#importance of two-factor authentication

[deadcaptainentertainment]

Tonight, I noticed an email from Facebook with a legitimate code to change my password that came in around 2pm while I was at work and not using Facebook. I also noticed SOMEONE HAD OPENED IT. Which was also not me, because I was at work, not using my personal email. So I looked at the activity log on both of my email accounts and you guys would not BEEELIEVE what I found. See pictures for the shocking results. This is just one page from each that I could screenshot, this crap has been going on for days upon days and someone actually managed to sign into one of my accounts more than once. I have since changed my password to something harder and forced sign out on all accounts, so hopefully that kicks out whoever was in my effing email, but holy crap.

[virtualizationhowto]

BDRSuite v7.0.0 GA Released New Features

BDRSuite v7.0.0 GA Released New Features #VembuBDRSuitev7.0.0GARelease #BackupandRecoverySoftware #KVMBackup #AzureBackup #AWSBackup #PostgreSQLBackup #FileShareBackup #TwoFactorAuthentication #ImportBackupData #PrePostBackupScripts #FileLevelRecovery

Vembu Technologies has recently unveiled the latest BDRSuite v7.0.0 GA, introducing many new features. This release has many new features and enhancements for comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities. Let’s look at BDRSuite v7.0.0 GA and the new features it contains. Table of contentsWhat is BDRSuite?Free version for home lab environmentsOverview of the new featuresKVM Backup and…

[artfight]

Important Announcement

A now-patched breach of security has occurred on Art Fight. To learn about this issue in full detail, please read the following newspost:

Below is a FAQ regarding the exploit. We highly recommend that you reset your password and enable 2FA if you have interacted with the site recently. If you need any assistance, please send a support email to the following address: support@artfight.zendesk.com

The inbox will be opened shortly to respond to user questions and concerns. Anonymous will be turned off for the time being, please let us know if you prefer that your ask is answered privately.

How did this happen?

Our BBCode system had a vulnerability flaw in it that was temporarily exploited to attempt to gain user credentials, but it has since been patched.

What do we do?

If you believe you may have been affected, please change your password to something unique and secure. We also recommend keeping an eye out on your other accounts, and to change the passwords on them if they shared any credentials as your Art Fight account (so same email or same password).

How do we know if you were affected by this exploit?

If you accessed the comments of the most recent news post (Terms of Service Updates), there is a chance your browser was exposed to the XSS script, and we recommend resetting your password ASAP to be safe.

What are you doing to prevent this from happening again?

Our hard-working dev team has already patched this exploit, as well as added additional security measures to help prevent this from happening again in the future. We will also be proactively doing a security review to help locate any other security concerns. Two Factor Authentication (2FA) has been established as a feature on the site that can be found in your settings.

I'm nervous about going onto the site at all now! What if my account gets hacked/stolen/etc?

Art Fight's dev team has patched the vulnerability that this incident has revealed, and has added additional security to catch/stop malicious scripts before they can affect the userbase. All instances of the previous malicious script have been removed from the website, meaning that it is once again safe to view the last news post! We are working hard to continue to keep users safe, so you don't need to worry about accessing anything on the site. If you come across anything potentially concerning, please don't hesitate to forward it to a moderator - we're happy to look into it!

What information might've been taken from me?

The XSS attack attempted to collect autofilled Art Fight log in information--emails and passwords--from users. No other information (like birthdays) should have been collected through this script. If you use the same email/password combo, or same password anywhere else, we recommend changing to ensure your accounts stay secure.

[ms-demeanor]

I'm not the most security savvy but two-factor authentication makes me deeply suspicious. Is it actually more secure or is it just annoying? Especially the ones that send a code to your phone that pops up in your notifications.

It is genuinely, massively, TREMENDOUSLY more secure to use 2FA/MFA than to not use it.

One of our clients is currently under attack by a group that appears to be using credential stuffing; they are making educated guesses about the accounts they're trying to lot into based on common factors showing up in the credentials in years of pastes and breaches and leaks. Like, let's say it's a professional arborist's guild and their domain is arborist.tree and they've had three hundred members who have had their credentials compromised in the last ten years and the people looking at all the passwords associated with arborist.tree noticed that the words "arboreal" and "conifer" and "leaf" and "branch" show up over and over and over again in the passwords for the members of the professional arborist's guild.

So they can make an educated guess for how to log in to accounts belonging to the tree-loving tree lover's club, combine that with the list of legitimate emails, and go to town.

And they are in fact going to town. We're getting between 1000 and 4000 login attempts per hour. It's been happening for a couple weeks.

And every single one of those attempts is failing - in spite of some pretty poor password practices that believe me, I have been doing some talking about - as a result of having MFA enforced for the entire group. They all use an app that is synced to their individual accounts with a mobile device, except that sometimes you have trouble getting a code when you're up in a tree so some of them have physical MFA tokens.

People try to sign into my tumblr sometimes. To those people I say: lol, good luck, I couldn't guess my own password with a gun to my head. But if I *did* have some password that was, like "tiny-bastard-is#1" they would also need access to my email address because I've got MFA set up on tumblr. And to THAT I say: lol, good luck, it's complex passwords and MFA all the way down.

Of the types of MFA that most people will run across, the most secure to least secure hierarchy goes physical token>app based one-time-passwords>tie between email and SMS. Email and SMS are less preferred because email is relatively easy to capture and open in transit and cellphone SIMs can be cloned to capture your text messages. But if you are using email or SMS for your authentication you are still miles and miles and miles ahead of people who are not using any kind of authentication.

MFA is, in fact, so effective that I only advise people to turn it on if they are 100% sure that they will be able to access the account if they lose access to the device that had the authenticator on it. You usually can do this by saving a collection of recovery codes someplace safe (I recommend doing this in the secure notes section of your password manager on the entry for the site in question - if this is not a feature that your password manager has, I recommend that you get a better password manager, and the password manager I recommend is bitwarden).

A couple weeks ago I needed to get into a work account that I had created in 2019. In 2022, my boss had completely taken me off of managing that service and had his own account, so I deleted it from my authenticator. Then in 2024 my boss sold the business but didn't provide MFA for a ton of the accounts we've got. I was able to get back into my account because five years earlier I had taken a photo of the ten security codes from the company and saved them in a folder on my desktop called "work recovery codes." If you are going to use MFA, it is VITALLY IMPORTANT that you save recovery codes for the accounts you're authenticating someplace that you'll be able to find them, because MFA is so secure that the biggest problem with it is locking people out of their accounts.

In any kind of business context, I think MFA should be mandatory. No question.

For personal accounts, I think you should be pointed and cautious where you apply it, and always leave yourself another way in. There are SO MANY stories about people having their phones wiped or stolen or destroyed and losing MFA with the device because they didn't have a backup of the app or hadn't properly transferred it to a new device.

But it's also important to note that MFA is not a "fix all security forever" thing - I've talked about session hijacking here and the way you most often see MFA defeated is by tricking someone into logging in to a portal that gives them access to your cookies. This is usually done by phishing and sending someone a link to a fake portal.

That is YET ANOTHER reason that you should be using a good password manager that allows you to set the base domain for the password you're using so that you can be sure you're not logging in to a faked portal. If your password manager doesn't have that feature (setting the domain where you can log in to the base domain) then I recommend that you get a better password manager (get bitwarden.)

In 2020 my terrible boss wanted me to write him a book about tech that he could have run off at a vanity press and could give to prospect customers as a business card. That was a terrible idea, but I worked on the book anyway and started writing it as a book about security for nontechnical people. I started out with a very simple statement:

If every one of our customers did what we recommend in the first four chapters of this book (make good backups, use a password manager and complex unique passwords, enable MFA, and learn how to avoid phishing), we would go out of business, because supporting problems that come from those four things is about 90-95% of our work.

So yes, absolutely, please use MFA. BUT! Save your recovery codes.

[urrmomzfavorite]

PAC WHY PEOPLE FALL FOR YOU

HEYY bestieee ✨ Let’s move on from that man who’s been making you cry and check out my MASTERLIST instead.Time to upgrade to someone who doesn’t make you question your life choices, okay? 😘

Pile One

You come into people’s lives like a quiet storm. You look so innocent, so pure—but you come with surprises. You will never be what is expected of you, and that’s what people love about you. They never know what they’re going to get; their preconceived ideas of you shatter the second you open your mouth.

You’re incredibly smart, clever with your words, and skilled at finding creative solutions to problems. Your good looks, ability to identify people’s strengths, and ease in forming connections (or conundrums) make you the perfect leader. People get close to admire your beauty, bask in your light, and quickly find themselves wrapped around your finger.

You make people surrender to you—they have no choice but to bow to your power. Some find this uncomfortable, but the ones who swim in the sauce? They demand more, getting lost trying to decipher you. You’re multidimensional, a force to be reckoned with, a beauty that commands worship, and a sharp mind. How could anyone not fall for you?

✨💖 Heyyy cuties! 💖✨ Don’t be shy, take a little peek at my other posts—you know you wanna!

Pile Two

“Did it hurt falling from heaven?” You little demon. Pile Two, you’re intoxicating—a sweet poison. (I’m hearing Sweet Nothing by Calvin Harris playing in the background.) It’s hard to resist you; your sweet words turn people into believers of your gospel. They need to hear you, be near you, and earn your attention. It’s fun… until it gets clingy.

Pile Two, that push-and-pull power play you act so coy about? It’s dangerous. You’re the match to their gasoline. They’d been floating in still water, comfortable in their stillness—then you disrupted it all. You glide through life with ease and charm, and they find you refreshing. “It’s exactly what I needed,” they say. You’re a cold glass of water in the desert—needed, awaited.

You break a lot of hearts, some intentionally, others because people take care of that themselves. They get intrigued by you and talk themselves out of approaching you. But oh boy, no matter what, you linger, becoming a core memory, a core regret.

By the time they realize you’re what they needed, you’re already gone. It’s hard to hold onto you; you feel like a dream. They’ll swear they imagined you, like a mirage… until you reappear, reminding them how dull life felt without you.

✨💖 Heyyy cuties! 💖✨ Don’t be shy, take a little peek at my other posts—you know you wanna!

Pile Three

It’s your world, and we’re just living in it. Yes, babe—we’re aware, and we’re into it. (I’m the voice of the people!) Pile Three, you’re impossible to miss. That Easy A line? “Google could find me if I was a crack in concrete.” You know, when she comes back to school after the rumor about her losing her "virginity" spreads. You could easily be sexualized by your peers. They fantasize about having you because you seem unreachable, like they’d need to be someone important just to stand next to you.

You’ve got the it factor, that star quality. You belong under a spotlight, and everyone sees it. Your style? The way you put outfits together? Chef’s kiss. People want to be your friend, your lover, part of your circle—but stay wary of energy vampires. They don’t know if they want to be you or be with you. A little bit of both, perhaps? Probably.

Copycats try to mimic you, but it’s never quite right. You’re authentic; they’re just desperate to be liked. Even if others can’t explain it, they feel the difference. You’re put on a pedestal—and honestly? That’s where you belong. 😘

✨💖 Heyyy cuties! 💖✨ Don’t be shy, take a little peek at my other posts—you know you wanna!

[honeytonedhottie]

celebrity energy⋆.ೃ࿔*:･👛🐩

i've written a post about celebrity energy before and in this post i kinda wanted to add onto what was said in that post and incorporate new info and sections…💬🎀

THE IT FACTOR ;

the it factor is the ability to capture people's attention. its about ur aura, ur identity, ur PRESENCE. you dont have to be "born with it" like a lot of people like to say, it is something that can be achieved.

so essentially ur gonna wanna get into a state where there is no fear. literally eliminate it. use the alter ego effect, affirm until ur fears dissipate, WHATEVER works for u but u just wanna get into a state where there is no fear because thats when ur truly magnetic.

MORE ON SELF CONCEPT ;

we've been conditioned to believe certain things about ourselves, whether its negative or positive and its our responsibility to rewire our brains and form those new assumptions so that then we can get back to our it factor and our hyper identity.

to get to a state where there is no fear you must also be able to hack ur nervous system. aka nervous system regulation. aka the best thing EVER…💬🎀

♡ breathing exercises and deep breathing ♡ humming to stimulate ur vagus nerve

THE TRIPLE C'S ;

while making the notes for celebrity energy (the big C) and i was able to umbrella it to three main points. those points being confidence, cuntiness, and charisma. 💕✍🏽

♡ confidence ; celebrities need to have undeniable confidence in themselves and their abilities. they're famous for a reason and they know that. work on ur self concept and watch ur confidence sky rocket.

♡ cuntiness ; to be cunty is to be feminine and aware of urself. be cunty in the things that u do and the way that u handle urself. to be cunty is to find the perfect balance of inner strength and delicateness. cunt = refined.

♡ charisma ; authenticity is the heart of charisma. be authentic and dont be afraid to take up space.

PERSONAL BRAND AND REPUTATION ;

to further touch on those points ur social media IS your brand. this section kind of ties in with the next but im trying to distinguish between the two. so ur personal brand is what u do. so lets say ur rly SUPER smart and ur known for getting A's on like everything.

that is ur personal brand and that comes with a reputation that u may or may not feel obligated to uphold. but its important to uphold a reputation of some sort. with that being said be careful of what u post on ur social media because DIGITAL FOOTPRINT IS REAL. and when people look at ur social media they're seeing a representation of what ur putting out to the world so always be mindful.

[payblogs]

DARK SMS - DRAGON+

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, maintaining privacy and security while communicating is more important than ever. Introducing DarkSMS, a cutting-edge virtual SMS platform designed to streamline your messaging experience without compromising your personal information. With our innovative virtual number service, users can receive SMS messages securely and anonymously, eliminating the risks associated with sharing private phone numbers. Whether you’re signing up for online services, verifying accounts, or simply looking to keep your communication confidential, DarkSMS has got you covered. 

Virtual SMS

Virtual SMS refers to the messaging service that enables users to send and receive text messages through a virtual phone number rather than a traditional mobile line. This service is particularly useful for individuals and businesses looking to maintain privacy while communicating or verifying accounts.

One of the key advantages of using virtual sms is the ability to receive SMS without revealing your personal phone number. This is especially beneficial for online transactions, sign-ups for apps, or any situation where you might need to provide a phone number but want to protect your privacy.

Furthermore, virtual numbers can be easily managed from a web-based platform, allowing users to organize and store messages effectively. Many service providers offer features such as message forwarding, where received SMS messages can be redirected to your email or other platforms, ensuring you never miss an important notification.

In addition to privacy and convenience, virtual SMS services are often cost-effective. They eliminate the need for extra SIM cards or mobile contracts, allowing users to only pay for the services they actually use. This flexibility makes virtual number services highly attractive for startups and individuals working from remote locations.

As businesses increasingly adopt digital communication strategies, integrating virtual SMS into their operations can enhance customer interaction and improve engagement through instant messaging capabilities.

Virtual Number Service

A virtual number service offers a practical solution for individuals and businesses looking to maintain privacy while receiving communications. By using a virtual number, you can receive SMS messages without exposing your personal phone number. This feature is especially useful for those engaged in online transactions, such as e-commerce, as it safeguards against unwanted spam and protects your identity.

One of the key advantages of a virtual number service is its capability to function seamlessly alongside your primary phone line. Users can receive messages from various platforms effectively, whether it's for verification purposes, two-factor authentication, or simply keeping in touch with clients. The convenience of managing multiple numbers through a single device cannot be overstated.

With options to select numbers from different geographic locations, this service caters to users looking to establish a local presence in different markets. Moreover, these numbers can be set up quickly and easily, providing instant access to receive SMS without lengthy contracts or commitments.

To optimize your experience with virtual SMS and virtual number services, consider features like call forwarding, voicemail, and the ability to choose your own number. Such functionality enhances user experience by offering flexibility in communication while maintaining professional boundaries.

Ultimately, investing in a virtual number service can significantly enhance your business's communication strategy, allowing you to receive SMS reliably while focusing on building relationships with your clients.

Receive SMS

Receiving SMS through a virtual number is a convenient service that allows users to get text messages without needing a physical SIM card. This is particularly beneficial for individuals and businesses looking for privacy or those who wish to avoid exposing their personal phone numbers.

The process is straightforward: once you obtain a virtual number through a reliable virtual number service, you can start receiving sms messages. This service is essential for various reasons, including:

  Account verification codes: Many online platforms use SMS to send verification codes. A virtual number allows you to receive these codes securely.

  Business communications: Companies can use virtual SMS to receive client inquiries or feedback without revealing their primary contact numbers.

  Privacy protection: By receiving SMS through a virtual number, users can protect their personal phone numbers from spam and unwanted solicitation.

Moreover, the get SMS feature of a virtual number service ensures that you don’t miss any important messages, even if you are on the move. Messages are often stored digitally, which means you can access them anytime and anywhere.

In summary, the ability to receive SMS through a virtual number enhances both privacy and accessibility, making it a valuable tool for users in various contexts.

Get SMS

Getting SMS messages through a virtual number service has become increasingly popular due to its convenience and versatility. Whether you need to receive texts for verification purposes or want to maintain privacy while communicating, virtual SMS provides a robust solution.

With a virtual number, you can easily get sms from anywhere in the world without needing a physical SIM card. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses that require secure communication with clients or customers, as it ensures that sensitive information remains confidential.

Here are some advantages of using a virtual number to get SMS:

Privacy Protection: Using a virtual number helps keep your personal phone number private.

Accessibility: You can receive SMS messages on multiple devices, including tablets and laptops.

Cost-Effective: Virtual SMS services typically come with lower costs than traditional SMS plans.

Global Reach: You can get SMS messages from international numbers without incurring roaming fees.

Easy Setup: Setting up a virtual number to receive SMS is straightforward and often takes just a few minutes.

In summary, leveraging a virtual number service for SMS communication allows you to manage your messages efficiently while maintaining privacy, enhancing accessibility, and reducing costs. This is particularly useful for both personal and business communications, making it a smart choice for anyone looking to streamline their SMS functions.

[ad-ciu]

Guth: Reading Irish Myths & Legends

Now that I am a Real Grown-Up Academic (tm), I have been trying to find a way to support my students and the general public by making medieval Irish literature more accessible to people who, be it a lack of time, disability, or any other factor, find sitting down and reading the original texts challenging.

What I settled on was creating a Podcast where I sit down and read out of copyright translations of Irish legends which I have called Guth: Reading Irish Myths and Legends.

If that's all you need to hear, you can go check it out right now! It is on Spotify (here), Podbean (here), and YouTube (here), and should be on Apple Music in the coming weeks. Alternatively, it is embedded here:

For those of you who need a harder sell, or want to know more about it, check out below!

So, why Guth? Well, I have encountered several different Podcasts and YouTube Channels out there which are doing something similar, recording audio of them reading medieval Irish legends. While several of these are quite cool, there are issues.

In terms of more benign issues, to get around the issues of copyright, people in these alternatives tend to retell stories, and while that is very cool as an example of something like an oral tradition, it means the stories are often being altered and changed by a non-expert audience. Elements that are not very important are being given great importance, areas that are very important are cut, and sometimes things are incorporated from other texts to make an unspoken composite (or, alternatively, sometimes people cut a section of a text out and retell it independent of its broader context).

These aren't bad, but, it means these other Podcasts and Videos aren't really suitable for my purposes of supporting my students and giving people access to the actual stories.

In terms of the big problems, there is at least one Podcast on a similar topic being presented by someone who I have reason to suspect is faking having a PhD. Further, there are at least two people putting out content like this that are actively forging content and passing it off as authentic who just so happen to also be Fascists. So, not ideal.

I hope Guth can serve my students and interested members of the public by providing a solid academic perspective on a text. Each episode I open with a discussion of our manuscript sources and the date of the text (a lot of other pieces out there will describe tales as 'ancient', when in actuality they're a 14th century scribe just vibin'). I then read the text exactly as it is translated, including using reconstructed Old Irish pronunciation for all the names that appear in the text. Lastly, I conclude with a brief discussion of secondary scholarship I think is particularly relevant for the interests of the public.

All of that to say, I hope people enjoy Guth, and that it can serve people who are interested in the actual medieval tales rather than the various retellings that are circulating out there.

[pureastrologywisdom]

𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔫𝔞𝔱𝔞𝔩 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔱 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔬𝔫𝔞𝔩 𝔰𝔱𝔶𝔩𝔢

When trying to develop your style your natal chart can be a perfect aid in exploring what things will work for you. With fashion an important factor is matching your style with your essence. You want to wear what feels like you. 

Alongside this being able to project or showcase different sides of yourself and aspects of your personality you want to play up. Embodying different signs in your chart is a really fun thing to do. See how you feel when you emulate the energy of each sign. Its fascinating to see how you interact with the world and how it interacts with you.

There are a few different areas you want to look at here - depending on certain factors which I will discuss later:

Your rising sign 

Your Venus sign

Your Moon sign 

Your Mars sign 

Your MC

Your 5th house

Your dominant planet

Your Rising sign is how you come across to people, working with this helps give a natural element to your fashion sense/ look, it’s things you look effortless in. Leaning in to your rising sign can really help boost your confidence and make you feel more authentic.

Your Venus sign is what attracts people to you. Wearing things that embody your `Venus sign will make you feel more magnetic and attractive. It is what you want to wear when you want to feel beautiful. And it will draw people into you. Perfect for a date night.

Your Moon sign is an interesting one to incorporate into your fashion sense. Personally when I wear things that reflect my moon sign I feel very comfortable in my own skin. I also feel very feminine. Something about it really brings harmony to my wardrobe. That is the best way I can explain it for now.

Your Mars sign is for when you want to feel sexy. Wearing things that emulate your mars sign will give you an aura of confidence, making you feel more bold. People will find it hard not to notice you. This is good for a night out, a more spicy date night, and comes in handy when picking out lingerie especially. Wear things from your mars sign when you want to feel powerful.

Alongside this, if you want to be noticed, try wasting something that correlates to your Midheaven if you want all eyes on you. Its a good way to stand out. This is good for a job interview also.

Your Fifth house is something I don’t see a lot of people mention when it comes to this topic. But I feel it is very Important, your fifth house rules over creativity after all. And after all, fashion is all about being creative. 

Looking at your dominant planet can also help you see what energy you naturally give off, that was you can dress to enhance that energy.

I like to be able to know the typical styles, colours, fabrics, patterns, silhouettes and things associated to each of my signs so `i can play about with it and find a balance in my wardrobe. Being able to mix and match different things to emphasise different elements of myself.

Alongside this I am releasing individual reports based on the ‘essence’ of each sign. That way you can find it easier to see a mood-board and examples of the expression of each of your signs that you wish to enhance and understand more in your chart.

It includes fashion tips, beauty recommendation and things to give you a a specific vibe for each sign. 

If you are interested dm me on here before you email me, as `i wont see it otherwise. 

The price of an Individual one is 15 pounds, there is a bundle deal of 40 pounds for three

I have made these from scratch for you guys and this mixes two of my passions together with this project so I really hope you enjoy. 

If you are looking for any other reading message me on here also, and I will get back to you. I have five spaces available from now until the end of October, so i can give each of my clients a good amount of time

Thank you for reading

Pureastrowisdom xx

[toskarin]

hiii im trying to get into original tsukihime and i noticed theres a web browser version and a downloadable version, do you know if theres any difference between the two and if ones more worthwhile than the other? i couldnt find anyone talking about it online 🥺 i trust ur expertise 🙏

it's an easy call to just say the browser version

the fact I can say that at all without being sideways about it shows what a labour of love it was, and how much I appreciate the fact that the most stable version of tsukihime (tbf not a high bar to cross) is also the most accessible

but I want to elaborate that a little, so I'll ramble about it a bit. you can ignore everything after this if you just wanted the answer!

the downloadable version is, of course, the original and most authentic version, so it will prime you for an easier transition into the plus and kagetsu tohya games, which feel much older

that being said, the browser version is genuinely going to be a better time for you in most regards. the original tsukihime is old enough that it churns on a technical level and I'd say it would actually probably make for a pretty good first reading experience

this is a different stance than I take on the browser version of Fate/stay night, which is also really good, but made for an entirely different purpose (it's tooled around allowing you to search up scenes and cite them, so it's got less of a focus on preserving presentation)

my main criticisms of the browser version all come down to modernisations in text display style and like... display ratio. they DO include a display ratio selection option, so the latter is basically a non-issue

it also feels important to get this out of the way even though it barely factors in: there isn't a retranslation of tsukihime. both english versions use the same translation, and the browser version pulls ahead in this regard by allowing you to hot-swap script translations

so my answer is going to end up being entirely down to how much of a sicko you're willing to be about this. if you really want that oldschool doujinsoft charm and can stomach the nightmares that come with it, the download version might be for you

circling back to the beginning, the broad spectrum recommendation at this point, from me, for the foreseeable future, is the browser version

[raguiras]

What's this?! Spade of Storms is canon in the game now?! /j

Finally finished this Spade of Storms WIP from early June 😅 Click for better quality!

Reblogs are very appreciated ~

「 Bonus versions & ship ramble below the cut! 」

♤ More Deuce x Allen: ♤

SHIP INTRO: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4

OTHER ART: 1

Ship blog: @spade-of-storms

♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤

♤ Ship ramble ♤

There are many reasons why Allen and Deuce are perfect for each other (list), but a fair share of said reasons are rooted in or can be traced back to one massive, highly important core point: these two have extremely similar experiences in a reversed order.

Said experiences shaped their personalities, goals, insecurities and "masks" — all of which are highly important factors for Deuce and Allen's relationship development.

So today, I'll be talking about how their backstories influence Allen and Deuce's relationship.

Something I noticed is that if Spade of Storms weren't dating, they'd pretty much end up experiencing at least parts of each other's backstory... and end up in a super miserable state.

Allen is a former honor student who overworked himself to the point of burning out, all because he was a people pleaser and his stellar grades still weren't enough for his teachers who expected nothing but the absolute best from him. Additionally, he had to suppress his true self and interests because he was expected to be a model student in every single way, and anger was something only "bad" kids felt.

Sounds familiar? Deuce is unknowingly on the path to end up in the same situation, except in his case, the fact that he can't seem to achieve better grades no matter what causes him even more distress. If he actually ended up becoming a honor student, Deuce would experience a ton of additional pressure, not to mention that he's already struggling to hide the delinquent tendencies that are a fundamental part of his true personality... Sure, "honor student" sounds like a nice and admirable title to have — but the reality behind it is cruel, and Deuce isn't aware of that yet.

Which is why I gave him Allen.

A large part of Allen's trauma is rooted in his past as a honor student and the crushing expectations people (including himself) threw at him, and he desperately wants Deuce to watch out for himself and approach his goal of becoming a honor student carefully and logically rather than bite off more than he can chew and end up drowning in even more pressure, self-suppression and insecurities. Allen doesn't want Deuce to experience all the negative sides of being a honor student and instead supports the Heartslabyul student's goals by working towards them with a pace appropriate for Deuce, helping him study through actually unique methods specifically tailored for Deuce, and — most importantly — giving Deuce a safe and healthy environment where he can be his 100% authentic self and learn how to properly get his impulsiveness under control at the same time.

And the other way around? How does Deuce's past help Allen?

Deuce quit being a delinquent because it not only disappointed his mom, but also caused him a lot of trouble and massively stained his reputation. While Allen can handle his own delinquent tendencies just fine on the outside, his anger is actually much worse than Deuce's, not to mention that he has incredibly violent fantasies about the people he can't stand...

So far, Allen hasn't done anything bad. But Deuce, despite being a delinquent at heart himself, is able to calmly remind Allen to not do anything he might end up regretting or that might stain his reputation, especially since this is a major fear of Allen's. Deuce's worries and loving way manage to keep Allen in check, no matter how strong the Ramshackle student's hatred for society grows.

♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎♤♠︎

Now, HOW exactly are they able to help each other grow? WHY did they form intimate levels of trust to begin with? And especially, why can Allen actually efficiently help Deuce in the first place when nobody else can?

All will be revealed in the next issue Spade of Storms explanation post >:)

[edwin-paynes-bowtie]

My Case for Why Only Romantic Payneland Would Feel Truly Satisfying

Last night, I made a poll about whether people would be satisfied with QPR Payneland. I was curious where we stood on this as a fandom, and it's cool that it's about 50/50 between "either would be okay" and "I want them romantic."

Preface: I'm a monogamous biromantic asexual. If you were wondering. I have been in both a queerplatonic relationship (where I had a one-sided romantic crush on my QPP) and a few romantic relationships with both men and women.

Preface II: This post is not at all intended to be judgmental of any type of relationship. Poly people are awesome; aro/ace people in QPRs rock. This is specifically examining what is right for Charles and Edwin.

Preface III: I think that Edwin and Charles have definitely been in an unlabeled QPR since the beginning. They don't have the word for it, but it definitely is a QPR. They aren't romantically involved, but they make major decisions surrounding the other one and feel like they would wither up and die if they had to live in separate places.

This was great up until now, I think. A QPR is very valuable, very special, and very beautiful. It's meaningful and has served them wonderfully up until this point.

But it isn't sustainable for these specific characters.

The Need for Exclusivity in Both a QPR and a Romantic Relationship

I think that with no other external factors impacting my media needs, I would be okay with an exclusive QPR Payneland.

@tumblerislovetumblerislife astutely said:

I do not think that there is any world where they're suited for polyamory - this is honestly my biggest nope-out of fics and I deeply, deeply hate it for them.

This is because:

They already feel like a Pair Set to me that cannot be separated or infringed on by anyone else, and

In the end, it would never be fair to a romantic (or other platonic) partner because they would unplug anyone else's life support to charge the other's phone. No one else would ever be the priority over the other, and if they did, that would be OOC.

Even if they decided to date someone else now in the short-term, like Crystal or the Cat King, it's necessarily temporary. It's to Figure Things Out. There is an expiration date. And whether that's due to a romantic or a platonic bond between Edwin and Charles, their bond being stronger than any other is the reason for that expiration date.

So polyamory feels extremely disingenuous to their characters to me and is imo extremely OOC.

Authenticity to the Story

Edwin is currently, in the explicit canon, essentially Charles's QPP who has a one-sided crush on him. That is the explicit canon. It's not a fun place to be, no matter how much your QPP loves you - I have Been There.

Edwin is not unhappy or dissatisfied with the current situation, and he knows Charles loves him. But it still is kind of a sucky place to sit.

Luckily, the love does not actually feel one-sided! Charles reads as a character that has always been romantically in love with Edwin, probably long before Edwin fell romantically in love with Charles, but he neither has the self-awareness nor the words to describe it.

Charles touching his heart at the end of episode 8 makes it clear that he is beginning to have his Big Epiphany. I wish the show wasn't canceled because, uh, I want it.

This obvious two-sided romantic love makes a future QPR feel inauthentic to me. I think both characters would feel like it was the wrong shape for the relationship after they both had their epiphanies.

Other Media Considerations

I understand that a lot of people, it's important to have an explicitly-labeled QPR in a show. I do not disagree with this! I think we need WAY more QPRs in media that are explicitly labeled as such and treated as valid. I just don't think that it's right for Charles and Edwin.

I've explained why this is true from a character perspective; but let me also talk about how relationships like theirs are treated.

I'm personally sick of the "bond-beyond-bonds relationship that remains purely platonic." We saw it with Destiel onscreen because of the rancid queerbaiting in Supernatural; we saw it in Johnlock as a direct result of similar, albeit less magnified, queerbaiting.

This is, to me, the exact type of relationship that a QPR between Edwin and Charles would be.

It would be different. I know this. There is no world where DBDA is queerbaiting us; we have a gay MC and tons of queer side characters.

But to me, platonic Payneland being endgame would still feel like a betrayal because that endgame would feel like something adjacent to the endings of other shows that have queerbaited in the past. I feel like a huge appeal of DBDA is that it's beginning to right those wrongs and heal those wounds, and I firmly believe that's one intention of the show. It would feel unkind to the bulk of viewers for them not to end up together.

I think that the show ultimately was going to make them romantic endgame. It just didn't have the time to before getting the axe, which SUCKS.

So yeah. These are my personal thoughts. I hope I've articulated some of the things that a lot of you think.

[consoledacup]

While neither of these things are kinky, per se, there are two things I'd like to highlight that were prevalent this season and make me happy.

It is very clear to me that Nicola had complete say in what she wanted to show, what she wanted to do, what she was comfortable with, and how she was depicted on screen. And that just fuels the liberation and empowerment I feel whenever I watch her. I love that she wanted to show her breasts on camera. But I also love that she was like, this is what Colin sees when he lusts after me? Great. I'm fine with having a camera directly pointed to my chest.

The dresses perfectly accentuated her figure and unlike the previous seasons, they didn't shy away from her cleavage. The different types of camera angles were great. It just feels like Nicola was all in on featuring her breasts this season, which is so great and fun. And it's thrilling that breast-man Colin from the book is very much present in the show.

I just also have to commend the emphasis on consent. Colin was constantly checking in with her through verbal and nonverbal cues during their big intimacy scenes. And I love that Luke was like, it was important to show how consent doesn't kill the mood but actually heightens it. His portrayal of Colin prioritizing Penelope's comfort the entire time during both significant encounters was just fantastic.

A woman having control of the accessibility to her body and a man highlighting consent as sexy should not count as unconventional factors, so I don't want to praise them as such. But knowing both actors felt so supported and protected and empowered to deliver very vulnerable performances is a really cool thing. And it made the carriage scene and the mirror scene that much more real and raw and authentic for the audience.

[crazy-hazy-sims]

OKAY so im not about to be petty over internet safety advice but sims community's post on the sfs thing feels like they summarized my post hello ajdhjdvkv

like read this...

Always remember that Sims 4 custom content files should only have the .package or .ts4script extensions. Never download or run .exe files, and ideally avoid automatically unpacking ZIP or RAR files directly into your Mods folder. Instead, inspect each file individually to ensure it’s safe. Always verify that you are downloading from official, creator-posted links, and avoid suspicious URLs, especially those using link shorteners. It’s also important to stay on top of security hygiene. As well as regular antivirus scans and the ModGuard mod mentioned above, consider setting up a weekly system restore point in Windows before adding new mods and back up your important files regularly. this includes Sims saves, mods, and any personal documents. If you use services like Google or Firefox, take advantage of features that scan for password breaches, enable two-factor authentication, and routinely check logged-in sessions across your accounts. Lastly, for both creators and players: be mindful and cautious. Don’t rush to download every new mod or piece of CC, take a moment to ask yourself if you actually need it. For creators, regularly monitor your files and hosting platforms to ensure nothing has been tampered with. These precautions might not guarantee 100% protection, but staying vigilant and informed will greatly reduce your risk of encountering malicious content.

HELLO???? svlhlfkbvnm

feels like they put my post through chat gpt to summarize it

okay "notthatsophie" if you cant do a simple google search to get internet safety rules and have to spoof a tumblr post....that speaks volumes about you tbh

man this is why i dont leave tumblr cause the fucking moment i leave i find my shit plagiarized like we are in highschool or something

god this is the funniest thing that happened to me dzvjcnvklm

whatever man if it gets people to be more cautious i guess

[placingglaciers]

Hey! Did you read the Handsmaid tale book? I was wondering if June and Nick are endgame in it I certainly hope so I ship them so much in the show.

I've only read it once back in 2019, but luckily for you, I underlined all the Nick and June scenes lol. I'll probably read it again once the show is over.

(For transparency's sake, I'm still not finished with The Testaments, so this post will solely be about The Handmaid's Tale and what is written in the book.)

Season one of the show follows the entire book pretty well, which is why it stands out as a favorite. In the book, as in the show, Nick's final words are "Trust me." That's pretty much it.

There is a "Historical Notes" section in the back, a run-through of the Twelfth Symposium of Gilead studies, set on June 25, 2195. It goes through several cassette tapes that they had discovered, describing "June's" story. "Nick," of course, is mentioned, but it's important to remember that "June" protected him by not revealing his real name. "June's" escape is credited to "Nick." He is labeled as a "shadowy Mayday underground" member as well as an Eye, meaning he had to make difficult decisions for his own protection.

The very last mention of Nick:

"["Nick"] could, of course, have assassinated ["June"] himself, which might have been the wiser course, but the human heart remains a factor, and, as we know, both of them thought she might be pregnant by him. What male of the Gilead period could resist the possibility of fatherhood, so redolent of status, so highly prized? Instead, he called in a rescue team of Eyes, who may or may not have been authentic but in any case were under his orders. In doing so he may well have brought about his own downfall. This too we shall never know. (pg. 311)

This, to me, confirms that Nick is led by his own heart and love for June and his family, so much so that it probably destroyed him. :(

As for the whole "Luke" character, he is described as likely not alive, but if he were, "June" was probably scared of "retaliation" against him if she escaped to England and went public. So she still ends up protecting "Luke," which is fair.

I love the Nick and June television version a lot more, though I do enjoy the book version too. These two characters and their relationship would be nothing without Max and Lizzie's intense chemistry, which is such a treat to see come alive on the screen (we've been truly blessed). In the book, their story is a lot more heartbreaking in my opinion, however, we get special access to "June's" inner thoughts about "Nick," which are missing in the show. (Bring back the voiceovers!) I would definitely give the book a chance (especially given today's political climate), as you get to slowly read "June" fall in love with "Nick," becoming the forefront of her thoughts and concerns.

[alexbkrieger13]

P interview, I don't have access though

https://x.com/FAZ_Sport/status/1907035534616100993

"Women's football needs to be made 'cooler'"

Pernille Harder, star player of FC Bayern, talks about the tactical strength of the Bundesliga, the better marketing in England and the constraints that make it difficult for men to live open lives.

Ms. Harder, you've won the league title at least once with all your clubs and were named "European Footballer of the Year" twice. Can you get used to success?

I'm not getting used to it, no. It's just in me that I want to win, and I do that every day in training. I give everything I have for the clubs I play for. Fortunately, things have gone pretty well so far, and I've been able to win a lot of titles.

Where does your will to win come from?

The desire to win more titles is just one of the factors that drives me. It's also important to me to see my personal development and that of the team from year to year, week to week. That's what motivates me the most and what I focus on. I think the will to win stems from that to some extent.

After three years at Chelsea, you moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. What are the differences between the English Women's Super League (WSL) and the Women's Bundesliga?

It's difficult to compare the two leagues. If you just look at football, German teams have become tactically better over the years. They work hard as a unit. There are English teams that do that too, but in the WSL, the individual quality within each team is more important. That's perhaps the biggest difference to the Women's Bundesliga. I feel like tactical knowledge is increasing in Germany because it's more about team performance within the team.

Compared to the time when you played in England , has the league changed a lot since then?

Is this also the reason why the WSL, like no other European league, has succeeded in transferring the momentum into everyday league life after the 2022 European Championship at home?

They've used the momentum to continue investing in the league and find new ways to develop it sustainably. Other countries have relied too much on this happening automatically – but it's not like that. You have to embrace the momentum and not rest on your laurels. The English league has done that very well.

Why has the development in the Women's Bundesliga not been as steep as in England or the USA?

The marketing and branding could be better. However, since I last played in Germany, the league has become significantly better at getting people interested in women's football. The Bundesliga has developed significantly over the past five years, but perhaps women's football needs to be made even cooler in its external image. In England, clubs are very good at portraying their players as powerhouses.

New attendance records are regularly set in the WSL. Now, an average of more than 7,000 spectators attend a women's game, as significantly more highlight games are played in the larger stadiums.

This could also be the case in Germany. Clubs need to keep working on it, believe in themselves, and invest in women's football. They may not be benefiting financially from it right now, but in the long run, profits will come. That's a big goal.

When the Premier League was founded in 1992 and became the most lucrative league in the world, many fans lost authenticity, community, and closeness. There are fears that women's football could follow the same path.

When more money is involved, there's always the risk that certain values ​​will be lost. I hope that women's football doesn't lose the qualities that make it so special.

What are the core values ​​of women’s football for you ?

Women's football is very open-minded. There's no homophobia and less hostility. It's simply a pure joy to come to our games because it's all about football. Everyone is welcome, regardless of ethnicity or sexuality. These are important values ​​that we must uphold.

Would you like to see more attention given to women's football, even if this means that you can no longer go out on the street without being approached?

That's perhaps the upside: We still have our private lives. For male soccer players, it can be difficult to go to a restaurant in peace and not be recognized. But if that's the consequence of more attention, we have to accept it and learn to deal with it.

The transfer of you and your partner Magdalena Eriksson has not only brought a new dimension to the Bundesliga in sporting terms. Why is there such a big difference in diversity between women's and men's football?

In women's football, we're fortunate that the environment has always been open and diverse. Even as women's football has grown and received more attention, it has maintained this openness over the years. Something has yet to change in men's football, and that makes it so difficult for many players to speak and live freely and openly.

120 openly gay players are said to have participated in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Do you find it strange that sexual openness is normal in women's football, but not in men's football?

Is men's football ready for a big coming out?

That's difficult to say because we don't know what the reactions would be. It's a personal decision for each individual, and it's important to create an environment where anything is possible. Currently, the fear of negative reactions seems to still outweigh everything else.

Do you also see this danger at FC Bayern?

No, I'm optimistic. There's a very open fan community here, including the queer fan club "Queerpass," which attends every men's and women's game. I was able to meet them a few weeks ago, and the exchange with the members was very inspiring. I hope they continue to have such a positive influence on fan culture in the Bundesliga and in men's football as they have so far.

Denmark will be one of Germany's opponents in the preliminary round of the European Championship. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said after the draw that Scandinavia has been doing excellent work with women's football for decades.

Looking at the longer term, he's certainly right. I can't speak for Sweden or Norway, but at least in Denmark, we were a bit slow at the beginning when it came to the league and the general development of women's football. Now, many clubs also have a women's team, want to invest in training, and get their teams into the top division.

What is possible for Denmark at the European Championships?

I think we're doing quite well with the national team. We're neither one of the best nor the worst teams, but have always been somewhere in the middle of the pack. I feel like we've developed even further in recent years – and in Andrée Jeglertz, we also have a relatively new coach.