi keep after their archival stuff in the interim.

Now even that person is like a year from retirement and no word on if they'll even get a replacement. "AI will fill the gaps" seems to be the basic message from university admin.

I guess all our researchers and grad students will just have to make do with an AI instead of a real archivist who could provide vastly more nuanced and meaningful assistance than a shitty AI toolset.

[tinygmusic]

Big Ocean, K-Pop’s First Hard-of-Hearing Act, Announces Debut Mini Album, "Follow"

Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | November 12, 2024

Big Ocean, K-Pop’s trailblazing hard-of-hearing boy band, is set to make waves in the music world with the release of their highly anticipated debut Mini Album, Follow, out now.

Featuring previously released digital singles “Glow,” “BLOW,” and “SLOW,” the Mini Album introduces a brand-new track titled “FLOW,” produced by Grammy-winning producer Mark Batson (Eminem, Beyoncé, Nas, Alicia Keys). Follow showcases Big Ocean's innovative approach to overcoming hearing challenges, blending rap and AI tools to create an unforgettable musical experience.

This exciting release follows Big Ocean's recognition as Billboard's K-Pop Rookie of the Month for September 2024, solidifying their growing influence in the global K-pop scene. Big Ocean will be in New York City from November 11th-13th to promote the release of Follow, before heading to the Cayman Islands for a performance at Cool Out 2024. Since their debut on April 20, 2024, a date chosen to coincide with South Korea’s Day of People with Disabilities, Big Ocean has been shattering industry norms bringing awareness to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community through their music; all while garnering an impressive 1.6 million followers across social media within just four months.

With this Mini Album, Big Ocean is debuting the genre Free-soul POP, which they define as a sound that celebrates the joy and fulfillment of self-acceptance through music. Follow reflects this philosophy, persuading listeners to build self-confidence regardless of life’s challenges. The focus track “FLOW” takes centre stage, offering a melodic and smooth experience that mimics the natural ease of falling in love, much like the flow of water. “We were so excited to collaborate with Mark Batson, a legendary producer who has shaped countless genres,” shares Big Ocean. “Our partnership began even before our debut, and FLOW was crafted just for us. Mark understood the nuances we needed, from easy-to-follow rap for non-English speakers to the powerful beats that resonate with our hearing abilities. It’s truly mind-blowing to release this song after months of hard work. We’re honoured to be the first K-Pop artists to work with him.”

“FLOW’s” music video adds another layer of depth, showcasing a powerful performance by Big Ocean alongside nearly one hundred participants. Filmed in Paris, the video was shot at the iconic National Institute of Deaf Youth, the world’s first institute for Deaf students, founded in the 1750s. This historic backdrop amplifies Big Ocean’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as their unique identity as hard-of-hearing artists in the K-Pop landscape.

“Unlike other K-Pop idols who debut with full physical albums, we took a different path with consecutive digital singles. Thanks to our fans, we can finally release a physical album. We are over the moon and can’t wait for our PADOs to enjoy Follow!” adds Big Ocean. “We’re especially excited to celebrate our release in New York with our U.S. PADOs!” Follow is more than just a musical project for Big Ocean—it’s a movement, redefining K-Pop’s landscape and advocating for inclusivity and self-empowerment.

Mark Batson commented on “FLOW”; “It is a great honour to work on such an important piece of music during this milestone in human creativity. When I first heard about the project I was amazed at the talent of Big Ocean's performances and what they were able to accomplish. This is my first time working with Korean K-Pop artists, and to combine the use of digital technology with this amazing group has been a once in a lifetime experience, which dictates to me a future in which anything is possible for all of humanity.”

The group’s ground breaking use of technology—such as vibrating smartwatches that serve as metronomes and flashing lights for rhythmic counting—allows them to synchronise their choreography and performances despite hearing challenges. These innovations, combined with their talent, have earned them praise from industry heavyweights and recognition from the President of Korea. Big Ocean’s story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of breaking barriers.

About Big Ocean

Big Ocean is K-Pop's first all-hard-of-hearing boy band under Parastar Entertainment, breaking boundaries with their unique blend of music and advocacy for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. With powerful support from global organisations and the music industry, Big Ocean is reshaping the K-Pop scene, inspiring fans worldwide.

Big Ocean’s journey is as inspiring as their music. The group, composed of Hyunjin, Jiseok, and Chanyeon, embraces the symbolism of the ocean—a place of both comfort and potential. Just as divers use hand signals underwater to communicate, Big Ocean uses music to express themselves in a world that often isn’t designed for the hard of hearing. Each member brings a unique background to the group, defying the odds and stereotypes associated with hearing disabilities.

Hyunjin lost hearing in his left ear after a childhood accident and found solace in music after cochlear surgery, becoming a YouTube creator and advocate for the hard-of-hearing community. Chanyeon, the group’s main rapper, underwent cochlear implant surgery and discovered his passion for music through therapy, which he now channels into his performances. Jiseok, born hard of hearing, pursued professional alpine skiing before turning his attention to K-pop, driven by his love for dance.

Big Ocean's impact extends beyond the K-pop industry, with social collaborations alongside SEVENTEEN, RIIZE, ITZY, and even Young K of DAY6, featured on their most recent single "SLOW." Their partnerships with global organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) have further cemented their status as trailblazers advocating for inclusivity.

Keep up with Big Ocean

Instagram

X (Twitter)

Facebook

TikTok

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Music

Amazon Music

DEEZER

genie

Melon

TIDAL

qobuz

iTunes Store

YouTube Music

[macmanx]

Watching this summary of the AI segment from the WWDC keynote, it struck me how Apple positioned the generative text features as highly useful for any setting, even a professional business setting, but specifically labeled the generative art features as a “playground” for use when messaging friends or spicing up your own personal notes.

It feels like they’re aware of the controversy of generative art and are just talking around it.

As for myself, the new Siri is mind blowing, and I'll be using it a lot. I can also see myself using some of the generative text features, like message prioritization, summaries in notifications, and the proofreading tools. For the generative art features, I don't see any proposed use beyond "fun," so I can't imagine I'll bother with it too much.

[fuckinghomepage]

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

IT'S FUCKING MONDAY.

WORDS OF WISDOM OF THE FUCKING DAY:

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE CONFIDENT. JUST DO IT, AND THE CONFIDENCE WILL FOLLOW.

EDUCATE YOUR IGNORANT ASS:

START MAKING BITCHIN PIXEL ART. more>>

FUCKING MIND-BLOWING BOOK OF THE DAY:

HOW TO THINK LIKE A DAMN WOMAN. more>>

USEFUL SHIT OF THE GODDAMN DAY:

NEVER LEAVE THE FUCKING COUCH. more>>

WEBSITE OF THE FUCKING DAY:

BROWSE ALL THE BEST AI TOOLS. more>>

AWESOME-AS-SHIT VIDEO OF THE DAY:

HOW 70% OF BRITAIN'S CASH WENT MISSING. more>>

[nidhi-writes]

Well I've just began to explore this ship but I just wanted to let you know that VaraDeva edit is simply mind blowing. They're kissing... KISSING OK!! kissing so tenderly and so beautifully. My heart... FINALLY!! I'm soooooo happy. THANK YOU for this gift to this Fandom. You're simply awesome and I hope we get to see more!

also what did you use to make it? Looks Hella Real!!

Thank you for your kind words!! I am glad you liked my edit.

Actually, I just watched the movie, and I loved Deva and Varadha's chemistry more than the intended pairing. So, just let my mind go crazy. I have never done a same-sex pair before, so it is also new to me.

But love is love, and chemistry is chemistry...

I used AI tools.

I am also planning to add my own Pinterest with all my edits. I don't know if it will be welcomed, but I would share it here if it is.

[onlyxxbutmymindisolder]

Make It Three - Sk8 the Infinity fanfic, Part 1/4

It was an ordinary Tuesday night for the three of us. The sky was clear, and we were far enough from the city that you could see the stars no problem - that was one of the nice things about Crazy Rock. Skating in the city was great, but skating out there, with the fresh air and the open sky overhead, couldn’t be beat. I couldn’t even remember when Adam found the place. It had been our nightly hangout spot for months. 

But anyway, as I was saying - it was an ordinary Tuesday night. The three of us on our boards, Adam in front as always, Kaoru a little behind him and me a little behind Kaoru and steadily gaining. I grinned as I pulled up next to him, the wind blowing so hard in my face I had to shout to be heard. “Hey man, did you forget to charge your smartwatch? You haven’t talked to it this whole time!”

I couldn’t hear his sigh, but I could feel it in the roll of his eyes. “I don’t activate Carla every time we race. And relying purely on brute strength to win isn’t a bragging point!” he yelled back.

“Last time I checked, you don’t move your skateboard with your mind.” I replied. 

“It’s not just about moving,” he retorted. “It’s about navigating in the best way. Efficiency, not raw speed, you musclehead.”

“Now, now, boys! Less bickering, please.” Adam’s voice echoed up the path, and both Kaoru and I turned in surprise - in the five seconds we had been arguing, he had tripled the distance between us. He bent backwards to look at us two, holding a pose that could not have been easy to balance in, yet he was grinning like it was no sweat. “Or at least don’t leave me out of your conversations! I’m getting terribly lonely up here by myself.”

He shifted his balance to one foot, and then spun around so he was facing us. His back to the path, he held his arms out to the side in a beckoning gesture. “Catch me if you can~!” He pivoted again, and Kaoru and I watched as he receded into the distance.

Kaoru sighed and tapped his watch. “Carla,” he said, bringing it close to his face, “Give me an estimate of the best angle for the turn ahead. I’m going to cream these two idiots.”

I laughed. “Challenge accepted.”

We zipped ahead, using everything we had - Kaoru his brains, me my brawn, and Adam his… whatever it was. He laughed as he rode along the track, dodging obstacles with such precision and ease he looked like he was dancing.

Five minutes later, we all stood outside the entrance to the mine interior, covered in sweat. Our boards were lined up in a row propped against some rocks so they wouldn’t roll off without us. The results of our race were the same as ever - Adam in first, Kaoru and I fighting over second. We did our standard bickering over who had edged out the other in getting to the finish line, then sat down near our boards and started chatting.

Truth be told, I loved that part almost as much as the actual race.

“She’s not just a smartwatch!” Kaoru insisted, holding a hand over the watch as if to shield it from any insults. “She’s an AI that can plot the best path through any course. I’ve fed her the data from hundreds of practice sessions-”

“And yeah, I get that,” I interrupted, “I just think it’s a little weird that you call it ‘she’.”

“She’s very intelligent! I can hold full conversations with her and everything,” Kaoru huffed. Seeing my face, he switched gears and looked to our other friend for support. “Adam, don’t you get it? Carla’s the ultimate practice tool. She could revolutionize skating!”

Adam shrugged, holding up his hands in a gesture of sympathy. “Kaoru, my friend… passion is passion. I won’t dismiss yours.” Kaoru visibly perked up, though only for a second. “Although…”

“Although what?” Kaoru asked, sulkily.

“Doesn’t that take the fun out of skating?” Adam asked. “If you followed this machine’s advice, it would probably take you down a similar path every time.”

“It would be the fastest path,” Kaoru responded. “The optimal one! I could fine-tune my skating and eventually be able to beat even you!”

Adam smiled mysteriously. “A worthy goal. But as for me… I take great joy in exploring all this place has to offer. Every rock, every curve, every divot in the road - each provides a new experience, infinitely! You never go down the same trail twice.”

“That’s a cool way to look at it,” I said. “I guess I don’t think about the track that much. I just react in the moment and bam-!” I snapped my fingers. “My body and board will take me where I need to go.”

Kaoru rolled his eyes. “Brute instincts,” he grumbled.

“Hey. They work about as well as your smartwatch.”

“Wha- They do not!”

“Then how’d I beat you just now?”

“You didn’t! I obviously crossed the line first.”

“You keep telling yourself that, dude, but we both know…”

Hearing laughter, I glanced over at Adam. He was watching us go back and forth with a fondly amused look. “Truly,” he said, “Nights with you two are never boring.” His last word slurred into the beginning of a yawn. That was right - Adam rarely stayed out this late. His family was pretty strict and he couldn’t be caught sneaking out, so he usually went home before the AM. It was nice having him with us for longer, though. I hoped he wouldn’t get in trouble with his folks.

“Anyway,” said Kaoru. “Adam. Weren’t you planning to host S again soon? What’s your schedule look like?”

Adam frowned, which didn’t seem like a good omen. “I’m working on it,” he grumbled. “Some people aren’t being terribly cooperative.”

By ‘some people’, I assumed he meant the staff member he’d roped into helping him sneak out every night. We all owed a lot to that guy, though Kaoru and I had only met him once. He was in charge of the arrangements for the skating competition we’d started a while back, and also technically responsible for coining the name ‘S’ (I think he just didn’t want to risk Adam being overheard talking about skateboarding, which was a ‘hoodlum activity’ according to his dad).

“No rush,” I said. “We don’t need a million other people here to have a good time, right?”

“I guess not,” Kaoru said, shrugging. “I was just curious.”

“I want it to happen,” Adam blurted. “Last time, we drew dozens of people like us. This next time, I want it to be even bigger - a hundred, no, hundreds of competitors. Imagine if we could bring together every skateboarder in Okinawa!” He sighed. “All those who love skateboarding, together in one place… it would be paradise.”

“I dunno,” I said. “Would they all fit here?”

Kaoru lightly whacked my shoulder. “We’re outdoors, idiot. I’m sure we could find a spot for everyone.” He looked the other way. “Is that what you want, Adam? More people? I thought our group of twelve or so provided decent competition.”

“But I want more,” Adam said bluntly. “I want to see what this country has to offer! You two can’t be the only good skaters in Japan.” 

He paused, and took a slow, deep breath. The look in his eyes was far away. “You two are the only ones so far who can keep up with me. On this racetrack, in this world we three share, cut off from everything frivolous and crude… I am myself. And you don’t know what that means to me,” he whispered. “It makes me want more. More of these treasured moments - I want to spend eternity on that board.” He glanced back at our decks propped on the rocks. “I just need a reason. One push, and I’d throw it all away.”

I didn’t respond. He was smiling, but distant - talking to himself more than us. The silence held, and he stayed there for a minute, lost in thought, before (reluctantly, I think) pulling himself back to reality.

“I’m getting ahead of myself,” he said, with a soft chuckle. “My apologies. S first - I’ll let you two know when Tadashi figures something out. Until then-” he stood up, “-I should be heading back.”

It was a jarring transition, but hey. Adam had always had a tendency to get lost in his head, so we were used to it. “See you next week?” I asked.

He grinned back at me. “Absolutely. Don’t be late.”

---

With that, Adam was gone for the week. We never saw each other in person outside of our late-night races, and his parents monitored both their home phone and his personal cell phone (which he wouldn’t be able to use anyway, given that his entire day was nothing but private tutoring and family-approved extracurriculars). Yeah, it was weird. But Adam lived in a different world from Kaoru and I - being the son of Mr. Shindo, a famous senator, would do that. Image was everything in that life, and given Adam’s less-than-tame personality, his dad kept him on a tight leash. The family heir couldn’t be caught mixing with the common rabble.

So you might understand why I was surprised to hear from him that Friday in the middle of the day.

“Did you get a note, too?” Kaoru asked as we walked past the school gates.

“Sure did,” I said, holding up the crisp, lightly perfumed(?) paper. “Have to wonder how he got it into our lockers, though.”

Kaoru shrugged. “You know Adam - where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’m curious as to what’s so urgent he felt the need to contact us like this, though.”

“So you’re coming?”

He huffed. “Obviously.”

I gestured to his empty hands. “And you’re not bringing your board?” I kept mine with me at all times. Right then, it was strapped to my backpack, doing the double duty of (1) acting as a weight for building endurance and (2) looking seriously cool (I loved that board).

“The note didn’t say we were meeting up to skate,” Kaoru responded, although he looked unsure. “Adam can barely get a free minute during the day. How would he race us?”

“How did he get the note to us? How long is he planning to talk?” I thought about it. “Actually, he might not be there at all. Maybe he sent one of his staff.”

“Oh.” Kaoru tweaked one long strand of hair that was resting on his jacket, pushing it back. “I guess not.”

He was quiet for a moment. I looked at his perfect poker face, watching as it changed from neutrality to annoyance as I nudged him, grinning. “Are you still coming-”

“Yes. Why would that change anything?”

“Well, you looked pretty excited earlier up until…” I shrugged. 

“I did not.”

“What, so you didn’t want to see him?”

“I didn’t say - wait, I -” He sputtered, flailed for a response, then stormed ahead of me, muttering “Stupid.” The tips of his ears were as pink as his hair.

I let him get ahead of me. I’d probably get kicked later once he calmed down, but for now, all that mattered was that he was too indignant to be disappointed. Better a pissed Kaoru than a mopey Kaoru.

Eventually he slowed down enough for me to catch up to him, and we walked to the underpass in silence. Once we got there, my suspicions were proved correct - Adam was nowhere in sight. A dark-haired guy about our age was leaning against the concrete wall, fiddling with his too-fancy casual clothes and looking like he’d rather throw himself into the pier than spend another second there.

I waved at him and called out. “Hey there! Uh.. we’re friends of Adam?”

He tensed. “Not so loud,” he murmured. He pushed off the wall and met us halfway, glancing around like he expected to see someone watching us from the bushes. 

“I know who you are. Adam wanted me to relay a message to you two. He…” He trailed off, then shook his head. “I have a favor to ask you first. You two are the ones closest to him, so…”

I squinted at him. “Wait a second. Aren’t you-” I thought for a second, then snapped my fingers, “-Tadashi, right!”

“You’re the one who organizes S,” Kaoru said, recognition dawning on him.

“We never got to thank you for last time,” I said. “It was amazing. I didn’t think so many people would show up.”

Tadashi grimaced. “Yes. That’s the problem.”

“What is?” Kaoru asked.

“S.”

“Is that what Adam wanted to tell us about?” I asked.

Tadashi sighed. “Please, listen. Of all the skaters in Okinawa, you are the only people Adam has trusted with his secret - his true identity. So you should have some idea of how precarious this situation is. If Adam’s father found out he was sneaking out, the consequences would be…”

“Bad, yeah. He told us he was being careful,” I said.

“Not careful enough,” Tadashi deadpanned. “He leaves too early and stays out too late. His grades have begun to slip, among other things. I can only cover for him so much, and if anybody catches on-” He wrung his hands. “It can’t happen.”

Watching him like that, I felt a lurking sense of unease. I knew Adam’s family was strict, and they would be pissed if they knew what he got up to at night. But the way Tadashi talked about it… it seemed like there was something else going on. Adam never talked much about his life. Kaoru and I knew basically nothing about what went on with his family.

“Do we need to delay our visits, then?” Kaoru asked. “Give him some time to lay low?”

“That was what I was hoping for,” Tadashi replied. “I’ve tried everything to convince him to stop sneaking out for a month, or even just a few weeks, but he doesn’t listen to me. I thought you could talk to him. He trusts you.”

“We can do that,” I said, seeing Kaoru was on board. “When are we gonna see him next? Tuesday as usual, or later, or…?”

“Saturday, if you can make it. The usual time and meeting place.”

I blinked. “Why so soon?”

“He’s found another competitor for S. He wants you two to help vet him.”

“He told someone else about S?” Kaoru asked, surprised. Previously, the three of us had decided together who to invite. 

“I don’t think so. As far as the other skater knows, he’s just being invited to a friendly race. If he proves decently skilled, Adam will invite him to compete.”

“O-kay then,” I said. “If he’s that set on it, then I guess we’ll go along and race the guy. Kaoru, you got any plans tomorrow night?”

“...No,” said Kaoru, looking like he’d bitten a lemon.

“Then we’ll meet him there and talk about the whole ‘not drawing suspicion’ thing. Who knows,” I added, “Maybe this extra race will help get something out of his system.”

“That’s true. He might be more agreeable if he’s in a good mood,” Kaoru replied. “Although, knowing Adam…”

“We’ll try,” I said, nodding to Tadashi. “And again, thanks for everything you’ve done. S wouldn’t exist without you.”

Tadashi didn’t meet my eyes, and barely acknowledged my thanks. “Yes, well.” He shifted nervously. “Adam will see you this weekend. I hope you enjoy your race.” With that, he turned and started walking away. He paused at the corner to glance back and, I dunno, see if we were following him? Then he disappeared from view.

“That was weird,” I said. Kaoru didn’t respond, still staring over the spot where Tadashi had been. I sighed. Between him and Adam… it was a good thing this friend group had one person who didn’t get stuck in their own head.

“C’mon.” I nudged his arm. “It’s getting late. We should go if we don’t want to miss our buses.”

That was an excuse. If we did, I’d just skate back anyway.