#find my device facebook

[mostlysignssomeportents]

When Facebook came for your battery, feudal security failed

When George Hayward was working as a Facebook data-scientist, his bosses ordered him to run a “negative test,” updating Facebook Messenger to deliberately drain users’ batteries, in order to determine how power-hungry various parts of the apps were. Hayward refused, and Facebook fired him, and he sued:

https://nypost.com/2023/01/28/facebook-fires-worker-who-refused-to-do-negative-testing-awsuit/

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/05/battery-vampire/#drained

Hayward balked because he knew that among the 1.3 billion people who use Messenger, some would be placed in harm’s way if Facebook deliberately drained their batteries — physically stranded, unable to communicate with loved ones experiencing emergencies, or locked out of their identification, payment method, and all the other functions filled by mobile phones.

As Hayward told Kathianne Boniello at the New York Post, “Any data scientist worth his or her salt will know, ‘Don’t hurt people…’ I refused to do this test. It turns out if you tell your boss, ‘No, that’s illegal,’ it doesn’t go over very well.”

Negative testing is standard practice at Facebook, and Hayward was given a document called “How to run thoughtful negative tests” regarding which he said, “I have never seen a more horrible document in my career.”

We don’t know much else, because Hayward’s employment contract included a non-negotiable binding arbitration waiver, which means that he surrendered his right to seek legal redress from his former employer. Instead, his claim will be heard by an arbitrator — that is, a fake corporate judge who is paid by Facebook to decide if Facebook was wrong. Even if he finds in Hayward’s favor — something that arbitrators do far less frequently than real judges do — the judgment, and all the information that led up to it, will be confidential, meaning we won’t get to find out more:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/12/hot-coffee/#mcgeico

One significant element of this story is that the malicious code was inserted into Facebook’s app. Apps, we’re told, are more secure than real software. Under the “curated computing” model, you forfeit your right to decide what programs run on your devices, and the manufacturer keeps you safe. But in practice, apps are just software, only worse:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/23/peek-a-boo/#attack-helicopter-parenting

Apps are part what Bruce Schneier calls “feudal security.” In this model, we defend ourselves against the bandits who roam the internet by moving into a warlord’s fortress. So long as we do what the warlord tells us to do, his hired mercenaries will keep us safe from the bandits:

https://locusmag.com/2021/01/cory-doctorow-neofeudalism-and-the-digital-manor/

But in practice, the mercenaries aren’t all that good at their jobs. They let all kinds of badware into the fortress, like the “pig butchering” apps that snuck into the two major mobile app stores:

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/02/pig-butchering-scam-apps-sneak-into-apples-app-store-and-google-play/

It’s not merely that the app stores’ masters make mistakes — it’s that when they screw up, we have no recourse. You can’t switch to an app store that pays closer attention, or that lets you install low-level software that monitors and overrides the apps you download.

Indeed, Apple’s Developer Agreement bans apps that violate other services’ terms of service, and they’ve blocked apps like OG App that block Facebook’s surveillance and other enshittification measures, siding with Facebook against Apple device owners who assert the right to control how they interact with the company:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/10/e2e/#the-censors-pen

When a company insists that you must be rendered helpless as a condition of protecting you, it sets itself up for ghastly failures. Apple’s decision to prevent every one of its Chinese users from overriding its decisions led inevitably and foreseeably to the Chinese government ordering Apple to spy on those users:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/11/foreseeable-consequences/#airdropped

Apple isn’t shy about thwarting Facebook’s business plans, but Apple uses that power selectively — they blocked Facebook from spying on Iphone users (yay!) and Apple covertly spied on its customers in exactly the same way as Facebook, for exactly the same purpose, and lied about it:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

The ultimately, irresolvable problem of Feudal Security is that the warlord’s mercenaries will protect you against anyone — except the warlord who pays them. When Apple or Google or Facebook decides to attack its users, the company’s security experts will bend their efforts to preventing those users from defending themselves, turning the fortress into a prison:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/20/benevolent-dictators/#felony-contempt-of-business-model

Feudal security leaves us at the mercy of giant corporations — fallible and just as vulnerable to temptation as any of us. Both binding arbitration and feudal security assume that the benevolent dictator will always be benevolent, and never make a mistake. Time and again, these assumptions are proven to be nonsense.

Image: Anthony Quintano (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mark_Zuckerberg_F8_2018_Keynote_%2841118890174%29.jpg

CC BY 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

[Image ID: A painting depicting the Roman sacking of Jerusalem. The Roman leader's head has been replaced with Mark Zuckerberg's head. The wall has Apple's 'Think Different' wordmark and an Ios 'low battery' icon.]

Next week (Feb 8-17), I'll be in Australia, touring my book *Chokepoint Capitalism* with my co-author, Rebecca Giblin. We'll be in Brisbane on Feb 8, and then we're doing a remote event for NZ on Feb 9. Next is Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. I hope to see you!

https://chokepointcapitalism.com/

#pluralistic #manorial security #feudal security #apple #mobile #apps #security through obscurity #binding arbitration #arbitration waivers #transparency #danegeld #surveillance lag

[killbenedictcumberbatchagain]

Update to my situation. So I have been living at my dad's for some weeks now. There's been a lot of adjusting, trust needing to be rebuilt, habits needing to be broken. I'm having an ok time, but there are still a lot of things bothering me. After fleeing most of my personal possessions are gone. The lease is no longer in my name (hilariously, it's now in my Ex-roommates name. ISN'T THAT SO FUNNY) and any hopes at getting my deposit back are slashed. There are several things I need to replace. I don't feel safe returning to that apartment to retrieve them.

Not only that but I left a Lot of important documents like my birth certificate and SSN which I inexplicably could not locate when I looked for them, as well as storage devices and phones. I found that my Facebook was accessed from a phone I'm no longer in possession of and my emails continue to be compromised. It feels like a hopeless situation and I've been deterred/discouraged from seeking legal recourse. I feel lost. Years and years of artwork are out of my hands. My equipment is at the apartment and who knows if it hasn't been scrapped or sold. I know I shouldnt mourn material things but the way my sense of security, my own private sanctum is no longer a place I can return to, affects me deeply. Someone impersonating my father has been adding me on Facebook over multiple duplicate accounts and she lied about contacting my family. Compromising video has been sent to my dad and stepmom. They've been gracious but it's still humiliating and deeply disturbing that this happened to me. I don't feel I deserve this.

I received my final gas bill and the amount is for $425. If I ever hope to rent again here, I have to pay this. My former landlord is not communicating with me in a timely fashion. I'm trying to get on SSI and hopefully return to a sense of normalcy and independence. I've been seeking stability after the many traumas and changes I've had to face. it's honestly a challenge to find motivation right now and I'm masking a lot of my pain. I feel alone.

I still need help. If I'm to create a life for myself that is healthy and sustainable I need help. Please, if you've seen what I've experienced then don't hesitate or second guess and give. I am just tired right now. You've showed up for me before, please do it now.

cash.me/$tomi1

Venmo: tominova

PayPal.me/tominova

[positivemotivation]

People living in the USA need to know this:

Do not organize a protest or discuss reproduction health issues via text, Facebook/messenger, Whatsapp, Twitter/DM, Discord or Reddit. That information is not private and you could be accused of committing a crime.

You can use Signal App for texting and have instant disappearing messages. Information is not saved or tracked. They have recommitted to this.

Take your face ID and fingerprint ID off your devices. If you are arrested, or incapacitated, law enforcement can use the biometric tools to unlock your device. Use a numerical or pattern code instead.

Turn off as much data tracking as you can on your devices. Look up the directions for your specific device.

Stop using Google Chrome, especially if you are trying to find information about reproductive health. Download and use Firefox instead.

Get a VPN. Have it use a server in a country that won't share your information. Romania is one of those.

Know your rights. Do not say a word to law enforcement. Do not give your name. Do not say anything but "I invoke my right to counsel."

All protesters should cover themselves so no identifying marks are seen. Cover tattoos. Wear a wig under a hat. Wear protective glasses. Bring water and try to wear cotton clothing.

Do not use whatever trending code word is being used. For example camping has been used so much everyone knows what that means. You'll get caught.

Our infrastructure is tenuous. It's probably a good idea to stock up on water and non perishable foods if you can.

Team up with a local mutual aid group now. Trust me on this one. It's gonna save a life.

Non USA people should and can share this. Most of us here (75-80%) can't leave and don't agree with what's been going on here since 2016. We will not qualify as refugees, so please at least help spread this information.

#usa politics #scotus #protests #abortion #abortion ban #mutual aid

[bogmonstergeneral]

One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is an ultra-accurate cosplay. I’m talking exact name brands. Obviously, this can be tough, because media in question will very rarely go out of their way to tell you what the character is wearing. Shoes, in particular, are very difficult.

I really like shoes. More so, I really like good leather shoes. The kind that last you your whole life. Currently, I’ve been hyperfixated on Metalocalypse, and today, we’re talkin boots.

Welcome to:

Bog’s Boot Basics: Metalocalypse Edition

I think people are scared of leather. I’m here to tell you that leather will not hurt you. You will not save the planet by buying a pleather boot. Actually, not only is pleather horrible for the planet, it’s also gonna cost you more in the long run because pleather isn’t built to last.

Say it with me: Leather is more sustainable than pleather.

I’m serious. Stop buying pleather boots off amazon for your cosplays. Stop buying pleather, period.

Most of the boots (and sneakers) I’m showing you today will not only elevate your cosplay, but also last you for the rest of your natural days. If you buy them secondhand, they have probably lived longer lives than you. Leather fucking rocks if you take care of it.

This all being said: These are not super budget-friendly options. Good new boots are an investment, and sometimes you have to pay a little more. If you’re not able to do that, these can often be found on ebay at lower prices, and very often at second-hand stores.

Ok, that aside, we can jump in.

I’m stealing a pic from the comic because it shows all their shoes. Although Skwis and Toki’s boot colors are actually reversed here - Skwis wears black boots, Toki wears brown in the show. Blah blah, anyway.

Nathan Explosion

Nathan wears some sort of single buckle, black tall boot. For our sake, we’re calling them biker boots.

Single buckle, slightly slouchy at the ankle, low heel. No laces or visible zippers.

Nathan does, in fact, ride motorcycles. Because of this, I’m going on a limb and saying these are actual biker boots. Nathan also, in fact, has money, and Harley Davidson boots are a fantastic choice for this.

Here’s a pair of Harley Chalmers with an extra buckle - no foul there, these are cunty as hell and I’d totally wear them anyway.

Pro: Fucking brutal

Con: Brutal fucking price tag at $200 new.

Honestly, if you’ve got the money and you want a sick pair of boots… buy em. Harley’s last forever.

The Harley double-zip riding boot is a slightly cheaper option, sitting around $100-$120.

Honestly, these are gonna be easy to find. Your keywords here are “Tall biker boot with buckle” or something along those lines. That’s doable. I also see a lot of secondhand Harley’s going for really reasonable asking prices, so always check all your thrift stores and ebay (depop and mercari are kinda a crapshoot, but always worth looking.)

Skwisgaar Skwigelf/Toki Wartooth

These are the boots that made me make this post, because I saw them and immediately thought “there’s no fucking way they’re walking around in those 24/7,” because those are old school field boots.

Ask any person who’s ever ridden a horse over the age of 30 if they can take a look in the backs of their closets, because they most definitely still have a pair of these boots. Every equestrian had at least one pair of these torture devices, and they will outlive you.

Here’s an example of a black pair and a brown pair:

Pros: You can get these on ebay for anywhere between $20-$100. Facebook market place is full of them too.

Cons: These were made for you to wear while sitting on a horse all day, heels down. When you walk in them, they will pinch the everloving fuck out of your heels, and this leather is too thick and stiff to soften. If you’re gonna walk around in these on a convention floor, please bring a change of shoes because you will fucking need them.

But these are so easy to find and they usually shine up really well. If you don’t have leather conditioner (which you should if you own leather shoes) olive oil works in a pinch.

You also usually have a couple different calf options here, so you can tack on “wide calf” or “tall calf” or “slim calf” etc etc depending on your needs.

Your keywords here are “Old school equestrian riding/field/hunt boots.” So fuckin easy.

William Murderface

It pains me to say this. But that dildo fuckhead is wearing Demonias.

Look at him. He knows what he’s doing. I use the term Dildo Fuckhead affectionately btw, please don’t mistake me for a Murderface hater. I love him.

Honestly, I think you could get away with calling these mid-calf’s, but they’re probably technically tall boots.

Obviously I hate Demonias. These plastic fucking emo Barbie boots are worth approximately $8 and a cup of Kraft mac n cheese. They will cost you well over $100. Fuck that.

I’ve heard that older New Rocks are good alternatives? I have a friend that backs that claim up, but I don’t have a pair to confirm that. I’m sure there’s some Doc Martens you could sub in but I couldn’t find any matches under $400.

These are a pair of New Rocks. They’re… that I guess. Kinda cool. He’s probably not even really wearing Demonias but like, that’s what they are. To me. In my heart.

Here’s a pair of Demonia Riot-18BK. I guess. They’re about $133.

Murderface somehow has the most difficult boots for me to find. Plenty of cheapo Temu options, but I’m not here to show you those. Please let me know if you buy a pair of Temu boots so I can come to your house and break every fucking lamp you own.

Your keywords are “Tall boot with buckles” or “tall biker boots with buckles” or anything along those lines.

I feel like you’ve got a little more room for interpretation on Murderface’s boots, so long as their tall boots and they’ve got the buckles, you’re golden.

Wild Card Round: Pickles the Drummer

Man is wearing adidas!!! Pickles cosplayers are the comfiest motherfuckers in the convention hall.

Campus 00s, Samba OGs, Handball Spezial, Superstars, and Racer V 2.0 are all going to get you extremely close renditions of his shoes. The racer’s are my everyday shoe when I don’t wanna wear boots and those fuckers are. So comfy. Wear em without socks, who fuckin cares. I bet Pickles doesn’t even own socks.

If you’re going for Snakes N Barrels Pickles, try looking up “red Justin cowboy boots.” Justin’s are my go to brand because they last forever (I have a pair from the 70s) and they’re pretty comfy. They’re work boots, so they’re made to be worn/worked in all day.

If you’re made of money, buy yourself a pair of Tecovas. Those are the nicest cowboy boot you’ll ever own.

Blam! Bootboard moodboard! I probably should have done this with all of them.

Anyway. Have fun, remember that inaccurate pieces don’t make or break a cosplay, this is just for fun and to elevate whatever you’ve got going on. Wear your shoes until they fall apart (that’s what i do. get your moneys worth), be kind to your feet, be kind to your shoes (actually you can be pretty harsh to leather so long as you do a little aftercare. this is an innuendo, but also please clean and condition your leather pieces.) and be kind to the planet. Leather is better than pleather. You are paying a premium for plastic. Don’t do that.

(Lemme know if this is cool/useful btw. I would be so happy to find boots/brands of clothing for your cosplays. I think my inbox is open.)

#metalocalypse #metalocalypse cosplay #cosplay tutorial #cosplay help #bog blab #nathan explosion #william murderface #skwisgaar skwigelf #toki wartooth #pickles the drummer #dethklok #dethklok cosplay

[explorevenus]

i imagine SP!leon being the type to save any and all media of darling he can find. photo of her shitfaced drunk on her friends facebook? it’s in his favorites folder on his phone. video of her singing at karaoke night with coworkers? he’s watched it more than 50 times to try and find a new detail about darling to obsess over.

i think he’d even go as far as printing out professional photos her photographer friend took at the beginning of their career to start out their business and he just has them framed around the house, one on his desk at work. maybe he even has a silly selfie darling took that sits on the dashboard of his jeep. i just think he is clinically insane and i don’t know if that makes me want him in bed or six feet under.

also hi, i don’t know if tumblr ate my last ask but i hope you’re doing well, venus!! happy early new year! <3

-🫧

BUBBLE ANON MY BABYYYYYYY

and yes this is 100% canon and he definitely had all these things before he even took her in. he’s probably been showing off his desk photos of her to his coworkers before she even knew his name which is so fucking delulu i also can’t decide if i want to smash or hit him with my car 😔

i raise you this— him printing out and keeping photos of her not just from stalking her socials/her friends and family’s socials/cloning her devices, but also photos he took himself.

it’s been well established that he would sneak around her apartment and drug her and crawl into bed with her and such well before he ever took her in. his phone is probably full of low-light photos of her sleeping, changing, cooking dinner, watching tv, touching herself… you get it. >:3

tumblr did not eat your last ask it actually was just so fucking sweet and nice and i needed it so bad that i’ve been periodically staring at it and rereading it since you sent it, i’m sorry to leave you hanging 😭 i love you always

happy early new year, my beloved bubble anon 💗

#goddess on the mountain top #yandere!leon kennedy #something permanent #🫧 anon

[arisu-artnfics]

“A trip to Paris” 3

Notes: Chapter: 3/12 Previous Next (First). Versión en Español

Also on:     A03 || FF || DeviantArt || Facebook.

Chapter 3: “A New Fenton”

While their kids were in school, Jack and Maddie had been working diligently on a way to track Dani. They managed to isolate Danny’s ghostly signature and started adapting their weapons to avoid it. They also found a way to get the ‘Booo–merang’ to temporarily ignore Danny, while still following Dani’s nearly identical signature. It had been difficult, but having the device already keyed in on Danny’s signature and knowing that due to her clone nature Dani shared most of it, had really helped the process.

Now it was the weekend and Team Phantom was gathered in the Fentonworks lab getting ready to find Dani. Everyone was there, including Tucker and their newest member, Valerie, as they went over their plan. 

“Okay, so I just have to throw the Booo–merang,” Danny grabbed the device, swinging it side to side as if he was going to throw it already, “and keep it from hitting me while we follow it? And it’ll take us straight to Dani?” 

“Yes, and no, son... You use it but...” Jack tried to explain the plan, but couldn’t really find the correct words for why they were doing it like that.  

“Dear, just let me,” Maddie shook her head with a smile and patted Jack’s shoulder, then took the device from Danny’s hands “Yes, sweety, you throw it, but you won’t need to avoid it.”

“But the Booo–merang has always targeted Danny, how is going to find Dani?” asked Jazz. She was a bit sceptical as her parents had a tendency to miscalculate.

  “Well, as you kids know, we have started helping Danny deal with the ghosts more lately,” She and Danny shared a smile at that, “but we have also been gathering data from the fights and adjusting all of our equipment to ignore Danny’s signature.” Maddie pulled up several diagrams and schematics on the lab computer as examples of what she was saying.

The implication that all their equipment, all their weapons, had at one point been used against Danny served as an abrupt reminder to Valerie of all that she had done to hurt her friend. “Danny,  I’m really sorry about all of this, I wish I’d known, I–”

“No, please don’t start again, Val. It’s okay, really. Like I keep telling my parents and everyone else, you didn’t know. I don’t blame you. Right now I just want to focus on finding Dani. Please?” Danny asked a bit desperately, the extra week of waiting was beginning to wear on his nerves. 

“Yes, right...” said Maddie, a bit awkwardly. “The Booo–merang is now programed to find and track Phantom’s energy signature–” 

A chorus of questions broke out from the kids and she had to raise her hand for silence. “Let me finish, please.” The kids all shared a look and then just nodded, allowing her to continue. 

“When I say ‘Phantom’ I don’t just mean Danny here. All the clones Vlad created, including Dani, share the same base signature, although they are different at the same time. Vlad’s plan was to make a ‘perfect’ clone of Danny, or at least what he considered perfect.” The children shivered with disgust at that, Tucker even pretended to gag. Maddie could understand their reaction, after all, the Maddie Program made her feel like that and worse. “I know. Anyway… Vlad considered Danny to be nearly perfect, but not quite, so he made sure that the signature was slightly different for each in hopes that one of them would be the perfect son.”  Maddie finished her explanation with a decisive nod. 

“Therefore Danny and Dani are just different enough for a finely tuned tracking device to tell them apart.” concluded Jazz. She was getting that feeling from previous explanations but now it was more clear than before.

“That actually would explain why I found her instead of you when he tried to trick me into… you know,” said Valerie. She was still unsure of how to feel about everything that had happened. She may have found out about Vlad before everyone else in the world, but she was still trying to come to terms with how he had manipulated her. Trying to save the planet didn’t really leave a lot of extra time for introspection. And even after all that was over, she hadn’t had time to talk things over with Danny until this week when he came back to school.

“I know...” said Danny, nodding understandingly. “And, yeah, that’s probably what happened. Your scanner must have been slightly off in its calibration and it picked up Dani instead of me.”

“And that’s why Danny has to be the one to throw the Booo–merang, right? That way it targets the next Phantom signature, in this case Dani’s!” Tucker explained, having understood the plan from the beginning.

“Exactly!” Jack cheered. “You kids sure are quick on the uptake!” 

“But Danny can’t transform into Phantom,” warned Maddie. 

“Because it would get confused and target me rather than her, right?” Danny asked, but it was more confirmation than anything.

“That’s right Danny–boy! Your mom and I don’t understand why, but even after all the alterations we made, this one still likes to target you in your ghost form no matter what...” said Jack, a bit frustrated that the device still wasn’t cooperating fully.

“Well, at least we know that the next time something happens to Danny, we’ll be able to find him!” said Tucker. It wouldn’t be the first time they had done that themselves.

“Tucker!!” Sam and Valerie shouted at the same time. 

Jazz just shook her head. She knew that Tucker was only teasing, like always. But, even she had used it for that herself. 

Jack clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention, “All right kids, let’s go find Danielle! I can’t wait to meet her and talk to her about ghosts! Can you believe it? A new Fenton! Incredible!” He had already accepted her as his daughter in his heart, now he just needed to meet her to make it official.

They went upstairs and out the front door to where the Fenton Family Ghost Assault Vehicle was parked on the curb.

“Okay everybody, into the RV!” Maddie called. While the rest of the team piled into the vehicle, she turned to her son, handing him the Booo-merang, “Ready Danny?”

“All right, let’s do this.” Danny grabbed the device and took a few steps out so he would have room to swing his arm and let it fly.

Maddie and Danny jumped into the RV and Jack stomped on the gas, treads screeching against asphalt as they raced to keep up with the now airborne tracking device.    

“I wish the tracker in my suit worked right,” Valerie grumbled as they put on their seatbelts. “Then I could help, too.” 

When Valerie had learned about the Fentons trying to find Dani, she’d mentioned using the tracker in her suit to find her before, but when they tested it, it wasn’t working. After several rounds of troubleshooting, they discovered that Vlad had made sure that it only worked when he was using her. That idea made Valerie feel dirty in a way.

“Hey, don’t worry about it, Val. You know the Fentons checked it over and gave it the same treatment as the rest of their stuff and it's all good! Plus we’ve already got the Booo-merang, and we only really need one tracking device. It just happened to be the easiest to modify to follow Dani’s signature instead of Danny’s,” said Tucker, his logic helping to ease Valerie’s guilt. 

When the Fentons learned that Valerie was in a similar situation to Danny, they really took her under their wing. They worked with her to analyse her suit and learn a bit more about how it functions. They tried to get the tracker working again, but they weren’t Vlad. They theorised that he had programmed in a temporary function to track Dani, and the deeper they dug into the problem, the more likely it seemed. If they had managed to fix her tracker, the plan was to use that one on their mission, but, sadly, it only showed and targeted Danny. 

Now, thanks to the Fentons, Valerie has a fully functional ghost hunting suit modified to avoid hurting Danny and possibly Dani as well. All that was done during the Fentons’ time off from school. As much as she had wanted to use her new suit to help track down Dani, Tucker was right, they had the Booo-merang and that’s all they really needed.

“All right kids, everything is working perfectly!” Jack called from the front as the RV swerved, his eyes glued to the red dot on the console scanner rather than the road. “I’ve got the Booo–merang in my sights, but remember to keep an eye on it, just in case!” 

“Sure thing, Mr. F!” said Tucker, gripping his seat tightly. He knew from experience that it was going to be a bumpy ride. 

The only one new to Jack’s driving was Valerie. “I see why you don’t normally let your dad drive,” she said in a low voice that wouldn’t carry to the front seat. She glanced around nervously and was a bit surprised to find that there was more space in the back than she thought. 

“Tell me about it,” Sam muttered in the same quiet tone, making sure that her seatbelt was firmly in place. “Even after all the times we’ve ridden in the GAV with Mr. Fenton, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his driving. I wish Danny could’ve just flown us.”

“Agreed. Next time, Little Brother, you fly us,” said Jazz. She was more used to her dad’s driving than the others, but she would never be alright. She was still wondering why their mother couldn't drive them this time or how their father was allowed to have a licence in the first place.

“You know, I would love to... but I also don't want to get hit with that,” Danny pointed in the general direction of the Booo-merang before going back to holding on for dear half-life. By now all the kids were leaving marks on the seats with how hard they were holding on, though Danny’s marks were the stronger ones among them.

“It can’t be that bad, can it?” asked Valerie, worried about how hard it would hit Dani. She wanted to help her as much as anyone in the car, but not if that means really hurting her.

“No, it isn't,” said Tucker, sounding both very sure about it and very annoyed.

“What do you know about it?” As far as Valerie knew, the Booo-merang only worked on ghosts, and she was pretty sure Tucker wasn’t a ghost.

“Let’s just say you do not want to be standing between it and Danny,” Tucker replied.

The RV hit a large pothole, becoming momentarily airborne, and Valerie’s stomach lurched. “Oh, I wish I had just used my suit!”  she lamented.

“And I wish you’d taken me with you,” said Jazz.

“I thought you didn’t like flying,” Danny accused. “You’d rather walk because the wind messes up your hair or something.”

“No, it isn’t that. I just don’t want to use your energy when it isn’t necessary. I never said I don't like it.” Jazz retorted. It was an odd feeling, defying gravity like a ghost, strange but not bad, and certainly better than riding in the car with her dad at the wheel.

A surprised “Oh” was Danny’s only reply.

“My suit doesn’t drain me, Danny, it’s not the same situation. I can see why your sister would be willing to fly with me and not you,” said Valerie.

“I wouldn’t mind, Danny,” Sam said with a smile. “After all, if it’s just the two of us it wouldn’t take that much of your energy, and we could have some time to ourselves, it would be like a date...” It had been a bit of a rollercoaster since they officially started dating. Between the usual ghost interference and getting used to Danny’s parents knowing his secret on top of that, they hadn’t really been able to spend much time figuring out their new relationship.

“Yeah… ” Danny sighed wistfully. They’d enjoyed just a couple of dates like that already. When everything became too much with their complicated new normal, he had flown them away to a more secluded place where they could simply be, without all the pressure.

“Look kids, we’re about to cross the state line!” Maddie called loud enough so everyone would hear her. They had been driving for a few hours now, although it didn’t feel like it. The excitement of the adventure and trying to keep the Booo-merang in their sights, not to mention Jack’s driving, had been more than enough to keep things interesting.

“Really?” asked Danny. He had hoped that she wouldn’t be too far away, they weren’t really prepared to be gone for more than a day or two, and that’s what they’d told Sam, Tucker, and Valerie’s families.

“Uh, if I didn’t know better I’d say that we’re in Wisconsin,” said Tucker after a while when he noticed a sign that said ‘Madison: 100 miles’.

“Thanks Captain Obvious,” Sam snipped, rolling her eyes. “Didn’t you see the big sign that said ‘Welcome to Wisconsin!’ when we passed it?” 

Valerie and Danny shared a glance as their friends bickered, before returning their eyes to the distance. This was a usual occurrence in their group, they’d get over it soon enough. 

Maddie hummed in thought. “You guys don’t think that she would go there, do you?” she asked. She was starting to get concerned that Dani may not want to go back to Amity with them.

“Where?” Jack asked absentmindedly, more focused on the dot on the radar than their conversation. 

“And the Booo-merang seems to be going slower now, too!” Jazz pointed out before anyone could reply to Jack. She pressed up against the window, taking in their surroundings from the, now much slower, car. 

“It totally is!” Tucker agreed, also looking out the window. Now that the RV was slower it was easier to see outside without feeling nauseous. 

They had just turned off the highway onto a much smaller road. They followed this new road to a small town where Jack ran a few stop signs before taking a sharp turn into what almost looked like an alleyway.

“THERE!” Danny shouted. “Dad, watch out!”

He leaned forward, pointing out the windshield to the street in front of them. There a familiar young girl stood frozen like a deer in the headlights before their speeding vehicle. Danny phased out of his seatbelt and jumped through the roof of the RV, shouting his signature catchphrase. He swooped down and pulled her to safety just in time, for even though Jack slammed on the brakes, it was a little too late to stop. 

“Danny!” Dani cried, hugging him tightly. “I had it handled, you know. I was just gonna go intangible before it hit me. Although you guys really shouldn’t be driving in the alleyway in that big old thing.”

“That was so dramatic,” said Tucker, climbing out of the RV followed by Valerie, Sam, and the rest of the Fentons.  

Just as Danny was about to make a witty retort, the Booo-merang made its dramatic entrance, striking him in the back of his head. “Ouch,” Danny complained, catching the accursed thing as it fell. He’d forgotten all about it in his excitement. 

“I told you that would happen if you transformed, Sweety,” said Maddie. She approached the two halfas as Danny changed back into Fenton.

“I know, I know.” Danny rubbed the back of his head with a wince.

Dani quickly moved to stand behind Danny, using him to shield her from his mother’s view. 

“What are they doing here?” she whispered. “I thought they didn't know about us...”

“Relax, Dani. They know, it’s okay,” said Danny, reassuringly. 

“They do?” Dani peered around Danny and looked at everyone that was there, gaze lingering suspiciously on Jack and Maddie. “All of them?”

“All of us,” said Maddie with a sincere smile. “And we understand if you don’t believe that, or if you’re scared…”

The two adults kept their distance from the halfas. Dani had every reason not to trust them, and they didn’t want to push her. It had been hard for them to accept that they had been hunting their own son all this time. With everything they had said and done, they knew Danny had worried about how they would react to his secret. Why wouldn’t she?

“I’m not scared!” Dani snapped. She took a small step forward, standing tall as if to prove it. She didn’t let her guard down though, she knew Danny’s parents were hunters, ghost hunters. This could all be a trap, they might just be pretending they understood, tricking Danny so they could get to both of them.

“Hey, Dani,” Valerie said, quickly stepping in front of the Fentons to break the tension.

“Valerie?” Dani asked cautiously, her stance softening a bit. “You came too?” 

She knew that even as a hunter, Valerie had helped her before. Maybe this wasn’t a trick after all. Dani knew that several people were there, but she had focused all her attention on the biggest threat: the Fentons. Now she took the time to really look at everyone else. Jazz, Sam, and Tucker stood by the RV, they waved awkwardly when they saw her looking.  

“Of course I did!” Valerie smiled sincerely, bringing Dani’s attention back to her. She was glad that Dani recognized her without her suit and mask.

Before Dani had a chance to catch up more with Valerie, or even say ‘hello’ to the other teens, Maddie walked over to her, slowly and non-threateningly. She kneeled down next to the girl and hesitantly took her hand. The woman’s eyes flickered across her face. 

“You look so much like Danny when he was your age… Well, now that we’ve established that you aren’t scared, I need you to be brave for just a little longer.” She took a deep breath, thinking of how to break the news. “Danny told us everything… including what he did to stabilise you. Unfortunately, it’s- it isn’t a permanent solution. We were hoping that if we found you, you would be willing to come back to Amity Park with us. We’ve been working on something that might help.”

“Oh...” Dani blinked, shock running through her as Maddie’s words sunk in. The Ecto-Dejecto hadn’t fixed her after all. And she’d been feeling so well. 

“Hey, it's not like that!” Danny quickly cut in, “Yeah, they know you’re a clone, but even though you look like me, you’re your own person! I know you just met them, but they already love you.”

“I wasn’t worried about that!” Dani said, “But thanks.”

Danny rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, “Oh. Well, uh, we’ve been working on a new way to help you permanently, and, well, all of us want for you to come-back-to-Amity-so-you-have-a-safe-place-to-stay,” he finished in a rush. 

“For real?” Dani asked, eyes shining bright with hope. She had been so distracted by the absolute bombshell that she wasn’t as cured as she thought she was, that she was only just now registering the fact that they were offering a place to go, a home.

“For real.” Danny’s voice was gentle and a soft grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.  

Dani felt a smile of her own stretch across her face as she jumped into Maddie’s arms, nearly knocking the woman over in her excitement. She reached out and found Danny’s arm, pulling him into the hug, too. “Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you!” she cried.

After a moment of hesitation, Jack joined them as well and then finally Jazz did too, and Dani had never felt so loved as she did in that moment, protected by her family’s embrace.

“Well, this has all been very moving,” a voice called out, interrupting their moment. They turned to see Tucker holding up a camera with a cheeky grin, he’d been filming the whole thing. “But can we go back home now?” 

“Are you really so eager to be back in the GAV already?” Sam hissed. 

“Uhhhh,” Tucker replied eloquently. He had not thought that far ahead.

Jazz wasn’t excited for the ride home either, especially if her father was driving, but she knew that finding Dani was the first step of thousands, and the sooner they got started the better.

“Ready?” Danny asked, offering a hand to Dani. He knew she would feel more comfortable with him, or maybe Valerie, by her side. 

“Yeah...” said Dani, accepting the hand and walking with him to the RV. She knew who everyone was, but being around so many people after being on her own for so long was new and confusing. She was also beginning to wonder how they even found her.

“We should warn you, you won’t like the drive” Tucker whispered conspiratorially once Dani was close enough to hear. Danny shoved the Booo-merang into Tucker’s hands, he didn’t want that thing anywhere near him for longer than it had to be.

“Why?” Dani asked curiously, the RV was confusing looking but couldn't be worse than anything that Vlad had made, could it?

“You’ll see,” said Jazz with a sigh; it would be a long drive or a short one and a disaster without a doubt. 

“Tell me about it,” Sam muttered, rolling her eyes. She sighed. She had come along because she knew this moment was important for both Phantoms and she wanted to be there to support them, but why Mrs. Fenton wasn’t driving would always be a mystery.

“All right kids, let’s get back home!” said Jack, ushering everyone into the Fenton Family Ghost Assault Vehicle. He couldn’t stop beaming, this whole thing had gone so much better than he ever could have hoped. He had found a daughter that he hadn’t even known existed until a few weeks ago, and now she was coming home. 

Once all the kids were in their seats and buckled up, and Maddie had programmed the RV’s GPS to take them back to Amity Park, Jack took the wheel, announcing that he would get them back in no time at all. His passengers groaned and braced for another crazy drive. 

Maddie settled into the rhythm of the road, letting her mind wander as she watched the scenery fly by. While Jack drove, she thought of her new daughter, safely in the backseat after all this time. She understood what Danny meant by her being her own person, but she couldn’t help seeing all the similarities between the two of them. Being a clone, and conscious of that fact, had to be hard on Dani, and as much as the scientist in her wanted to observe and study, the mother in her wanted to protect her even more. So, she sat there in the passenger seat, her wonderful husband at her side, and made mental notes of all the ways they could help Dani feel more comfortable. She thought of things they should do and things they should not, of all the ways they could interact with her.

The drive back to Fenton Works was much more relaxed than their trek out. They didn’t have to worry about losing track of the Booo-merang, or whether or not they would successfully find Dani. The kids chatted, laughing and joking the whole way home, an invisible tension gone from their shoulders. Even Jack’s driving couldn’t dampen their spirits, but they were still grateful to be back in Amity Park. 

They tumbled out of the RV, stretching stiff muscles, and Dani wondered, not for the first time since the trip started, why she hadn’t just flown and avoided the drive. She figured it would have been rude to turn down the offer of a ride, especially since they were doing so much for her. Not only were they going to find a permanent way to stabilise her form, they had also offered her a home, a family. She had practically given up on having a real family, what she’d had with Vlad had been complicated at best and toxic at worst… So Dani accepted the ride, she accepted the Fentons’ kindness, and even though it felt strange... it was nice. She almost couldn’t believe how much her life was going to change in such a short period of time, but she was excited to see what her future holds.  

Now that they were back at Fenton Works, everyone was pleased with how well the whole plan was going. They had found Dani without much problem and were even home in time for supper. It was unbelievable, almost too good to be true. All they had left to do now was stabilise Dani.

In the lab once again, Jack and Maddie began explaining the process to the group of teens. They would use the same scanners they had used on Danny to take Dani’s readings and compare their baseline levels. This would help them determine Dani’s exact condition as well as help them pinpoint what needed stabilising.  

At first Dani was nervous about being down in the lab, and nobody blamed her; they understood that she, like Danny, had plenty of bad associations with this sort of place. However, after Danny demonstrated how the scanners worked and showed her some of the other inventions, as well as the safety measures they had put in place, she felt much more comfortable. Although it did help a bit that Jack was the first one to actually welcome Dani to the Fenton family with the kind of huge hug that only he could give. How could she be scared when someone like that was looking out for her?

They ran the tests, and, as they suspected, the delayed effects of the Ecto-Dejecto were starting to show themselves and her genetic structure was slowly degrading. The Fentons  quickly made the final adjustments to the new stabilising agent using the information they had just gathered and administered it to Dani. 

They all held their breaths as they waited to see if it would work. Eyes flickered nervously between Dani and the monitor displaying her vitals. After a tense moment, the readout on the screen began stabilising and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It was working! Nobody could believe that it had actually worked. They had half expected that something would go horribly wrong, it seemed like something always went wrong in these situations. 

Just as they were thinking that it was way too good to be true, twin ghost senses fogged the air and everyone groaned. They knew things had been going a little too well for their luck... But with their whole team assembled, whichever ghost it was wouldn’t know what hit it.  

The two halfas shared a grin before transforming and flying up through the lab ceiling, the rest of Team Phantom grabbing their gear and racing up the stairs after them. They arrived on the scene to find none other than Skulker. The mechanical ghost was in the middle of a monologue about how his new weapons would make quick work of Danny and how he would soon have not one, but two new rugs to decorate his halls. 

Before he could utter another word, he was dodging blasts from every direction. Jack, Maddie, Jazz, Sam and Tucker took aim from below, while Valerie joined the two Phantoms in the air. The hunter had become the hunted. It was just his luck that he had been the first ghost to appear since Dani’s stabilisation and he didn’t stand a chance, he was defeated in record time. 

Jack and Maddie did learn a thing or two from the ghost’s short speech and they didn’t like any of it one bit, especially his plans for their children. They learned that this ghost knew about halfas, had known about Danny for a long time, possibly since the very beginning, and definitely much longer than they had. They could understand the thrill of the hunt, after all they were hunters themselves, but his obsession with their son’s, and now daughter’s, pelt was just gross.

By the time Skulker was safely back in the Ghost Zone it was getting very late (though the Fentons had been tempted to leave him in the thermos for a bit longer). It had been a long day and the ghost fight used up the last of everyone’s energy, so Valerie, Tucker, and Sam said their goodbyes and headed home.

The whole day had been full of surprises, full of changes, full of good things. The Fenton’s had gone from a family of four to a family of five. They had just adopted a child, a child that hadn’t existed a few short months ago, yet looked and acted like a twelve-year-old girl. They even got to see some of Dani's abilities in action. She wasn’t quite as strong as Danny, something he had suspected. Her powers were more like his had been at the beginning, when he’d first become a halfa. But she was young, and her family had no doubt that she would come into her own soon enough.

The Fentons were exhausted, but closer than ever. Jack and Maddie had a better understanding of why Danny was always so tired. Jazz learned that even her parents could learn and improve themselves when it came to ghost hunting and would actually be a big help to Danny. She also knew that all of this was really going to improve Danny’s mental health and quality of life. Having a support system that he could rely on would be so much better than doing it alone. Danny and Dani learned that even though they may have started out as basically the same person, and though they worked very well together, they were also very different. 

They spent that Sunday filling out the last of the adoption paperwork. Thanks to Tucker, and a few favours here and there, they had thankfully managed to bypass a lot of the usual legal processes. The family’s next step would be talking with the Casper High administration about enrolling her in the next school year. Dani was still working on accepting the fact that she had a family now, and a soon-to-be-legal one at that. 

The next morning, as they sat around the breakfast table going over their plans for the day, Dani asked, “So, Jack and Maddie will drive us all to the school, and then after you guys go to class, we’ll just be in the parking lot, just waiting, until it’s time for our meeting with Mr. Lancer?

“You know honey, you can call us Mom and Dad… If you want,” Maddie offered tentatively. She shared a slightly concerned look with Jack. They didn’t want to push her, she had only been with them two days after all, but they wanted to make sure she felt welcome, felt like a part of the family. And, although it might still be too soon for it, she and Jack couldn’t wait for the day she called them her parents. Jack had already started calling her ‘Danerincess’ or something like that.

Dani sighed, “I know… and I'm sorry… it’s just that Vlad… ” she said, frustrated with herself. She got why calling someone ‘dad’ was hard, but why couldn’t she say ‘mom?’ Maddie was her real mom for all that she cared.  

“We know sweetheart, it’s all right… ” said Maddie. She, Jack and Jazz had learned that Vlad tricked and basically forced Dani to call him ‘dad,’ and that was so wrong on so many levels, especially when it was very clear that he didn’t actually care about her and the other clones, he was just using them. 

“Hey, Little Sister, we get it. Everyone adjusts to things at their own pace. Just because I was quick to start calling you my sister, doesn’t mean it’s going to be as easy for you. And that’s okay,” Jazz said. Then added, “Of course, Dad was even faster…”  

Dani grinned at that and the rest of the family burst into laughter. Jack had indeed started calling Dani his daughter as soon as she was safe and sound at home. He had also started giving her cute nicknames, combining ‘princess’ with her name in different ways like how he does with Jazz, as well as any other term of endearment that he can think of. 

“Hey, I don’t see why that’s so funny,” Jack defended playfully. “She is my daughter after all!” A fact that he was very proud of.

“I thought I was your princess, Dad,” Jazz teased through her laughter.

“Of course you’re still my princess, Jazzy–pants! You and Dani-panini are both my princesses! Just because Dani here is also my daughter doesn’t mean I love you any less. I love all my kids equally, even you Danny–boy!” Jack said seriously, pulling each of his kids, one by one, up from the table and into a big hug. In this instance, he was very grateful for his size and being able to hug them all at once. 

“Oh! Would you look at the time!” Maddie exclaimed. “Jack dear, let the kids go, we need to head to school.”

The kids groaned half-heartedly from Jack’s arms.

“None of that now,” she chided. “There’s only two weeks left before summer vacation and you two have missed enough days as it is,” she gestured to Jazz and Danny. And we need to get you registered for next year’s classes,” she ruffled Dani’s hair then started gathering the dirty dishes from their breakfast.  

Jack let the kids go, sending them off to gather up their backpacks and anything else they would need for the day, and started helping Maddie wash the dishes. He knew that it would be faster for them to do it than to ask the kids, and Maddie was in a hurry. 

Danny grabbed his backpack, rifled through the loose papers inside to make sure he had his homework, and then zipped it shut. “Two more weeks. Just two more weeks until summer vacation. Then no more school for the whole summer.” He had only just started back from his little vacation, but he could barely wait to be free from its confines once again.  

“Wait, hold on.” Dani paused on her way to the front door. 

Maddie finished washing the last dish and handed it to Jack to dry, then turned to face her daughter. “What is it sweetheart?” she asked.

“Am I really going to school next year?” Dani’s eyes sparkled up at Maddie, full of hope and happiness.

“Wow! Are we sure she isn’t Jazz’s clone?” Danny teased. 

“Ha. Ha. You’re hilarious,” said Jazz. She carefully placed a notebook into her, much tidier, backpack and rolled her eyes. “Don’t pay any attention to him, Dani. I think it’s great that you’re so excited about your education. And going to school will also help you meet new people, kids your own age–  Well, sort of…”  

“Of course you’re going to school sweety. You’re a Fenton, and we Fentons value our education. Isn’t that right, Jack?”

“You got it, baby!” Jack placed a supportive hand on her shoulder.

“We’ll sort everything out with Mr. Lancer today,” she said, herding everyone out the door to the car. “While everyone else will know that we have officially adopted you, or well, that’s what the paper would say… We were thinking of telling Mr. Lancer the truth. Confidentially of course.”

“Is that really necessary?” asked Danny, stopping with his hand on the RV door until Jazz gave him a small push and they climbed in.

“Look I get it, Danny. I know you’re worried, but think about it... Mr. Lancer already knows about you. And he gave you a planning strategy, and it’s helping right?” Jazz asked him as she pulled on her seatbelt.

Danny thought for a moment before nodding, putting on his own seatbelt as Dani climbed in after him.

Jazz continued, “So it makes sense that he would help her in the same way, when it’s her turn, right?” 

Danny pursed his lips stubbornly. Jazz was right, but that didn’t mean he liked it. He nodded again. “... I guess I see your point,” he finally said.

The drive to school was silent, for the most part, after that last comment from Danny. A sharp turn had the three kids clutching their seats and the sound of the other driver’s horn had Jazz thinking that she would be the one to drive her siblings to school next year. Her two “Danys.” She chuckled to herself.

“Are you okay with that now, Danny–boy?” asked Jack after a while. “With us telling Mr. Lancer about Dani?” 

“Yeah… ” Danny said hesitantly, after a couple of seconds. Then more confidently, “Yeah! Jazz is right, right?” He smiled. The time that had just passed had helped him more than he expected and he was feeling much better about the whole situation. 

“Of course I’m right,” Jazz’s teasing was automatic, then she softened to something more genuine, “but seriously Little Bro, it’ll be alright.”  

“Yeah, you don’t have to worry about me, Danny! I’m a Fenton after all!” Dani grinned at him. She was so happy about that fact. That had been the easiest part of all of this, taking the name “Danielle ‘Dani’ Fenton.” 

“Yes! Yes, you are!” said Jack enthusiastically. He kept his eyes on the road and drove the rest of the way to school carefully for the first time ever… well almost.

Maddie reached over and tugged the steering wheel to keep them from crashing into a car parked in front of the school. “Well, here we are!” Maddie called cheerfully. “Have a good day kids! Danny, Jazz, we’ll see you both after class. Come on, Dani, Mr. Lancer’s office is this way. It’s time to get you enrolled in school!”

“It is?” Jack asked. Maddie shot him a glare. “I mean, ‘It is!’ I totally knew that and didn’t get so focused on driving that I forgot.” 

Maddie sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose with a look that said ‘You’re lucky I love you.’ Dani giggled, in just the couple of days she had lived with them she had already learned how forgetful Jack could be. Even when it was something he had just been talking about, for some reason he forgot about it as soon as something else grabbed his attention.   

At that Danny and Jazz waved goodbye and said their ‘see you later’s to their parents and sister, and finally went to class. And, as promised, Jack, Maddie, and Dani made their way to Mr. Lancer’s office for their meeting with him. 

Mr. Lancer was surprised, to say the least, to find out that the Fentons newly adopted daughter was actually a clone of their son and, of course, a halfa. He cursed in book titles the likes of which the Fentons hadn’t even heard of before, and at one point Jack covered Dani’s ears. Once they explained that it was Vlad’s doing, he went silent for a moment, before calmly saying how glad he was that that man was locked up. 

He was also incredibly impressed by how quickly Tucker had managed to push the legal paperwork through. He was sure that being the mayor must have come in handy with that, as well as his existing computer skills, but it was still a remarkably fast turnaround time. 

It wasn’t that hard to enrol a new student for the next year when it was not even summer break yet and there was plenty of space in the classrooms. A short while, and a lot more paperwork later, and Danielle ‘Dani’ Fenton was officially enrolled at Casper High, she would start her freshman year in the fall.    

To be continued :D :D

#Danny Phantom #Miraculous Ladybug #DP #ML #DP X ML #Crossover #Invisobang #Invisobang 2023 #Danny Fenton/Phantom #Sam Manson #Tucker Foley #Jazz Fenton #Maddie Fenton #Jack Fenton #Dani Phantom/Fenton #Valerie Gray #Damon Gray #Vlad Masters/Plasmius (mentioned) #Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug #Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir #Alya Césaire #Nino Lahiffe #Tom Dupain #Sabine Cheng. #Miraculous Ladybug until season 3 #Danny Phantom completed show #Arisu #Arisu-ArtnFics

[gynarchyboi]

MsReneeLane isn't available at this time day 9

For those of you who have gone through my training on Fetlife you know these 10 rules of male submission by heart. It's time to share them on Facebook. Submission is a 24/7 and 360 degree commitment that reaches deeply into how a man lives his life.

1.Exercise Daily: Be physically fit for general physical and mental health. A woman cannot train someone too weak to accept her discipline.

2.Eat Healthy: Deny yourself the empty calories of white sugar and starchy foods. Think of your female owner, when you deny yourself. Diet is part of your spiritual path.

3.Read good books. Talk about them: conversation and communication is a cornerstone of good relationships. By increasing your knowledge and expanding your horizons you make yourself a more interesting companion.

4.Volunteer: Be active in your community and give back to society. Join a service organization, pay the dues, volunteer your efforts. By becoming active, you increase the number of people you interact with and you make yourself a more well-rounded person.

5.Accept Discipline. Stay chaste most of the time.: Gain focus and determination by harnessing your sexual desires.. Remaining chaste for the woman in your life allows you to focus on serving her more diligently. If you are single, limit orgasms to the weekends. If you are partnered, surrender when and how you orgasm to your domme. Practice wearing a chastity device until it becomes a natural part of you. Submit to a weakly discipline session from your domme to help you on your path of submission. Never make mistakes to enhance this punishment. Instead, be slavishly devoted and thankful for any discipline a woman gives you. Always do your best.

6.Clean: Maintain a clean and organized living space. Dig in and do the boring drudgery of housework. Your efforts will give your woman enough energy to dominate you. If you are single, live as if a woman might inspect your quarters at anytime.

7.Promote and Support Women: Promote the practical and political needs of women. Doing this will give you a deeper understanding of women. Vote for women in whatever politics party you find yourself. See the promotion of books like mine as something practical you can contribute to hasten the coming matriarchy. Consider how much easier finding a domme could be if there was a movie you could direct a prospective woman to see. You could point at my sub in the movie that I hope to make and say, "I dream of living like that man for the right woman." She will see the love and devotion of this sub and become interested.

8.Respect All Women: Treat all women as if they were the key holders of your chastity belt. Especially treat women with respect who because of age or looks don't have a lot of sexual power. Other women will see this and they will be impressed by your sensitivity to women.

9.Disengage: Abstain from pornography and live in the real world. Limit yourself to 30 minutes a day of leisure activities online. Limit television. Spend your free time working, reading, playing, and loving others.

10.Recite Your Mantra: Intone it several times daily. Do this out loud. Recite it for your ears to hear, "I am only a slave; it is a privilege to serve." This simple act, overtime, will redirect your focus towards serving all women and especially the woman in your life. This mantra will empower you.

Do all 10 of theses. Don't leave one out. Women are always watching. Our eyes scan the herd, looking for the right man to cull and make our own. Make yourself the perfect prey.

Date Jun 24, 2019.

#gynarchy #150 years of gynarchy #msreneelane #era: queendom #Vimeo

[paper-gold-theories]

Villainous Musical: I’m The Good Guy (GoldHeart’s rendition of I’m The Bad Guy from Wonder Over Yonder)

I kinda imagine GoldHeart seeing this when he and Flug have their reunion in the Mictilan, claiming to be the good guy while doing evil things.

GoldHeart, tosses the Villainous gang to the ground : Let me put this in a way you villains will understand!

I’m not a maniac out for revenge.

(To Flug) I’m not a mad scientist, a (to 5.0.5) naive bear or a (To Demencia) love sick henchman.

I’m not a petty thief who steal things to survive.

Nope~

I’m the good guy.

All these former villains that you see,
Each of them, with shaking knees, has knelt before me.

So I'm not your teammate or your partner in crime.

What am I, bois?

Captured Villains: He’s the good guy.

Oh, it's magic

To watch a villain

Beg for their lives.

Oh, it's thrillin'

To be a hero.

I beat up bad guys and then I watch them cry. (laughs)

Cause I'm the good guy!

————————————————————————————————————

[Earlier]

Flug, hacking into the Mictilan computers: Oh my God! He’s not capturing villains so he redeem them! He wants to enslave them! Man, that's messed up!

Demencia [overwhelmed by heroes]: AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

————————————————————————————————————

GoldHeart: Oh, ain't it fantastic?

Villains submitting and GROVELLING!
And let me tell you why.

I’ve always had a weakness

For being powerful and in control.

(To Flug) I crush all your inventions and then I watch you cry. *smashes Flug’s device*

See, I find this business rather fun!

I don't want your assistance or your adulation!

I'll force you to submit and take away your control.

Why?

GoldHeart eyes glowing menacingly: Come on, GUESS!!

Flug, Demencia, and 5.0.5: ‘Cause you're the good guy….

GoldHeart: *laughs*

———

Notes: I wrote a draft of of this in Feb 2022, but wasn’t sure to post it or how to post it. Haha

I always have three headcanon versions of GoldHeart,

1. One is where is completely ruthless and bully to Flug and treats Flug like a jerk because he can

2. One where he was once a hero but lost his way after climbing to the top and at the same time loses his friendship with Flug.

3. And one where his reasons for wanting to end Vilainy forever and his relationship with Flug is more complex than one meets the eye (will write a post explaining this).

I haven’t posted the first one cause I feel like it’s a little too sadistic but with the recent theory and more Villianous content about GoldHeart and his plan I feel like it’s the time and a little more confident to post more ruthless GoldHeart content.

#villainous #villanos #dr flug #dr kenning flugslys #goldheart #gold heart #herbert leth #villainous headcanons #villainous musical #Youtube

[chattingwiththelightkeeper]

Nap Dates in Blanket Forts - A Dreamy Escape

In a world filled with fast-paced lives and constant connectivity, the idea of nap dates in blanket forts is a whimsical and romantic escape. Imagine a realm where the stresses of the day melt away beneath a cozy fortress of blankets and pillows. Today let’s explore the delightful notion of nap dates in blanket forts, providing ideas on how to build the ultimate fort and how this dreamy escape can be incorporated into D/S relationships for added intimacy.

Creating the perfect blanket fort is an art that requires a blend of creativity and comfort. Here are seven ideas to help build a superior blanket fort for your nap dates:

Choose the Right Location: Pick a space that allows for creativity and intimacy. A living room, bedroom, or any spacious area with soft surfaces can serve as the ideal location.

Gather Supplies: Collect an assortment of blankets, sheets, and pillows. Variety is key; use different textures and sizes to enhance comfort and aesthetics.

Structural Support: Utilize furniture, such as chairs, tables, or the back of a couch, as the foundation for your fort. Ensure stability and consider adding weight to secure the base.

Blanket Canopy: Drape blankets over the foundation to create a cozy canopy. Use clothespins or clips to secure them, allowing for easy adjustments.

Pillowy Paradise: Layer the fort with an abundance of pillows, creating a soft and inviting space for your nap date. Mix and match pillows of varying sizes for added comfort.

Soft Lighting: Enhance the ambiance with fairy lights or soft lamps. Avoid harsh lighting to create a dreamy atmosphere within your fort.

Entertainment: Bring in a portable device for soft music, a favorite movie, or a podcast. Make it an immersive experience that caters to both comfort and entertainment.

Incorporating nap dates into dominant/submissive relationships adds a layer of intimacy and relaxation. Here are a few thoughts on how to make nap dates in blanket forts a delightful experience within a D/S dynamic:

Consent and Communication: Prioritize open communication and obtain consent for the activity. Discuss comfort levels, preferences, and any specific boundaries related to the nap date.

Domestic Bliss: For dominants, creating a blanket fort can be an act of care and consideration. Taking the lead in setting up the fort establishes a nurturing environment that emphasizes the d-type's role in providing comfort.

Submissive Comfort: Submissives may find solace in surrendering to the cozy haven created by their dominant. The fort becomes a symbol of trust and protection, allowing the submissive to relax and embrace vulnerability.

Sensory Play: Introduce sensory elements, such as soft fabrics or soothing music, to enhance the experience. The sensory aspects of the nap date can be tailored to the preferences of both the dominant and the submissive.

Aftercare: After the nap, engage in aftercare rituals. This could involve cuddling, gentle affirmations, or quiet moments of connection to ensure both partners feel supported and cared for.

Nap dates in blanket forts offer a charming and intimate escape from the demands of daily life. Incorporating this dreamy activity into a dominant/submissive relationship adds a layer of care and vulnerability, fostering a deeper connection between partners. By embracing the fantasy of nap dates in blanket forts, those in D/S relationships can create cherished moments of relaxation and intimacy that strengthen the bonds of trust and affection.

If you enjoyed this, I invite you to give my podcast a listen 'Chatting With The Lightkeeper,' a top 25% most-followed podcasts on Spotify but available on all the major podcasting apps and follow my socials for more exclusive content: Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) for a deeper dive into the wonderful world of D/S.

As with all of my thoughts, please see this disclaimer.

©TLK2024

#bd/sm blog #bd/sm community #bd/sm daddy #bd/sm kink #bd/sm lifestyle #bd/sm relationship #d/s #d/s community #d/s relationship #dom/sub #my writing

[louciferish]

Just going to start keeping a list of breaking points that made me give up parts of the Internet in 2023:

Twitter/X - got out the second Musk purchased it and missed the enshittification process

Facebook - 50% of my feed was "recommendeded for you" groups and content that I had absolutely no interest in (like fan pages for shows I don't watch). Nuked my account when I found myself complaining about this to someone for the third time in a week.

Google (search engine) - realized it never had an actual answer unless I found a link to a reddit post asking the same question. Can't find anything but ads these days. Done.

Google Chrome - why do you need to catalog all my behaviors Google? I'd switched to Firefox on my laptop but I'm moving off Chrome on other devices since it came out that "incognito mode" still tracks you.

Recipe websites - The ad situation has been bad on these generally for a while but this morning I went to look through a list of top 20 recipes from this year and there was an ad banner under every. single. image. I have a solid dozen physical cookbooks now and all of my grandmother's recipe cards. Fuck this shit. "Use an ad blocker" sure but I don't think I should have to.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The surveillance advertising to financial fraud pipeline

Monday (October 2), I'll be in Boise to host an event with VE Schwab. On October 7–8, I'm in Milan to keynote Wired Nextfest.

Being watched sucks. Of all the parenting mistakes I've made, none haunt me more than the times my daughter caught me watching her while she was learning to do something, discovered she was being observed in a vulnerable moment, and abandoned her attempt:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2014/may/09/cybersecurity-begins-with-integrity-not-surveillance

It's hard to be your authentic self while you're under surveillance. For that reason alone, the rise and rise of the surveillance industry – an unholy public-private partnership between cops, spooks, and ad-tech scum – is a plague on humanity and a scourge on the Earth:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/16/the-second-best-time-is-now/#the-point-of-a-system-is-what-it-does

But beyond the psychic damage surveillance metes out, there are immediate, concrete ways in which surveillance brings us to harm. Ad-tech follows us into abortion clinics and then sells the info to the cops back home in the forced birth states run by Handmaid's Tale LARPers:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/29/no-i-in-uter-us/#egged-on

And even if you have the good fortune to live in a state whose motto isn't "There's no 'I" in uter-US," ad-tech also lets anti-abortion propagandists trick you into visiting fake "clinics" who defraud you into giving birth by running out the clock on terminating your pregnancy:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/15/paid-medical-disinformation/#crisis-pregnancy-centers

The commercial surveillance industry fuels SWATting, where sociopaths who don't like your internet opinions or are steamed because you beat them at Call of Duty trick the cops into thinking that there's an "active shooter" at your house, provoking the kind of American policing autoimmune reaction that can get you killed:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/14/us/swatting-sentence-casey-viner/index.html

There's just a lot of ways that compiling deep, nonconsensual, population-scale surveillance dossiers can bring safety and financial harm to the unwilling subjects of our experiment in digital spying. The wave of "business email compromises" (the infosec term for impersonating your boss to you and tricking you into cleaning out the company bank accounts)? They start with spear phishing, a phishing attack that uses personal information – bought from commercial sources or ganked from leaks – to craft a virtual Big Store con:

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise

It's not just spear-phishers. There are plenty of financial predators who run petty grifts – stock swindles, identity theft, and other petty cons. These scams depend on commercial surveillance, both to target victims (e.g. buying Facebook ads targeting people struggling with medical debt and worried about losing their homes) and to run the con itself (by getting the information needed to pull of a successful identity theft).

In "Consumer Surveillance and Financial Fraud," a new National Bureau of Academic Research paper, a trio of business-school profs – Bo Bian (UBC), Michaela Pagel (WUSTL) and Huan Tang (Wharton) quantify the commercial surveillance industry's relationship to finance crimes:

https://www.nber.org/papers/w31692

The authors take advantage of a time-series of ZIP-code-accurate fraud complaint data from the Consumer Finance Protection Board, supplemented by complaints from the FTC, along with Apple's rollout of App Tracking Transparency, a change to app-based tracking on Apple mobile devices that turned of third-party commercial surveillance unless users explicitly opted into being spied on. More than 96% of Apple users blocked spying:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/96-of-us-users-opt-out-of-app-tracking-in-ios-14-5-analytics-find/

In other words, they were able to see, neighborhood by neighborhood, what happened to financial fraud when users were able to block commercial surveillance.

What happened is, fraud plunged. Deprived of the raw material for committing fraud, criminals were substantially hampered in their ability to steal from internet users.

While this is something that security professionals have understood for years, this study puts some empirical spine into the large corpus of qualitative accounts of the surveillance-to-fraud pipeline.

As the authors note in their conclusion, this analysis is timely. Google has just rolled out a new surveillance system, the deceptively named "Privacy Sandbox," that every Chrome user is being opted in to unless they find and untick three separate preference tickboxes. You should find and untick these boxes:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/how-turn-googles-privacy-sandbox-ad-tracking-and-why-you-should

Google has spun, lied and bullied Privacy Sandbox into existence; whenever this program draws enough fire, they rename it (it used to be called FLoC). But as the Apple example showed, no one wants to be spied on – that's why Google makes you find and untick three boxes to opt out of this new form of surveillance.

There is no consensual basis for mass commercial surveillance. The story that "people don't mind ads so long as they're relevant" is a lie. But even if it was true, it wouldn't be enough, because beyond the harms to being our authentic selves that come from the knowledge that we're being observed, surveillance data is a crucial ingredient for all kinds of crime, harassment, and deception.

We can't rely on companies to spy on us responsibly. Apple may have blocked third-party app spying, but they effect nonconsensual, continuous surveillance of every Apple mobile device user, and lie about it:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

That's why we should ban commercial surveillance. We should outlaw surveillance advertising. Period:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/03/ban-online-behavioral-advertising

Contrary to the claims of surveillance profiteers, this wouldn't reduce the income to ad-supported news and other media – it would increase their revenues, by letting them place ads without relying on the surveillance troves assembled by the Google/Meta ad-tech duopoly, who take the majority of ad-revenue:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/05/save-news-we-must-ban-surveillance-advertising

We're 30 years into the commercial surveillance pandemic and Congress still hasn't passed a federal privacy law with a private right of action. But other agencies aren't waiting for Congress. The FTC and DoJ Antitrust Divsision have proposed new merger guidelines that allow regulators to consider privacy harms when companies merge:

https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FTC-2023-0043-1569

Think here of how Google devoured Fitbit and claimed massive troves of extremely personal data, much of which was collected because employers required workers to wear biometric trackers to get the best deal on health care:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/04/google-fitbit-merger-would-cement-googles-data-empire

Companies can't be trusted to collect, retain or use our personal data wisely. The right "balance" here is to simply ban that collection, without an explicit opt-in. The way this should work is that companies can't collect private data unless users hunt down and untick three "don't spy on me" boxes. After all, that's the standard that Google has set.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/29/ban-surveillance-ads/#sucker-funnel

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

#pluralistic #commercial surveillance #surveillance #surveillance advertising #ad-tech #behavioral advertising #ads #privacy #fraud #targeting #ad targeting #scams #scholarship #nber #merger guidelines #ftc #doj

[firelightfoxes]

Hi! I've followed you for a little while and I've really enjoyed seeing Lichen and Ava's exploits!

I met a Mudi at a dog show this weekend who had a really really fabulous temperament - he was nice and calm in the busy show environment but super friendly and lovey dovey when I (a complete stranger!) went to say hi. Now I'm kind of obsessed and I'm trying to learn more about the breed, if you're open to sharing some of your experience!

I was wondering, in your experience, what is it like to live with a Mudi? What is a typical Mudi temperament like? I know the breed has some issues with temperament - do you know of breeders who are consistently producing really great temperaments, or is it pretty hit or miss even with the best breeders?

hi there!

Lichen is really easy as far as mudis go, at least compared to how i see people talking in the facebook groups and such. she's quiet and is really good, non-destructive even with little exercise (being tested right now because i'm recovering from surgery). she'll entertain herself with her toys or nap if left to her own devices but she loves to play with me and will bring toys to me/my partner to solicit play. she gets along fabulously with Ava, they play sometimes but mostly just chill and sniff each other.

so that's my experience living with one, but again, she's not as "needs to work" as i've heard other mudis be described. it definitely depends on lines.

as far as temperament goes... it's completely acceptable for mudis to be suspicious and/or wary of strangers. obviously, a stable dog shouldn't become genuinely fearful, but it's not uncommon for it to turn into that, especially depending on socialization. i've been very intentional with Lichen since she came home to expose her to strangers and such, and she still doesn't like to be touched by strangers. she will tolerate it now after handling classes and shows where we practiced, but it's likely something she'll never enjoy. which is fine! it's how the breed is. personally, i like my dogs to keep to themselves because i don't like interacting with strangers either, so i find it annoying to have a dog that basically invites social interaction, lol. (Ava does this - bless her heart.)

so i would just kinda keep this in mind - there is always a chance that your mudi will never like strangers. but, if you find a good breeder and are communicative about what you want from your dog, they may be able to find you a suitable pairing that could set you up for success. to be honest, i haven't been active in any breeder circles lately, but Graves Farm, Wodan Kennels and Thanagar are good breeders who can help you network around if they don't have exactly what you're looking for. also depends on where you're located, of course - these are in the US.

thanks for the ask! i hope this helps, and good luck in your search!

#asks #answered #mudi info #a-bugs-wife

[freifraufischer]

It's been a few days since the "announcement" of the GIGA Pro Gymnastics thing and I'd like to share some research and my lengthy list of questions about this project.

Let's start by saying that there is a document floating around that is marked confidential and proprietary. It's not long, it's an info graphic and appears to be aimed at investors or recruitment. I'm not sharing it. It does inform my questions.

Who Are These People?

First of all: The officers listed are Aimee Boorman as Co-founder and Chief Events Officer. Maura Fox as Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. LaPrise Williams as Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer. This is what I can find based on publicly available information:

The gymnastics community knows who Aimee Boorman is so I'm not going to detail her. She became a FIG Brevet judge in the last two years but is very junior. She's a category 4 judge meaning that except at the smallest FIG meets she is limited to things like being a line judge or a timing judge, this is not a slight. Everyone has to start as a cat 4 but that does mean she doesn't have a lot of experience as a judge.

Maura Fox has a linkedin which informs what I know about her. She was an executive for Time Warner leaving in 2009. Her last job there was as group vice president for consumer devices, cross platform, and strategy. She then ran her own consulting form for 10 years which her linkedin says ended in 2019. She's honestly the person I want to know the most about to take this project seriously or not. She says she's been involved in launching professional circuits in cycling and men's tennis. I'd like to find out what those ventures were to be able to assess the likelihood that this venture will survive. She then worked for some kind of media products group that I can't really get my head around for two years before going to work for GIGA. Her linked in identifies GIGA as having been founded in 2021. So they've had 2 years to build this... which frankly matches with the fact that I had heard about them recruiting potential athletes last year.

LaPrise Williams is a pediatric nurse who was the Baylor Acro and Tumbling coach for from 2011-2014. She later told the press she intended to file a Title IX complaint against the university but I have no idea how that worked out. She opened a gym in St Vincent and the Grenadines which identifies itself as the first gym in the islands. She is the Technical Director for the St Vincent and the Grenadines Gymnastics Association. Here is their facebook page. Now I'm going to put some context on the SVGGA here and I don't want anyone to think I'm disparaging them or her. There are many small federations in the world and this is one of them. It is very clearly a legitimate National Governing Body (NGB). At the moment they have no FIG licensed gymnasts in any discipline and Williams is the only FIG brevet judge from the federation in any discipline--she is a category 4 judge for WAG. The facebook activity for the fed runs:

post on June 4th of 2023 which is a repost from Williams' gym's instagram page.

on September 25, 2022 they changed their profile and header pictures

on January 25, 2020 they posted pictures of a team going to Manhatten Classic.

on June 16, 2019 a repost from an article from the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday about the Caribbean Gymnastics Championships which is very likely not a FIG sanctioned event.

All of this is to say this is a small, relatively inactive federation with limited resources and staff and I'm not entirely sure if much weight should begiven to her involvement in it for this project.

Who are the Sponsors/Who is going to pay the Athletes?

This is upfront going to be a lot of "I have no idea." Their launch material doesn't say. The document I've seen doesn't say and the fact that the thing has supposedly existed for two years without a sponsor lined up to be named at public launch is a little worrying to me.

The document describes a two tiered structure for the athletes with start fees and prize money for all (the initial start fee is $1500 to be paid to all gymnasts with GIGA paying for things like travel, hotel, meals, etc). The prize purse for the first year event is described in the low 6 figure range with mention of an All Around winner. I've seen no mention of teams so it appears to me that they're planning on this being an individual competition circuit (more thoughts on that later). I have seen no reference to insurance of any sort and the only medical related thing in the document is onsite massage, PT, and recovery aids. My major concern continues to be that these people are recruiting adult aged post-college athletes and all I can think is there will be many knees destroyed. And this is the United States... so look forward to some Go Fund Me for medical treatment in the future... It's notable that the European club leagues are all in countries with nationalized health care. Their document talks about career longevity for gymnasts but I'm not at all convinced they're promising an infrastructure for that.

There is a second section of this document that talks about headliners and the things they can negotiated for as individuals. So some gymnasts will be paid appearance fees--which I should stress I think is perfectly normal.

Why is it hard to figure out if these people want to be a professional league or a media platform?

Because they want to be both. They want hold to meets and stream content to fans as well as sell access to the athletes for fans experiences. It looks like kind of standard VIP meet and greet kind of things from what little detail I've seen... you pay money to meet the athlete for say 30 minutes with a group of other fans. I've done this kind of thing for television actors. It's fun. But it's also by it's nature not something a lot of fans can afford.

They also want to build a library of content that is essentially athlete interviews presumably the access of which they can sell in whatever the subscription package of their multimedia platform is. It's all pretty vague so we'll have to figure out what it means when their products actually launch.

For now my main concern is why did they announce this in June without a date or location or a format for their first competition?

Lingering Questions...

I have so many... aside from the ones I've touched on above. They talk about how this hasn't been done before. It has. The most successful attempt at launching a pro-gymnastics competition circuit was in 1997-98 in the post Atlanta Olympics hype. They used a modified NCAA code and the meets were aired on CBS. I don't need them to talk about the previous two attempts (except maybe don't claim to be the first) but I really hope they are aware of them at the very least to find out why they didn't last. I fear that they either didn't do that research or they assume because it was 20+ years ago that their multimedia platform makes them so different that it doesn't apply.

What the heck is the meet structure here? They talk a LOT about the successes of NCAA gymnastics but at least the materials I've seen seem to suggest that they don't plan on having teams. Teams are a key part of building fan support in both NCAA and the European club leagues. I still don't think you can model a US league based on those European leagues mostly because they are build on a lot of routines from junior gymnasts and this project seems to be entirely about post-NCAA age careers. That's in addition to my medical insurance and liability insurance questions.

What is USAG's involvement in this? My fear is "they don't want USAG's involvement". See the launching of new professional sports leagues in a country often depend on how much support and buy-in they have from the NGB. One of the major differences between the currently running National Women's Soccer League and earlier defunct attempts is buy-in from USA Soccer. And I promise you that US Soccer is no more popular then USAG. I'm also informed by the fact that playing conditions for a lot of NWSL teams have been pretty bad (let's not touch the sexual harassment issues within teams). One team was playing on a home field that had holes in it and couldn't afford to pay for their players shoes. Gymnastics equipment is extremely expensive. Millions of dollars just for the competition apparatus. Are these people buying it? From who? Are they going to transport it around the country? Are they going to host it in a central location so they can store the equipment locally or rent it from a specific source? So many questions.

What code of points are they using? US developmental program--you know the one whose code of points you have to buy and isn't publicly accessible without paying for it? Some modified version of the above (like NCAA)? If they're riding the coat tales of NCAA I somehow doubt they're using the FIG code which will make it somewhat harder for non-US/Canadian athletes to be involved. What difficulty expectations will there be? How are they going to handle judges? How are they going to assure fans and athletes that judging will be fair given how much money they are saying is in the prize purses and that they're setting up a two tiered "everyone" and "headliners" compensation structure?

Conclusions:

I'm highly skeptical of all of this. I'm worried about what seems to have been a premature information free public launch. Their website and materials seem amateurish to me and I just can't get my head around the idea that they launch this publicly with no sponsors named.

I'm not at all convinced that these people know how or why European club leagues work, why previous attempts at this in the US have failed, what a lot of the appeal of NCAA gymnastics is, or that they have the experience necessary to do any of this.

#giga pro gym #gymnastics

[frogsandfries]

I'm so exhausted.

Okay, look, I know I seem to be expressing a lot of physical exhaustion lately, but this is more in regards to my increasing exhaustion with what the internet has become: One giant, inescapable, smothering advertisement.

I probably only want to cry about it right now at this very moment because I'm so tired, but I mean, honestly, if I'm not crying over it, I'm seething over it.

So you, a corporation, you don't want to pay your employees fairly or properly, and you then expect people who can barely afford their rent, never even mind their stupid health insurance or any of the other expensive life necessities, you really expect them to turn around and spend every last of their five remaining dollars on your piece of cheap shit instead of a cheap loaf of bread which will at least allow them to get through the next few days??? Unlike your stupid foot soak boot things, hey epsom your tired feet while you clean your apartment after work--multitask, grind, hustle!! But also, treat yo'self and self-care.

There's no fucking point in having fucking adblock, because when I go to research how to get better at my hobby, google wants to shove a dozen more products that I neither need nor want down my throat. The only way to improve a fucking smart phone is to make it a better shopping device. "Hey look, do you see something irl, maybe during your vacation or just out and about for the day, and you need to buy it right fucking here and now?? Buy our fucking phone because it will help you have fifty afterpays instead of the usual five that you're constantly balancing at any one fucking time."

As someone who used to be curious to learn, I still remember when the internet was seen as a way to exchange knowledge and information, and sure, if you're really, really good at using the internet, or if you're incredibly resourceful, and lucky, and maybe find a group on like Discord or Reddit or maybe Facebook, full of people who share your general interest, and maybe they have the knowledge you're asking for readily at hand.

But it's bullshit. The more and more ads in a row, video after video, song after song, that I have to wade through to get to the information that I came here for, the less interested I am in things like Youtube for information and learning. I really have cut myself off from learning, because increasingly for years, it's been harder and harder to actually use the internet to learn anything.

The internet has become a giant screaming relentless bright flashing fucking billboard advertisement and I'm just so.......done.

Look, frankly, I miss having books in my home. Books aren't very reasonable for lugging about the country to your next couch. But that lifestyle is behind me. Books don't constantly advertise at me. The index in the back of the book doesn't make me watch a fucking ad to figure out how I'm supposed to be doing this next part of my project or how I can up my skill at this thing I'm trying to learn or improve at.

And whenever the hell I decide to leave my meat-suit, donate my books to a library if no one in my family wants them.

I'm just so fucking exhausted. I'm doing relatively financially okay right now. I have money to pay my bills and feed myself and still grab a couple things most paychecks. It is currently often a choice between improving my household or taking care of my physical body, or taking care of my emotional well-being, but that's fine. A privilege, really, compared to the places that I've been.

But I don't have the buckets of disposable income that the internet seems convinced that I do.

The internet was supposed to be a beacon of information sharing and a new fucking era of communication.

I don't think anyone foresaw it being a capitalist hellscape. It feels like I can't move through reality or cyberspace without being screamed at on all sides to spend out every last dime on things I don't want, don't need, and am extraordinarily NOT interested in.

I'm so exhausted. I'm so sick to my bones, my guts, my soul.

The thought of escaping into the mountains, becoming a hermit, never to be seen again, becomes increasingly appealing.

#internet #enshittification #capitalist hell

[drougnor]

More than just a quick few words on being Anonymous on the Internet in 2022

I’ve been known to share safety tips from time to time in the past and it’s WELL past time that I’ve done so. This time it’s something that I have to remind a lot of folks in meatspace, as part of my job is to keep people from doing stupid things with company resources in the IT space, but we’re at a point in time online that if there are enough resources to throw at finding you? You are going to be found. Most VPNs log their connections in and out.  It’s disappointingly rare that you are going to find an easy and inexpensive VPN resource that is TRULY going to keep you anonymous and private.  Free VPNs will flat out SELL their data to advertisers.  If you are sending messages through social media ‘anonymously’, no, you are not.  Your device leaves a trail that CAN and WILL be backtracked by law enforcement.  The packets that carry your data, by the very NATURE of how the internet works, have to have trackable addresses, or your information will NOT get to where it needs to.  The DATA inside that packet may be encrypted, but the destination and origination points can NOT be, or the internet ceases to work. Anonymous messages are logged by the servers they are sent through.  Esp on services like twitter, facebook, instagram and tumblr.  Your name or chosen name may not be appearing because you’re using a fake account or the ‘anonymous’ option that product provides, but their servers know exactly when and from where that message came.

Online services will and MUST, in order to comply with any laws in territories that they operate in, maintain a record of all postings made through what is called a ‘database of record’ so that if there is a complaint due to a legal incident, those posts can and will be pulled for the investigating authorities.  Even if you delete them from your front end dashboard. They will ALWAYS be stored on the database.

ISPs WILL respond to legal requests to identify the owner of an IP address during any given time frame - Be it phone or pc. It may take some time to backtrack if a VPN was involved, but, as I stated above, it’s a rare thing to find a TRULY anonymous VPN that doesn’t cost. And additionally, ad-tracking methods that are used to prepare to send you ‘pertinent advertisements’ add another layer of metadata that law enforcement forensics investigations can use.  It takes, on average, 3 pieces of information to narrow you down out of a few thousand others - OS, Screen resolution and browser are a commonly used set.  But each of those three can be swapped out for any one of thousands of other pieces of data our technology leaks about us.  These are all separate cookie pieces that can be assembled to locate anyone on the internet with just a bit of time and the proper information sets/authority and the results will be the same - You are NOT anonymous online without a MASSIVE amount of work/expenditure of energy. So, if you’re in the mood to send someone hateful messages that could be seen as containing threatening content and think you can do so with absolute impunity?  You REALLY REALLY REALLY may want to double and triple think that. 

Looking back on all this and thinking that I’m missing things . . . A LOT of things, but this has gotten long enough for now. I can always add more, and if anyone has any questions or suggestions for future additions, you know what to do . . .

Even KNOWING how to cover my tracks relatively well, I don’t trust that they’ll ever truly disappear from being tracked. Anyone who’s ever told you that it’s easy or they have a simple single tool/tool set that will accomplish EVERYTHING needed these days to disappear? Is either a fool, lying and hoping YOU are a fool, is trying to SELL you something, or is looking to help you get yourself in trouble.  I figured with DEFCON happening in LV, it was a good time to dig into the state of current art in stealth, and while there are a LOT of tools to help? There are a LOT MORE ways for someone to be found out.

#When anonymous really isn't

[touloserlautrec]

Writer Q&A Tag Game

Thanks for the tag, @ntzsche9! You can find their answers here — and there are some absolute bangers in there.

Gently, no pressure tagging: @camillenrose @pandoras-comment-box @scribe-of-stories @thatndginger @sunset-a-story

1. What motivates you to write?

I can’t not think about stories. If I didn’t write (or pressure @sunset-a-story into co-writing a given scene XD oopsies), I’d just go out of my mind with stories bursting from the seams. It’s how I mainline dopamine.

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

Probably this excerpt from Arc 1:

Mackenzie held her eyes for a moment amidst the table’s laughter. It seemed like nothing could ever make her flinch. “The reality is, there is no fairness,” she said. Her voice was rich and deep like velvet wrapped around a sharp knife. “No justice, no karma, no great equalizer. Not even death.” The table fell silent as she spoke. The woman knew how to command attention and respect. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my days, it’s that we’re not built to hold it in our fragile minds-- this reality that no amount of integrity, righteousness, or fortitude will overcome the affliction of human nature.” She looked at each of them, straight in the eyes. “But if there’s another thing I’ve learned, it’s that those same fragile minds are a weapon. We’re not built to hold that knowledge because that knowledge is useless to us.” Her voice hardened. “This is a war of attrition. Our fragile minds may shatter like glass at that knowledge but shattered glass can slice a man’s throat. Even the tiniest shards can cut up your insides and kill you if you’re made to swallow them. Death may not equalize the world, but it can damn well make a man piss himself. So we let our minds block out the parts that hold us back and we’ll force-feed them the undoing they’ve sown. There have been days when I’ve known everything there is to know, and I can’t hold it all forever, but the one thing that I can’t un-know is that things change. They mutate because of some small itch or tiny displacement. Just look at us. Knacks. Mutations. Impossible changes. Motherfucking pearls.” She picked up the bottle of scotch and started pouring again. “So, Fredericka. You were robbed. They will try to make you thank them for it. Don’t give that to them. Instead, keep your head held high and make them choke on it.”

3. Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

Oooh how do I choose from my babies???? I think Alex is probably the head of the pack— he’s just got so much growth and bravery, and it’s comforting that he lives inside me. On the other hand, Emmett is a very strong contender because he’s such an unhinged, confident person, who does absolutely nonsense things. I can’t help but cackle along with him, and I try to channel him when I need to be confident.

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

I think it’s probably gotta be characters. I think I am pretty good at coming up with interesting, well-rounded characters with unique voices, and writing their inner dialogue and inner workings to further flesh them out.

6. What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

The engagement and encouragement. It was starting to really get crushing to constantly post things to Facebook and Instagram and get pretty much no response, so having a place where people are actively encouraging and lifting each other up feels really good and motivating.

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

Hmm. Google docs has been a life saver in co-writing and organizing this behemoth of a story. The other thing, weird as it may seem, is drawing— drawing and seeing my characters helps me feel inspired to write/brainstorm more story, and vice versa.

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

My favorite piece of world building is The Church. Their weird way station homes, the constant sense of grossness and pared down utilitarianism that comes with being nomadic and single-minded. Their unflagging faith and spirituality of all different sorts. The most welcoming, safest, unwavering hospitality. I love the weird combination of those things. It also lets me indulge my lil’ pagan heart (even with non-pagan characters tbh, because the way they interact with any God(ess)/Spirit/Being, no matter which religion, has so much conviction and deep knowing that it is True and Real and Manifest). Their lifestyle and mission is so compelling to me.

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

We’re always taught to write with the audience in mind, and to an extent that’s true, but first and foremost, write what you want to read, write because it’s fun, and then read your own stuff over and over because you love it and it inspires you to keep going. Read other work too, don’t get me wrong, but just… let yourself enjoy it. Be your own fandom.

#sunset a story #tag game