#APPLE KEYNOTE DAY

[thisischeri]

Apple iMac G3, 1998 - 2003

Instagram: cheri.png

[mostlysignssomeportents]

An adversarial iMessage client for Android

Adversarial interoperability is one of the most reliable ways to protect tech users from predatory corporations: that's when a technologist reverse-engineers an existing product to reconfigure or mod it (interoperability) in ways its users like, but which its manufacturer objects to (adversarial):

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/10/adversarial-interoperability

"Adversarial interop" is a mouthful, so at EFF, we coined the term "competitive compatibility," or comcom, which is a lot easier to say and to spell.

Scratch any tech success and you'll find a comcom story. After all, when a company turns its screws on its users, it's good business to offer an aftermarket mod that loosens them again. HP's $10,000/gallon inkjet ink is like a bat-signal for third-party ink companies. When Mercedes announces that it's going to sell you access to your car's accelerator pedal as a subscription service, that's like an engraved invitation to clever independent mechanics who'll charge you a single fee to permanently unlock that "feature":

https://www.techdirt.com/2023/12/05/carmakers-push-forward-with-plans-to-make-basic-features-subscription-services-despite-widespread-backlash/

Comcom saved giant tech companies like Apple. Microsoft tried to kill the Mac by rolling out a truly cursèd version of MS Office for MacOS. Mac users (5% of the market) who tried to send Word, Excel or Powerpoint files to Windows users (95% of the market) were stymied: their files wouldn't open, or they'd go corrupt. Tech managers like me started throwing the graphic designer's Mac and replacing it with a Windows box with a big graphics card and Windows versions of Adobe's tools.

Comcom saved Apple's bacon. Apple reverse-engineered MS's flagship software suite and made a comcom version, iWork, whose Pages, Numbers and Keynote could flawlessly read and write MS's Word, Excel and Powerpoint files:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/adversarial-interoperability-reviving-elegant-weapon-more-civilized-age-slay

It's tempting to think of iWork as benefiting Apple users, and certainly the people who installed and used it benefited from it. But Windows users also benefited from iWork. The existence of iWork meant that Windows users could seamlessly collaborate on and share files with their Mac colleagues. IWork didn't just add a new feature to the Mac ("read and write files that originated with Windows users") – it also added a feature to Windows: "collaborate with Mac users."

Every pirate wants to be an admiral. Though comcom rescued Apple from a monopolist's sneaky attempt to drive it out of business, Apple – now a three trillion dollar company – has repeatedly attacked comcom when it was applied to Apple's products. When Apple did comcom, that was progress. When someone does comcom to Apple, that's piracy.

Apple has many tools at its disposal that Microsoft lacked in the early 2000s. Radical new interpretations of existing copyright, contract, patent and trademark law allows Apple – and other tech giants – to threaten rivals who engage in comcom with both criminal and civil penalties. That's right, you can go to prison for comcom these days. No wonder Jay Freeman calls this "felony contempt of business model":

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/09/lead-me-not-into-temptation/#chamberlain

Take iMessage, Apple's end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) instant messaging tool. Apple customers can use iMessage to send each other private messages that can't be read or altered by third parties – not cops, not crooks, not even Apple. That's important, because when private messaging systems get hacked, bad things happen:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_celebrity_nude_photo_leak

But Apple has steadfastly refused to offer an iMessage app for non-Apple systems. If you're an Apple customer holding a sensitive discussion with an Android user, Apple refuses to offer you a tool to maintain your privacy. Those messages are sent "in the clear," over the 38-year-old SMS protocol, which is trivial to spy on and disrupt.

Apple sacrifices its users' security and integrity in the hopes that they will put pressure on their friends to move into Apple's walled garden. As CEO Tim Cook told a reporter: if you want to have secure communications with your mother, buy her an iPhone:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tim-cook-says-buy-mom-210347694.html

Last September, a 16-year old high school student calling himself JJTech published a technical teardown of iMessage, showing how any device could send and receive encrypted messages with iMessage users, even without an Apple ID:

https://jjtech.dev/reverse-engineering/imessage-explained/

JJTech even published code to do this, in an open source library called Pypush:

https://github.com/JJTech0130/pypush

In the weeks since, Beeper has been working to productize JJTech's code, and this week, they announced Beeper Mini, an Android-based iMessage client that is end-to-end encrypted:

https://beeper.notion.site/How-Beeper-Mini-Works-966cb11019f8444f90baa314d2f43a54

Beeper is known for a multiprotocol chat client built on Matrix, allowing you to manage several kinds of chat from a single app. These multiprotocol chats have been around forever. Indeed, iMessage started out as one – when it was called "iChat," it supported Google Talk and Jabber, another multiprotocol tool. Other tools like Pidgin have kept the flame alive for decades, and have millions of devoted users:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/07/tower-babel-how-public-interest-internet-trying-save-messaging-and-banish-big

But iMessage support has remained elusive. Last month, Nothing launched Sunchoice, a disastrous attempt to bring iMessage to Android, which used Macs in a data-center to intercept and forward messages to Android users, breaking E2EE and introducing massive surveillance risks:

https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/21/23970740/sunbird-imessage-app-shut-down-privacy-nothing-chats-phone-2

Beeper Mini does not have these defects. The system encrypts and decrypts messages on the Android device itself, and directly communicates with Apple's servers. It gathers some telemetry for debugging, and this can be turned off in preferences. It sends a single SMS to Apple's servers during setup, which changes your device's bubble from green to blue, so that Apple users now correctly see your device as a secure endpoint for iMessage communications.

Beeper Mini is now available in Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beeper.ima&hl=en_US

Now, this is a high-stakes business. Apple has a long history of threatening companies like Beeper over conduct like this. And Google has a long history deferring to those threats – as it did with OG App, a superior third-party Instagram app that it summarily yanked after Meta complained:

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

But while iMessage for Android is good for Android users, it's also very good for Apple customers, who can now get the privacy and security guarantees of iMessage for all their contacts, not just the ones who bought the same kind of phone as they did. The stakes for communications breaches have never been higher, and antitrust scrutiny on Big Tech companies has never been so intense.

Apple recently announced that it would add RCS support to iOS devices (RCS is a secure successor to SMS):

https://9to5mac.com/2023/11/16/apple-rcs-coming-to-iphone/

Early word from developers suggests that this support will have all kinds of boobytraps. That's par for the course with Apple, who love to announce splashy reversals of their worst policies – like their opposition to right to repair – while finding sneaky ways to go on abusing its customers:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/22/vin-locking/#thought-differently

The ball is in Apple's court, and, to a lesser extent, in Google's. As part of the mobile duopoly, Google has joined with Apple in facilitating the removal of comcom tools from its app store. But Google has also spent millions on an ad campaign shaming Apple for exposing its users to privacy risks when talking to Android users:

https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/21/23883609/google-rcs-message-apple-iphone-ipager-ad

While we all wait for the other shoe to drop, Android users can get set up on Beeper Mini, and technologists can kick the tires on its code libraries and privacy guarantees.

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

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/07/blue-bubbles-for-all/#never-underestimate-the-determination-of-a-kid-who-is-time-rich-and-cash-poor

[venusxstars]

𝐋𝐀 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐈 𝐋𝐀 ⸻ nsfw.

mikage reo x fem!reader

reo finds his life approaching perfection through your existence.

keynotes ⸻ soft dom!reo mikage, implied reader body insecurities, body worship, fingering, breast fondling, squirting.

venus' note ⸻ i don't typically write body appearances so they're pretty much always ambiguous. but i would like to slowly start incorporating features such as stretch marks, discoloration, different breast shapes, etc. they won't be specifically stated, but they may be implied in future works, so keep an open mind.

MANY THINGS IN LIFE APPEARED to be fickle through the lenses of one who constantly looked forward to the unknown future. Reo knows this much too well. The way the leaves changed color over time and releases its hold onto a small twig, or how clouds move forward and slowly disperses to be replaced with new ones.

Changes are inevitable, and Reo finds himself wistful over how the development of individual things typically required independence—independence from things that hindered their natural evolution.

See, viewing life forward has always been the norm for Reo. The past and the present are merely building blocks for what is to come next no matter how significant they may be. It’s a subconscious response—his typical way of viewing life. Because every single day of his life as a child was painfully monotonous and boring. There is nothing particularly exciting about things you know will be handed down to you each day. The past and the present weren’t anything that was too interesting.

Well, usually, until he finds you.

Every single second that trickles down the hourglass, imprints itself onto his mind the picture-perfect pleasure that runs deep and hot across connected bodies. The way you were splayed over the bed, face contorted to one of pleasure as he presses kisses all over your warm skin.

He loves the way you catch you bottom lip down under the top row your teeth before letting them go to moan, leaving an imprint of what had just occurred. He loves the way your tits move and lift a little as you arch your spine; their own unique shape moving along to your body’s rhythm as he pumps his long and thick fingers in and out of you. He loves the little colors and lines that are painted across your skin that you seemed to hate so much—the little light streaks that mimicked the image of thunder-strikes running across your inner thighs, your belly, your breasts, your arms, and anywhere else they may be; the darker spots filled with stories you’ve yet to tell him about; the scars and small indentations that marked your skin. He loves to kiss them; to worship every single part of your body as if you were his saving grace.

And he finds that he doesn’t mind living in the present nor looking into the past so long as he gets to see you, you, and you.

“Ah, fuck, sweetheart…” He groans, deep and raspy as it rolls out of his tongue with warm air catching between his throat. He swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he keeps his violet irises pinned on you. It moves everywhere you are, trying to capture every little feature and action. But he thinks that he likes looking at your face the most along with the expressions you make. “So, so beautiful for me…”

He curls his middle and ring finger slightly; the rough pads touching the fuzzy and spongey spot inside you that causes you to gasp. He presses the part repeatedly, sucking his breath and muttering in fixation when he hears you moan breathlessly. “So that’s the spot, hm?”

He brings his other hand up and presses a thumb onto your clit, rubbing slow circles as two fingers thrust and curl in and out of you rhythmically. He turns his gaze momentarily from your wet pussy up to your breasts then your face, lips curling up in delight. He requests gently. “Play with with your tits for me, sweetheart? Yeah, just like that. Circle your fingers around your nipples. Don’t— don’t pinch them unless I tell you to.”

He watches you do just that. You circle your index fingers around your nipples and you feel pleasure to increase along with his simultaneous movement along your pussy. Your belly feels warm and as if it was surrounded by a thousand butterflies as the seconds tick by along with the continuous ministrations. You bite your lip, wanting the pleasure to elevate even more that what you were already getting.

“R-Reo—“ You furrow your brows, closing your eyes shut tightly. “More...”

“Oh, you want more?” His voice curls upwards teasingly and he suddenly begins to thrust his fingers a little faster inside of you. He rubs his thumb up and down your clit, causing a shock of pleasure to suddenly shoot across your belly. He grins a little, looking up at you touching your breasts the way he had told you to. He chuckles. “Pinch your cute nipples for me, would you, sweetheart? Uhuh, yeah, fuck— look at you…”

He thrusts his finger fasters before adding his index finger in. He watches you jolt at the sudden addition, laughing at the way you cry out a little in pleasure. “Pinch them harder, sweetheart. Roll them between your fingers just like how I do it all the time… That’s right, good girl.”

“A-Ah— Reo!”

His eyes widens at the way you suddenly twitch, hips trembling and mindlessly thrusting up repeatedly when you cum. Your liquid shooting out transparent and slick, dripping down across his rough palms and down his forearms. He watches the entire thing in wild fascination, admiring the way your cries left your lips much louder than a few seconds earlier and the way your body shuddered.

The air seems to be knocked out of his lungs as he tries to speak, words coming out a half groan and half a whisper as he rides out your high with thrusts that slows down to a halt. “Shit, yeah, that’s a good fucking girl, sweetheart.”

He pulls his fingers out, gently grasping your hips as he leans forward to press a soft kiss onto your inner thigh. He moves up slowly, halting each time to press kiss onto your skin—his lips landing above your clit, below your belly, up your abdomen, your chest, and neck—before capturing your lips in a kiss. His cock feels so painfully hard under his boxers, yet still, all he could think about was you.

“Did so great for me, sweetheart.” He whispers with a gently smile, pecking your lips gently before playfully laying on top of you and burying his face against the crook of your neck.

You wheeze a little at the sudden weight. “You’re heavy, Reo.”

“Mmm…” He whines softly, refusing to get up as he presses his lips against your neck. “Let me stay here for now.”

You chuckle, settling down as you slowly get used to his weight. You pat his back. “Fine, but my boobs kind of hurt with your chest pressing on them, you know?”

“Oh!” He gets up and lays beside you instead. He smiles at you apologetically, bringing his hand up to gently massage one of your breasts. “Sorry about that.”

You press your lips against his cheek quickly.

His cheekbones turn pink at the action before he’s pressing his cheek against the top of your head. He mumbles under his breath with his eyes closed, listening to your breathing.

“Being with you is like being in paradise. I never want to leave. I never will leave.”

[hotforharrysheart]

HERS in Venice

The car pulls up to the CQ Midtown hotel in Times Square and you take a moment to powder your nose and check your reflection in the mirror of your compact. Bella’s typing away on her phone with her glasses perched on her nose. Not a day goes by that you aren’t thrilled she took the job as your assistant. Without her you’d be lost, especially while traveling with Harry. Keeping your home office in London has been essential to keeping the podcast organized, not to mention, she’s a dear friend and confidante.

Reminding the driver that your suitcase is in the trunk, you reach for your portfolio. You take a deep breath, you don’t want to forget that, after all you’ve packed a sexy surprise for Harry. God, you hope he’ll be ready. You smile to yourself remembering the “His and Hers” plugs you surprised him with when you were last at the pink cottage. The experience with yours in the swing was mind-blowing, but it seems like it happened ages ago and that a lifetime of events has happened in the meantime.

The driver sets your rolling case on the curb with a thud, geez, you miss Cal, he’s more than just your driver, he’s a protector and friend. But he’s with Harry at the moment in Venice, making sure he’s taken care of tonight at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Don’t Worry Darling. You look forlornly at Bella, wishing you didn’t have this meeting to attend so you could be with him right now.

“Don’t look at me like that, Lily, you’ll be there soon enough, just a couple of hours and then you can jump on the flight to him; you won’t miss a thing,” she says resting her hand on yours in your lap.

“I know, it’s just a big deal and I just… miss him,” you say, pouting.

“Lily! It’s only been, like…”

“I know, I know…pathetic aren’t I?”

She smiles and tilts her head to rest on your shoulder, “Nah, baby, you’re just in love, it’s forgivable.”

The door opens and you step out and pull your suit jacket down and brush your hair to the side. A navy blue suit with a powder blue cami underneath…you chose it because it reminded you of the Gucci HA HA HA suit Harry will be wearing tonight.

“Will be good luck,” Harry told you last night as he helped you select the outfit.  “Wear these wi’,” he said holding out a pair of hot pink stilettos.

“You think?”

“Yeah, they’re perfec’, badass sexy…jus’ like ma girl.”

The hotel is quite glamorous, you think, as you follow Bella down the corridor before stopping at a set of French doors.

She opens the doors and you walk in to a deceptively large meeting area with several round tables elegantly set with full place settings and tall crystal and floral centerpieces. People are milling around with flutes of what look like Mimosas or orange juice.

“B, I think we’re in the wrong place,” you say turning to leave just as Apple executives, including your contact representative, walks in.

You look around and begin to recognize other podcasters and finally notice the large screen behind the podium announcing the “Apple Podcaster’s Quarterly Brunch”. What the hell?

You smile to those around you and grab Bella’s arm pulling her off to one side, “Bel-la! When you accepted this invitation did you know this was going to be so formal? What…,” you stop yourself and smile as three smartly dressed gentlemen walk by and nod, “the hell!” you whisper-shout.

“Lily, I swear, I thought this was going to be a small intimate brunch to talk about your time-slot and advertisers…I’m so…hold on, there’s a program, let’s not panic, yet.” She steps over to a table and snatches a program that has the menu on one side and a agenda on the other. She grimaces and scratches her eye with a squint. “Shit.”

You take the agenda and look it over. “Oh my god, there’s a keynote speaker, then meet and greets…I thought this would take two hours tops!” you say with a fake smile and gritted teeth.  “I’m gonna have to bow out early on my bosses!”

“Don’t panic, Lil, I can make excuses for you after…,” she says trying to smooth things over.

You take a deep breath and close your eyes. You know he can’t be here do to commitments and even if he were free, he still couldn’t come…his attendance would cause a commotion and overshadow the other podcasters and yourself and you could never do that to your community. You know what he’d say if he were here. He’d tell you that this is important and that he’ll be waiting for you when you get there. You open your eyes and smile. “You’re right,” you say tugging your jacket down.

“Stop fidgeting. You look great. Let’s go do this.”

“Ok,” you breathe out and grab her hand. “I’m sorry. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Come on.”

You walk to the brunch table, grab a plate and some goodies, and make your way to the tables and then a waiter sets a Bellini in front of you. You’re chatting with other podcasters and your Apple contact, Alex, asks you to come meet the big bosses.

You meet the big bosses and they heap praise on you and your podcast. It’s exciting and humbling all at the same time.

You hear the glasses click and it’s time for the keynote speaker, who blessedly keeps it short. He begins to ask questions of each podcaster and your hands start sweating.

“Lily Rose…why true crime? Why cold cases?”

All eyes in the room shift to you and you feel the heat rise to your cheeks but you know the answer to this question because you lived it. “My parents were murdered when I was 11 and their murder went unsolved until just recently. I’m drawn to cold cases and unsolved mysteries because of what I lived through and my goal is to bring closure to victims of crime. They deserve that.”

You feel Bella’s hand grip yours under the table and you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished. “So far I’ve brought closure to over 50 families and counting.”

You blush again at the polite applause but you know you nailed it.

It’s been over two hours but you’ve lost all track of time and somehow you’ve become the must talk to podcaster at the brunch. Bella’s nervously tapping her fingers on the table and checking and re-checking her watch. “C’mon Lily. You’ve got a plane to catch!” She whispers to herself. She checks her watch yet again and sighs. This can’t wait anymore, she thinks as she hops up and pushes into the crowd and takes your elbow. “Lily, you really have to go or you’re gonna miss your flight.”

You excuse yourself from the crowd. “Is it that late?” You whisper shout.

“Yes! Go now! Get to the driver. I’ll hold down the fort here,” she says, shoving your suitcase handle into your hand.

“Shit!” You hiss, kissing her cheeks and running out of the room and to the front of the hotel to your waiting car and jump inside. “JFK!” You shout to the driver. You look out and see Bella running towards the car. “Hold up! Bella’s here! You shout out and then wait for Bella to finally get in. “You ready? The driver asks.

“Yes. We’re ready, let’s go. How long to the airport?”

“Traffic is very heavy at the moment.”

You sigh, not what you wanted to hear. You text Harry to let him know that you’re en route to the airport but that traffic is heavy.

Bella pulls out her phone and checks the route. “Lily, we’re not gonna make this flight. It’s over an hour to get there and it’s…it’s not gonna happen.”

You bite your lip as tears slide down your face. He’s halfway across the world and all you want to do is be there with him. “Damn!”

Bella grabs your arm after furiously tapping on her phone, “I was able to book you on the next flight out, same airline, it leaves an hour later, if we hold our breath, we just might be able to get you there! Yo, dude, do whatever you can to get us to JFK, it’s an emergency!”

You look at Bella with a shocked expression, “Jesus, Bella…,” you chuckle then lean over to whisper, “’Yo dude’?”

“Hey, I live in the States part-time, I know how to talk to the drivers,” she shrugs, “besides, my bestie needs to get to her man, I’ll do whatever I can for love.”

“Awww, I love you B, I’m really gonna miss you when we move on to Chicago…” you thread your fingers with hers and squeeze, “You know Gavin’s one lucky sound guy.”

“I’m so crazy about him! He’s taking the Chicago residency off to stay with me and I’m so excited! He’ll join back up in Austin, but I get him all to myself for a few and I’m over the moon excited,” she says clapping her hands and giggling like a lovesick schoolgirl.

“I’m so happy for you! I definitely understand how great it is to have a few days to yourself. H and I really enjoyed the three days he took off week before last – sometimes you just need some time to reconnect,” you say thinking fondly of your time locked away in the apartment, talking, cooking, loving and, well, fucking.

The driver is eyeballing you in the rearview as he navigates the ridiculous midtown traffic. You try not to make eye contact with him, but he just keeps staring. Finally, he speaks up, “I know I’ve seen you before, but I just can’t place it…” he mumbles eyeing the windshield and the rearview mirror.

Aww shit, you think to yourself.  “Nah, I just have a familiar looking face,” you say hoping to throw him off.  

His eyes squint like he’s thinking, then suddenly they go wide, but he doesn’t say a word. At the next stop light, he makes quick work grabbing his phone and tapping away, but he promptly stops as soon as the red light turns green and he focuses on the road seemingly determined to get you there as fast as possible.  

Interrupting your thoughts, Bella says, “I hate to say it, but this is still going to be a photo-finish if you make it to the gate in time for the next flight.”

Your tummy bubbles with nerves as the time ticks away and the amount of NYC traffic clogs your pathway. When you finally arrive at the drop off, you have less than twenty minutes to make it to the gate. As you step out of the car, you hear the first click, then another, then another… there are three guys with cameras waiting for you across the driveway at the airline departure entrance. You grimace when they call your name. Bella steps out with you, grabbing your suitcase from the trunk before the driver can even get out of the car. You hear her lean back in the car and tell him to, “Fuck off!” much to your surprise.

“Bella! What was that about?” you ask covering your face and reaching for your suitcase.

“That guy, wished you and Harry luck…he must’ve tipped the paps off… stupid jerk!” Everything about this is something you hate with the fury of ten layers of the sun. Being rushed, fighting with a suitcase and heels and running from paparazzi. Just inside the automatic doors you hear your phone ding with an incoming text from Harry.  Vowing to look at it as soon as possible, you ignore it in effort to run through TSA and make it to the boarding gate.

Bella kisses you and tells you she’ll stay around until you text her that you’re on board. She’s such an amazing friend, you remind yourself to make sure you do something special for she and Gavin during their time off.

You click your way through the airport on your heels, trailing the suitcase and make it in just enough time to see the plane push away from the jetway.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” you mutter panting breathlessly trying to keep the tears away. You turn to begin the walk back to the front and pull out your phone to message Bella, but you decide to read Harry’s text first.

Harry: how’s my girl? Did you make it? i miss you.

The tear drops before you can even control it. At this point you’ll be lucky to make it to the screening that evening. Fuck!

You text back.

Lily: H, I miss you so much. I’m so sorry, I missed the first flight and the rescheduled flight and on top of everything else, I got papped getting out of the cab. I think the driver tipped them off. Headed to Bella to get another flight on any airline…just want to get to you as soon as possible.

You watch as the dots flash on the screen and immediately feel better. Just knowing he’s on the other end is so comforting.

Harry: Oh baby, go to the British Airways lounge to hide out. I’m having Jeff contact Bella now to get you here private. I will get you here safely, trust me. Answer when Bella calls.

You sit down at the nearest gate and take your heels off. You think about chucking them in the bin but unzip your carry on and pull out your vans and sigh in relief as you slip them on and shove your heels back in the carry on, trying not to cry, and wait for Bella’s call. Your phone rings and you jump.  

“Hello?”

“I’m in front of the British Airways lounge. Come find me.”

“Ok, I’m coming,” you say standing up and walking in the direction of the lounge.

You finally get to the desk and the attendant looks up at you.

“Ms. Rose?”

You nod.

“We’ve been expecting you.”

You smile.

“Follow me, please.”

You follow her through the door and into the lounge and you see Bella on a couch on her phone.

She sees you and smiles, waving you over. She puts her hand over the speaker. “On hold with Jeffery. He’s getting an Azoff private jet here for you. Can you believe that?! What even is your life?!” She whisper shouts and you both giggle.

“God, I know. I don’t believe it myself sometimes,” you say, rolling your eyes.

“Hold on, he’s back,” she tells you. “Jeffery? Yes, she’s here. Really? Ok, we’ll be ready. Thank you!” She hits end and turns to you. “The plane’ll be here in 15 minutes. Unbelievable!” She says, laughing again.

You join her. “Am I really gonna be in Venice in time for the premiere?” You ask, squeezing her hand.

“Harry will move heaven and earth to make it happen, believe me. I’ve never seen a problem get resolved so quickly!”

You sigh. “It’s the power of money and powerful people, Bella, which I would normally feel bad about, but I’m just too relieved to be guilty right now.”

“Don’t feel guilty. I’m just glad it worked out,” Bella says sighing.

“Me too.”

Back in Venice, Harry’s sitting at the table for the press conference and he’s trying hard to pay attention and be coherent but he’s out of his element and he’s waiting for confirmation from Jeffery that you got on the private plane.

He gets asked a question and he knows he just botched that answer but he really can’t be arsed about it. He looks up and sees Jeffery holding up a thumbs up and his eyebrows go up and he smirks. Thank the gods, he thinks. Just six hours and she’ll be here.

Once on board the plane you look around at the gold and cream furnishing and shake your head.  “Never get used to this,” you mutter to yourself as a cabin crew member walks down the center aisle.  

“Miss Rose, welcome!”

“Please, call me Lily, thank you so much for this last-minute flight, I’m sorry if you had to change any plans you had."

“Oh, it’s no problem, we’re on-call rotations and I’m happy to do it. I’m Rebecca, can I get you anything to drink?”

“Ya know, I would realllly like a strong Manhattan…” you groan with a roll of your eyes.

She chuckles, “No problem, would you like some snack mix too?”

“Ooo, does it have those crunchy rye crackers in it?”

“Yes, I think it does as a matter of fact.”

“I would love some!”

“Is there anything else I can get you?”

“No, once we are in the air, I just wanna change out of these clothes, wash my face and relax,” you say as you buckle your seatbelt.

“Well, there is a spacious bathroom in the back and I just put fresh towels and toiletries out. I’ll stow your bag in the closet back there so you can change. These chairs swivel and recline and there’s a table that pulls out from the side.”  The pilot interrupts to ask everyone to prepare for take off.

Once the plane reaches cruising altitude you step into the bathroom to change into a loose pair of ripped up 550’s you’ve had since college, your favorite pair, and a tight, Gucci white with hot pink polka-dot tee of Harry’s. You can’t help but notice the outline of the lace on your bra through the fabric. Harry would approve, you think to yourself with a grin. You shiver at the thought of how wearing his clothes turns him on. When you look up at your reflection in the mirror you notice your nipples are poking out and you giggle, “Betrayed…” you mouth to no one regarding how your body never fails to betray your thoughts when it comes to him. It’s been a couple of days since you’ve made love. One night the show was late and he was tired and another night you worked late into the night completing some requests for public information for two different cases you’re researching, by the time you headed to bed Harry was fast asleep, deservedly so. The residencies may not include hours of travel, but they’re just as busy and H likes his sleep. You pull out your face wash and decide to wash off the make-up and grime of the day, fuck any paps who may be waiting when you arrive, Harry loves you with a clean face anyway and there will be hair and make-up ready for you as soon as you get to the hotel room. Clean and fresh, you grab your cosmetic bag and decide to brush your hair out of the stuffy bathroom.

Back at your seat is your Manhattan with a orange zested rim and a package of your favorite snack mix. Booze, salt and carbs…all things you don’t need when you’re going to slip into a pale pink, silk evening gown for the premiere, but, at this point, who cares. You plop down and take a sip of the cool liquid, swallow and close your eyes as the alcohol enters your blood stream. Popping the package to the snack mix open, two of the crispy rye chips fall out onto the table. “Well, hello there friends,” you say to them, “Why yes, I do think I shall eat you,” you grin to yourself. Smoothing your hair to the side, you unzip your cosmetic bag and look for your pink flower hair clip. After rummaging around for a full minute, you realize you must’ve forgotten to pack it. “Darn it,” you say, finding a hair tie instead. Piling the hair in a messy bun, you sit back, sip your drink and munch on your snacks. There’s a control panel on your chair that reclines it, turns on a heater and calls for the cabin crew. You grab the blanket next to you and tuck it around your legs. Your phone dings to indicate you have an incoming text from Bella. Pulling out the charging cord, you plug it in and settle back to check out your message.

Bella: Here’s a pic of H arriving at Venice. He looks so good in that eggplant color blazer! Isn’t that your favorite hair clip? Hmmm…I know you didn’t voluntarily give that to him…someone must’ve stolen it! Harry’s in trouble… 😊

Sure enough, there’s Harry looking dapper as ever and there attached to his hat bag is your hot pink flower clip. That little bugger! You grin, yes, he does look amazing in that color and you must make sure he know he does. Your man is so hot. So fucking hot. He IS in trouble for taking your clip out of your bag too, mind you. You open a message to him.

Lily: Not to sound like a stalker, but you look fucking amazing in that color…eggplant is it? Nice sunnies too. Shall we talk about the hot pink clip on your bag? (you include a gif of a toddler with crossed arms, tapping their foot in anger)

Harry: It jumped on my bag and begged to go with. (he includes a gif with toddler shrugging)

Lily: Oh really? Sounds suspect at best.

Harry: Somehow I bet you have something of mine in your bag…hmm?

Busted! You look down at your shirt and then around the cabin like someone must be spying on you.

Lily: Ok, who ratted?

Harry: No one, I just know my girl.

Lily: I miss you.

Harry: Soon, love…you’ll be here soon. I’ll send Cal back to pick you up and they’ll make sure you get to me. Kinda chaotic, but we can have some quiet time later. Saw your dress…it’s beautiful. Ready to see you in it. Will be ready to take it off too.

Lily: I’m glad you like it. I’ll be ready for you to take it off too.

Harry: Been missing my honey…

Lily: Don’t start something, H. My body has been screaming all day thinking about you.

Harry: It’s been HARD for me too.

Lily: I have plans for you tonight.

Harry: Oh? I fuckin’ hope they include you being naked.

Lily: You’ll have to wait and see.

Harry: pouting. gotta run, Jezebel, something about photo ops. I can’t wait to see you. I love you.

Lily: Go baby, go be a movie star, my movie star. I love you so much.

Harry: Can we please fuck tonight?

Lily: Jesus, Harry!

Harry: Well?

Lily: Since you asked so nicely…

Harry: 😊😊😊

You smile and click your phone off. You swivel your chair and look at the bed. Hmmm…it’s been a stressful day and it won’t be over for hours yet so you decide that you will lay down for a while. You pull down the duvet and slip under the covers. You’re asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow.

A few hours later you’re awoken by an announcement that you’re beginning your descent into Venice. You smile and sigh…Harry.

Your leg is shaking as you buckle your seatbelt and wait to land.

Finally the plane lands and as soon as you walk down the stairs you see Cal and your face lights up.  

Cal kisses both of your cheeks and takes your carry on as you hop in the Range Rover.

“Harry’ll be glad ya see ya Miss Lily and Venice is lovely this time of day.”

“I can’t wait to see him or Venice,” you exhale as you look out the window as you watch the city go by.

“Almost there,” Cal says from in front of you.

You smile as Cal pulls in to the circular drive of a gorgeous hotel and he opens the door for you and you wait while he retrieves your bag. “Thanks Cal.”

“My pleasure Miss Lily. Here’s your room key. You’re on the top floor. Let me know if ya need me.”

“I will, thank you again,” you say, talking the room key from his hand and walking into the hotel lobby and getting on the elevator.

You punch the button to your floor and impatiently wait for the doors to close.

When the elevator door opens, you see Harry leaning against the wall, hand in the pocket of his satin sleep pants looking as fuckable as he ever has. You bite your lip and he smirks at you.

“Hi Jezebel,” he rasps.

“Hi,” you say back to him as you step out of the elevator and move to stand in front of him.

Neither one of you say anything, you just look into each others eyes. Finally, he straightens up and places his hands on your cheeks. “‘M glad ya here.”

“I’m glad too. Thank you for making it happen.”

“No more commercial flights fo’ ya, Jezebel.”

You open your mouth to protest.

“I know it’s not the environmentally friendly thing ta do an’ I hate tha’, bu’ ‘m puttin’ ma foot down.”

“I know you’re right. I worry about getting sick and getting you sick too. Let’s hope there’s no more solo traveling for me for a while.”

“Fuck, I hope no’,” he says, puffing out a breath. “I missed ya.”

“I missed you too. Do I get a kiss now?”

He laughs his breathy little laugh. “Ya jus’ got here an’ already wan’ ma mouth, hmmm?”

You shiver. “Yes.”

“Can’ say no ta tha’,” he whispers and slants his lips over yours in a series of warm, soft kisses before darting his tongue out and touching your tongue with his. You moan against his soft lips and meet his tongue with your own.

After a few good minutes of getting reacquainted, he finally pulls back and presses a sweet kiss to your nose. “Hair and makeup’ll be here soon. Probably need ta shower befo’, yeah?”

You nod your head.

“Ok, l can help ya get naked…”

You giggle. “Oh, I know.”

****1.5 hours later ***

You’re finally almost ready and an assistant is helping you into your skin tight satin dress and strappy heels. You look in the mirror and you go “wow.” You turn around and you can see the lines from your panties and your fingers run over the lines.

“I thought that might be a problem,” the assistant says.

You suck your lips in your mouth and close your eyes. You don’t know if you can get them off without ruining everything. You meet the assistants eyes in the mirror.

“Do you want me to help you take them off?”

“Yes,” you say relieved as they nod and move in front of you, carefully lifting the dress and your hands move to shimmy them down your hips until they fall to your ankles and the assistant gently navigates them around your shoes and slides your dress down.

“All set!” They say getting up and then handing you the matching pink clutch from the dresser.

“Thank you.”

“You look great.”

“Thanks.”

You walk into the living area of the suite and see Harry sitting on the couch in his navy blue suit with a light blue shirt with an oversized collar and his sunglasses on his head as he scrolls on his phone. He looks up and his eyebrows go up when he sees you. He stands up and tucks his lips in his mouth. “Holy fuck, Jezebel. Ya look amazin’,” he says as his eyes trail down your body and then back up to yours.

“Thank you,” you say blushing as his eyes trail the length of your body once again, caressing your skin without even touching you.

“Gon’ be hard ta behave wi’ ya lookin’ like tha’,” he rasps.

“Never said you had to,” you say, smirking.

He chuckles. “Carful wha’ ya wish fo’ sweetheart. Lotsa dark alleys in this city…” he says, moving to stand in front of you, hands sliding to your bum.

“Hmmm…sounds good to me,” you say with a mischievous grin.

He’s leaning in for a final kiss when there’s a knock at the door. You pout out your lips dramatically and he rolls his eyes, “Le’ tha chaos begin,” he mutters against your pout.

Jeffery strides in on his phone being ever agreeable to the person on the other end of the line. “Ok, ok, ok…got it…well, doesn’t sound like we have a choice…yeah…we’ll make it work,” he say before ending the call.

He leans in to kiss both your cheeks, “God, Lily, you look amazing. Harry, you’ll pass,” he teases. “Kids got some unfortunate news. They have arrangements for each of the actors to arrive at staggered times…solo.”

Harry clenches his jaw, “Oh, for fuck’s sake…Jeffery….”

“I know, I know…but this is about you. There’s a lot of fans who’ve gathered, and they want to keep the focus on the film, not just Harry and his girlfriend,” he says looking at you sympathetically, “and, to be honest, after seeing you, that’s probably a good decision. You would absolutely steal the red carpet….”

“Nice segue Jeff, but you don’t have to sell me on the idea, I understand,” you say fidgeting with the chain on your clutch.

“No! I’m not trying to “sell” you on anything, I know it sucks, but it really is probably for the best just to spare you from being mobbed and the press from being relentless.”

“Well, Jeze, er, Lily may understand, bu’ I fuckin’ hat’e it,” Harry rasps, accent thick and terse as he runs his fingers through his hair further frustrated that there is so much product in it he can’t smooth it like he does when he’s agitated.

“Shhh…C’mon, H. You know it’s for the best…,” you say softly twisting to stand in front of him and adjust his collar.

Jeff steps to the side, “Don’t want you to worry about Lily, I’ll escort her in my car and I won’t leave her side, we’ll stand off to the side while you all walk the carpet and pose for photo ops. You’ll sign a few autographs, then once everyone has arrived, do some group photos and then make your way into the theater. The cast is all sitting togeth…”

“Fuckin’ ‘ell Jeffrey… no, wan’ Lily by ma side,” he says interrupting.

“I have the seat directly behind you freed up for her, so once you’re get seated, I’ll get her in that seat,” he speaks up trying to reason with a clearly irritated Harry who’s shaking his head, “she’ll be two feet behind you, swear to god, H!”

You take his chin in your hand and pull his face into your line of vision. You smile a big happy smile, “Babe, I’m so OK with this…I actually think this is a perfect plan, I…I… don’t really wanna bother with fans and press, not at this event, not this way….”

He takes a deep sigh and looks at Jeff then back at you, “Ok, bu’ I wan’ Cal drivin’ Lily, ’ll take tha driver from tha festival an’ Cal keeps tha car close.”

“Done,” Jeffrey says tapping on his phone.

You smile, searching his eyes and mouth, “I love you,” to which he leans forward and places a soft kiss on your glossy lips.

“Careful,” you say thumbing the gloss off his lips. He grabs your wrist and pulls your hand away smooshing his lips together to rub it in. “Leave it, I like it.”

He leans forward to nose your ear and whisper, “How tha fuck ‘m I suppos’ ta keep ma cool, ‘knowin’ there’s nothin’ under this dress bu’ ma honey bee.”

“Edging…,” you say biting your bottom lip.

“Jez..e..bel…,” he warns lowly.

“Alright kids, cars are here, we need to head out,” Jeffrey says heading to the door. You turn to follow stopping only to throw a saucy look from under your eyelashes over your shoulder as you sashay a step in front of him.

He merely shakes his head and smirks. “Go’ ya phone?” he asks patting his chest to check that he has his in the inside jacket pocket.

Taking a moment to glance in your clutch, you nod, “Mm-hmm.”

“Good, keep an eye on it, understand?”

You gulp at the thought of naughty messages and nod with a flutter of your eyelids as you feel his large hand smooth down your backside. You might’ve teased him about edging, but you have a feeling you’re going to be the one on edge all night.

Harry reluctantly seats you in the car with Cal and throws a kiss with his hand before getting in his own car with instructions from Jeff. Cal manages to get the car out and on the road when you feel the phone vibrate.  

Harry: I want you

Lily: I want you too, H.

Harry: Need to make you cum

Lily: Harry!

Harry: It’s my favorite thing

You blush furiously and slant your phone away from Jeffrey, praying to the gods that he doesn’t catch you sexting on the way to Harry’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival. What is this crazy, unbelievable life you lead…

Lily: Tonight…

Harry: Be ready

“We’re almost there,” Jeffery says, smiling and patting your hand. You smile as you click your phone off and tuck it in your clutch. “This is crazy! I can’t believe we’re here!”

“I know…I always knew he’d be a star but it’s still a little surreal to see it play out.”

“I knew it too…I just never thought I’d be with him.”

“Really? Because I think you guys make perfect sense. Believe me when I say that he’s never been happier.”

You blush. “Thanks Jeffery.”

You arrive and are ushered down the carpet quickly and Jeffery guides you to the side.

“The cast’ll go in first and then we’ll follow,” he says quietly.

You nod.

You can hear when the cast starts arriving - fans and photographers screaming and cameras clicking and your heart is pounding. Chris Pine is the first one down the red carpet and you watch in awe as Harry’s car pulls up and he walks to the red carpet. When he sees you, he winks and smirks at you.

Jeffery taps your elbow to let you know it’s time to file into the theatre and you follow him in and take your seats.

Chris comes in first, winks at you and takes his seat and then Harry comes in. His eyes meet yours and the smile that is reserved only for you breaks on his face. The slit on your dress selects that moment to slide off your knee exposing your thigh. Harry’s eyebrows raise ever so slightly and the smile morphs into a smirk. You lick your lips and your eyes flutter as you reach to shift in your seat and adjust the dress. It’s like the dress knows…just knows…how much you want him. You shiver as he turns to speak to Chris before he takes his seat. He leans forward over him and mutters with a grin, “Somethin’ in ya eye, Pine…she’s taken.”

Palms up in declaring innocence, Chris responds, “Out of your league, Harry…out of your league.”

You suck in your lips holding in your grin and look at your clasped hands. You gently shake your head wondering who’s life this is, because it certainly can’t be yours. Harry turns his head to the side and your eyes trace his profile and the curls on the back of his head. Suddenly naughty memories invade your mind, making love in the pool house in Italy… the swing in the pink room…the hotel floor in Amsterdam… you’ve seen that face in ecstasy and those curls between your legs. The memories cause you to clear your throat and sit up straighter in your seat. Harry turns slightly to side eye you. You know he’s silently checking on you, so you nod and turn your thumb up to indicate you’re good. He too clears his throat and sits up in his seat adjusting his suit jacket. You can’t help but wonder what’s on his mind and make a note to ask him later. The rest of the cast files in takes their seats and the curtain covering the screen begins to rise. It’s time for the premiere. You’ve seen the trailers but not the whole movie so you’re nervous and excited.

In the dim lights, you cross your legs just as The Oogum Boogum Song by Brenton Wood starts. You can’t wipe the huge grin from your face, the song is so happy and you kick your foot. Then you gasp at the first scene Harry’s in. He’s utterly beautiful and he looks like he was born in that era. He’s just magical. You giggle at his teasing of Alice while she’s driving them in circles. His laugh is infectious.

Soon enough the first love scene between Jack and Alice flickers across the screen. You’ve seen enough previews to know some of what is about to happen. Jack arrives home from work to Alice who is, let’s be real, stunning. He kisses her passionately and lays her down on the table, much like he’s done to you many times… you know it’s not real but you can’t help the niggling of jealousy. It’s not even that he’s with another woman, it’s simply the idea of other people seeing him do what he only does to you…seeing how he places his hands, his head, how his mouth devours a kiss… kisses that are yours. You sit a little straighter and cross your legs a little tighter trying to get a grip on yourself. After all, you better get accustomed to it because women, and men, around the world are going to be imagining themselves with him, and with some very real examples, as soon as both this and My Policeman.

Harry drops his hand between the chairs to wrap his fingers around your dangling foot causing you to suddenly exhale a breath you didn’t know you were holding. He tucks his head down slightly willing comfort, a sense of calmness and reassurance to overtake his touch…meditating that you know how very much he loves you and that this is just play acting. His thumb strokes the inside of your arch concerned about making it feel “right” between you.

Closing your eyes with a sigh, you revel at the comforting feeling of his touch on your skin. He just knows…of course, he knows how you’re feeling. Your eyes flutter as his fingers remind you that those touches are reserved only for you. So, you let them ground you. He’s yours and wants you to know it. It’s a special moment between you in a dark theater…no words, but one you won’t ever forget.  

The film is beautiful and you’re so proud of Harry’s performance. The storyline is intriguing and the mind-bending, psychological aspect is definitely a conversation starter. The entire cast was incredible. You smile through the applause thinking that if Chris Pine ever started a cult, you could be easily influenced, but you won’t tell Harry that. They take a collective bow…and Harry makes a massive show of kissing Nick Kroll much to the delight of the crowd and laughter of his co-stars. You file down the row to the aisle where he’s stepped to one side waiting for you to get to him. He fits his hand on the small of your back and you giggle, “Nice kiss, H.”

“Dinna wanna start somethin’ wi’ you I couldn’ finish. Goddamn baby, ya arse looks so fuckin’ good in this…,” he whispers as his hand slides down to the top of your bum.

“Watch it, mister, don’t get fresh.”

He taps his four fingers lightly to remind you not to get too bratty.

You look over at him just before you step into the open lobby, “The film was fantastic, H…I’m so proud of you. I wanna kiss you so much, but it’s not the time or place…just know I’m beaming inside.”

“Thank ya, baby, dunno jus’ how much tha’ means ta me. Tell me abou’ it tanight?”

“If you’re not busy…”

He waggles his eyes, “Oh, ’ll be busy, bu’…”

About that time Asif comes up and slaps him on the back and says, “Introduce me, Styles.”

He chuckles, “Asif, this is Lily, Lily this legend-in-his-own-mind is Asif.”

You giggle as he kisses your hand dramatically.

“Hey, hey, hey, careful, Lily, no’ sure he’s had all his shots.”

There’s a call for cast photos, so you find Jeffrey and make your way to the theater reception hall. It’s covered in crystal and gold with waitstaff standing at the ready with trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Jeff explains how the cast will be taking photos and entertaining executives for a bit so you should enjoy some champs and mill around. You make your way toward a flute of champagne when you feel your phone vibrate. It’s Bella.

Bella: The Apple folks were so impressed with you today, they published ratings this afternoon and Cold Case Justice is ranked at number six on the most streamed podcasts! Yay!! Slay bestie!

Lily: That’s great news! Any word on the paps at the airport. ☹

Bella: Just a wee Twitter trend.

Lily: WHAT?!

Bella: No need to panic. It’s nothing major, just a pic with the caption, “Should we be worried? Look’s like Harry’s ‘darling’ will be arriving late.”

Lily: (insert rolling eye emoji) Gee, how original.

Bella: IKR?! Just enjoy your short trip and fuck the rest of the world. Kiss Harry for me. If you need anything let me know. Travel safe.  Love you!

Lily: Thank you Bella, what in the world would I do without you? I love you bunches.

You slip your phone back in your clutch and take a sip of your drink, when you feel it vibrate again. You smile to yourself realizing that Bella must’ve forgotten something.

Harry: No bra?

You grin at the screen and try to subtly look around. He must still be out front.

Lily: No

Harry: Visualizing

Lily: Careful there will be photos as evidence

Harry: Love you

Lily: Love you

Needing to visit the loo you excuse yourself and drain the last of your champagne. After finishing your business, which was no small feat considering you had to hold up your dress to keep it from getting wet or drug on the floor, you wash your hands and touch up your lipstick.

You step out into the hallway and then into the large reception area and gasp at how in that in the short amount of time there was a massive influx of people. There’s a flurry of activity and even in your heels you can’t seem to stand tall enough to find anyone. You decide it’s always best to just go back to your last location, so you head toward the table with champagne flutes. Thankfully there’s Jeff speaking with two very elegantly dressed older women who, like you, have taken advantage of the flutes of bubbly.

Jeff smiles and waves you closer, “Lily!  Lily this is Jeanine Amato and her partner Paula Christenson.”

You smile and take their hands and return their cheek kisses, “Hello, it’s lovely to meet you.”

“Jeanine is on the board of the Venice Biennale for the Film Festival,” Jeff continues.

“Officially it is the Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia…,” Jeanine corrects.

“That’s Italian for the International Venice Film Festival, honey, please don’t scare the poor girl,” Paula interrupts with a kind smile.

“Scusa, darling, I didn’t mean to be rude. You are just stunning, isn’t she just lovely, P!” Jeanine gushes.

“Yes, just beautiful. If you can’t tell we are big fans.”

You look at Jeff who is sipping what looks like a whiskey and smiling at your blush.  “Oh, have you met him? I know Harry’s around here somewhere…,” you say looking around.

“Oh no,” Jeanine says, “I mean, yes, we love Harry, but we have really enjoyed your podcast. Paula, especially.”

“Oh! Wow…,” you say with your hand on your chest.

Jeff pipes up, “Paula was a Behavior Analysis Analyst at Quantico before she retired a couple of years ago and now works in the private sector as a international consultant for unsolved cases.”

You mouth drops open, “Oh, wow…,” you say… again… causing Jeff to chuckle. You shake your head to gather some sense about yourself before you make a complete fool of yourself.

You hold your hand out to shake it…again…”It’s so nice to meet you…I…I’m…flattered you listen to my podcast…th…thank you.”

“Yes, we split our time between Venice and Los Angeles, but we never miss an episode. You have done such truly instinctive work, where did you train?”

“I...I…I don’t have any “formal” training, I’ve really just studied criminal psychology and been a lover of solving puzzles and working with the public to run down new ideas and leads. Most of the work we’ve done has been to advocate for victims and support new technology that brings new life to cases that were thought unsolvable.”

Jeff is pulled away and the three of you stand there talking about the podcast and Paula’s experiences. You find out she has authored several books about cases she worked on and is a contributor to a textbook utilized in one of your classes from uni. You get lost in the conversation and the banter between Paula and Jeanine is adorable to say the least. Paula gives you her card and invites you to lunch sometime while you are in Los Angeles, and they turn to walk away. Looking down at her card, you smile at what a wonderful small world we live in. Paula steps back quickly to say, “Lily, you should consider writing a book about your parents’ case. The work is good, but it’s a story of hope for other victims and, in our business, they can use all the hope they can get.”

As she walks away you let the thought linger. Could you write a book? You’re deep in thought when your phone buzzes causing you to startle. You tuck the card in your clutch as you pull out the phone.

Harry: I miss you

You smile and look around for his navy suit and curly hair.

Harry: Behind you

You turn to see him holding his phone and smiling at you.

Lily: I miss you

Harry: Gonna cum for me tonight? Touch your ear if yes.

You look away from him as a waitress stops by to offer another flute of champagne. Smiling at her, you take the glass, hold it to your mouth, looking back at him over the edge and slowly lift your hand to your ear as if fixing your earring.

Harry: Good girl

He excuses himself from the group he’s been ignoring anyway and starts to stalk toward you.

You smirk as he reaches you and sit your champagne down. As soon as you’re within reach, he grabs your hand and drags you to the balcony and opens an enormous French door and ushers you through it before closing the door and pushing you against the railing.

"Ya ready ta get the fuck outta here so I can finally get ya outta tha’ fuckin’ dress,” he says, lips so close to yours you can feel his breath.

“H, just a couple more hours and I'm all yours. So glad Cal's here to drive us around, it's so weird when we have a stranger driving us, feels invasive.”

He shakes his head, “nuh uh. Now. We’re leavin’ now.”

You open your mouth to protest.  He pats your bum, "No panty lines…..killin’ me knowin’ ya bare underneath...wanna reach under an’ see how wet ya are…”

You blush as he gently bites bites the apple of your burning cheek. "Had ta take them off because even the thong showed lines,” you whisper with fluttering eyes as his mouth works to the skin below your ear.

He presses the front of his navy trousers, "migh' no' make it back ta tha hotel.”

“We have to! We can't fuck in the car!" You whisper shout eyes moving around to see if anyone is close.

“Why no'? ‘S no' wha' ya said las’ time, he says, smirking against your neck.

“No way, mister. Besides, I brought a little something for you for tonight...it's in my clutch, you wanna peek?”

He nods and you open your clutch and he sees the tiny plug with "HERS" engraved on the base.

He smirks, "Baby, ya brought a butt plug to ma movie premiere?"

"Shhh!!!" you say looking around again.

He laughs his breathy little laugh. "There's no one 'round so answer ma question, Jezebel."

"Well, I wasn't leaving it in the hotel for someone to find!"

"Hmmmm…..could've put it in fo' me.”

“I did think about that but I was afraid it would show...this dress is tight." You tell him, blushing. “This one’s yours, it's your turn tonight, H.... been your turn for a while... you up for it?"

“Mmmm, maybe…bu’ this one says “hers” isn’t tha’ yours, baby?”

You shrug your shoulder and place your hand on his chest with a smirk, “Nah…just feelin’ a little possessive H. Tanight, I want something on you that reminds me you’re mine… that this body,” you point to his chest, “is hers,” you point to your chest. He smirks and runs his hand along your cheek, “Baby, ya own all of me… ma hopes an’ dreams, hear’ an’ soul…,” he searches your eyes, “ma body, ’s all yours,” he runs his hand up your chest to your neck and opens his mouth to say more when the door opens and Jeffrey pops his head out.

“Harry, we've been looking for you, can you come answer a couple of questions?"

He sucks in his lips holding his irritation in "We'll continue this later, Jezebel.”

“I’m holding you to it, mister.”

Over the next hour you and Harry mingle together, moving from group to group with introductions and inquiries about how you met, fielding questions about what you do and having people try terribly not to fan over Harry’s music, which seems to be an interestingly popular subject for a film premiere. There were a few ribbings regarding his interview “performance” which you haven’t had a moment to watch but from what you’ve heard he stumbled through. At one point, he takes a moment to teasingly whisper, that it was your fault that he sucked during the panel because he was just “a ‘lil outta ma mind focusin’ on gettin’ you ‘ere wi’ me, safely.”  

It's starting to get late and you are deep in conversation with Kate Berlant, Olivia Wilde and Gemma Chan. Harry’s across the way with Asif and Nick and Chris. Kate drops a joke about Harry’s collar and you both are giggling when your phone vibrates with an incoming text.

Harry: Get me outta here, baby

You look up to see him looking at you with while the boys are knocking around in front of him.

Lily: Yes please my feet are killing me

Harry: Cock is killing me Jezebel need to be inside you

Kate leans over to Gemma and loudly whispers, “Sexting is a sign it’s time to go back to your room, Lil.”

Your blush turns deep red, “Kate!”

“Go on sweet girl, go get your man and get outta here, we’ll help make excuses,” Gemma says with a knowing smile.

You smile through your blush, grabbing their hands, “You think we can slip out?”

“Go, go, go…,” Olivia says with a giggle.

Looking down at your phone you and back his way he’s turned back toward the boys. Sometime during the evening he’s lost his jacket and his shirt is unbuttoned the way he likes it…he’s so sexy. As if he could just instinctively know that you’re looking at him, he turns his head your way. You smile and he smiles back. You mouth, “I love you” to which he turns his body ignoring those around him, licks his lips and crooks his finger come hither and mouths, “I love you more, C’mere.”

You don’t even turn your head back to the group when you say, “Ladies, I think that’s my signal, yeah? It was a great night, but I’m getting out of here.” You bite your lip and put your phone back in your clutch holding his stare and begin the short walk toward him which, thankfully, is in the same direction as the doors that lead out to where Cal’s waiting with the car.

Harry can’t get enough of the way your dress drapes over your breasts and the way it moves when you walk. Your hair is pulled and pinned over to one side with Swarovski crystals, matching dainty stud earrings, simple and stunning. He wonders if he’ll ever be able to tell you enough how much he loves everything about you.

You reach him and he can’t hold back, he places both hands where your jaw and neck meet pulling your face to his. “Ya so fuckin’ beau’iful, Lily an’ I love ya s’much,” he says with a terribly thick accent as he runs his nose along yours. Then, as if no one in the world is there looking on, he places a warm kiss on your lips as you place your hands on his wrists. “Let’s go, love, Cal’s waiting outside.” Stunned, you simply nod and follow him as he threads his fingers with yours and heads toward the doors.  

Cal is waiting outside with the car. Theater security opens the door for you both to scoot in. The minute the door closes, Harry hits the screen to close you off from Cal, “Sorry, Cal, just need a minute,” Harry apologizes.

“No apology necessary, Harry. Miss Lily, you look lovely.”

You slide into next to him and he puts his an around you and you snuggle into him.

“Did ya have a good time, Jezebel?” He says, voice deep and accent thick.

“It was so awesome! I met so many anazibg people and everyone from Don’t Worry Darling is so, so nice! Oh! And I met this nice couple and they think I should write a book…”

He’s smiling at your enthusiasm and just staring at you and fuck it, he’s hard as a rock. “Lily, lean over the seat an’ pull up ya dress,” he says, interrupting you.

“Harry! Are you even listening to me?!"

“Oh yeah babe, every word...now lean over the seat, I need ta see ya.”

You twist and rise up on your knees with the silk of your dress draped over your bum facing him.

“Jesus," he mutters adjusting his hard cock through his trousers.

You bite your bottom lip and look over your shoulder as his hands roam over your bum and you gasp as he pushes the silk of your dress up.

“Can’t you wait until we get back to the hotel?”

“Hmmm…have I ever tol’ ya how much it turns ma on when ya talk abou' ya work," he says leaning forward to kiss the dimples at the base of your spine. "Jus' a little taste,” he whispers as he places a kiss to your pussy.

“Harry!”

“Wan’ ma honey, Jezebel,” he says pulling your hips back and licking a stripe up your slit.

Your eyes flutter closed and you grip the seat and then you feel the car come to a stop. “We’re here!” You whisper shout trying to pull away.

He groans and lets go and you twist around to a sitting position just as Cal opens the door with a smirk.

You slip in through the hotel door with him only a step behind you. You immediately reach down to slip off your heeled sandals. “Let me do that,” he says immediately kneeling down to unbuckle the straps and slip the shoes off.  

He slides his hand up your leg along the dress’s slit, “tease me all night…” he mumbles as he kisses your thigh. You card your fingers through his hair, and he groans at the action wrapping his hands around your waist and squeezing.

“Mess it up, please…don’ like it all crunchy wi’ all tha shit in it,” he says resting his forehead on your tummy.

“Dying to get my hands on you all night, H,” you say brushing his hair back over and over until its smooth. “Come up here, kiss me, please?,” you whimper as you tug the sides of his head. His stare is intoxicating, his eyes never leave yours as he slides up your body until, at his full height, you have to look up to continue searching his eyes.

He shakes his head like he just can’t believe that you’re his then leans down to open his mouth over yours. He teases the kiss from you, opening his mouth to dart his tongue out along the seams of you lips. “Open fo’ me, baby…don’ tease, no’ tanight…wan’ ya so much, angel.”

You slide your hands up to the open buttons on his shirt and scratch your fingers down his chest. Opening your mouth for him he slips his tongue and you softly whimper. The soft warmth of his lips soon turns into a frantic devour of tongue and teeth as his hand searches for the side zipper of your dress. He’s breathing in and as you breathe out, taking in each other’s air. He pulls in your bottom lip and sucks gently then dips back in for another taste of your mouth.

He makes quick work of ridding you of your dress and your waste no time reaching for the button and zipper of his trousers. He pulls his lips away long enough to rip his shirt off and slip out of his shoes. He takes a minute to help you step out of your dress. Holding your stare, he walks over to the vanity chair and drapes the dress over the back of it.

You pull the pin from your hair and shake it out. You can’t help but shiver at him stalking back to you shirtless with his trousers undone. Once he reaches you his hands go to the hair you just shook out. He gathers it into a pony tail and pulls your head back exposing your neck to his mouth. His lips and teeth work your neck over and you pant out your desire. Your hands slide around to his back and down into his underwear where you squeeze his bum cheeks pulling him against you. His free hand cups your breast and squeezes as he groans and you let out a soft squeal.

Panting with desire, he sighs deeply and rests his forehead against yours, “Fuck, babe, wha’ a day…wha’ a week…’s been balls ta tha wall since we took those days off…haven’t had a mo’ ‘til now. I promise I’ll bring ya back ta Venice someday an’ we’ll take our time.”

“Imma hold you to that, but right now take your trousers off and go lay on the bed, please.” 

He slips off the rest of his pants and crawls up the bed to rest on his back, head on the pillow. You turn to grab your clutch and saunter smugly over to stand next to the bed beside him where you open it and unabashedly, pull out the plug and set it on the bedside table. You open the drawer and pull out a small bottle of lube and set it next to the plug. You notice Harry’s throat move as he swallows.

“Not worried about Venice, H, just want you. You’re right, we’ve been so busy…and I’ve missed you so much.”

He runs his hand down your hip, “So fuckin’ sexy. Come ta me, Jezebel.”

You smile and draw your finger to your mouth, “H, I want my mouth on you…I want you in my mouth tonight.” You place a knee on the bed next to his hip and lean down to kiss the bee tattoo on his hip.

His eyes flutter closed and his nostrils flair. He gulps, “Funny, Jezebel, because I jus' wanna get ma mouth on ya,” he says, grabbing your hand and pulling it to his lips.

“Think we're at an empass, H?"

“Oh baby, we jus' need ta get creative,” he says, smiling his most beautiful smile.

You smile. “Eyes on me, baby,” you say breathily as you bend down and kiss his stomach, then licking your way down his skin to his neatly trimmed pubic hair, you open your mouth and take him into your mouth, and you hear his sharp intake of breath.

He leans forward and grabs your waist, pulling you up and over until your facing away from him. His fingers run down your slit. “‘S Soaked an' swollen...pull off baby.”

"Did I do something wrong?"

He sits up to cup your cheek, “Jesus no, jus' wan' ya closer... Don' stop...jus lemme get ma mouth on ya too.." he says pulling your hips in parallel to him. You circle his shaft with what you can't fit in your mouth just as he pushes your thighs apart and places an open mouth kiss on your pussy. You mumble a groan around his cock and he tightens his eyes at the sensation.

You take him as far as you can, hollowing your cheeks, your hand working the part of him that you can’t fit in your mouth.

You feel the scruff of his chin on your mound and you cup his tender sack drawn up tight with arousal.

He pulls you closer hands gripping your hips, lips suctioning onto your clit, the tip of his nose at your dripping hole and you pop off, gasping. He pulls back breathless.

"Y'ok?" He pants out.

"Yeah," you lick your lips, "s'just it feels good. Hard to concentrate. I'II do better," you tell him, taking him back in your mouth.

He slips his ring and middle fingers deep and sets about fluttering on your inner upper walls. "Fuckin' find my spot, angel…,” he says searching with his fingers, “There...there it is... feels swollen fo’ me. Fuck! Damn, Jezebel, do tha’ again!” He mutters as you swirl your tongue on the slit of his cockhead at the same time you swirl your finger on his perineum.

You take him as deep as you can, finger stroking gently on his perineum and groan around him.

"Fuckin’ hell, goddamn, Jezebel! 'M gonna cum..fuckin…..ya gotta cum fo' me!  C’mom, baby, wi’ me!" He pants out, fingers moving faster against your spot as his lips suction back to your clit.

You pop off with a slurp and he groans, clearly frustrated.

Your finger circles his hole. Gathering your courage you push your finger in to the first knuckle. “Does that feel good? Baby, d’ya think you could take our plug?"

Head dropping to the pillow with a thud, he pulls in a deep breath, “’S differen’,” he says lowly.

“’Different bad’ or ‘different keep going’?” you ask fluttering your eyes with desire and kissing his thigh.

“Feels bet-tah than I expec’ed…dunno wha’ I expec’ed…so fuckin’ hard baby” he says with a groan.

You smile against the skin of his thigh, “Think it’s gonna feel amazing, honey.” Reaching behind you open your hand, “Gimme the plug and the lube.”

His hand swats your bum, and you groan, bite your bottom lip and rest your cheek on his thigh.

He smiles at your groan and places an open mouth kiss on the place where his handprint has turned your skin a faint pink. “I know how ta lube it,” he mumbles against your soft skin as he holds the plug by the flat side and pushes the small bulb in your weeping hole and swirl it around.

You squint your eyes and turn to your forehead on his thigh. So erotic.  

“Jezebel…,” he says taking in the sight.

“Harry…” you say at the same time you push up to place a kitten kiss on the swell of his cock.

He pulls the plug out and places it and the small bottle of lube in your open hand at the base of your spine.

Raising back up on one elbow, you gently lift his goosebump covered sack to give yourself a clear view and better access and you lean down and kiss one of his balls.

The groan he lets out is partially a gasp and grunt “Jesus, baby…”

You run your hand along the inside of one of his thighs and push it out to open him up farther. You flip the bottle lid open and dribble the lube on the bulb that’s already covered in your honey. You want him to be comfortable and you want it to be as easy as possible.

“Ready?” you ask resting your cheek back on his thigh, looking at his hard cock.

He puts both hands on your bum cheeks, leans up to place a gentle kiss to one side, “Yes, baby, I’m ready.”

You place the tip of the bulb against his puckered skin and run it around softly. His cock twitches and his breath catches. You apply pressure to the flat end and start to press it in. His fingers flex on your bum as you apply steady pressure and the bulb begins to get wider and wider.

He whimpers and squeezes his eyes and leans up to press his lips to your bum as he moans at the breach.

“Breathe for me, H. Almost to the widest part, baby, ya ok?”

Squeezing your cheeks a little harder he moans against your bum, “Mmhmm, jus’ do it,” he mumbles.

Applying just a little more pressure the bulb pops in the rest of the way and he coughs out a grunt.

“Uunngaaahhh…!” His cock jumps and his toes curl. “Ohgodohgodohgod…!” He blows out breath after breath after breath holding back. The feel of the bulb against his prostate is the most intense sexual experience he’s ever had.

“You ok?” You ask him.

“Turn ‘round, Jezebel, need ta see ya,” he pants out.

You move carefully and straddle him and settle just under his hard cock.

“C’mere,” he rasps, strong arms pulling you down to lay on top of him, kissing your cheeks. “Feels s’good…Jesus, ‘m surprised…only you, ma Jezebel, only you…”

You smile and press a kiss to his wet lips. “Mine,” you whisper against his lips.

“Make me cum, Jezebel. Please. ‘M s’hard fo’ ya. Need ya on me…please,” he begs you, eyes boring into yours.

You smile and lift your hips, your hand placing his cock at your entrance and then flexing your hips down and taking him in.

You gasp as he fills you and his hands tighten on your hips.

“Jus’ grind on me, baby,” he rasps, hands guiding your hips. “Jus’ like tha’…fuck…can ya cum like this?”

Your hands move to the sides of his neck and you nod.

“Unnggghhh…fuck, it feels s’good…fuck…’m no’ gon’ last…need ya ta cum wi’ me,” he pants out, his brows furrowed.

“I’m close…so close! Mmmmm…ahhhh…Harry!” You cry out as you cum, your orgasm barreling through your body.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” He draws his knees up, thrusting into you three more times before his toes curl, his head plows back into the pillow and he lets out a long, low moan, and everything goes white as he cums harder than he ever has in his whole life.

All you can hear is the sound of your own heartbeat and both of your panting breaths. You press your lips to his and his hands grip the sides of your face and he kisses you back, hard.

He slips from you,  rolls you over, and you hit the mattress with a thud and you gasp as he attacks your mouth with his once again, sucking your tongue into his mouth.

When he finally pulls back, you look into his eyes. “Was it good? Did you like it?”

He gently pushes your hair behind your ears. “I’ve never cum s’hard in ma life, Jezebel.” He rolls over to his side and runs his hand back through his hair. “I didn’t know it’d feel like tha’.” He puffs out a breath. “Can still feel it…Jesus.”

“Do you want me to take it out?”

“Ya have ta or ‘m takin’ ya again,” he says, smirking.

You snuggle up next to him. “Hmmm…if I wasn’t so tired, I’d leave that in,” you giggle and your hand pulls his leg up and you gasp as you see the ‘HERS’ nestled in his bum. “So sexy,” you whisper as you fingers grab the plug and tug it out.

“Ahhhh! Fuck!”

You throw the plug on the floor…you’ll deal with it later. “C’mere my little freak,” you tell him, placing a kiss on his lips. “I love you.”

“I love ya too…fuck, love ya s’fuckin’ much.”

[aulia-m]

AI voice detection and recognition are becoming more crucial

This Twitter thread shows how far along artificial voices have come. For those who are familiar with Steve Jobs’ voice, the voice in these recordings is almost indistinguishable from the original. When you listen to them, you can be forgiven to think that it’s actually Steve Jobs saying these words, never mind that he’s been gone for more than a decade.

The only catch is that because the training set must have been taken from the many recordings of his Apple keynote speeches and product announcements, they all sound like he’s reading from a script or making announcements. None of the sentences sound natural the way someone would speak if they were having a regular conversation or answering questions but that’s not too difficult to overcome. The tools to make adjustments to AI generated voices to sound more natural already exists.

Here’s another example. The YouTube channel Star Wars Comics have started to experiment with using generated voices to narrate some storyline’s from the Star Wars comic books to keep their audience up to date with what’s happening in the comics. In one video, they used James Earl Jones’ Darth Vader voice to say the lines in the pages of the comic book. Their latest video voiced a conversation between Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader from another issue in the recent Darth Vader comic book series, both using the generated voices of their real actors.

As many in the comments noted, while their voices sound indistinguishable from the original, the speech patterns make it obvious that these were generated. That’s because the voices weren’t adjusted to the way a person would speak in a proper conversation given in the situation. Again, these are relatively trivial changes that one could make using their AI voice generators.

While these may be little more than fun projects for the curious minds, the day when someone can create entirely fabricated recordings to manipulate the public is already here. You can already create fake videos of a person saying things that they never actually said, now the voices sound even closer to the original.

When deepfake videos started popping up in 2020, people knew that this was going to be a significant problem. People are already easily fooled by fabricated articles or stories and this is just going to make it far more challenging for people to fact check and verify the validity of recordings.

All I can say for that is, brace for impact.

[chromalogue]

In which I am a brazen fool

Last week was kind of strenuous.  I knew it was going to be. 

Monday was a normal day.

Tuesday evening I was supposed to attend a guest lecture put on by a research centre I'd like to join. 

Wednesday started with an early lecture by a friend, put on by another research centre I'd like to join, on a topic I'm interested in.  Then I had to hop on a bus to the downtown campus for a meeting with an administrative person looking for input from international researchers.  Then dinner with the same colleague from that morning's lecture, plus another colleague who I hadn't met yet but who also has similar research interests. 

Thursday was an evening reception for international postdocs. 

Friday was my 6 AM wakeup and then six solid hours of German class, followed by shopping and laundry. 

And then, because last week was special, wretchedly early on Saturday morning was another four hours of German class to make up for the holiday on Good Friday.

So I already knew I was setting myself up for exhaustion and not getting much done.  My compromise with my sleep disorder, for which my partner and family roundly mock me, is maintaining a fairly strict bedtime between 2:30 and 3:30, which requires something like military discipline for me, because I have to be really exhausted to be anything like tired at that time.  The only way I can manage it is to have near-complete control over my schedule and nothing else at all going on.  But it means I get to work around noon at the earliest, eat a wholesome breakfast in the cafeteria, and am in my office from around 12:30-11 or so.  So, evening events mean sharply curtailed days, and morning ones mean less sleep.  Of course.

And the compromise I've made with my pathologically thorough style of note-taking is that I dictate my notes.  This I started in earnest because the electronic lock on my apartment door used to stick and I gave myself a repetitive strain injury always turning the knob, and spent three months in a tensor bandage.  I continued with it even after typing stopped hurting, because I usually take about thirty pages of notes per hundred pages I read, and dictating that goes a lot faster than typing, even though Microsoft speech-to-text is hilariously terrible and requires hours of correcting afterwards.  So like, one of the things I had to do during these very short workdays was dictate a lot of notes in a very little bit of time.  

Well, the Tuesday lecture ended in a trip to a restaurant, where I enjoyed excellent Italian food and hours of good conversation with people from the research centre.  On Wednesday, the meeting with the administration was catered, with little bites of things in jars with spoons.  I had exactly one hour of rapid-fire dictation before joining my colleagues at the restaurant, where we spent many pleasant hours and I ate my own weight in calamari.  

Thursday was more rapid-fire dictation.  By this time I was exhausted, and my throat was raw, and no wonder.  When I arrived at the reception, a very excellent person asked me how I was doing, and I said that I was astonishingly grumpy for someone with no real problems.  She said she hoped I'd feel better as the evening wore on.  And then there was my supervisor, and beverages, and I took my mask off and drank apple juice out of a wine glass, and ate and drank and stayed to the end, which I didn't think I was going to be able to manage.  And my mood improved, even though I was still tired enough that word-finding was a problem.  

We heard some speeches, although the admin person I'd met the day before was supposed to give the keynote, and she was out sick now.  At one point I wondered if I should put my mask back on, but I'd been eating and drinking in room with all these people for hours anyway, and I didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable.  

On Friday I woke up with my throat even worse, and tried to take a covid test, but the one I'd bought had no liquid in the tube.  (Later, I couldn't remember the German for "liquid"; I told the people at the store that the juice was missing.)  So I put on an FFP2 mask, which here seems to be the equivalent of an N95, and went to my six hours of class.  I tried to minimize the time I spent unmasked.  When the window was open, I took advantage of the time to lift my mask a bit and shove in veggie salami and a bit of cheese.  

I was feeling next-level tired, and my skin was starting to crawl in the way that a fever does.  I picked up the (wrong, it turns out) cleaning disk I'd ordered for the Tassimo I found on the side of the road at the beginning of the month, got a couple more covid tests, and did some grocery shopping.  I bought fruit.  Like, lots and lots of fruit.  Ridiculous amounts.  Blueberries, strawberries, grapefruit, passionfruit, grapes, cherries.  It looked so good.  

The only thing that kept me from melting into a puddle of goo when I got the groceries home was the knowledge that if I didn't get my clothes into the building's washing machine as soon as possible, the person in #5 would put her clothes in.  Also probably the dehydration.  Laundry takes four hours, and ye gods, I did NOT want to prolong that today. 

So I took a covid test--negative--and then grabbed my laundry.  I shoved it all in, waited two hours, and went down to put it in the dryer, telling myself, only two more hours until I can put on jammies and curl up.  Only the dryer was somehow full of #5's laundry, and had an hour and thirty-eight minutes left on the timer.  (And I didn't think the timer went higher than 1:05, which in real time is about 2 hours.)  And I thought about waiting whatever vast span of time 1:38 actually represented to be able to even put my laundry in the dryer, not to mention the two hours beyond that.  And I took my wet clothes, shuffled to the elevator, and went upstairs.  I hung them, quite certain that they would be dry before I was in clothes-wearing condition again.

Then I made myself some nachos, and crashed until about 5:30 in the morning.  E-mailed my supervisor that I wouldn't be able to meet.  Had my class.  Slept some more.  Watched Eurovision.  (AWESOME with a fever; 10/10 would recommend.  Finland was still robbed.)

Sunday I spent sneezing.  Watched a film over Zoom.  

Monday I woke up and the fever was gone.  I felt like I had a bad head cold, but my energy was at about 80%.  Back in the Before Times, this would have meant going to work, but it would be bad form now, so I decided I would go to the office after hours and pick up some things to work on.  

I took a covid test.  It was positive.  

So.  Then I had to e-mail all the people I was with last week, and warn them.  And then I waited until evening, when no one would be in the office.  I'd planned to take the bus if I tested negative, but as it was, I just picked the most secluded path to work, with the fewest stairs, and walked.  I was masked the whole time I was indoors, and anytime I saw anyone on the street outdoors.  I touched as little as I could in the common areas of the building, slathering my hands in sanitizer and opening doors with my elbows.  Got my stuff.  Got home.  Felt better for the walk, frankly. 

Normally I stay masked indoors in public (albeit in a surgical mask, the ones they call IIR here), and only unmask to eat and drink, but with all the catered meetings and dinners last week, that still amounted to something like eleven hours I spent unmasked in the presence of others.  Last week I was feeling sheepish about staying masked as long as I did in front of them; this week I get to e-mail them all and tell them that I've exposed them to a potentially deadly disease through my carelessness.  So far, I haven't heard of anyone getting sick, thank goodness, but I'm still not done.

[maiosx]

i ahet rh3 web cauSe every5me someone gets an idea th4y po3t it and im like i had that idea already but im lacking funds to build anything then apple comes and goes, daniel here you go, here's that blue macbook you wanted, SVP guyJohn Ternus picked it, and im like thank you 🥺 (not really i said it was too dark and not light blue enough like Aqua from konosuba ) and im like FAAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK I NEED SERIES A FUNDING but then I'm like, well I'm kinda global marketing with archy and maybe next time well get the right color or a finished idea this time and marketing won't be something super courageous or edgy this time but it always is and I go and design something better the next day after the keynote and im like FAAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKK I STILL NEED SERIES A FUNDING but ipods are cool cause they built the menu into a wheel so the only thing improving there would be the music adn then i am still like automating hoping that one day apple will ship a finished product with the 100% full thought process in it and not the 99% they always ship at. here's to being a 100%er

[govindhtech]

MacOS 15: What to Expect from Apple’s Next Mac Update

These AI Features For Compatibility With macOS 15 Could Be Announced By Apple

On June 10, Apple Park will host the much-anticipated WWDC 2024 developer and public event. The company will unveil iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, and more on the first day. Apple also expects to introduce AI capabilities with the release of macOS 15, which should thrill you even if we have covered a lot of ground about what customers could anticipate with the debut of iOS 18.

The next significant upgrade to Apple PCs’ macOS operating system is called MacOS 15. The public release is anticipated to occur in the autumn, most likely in September or October, after the unveiling at WWDC 2024, which normally occurs in early June.

Although macOS 15 is not yet widely known, there are rumours that it will be a more substantial upgrade than the previous version, macOS Ventura, which concentrated on enhancing the performance of games and video calls. It is anticipated that macOS 15 would be the first to prioritise artificial intelligence (AI). This may refer to characteristics such as:

AI-powered assistants that can aid with various activities, such as handling emails, taking notes, and setting up appointments.

Intelligent assistant (AI) capabilities in creative software, such autofill and autosummary in Pages, Keynote, and Numbers.

Tools using artificial intelligence to assist developers with Xcode development chores.

AI features on Macs with the introduction of macOS 15

June is only a few months away, and the business is really investing in adding AI capabilities to a lot of different Apple devices. A new AI function will almost certainly be added to every product, including macOS 15, as a result of the gadgets in Apple’s walled garden being linked in one way or another. The company’s next versions of macOS 15 and iOS 18 will include the majority of the notable features.

We’ve compiled a list of AI tools Apple is expected to introduce with macOS 15 later this year, in case you’re unsure. Although these are only conjectures at this point, be careful to take the news with a grain of salt. Some AI enhancements could only be available on Macs using the company’s M series of CPUs. See what AI features will be available when macOS 15 is released.

Siri Gets Smarter: AI Changes macOS 15

In preparation for the iPhone and Mac, Apple has been using enormous language models to teach Siri. Because of its greater interaction with the Shortcuts app, it will be able to do more complicated tasks.Since the release of Sora, a revolutionary video production tool that is sweeping the market, OpenAI has a significant advantage in the AI race.

But Apple is still in the early stages of researching artificial intelligence and creating appropriate use cases. With all of the capabilities that iOS 18 will provide, it is said to be Apple’s largest iPhone upgrade to history, even though the firm entered the AI space late. In preparation of the upcoming WWDC huge iOS 18 announcement, Apple is reportedly using its extensive language models to train Siri and Spotlight Search.

AI inside Xcode

The business is developing new AI tools to complement Xcode, as we have previously discussed, to help developers create and modify code more simply.

Pages and Keynote with AI

In a manner similar to how Apple is creating AI capabilities for iPhone applications that run on the whole system, the firm is anticipated to provide AI-assisted authoring in Pages and Keynote, as well as deck building. With predictive text, the app may function like Google’s Gemini.

Playlists Created by Apple Music AI

Users will be able to utilise AI in Apple Music to create playlists in macOS 15. Playlists based on your listening habits and preferences may be generated by the algorithms in use. It’s unclear what the new capabilities include until Apple formally reveals them, however, since there aren’t many information available.

Various

With macOS 15, Apple may provide a host of new features, one of which may be a chatbot created just for the platform. In order to extend its generative AI technology to the iPhone and maybe the Mac as well, the business is reportedly looking to cooperate with OpenAI, Google, and Baidu. And with the potential to automate complex processes involving numerous applications, the Shortcuts app might also benefit greatly. Apart from this, generative AI technology included in macOS 15 may also be advantageous for system applications like as Notes and Messages.

MacOS release date

On Monday, June 10, during the WWDC 2024 keynote, a glimpse of macOS 15 will be given. That same day, developers will have access to the first beta, with a public test probably coming later in the summer.

Then, in the autumn, macOS 15 will be made available to the general public. Previous launch schedules indicate that this would happen in September or October.

Overall, macOS 15 seems to be headed towards an AI-powered future that increases accessibility and efficiency. We’ll wait for WWDC 2024 announcements.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[fabrilife01]

Apple WWDC 2024, set for June 10-14, promises to be ‘A(absolutely) I(incredible)’

Developers are the primary focus of Apple’s WWDC event for its various operating systems, as indicated by the name “D.” Several days ago, panels and workshops focusing on the various ecosystems were held at the Steve Jobs Theater on the company’s Cupertino campus. The event also serves as a launching pad for said ecosystems. Anticipate big announcements around iOS and iPadOS 18, macOS 15, and watchOS 11, among others. Seeing as how this year’s show will mark one year since the Vision Pro was announced, I would anticipate a LOT of new developers around the headset and its vision operating system. Updates to Apple Silicon and, perhaps, new Macs seem pretty likely as well. But Apple’s AI plans will almost certainly take center stage at the show this time out. WWDC seems like the most likely platform for such an announcement — and, perhaps, details on a rumored Google Gemini partnership for the iPhone. Joz’s sneaky backronym will no doubt only further speculation. Additional rumors have pointed to iOS 18 potentially being “the biggest” update in the operating system’s long history. You don’t just lean passively into generative AI and stop there, reports suggest. Instead, you use “AI tools that help manage your daily life.” Certainly, the notion of the AI smartphone isn’t Apple-specific. Samsung leaned heavily into the concept earlier this year with the launch of its Galaxy S24 line. Which also relied on Google’s Gemini efforts. The following month, Apple claimed that the new M3-powered MacBook Airs are the “World’s Best Consumer Laptop for AI,” mostly due to the neural processing units included in its first-party SoCs. Apple adds, “Developers and students will have the opportunity to celebrate in person at a special event at Apple Park on opening day.” This is likely a reference to the news-filled keynote that traditionally kicks off the show. Of course, things remain dramatically scaled down since the pre-pandemic days at the San Jose Convention Center. Fifty “winners” will be invited to the in-person Apple WWDC NUM0 event in Cupertino, as has always been the case. The event follows soon after Google I/O (May 14-15) and Microsoft Build (May 21-24). The announcement arrived less than a week after the Department of Justice announced. It is suing the hardware giant over claims of monopolistic practices surrounding the iPhone.

[hypnocoachpaul]

Which Order Serves Best: Problem, Challenge, Opportunity (Or The Reverse?) weekly podcast episode 108 - replays: www.bit.ly/GetUNstuckNOW 

Join us on Thursdays at 5 PM ET on #LinkedInAudio and #ClubHouse. I welcome your comments and topic ideas now or DM me anytime __ Special thanks to our sponsor, the #OWWLL App The best way for you to directly reach experts, on-demand (and monetize your expertise too), 10 minutes at a time. To do: Download free (Apple, Android) and get your $10 credit with code: UNSTUCK (That's for 10 x 10-minute expert calls, on-demand, at $1/10 min each Mentor Monday). Nice! __ Who do you know is ready for a change now? New Facebook Group (join us): https://www.bit.ly/NixNegativityNOW The waitlist is open now for our next 5-day Challenge: 'What You Can (and MUST) Do About Negativity - Wherever You Find It! About CoachPaul: Publicly voted Best 2019-2023: @GetUNstuckNOW Breakthrough Coaching System @NixNegativityNOW Keynote + Virtual Program @PainGoneNOW (in minutes, meds-free) I believe that while getting stuck is normal, STAYING stuck is a choice! Harnessing 40+ years of leadership (backroom to Board Room, on 4 continents) + Neuroscience Board certifications, I empower leaders to create extraordinary, more compelling life and business results. Consistently. - - - (Limited Availability): up to 90% off my award-winning Breakthrough Coaching and professional speaking programs: DM me, scan the QR code above or click: www.bit.ly/GetUNstuckNOW #neuroscience #leadershipskills #performance #life #hacks #lifehacking hashtag #hypnosis #hypnotherapy #coachpaul #getunstucknow #getunstuck #negativity #nixnegativitynow #coachpaul #mindset #problem #challenge #opportunity

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.9 (after 1940)

1941 – World War II: First flight of the Avro Lancaster. 1945 – World War II: The Sixth United States Army begins the invasion of Lingayen Gulf. 1957 – British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden resigns from office following his failure to retake the Suez Canal from Egyptian sovereignty. 1959 – The Vega de Tera dam fails, triggering a disastrous flood that nearly destroys the town of Ribadelago and kills 144 residents. 1960 – President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser opens construction on the Aswan Dam by detonating ten tons of dynamite to demolish twenty tons of granite on the east bank of the Nile. 1961 – British authorities announce they have uncovered the Soviet Portland Spy Ring in London. 1962 – Apollo program: NASA announces plans to build the C-5 rocket launch vehicle, then known as the "Advanced Saturn", to carry human beings to the Moon. 1964 – Martyrs' Day: Several Panamanian youths try to raise the Panamanian flag in the U.S.-controlled Panama Canal Zone, leading to fighting between U.S. military and Panamanian civilians. 1991 – Representatives from the United States and Iraq meet at the Geneva Peace Conference to try to find a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. 1992 – The Assembly of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina proclaims the creation of Republika Srpska, a new state within Yugoslavia. 1992 – The first discoveries of extrasolar planets are announced by astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail. They discovered two planets orbiting the pulsar PSR 1257+12. 1996 – First Chechen War: Chechen separatists launch a raid against the helicopter airfield and later a civilian hospital in the city of Kizlyar in the neighboring Dagestan, which turns into a massive hostage crisis involving thousands of civilians. 1997 – Comair Flight 3272 crashes in Raisinville Township in Monroe County, Michigan, killing 29 people. 2003 – TANS Perú Flight 222 crashes on approach to Chachapoyas Airport in Chachapoyas, Peru, killing 46 people. 2004 – An inflatable boat carrying illegal Albanian emigrants stalls near the Karaburun Peninsula en route to Brindisi, Italy; exposure to the elements kills 28. This is the second deadliest marine disaster in Albanian history. 2005 – Mahmoud Abbas wins the election to succeed Yasser Arafat as President of the Palestinian National Authority, replacing interim president Rawhi Fattouh. 2005 – The Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Government of Sudan sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to end the Second Sudanese Civil War. 2007 – Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the original iPhone at a Macworld keynote in San Francisco. 2011 – Iran Air Flight 277 crashes near Urmia in the northwest of the country, in icy conditions, killing 77 people. 2014 – An explosion at a Mitsubishi Materials chemical plant in Yokkaichi, Japan, kills at least five people and injures 17 others. 2015 – The perpetrators of the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris two days earlier are both killed after a hostage situation; a second hostage situation, related to the Charlie Hebdo shooting, occurs at a Jewish market in Vincennes. 2015 – A mass poisoning at a funeral in Mozambique involving beer that was contaminated with Burkholderia gladioli leaves 75 dead and over 230 people ill. 2021 – Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 crashes north of Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 62 people on board.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

Today (Oct 16) I'm in Minneapolis, keynoting the 26th ACM Conference On Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing. Thursday (Oct 19), I'm in Charleston, WV to give the 41st annual McCreight Lecture in the Humanities. Friday (Oct 20), I'm at Charleston's Taylor Books from 12h-14h.

#20yrsago What if Photoshop was a web-service? https://web.archive.org/web/20031203031503/https://reiter.weblogger.com/2003/10/14

#10yrsago Rebutting Apple’s claim of Imessage security: Apple can too spy on users https://www.computerworld.com/article/2486155/researchers-challenge-apple-s-claim-of-unbreakable-imessage-encryption.html

#10yrsago Oakland PD plays Junior G-Man with its own NSA-style data-center https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/technology/privacy-fears-as-surveillance-grows-in-cities.html

#10yrsago David Cameron vows vengeance on the Guardian for Snowden leaks https://www.techdirt.com/2013/10/17/uk-prime-minister-urges-investigation-guardian-over-snowden-leaks-there-shall-be-no-free-press/

#5yrsago Texas high-school students can’t graduate without until they watch a video on not triggering snowflake cops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi60a-W0Qsc

#5yrsago Why Do-Not-Track browser settings are useless and what to do about it https://gizmodo.com/do-not-track-the-privacy-tool-used-by-millions-of-peop-1828868324

#5yrsago Facebook lied: its in-home “Portal” cameras will collect your data https://www.vox.com/2018/10/16/17966102/facebook-portal-ad-targeting-data-collection

#5yrsago Sony announces nebulous “blockchain for DRM” https://memex.craphound.com/2018/10/17/incoherence-multiplied-sony-announces-nebulous-blockchain-for-drm/

#5yrsago NYT: Saudi Arabia’s Prince Charming was Mister Bone Saw all along https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/14/business/media/reality-saudi-prince-media-narrative.html

#5yrsago Unpacking the US’s “low unemployment”: stagnant wages, bad jobs, high incarceration, discouraged workers back in school https://therealnews.com/us-unemployment-rate-hits-50-year-low-what-does-the-number-reveal-and-conceal

#5yrsago New York Attorney General expands law-enforcement investigation into the bots that killed Network Neutrality https://www.vice.com/en/article/wj9y3w/new-york-attorney-general-expands-investigation-into-bogus-net-neutrality-comments

#5yrsago Stet, a gorgeous, intricate, tiny story of sociopathic automotive vehicles https://firesidefiction.com/stet

#1yrago A giant grocery merger will send "inflation" through the roof https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/17/united-states-vs-vons/#pricing-power

My next novel is The Lost Cause, a hopeful novel of the climate emergency. Amazon won't sell the audiobook, so I made my own and I'm pre-selling it on Kickstarter!

[fahrni]

Saturday Morning Coffee

Good morning from Charlottesville, Virginia! ☕️

All the Thanksgiving leftovers are long gone and I celebrated my 56th birthday this week. I got my free birthday coffee at Starbucks, had BBQ for dinner, and chocolate cake for dessert. Luckily the cake didn’t have 56 candles on it. That would’ve been bad. 😃

I hope you had a great week and enjoy the links.

Robert Kagan • Washington Post

Let’s stop the wishful thinking and face the stark reality: There is a clear path to dictatorship in the United States, and it is getting shorter every day. In 13 weeks, Donald Trump will have locked up the Republican nomination. In the RealClearPolitics poll average (for the period from Nov. 9 to 20), Trump leads his nearest competitor by 47 points and leads the rest of the field combined by 27 points. The idea that he is unelectable in the general election is nonsense — he is tied or ahead of President Biden in all the latest polls — stripping other Republican challengers of their own stated reasons for existence.

I can’t see how trials and even convictions can stop Trump from becoming our next President.

Only we, the people, can stop it. If we don’t stop him we’ve lost our nation.

VOTE!🇺🇸

Daniel Jalkut • Red Sweater

This is a substantial update to MarsEdit 5, featuring all new support for the Mastodon publishing system, which is used to host a large number of independently operated Twitter-like microblogging services.

I’ve been a MarsEdit user off and on for well over a decade. This classic Mac assed Mac App is fast, stable, is great at what it does, and has a developer who cares deeply about it and the Mac.

It’s well worth its $59.95 price tag.

It’s time for an opinion. I wish this were subscription based for Daniel’s sake. He depends heavily on major releases and upgrades to keep his business afloat. This is where I believe subscription pricing could help. Her could do something like $9.99/yr, or $0.99/mo, then he could get off the upgrade cycle train and just add features whenever they’re ready. He provides excellent support and fixes bugs on a regular basis.🚂

Of course I’m not a successful indie giving advice to a man with a long established company and app, so there you go.😃

Super Mega Ultra Groovy

Capo was not playing audio for some users on Intel Macs running Sonoma. After spending almost two weeks (and about $850) I discovered that macOS Sonoma had a rather nasty bug that was triggered by loading JPEG images.

I love a good debugging story. 🐞

Sophie McEvoy • gamesindustry.biz

Xbox is working with unknown partners to open a mobile storefront to rival the App Store and Google Play.

It will be very interesting to see if Microsoft can actually make a nice experience for mobile users. Beyond that will Apple no longer demand their 15-30% take, even if on another store? I very much doubt it.

Deepa Shivaram • NPR

It’s been more than six years since images of a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Va., shocked the world — hundreds of people with tiki torches chanted antisemitic slurs, and a counter-protester, Heather Heyer, was killed.

When this all went down I wasn’t at all familiar with Charlottesville. We were living in California and little did I know we’d move to the area in 2019.

When I started at WillowTree we were located in downtown Charlottesville and I had no idea Heather Heyer was murdered right by our office. It was pretty surreal the first time I walked by it and realized this was the place.

I took this photo five days after my start date with WillowTree.

Nish Tahir

This week OpenAI had a fantastic keynote at their Dev Day event. They announced new products and enhancements to ChatGPT[1]. Interestingly, some parts of the internet described the keynote as an “Extinction Event”[2] for many AI startups. Many of the startups reportedly facing extinction share the common trait of being thin wrappers over OpenAI’s APIs.

I don’t think Nish sleeps at all. He’s into everything and is well versed in every topic he talks about.

Always worth a read when he shows up in my feed.

Steve Benen • MSNBC

Rep. George Santos survived the first two attempts to expel him from Congress. The third vote, however, led to the New York Republican’s ouster.

Well, what do you know. Some folks actually do have an ethics line. Took long enough for them to find it. 🤬

Robb Knight

Earlier this week I had a need to manually find a bunch of people’s RSS feed links. It seemed simple enough: go to their website and look for an RSS/Subscribe link but I was surprised to find that a lot of people don’t have a link anywhere to their feed.

I see where Robb is coming from. He’s after a link of image with a link to your sites RSS file.

Most modern feed readers will auto discover feeds by looking in your sites head for a specific alt tag.

Sites should embrace the tag based method but it doesn’t hurt to include a link somewhere.

Debbie Truong • Los Angeles Times

Montiel, an environmental science major, and Butterfield, a journalism major, had lived in their vehicles for several years, the only way, they said, that they could afford to attend college. They usually found parking in campus lots or on nearby streets.

There was a time when we lived in California where I thought I’d have to get a job in the Bay Area because tech in the San Joaquin Valley is hard to find. I was thinking I’d drive in from Exeter on Monday morning, stay the week, and return home Friday afternoon. I was planning to put a shell on my truck and turn the bed of the truck into my home.

For my first year of employment at LEVEL Studios in 2009-10 I did something similar but I found a room to rent for $250/month.

I doubt you could find anything close to that in the Silicon Valley.

Vincent Ritter

There is another reason why I stopped developing Gluon, for now, and time will heal this. It’s personal. I never said this publicly, but here we are. Funny how one individual in a nice community can just blow everything up 💥 I had super strong feelings about this today, and I can’t get it out my head. Hence this post I guess.

Vincent’s app, Gluon, is an excellent app for Micro.blog. For the longest time it was much better than the first party app and it was my iOS App of choice for Micro.blog.

I wish you nothing but joy and happiness, Vincent. Thank you for all of your hard work making Micro.blog a better place.

Anita Chabria • Los Angeles Times

A unicorn costume, a hammer and a belief that pedophiles are using public schools to destroy democracy: The trial of David DePape for attacking Paul Pelosi was strange and disturbing.

This attack on Paul Pelosi was just about as weird as it gets. The dude who did it was so far down the conspiracy rabbit hole he was seeing pedophiles everywhere. These people are the GOP’s base. They’ll believe anything no matter how wild the story. Remember the lizard people who drink children’s blood for the adrenochrome? Yeah, that’s something these people believe.

They all need extreme therapy to repair their addled minds.

[crazyblondelife]

A Fall Tablescape and My New Thanksgiving Ebook (Survive the holiday with ease)

It’s very satisfying to start with an idea and create something beautiful!

~ Yours Truly

I’m a collector…I collect dishes, silver, vases, beautiful objects. There are times when I think I need to let go of my stuff and clear out the clutter and there are times when I’m so thankful I have these collections to pull from when I’m feeling creative. I go back and forth between wanting to be a minimalist and trying to come to terms with the fact that I’m a maximalist who loves to be organized. I’m not sure the two go together, especially given the busy life that I’m currently living. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t dream about having “a place for everything”, but then my busy brain thinks of a project or table setting or blog post and I’m running around gathering things and putting them in piles for when I have time to create the table or the post or whatever else I’m imagining. Then I look around at the piles and get stressed because everything is a mess! I think that’s a creative brain at work and I probably just need to embrace it!

There is a point to this ramble…

Recently, I attended an event in Chapel Hill, NC called Design Matters. It was an event to raise money for the UNC Children’s Hospital which is such a great cause. This was a two day event and the focus was about why design matters in our lives! James Farmer, the famous interior designer and gardener, was the keynote speaker on the first day and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed hearing him speak. He is a Southern gentleman at heart and such an endearing person. If you don’t know James Farmer, I highly recommend all of his books…you’ll definitely be inspired.

Day two of the Design Matters event featured Caroline Gidiere who is an interior designer from Birmingham, Alabama. Caroline was also such a great and inspiring speaker! We ate lunch while we listened to her speak and enjoyed pictures of her beautiful home and projects that she had worked on. I left with many ideas to implement in our home.

The speakers at the Design Matters event were fabulous, but I’ll have to say that the highlight for me was viewing the many tablescapes that were created by designers and shop owners in the area. From Christmas tables to Thanksgiving tables and everything in between…my mind was spinning when I left. I took mostly videos on my phone because I wanted to be able to recreate some of the tables and put my spin on them. I’m sharing a couple of pictures below…kicking myself for not taking more!

One thing that I learned…

Almost every table had a beautiful arrangement of flowers in the center, but what really made the tables look so beautiful was what had been placed on the table around the flowers. It was like the flowers were the center of the arrangement but there was also an arrangement around the flowers. Look at my table below and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Around the flower vase, I added apples, votive candles, more hydrangeas, ivy, pumpkins, etc. This made the table so interesting, visually appealing and full!

One of my favorite purchases this year has been this little round bistro table with 4 chairs. I’ve used it for so many photo shoots and it fits perfectly in our gazebo. I decided to create a fall tablescape while I was still full of inspiration from the Design Matters event and i was so pleased with how it turned out.

For the center of the table, I used an arrangement that I purchased at the Design Matters event (these were on the lunch tables and were sold afterward). After placing the flowers in the center of the table, I added hydrangeas from my yard, ivy, small pumpkins, votive candles and then I began to set the table.

I love to mix styles of plates and glasswear…I don’t think it matters as long as there is a common color and each piece is beautiful. I used square placemats, pink and white dishes from Haand Ceramics (don’t forget to use code CRAZYBLONDELIFE for 15% off), antique linen napkins, amber glass champagne glasses, small vintage juice glasses and ivory pearl flatware. I added small vintage bowls filled with crackers around each plate along with small bowls (also from Haand filled with ). The mixture of the more contemporary plates with the vintage items along with the fullness of the center of the table, really was beautiful!

The combination of the white plates along with the pink and brown made for the perfect outdoor table setting and matched the flowers perfectly! As I said above, I love mixing contemporary with vintage and these little pink bowls looked amazing on the vintage, gold rimmed glass tray! If you’re unsure of what will look good together, just get it all out and play around until it makes you happy! It’s very satisfying to start with an idea and create something beautiful!

I’m so glad you’ve scrolled this far because I’m sharing a link for my Thanksgiving E-Book! My daughter Rebecca helped put this together and it’s something you’re going to love! Just click the link to get tips for organization, recipes, outfit ideas and more to make this Thanksgiving the BEST EVER!

Below are a few pictures of my favorite table setting. you can easily see what I’m talking about with the fabulous velvet pumpkins piled up around the base of the flower vase and the taper candles. This arrangement was huge and so beautiful! The picture…bottom right was another of my favorites!

I’ve made a small boutique below that contains a few of the items I’ve mentioned! I’m planning on doing a little more research on vintage items that I’ll add! Thanks so much for reading today! I hope you’re inspired to create a beautiful table of your own and I hope you enjoy the Thanksgiving Survival Guide!!

[enterprisewired]

Apple Ventures into Generative AI: A Peek into the Future of iOS and Mac

In recent months, generative AI has become the talk of the tech town, and now it appears that Apple is gearing up to incorporate this cutting-edge technology into its array of products, ranging from iPhones to Macs. According to a recent report from Mark Gurman, a noted technology journalist with Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, the Cupertino giant is actively exploring ways to bring generative AI into its devices.

Apple vs. Other Tech Giants

While Apple may be trailing behind industry heavyweights like Google and Microsoft in this arena, Gurman suggests that the company has already initiated the process of integrating generative AI into its product ecosystem. This revelation follows a recent conversation Gurman had with Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, who disclosed the company’s long-standing involvement with AI in various forms, including autocorrect and health monitoring. However, Cook was particularly evasive about generative AI.

Cook stated, “We’ve been working on generative AI for years and have done a lot of research. And we’re going to approach it really thoughtfully and think about it deeply because we’re fully aware of the not-good uses that it can have, and the issues around bias and hallucination.”

Apple’s Approach toward AI

Apple’s approach to generative AI, Cook emphasized, is rooted in the pursuit of excellence rather than being the first to the market. He said, “You know, we’ve never felt an urgency to be first, we’ve always felt an urgency to be best, and that is how we go into this as well.”

Gurman’s report indicates that the fruits of Apple’s labor may be visible as early as next year. It suggests that Apple’s software engineering team, led by Craig Federighi, is integrating AI into the forthcoming iOS update, potentially making it available by the next iPhone release next fall. The envisioned improvements include a more intelligent Siri and a Messages app capable of automatically completing sentences.

Beyond the consumer-facing features, generative AI could find its way into development tools like Xcode, expediting app development, and even impact services such as Apple Music, enabling AI-generated playlists. Productivity apps like Pages and Keynote might harness AI for content generation and slide creation.

Summing Up

One of the pivotal questions in the generative AI landscape is whether it should be on-device or in the cloud. Cook asserted Apple’s unwavering commitment to user privacy and declined the notion that more advanced tasks in the cloud would justify compromising it. He said, “To us, privacy is a fundamental human right, and the atmosphere is such that people’s privacy is being challenged every day. We think privacy is more important today than it was 10 years ago.”