#Backup & Recovery Systems

[nexus-nebulae]

complaining about how much "busy work" is in a video game is honestly the quickest way to sell a game to me, an Organization Autistic. one of my top five most played games on steam is literally solely about opening boxes and putting stuff away neatly

[jcmarchi]

Storage Predictions for 2025: Larry O’Connor Explores the Future of Data Management

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/storage-predictions-for-2025-larry-oconnor-explores-the-future-of-data-management/

Storage Predictions for 2025: Larry O’Connor Explores the Future of Data Management

In this article by Larry O’Connor for LarryJordan.com, the founder and CEO of OWC shares his insightful predictions for the future of data storage in 2025. Highlighting the return to on-premises solutions, the democratization of AI through local implementation, and the growing performance gap between local and cloud-based systems, O’Connor provides a roadmap for businesses to optimize their storage strategies. These predictions focus on enhancing security, improving performance, and reducing costs—key considerations for data management in the digital era.

The Return of On-Premises Data Storage and Computing

O’Connor predicts a major resurgence in on-premises data storage and computing as organizations prioritize security, performance, and cost control. With cloud storage costs on the rise and vulnerabilities becoming more apparent, many businesses are turning to local solutions for critical data management. On-prem data storage offers faster access speeds, greater reliability, and enhanced protection against cyberattacks.

Smaller businesses, in particular, benefit from local storage since it is less attractive to cybercriminals compared to public cloud platforms. O’Connor emphasizes that the cloud should play a supporting role—serving as a tertiary backup or for external data sharing—while local solutions remain the primary strategy for data security. By reducing reliance on cloud storage, businesses can avoid bandwidth costs, accelerate data recovery, and maintain control over sensitive information.

On-Premises AI: Democratizing Technology and Protecting Intellectual Property

One of the most exciting predictions from O’Connor is the rise of on-premises AI. This shift enables smaller businesses to access powerful data processing tools without the high costs associated with cloud-based AI platforms. Running AI systems locally not only democratizes advanced technology but also protects proprietary data, algorithms, and customer insights from being exposed in the cloud.

O’Connor warns of the risks of “data bleed,” where proprietary information inadvertently enhances third-party systems or becomes accessible to competitors. On-prem AI ensures full control over sensitive data while eliminating recurring costs associated with cloud AI services. This makes on-premises AI a cost-effective and secure option for businesses looking to leverage AI capabilities.

The Expanding Performance Gap Between Local and Cloud-Based Systems

O’Connor’s third prediction underscores the growing performance gap between locally operated systems and cloud-dependent solutions. With advancements like Thunderbolt 5 technology, local systems now achieve data transfer speeds of up to 7000MB/s, far surpassing the 100MB/s typical of cloud-based systems.

This dramatic performance boost is essential for tasks such as video editing, high-resolution imagery processing, and managing complex data sets. By leveraging local systems, businesses can streamline workflows and significantly reduce the time and cost associated with cloud dependency. O’Connor suggests that cloud storage is best reserved for distribution and collaboration, while local solutions should handle performance-intensive tasks.

Conclusion: Embracing a Hybrid Storage Strategy

Larry O’Connor’s predictions for 2025 highlight a pivotal shift in data management strategies. Businesses are advised to embrace on-premises solutions for their speed, security, and cost advantages while using cloud services selectively for supplementary needs. Whether it’s safeguarding intellectual property, optimizing performance, or reducing expenses, on-premises storage and computing are poised to take center stage in the future of data management.

For organizations looking to stay ahead of the curve, O’Connor’s insights provide a clear path to success. By adopting a hybrid approach to data storage, businesses can harness the best of both local and cloud technologies, ensuring they remain competitive in an evolving digital landscape.

Read the full article by Larry O’Connor HERE

Learn more about OWC below:

[datamigration58]

Total Data Migration is the leading data backup and recovery services provider in Texas, offering reliable solutions to safeguard your critical data. Contact us today for expert assistance. For more information, visit: https://totaldatamigration.com/ or call us at +1 (800) 460-759.

[techdirectarchive]

Veeam backup for aws Processing postgres rds failed: No valid combination of the network settings was found for the worker configuration

In this article, we shall discuss various errors you can encounter when implementing “Veeam Backup for AWS to protect RDS, EC2 and VPC“. Specifically, the following error “veeam backup for aws Processing postgres rds failed: No valid combination of the network settings was found for the worker configuration” will be discussed. A configuration is a group of network settings that Veeam Backup for…

[colindeamer]

Success Story of Colin Deamer: Experienced Sales Director

Colin Williams Deamer is a shining example of success in the IT and telecom industry. With an extensive background and a plethora of expertise, Colin has transitioned from Sales Leader to Contributor setting the stage for an incredible tale of accomplishment. This blog explores Colin Deamer's background, professional trajectory, and areas in which his experience can have a big influence.

Early Career Steps

Colin started his career over two decades ago at Kcom as a Regional Sales Manager in December 2000. During his 10-year journey with Kcom, he excelled at sales and management, which further laid the groundwork for his exceptional career in the IT and telecom industry.

An Emerging Star at Thus

In 2011, another chapter of Colin's life began. It took him to Thus, a Cable and Wireless WorldWide Business, where he took up the position of Head of Sales for the South and London. Here, he demonstrated his capacity to lead and deliver results by overseeing the mid-market sales team. It was during this tenure that he laid the foundation for his future leadership roles.

A Step Forward with Logicalis

After dedicating his one year and five months to Thus (the company), the IT services industry was where Colin truly found his calling. He began his new road of transformation in October 2012 from Logicalis, a UK-based information technology company. At Logicalis, he assumed the position of Services Sales Director. His responsibilities took him to Slough and London, two places renowned for their healthy rivalry and dynamism in the technology industry. His stint at Logicalis was a pivotal point in his career, showcasing his knack for getting through challenging marketplaces and motivating his people to perform to the highest standards.

IDE Group and a Shift in Focus

The next phase of Colin Deamer extraordinary career was IDE Group where he joined in  November 2014. At first, he worked as the Managed Services Sales Director. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing a sizable client account and offering an extensive array of IT services. In this role, Colin demonstrated his exceptional business skills and ability to achieve beyond goals.

Elevating to Group Sales Director

Despite having a fulfilling career, there was something Colin was missing. He wanted to do more than just meet targets.  Colin didn't stop at just hitting goals; he kept going and eventually got promoted after two years as the Group Sales Director. In this leadership capacity, he guided the sales organization through a critical period of growth in addition to providing general direction. The position required a comprehensive strategy that included integrating several sales teams, from direct and channel sales to the public sector. This time proved his leadership abilities and ability to adjust to the rapidly evolving IT sector environment.

SysGroup - Navigating the Cloud

Colin's trajectory eventually brought him to SysGroup in 2018, where he was hired as the Sales Director. He became well-versed in cloud solutions, security services, telecom, managed IT services, and cloud computing through this role. Thanks to his extensive background in both direct and channel sales, he made sure the business constantly hit and surpassed its goals and budgets.

Complete I.T. Ltd - A Moment of Transition

Joining Complete I.T. ltd was a complete transition of Colin’s career. After dedicating approximately 18 years as a sales executive, Colin joined as the Head of New Business Sales at Complete I.T. Ltd in 2021. He intentionally moved from being a Sales Leader for years to a Contributor role. Here, Colin prioritised giving back, teamwork, and mentorship above all.

Colin's extensive experience in sales, encompassing managed services, e-commerce, and cloud solutions, bears testimony to his knowledge of the IT sector. His dedication to offering top-notch customer solutions and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction has been an ongoing motif throughout his career.

Colin Deamer is now putting his energy into using his expertise to empower, support, and work in tandem with others as a contributor. His goal is always to promote a culture of growth and collaboration wherever he goes.

Colin Beyond the Office

In addition to being a professional, Colin William Deamer is a family man who has thoroughly enjoyed life off the job since 2022. Now that he's settled down, he enjoys playing golf and is even a licensed FA referee. These hobbies highlight his dedication to leading a full and satisfying life and present how he masterfully strikes a balance between both his professional and personal lives.

There's no doubt about the fact that the telecom and IT sectors constantly evolve. But amidst this constant evolution, Colin Deamer's journey stands tall as an encouraging success story. He is an invaluable asset to any organization because of his dedication to mentoring and teamwork, and his proven track record of exceeding goals and accomplishing what he sets his eyes for.

With an abundance of expertise in the IT and telecom sectors and a strong desire to inspire people, Colin is an energetic professional who can make a big difference wherever he chooses to use his expertise and skills. Colin Deamer's trajectory demonstrates that a career in IT and telecoms can be both rewarding and transformative, whether it is through team leadership, mentoring, or helping a business succeed.

[ourjobagency]

5 Essential Tips for Maintaining Top-Notch Salesforce Org Health

Introduction: Salesforce has become an indispensable tool for businesses to manage customer relationships, streamline operations, and drive growth. However, just like any other complex system, your Salesforce organization requires regular attention and care to ensure it remains efficient, effective, and aligned with your business objectives. 

In this blog, we'll explore five essential suggestions to maintain a top-notch Salesforce Org health, helping you get the most out of your investment.

Best Tips for Managing  Salesforce Org Health 

Regular Data Cleanup and Maintenance: A cluttered and disorganized Salesforce Org can lead to decreased user productivity, slower system performance, and inaccurate reporting. Regularly conduct data cleanup exercises to eliminate duplicate records, outdated information, and irrelevant data. Implement validation rules, workflows, and data governance processes to ensure that data entered into the system is accurate and consistent. Consider archiving or purging old records that are no longer needed, which can significantly improve system responsiveness.

Optimize User Training and Adoption: Even the most powerful tools are only as effective as the users who operate them. Invest in comprehensive user training programs to ensure that your team fully understands the features and functionalities of Salesforce. Regularly assess user adoption rates and address any issues or challenges they might face. Encourage the use of best practices and provide ongoing training as Salesforce releases updates and new features

Govern Customization and Configuration: Salesforce offers an array of customization options to tailor the platform to your specific business needs. While customization is valuable, an excessive amount can lead to complexity, slow performance, and difficulties during upgrades. Establish a clear governance framework for customization and configuration. This includes guidelines for when to use declarative tools (like Process Builder) versus custom code, as well as regular reviews of custom objects, fields, and processes to ensure they remain relevant and effective

Implement Robust Security Practices: Data security and privacy are paramount in today's business landscape. Regularly review and update your Salesforce security settings to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information. Implement strong password policies, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access controls to minimize the risk of data breaches. Regularly audit user permissions and deactivate accounts for employees who no longer require access to the system

Stay Informed About Salesforce Updates: Salesforce continuously releases updates, enhancements, and new features to improve the platform's functionality and security. It's crucial to stay informed about these updates and assess their potential impact on your organization. Create a process for reviewing and testing new releases in a sandbox environment before rolling them out to your production Org. This practice helps identify any potential compatibility issues with your existing customizations and allows for adjustments before affecting users.

Conclusion: 

Maintaining a top-notch Salesforce Org health requires a proactive approach that involves regular cleanup, user engagement, customization governance, security measures, and staying updated on platform developments. By following these five essential tips, your organization can ensure that Salesforce remains a powerful tool that contributes to your business success, helping you drive growth, streamline processes, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

[emacrow]

Gotham the build a city game.

Danny as he finally nearly finished 1/20 of his ghostly infinite king reports is tasked to help/dragged a nearly core crumbling addicted Spirit who refused to go to her check up and is a code core red to be in full chamber for recovery for the past centuries or three over a City building board game named Gotham, with Fright Knight as his backup.

It took Danny and Fright Knight about an agonizing hour and 20 minutes to wrangle her from the board game with her screaming, biting, kicking like a feral starving raccoon from the streets under a deal that He promised to play her board game in her stead while she goes back to her recovering.

The Lady explained the game with trembling hands that she watches over the city as the status piece, moves her character pieces here and there, items, and stuff around to built a utopian with random cards of consequences selected that take her ectoplasm as wild card if a character died and if she pick the wrong thing at the wrong time, but she been raking her core a bit after several mistakes, but her knights has been doing well so far.

She been playing for a long long time because her friends played their and bragged about their board game repeatedly resetting if a bad end for all their city that connected to hers, they have Central City, jackasshole holding the obvious cheatimg Gateway city, and her biggest frenemy/nemesis being that *itch with her Smallville and Metropolis just because she got a a few op characters doesn't mean her knights can't beat their ass if they were so busy!

The Lady's green glowing eyes and sharp teeth gritted hard with hatred, but her hate melted away due to how weak she was before continuing to speak.

He simply had to touch the status to continue the game, and please to the all mighty anicent, if her knights die under his watch, she will find a way to destroy him even if he is the current infinite King.

Danny can see pretty clear what Frostbite meant with crumbling game addicted Spirit, her skin was a sickly grayish green with obvious condensed rotting barely renew ectoplasm keeping her stable, her dress obvious tattered blacken to a tar like state that her own haunt was crumbling around her and the board game on the table.

Danny agreed though soup her in the thermos as Frostbite warned him about her little successful escape acts nearly up 4k times even with help that she crawl right back to the board game.

Danny glanced back at the board game after giving Fright Knight the thermos containing the patient spirit for Frostbite.

His hand touch the statue that change from a crowned women with wings holding a board game in one hand and sword in the other to a tall statue replica of him in his infinite king outfit holding a the solar systems of metal planets, his crown hover over his head like a halo simmered with star games and a scythe in the other hand.

It just a board game about building a city name gotham. How hard can it be.

....

....

....

Danny hisses like a possessed feral creature who just saw the light from being in darkness at Fright Knight who brought Jazz from starting summer break to see Danny hunch over renovated Gotham city mumbling about dastardly curses trying to latch on his ectoplasm but this time, this time he got the right item to fuck them up

His eyes look crazed and wild with a calculation burning desire to get a good ending, and white hair with dripping Tar, his crown was envelope in a icy fire, his nails sharper then diamond as he gripped and nearly chewed up clown character, the Spirts Haunt look like Danny's wail went through it several times before all cause that fucking *itch holding the Gateway fucked up the timeline again with the speeder character.

I got inspired by this post <-

[prettygirl-gabi]

Chapter 33: Let Me Be There

Fandom: UConn Women’s Basketball

Pairing: Paige Bueckers x Reader

Rating: T (for mild language and themes of illness/recovery)

Warnings: Mentions of past harassment/stalking, mild angst, reader being stubborn about their health

Summary: Back in Connecticut, the stress of securing a permanent restraining order against Marcus takes its toll on you.

Welcome to the chapter 33 of Through The Lens. I hope you all enjoy and there is more to come...stay tuned my loveies!! 🏀💕📸

It had been two days since we got back to Connecticut, and in those forty-eight hours, my body had completely betrayed me.

The stress of dealing with the permanent restraining order against Marcus had been weighing me down since we landed. Even though the judge had granted it—thanks to the new evidence against him—it didn’t feel like relief. It felt like a wound that hadn’t even started healing yet.

Between barely eating, hardly sleeping, and pretending everything was fine, my immune system finally gave up.

And now, here I was.

Sick.

Miserable.

Hunched over in my dorm, wrapped in my thickest hoodie, shivering despite the heat being turned up. My throat felt like I had swallowed razor blades, my nose was both stuffy and runny, and my body ached like I had just played a full four quarters alone.

I knew I should tell Paige.

But I wouldn’t.

Because she had DePaul to worry about, and I wasn’t going to distract her.

10:45 AM – Paige’s Dorm

Paige wasn’t buying it.

“You’re sick.” She stood in front of me, arms crossed, brows furrowed in undeniable concern.

“I’m fine,” I croaked, immediately giving myself away. My throat burned like hell, and my voice sounded like I had been chain-smoking for a decade.

Paige’s expression softened, but her stance didn’t budge. “Babe, come on. You look miserable. Let me take care of you.”

I shook my head. “You have a game in two days. You can’t get sick.”

Paige let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair. “So what? You’d rather sit here suffering alone just so I can go hoop?”

I avoided her gaze, suddenly very interested in the loose thread on my sleeve.

“I’ll be fine,” I mumbled. “I just need to sleep it off.”

Paige stared at me, and I could feel the internal battle she was having. She wanted to argue, to fight me on it, but I saw the flicker of hesitation. She really couldn’t afford to get sick, and she knew it.

That didn’t mean she was going to just leave me alone.

“If you won’t let me stay, I’m calling in backup,” Paige declared, already reaching for her phone.

My eyes narrowed. “Paige—”

She smirked. “Too late.”

11:30 AM – My Dorm

Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at my door.

When I dragged myself out of bed and opened it, Kayla stood there, grinning like she had just won the lottery.

“You look like hell,” she greeted.

I groaned. “You didn’t have to come.”

“Tell that to your overprotective girlfriend,” Kayla said, stepping inside and shutting the door. “She practically threatened me to get my ass over here.”

I sighed, trudging back toward my bed and collapsing onto it. “She’s dramatic.”

Kayla flopped down into my desk chair. “No, she’s in love with you and wants to make sure you don’t die of self-neglect.”

I buried my face in my pillow. “I hate both of you.”

Kayla laughed. “No, you don’t. Now, let’s get some fluids in you before Paige actually loses her mind.”

3:15 PM – My Dorm Still

“Here. Granny-approved.”

I blinked blearily at the steaming mug Kayla placed in front of me.

“You actually made it?” I rasped.

Kayla gave me a pointed look. “I followed your grandma’s instructions exactly. I even FaceTimed Paige so she could watch me make it.”

I rolled my eyes but took the mug, cradling it in my hands. The scent of citrus, ginger, and warm spices filled my nose. I hesitated before taking a small sip, the heat spreading through my chest immediately.

“Better?” Kayla asked.

I sighed, nodding. “Yeah.”

She grinned. “Good. Now, drink all of it before I call Paige back and tell her you’re being difficult.”

I glared. “You’re evil.”

Kayla smirked. “Nah. I’m just her eyes and ears while she’s gone.”

Game Day – 6:50 AM

I wasn’t 100%, but I was better.

Enough that I convinced Paige—and the coaching staff—that I could travel with the team to DePaul.

I still kept my distance, though.

Even on the bus, I made sure to sit a row behind Paige, by myself, far enough that she wouldn’t be in my germ radius. I avoided the usual pre-game hugs, the playful jabs from the team, even the way Paige reached for my hand as we boarded.

I didn’t miss the way she frowned.

I didn’t miss the way Azzi nudged her, whispering something under her breath.

But I had already made Paige compromise by letting me come. I wasn’t about to make her risk getting sick before an important game.

So, I stayed back.

Even when Paige sighed dramatically and sent me a text.

Paige: stop acting like I’m some fragile little thing. let me love you.

I smiled to myself but didn’t reply.

Because I knew Paige, and I knew she wasn’t going to let this go.

And sure enough, not even ten minutes later, she turned around in her seat, leaned over Azzi, and whispered, “Babe, if you don’t let me sit next to you, I’m making a scene.”

I raised a brow, locking eyes with her. “Make a scene then.”

Paige blinked. “Huh?”

“You heard me,” I challenged. “Go ahead. Make a scene.”

I thought she would back down. I really did.

But I forgot who my girlfriend was.

Without missing a beat, Paige stood up in the middle of the bus, threw her arms up dramatically, and yelled, “MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN’T LOVE ME ANYMORE!”

The entire bus froze.

Azzi immediately facepalmed. KK started wheezing. Ice burst out laughing. And miss Sarah she was giving heavy side eye.

“PAIGE—” I hissed, my face burning as the entire team turned to look at us.

“I just wanna sit next to my sick, stubborn, beautiful girlfriend, but she’s being so cold-hearted!” Paige continued, clutching her chest like she was in a soap opera.

Coach Geno turned from the front of the bus, looking entirely done with her antics. “Bueckers, sit your dramatic ass down.”

Snickering, Paige flopped into the seat beside me, grinning triumphantly. “Told you I’d make a scene.”

I groaned, hiding my face in my hoodie.

Paige just laughed, lacing our fingers together.

I didn’t stop her.

Back at Campus – Paige Bueckers: Full-Time baller, nope. How about Full- Time nurse, Part-Time simp

By now, I’d accepted my fate.

There was no escaping Nurse Paige.

The second we stepped back into my dorm, she had a full recovery plan ready.

Hydration? Handled.

Soup? Cooking in the mini rice cooker.

Medicine? Already sitting on my nightstand.

Cuddles? Pending, until I was “fully healed.”

“You’re worse than my grandma,” I muttered, sitting up in bed as Paige fluffed my pillows for the third time in an hour.

Paige gasped, offended. “Excuse you! I am a loving and attentive girlfriend, not some random granny.”

“That’s debatable.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Keep talking like that, and I’ll withhold the Jolly Ranchers I bought you.”

I gasped. “You wouldn’t.”

Paige smirked. “Try me.”

Before I could argue, my phone buzzed.

Group Chat: ‘UConn’s Finest’

Triple A: Not Paige ghosting us like we don’t have practice tomorrow.

Team mom: Is she even on campus??

Ice cube: She is. She’s just playing housewife rn.

Rah: Oh, she’s 100% in nurse mode. I give it two more hours before she starts spoon-feeding [Reader].

Triple A: Paige, defend yourself.

Paige peeked over my shoulder at my phone, then grinned as she grabbed hers from the nightstand.

A second later, my phone buzzed again.

Hot shot: y’all wish you had a girlfriend to take care of. stay mad. (Except Ayanna)

Fuzzy Fudd: Paige, that’s literally not the point-

Triple A: thanks, you simp. (Knowing I’m a simp too)

Hey Arnold: SIMP, both of y’all jus some simps.

I snorted, locking my phone and setting it aside. “They’re gonna bully you for weeks.”

Paige just shrugged. “Let them. I have more important things to do.”

She then proceeded to tuck me into my blankets like a burrito.

I sighed. This was my life now.

By the next evening, Paige was finally convinced I was on the mend—meaning I was allowed out of bed.

Our first low-energy activity?

Lego building.

Specifically, the tiny flower shop Lego set Paige had bought ‘for us’ but definitely wanted for herself.

“This is actually coming out cute,” I admitted, setting down the last window piece.

Paige beamed. “See? I told you we’re Lego masters.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You dropped a piece under the bed twice.”

“Shhh, it’s called the artistic process.”

I laughed, shaking my head as I reached for the remote. “Okay, what movie?”

“Ratatouille,” Paige said immediately.

“Predictable.”

“Iconic,” she corrected, pulling me into her arms as I hit play. “And the perfect cuddle movie.”

I sighed, relaxing into her hold. Finally, a quiet night.

At least, it was supposed to be.

Because just as we were settling in…

The door BURST open.

“YO, WHAT UP, LIVE?!”

Paige and I whipped around just in time to see KK Arnold standing there, phone in hand, on TikTok Live.

I groaned. “KK, no warning?!”

KK grinned, completely unbothered. “Gotta keep y’all on your toes!”

Before either of us could kick her out, the chat flooded with comments.

“NOT PAIGE BEING DOMESTIC”

“They were def having a date night omg”

“Y/n looks so done”

“KK the real MVP for interrupting them”

Paige facepalmed. “KK, why are you here?”

KK shrugged. “Y’all weren’t answering the group chat, so I figured you needed some excitement.”

I narrowed my eyes. “We were literally about to have a peaceful movie night.”

KK grinned. “Oh, bet! The whole squad’s coming.”

Paige and I froze.

“The what now?” Paige asked, eyes wide.

As if on cue, the door swung open again.

In stormed Caroline, Ice, Morgan, Sarah, Jana, Azzi, Ayanna, and Aubrey—each carrying snacks, drinks, and zero regard for the fact that we were NOT expecting them.

“Hope y’all weren’t planning on keeping this cozy night to yourselves,” Ice teased, plopping onto the floor.

“We brought popcorn,” Morgan added, holding up a bag.

Ayanna smirked. “And we came to see Paige in full simp mode live and in action.”

I groaned, hiding my face in Paige’s hoodie.

Paige, however, just sighed dramatically.

“You know what?” She pulled me closer, chin resting on my head. “Fine. But y’all are building your own Legos.”

Caroline gasped. “You think we came empty-handed?”

And just like that, the quiet night turned into a full-blown UConn team takeover.

9:15 PM – My Dorm (Now a Team Sleepover)

I should’ve known better.

I really should have.

A “quick movie night” with this team was never just a quick movie night. It was an event. A takeover. A full-blown production.

And now, my dorm—which was barely big enough for me and Paige—was packed with the entire squad, each making themselves comfortable like they owned the place.

KK had taken over my desk chair, spinning it in circles while still on TikTok Live, laughing as the chat roasted Paige’s “Full-Time Nurse, Part-Time Simp” status. Azzi and Ice were sprawled out on my floor, already battling in some intense Uno match, while Ayanna sat behind them, eating popcorn like she was watching a championship game.

Caroline, Sarah, and Aubrey had claimed my bed—because of course they did—leaving me exactly nowhere to sit.

And Paige?

Paige was sitting right in the middle of it all, legs stretched out, completely unbothered, holding onto me like I was some oversized teddy bear she had no intentions of letting go.

I sighed. This was my life now.

“So, what’s next?” KK grinned, finally putting her phone down. “I say we make this a game night.”

Paige perked up. “Ooh, Mario Kart?”

“I call Yoshi,” Ice said immediately.

“Bro, you always get Yoshi,” Ayanna groaned.

“Then be quicker next time.”

Azzi snorted. “It’s not even that serious.”

Ice gasped dramatically. “Oh, it is that serious, Fudd. Don’t let me catch you on Rainbow Road.”

Meanwhile, Sarah and Aubrey had started pulling out a deck of cards.

“Spades?” Aubrey suggested, smirking at me.

I raised a brow. “You sure you wanna go there, Griff?”

“Am I sure I wanna school you? Yeah.”

“Oh, bet.”

Caroline clapped her hands. “Alright, we got Mario Kart on one side, Spades on the other. What about Jenga?”

“Jenga?” Paige repeated, looking concerned.

Morgan nodded, already stacking the blocks. “Yeah, the giant kind.”

I groaned. “Oh no.”

I still had PTSD from the last time they played.

Because this wasn’t normal Jenga. No, UConn Jenga was a full-contact sport.

“House rules?” KK asked.

“House rules,” Sarah confirmed.

“Wait, what are house rules?” I asked, immediately regretting it.

Caroline grinned. “Oh, just a little added chaos.”

Aubrey smirked. “You have to remove the blocks with only one hand.”

Azzi added, “And if you make it fall, you have to do a dare.”

I turned to Paige, my last hope for sanity. “And you allow this?”

She shrugged. “I don’t make the rules. I just enjoy the show.”

I groaned again, but there was no stopping them now.

10:30 PM – The Games Begin

First up: Mario Kart.

And let me tell you—Ice did not play around.

By the time the first race ended, she had already hit KK with three shells and sent Ayanna flying off the track twice.

“HOW ARE YOU THIS GOOD?” KK yelled, staring at the screen in disbelief.

Ice grinned, completely smug. “Skill, baby. Try again next time.”

Meanwhile, Spades had gotten… heated.

“You reneged!” Aubrey accused, pointing at Azzi.

Azzi scoffed. “I did not!”

“You did!”

Sarah laughed, shaking her head. “Man, this is why I don’t play with y’all.”

Caroline leaned back, sipping her Gatorade like she was watching a courtroom drama.

And then came Jenga.

It started normal enough. Careful moves, steady hands.

And then Ashlynn decided to get bold.

She tried pulling from the bottom.

Everyone screamed.

The tower wobbled.

For a moment, it looked like she might save it.

And then—BOOM.

Jenga blocks went flying.

Ash sat there, stunned. “…Oops.”

The entire team erupted.

“Dare time!” KK announced.

She sighed. “Fine. Hit me with it.”

Sarah and Ayanna exchanged looks before smirking.

“You have to run down the hall, screaming ‘PAIGE BUECKERS IS MY MOM’ at the top of your lungs.”

The room exploded.

Paige choked on her water. “WHAT?”

Azzi wheezed. “Y’all are evil.”

But Ash? Ashlynn was fearless.

She stood up, cracked her knuckles, and sprinted out the door.

“PAIGE BUECKERS IS MY MOM! PAIGE BUECKERS IS MY MOM!”

We were crying.

Even Paige couldn’t stop laughing. “I hate you guys.”

Caroline wiped tears from her eyes. “Nah, that was legendary.”

1:00 AM – The Aftermath

Eventually, after multiple rematches, way too much yelling, and Ice still dominating in Mario Kart, the exhaustion hit.

One by one, people started crashing.

Azzi was knocked out on the floor, still holding a controller. Sarah and Morgan had taken over my bed, curled up like they owned the place.

KK was half-asleep in my desk chair, mumbling about getting revenge on Ice.

And Paige?

Paige was lying next to me, arms wrapped around my waist, fully content.

“See?” she murmured. “You’re feeling better, and we had fun.”

I sighed, sinking into her warmth. “Yeah, yeah. You win, Nurse Paige.”

She chuckled, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Always.”

And even though my dorm was a mess, even though my bed was stolen, even though KK was probably gonna snore all night…

I smiled. Resting against Paige’s chest and went to a peaceful sleep.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

       -Thank You For Reading!🩵🩶

                             -prettygirl-gabi🎀✨️

Tag list: @sayurireidotcom , @astroeliza , @paxaz535 , @0phantom0 , @yailtsv , @authentic-girl03 , @sevyscoven , @elalfywhore , @sitawita , @jadasogay , @vamptizm .... (more to be added) 

[glowettee]

˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚maintaining your academic glow-up (forever!) - part 5/5˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

1st post 2nd post 3rd post 4th post 5th post

posted by: glowettee

hey academic angels! ♡

we've made it to the final part of our grade recovery journey! now that you're back on track, i wanna talk about how to keep that academic glow permanent. because we're not just trying to fix one grade - we're creating a whole new you! and we want it to last as long as possible <3

♡ creating your prevention system

catch problems before they happen:

early warning signs:

feeling confused in class more than usual

taking longer to complete assignments

procrastinating more than normal

losing interest in subjects

feeling overwhelmed easily

skipping study sessions

quick intervention steps:

review your notes daily (even if just for 15 mins!)

keep a confusion log for each class

schedule regular check-ins with professors/teachers

maintain your study buddy system

track your understanding weekly

stay ahead of readings

♡ building sustainable study habits

because we're in this for the long haul:

daily non-negotiables:

review today's class notes (make them pretty but useful)

preview tomorrow's material

update your planner

check for upcoming deadlines

organize materials for next day

celebrate small victories

weekly must-dos:

deep review of tough concepts

organize notes and materials

plan next week's study schedule

check assignment progress

connect with study group

reflect on what's working

♡ maintaining your academic aesthetic

looking cute while studying actually helps:

your study space:

keep it clean and organized

update inspiration board regularly

maintain good lighting

rotate study locations when needed

keep supplies stocked and cute

create seasonal study vibes

your materials:

color code consistently

update planners weekly

maintain digital backups

organize notes beautifully

keep supplies aesthetic but functional

create pretty study guides

♡ long-term success strategies

thinking ahead like the queen you are:

grade monitoring:

track all assignments and tests

calculate grade scenarios

maintain grade goals

document improvement patterns

celebrate progress milestones

adjust strategies as needed

knowledge building:

connect concepts across subjects

create master study guides

maintain concept maps

build on previous learning

develop deep understanding

share knowledge with others

♡ emergency preparation

because life loves to throw curveballs:

your emergency kit:

quick review sheets for each subject

backup study materials

digital copies of everything

contact list for help

stress-relief techniques

backup study locations

preventive measures:

stay ahead in readings

maintain good notes

keep organized files

build support networks

practice self-care regularly

maintain work-life balance

♡ mindset maintenance

keeping your academic confidence high:

daily practices:

positive study affirmations

progress appreciation

growth mindset exercises

self-care routines

gratitude journaling

visualization exercises

long-term mindset:

view challenges as opportunities

celebrate all progress

maintain high standards (but be kind to yourself)

focus on growth, not just grades

build academic confidence

stay curious and engaged

maintaining success is like maintaining your favorite aesthetic - it needs constant care and attention, but it's so worth it!

final thoughts:

trust your systems

stay consistent

keep things cute but functional

maintain your support network

celebrate every win

keep growing and glowing

thank you for joining me on this journey! remember, you're capable of amazing things, and one bad grade doesn't define your academic story. keep shining, keep studying, and keep being absolutely amazing!

stay brilliant and beautiful!

xoxo, mindy 🎀

[vergess]

Please, please explain how to install and use linux like I'm 5 years old. I'm so sick of windows adding AI and other bullshit to my already struggling elderly laptop but I'm really not good with computers at all so I have no idea where to start with Linux.

Okay, so, I'm going to break this down into steps I would give the average tumblr user first, and then if any of them are confusing or use words you don't understand, ask me and I'll explain that step in greater detail.

Step 0) BACK. UP. YOUR. SHIT.

NEVER EVER EVER CHANGE YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM WITHOUT A COMPLETE BACKUP OF ALL YOUR FILES.

Step 1) Learn your machine. You need to know:

How much RAM you have

If your processor is 32 or 64 bit

How big your hard drive is

On windows, you can find out all of this by going to the start menu, typing "about" and opening the first result on your system instead of the internet.

For additional instructions, visit this page.

Step 2) Pick your Linux.

There's like 10,000 kinds of Linux, each tailored to particular functions that the end-user (that is you!) might want to have. The sheer amount is very daunting, so first I'm going to give my suggestions, then I'll explain how to pick for yourself.

For Mac users, I suggest Kubuntu. For windows users, I suggest Mint Cinnamon. If your laptop is really REALLY old, I recommend Sparky Stable, which is the lightest weight Linux I would ever suggest for a new user. In every case, download the version suited to your processor (32 bit can be labelled "x86" or "32 bit"; 64 bit is always labelled "64 bit").

If you want to try a different type of linux, you'll need to make sure your laptop meets the "minimum specs" or "system requirements." These numbers tell you how much RAM, processor and hard drive space the linux will use. (That's why you needed those numbers at the beginning.)

Step 3) Collect your supplies. You're going to need:

An ISO burning program compatible with your current system, like Balena Etcher.

A copy of the ISO file for the Linux you want to use.

Your laptop.

An 8gb or larger USB flash drive.

Step 3) Make a bootable USB drive

Install Balena Etcher, hitting "okay" and "next" when prompted. Last I checked, Etcher doesn't have adware attached, so you can just hit next every time.

Plug your USB drive into the laptop.

Open Etcher.

Click "flash from file" and open the ISO file with your Linux on it.

Click "Select target" and open the USB drive location. Hit the "flash" button. This will start writing all the linux installer data to your flash drive. Depending on the speed of your machine, this could take as long as 10 minutes, but shouldn't be much longer.

Step 4) Boot to the USB drive

This is, in my opinion, the trickiest step for a lot of people who don't do "computer stuff." Fortunately, in a rare act of good will, Windows 10 made this process a lot easier.

All you'll need to do is go to settings, then recovery, then advanced startup and pick the button labelled "use a device."

This tutorial has images showing where each of those is located. It's considered an "advanced setting" so you may get a spooky popup warning you that you could "harm your system by making changes" but we're not doing anything potentially harmful so you can ignore that if you get it.

Step 5) Try out linux on the flash drive first.

Linux installs using a cool little test version of itself that you can play around in. You won't be able to make changes or save settings, but you can explore a bit and see if the interface is to your liking. If it's hideous or hard to navigate, simply pick a new linux version to download, and repeat the "make a bootable USB" step for it.

Step 6) Actually install that sucker

This step varies from version to version, but the first part should be the same across the board: on the desktop, there should be a shortcut that says something like "install now." Double click it.

Follow the instructions your specific linux version gives you. When in doubt, pick the default, with one exception:

If it asks you to encrypt your drive say no. That's a more advanced feature that can really fuck your shit up down the road if you don't know how to handle it.

At some point you're going to get a scary looking warning that says 1 of 2 things. Either:

Install Linux alongside Windows, or

Format harddrive to delete all data

That first option will let you do what is called "dual booting." From then on, your computer will ask every time you turn it on whether you want Windows or Linux.

The second option will nuke Windows from orbit, leaving only linux behind.

The install process is slower the larger your chosen version is, but I've never seen it take more than half an hour. During that time, most linux versions will have a little slideshow of the features and layout of common settings that you can read or ignore as you prefer.

Step 7) Boot to your sexy new Linux device.

If you're dual booting, use the arrow keys and enter key to select your linux version from the new boot menu, called GRUB.

If you've only got linux, turn the computer on as normal and linux will boot up immediately.

Bonus Step: Copy Pasting some code

In your new start menu, look for an application called "terminal" or "terminal emulator." Open that up, and you will be presented with an intense looking (but actually very harmless) text command area.

Now, open up your web browser (firefox comes pre-installed on most!), and search the phrase "what to do after installing [linux version you picked]"

You're looking for a website called "It's FOSS." Here's a link to their page on Mint. This site has lots and lots of snippets of little text commands you can experiment with to learn how that functionality works!

Or, if you don't want to fuck with the terminal at all (fair enough!) then instead of "terminal" look for something called "software manager."

This is sort of like an app store for linux; you can install all kinds of programs directly from there without needing to go to the website of the program itself!

[dead123454]

they/them!!!

i had to delete my acc (drama in the household, its a lot to talk abt). you might recognize me from my old pfp (at the bottom under the cutoff)

im 14 and queer (arospec, non-binary, abrosexual, androsexual, and slightly genderfluid)

isfp-t, and incredibly anxious, so please be gentle

i also barely know how to use words when talking to other people, so ill mostly use symbols and tone indicators

i have ASD ((high functioning) autism), ADHD, ODD (oppositional defiance disorder), GAD (anxiety), PTSD, insomnia, OCD, and MDD (depression). all of these are either diagnosed or are in the process of getting a diagnosis.

my favorite color is either dark livid or olive green

im into marauders (wolfstar) but i rarely post abt it

(obviously fuck jkr)

i write poetry that will be better the more i practice

yes, i am obsessed with robert frost

i play guitar (acoustic and electric) and i really like songwriting

Old pfps: https://www.tumblr.com/woods3115/775849729011613696/old-pfps?source=share

Favorite Bands:

Wilco

CSH

Bob Dylan

Nick Drake

Radiohead

Alex G

Bjork (still getting into her music btw)

The Pixies

Pavement

Slint

David Bowie

Politics:

Free Palestine, equal rights for women and queer folk, pro-choice, climate change is real (and is an impending doom at this rate from our higher-ups) social programs are necessary, universal healthcare is necessary, Trump is evil, Putin is evil and separation of church and state

DNI:

21+, racists, xenophobes, fascists, trumpers, homophobes, transphobes aphobes (and just any queerphobes in general), old people, pedophiles, and anybody thats hateful.

if i had money, i would give it, but i do not. i am broke as hell. no donation asks.

Side Blogs:

@woods-loves-poetry is my poetry blog

@woods31155 is my backup (if you want my to hyu on there so you dont get lost to the abyss lmk)

•#woods is anxious• TRIGGER TAG: has my venting posts (which may include themes of self-hatred, sh, and possibly ed) (all in the context of recovery)

Tags:

•#woods is happy• is when the weight of my mental illness is temporarily slightly lifted

•#woods is political• is where my political thoughts and rbs go; im a crazy lib

TOTALLY AWESOME MOOTS:

@r4dioheadiscool @thesadnessandthesorrow @rins-batcave @thepiedcurrawong @boughtmender @system-of-cats @ning-ningx300 @choucon

also, if we're friends and you arent on this list, i probably just means i havent remembered to put you on here, so dw :3

[screentones-webcomicresources]

There are many web hosting companies to choose from if you're taking the plunge into making your own website with a comic content management system (CMS) like ComicControl or Grawlix, a Wordpress comic theme like Toocheke or ComicPress, or a HTML template to cut/paste code like Rarebit. While these solutions are generally free, finding a home for them is... generally not. It can be hard to choose what's best for your webcomic AND your budget!

We took a look at a few of the top hosting services used by webcomics creators using webcomic CMSes, and we put out a poll to ask your feedback about your hosts!

This post may be updated as time goes on as new services enter the hosting arena, or other important updates come to light.

Questions:

💻 I can get a free account with Wix/Squarespace/Carrd, could I just use those for my comic? - Web hosts like this may have gallery functions that could be adapted to display a series of pages, but they are very basic and not intended for webcomics.

📚 Wait, I host on Webtoon, Tapas, Comic Fury, or some other comic website, why are they not here? - Those are comic platforms! We'll get into those in a future post!

🕵️‍♀️Why does it say "shared hosting"? Who am I sharing with? - "Shared hosting" refers to sharing the server space with other customers. They will not have access to your files or anything, so it is perfectly fine to use for most comic CMSes. You may experience slowing if there is too much activity on a server, so if you're planning to host large files or more than 10 comics, you may want to upgrade to a more robust plan in the future.

Web Host List

Neocities

Basic plan pricing: Free or $5/month. Free plan has more restrictions (1 GB space, no custom domain, and slower bandwidth, among other things)

Notes: Neocities does not have database support for paid or free accounts, and most comic CMS solutions require this (ComicCtrl, Grawlix, Wordpress). You will need to work with HTML/CSS files directly to make a website and post each page.

Hostinger

Basic plan pricing: $11.99/month or $7.99/month with four year commitment (monthly, 1, 2, and 4 year plans available).

Notes: Free domain for the 1st year. Free SSL Certifications. Weekly backups.

KnownHost

Basic plan pricing: $8.95/month or $7.99/month with four year commitment (monthly, 1, 2, and 4 year plans available).

Notes: Free DDOS protection. Free SSL Certifications.

InMotion Hosting

Basic plan pricing: $12.99/month or $9.99/month with three year commitment (monthly, 1, and 3 year plans available).

Notes:  Free SSL Certifications, free domain names for 1 and 3 year plans. 24/7 live customer service and 90-day money-back guarantee. Inmotion also advertises eco-friendly policies: We are the first-ever Green Data Center in Los Angeles. We cut cooling costs by nearly 70 percent and reduce our carbon output by more than 2,000 tons per year.

Reviews:

👍“I can't remember it ever going down.”

👍“InMotion has a pretty extensive library full of various guides on setting up and managing websites, servers, domains, etc. Customer service is also fairly quick on responding to inquiries.” 👎“I wish it was a bit faster with loading pages.”

Ionos Hosting

Basic plan pricing: $8/month or $6/month with three year commitment (monthly, 1, 2 and 3 year plans available).

Notes: Free domain for the first year, free SSL Certification, Daily backup and recovery is included. Site Scan and Repair is free for the first 30 days and then is $6/month.

Reviews:

👍“Very fast and simple” 👎“Customer service is mediocre and I can't upload large files”

Bluehost

Basic plan pricing: $15.99/month or $4.95/month with three year commitment (monthly, 1, 3 year plans available).

Notes: Free domain and SSL certificates (for first year only). 24/7 Customer Service. Built to handle higher traffic websites. Although they specialize in Wordpress websites and provide updates automatically, that's almost a bad thing for webcomic plugins because they will often break your site. Their cloud hosting services are currently in early access with not much additional information available.

Reviews:

👎"The fees keep going up. Like I could drop $100 to cover a whole year, but now I'm paying nearly $100 for just three months. It's really upsetting."

👎"I have previously used Bluehost’s Wordpress hosting service and have had negative experiences with the service, so please consider with a grain of salt. I can confirm at least that their 24/7 customer service was great, although needed FAR too often."

Dreamhost

Basic plan pricing: $7.99/month or $5.99/month with three year commitment (monthly, 1, 3 year plans available).

Notes: Free SSL Certificates, 24/7 support with all plans, 97-day moneyback guarantee. Not recommended for ComicCtrl CMS

Reviews:

👍“They've automatically patched 2 security holes I created/allowed by mistake.” 👍“Prices are very reasonable” 👎 “back end kind of annoying to use” 👎 “wordpress has some issues” 👎 “it's not as customizable as some might want“

GoDaddy

Basic plan pricing: $11.99/month or $9.99/month with three year commitment (monthly, 1, 2, and 3 year plans available).

Notes: Free 24/7 Customer service with all plans, Free SSL Certificates for 1 year, free domain and site migration.

Reviews:

👍Reasonable intro prices for their Economy hosting, which has 25GB of storage 👍Migrated email hosting service from cPanel to Microsoft Office, which has greater support but may not be useful for most webcomic creators. 👎 Many site issues and then being upsold during customer service attempts. 👎 Server quality found lacking in reviews 👎 Marketing scandals in the past with a reputation for making ads in poor taste. Have been attempting to clean up that image in recent years. 👎 “GoDaddy is the McDonald's of web hosting. Maybe the Wal-Mart of hosting would be better. If your website was an object you would need a shelf to put it on. You go to Wal-Mart and buy a shelf. It's not great. It's not fancy. It can only hold that one thing. And if we're being honest - if the shelf broke and your website died it wouldn't be the end of the world.The issue comes when you don't realize GoDaddy is the Wal-Mart of hosting. You go and try to do things you could do with a quality shelf. Like, move it. Or add more things to it.” MyWorkAccountThisIs on Reddit*

Things to consider for any host:

💸 Introductory/promotional pricing - Many hosting companies offer free or inexpensive deals to get you in the door, and then raise the cost for these features after the first year or when you renew. The prices in this post are the base prices that you can expect to pay after the promotional prices end, but may get outdated, so you are encouraged to do your own research as well.

💻 Wordpress hosting - Many of the companies below will have a separate offering for Wordpress-optimized hosting that will keep you updated with the latest Wordpress releases. This is usually not necessary for webcomic creators, and can be the source of many site-breaking headaches when comic plugins have not caught up to the latest Wordpress releases.

Any basic hosting plan on this list will be fine with Wordpress, but expect to stop or revert Wordpress versions if you go with this as your CMS.

🤝 You don't have to go it alone - While free hosts may be more limited, paid hosting on a web server will generally allow you to create different subdomains, or attach additional purchased domains to any folders you make. If you have other comic-making friends you know and trust, you can share your server space and split the cost!

Want to share your experience?

Feel free to contribute your hosting pros, cons, and quirks on our survey! We will be updating our list periodically with your feedback!

[galaxymagitech]

The (Not So) Well-Adjusted One

https://archiveofourown.org/works/645245

For @dickgraysonweek Day 3: Underappreciated Relationships | Trauma Recovery | Greek Mythology

Summary

Bruce asks Dick to desensitize him to reminders of his trauma by purposefully triggering him. Dick is appalled—even though he asked the exact same thing of Jason only a few months ago.

Or: Three Bats. Many hypocrites. Zero healthy coping mechanisms.

Characters: Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd

Warnings: Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-Con

You can read it here or on AO3!

“Absolutely not,” Dick says, standing in the kitchen with the carrots he was cutting completely forgotten. He looks down at the crinkled piece of paper in his hand, where Bruce has listed several dozen bullet points, organized by some system that no doubt only Bruce knows, all written in his messy, doctor-like scrawl. Looks back up at Bruce. Down at the paper. Back up at Bruce again. “What’s wrong with you?” He has half the mind to turn on the gas stove and throw the paper into the flames.

“Hn.” Bruce gestures at the piece of paper in Dick’s hand.

Dick shakes his head wordlessly. He supposes that’s a stupid question, given that Bruce has just handed him an itemized list. “I’m not drugging your drinks,” he tells Bruce. “I’m not...”—he squints at the list—“kidnapping you and taking you to a boarding school either. And I’m not using the E.M.P. mask to pretend to be Joker again just so you can torture yourself. Jesus.”

And based on the list, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Joker is obvious, and Dick would bet the list of plants near the bottom of the page has something to do with Ivy, but Dick has no clue why half of the items are included.

“It’s for the Mission,” Bruce says calmly, like he hasn’t handed Dick a giant list and told him to repeatedly trigger his surrogate father in order to ‘desensitize’ him.

“The Mission,” Dick echoes.

“All of these are potential vulnerabilities in the field,” Bruce explains. “I would like your help in resolving them.”

“You realize you’ve just handed me a list of weaknesses, right?” Being so open about this is insane. Completely un-Batman-like behavior. Dick would honestly think that Bruce had been replaced by an imposter, except for the fact that some of the items—a baseball bat, a highly specific salad dressing, an alarm at a particular pitch and interval—are traceable back to traumas that only Dick and Bruce would know.

“I trust you,” Bruce says simply.

And Dick—Dick knows that. But still, having it said so blatantly is disarming. “This isn’t healthy.”

Bruce chuckles. “Neither is vigilantism.”

Dick sighs. “This is beyond that. I’m not going to just sit by while you purposefully trigger yourself, Bruce. And I’m certainly not helping you do it.”

Bruce takes a long pause to find his words. Dick waits, his gaze flickering to the abandoned carrots. He’ll have to use the precut ones. Alfred would be appalled, but Alfred is…well… “You’ve told me that you want me to be open about my problems, and that we would work together as a family to address any continuing issues.” Bruce says it like a mission report, clinical and precise.

“About things like your crazy backup personality!” Dick wipes a hand over his face. “Not that I don’t appreciate your...trust…with this, and not that I’m not willing to help you if you want to find a better solution, but I wasn’t—” He folds the list up in his hands. “This stuff is private, Bruce. You don’t have to tell me about it. You can, if you want, but you don’t need to redeem yourself by tearing your whole life wide open. Unless one of these triggers is a secret codeword that’ll make you brainwash Jason again, you don’t have to show them to me.”

“Some of these,” Bruce says slowly, “are impacting the Mission, or have the potential to do so in the future. My goal is to minimize their impact.”

“By triggering yourself.”

“Yes. I don’t understand—”

Dick really wishes Alfred was still around. Although given Alfred’s stiff upper lip, he might very well have been in favor of this plan. “We’ll find another way,” Dick says. “But I’m not,” he looks back down at the list, “sneaking drugs into your champagne. That’s insane.”

“I’m giving you permission to,” Bruce says, like he doesn’t understand the problem, like he doesn’t understand how that’s a massive betrayal of trust. But the thing is, he does. He must understand, if it’s somehow made its way onto his list of triggers. And yet, he’s asking Dick to do it anyway. He’s not just asking Dick to hit him where he’ll hurt most—he’s asking Dick to betray him. And Dick will fight Bruce when he needs someone to remind him of who he is, but betray him? That’s too far.

“And I’m not accepting it,” Dick says. “I’m not gonna let you hurt yourself. C’mon Bruce, you know me better than that.”

Bruce takes a moment to mull Dick’s words over in his head. Eventually, he nods. “Alright.” And then, he smiles slightly. “How did you end up so well-adjusted, Dick?”

Dick laughs nervously. “I have no idea.”

Well, that’s because he didn’t actually ‘end up so well-adjusted.’

In truth, Dick Grayson is a hypocrite.

***

“You,” Jason says, “are out of your goddamn mind.” He emphasizes it with a slam of the pantry door.

“Yeah,” Dick says patiently, watching as Jason takes out the pancake mix. An interesting choice, considering that it’s five pm and Jason is normally a pancakes-from-scratch purist. “That’s the point. That’s why I’m asking you for this.”

“Who was it?” Jason asks.

Dick rolls his eyes. “Can we not do this right now?”

“No,” Jason says. “You asked me to help. Let me do something actually fucking helpful. Who was it?”

Dick meets Jason’s eyes. He can see the fire there, burning with what he personally considers entitlement. Jason feels entitled to handle this his way, to exact vengeance on behalf of someone who doesn’t want it. But still, this is Dick’s brother. If Jason didn’t have that fire, that need for sense justice, he wouldn’t be Jason. “She’s dead,” Dick says. It’s only half a lie. Two-thirds, max.

“Okay, look,” Jason says. “You wanna go sniff perfume on your own, fine. I can’t control you. I’ll even practice pins with you, even though I think it’s a bad idea. But on the training mats, Dick, not in the fucking shower. And if you honestly expect me to force pills down your throat, you don’t know me at all.”

“If the shower would be too weird, we could rig a sprinkler system,” Dick offers.

Jason throws his hands in the air. “That’s not the point, Dickhead! You’re supposed to be the well-adjusted one. You even saw a shrink when I was a kid!”

“I lied to the therapist,” Dick admits.

“Well, at least you had a therapist to lie to!” Jason says. He takes a deep breath and then fishes a ladle out of one of his drawers and begins pouring batter into a pan.

“If you want a therapist, I can—”

“I don’t want a fucking therapist,” Jason clarifies. “What I’m saying is, you know how messed-up this is.”

“It’s logical,” Dick says. “Under a highly specific set of circumstances, I’m a liability in the field. So I should—”

“So you should," Jason grimaces, "talk to someone. Or do a Bat emotional repression classic and just avoid those circumstances.”

“Fine,” Dick says, stuffing his hands in his pockets. If Jason won’t help him, he’ll get Helena involved. Bruce would be livid at Dick revealing a weakness like this to a loosely affiliated vigilante, but Dick knows Helena well enough to trust that she wouldn’t use this against him. And honestly, Helena would be much more likely to trigger him anyway, given that she’s a woman and not his little brother.

Jason steps in front of the door. “You’re going to go recruit Cass, aren’t you?”

“No,” Dick says, completely honestly.

“Kate then. Or Helena.”

“No,” Dick says, much less honestly.

“Dick, you realize you won’t just have a couple panic attacks and then ‘get over it,’ right? This could make things worse, or put you out of commission for a week, or—or whatever. It’s not worth it.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Dick asks. “You think I’d ask this of you if that hadn’t already happened?” Last time circumstances had coincided just wrong, he’d had nightmares for four days. And then two weeks later, he inexplicably hadn’t been able to put on the Nightwing suit without wanting to peel off his skin. And then another week after that—

The point is, Dick knows. He knows it isn’t as simple as repeated exposure desensitizing him to a trigger. He’s not stupid. But he can’t stand this, the constant reminders, the knowledge that a single unlucky coincidence could send him into a panic attack, the voice whispering in his ear that he’s weak.

“I know what I’m doing,” Dick says.

“If you go through with this,” Jason says, “I’ll bring Bruce in.”

Dick’s eyes narrow. “You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

Dick meets Jason’s eyes. “This is private, Jason,” he says carefully.

Eventually, Jason looks away and angrily starts putting the pancakes on plates. “Fine. I won’t. But only because he’d just fuck everything up. But Dick…please don’t do this.”

Jason doesn’t say please. If he says please, that means that it matters to him, that it’ll hurt if someone says no.

But here he is, saying please.

Dick sighs. “Fine. I’ll try to figure something else out. But I’ll take you up on the offer to practice pins.”

“Alright,” Jason says, shoving a plate in Dick’s face. “I can live with that.”

***

“I should’ve asked Jason,” Bruce says mournfully.

“Uh…” Dick tries to give off his very best I don’t know from experience impression. “I don’t think he’d be on board with this plan.”

Bruce tilts his head. “He asked something similar of me. Before…before Zur.”

“He told you to purposefully trigger him?”

Bruce looks Dick dead in the eyes. “He asked me supervise while a hired criminal beat him ‘lightly’ with a crowbar. And then bury him alive.”

Unfortunately, that does sound like Jason. It's why Dick had chosen to ask him in the first place. He hadn't expected that Jason would refuse. Honestly, Dick wouldn't have expected any Bat to refuse.

Dick frowns. “At least tell me neither of you have mentioned this to Damian.” Because while Damian has come a long way in the past four years, Dick just knows that Damian would consider this an excellent training strategy. And if Bruce, Dick, and Jason are doing this…what if it filtered down to the younger Bats?

Bruce is silent for a moment too long.

“Bruce, I swear to god—”

Bruce raises his hands in surrender. “I didn’t say anything to him. But…Damian complained to me that Tim and Duke were dressing up as the Joker and systematically jump scaring each other.”

Dick blinks. “Oh. That’s. Unusually reasonable of him.”

Bruce grimaces. “He was upset that they weren’t including him in their training because they deemed him too young.” Too young.

Well, Dick thinks, burying his face in his hands, at least I’m not alone in my hypocrisy.

It's not a reassuring thought.

[pretty-r0t]

𓆝 ⋆｡𖦹°‧ This post will have all my important info! I'll try to keep this short! My dms and asks are always open!

F.K.A:

@ jinx-standsforjinx-durr

@ sourgummysharkz

this is a system blog with a hint of ED!!!

On this blog, you can collectively call us Fish, or any nicknames. 19 years and I'm not pro anything, but fully support recovery, just not for me.

She/He/They (in order of preference) but i really don't care <3

We interchangeably use We/Us/Our and I/Me/My

I am SINGLE, Bloody and Alivia are my PLATONIC wives!

We are a PROFESSIONALLY DIAGNOSED OSDD system!!

In the unfortunate case that I get t'd again, I can always be found on my backup account

Doe's Blog

For information about my alters, please see our Octocon! our ID is: gctyhot

[mice-and-moonbeams]

Hi yes I would like to start down this rabbit hole please because I'm totally normal about this ... I am convinced Jon and Martin are part of a tape drive. It links with the tapes from TMA and the trailer for TMP especially with the opening computer screen (I already posted about my thoughts on that).

What is a tape drive?

A tape drive is a device that stores computer data on magnetic tape, especially for backup and archiving purposes. Like an ordinary tape recorder, a tape drive records data on a loop of flexible celluloidlike material that can be read and also erased.

Tape drives differ from hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) in the way data is read and written to the storage media. Tapes store data sequentially, whereas HDDs and SSDs use rotating disks with rapidly moving seek heads, nonmoving flash memory or similar technology to transfer data.

Drives come in many sizes and capabilities. They are sold as standalone units or stacked in data center racks, creating tape libraries. The tapes themselves are often housed in sealed cassettes that can be inserted into the drive and activated.

There are several benefits to using tape drives, particularly for backup and archival uses. They include the following:

Capacity. Tapes have a large capacity for storing data when compared to HDDs.

Low cost. They are economical when compared to other storage media.

Life span. Tapes stored in a suitable environment can last for decades, an important factor for archival storage.

Transportable. Tapes can be easily moved from one location to another and are considered off-line storage.

Disaster recovery. Tape is often the storage medium of choice for data backup and DR. Storing critical systems and data on tape creates an air gap between systems that are at risk from cyber attacks simply by removing the tape cassette from the drive.

Security. Today, tapes support encryption such as Advanced Encryption Standard-256 and provide varying levels of data protection.

[glowettee]

｡𖦹 °✩creating your perfect comeback strategy - part 3/5 🎀｡𖦹 °✩

1st post 2nd post

posted by: glowettee

hey gorgeous studybugs! ♡

time for the most exciting part of the bad grade recovery series - planning your academic glow-up!!!!!! after analyzing what went wrong, we're now going to create the most effective (and aesthetic) comeback plan ever. this post will seriously help you with any class.

♡ setting goals (but make them realistic)

let's break this down into manageable pieces:

short-term goals:

identify the exact grade you need on next assignments

set weekly study targets (be specific with hours!)

plan concept mastery checkpoints

create mini-deadlines for improvement

long-term goals:

final grade target

overall understanding improvements

study habit transformations

confidence rebuilding

♡ your new study schedule

this isn't just any schedule - it's your academic glow-up timeline, so make it important:

morning routine:

quick concept review (15 mins while having your morning tea)

plan your study goals for the day

organize materials needed

set up your study space

daily study blocks:

45-minute focused sessions (i use a cute timer app)

15-minute aesthetic breaks (stretch, hydrate, quick tiktok check)

alternate between subjects

include active recall exercises

evening review:

30-minute summary of what you learned

prep materials for tomorrow

quick self-quiz

celebrate small wins!

♡ the actual study techniques (that actually work)

here's what really helps:

active recall methods:

teach concepts to your stuffed animals (seriously, it works!)

create practice questions

draw concept maps (make them pretty but functional)

record voice notes explaining topics

write summaries without looking at notes

understanding checks:

can you explain it to someone else?

can you solve problems without references?

can you connect different concepts?

do you understand why, not just how?

♡ resource maximization (because we're being smart about this)

time to use everything available:

professor/teacher resources:

office hours (schedule them in advance!)

email questions (keep them specific and organized)

extra materials they recommend

past exam reviews

study support:

form a study group (2-4 people max)

use tutoring services

online resources (but pick reliable ones!)

practice problems from textbook

supplementary videos

♡ your accountability system

staying on track is crucial:

daily checks:

study log (track actual study time)

concept understanding rating

questions that came up

what worked/didn't work

weekly reviews:

progress check

study method effectiveness

time management evaluation

goals met/missed

adjustments needed

♡ creating your perfect study environment

because aesthetics actually help:

physical space:

clean desk (but keep it cute)

good lighting (natural light is best!)

comfortable seating

all materials within reach

minimal distractions

study essentials:

colored pens/highlighters

sticky notes

planner

water bottle

healthy snacks

background music playlist

♡ emergency backup plans

because life happens:

plan b strategies:

alternate study locations

backup study materials

digital copies of important notes

emergency contact list for help

quick review sheets for cramming

stress-relief techniques

this isn't just about recovering from one bad grade - it's about creating a sustainable study system that works for you! - it needs to be consistent, personalized, and something you'll actually stick to!

the next post, i will talk about how to actually execute this plan (and what to do when things get tough).

xoxo, mindy 🎀