Hello. I managed to get my song in placed/synced in The Walking Dead a few years ago. If you are wondering how I did that, skip this post.
This post is in regards to a crap aspect of the wondrously great opportunity. If you are wondering how much I was paid, please skip this post.
In the mad scramble to accommodate the music supervisor's request, I did (probably) what most of you would do: I scoured the internet for answers. At first I couldn't find answers. I wanted to do it myself, but TWD supervisor basically said that I can't do it myself, insinuating that they would rather find another artist who could comply more 'legally' (as I'm sure is the case with other big productions). I dropped my DIY approach there, and continued to search. I thought about joining an org like Songwriters Guild of America. I read around BMI's resources and others. I made some calls to entertainment lawyers, who all felt like snake oil salesmen on the phone - not willing to get to their cost upfront - asking me how much I was gonna be offered by the production - basically insinuating that they alone would be responsible for 'getting me the deal' that I already had in my hands. I wanted just the legal stuff taken care of at the base level. I didn't want to negotiate more than I was offered because hey, it's TWD. The payment is mostly in publicity for me. I needed a fairly quick solution to this and took 48 hours to poke around and learn about my rights and high/low figures.
What I learned was SHOCKING to me at the time.
All the options I found in my quest were either unclear or outrageous (in my mind). What was being floated as a 'reasonable' percentage of my total payout seemed to me like a 'reward for the non-involved', especially since I garnered the deal on my own - pulling 100% of the weight.
I went with TuneCore's Licensing option. I went with TuneCore (my digital distributer) at the time. They offer sync licensing feature you can sign up for. The entire time I felt like I was getting fleeced, not by TuneCore, but by the system. I never found better options in my quest. To this day, I feel like I messed up.
TWD was totally fair, so my feelings are not to do with them. The supervisor was honest and forthright. It was this interim step that I never even considered.
My question for you is: WHAT PERCENTAGE do you think is REASONABLE?

E-learning authoring tools are vital for developing engaging online courses. They assist educators in creating, developing, and distributing educational content. After conducting considerable research, I have chosen the top three eLearning authoring tools for 2024. These tools stand out due to their functionality, ease of use, and overall value.
1. EzyCourse
EzyCourse is a comprehensive eLearning authoring tool that integrates seamlessly with its powerful learning management system (LMS). It offers a variety of tools that make course design and maintenance simple and effective. Visit there to find Top ten E-Learning Authoring Tools
Key Features:

• Lesson Types: Create over ten different types of lessons, including video, text, PowerPoint, PDF, audio, quizzes, surveys, assignments, live sessions, SCORM, and HTML.
• Drip Scheduling: Plan the transmission of course content to learners at regular intervals.
• Student Submission Management: View and manage student submissions directly from the dashboard.
• Customization: Customize landing pages with course descriptions and incentives to increase enrollment.
• Certification and Grading: Use the certificate builder to create customized, branded certificates and bespoke grade ranges.
• Website Builder: Includes pre-built web templates for quick course site construction.
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Pricing:

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2. Elucidat
Elucidat is a high-end eLearning creation tool known for its powerful capabilities and user-friendly design. It is a cloud-based solution that allows for collaborative authoring and ensures that all courses are accessible across devices.
Key Features:

• Template Library: An extensive collection of pre-built templates and images.
• Cloud-Based: Convenient access and collaboration, with support for HTML5, SCORM, and TinCan xAPI.
• Personalized Learning Paths: Create unique learning experiences for each student.
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Pricing:

• Starts at $7,500 for a minimum of three author licenses

3. iSpring Suite
iSpring Suite is a responsive authoring tool that integrates well with PowerPoint. It enables educators to transform PowerPoint presentations into interactive online courses while retaining animations, transitions, and triggers.
Key Features:

• PPT Integration: Convert your PowerPoint presentations into HTML5/SCORM courses.
• Quizzes: Create multiple-choice, multiple-response, and short answer quizzes with time and attempt restrictions.
• File Incorporation: Add various file types and online features to courses.

Pricing:

• iSpring Suite: $770 per authoyear ($470 for freelancer and academic plans)
• iSpring Suite Max: $970 per authoyear ($670 for freelancer and academic plans)
• iSpring Suite Premium: $1,970 per authoyear

Each of these eLearning authoring tools offers distinct features and advantages. Depending on your specific requirements and budget, any of these options can help you develop effective and compelling online courses.

My daughter is 7 and in the 1st grade, she and her brother (8) would ride the bus home after school, I drive them in the morning! So last week Friday I happened to be home that day when my kids got home and when my daughter came in she said "mom my friend wants to talk to you" I told her it would have to wait for just a sec because I was in the middle of something and asked my daughter what she needed, and my daughter said " my bus driver hit me" I said what did you just say, and she told me again, I asked where did he hit her and she said in her leg, I said was it an accident and she said no it was in purpose, so I asked was he just playing around and she said no he was mad, I said okay wait start from the beginning, what happened? My youngest daughter is what I call my "spicy child" at the schools request for us to see a doctor to get her a diagnosis this was last year, her kindergarten year) she has been diagnosed with ADHD/ODD and anxiety disorder. She has big emotions and doesn't know how to deal with them, she has gotten way way better since last year and did not get any office referrals this year, last year she got OSS 6 times and close to 15 office referrals. I was getting a call from the school 3 or 4 days out of the 5! We really worked hard over last summer and as I said she did a complete turn around from last year. (Sorry thought a little insight may help). She still has a couple of minor issues this year while in the bus ride home, in fact just 2 weeks ago I had to leave work to go pick her up because she got "kicked off" the bus. Okay so I wasn't getting much from my daughter as to what had happened so I went outside to talk to her friend, the little girl was waiting for me, she is out neighbor and she is in the 5th grade so I asked her what had happened, she told me that my daughter was mad because again she was again the only kid on the bus that day to have an assigned seat, she wanted to sit with her friend and the driver told her no, well my daughter got mad and he getting mad is never a pleasent experience, nor is her behavior or actions acceptable or tolerated, but i guees my daughter was kicking the bus drivers seat and he went over to my daughter and forcefully sat her, pushed her down in to her seat and proceeded to pin her down in her seat by her shoulders and then slapped her leg as he was telling her to not ever kick his seat again, the 5th greade girl stood up for my dsughter and told the bus driver to stop and that he couldnt do that to a little girl, he told her to shut up! I of course immediately attempted to call the school and no answer so I called the school bus company and talked to the transit manager and she had informed me that she had already received a phone call from another parent regarding this incident, I said well that's great however it was my daughter that this had happened to and I wanted to know what in the hell was going on, they assured me they would be pulling and reviewing the video tape as soon as the bus got back to the station and that someone would be back in touch with me by monday morning. I told them fine and that I wanted a copy or at least the ability to review this tape also. So Monday morning came and went as did Monday afternoon so I call the school bus company and left a VM, then called the school and talked to the principal and she hadn't even heard about it yet, then she said she would get some answers and get back to me, crickets from either of them all day Tuesday, and all morning Wednesday and into the afternoon, so I called again and left another VM at school bus and with the principal, she finally calls me back after 530pm on Wednesday and informs me that the video footage is at an angle where you can't see anything that happenes in that particular seat that my daughter was seated in. So the principal has to talk to some of the other students to get their version of what happened because the bus driver is of course denying everything! I am so upset about this and feel like there is a cover up happening. Thursday is the last day of school before summer break and I feel like they intentionally made things drag out until then so it would be swept under the rug. I absolutely will not let that happen and I am debating wether I should contact law enforcement and to file a report or if I should just wait for the school or the school bus company. I don't trust them to be 1000% honest because they have had a lot of bad press so to speak this year, a bus driver hit a pedestrian and killed him with an entire bus full of elementary school kids on it on the way to school a few months back, not to mention that they are seriously short on bus drivers for the last few years now. Any advice? I also know that my daughter can be a handful and very hard to manage but I don't understand why the bus driver did not call the principal or anyone at the school to come and remove my daughter from the bus that day? They do it all the time when kids act up! I am at my end with this school and with the bus company because the driver is still driving the same route, I have opted to pick my kids up this final week of school.

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Carrion fowls perched along the far walls’ parapets and cawed vaguely with their red wetted beaks in whatever direction; other scavengers supped at the puddles or pecked along the softened flesh of the dead. The birds, variable vultures, hopped across the rubble and curiously side-eyed corpses and pierced the bruise-blackened bloated skins and stripped away long muscle threads and tossed them to catch, to choke back on what they’d done.
The birds which stared, looked dumbly from their perches, and watched Boss Maron (what was he a boss of anymore?) stumble around where he was. His shirt was tattered and bloodied-marks or claws shown across his forearms and his belly. He moved like a drunkard with his feet wide apart. In some commotion, he’d lost a boot and swiveled as carefully as he could when putting his bare right foot forward. My brother seemed to spawn from the mess, to arise only from his slumber at the sign of my approach and I wondered about destiny or fate and as I saw him there, as terrible as he was, he was no match if not for the pistol which hung from the holster on his hip.
In getting closer, I saw the band from his hat had burst and so hung stringlike from the brim and dangled with his footfalls by the eyepatch he wore.
A series of collapsed, nearly unrecognizable apartments had fallen and been flattened or forced to bend in jagged directions; old catwalk rails jutted from the spot of destruction like a mad spider’s legs—an unsettling image. This seemed to have been the place Maron took refuge from the attack.
Wherever I went, it seemed that death was either fast approaching or near ahead so I never could tell from what direction to expect it; but expecting death itself was sometimes enough. I took to a white and curved piece of stone dilapidation—likely a piece from the hydro towers—and used it to purchase higher ground and saw Maron stumble nearer. Through the new byways created by the destruction, he remained slow and struggled and remained so far out that I was uncertain whether he saw me.
The hiss of spitting broken water pipes filled the lulls between the bird calls. The sun was deep yellow against the red sky. The wind was cool and held me aloft like a puppet.
Precariously, I hunkered at my elevated position and rummaged through my satchel but found nothing. Instead, I left it there in that spot and climbed carefully to the earth and unbuckled the belt from around my waist and held it whip-ready, opposite the buckle-end; it was a thin and cheap thing but perhaps good enough. I moved toward my brother, openly. Whatever would be.
Forty yards separated us and there was enough of an area of open earth among the piled collections of destruction; he still looked like a shadow, like a half-illusion of a man against the backdrop of interlocking wreckage.
“Hey!” I called.
Maron stopped where he was and craned his head forward; dust rose from around his feet then settled. “Harlan?” He asked.
“Yeah.”
“I can’t see you too good, you know.” Maron scratched his right eye with a rotating knuckle; the skin seemed irritated. “Those bugs itch like a bitch, don’t they?”
“So they say,” I spat between where I’d spaced my legs.
He placed his hand on the handle of the revolver which stood out on his hip. “I could kill you, Harlan. I’ve got a clear shot here.”
“Yeah.”
“You’d deserve it, especially after what you did.” His voice was gravelly; he coughed and wiped his mouth with a forearm.
I took a small step forward and Maron removed the revolver from its holster but kept it pointed to the ground.
I shook my head and remained still again. “What about after all you did?”
“Me?” he laughed sickly, “You’re one to talk. I guess there’s no hiding it anymore. I was ashamed of you. You—cavortin’ with demons—that’s all you do. I think I saw you speak to them a couple times. I feel like you whisper to them in your sleep. I knew what kind of man you were all this time and I let you go on.”
“You let me, huh?” I glanced to the sky and breathed deep and listened to the birds. A tight-lipped expression pulled my face almost like a smile and I gritted my teeth. “Here I thought I let you.”
Maron laughed again wetly and remained with his gun down. The gunmetal shone bright as silver from either cleaning or handling; it was good to know he’d taken care of it at least.
“I cried about you,” I said—some roiling thing rolled over in the pit of my stomach.
“So?” he asked the sky.
I closed the space between us by a quarter or more and stopped. “So, did you ever cry about me? Did you ever cry about them?” The trailing end of my sentence nearly broke my voice, and I abruptly finished the words to protest it.
Maron shrugged. “’Course I did. All the time. For them. For you?” He shook his head. In the light—just so—his right eye glowed white; blood trickled from around the bottom eyelid from over-rubbing while yellow infection oozed from the bottom of the patch over his left eye. “Somethin’s wrong in you. You did something. I know you did. Maybe you prayed to them things. Maybe you asked for it—Lady did weird seances before she,” with his free hand, he twirled a finger by his ear. “Maybe you spoke to them and did what you did. All that good and evil talk that Jackson went on about doesn’t matter anymore,” Maron shrugged then nodded and wriggled his mustache in thought.
“You used to call him dad,” I said.
“We didn’t have any dads, you and me. Looking back now, I see our mother—if she was—was the worst about it. We were some ragtag bunch of monster hunters? There ain’t any good and evil in this world and that’s a fact. It’s all just livin’.”
“What made you that way?”
“What way’s that, Harlan?” He sighed.
“I thought you’d be a good man. You were a sweet boy.”
“I guess.” His blind gaze trailed away, watched the birds on the far walls, and his uncovered bleeding eye blinked slowly and with effort; he rubbed it again and smeared blood across his cheek and blinked more and seemed to focus. “What makes you sure you’re a good man?”
“I ain’t.”
“I didn’t figure you were.” His eye traced the scenery, seemed to look everywhere and beyond me even. “You do all this too? You call down your buddies for all this? I was afraid of you for a long time. Now I know I was right.”
“Mm. I didn’t.”
“Quite the coincidence that you’d hang and then all this happens to stop it. Nice for you. Look around at all them bodies. Tell me it’s worth it. I know you and I know what you are. Harold didn’t believe it—hell I didn’t want to believe it. Here we are.”
I shook my head and felt silly standing there and holding my belt like a dead snake by my side. “It wasn’t too long ago I thought similarly of you. I thought you’d been some possessed thing, something that wasn’t my brother anymore. Like you said. Here we are. I was blind for so long and I thought it couldn’t be that you’d be this way all on your own. I saw you grow into something unrecognizable,” My shoulders rolled with a shrug. “What’s it matter? What’s any of it matter? You thought I was some witch and I thought maybe some demon hijacked your body! What’s it matter? It doesn’t. I don’t care if you are who you are because of me or because of this world—it’s over. And here we are.” I took a gulp of air; it was rotten. “I loved you. I saw something change in you and blamed myself, blamed the demons; maybe you were a mutant! Bah! It’s just you. Whatever you are is just you—doesn’t really matter what made it. I don’t know how I could cry over someone like that. I just don’t know.”
Maron nodded at me, and I took a step forward; the Boss sheriff leveled the long barrel Colt in my direction. The sun beat down and I took another step forward and another until I was pacing, shoulders moving in tandem with each step—though my left knee twinged, it wasn’t pain; there was too much adrenaline for pain. The gun erupted, broke the dead air, a few birds cawed and flapped away but mostly remained and looked on with apathetic curiosity. I stood still. Maron missed, took aim again, and I began to further close the gap.
The pistol rang again; my imagination insisted I felt the breeze from the bullet. I did not care. Here we were and here it would be. Again, twice more, the gun cried out; the last of that duo spiked the earth up at my feet and sent dust into the air; I passed through it.
With Maron nearly in arm’s reach, I reared with the belt—remaining with my right leg on the backfoot—I swung the strap out like a whip and felt the belt slack as the buckle met Maron’s nose.
He stumbled backward, fired another round into the air and my ears rang and I launched into him.
With him being weak and feeble and ill and tired as he was, he fell slowly in the way that people do when they attempt to stop themselves from going. He spun on his naked heel and landed on his knees, hands in the dirt, revolver hilt loosely clamped in his fist. I sent a boot to his stomach and from seemingly nowhere a wild scream came from me—it was a moment of human satisfaction.
He laughed there on the ground, and it was so like gasping for air that I wasn’t sure that’s what I heard. “I hit you once, I see only just a bit out of the right and I still hit you!”
The numbness forgave a moment of pain—a jolt ran up my left arm. Without a moment afforded to inspect myself, I launched another kick just as he came around to raise his head. My boot caught his chin and clicked his teeth together; blood ran like a spigot from his mouth while the cowboy hat tumbled off the crown of his head and landed in the dirt beside him.
His eyepatch came unplaced from his left eye and rested over his brow before the strings came loose and the object fell off him. The black hole there in his head shone starkly when he calmed his head to look up at me; the other eye was milk white.
“I’m dying,” he said, “I’m dying, but I’m a pretty good shot, ain’t I?”
I didn’t say anything and placed my heel on his shoulder and propelled him over, so he fell onto his back. There on the ground, the pistol lay. I bent and dropped the belt and lifted the pistol— a single shot left. The thing was heavier than the metal it was.
Maron lifted up again and spoke, “I’m dying,” he repeated, “I’m dying.” His head rocked forward and back in exaggeration.
I shoved him down again, remembered the bodies he hung, remembered the people he assaulted, remembered the tortures—with him looking up at me though, I briefly remembered the boy behind that man’s face. I didn’t say anything because I couldn’t.
“I see a little out of the right, Harlan—like I said. C’mere a minute. Just a minute. Or a second even. All I want is a second. C’mere and let me see you a little clear for just one second.”
I never was a good shot anyway, but that wouldn’t have mattered; I angled the revolver out from my body. He craned his head up for a better look maybe—like a varmint from a hole—and when he did, I fired the last shot and even though he’d grown so large in my mind, he still fell over like any man would. Blood spurted then trailed from his head; I swallowed a noise back.
Warm pain radiated from my left bicep, and I knew what it was; I threw back my jacket, so it hung only off my right shoulder and examined the spot. The notch was swollen, the flesh was gnarly and leaked. I cupped the heel of my hand to the wound while still holding the revolver and felt my heartbeat in it. Nothing stitches wouldn’t fix. So, Maron was a good shot. I lumbered over the corpse and stared into the one solid eye. Even blind, he got me once.
I sighed and half-straddled the corpse and ripped the gun belt off his waist and shoved it under my armpit then waddled over the dead man to the hat that’d fallen in the dirt. Our mother’s hat fit loose on my head, but her old belt slotted around me snug.
The wound didn’t clot, and blood ran in webs down my forearm and across the back of my hand. I shifted to look to the place I’d left the satchel and I saw an audience there—the underground survivors followed me out; they were arranged like tin solders frozen among the rubble outcroppings. Mal was there and nearest me. She called something out, but I didn’t respond. I shook my head as if to let them know I didn’t care and began to walk towards the piece of white rock. The broken band of the hat fell into the periphery of my left eye like a wayward strand of hair.
I slung the revolver into the holster on my hip and kept my right hand to my left bicep and gritted my teeth at the growing pain. Ointments were in the satchel and bandages and a bit of liquor—wizard brand.
Mal rushed out to me and slammed into me, and nearly put me over and the others too began to clamor off their perches—how they looked at me just like the birds.
Mal slammed her hands onto my shoulders. “You just killed and robbed him.”
I laughed. “Alright.”
“Why?”
I saw the boy—William—too had come and he remained among the small crowd that came around me.
“This needs treating,” I angled my head at the wound I held.
“What’d you kill him for?” asked Mal, again.
I ignored her, pushed beyond, and whispered something about going home.
The levels to the satchel were slow going and the people spoke amongst themselves, and I slammed my bottom onto the flat elevation and began to clean and wipe down. I fumbled with my right hand and kept my neck twisted just so and pried the wound a bit with my index finger and thumb. Blood ripped out of the spot, and I laughed and stopped and rewiped. Inside of the satchel there was a handheld staple gun. I put it to the spot, trying to keep the swollen opening closed. After a few overzealous clicks, I sighed and dropped the staple gun into the satchel.
From where I was, Maron looked small.
Like a whisper on the wind, I heard, I brought him to you one last time. Bravo! Well done!
I twisted around lackadaisically searching for the point of the voice and didn’t find it. “Stupid,” I whispered to myself.
Then I popped casually to my feet, felt the mild blood loss send me dizzy and I momentarily felt like I’d fall over and break my neck in front of all those fine people—what a laugh riot!
Mal’s incredulous expression was obvious even with the distance. “Hey!” I called out to Mal, to all of them, “I’m going home.”
“Where’s home?” asked someone.
“C’mon with me if you want.”
Some wanted and some didn’t, and we gathered twenty strong and Mal and William were among them. Lady surprisingly decided to fall along with those of us that left. Those that remained certainly died, but who’s to say?
All the horses were dead and even in searching for the oil wagon I’d rode in on, I couldn’t find it. Walking never bothered me anyway. When I grew tired, I used some discarded metal post as a third leg. We walked it and I thought it felt like a pilgrimage—damn all other religiosity. I hoped for the one and true religion: love.
Seven died westward. William succumbed to the skitterbugs and I managed to bury him even while others regarded the practice with apathy. Mal went quickly by a skin taker, and yet Lady remained; she was a hanger-on.
The only one that mattered to me was the one waiting for me—if they still waited. I hoped they did.
We saw Alexandria at dawn after many days of travel. Upon the sight of the arch along the skyline, whispers came over our group and one fellow wondered aloud if the arch was the source of all the magic the wizards knew. Lady rebutted the claim and cursed at the thought of it. Still though, she followed. I mindlessly told them it was the gateway to the west but that didn’t mean a thing to anybody at all.
Point-hatted scouts saw us and let us through while the sky was still waking. The nerves in my body danced like bugs. Whatever negative providence that’d taken over my life was gone at last. Though the weight remained, perhaps I could let it go with time. I wanted to.
Seeing Suzanne like that, still tired and yawning and even brow furrowed, I stumbled into them and pressed their face to mine, and I told them I’d never let them go and I told them it was over, and Suzanne asked me where the wagon was.
I didn’t have an answer for that and instead buried my nose behind their ear.
All they asked me then was, “Really, it’s over?”
“It’s over. I’m better now. Well—I might not be better, but I will be.”
A fat dog brushed my leg, and it was Trouble—the animal was kept on a lead by Gemma which tugged on the collar just a bit to keep the dog from tangling the lead around our legs. The girl beamed and I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her so genuine as that. Her face was rounded from health.
I pulled Suzanne into another hug and hushed, “My legs are tired now.” We kept our arms around each other; I hoped they didn’t want to let me go just like how I didn’t want to let them go. The only thing that hurt was knowing I’d hurt Suzanne.
It felt ridiculous because it was, but I was an optometrist finally. It wouldn’t be easy, but I saw everything very clearly.
First/Previous
Archive

I've seen a lot of chatter lately around the GO Global withdrawal System and questions popping up like is GO Global legit or scam? So, I thought I’d share my personal experience to shed some light on this topic. After all it’s a great opportunity to point out some features about the platform that no one else knew before.
First off, let me address the flaming inquiry: rumors about GO Global withdrawals disabled. In my journey with this platform, I've navigated their withdrawal system multiple times without a hitch. From what I’ve seen, the platform takes its commitment to users seriously, ensuring that we have access to our funds when we need them. The system is designed with transparency and user-friendliness in mind, something that immediately set my concerns to rest.
Now, onto how the withdrawal system works. It’s pretty straightforward – once you complete a course and earn credits, you have the option to reinvest these into more courses. This flexibility has been a game changer for me, allowing me to manage my investments in knowledge as I see fit.
Addressing the big question: Is GO Global legit or scam? Based on my experience, I'm leaning heavily towards legit. The platform’s dedication to providing a seamless and secure learning and transaction experience speaks volumes. Plus, the quality of education and resources available is nothing short of impressive.
In conclusion, my review of the GO Global withdrawal system is overwhelmingly positive. It's user-centric, reliable, and transparent, reinforcing my trust in the platform's legitimacy. For anyone sitting on the fence about joining GO Global, I say go for it. The platform has not only enriched my learning journey but also handled my investments and withdrawals with utmost integrity. Here’s to more learning and growing with GO Global!

So I made an incorrect assumption that the interview would not be too technical based on the information I had available to me. I have been preparing and brushing up for interviews but on a more general level and I have a fuckton of personal issues dividing my energy/attention. Like I said I've been out of work a while and things aren't very fresh in my head. But I just got work from the recruiter who talked to the hiring manager said it will get "quite technical."
The job listing is a pretty general one, for I guess a senior-ish level EE (7+ years experience) working in an R&D setting. I just reviewed the job description and it actually lists almost no "technical keywords" like SMPS, Serial Communication, SPI, I2C, signal integrity, high-speed design, wireless communication, you get the idea.
Also two somewhat odd things:

1. The product they made is a tiny wearable that communicates wirelessly. I've only ever designed and built big table top instruments connected to mains with zero wireless communication, but the hiring manager is very interested in me for the job despite me acknowledging this.
2. When he described the actual position to me on the phone he said it will involve a lot of testing, making it sound a lot more like a test engineer position basically which doesn't match the job description really.

I'm really interested in the job but you can see from the above I have little to go on regarding where to concentrate my efforts to prepare.
I think a fairly general review would be the best course of action. Does anyone have a good list or resource of things to cover that's no so long its overwhelming? There was a way too comprehensive list posted here before or people just recommended textbooks. Like I said with the limited time available I think its best to do a quick EE101 overview basically so any list, resource, youtube series, youtube playlist or playlists, or whatever that highlight everything I should cover on a higher level would be great and I can drill down into further detail on topics as needed.
As well as general advice on handling technical portions of interviews.
I will appreciate all suggestions and advice as long as its positive and constructive. Thank you!
Edit: Relevant notes I took down during call with Hiring Manager

• Most of the work is the system integration and testing is the bulk of the effort
• Measuring and sensing currents down to pico amps
• Lots of analog, some digital

In recent years, the field of business analytics has emerged as a cornerstone of success for organizations across industries. Harnessing the power of data, analytics professionals decipher complex patterns, predict trends, and derive actionable insights to drive informed decision-making. As businesses increasingly prioritize data-driven strategies, the demand for skilled professionals in business analytics has surged, prompting a proliferation of educational institutions offering specialized programs in this domain.
India, renowned for its prowess in technology and analytics, stands at the forefront of this educational revolution. From bustling metropolises to serene campuses nestled in scenic locales, the country boasts a diverse array of institutions that equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel in the dynamic field of business analytics. In this article, we embark on a journey to explore some of the top-ranked business analytics colleges across India, shedding light on their distinctive features, academic excellence, and contributions to shaping the future of data-driven decision-making.

1. Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) stand as stalwarts in the realm of management education, revered for their rigorous academic curriculum, distinguished faculty, and industry collaborations. Several IIMs offer specialized courses and programs in business analytics, catering to the growing demand for skilled professionals in this domain. Institutions such as IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Lucknow have carved a niche for themselves with comprehensive analytics programs that blend theoretical foundations with hands-on practical experience. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge research facilities, and a strong alumni network, IIMs continue to be coveted destinations for aspiring business analytics professionals.

2. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)

Renowned globally for their excellence in engineering and technology, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have expanded their academic horizons to encompass interdisciplinary domains such as business analytics. Leveraging their expertise in data science, machine learning, and computational methods, IITs offer specialized programs in analytics and data science, catering to the evolving needs of the industry. Institutions like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Kharagpur have emerged as leaders in this space, equipping students with a robust foundation in analytics techniques, programming languages, and business acumen. Collaborations with industry partners and research initiatives further augment the learning experience, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to tackle real-world challenges in the realm of business analytics.

3. Indian School of Business (ISB)

The Indian School of Business (ISB), with its innovative pedagogy and industry-oriented curriculum, occupies a prominent position in the landscape of management education. Recognizing the pivotal role of analytics in driving business transformation, ISB offers specialized programs and executive education courses in business analytics and big data. The institution's emphasis on experiential learning, case studies, and industry immersion programs fosters a holistic understanding of analytics concepts and their practical applications. With campuses in Hyderabad and Mohali, ISB attracts a diverse cohort of students and faculty from around the globe, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of learning and collaboration.

4. Xavier School of Management (XLRI)

Xavier School of Management (XLRI), nestled in the serene environs of Jamshedpur, has earned acclaim for its focus on ethical leadership and social responsibility. In keeping with its commitment to academic excellence and relevance, XLRI offers specialized programs in business analytics and data science, catering to the burgeoning demand for analytics talent. The institution's emphasis on holistic development, industry interface, and hands-on projects equips students with the requisite skills to excel in the competitive landscape of business analytics. With a legacy of nurturing ethical leaders and change-makers, XLRI stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of management education.

5. Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD)

Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), located in Pune, is renowned for its innovative curriculum, industry collaborations, and emphasis on experiential learning. Recognizing the transformative potential of business analytics, SCMHRD offers specialized programs and electives in analytics and data-driven decision-making. The institution's strategic partnerships with leading corporations and analytics firms provide students with opportunities for internships, live projects, and placement assistance in the analytics domain. With a focus on fostering analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and managerial acumen, SCMHRD prepares students to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape with confidence and competence.

6. Great Lakes Institute of Management

Great Lakes Institute of Management, with campuses in Chennai and Gurgaon, offers specialized programs in business analytics and data science. The institute's industry-aligned curriculum and hands-on projects enable students to gain practical experience and build a strong foundation in analytics.

7. NMIMS School of Business Management

NMIMS School of Business Management, located in Mumbai, offers a range of programs in business analytics, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in analytics. The institute's strong industry connections and experiential learning opportunities ensure that students are well-prepared for careers in analytics.

8. Institute of Management Technology (IMT)

IMT, with campuses in Ghaziabad, Nagpur, and Hyderabad, offers specialized programs in business analytics and data science. The institute's industry-focused curriculum and state-of-the-art infrastructure provide students with the tools and resources needed to succeed in the fast-paced world of analytics.

9. International Institute of Business Studies (IIBS)

Nestled in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, the International Institute of Business Studies (IIBS) stands out for its holistic approach to management education and its specialized offerings in business analytics. With a dedicated faculty comprising industry experts and academics, IIBS offers programs such as the Post Graduate Program in Business Analytics, designed to equip students with a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

10. SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)

SPJIMR, located in Mumbai, offers a Post Graduate Program in Development Management (PGP-DM) with a specialization in business analytics. The program's interdisciplinary approach and focus on social impact set it apart, making it an attractive option for students interested in using analytics for positive change.

Conclusion

As businesses increasingly harness the power of data to drive strategic decision-making, the demand for skilled professionals in business analytics continues to soar. In this dynamic landscape, educational institutions play a pivotal role in nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and shaping the future of analytics-driven organizations. From premier management institutes to renowned technological universities, India offers a rich tapestry of educational opportunities for aspiring business analytics professionals. By enrolling in top-ranked colleges and programs, students can embark on a transformative journey that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and networks to thrive in the fast-paced world of business analytics.

I've just finished watching security cam footage of my store manager working in-store with a brand new employee and I'm feeling pretty angry/defeated atm. I could use some calm, rational takes on this situation please.
This is long, my brain is really wanting to sort this all out in a linear fashion..so sorry.
TDLR: My store manager of a little over a year has complained about me and their job duties to every other employee in the company so far. They are almost always positive when talking to me though, with constructive feedback and suggestions.
Backstory:
My partner and I purchased a company together while we were still in a relationship around 3 years ago. We split up a little over a year ago, but still co-own it and work well together.
We had both worked in this company on and off for 20+ years, so we knew the operational side pretty well. The backend of things were not as well known and we discovered it was a bit of a mess in fact when we took over. I've been slowly but surely working on sorting it all out and trying to put good processes in place. I have a lot to manage though and process development has been on the back burner admittedly, especially since I and one other employee are the ones doing most of the labor and we are fine without set processes. I am the main operator of the company while my partner helps out when it's needed and holds their own full-time job down outside of the company.
When we took over, the previous owner had created a situation that caused 3 different employees to quit, one of whom quit the same day they were hired. We walked into a mess quite frankly. I picked up the slack and worked operations while trying to hire replacements. I'm talking I was working 60-80 hour weeks regularly. It was overwhelming and I was pretty much in survival mode the first year, but managed to keep our clients happy and got our service routes covered. Then I started looking to hire an assistant manager to help take some things off my plate.
Current Situation:
This person I hired interviewed great, they were very positive, showed empathy and professional attitude. They had a bit of a dark ironic humor, but nothing alarming. They wanted a higher salary than what I was offering, so I adjusted the expectations of their job duties to that of a manager and raised the offered salary, cutting my own salary in half to accommodate that. They came on board about a year and a half into us owning the company.
I started noticing some quirks almost immediately, but nothing I couldn't work with I thought. They have OCD and ADHD, their need to clean things is pretty intense, and interrupting their planned "list" of things to do throws them for a pretty hard loop. The thing about our business is that it's not just the same thing over and over again day in and day out. Things change and you need to be fairly flexible to accommodate that. It's also a small business, we're not corporate enough for a role to only be one thing every day. This person has always claimed they are ok with doing whatever is needed, but it's clear it's upsetting to them when I ask them to prioritize things that aren't on their list for the day.
After noticing that this sort of interruption to their day was upsetting/stressful for them, I tried my best to minimize that sort of thing. They have a lot of good qualities as well and I didn't feel this way a big enough deal to require replacing them.
Over the course of the past yearish since I hired them, I've had had 6 employees inform me of the manager complaining about me to them. We have 1 full time and one part time employee on a regular basis, the others are seasonal and two were new hires that didn't work out.
The nature of the complaints are mostly regarding things not happening in expected ways. For example, we were doing an installation and we needed batteries. I had them stop and grab some on their way to the job site. They complained about having to do that to another employee on site. These types of complaints seemed pretty minor and just normal employee venting, so I never felt the need to directly address them and rock the boat while I couldn't really afford to lose any employees.
To be fair, I haven't been able to be nearly as organized as I used to be before we took over the company. I've been in reaction mode rather than planning mode, just because there is always so much to do all the time. I worked 74 hours last week. I was hoping hiring a manager would allow me time to sit back and plan things out better, but the opposite seems to have happened. It's given me time to sell jobs, which means we've gotten even busier and I feel like I have more on my plate than ever... I also have to sell more now in order to afford the new managers' salary, I can't really sit back and work on back end stuff like I had originally planned on doing.
Anyway, the 74 hours last week brings me to my current state of anger. Vent: I work my ass off quite frankly, and their job would be cake, fucking cake for me. I wish I could find a job as cushy as theirs for what they make. Their OCD and ADHD makes their job more difficult than it actually is I believe. I've come to the realization that I've been way too accommodating I think, mostly because I need the help. I could hire someone at half of what I'm paying them for what they actually do.
So I planned a vacation for this week, the first one I've had in years, working in overdrive last week trying to finish up a bunch of stuff before I left. I wasn't able to get to everything, so I texted a list of things I needed them to do while I am gone. I got some short replies and questions for clarifications back and answered them. They left it at an enthusiastic "Ty!" after I replied.
We have security cameras in our store, I never watch them unless there's a good reason like something seems to have been stolen, etc. I very very rarely check them. One of my goals for this vacation though was to take a breather, step back, and seriously consider if they are a good fit for what I need in the company. There have been things here recently, including a large installation project that I made them help out with while clearly being unhappy they were having to do it, that have given me a lot of pause.
So, I knew they were going to be working in the store all day with our brand new employee who I like and I think is going to work out great for us. This new employee is young and enthusiastic, willing to help out with whatever, they've been fantastic so far. I get curious and started watching a few clips from the day, immediately finding that the manager was complaining about the extra work I'd given them. I watched the entire day's worth of clips, they complained the entire time. They loop on things clearly. The longer I listened, the angrier I got. This is now our new employees' introduction to the company. I'm furious.
My partner comes into the store halfway through the day with a childhood friend of theirs who is in town visiting. They are not dating as far as I know, I wouldn't care even if they were. The manager was complaining about something my partner had done literally right before they walked in the door, acted very friendly while they were there, and then picked right back up complaining about them, even making fun of them, after they left. Speculating that they had had a date last night that had lasted into today and how "awkward" it was for them to bring the date into the store. Also complaining that my partner wasn't staying to help with the extra tasks I had given them and that my partner should just get out of there and go "eat some oysters". I don't know what the fuck that comment was about, my partner and I are in no way rich. We're barely making bills while we work on building up the business.
Right now I feel like firing them when I get back and just closing our store until I can find a replacement, ugh.
Am I overreacting here? Am I an asshole owner even? What would you do in this situation? I'm a worker, I like working and I'll do the labor all day long. The managing people part is admittedly one of my weaknesses. I'm having a difficult time empathizing with their apparent "put-upon" view of their job. I'm also just hurt by their clearly negative view of me when I do everything I reasonably can to help them feel happy in this job. I do feel like I am too overwhelmed to babysit their feelings a bit as well. I'm kind of at the "suck it up or GTFO" stage now...
Sorry this is so long, just typing it all out has been cathartic and clarified a few things for me. Thank you for reading if you made it to the end!

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The stone beneath their feet ripped itself off the ground, flying upward to collect into one enormous group. Suddenly, it curved downward towards the Hangman, resembling something between a murder of crows and a hail of arrows–
And had no effect on him.
The mass of cobblestone froze before reaching Valente, as if its time had forever stopped. While it still trembled, almost seeing to travel down an invisible road, that was all.
'This isn't part of his Hangman Talent,' Aspreay noted.
'The gods may yet forgive me, but I shall never forgive myself,' Valente thought. 'And even if it won't undo my crimes…at least I can stop a monster that sneers at death from roaming this earth.'
The Hangman was many things. Overwhelmed. Shocked. Guilty. All of those and more.
But he was still a genius.
'Damaging an opponent of higher Rank using the terrain is an obvious move,' Valente pondered, 'but I doubt he believed it would work. No – his aim was to distract me while narrowing the distance between us. He wants the Realm to be even smaller.'
The Hangman aimed his projectile Spheres at Aspreay, yet this time death was not imbued upon them. They were merely shot forward at incredible speeds, passing cleanly through his arms and legs like the sharpest of arrows.
Aspreay stopped his charge forward. His Noble Guard still protected him from death and healed every injury – it wasn't enough.
'If I kill him before he realizes what happened,' Valente thought, 'then his Realm just brings him back straight away. He'll simply go on like nothing happened, as he never had the time to suffer. But if I instead leave him alive, his pain and injuries will slow his pace. He can't approach me in that state.'
Valente was not raised by tutors like most other Hangmen, and he'd been taught very little of Realms. But he knew this much from his own fights against Lords: Realms were slower to heal injuries than to revive a user from immediate death.
This difference amounted to just a scant few seconds. Yet in this duel of titans…
That could be enough to kill the unkillable.
"You cannot and will not take a single step toward me, Aspreay!" Valente snarled. "Villains do not have the will of a hero! They have no cause noble enough to will their bodies through the worst of pains."
"I need no cause, peasant," Aspreay fired back. "We are inside my Realm now, and so long we stay here, your knees shall bend before me, and your lord shall go wherever he pleases."
His taunt appeared to shake the Hangman's resolve, yet not enough for his attacks to falter. The barrage of spheres continued, drawing out wounds and hindering Aspreay's march. 'Bastard', he thought, with a grimace. 'Even if Emperor Ciro can't detect the use of Lordly Talents, everyone in the city will have noticed the explosion Valente caused earlier. I have to finish this quickly.'
That was easier said than done. He hadn't even managed to progress a single meter since his last advance.
As the Hangman kept up his assault, he contemplated the stage that Aspreay had set. 'He intends to strengthen his Realm by refining it and reducing its size multiple times.'
Aspreay smiled at his enemy's thoughts. Although his opponent could not hear his response, he imagined one nonetheless. 'Considering our difference in rank, I would have to narrow down my Realm to the size of a closet. We would have to be within striking distance of one another's fist for it to have a prayer of working.
Yet this strategy held a massive risk – one that the Hangman was well-aware of. 'He can only use Noble Guard inside his Realm, and last time, he took nearly a full second to use Realm Reconstruction. I am more than capable of killing him in that period. That's why he wants to distract me.'
Even so, the Talent of a Lord could not be ignored. The risk and reward were plain.
'If I manage to narrow my Realm down even more–' Aspreay thought.
'If I manage to reach him before he can use Reconstruction–' Valente thought.
Both steadied their resolve.
'–THEN I CAN KILL HIM!–'
Aspreay made the first move. When his lips started to move, Valente readied himself to react at a moment's notice.
"Kill yourself, Peasant."
There was no way to avoid the order, but neither was there a reason to try doing so. The gut punch sensation it inflicted was uncomfortable, yet nothing Valente could not withstand. A momentary distraction at most; not even long enough for Aspreay to reconstruct his Realm.
"Disperse, sand."
Valente did not anticipate this order, nor could he have done much to stop it, regardless. Compacted sand rose up from underground, obscuring his vision. 'Wait…his previous order, where he lifted the cobblestone…it wasn't meant to harm me – but to expose the sand underneath. How did he know it was there?'
'Do you really think I wouldn't know what lies beneath the streets of the Empire capital I served?' Aspreay thought, almost offended. 'I will have you pay for your insolence.'
He dashed through the blinding dust that his Order had created. While his death command failed to harm Valente, it delayed the Hangman long enough that he wasn't ready to attack before Aspreay had already moved elsewhere.
Upon recovering, Valente launched a number of injuring spheres in every direction. Fast as he was, though, he failed to land a hit. There were simply too many places for Aspreay to hide, and whenever he thought of a place to aim, the Lord knew to avoid that area. 'Where is he? What is he–'
The Realm dissipated.
"NO!" Valente screamed. He shot forth his Orbs like a hailstorm of arrows. "Where are you, villain?! Show yours–"
"–REALM–RECONSTRUCTION–!"
Just as the cloud of sand dissipated, Valente was finally able to make out the vague shape of Aspreay standing arrogant and proud. "8 meters," said the lord, through heavy breaths. "Down from 14."
"You basta–" the Hangman started, then stopped as he examined Aspreay more carefully. The lord hadn't come out of their exchange unscathed. He was now clutching his left shoulder, blood flowing from the left side of his torso. One Orb had gone directly through Aspreay's body, and another had lightly grazed it.
'Why hasn't he healed yet?' the Hangman wondered.
Aspreay outwardly maintained his grin, trying not to let the pain show. 'Noble Guard only heals wounds that take place inside my Realm. You'll figure that out soon enough, won't you, troublesome little shit?'
Had it been just that, it wouldn't have been a problem. The issue came with Valente's second realization. 'He seems exhausted…of course.'
"You're getting weaker," the Hangman noted, a smile creeping across his features. "I did find it strange that a Lord could Reconstruct his Realm as many times as you have. My knowledge of your Talent may be lackluster, but I was still confident that you were only capable of doing that once per day at most."
"Limits only apply to the unblessed commoners that were born without skill," Aspreay coughed out. His breathing had become more ragged, and his vision was starting to blur. "They do not befit someone of my station."
"And yet you are now paying the cost of overusing your Realm," the Hangman said, confidently. "This is where your little game ends. It's taking longer and longer for you to construct it."
That, unfortunately, was correct.
"You have also lost the capacity to impede me with your Orders," Valente pointed out. "The narrower your Realm becomes, the more powerful your Royal Orders are…however, this also means that the recoil from failed Orders hurts far more."
That, too, was correct.
"Lastly – if you try the same trick with the sand again, you'll be pierced to death."
That was likely true as well.
The Hangman adopted a conceited expression of victory. "Surrender now, Aspreay, and face the Emperor's justice rather than–"
"–Kill yourself, peasant."
It didn't matter that his Canvas was bloodied and falling apart; at 8 meters, the Royal Order was stronger than before. If the last had been comparable to a sudden gut punch, this was closer to a disorienting sequence of strikes. Coupled with his surprise at the sudden defiance, Valente was frozen stunned for one fleeting moment.
It was enough for Aspreay.
"Blind him, sand!"
The same game from before took place – but with more lethal consequences. When inside of a Realm only 8 meters long, the Royal Order became increasingly powerful. The sand behaved with active malice, not just blinding the Hangman, but creeping beneath his eyelids like insects hunting for moisture.
'Even a Hangman would need a moment to compose himself after that kind of sensation,' Aspreay thought. He dispersed his Realm, ready to dash forward.
Only for the sand to disperse as well, leaving Valente unharmed.
This came as a stark surprise to the Lord. Even after dispelling his Realm, its Orders should have continued for at least a few seconds. Yet the sand appeared to have left Valente's eyes as if it had never been there in the first place. More came for him immediately after, and he swept it aside with ease.
'How is he dispersing the sand?' Aspreay wondered. 'That's not a Hangman Talent. Does he…have another Talent? But that–'
Valente's gaze shifted. While he hadn't fully discerned Aspreay's location, enough sand was gone that he'd gotten a rough estimate. The Hangman readied more Orbs, preparing to fling them.
SHIT–
"–REALM–RECONSTRUCTION–!"
The Hangman's hypothesis had been correct. Aspreay was taking longer to rebuild his Realm – and this time, it had almost proved fatal. The Orbs had pierced both his legs; mayhap pierced his knee, even. He didn't think he could walk any longer. As soon as his body fell, it would not stand back up again.
Divine Knowledge pushed his thoughts to race faster and faster. 'The moment the last of the sand is gone, I'll be on the ground, defenseless. How can I keep myself from falling?'
The answer came to him almost in synchronicity with his own order. "Street: give me my lord's right!"
Valente's thoughts were those of triumph. Although he was unhappy about using something called Distance on the sand, he believed that as Aspreay was close to death, and that as no onlookers could see through the cloud of dirt, even the Emperor wouldn't have been too upset about him employing it here.
He expected to see the Villain on the ground, writhing in pain, his Realm nearly shattered, and his will gone. 'He will beg for forgiveness–he will admit fault in the death of the commoners–he will confess to his sins!'
Then the dust cleared, and his expectations shattered.
"What in His Imperial Majesty's name…" Valente began, then trailed off. In front of him was the personification of the Realm he found himself constricted within. Cobblestone, sand, metal, dirt – they had all been sucked into a single spot and then forcibly arranged into a single piece of furniture.
A throne.
And sitting upon it, one bloody leg crossed over another, one elbow on the armrest, chin on his hand, was Aspreay. The Lord smiled through his pain, the pleasure of the fragile genius' shocked face empowering him. He gazed down at the Hangman as if looking at a mere petitioner in his court. "How pitiful," Aspreay coldly spat out, "that the Empire's greatest genius is also its worst coward."
'He, he can't even stand. It doesn't matter how grandiose of an entrance he makes – there's nothing he can do!' the Hangman told himself. "No use in bluffing, Aspreay. You can barely talk, let alone fight."
They were 4 meters apart now. Closer than before, but not enough to land any sort of definitive blow.
"Aspreay…be reasonable. Any further Royal Orders might kill you. Just surrender – it's your best chance of survival."
"Survival?" Aspreay threw his head back and laughed. "Do you think me a man so petty as to be concerned with that?" His grin widened. "I seek not life, but victory."
"You dare waste the life the Emperor gave you?" Valented accused. "I name you villain, traitor, and blasphemer!"
"And you disgrace the memory of those you've killed." Aspreay's laugh turned from manic to derisive. "Tell me, Hangman. Do you think yourself blameless for the Puppet massacre? Do you tell yourself that you were just a child? A naive youth who knew not what he did?"
"I…I did not massacre them," Valente fired back. "I only defeated their lord and destroyed the mountain. The…the others handled…"
"What a farce," Aspreay stated, in a mixture of amusement and disgust. "Who would have thought the Empire's sharpest blade to be so soft? You were wielded like a weapon, because you did not want to be a man. Do you truly believe yourself to be innocent? Do you think there were no Puppets hiding in the Mountains after your lot massacred the rest? Do you think yourself blameless for the murder of innocents after you tore away their only protection?'
"I…that's not…"
"And need I remind you, Hangman," Aspreay continued, gesturing wildly from his throne, "that you killed a lord by making him offer his life to protect his people?"
"I didn't know!" Valente screamed, his eyes full of tears. "I had no idea that–"
"It seems like no one ever taught you manners. I suppose that's to be expected. You come not from any noble blood, as I understand? Orbs may buy rank, yet regrettably, they do not and cannot buy class. Dress a pig in riches and power if you wish – he'll still be a filthy commoner who doesn't deserve to lick the mud off my boots."
Valente angrily shook his head. He wanted to fling himself at Aspreay, to come closer and deliver violence upon him, but knew better than to play into the man's hands. "You will show me the respect I deserve, Villain."
"Speaking of respect," Aspreay mocked, "you now stand before a lord and his throne."
He stretched out a hand. "Kneel."
It all happened at once. Valente had earnestly believed that Aspreay wouldn't use another order in his injured state. Combined with his guilty mind wandering to the deaths he'd caused since the Emperor rescued him, he hesitated – and then felt his knees hit the ground.
'Kneel..?' It was the first order Aspreay had given that wasn't a proclamation of death. Valente's eyes widened as he understood why. 'His orders until now…he wasn't just trying to kill me in one move. He wanted me to assume that he couldn't issue less demanding types of orders!'
The Hangman struggled in vain. While he could have rejected an order to die, he couldn't reject one meant to restrain him – not from 4 meters apart. Valente was so focused on attempting to rise that he paid little to the next order that came out of Aspreay's mouth.
"Send me forward."
The throne he had created, the incarnation of his pride, launched him forward at Valente, whose lowered gaze did not immediately notice the incoming lord. Mid-flight, Apsreay called off his Realm. Immediately after, before even reaching the ground, he cried out–
"–REALM–RECONSTRUCTION–!"
It felt like agony, like his very soul was being ripped off from his body – yet he would not yield. Death was acceptable, but not to a brat like this. Aspreay extended his arm, frenzied laughter washing over him as the last of the Wall was reconstructed behind.
The falling Lord and the unsteady Hangman were now less than 1 meter apart.
"KILL YOURSELF, PEASANT!"
'Increase the Distance at the ends of his Realm – keep his hand from touching me!' Valente thought.
Every outcome and reaction unfolded at the same time, his visions of the past mingling with the reality of the present. 'I…I had to do it. He would have killed me!' For a moment, Aspreay appeared not unlike that Puppet Lord from years ago, spurring Valente into a fit of desperate action.
The Hangman used his Talent to increase the distance of Aspreay's Realm ever so slightly. His mind raced with guilt as he pushed against the wall. He'd only had the time to increase it back up to 3 meters.
Although truth be told, it wouldn't have mattered if he failed entirely. Even at less than 1 meter, Aspreay's order wasn't strong enough to seriously injure – let alone kill – a Hangman of Valente's Rank.
And that was fine.
'So you have another Talent…one that the Emperor didn't want you to use. That's why you have the title of Strongest.' Aspreay grinned at the man, letting realization sink in. 'I'll take this gift of knowledge with me. This is my little victory against you, Strongest Man.'
"Like hell I'll let–"
The Order had nonetheless caused the Hangman to stumble and feel a small amount of blood in his throat, his body involuntarily hunching over to cough it out. It was barely a wound, closer to an inconvenience – and Aspreay had nearly died to obtain it.
But the Hangman still feared him.
And this combination of events was the opening he needed to issue his final order. "I BANISH: MYSELF!"
Much like he'd once sent a woman flying through the walls of his castle, he now issued himself the same order – flinging his own body through his Realm. He crashed through the debris of a destroyed building, breaking something inside himself, although he wasn't sure what.
The Hangman started to go after him, but was rebuffed by the Wall. "Consider yourself sealed for now," Aspreay muttered. "You could easily break though…but you think that an attack like that might end up hurting more civilians, don't you? So you'll just have to wait. Wait…for now…."
--
When Aspreay's consciousness returned to him, he was already upright and stumbling forward through the ruins of the destroyed city district. Amidst frantic chaos and injured citizens, the bloodied lord did not stand out among the crowd.
So many people died today, he thought absently, biting his lip to keep from coughing blood. 'I doomed hundreds to save Vasco.' His eyes lingered on the rubble, the many clouds of dust, and desperate waves of people crowding around fallen buildings. And I would have gladly doomed thousands more, he determined, with an odd calmness.
Aspreay didn't mind how far he'd gone, but he knew of less where to go from here. His injuries were numerous, and the Emperor would soon send someone to kill him – not that there was much need for it. He was doomed to die within a few weeks. Days, even.
Such was the price for Reconstructing his Realm so many times in a row. His Canvas was likely stained with blood, if not downright rotten. Twice would have been strenuous; five was a slow suicide.
Albeit a glorious one.
Alas, despite feeling rather content with the coming end, Aspreay found his weary feet treading through rubble nonetheless. He knew not the cause of his restlessness. A beautiful end to an ugly life, one where his honor – against all odds – was kept. This was what men dreamed of. Why balk at death now?
He truly didn't know why his heart refused to accept the notion. Distantly, he considered the possibility that he never would.
Then he spotted his horse, and could no longer conceive of dying.
"Silver?" Aspreay said, dull surprise coloring his tone. "You're still here?" He managed a hollow laugh. "Weird creature. You get spooked by your own shadow, yet you didn't run when Valente exploded entire buildings?" Tenderness entered his voice. "Stupid horse."
He approached slowly. With care, Aspreay brushed his bloodied hand against the horse. Bitterly, he half-expected it to run, yet somehow wasn't surprised when it didn't. Silver was the one thing he'd taken from Penumbria – the only thing he refused to leave behind.
'A gift?' Aspreay had said years ago. 'You're hardly one for big gestures. What curse befell you?'
'One bearing your name,' Vasco grumbled. He held his gaze for a moment too long – a moment not long enough – then shook his head. 'Search far and wide for a better horse. You'll come up short.'
The Lord of Penumbria nodded, studying the horse of white with spots of black. 'Strong. Well-trained. Appearance aside, there are many horses like this one in the Empire.' He turned around to look at the man. 'What makes this one so special?'
Vasco put two fingers beneath Aspreay's chin and lifted it upward until their eyes met once more. 'This one will always bring you back to me,' he whispered, in a low voice.
Aspreay's vision blurred as his life faded, but that one memory remained clear as it had ever been. "Good thing you're here," he told Silver. Injured ribs pressed against his stomach as he forced himself to mount the horse. Heavens, he wished there had been a saddle nearby. In his state, all he could do was collapse onto the animal and wrap his arms around its neck.
"Hey there boy," Aspreay said, softly. "Apologies. This might be uncomfortable. I know we haven't ridden without a saddle in a while, so bear with me. I'm not sure I can stay conscious…but it's not like my lead has ever done much but slow you down, eh?"
A weak laugh crawled out from his throat. Gods, did it hurt. "Take me to Vasco, please."
Silver started to gallop. Aspreay struggled not to fall, swaying dangerously as the city passed him by. Inky blackness gradually crept into the corners of his vision, his mind losing its battle to stay conscious.
Will I live to see him? It would be wonderful if he did, although unlikely – yet not impossible. Thanks to Silver, death was no longer a certainty. Mayhap he could survive this and escape the capital before the Hangmen came.
A miracle that would need another, when my injuries are too great for most to recover from. But now, chasing that miracle within a miracle actually seemed appealing.
"I feel...oddly refreshed," Aspreay said, as darkness befell his eyes.
​
--
​
Thanks for reading!

Author's Note:
This broke the character limit, so it's getting split into two parts.
​
--
​
If before the pouring rain had seemed to avoid Valente, now it chose to avoid the street entirely, like a curtain rising to honor Aspreay's challenge. A set of four near-translucent walls had spawned around the Lord and the Hangman, so elegant that they almost felt as if they did not exist at all.
Until that moment, not a single thing today had shocked Adam. Not Eric's betrayal, nor the Dark Captain's appearance. Even his own death at the hands of the Emperor was something he'd accounted for.
This, however–
"Aspreay…what the hell are you doing?" Adam muttered. The translucent barrier stood tall in front of him like an impenetrable Wall. "You're supposed to be a selfish asshole, this doesn't fucking track!"
He shook his head and grit his teeth. "Damn it! I don't want to see anyone dying because of – damn it!"
Adam wrapped Stained Ink around his hand, then punched at the Walls of Aspreay's Realm. His fist bounced back like a ricocheting bullet, nearly pushing him back with its momentum. A dark, hazy steam began emanating from his hand, its burning ink clashing heavily against the pouring rain.
Too strong, Adam marveled. His gaze shifted from his injured fist over to the translucent barrier. It's far stronger than the barrier he set up around Penumbria. Is it because it's smaller? So…larger Realms are weaker? That's why it's harder to track individual people when a Realm is the size of a city?
There was still far too much that Adam didn't know about Realms and the Lord Talent. He'd only utilized his Lord Talent to its minimal extent – what choice did he have, when doing otherwise would've meant the death of Penumbria? His own ignorance was something that he was keenly aware of.
Even so…
Beholding Aspreay's Walls, he couldn't help but realize just how truly little he knew of Lordship. This mastery was–
"Adam!" a voice called out. "Get in here, quickly!"
Suddenly, a carriage pulled by two dark horses appeared beside him, the sound of its arrival camouflaged by the heavy rain. Adam's first instinct was to reach for his Stained Ink, but he relaxed upon seeing the carriage's driver.
"Inside," Tenver barked. "Hurry and shut the blinds – we're leaving the city now."
"Don't think I've ever been so glad to see you," Adam, with a smile.
Tenver returned the smile, but only briefly. "No time. Hop in before anyone sees you."
Adam nodded; there was ill time for pleasantries. Despite that, he spared one last glance as he climbed into the carriage, looking at the duel taking place inside Aspreay's Realm. Such was his haste that he only allowed himself the luxury of reflection after their carriage had started moving forward, re-entering the storm.
You're a difficult man, Aspreay, he mused. With the same tone you would use to damn an unfortunate wretch, you also declare your intention to save another. I've learned enough of your soul to commit it to ink…
And I still feel like I don't know you at all.
--
Imperial Hangmen are more than just harbingers of death – they are its wielders. To face them in battle is to throw yourself neck-first onto the executioner's axe. Their speed and power are such that Valente could have killed Aspreay long before the former Lord finished reconstructing his Realm around them.
Only one thing kept Valente from doing so; his sincere dedication to the Empire and its laws. Until Aspreay had called upon his Realm, he was not yet guilty of a crime.
But now he was.
"Your punishment needn't be death," Valente said, in a firm tone. "I promise clemency if you call off your realm and surrender. Avoid suffering a villain's fate, Aspreasy."
It was an option. "I rather mislike being told what to do." Aspreay did not take it. "No. One of us shall perish today."
Bold words, he knew, to utter to the Empire's sharpest blade.
Why am I raising my sword against the living incarnation of death? Aspreay wondered. Do I consider the brat to be noble in some way? Or is it simply that loving the fool from Gama has finally become the death of me?
This and many other thoughts fluttered within Aspreay's mind, frustration and confusion welling up inside – but only for a moment. It had all ceased the moment his Realm was summoned.
Nothing else mattered except the opponent standing before him.
Back when the Emperor first granted Aspreay land, some had privately questioned his decision to reward a nameless lord of meager renown. Theories whirled amidst the capital, chief among them the notion that Aspreay harbored some secret Talent that could rival even the Hangmen themselves.
The truth was much more mundane. It was not hidden strength or genius aptitude that drew the Emperor's attention. He'd merely taken note of Aspreay's single-minded focus and ability to calmly analyze his surroundings – then judged it would be easier to reward the idealistic, wide-eyed young man than to fight him.
Because during his time at the Academy, despite possessing a lower Rank than the other Lords…Aspreay had never lost a single duel.
He fixed his gaze on the specter of death that was the Hangman. His motives for helping the Painter, his hatred at the injustice done to him, even his desire to survive – all were burnt to ashes as his Realm spread around them. In his mind, only a single, solitary thought remained:
Victory at all costs.
The Hangman's glare threatened death. "Heed the Emperor's orders, Aspreay. Forget not that we are inside His Realm."
"And yet also inside mine," Aspreay stated. "So heed my order: Kill yourself, Peasant."
Valente's eyes shot open. He did not tremble so much as vibrate, his body locked in near-complete stillness. Then, less than a second later, the Hangman shook himself like a wet half-breed dog coming out of a river. He appalled wholly undamaged, sending the former Lord a feeling of mild whiplash over his failed command.
–And immediately killed Aspreay four times in response.
It took Aspreay until his fourth death to even notice what was transpiring. The Hangman had been clustering his Orbs together into a physical form, then flinging them as one would flip a coin, each projectile faster than an arrow and far deadlier.
The Hangman Talent bestows death upon all of his attacks, Aspreay calmly thought. Anything his violence touches will result in death. However, he cannot permanently kill me inside my Realm – Noble Guard grants me life.
"What a curious exchange that was," Valente remarked. "I don't suppose I could get you to surrender?"
"It was only curious to an uneducated peasant who never anticipated that he'd stand on a stage of this grandeur," Aspreay fired back. "This result was expected."
Aspreay's opening move had been to use the Realm's First Pillar, the Royal Order, to order the Hangman to kill himself. Anyone or anything inside a Lord's Realm was compelled to heed his command upon its declaration. Yet the move failed to produce an effect – which was also as expected.
"A mere Baron such as myself managed to make an Emperor's Hangman tremble? Pathetic." The Lord sounded proud of his own deed, and mocking of his opponent for allowing him to accomplish it. Neither was a lie for the sake of a taunt, both reflected his heart's truth. "Mayhap today I will slay the Incarnation of Death."
"I have fought Lords before," the Hangman declared. "That Noble Order is your only offensive power. If you can't command me," – Valente flicked three Orbs at Aspreay – "you can't kill me, either."
Each Orb collided with Aspreay's body, piercing it and killing him three times over, to no effect. "Then you should already know," he said, "that the Second Pillar of Realms, the Noble Guard, will keep murder from your fingers as well. While we are inside my Realm, I cannot be slain."
Even if you prove immune to my Orders, Noble Guard affects me, not you. This isn't something that can be changed with raw violence alone. "There are many legends of your might, Hangman. Pray tell – does the legend have a way to pierce through the reality of my Realm's unbreakable laws?"
"Watch and behold the legend you speak of," the Captain spat out. "I daren't spoil the surprise. Even a villain such as yourself wouldn't want to violate a duel's sportsmanship to that degree."
He would.
And did.
Inside a Lord's Realm, everything he desired became his belonging.
The final, Third Pillar of Realms, Divine Knowledge gave Aspreay the answer he craved. Much like the Emperor could track one's position, or even speak directly into their mind, a Baron's Realm could trace an opponent's very thoughts…provided his Realm was small enough.
And Aspreay had refined this one to the size of a single, narrow street.
'If his Realm keeps him invulnerable, all I need to do is to destroy it,' the Hangman thought.
'Were the philistine to think in another language,' Aspreay noted, 'I would not be able to read him so accurately. He lacks the necessary preparation. Powerful, but untrained. A pitiful peasant.'
Images of the Dark Captain's plan flooded Aspreay's mind. They were blurry, yet just distinctive enough to make out: Valente's duel against the Puppet Lord, flying atop the Puppet Mountains.
It was right before the massacre that created a fated tunnel. As Aspreay watched, he saw in his mind how the Hangman had attacked the Puppet Lord's barrier from inside, and–
Imbecile! "Don't do it, peasant!" he cried out. "Don't launch an attack–"
Valente let out an eerie laugh. "You think to stop me, Villain? I know thy weakness! Those invisible Walls of yours are weaker from the inside than the outside, are they not?"
He juggled a number of Orbs with one hand, at first with skill, then seeming to move them as if they were forced to orbit around the wrist. "Once I shatter it, you will fall – like the Puppet villain before you!"
This attack felt different than the others. Before, the Spheres had hardly caused much damage to their surroundings, only bringing death upon Aspreay. Now that the Hangman's aim was the Wall itself, his Spheres had taken on an aura of overwhelming violence. Valente intended to have them explode upon impact.
"Stop!" Aspreay shouted. "You don't understand–!"
In a fraction of a second, Divine Knowledge told him everything he needed. His thoughts now raced faster than his own body could move. Information that should have taken nearly a minute to understand instantly formed inside Aspreay's brain.
Valente did not understand how Walls worked – although he thought he did.
The Hangman had been so young during the Assault on Puppet Mountain that there was barely any hair on his face. He'd only been present on account of his unparalleled genius.
His duel against the Puppet Lord had not been unlike this one, with the monster trapping them both inside a small, reconstructed Realm. At one point, the Hangman's attack missed the Puppet Lord and collided with the Wall, causing the Puppet intense pain. Noticing this, Valente struck at the Wall instead of the Lord, bludgeoning it until the man's Realm collapsed…and then killed him without effort.
From this, his youthful immaturity had drawn a conclusion: that Walls were weaker on the inside than outside, and – more importantly – that you could escape a Realm by assaulting it mercilessly.
YOU FOOL! THEY ARE EQUALLY STRONG!
It was true that damaging the Walls would injure the Lord in ways Noble Guard was unable to protect from. Given time and persistence, a concerned onslaught might undo the Realm itself.
What Valente had missed, though, was that Walls didn't inherently stop things from passing through. Aside from Stained creatures, every other restriction needed to be intentionally added by the Lord.
Aspreay himself, after Reconstructing his Realm in this very duel, had added the Realm Law to match his intentions. He'd banished humans and other living beings from entering or exiting his Realm – a common restriction.
In your memory, as you fought atop the mountain…when you launched your attack on the Wall…it would have destroyed the Puppet's home. Killed countless innocents.
Aspreay bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. You don't understand, you idiot! He could have saved himself! It's not that the barrier was weak – it's that the Lord was forced to endure your attack multiple times to keep you from harming his people!
This isn't the perfect counter you think it is!
The Hangman locked eyes with Aspreay's, as if waiting for a meaningful interruption. Yet try as he might, the Lord couldn't find a way to convey what he knew in the scant few seconds that were available to him. While Divine Knowledge sped up his thoughts, it did little for his speech. I have to try. I have to–
"You'll kill those people!" Aspreay shouted, gesturing at the buildings behind him. It was all he could get out.
And it wasn't enough. How could it be? The Hangman had no reason to listen to him.
Valente flicked his hand, speeding up the rotation orbit of the Orbs around his wrist. He grinned confidently with the sinfully naive smile of a young hero. "With this, your cheating of death shall end, Villain." He whipped his arm away from Aspreay and towards the empty air–towards the Wall–towards the streets.
STOP! "The Walls don't work like you–"
"Behold," Valente declared, "this Meteoric Rain of mine."
The Orbs may as well have been a comet tearing through the heavens. They blazed forward at the building, glowing brighter and redder, converting into a single scarlet sphere that built up speed every passing moment.
To Aspreay, the split second when the Orb collided with his barrier might as well have been an eternity. Clashing sparks flew between them. The sphere vibrated, and the fabric of reality around it seemed as if it was threatening to shatter.
His many thoughts, accelerated by Divine Knowledge, raced and competed with each other for dominance.
I can still stop this, he realized. I'm faster than anyone at Reconstruction. There should still be enough time to add a Law to my Wall. If I trap his attack inside my Realm, it won't hurt any of the common people.
It would cost his life, however.
Aspreay had no doubts about that. Either the transferred damage from his Wall would be enough to tear his body asunder…or he would be left defenseless, his Realm shattered. If he cared about his life – about Vasco's, even – then that just wasn't an option.
But…
"Will you truly not lift the barrier in Penumbria, even in the face of death?" Aspreay had asked the brat.
The Painter opened his eyes and glared. "If I wasn't willing to do this much, I would have had no right to take Penumbria from you."
The memory flooded his mind suddenly and without invitation. Had the Painter been the one here, mayhap…mayhap he would have died to protect the innocent.
'Death won't be enough to stop me,' Aspreay had told Vasco a lifetime ago. 'Just you wait! Together, we shall change the world!'
A few years back, he likely would have, too.
But I am not my yesterday. Today's Aspreay yet yearns for a tomorrow.
Just as suddenly as the clash started – his Wall allowed the Orb through.
Since the first Emperor started his conquest, the Capital had been the Imperial Family's crowning achievement. Not once had it seen bloodshed, its citizens living blissfully unaware of the violence spawned from the Lords and Stained outside. For over three hundred years, this record had been maintained with no small amount of pride by both commoners and nobles alike.
It all ended today.
Upon impact, the Orb swallowed up the building – and its neighbors – in a violent eruption of death. The beautiful Imperial architecture was engulfed by a massive explosion, several structures losing nearly all of their outer walls, most of their back, and collapsing the majority of their floors.
Embers briefly ignited here and there, small flames that danced among the debris like malevolent ghosts cackling at death. For a moment, it was only the sound of those villainous flames, and nothing else, that rang throughout the world.
Inside the translucent barrier, behind the Realm's Walls, the two duelists stood in opposite reactions.
Valente gaped at the carnage. First open-mouthed, then covering it in sheer horror, as if to keep himself from emptying his stomach at the terror of his own creation – at the haunting sight of dozens of shattered corpses and splattered blood. Gazing upon that wrought destruction, the Strongest Man in the World trembled with numb shock, paralyzed by the appalling loss of life.
The villainous Lord had not the luxury of sorrow. Without delay, he seized upon his chance to attack.
Whether someone possessed the strongest sword or the fastest reflexes…they meant nothing when a man was frozen by despair.
Shocked at the consequence of your ignorance? Good. Aspreay dashed forward. Choke on the sin of your naivety and die.
Now a prisoner to mixed thoughts of astonishment, confusion, and guilt, the Hangman hesitated. He raised one trembling hand, a single Orb contained within–
Then dropped it.
'What if that hurts more innocent people?' Valente thought. It was essentially impossible – he was too fast and accurate to miss an attack aimed at a single target. Besides, nothing could go wrong if he simply infused his Orb with death rather than destruction. It was a foolish concern.
'And…and there's no point in attacking,' Valente's mind continued, encouraging him to lower his hand. 'He can keep himself healed, and he can't actually harm me.'
This, of course, was the mindset of a loser. Nothing more than weak rationalizations conjured up to allow Valente to enslave himself to his emotions. Deep inside, the Hangman knew that, although he would never admit it. Pain took over his heart, and he thought to himself, 'Just…just two seconds…I just need a mere two seconds to recompose myself. I deserve that much.'
Aspreay did not waste those 'mere' two seconds.
In his dash, he shortened the distance between them from 27 to 14 meters.
'What is he doing?' the Hangman wondered. 'Why is he approaching me? No! I can't – I can't let him kill any more people!'
Even in his state of numbed shock, enough urgency returned to him that Valente readied an attack. In truth, it was to be expected.
The Dark Captain was, above all else, a genius.
He was inexperienced, uneducated, and poorly trained – but a genius nonetheless. Aspreay's warning had been sufficient for him to realize both his mistake and the gravity of his current situation. Beneath the surface, Valente blamed himself…but for now, he needed to blame Aspreay in order to steady his will and keep fighting.
'It's the Villain's fault,' thought the Hangman. 'He chose to kill innocents instead of losing his Realm.'
Divine Knowledge granted Aspreay knowledge of that thought – and he acted upon it. 'Now is my chance.'
Aspreay undid his Realm.
It was an assault on Valente's rationalizations that shocked him to his core. 'He…he killed dozens of innocents to keep his Realm from shattering. Why is he undoing it right now? I could slay him any moment. I could–'
"–REALM–RECONSTRUCTION–!" Aspreay thundered. Jolts of pain burned in his body, and he ignored them.
Immediately after understanding what transpired, the Hangman fired his death-infused Orb – but the delay proved too much. The Realm had already been rebuilt. In irrational fury, he fired another barrage, yet Noble Guard would not allow the Lord to die, reviving him again and again.
'Why did he bother with all that? He could have died!' Valente desperately tried to gather his thoughts, to recover from the chaotic massacre unleashed upon the city. 'And are Lords able to reconstruct their realms as many times as they want? I thought–'
"Kill yourself, peasant," Aspreay snarled.
At first, its impact wasn't any different from the last time. Valente felt his body momentarily shake, but hardly felt any pain at all. He looked up, grinning, and said, "How many times do I–"
Then it set in.
A feeling of being punched in the gut suddenly had the Captain hunched over, nearly dropping to his knees. What…the? Why is this one harder to resist? What–
Aspreay raised his chin, ignored his pain from the blowback, and sneered at the Hangman. "Pathetic. You truly can't do better with your powers?"
The Hangman's assumption that Aspreay had merely undone and redone his Realm was correct. Yet you didn't notice,' the Lord thought, with contempt, 'that my Realm is smaller now, did you?'
At the start of the duel, Aspreay's realm had been 27 meters long. After the Hangman's barrage of death, during those two seconds he'd been able to move freely, he'd shortened the distance to 14 meters. Then, he called off his Realm and Reconstructed it, but smaller.
It was the same principle as to why his Realm could work at all inside the Emperor's City. 'The smaller and more concentrated a Realm is, the more capable it becomes at slaying heavier giants than itself.' This applied not only to Divine Knowledge, but to Royal Order as well.
Aspreay's battle instincts told him that the Hangman would soon understand what had happened. 'I need to attack his mind,' he reasoned, calmly and coldly. 'He is as the bards sing of him – the Strongest Man in the World. But he lacks experience. He lacks resolve. And…'
Aspreay glared at the man. '...he will lose to me.'
"People died," Valente muttered weakly. "How can you just stand there with nary a tear on your face? How can guilt not overflow from your very being?"
Aspreay let out a derisive laugh. "You would have me feel guilt over not jumping in front of an innocent to shield them from your crossbow? Nay, bastard." He laughed again, as if he was addressing a petitioner in his court, rather than the strongest, most dangerous man in the Empire. "I will not share your sins. They are yours to bear."
"It–it isn't my fault!" Valente cried out. His desperate argument was meant more for himself than for his opponent. "I didn't know, I couldn't have–"
"–Do you think lack of ability justifies your crimes?" Memories of Aspreay's time as Lord of Penumbria flowed into his mind. He did not suppress them. There were dozens, hundreds, thousands of people whose death he'd failed to prevent – that mayhap a different lord could have. "They are your sins. Carry them. Take responsibility. This show of cowardice insults your victims twice; first you kill them, then you feign innocence."
He frowned at the cockroach. "Disgusting."
"But I…" The Hangman shook his head and averted his gaze. "I just–"
He looked away! Aspreay thought. Immediately, he shouted, "Cobblestone: I order you to suffocate the man!"
​
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​
Link to Part 2

Hey everyone,
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I'd love to hear your thoughts on AI and how it's impacting your daily life. Share your experiences, concerns, or favorite AI applications in the comments below! Let's start a conversation about the role of AI in shaping our future. 🚀🌐

Hi, sincere apologies for reposting this here after posting yesterday in the no stupid questions thread but I got no responses there and would really appreciate any kind of advice urgently - boss is expecting answers soon.. so reposting here for better visibility.
Managing expectations...
Hey guys, will try keep this brief - really would appreciate some insights please. I'm a humble motion graphics designer working at my current company for 3 years now. My company regularly puts out TV ads which I primarily create with After Effects and Element 3d. No other specialised 3d programs. My two fellow motion colleagues and I have recently been shown a TV ad and have been asked to elevate our ads to this level. Apologies for the poor quality phone recording, and if its a problem posting something like this I can remove it but its purely just to ask how it was made etc. Here is a low quality recording of the ad.
I need to manage my boss's expectations and present a document to her describing exactly what goes into creating something like this. Our usual process of one person per TV ad, and max 3 days to create it, using only AE and Element 3D is not going to cut it. My question is - could any of you experts please describe to the best of your knowledge the minimum requirements to create something like this? I'm talking expertise-wise, amount of people, amount of time, and paid for specialised 3d programs, render engines etc..
So that I can say to my boss basically (for example) we will need to double our team, each go on a C4d course (or whatever), and need 3 MONTHS not 3 days, and we will need (just name dropping and inserting examples of things I read here) C4d, Unreal, Houdini, Trapcode for the particles etc etc.
Really would appreciate your opinions please, so I can manage expectations here and help my boss gain some perspective. Please note I am not asking for tutorials here like exactly how this was made step by step, just asking about the programs used, manpower, hours / days / weeks, what it would take - that sort of thing. Like the scope of it. Thanks for reading.

Switching from mental healthcare to data analysis. Although no experience, I’m trying. Plan is to work on getting certifications, which my professor will help me get started with. Also just interviewed for a job that would teach me more about excel and another program. I scheduled an appointment with my school’s career counselor, but wanted extra help from Reddit. Long story short, I need some advice!