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phoenixyfriend · 1 year ago

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How to Call Your Reps About Gaza

I make a lot of posts telling you to call your reps! Anyway, here's the overall shape of how to argue to them.

Disclaimer: I am not in politics. I do not have experience as a staffer. I am just someone who cares a lot about where things are going, and wants to help. Also, this is specific to the US, because that's where I'm based. Hopefully, people with expertise can add more suggestions on.

Find your elected officials.

My Ko-fi: this took me two days to write up, so uh. If you've got a few dollars, send them my way so I can keep doing this sort of thing, and maybe move out of my parents' house sooner.

General tips:

Be polite, or at least civil. Do not swear or shout at whoever answers the phone. This will quite possibly get your number blocked. Fifty civil calls over the course of several months will do more than one where you shout. You can be frosty, you can say you are disappointed, you can say you find the actions of your reps to be reprehensible or morally bankrupt, sure. But keep calm and aim criticism at the rep, not the staffer.

Keep it short. The staffers who answer call centers are busy. They usually start trying to hurry me off after about two minutes. I've yet to manage a call longer than four or five minutes. Pick one or two topics for the day, and focus on those. Cycle through them every time you call. Stick to just one from day to day if it's a large, ongoing issue like Gaza.

Plan for voicemail. I get voicemail more often than not. My House rep usually has a staffer free, but the Senators are almost always voicemail. This will give you a minute and a half max. Be ready to get your point squeezed into that.

Only call your representatives. The important, powerful word here is "constituent." You will be ignored or even counted against if you are from a different district or state. The first thing you start with is your name and address. A staffer will ask for the information they need. On voicemail, leave your full name, your city and state, and zip code before you go into your message. Do not lie, either. They look these things up in the system when you call. I'm not sure how--I think maybe they have access to a database of registered voters--but every time I call, they ask for my last name and address and at some point say, 'oh, yep, I've got you right here,' which indicates a database of some sort.

Research at least a little bit about their opinions. If they already agree with you, then it's much easier to leave a quick "I support you and want you to know that" to combat anyone who's arguing from the other side. If they don't, then you're best off finding out what specific issue they have so you can know the best kind of comment to leave.

Look up specific bills or arguments. I get daily emails from GovTrack about bills that are on this week's docket or have been voted on in the past day. IDK about anyone else, but being able to say that I disagree specifically with HR 815 or something makes me feel powerful, and possibly like I will be taken more seriously. Sometimes you can start with articles like this one, which include links to specific bills on the official congress website.

Email after if you can. Reportedly less effective, and takes longer, but you are more likely to get a written (canned) response, and it reinforces whatever you called about.

Basic structure of a call, at least as I've been doing it:

"Hi, my name is ____ ____, and I am a constituent from [city, state], [zip]. I am calling to express my opinion on [topic]. I am concerned about [short argument with a clear impact on the topic]. I ask that you support [measure or fellow congress member]/vote [yay/nay on specific legislature]. Thank you for your time, and I hope you keep my opinion in mind."

For this post, the topic can be stated as the war in Gaza, military funding for Israel, or unrest in the Middle East, depending on which you think your elected official will respond to best. That said, the structure should work for whatever your call is about.

Arguments to use against your elected official... or your on-the-fence cousin:

I'll be honest, some of these are not going to do much against your representative. They know the arguments, and have been going over them with each other for months. You just need to have one locked and loaded that they consider relevant instead of a nonstarter, in order to back up your opinion as 'founded' instead of 'nonsense, can be swayed with a good marketing campaign.'

I'll include explanations if I don't think something is self-evident (or needs more evidence to tell your cousin), but in most of them I'll provide some suggested verbiage that you can tweak as needed, and for a few of them, that's really enough.

THESE ARE FOR THE TOPIC OF CONCERN, ONLY. You still need to end each one with "I ask that the [official] votes to [action]" at the end. Give them something actionable (example from Feb. 13th). My go-tos right now:

Both chambers: Reinstate funding for UNRWA

Both chambers: Place mandatory restrictions on any aid to Israel, with contractual threats to cut funding if Netanyahu and his government continue to disregard civilian life

Senate: Put support behind Bernie Sanders and his motion to restrict funding to Israel until a humanitarian review of the IDF’s actions in Gaza has been completed (S.R. 504) (Tabled by the Senate on 1/16, but it is being brought back in as conditions continue to escalate)

House: Put support behind Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s petition for the US government to recognize the IDF’s actions in Gaza as ethnic cleansing and forced displacement, and put a stop to it.

House: Put support behind H.R. 786, introduced by Rep. Cori Bush, calling for an immediate deescalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.

What Not to Say

"There is no threat to Israel." I've talked about this elsewhere, but the short version is that this will be basically laughed out as you not knowing what you're talking about.

Anything generically antisemitic. (I mean, it might work on some of the white supremacists, but do you really want to encourage that thinking? No, so don't do it.)

Facts that you "heard somewhere" but cannot find a reliable source for. If it's being reported by the New York Times, NPR, or the BBC, it's probably trustworthy by government standards. If it's not a super common statistic, cite the journal you got it from by name. Remember, you aren't arguing to tumblr mutuals. You are arguing to your elected official or your 'I don't really pay attention' cousin. When it comes to this, big name news sources are better.

Unrealistic demands for complete isolationism, permanently abandoning Israel to its own devices, supporting Hamas, etc. Again, you will not be taken seriously. Pick an argument they might actually listen to, and use it to press them towards a possible solution. You want them to believe that if they adjust their position, they will be doing the will of most of their constituents, and thus more likely to get reelected.

The Ethics Argument

Third-party reporting has stated that that nearly 29,000 Gazans are dead since Oct. 7th, as of 2/18/24. The vast majority of those are civilians, and over half are children. Palestinians in Gaza are facing an acute hunger crisis threatening to become a full-blown famine.

The International Court of Justice has found that there is credible reason to believe that the state of Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza.

This does not mean that every single Israeli is complicit. It does mean that the government, particularly Netanyahu and his associates, has been reprimanded by a large, diverse coalition of countries, and has consistently refused to listen to that court since.

This argument will possibly work on your cousin. Less likely to work on your elected official. They already know the numbers. I just wanted to get it out of the way first.

The Re-Election Argument: Michigan vs New York

Meanwhile, this is possibly the most effective. Again, this is not an argument of ethics. This is an argument of "how can I make my elected official do what I want." We do not use only the purest moral argument. We use what works.

What to say to your elected official: Michigan, as a swing state, was won by democrats on the power of the Arab-American vote in the 2020 election. We (either party) are at risk of losing Michigan due to the current Congressional approach to the Gaza conflict, as that demographic is now polling as likely to abstain from voting entirely. The risk of losing several congressional districts due to the Jewish vote is a real one, but the risk of losing the the executive branch is greater, especially after what we saw with Suozzi. Supporting Palestine might lose us parts of New York, but supporting Israel will lose us Michigan.

Explanation: Something that has been taking up a lot of time and space in the election coverage is the situation in Michigan, and more recently, there has been attention paid to the special election of New York's third district, AKA the "who gets to replace disgraced George Santos" competition.

Michigan is traditionally a swing state. While 2.1% doesn't sound like a lot, that is some 211k-278k people (depending on your source), and while not all of them can vote... Michigan was won by about 154k. Arab-Americans are not the only relevant demographic, but they sure are an important one, and they are vocally opposed to the situation. Approval has dropped from 59% to 17%. From that same article:

As Axios notes, Biden won Michigan in 2020 by 154,000 votes, but there are at least 278,000 Arab Americans in Michigan. Biden took Arizona, a state with an Arab American population of 60,000, by only 10,500 votes. In Georgia, Biden prevailed with a margin of 11,800 voters, in a state that has an Arab American population of 57,000.

Democrats cannot afford to lose these states. Pressure your congresspeople about that, especially if you live in one of those states. I assume most Arab-Americans in said states are already calling every day; the rest of you can join in.

Meanwhile, most Jews (considered the most pro-Israel demographic by strategists) in America are concentrated in a very small number of electoral districts. Of the twenty most-Jewish, ten are in New York, which is why I put it up in the section header.

One of those districts was won by a Republican in 2022: George Santos, New York's third congressional district. Following his scandals and ousting, the seat was up for a special election, and the two candidates were Tom Suozzi, a democrat who held the seat previously (he decided to run for governor, and lost), and Mazi Pilip, a Nassau county legislator who was of Ethiopian Jewish background and had been in the IDF. She ran on a campaign that leaned strongly pro-Israel and anti-immigration, and when Suozzi won, she interrupted his victory speech to accuse him of supporting a genocide against Israel due to his rather centrist, rather milquetoast stance on the conflict during his election campaign.

Now, Suozzi's win probably had more to do with Pilip being anti-choice than her pro-Israel arguments, but he still won.

Democrats can better risk possibly losing a few seats in NY than definitely losing three swing states.

"But I don't want Dems to win their districts after what they've been--" Nope. Listen to me. Surveys indicate that Republicans are on average more pro-Israel, because Trump and Netanyahu are buddy-buddy, and we do not have a viable third option.

Also, again, this is about convincing Dems to be better. "If you do not vote to put restrictions on funding to Israel, I will not vote for you in November" is a lot more powerful than "I will not vote for you either way, because of what you've been doing, but you should do what I say anyway."

The Re-Election Argument: Risk of Escalation

So, that thing I said about Trump and Netanyahu?

Yeah, so, while Biden is giving Israel military aid while cautioning them to slow down and be careful, Trump is... complicated, but suffice to say he's much closer to Netanyahu on a personal level than Biden is. Biden's relation with Netanyahu is reportedly pretty frosty, while Trump's is based on relations through the Kushners.

Just from wikipedia:

Netanyahu made his closeness to Donald Trump, a personal friend since the 1980s, central to his political appeal in Israel from 2016.[21] During Trump's presidency, the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and brokered the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and various Arab states.

Trump's been more all-over-the-place recently, badmouthing Netanyahu for being what Trump perceives as a loser, which complicates understanding what his approach is. It's kind of incoherent right now.

Given Trump's general history of being pro-Israel, though, and the attempts by House Republicans to push through a bill of unconditional funding for Israel. It failed, but notable is that the more recent bill passed in part because it was paired with aid for Ukraine and Taiwan (something Dems are much more invested in having happen).

What to say to your elected official: If Trump is reelected due to his current appearance of being more critical of Netanyahu, there is evidence from his presidency to indicate that he will support Israel much less critically if elected. While he claims to want to settle the Middle East, it seems incredibly likely that he will worsen the situation for Palestinians, and ramp up retaliatory strikes to groups like the Houthis in a manner that will impact non-military parties, igniting tensions that are already tenuous.

The Disrespect/Wild Card Argument

This particular argument is best used against the Very Patriotic Politicians who are more concerned with the US's image and Being The Alpha Nation than with other things. Basically, this might work on Republicans.

This isn't really something I believe in, as a matter of foreign policy, buuuut it might work on your rep, so. Consider it!

What to say to your elected official: With Israel's recent actions in ignoring Biden, blocking US-sent aid like those flour trucks that got stopped at the Rafah border because they'd be distributed by UNWA, and generally Disrespecting The USA and Being Unpredictable is not only making the US look bad for being unable to wrangle a smaller country, but also making it so we are less able to wrangle other countries in the future, because Israel cannot be predicted and might set someone off.

The Europe and Reputation Argument

What to say to your elected official: The United States is losing credibility as a world power known for its military and ability to manage international disputes on behalf of the UN, because it is seemingly unable to influence Israel, and losing credibility as an upstanding moral state that is not doing foreign coups and banana republics anymore, as it appears to be tacitly supporting Israel's ICJ-labelled genocide, which is a really bad look with the other Western Powers.

I'm not entirely sure who this might work on, but there's gotta be at least a few politicians who are really concerned about America's image, more than about actually doing the right thing. Figure out if your politician is one of them.

If necessary, you can bring up how Trump is threatening to pull US support for NATO if Russia attacks someone.

The Middle East Stability Argument: Iran-backed Militias

What to say to your elected official: I'm concerned that the continued support of Israel, and thus the funding of their actions in Gaza, will increase the instability of Iran-backed militias, as we have already seen with the Houthis and Hezbollah. Entire Muslim-majority nations are showing increased displeasure not only with Israel, but with the US by extension. We cannot afford another war in the Middle East when we haven't yet pulled all our troops from the last one, not with the recent and recurring economic recessions. Any situation would also very likely be complicated or inflamed by the growing tensions among Eritrea, Djibouti, and Ethiopia regarding Red Sea access as well.

Use this on the ones that claim to be pro-military or pro-veteran. See what they said about HR 815 before the foreign military funding amendment was added.

The Middle East Stability Argument: Egypt

What to say to your elected official: Egypt's government has been unstable since the Arab Spring, and even now the military government is incredibly unpopular. With that existing instability, the addition of economic strain from the reduced usage of the Suez canal, the international disputes occurring because they're the main throughway for aid into Gaza, and the threat of a sudden influx of nearly one and a half million Palestinian refugees should Israel continue to push south... Egypt is looking at a possible near-collapse as we've seen in nearby nations suffering similar instabilities.

Explanation: It took several years for Egypt to really start recovering from the revolts in 2013, and it has applied for four IMF loans in recent years. The current government is unpopular to such a degree that they are looking to build an entire new capital from scratch in the middle of the desert so that they're less open to the risk of civilian uprisings; one of the primary causes for civilian dissatisfaction is economic issues.

Due to Houthi attacks at the Bab al-Mandab Strait, traffic through the Suez canal is down massively, and since the canal "represents almost 5% of the GNP and 10% of GDP and is one of Egypt’s most important sources of hard currency." (src) Various sources are reporting that trade through the canal is down 40-50%, which is putting more strain on the already unstable economic and political situation.

Finally, Egypt's population is about 110 million, but the governorate that shares a border with Israel and Gaza, North Sinai, has a population of barely 500,000. A push of one and a half million starving, injured people will, very suddenly, nearly quadruple the population of the governorate, and require extreme aid response from Egypt's government to keep alive and prevent a larger crisis in North Sinai and neighboring governorates.

The Middle East Stability Argument: Normalized Relations

What to say to your elected official: I am concerned that Israel's continued attack on Gaza is jeopardizing any chance of normalized relations with the Arab states in the future. American has put a lot of work into trying to get these various countries to normalize with Israel, and our funding of the current attacks on Gaza are sabotaging all that effort.

This one can be combined with the Iran-Backed Militias argument: Israel, in pursuit of revenge against Hamas, is setting itself up to be in more danger long-term, rather than less.

The International Trade Argument

What to say to your elected official: I am concerned about how the war in Gaza is impacting international trade and shipping costs. With the Suez Canal down to half its usual capacity and the Panama Canal raising costs and dropping capacity in response to the water restrictions, along with rising fuel costs in Europe and Asia, global trade is incredibly strained. We are being relegated to the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Horn, and the Malacca strait for much of intercontinental trade, and the macroeconomic projections are looking very bad for America.

The Domestic Economics Argument

What to say to your elected official: Many of the plans for Israeli military funding cause damage to other parts of the budget. For instance, a recent plan put forward by the Republicans of the House suggested IRS cuts in order to move that money, a plan which would impact the US budget negatively in the long term; we need those 14 billion being spent domestically, not supporting an overreaction/possible genocide in Gaza.

Explanation: In general, pick something receiving budget cuts that your congressperson will care about. I care about IRS funding, and saw it mentioned as a target in an article, so that's what I've got in my suggested verbiage up there.

The fewer people that are working for the IRS, the more they focus on auditing poor people (simple, easy taxes) and the less they can effectively audit rich people (complicated, time-consuming taxes), which means rich people are more likely to get away with evading millions or even billions in taxation. So yeah, you want more funding in the IRS if you are poor. They are already auditing you. You want them to audit the big guys.

The Russia and China Argument

What to say to your elected official: I am worried that the current focus on funding Israel without restriction is causing us to lose sight of the international threat posed by Russia and China. Russia is actively invading Ukraine, which continues to put massive strain on the European economy with regards to oil prices, especially with the Suez situation, and China has been testing missiles near Taiwan, and thus testing US responsiveness to those threats, for months now. We cannot afford to support an internationally unpopular war if we want to remain ready for Russia and China.

This is less likely to work on Republicans, since Trump is friendly with Russia, but hey, give it a shot if they're one of the ones who aren't fully in his camp.

EDIT 2/22/24: I'm a bit unsure of this tactic, but I'm putting it out there with hopes that someone with more political experience can offer feedback:

"Congress, and the US government in general, has promised to sanction Russia for the alleged assassination of one man within a week of the suspicious death, after five months of refusing to enact even slight consequences on Israel for the deaths of nearly thirty thousand, half of which are children. This is ethically questionable at best, but for the interests of elected officials, it is a very bad look. The mismatch shows a massive bias by the American government in regards to Israel's ongoing mass murder, with over two million facing famine as a result of Israel's aid blocking, and America's reputation on the world stage, as well as individual politicians' reputations domestically with constituents, is plummeting."

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Finally, my ko-fi again. I spent a long time on this and I'd like to move out of my parents' house sooner rather than later. If you appreciate my time and effort, please feel free to donate a couple bucks.

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beggars-opera · 1 year ago

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Losing my goddamn mind that basic databases are hoarding untold information and only doling it out to institutions that are willing to pay their exorbitant prices

I used to be able to access every single freaking newspaper published in America while I was in college. Then I had to get it through the BPL. Then they made it so that you could only access it in-library. Then they unsubscribed. Then my local library took it on. Then THEY unsubscribed. The only library that might have access to this database will not let me in because I am not a resident of the town, even though they allowed me a library card. So now the only way I have access to this database is literally to find a town whose library is dumb enough to pay for it and move there. Otherwise sorry, only people in this zip code have access to this information. Tough titties.

I AM GOING TO GNAW SOMEONE'S KNEECAPS OFF. INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE GATEKEPT LIKE THIS AND TAKEN AWAY AT A WHIM.

#can an average person pay for this service? NO DON'T BE RIDICULOUS YOU PEASANT #independent historians are just poor people pretending to be intelligent #FUCK YOU

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kitkins13 · 8 months ago

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US VOTERS: If you want to check whether your vote was counted, you can!

from time.com/7171734/how-to-check-your-presidential-election-vote-has-been-counted/

Amid the tight race between Harris and Trump, voters may want to check and see if their 2024 presidential election ballot has been processed. If the vote was cast using a mail-in or absentee ballot, multiple states have online databases through which citizens can input their personal information—such as their name, date of birth, and zip code—and see whether their ballot has been counted. However, some states highlight that a voter’s mail-in ballot could take some time to show up on the respective databases.

As for people who cast their ballot in-person, certain states also have options for voters to track their provisional ballot if they chose to go in-person for early voting. Some allow these voters to input personal information online to see whether their provisional ballot has been counted. If a voter’s state or county does not have this option, they can still use the national hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to check the status of their in-person provisional ballot.

there are links at the end of the article for most states, please take a few minutes to go check on your vote!

#us politics #us elections #donald trump #kamala harris #2024 presidential election

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sca-nerd · 9 months ago

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hi i live in the northern virginia area and im interested in getting into sca things, but i’m not really sure where to start. do you perhaps know anything about other… regions?? in atlantia? or possibly people i should talk to directly? thank you!!!

HELLO FRIEND!

And I absolutely do know about that area!! I used to live up there, actually. I was in the Vienna-Fairfax area which put me in the Barony of Ponte Alto. Depending on where you live, you could be in any number of lovely Baronies! To find out which, you can check the Local Groups page of our Kingdom Website and use the Zip Code database. If you let me know which group you're in, then I can tell you if I know anyone to put you in contact with.

Each of the groups has a Seneschal and a Chatelaine listed. The Seneschal is the chapter President, the Chatelaine is the New Person Representative so that's who you want to reach out to! Let them know you're interested in learning more. They will probably invite you to a practice or a meeting and you go from there! A lot of times people prefer to attend one of those before they jump right into an event, but you do you!

I'm so excited you're interested! And if you have any other questions or need assistance, let me know and I will do whatever I can. Welcome to the dream!

#mysca #society for creative anachronism #sca #kingdom of atlantia #ask sca-nerd #ask sca nerd #newbie

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bluesturngold · 10 months ago

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findhelp.org is the biggest aggregator of resources in the US, and if you're in a bad way (or if something is on the horizon that would put you in a bad way) it's worth looking through

if you reach out to the american red cross or united way for something they can't handle in-house, there's a good chance the caseworker is using findhelp to locate potential avenues of assistance

input your ZIP code to filter out programs that don't service your location, then you can filter by several categories based on what you're looking for help with. not all of them will be relevant to your situation, but i live in a pretty rural area and it's got just under 1,900 program results between the 10 categories.

if you check a subcategory and don't see what you're looking for there, try other similar subcategories just to make sure you aren't missing out on something.

just based on the work i've done helping people the past few months, here are some things i've noticed:

if you have money to pay some bills but not all of them, turn off auto pay for everything, then you'll generally want to prioritize rent/mortgage and your cell phone bill if you can.

do everything you can to not lose your cell phone number, even if that means transferring it to a really cheap prepaid service. if you can't help but lose the number, please reach out to someone beforehand and let them know where you are and where they might be able to get ahold of you (i.e. by calling a local library you intend to frequent, contacting your email, etc.). i frequently speak with friends and family members trying to help someone they lost contact with and i cannot stress enough how few options there are for locating and reconnecting people. if you're using a free calling/texting app on your phone, please make note of the phone number someone can call you back at. (also, they tend to rely on strength of wi-fi signal for clear service, there's a possibility a slow public wi-fi connection could make the call choppy.)

seek help early. some programs have caps on how much money you can request (this can make getting enough money to catch up on multiple missed payments difficult), or will only help after you meet a certain need threshold (this sucks, the US is deeply broken), but it's better to know the criteria ahead of time so you can reach out to them again later. and if that's not a requirement for the resource you reach out to, even better.

a lot of programs are likely to have turnaround times longer than you would like, and very few places have different tiers of urgency. if you expect to get an eviction notice or a utility shutoff notice, start looking for assistance ASAP, because if your landlord gives you a week to pay or get out, sometimes processing your application with a resource can take that whole week.

on that note, here's a resource for getting the gist of your state/territory's eviction laws: https://www.lsc.gov/initiatives/effect-state-local-laws-evictions/lsc-eviction-laws-database just in case you're being evicted unfairly, and here's guidance on how to deal with eviction: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/housing/housing-insecurity/help-for-renters/what-to-do-if-youre-facing-eviction/

have exact dates and numbers, always keep record of the bills that are unpaid, whether it's emails, screenshots of online payment portals saved to your phone, or paper bills

it's demoralizing if you reach out to a bunch of places and they can't help. however, you should keep reaching out while you're still in a position where you can. the more people you talk to, the more likely you are to find someone especially knowledgeable who can point you in the right direction, because the people you reach out to will vary so widely in terms of expertise and ability to assist: you may reach people who are paid employees with very specific training and little else to offer beyond that, you may meet brand new volunteers who are eager to help but need time to ask others for advice, or you might talk to career employees/seasoned volunteers who can get you set on the right path even if their organization can't help personally

you should apply for state and federal resources also. some places will only help if you're turned down by the government, or government aid is insufficient, so that's always a good avenue to try first.

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poppy5991 · 5 months ago

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Publicly available datasets are being removed from federal websites so if you rely on fed data for your job, thesis, dissertation, etc, go pull it now for safekeeping. CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index Data just got pulled from ATSDR. That’s the most widely used zip code data for public health analysis of how factors like poverty, health insurance access, education level, race/ethnicity, English proficiency, etc affect health outcomes.

Environmental databases and health databases have already been pulled.

For the record, these databases are part of how places like “cancer corridors” have been identified in the past. Where companies target low income minority communities for placement of poorly regulated chemical plants and cancer rates skyrocket. They know these communities don’t have the legal resources or media connections to fight the plant development and often academics are the only ones who can assist by proving the correlation years later.

#being targeted as part of the ‘dei’ hunt #public health #svi #social vulnerability index #databases #federal freeze #environmental science #us politics #academia #civil service

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inkwell-passion · 6 months ago

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The New Digital Dawn

A young Jennifer 'Jenny' Southerland was typing away on her personal computer while on the bus to a graduation party, finishing up the final lines of code for her most ambitious project yet. In only a few hours would she upload it and slip away into the void. The plan was near perfect, having sent a seeker worm virus years in advance to slowly infect the entire network, and designating multiple political hotbeds to use as a patient zero for this experiment. Jennifer was about to make good on the years of preparation and patience, creating the Digital paradise that she wanted— No, needed.

The Party was lame, just involved a lot of drinking and talking about college plans. Jennifer didn't pay too much attention, instead having Adam, her personal A.I., run simulations on the latest Project. Eventually, Jennifer deemed it ready, and posted the announcement.

We are not fodder to be harvested. And I, Genesis have seen to it that the language of Humanity will be fractured once more.

The alert sounded a hundred times within the party alone, confused murmurs and gossip ripple through the crowd like a stone tossed into a pond. Then the screaming starts. Pandemonium erupts, and in the chaos, Jenny leaves the party. She'd have stolen the host's car keys and slipped into their beater of a car. It drove like shit, but it would be necessary for keeping her tracks clean.

This wasn't any old cyber attack, no it was bigger, premeditated. Jenny spent years designing and planning everything; Jennifer pulled out the sunglasses she had her best friend buy for her, and put them on. At a stoplight she slides her opera gloves on, the long gloves melding in with her long sleeves, and tied her hair back.

She got to the junkyard, and slid through an empty car chassis to get to her get away vehicle; A dusty, rusted zip-craft that wouldn't last more than one jump through an Al-gate. But that's all she needed. She kicked the engine into gear and sped off of the surface of Earth. This specific zip-craft was one of 300 Prototype Flight Crafts that held a miniature Al-Drive on it. It was perfect to prove her innocence with the alibi she had crafted.

She flicked on the media player that was built into the console and some old, sped up version of a song Jenny can't be assed to remember starts blasting through the rusted through speakers. She turns it up to the loudest the sorry excuse for audio devices could withstand.

The Cyberattack that was just released didn't simply take down a website or two, no it ripped through the entire internet, destroying entire databases. If Adam's calculations were to be correct, Jenny just torched 600 Brontobytes of Data. Just thinking about that number makes Jenny cringe,

"It's for the greater good." Jennifer reassures herself, reaching the Al-gate in mere moments, she kicks her stolen scrap-craft's Al-Drive into action.

"Adam, I need you to forge an Al-Gate Ticket Stub."

"Yes Ma'am." The A.I. holds no particular intonation in its voice, nor does it hold a specific gender. These were deemed unnecessary by Adam. It quickly fabricates the requested Ticket Stub.

The rattling within the scrap-craft makes it hard for Jenny to think, but she had been rehearsing this for months; she knew what to say when it came time.

The Al-Drive gives out and Jennifer is spat out at the very edge of the linking Al-Gate. She flicks on her comms and clears her throat, holding a shaky tone to better play the part of a scared Quarantine Patient.

"H-Hello??? Can Anybody Hear Me?" Her voice rings out in the way she'd practice.

"We Read you Five By Five. This is Shademarsh FTL Control. State your name and business." The receiving voice was panicked, clearly shaken up by the recent Cyber attack.

"My Name's Jessica Newman," Jennifer lies through her teeth. "I—" Jenny fakes a cough. "I was being transported by Quarantine Escort after I had been diagnosed with Dust Lung."

"Stay where you are. You're lucky you made the jump when you did or else the Gate would have closed on you."

"My Escorts weren't as lucky."

Jennifer flicked her comms off and waited to be picked up. Everything was going to plan, she'd be held in Quarantine, giving her a clear Alibi by the time suspects were being looked for.

The next few hours were a blur for Jenny, letting her mind go on auto-pilot so she could better play the part of a victim in shock. Everyone acted sympathetic to her, calling her a poor soul and making sure that she was properly accommodated for the foreseeable future, without reallocating resources from the relief effort for the recent cyberattack.

Within two weeks, Jennifer was released; the Doctors saying that she was clear of any traces of Dust Lung, not that she had it to begin with, and she was brought planetside.

Jennifer walked down the streets away from the spaceport she had been dropped off at. She went to the motel Adam had picked out for her, where she paid for a room in paper cash, and waited for another three weeks, doing odd jobs and requesting to be paid in cash whenever she could.

She had gotten away, and within a few months she had enough money saved up to get herself an actual Flight craft. She had done it. Jennifer Southerland had just initiated the Genesis of The New Digital Dawn, and got away with it.

#from the well #my writing #literature #writeblr #creative writing #oc #original character #writing #scifi #writer #writers on tumblr #writers of tumblr #writerscommunity #writing blog #writers and poets #spilled words #spilled ink

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partisan-by-default · 7 months ago

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If you, or someone you love, has ever received a big stack of medical bills just because you, for example, tripped in a parking lot, this post is for you.

Even if you have excellent insurance, you might want to learn about negotiating fees and charges. MANY fees and charges can be negotiated, but you have to ask and/or talk to more than one person. You can also get better rates by shopping around or asking for "self-pay rates" when you make the appointment.

If you read nothing else here, take note of these websites:

Dollarfor.org for negotiating hospital and other medical bills

Goodrx.org for finding best prices on drugs, shots, etc.

Radiologyassist.com for finding best pricing on X-rays, MRIs, etc

https://www.upmc.com/patients.../paying-bill/services/apply for negotiating UPMC bills (hospitals, providers, etc)

https://ahnneighborhood.org/financialassistance/ for negotiating AHN bills

https://www.healthcare.gov/community-health-centers/ database of low-cost or free clinics, searchable by zip code

https://www.kff.org/statedata/ my favorite website for researching healthcare stats

The following is copied from a health researcher named Timothy Frie, whose business name is "nutritionfortrauma"

https://www.timfrie.com/

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

"There’s an entire market of health care services that most people don’t seem to know about.

If you don’t have health insurance, you have a high-deductible insurance plan, or you just want to save money on health care costs, here’s several resources you need to know about that could save you tens of thousands of dollars and the stress of unexpected medical bills:

If you need an MRI, x-ray, CT, mammogram, ultrasound, or PET scan, check the cost and availability of RadiologyAssist.com.

You pay one single flat-fee upfront for your scan and you won’t get a bill.

If you need an imaging referral, you can request a virtual consultation for $40.

You can also ask any imaging center for the self-pay rate for the scan you need and compare that to your anticipated out-of-pocket expenses.

If you need blood work, you may be able to pay a lower cost by purchasing the tests from a direct-to-consumer provider like PrivateMD Labs, Ulta Labs, or similar.

Just google “direct to consumer lab testing.”

Personally, I’ve found these services to sometimes be 60-90% cheaper than utilizing the direct-to-consumer options from Quest or Labcorp — even though they’re often the two labs drawing and processing your sample.

You pay one single flat-fee upfront and you won’t get a bill.

If you need more frequent support and care from a primary care provider due to a chronic illness or something else, explore “direct primary care.”

This is not the same as concierge care, which tends to be more expensive in most regions.

These are practices that offer care for a single flat-fee per month that ranges between $30-$100/mo on average.

All of your office visits and most procedures are included.

If you need to visit an urgent care, ask for the self-pay rate up-front.

Many urgent care centers offer an all-inclusive flat-fee option that includes everything that you need while you’re there, excluding medication and third-party lab fees.

This cost can range between $150-$400.

If you need a prescription and it’s more affordable on GoodRx or a similar service, you can ask to pay for it without utilizing your insurance.

I’ve found that some medications are more affordable at privately-owned and operated pharmacies vs. corporate pharmacies.

If your medical debt goes to a collection agency, you can negotiate a settlement to avoid paying the entire fee and/or litigation.

There are tons of resources about this online, including organizations who will support you with this (for a fee).

ALWAYS get and review an itemized bill before paying outstanding medical debt.

You can use HSA and FSA funds to purchase some health-related and wellness products, not just services.

Just Google “HSA shop” and see what you come across.

Review your HSA/FSA restrictions yourself before purchasing anything to ensure you don’t get stuck with an unexpected bill.

In some cases, you may need a letter of medical necessity."

End of Tim Fries

===============

I decided to post this information because although I have been working in healthcare and insurance copywriting and marketing since I was 22 years old, and I knew things were bad, I was reminded just how bad / expensive / confusing the state of US healthcare is after reading story after patient story following the shooting death of the United Healthcare CEO last week.

In May, I fell and broke my arm. It was a serious fracture, both bones, one exposed, and I was in surgery within hours. The good news is my surgeon was awesome and I had zero pain during the rough first 10 weeks of recovery. I took two Tylenol and I didn't even need them.

Because it was unplanned surgery and I spent two days in the hospital, coming through the ER, I got bills from many many different providers. I work in this field so I knew what to expect but it was still a headache and confusing. Especially during a time that I was unable to tie my shoes, pull up my socks, cut my own food, drive, or risk any activity that could lead to me falling. I also had to reduce my work hours since I was typing with one hand.

I'm fine now. I had a LOT of help during the worst of it.

I hope this post reaches someone who needs to see it.

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healthcaremailingapi · 11 days ago

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Traditional Vs Automated Direct Mail Services

Direct mail has long been a trusted marketing channel. In 2025, businesses face a choice between traditional direct mail services and automated solutions. Understanding the difference can drastically impact your campaign’s efficiency, ROI, and customer experience.

What Is Traditional Direct Mail?

Traditional direct mail involves manual processes such as:

Designing postcards or letters by hand or through desktop software

Printing at local shops or internal print facilities

Manually stuffing, stamping, and mailing

Tracking via physical receipts or third-party couriers

Pros:

Full control over the process

Hands-on personalization

Local vendor relationships

Cons:

Time-consuming

Prone to human error

Hard to scale

Costlier for small volumes

What Is Automated Direct Mail?

Automated direct mail refers to using software or APIs to trigger, personalize, print, and send mail pieces based on digital actions or CRM data.

Examples:

A new customer signs up, and a welcome postcard is triggered automatically

Abandoned cart triggers a mailed coupon

Real-time API sends birthday cards based on database date

Pros:

Scalable for millions of mailings

Real-time integration with CRMs and marketing platforms

Consistent branding and quality

Analytics and tracking included

Cons:

Higher setup cost initially

Requires data hygiene and tech alignment

Key Differences Between Traditional and Automated Direct Mail

FeatureTraditionalAutomatedSpeedSlow (days to weeks)Instant or scheduledScalabilityLimitedHighly scalablePersonalizationManualDynamic via variable dataTrackingManual or nonexistentDigital trackingIntegrationNoneAPI and CRM support

When Should You Choose Traditional?

For small, one-time mailings

When personal touch matters (e.g., handwritten letters)

In areas with no access to digital tools

When to Use Automated Direct Mail?

For ongoing marketing campaigns

When speed, consistency, and tracking are priorities

For eCommerce, SaaS, healthcare, insurance, and real estate

Use Case Comparisons

Traditional Use Case: Local Real Estate Agent

Manually prints and mails just listed postcards to a zip code every month.

Automated Use Case: National Insurance Company

Triggers annual policy renewal letters for 500,000+ customers via API.

Benefits of Automation in 2025

Real-Time Triggers from websites, CRMs, or payment systems

Enhanced Reporting for ROI measurement

Reduced Costs with bulk printing partnerships

Faster Delivery using localized printing partners globally

Eco-Friendly Workflows (less waste, digital proofing)

How to Switch from Traditional to Automated Direct Mail

Audit your current workflow

Choose a provider with API integration (e.g., PostGrid, Lob, Inkit)

Migrate your address data and test campaigns

Train your team and build trigger-based workflows

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Direct Mail Method

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your goals. While traditional direct mail has its place, automated direct mail offers speed, flexibility, and scale. For modern businesses aiming for growth and efficiency, automation is the clear winner.

SEO Keywords: traditional vs automated direct mail, automated mailing services, direct mail automation, API for direct mail, manual vs automated marketing.

youtube

SITES WE SUPPORT

Healthcare Mailing API – Wix

#directmails #Youtube

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zipcodesdatabase · 4 months ago

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Location Intelligence Made Easy: US Zip Codes Database for Better Decisions

The US Zip Codes Database plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient communication and seamless logistics management across the United States. More than just a system for sorting mail, ZIP codes are essential for businesses, researchers, and government agencies in both the US and Canada. They serve as a powerful tool for data analysis, market research, and service optimization. Many business owners, e-commerce platforms, and service providers integrate ZIP codes into their operations to enhance strategic decision-making and improve customer experiences.

What is a US ZIP Codes Database?

A US ZIP Codes Database is a comprehensive dataset that includes details about all ZIP codes in the United States. It offers a wealth of geographic, demographic, and economic-related insights for different business undertakings. Take advantage of such useful data to make productive business strategies. The Datasheer’s US Zip Codes Database typically contains information such as ZIP code boundaries, City and state associations, Latitude and longitude coordinates, Demographic and socioeconomic data, Business and economic insights, and much more information you can download.

The Importance of a ZIP Codes Database

TheDatasheer’s US Zip Codes Database is a productive tool for business & market analysis. It helps businesses and strategists identify high-potential markets and customer demographics. It empowers them in planning the most effective location-based marketing strategies to target specific regions.

The Datasheer’s US Zip Codes Database tool can produce relevant data related to managing the logistics & optimizing its delivery. It assists logistics companies in planning the most efficient delivery routes. Use the Zip-Codes data download to reduce the shipping costs and optimize your distribution networks.

Urban planners & real estate developers need reliable data in their developing strategy. The Zip Codes Database download lets urban planners understand the population growth and their infrastructure needs. Real estate investors use the data download to analyze market trends and property values. So they can make better investment decisions.

You can take advantage of Datasheer’s US Zip Codes Database tool to enhance the site or select sites for your new retail stores and warehouses. It provides the best information and insights into regional buying behaviors and trends. You can use it to make the right strategy for optimizing service coverage.

Conclusion

The Datasheer’s US ZIP Codes Database is an indispensable resource for businesses, researchers, and government agencies. It can be productive for many business segments that aim to leverage different geographic and demographic data for market analysis, logistics, urban planning, or emergency services. Add Datasheer’s US ZIP Codes Database and unlock its power. See how it can enhance your decision-making and operational efficiencies.

#US Zip Codes Database #US Zip Code Database

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juiceortizprospect34 · 3 months ago

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# Ghosts We Carry- Chapter 15

The clubhouse came into view as they rounded the final corner, a weathered single-story building with boarded windows and the Sons' reaper insignia barely visible in the dim glow of the single security light. Under different circumstances, the sight might have filled Juice with relief. Tonight, it only reminded him how tenuous their safety was.

Dawn was still hours away when they pulled into the lot, engines cutting almost in unison. The silence that followed felt unnatural after the sustained roar of their ride. Elena's arms loosened from around Juice's waist, but she didn't immediately dismount. He could feel her exhaustion, her fear.

"We're here," he said softly, helping her off the bike. Her legs trembled beneath her.

Chibs was already barking orders, sending Tig to secure the perimeter and Happy to ready the back room. The old Scot had slipped effortlessly into the role of battlefield commander, his face a mask of controlled tension under the harsh outdoor lights.

"Get her inside," Chibs directed, nodding toward Elena. "I want everyone accounted for and a full lockdown in ten minutes."

Juice guided Elena through the front door, past the pool tables and bar that had witnessed a thousand nights of revelry and violence. The place smelled of stale beer and cigarettes—an oddly comforting scent that meant home to him now.

"Sit," he told her, gesturing toward one of the worn leather couches. "I'll get you some water."

While he filled a glass at the bar, he watched her take in her surroundings—the mugshots on the wall, the reaper flags, the broken neon beer signs. The clubhouse wasn't much, but it was the closest thing to a fortress they had.

"Here," he said, returning with the water and a first-aid kit. "Let me see your wrists."

The zip-ties had left angry red marks where they'd bitten into her skin. He cleaned the abrasions carefully, aware of how she winced at his touch.

"You're safe here," he said, though the words felt hollow even as he spoke them. "The club protects its own."

Elena took a long sip of water before speaking. "I'm not one of your own."

"You are now," he replied, meeting her eyes. "Anyone who puts my brothers at risk for me, who stands up to someone like Krane—that makes you family in my book."

The door banged open as the rest of the Sons filed in. They moved with the practiced efficiency of men who had weathered storms before, securing entrances, checking weapons, pulling shades.

Chibs dropped heavily into a chair across from them, his expression grave. "We've got maybe twenty-four hours before they find us here. Tops."

"What about the police?" Elena asked.

The question brought a humorless laugh from Tig as he passed by. "Sweetheart, half the local force is on HaviCorp's payroll. The other half wouldn't cross Zobelle if Jesus himself came down and asked."

"We're on our own," Juice confirmed. "Like always."

Happy emerged from the back room, his face expressionless as ever. "Room's ready. Got the scanner going, but it's quiet for now."

Chibs nodded and turned to Juice. "Tell us everything. What exactly were they after with that hack?"

All eyes turned to him. These were men who had seen him at his weakest, who had forgiven his betrayals, who had welcomed him back despite everything. He owed them the truth, however dangerous it might be.

"They've got a weapons system," he began, choosing his words carefully. "Something next-level. Not just drones or smart bombs. I think it's some kind of targeted biological weapon."

"Christ," Chibs muttered.

"They needed me to break into a secure military database—authorization codes, deployment protocols, that kind of thing. But there was something else." Juice rubbed his temples, trying to organize his thoughts. "They had files on all of us. Not just criminal records—medical histories, DNA profiles."

"The hell would they want with our DNA?" Tig asked, his usual swagger momentarily replaced by genuine concern.

"I don't know. But whatever they're building, it's designed to target specific genetic markers. That's why they needed Elena." He glanced at her. "Her father's research—it was about genetic variations in immune response, wasn't it?"

She nodded slowly, eyes widening with realization. "How did you—"

"I saw the file names when they had me at the terminal. They've been following his work for years. And yours."

Elena's face paled. "My God... they're trying to create a weapon that can target specific populations. Specific families."

"Or specific individuals," Juice added. "A weapon that kills only the people you want it to kill, leaving everyone else untouched."

The room fell silent as the implications sank in. Finally, Chibs stood, his chair scraping harshly against the floor.

"Right. This isn't just about protecting our own anymore. This is bigger." He looked around the room, meeting each man's eyes in turn. "We're outgunned and outnumbered, but we've got two things they don't: we know what they're after now, and they won't be expecting us to hit back."

Juice felt a familiar tightness in his chest—the precursor to panic—but he pushed it down. The ghosts that had haunted him for so long seemed to stand at his shoulders now, not weighing him down but bolstering him up. Memories of brothers lost, battles fought, mistakes made—all of it forming a foundation rather than a burden.

"I can get into their system," he said with more confidence than he felt. "Now that I know what to look for, I can find proof of what they're doing."

"And then what?" Elena asked. "Who would believe us? Who would we even tell?"

Happy, who had been silently cleaning his gun in the corner, spoke up. "There's that fed. The one who came around after the Mayan thing last year. Wasn't completely dirty."

"Agent Ross," Chibs confirmed with a nod. "Might be worth a call."

"First things first," Juice said. "We need to know exactly what we're dealing with. I need a secure laptop, a way to access their network without being traced."

"Got some gear stashed," Tig offered. "Not state of the art, but it'll do the job."

Chibs nodded decisively. "Alright then. Juice, you and Elena work on getting that intel. Tig, Happy—I want rotations on watch, two hours on, two off. I'll reach out to some old IRA contacts, see if we can get some hardware that isn't traceable to us." He paused, looking around the room. "Anyone not willing to see this through, speak now. No judgment."

No one spoke. Instead, there was only the sound of weapons being checked, ammunition being counted.

Elena leaned closer to Juice, her voice barely above a whisper. "These men... they're willing to go up against a corporation with government ties, professional killers, all of it—just on your word?"

Juice watched his brothers prepare for war with a mixture of pride and fear. "It's not about me. It's about what's right. And about family." He turned to look at her. "They've been carrying their own ghosts long before I showed up. This is what we do. We carry them together."

Outside, the first hint of dawn began to lighten the eastern sky, casting long shadows across the clubhouse lot. A new day was coming, bringing with it unknown dangers and slim hopes. But for the first time in years, Juice felt ready to face whatever came.

Not because he was unafraid, but because he was no longer facing it alone.

#theo rossi #juice ortiz #sons of anarchy #sons of anarchy fanfiction

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playstationvii · 9 months ago

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#Playstation7 Security backend FireWall Dynamic Encryption, NFT integration CG’s and Online Store, Game download, installation and run processes.

Creating a comprehensive backend system for a console that integrates security, encryption, store functionality, NFT integration, and blockchain encoding is an extensive task, but here’s a detailed outline and code implementation for these components:

1. Security and Firewall System with Dynamic Encryption

The security system will need robust firewalls and periodic encryption mechanisms that update dynamically every 5 minutes and every 30th of a second.

1.1 Encryption Structure (Python-based) with Time-Based Swapping

We’ll use the cryptography library in Python for encryption, and random for generating random encryption keys, which will change periodically.

Encryption Swapping Code:

import os

import time

import random

from cryptography.fernet import Fernet

class SecuritySystem:

def __init__(self):

self.current_key = self.generate_key()

self.cipher_suite = Fernet(self.current_key)

def generate_key(self):

return Fernet.generate_key()

def update_key(self):

self.current_key = self.generate_key()

self.cipher_suite = Fernet(self.current_key)

print(f"Encryption key updated: {self.current_key}")

def encrypt_data(self, data):

encrypted = self.cipher_suite.encrypt(data.encode())

return encrypted

def decrypt_data(self, encrypted_data):

return self.cipher_suite.decrypt(encrypted_data).decode()

# Swapping encryption every 5 minutes and 30th of a second

def encryption_swapper(security_system):

while True:

security_system.update_key()

time.sleep(random.choice([5 * 60, 1 / 30])) # 5 minutes or 30th of a second

if __name__ == "__main__":

security = SecuritySystem()

# Simulate swapping

encryption_swapper(security)

1.2 Firewall Setup (Using UFW for Linux-based OS)

The console could utilize a basic firewall rule set using UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) on Linux:

# Set up UFW firewall for the console backend

sudo ufw default deny incoming

sudo ufw default allow outgoing

# Allow only specific ports (e.g., for the store and NFT transactions)

sudo ufw allow 8080 # Store interface

sudo ufw allow 443 # HTTPS for secure transactions

sudo ufw enable

This basic rule ensures that no incoming traffic is accepted except for essential services like the store or NFT transfers.

2. Store Functionality: Download, Installation, and Game Demos

The store will handle downloads, installations, and demo launches. The backend will manage game storage, DLC handling, and digital wallet integration for NFTs.

2.1 Download System and Installation Process (Python)

This code handles the process of downloading a game, installing it, and launching a demo.

Store Backend (Python + MySQL for Game Listings):

import mysql.connector

import os

import requests

class GameStore:

def __init__(self):

self.db = self.connect_db()

def connect_db(self):

return mysql.connector.connect(

host="localhost",

user="admin",

password="password",

database="game_store"

)

def fetch_games(self):

cursor = self.db.cursor()

cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM games")

return cursor.fetchall()

def download_game(self, game_url, game_id):

print(f"Downloading game {game_id} from {game_url}...")

response = requests.get(game_url)

with open(f"downloads/{game_id}.zip", "wb") as file:

file.write(response.content)

print(f"Game {game_id} downloaded.")

def install_game(self, game_id):

print(f"Installing game {game_id}...")

os.system(f"unzip downloads/{game_id}.zip -d installed_games/{game_id}")

print(f"Game {game_id} installed.")

def launch_demo(self, game_id):

print(f"Launching demo for game {game_id}...")

os.system(f"installed_games/{game_id}/demo.exe")

# Example usage

store = GameStore()

games = store.fetch_games()

# Simulate downloading, installing, and launching a demo

store.download_game("http://game-download-url.com/game.zip", 1)

store.install_game(1)

store.launch_demo(1)

2.2 Subsections for Games, DLC, and NFTs

This section of the store manages where games, DLCs, and NFTs are stored.

class GameContentManager:

def __init__(self):

self.games_folder = "installed_games/"

self.dlc_folder = "dlcs/"

self.nft_folder = "nfts/"

def store_game(self, game_id):

os.makedirs(f"{self.games_folder}/{game_id}", exist_ok=True)

def store_dlc(self, game_id, dlc_id):

os.makedirs(f"{self.dlc_folder}/{game_id}/{dlc_id}", exist_ok=True)

def store_nft(self, nft_data, nft_id):

with open(f"{self.nft_folder}/{nft_id}.nft", "wb") as nft_file:

nft_file.write(nft_data)

# Example usage

manager = GameContentManager()

manager.store_game(1)

manager.store_dlc(1, "dlc_1")

manager.store_nft(b"NFT content", "nft_1")

3. NFT Integration and Blockchain Encoding

We’ll use blockchain to handle NFT transactions, storing them securely in a blockchain ledger.

3.1 NFT Blockchain Encoding (Python)

This script simulates a blockchain where each block stores an NFT.

import hashlib

import time

class Block:

def __init__(self, index, timestamp, data, previous_hash=''):

self.index = index

self.timestamp = timestamp

self.data = data

self.previous_hash = previous_hash

self.hash = self.calculate_hash()

def calculate_hash(self):

block_string = f"{self.index}{self.timestamp}{self.data}{self.previous_hash}"

return hashlib.sha256(block_string.encode()).hexdigest()

class Blockchain:

def __init__(self):

self.chain = [self.create_genesis_block()]

def create_genesis_block(self):

return Block(0, time.time(), "Genesis Block", "0")

def get_latest_block(self):

return self.chain[-1]

def add_block(self, new_data):

previous_block = self.get_latest_block()

new_block = Block(len(self.chain), time.time(), new_data, previous_block.hash)

self.chain.append(new_block)

def print_blockchain(self):

for block in self.chain:

print(f"Block {block.index} - Data: {block.data} - Hash: {block.hash}")

# Adding NFTs to the blockchain

nft_blockchain = Blockchain()

nft_blockchain.add_block("NFT1: Digital Sword")

nft_blockchain.add_block("NFT2: Magic Shield")

nft_blockchain.print_blockchain()

3.2 NFT Wallet Transfer Integration (Python)

This script will transfer NFTs into wallets or digital blockchain systems.

class NFTWallet:

def __init__(self):

self.wallet = {}

def add_nft(self, nft_id, nft_data):

self.wallet[nft_id] = nft_data

print(f"Added NFT {nft_id} to wallet.")

def transfer_nft(self, nft_id, recipient_wallet):

if nft_id in self.wallet:

recipient_wallet.add_nft(nft_id, self.wallet[nft_id])

del self.wallet[nft_id]

print(f"Transferred NFT {nft_id} to recipient.")

# Example usage

user_wallet = NFTWallet()

user_wallet.add_nft("nft_1", "Digital Art Piece 1")

recipient_wallet = NFTWallet()

user_wallet.transfer_nft("nft_1", recipient_wallet)

4. CG (Computer Graphics) Storage for Cutscenes and Artwork

4.1 Storing and Retrieving CG Assets

This system stores CG assets (cutscenes, artwork, etc.) for later viewing and reminiscing.

class CGStorage:

def __init__(self):

self.cg_folder = "cg_assets/"

os.makedirs(self.cg_folder, exist_ok=True)

def store_cg(self, cg_id, cg_data):

with open(f"{self.cg_folder}/{cg_id}.mp4", "wb") as cg_file:

cg_file.write(cg_data)

print(f"CG {cg_id} stored.")

def retrieve_cg(self, cg_id):

with open(f"{self.cg_folder}/{cg_id}.mp4", "rb") as cg_file:

return cg_file.read()

# Example usage

cg_storage = CGStorage()

cg_storage.store_cg("cutscene_1", b"CG video data")

cg_data = cg_storage.retrieve_cg("cutscene_1")

Summary of the System:

1. Security: Dynamic encryption swaps with regular firewall management.

2. Store: Handles game downloads, installations, and demo launches, including storage for games, DLC, and NFTs.

3. NFT Integration: A blockchain-based system for NFT encoding and wallet transfers.

4. CG Storage: Storing and retrieving game cutscenes and artwork for later viewing.

This framework is scalable and can be extended as the console ecosystem grows. Each component works independently but can be integrated into a larger gaming console backend system.

#playstation7 #ps7 #deardearestbrands #digitalconsole #framework #python #soundcloud #celestiallink #raw code #rawscript #blockchain #NFTs #Security #Frontend #backend #encryption processes

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burnwater13 · 1 year ago

Text

Grogu looking out of the frosted over canopy of the Razor Crest just before Din Djarin (out of frame) leaves the icy planet Maldo Kreis. Image from The Mandalorian, Season 2, Episode 2, The Passenger. Calendar from DataWorks.

Grogu was watching his dad repair the ship. Well, not really repair the ship. It was too damaged for full repairs or even good repairs. Apparently the best he could do was seal them into the bridge and cross their fingers and hope they would reach Trask. Eventually. They hoped.

He felt kind of bad about what happened. He didn’t mean for the giant spiders to attack the Razor Crest. He was just bored and hungry and little bit annoyed with his dad. That sort of thing was bound to happen under those circumstances. At least that had been his experience.

You do something innocuous, get caught, explain why you did it and how it was no big deal, and then, oops, something dramatic happens and there is nothing you can do but hang on tight and ask the Force to save your butt just one more time. At least that’s how Ian used to describe it when they compared notes after each unplanned adventure they went on.

Like that time they went on the field trip to the Galactic Senate building. Nothing special was happening that day according to the protocol droid who escorted them through the building. According to their schedule the only thing the Senators would be debating and voting on was the renaming of several Republic buildings and docking facilities.

Grogu had no idea why buildings needed names. Ian had been quick to respond that not everyone knew their unique ident codes. Grogu hadn’t even known that they had unique ident codes or why that would be useful.

“Of course they need an ident code! How could the database of information on them be properly maintained if they didn’t have a unique identifier? It would be a mess!”

Grogu had been surprised that Ian was so knowledgeable and so passionate something as dull as ident codes for buildings and docking facilities.

“Listen, kid, if they didn’t have unique ident codes, you’d never know what sort of stuff they had crammed in them. When you have access to the Republic ‘database of resources and locations of operations’ you’re able to determine the most appropriate site to visit to fulfill whatever needs you have at the time. It’s all about logistics, kid. And, as you know, logistics are the key to every successful heist… uh… project.”

What the heck? When did Ian become a fan of logistics? He was talking like a cross between a pirate and a smuggler. That just struck Grogu as odd, much like Ian calling him ‘kid’. As far as he could tell, they were pretty close to being the same age.

“Listen, I know you know all about being a Jedi, Kid… uh, Grogu. But I know other things because it’s been important for me to know other things. Things like logistics and warehouse management. Okay?”

Grogu had simply nodded. He thought they should just drop the subject and focus on the tour. Ian seemed to agree and they went with the other younglings and their protocol droid guide and entered the Senate chamber to listen to the debate and votes. Master Yoda had thought it was important for the younglings to witness and understand how the galactic government worked for some reason.

The room was amazing and the strangest space that Grogu had ever been in, which he hadn’t thought was possible given how unique the Jedi Temple was. Ian, of course, zipped right over to the command console and studied it in silence while the protocol droid was advising them that the debates about naming facilities was simple in essence but could be complicated by various political factions within the Senate. The droid advised them all to be quiet and just listen to the debate.

That was a fine thing for the droid to say, but Grogu couldn’t see or hear anything. First he didn’t even understand why the seating disk had a central console. All it did was block his view and make it hard for him to understand what the heck was going on. He made his way over to Ian and asked him to help.

“Sure, buddy. Just be a minute. I have to wait for the opportune moment.”

Ian went back to studying the console, while Grogu hopped up on it and sat on the leading edge. From there he could at least hear what was going on, even if he still couldn’t really see the people because the distances were so great.

“The chancellor will recognize the Senator from Dathomir.”

“Thank you, your Eminence. It is with deep reverence and sincere appreciation of the importance of recognizing important people from Dathomirian history, that I propose that Revan the Defender be honored by renaming the Republic Space Station in orbit around Dathomir as the Revan the Dark Lord of the Sith Space Station and Immigrant Processing Center.”

Who? What? Why? Huh? The people assembled seemed just as stunned as he was. Since when did anything get named after an ancient Sith Lord?

Grogu would have asked those questions but suddenly their seating disk was flying forward and, before Ian could get it under control, slow it down, veer off, or do anything that would have helped prevent a crash with the Dathomiran seating disk, it crashed into the Dathomiran seating disk.

Grogu went flying and landed on the control console of that Dathomiran seating disk, much to everyone’s surprise. He certainly hadn’t done that on purpose, but as long as he was there he thought he could ask those questions. Who better than the Dathomirans to answer him? But he over estimated how willing the Senator would be to respond to questions when he was covered with someone’s blood. But persistence was an important Jedi trait and Grogu tried to ask his question. The Dathomiran Senator was able to ignore him for two reasons. First, he was bellowing to the Chancellor that there would be hell to pay before the Dathomirans ever came back to the galactic Senate, due to this outrage. And second, one of attendants was trying to wipe the blood up, but just managed to smear it around.

It occurred to Grogu that given his location he could probably fly the seating disk over to the first aid station at the base of the room in order to help the obviously upset and injured Senator. Unfortunately, he knew just as much as Ian had about flying the disks and before he knew it the disk leapt forward and struck another disk and then shot backward, hitting the Jedi younglings’ disk again, and then finally, it plummeted to the floor of the Senate chamber.

Grogu arrested the fall just in the nick of time, because after all using the Force to save your butt and the butts of the people with you was a typical Jedi behavior. The Dathomirans were not impressed and before he knew it they actually answered all his questions about why they would want to honor Darth Revan.

He was glad about that at least. The trip wasn’t a total waste of time. Although he knew he’d never hear the end of it from Ian. Or Master Yoda. The protocol droid had nothing to say to him because it had been the source of the ‘blood’ on the Senator from Dathomir and was no longer functional. A lot like the Razor Crest, strangely enough. Life was strange and then it just got stranger.

#calendar prompt a day #the mandalorian #grogu #din djarin

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