#when used as a tool to help do menial tasks it's great!

[adobe-outdesign]

Are you pro-AI/chatgpt?

[contentloadingandstuff]

Heyaaa, I have an ask to ask, how about the region leaders (Jean, Ningguang and Raiden) with an S/O who has an extremely dangerous skill (Like Blackbolt or even Shigaraki) but is someone extremely sweet and caring. But seeing himself cornered and forced to release his maximum strength, but he is brooding afterwards for having injured his enemies

A unique encounter - Jean, Ningguang & Ei x Bioweapon!Reader

A/N: Hello anon. Since you have an ask to ask, I have an answer to answer! This is probably the strangest fic I've written so far. Enjoy nonetheless!

CW: Male!Reader, Uroboros-like parasite, a little body horror? Idk.

You were abducted by the Fatui at an age too early to remember your parents, or anything about your past really. For years your home was a claustrophobic cell, and the only companions were the researchers. They constantly visited you, drugged you into sleep and carried you off to who knows where. Every time you would wake up with your arms sore and no shred of memory of what happened. 

You didn't feel the effects of whatever they put into you until a few years later, in your early teens. You started feeling movement inside your body, wrapping around your organs and constantly pulsing. The parasite moving inside you caused enormous pain, an anguish both mental and physical. It was agony for the first months, but it would soon become more bearable when the being matured 

It turned out that it tapped into your central nervous system, letting you control it. Over a few years you taught yourself how to control the black tentacles, and overall live in some kind of symbiosis with the thing. You practiced drawing the ropes of writhing flesh from your left arm, rendering it mostly useless in the process - the appendages were small and stretchy, yes, but they needed space to move nonetheless. 

When you felt ready, you used the infection to break out of captivity. The thing turned out to be a great tool of destruction. With a flick of your wrist you could crush skulls, snap spines like twigs and rip open heavy iron doors. Fighting with the parasite was painful to say the least - the tendrils ripped and stretched your entire arm, leaving you moaning in agony even days afterwards. 

Despite the years of abuse and captivity you felt no satisfaction in taking revenge. You experienced the kind of pain and fear you wouldn't wish for anyone, even them. You kept the killing fast and as painless for them as possible. You couldn't have witnesses who would order a search for you. Still, the realization of how many families you broke apart was heavy on your heart. And so, after reaching freedom, you grew a deep disdain towards violence. 

Before you left the icy wastes of Snezhnaya, you made sure to go through and steal all the documents contained in the lab. They provided crucial insight to your affliction. It turned out the disease wasn't infectious, and, if the parasite's lifespan came to an end, it could never be recreated. You've destroyed the remaining samples and burned down the laboratory, leaving South in search of a new life. 

Many people made requests to Jean daily. The acting grandmaster often found herself overwhelmed with commissions. Not many of her coworkers, even those who cared for her wellbeing like Lisa or Kaeya, helped her out with work. Let alone the citizens of Mondstadt, who treated Jean more like a machine than a human with a need for free time and relaxation. 

That was before a certain individual popped into her life. She heard about him before, and saw him plenty of times out on the streets, just going about his business. Whenever she passed by, he asked if he could be of assistance. It was annoying to her at first, or so she told herself. She was the acting grandmaster, for crying out loud. It should be her duty to do all the work, right? But when she actually relented and gave him some menial tasks to do, Jean found herself enjoying this immensely. It was great to have someone helping, someone caring, someone reliable and trustworthy. 

As much as he was caring, gentle and oh so lovable, there was something strange about him. A simple thing really. You always wore long-sleeved clothes and never used your left arm much. It wasn't that weird until she sneaked a glance of her crush without his top. The left arm was all wrapped in bandages and secured with belts, especially around the wrist. Just an injury, she thought. That is, until she started paying closer attention to you. The bindings were always on, and you never loosened the tightening leather as well. Being an honest person, she confronted you about it. 

You tried to excuse yourself or lie your way out every time she asked, but Jean was far from oblivious. She knew an obvious lie when she saw one. So you showed her. 

A mess of black tentacles, coupled with your pained moans, coming out of your wrist was not something she expected in the slightest. Keeping the thing drawn, you explained everything you knew about it, along with how you've come to be afflicted with it. 

You expected disgust from her. Loathing, resentment, or even exile. But what you found was… empathy. Since it wasn't dangerous to anyone you came into contact with, it was fine in Jean's books. And you couldn't live without it as well (she had Albedo run tests and confirm it later). It was just a part of you, as unconventional as it was. She accepted it just as she accepted the rest of you. 

She knew how much her S/O hated fighting. Whenever they were outside with her, she would always keep an eye on possible threats. It was her who did the fighting, despite your superior power. Yet she couldn't predict what happened one day. An ambush from a large group of Hilichurls and Abyss Mages proved too hard for her to handle alone. So, very regrettably, she had to ask you for help. Pushed up against the wall, facing the risk of getting Jean injured, you moved to attack. You fought together, and managed to beat back the assault. 

When you saw the corpses, the blood and just the overall massacre you caused, you couldn't beat back the guilt. Hilichurls, though less intelligent than humans, we're still living beings. They felt pain just as any creature. You kept brooding over the events for just a minute - until you saw how Jean was handling it. 

And she was far worse off than you. A slurry of apologies and self-loathing flew your way. 

"I'm so, so sorry Y/N… I-I was too weak to handle this… I… failed you… Please forgive me…" 

Despite your best efforts, it soon escalated into a breakdown as all the stress she amassed over the month washed over her. You assured her it's okay, that it's not her fault, that you can take it. She slowly calmed down. She doubled her protection effort in the following days, so much so it turned into near babying you. She stopped after a good, solid dose of reassurance that you will be fine. 

Archons, this woman needs a break. 

You were certainly an interesting case for Lady Ningguang. You came to Liyue Harbor one day, and it looked like just about everybody liked you. Especially the kids. It was was when she went to visit her little informants that she met you. Despite your serious appearance, you played with them without a care in the world. After she delivered the usual sweets, she struck up a conversation. Ningguang soon found that you were simply a fun person to talk to and generally be around. After a few dozen encounters she grew fond of you. Very fond, in fact. 

When you started living together, she noticed something peculiar about you. You were eating a lot. She found you eating heavy, protein rich foods like meats, be they fresh or dried, almost all the time. Despite this unusual and clearly dangerous diet you never seemed to gain weight. Actually, you remained more or less underweight. Caring about your safety, she suggested that you see a doctor. You remained unwilling, regardless of how much she bothered you. She could only sigh. It was ultimately your call. 

It wasn't weird for her that you didn't like fighting in general - neither with weapons nor with words. She didn't mind standing up for you and doing the talking whenever the situation demanded it. It gave her the familiar, delightful sense of power. Your pacifism didn't bother her, at all in fact. It was refreshing to be around someone not willing to climb up bodies to reach their goal. It raised some concerns for your safety, as your unassuming posture added doubts about your potential combat prowess. 

Her suspicions were completely blown away one day. Being such a high profile individual as Ningguang brought about plenty of interest, usually not in a positive sense. It wasn't a surprise to her that there were people, especially Fatui, who wanted her dead. It was only a matter of time and they would send agents to strike at either you, or herself. That day just had to come while she was on a date with you. The three agents got the jump on you, and managed to wound Ningguang in the shoulder. You were her only defense, and as much as she believed in you, a part of her knew it would be the end. But then… something ripped open her lovely S/O's wrist and a swarm of pitch black tentacles came out. 

Both her and the Fatui screamed in terror at this sight. Using their momentary shock, you defeated them with a few swipes of your weapon. Ningguang didn't know that a human's spine could be snapped so effortlessly. Before long, you were next to her, asking if she's okay. Your girlfriend felt… a lot of things at that moment. Confusion, fear, disgust, worry… She just remained speechless for a solid minute. Being ever the reasonable woman, however, she got herself together and led you to Bubu Pharmacy to get your injuries patched. 

There was no time to think over what exactly you had done just minutes prior, as you were bombarded with questions. What exactly was that thing? Is it a parasite? Is it infectious? Is it dangerous? Does it hurt? And where, by the holy Celestia's name, do you keep that thing? You took your time to explain exactly what she's dealing with, along with presenting the stolen data and your life story. This calmed her a little, but she still needed time to get comfortable with the fact. She tolerated that of course, well, as long as it didn't touch her. Some absolutely horrifying silly tentacle thingy is not going to bring down the wonderful person her S/O is in her eyes. But don't think you'll get a pass on the teasing just because you're her lover. Oh, not at all, in fact. You'll get to hear a lot, and I mean a lot of one specific question. 

"Don't you have any more… unusual… surprises for me in store, my love?" 

If there was a better place than Inazuma for escaping from one's past, you would certainly have gone there. You expected everything from that strange land, yet it still managed to surprise you. Surprise you by having Inazuma's Archon pay special attention to you. 

Ei spotted you one sunny day while strolling on the main street of the capital. You weren't doing anything specific, just buying groceries. You weren't unusual by any means - just a typical guy, more attractive than the average male for sure though, doing daily things. Yet Ei's gut feeling and a few thousand years' worth of experience told her something was deeply off about you. The vessel was designed to differentiate the seven elements, as well as things living and dead. She noticed your aura was glowing much brighter, just as if there was something else, something very much alive inside you. This piqued her interest, and she decided to investigate. 

Of course, Ei decided to do her detective work her way. Which involved sending out Kujou Sara in the flesh to snatch you right from the streets and lead you before the throne. You were, of course, beyond mortified. Barely two months in the country and you already attracted the Archon's attention? This surely spelt death for you, you thought. When she commanded you to show her the very-generally-put "additional life inside you", you had no choice but to reveal the parasite. 

Sara nearly puked at this horrible sight, and the guards were all ready to cut you into little cubes. Ei, much to everyone's surprise, thought something entirely different. 

"Oh! Hmm, borrowing Miko's words I would say it looks quite… interesting."

The reaction to her words could be described with a single, simple what. Ei got up from her throne, and started circling around you. The way those tendrils wiggled and swayed was quite mesmerizing, and she couldn't keep her eyes away from you. Being stared at by someone of her magnitude, you endured the pain in fear of angering her, and remained still like a statue. Still, until the pain of your muscles tearing and stretching overpowered your will, of course. You fell unconscious in a pool of your own blood and antiseptic slime, right before her eyes. 

You woke up patched up inside a luxurious bed. Ei had you taken care of by a doctor. Despite your inner pleas, you were too weakened to leave the bed for long, so your visit at the Tenshakuku stretched on. All the while Ei has been visiting you many times a day, constantly asking you various questions about the affliction. With no other option than to surrender to her will, you answered all her queries. She found it simply amazing how, with such a frail mortal body, you managed to live with this inside you at all times. Many times you had to show her the tentacle. After Ei heard from you that living like this was nowhere near pleasant, her first instinct was to take the thing out. When she summoned her polearm you had to hastily explain that you actually couldn't live without the parasite. It's body made up for plenty of your missing, very vital bits. She deflated, and decided to stop asking you to draw it. You shouldn't feel pain just to satisfy her childish curiosity, she thought. 

Yet after a day of not talking to you, she found herself bored. Bored and frustrated with most things, and wondering about what you were up to. Regardless of her will, Ei returned to you over, and over again. She started spending lots of time with you. She dragged you out for walks, had tea parties with you, and even used the royal hot springs with you (it was weird at first, as Ei had no clue about her behavior being quite unfitting of an empress, but you got used to her quirkiness eventually). You had to turn down plenty of sparring offers and her requests to show how the tentacle is used in fighting. She stopped shortly after finding out you weren't very keen on violence in any of the many forms it could take. She respected that greatly. To make up for all the trouble she caused you (Ei understood that only a few months after you started dating, and more or less a year after you've met for the first time), the Shogun swore to protect you wherever you went. It was logical for her - being the strongest one brings about an obligation to protect others. 

But even she couldn't be everywhere at once. The Traveler was passing by, and Ei soon fell into a rabbit hole of their problems. She wanted to help them as a means of saying 'thank you', but leaving you alone like that made her quite uneasy. She impatiently waited for an opportunity to excuse herself, but it never came. Only when you called for her, through an enchanted ring she gave you, did she leave. The distance was too long to reach you in time, and Ei arrived at a bloodbath. Over a dozen ronin, probably seeking an 'easy gain', tried to kidnap you. They expected a frail nobleman, not a biological weapon. 

Ei found you on the ground, writhing in pain and discomfort. She scooped you up, and carried you bridal style back to the palace's medical ward. As the physicians worked on patching your injuries, Ei held your head in her hands and spoke softly. 

"I'm so, so sorry you had to do this, darling. I should have been there, just as I promised. I hope you can forgive my incompetence." 

Despite your words and reassurance that it wasn't her fault, Ei would decide to not let that happen again. Ever. She promised you that you would never have to kill anyone again, no matter if she had to be by your side at all times to fulfill her promise. Keeping you away from harm was the least she could do for you, and she would do it as long as you were around. 

Thanks for reading!

[jessicanjpa]

Twilight Advent Calendar 2023 Event

🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

Dec. 25 - For one of the Twilight vampires, tell us about a Christmas or winter memory from their human days.

This is a continuation of my headcanon about little Carlisle running across town to "apprentice" himself to a local barber-surgeon when he got the chance. He was usually given menial tasks like washing instruments, cleaning up blood, sweeping up hair trimmings, etc. Sometimes he was allowed to mix foul elixirs and help with medical treatments.

One morning in late December, the barber-surgeon gave his friend a little wrapped package. "It's not anything to do with Christmas, of course," he said, giving the boy a wink. "But you've done a fine job these past weeks and you can have some tools of your own to practice with."

Carlisle removed the wrapping to find a poor little barber's kit all his own: a scissors, an old nicked scalpel, tweezers, needle and thread, and even a little saw for amputations. More rust than shine adorned the retired tools, but Carlisle burst into tears anyway.

"I never had anything so fine," he said with great solemnity once he was composed and given a blood-stained rag to blow his nose on. "I'll polish and polish them, and I'll practice my stitching, and I'll never tell Father, for he says you're a papist pig and I'm not to associate with you anymore."

The barber-surgeon smiled grimly to himself; the boy's aptitude was matched only by his naivete. "I've been called worse," he said. "Now remember, only practice on small animals and bury them after, if you can't mend them. And Happy Christmas, my lad."

🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

You can find all of the #twilightadvent23 prompts here!

[apex-academy]

Chapter 6: The Decay of Our Lives (#11b)

The stench of burnt everything covers the auditorium hallway. How long has it been since I’ve come back this way?

Awful lot of rooms here with too many memories.

But right now, it’s just me and the projector.

“That is pretty high up.”

I can see why you’d assign Tsunyasha to this, with her skills in... I’d call it acrobatics, but she seemed pretty put off when I said that to her before. 

Guess it’s just supposed to be some... assassin skill.

I peer up at the ceiling, then down to the chairs below. The projector hangs over the empty center aisle, so that’s one stumbling block we don’t have to worry about. Still, I’m surprised Aidan would request something so risky.

But if that’s what it takes for all of us to be able to do something together... Can’t say it’s not worth a little trouble.

“Oh? And what have we here?”

It takes much longer to locate the voice’s source than identify it. Tsunyasha is... clinging to the top of one of the stage curtains.

Is she planning to jump across the room from there? Don’t think that’s going to work.

“I’m sure you know very well who’s here.”

“Ah, the whelp has learned something.”

“I assume you’ve got this covered, but if you want any help...”

“Oho? Offering your very body as tribute?”

“Not how I’d want that worded, but something like that, potentially.”

“Very well, then. I’ll allow it...”

“Just this once.”

“I’m honored.”

“Rightly so.”

I move close enough for her to give instructions without yelling. There aren’t enough instructions about, I don’t know, ladders or logical approaches, but I figure I’m better off helping her with her own methods. She’s the type to shoot down any suggestions with extreme prejudice.

I don’t want to distract her from the task, either, but if I time this right, I’d really like to test the waters.

“Are you glad it was me who showed up instead of Mahavir?”

“Hmm?”

She dangles upside-down from her perch beside the projector.

“And why, pray tell, would I prefer the company of one sinner over another?”

“Could be plenty of reasons.”

“But Mahavir... You know.”

“For I do know all, yes.”

“Yeah...”

“But just to clarify... for myself...”

“He... did some things while you were... fighting on other planes?” Was that what she called it? Still not completely accurate to what I’m trying to ask, but there’s only so much Tsunyasha-ese I’m passably fluent in.

“Just wondering if you had any thoughts on that.”

“.......”

“Those whose minds dwell on mortals may as well be a mortal.”

“And I’m hardly going to lower myself to the level of you worms.”

“If such a thing were even possibly for a holy one like myself.”

“........”

So she... just decides not to think about things she doesn’t like? Is that the gist? If so, understandable, but probably not a healthy strategy on this scale.

As if anything about her screams “healthy” psychologically. But a couple of textbook assignments don’t make me a licensed therapist, so I’m not getting any deeper into that than I have to.

“So if he showed up right now, you’d just scoff and keep on with whatever you’re doing?”

“Something of the sort, I suppose.”

“All right.”

Can’t expect her to respond to apologies anytime soon, then. Not sure how good or bad of a thing that is. Can’t be great for Mahavir, but she’s the victim here.

Not that she’d want to be called that, I’m sure. Hypocritical, huh?

I try to focus back in on the projector mission, which is mostly just juggling tools on my part, but that’s easier said than done. I want to help her—really help her, not just with our menial tasks here. From one of us victims to another.

Is that supposed to make things right? For all the people who could have been victimized after I did nothing?

“...........”

This is about Tsunyasha. Not me, not the imaginary people in my nightmares who may not even exist. 

...Unfortunately, I may know less about Tsunyasha than the imaginary people. How’s that work?

She still seems functional, though. Reasonably happy. Isn’t that what should matter? Whatever deeper problems are involved here... I don’t know who’s going to solve them, if anyone. But I doubt it’s ever going to be me.

And not Mahavir, either. Not if she and he both aren’t going to acknowledge what happened between them.

But I can’t force it. Maybe she’ll be ready somewhere farther down the line. I’ll just try to make sure we’re all still around by then.

As Tsunyasha ties the dismembered projector to a rope and sends it swinging towards the curtains, I can only think that...

...I’ll sure have to make an active effort.

[BACK]

[seyftalks]

Artificial intelligence could be a 'real threat' to 'a lot of jobs,' computer expert says

AI, as it is called, is coming to your home, your job, your life in ways you never thought possible. At least, that is what computer experts are saying.

AI has the ability to improve your life and take care of tasks both menial and major. It also might eliminate your job and the jobs of many people you know.

Computer expert Alan Crowetz is the president and CEO of Infostream. He is focused on what he, and many others, think is groundbreaking change.

"My world is blowing up about this. There's this thing called ChatGPT. It's AI, a computer trained so well, it can write and do things better than most people can do it," Crowetz said.

Crowetz introduced me to ChatGPT and its cousin, Dall-E, an AI with an artistic flair.

He asked Dall-E to "show me a monk going through a purple portal." Seconds later, it did.

"It is neat and creative, and scary. A computer is analytical, I get [that], but creative. How do you get creative?" Crowetz said.

OpenAI, the company behind these AI marvels, had them digest hundreds of millions of articles: science, art, philosophy, etc.

"Artificial intelligence is teaching computers to think like humans do, to reason, to draw their own conclusions, to come up with unique concepts," Crowetz said.

AI could help us with a lot of work we take for granted. What what happens if it is your work?

"This is a real threat to a lot of jobs," Crowetz said.

"Can this AI help me with tax questions?" WPTV anchor Michael Williams asked Crowetz.

"It can," Crowetz answered.

"Can it help me with accounting questions?" Williams asked.

"It can," Crowetz answered.

"Can it help me if I am stumped writing a paper for school or my next newscast?" Williams asked.

"It excels at that," Crowetz replied.

WPTV asked ChatGPT to create an outline about ethics and morals. It quickly did.

"Anybody can write a paper with references incredibly well, an A+ paper in seconds that would have taken months for a student to write. How do you know the student actually learned something? Or the computer program did it?" Crowetz said.

Helping us with our studies, art, science, math, philosophy, taxes or the next great recipe. ChatGPT is the next step in the computer aided world all of us embrace every time we pick up our smartphone.

But what if the embrace becomes too tight?

ChatGPT, experts said, can create jobs we cannot imagine right now. It may also take away jobs we never thought a computer, an AI, could handle as well as a human being.

"When they release this thing to digest the entire internet or industries like accounting or law, it's going to be scary powerful. For a while, a lot of white-collar jobs out there, and blue-collar jobs, will use this as a very powerful tool. But what happens when the tool become more powerful than the wielder of the tool?" Crowetz said.

[spreadsheetautomation]

Tips for Writing Python Code

Python is a versatile programming language with many purposes. It's the go-to language for building dynamic websites and feature-rich software. However, it can also be a valuable tool in data analysis, spreadsheet automation and more.

It can take time to learn Python and harness its true potential. To help you get there, here are a few tips for writing Python code.

Take Advantage of Sets

In Python, sets are unordered collections of data. They have no duplicate content. Therefore, learning to use sets is a great way to perform calculations. Many analysts use sets instead of traditional lists when they only need unique values.

Try converting lists to sets with curly brackets. When you create a set, Python can make internal optimizations. It's also a great way to calculate intersections and differences between multiple sets.

Use Generators

Let's say that you have a list with thousands of items. Your goal is to calculate the sum of those items. This is a common task for analysts, but you may also use it for software development. Whatever the case, there are multiple ways to approach this task.

The most straightforward is to perform the calculation with the list. However, doing so can lead to disastrous memory issues.

One game-changing workaround is to use generator comprehension. These comprehensions are similar to list comprehensions and have the same syntax. However, they use parentheses instead of brackets.

The generator comprehension generates one item at a time. As a result, it uses significantly less memory than a list.

Simplify Your If Statements

"If" statements are the backbone of Python and can come in handy for virtually every application of the language. For the most part, using these statements is easy. But when you have to apply them to a long list of items, it can become cumbersome and increase the risk of errors.

One way to improve efficiency is to use an "if x in" list. You can apply this syntax to an entire list, saving you time.

Take Advantage of Automation

Our final tip is to use automation whenever you can. Python is a powerful language that helps many professions. But using it can be a hassle. AI-powered automation lets you take advantage of the language's best features while skipping the menial tasks. If you're an analyst, consider using spreadsheet automation. It's a game-changer that will let you avoid complicated workaround or waiting for IT support.

Transform your Python spreadsheets: click now to optimize your data like never before!

[thedeevirus]

Dark Crystal AOR Ficlet: ‘Armour’

“Following the Emperor's dismissal of his Podling servants, SkekSil steps up to help his Emperor dress”

Enjoy! If you would like a ficlet drop me an ask!

Added to AO3 Dark Crystal Ficlet Collection

***

The Emperor’s request for someone to help him dress now made complete sense to SkekSil.

SkekSo had made the announcement the day before, having been affronted by his newest Podling slave that morning. It had been unceremoniously dismissed from service (and from the bed chamber’s balcony) for its suicidal insolence. This left the prestigious position open and yet, for some reason, the remaining Podlings were unenthusiastic about filling it.

SkekSil had volunteered for the position immediately, ensuring every Skeksis witnessed his altruism. He endured their vindictive surprise, snide mockery and amusement at his acceptance of such a menial task. As always, they were simply too short sighted to see the big picture. What better way to strengthen his position in the Emperor’s good graces?

But now, the Podling’s gasp of disgust that had reportedly sealed its fate seemed to SkekSil more of an underreaction.

SkekSil wrinkled his nose as he syringed yet another boil. He was careful not to breathe in the miniscule, wisp like purple particles rising from it like dust in sunlight as he emptied the syringe into a waiting flask. The ‘sample’ would be delivered to SkekTek once the Emperor left his quarters. The tools SkekSil was using to collect them were of the Scientist’s own design as were the numerous ointments and unguents lined up neatly on a rack beside them. SkekSil put the syringe down and selected the first jar. He popped it open and applied it to the Emperor’s back. SkekSo gave no sign of any pain even as the oily perfume was slathered onto his various lesions and weeping wounds. It was necessary to disguise the stench of rot that clung to them.

As SkekSil leant down for a better angle, the boil (despite just having been syringed) suddenly vindictively exploded. Milky liquid smacked under his eye, blinding him. There was a smell of stagnant water. SkekSil bit back a surprised squawk of disgust, fearful the Emperor would take umbrage. He risked a check of the Emperor’s face. Thankfully (and insultingly) the Emperor seemed unconcerned. He was lacing up his gloves, attention focused on the sheen of each tiny pearl bedecking the fabric. SkekSil hastily wiped the disgusting ooze away with his handkerchief. Resuming his task, he swallowed hard to conquer the bile rising in his throat. As the Emperor nodded approvingly at his gloves, SkekSil wondered once again if his latest attempt to claw more power for himself had been worth such indignity.

He also wondered if the fruit of the Emperor’s experiments were worth suffering such foulness.

That was another of SkekSil’s little secrets. He knew all about the Emperor’s fascination with the ‘non existent’ Darkening. It delighted him to no end that he alone knew the answer to the question that caused SkekTek no end of sleepless nights; Why was the Emperor weakening faster than the rest of the Skeksis? SkekSil was intrigued by the power the Darkening offered but, as it usually did, self-preservation outweighed his curiosity. Aside from the grotesque physical side effects, SkekSil was also unwilling to face the Emperor’s wrath should he realise someone was privy to his secret.

SkekSil completed applying the unguents and laced up the Emperor’s robe. Once his first layer of garments were secure, the Emperor rose. He swayed slightly with the effort but declined SkekSil’s offered hand with a swift slap. He lifted his arms enabling SkekSil to help him into his overcoat and cape. SkekSil then moved behind him with the back carapace and waited while SkekSo’s secondary arms threaded themselves through the waiting holes. Not for the first time that morning, SkekSil’s gaze was drawn to the wicked looking curved knife nestled in the middle of the other tools on the table nearby.

One ‘tragic accident’ and there would be a new Emperor.

Perhaps he could blame SkekTek, the owner of the tools? The scientist was already in disfavour and was no doubt still licking his wound following his appointment with the Peeper Beetle. But that also placed him in his lab, secluded and sequestered until the essence draining machinery had been repaired.

Perhaps blame a Gelfling? The traitor Rian? Or the captive Gurjin? No, that was ridiculous. It would plunge the castle into disarray if word got out that the Emperor could be felled by such a weak creature.

No matter who SkekSil named as the culprit, there would be questions. Challenges. A mad scramble for the throne. And even if SkekSil miraculously saw off all pretenders, what would stop the others from seeking revenge when (not if) the truth of SkekSo’s demise came to light? The challengers would declare it was for revenge of course. How they would beat their chests and mourn their beloved Emperor SkekSo! But SkekSil and every Skeksis would know the truth. The truth was SkekSil was not popular at court and some, such as SkekUng and SkekVar, would jump at any excuse to silence him forever. But…would they kill him? Could they bring themselves to? Skeksis do not kill Skeksis. But the very Emperor who had created the decree would be dead. The ‘unbreakable’ decree broken and SkekSil would have signed his own death warrant. Setting such a dangerous precedent was not worth the risk.

SkekSil picked up the Emperor’s headpiece from its customary resting place on a sculpt of SkekSo’s head. The Emperor began to straighten his back. SkekSil’s eye twitched at the audible creaking of the protesting bones in the Emperor’s spine. Once the Emperor had negotiated his body to stand at full height, SkekSil reached up and placed the headpiece on SkekSo’s head. He adjusted it, ensuring it stood straight and couldn’t help but notice how the Emperor stood taller than him. Even SkekSil’s withered heart felt a touch of pity at how far the Emperor had physically declined since the beginning. SkekSo had once triumphed in every test of strength and his voice could have towered above a crowd. And yet, mentally he remained unchallenged. If he could inflict such harm upon his own body without batting an eye, what could he do to his enemies?

Yes, perhaps it was better to be the power behind the throne for now, More room to manoeuvre.

As he lowered his head to button the Emperor’s collar, the final task, he gave a start as he realised the Emperor was staring at him. His eyes, pale like chipped ice, regarded him with something akin to amusement.

‘We both know you won’t do it’, he said.

Chamberlain’s eyes dropped. He felt cold sweat begin to drip under his own neck ruff.

‘Apologies my Emperor’, SkekSil wheedled, ‘Such beautiful buttons but so awkward’.

‘Silence’, SkekSo said impatiently, ‘You know what I’m talking about’.

‘Forgive most noble sire but I don’t-‘

‘I said “Silence”!’ the Emperor bellowed.

Chamberlain flinched, lowering his head submissively and wringing his hands contritely as the Emperor continued his tirade.

‘Do not play your pathetic games with me! I see the hunger in your eyes. The thought that one swift strike to my back would be the end of me!’

SkekSil’s eyes widened but before he could protest his innocence, SkekSo had seized him by the neck. SkekSil choked, surprised by the strength of the Emperor’s grip. He struggled to control his breathing, eyes watering. SkekSo leant forward and he seemed to fill the entirety of SkekSil’s blurred vision.

‘Not even the respect to look me in the eyes when you did it!’ SkekSo snarled, spittle flying from his yellowed teeth, ‘Tell me SkekSil, would you wait for my body to cool before snatching the sceptre from my talons?!’

‘Never! Never your majesty!’ SkekSil coughed desperately, ‘You are mistaken! Please! Me-mercy!’

The Emperor considered for a moment then abruptly released the Chamberlain.

‘Perhaps you’re right’, SkekSo mused, all signs of murderous anger gone.

SkekSil gratefully sucked in great mouthfuls of air. The Emperor watched him struggle dispassionately.

‘You would not dare’, he said as if thinking aloud, ‘Such honesty is beyond you. You would have to own your actions and accept the consequences. And that is something you can never do. It is something an Emperor must do’.

‘But-but if venerable Emperor suspects such unthinkable treachery then why allow-‘

‘You to serve me so intimately? Many of the others have asked the same. But your question I will answer’. The Emperor’s beak curled into a cruel smile. ‘Because you, Chamberlain, are the most predictable creature in this castle. You can always be trusted to preserve your own skin above all else. Should you wish for it to remain on your bones, be content with your lot. Some of the others are not’.

Chamberlain’s blood boiled at the truth in the Emperor’s venomous words even as he was forced to accept them. He pushed the anger down, like sheathing a dagger for later use and plastered his usual simpering smile on his face.

‘Only fools would dare oppose or plot against the benevolent SkekSo. I only wish to serve. As I always have’.

He bowed low, beak practically touching his knees. The Emperor gave a low chuckle.

‘And you always will’, he said coldly.

SkekSil rose and SkekSo waved a hand in dismissal.

SkekSil once more lowered his eyes and spread his arms, stepping backwards out of the bedchamber as decorum demanded. He closed the door behind him and touched his neck, feeling the indentations the Emperor’s claws have left in his wrinkled neck. His fingertips came away wet from where they had pricked him. SkekSil glared at the Emperor’s soiled bandages still in his hand, leaking with vile ichor he had dabbed from the Emperor’s body.

‘Ungrateful spit head’, he muttered, casting the rags out of the nearest window.

He froze as he heard a rasping noise. His heart hammered as he braced himself for the Emperor’s onslaught and cursed his foolishness for thinking he would not be heard through the door. But an attack never came. Turning around, SkekSil laid his head against the door. He could hear a thin, wheezing noise from inside.

Carefully creeping to the left side of the door, SkekSil lifted the corner of a decorative tapestry on the wall. A small hole was revealed. Pressing his eye to the hole he had carefully carved into the wall, he peered into the Emperor’s bedchamber.

The Emperor was sitting on his bed, back hunched as he trembled. His breathing was hoarse and laboured. His eyes were closed, no doubt in an attempt to wrest his body back under control. His face was tight and pale, mouth slack as he dribbled. But what SkekSil noticed most of all were the Emperor’s hands. Both clutched his sceptre, the skin on the bony knuckles pale and tense from the strength of his grip.

‘Yes my Emperor’, SkekSil purred to himself, grinning, ‘Chamberlain will serve. For now’.

[phjnn]

Home

Review of Industrial CNC Routers

A Review of Industrial CNC Routers by Larry Markoff is a great book to read and I highly recommend it. A review of Industrial CNC Routers will touch on many different aspects of industrial automation technology.

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A Review of Industrial CNC Routers by Larry Markoff offers you the most recent information about automation technologies. I suggest you purchase this book. You won't regret it.

[self-proclaimed-chaotic-good]

As You Wish | Farm Boy!Bodhi Rook x Reader (1/2)

Trope Prompt: Time Travel

Words: 2064

Fandom: Rogue One (Star Wars)/Doctor Who Fusion

Summary: What was supposed to be an early summer weekend trip with the Doctor turned out to be an adventure that landed you in the middle of a field during the Indus Valley civilization where you meet a charming farm boy.

-

You bounded up the familiar blue police box and let yourself in. The Doctor looked up from her fiddling on the console and grinned at you.

“Morning. It is morning, right?” She greeted.

“Well, it’s close to evening, Doctor,” you said, checking your watch.

Her eyes widened. “Ah, I see. Well, how was school, (Y/n)? Dealt with any rowdy children? Had to put someone on time out?”

“I work at Cambridge,” you reminded her, “and no. But there is a new Astrophysics professor coming next week, which is exciting. I know everyone will miss Professor Draven, he was a pretty chill dude, but apparently the new professor had been one of Draven’s best students.”

“Those teachers can brandish their prestigious PhDs about, but experience and how they use their knowledge is what counts,” she said, waving her sonic screwdriver around.

“Is that a euphemism, Doctor?” you asked, raising an eyebrow. She waved you off. Maybe it was just you. Maybe it was from hanging out with Jyn, one of the assistant professors, too much. You skipped over to the console and leaned against it. “So where are we going today?”

The Doctor gave you a wide grin, swinging the console monitor towards you. “It’s getting a bit chilly here in London, so I thought somewhere warm would suffice. So how about India? We can go and meet the Buddha and check out the sights. Or maybe we can go to Petra?”

“Either one sounds great.”

The Doctor spun around the console, flipping switches and pulling levers. The TARDIS began to wheeze and rumble as it took off. You held onto the console tightly, watching the lights flash as the TARDIS shook.

You stumbled back as the TARDIS landed to your destination. You bounced on the balls of your feet as the Doctor parked her beloved machine then gestured for you to follow her out.

The summer sun hit your faces as the Doctor creaked the door open. She scrunched her face up and hummed looking around with squinting eyes. She raised a hand to shield them and stepped out. You stepped out and landed in a field of grass.

“Doctor, are we in someone’s farm?” you asked, spotting the wheatfields and livestock.

“Huh, I suppose we are,” she said, surveying the landscape. “But I believe I’ve got the right region. Just about.”

You frowned. “How can you tell? The distance between the Sun and the Earth? The distant dry areas beyond this fertile farmland that’s likely near a river? The sheep and chickens?”

“No, well, yes that, and look!” The Doctor pointed over at the farmers who had just now noticed them. “Long cotton woven garments and clothes wrapped around their head to shield from the sun using sturdy copper and stone tools.” She swung her finger towards a nearby settlement. “Mud bricks and straw roofs, the patterns on the pottery. I’d say Mid-East?”

“Ah. I see.”

One of the older men walked up to the two of you cautiously, his hoing stick held tightly in his hands. “Who are you? Why are you here?” he asked gruffly.

The Doctor smiled bowed her head slightly “I’m the Doctor and this is my friend, (Y/n).” You follow her lead and lowered your head as well. “We appeared to have taken a wrong turn in our travels,” she said, “Say, where exactly are we?”

He looked back at his fellow farmers who watched with curiosity then at you. “This is the village of Jedha, several miles away from the city.”

“The city of…?”

“Mohenjo-daro, of course.”

Your jaw dropped. The city of Mohenjo-daro? A major city of the Indus Valley civilization? The time could be between the twenty-sixth to the nineteenth century BCE. You’ve been volunteering at archaeological digs every summer but never had a chance to even see Mohenjo-daro. And here you were, in a farming village miles from the city.

“Forgive us for being so cautious, but you have arrived in such ill timing since strange things have been happening to our fields. If you are traveling to Mohenjo-daro, you may speak to our village elder and they can see to aid you for your journey. I,” He holds a hand to his chest, “am Sahim Rook. If you would follow me, please.”

You fell into step with the Doctor as Sahim walked you towards the village. You looked back and saw the others returning to their menial tasks, occasionally shooting curious glances at you and the Doctor. You did just land in the middle of their field.

“You said strange things have been happening here? Like what?” You asked him.

He hummed, scratching his graying beard in thought. “There seems to be creatures disturbing our animals and a sickness that would fall onto anyone who strays too far from the village. They become a different person, they get violent like they were possessed, then they become ill, near death.” He paused and turned to the two of you. “You say you are a doctor.”

“Right I am!” The Doctor said proudly.

“If you don’t mind, could you take a look at our patients?”

“Of course, it’s the least we could do.”

“Thank you.”

-

The village elder, Sahim’s mother, welcomed you and was delighted that the two travelers were willing to help in the mysterious illness. She led the two of you into a hut nearby filled with rows of straw beds covered in cotton sheets with the patients resting on each one.

“Sahim says that they were uncharacteristically violent when they returned to the village,” The Doctor said to the elder.

You scan the room, patients with droopy eyes, or coughing into bloody rags, or are still yet to wake. They shiver and scrunch their faces in pain, sweat soaking their body. It was horrible. What could do such a thing? Some sort of foreign disease recently introduced or a parasite? The thought it could have contributed to the decline of the Indus Valley civilization had crossed your mind, but it couldn’t be the main reason. Many theories suggest that settlements along the Indus river were affected by floods.

“Yes,” she said with a solemn nod. She swept her hand over the room and sighed. “They came back, vandalizing houses, disturbing the animals - some went as far as killed some, and wrecked some of the crops. When the sun began to rise, they would collapse with a high fever, sick to the point of bedridden. The others are understandably scared and worried. Other farms had been affected before us as well. It is devastating.”

“Leave it to us, Elder.”

The elder gestured towards a woman tending to a patient. She adjusted her delicate headwrap and stood. “This is Sassui, my daughter-in-law,” the elder said, “She has been working the hardest to nurse them back to health. Sassui, these are travelers that are making their way to Mohenjo-daro. They offered to help in any way they can before heading to the city.”

“I’m the Doctor and this is my friend, (Y/n),” the Doctor introduced us.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Sassui said softly. She had a small smile on her face, but it seemed forced. Dark circles under her eyes and her movements seemed to be sluggish. She had been working nonstop with barely any rest. 

As if reading your thoughts, the elder said, “You need some rest, Sassui.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that my son hasn’t come back from trading in the market. I’m not sure what’s worse, that he had fallen victim to the sickness or he had fallen victim to gambling and spending money feverishly.”

The elder huffed. “That boy is going to get himself into trouble if he doesn’t sort himself out.” She then turned back to the Doctor. “Well, I’ll leave you in Sassui’s care.” With that, she left.

Sassui’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Shall we start with the first one?”

-

Luckily, some only needed herbal remedies and some rest to get their health back up. The rest needed something stronger.

You carried a bucket filled with dirty rags and plopped it down near their well. Sassui had asked you to soak them in water and get a separate bucket for the patients. You had just filled the first bucket when you heard galloping heading towards the village. You looked up and saw a young man, his face similar to Sahim with a dark beard outlining his jaw and black hair flowing down to his shoulders, riding on top of a camel with a satchel hanging at the back.

“Bodhi!” Sahim called out. The older man marched towards him and placed his fists at his hips. “It does not take this long to travel back to Jedha from the nearby city. Where are your cousins?”

The man, Bodhi, turned around and frowned. “Huh, could have sworn they were behind me,” he muttered. He hopped off his camel and tied them to the nearest post. “But, we did manage to sell a lot this week! Ah, there they are!”

His three cousins arrived much later, carrying the goods that they were able to buy at the market. They all headed over and tied up their mounts before unloading their satchels. “Hello, uncle,” they all greeted with a bow with their head before carrying their load over to the huts.

“See! And we used the money that we earned to buy the food and supplies that we need,” Bodhi said.

Sahim shook his head. “That much supplies are worth more than our goods could give us. What did you do?” Bodhi struggled to talk his way out of it under his father’s scrutinizing gaze.

“We sold all the goods and we got what we needed! What more do you want from me?” Bodhi snapped before carrying his satchel and storming away.

Sahim gave you an apologetic look before following after his son. You waited until they were both out of sight to continue your task for the second bucket. You busy trying to pull it back up from the well when a voice startled.

“Hey.” You let out an embarrassing squeak, dropping the pail down in the well again. You spun around and was met by two large brown eyes staring back at you in amusement. “Sorry about that. I’m Bodhi, by the way. My father says you arrived this morning.” He flashed you a bright contagious smile.

“I’m (Y/n),” you said, automatically sticking out your hand. He looked down at it and grabbed it tightly. You shook it and tried to let go, but he wouldn’t budge. “Um…”

Bodhi tilted his head to the side. “You’re very beautiful,” he said.

“Um.”

His eyes flickered to the well behind you. “I’ll help you with that. So you’re helping my mother with the sick, are you?”

“Yes. Me and my friend. Do you have an idea of how this could have happened?” you asked, watching him pull the pail back up.

“Well, many folks on my travels say that it’s demons. Spirits who’ve sinned before they died, coming back to spread sickness and anger. We call those the Pishacha.” He poured the water into the second bucket and lifted it up with ease. He gestured for you to lead the way.

“So, do you believe in those ghost stories?” you wondered, making your way back to the hut.

Bodhi shrugged. “Whatever it is, it’s costing the farm a lot of money. With less wheat and livestock to sell, means less money and not enough supplies to do repairs and care for the sick, let alone feed ourselves.”

“So, you try other ways to get more money,” you said.

Bodhi shot you a look. “Yes, exactly. You think differently of me now?”

“I never knew much about you to have an opinion in the first place,” you said truthfully, “But it sounds to me you still care about your family a lot. Enough to do risky things.”

You reached the hut when you noticed Bodhi wasn’t there. You turned around and saw Bodhi frozen in place with a curious look in his eyes, his arms hugging the bucket close to his chest. “Thank you,” he said softly, “You’ve been kind to me so far. Anything else you want me to do?”

“Well, help me finish up with these buckets and we’ll take it from there.”

“As you wish.”

[galinadamodred]

After lunch, Galina had some hours to her own, while Lilith now had the task to give a lesson. So the Accepted went to her room, sat down on the bed and started practicing the weaves for the Testing. They seemed so menial after having had control over so much more of the Power. But still they had to be done, if she wanted to be Aes Sedai. Actually it was no use, just repeating the weaves. The practice was most effective if someone else helped you with distractions. But the other Accepted stayed away from her, since her return to the Tower. Lilith was the only one who dared to speak with her. At least more words than the bare necessities.

It was like they knew of her conflict, that she no longer fully walked in the light.

But was reaching for power, abandoning the light? Asmodeos had said, that the aspect of Shadow, that the Black Path encompassed, was the same as the Shadow that had dreaded to end her world. But was it?

The Black Dragon‘s major aspect was the End. But not an infinite ending, but one that also allowed regrowth and creation. So unlike the Dark One, the Black Dragon did not exist outside the Pattern or the cycle, how the people of the Dragonlands called it. Shadow at least the aspect of it seemed more like a tool to attain power, like deciet and secrecy were, enlightenment too in a way.

The pursuit of Power did not make her a bad person or a darkfriend. It was neither bad nor good. What you did with that Power, was what determined how you were perceived.

She could follow the path of the Black Dragon without abandoning the light, or at least without straying into the ranks of the Shadow. She just had to find a way to skirt the rules.

Becoming an Aes Sedai would burden her with the Oaths, something that would hold her back in a major way. But attaining the shawl held it’s own powers and freedoms, resources more than useful. And she finally had the opportunity to return to Potentia a place she longed for ever since she had left it.

Galina finished the last weave, she hadn’t really paid attention, but still managed to complete every single one. Maybe it was time to claim what was hers. She got up and straightened her banded skirts. The light willing, she wouldn’t wear them for a long time after what she was about to do.

Calmly she checked herself in the bubbled glass of the mirror, before leaving her quarters. Determined she left the Accepted‘s wing with her goal in mind, the way before her. Only the price was not clear yet.

On her way to her destination, she remembered something Amsodeos had said in the circle. „Elements are willful beings. Do you really think, they like to be commanded?“ The same applied to Aes Sedai. So she laid out her words carefully. Cammanding would not do, begging wouldn’t either. But maybe a firm demand, conveyed in a civil manner could have the desired effect. That realization woke the urge to touch her forehead once more. But she withstood this time.

She wove her way around Novices in the halls on her way down to the Misstresses‘ study. Erelle would not be pleased to hear what she had to say. But she wasn’t either, when she had asked her to go to the Dragonlands and still she had been allowed to leave. The Mistress of Novices might be a Gray, but logic seemed to impress her as much as a White.

Her cool determination, granted her the ability to remain utterly calme, she already felt like an Aes Sedai, as she glided through the white halls, despite wearing the dress of an Accepted. Finally she reached the door made of dark wood, a door dreaded by almost every girl in the Tower. It was a symbol, a harbinger of the punishment that awaited her here, every time she misstepped. Galina had been here more often than she could count, at least in her time as a Novice. Once or twice she had been spanked then. The last time was so long ago, before all that with Tulius and her father had happened. She had been called back to the Tower, since the last Mistress had gotten reports of her misbehaving, prompting a stay in the Tower, including mortification of the flesh. Only a few days after her return to Sutch, the message about her father had arrived and everything had gone south. She suppressed the memories of it and set her mind back on the task at hand. It would never happen again. That was why, the thing she was about to do, had to work.

Galina knocked. Silence. She withstood the urge to fidget nervously, in fact she took all her nervousness and stuffed it in a box in the back of her mind, whilst imagining herself being a flower opening to the sun.

Again she knocked in a firm but still polite manner. Finally she could make out Erelle Sedais voice from inside the study. „Come In, child!“ she said, a tinge of irritation in her voice, only audible to those dealing with Aes Sedai for some time.

Galina opened the wooden door and entered the small room, head held high. It had no windows and the walls were of dark wood like the door. A big mirror hung on the wall, for the delinquents to watch themselves being chastised. Light willing she would not do the same in the near future.

Erelle was an older sister, her hair already turning grey at the temples, putting her between approximately 200 and 250 years in age. She would never know for certain, age being a delicate matter among Aes Sedai. Her otherwise dark blonde hair was in a bun on the back of her head, no strand of it, out of place. She wore round glasses, sea-folk work. And through them, her steelgrey eyes measured her with an air of displeasure at the interruption.

She was not alone, Galina had noticed instantly. A woman with reddish blonde hair sat on the other chair, clad in a white algode blouse and dark brown skirts, her neck was decked out in jewelry and a brown scarf hung around her shoulders. Unlike Erelles smooth features, her face was marked by fine lines. An Aiel Wise One.

She watched her enter curiously, her eyes resting on the face a moment longer, the eyepatch.

Before Erelle could say a word, the Aiel woman spoke: „I did not know, you sent the apprentices into battle too, Erelle Mosalin!“

The Mistress blinked and remained silent for an instant. When she spoke the irritation had increased „No we do not, Galina here is a... special case.“

The Wise One raised an eyebrow, now watching her with intrigue. „I will listen to that story with great interest, Accepted Galina.“ Erelle shook her head. „Not now Kaline. I am sure the child has something she wishes to discuss with me. Were you sent here?“ the Aes Sedai‘s hands went to a quill and the book of punishment but the Accepted quickly shook her head. „No, I am here of my own volition, Erelle Sedai!“ she courtseyed. „And I ask your forgiveness for interrupting your conversation! If you wish, I will gladly wait outside for it to finish.“

The Mistress‘s eyes went to her guest, who only shrugged, still watching Galina with great interest.

„Well it is already interrupted and it was me who asked you in. So what is it, that you wish to speak about? Your reports about the Dragonlands?“ - „No! They are already in the hands of Antonia Sedai. But it is the same direction.“ She suppressed the urge to shift on the spot, while calmly making her demand: „As you well may know, I belong to the very few, who can say, to have seen the worlds beyond the portal stones. And I know First Hand, what dangers they hold, for everyone! Dangers that need to be assessed, so the Tower can prepare, for the case, that these dangers find their way to our world. And who else but, me would be suited better for such an endeavor?“ Erelle looked like she wanted to throw in something, but Galina kept on, voice firm but calme. „I am in the unique position, of having gained some measure of trust by some of the most powerful mages beyond the Stones. And to keep me in the Tower, robs us of valuable time, to prepare all the means necessary to avert catastrophy. Even more, the venture beyond the stones, can give us valuable resources, to counter other threats, from within our world. That is why, I now formally ask of you, to let me take the test for the shawl as soon as possible!“

Galinas last words seemed to hang in the air, as the room turned eerily silent. Erelle watched her for almost a minute, disbelieve, peeking through her Aes Sedai serenity. That demand was nothing she heard everyday, as it was custom, that a girl was tested when the Mistress saw fit, not the other way around. Kaline in the other hand, watched her with a spark of fiendish pleasure in her eyes.

The Accepted just stood there, serene and collected, like expected of an Aes Sedai, shoulders straight and head held with confidence, but not smugness.

„Has she been among the tents?“ the voice of the Wise One broke the silence with a chuckle. The cairhienin shook her head gracefully. „No, I was trained by the atha‘an miere for a time, before gaining a position in a academy beyond the Stones.“

Erelle still seemed to be at a loss for words. Just watched her, face now thoughtful. Kaline shrugged. „I could have sworn to see a spark of Amys in you.“

A gentle smile flashed across Galinas lips. Being compared to her, was an honor.

Finally Erelle spoke. Her voice was collected, she did not seem phased anymore by what the Accepted has asked of her. „You are aware child, that it is custom for the Mistress of Novices to decide, when a woman is tested for the shawl. But do you know, why this custom is in place?“

The woman had not expected her to just say yes and questions along those lines had seemed very likely, so she was prepared. „Because the Mistress of Novices watches the Accepted very closely and has insight into their development and abilities.“ Erelle nodded satisfied at her words and seemed like she wanted to point out, that this was the exact reason, why an Accepted did not make such demands. But Galina kept going. „But isn’t it the woman in question, the one who has the greatest insight into her own advancement? Or at least she should, if she is really ready to become Aes Sedai. I am fully aware of my abilities, my strengths and my challenges. I know my goal, I know the way and the price that needs to be paid. Let me prove myself in the Testing! And if I fail, I will claim responsibility in front of the Tower, in front of the whole world of you wish and then quietly take my leave!“

The Wise One had listened, face thoughtful. Now barely recognizable, she seemed to nod, and Galina recognized a sense of approval on her face.

Erelle‘s face on the other hand, had turned to a cool mask, violently keeping back any trace of emotion.

Maybe she had gone to far. Nervousness crept up once more and she had to stifle the urge to swallow.

„You have made your point, child. I will consider your words.“ her voice showed next to no clue on how she would decide. Galina felt a strong sense of reluctance, but she could have imagined it aswell.

With that she was dismissed.

Out in the hall, she had to pull herself together, not to lean against the wall, around the next corner. Instead she crossed her arms behind her back and glided back to her quarters.

She made her way back to the Accepted‘s wing and her room, where Lilith waited. The other Accepted sat on the bed, muttering over a book. Galina closed the door quickly a and sank against it, needing all her strength to not slump down.

„There you are! I‘ve been waiting for... Galina? Are you okay?“

The Cairhienin had bowed her head, and her hand once more rested on her forehead. Shadow, to cloak her from the eyes of her enemies.

She shook off the stupor and with a sudden laugh she looked up to her friend.

„I must be mad Lilith! I just outright demanded of Erelle to test me!“

[chubark]

(Original Work) The Exchange

           ‘I, Audicus Lens, Imperial Scribe of the Empire of Arvenis, shall write of one of the races that inhabit our fair land of Lania. These words shall be held as official account on matters pertaining to the race that is transcribed into the pages of this text, and shall be consulted when dealing with matters concerning the race in question. The powers vested to me in this sacred charge are given by his grace, chosen by the Goddess, the Emperor, Tanus Deris I, in the year of the Arvenis Empire 1547.

 The Irsazi

             The Irsazi is a species that lives in the Southern Deserts, a dry land dotted by gigantic pillars of stone located far beyond the Skyman Mountains that serve as a barrier between us and the rest of the world. They live in great Hives beneath the ground, in the soft and damp soils that lies beneath the sands. Most of the day-to-day living is conducted in their hives, as the Irsazi are generally uncomfortable with venturing above-ground, especially during the day.

The sun and winds of their desert homes are harsh, which the razorwinds that can kick up due to the loose sands of their homes can score the flesh from a Human in the time it takes to register the pain. The sun can also burn any creature caught in it in a mere hour, making the surface of the desert inhospitable during the daytime. Any activity that occurs with the Irsazi should be either inside a hive or at night, as to avoid the hazards of the desert.

The Irsazi have an ant-like society, which the queen is the mother or sister to all of her subjects and is the head of state. The caste system that the Irsazi employ is based on biology, unlike that of our own Empire The caste of an individual is determined in the larval stage, which the harchling is given a specific mixture of chemicals to induce maturation into the desired caste.

  The Castes of the Irsazi are as follows:

           Merchant-Caste: The Merchant-Case is the ‘main’ caste of an Irsazi hive, and is the primary caste that the other species interact with. It is the most versatile caste, only called such because it is an outside label. The occupations of the Merchant-Caste include, but not limited to: Overseers of the Drudge-Caste, merchants, priests, diplomats, tacticians, scientists, civilians. There are no warriors in the Merchant-Caste; all combat situations are handled by a specific Warrior-Caste. The Merchant-Caste has the second highest amount of intellectual ability of all castes, and are only surpassed by the Queen. In times of extreme emergency, the Merchant-Caste acts as the last defense for the hive, along with the Drudge-Caste.

             Warrior-Caste: The best way to describe the Warrior-Caste is the idea that they are an ‘Enlarged Merchant Caste’, which they sport thicker carapaces as protection. Their fingers are fused together, with the thumb migrating to the individual’s ‘wrist’. This creates a sort of claw mechanism, which has been shown to bend Imperial-forged steel with the greatest of ease. Individuals in the Warrior-Caste are able to form basic strategy when, but their intellectual ability is considerably less than either the Drudge or Merchant-Caste. They are the second most seen caste, usually acting as guards for the Merchant-Caste or hired mercenaries. A secondary function of the Warrior-Caste is for heavy labor, which they are used to clear tunnels when the Drudge-Caste cannot, but the act is still subordinate to the defense of the Hive.

             Drudge-Caste: The Drudge-Caste, which can also be referred to as the Menial Labor caste, are the lowest caste in the Hierarchy, below the Warrior and Merchant. They act as the main food-gathering caste, and act as the farming workforce for the Hive. They can also become effective hunters when groups of Drudge-Caste are paired with an Overseer. When not used for farming, they are the miners, digging in earth with their claws for the metals and stone needed for everyday Hive life. A secondary function of them is the ability to become diggers, which they dig into the earth to expand the Hive and connect the different Hives together. The Drudge-Caste is the largest caste, as many are needed for any project that the Merchants undergo to finish quickly. Their intellectual capacity is lower than both the Merchants and Queen, but is still higher than the Warrior-Caste. They are the second-least seen of the Castes, as they usually spend their time deep in the bowels of the earth, performing the tasks that keep the Hive running. The Caste can be versatile, though this versatility is markedly less so than the Merchant-Caste. Due to this lack of malleability, they join the Merchant Caste as the last line of defense for the Hive.

             Queen-Caste: The Queen is the ‘Highest’ caste of hive, which there is only one per brood. The queen is either the biological mother or sister to each member of the brood, which all castes are subservient to their queen. The queen is the ruler of the brood, akin to that of our fair Emperor. She can promote others as political ruler under certain circumstances, but this circumstance is rare in normal activity. In the event of an emergency, the queen can be ‘disposed’ by other castes, but the act must be a unanimous decision by rulers of each section of society. Ex: The Queen behaving erratically, which drives the Hive into ruin. In an optimal situation, a chosen larva is specially prepared to become the Queen, with a drone being brought in from another brood. In a critical emergency, a female of the Merchant Caste can become the Queen, but the process is considered ‘Sloppy’ and is usually temporary until new Queen is old enough to ‘Ascend’. The temporary Queen is then disposed, as a ‘pure’ Queen is viewed as superior.

             Hives usually contain four unrelated Queens and respective broods. The Broods will usually mate with one another, but will contact other hives if their Queens become related. Queens can leave their Hive and build another, but this is a very rare occurrence, as Queens are created only when they are in demand. Queens are independent with their brood, but must convene with the others if matters concern the entire hive. Each broods defend and gives loyalty to Hive, but loyalty to their Queen outranks that of the Hive.

             Individualism among members is present, but is highly discouraged when dealing with the greater hive. Individuals from any particular Hive will use ‘We’ when referring to the Hive in any public matter, but will switch to ‘I’ when referring to personal matters. Criminals are rare in the hives, but are still a factor of life. The harshest punishment an Irsazi can receive is exile, as death is seen as a ‘release from duty’. Individuals can leave hive to seek his or her own destiny, but the culture makes such occurrences few and far between.

             Larva, while pre-determined to be a caste, do not have the ability to choose profession. There is no general education in the Hive; the larvae are instead taken to a part of society in need of workers. The education for the profession is handled by the eldest members of the occupation. This promotes interdependence on the other professions in society. The Drudge is the most independent caste, but requires both direction and tools from Merchant Caste and protection from Warrior Caste. The Warriors require both food from Drudge and medicine/direction from Merchant.

             While the Irsazi have gods, they believe them to be absent or otherwise uncaring or the species. Instead, they rely on spirits for guidance. Similar to their caste system, the spirits have ranks. At the top are the primordial spirits of the Elements, such as Fire or Water. Below are the spirits of wealth, luck, healing, and etcetera. After them are the spirits of tasks, including cooking, hunting, or blacksmithing. Each profession has a ‘patron spirit’ of this caste, often invoked while performing said tasks. At the bottom of the castes are the spirits of those who have passed on, which all of the living castes belong to. Irsazi are extremely protective of their religion, and insulting it in one’s presence can lead to entire hives shunning the speaker. Their corpses have no funerary rites, as they believe the body is only the (now emptied) shell of the spirit. Often, they will cannibalize the corpse as to not allow it to ‘go to waste’.

             Their language is, perhaps, the most astounding thing about them. Instead of relying purely on the spoken word, like we do, the Irsazi have a complex system that mixes noises and the tapping of their own exoskeletons to give meaning, context, time displacement, and more, giving it a complexity that rivals our own. The tapping of different body parts, the frequency, the fingers involved, and the volume of the taps can divulge so much about what the Irsazi wish to say. To understand this complex communication technique, there are both Human and Irsazi translators willing to teach any of those-‘

             Aera stifled a yawn as she read through this part of her people’s history. The dusty tome tickled her nose and caused her to grimace, the girl half-tempted to put it back onto the shelf. These things were over thirty cycles older than her, written in a time long since passed. Tanus Deris was long since dead, his grandson now seated on the throne. The Irsazi have gone from an unknown species halfway across the world to a common sight in the capital, even Cyferi being an uncommon, but not rare, sight in the streets.

             She closed the book with a snap and put it back up on the shelf. The library was full of these dusty tomes, many written by the author of the Irsazi and more by the scribes he had trained to replace him and help the lords write decrees and keep records. Her own company this day, however, was a candle that sputtered and flickered in its dying throes. She took up the candle and gave one last look to find anything of interest before moving on.

             Her eyes, missing the insignificant piece of parchment the first time she perused the bookshelves, now landed on the yellowed and crinkled piece of paper. With her free hand, she swiped the paper from its resting place on the shelf and opened it, beginning to read the contents inside. One eyebrow shot up immediately upon recognition of the recipient of the mail, and the unmistakable handwriting of the author.

             ‘Your Imperial Majesty, Emperor of Arvenis and Lord of Humanity, I send greetings,

             The Irsazi are nothing like we ever experienced before. Even contact with the Cyferi could not have prepared us for meeting them. They’re insects, my liege, -insects-. Ones taller than even the tallest guard I have with me, and those are only the ones sent to greet our party. Their people live underground is vast structures carved from the very earth, lined with vents to the outside and glowing plants for light. Even the deepest places I visited still felt like a breath of fresh air.

             From what I can understand, they say that it is fortunate we have arrived in the night, since the days in this infernal desert bake them in the sun and the wind tears the shells off their backs. This must be immediately noted by any other teams your majesty wishes to send, so they do not die before they reach the Irsazi.

             From what I see, they can possibly be fast allies of ours, and much more stable than the shifting moods of the Cyferi tribes. Their skill in alchemy is unsurpassed even by our greatest minds, and their metalwork is beautiful and intricate. Their iron supplies seem to be always low, and they are fascinated by the clothes we wear. Clothes, sire! With the amount of sheep and ore we have, we can trade them for food for centuries, if not millennia, to come.

             Speaking of their alchemical skill, sire, they did save Darius from an infection that would have surely killed him. He was wounded in the Cyferi attack mentioned in my last letter, but took a turn for the worse as we travelled farther south. If it weren’t for them, it would have to have fallen on Your Grace’s shoulders to tell your brother that his son was slain by the Cyferi. As it stands now, we can continue negotiations for safe passage through their territory.

             It looks like their people are separated into caste based on physical appearance, with similar appearances going into the same caste. Their soldiers are larger than the average Irsazi, with the strength to move boulders aside. Their workers are much smaller, with a pair of arms on each end of their body. It’s highly fascinating, which I will be sending sketches with my next letter.

             The Irsazi are the key to our survival. Food is abundant in their homeland, despite the top of the land itself being a desert. They serve us all different kinds of foods and drinks, with entire banquet halls stuffed to the brim with food for the Irsazi to eat. The hunger we face, now that the Sky Men’s food supplies are entirely gone, will be a thing of the past.

             Tanus, as your high advisor and your friend, I implore you, command your lords to accept the idea of the Irsazi to help us. I realize it was bad enough for you to send us out to find the Irsazi, but I beg of you to force them to understand what this means for their children and grandchildren. It would be between life for their family or death for them and their peasants.

 May the Light of the Sky Men Grant You Wisdom, Your Imperial Majesty,

-          Audicus Lens’

             Aera stared at the piece of paper, dumbstruck by the casualness of how Audicus

addressed the former emperor. She had known he was childhood friends of Tanus Deris, but to speak to him so plainly in an official letter was unheard of. Taking a moment to clear her head of this revelation, she quickly folded the paper back up and dropped it into the satchel on her hip. With her now-dead candle in tow, she raced out of the library and into the street proper.

             The capital of Arvenis grew out of the first city the Sky Men built on Lania, but the toll of them leaving the Arveni had turned their orderly city into a twisted maze of streets and alleys. Only the Emperor’s sanctum and the area around it retained the original vision of the Sky Men, which grew smaller in comparison to the city by the year.

             One of the houses in this section was her destination this night, the windows dark from the outside. She proceeded into the house straight away, not bothering to knock before she entered. An old man lay on a cot on the other side of the room, his wrinkled features smoothed by a pleasant dream. Aera, instead of immediately waking the man, went over to the candle on a weathered desk and lit it, filling the room with a soft glow.

             Slowly but surely, the candle’s light slowly caused the old man to waken, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with wrinkled hands as his vision, blurred by sleep and night, adjusted in the face of the candle. When he finally cleared his vision, he turned to look at Aera, whom occupied a chair against the adjacent wall.

             “Aera, my dear… What is the matter? It’s late at night.” The old man, dressed in nothing more than a sleeping gown, slowly crawled out of bed, aided by a staff carved from the pine that the Sky Men brought with them. Aera simply stared at him for a minute, unable to speak, until she dug into her pack and pulled out the note. She offered it to the man, who took it with a surprisingly even hand and started to read.

             After a minute, the man sighed and put down the note, sitting in the chair by the desk and staring into the candlelight. Aera stared at him still, silent in her judgement of him. Finally, after a few minutes of quiet, the man turned towards Aera. “He was my friend, you know,” the old man said, staring at the young woman. At her silence, he signed and looked towards the note again. “I know what you’re thinking, but, truth be told, I believe my urging got him to accept the Irsazi’s help. We were dying, Aera. A few sacrilegious comments to an Emperor was worth saving our people.”

             Finally, Aera spoke, “It wasn’t that… I just did not know that you knew him so personally, grandfather. I know grandmother died in the famine before that, but… I guess I didn’t really appreciate what kind of work you and the Emperor did for the people.”

             Audicus formed a quiet, tired smile at her words, a hand placed on the back of the chair as he stared at her. “And few still will ever know, Aera. Of how Tanus and I saved us. But… Perhaps it’s better that way. Less people to want to lynch me for speaking frugally to an Emperor.” He shrugged quietly, then stood once more and shuffled back to his bed. As Aera stood and went to the doorway, Audicus licked his fingers and pinched the candle out, and, with one final look at each other, Audicus laid down for bed and Aera, once more, disappeared into the night.

[chrayneponz]

How Automation Can Benefit Your Business

Modern businesses require modern solutions to help them function at optimum levels. But modern solutions can often cost large amounts of cash that smaller businesses and entrepreneurs simply don’t have.

Automation sounds like one of those high-cost solutions that only the big guys can afford. But the truth is, even small businesses with limited budgets can fit automating tasks into their budget.

While 25 per cent of small businesses are already using automation to help their business grow, a staggering 57 per cent of businesses haven’t yet reaped the benefits of automation. But you don’t have to be one of the 57 per cent. There are automation solutions out there that are within your budget and easy enough for you to get set up. 

How does workflow automation work?

Simply put, workflow automation uses a rules-based approach to automate otherwise manual work, specifically where tasks are uniform and repetitive. Even something as simple asshipping software utilizes automation.

Chances are, you’re probably already using some form of automation in your business, but don’t realize it. For example, if you use email marketing automation software to send a confirmation email to those who sign up to your mailing list, you’re already automating part of your workflow.

Likewise, if you’re using a system that tags those same people on your mailing list based on whether they open an email, or you’re using a scheduling system to post on social media, you’re already building your own marketing automation platform.

These small changes to your workflow help eliminate manual work and improve your overall productivity. This way, you can work smarter, not necessarily harder. It’s one step closer to running a successful small business. 

Why Automation is important?

It’s becoming increasingly important to automate your business. Automation tools are becoming less expensive but still pack a mean punch. It can help you eliminate menial time-consuming tasks without having to hire some help, and can make your business function in a more organized and productive manner.

Let’s say you want to grow your small one-person shop into a full-fledged business, at some point you’ll need to integrate automation in order to spend time on critical tasks and less time executing. It’s not as complex or scary as it may sound. But it can help you grow in leaps and bounds while still staying within your budget.

Automation fits into almost any aspect of your business, from your marketing to your financial tasks. It’s versatile, usually easy to set up, and can positively affect your workflow and operations. 

Benefits of automation

Automation allows you to work smarter not harder, ensures that everyday tasks get done even when you don’t have the time, and makes your life as an entrepreneur easier. If you’re considering adding automation to your small business, here are eight benefits you could experience:

Increase your productivity

Most businesses start down on the automation path because they’re looking to boost productivity, and it can absolutely do that. Automation is great for getting those tedious, repetitive tasks off your plate so you can free up more time to focus on what’s important.

It’s important to note that automation technologies are not good for everything. If your task requires a high amount of customization every time you do it, it’s probably not the right tool for the job. But if it’s the kind of task that can be done by copying and pasting, checking boxes, or another task that’s repetitive and predictable, automation can probably save you a ton of time.

Reduce overall operation costs

If you’re growing a small business, chances are at some point, you’ll end up with more work than you can handle on your own.

Many businesses already spend a lot of money outsourcing—even for small businesses with limited budgets, 71 per cent of that budget often ends up going towards staffing costs. Although your business might not be there yet.

It’s true that outsourcing can be a great tool if you have the budget for it. But there’s an often overlooked solution for getting work off your plate while keeping your costs low—automation. The McKinsey report even states that 5 per cent of jobs can be fully replaced by automation.

If you’re a small business owner and automation simply isn’t on the table right now because you can’t afford the extra cost, automation software can make a big impact. It can handle small, simple tasks without you having to hire an assistant.

Streamline your communication

It’s easy to drop the ball on something when you have a series of manual tasks that require human intervention to get information from one system to another. The simple fact is that there are a lot of systems that you may use that don’t talk to each other.

One of the major benefits of using an automation tool like Zapier, which connects systems together is that you can cut manual processes on more menial tasks like copying data from A to B. Again, this works best for simple pieces of information, but the right tool can handle more complex tasks.

Ensure high availability

Traditional businesses make money when the doors are open, which is often on a predetermined 9-to-5 type schedule. But the online world has opened up the door to 24-hour business models. In cases where that doesn’t happen, businesses can suffer. 

If someone wants to order a t-shirt with a grumpy-faced pug on it at 3 a.m. but your store doesn’t process orders when there isn’t someone physically online to do it, then you’re losing money. The right tools and automation can help ensure that your business continues to operate, even when you’re not there to manually press the buttons.

It allows you to continue to make sales, have customer interactions, and do business, even when you’re taking some much-needed rest.

Optimize performance

Weak processes slow down your business.

If there’s something broken in your process, getting on top of it could make the difference between growth and stalling. Automation software and tools can help firm up and optimize some of those business processes that are weighing you down.

Operating at the highest level possible is paramount if you want to see substantial growth in your business. So identifying the weakness in your business process and fixing it with automation has the potential to not only make jobs easier, but encourage growth.

Eliminate human error

It doesn’t matter who you are or how good you are at your job, mistakes happen. 

This is especially the case if you’re a solopreneur who handles everything yourself. Even if you’re well-organized and on top of tasks, eventually the increasing workload of a growing business can take its toll. Sometimes even in an embarrassing client-facing way, like forgetting about a project or missing an important email.

Routine tasks can become a burden. Or things that you do to grow your business, like marketing, can quickly fall by the wayside due to increased client demand. But one benefit of automation software is it can help you eliminate human error while freeing up your time to continue to grow.

By taking small tasks that need to be done, templating them, and having them done automatically, you lower your risk of making mistakes. You can even use marketing automation tools to help with marketing tasks, so you can focus on your clients while still promoting yourself.

Increase reliability and accountability

Adding to the reduction of human error, automation software can help increase the reliability of tasks. This not only ensures they’re done correctly, but also when they’re supposed to be done. No waiting for someone to slog through piles of paperwork before the information gets inputted into your system.

On the same note, reducing human interaction can also increase accountability. You can use automation to add additional checks and balances to help ensure increased accountability in your workflow. This can help provide extra confidence in your overall process. 

Better organization

Disorganization is distracting. But not only that, it can lead to mistakes.

The problem is a lot of tasks that you need to stay on top of to keep organized and make things run smoothly are things that can often seem like small potatoes when you’re running a big business.

Luckily, these are often tasks that are repetitive in nature, which means automation software can probably take care of them. Imagine being more organized with less workload. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Challenges with automation

While automation is a nifty little helper, it’s not foot proof. 

As much as sci-fi movies would have us believe that one day robots will take over the world, there are too many gaps within automation software to run your entire business with no human element (today, anyway).

The most sophisticated automation that’s widely available and affordable still has trouble with complex activities. And even when you might be able to automate those tasks, the cost of doing so in both time and money is often high. So, you really need to pick your automation tools carefully and focus on the key features that will help move forward your business without escalating the cost.

The other big challenge with automation is internal acceptance. While it often eliminates menial tasks that can help create more employee engagement, adoption can sometimes be slow.

This could be because of internal resistance, or simply the result of a steep learning curve. Whatever the reason, providing the best resources and assistance you can to your team might make the process a faster and smoother one.

SOURCE: https://www.ownr.co/blog/how-automation-can-benefit-your-business/

[tech-and-life-bean]

11 Benefits of CRM Systems

A CRM solution can be used in various ways and provide numerous benefits to your business. Here are 11 key benefits a CRM could provide.

1. Better customer service

Modern CRM software has many functions, but the software was created to improve business-customer relationships, and that’s still its main benefit. A CRM manages all of your contacts and gathers important customer information — like demographics, purchase records and previous messages across all channels — and makes it easily accessible to anyone in your company who needs it. This ensures that your employees have all they need to know about the customer at their fingertips and can provide a better customer experience, which tends to boost customer satisfaction.

2. Increased sales

A CRM tool can help you streamline your sales process, build a sales pipeline, automate key tasks and analyze all of your sales data in one centralized place, potentially increasing sales and productivity. A CRM helps you establish a step-by-step sales process that your employees can rely on every time and that you can easily tweak as issues arise.

3. Improved customer retention

Once you’ve procured and converted leads, it’s vital that you put in the work to retain them as customers and promote customer loyalty. High customer turnover can have many negative effects for your business, like diminished revenue or disrupted cash flow, so use your CRM and the information it provides about your customers to encourage repeat business. The CRM will provide sentiment analysis, automated ticketing, customer support automation and user behavior tracking to help you determine problems and quickly address them with your customers.

4. Detailed analytics

It’s one thing to have plenty of data about your customers, but you need to know what it means and how to use it. CRM software typically has built-in analytic capabilities to contextualize data, breaking it down into actionable items and easily understood metrics. Metrics such as click-through rates, bounce rates, and demographic information allow you to judge the success of a marketing campaign and optimize accordingly.

5. Higher productivity and efficiency

CRM software uses marketing automation technology, which expedites menial tasks like drip campaigns and frees up your employees’ time to focus on work only humans can handle, like creating content. It can also ensure that no tasks slip through the cracks (e.g., all important emails are always sent to the right people). Additionally, a CRM can show you a dashboard of how your business processes are working and where your workflows could improve.

6. Centralized database of information

Another thing CRM software does best is providing a centralized database with all information on your customers, making it easily accessible to anyone in your company who needs it. This makes it easy for a sales representative to see what products a certain customer is interested in, for example. If the customer has previously interacted with the company, the CRM will include records of that interaction, which can inform future marketing efforts and sales pitches. This saves your employees the time of digging through old files and records, and it makes for a better and more productive experience for the customer.

7. Managed communications with prospective leads

Lead nurturing can be an arduous and complicated process, with many steps and opportunities to communicate. A CRM automatically manages the process, sending your employees alerts when they should reach out to the prospect and tracking every interaction, from emails to phone calls.

“One great advantage of [CRM] is that you can see your customer’s journey holistically,” said Michael Miller, CEO of VPN Online. “With every phase in the design and every email you sent out reviewed, you can quickly figure out the next move to make. It’s like seeing it from the top view, and you can easily create a decision on what to do next.”

8. Improved customer segmentation

A list of hundreds of contacts can be unwieldy and overwhelming. For example, how do you know which customers want to see your email about your new in-store product? A CRM will automatically segment your contact lists based on your criteria, making it easy to find the ones you want to contact at any given time. You can sort contacts by location, gender, age, buyer stage and more.

“Automation actually allows the marketer to have a more meaningful understanding of the customer and have more valuable interaction when they do interact because of it,” Philips said. “The important part to understand about automation is that we don’t want to write a general email to our customers. Instead, we want to send emails reflecting customers’ preferences, interests and values by segmenting them into groups using the data gleaned within the CRM.”

9. Automated sales reports

Your team can easily collect and organize data about prospective and current customers using the CRM software’s dashboard and reporting features, which allow employees to automate and manage their pipelines and processes. The CRM can also help your team members evaluate their performance, track their quotas and goals, and check their progress on each of their projects at a glance.

10. More accurate sales forecasting

With any business operation, you need to be able to review your past performance and strategically plan for the future. Using the automated sales reports in CRM software, you can identify key trends and get an idea of what to expect from your future sales cycle performance, while adjusting your goals and metrics to suit those projections.

11. Streamlined internal communications

Aside from facilitating communication between your business and your customers, a CRM can make it easier for your employees to communicate with each other. A CRM makes it easy to see how other employees are speaking with a potential customer, which helps your team maintain a unified brand voice. It also allows team members to send each other notes or alerts, tag each other on projects, and send messages and emails, all within one system.

Key takeaway: The benefits of CRM include increased sales, detailed analytics, automated sales reports and better customer retention.

Credits: Kiely Kuligowski Date: June 29, 2022 Source: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15963-benefits-of-crm.html

[apolonia102812-newsletter]

How Automation Can Help Your Small Business

With automation technologies improving, small businesses do not have to worry about experimenting with automation. They can safely incorporate some of the proven technologies that serve practical purposes for their organizations.

At my company, we use automation software every day when underwriting deals to help scrub statements, sign documents electronically, etc., so I’ve seen how automation can significantly improve how a small business is run. Below are some ways automation can help your small business.

Productivity

One of the basic objectives of any form of technology is efficiency. Automation, like many technologies cutting across industries, can increase efficiency exponentially by cutting time to do mundane tasks at a faster rate. However, this does not mean automation can increase all types of productivity. The technology works best when it is deployed for tedious and repetitive tasks.

While artificial intelligence has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, it is yet to become a substitute for the human brain. There are many tasks or operations in a small business that still require human intervention, both cognitive and physical in case of complex activities.

Automation can boost productivity for small businesses by helping them take care of some of the front-loaded processes that normally would take time to do.

Accuracy

Software programs or algorithms eliminate the scope of human error. Regardless of how deft or diligent a person is, there is always some chance of erring, and this requires additional effort in the form of review to be rectified.

Because of this, many errors go unnoticed until they cause problems. Such problems can be averted if automation is deployed. Whole processes can become simpler, too. Small businesses can switch to accounting software and other types of applications for efficiency, productivity and accuracy.

Improved Collaboration

Every business is made up of a bunch of moving parts, with different teams working on different tasks and employees almost always wearing a number of different hats and juggling multiple responsibilities all at once.

This is why it’s so easy for projects — even really important ones — to get lost in the shuffle a little.

Automation tools streamline communication, keep everyone on the same page, provide references to past work and approaches, and can make goal setting and deadlines effortless and automatic. Tracking progress and getting a better feel for where resources can be best allocated becomes a whole lot easier with automation, too.

Employee Morale

Many employees do not like monotonous tasks. Repetitive tasks get tedious and offer little sense of job satisfaction. When automation takes over such tasks, it frees up employees to focus on more productive activities, especially those in which employees can use their cognitive potential. The human brain is capable of a great many things if it is put to good use.

Spending too much time on menial tasks exhausts people and makes them less likely to be creative or motivated, in my experience.

The effect automation produces on employee morale has a chain reaction, which can improve the culture at a small business. Exhausted and unhappy employees usually do not contribute positively to workplace culture. Employees are likely to be more invested, curious, driven and in pursuit of excellence when they are satisfied with their work.

The boost to morale provides that kind of job satisfaction.

Adopting Automation In Your Business

At the end of the day, automation offers smart and savvy business owners too much leverage to overlook for much longer. However, trying to automate your business from top to bottom is always going to feel like an insurmountable task. Especially if you’re starting from scratch, with no experience in automation previously.

The best approach is to find a couple of high-leverage areas you can focus on where automation can pay the biggest dividends. Look to see where your staff feels they are overworked, specifically. If you can automate away some of their workload you can quickly (and easily) reinvest their talents and experience in higher ROI areas.

This bite-sized approach to automation, constantly looking for ways to incrementally improve and automate your business, is the slow and steady path to success. It also allows you to track and optimize each new effort without feeling like you have to overhaul your business from head to toe each time.

Credits: Chad Otar

Date: Sep 3, 2019

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2019/09/03/how-automation-can-help-your-small-business/?sh=7fbcef7277ad

[thefinancialpyramid]

How Automation Can Help Your Small Business

With automation technologies improving, small businesses do not have to worry about experimenting with automation. They can safely incorporate some of the proven technologies that serve practical purposes for their organizations.

At my company, we use automation software every day when underwriting deals to help scrub statements, sign documents electronically, etc., so I’ve seen how automation can significantly improve how a small business is run. Below are some ways automation can help your small business.

Productivity

One of the basic objectives of any form of technology is efficiency. Automation, like many technologies cutting across industries, can increase efficiency exponentially by cutting time to do mundane tasks at a faster rate. However, this does not mean automation can increase all types of productivity. The technology works best when it is deployed for tedious and repetitive tasks.

While artificial intelligence has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, it is yet to become a substitute for the human brain. There are many tasks or operations in a small business that still require human intervention, both cognitive and physical in case of complex activities.

Automation can boost productivity for small businesses by helping them take care of some of the front-loaded processes that normally would take time to do.

Accuracy

Software programs or algorithms eliminate the scope of human error. Regardless of how deft or diligent a person is, there is always some chance of erring, and this requires additional effort in the form of review to be rectified.

Because of this, many errors go unnoticed until they cause problems. Such problems can be averted if automation is deployed. Whole processes can become simpler, too. Small businesses can switch to accounting software and other types of applications for efficiency, productivity and accuracy.

Improved Collaboration

Every business is made up of a bunch of moving parts, with different teams working on different tasks and employees almost always wearing a number of different hats and juggling multiple responsibilities all at once.

This is why it’s so easy for projects — even really important ones — to get lost in the shuffle a little.

Automation tools streamline communication, keep everyone on the same page, provide references to past work and approaches, and can make goal setting and deadlines effortless and automatic. Tracking progress and getting a better feel for where resources can be best allocated becomes a whole lot easier with automation, too.

Employee Morale

Many employees do not like monotonous tasks. Repetitive tasks get tedious and offer little sense of job satisfaction. When automation takes over such tasks, it frees up employees to focus on more productive activities, especially those in which employees can use their cognitive potential. The human brain is capable of a great many things if it is put to good use.

Spending too much time on menial tasks exhausts people and makes them less likely to be creative or motivated, in my experience.

The effect automation produces on employee morale has a chain reaction, which can improve the culture at a small business. Exhausted and unhappy employees usually do not contribute positively to workplace culture. Employees are likely to be more invested, curious, driven and in pursuit of excellence when they are satisfied with their work.

The boost to morale provides that kind of job satisfaction.

Adopting Automation In Your Business

At the end of the day, automation offers smart and savvy business owners too much leverage to overlook for much longer. However, trying to automate your business from top to bottom is always going to feel like an insurmountable task. Especially if you’re starting from scratch, with no experience in automation previously.

The best approach is to find a couple of high-leverage areas you can focus on where automation can pay the biggest dividends. Look to see where your staff feels they are overworked, specifically. If you can automate away some of their workload you can quickly (and easily) reinvest their talents and experience in higher ROI areas.

This bite-sized approach to automation, constantly looking for ways to incrementally improve and automate your business, is the slow and steady path to success. It also allows you to track and optimize each new effort without feeling like you have to overhaul your business from head to toe each time.

Credits: Chad Otar

Date: Sep 3, 2019

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2019/09/03/how-automation-can-help-your-small-business/?sh=16be12d77ad8

#business #areteautomation #automation #software #technology

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Work Experience and Internships

Most of us go to university with the expectation that we’re positioning ourselves for a better starting salary, improved social mobility, and the chance to do our best work, live our best lives, and retire comfortably. But you probably know by now that a piece of paper isn’t going to cut it in the real world™, and employers expect more than good grades.

Work experience is one of the many ways to distinguish yourself from the crowd. (For more on maximising your graduate employability, check out this post on the boredofstudies forum) Internships, and unpaid internships especially, are an increasingly popular source of work experience to spruce up the CV. Considering how intense competition in the graduate market is these days, students are seeking out unpaid internships from as early as first year.

This post is supposed to be an introduction to internships, with a particular focus on unpaid internships and their accompanying risks and pitfalls.      

What’s an internship?

“Internship” is a bit of a nebulous term to which we’ve attached certain expectations and ideas; in popular culture, interns are akin to coffee runners and menial office workers, or the ones we jokingly blame for misfired tweets, but the reality (as it tends to be) is far more complex.   

You can think of internships as a bridge between academic theory and practical workplace experience - they’re a learning (and often networking) opportunity to give you a taste of what it’d be like to work at a particular organisation or in a particular sector.  

An internship can be structured or unstructured, paid or unpaid, and can last anywhere from a few weeks to twenty four months. They can be arranged through your university for academic credit, or you can seek them out yourself. The content of an internship is highly variable and dependent on the industry and organisation. You may be assigned a project or task, made to shadow senior executives, rotated through several divisions, or even invited to attend networking events and receive professional development.  

The pros and cons of unpaid internships

Pros

Gaining experience in your academic field, or a field related to what you intend to pursue as a career;

Taking on or refining transferable skills that will enhance your employability;

Getting a sense of an organisation’s day-to-day rhythm and a feel for their workplace culture;

If doing an internship for credit, your work and study time overlap;

In some cases, being provided with mentoring, training, career coaching and/or professional development;

The opportunity to form connections and grow your network.

Cons

You are not reimbursed for travel or meals, which means paying out of pocket for what can be lengthy commutes to your workplace;

Employers who don’t respect your boundaries or provide flexibility;

Doing work that is used but not credited to you;

Managing paid work, study and other commitments on top of the unpaid internship;

Being given boring and trivial tasks that don’t challenge you or help you learn, conversely;

Being given a heavy and unrealistic workload for an intern, i.e. doing the work a normal employee would but without pay (this ABC Online report  and Pedestrian TV article cover the pitfalls of unpaid internships). 

This Junkee article also looks at the social implications of unpaid internships, e.g. widening the gap between privileged and underprivileged students. 

Know your rights

Students are often treated as free labour because you don’t have the requisite work experience or skills to justify being paid. That means you aren’t afforded the same workplace protections and rights as paid employees. This makes unpaid internships ripe for exploitation, and frankly, you deserve better. 

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, an you might be in an employment relationship rather than interning if:

You are doing more productive work than observational;

The work you are doing is normally done by paid employees, and/or is necessary to the organisation’s or company’s daily operations;  

You are expected or required by the organisation to come work or do productive activities;

The company is benefiting more from the the arrangement than you.

Apart from reporting to the Fair Work Ombudsman, you can reach out to Interns Australia, which advocates for fairer and more transparent rules surrounding internships. It also recently launched the National Fair Internship Pledge to help employers and interns identify fair and high quality internship programs.

Searching for internships

Depending on your field of study, internships can be in huge or limited supply. My undergrad was in International Studies, which wasn’t something that had a neat and direct equivalent in the workplace like a Commerce or Business degree. However, communications, media and law internships are practically booming (the problem’s in the amount and quality of competition). So the big question is, where do you start looking?

University careers boards

These should really be your first stop. Get into the habit of regularly checking the careers board; if you know you’ll forget to, subscribe for weekly updates. The big upside of uni job boards is that you’ll see internship ads for small, obscure-sounding companies or organisations that you wouldn’t find when browsing big sites like GradAustralia (see below).  

Also a friendly reminder that your careers centre has resources beyond job boards -- self-assessment tools, fact sheets on just about every aspect of jobseeking, industry news and updates, drop-in career advice and resume-polishing sessions, and careers workshops. Use these! 

Online job boards  

Career One, SEEK, gumtree and Indeed are popular for obvious reasons, but because of their scale, you’re bound to spend most of your time weeding out shifty ads from the legitimate ones.  

I’d advise starting with these websites:  

Grad Australia

GradConnection

Graduate Careers Australia, which manages Graduate Opportunities

Australian Internships

If you’re doing a generalist degree and not entirely sure what companies are suitable, fear not -- the first three sites have an “Arts and Humanities” filter in their search engines. 

Careers fairs

There’s nothing like spending a half-day at the careers fair picking up freebies and chatting to recruiters. They’re a good next step if you’re serious about an internship with a big name company and have done some preliminary research into their internship or graduate programs. 

Meeting representatives and recruiters allows you to get answers from real people, rather than answers from the other side of a screen. It’ll help you get a feel for what kinds of people the company is looking for, and even make some basic connections. (Of course, don’t forget to ask them for tips on what makes a successful application!)    

Applying for internships

It’s always worth checking the credibility of any organisation you want to intern with -- have people mentioned good or bad experiences, is the work they do legitimate, are your roles and duties as an intern clearly laid out? Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a couple of internships, it’s time to do further research.    

You need to be able to articulate why you want to intern at any organisation or company, and that requires knowledge of the organisation or company beyond “your brand is great” and “I want work experience”. What do you hope to gain from interning? How do you fit the company’s values? Make sure your applications are targeted, that you’re not just throwing yourself at any internship in your industry and hoping to land one. Consider your own personality, strengths and skills, and try to apply for internships that match them. If you know you don’t meet half the desired criteria of an advertised internship, then it’s probably best not to apply.    

Which isn’t to discourage you from limiting your options. When you’re starting out, it’s okay to apply to as many places as possible just to get a feel for the entire application process. You need the experience of writing up cover letters and attending interviews, because it’ll serve you well when you start looking for a proper job post-graduation.  

It’s a very, very good idea to ask for help and feedback on your application. Again, remember that your university’s careers centre pretty much exists for this reason. They can provide personalised advice on your resume and cover letter, and if fronting up to staff isn’t your cup of tea, there’s always the online resources.  

International internships

International internships are the logical escalation of everyone and their hamster doing an internship. The “international” part adds a lot of value in soft skills (your independence, organisation, intercultural awareness, etc.) along with experience in your industry/field. Business is global now, and demonstrating your willingness to seek out international experience is a huge plus for employers. But as you can imagine, there’s a lot of preparation involved. 

Finding an appropriate overseas internship

You can look for internships independently on sites like GoinGlobal, browse your university careers board, or apply through an organisation like The Intern Group. The last option is easier in the sense that the organisation will match you to a company, and may offer stipends or cover certain costs. Depending on the organisation, you might be able to access a range of other benefits like networking and social opportunities, professional development, and career training.

Regardless of how you look for an overseas internship, you want something that relates to what you’re studying. That’s also where applying through an organisation can help -- you tell them what you’re studying, and they fit you with one of their partner companies.      

Affording the many costs

Many overseas internships tend to be unpaid, yet you have to fork out a lot of expenses for airfares, accommodation, visa fees, and daily living expenses (e.g. food, transport, leisure), not all of which will be covered by your sponsoring organisation. Many countries will require that you be able to show proof of available funds when applying for a visa, because they need to know you can financially support yourself for the duration of your stay.

You can finance your studies with OS-HELP, which is a loan available to students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place who want to undertake some of their study overseas. You can access a maximum of two (2) OS-HELP loans over your lifetime. 

Option two is applying for scholarships or grants that might cover part of your expenses. You can contact your university’s study abroad office for a better idea of what’s available and to determine if you’re eligible.  

The complexity of visa application and work permit processes

Don’t underestimate how long it can take to acquire the correct documentation. Every country has different procedures, and some will take longer than others, but you should factor in a few months at most. Some types of visa need an in-person interview, and you have to travel to your city’s embassy or consulate for that. Be aware too that immigration requirements can and do change at short notice, and that you need to be on top of any changes to ensure you’ll be legally working in the country of your internship.

Allowing enough time to prepare

Travelling overseas to work isn’t something you can organise on short notice. You need to book airfares and arrange accommodation well in advance, make a list of all the things you need to pack, and if applicable, allow enough time to apply for and hear back from scholarship/grant providers. Between your organisation, you’ve got all the other minor inconveniences and hassles of student life to manage. So if you truly want an overseas internship experience, start preparing early.  

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

WIL simply refers to work experience that’s part of your university course, including internships, clinical and fieldwork. It’s good on a couple of levels:

Applying your university-acquired skills to the workplace;

Further developing your soft/transferable skills;

It’s part of your study, meaning that you’re doing work and study at same time, as opposed to fitting odd part-time hours around your timetable;

Your workplace rights are protected by arrangements with the university;

Your learning is structured in such a way that you benefit most;

Networking opportunities with reputable and even high-profile organisations like the Commonwealth Bank, the NSW Government, and various consulting firms (can depend on the university), leading to…

A ‘foot in the door’ for when you do graduate (I have a friend who did so well in one of Deloitte’s vacation programs that they were invited to return once they’d graduated.)

Universities are already moving towards a model of work integrated learning -- Usyd’s new Bachelor of Arts and Advanced Studies includes a fourth-year industry project that has you working on real-life problems and solutions, while the combined Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation at UTS includes a compulsory internship. Some universities have been using WIL for well over a decade, see the University of Newcastle and Macquarie University.