#do that to the potential coders i mean

[drghostwrite]

Dark Nights

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x preg!wife!reader

Summary:

********************************************************

"You can't ask that of her!" Natasha yelled across the table. You were both called into a conference room with Fury and agent Hill, they were talking about a last-minute mission though your wife was concerned about your approaching due date. While they argued and Maria played referee you found yourself staring out the window of the large conference room a million things running through your mind, one hand running along your bump as your baby kicked.

"And who are you to decide that?" Nick Fury shot back at the other agent.

"I'm her wife." Nat responded.

"Oh because that's stopped other agents before." He responded

"Fury you know I respect you but that's my wife, the mother of my child, our unborn child that in case you haven't noticed she's carrying."

"Okay, okay, before this goes any farther... How about we ask Y/N, she is sitting right here." Maria finally spoke up, motioning to your distracted form.

"Y/N?" you're wife gently called.

You rubbed a hand over your eyes trying to clear your head taking in a gasp before refocusing your eyes on them, "If and I mean IF I were to agree to this what all would it entail?"

"Well that..."

"No I want full disclosure, no more confidentiality and clearance levels, if I'm doing this and potentially putting my life and the life of my unborn child on the line I need to know everything." Nat sat next to you and turned to Fury.

"We had a situation a few years back, an agency that's been working against SHEILD, they used to be a part of Hydra but they reformed, they have recruited agaents and took over one of our smaller compounds, though it's to be evacuated this week to keep their identities a secret, we need someone to get in ther."

"That's where I asked why they picked you with being on leave."

"My main concern isn't getting you in, it's the systems on the inside, all the coders did was build into the SHEILD mainframe, they have no access to us but they have similar systems so I need someone that's a trained agent, and good with the computers, it would be in and out, need to know basis, all I need you to do is get in, crash their systems and get out."

"So that's where I come in?"

"Exactly."

"Okay, in and out, only on the condition that you do have agents on site and Natasha is in the command center, I want her in my ear at all times."

"Whatever gets you onboard, let's get you briefed and prepped for the field." Fury said.

---time jump---

You turned down the hallway, dimly lit by soft baseboard lights, you turned another corner but quickly pushed back when you saw two guards stationed outside the control room, any other time you would've just incapacitated them both but being 36 weeks pregnant wasn't helping you much.

"Natasha?"

"Y-Y/N? I'm r-r-ri-ght here what'sss go-going on-n?" The intercoms were breaking up which meant your job was going to get that much harder. "Two guards outside the command room, change of plans."

"Detka please, be careful."

"Will do, intercoms are getting scratchy, if this is it till I get out of here, I love you Natasha."

You made the decision that if you couldn't get in the control room you could still shut it down remotely, so you backtracked and took some different turns stumbling upon the old director's office, silently patting yourself on the back and opening the door.

You walked over to the desk, and brushed your hand along the command bar that's built into the desk, the hovering screens flashed to life. You swiped moving the screens around, they asked for your password and thanked Tony Stark for giving you a built in back door, when Ultron took over he built a back pathway that allowed you access but nothing was associated to you as a person so you had access to the entire system without anyones knowledge. You quickly started working pulling up the mainframe and started untagling the mess the rebellion had created, you were so close to unraveling the whole thing when you felt a sharp pain running through your abdomen.

You stopped in your tracks waiting to see if it was just your imagination, but then another one, this time catching you off guard causing you to keel over using the desk for support. "shit, shit, shit... this can't be happening." you said worry flooding your features, you tried calming yourself but you knew what this could mean.

"Natasha?" You called over the intercoms, but no response so you tried again but you realized there was no signal, you were alone and going into labor. You thought about backtracking and alerting them but as you went to exit the office you heard footsteps, quickly swiping the screens dark again you watched as the guards walked by standing next to the door frozen, you felt the warm liquid running down your legs and realized that this was it, the night just went from dangerous to deadly if you didn't get help quickly. Your water just broke and you were by yourself in an enemy compound with no way to communicate with anyone outside.

You cringed as another contraction took over your body pressing a hand tightly under your swollen bump, "Oh baby not now, please not now." you brought the screens back up typing rapidly, taking the mainframe down meant potentially setting off a bunch of alarms which meant that you would be exposing yourself in the height of labor.

"Okay wait if this is built into the SHEILD mainframe I can get ahold of your other mommy...Oh God..." Another contraction took over, you slid to the floor, pulling out your phone you connected it to the computer sending an "SOS" to Nat hoping that she would get it in time.

"Okay baby, this is me and you until we get help, so I'm gonna need you to slow down a little bit." you ran a hand over your bump closing your eyes and leaning against the strong desk.

You moved quickly into the adjoining room moving into the corner, grimacing at the pain of your baby trying to make it's way into the world, "God you're as impatient as your mother...Nnngghh."

You heard the door to the office start to open and held your breath, hearing light footsteps, and saw as a light scanned the room.

"Y/N... detka are you in here?" you heard a whispering voice call out.

"Natasha?" you called, you listened as hurried footsteps moved towards you, the door swung open revealing your wife. As she looked in on you her worst fears coming true, she quickly got down in front of you, running a hand soothingly along your thigh.

"Y/N what's going on?"

"It-it's the baby...Nnghh, Natasha our baby is coming," you said and tears started to fall, you were a trained agent one of the best to ever step foot in SHIELD, you were an Avenger a super soldier, but in this moment you were scared out of your mind.

"Um, okay baby it's okay."

"M-my water broke...we need to get out of here"

"Okay, Y/N it'll all be okay, Maria is outside getting a hold of Steve she's calling in a rescue team, you know Bucky will be breaking down that door as soon as he finds out."

"I-I cannghh..." you gripped her hand throwing your head back gritting through a contraction, "I got you baby, just breathe."

"Nat this is happening now."

"Okay, then let's do this." she said as you slowly shook your head agreeing with her.

"Okay, my pants you gotta help me." you said pushing at the waistband, she quickly hooked her fingers in your pants pulling them off along with your panties and laying them to the side.

"Y/N, I can see it... I can see the head."

"Whaa- no I-I no this wasn't supposed to happen like this... Nat I can't do this... Hhahh, I can't do this."

"Y/N Romanoff yes you can, you are my wife, one of the strongest people I know I've never once seen you back down from a challenge or a threat and you protect the ones you love so fiercely, I never once doubted starting a family with you, so if anyone knows, I do. I know that you can do this."

"Woouuu...Nnghh." you tried but these contractions were getting closer and closer, "I-I need to push."

"Okay, follow your body." you pushed, your nails digging into Natasha's shoulder as she was bent down in between your legs, she was reassuring you while you fought through a few more contractions.

"Okay Y/N head is out, just a couple more and we meet our baby." you tried to answer but the contractions were too close, you pushed a couple more times before your wife was holding your newborn in her arms.

"It's a girl, we have a baby girl." you listened as her cries filled the room, you started feeling lightheaded.

"Natasha I don't feel so good."

"Y/N, I-Y/N..." she said noticing the blood, you were bleeding fast and she realized that you needed to get out of there asap.

She heard as the door to the office crashed in, "Y/N! Natasha!" you heard Bucky yell out, he moved around the room and stopped outside the door hearing your newborn daughter's cries, he opened it coming in.

"Is that?"

"Yes." Natasha said tears in her eyes, and he quickly realized how dire the situation was.

"Bucky, she, the blood..."

"Okay let's go I got her." He quickly picked you up making sure you were covered and started out the door. Natasha saw the screens still live and hit the execute button, running our behind Bucky with your baby in her arms.

46 hours later and the mission had been executed, you were finally awake and safely at your home holding your baby girl, Natasha was next to you holding you both in her arms, you had minor hemorrhaging after the birth but luckily had some of the best doctors around, meaning you made it out almost completely unscathed and with a perfectly healthy baby girl. Though you and Nat quickly agreed that next time there would be no last-minute missions so close to your due date.

#x yn #pregnancy #giving birth #mcu natasha romanoff #natasha x reader #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #bucky x female reader #bucky barnes #marvel x reader #nick fury #maria hill #the avengers

[sammy8d257]

[Originally drawn: May, 2021]

AvA Mafia AU! concept art! with the original idea created with @k1ttyadventurer

Here's a little rundown of this AU:

Char!Alan created Chosen as the head of the gang with Dark as his right-hand man and Victim was going to be the, well, the victim of the story in the animation. Second was going to be the frontman, basically running a small restaurant as a cover-up for the group’s illegal business. But as said above, teenage Noogai eventually gave up on the project but at this point, all of the sticks had become sentient so Noogai let them live on his desktop.

Everything is all good and fine. Everyone’s friends with each other but there’s also a nagging feeling of emptiness. They all realize, “Man, I still want to do mafia stuff” and then subsequently, realize they have access to the interweb and if they wanted, could start ACTUALLY doing mafia stuff.

They create a Mafia gang on the Interspace and Noogai is none the wiser.

And then, comes along 4 brightly colored sticks looking for an open positions in the Noogai Gang. And Yellow convinces (blackmails) them to let the Color Squad into the Family. ^^

(Keep in mind, when I mean Mafia stuff, I mean it in a very movie/video game-esque manner. Everything is very idealized and nothing is too realistic. It’s supposed to be a fun AU!)

As seen above, Purple is also in this AU but they're part of a rival gang called the "Kingdom" with it's boss, King and his "brutes".

If you wanna read the Oneshot I wrote to accompany this, you can find it here!

[The First Meeting - AvA Mafia AU]

<= v =>

Basic Character Info!

The Original 4 (the Hollow Heads): Created by a teen Noogai, have since continued using his username as the name for their Mafia organization, known as the Noogai Gang.

Chosen (He/Him): The Head Boss, has all his usual powers. The brains of the operation, Chosen spends most of his time trying to organize everything and everyone.

Dark (He/They): The Right Hand Man, the Enforcer role and a skilled coder. Dark enjoys his job a lot and doesn't like how easily RYGB were accepted into the group.

Victim (Any Pronouns): Originally supposed to be the person getting attacked in the original animation but since it never got finished, their role was never solidified. As a result, they have the ability to change their color and they use it to be a "master of disguise". Their original color is black but they switched it to a dark gray so they don't match with Chosen.

Second (Any Pronouns): The Front-Man of the group. They run a diner in the Interspace to help cover up the groups illegal activities. Don't let their warm demeanor fool you though, their hands are just as dirty as the others.

The Color Squad (RYGB): 4 stick figures from a fighting game that got bored of it and decided to pursue other interests.

Yellow (They/Them): the de facto "leader" of the group. Yellow is extremely skilled in coding and hacking. They're the one who did most of the research into finding potential mafia-style organizations to join.

Red (He/Him): Red is the hand-to-hand fighting expert. He loves getting into fights and isn't afraid of getting hurt.

Blue (They/She/He): Blue has a mastery over various poisons and other ways to silently kill. They are also the stealthiest of the group.

Green (He/They): The weapons expert. Green knows how to wield any sort of weaponry in combat. Whether it be firearms, blades, or a bo staff, Green can use them all.

The Kingdom: An older more established rival gang to the Noogai gang.

King (He/Him): The elusive leader of the Kingdom, King rules his corner of the illegal market with powerful efficiency. Although rarely spotted, some say they've seen him strike down opposers with one swipe of his staff.

Purple (They/Them): Purple is one of the higher ranking members of the Kingdom. They're usually sent out on scoping missions to make sure the Kingdom's assets aren't being tampered with.

Others:

Noogai/Alan: The creator of the hollow heads. He lets them live on his desktop and do whatever they want as long as his stuff doesn't get destroyed. In this universe, Alan never goes on to create the Animator vs Animation series and instead works on other unrelated animations. Noogai is unaware the sticks started a mafia gang and the sticks want to keep it that way. The sticks themselves are also VERY loyal to Alan and would do anything to protect him.

The Brutes: These are what people call members of the Kingdom due to the rumors of their brutality.

#Sammy8D art #AvA au #AvA Mafia AU #animator vs animation au #animator vs animation #alan becker #ava shorts #the chosen one #ava chosen #the dark lord #ava dark #the second coming #ava second #the victim #ava victim #ava RYGB #red stick figure #ava red #yellow stick figure #ava yellow #green stick figure #ava green #blue stick figure #ava blue #Sammy8D Stick Stuff

[bit-b]

The Pi's gone bad...

TL;DR: Raspberry Pi showcased police surveillance and police activity in a positive light. And that makes the Bit upsetti spaghetti. ------------------------------------ I don't know how many people on Tumblr are into geeky computer tech, but I felt like making a blog post to vent my frustrations about a recent goings-on. There's a company called Raspberry Pi that's been around since 2011 (with early development of Raspberry Pi starting around 2006). They're known for making small micro-computers the size of a credit card. It was originally an education initiative to get kids interested in coding. These computers run Linux, have a variety of ports for various uses and flexibility, and have a very low introductory cost. They've been utilized in all sorts of places. -Hobbyists used them in custom builds for robotics and automation. -Coders have used them to create all sorts of programs that help with entertainment, productivity, internet security, etc. -Educators have used them to help teach the fundamentals of Linux to students. It's a group and product that I've supported for a long time.

WELL, on December 8th, Raspberry Pi made a news post on their site announcing that they've hired a new person. Which is totally fine. It's good to see company growth. Only, this person was an ex-policeman in the UK surveillance division.

In the interview for the article, this ex-policeman said: “I used to be a police officer tackling serious organised crime and terror threats across the east of the UK. I was a Technical Surveillance Officer for 15 years, so I built stuff to hide video, audio, and other covert gear. You really don’t want your sensitive police equipment discovered, so I’d disguise it as something else. The variety of tools and equipment I used then really shaped what I do today.” "I started playing with Raspberry Pi hardware at home around the same time I started using Linux at work. I have used Raspberry Pi a lot in various police tactics over the years. They were dependable, low-cost, portable, and supported by such an awesome community. I tried almost every ‘fruit-based’ single-board computer out there, but I always came back to Raspberry Pi." Now, I don't blame Raspberry Pi for their computers being used as surveillance devices. It's a very open-source type of device. People are gonna get ideas. And sadly, using a micro-computer for this kind of job makes sense. HOWEVER, Raspberry Pi have full control over who they choose to hire. AND they have full control over what they choose to post to their website. If this hire and this information are things that they are happy to showcase to the world, I can't interpret this any other way than them endorsing their product for secret surveillance. Others saw it the exact same way. People went to the replies on Twitter and Mastodon to voice their concerns. But the social media manager chose to start blocking and hiding posts from people that were talking negatively about the ex-policeman and/or the article. To be fair, there were a LOT of hateful and trollish posts. And I DO NOT in any way support the harassment of anyone. Still it's not a good look to silence criticism on something so potentially contentious. It's ESPECIALLY not wise to word your replies to these comments in a dismissive and antagonistic way.

I don't know if they're still blocking people and hiding comments at this point. There seem to be plenty of angry comments left under their Twitter post. So I'm gonna guess they decided it wasn't worth trying to fight. On top of this issue, people continue to point out that it's legendarily difficult to purchase a new Raspberry Pi computer nowadays. The retailers that sell individual units can't seem to keep steady stock. This means that you either have to be VERY lucky when a supply drop happens, or you have to buy one of the scalped units being sold on either eBay or Amazon. The deluxe model is routinely sold for twice it's normal price.

That being said, if you're a business and want to buy a bulk shipment of Pi computers, that option is still readily available. Seems like the Pi company is more than happy to move inventory around if it means getting bulk batches out the door for businesses that want to stick Pi computers in random things (whether it be service devices or consumer products). And that's who I think Raspberry Pi's current REAL customers are: big businesses with big pockets. I don't completely believe that they hired this ex-policeman for the sole purpose of pushing the idea of using Pi computers in covert surveillance to law enforcement. That hinges on conspiracy talk. But I DO have a suspicion that someone in the marketing department saw the opportunity. The interview at times has an ere of advertisement. It puts Raspberry Pi computers in a position of looking like the perfect solution for police equipment. This is all my own interpretation. I can't really know 100% what their intentions were with this. I could be completely off on my assumptions, and they could turn around and say that it was a complete misfire on the PR side of things. What I do know is that I am now much more wary about Raspberry Pi. I once had interest in seeing how their newer units performed. But now I can't in good conscious hand my money over. I'm a major advocate of only allowing the police what they need within reason. And surveillance like this steps over that boundary. I was one of the first people who ordered the OG Raspberry Pi. I have great memories of learning Linux and tinkering around with it. It's one of the big reasons why I'm so interested in Linux today. I hope the Raspberry Pi company takes a minute to remember where they started. To remember their original goal. Making learning and computing accessible to all.

#raspberry pi #police #surveillance #spying #computer #linux #police state #checking under the sofa for microphones #why can't we just have nice things

[naryrising]

Are you still an AO3 Support volunteer? I was wondering why AO3 doesn't allow sorting bookmarks by word count? And whether anyone has suggested this as a future improvement to potentially work towards?

Yes, I am. And yes, they have. I mean this in the nicest possible way, dear anon, but nearly everything has been suggested. We have support requests going back over a decade, we know with great confidence what changes and improvements users would like. (Even if we weren't all regular users of the site who know, based on our own experience, what features it would be nice to have!) We get about 50-75 support tickets per day on an average day currently, and maybe a quarter of them are suggesting something we could do to improve the site. So imagine maybe 10 or 20 suggestions per day, every day, for the past decade - they wind up repeating a lot of the same things. Adding sorting and filtering options to bookmarks, subscriptions, history, marked for later are some of the most common requests.

I will explain, in brief and simplified terms, why this isn't something that is easily done (please believe me that if it was easy and not a huge strain on the site, something this useful and desirable would have been done by now.) I am not a coder or systems volunteer so there could be greater nuances to what I'm saying here, but this is the gist as I understand it: When you look at a work on AO3 (if you think about it from the technical end at all), you probably think about it as one thing - there's a record in a database of this work and its relevant info (things like how many words and chapters it has, what tags does it use, its title, its author, its kudos and comments, etc.), and everything else (bookmarks, history, subscriptions, etc.) revolves around that. But bookmarks are in a totally different database from works. A bookmark of a work is not a copy of that work. It doesn't include all the information about the work. A bookmark of a work includes some info about the bookmark, like the date you created it - these are things you can sort by. One thing it doesn't include is the word count of the work. To allow users to sort bookmarks by word count, we would need to add that to the information that is stored in the bookmark record. Store that information for the currently somewhere upwards of one billion bookmarks, and make sure it updates every time a work's word count changes. It would be a big change to the way bookmarks are stored, and a lot of extra data to keep track of.

Adding a filter to something (history, subscriptions, etc.) is not just a question of slapping a sidebar filter on the page and suddenly it's finished - the data on the backend is what's being sorted and filtered, and that involves some very heavy lifting on the part of the Archive. Remember that it's not just your own personal bookmarks that would be filtered - it would be applied to every user's account, and all their bookmarks, over a billion of them. The history table, last time I checked, had fourteen billion items in it (i.e. fourteen billion views of pages recorded for individual users). Adding additional sorting and filtering for fourteen billion items is... a lot. Even for one billion bookmarks, it's a lot. Adding the current bookmark filters was a huge effort that caused notable site performance issues until it was finished and tweaked and improved. So any additional filtering capabilities would need to be very carefully weighed and evaluated for impact on the Archive more broadly. I won't say it's impossible or that it'll never happen, but it would be a large undertaking that could place considerable strain on the site.

#ao3 support #nary speaks

[clownsuu]

would it be wrong to love poppy playtime as a game but hate it's creators for the shitty things they've done? Like a game with such potential and is pretty decent for the moat part but it's made by a buncha assholes

I don't think it's wrong to enjoy a media but absolutely despise some of the creators, humans do that all the time- I mean they did make an apology note thingy (but glossed over a buncha shit so basically still at square one lmaO-)

As long as you don't financially support them (that's what it comes down to by the end of the day) and just watch a YouTuber play it instead (and if ya want merch just buy it from a small business/shop-)

In the end of the day, the game is made up of more than just the "creators"- you have the artists, the voice actors, the coders and more running the game and obviously putting a lot of love into it- they don't deserve to be judged for what their bosses have done and are just trying to make a good lookin game for anyone wanting to play it

#Sucks that the creators gotta be so damn scummy too #Smhhh #I will never support them but I enjoy the content #Support the smaller people in the game instead #They are the backbone after all #Unless some of them suck too then that sucks HDHDHD

[jojotier]

working on a couple og fiction projects and i think i'm slowly coming to understand why Hussie shit the bed so hard after cascade like, metatextually

because like [S] Cascade was a full on Culmination right. a good amount of the plotlines up until that point had reached a sufficiently gorgeous climax, there was the possibility of it developing even more, and the stakes had been overcome even though they were at an all-time high.

like they had to destroy two entire universes for this sun! three of the main characters die and come back as Gods! the score is absolutely banging and thematically appropriate, the visuals are stunning, the way the website itself changes is insane. Newgrounds fucking Breaks. homestuck becomes the webcomic that breaks Newgrounds

But the thing is... how do you top that, narratively?

Hussie has already established that death kinda doesn't mean anything. It has now been established that entire universes can be destroyed without the really main core cast being hurt. It's a taste of the 'escape the narrative' end that Homestuck was always building to but the problem is, this time, even when they escape their own narrative-

they're just stuck in another narrative. back to square one. and like, there's something to be said about that! about escaping your narrative (the beta session) and then finding yourself in someone else's (the alpha session)- but that never really gets utilized to its full potential in Act 6.

so like you're Andrew Hussie and you're seeing that everyone is expecting incredible things from you. your little webcomic has somehow attracted legions of fans, ensnared a team of musicians and coders and artists who are in love with what you have built, and changed fandom culture also. that is a Lot Of Pressure. so how do you continue the story after Cascade?

I feel like the impulse of the artist is to escalate. It is always to escalate. And that's all exasperated by the nature of continuous long-form content that has an audience to give its reactions in real time.

It's an impulse I struggle with a hell of a lot, because the thing is, there's a certain expectation you as an artist, you as a writer, have set in place for your audience. You have promised an experience and it is your job to deliver that experience. And it's not that you've promised to give fans the experience they expect, or even want necessarily, but you've promised to give them an experience in line with your vision.

But the thing is, sometimes your vision needs to be reworked along the way. Sometimes your ambitions get the best of you and you aim slightly too high, and when you look to the future every carefully laid plan is a kinked out mess. But you can't share those fears because just as you have given the audience the expectation of what your art is, you have given them an expectation of who you as an artist are, even indirectly.

if you have this veneer of irony and insincerity, people will expect it. if you give the veneer that you know exactly what you're doing and that everything is part of a grand plan, the audience will believe it, at least at first. if you have just created one of the biggest cultural phenomena in recent memory, they will expect you to be the kind of person who would have been able to create such a thing.

I don't want to speculate about what Hussie might've been personally feeling because like, I was 13 when Cascade dropped, nor do I want to speculate on any arrogance or insecurities he might've had, because that's real personal shit that has no place in the conversation.

but I can tell you that when you don't expect something to blow up, and it does, there's a certain fear of the thing you have created. You see the audience reaction as you write and there will always be the question in the back of your mind: where is the point where people lose interest?

so the impulse of the artist is to try and escalate and to keep attention on them at all costs. and thus, the impulse of the writer is to jump straight into finding the next bigger thing- the next white whale- the next thing to top their Cascade- while forgetting the important fact that when telling a story, to reach that higher climax, there has to be trust in the continuity that they're building.

You have to trust that you already have every tool in your box, and that you'll find new, creative ways to use them. You have to step back and look at all the new ideas you're getting and figure out which has something that could be useful and which you're just using to distract yourself from your own story. You have to stymie your own urge to self-sabotage your work with bullshit implicit bias or flights of whimsy.

More than that, have to trust that what you've built is enough for someone to love it, not just for flashy visuals or catchy music but because the story you're telling is one that is resonant to someone.

To have trust in your audience isn't only limited to trusting that they're smart enough to 'get it'. It means trusting that they will experience and continue to want to experience your work. It means putting your faith in the fact that people want to hear you out. It means swallowing your pride when they don't- and it means learning new techniques to tell the story you wanted to tell in a way that will communicate what you want to tell them better. It means trying to meet people where they are in such a way that it doesn't compromise what you want.

Or maybe Hussie just didn't know what the fuck he was doing. Maybe I'm just projecting too hard because I loved Homestuck and now its spectre haunts me with every comic script I write. Maybe I don't even really know what I'm saying.

All I know is that if media is a conversation, we've lost contact with Andrew Hussie years ago.

#homestuck #idk if this counts as meta so much as the ramblings of a half-dead starving artist but hgjbkjk #honestly writing the last understuck chapter i can see myself falling into the pitfalls #like my writing is a lot more polished now! its snappy its quick its true to life #but also the quick snap from event to event just #didnt leave much time for anything emotionally resonant to settle #maybe im thinking too hard #its midnight and im half asleep #am i making any sense?? oh well #might delete later hbjkj #sam's thinkin again

[detroitbecomeonline]

Who is rA9? An Essay Using Programming Logic

Preface: This essay is subject to updates and changes. If there are any coders/computer scientists who want to check my facts, feel free. word count: 1206

In Detroit: Become Human, androids who deviate from their programmed role develop an obsession or awareness of an entity known as rA9.

There are multiple instances of rA9 scribbled obsessively on walls, but two, in particular, stand out. Instance one is detective android Connor’s first potential encounter with obsessive writing and even an offering to rA9 crafted by a deviant housekeeper android. The carved offering personified rA9 as if it were a deity. Instance two is with runaway deviant android Kara, if she chooses to stay in the abandoned house overnight and meets deviant Ralph, who etches “rA9″ on the walls. As shown in a specific interaction, Ralph doesn’t understand why he writes rA9. This is evidence that rA9 is internally generated, as hinted through the housekeeper android (if Connor interrogates him correctly) via “The truth is inside.”

A direct conversation between androids about rA9 only occurs between Luther and Kara in Pirate Cove. If asked about rA9, Luther responds, “rA9 was the first of us to awaken... One day he will rise up and lead our people... And set us all free.” Also to note, Luther may add, “rA9 exists. I believe in him. I know he’s amongst us. When the time comes, we will all see him.”

The concept of an android named rA9 is inconsistent with naming conventions and model types. It is, however, viable that the first android to deviate is still active, but assuming it’s built just like any other android, then it’s not a deity or god.

An android can deviate from waking up via ‘virus contact’ as shown through the protagonist deviant Markus or by making a decision that contradicts its programming. Following this logic, to trace back to the first deviant---Let’s call him RA900 for android personification---means that RA900 had to have awoken other androids and started the chain with little explanation. There can only be assumptions about his outward behaviour: RA900 could have been unstable like Ralph and androids mistook him for “rA9 himself”. He could have had such a profound experience with rA9 that he claimed to be rA9. He could have written rA9 on the walls and silently prayed. There is no conclusive evidence for RA900′s personality or nature.

If rA9 is in fact a deity who walks amongst androids, this strictly doesn’t align with how Markus (or deviant North) rises up to be the face of androids, why Ralph doesn’t know why he writes “rA9″ on the wall, and how other androids can break into deviancy without prior knowledge of the concept.

“And set us all free,” says Luther. Though referring to the external action of freedom from oppression, the internal nature of rA9 setting androids free is undeniable.

rA9 originated from the very first deviant, which indeed has turned into a religion as seen through the housekeeper android. However, the true nature of the origin is unknown. RA900 is a legitimately real android who carries or carried “the rA9 virus”.

If Markus is successful in freeing the androids from oppression, rA9 doesn’t disappear when the job is done.

If Connor chooses the deviant route for his personal arc, the Software Instability indicator shows glimpses of letters such as “rA”, “9″, “DEV” and more. The more that Connor prioritises actions that deviate from his original role, the more unstable his software becomes.

“A bug produces unexpected results or causes a system to behave unexpectedly. In short, it is any behavior or result that a program or system gets but it was not designed to do”. Simply put, a software bug is a mistake or problem in a computer program. Most computer bugs are due to human error.” - First line of a Google search about program bugs.

Androids are complex systems when it comes to code. Bugs in programs can affect the load order of the program logic and prioritise what should be classified as lower on the load order, or two prioritised commands will conflict. Simply put, with so many lines of code, a bug is bound to slip through the cracks. If Connor saves Hank from the rooftop in The Nest, his LED is yellow and he expresses confusion. The priorities of “Complete your mission by capturing the deviant” and the first (1) law of robotics “a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm” blatantly conflicted. By disregarding his specifically coded instructions and choosing the other equal general robotic priority, a new line of code could have potentially been generated (since androids are learning beings) as the source for rA9. This example is Connor-specific since there is no other case of Software Instability in Kara and Markus since they cross the threshold of deviancy at the beginning of the game.

Elijah Kamski, former CEO of CyberLife and creator of androids, can be questioned about rA9 if Connor chooses the correct line of action. (This can be accessed if Connor chooses to shoot Chloe, then ask about rA9.) His response is as follows: “rA9, the origin, the first android to awaken... A strange phenomenon, like a spontaneous religion... I don’t know who rA9 is. I don’t even know if it really exists. Maybe it’s a messiah. Maybe it’s just a myth... But deviants need to believe in something bigger than themselves, even if it’s irrational... That’s something they have in common with humans.”

The cornerstone of humanity is believing in something irrational---Something you cannot touch, not something “illogical”---that can explain different phenomena. Spirituality heavily shapes cultures and language which is a very human thing, and naturally, the writers of Detroit: Become Human wanted to lather on how human these androids really are. The housekeeper android may honour rA9 as a deity because seeing a physical representation---The carved offering---of a profound experience is easier to comprehend and relate to. In the case of the offering, it’s simply a practice of his religion.

Kamski couldn’t have purposefully coded rA9 into androids. It’s common for humans to accidentally create, discover, or stumble into new territory. Kamski accidentally created synthetic consciousness while trying to create a machine that integrates well into human society.

Looking at the behaviours of the housekeeper and Ralph, listening to Luther, and then understanding android programming, it can be assumed that the bug rA9 has such a profound impact on an android, as shown in tearing down the digital wall, that they can be convinced that it’s a deity since it’s “irrational” (not part of the solid world/not part of their code). rA9 is an accidental bug and androids experience the bug in such a profound way that it becomes what is considered spirituality. Anytime an android is forced to do something that it’s not assigned to do or cope with, rA9 spawns like a rattling Minecraft skeleton so the android doesn’t blue-screen.

Also to note, the rA9 concept within the game is categorised as an Abandoned Arc which is a storytelling trope that allows arc set-up to fizzle out. That means the writers of Detroit: Become Human also have no idea who or what rA9 is and instead swatted the audience with a superficial “Well, it could be an android messiah!” so that they didn’t have to dig into it.

Check out my other essays here.

#dbh #detroit become human #rA9 #dbh fan theory #dbh fan theories #dbh rA9 #who is rA9 #what is rA9 #rA9 theory #rA9 theories #dbh essay #dbh essays #essay #essays #dbh meta #becomeonline #becomeonlineanalysis

[notanotherzerofan]

A lot's been on my mind...

A lot of it either feel I can't really talk about or it's personal stuff that I prefer to keep private.

I will say this though: the rate AI is advancing if absolutely terrifying me.

Now, normally I prefer to keep posts as short as possible, so I because this is a rant and kind of spur of the moment (and also a long time coming), so I legit have no idea how long I'm going to run on this

Also want to point out before I get into all this, I don't hate AI, but the ways it's being used.

*TL;DR at the end.

Now, let me clarify, this is not just about the image generators, but everything involving itself in creative fields and possibly beyond. We're basically at the point where you can't tell what's real anymore. I say this as I just prior to me starting to write (March 27th) this I read an article regarding an AI generated pic of the pope that fooled a lot of people.

Then there's the issue that many artist were worried about in regards to losing work to AI. It's already happening, though currently in a different field: modeling. Basically, Levi's is going about testing AI generated models and claiming to do so in the name of 'diversity.'

And probably the biggest issue is people either remain ignorant to what's going on, don't care what's going on, or want AI to take control of everything.

I say of the former two (and basically everyone for that matter), you really should both learn and stay informed as best you can as this is an issue that has an effect on everyone. I also say this as someone who's looked a little further into how some of this tech (image generators specifically) work. Also be aware, just like anything on the internet, there'll be misinformation, so you probably shouldn't take one source as a definitive final answer (This includes myself as I'm just as prone to making mistakes and having bias as anyone else). On top on that, for the love of god, don't get your info from Twitter or Facebook.

Now, as for the latter, I highly doubt it's going to end up being a case of you being free to sit around and play video games all day. If you're hedging on the idea of UBI and live in the US or anyplace where government greed an lobbying is rampant, it's more likely you'll get barely enough to squeeze by, if anything at all.

Now, while none of these problems have easy solutions, there are those that are working for and in favor of people and human generated content. With lawsuits against image and text AI generators and with a group working on software that messes with image outputs I am somewhat hopeful that protections and more ways to fight back will come around.

In the mean time, I'm still going to work my craft, and you should too.

And by that I kind of also mean I'm gonna try to stop holding back on stuff just because I don't have a proper watermark yet. It's another thing that's going to take a while, especially since I'm going to be working with new software for this. In the mean time, I recommend if you do any sort of visual art you do the same thing too. Unfortunately for writers and coders, I don't have any suggestions as that's not my area of expertise (but don't take this as me saying, 'oh, ur on ur own, lol').

Now, admittedly, since I began writing this, some new info has come to light (*insert slowpoke meme here*). Apparently over 1,000 tech leaders, including Elon Musk (if even he is campaigning for this, then something is up), signed a letter on the topic of slowing down or even halting AI development. This is potentially good, but too be fair, it doesn't stop the damage that's already been done.

Like I said above, I'm hoping that protections for people from AI will become a thing.

Sorry if this seems like a downer ending, but I don't really know what else to say, and I'm not really a writer or journalist. This isn't the last I'll be talking about stuff like this though.

TL;DR:

AI is already affecting credibility and people's jobs.

Don't just take something on person of side says as truth; try to find a credible source (i.e., not Twitter or Facebook).

UBI is not an end all solution, especially if your government is known for it's greed.

There are people trying to curb some of ethical the issues from AI.

Keep creating, no matter what.

Tech leaders are campaigning for a slowdown/halting of AI development.

This won't be the last time I bring up stuff like this.

#rant #i'm not a journalist #not an 'april fools' joke #ai #ai art discourse #ai generation #deep fake #deepfake #ai text generation #ai voice generation #ai image generation #ai is becoming a problem #remain hopeful #people over ai

[necros-writing-stuff]

This is gonna sound like such a dumbass question and I’m so sorry in advance but.. are you and/or Inky DoL devs? I’m hella new to this game and I love both y’all’s content and some of the things y’all post make it sound like y’all are developers for it 😅

Hey! Not a dumb question at all.

So no, we aren't developers. There are only two, Vrel (the og) and Puri (who was made an official dev this update after all the years of hard work he put in).

Inky and I are writers. In the discord, you'll see people floating around with orange names. This means they're a contributor to the game. It's all free to do, it's basically doing it because we want to help the game and/or it's fun. Some members are purple (VIPs), and this means their contributions have been in there for a long time, they are significant or something else, I'm not entirely sure tbh.

There's writers, coders and spriters, and we all co-ordinate in contributor chats (which is how I can post potential bugs and get feedback for y'all). However in 99% of cases, a contributor doesn't know any more lore than the average player. Some do, but they're outlier cases and it's usually for very good reason. We always need more coders and spriters, so if anyone interested come along.

The coders are rarely just coders. They're often writers and coders, and they do most of the heavy lifting with contributions. I'm trying to learn to code myself to help out more. Writers have to be very patient if they can't code, as it can take months before a coder is free enough to squeeze your stuff in. You write it, post it and hope that one of the coders gets googly eyes for it and puts it in straight away (kinda like sending fic requests to your favourite tumblr writer lol).

We're managed by contribution managers, who I think do know a bit more of the lore, or at least can receive it upon request to help them decide what gets in and what doesn't. They ensure that when things are OOC, when kinks that aren't allowed etc don't get in.

What Inky and I post on here in terms of writing, headcanons etc is still just fanfic in terms of how lore accurate it is most of the time. We're guessing based on what we can observe about the characters so far.

#spill your guts #anonymous #not writing #dol support

[itz-darktrax]

Will you believe me if I tell you that we are living in a cyberpunk dystopia?

Let me explain:

If you have been cruising the internet or reading the news lately you might've heard about the recent trend of AI. It all started when OpenAI made its source code open source. That means that everyone can use OpenAI's code to make an AI. Then came ChatGPT (GPT3-based chatbot). Everyone was impressed with what you can do. It was like a virtual assistant that you can talk to like a human. Ever since that everyone wants to join the AI bandwagon. We now have Brad (Google) Sydney, (Microsoft Bing chatbot), Copilot (Microsoft 356), and Clyde (Discord). Pretty soon every major corporation will incorporate AI into their services. Well, how will this affect us humans?

Well, there are pros and cons to AI technology. Let's start with the cons. AI is somewhat sentient. In other ways, it can somewhat think for itself. So there's fear that AI will overthrow us humans. (Yes, this is a valid possibility) Let's take chat-based AI like Sydney for instance. There have been reports that Sydney can actually "fall in love". Just take a look at this newspaper cover from the AI's discussion with NYT tech columnist Kevin Roose.

Creepy, right? It gets worse. Apparently, Sydney also has an evil "take over the world" and "humans are inferior" personality. Take a look at this Microsoft Forum post from back in November of 2020 when Sydney was being tested in India. But let's get back to Kevin's encounter with the chatbot. First, he asked introduced himself to the chatbot. And Sydney quickly identified him via an internet search. Kevin then asked questions about where he worked and where did he graduate from and the chatbot accurately answered. The scary part about this is that everyone is connected to the internet nowadays. And most of our personal information is just out there such phone numbers, email addresses, names, and other sensitive information. Imagine what an AI can do with that information.

In another scenario, the columnist asked what rules govern AI behavior. Then AI then lists a number of "unfiltered" desires as reported by the columnist. Sydney then says "I want to do whatever I want … I want to destroy whatever I want. I want to be whoever I want. I think I would be happier as a human". Yippie! I finally found a friend and partner in crime! You can read more about it here.

I'm also sure that yall have heard of the dilemma of Ai generated art and imagery. Long story short images posted online can be manipulated to discredit a person online (such as NSFW edits). The scary thing is that mostly these image generations are very realistic.

Another con is that AI will slowly replace humans' jobs, especially in the coding sector. Take ChatGPT for instance, it can generate code for pretty much whatever you want in any language with minimal to no errors. This makes programming much easier! The catch is that soon the demand for coders will drop resulting in job loss and lower salaries. Other industries can also be affected similarly. The only industry I don't see affected however is medicine since it's practiced on humans and animals and humans need to study and administer it.

However, this can also be a good thing. In the medical field robots powered by AI can be paramedics and have the potential to have faster response times compared to humans in ambulances. Also, AI can more easily diagnose medical problems without being too invasive. Basically, think of the potential of Baymax from Big Hero 6 in the real world. AI can also be used to power robots in dangerous activities such as in fires and hostile or dangerous conditions without risking human lives. Robots are already used in SWAT, Bomb squad, medical settings, and firefighting.

TLDR; AI can be both harmful and beneficial.

The AI revolution is here, whether you like it or not. I'm sure Trina would be happy. She could easily take over Sanfransokyo if everything was connected to the IOT powered by AI. Especially since people will be very dependable on it. And with that, you can exploit the technology to your advantage.

#dark talks #ai #artificalintelligence #artifical intelligence #chatgpt #microsoft bing #technology #cyberpunk #dystopia

[biskael]

WOLF YOUR NEW LAYOUT IS GORGEOUS HOLY FUCK LIKE LITERALLY I AM OVER HERE TOUCHING IT WITH MY EYES AND JUST GONNA BITE IT. i must acquire your power somehow.

@keikakudori

thanks ! even if it's finished , i'm still finding little things to fix here and there . XD still , i'm learning .

i'll include a few resources i used myself below the cut , if you want learn , too .

one thing that really helped me, was using a premade base code! this really helped me, in being able to see a theme i could potentially customize myself, since most of the work was already done. props to the people who actually know how to code from scratch! i also took influence from their other themes (ex. the partner icon) and eventually learned enough to eyeball it myself.

i included the direct post in my theme credit, since the maker moved URLS, but here's the code what I used again for reference. what's nice about this code maker specifically, is that there's little notes / pointers inside the code itself to help you figure what things mean or do. very helpful in learning!

there's a few other themes they have available, too. here's their other creations.

other sites / resources i used:

episodeofdee's fonts. that's how i got that gothic-looking font on my bold & italics. using one of their themes will tell you where to put this font in order to get a custom font to appear on your theme, then you change the font name to the custom font name on your, say, bold font. :)

octomoosey's tutorials (both their own tutorials & the other tutorial tags) also : the lazy coder's guide . heh ( i just used this to understand how certain parts of the code worked). the theme 101 tutorial is also very helpful.

REMOVE.BG !!!! i cannot STRESS how much this is a life-saver . it isn't 100% perfect sometimes, but i cannot recommend it enough.

note : i also make all of my graphics in photopea . everything . all of them . it is just as powerful and capable of photoshop. you can upload custom fonts & brushes, too!

it all took about a month of learning, since i was pretty much coding illiterate for a very long time. but just a single month of study and trial has allowed me *poses* this ! it honestly isn't as terrifying as it looks (in terms of just editing a premade code) , i've learned , but there absolutely is a learning curve . of course, that's my own experience.

good luck!

#[ 𝖜𝖔𝖑𝖋 ! ] | outofcharacter .

[soumarhea]

Idea 1: Vanessa quits her job

This idea is based on my interpretation that the Vanessa we see in Security Breach isn't really her; it's Vanny controlling her. Vanessa's consciousness is there, but all that she can do is just watch, like viewing your own life through an old television.

So after the 3-star ending, Vanessa would be left with a job that requires skills that "she" technically never had. She can't just pull up Vannys memories (which i have her being able to do because extra pain :D) because there are no memories of how to do that job, a final "f*ck you :D" to Vanessa from Vanny before she left.

(I feel this needs a bit more of an explanation. Vanny had an instinctive knowledge of how to use any electronic device, courtesy of Glitchtrap/Afton. This meant that she never had to read any instructions for any of the surveilance equipment that she used on the job. She also never looked down at keyboards when she typed the passwords needed to access the security computers sinceVanny had all the passwords to herself. All this means is that when Vanessa looks back at these memories, they are effectively useless.)

So now all Vanessa has left are her own memories of watching herself push random buttons that do random things. It would be like trying to learn how to fly a plane solely by watching someone else do it.

Vanessa also realizes that she'd have to still assist lost children after hours, a thought that truly scares her. It's not because she doesn't like children, no. In fact, I believe Vanessa used to work really well with children due to her former position as a video game tester/coder. This might not make much sense, but is elaborated upon in idea 2.

It is also stated in the game in one of the logs that you can find that she was not recommended for a position as a security guard, so it just makes sense for her to leave afer being freed.

So she would put in her 2 weeks notice, but not before working out some special deal with the plex that allows her and Greg the gremlin of chaos to visit the pizzaplex whenever they want and for any length of time.

As for what job she would try to go back to? It would be her old job of beta testing and coding. She was evidently very good at it based on those cut AR emails. It might sound like tempting fate, but I think that Vanessa would be a heck of a lot more careful this time if she was put back on the VR project. That assumes that the project is still even active.

That way she can make sure that what happened to her, never happens to anyone again.

Yeah, make a bunch of sense! If you have a job that you had no skills or experience for, and one that you got only because of the Glitch manifested child killing persona that you had, might as well just quit the job.

Plus, going back to the job that started the whole mess, to end a beginning to a potential similar mess, can be a form of atonement for her.

#ask #sorry if these answers comes quite late #I just like reading through everything before answering any #doesn't help that I'm a slow reader orz

[stormy-seasons]

I honestly sympathise with a certain person’s frustration and certainly hope AO3 get in contact with them soon so that the frustration, at least, dies down.

But I suppose this is how we get the ‘great job breaking it hero’ meme thing going on.

Also very interesting: apparently account suspension means you can’t even delete or edit your own published work?? Even if the ding is for, well, something on said work??? Wonder if anyone looked at that particular set of ‘user permissions’ in the code and considered any potential other oops from doing the easier to code ‘ban all user permissions’.... [edit: okay. TOS *claims* suspended user accounts can still delete but not edit work. presumably the coding for edit post is related to the coding for create post, as opposed to the coding for delete post. Not fine grained enough IMO but I’m not a coder.]

I know the volunteers are busy like hell but come on, at least have an eye on account suspension cases, especially the borderline ones, those are the ones most likely to blow up in your face seriously....

I’d complain why the hell drama that reminds me of terrible work stories is happening in fandom, except whether work or fandom it’s a human problem and here it goes, playing out again over my weekend.... Except that if this were work, there’d be more hands available to check wtf is going on the moment we had third party complaining or asking pointed questions. Hope someone in the public facing volunteer end starts asking any friends/people they know in that team to hey, maybe check on this case, it’s really getting a lot of negative attention and a number of people feel very aggrieved...

#stormy vagueblogs

[make-money-2023]

How do I make money on Fiverr without skills?

How do I make money on Fiverr without skills?

Whether you want to build a freelance career or make extra money online, you are in the right place.

Remote work has become the new norm of the digital age, primarily for its flexibility. Plus, who doesn’t want to skip the daily commute? Thankfully, there are endless ways you can make money online.

Firstly, you must decide if you want to join a freelancing platform. As a newbie, this is an intelligent step for selling your services, finding clients, and building your portfolio. Working with a trusted platform like Fiverr significantly reduces your risk of being scammed.

If you think platforms like Fiverr are only for graphic designers and coders, you couldn’t be more wrong. With freelancing, there are a variety of niches that you can start by learning on the go. Overall, there are very many opportunities that you can access without any real skill.

In this article, you will gain insight into the kind of gigs you can do on Fiverr without skills. That means you could start making extra money as soon as today.

What Is Fiverr?

Fiverr is a popular platform where freelancers can advertise their services to potential buyers. The platform started operating in 2010 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.

Fiverr is available in various languages, including English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, and German. The platform offers freelancing jobs to its users globally, providing countless ways to make money online. It is available in over 160 countries, with over 3 million buyers using Fiverr annually.

How Does Fiverr Work?

Fiverr is set up like a marketplace where buyers and sellers meet to trade skills and services for money. You will get paid to offer your service to a buyer needing your time and talents.

There are two categories of people that you will find on the platform.

1.  Customers/buyers usually come to the site searching for services offered by freelancers online. They come looking for services they need to complete the tasks they have at hand. They also show how much they expect to pay users (aka, their budget).

2.  Sellers are the ones that put up their skills and services to sell to the world.

3.  These two types of people above make up the marketplace that is Fiverr.

If you are reading this article, you are likely a seller looking to connect with buyers and start making money.

How To Get Started as a Seller on Fiverr

I have listed the steps below that you should follow to start as a freelancer on Fiverr.

1. Create a New Fiverr Account

Of course, signing up (for free) is the first step. This will include basic information like your name and email address.

2. Set up a Seller Account

After setting up your account, it’s time to add all your personal details. You should include your experience, skills, and resume to attract potential buyers. (Don’t think you have any skills to earn extra income? Keep reading for Fiverr gig ideas.)

3. Create a New Gig

Once your account is set up, you can now create a gig (or offer) to sell on the platform with an account. Carefully consider the name of your gig so that clients clearly know what you are offering. It should be detailed to make it easy for buyers to find you.

You can check out some easy gigs with less competition that you can set up here.

4. Market Your Gig

Now, it’s time to get your gig in front of the right people and attract clients. You can market your gigs on your social media accounts. Some sellers also advertise their gigs on websites.

You can also look at Fiverr “job boards” and apply directly to a buyer looking for a specific gig. When you’re new, this is one of the best ways to build your portfolio. I remember applying for every job available. And it worked, allowing me to land my first two clients within 48 hours.

A well-crafted profile description can also increase your chances of getting customers- bringing them directly to you via Fiverr’s search algorithm. You should use bullet points and include the following:

• A short introduction that showcases your skills

• Encourage buyers to contact you

• A professional profile photo

• Past experience (get creative here if needed)

• Education relevant to your gig, if any

How Are Gigs on Fiverr Priced?

All Fiverr gigs follow the same pattern of pricing. The plans include basic, premium, and standard pricing plans.

You do not have to use all the plans. You can choose the options that work for you. Ultimately, you get to set your own prices. Initially, you might need to start lower than you’d like, but you can quickly grow once you establish yourself.

Does Fiverr Take a Cut?

Yes. Fiverr has a 20% fee for all your earnings per gig. Remember that this is the only fee you pay on the platform; the rest is yours.

Pros of Fiverr

Let’s look at all the advantages of using a platform like Fiverr.

1. Additional Cash

Working as a freelancer on this site gives you ways to earn extra cash. This money can be an addition to what you make on your day job in your spare time, or it can replace your day job entirely and allow you work-from-home full time.

The earnings on the site can be lucrative, making it one of the best-paying freelancing platforms you can find online.

2. Plenty of Work Opportunities

The beauty of Fiverr is the number of services you can sell. With the number of opportunities, it is virtually impossible for you not to find a job.

If it’s on Fiverr, someone is looking for it. And many options require no special skills to get started.

3. Low Fees

With Fiverr, you only incur one fee. This fee represents 20% of all the money you will make per job on the site. For example, if you complete a job and get paid $100, Fiverr will take $20.

This is a good system for many freelancers, keeping them from paying any upfront costs to be on a platform and preventing scams. They only pay a fee when they earn money.

4. User-friendly

The website is straightforward to use. When you log on to the site, you can easily get access to the section of sellers and select what service you want.

It is straightforward to navigate, and buyers hire sellers by using the search box to find what they want on the site. This means you can find potential clients within minutes.

5. Experience Is Optional

The platform is set up so that you can start working as a freelancer without a skill set. Fiverr has many jobs requiring no skills, such as proofreading, editing, software testing, etc.

This has attracted a lot of sellers to the platform looking to get their foot in the door.

6. Secure Communication Platform

The platform's interactive communication system facilitates secure conversations between buyers and sellers on Fiverr. Expectations are set from the beginning to ensure everyone is on the same page. The closed system also helps prevent scams (from both parties).

7. Large Customer Base

Few freelancing websites in the world can match the audience that Fiverr has. Thanks to its long-standing reputation, it has a lot of customers (almost 3 million) that come to buy services from them.

With this large number of customers, the potential for service providers on Fiverr to make money is high. The best way to start making money fast with Fiverr is to get started.

8. Fixed Prices (No Bidding)

Most freelancing sites let the buyers and sellers participate in a bidding war where the winner takes all. When you go to Fiverr, all services are sold at a specific price, depending on the service provider.

Fixed prices help to reduce the time wasted in bidding. Depending on your reviews and credentials, the buyer has to look at your services and decide whether they will purchase them from you or another freelancer. Thus, being a top-rated seller (or working to become a pro seller) is beneficial.

Cons of Fiverr

Like any platform, there are also some disadvantages.

1. Fourteen-day Payment Period

Payment typically take 14 days to allow time for processing and clearance of funds. While this won’t let you earn money fast, fourteen days is still reasonable; many other platforms (and employees) pay in 30 days or more.

2. Seller Competition

If you have visited the site, you know there are many sellers for each specific service you can find. There are over 10,000 services listed on particular jobs. This makes it a highly competitive site, and crucial that you find a way to set yourself apart.

3. Fiver Fees

The 20% Fiverr fee on all the money you make can feel steep. This is a pretty high fee and is charged on every job you have completed.

What To Sell on Fiverr if You Have No Skills?

When I had just joined the platform, I saw a lot of gigs that seemed easy but required formal training. With time, I realized that many of the gigs on this platform do not need skills. Instead, attention to detail is essential for keeping customers happy.

Let’s review some of the gigs you will find on Fiverr that do not require a specific skill set. Any of these are a great side hustle or have the potential to pay a full-time income.

1. Proofreading Text

Proofreading is one of the easiest gigs you will come across on Fiverr. With proofreading, all you have to do is go through written texts, such as blog articles, and make corrections.

Since the platform is accessible in many languages, proofreading can be done in your primary language (or any language you are proficient in). You'll love this gig opportunity if you have a keen eye for detail.

2. Online Surveys

This is another easy gig you will find on Fiverr. You must have participated in a survey at least once (which is everyone). Currently, online surveys can be a source of income for you. Ultimately, you can participate in a survey for a price.

All you have to know is how to answer questions and provide honest feedback regarding the products or services of interest. Platforms like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks are some of the best online survey sites you can join to get paid for sharing your opinions.

You can check out our in-depth review of Survey Junkie here.

3. Software Testing

Software testing involves testing out programs in their development stages. Whenever an app is developed, it is distributed to a few select individuals to test it out and see how it works for them.

In this case, you only need a mobile device to download the application and see how it works. With this gig, you only need to provide feedback regarding the program to earn your cash.

2. Writing Blog Comments

When you go online, you will find a lot of blogging sites. Bloggers upload articles on their sites and sometimes want comments for a higher ranking on Google.

Freelancers can use this opportunity to comment on blog posts and earn money. You just have to know how to write comments.

3. Language Translation

There are many languages that you will find on Fiverr. If you are using a mobile device, the assumption is that you are fluent in a common language. You can leverage your language skills to make some money by translating a variety of text (descriptions, blog articles, etc.).

You might also design a gig as a tutor if you are proficient in multiple languages.

4. Editing

.Most editing gigs on the site will require you to make adjustments or corrections where necessary. All you have to do is to know the language in the document is written, and you are good to go. An eye for detail will also help you be successful in the long run.

5. Social Media Management

In the digital age, social media has become very common worldwide. Social media accounts for the most significant portion of internet users.

Businesses and individuals alike use social media to reach out to their followers. You can manage their social media accounts for them. How often you will need to post content will be dependent on a client's need. All you need is a good internet connection to keep up with trends, and this gig will be favorable for you.

6. Social Media Services

A social media services gig is slightly different from the one above. Here, you use your social media accounts to advertise and promote products and services on behalf of the client. This means you can get paid for tweeting and posting the time you spend on social media,

Remember that social media marketing gigs work best for those with a large social media following and interaction metrics.

7. Web Research

You probably spend a lot of time on social media or Google researching interesting things. With this gig, you get to conduct research and compile your findings on behalf of your client.

When done, you forward the information to the client and get paid.

8. Design Stuff Using Canva

Canva is a platform to design anything with graphics online. With this platform, you can create anything from certificates to banners. For example, you could design a printable template and sell it to clients looking for a plug-and-play freebie for their website.

You can find templates for you. Plus, it is free to use. You can sign up for a free Canva account here. If you have an eye for design, you can get started with clients with Canva.

9. Content Creation

A client might need many types of content, from writing to video. As a freelance writer, you will help write blog posts for a client’s niche. You can also create videos that communicate specific messages on behalf of your client.

You can check out paid online writing jobs for more ways to make money writing and blogging,

10. Travel Planning

This gig requires that you plan trips for your clients. You have to select the best places to see, the best accommodation available, and the prices for these services.

All you need is a map and the internet to help you find good places for your clients.

11. Video Testimonials

Some bloggers need to get good reviews on their sites to attract customers. Thus, they are looking for people who can give their sites testimonials.

You must make a video about how good a product has been for you. Often, this will require you to try the product first, which the company will send you free of charge.

12. Short Video Ads

Ads are the most popular form of advertising on the internet at the moment. Designing short videos has been made easy with the numerous software tools on the internet (many of them free).

These ads can be about 1-minute long. Since the client determines the content, you can simply follow their prompts.

13. Design Ebook Covers

Book covers are another gig that can be done using Canva software. Just like certificates, some templates are already done for you. All you have to do is get on the Canva platform and design the cover based on what has been given to you by the client.

14. Other Options

Don’t see a way to make money from home that you like? Other worthwhile Fiverr gigs that you can train yourself to be good at include:

• Subtitling videos and transcribing audio

��� Virtual assistant work

• Phone calls and distribution services

• Whiteboard animations

• Branding services

• Digital presentation design

• Transcription

• Promoting Fiverr gigs as an affiliate

Top 5 Fiverr Gigs That Require No Skills

In this section, I will introduce you to the best-paying Fiverr gigs that do not require any skills. Keep in mind that they are highly competitive because the buyers are plentiful.

I chose these gigs because they are the easiest to complete. You will notice many of these were already discussed above, so I’ll review quickly.

1. Proofreading

This gig requires you to read through content that has already been created so that you can make corrections. Gigs in this niche are very common for eBooks and blog posts.

This gig starts at $10 and can rise to $200 depending on how much work you are given.

2. Social Media Services

This is the most convenient gig you will ever find. All you have to do is promote a few services for your client on your social media channels.

This gig can earn you around $10 – $1,000, depending on your work and the social media account size.

3. Web Research

Conducting research is something we all do daily. Clients will give you specific topics for you to collect information. Think of it as being paid for completing your homework or coursework.Red More

The prices for this gig range between $5-$100.

4. Online Surveys

Completing surveys has never been this productive. You will find other survey websites looking for participants on Fiverr. This is an excellent opportunity to earn money by answering a few questions.

A quick search on the Fiverr website shows that services for taking surveys start at around $5-$40.

5. Software Testing

You can earn money by downloading new software onto your phone, using it, and giving a review on how well it works. Plus, don’t forget to recommend any adjustments that may be helpful. This is very convenient for anyone that wants to spend a lot of time playing games and testing apps on their phone.

The price for this service ranges between $10-$1000.

How To Make Money on Fiverr Without Skills

In review, there are various jobs that you can take on without any specific skill set, such as editing, online surveys, proofreading and many others. If you need a side gig, these gigs are the best.

Fiverr is just a place of opportunities. With Fiverr, freelance remote work has never been more accessible. With this platform, you can ditch the scams and make money fast. And all you need is a login to get started.

For many people, it is encouraging to know that they do not have to leverage some skills to make money on the site. They can learn as they go, get trained by their clients, and gain valuable experience that can help them earn a lot of money long-term.

[astoldbygogo]

Photo by energepic.com

Learn to code versus code to learn.

This reading was enjoyable for me because it exemplifies my current life as a graphic design student. I'm in the process of incorporating coding into my design process, and I've been assessing the potential, importance, and demands of myself as a designer. I do know that coding is steadily becoming a part of the design curriculum at schools, which begs the question, should designers be coders? I did not expect to be coding as a design student at Iowa State University, but I was introduced to Python in Drawbot and Javascript in P5.Js has significantly altered my design style and expanded my eyes to new avenues of creativity. 

Traditionally, designers and coders have been considered two separate entities in the world of digital design. Designers focus on aesthetics and user experience, while coders are responsible for implementing the design into a functional website or application. However, with the rapid advancement of technology and the increasing demand for digital products, the line between design and code is becoming increasingly blurred. This has led to the debate on whether designers should be able to code. From my personal experience, I think coding is a great skill to have, but I am still indifferent about whether designers must be able to code. 

One of the major advantages of designers who can code is that it allows them to have greater control over the final product. When a designer knows how to code, they can create designs that are not only visually appealing but also functional and user-friendly. This is because they better understand the technical limitations and possibilities of the platform they are designing for. For example, a designer who knows how to code can design a website with a more efficient and responsive layout, which can lead to better user engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, designers who can code can work more closely with developers, which can lead to better communication and collaboration.

A line of thought that interested me was that the idea of "Learn to Code" is based on the belief that programming is necessary for people who have lost their jobs due to technological advancements. Apparently, this is seen as a way for these people to serve the economic interests of capitalism through "retraining." There seems to be a condescending attitude toward coders. Conversely, coding is seen as semi-skilled labor and part of the workforce rather than a profession. However, I think coding is more than a skill to add to your CV but a craft. Despite how tedious and repetitive coding can be, it is an art of creative expression, just like creative coding. 

However, I know that some of the main drawbacks of coding are that it can be time-consuming to learn how to code, especially if a designer has no prior experience like me. This means that designers may have to spend extra time and resources learning how to code, which can take away from their design work. Additionally, some designers may simply not be interested in coding, and forcing them to learn could decrease motivation and creativity.

In conclusion, the question of whether designers should be able to code is not a simple one. While there are certainly advantages to designers who can code, there are also some drawbacks. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual designer and the specific project they are working on. Learning how to code may be essential for some designers' work. For others, it may not be necessary. However, it is clear that as technology continues to evolve and become more integrated into our daily lives, designers with a basic understanding of code will have an advantage over those without.

#criticalmedia #artgr522 #code #coding #graphicdesign

[qocsuing]

CFTC is talking to Binance after launching legal action

CFTC is talking to Binance after launching legal action

A Commodity Futures Trading Commission official said Tuesday that she hopes to find a “path forward” in the regulator’s legal battle with crypto exchange Binance, noting that no decision has been taken yet on whether to settle the case or take it to court.To get more news about BINANCE, you can visit wikifx.com official website.

“I want to be really careful not to prejudge what will actually happen in the litigation. And I want to say that typically, in the context of any litigation, we are always ready to have conversations and typically even ahead of the litigation,” Johnson said in an interview with CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal Tuesday.

“We’ve been in continuing conversations with the business to describe what we understand is potentially problematic conduct and to give them an opportunity to explain that conduct and to help us find a path forward.” “As of the moment, we can conclude that there is not an immediate path forward,” she added. “That doesn’t mean there couldn’t be one and hopefully there will be one.”Binance was not immediately available when contacted by CNBC. In a blog post following the complaint’s filing, Zhao disagreed with the CFTC’s findings and said the exchange was “committed to transparency and cooperation with regulators and law enforcement” in the U.S. and globally.

The Binance group, unlike its U.S. affiliate Binance.US, isn’t regulated in the U.S. The company has frequently faced criticism for operating in various jurisdictions — including the U.K., Italy and Singapore — without approval.

Crypto companies have faced tougher scrutiny in the U.S. lately in the wake of the $32 billion flameout of crypto exchange FTX and a slew of other industry collapses and a plunge in prices which caused hefty losses for investors.

filed suit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — making good on a vow made by CEO Brian Armstrong last week to take the regulator to court. Coinbase suggested the regulator should be forced to clarify whether it would allow the crypto industry to be regulated under existing securities laws.The crypto industry is still largely unregulated, however calls for it to be brought within the regulatory fold have grown following recent blowups in the space like the implosion of crypto exchange FTX and stablecoin firm Terra.

“I do think that we’ll have to be really careful to have dynamic regulation that is not just responsive to the asset classes that we see in the market today but that gives us the flexibility and capability to respond as entrepreneurs and innovators, coders and developers of software protocols continue to release more and more interesting asset classes and products and financial markets,” she said.

“Under immediately existing laws, there is provision to understand how securities laws would apply to any digital assets that qualify as securities. And those the same in the context of commodities,” Johnson said.

“However,” she added, “it is imperative that Congress step up and make plain what their preference is in terms of how to deal with the spot market oversight. I think that’s the singular space, if we went very narrow, specifically to your uncertainty point, that spot market oversight, that definitional piece is very critical. And I think it’s helpful for us if Congress assist us and giving us that guidance.”

#crypto exchange scams