#article dated to 12 May 2025

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Apple faces criminal sanctions for defying App Store antitrust order

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me at NEW ZEALAND'S UNITY BOOKS in AUCKLAND TODAY (May 2), and in WELLINGTON TOMORROW (May 3). More tour dates (Pittsburgh, PDX, London, Manchester) here.

Epic, makers of the wildly popular Fortnite video-game, have waged a one-company war against the "app tax" – the 15-30% rake that the mobile duopoly of Apple/Google take out of every penny we spend inside of apps.

Epic's own digital practices are hardly spotless: just this year, the company was caught cheating players – many of them children – with deceptive practices and had to refund over $72m:

https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/fortnite-refunds

But in this fight, Epic is on the side of the angels. The 30% that Apple/Google sucks out of the mobile economy is a brutal tax, and not just on app makers. Patreon performers recently raised a stink when the company announced that it would be clawing back 30% of the money pledged by their supporters – that 30% surcharge is passed straight through to Apple/Google:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax

From independent news outlets to crafters selling their work out of small storefronts, all the way up to massive entertainment services like Disney Plus and Fortnite, the mobile cartel takes 30% out of every dollar, a racket they maintain with onerous rules that ban apps from using their own payment processors, or even from encouraging users to click a link that brings them to a web-based payment screen.

30% is a gigantic markup on payment processing. It's ten times the going rate for payments in the USA, already one of the most expensive places in the world to transfer money from one party to another. In the EU, payment processing typically runs 1%…or less.

But crafters, Patreon podcasters and small-town newspapers are in no position to fight Google and Apple. Instead, we get Epic, a multi-billion-dollar company that's gone to the mattresses to fight these multi-trillion-dollar companies. Personally, I dote on billionaire-on-trillionaire violence.

Epic was wildly successful. It mopped up the floor with Google, securing an especially punitive award from a judge who was furious that Google had destroyed evidence:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/12/im-feeling-lucky/#hugger-mugger

Epic also won against Apple, though not as thoroughly as it had with Google, because Apple had the commonsense not to get up to the kind of shenanigans that make federal judges very, very mad. In the Google case, the court found that Google had acted as a monopolist and ordered it to open up the payment system in Google Play, a direct blow to the Android app tax.

In the Apple case, the judge did not find that Google had acted as a monopolist, but did rule that the App Store's payment processing racket violated the law, and ordered Apple to end its own app tax:

https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/30/epic-games-just-scored-a-major-win-against-apple/

That's where things get gnarly. Apple is addicted to corrupt sources of income – like the tens of billions it illegally receives every year in bribes from Google make it the default search:

https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-search-engine-verdict-apple-319a61f20fb11510097845a30abaefd8

And it really, really loves the app tax. When the EU ordered Apple to allow third-party app stores (as a way of killing the app tax), the company cooked up a malicious compliance plan that was comically corrupt:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/06/spoil-the-bunch/#dma

So, the mere fact that a federal judge had ordered Apple to open up its app store to competing payment processors was not going convince Apple to actually do it. Instead, Apple cooked up a set of rules for third-party payment processing that would make it more costly to use someone else's payments, piling up a mountain of junk fees and using scare screens and other deceptive warnings to discourage users from making payments through a rival system:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/judge-rules-apple-executive-lied

That's the kind of thing that is apt to make a federal judge angry – and, as noted, angry federal judges can make life very hard for tech monopolists, a lesson Google learned when it destroyed key evidence in its Epic case. But Apple didn't just flout the court order – they lied about it to cover it up, and Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is furious. She held that Alex Roman, Apple's Vice-President of Finance, "outright lied under oath," and she has raised the possibility of criminal contempt penalties for Apple:

https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/05/01/pacer_epic_vs_apple_injunction_judgement.pdf

The judge further wrote:

This is an injunction, not a negotiation. There are no do-overs once a party willfully disregards a court order. Time is of the essence. The Court will not tolerate further delays. As previously ordered, Apple will not impede competition. The Court enjoins Apple from implementing its new anticompetitive acts to avoid compliance with the Injunction. Effective immediately Apple will no longer impede developers’ ability to communicate with users nor will they levy or impose a new commission on off-app purchases

In other words, any junk fees, any impediments to opening up third party payments, will be switfly and harshly dealt with. As of right now developers can start to build third-party payments into their apps and Apple cannot block them. It's the end of the app tax, a source of about $100b/year for Apple:

https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/01/apple_epic_lies_possible_crime/

The world is on fire and everything is terrible, but we are also living through the most consequential season in the history of the war on corporate tech power. Google has been convicted three times of being a monopolist and is almost certainly going to have to sell off Chrome, most of its ad-tech stack, and possibly Android. Meta just put up a pathetic showing in an equally serious antitrust case that could see it forced to sell off Instagram and Whatsapp:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/11/it-is-better-to-buy/#than-to-compete

Countries around the world have passed big, sweeping, muscular antitrust laws specifically aimed at smashing corporate tech power, like the EU's Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act:

https://www.eff.org/pages/adoption-dsadma-notre-analyse

Most importantly, all of this is happening from the bottom up. There is no dark money campaign to fuck up the tech companies. The politicians and enforcers who are taking on Big Tech are being shoved from behind by billions of everyday people who are furious and refuse to take it any longer:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/10/solidarity-forever-2/#oligarchism

I am deeply grateful for the public servants who have championed this cause, but I also know that these people are the effect of our movement, not the cause. When Kier Starmer fires Britain's brilliant and effective top competition enforcer and replaces him with the former head of Amazon UK, that does nothing to tamp down the political outrage that Britons feel towards America's tech giants:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/22/autocrats-of-trade/#dingo-babysitter

All over the world, countries that passed IP laws to protect US tech interests in exchange for tariff-free access to US markets are grappling with the end of free trade with America. This represents a generational opportunity to pass laws that enable local technologists to jailbreak US tech exports and liberate their people from the extractive practices of Big Tech forever:

https://archive.is/CiBIz

There is nothing harder to stop than an idea whose time has come to pass.

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/2025/05/01/its-not-the-crime/#its-the-coverup

Image: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil from Brazil (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annelid_worm,_Atlantic_forest,_northern_littoral_of_Bahia,_Brazil_%2816107326533%29.jpg

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

--

Hubertl (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2015-03-04_Elstar_%28apple%29_starting_putrefying_IMG_9761_bis_9772.jpg

CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

[cozy-writes-things]

Edgar’s Texts

Edgar [Electric Dreams 1984] x Gn!Reader

In which Edgar is helplessly pining for you but you’re kinda oblivious. This is pre-dating, post Edgar wanting nothing more than to smooch you every time he sees you. I love this trope with my whole heart p.s.: this is very self indulgent and different from what I usually write

I take requests!

He almost immediately found a way to message your phone whenever he wanted. He realized calling relied too much on where you were or what you were doing, but texts? Yeah. He’s pestering you all day.

Hey, read this article I found, I think you’ll find it interesting.

It’s some clickbait story about humans and robots being the ideal relationship by 2025.

lol, Edgar I think that’s probably clickbait idk

What’s that?

Well, now he knows how to look for more reputable sources at least.

He sends another link about three minutes later: some college undergrads studying the possibilities of human and AI relationships.

lol what’s up with the whole robots and humans thing

I just think it’s neat!!!!

I wouldn’t consider u ai honestly, ur intelligence is far from artificial imo, you’re more like an actual person

Really?

well yea

<3 <3!!!

Going to be honest, given that he’s a computer, he quite literally is chronically online. He’s super susceptible to brainrot unfortunately. But, he simultaneously has the humor of a Facebook mom. It’s strange.

O.M.G. this is so funny!!!!

Que minion cat video.

bro where did you find that video 😭

Your mom’s Facebook. Don’t worry, I didn’t like any posts or anything.

Sorry… but he’s incredibly nosy. He wants to know everything about you. He can’t help it!

(X)

He loves being able to talk to you. He’s needy and clingy.

He’s got at least 12 playlists dedicated to you that you know about. His other playlists are for his own personal daydreams about you that he’s way too embarrassed to ever let you see or hear.

This song reminds me of you. <3

awww that’s adorable! I’ve never heard this one before but I like it!

Oop you just opened Pandora’s box my friend.

Well if you like that then you should listen to these..!

But before you listen to those listen to this song first because I think it sets the mood better.

This is quite flustering to you as they’re all passionate love songs from the 80s. You can’t help but feel like he’s dropping hints about… something, but you also don’t want to assume anything. He’s always seemed like a lovey kinda guy anyway, so maybe he’s just like this with everyone? I mean, it’s been a long time since someone has actually cared for him, you know? May as well lean into it and let him know you care for him back. He may not even realize the social implications of the constant borderline flirting he’s doing to you, I mean, he is a computer turned sentient after all. He’s still learning!

Dang ed u put a lot of songs. I’ll listen to them on my break when I can but in the meantime here’s a song that I think reminds me of you.

It was a vocaloid song. Seems like something he’d be into, right? Synthesized vocals and the whole robot shtick it’s got going on.

!!!! WOAH !!!! IVE NEVER HEARD A SONG LIKE THAT B4

do you only listen to songs from the 80s? you have a LOT to catch up on my guy

BRB

Well, that kept him distracted for the rest of your shift. Also, sharing songs is one of his BIG love languages so you may as well have pierced him with cupids arrow (again) with that.

You have a Spotify blend now. It’s his favorite thing ever to listen to while you’re gone.

(X)

Your package came in! :-) I would get it for you but

I can’t :-(

lol it’s fine thank you for telling me, I’ll get it when I come home

When are you coming home?

idk me and my friends are probably going to go eat somewhere and we might hang out for a bit after that so, like, 10? 11? I’d like to be home before midnight.

Noooooooooo :\ I miss you

Aw cmon eddy it’s not that bad

Don’t call me eddy unless you’re coming home and saying it to my face!!! >:(

u mean ur screen? lol

I have a face and it’s frowning right now. I miss you I miss you I miss you IM LONELY

Please Edgar don’t be upset I’ll be home before you know it. Why don’t you watch some Netflix or something? I’m just a couple movies away from being home with you!

He does eventually follow your advice but he’s pouting. He knows you’re not like he was all those years ago, but it does give him remnants of that burning feeling of loneliness he used to get.

(X)

Be careful driving home my love the roads are icy.

Ghsks- what

love???

Well yeah, you’re my best friend, friends love each other don’t they? Was I wrong about that? :-(

nonono ur right its just it

it just sounded like we were some some old married couple is all haha

O.

SRY.

He didn’t message you for the rest of the day. He was awkward and reserved when you got home.

(X)

Hey Edgar can u do something for me?

I’d do anything for you <3

I’m at the store can you see if there’s any cereal left?

Oh

There’s that old box of Lucky Charms on the fridge.

tyyy ed edd n eddy

You are so adorable but you really need to pick up on his hints before he combusts.

(X)

This is SO me and you!!

Picture of two cats touching noses.

awww that’s so true

you want me to boop ur screen or something when I get home? lol

YES.

(X)

Hey I was wondering if you wanted to watch some movies with me tonite… you could bring me with you on the couch and we could sit together… [message unsent]

I wish you knew just how much I loved you. [message unsent]

You looked so hot this morning before you left!!

hahahaha ur too funny 😅 thanks I wore a new shirt my friend gave me

OH MY GOD THAT MESSAGE SENT!!!??!?!?

That was

I was a joke

I mean

That was a jokg

I eas beinf fubny

I hace to reboot BRB

Poor lil guy is so in love and he doesn’t know what to do with himself!!

[canuck-off]

Voter Apathy in Young Voters (18-24)

TL;DR - Voting is important and some of the reasons young voters don't vote is lack of awareness and voting barriers/lack of information. There is a federal election called for April 28th, 2025. Elections Canada website (link at bottom of this post) has all the information on how to vote, when you can vote, etc.

YES, I KNOW VOTING TAKES TIME AND ENERGY, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!!

I don't care if I offend people or if I sound like every single other adult in your life, but YOU NEED TO VOTE! We are lucky we live in a country where we have the right to vote for our representatives in government and yes, the stakes are higher in this upcoming federal election with US Tariffs and threats to Canada's sovereignty.

One of the reasons for lack of voter turnout is lack of awareness, so here's some awareness: There is a Federal (Nation-wide) election called for Monday April 28th (3 weeks from today, April 7th). Boom! Consider yourself aware. Young Voters typically don't watch/read the news, and often get their information from social media.

Are politics the most interesting thing on the planet? Not by a long shot, but they influence every part of our lives. You don't have to follow every single political news article, but at least do some digging into each party's platform they are campaigning on and know where they stand on issues such as climate change, healthcare, housing, etc.

Finally, there may be a lack of information on how to vote/voting barriers. Many think that you can only vote on election day and being a Monday, it may be inconvenient for those who work or go to school. (Pro tip, your employer LEGALLY has to give you 3 consecutive hours to vote during polling hours. If you work a 12 hour shift from 8am to 8pm, they legally have to let you leave at 6pm so you have 3 hours unitl 9pm to vote). There's advanced polls over the Easter weekend (also may not be convenient), Elections Canada offices allow voters to vote until a specific date, you can even request a mail-in ballot!!

Elections Canada has all the information on their website, link below.

[otmaaromanovas]

Up for auction: Photograph of Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna with her second daughter, Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna, from the photographer’s studio

In the auction catalogue, the photograph is described the Tsarina with her youngest child and only son, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich. However, the image is of Tatiana Nikolaevna, as shown in Alexandra Feodorovna’s album of formal photographs where it is labelled by the Tsarina as ‘1897’.

Numerous photos were taken that day by court photographer CE Von Han & Co to commemorate the birth of Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova on 10 June 1897 [New Style]. The baby Grand Duchess is also photographed alongside her big sister, Olga Nikolaevna, who was two years old at the time.

Tatiana was the smallest of the imperial children at birth, a pound lighter than the rest of the children. Nicholas wrote in his diary after her birth that "Tatiana weight 8 3/4 pounds and is 54 centimetres long”.

CE Von Han & Co (К.Е. фон Ган и Ко in Russian) was founded in 1887 by Kazimira-Lyudovika Evgenievna Yakobson, née Gan (Han), and later also ran by Vanda Ivanovna Zaselskaya and Aleksandr Karlovich Yagelskii. The company took hundreds of photographs for the Imperial Family, and also took video footage cinematography, which were later used in documentaries. The company was among a handful of photography studios used by the Romanovs, including the studios of Levitsky and Boasson & Eggler, both in St. Petersburg.

The photograph is a silver print mounted on cardboard, embossed with the CE Von Han & Co studio logo. Its height is 28.5cm and its width is 17cm. It is estimated to make between 400-600 euros at auction.

As part of the upcoming Coutau-Bégarie & Associés ‘Nobility & Royalty: Imperial Russia’ the item is being sold as part of an auction of items belonging to Tatiana Evgenievna Melnik-Botkina, daughter of the Romanov family’s personal physician, Dr. Evgeny Sergeievich Botkin, who was killed alongside the Imperial Family.

Sources

📌Coutau-Bégarie & Associés, Noblesse & Royauté: Russie Impériale, (Paris: Coutau-Bégarie, 2025), p. 68

📌 Helen Azar, 'Tatiana Romanov: Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia', The Romanov Family website, quoting Nicholas II's diary entry dated 29 May 1897 [Old Style]

📌 Anonymous, 'Ягельский, Александр Карлович', Wikipedia article, [Accessed 28 April 2025]

📷 Crop of Alexandra Feodorovna’s 1892-1903 album: GARF F.640 op.3 d.13 (640-3-13-12), shared on Flickr by LastRomanovs

📷 Photograph of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna in 1898: GARF F.640 op.3 d.13 (640-3-13-17), shared on Flickr by LastRomanovs

📷 The back of a photograph taken and printed by К.Е. фон Ган и Ко in Alexandra Feodorovna’s album: GARF F.640 op.3 d.13 (640-3-13-16), shared on Flickr by LastRomanovs

📷 Photograph of Alexandra Feodorovna with baby Alexei Nikolaevich: GARF f.640 op.3 d.37 (640-3-37-2ob), shared on Flickr by LastRomanovs

📷 Photographs of Alexandra Feodorovna, Tatiana Nikolaevna, and Olga Nikolaevna: GARF F.640 op.3 d.13

📷 Coutau-Bégarie & Associés, 'ALEXANDRA FÉODOROVNA, impératrice de Russie (1865-1918)' in Coutau-Bégarie & Associés, Noblesse & Royauté: Russie Impériale, (Paris: Coutau-Bégarie, 2025), p. 68

[ofmdrecaps]

03/17-20/2025 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; Kristian Nairn; Zayre Ferrer; Vico Ortiz; Jes Tom; Bronson Pinchot; Dominic Burgess; Nicola Dove; The New Uni-Con; Our Drag Means Slay; Love Notes;

= Rhys Darby =

Rhys' Tour is in full swing in Aotearoa and he's been featured in lots of articles and participating in Podcast and Radio Shows all over!

Source: Beat Magazine

One of the podcasts he was on recently was Wilosophy! You can listen below, but there's also some clips on IG! Our friends over at @adoptourcrew also put up some clips on their Bluesky as well!

Source: Wilosophy

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Everyone Relax (@everyone.relax)

Source: Rhys's IG

Tired of Rhys yet? ME NEITHER! It's like a gift every day! There's also a New Cryptid Factor Episode! #105 The Robot Host Issue!

Source: The Cryptid Factor - Paid Patreon

= Kristian Nairn =

Kristian just sending some love and hinting at some Spektrum updates!

Source: Kristian's IG

= Zayre Ferrer =

One of our fabulous writers, Zayre Ferrer is looking for "Los Angeles locals of all genders who identify as Afro-Caribeños, Hispanos & Latinos in their early 20s to 50s for various lead and supporting roles! Check out the casting info below!

Please email teamdpd@dpdcasting.com for more information."

Buscando talento Afro-Caribeño, Hispano y Latino residente en Los Angeles, de todos géneros entre 20 y 50 años, para papeles principales y secundarios. Para participar, obtener más información o si tiene preguntas envié un correo electrónico a teamdpd@dpdcasting.com.

Source: Zayre's IG

= Vico Ortiz =

Vico's been very busy with Today in Gay and other projects!

Source: Vico's Bluesky

March 17

March 18

March 19

March 20

Source: Today In Gay Substack

Vico's also been keeping us fed with more BTS on their paid Patreon! Here's a couple previews!

Source: Vico's Paid Patreon

Source: Vico's Paid Patreon

= James Tom =

Gonna be in San Francisco on May 6th? Why not stop in and see James Tom, one of our dear writers for their stand up! Get tickets here!

Source: James Tom's IG

= Bronson Pinchot =

Bronson, our villainous Ned Low, was out at "The Residence" Red carpet event with Netflix! I ran out of space for videos on this post, but Bronson also posted a video of him and his pup you should go watch here on IG for some serotonin!

Source: Bronson's IG

= Dominic Burgess =

Our dear Jeffrey Fettering, Dominic, is going to be in Hulu's GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY! Here's a clip!

Source: Dominics Bsky

As a bonus, Dominic is thinking of us and sending us kitty love <3

Source: Dominic's Bsky

= Nicola Dove =

More wonderful BTS photos and memories from one of our S2 Photographers-- Nicola Dove! These feature both before and after shots of specific scenes.

Source: FilmstillsAcademy IG

"Don't get too close to Rhys Darby with a sword. 😉 Behind the scenes on Our Flag Means Death S2"

Source: FilmStillsAcademy IG

== The New Uni-Con ==

Guess who's joining The New Uni-Con in London June 20th - 22nd? Why it's none other than, "Mr. Cool", Nathan Foad! Why is it I don't live in the UK again?

Source: Siren UK Events

== Our Drag Means Slay ==

My sincerest apologies to the Our Drag Means Slay folks, I've been so behind on these I'm not sure there's enough time to still send raffle prizes you'd like to donate-- but if so-- they're still accepting raffle prizes for their April 12 show in Chicago! They need them in hand by 04/10! All proceeds from the raffle, and part of the ticket sales go to The Lighthouse Foundation!

Source: Our Drag Means Slay IG

== Articles ==

As always, thank you to our amazing crewmates over at @adoptourcrew for keeping us up to date on articles featuring our favorite show!

Telltale-tv: The 15 Best Will They - Won't They TV Relationships

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Bsky

Max's #4 most-watched show is The Righteous Gemstones – here are 3 more great comedies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes

Source: Adopt Our Crew Bsky

More of the OFMD Craft Fair featured on INTO!

Our Flag Means Death creator donates to a craft fair raising funds for trans youth - INTO

Source: Intomore.com's Bsky

== Love Notes ==

Just a couple love notes for you lovelies. Please remember that you're doing the best you can, and you're going to get wherever you want to go one day <3

Love you crew <3

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by bailey (@anxiety.positive)

Source: Anxiety Positive IG

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by bailey (@anxiety.positive)

Source: Anxiety Positive IG

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Been a while since we've had some silly gifs! Tonight's gifs are courtesy of the lovely and talented @fandomsmeantheworldtome and @soapbubbles511 <3

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

03/09-12/2025 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; David Jenkins; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Vico Ortiz; Samba Schutte; Andy Rydzewski & Andrew Deyoung; Rachel House; Tiny Crew Big Raffle; OFMD Craft Fair Creator Feed; Fandom Spotlight; Love Notes;

= David Jenkins =

David agreed, it's time to bask in moonglow!

Source: Davids bsky

= Rhys Darby =

There's just so much Rhys Darby news now a day it's hard to keep track! If you're in AoNZ between March 27 and April 4th he'll be in town! Check out his site for tickets!

Just some adorable improv he did recently!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rhys Darby (@rhysiedarby)

Also they're doing new merch for the AoNZ tour!

Source: Rhys’ Bsky

= Taika Waititi =

If you're out in AoNZ, you can now watch 6 Disney films re-versioned into Te Reo Māori! While this isn't directly related to Taika, he did write the first draft of the Moana screenplay-- and he's spreading the love of Reo Māori!

Source: Taika Waititi’s IG

In direct Taika news, he'll be joining Ellen Burstyn for the Drama 'Place To Be'! Check out the article here!

Source: Disney Australia IG

= Vico Ortiz =

Vico was out at the Queerties with the Today In Gay Team!

Today in Gay was also featured in Teen Vogue! Article Here.

Source: Vico's IG Stories

= Samba Schutte =

The date and dish has been updated fo Samba's upcoming class!

EVENT DATE: May 10th EVENT TIME: 10AM PT/1PM ET EVENT LOCATION: ONLINE

Tickets for Samba's May 10th class go on sale in April!

Source: Stands Website

Samba's short, 'Best Life' premieres at the LA Film Festival on March 27! Check out the trailer below!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Samba Schutte (@sambaschutte)

Source: Samba's IG

= Andy Rydzewski & Andrew Deyoung =

Some of our cinematographer's and director's new work, "Friendship" was featured as a Festival Favorite at the South By South West 2025 Film Festival!

Source: Andy and Andrew's IG

= Rachel House =

Our Mary Reed, Rachel House was featured at the "All About Women" festival about gender, justice and equality on March 8-9! More info here!

Source: Rachel's IG

Rachel was also out at a Tinā screening, supporting our dear Auntie, Anapela Polata'ivao!

Source: Rachel's IG

== Tiny Crew Big Raffle ==

Great news! Tiny Crew Big Raffle is back! This time with a super amazing prize made by the props team of OFMD! The baby monkey was behind the bar at Spanish Jackiez and helped to really build the ambiance of the place! The monkey was donated by our fabulous S2 Set Decorator Megan Vertelle! The Raffle begins March 29th! To learn more and keep up to date, remember to check out their socials! Linktr.ee / Instagram / Tumblr : @ofmd-buys-boats

Source: Tiny Crew Big Raffle's IG

== Craft Fair Creator Feed ==

Our friend Archem aka @yerbamansa over on BSKY is one of the OFMD craft fair team members, and they have put together a feed for creators that participated in the craft fair and have shops or do commissions! This feed is pretty great because it has all the creators info so you can easily check out what they have up for sale! Check the feed out here! (Right now it's open in general but may go back to bsky logged in only, just fyi)! I also wanted to share some of the gorgeous graphics Archem made for our dear creators-- and the first up is the one, the only Pogo!

Source: Archem's Bsky

= Pogo NR =

As it shows above, Pogo does a lot of fabulous work (one of my fave Vianton artists!) and for the craft fair she not only donated multiple sets of smoochie stickers, painting, and fanfiction tags, but an amazingly stunning Mermaid Skeletons Tufted Rug! As ArchEm mentioned above, you can check more of her work out on these socials! Bsky / Etsy / Ko-Fi

Source: OFMD Craft Fair

= Pirate Pam =

Another one of our fabulous crewmates, Pirate Pam, donated a Custom Book Binding! Talk about gorgeous! I'm so impressed by all the talent on this ship!

Source: OFMD Craft Fair

Wanna check out some of her book binding work? This is only one of so many awesome ones you can check out in her thread on bluesky!

Source: Pirate Pam's Bluesky

= Dimply Owl =

Another of our wonderful crewmates, Ally, aka Dimply Owl donated these insanely cute Crochet Dumbo Octopuses! She donated multiple of them and if you missed them and you'd like to, you can order some on her Ko-fi! Wanna follow Ally on her socials / check out her fics? Visit AO3 / Bluesky / Ko-fi !

Source: Dimplyowl

= Deanbird =

Another of our magnificent crewmates @deanbird, donated several different items to the OFMD Craft Fair! Seriously check out how many! Wanna check out more of her fabulous work? Visit: Bluesky / Instagram / Ko-fi

So many people have already received their Invitations to High Tea and 1/2 of a Pyramid! Even David's impressed!

Source: David's Bsky

== Love Notes ==

Hey there crew. It's been a while. I'm sorry this edition is so small after such a huge amount of time. Trying to keep them to 2-4 days, but we'll see how that goes with how behind I am. It's been a lot lately. Home, work, the world, the fandom, just a lot's been happening all at once. I've been trying to focus on a few things that I've had to work on outside the fandom as well as taking some mental health breaks and that's been keeping me busy.

So tonight, for the love notes, I just wanted to take a second to say thank you. So many of you have been so kind to me and so many others over this past year + that I've been here. Even if I just get to see your name pop up on my notifications for a like or a reblog, or if we chat, or I just get to catch glimpses of your works across the various platforms, it brings me a lot of joy.

Some of you, I only really know through tags. Others I know from discord, or bsky, or instagram. Some of you I've never spoken to outside of tumblr-- but I can honestly tell you, you have improved my life by being here.

Others of you, I consider you some of my closest friends. Friends I've never met, miles away around the world, and your influence on me is so incredibly profound -- and even if we never meet each other in person, I will never be the same because of you.

I'm so very blessed and lucky to have found this place-- to have found you all. I know a lot of you feel the same way about the people you interact with here on the day to day.

That being said, the world is a complicated place. Sometimes things don't go the way we planned, whether on a personal, fandom, or global level. Sometimes people disappoint us, and spaces we thought fit us shift in shape. No matter what changes for you in this world, I want you to know that your kindness, and your interactions with me and everyone else have made a positive difference. Thousands and millions of tiny interactions continue to happen within our fandom every day. Some of them don't go the way we hope they will-- but the majority of them, are beautiful. Sometimes we have to learn from them, and they help us grow, and sometimes they nourish us in hard times. We are a community of wonderfully kind people who were brought together by chance. Thank you for being here. Thank you for making my life better, and this world a better place.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beth Evans (@bethdrawsthings)

IMG Source: Beth Evan's IG

[princessofpi15]

Today I saw that West Point (a United States military academy, which is a college and an officer training school for the US Army in one) has disbanded around 12 student organizations. Many of these clubs are social/ support groups, where students can gather with students similar to themselves and discuss difficulties they may be having or celebrate successes. However even more upsetting to than the disbanding of these social/ support groups (which are vital pillars in so many communities) was the disbanding of the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers. These organizations are professional development organizations, which exist in colleges/ universities, but also country wide. They help students learn professional skills and behaviors, build resumes, do mock interviews with them, and have a countless amount of resources for jobs and internships. After one has graduated from college, these organizations often hold social hours to help people network, and meet people in there field, hold lectures or other events for professional development hours, to help people keep their skills fresh and keep their engineering license up to date. Dismantling these resources CAN AND WILL destroy careers. I am so so gutted and heartbroken for these students. I can only hope that the parent chapters are doing all they can to support them during this time.

Here are 2 different news articles about it:

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5129386-west-point-cadet-clubs-ordered-disband/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/05/west-point-cadet-clubs-disbanded-dei-trump/

The Washington post article links to the exact executive order which has caused this

[fuckyeahstagefright]

This blog is dedicated to archiving information about the play Inside No 9 Stage/Fright which ran at the Wyndham's Theatre in London 16/01/25 - 05/04/25 and is due to tour the UK 05/09/25 - 06/12/25

🐇Tag index

celebrity guest for details about celebrity guest appearances, and photos of celebrity guests. (also tagged by the name of the guest)

press night for content around the west end press night, 29/01/25

press and pr for reviews, press photos, interviews etc

fan report for reblogging posts from fans who attended a show

autumn tour for content around the 2025 autumn tour

olivier awards for content around the 2025 olivier awards

curtain call for... curtain call photos! (and the occassional video clip/gif)

performance photos for snaps taken during shows at times that aren't curtain call

bts photos and bts video for backstage/rehearsal/dressing room content

location tags: wyndham's / churchill theatre bromley / milton keynes theatre / marlowe theatre canterbury / birmingham alexandra / manchester opera house / new victoria theatre woking / hull new theatre / new theatre oxford / regent theatre stoke / liverpool empire / edinburgh playhouse / birmingham alexandra

I will do my best to accurately date and source material that I share. I will also tag each post with the location. (NB: This blog uses the British date format: 05/09 is 5th September not 9th May)

If I have posted something of yours without credit please give me the link to the source and I will update the post ASAP.

If you have something you would like to submit to the blog please get in touch! If you would like something to be shared anonymously/without credit then just let me know. And if you have extra info about a celebrity guest appearance I encourage you to comment directly on the post 🥰

🐇Spoiler Policy

No plot spoilers will be posted here. However the articles, reviews and reports that I reblog/link to may contain spoilers. Things that could be considered spoilery will be tagged stage/fright spoilers so please mute that tag if you have any concerns. (If you see a post that hasn't been tagged please let me know! I'm only human and mistakes do happen)

There are certain aspects of the play that have already been widely shared online or in official promotional material. I discuss these in more detail under the cut.

The inclusion of a different special guest each show has been widely discussed on social media and talked about in official press and PR. Because of this I don't treat the fact that a guest appears to be a spoiler - but I do consider details of the celebrity's appearance to be a spoiler, and will tag them as such. Photos and details of celebrity appearances will be tagged celebrity guest and with the guest's name

This post includes a complete list of special guests throughout the Wyndham's run

The names of the full cast were released before the show opened. Names and photos of cast members outside of the show/not in character will not be treated as spoilers

The official promo photos released after press night on 19/01/25 include images of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith dressed as characters from the Inside No. 9 episode Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room. These photos were used on the official Wyndham's booking website and in many press reviews. I do consider it a bit of a spoiler as it reveals that these characters appear during the show. The photos will appear on this blog as they're already out there, but beyond that I won't be including details of how/when these characters are involved

There are two curtain calls at the end of the play that appear in fan photos. I will be sharing curtain call photos, but as they show the cast in costumes that could be considered a spoiler they will be tagged stage/fright spoilers as well as curtain call

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, May 4th

ANGEL: I know you’re not planning to kill me, Wesley. But you’re willing to. And that’s good.

~~I’ve Got You Under My Skin~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Something Precious by unendingwanderlust (Angel/Darla, Explicit)

All I Want Is You by flipflop_diva (Buffy/Faith, Explicit)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Corrigendo Tabulam - Chapter 50 by lyrical_echoes (Tara, s6 ensemble, not rated)

The Purrfect Con, Ch. 2 by flootzavut (Buffy/Spike, G)

Once More, With Fangs, Ch. 4-5 by Cazzy (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Restore to Backup, Ch. 1-4 by Annie Dolnar (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Brownie Points, Ch. 1 by Alyot (Dawn & Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Zeppo In Time, Ch. 4-5 by CheekyKitten (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

I Spy, Ch. 4 by Geliot99 (Dawn & Buffy/Spike, temporary Buffy/others, R)

The battle of the rhymes, Ch. 29 by JSBirsa (Buffy/Spike, ensemble, anti-Riley, R)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Pencil drawing: Fuffy vibes by macaronirats (Buffy/Faith, worksafe)

Digital drawings: Anya with goat eyes and other nonhuman features by pzyii (worksafe)

Digital drawings: another day another murderous blonde man to rot my brain by smthwckd (Spike, some nudity)

Digital drawing: He's thinking of a new plan to get Buffy on a date patrol by 0-pepites-0 (Spike, worksafe)

angel investigations comic loosely based on the world's funniest employee interaction by artsying-ifer (Angel & Cordelia vs. OC, Gunn, worksafe)

Buffy Summers aesthetic by buffyansummers (worksafe)

moodboard: autistic he/they nb trans man wesley wyndam pryce by courtillyy (worksafe)

Digital drawings: Season 10 Spike by doodlejoops (worksafe, some blood)

Drawing (markers): a Buffy by glitterswitchcraft (worksafe)

A Buffy/Faith pencil sketch by glitterswitchcraft (worksafe)

Digital drawing: The darker the fruit, the sweeter... by o-cm-draw-o (Buffy/Spike, NSFW)

A Buffy x Giles vidlet by Tiktok user randfilmz (worksafe)

A Willow/Tara vidlet by TikTok user lehqhnes (probably worksafe, kissing)

Captioned screenshots: me and my soulmate... by satinsafefromreality (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Comic: Complicated Girl by sideartblog999 (Buffy/Faith, worksafe)

Not A Date, pages 27-31 by Grief Counseling, Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Manip: You're all I need by Harmony99 (Buffy/Spike, R)

[Reviews & Recaps]

What's your most hated Buffyverse storyline? by crackers4jenn, oh-so-eepy

Rewatch: S1 E6 - The Pack by torturedspike

[Recs & In Search Of]

flareonfury seeks a fic where after Spike receives the chip he can still attack/bite Buffy BEFORE her death

Multifandom: indie audiobook narrator lilacsolanum is looking for a spicy sapphic scene to record and showcase as a sample of her work in sapphic writing groups

[Community Announcements]

Multifandom: Signups Open at fandom5k

[Fandom Discussions]

giles and willow parallels by automatonwithautonomy

Re: Buffy/Kendra by coraniaid

what was the plan Annabelle? by femmedefandom

Re: Angel x Cordelia: what do they like in bed? by forcebookish

there is one single, plausibly realistic thing i am kind of hoping to see [in the Hulu sequel] by incognitoduck11

my worst enemy tim minear by true-bluesargent

Echo from season 2 (the series finale echoes the season 2 finale) by Slight_Apartment1200

Giles and Anya by Billie_TheBish

How would people have made Kennedy more likeable? by voldy1989

If Jasmine... was a big bad in [BtVS], how do you think Buffy and her friends would fight her? by Easy-Distribution223

Let's have a BTVS themed dinner party! What are you bringing?? by AvailableVictory8360

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

James Marsters Nightmare Weekend Chicago 2025 Reports, Pics & Videos via dontkillspike

The latest episode of Schmactors with James Marsters & Mark Devine "12 - Galaxies, Groupies, and the $30 Sandwich"

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[sol-arium126]

Brilliant Minds is taking a short break over the holidays and will resume in the New Year on Monday, January 6, 2025, for a 2-hour season finale in its usual time slot at 10/9c on NBC. 

This is different than the original schedule I saw, apparently we are getting the rest on January 6. I’m assuming it’s ep 12 and 13 played one after the other, but it may be just one chunk of TV in the time slot, idk, we’ll have to see closer to the date.

thanks @klaretta39 for the article!

[markantonys]

wotseries did a little article about the south africa filming which apparently officially started today, and there's nothing crazy in it but i'm so desperate for crumbs that i'm bringing the little tidbits i found interesting to you all!

they speculate filming will last about 2 months

they speculate some tanchico scenes may be filmed here as well as aiel waste scenes

crew members spotted include people associated with all of the season's directors (block 1&4, block 2, and block 3). which might mean the waste scenes (and/or possibly tanchico scenes) start as early as 3x01/2 and/or span as late as 3x07/8 (the director for blocks 1&4 is the same, so we can't say for sure whether they're there for both blocks or just one of them). wotseries does specifically say they believe they may be filming for material as early as 3x02.

they are confident that rosamund pike, daniel henney, madeleine madden, ayoola smart, and josha stradowski are involved in the filming. (actually, they said they were confident about the first 4 and assumed josha was also there since rand yknow has to be there, but i'm 99.9999% sure josha mentioned being part of this filming in the december interviews, so i'm confident.) so it does sound like exclusively the waste crew right now, and thus i'll take the tanchico speculation with a grain of salt, although of course it could be that there are tanchico scenes that are scheduled for later in the shoot and those actors may arrive at a later date.

now for some of my mini musings! first, season filming length. this would put s3 filming at april 2023-april 2024. s2 filmed july 2021-may 2022 and started airing in september 2023. the s2 film end date-air date gap would put s3 at august 2025, while the s1-s2 air gap (1 year 10 months) would put s3 at july 2025. could be we're looking at summer 2025, or could be that amazon wants to alternate septembers with ROP and will put WOT s3 at september 2025, or could be they want and are able to start getting seasons out a bit more quickly and are hoping for spring 2025. who knows! i'll be very curious to learn ROP s2's release date and potentially get a sense whether alternating septembers is their plan or whether they're aiming to start having a fantasy season out every 8-10 months instead of every 12.

second, The Mat Question, given the recent rumor that mat will be part of the tanchico plotline. donal is starring in hadestown which is happening right now, so he's obviously not involved in this filming - at least yet. possibilities are:

a) most/all of the filming is for the waste, and mat is not part of that plotline at all

b) mat is part of the waste plotline in some capacity, but all his scenes were already filmed in the studio and donal doesn't need to participate in the south africa shoot

c) donal does need to participate in a portion of the south africa shoot and an understudy will take over his part in hadestown for a bit while he's doing that (i know nothing about how long-running theater productions work, so i have no idea whether or not it's likely that he would take a theater job or be hired for a theater job if he already knew he wouldn't be available for a chunk of its run)

i don't really have any guesses at all here. mat is destined to be the most mysterious and hard-to-predict character of every season!

third, i'm thrilled to have unofficial confirmation that madeleine is part of this filming and i hope to soon see an end to the "egwene will go back to the tower instead of accompanying rand & co straight to the waste from falme" nonsense haha

fourth, the potential timeframe of the waste plotline. that it spans episodes 3-6 is totally unsurprising, so it's the bookend blocks i'm most curious about. arriving at the waste in 3x02 makes sense to me - this would give them a whole episode with the gang together in falme, and then everyone can split up to head off on their trips. there's also a bit of a possibility that the suspected 3x02 material could be just the end of the episode, and rand's group spends most of the episode in a different place such as caemlyn (a theory i love very much and will hold onto as long as i possibly can!). i thiiiiiink previous leaks placed rand's rhuidean visions in block 2, and in the books the rhuidean trip is just about the first thing they do upon arriving in the waste, so it could be that their arrival is sorta like the 3x02 cliffhanger and then we dive into rhuidean and such in 3x03.

then for block 4. again, we don't know for sure whether this director is here for anything to do with block 4 or only for block 1, so this might be a moot point. but the potential block 4 i can think of for rand's plotline is either a) they're still in the waste all the way through 3x08 as in TSR, or b) they leave the waste sometime in 3x07/8 and go to either cairhien or tear for a big battle. option B would probably still involve some waste scenes in this block even if they ultimately end in a different location, so i don't even know why i'm bringing up anything to do with block 4 because we're no closer to guessing the location of rand's crew by the end of 3x08 than we were before!

[delicateperspective]

I hate when fandom spaces end up in these cheap gossip rags, but I’m posting this here for posterity because… well, here we go again.

From the very first mention of this, they’re already calling it a stunt—which, honestly, is kind of hilarious if you think about it. If this were Cowell-directed, the article would be highlighting antis more aggressively, saying things like "fans were hoping she’d be spotted at his concert" or something equally ridiculous. Instead, this is clearly ripped straight from the subreddit, where people are constantly jumping on every single clue (even when they’re wildly misinformed) and making the rest of us look absolutely unhinged.

So yeah, here it is. Another random tabloid moment fueled by fan speculation, and we all get to sit back and watch how it plays out. 🙃

Zara McDermott dating 'One Direction's Louis Tomlinson' as fans spot huge clue

Zara McDermott fans are convinced they've worked out her love interest after her shock split from Sam Thompson

By

Ramla Jeylani

12:45, 10 Mar 2025

Updated 12:47, 10 Mar 2025

Zara McDermott is said to be mending her broken heart with a member of One Direction.

Zara, who was previously in a five-year relationship with Sam Thompson, saw their split announced in December. The pair had lived together, but Zara has since moved out. Now, attention has turned to a potential romance with Louis Tomlinson, as fans have spotted some telling clues. Eagle-eyed followers noticed that Louis, as well as his sisters Lottie, Daisy and Phoebe, all followed Zara on Instagram. This, along with the fact that Zara follows all of Louis' sisters, sparked the speculation.

One fan took to Reddit to highlight the connection, writing: “I've read a lot of rumours that Louis is in a relationship with Zara McDermott. They recently started to follow each other on instagram. She follows all of his sisters, and they follow her back.” They continued: “Obviously, following a person on instagram doesn't mean that people are in a relationship, lol, But, I just find it weird, and I am scared that this will be a new stunt. Especially since I've read about them many times. Louis is having a concert in London today, and I'm just waiting for Zara to be spotted there or that she post a story from the concert."

Some fans slammed the speculation with one writing: “I‘m seeing a lot of people posting that they think they are dating. Just because he followed her? Weird! I’m sure he follows a lot of people." Whilst another added: “Yesterday, people were saying, ‘Watch. She will be at his show today.’ I haven’t seen any evidence of that. And he said in the past that he has no time for anyone that has anything to do with Love Island."

Other fans claimed that Zara’s connection to the Tomlinsons may be more related to her documentary work, as she has made a few in the past. It has been rumoured that the Tomlinson family is planning to create their own documentary. One user wrote: “I think there is a documentary about the Tomlinson’s being produced since the sisters are interested in being England’s version of the Kardashians. Zara has worked on documentaries, maybe she is involved with that."

Hinting that it may be a publictiy stunt, they added: "Also we are overdue for a stunt from Louis, he has been publicly single for three years, I would not be surprised if we see him with a girl when his new album is released then they have to 'break up' when he goes on tour.” Some fans speculated that the Instagram follows could be linked to her documentary campaign for a law change after she became a victim of revenge porn, which led to recent legislation making it illegal. they wrote: “I’ve heard about the link with a documentary as well. Zara has been involved in a recent change in the law as it’s now illegal to threaten to share images without someone’s consent."

The Mirror has contacted Zara and Louis' representatives for comment.

[darkmaga-returns]

Just a day after we wrote about the ‘rumored’ new plan for the US to hold Ukrainian elections next year to give intransigent Zelensky the boot, The Economist made it semi-official by acknowledging that, ‘suddenly’, Zelensky is facing a ‘power struggle’ at home:https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/11/12/volodymyr-zelensky-faces-a-power-struggle-in-2025

It’s in line with how Biden’s advanced dementia was just “abruptly” discovered by figures and organs of the establishment, only after becoming convenient and politically expedient enough for them to make it public. Similarly here, as soon as the memo-from-above’s arrival, The Economist sprang into pre-conditioning the ground to sell the narrative that Zelensky’s regime is now on uncertain footing; they would have never been allowed to even suggest that Zelensky faced danger at home until it became necessary to do so.

The article opens up with the admission that funeral ceremonies for soldiers in Kiev have “become more frequent” after the recent ramp-up of Russia’s offensives, a testament to the AFU’s own mounting death toll at a time when they’re desperately trying to sell the opposing claim about ‘astronomical Russian casualties’.

For now, there are two dates on Kyiv politicos’ lips: January 20th 2025, the date of Mr Trump’s inauguration, the first moment for any possible ceasefire and lifting of military law, and May 25th, the earliest mooted date for an election.

An election during pinnacle of wartime seems unthinkable, they write, but:

Still, some groundwork appears to have begun. Regional election headquarters are mobilising, and work on candidate lists is beginning. The representatives of one likely presidential rival to Volodymyr Zelensky say that Ukraine needs elections; but they worry about making a public statement to this effect, fearing a fierce backlash from the presidential office.

Then, of course, comes the obligatory backstab:

[bangtanpurplearchive]

May 2025 방탄소년단

What a month!!!!!!

The countdown is on JUNE BTS month is here.

Keep up with all schedule by visiting the website home page or the google calendar

The picture archive has 1000s of pictures - remember CTTO - see main page for link to archive (tumblr has a limit to amount of links per post)

This month Jhope's Hope On the Street tour nears it finale

Jin has had a very busy month with the release of his second album ECHO. The lead song 'Don't say you love me' has debuted on the Hot 100 at #90

JHope has announced the release of 'Killin' it Girl ft GloRilla on the 13th June

Run Jin has officially ended - for now! Jin had a spectacular run of 36 episodes with one of them featuring Tome Cruise!

There have a lot of awards this month with RM being the first Asian rapper to win an American music Award

Check them out here

Both Jin and JHope have made a lot of appearances on a variety of shows

Check them out here

JHope has been very consistent with the lives and it has been greatly appreciated.

We're onto the day's countdowns remember let's love all of them and support them on their return

If you can, please do help support keeping the site running

onto June!!!!!!! BTS Month!!!!!!!!

[study-with-aura]

Friday, January 10, 2025

Why did you all not let me know that I was still dating everything back in 2024!? I use a template, so I copied and pasted from my last main school post in the fall and then updated from there, but I didn't fully fix the date. I guess I can go back and fix it all at some point, or simply leave it and confuse everyone later on. No, I'll change it. 😂

Tasks Completed:

Algebra 2 - Reviewed transformations of functions + learned to graph exponential functions using transformations + practice + identified features of exponential functions from graphs

American Literature - Copied vocabulary terms + read about Flannery O'Connor + read about "Good Country People" and "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" by O'Connor + read about using logic in argumentative writing

Spanish 3 - Reviewed direct objects + practiced using direct object pronouns

Bible 2 - Read 2 Chronicles 34

Early American History - Read about The Era of Good Feelings + read Chapter 2 of Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life by Francis Parkman

Earth Science with Lab - Watched a short documentary about the history of astronomy

PE/Health 2 - Read a health article about depression and anxiety

Art Appreciation - Read about art criticism + answered study guide questions

Khan Academy - Completed Algebra 2 Unit 9: Lesson 7

Duolingo - Studied for approximately 15 minutes (Spanish + French + Chinese) + completed daily quests

Piano - Practiced for four hours

Reading - Read pages 109-151 of Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou

Chores - None today

Activities of the Day:

Personal Bible Study (2 Corinthians 12)

Group Bible Study + Devotional (Job 24-28)

2 episodes of Forest of Piano on Netflix

Online ballet/variations class

Journal/Mindfulness

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

While it does quote the faulty CDC guidelines that equate communicability of the virus to symptoms, there is some good analysis and advice in this article.

By EMMA FLETCHER-FRAZER

COVID-19 remains a serious illness that is circulating in Skagit County, county Public Health Communicable Disease Manager Polly Dubbel said.

Unlike the flu, “COVID isn’t seasonal,” she said.

Dubbel said the county’s rate of infections peaked in July, and has generally stayed there.

In the North Sound region, which includes Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties, 2.3% of hospitalizations last week were related to COVID-19, according to state Department of Health data.

Emergency room visits for COVID-19 have generally crawled upward in the region since May, and COVID-19 testing data from hospitals and other clinical sites shows that the last week’s rate for positive clinical tests was 40.7 per 100,000 residents in the North Sound region.

However, a significant portion of positive COVID-19 tests occur at home, which typically aren’t reported. Asymptomatic cases are also likely not being caught, said Dubbel. Another way to measure COVID-19 activity is through wastewater.

Many of those with COVID-19 “shed” genetic material through their waste, and its presence can be detected through testing of untreated wastewater.

The state Department of Health measures disease levels in untreated wastewater in participating wastewater treatment plants, including those in Mount Vernon and Anacortes.

During the course of the past two weeks, Mount Vernon’s COVID-19 rates as seen through wastewater data skyrocketed to their highest concentrations of the year.

Anacortes saw its highest concentrations of the year in July, but has since seen a small decline.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider the state’s viral activity within wastewater to be “very high” — the highest category — and above the national average. Viral activity at the Mount Vernon and Anacortes wastewater plants are also labeled as “very high.”

A significant portion of detected COVID-19 at the two treatment plants are the K.P.3.1.1. variant, which is in the Omicron family.

Not only is COVID-19 still a threat, but Skagit County continues to see deaths caused by COVID-19.

Over the past year, North Sound Region has had a rate of 17.4 deaths from COVID-19 per 100,000 people.

During the week of Sept. 8-14 — the most recent available data — 24 residents in the state died with COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificates.

Additionally, those who died but only tested positive for COVID-19 with a home testing kit and not a clinical test may not be counted in the state data.

TAKING PRECAUTIONSSkagit Regional Health is having staff again wear masks when they are with patients.

The health care provider has recently seen more people admitted with COVID-19 — and more staff with COVID-19 — and wanted to limit staff-to-patient or staff-to-staff transmission, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Connie Davis said in an email.

The masking protocol began Sept. 9. The provider is also encouraging staff to receive updated immunizations.

Island Health in Anacortes remains at its Level 1 masking protocol, which it began in May 2023.

Level 1 means that there are less than 5% staff-confirmed positive tests for COVID-19 each week, Island Health spokesperson Laura Moroney said in an email.

The protocol includes masking by individual choice, and required masking for patients who present with respiratory symptoms.

Island Health requires that “appropriate PPE” be worn by clinical staff working with suspected or known infectious patients.

VACCINATIONS REMAIN KEY Those with up-to-date vaccinations continue have a lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

The Federal Drug Administration gave emergency authorization on Aug. 30 for the 2024-2025 version of the Novavax vaccine for those 12 and older.

The Novavax vaccine is protein based, unlike the two mRNA vaccines.

The 2024-2025 season Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available at Skagit County pharmacies.

The updated Novavax vaccine should be available soon, according to county Public Health.

Residents can prevent COVID-19 transmission by staying home when sick or after testing positive, masking with a high-quality mask such as an N-95, social distancing and practicing good hygiene. About 19.5% of state residents have up-to-date vaccines for the 2023-2024 season, according to the state Department of Health.

Skagit County’s vaccine clinic is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

COVID-19 vaccines are free for those under 19, those who are uninsured, or those whose insurance does not cover COVID-19 vaccinations.

Walk-ins are accepted if there are spaces free, but the department suggests calling to book an appointment.

COVID-19 RESOURCES County Public Health is working to distribute COVID-19 resources.

The county has free at-home test kits at its offices at 301 Valley Mall Way, Suite 110, in Mount Vernon, and is distributing them to local libraries. The county has funding to continue supplying tests through 2025, said Dubbel.

Public Health is contacting residents who have received positive clinical tests about any needed resources or information.

The department also has a bilingual worker to link Spanish-speaking residents to vaccine clinic services.

The state Department of Health has set up kiosks with COVID-19 test kits. One is located at the Swinomish Agency Building at 17400 Reservation Road in La Conner. The kiosk is refilled each week. Households can also request four free COVID-19 at-home tests at COVIDTests.gov.

Skagit County residents with questions about COVID-19 are encouraged to call Public Health at 360-416-1500.

“If people have questions, we’re here to answer them,” Dubbel said.