#Cert Guide

[numberonealcoholic]

[wutheringheightsfilm]

for everyone asking me "what do we do??!??!"

The Care We Dream Of: Liberatory and Transformative Approaches to LGBTQ+ Health by Zena Sharman

Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (And the Next) by Dean Spade

Cop Watch 101 - Training Guide

The Do-It Yourself Occupation Guide

DIY HRT Wiki 

The Innocence Project - helps take inmates off of death row

Food Not Bombs 

Transfeminine Science - collection of articles and data about transfem HRT

Anti-Doxxing Guide for Activists

Mass Defense Program - National Lawyers Guild

How to be part of a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)

Understanding and Advocating for Self Managed Abortion

The Basics of Organizing

Building Online Power

Build Your Own Solidarity Network

Organizing 101

How to Start a Non-Hierarchical Direct Action Group

A Short and Incomplete Guide for New Activists

Eight Things You Can Do to Get Active

Palestine Action Underground Manual

How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm

Spreadsheet of gynecologists that will tie your tubes without bothering you about it

COVID Resource Guide

Mask Bloc NJ (find one near you, these are international!)

Long Covid Justice

Donate to Palestinian campaigns (2, 3, 4)

Donate to Congolese campaigns (2, 3) 

Donate to Sudanese campaigns (2, 3)

[peachdues]

rejoice everyone, my sex drive as returned with a vengeance.

MDNI. Explicit sexual content.

Inside your apartment offers little relief from the suffocating heat and humidity.

The air is thick with the scent of sex, musky and heady. Sweat sticks your hair to your forehead, slides down the side of your neck to join the thin sheen coating the rest of your skin. Above you, Sanemi fares no better, the ends of his hair having turned a muted gray from the moisture that’s gathered just above his brow.

The coarse hairs around his base are matted down against his skin, soaked from a combination of your cum and his. Still, the faint stimulation his groin offers against your clit with every feeble turn of his hips makes your thighs twitch and spasm where they lay draped over his.

One last, shallow thrust later and Sanemi stills. You hardly notice the shock of cold left behind as he pulls out and collapses next to you in a sweaty, panting heap. His little finger sneaks across the mussed blankets and interlocks with yours. It’s the only contact either of you can tolerate now; he knows it’s too hot for anything more.

“Jesus,” he pants, his voice hoarse from exertion. “That was fuckin’ incredible.”

Two weeks into your relationship with Sanemi and the novelty of it hasn’t worn off.

Despite the exhaustion sitting heavily in your limbs, you can’t help but smile. It’s what he says every time after you’ve finished, and it’s always with the same, breathless wonder.

Content, you roll to your stomach, kicking the blankets away where they tangled around your shins. You bury your face into the lumpy pillow and sigh, marveling at the gush of fluid from between your thighs that further dampens the sheets below.

You don’t mind; Sanemi will wash your sheets for you, anyway, like always. Besides, it may be hot and stuffy inside your apartment, but the warmth left behind by him is a welcome one; tangible proof of how thoroughly he’d just claimed you.

Sanemi is nothing short of thorough.

Exhausted though you are, you can’t help the flutter in your stomach as you feel his hand smooth up the back of your thigh, his fingers gently massaging your hamstring, and then your ass.

If he were to straddle your backside right now and slide into you from behind, you wouldn’t know how to object; wouldn’t want to, anyway.

He’s only taken you from behind twice in the weeks since you’ve begun sleeping together, but it’s rapidly become your favorite position by far. The first time had been slow; a lesson more than an indulgence, with Sanemi gently bending you over the side of your bed, his hands guiding your hips into place and pressing on your spine to deepen the arch of your back.

The second time had reduced you to tears.

There’d been no manipulation of your body that time. Instead, he’d shoved a pillow under your belly and mounted you, those big, strong hands of his holding you down by the small of your waist as he’d rutted into you, hard and deep. At first, you’d only managed a few, gasping squeaks, too focused on the way Sanemi’s thick tip battered away at that spot deep inside that made your toes curl.

One hand pinned your wrists to the small of your back while the other wound gently through your hair. With a firm tug, he pulled your head back, pausing only to press his lips softly to the crown of your head in quiet reassurance.

Then, came his command. Scream, baby. Show me how good I’m makin’ you feel.

Right on cue, Sanemi slammed his hips forward, pushing right into that painfully wonderful spot that made you see stars. He drew back and hit it again and again, and you couldn’t help but wail for him while your eyes rolled into your head, your throat, burning.

You’d ended up making an embarrassing mess atop your sheets, one that made your legs jerk and twitch so violently that Sanemi had been forced to pin them down by pressing his feet to your calves. Yet, he’d seemed to delight in your ruin, if his rumbling baritone groans had been any metric to go by. Certainly the increased force behind his thrusts as he fucked you harder into the mattress meant he hadn’t minded. Not one bit.

But if Sanemi wants to have you again, now, he doesn’t act on it. Instead, he finishes his appreciative knead against your ass and sits up, running a hand through his hair. From the corner of your eye, you spy him as he pretends to look back at you, half-asleep atop the messy heap of your pillows and blankets.

His quiet exhale of approval gives him away. He’s not admiring your post-sex beauty; his attention is locked squarely on the mess he’s left between your thighs.

He’s admiring his handiwork just as much as you are.

[starlightsearches]

Tis I hanging out in your inbox while you’re on break. Ever think about giving Hux sloppy toppy under his desk in his office.

Learning Curve

I'm definitely thinking about it now, bestie!!! Thanks for indulging me, as always!!

requests are always open but i'm slow 😬

Armitage Hux x GN Reader

18+ only, oral (m), porn without plot. Let me know what you think, my loves!!

It's a formality, really.

That's what Hux tells himself as he watches you slide to the floor, a breath skipping from his lungs when you grip at his thighs to guide yourself down onto the ground. There's no need for you to hide like this—his office door is locked with no exceptions for entry, as it always is when you're with him.

It's just that he'd been too close, too volatile, in the moments before this one, with his hips rutting into yours, his body bearing down on you so harshly that your back bowed with the pressure. And there was that teasing smile on your lips, the one he felt etching into his skin with every heated kiss.

His arm circling your waist, your hands in his hair, the bruising grip he had at the juncture of your hip, and close just wasn't close enough.

Hux was losing some fragment of himself he couldn't afford to part with.

Not now, at least. Not when he was supposed to be working.

And so he had tried to stop it, to sidestep the embarrassment he knew was coming. He had broken from the kiss, turned his face away from your own, heart stuttering when he felt your lips at his neck, untroubled as always.

"I should—" a horrible start, his voice high and keening. Armitage had coughed, trying to clear his head from the dizzying heat of you. "I should be getting back to work."

And now this—you on your knees, a shadow falling over your eyes from the edge of his desk, tucked so neatly beneath him. He catches your gaze, watches, mouth dry, as you trail your fingers up and down his thighs, sparking his skin like the head of a match against a striker.

And it's just a formality, this shelter you've found. But Armitage can't deny that he likes the look of it.

"What are you doing?" Hux whispers the words, strangely breathless.

He knows what you're doing. His body has reacted to it in all the familiar ways—a path worn too deeply, even before you'd ever glanced in his direction.

Your head lolls to the side, resting against his knee. Your lips are flushed and swollen, and one of your hands has made it to the top of his thighs, palm just pressing against his swelling cock, solid enough to force another heavy breath from his lungs.

"I'm letting you get back to work," you whisper innocently, but the unspoken language between you is too loud for anything like that.

Hux nods, pretends, resting his forearms against the edge of his desk as he traps you in the space beneath him.

He scans the space with unseeing eyes, tries to think of any of the tasks that had been nagging at him before, unsuccessfully. Beneath the gleaming surface of his desk, this symbol of everything Hux has accomplished, there's the spark of your touch, the rumble of his zipper.

Armitage lets his eyes fall closed, a gasp on his lips when his aching cock meets the cold air of his office, your hand just barely stroking at his flushed length.

There's nothing for him to grab onto, no handful of your hair or the expanse of his bed sheets. Hux lets his hands curl into tight fists, leather squeaking against the glass surface, his teeth clenched so tightly his jaw might snap as he waits for the next hint of movement from you.

You've lifted your head from where it had rested, and Hux is only half sure he's not imagining the wet heat of your breath against the tip of his cock, lips so near where he wants them—the inviting softness of your mouth and this pleasure you would offer him.

He tries his best to picture it, and feels his cock twitch in your hand at the image of you, glassy eyes and shining skin, your tongue pink between wet lips as you taste him.

"Please," Armitage can't help but beg, certain the anticipation will kill him.

The warmth registers first, and then the wetness—strings of spit dripping from between your lips, painting his skin. You spread them with the palm of your hand, cupping at the head, gathering the first hints of his spend and coating the rest of his length with it, stroking him more earnestly.

The groan that bursts through his lips comes from some place deep inside him.

You hum, pleased. Hux can feel it—in his chest, and, more importantly, against his cock. Your lips just brushing the vein on the underside of his dick, moving up, up, up until your bottom lip catches on the ridge of his head, lips parting to invite him into the divine comfort of your mouth.

One hand jerks from where it rests, but Armitage can't reach you. He lets his fingers grip at the edge of the table instead, savors the bite of it against his palm.

The feeling of you is indescribable. Perfect, even. So attuned to his needs with your hollowed cheeks and the rhythm of your hand, stroking all the places your mouth can't reach.

Hux feels the ecstasy build within him, the indomitable warmth in his chest and the pit of his stomach and the tops of his thighs—the feeling of your skin against his painting his whole body in an indulgent glow.

Armitage spills into your mouth with a moan on his lips that carries your name.

[cyberstudious]

Free Resources for Learning Cybersecurity

I created this post for the Studyblr Masterpost Jam, check out the tag for more cool masterposts from folks in the studyblr community!

Free Online Courses

Linux Foundation Cybersecurity Courses - many of their beginner/introductory courses are free

Professor Messer's Security+ Course - a great intro to cybersecurity, gave me the skills to pass my Security+ exam

Khan Academy Cryptography - solid foundations for understanding the math behind encryption

ISC2's new entry level cert & training CC is free, although for a limited time

Linux Journey - learn Linux, the command line, and basic networking

Free CTFs & Ways to Practice

What is a CTF? - HackTheBox isn't a free platform, but this is a good article explaining what a CTF is and how to approach it

OverTheWire Bandit - practice your Linux skills

PicoCTF - this one already ran this year but their website has plenty of resources

Microcorruption - binary exploitation challenges

Hacker101 - web security CTF

Cryptopals Cryptography Challenges

Nightmare - binary exploitation & reverse engineering challenges

Cybersecurity News: follow what's happening in the industry

KrebsOnSecurity - security & cybercrime news, investigative journalism

SANS StormCast - daily 5-minute security news podcast

SANS Internet Storm Center - security blog posts

Cisco Talos blog - security news, threat intelligence & malware investigations

Schneier on Security - security & society

Black Hills Information Security webcasts

Darknet Diaries podcast

Other Free Resources

Trail of Bits's CTF Field Guide

PicoCTF Resources and Practice

SANS Cheat Sheets - all areas of security & tech

OWASP Cheat Sheets - application security & web attacks

LaurieWired's YouTube channel - high-quality videos on low-level tech

LiveOverflow's YouTube channel - binary exploitation

SANS Webinars

Cybersecurity Certifications Roadmap

Cybersecurity Job Supply and Demand Map (for the U.S.)

EFF's Surveillance Self-Defense - guides for how to protect yourself online

Don't Forget the Library!

If you have access to a public or school library, check out their technical books and see what they have to offer. O'Reilly and No Starch Press are my favorite publishers for technical and cybersecurity books, but be on the lookout for study guides for the Security+ and other certifications - these will give you a good introduction to the basics. I wrote more about cybersecurity books in yesterday's masterpost.

[armoredisopod]

New Event PV

New Operators

Rose Salt, 5* Welfare Multi-Target Medic

If i find a way to get super rich, i'm sure you'll get your share.

Tecno, 5* Shaper Caster (new branch)

Whether anyone can see it or not, the crystals are still there, but i'm still standing.

Thorns the Lodestar, 6* Alchemist Specialist

I hear the waves crashing at the sides of the boat, heralding our victory.

With this ship at the center, i will interpret my own Iberia.

Operator Outfits Update

Total of 4 new outfits, 1 new addition for the MARTHE brand, 2 new additions for the Shining Steps brand and 1 new addition for the Icefield Messenger brand

MARTHE

Wiping Knife - Cutter (Login Event)

Shining Steps

Dreaming High - Ray

Top Tier Live - Tequila

Icefield Messenger

Inviting Snow - Harold

Harold's outfit will be up for sale during The Rides to Lake Silberneherze Retrospect

Announced outfit reruns

Series V and VI Icefield Messenger outfits (Erato, Greyy the Lightningbearer, Goldenglow, Tsukinogi, Qanipalaat, Penance)

Epoque outfits of Kjera and Puzzle

Operator Modules Update

Rose Salt being part of the Multi-Target Medic branch immediately gets her module

RIN-X module base effect gives Rose Salt an additional tile of range up front

Arts Fighter Guard branch gets 3 module types

Module 1 given to Surtr, Vina Victoria, Guard Amiya and Mousse

Module 2 given to Astesia and Sideroca

Module 3 given to Viviana

Exusiai gets her 2nd module

MAR-Y module base effect increases Exusiai's ASPD by +8 when there are ground enemies within her attack range

Events and Stories

Exodus from the Pale Sea, an Iberia side story event

The traveler who is guided by reason returns to his homeland without common sense.

He saw ships without oars traveling across a sea without water, men without desires hoisting sails without direction,

Saw a man who begged for death condemning himself to live, and a man who was robbed of everything by the sea leaving everything behind and running toward the sea.

How should he understand it, and what can he do to change it?

Uh well, first he has to figure out how to deal with the chains on his body and the gallows not far away, right?

The Rides to Lake Silberneherze Retrospect, scheduled after Exodus from the Pale Sea

Poly Vision Museum, limited time mini-games event, scheduled after The Rides to Lake Silberneherze Retrospect

Operator Archives update for Rose Salt, Tecno, Ceylon and Courier

Record Restore update for The Black Forest Wills a Dream, What the Firelight Casts and Where Vernal Winds Will Never Blow

Misc Stuff

New QoL features

Players will be able to set their birthday in-game and receive birthday rewards

Added special operator voicelines for birthday and new year's day

Added the ability to have multiple assistant operators in rotation and main menu loadouts to switch between assistant rotation and backgrounds and UI themes

New SSS QoL changes

After clearing at least one floor of an SSS mission without a support unit, players can use 2 [Regular Affairs Proxy Cards] to skip an SSS run get rewards based on highest floor completed [PRTS Proxy Annihilation Cards] players get from missions are converted to [Regular Affairs Proxy Cards], they can still be used to skip annihilation Older SSS maps will be rerun

Annihilation #29 - Paddy Field 9-7, annihilation mission with Here a People Sows enemies and mechanics

SSS New Season #7, Concert Security Service - Leithanien Philharmonic Association & Area Under Construction For Dossoles

Erato and her potential tokens along with Perfumer's [Species Plantarum] Outfit will be available in the certs shop to players that don't have them

[kilfeur]

Mephisto est un faiseur de rois et le plus vieux parmi les démons. Quand il a rencontré Delkira, il pensait que c'est lui qui allait devenir le roi, prêt à le guider. Mais il a refusé préférant choisir son propre chemin. Et quand Mephisto voit qu'Iruma et ses amis deviennent professeurs, ça ne lui plaît pas croyant qu'il foncera droit dans le mur. Car en devenant professeur, il voit ça comme une manière de montrer leurs leardership et avoir leurs soutiens. Mais Iruma lui fait comprendre qu'il est professeur pas un roi, faisant contrast à Delkira quand il a refusé la proposition de Mephisto. Iruma va certes les guider et leur apprendre mais à la fin ce seront les élèves qui décideront ce qu'ils vont faire et ce qu'ils ont appris grâce aux enseignements d'Iruma et de ses amis.

Mephisto is a kingmaker and the oldest of the demons. When he met Delkira, he thought he was the one who would become king, ready to guide him. But he refused, preferring to choose his own path. And when Mephisto sees that Iruma and his friends are becoming teachers, he doesn't like it, believing he's heading straight for the wall. Because by becoming a teacher, he sees it as a way of showing their leadership and gaining their support. But Iruma makes him understand that he's a teacher, not a king, drawing a contrast with Delkira when he refused Mephisto's proposal. Iruma will certainly guide them and teach them, but in the end it will be the students who decide what they will do and what they have learned from the teachings of Iruma and his friends.

[amateurmasksmith]

Scare Care

Chapter One: Poltergeist in the Parlor

a/n: comments are appreciated! :)

inspiration: this post

Virgil had a very strange job.

He’d had a few odd jobs by now, just taking whatever would pay - pizza delivery, helpdesk, dog walking (he did actually like that one; it’s how he met his best friend) - But as he stood with a notebook in yet-another stranger’s living room, he couldn’t help but figuratively step back and realize the sheer absurdity of his situation.

“I can’t believe I’m arguing with a poltergeist about Disney movies,” he said, pinching his nose.

“Anyway! We’re getting off-track,” Virgil looked down at his notepad, skimming the section ‘Reason for Call.’

Thomas, his client, had put in a call last week - A skeptic (like Virgil’s roommate - though that seemed to be where the similarities ended), he sounded like many other skeptics he’d heard calling in - Confused, anxious…

Desperate.

He didn’t blame them, really - any of them. Some customers were assholes, true, but ignorance? Fear? That he could help with.

A lot of the time, it didn’t even take anything particularly special to resolve the paranormal problems he was called for - If it was dangerous, then yeah, he could call in backup - But usually, it was a matter of having just enough otherworldly knowledge to understand the problem, and the patience and empathy to guide his clients toward a solution.

…he was still working on that last part.

He had a fancier title on his resume, but Virgil liked to think of his job as an underglorified paranormal help desk or field tech.

Though, to be fair, the computer-based field techs were underglorified, too.

God, he was glad to be out of that job.

Thomas’ case was, luckily, a simple one-

“Ugh, fine - I suppose, if you- we can’t agree on the best prince, then… how about ‘Which movie has the best songs?’”

Well. Mostly.

“Black Cauldron.”

Virgil took the beat of sweet, blessed quiet to pivot towards Thomas. “When did this all start?”

Over the prince-preoccupied-poltergeist’s sputtering, Thomas answered, “Since I moved in! Before, even - I don’t remember exactly when.”

Roman scoffed, crossing his arms. “Try ‘ever since I ruined the perfect arrangement of an innocent, handsome, good-taste-having man’s antique furniture collection!’ ” he said, theatrically imitating and exaggerating Thomas’ mannerisms.

Sometimes Virgil regretted not going after that banishment cert.

He sighed - The old-fashioned way it was.

…Talking. Gross.

“Furniture?” He questioned toward Thomas.

“I- I mean, yeah? I moved the couches a bit?”

“A BIT?!” Princey screeched. “You shoved them! My darling babies almost ended up in the kitchen - and that is no place for antique leather!”

Virgil blinked confusedly, looking at the layout of the apartment.

While the kitchen and living room were next to each other, there was a partial corner and a half-high-wall/breakfast counter… thing, decidedly blocking the way into the kitchen.

Also, surprisingly, Roman was right - a kitchen was no place for a couch.

So why…?

Thomas, seeing the confusion written on their faces (and indignation, in Roman’s case), looked away sheepishly, rubbing his neck.

“I… may… have been… trying… to make a blanket fort.”

The princely poltergeist let out what Virgil could only describe as a squeal. “Oooh! That sounds fun!”

He clapped his hands twice - For the theatrics, Virgil assumed, since poltergeists didn’t have to use somatic elements for most interactions - and began moving the furniture around the living room.

Virgil and Thomas exchanged looks that said “Seriously?” and “Eh, works for me,” respectively.

Well. At least that was resolved.

Now onto the second-worst part: On-site paperwork.

“So- uh. You guys are good, then?” Virgil asked.

Thomas popped his head up from behind a couch where he was tucking in the corner of a blanket.

“Huh? Oh, uh. Yeah!” Thomas grinned.

“Awesome.” He opened his bag that he’d left on the end of the banister, and took out a clipboard and form after filling out a few fields. “I just need a signature, then I’ll be out of your hair.”

Thomas grunted as he stood up, and Virgil handed him the form. “I know a bunch of other places do this all digital, but we gotta keep it old-school ‘cause of electronic interference.”

“Also,” Virgil kept going despite himself, “I’ve read through everything, it’s just a statement of work done, reaffirmation of the disclaimer on the website, stuff like that.”

He gestured vaguely with one hand as Thomas signed and dated the paper with the pen Virge had tied to the clipboard. “I mean, I’m no lawyer, but it all looks fine to me.”

“No, yeah, I trust you,” Thomas said off-handedly as he finished.

Virgil mentally stumbled backwards for a moment before replying.

“I- cool. Yeah,” Virgil rubbed the back of his neck as he took the offered clipboard. “Thanks.”

Virgil mostly tuned out Thomas and Roman’s excited chattering as he slid the clipboard back into his bag, and slipped the strap over his head to rest on his shoulder - something about a marathon?

“Hey, uh-“ Thomas started, noticing Virgil gearing up to leave. “Thank you,” he grinned. “That was really cool!”

Huh. Most people thought it was scary or weird. Satanic panic and all that.

“I - Thanks,” Virgil said, not sure how to respond.

“Oh, yeah, also,” he said, fishing into his hoodie pocket for a scrap of paper (hoodies weren’t regulation, but some rules were stupid).

“That spell probably won’t last through a whole marathon - ‘bout two hours, how I did it,” he continued, writing some info on the back of the receipt he got from a Thai place last week.

“You could just call us back out, but - between you and me,” he handed the note over, “You’d get more bang for your buck with a kit from the coven on Stoughton Street - ask for Nicole, tell her I sent ya.”

Thomas grinned as they walked towards the door - seriously, how did he keep doing that?? “Awesome-sauce! Thank you, Virgil!”

God, this guy’s almost as much of a goober as Patton. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he stepped outside. “Thanks, Thomas.”

“No, thank you!”

Virge turned around once he buckled on his helmet, grabbed his bike and stepped off the porch, and gave Thomas a two-finger salute, which he returned.

“See ya,” he said, mounting his bike.

As Virgil pedaled away, watching the sunset, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d see Thomas again.

He hoped he would.

[auncyen]

say what you mean

this post finally got written out. except halfway through the comedic potential turned into angst? oops? it's vaguely related to my no loops au but with a happier outcome.

-

'Za's the first to tell you he's going to take you home to Bambouche so you can see your sister. He finds you in the middle of the party, when you're hanging out to the side with the Drawing Kid because they don't coo and aww at you like the adults do or ask "what was the House like? what was the King like?!" the way the other kids do. The Drawing Kid just draws all the happy people, the Housemaidens and the villagers and your friends, and they're happy when you tell them they draw good, so you're happy to grab food for both of you and hang out by them. 'Za happens to spot you when you're getting eclairs and waves, getting you to stop so he can catch up. "Bonbon! Hey! Oooo, tasty--"

"They're for me and the Drawing Kid," you tell him. "Get your own!" The boulangere made a bunch, so 'Za can definitely have some. You just don't want to have to go back and forth again.

'Za laughs. "Will do! But listen, Bonbon, I've been thinking, uh. We're all going to be going our own way soon. Mira's staying here, M'dame's going back to Ka Bue, and Sif's..." 'Za frowns.

Frin's a crab who wouldn't tell you what he's going to do now. He just made dumb jokes about going to space instead. And you don't like thinking about how everyone's splitting up. Of course you want to see your sister again, but... "So what?" you ask.

Za's still frowning, but he keeps going. "Well, I just thought, why don't I bring you to Bambouche? Everyone else is going a different direction."

"...Isn't Jouvente a different direction, too?" You've never been there yourself, but. Bambouche is along the coast. Dormont's further inland, but you can still see the coast from the top of the House. Jouvente's near the south border. You've heard people say you can't see any ocean from ANYWHERE in there. No wonder Za's weird, growing up somewhere like that.

He keeps being weird by waving your logic away with his hand. "Oh, well! I've never been to the coast, and I'd like to see it! Plus..." He smiles down at you. "It'd be nice to see your hometown, and spend a little more time with you before you go home. But if you don't want me to take you home--"

"No!" you say quickly. Way too quickly, because 'Za's smile gets just a little wider and the Drawing Kid giggles quietly where they're lying in the grass with their paper pad. You fold your arms and look away, annoyed to feel the shade in your cheeks. "I mean. Sure. You can come with me to Bambouche. I'll tell you all about the ocean! I'm a cert-ived expert." You think that's the word 'Dile used.

"I'm looking forward to it!" Za says. "Just, um, can I ask a favor? I know you're probably really eager to see your sister, and there won't be any side trips once we're on the road! But...can we wait to leave until M'dame and Sif leave Dormont? I'd like to see them both off."

...You do want to see Nille right away. But... "Yeah. I can wait." You want to spend a little more time with 'Dile. And Frin, even if he's being dumb.

(You...don't know if Frin wants to spend more time with you. Frin always acts like losing his eye was no big deal, but you know that can't be true, and he hasn't called you 'Bonbon' since.)

"Great!" 'Za says. "I'll see you later. Time for some yummy eclairs~"

He wanders off toward the tables with all the food the villagers put together for the ultimate party. You see Frin near there, looking a little overwhelmed, swarmed by a gaggle of Housemaidens--they've all been curious about Frin, first because they dress funny and then because Belle and 'Za mentioned how they guided everyone through the House with a wish granted by the Favor Tree. Za starts to change course toward them, but before he gets there the really tall and pretty Head Housemaiden comes up to the group. She says something, and the group of Housemaidens opens up even before Frin turns toward her. She walks away, and they follow, and you wonder what the Head Housemaiden wants with Frin before you notice the Drawing Kid is drawing 'Za waaaaaay too cool. That's just. Wrong. 'Za's not cool, and you make sure to tell the Drawing Kid that. They seem skep-ti-cal, but they laugh when you tell them about the times Za's freaked out at bugs.

'Dile comes up while you're looking at a cool new drawing the Drawing Kid's done (they know how to draw the BEST spiders. they're amazing) and clears her throat to get your attention. "Boniface."

You look up. "Yeah?"

"I've been thinking, with Mirabelle's quest complete and our journey done... you'll need someone to make sure you get safely back to your sister in Bambouche."

"Yeah." You're about to tell her that Za's already got you covered, but then she looks to the side, and you've never seen 'Dile look...is she embarrassed? Shy? 'Dile??? You're distracted trying to figure out what that face means.

"I was thinking we'd find someone in Dormont who might be headed that way, but...well, all things considered, I think it best if I take you myself."

Huh?

"Don't you gotta go to Ka Bue? And it's, like. On the other side of the world?"

The Drawing Kid stops drawing to look up at 'Dile at this. The weird shy expression drops from her face and she smiles. Or 'smirks', you've heard the others describe 'Dile's kind of smile that way, when it looks like she's holding back a laugh.

"It is, but I'm on my own timetable and not beholden to anyone. There's a chance your sister might be upset that we took you along, and if she is, it's probably best one of us explains."

"You don't gotta explain to her. I came with," you say, folding your arms, and that gets you a small 'Dile chuckle from behind the smirk.

"That you did. Practically strong-armed us into taking you along. Nevertheless, your sister might appreciate an explanation from one of us....and, well." Her eyes dart away again just briefly before she smiles at you instead of smirking. "I never thought I'd teach someone as young as you, but you're the most enjoyable student I've ever had. We can see if there's anything more for me to teach you on the way there."

"Yeah! I bet there's loads more you can teach me, 'Dile! You're super smart!" And you like learning from her. It makes you feel really warm that she enjoys teaching you.

It's not often that 'Dile smiles like this, not for so long. "Just one thing, Boniface. It...will likely be the last time I see you all, so I plan to wait until Isabeau and Siffrin have left. I hope that's not a problem."

"Oh, 'Za--" You shut your mouth, and both 'Dile and the Drawing Kid look at you with confusion. You shake your head. "It's fine!!"

"Alright then. Enjoy the festivities, Boniface. Try not to go too wild on the desserts." With that, she leaves you and the Drawing Kid in the grass, though she stays at the edge of the crowds herself, letting any curious villagers come to her to ask questions rather than wandering into the thick of things.

The Drawing Kid looks at her, then at you. You can feel the question. "...I want both her and 'Za to come with me to Bambouche, but what if they're just volunteering because they don't think anyone else is gonna?" you explain. "If it's only gonna be one of them, then..."

...Then you're not sure.

If 'Za were here, you'd tell him 'Dile's wa-a-ay cooler and you're going with her. Because. Well, because 'Dile is cooler, and teasing 'Za is fun. But you like traveling with 'Za too! Sometimes he gives you piggyback rides, and he's really calm. 'Dile's calm too, but it's a different kind of calm. Like...if you had a big problem, you'd go to 'Dile because she's smart and can solve it. But if you needed a good laugh, you'd go to Za. And maybe he's not as cool as 'Dile, but that's not his fault. No one's as cool as 'Dile.

You want both of them to go to Bambouche with you.

At least the Drawing Kid doesn't pressure you to answer. They just give you a little nudge before handing you a dark gray crayon and some paper so you can draw too. You doodle the Head Housemaiden for a bit after you spot her back in the party (which isn't hard with how tall she is!) You look lower, but you don't see Frin. They must be done talking about whatever she wanted to talk about.

Maybe you can give Belle a drawing as a goodbye present? It'd last longer than food, anyway. ...You don't know what to draw, though. And she's still surrounded by so many people, all the villagers and Housemaidens wanting to congratulate her or thank her or catch up with her. You leave your big hat with the Drawing Kid so it won't get knocked off and thread your way through the crowd to see her.

"Oh! Bonnie!" Belle looks a bit tired when you first see her face, but she smiles fondly at you and reaches for your hand. "Bonnie, there's something we need to talk about! Just a minute, everyone...!"

The crowd parts as soon as Belle says that, people recognizing that she wants a break. ...By how quickly Belle pulls you to the side of the party, you think she must have been wanting a break for a while now. Good thing you went to check on her! "Are you thirsty?" you ask her. "Hungry?" You know the adults kind of made up the job to keep you busy, but. You liked being Snack Master. And you think Belle might need a snack.

"...Some mint water would be nice," she admits.

You get her mint water. She smiles and thanks you when you hand her the glass, and after three long sips she sets the glass down on a nearby barrel and claps her hands, refreshed.

"So, Bonnie! I wanted to talk to you about how you're getting back home."

...? You've heard this before.

"I was thinking I could take you back, if you don't mind? I'm sure Isabeau's family and friends are worried about him back in Jouvente, and Madame Odile and Siffrin have their own homes to get back to--and you have yours!"

You've. Kind of heard this before, too. Not exactly, because it's Belle and not 'Za, but. Hey, wait, 'Za thought-- "You're not staying in Dormont?" you ask.

Belle shrugs, looking unsure before she smiles. "You know Housemaidens go on pilgrimages, right? It might finally be time for mine!"

Wasn't she just on a pilgrimage. Aren't pilgrimages just long journeys??? Is there something you're missing?? But also why'd Za say she's staying in Dormont if she's not???

"Plus, everyone here knows I'm fine and not to worry about me. I don't want to keep your sister waiting--th, though! I also don't want to rush our goodbyes with the others!" Belle rushes to add, watching you nervously for your reaction. "T, that is, if you can wait just a little while, until the others are ready to leave..."

You have heard this before, and now you're super questioning the adults who've been taking care of you the last couple of months. Because you're really happy that everyone wants to go with you to Bambouche! ...It also sounds like everyone doesn't want to leave the others yet? But? They haven't talked about it? At all??

Your teachers tell you you should speak up and all this time you thought Frin was just the weird adult who didn't but it turns out all of them are like this????

...Does. Does Frin--

He probably doesn't want to take you to Bambouche.

But. They'd probably like hanging out with Belle and 'Za and 'Dile for longer. And even if they're frustrating (because they won't speak up, because they'll always pretend it's fine you got them half-blind)--

Belle's face falls. "I'm sorry, is that selfish of me? Or would you like someone else to take you? I, I--"

"No!" you say quickly. "I want you to come to Bambouche!" Belle and 'Za and 'Dile! But also-- "I just--I gotta find Frin! Have you seen them?"

"O, oh!" Belle's pendants jangle and chime as she spins about, looking. "No, I can't say I've seen them recently, but maybe Isabeau has?" She points him out by the tables, and you run to him--not full speed, but fast enough you've got his full attention.

"Bonbon? Something the matter?"

"No, but I need to find Frin!"

Za scans the party, a frown slowly growing on his face. "Where is he...? Maybe M'dame knows. Hey, M'dame!" He waves and starts making his way to 'Dile. You jog past him to her, because you want to find Frin so you can talk about everyone going to Bambouche together!

"'Dile! Have you seen Frin?"

She frowns. "Not in quite a while. Maybe the celebration was too much for them? They could be resting..."

"Excuse me," the Head Housemaiden says from behind you, except you don't realize it was her talking until you look behind and see her looming, because. She sounds nervous. You haven't heard her sound like that yet. "Your Traveler, Siffrin--is he not with any of you?"

"No," 'Dile says, with a good long look at the Head Housemaiden. She thinks that tone is weird too. "Do you need something with them?"

"She was talking to them earlier," you tell 'Dile, and she stares at the Head Housemaiden even harder at that.

"Euphrasie...?" Belle asks uncertainly.

The Head Housemaiden claps her hands twice, firm and loud enough to get the attention of most of the party. "Sorry to interrupt the fun!" she says with a broad smile. "But has anyone seen Siffrin? Our bright Savior, with a cloak and pointed hat."

"I saw them! They jumped across the river!" a kid calls. "At the broken bridge."

...He forgot about the unbroken bridge, didn't he.

"Thank you, Evrard," Euphrasie says, her voice bright and sunny until she turns back to them. Then, hushed and low: "Please check on him. He was quite upset when we parted ways. I thought they were going to talk with one of you, but if none of you have seen them..."

"What did you say to him?" Odile asks, and you flinch at her voice.

The Head Housemaiden doesn't. She just looks sad. "Their Wish Craft--I knew where it came from. I thought...they knew too. Please, go talk to them."

'Za doesn't need to hear any more than that, and as soon as he starts moving, so do you. 'Za's usually good about keeping pace with you, but right now he's worried about Frin and books it, past the field and then around, to the bridge that still works. You just follow as fast as you can, your shoes clomping across the wood planks. You hear Belle right behind, and even 'Dile's hurrying, and then--

And then you see Frin, and your heart wobbles because they're trying to smile at 'Za hovering over them, even from here you can faintly hear him insisting he's fine! He's fine! But his shoulders are trembling and he's got a hand pressed against his good eye, he can't see at all like that, why...you figure out why just as 'Za points out as gently as possible that people usually don't cry when they're fine. Belle gasps when she realizes too, jogging up to the two of them. "Siffrin!"

"Sorry," Frin says, like a dummy, because it's not like they made anyone else cry. "Sorry. I'm being--selfish--I should be smiling--everyone's going home--that's great! That's--" He tries to force a smile again, but it immediately twists and breaks just like the other bridge, and he pulls back from 'Za, grabbing at his head. "It's fine! It's fine! I always knew we were going to say goodbye! So--"

"We're not saying goodbye yet!" you shout, running up to him. "Frin! FRIN! We're going to Bambouche!"

They stare at you, their eye wide as they breathe in and out. "...Huh?"

"Everyone else said they're going to take me to Bambouche, but they also said we had to wait until everyone else left," you explain, looking over your shoulder at the others. "And that's 'cause no one wants to say goodbye yet, right?!"

"Well, yeah, but..." Za looks at Belle and 'Dile, embarrassed. "Uhm. I know I said that. But it sounds like..."

"...It sounds like we also said that, because we did, didn't we?" 'Dile says. "Mirabelle? I assume you're included in 'everyone else'?"

Belle makes a very embarrassed noise as she covers her face. "I didn't want to assume anything! I didn't want... to be selfish and force you on another journey..."

"And you couldn't ask?" 'Dile says, but then she sighs. "I suppose I'm in no position to talk."

"Uh HUH," you say, turning back to Frin. "You don't have to say goodbye to them yet! Come with us to Bambouche!"

"...Do you. Do you actually want me to come with?" Frin asks, which is silly. Of course you do--you're telling them to come with, aren't you!

"Frin, if you don't come with us I will be super duper mad. ...Unless you have a good reason. Like. ...People missing you at home, I guess." That would be a good reason. That would be a reason for him to say goodbye, even when the thought of goodbye makes him cry. Because you would be sad to leave the others too, but if it was the only way to see Nille again, you'd do it.

Even though it's a good reason, Frin bursts into a laugh. Their eye also wells up with tears again, and 'Za looks so worried. "Sif, buddy, can you--do you want to try breathing? Like you usually do?"

"Hah, ha-ah, huh?" Frin gasps, and it's only when 'Za does a slow breath in and out that Frin seems to remember the thing they do to calm down. They breathe in. They breathe out. In, and out. They set the bag slung over their shoulder down on the ground. ...Why do they have a bag?

"Were you planning to leave tonight?" 'Dile asks incredulously. Frin hunches in on himself.

"I didn't--I didn't want to ruin the celebration--"

"We're only able to celebrate because you helped us, Siffrin! You really think we'd want to party with you upset like this?" Belle shakes her head. Her hands are twisting each other, one picking at a nail on the other without her realizing. "What did Euphrasie even say to you?"

Frin pulls his hat brim down against his face. "She--she didn't say anything mean. She just told me the truth."

"The truth? About what?"

When Frin shrinks back even more, 'Za steps in. "Hey, hey. We all want to go to Bambouche together, right?" You nod, and Belle and 'Dile agree, and then 'Za leans over to get where Frin can see him. "Sif?"

"Yeah. If...Bonnie wants me, then...of course I want to go."

Of course I want to go. Is it really that simple? Even when Frin's upset, they don't hesitate to stay with you?

"Okay. Then...why don't we sleep in the clocktower one more night? I'll run back over real quick, tell them we're tuckered out from everything today and they can keep partying without us. And then...maybe we should have a little feelings talk in the morning," 'Za says, and the way he's looking at Belle is pleading for help because. Yeah. Whatever got Frin this upset is bad. "But we can start heading for Bambouche tomorrow."

"You can meet Nille!" you tell Frin. "And I can show you the cool places in town!"

Frin takes another deep breath in and out. He still looks shaky, but he's got a small smile. "That sounds great, Bonbon."

-

as for what euphrasie said, it goes back to this, just with a nicer ending (in terms of Euphrasie realizes OH SNAP sooner and someone finds Sif in time to keep him from leaving).

[republicsecurity]

Collar laws

"the collar turns an unpredictable subject into a data‑rich, safely restrained source of testimony—without the bruises, broken wrists, or civil‑rights challenges that handcuffs and arm‑bars invite. Use the tech; keep the process clean."

Why keep the collar on during interviews?

AV4I5: Three key advantages:

Silent‑Gate: Switch the collar to Blue‑Interview preset and the laryngeal filters drop ambient volume to 50 dB while allowing normal‑tone speech. You get a calm suspect who physically can’t ramp to shouting or spit abuse at you or the recorder.

Stress Telemetry: The Bio‑Vitals array overlays real‑time stress curves in your HUD. Micro‑tremor in the sternocleidomastoid, pulse variability—tells you when a question lands hot before you hear the lie.

Postural Guide: The collar’s micro‑servos nudge posture toward upright, open‑shoulder alignment; that keeps airways clear and prevents the classic “slouch and mumble” dodge. Interview audio stays clean for evidentiary playback.

SX12B: So it’s a built‑in polygraph and posture coach. Legal likes that?

AV4I5: Legal loves anything that shrinks “coercion” complaints. The collar maintains constant biometric logging—every muscle micro‑spasm time‑stamped. Defence counsel can request the packet; if we kept force at Compliance‑Safe, the data works in our favour.

ZQ77C: What’s the statutory backing? I mean—neck restraint in an interview room sounds headline‑ugly.

AV4I5: Two pillars:

Republic Security Act § 74‑J (“Non‑Lethal Custodial Aids”) grants Enforcer units the right to apply biometric control devices post‑arrest for “situational safety and evidentiary clarity.”

High Court ruling RSC v. Armitage, 08‑12‑18, which held that the collar is functionally analogous to handcuffs plus medical telemetry— therefore not a “novel search.”

Key clause: so long as the subject retains the ability to breathe, answer questions, and request counsel, the restraint is constitutional.

Internal policy OPS‑9.2 requires a Comms Recording Notification: you must state on tape, “Interview conducted under Compliance‑Safe collar control, serial X‑‑‑.” Once you say that, chain‑of‑custody is airtight.

Republic Security Code §31‑B & §31‑C (Custodial Technology)

31‑B, Sub‑para 4 authorises “adaptive restraint devices” for any detainee classified Risk Tier C or higher, provided the device logs biometric data and all activation events.

31‑C, Sub‑para 2 permits “real‑time physiological monitoring for the dual purpose of detainee safety and investigative integrity.”

Collar firmware is certified under Forensic Chain‑of‑Custody Standard FSC‑12: every mode change, impulse, or dampening adjustment is time‑stamped and cryptographically signed—admissible as evidence and immune to tamper challenges.

Judicial Precedent

State v. Marentis (RSC‑App. 608‑24) upheld collar‑logged stress spikes as corroborating evidence of conscious deception.

People v. Rhodan (608‑67) ruled that a brief bio‑vitals clamp to prevent self‑harm during interrogation was “medically prudent and constitutionally proportional.”

UK90F: Any interview‑only tricks we should know?

AV4I5:

Pulse Settle: Tap Vitals → CalmBurst. Collar emits a 400 Hz vibro‑pulse at C‑2 vertebra; average BPM drops ~12 in ten seconds. Handy before the “tell‑me‑again” loop.

Cheat Lock: If subject tries a table flip, accelerate to Red‑Stun‑Hold—800 ms, enough to freeze them mid‑lunge without cracking skulls. De‑escalate back to Blue once they’re seated. The log shows a justified spike, court nods.

Whisper Gate: Drop the voice gate to 25 dB; suspect can barely whisper, recorder still hears everything via collar mic. Keeps adjoining rooms blissfully ignorant.

SX12B: What about overreach? Any hard “don’ts”?

AV4I5: Absolutely. Policy flags:

No Respiratory Clamp longer than 2 s in interview setting.

No Neuromotor Inversion—that technique’s still restricted to Crowd‑Control Cert.

Remove or power‑down the unit immediately if counsel requests a private consultation; attorney‑client privilege overrides telemetry.

"Break those and OPS‑Internal Affairs will fry your career medium‑rare."

[girlboss-enthusiast]

Please tell us how to get into IT without a degree! I have an interview for a small tech company this week and I’m going in as admin but as things expand I can bootstrap into a better role and I’d really appreciate knowing what skills are likely to be crucial for making that pivot.

Absolutely!! You'd be in a great position to switch to IT, since as an admin, you'd already have some familiarity with the systems and with the workplace in general. Moving between roles is easier in a smaller workplace, too.

So, this is a semi-brief guide to getting an entry-level position, for someone with zero IT experience. That position is almost always going to be help desk. You've probably heard a lot of shit about help desk, but I've always enjoyed it.

So, here we go! How to get into IT for beginners!

The most important thing on your resume will be

✨~🌟Certifications!!🌟~✨

Studying for certs can teach you a lot, especially if you're entirely new to the field. But they're also really important for getting interviews. Lots of jobs will require a cert or degree, and even if you have 5 years of experience doing exactly what the job description is, without one of those the ATS will shunt your resume into a black hole and neither HR or the IT manager will see it.

First, I recommend getting the CompTIA A+. This will teach you the basics of how the parts of a computer work together - hardware, software, how networking works, how operating systems work, troubleshooting skills, etc. If you don't have a specific area of IT you're interested in, this is REQUIRED. Even if you do, I suggest you get this cert just to get your foot in the door.

I recommend the CompTIA certs in general. They'll give you a good baseline and look good on your resume. I only got the A+ and the Network+, so can't speak for the other exams, but they weren't too tough.

If you're more into development or cybersecurity, check out these roadmaps. You'll still benefit from working help desk while pursuing one of those career paths.

The next most important thing is

🔥🔥Customer service & soft skills🔥🔥

Sorry about that.

I was hired for my first ever IT role on the strength of my interview. I definitely wasn't the only candidate with an A+, but I was the only one who knew how to handle customers (aka end-users). Which is, basically, be polite, make the end-user feel listened to, and don't make them feel stupid. It is ASTOUNDING how many IT people can't do that. I've worked with so many IT people who couldn't hide their scorn or impatience when dealing with non-tech-savvy coworkers.

Please note that you don't need to be a social butterfly or even that socially adept. I'm autistic and learned all my social skills by rote (I literally have flowcharts for social interactions), and I was still exceptional by IT standards.

Third thing, which is more for you than for your resume (although it helps):

🎇Do your own projects🎇

This is both the most and least important thing you can do for your IT career. Least important because this will have the smallest impact on your resume. Most important because this will help you learn (and figure out if IT is actually what you want to do).

The certs and interview might get you a job, but when it comes to doing your job well, hands-on experience is absolutely essential. Here are a few ideas for the complete beginner. Resources linked at the bottom.

Start using the command line. This is called Terminal on Mac and Linux. Use it for things as simple as navigating through file directories, opening apps, testing your connection, that kind of thing. The goal is to get used to using the command line, because you will use it professionally.

Build your own PC. This may sound really intimidating, but I swear it's easy! This is going to be cheaper than buying a prebuilt tower or gaming PC, and you'll learn a ton in the bargain.

Repair old PCs. If you don't want to or can't afford to build your own PC, look for cheap computers on Craiglist, secondhand stores, or elsewhere. I know a lot of universities will sell old technology for cheap. Try to buy a few and make a functioning computer out of parts, or just get one so you can feel comfortable working in the guts of a PC.

Learn Powershell or shell scripting. If you're comfortable with the command line already or just want to jump in the deep end, use scripts to automate tasks on your PC. I found this harder to do for myself than for work, because I mostly use my computer for web browsing. However, there are tons of projects out there for you to try!

Play around with a Raspberry Pi. These are mini-computers ranging from $15-$150+ and are great to experiment with. I've made a media server and a Pi hole (network-wide ad blocking) which were both fun and not too tough. If you're into torrenting, try making a seedbox!

Install Linux on your primary computer. I know, I know - I'm one of those people. But seriously, nothing will teach you more quickly than having to compile drivers through the command line so your Bluetooth headphones will work. Warning: this gets really annoying if you just want your computer to work. Dual-booting is advised.

If this sounds intimidating, that's totally normal. It is intimidating! You're going to have to do a ton of troubleshooting and things will almost never work properly on your first few projects. That is part of the fun!

Resources

Resources I've tried and liked are marked with an asterisk*

Professor Messor's Free A+ Training Course*

PC Building Simulator 2 (video game)

How to build a PC (video)

PC Part Picker (website)*

CompTIA A+ courses on Udemy

50 Basic Windows Commands with Examples*

Mac Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet

Powershell in a Month of Lunches (video series)

Getting Started with Linux (tutorial)* Note: this site is my favorite Linux resource, I highly recommend it.

Getting Started with Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi Projects for Beginners

/r/ITCareerQuestions*

Ask A Manager (advice blog on workplace etiquette and more)*

Reddit is helpful for tech questions in general. I have some other resources that involve sailing the seas; feel free to DM me or send an ask I can answer privately.

Tips

DO NOT work at an MSP. That stands for Managed Service Provider, and it's basically an IT department which companies contract to provide tech services. I recommend staying away from them. It's way better to work in an IT department where the end users are your coworkers, not your customers.

DO NOT trust remote entry-level IT jobs. At entry level, part of your job is schlepping around hardware and fixing PCs. A fully-remote position will almost definitely be a call center.

DO write a cover letter. YMMV on this, but every employer I've had has mentioned my cover letter as a reason to hire me.

DO ask your employer to pay for your certs. This applies only to people who either plan to move into IT in the same company, or are already in IT but want more certs.

DO NOT work anywhere without at least one woman in the department. My litmus test is two women, actually, but YMMV. If there is no woman in the department in 2024, and the department is more than 5 people, there is a reason why no women work there.

DO have patience with yourself and keep an open mind! Maybe this is just me, but if I can't do something right the first time, or if I don't love it right away, I get very discouraged. Remember that making mistakes is part of the process, and that IT is a huge field which ranges from UX design to hardware repair. There are tons of directions to go once you've got a little experience!

Disclaimer: this is based on my experience in my area of the US. Things may be different elsewhere, esp. outside of the US.

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have more questions!

[rayspookyhistory]

✧༺┆✦The Matriarchal Societies✦┆༻✩

Matriarchal societies, where women occupy primary power roles in political, social, and economic realms, have existed across various cultures and historical periods. Distinguished by matrilineal descent, communal decision-making, and significant female authority, these societies present alternative models of social organization.

Characteristics of Matriarchal Societies

Matrilineal Descent

A hallmark of matriarchal societies is matrilineal descent. Family lineage, property, and titles are inherited through the mother’s line, ensuring continuity and stability as women control familial and economic resources. Matriarchs play central roles in family organization, often making key decisions about marriage, property distribution, and household management.

Political Authority

Women in matriarchal societies frequently hold significant political positions such as chiefs, queen mothers, or council leaders. Their leadership is active and involves governance and decision-making. Community councils, typically composed of elder women, guide community policies and resolve disputes, ensuring that women's perspectives are central to governance.

Economic Control

Women typically control property and land, managing and passing them down to their daughters. This economic power underpins their social authority and community status. They oversee the allocation of resources within the community, ensuring equitable distribution and the well-being of all members.

Cultural and Spiritual Roles

Women often serve as spiritual leaders, shamans, or priestesses, conducting important rituals and ceremonies. As custodians of spiritual knowledge and cultural traditions, women preserve and transmit cultural heritage through storytelling, education, and ritual practices, maintaining the community's identity and values.

Historical and Contemporary Examples

The Hopi (Native Americans)

The Hopi people, residing in north-eastern Arizona, follow a matrilineal system where clan membership and inheritance pass through the female line. Women own the land and homes, and they play significant roles in agricultural activities. Female elders influence decision-making processes, particularly regarding community welfare and cultural traditions.

The Ashanti (West Africa)

The Ashanti people of Ghana practice a matrilineal system in which lineage and inheritance pass through the mother's line. The Queen Mother holds significant political influence, including the authority to select the Asantehene (king). Women are key figures in trade and local markets, controlling the distribution of goods and resources.

The Baganda (Uganda)

In Buganda, a kingdom within Uganda, women hold crucial roles in the matrilineal descent system. The Namasole (queen mother) has substantial political influence and advises the Kabaka (king). Women manage household economies, control land inheritance, and are active in agricultural production, ensuring the community's sustenance.

The Mosuo (China)

Located near Lugu Lake in the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, the Mosuo people practice a unique form of matrilineal descent. Extended families live in large households managed by the matriarch. The Mosuo have "walking marriages," where men visit their partners at night and return to their maternal homes in the morning. Children remain with their mothers, and maternal uncles play significant roles in their upbringing. Women control the household economy, manage agricultural activities, and are involved in local trade and tourism.

The Khasi (India)

The Khasi people of Meghalaya in north-eastern India follow a matrilineal system where property and family names are inherited through the female line. The youngest daughter, known as the "Ka Khadduh," inherits the ancestral property and is responsible for taking care of the elderly parents. Khasi women play central roles in household management, local commerce, and cultural rituals.

The Igbo (Nigeria)

Among the Igbo people of Nigeria, certain communities practice matrilineal descent, particularly in the inheritance of property and titles. Women are influential in trade and local markets, actively participating in community decision-making processes. Female-led organizations and associations play crucial roles in maintaining social order and cultural traditions.

The Minangkabau (Indonesia)

The Minangkabau, located in West Sumatra, are the world's largest matrilineal society. Property and family names are inherited through women. Women manage the household and family inheritance, while men handle external political relations. The role of "Bundo Kanduang" (the revered mother) symbolizes female authority and wisdom. Women play central roles in cultural ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals, reinforcing their social status and authority.

The Tuareg (Sahara Desert)

The Tuareg people, living in the Sahara Desert across Mali, Niger, Algeria, and Libya, practice matrilineal descent. Property and family tents are inherited through the female line. Women have significant autonomy and can initiate divorce. They control family wealth and manage household affairs. Women are custodians of the family's history and traditions, passing down cultural knowledge through oral traditions and music.

The Trobriand Islanders (Papua New Guinea)

The Trobriand Islanders of Papua New Guinea follow a matrilineal system where lineage and inheritance are passed through the mother’s line. Women control the distribution of yam, a staple crop that signifies wealth and social status. Female leaders, known as "dauk," play essential roles in community decision-making and cultural rituals.

The Iroquois Confederacy (North America)

The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) society, located in the north-eastern United States, is matrilineal, with clans led by elder women known as Clan Mothers. Clan Mothers have the authority to nominate and depose male leaders (sachems). They play a vital role in maintaining the Great Law of Peace, which governs the confederacy. Women are central to agricultural practices, growing the "Three Sisters" crops (corn, beans, and squash), which are crucial to the community's sustenance.

Modern Implications and Interpretations

Matriarchal societies offer models of gender equality and demonstrate that societies can thrive with women in central roles. These societies challenge the notion that patriarchal structures are necessary for social stability. The emphasis on matrilineal descent and female authority helps preserve cultural traditions, ensuring the continuity of community identity. Women's control over resources often leads to more sustainable and equitable economic practices, benefiting the community as a whole.

Challenges and Misconceptions

Common misconceptions suggest that matriarchal societies simply reverse the power dynamics of patriarchy, with women dominating men. However, these societies often emphasize balance, cooperation, and mutual respect between genders. Patriarchal societies may resist the idea of matriarchy, viewing it as a threat to established power structures, leading to the marginalization and misrepresentation of matriarchal communities.

Matriarchal societies provide valuable insights into alternative social structures where women hold central roles in political, social, and economic spheres. These societies demonstrate the viability of matrilineal and matriarchal systems, offering models for more balanced and equitable gender dynamics. Understanding these societies broadens perspectives on power distribution, gender roles, and cultural practices, challenging the dominance of patriarchal paradigms in historical and contemporary contexts. They highlight the potential for diverse forms of social organization that prioritize cooperation, sustainability, and equality.

[cryptids-clearing]

so, got some news on the wards stopping us from switching, good progress still but has to be slowed down, cause a ton of shitty stuff will happen if it's fucked up

but the prognosis for the whole switching thing is, it may happen in a months time (which is before my leaving cert, so I can just throw that one someone else \(^v^) /)

that and I am 90% sure when the wards are down I'll be immidatly yoink into the IW, so freedom is a while away, but not an eternity

still gonna be practising switching as if we could, so I don't loose that ability at least

(and I don't want to waste the 20+ guide I've read)

[blackcrowing]

Ogam Divination Meanings from a Linguistic Perspective

I want to prefix this guide by saying that I take a very different approach to ogam than many other practitioners do. I approach them from a linguistic perspective and gather context from the cultural perspective.

So if you are familiar with other divination meanings for the ogam these meanings may feel VERY different from the ones you've seen. That being said if you have questions about how I came to the meaning I did, please feel free to ask and I will explain the ogam in question to the best of my ability.

I align the aicme ('families') with the four fire festivals. This is my personal method, it is not based on any specific historical or linguistic data but it helps me bring more context to each feda.

Imbolg

beithe

strongly associated with protection

a warning to guard what is dear

a call to heal/healing

sense/essence of protection

luis

that from which healing comes

that which sustains ones way of life/community

the act of healing (gently)

fearn

fighting to protect

the first line of defence

fighting for the community

sustaining peace

sail

Otherworld protectors/ancestors

messages from the Otherworld

Otherworld gift

Reciprocal relationship with the Otherworld

nin

binders of the community

the bringing of peace (possibly through action/reprimand)

a wave can be gentle and soothing, but a wave can also be wild and sweep you your death, it is uncaring in these endeavors simply following its nature

especially emphasizing women

Bealtane

úath

point of life transition (male coming of age)

related to the unmarried male war bands

warrior skill building or related to warrior skills (cattle raiding, skirmishes, hunting, soldiering)

dair

the greatest knowledge

knowledge over the ways of life and death (druids)

both the skilled and that which is shaped by skill (think something along the lines of every master of a skill had to be shaped into a master by others)

tinne

seems to be related to a festival (possibly one lost to time, or a more general kind of festival like a market day)

a coming together

trade; commerce; dealings

items made by skilled craftsmen

coll

inspiration (imbas)

poetic knowledge

creation/creativity

cert

Ruler

power of the Otherworld

fír flathhemon

Lughnasadh

muin

the duty to strike down

righteous attack

beheading (related to head cult)

gort

lands that feed

‘home’

the place of providing

place of the ancestors?

gétal

opening wounds

for healing or valor

act of healing (difficult, painful, traumatic)

straif

secrets, mystery

seeking visions and dreams

possibly related to something ceremonial

ruis

extreme emotion (negative or positive, even a mix)

related to activities with others

Samhain

ailm

beginning

the first action/first to answer the call

naming/creating/birth

onn

patrolling what is yours

movement through what is familiar

movement over great distance

úr

ancestors/decedents

family (in the broad sense)/ community

ancestor burials

edad

bond of friendship

host/guest relationship

oath

idad

the eternal

that which always is

movement through time (maybe history, but also possibly the future)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Object permanence

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me in DOYLESTOWN TOMORROW (Mar 1), and in BALTIMORE on SUNDAY (Mar 2). More tour dates here. Mail-order signed copies from LA's Diesel Books.

#20yrsago KGB Guide to London released by MI5 https://web.archive.org/web/20050303022107/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/releases/2005/highlights_march/march1/default.htm

#20yrsago Euro software patents reanimated through corrupt officials 0wned by Microsoft https://yro.slashdot.org/story/05/02/28/2223232/eu-commission-declines-patent-debate-restart

#20yrsago Deluded Sony music exec can’t read his own study https://constitutionalcode.blogspot.com/2005/02/us-market-not-antagonistic-towards-drm.html

#20yrsago Greedy DRM vendors want more in royalties than the total market for digital music https://web.archive.org/web/20050912194259/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2005-02-25-drm-infighting_x.htm?POE=click-refer

#10yrsago Ad-hoc museums of a failing utopia: photos of Soviet shop-windows https://memex.craphound.com/2015/02/28/ad-hoc-museums-of-a-failing-utopia-photos-of-soviet-shop-windows/

#10yrsago Your voice-to-text speech is recorded and sent to strangers https://www.vice.com/en/article/strangers-on-the-internet-are-listening-to-peoples-phone-voice-commands/

#5yrsago How to lie with (coronavirus) maps https://pluralistic.net/2020/02/28/pluralistic-your-daily-link-dose-28-feb-2020/#cartonerd

#5yrsago Let's Encrypt issues its billionth cert https://pluralistic.net/2020/02/28/pluralistic-your-daily-link-dose-28-feb-2020/#letsencrypt

#5yrsago Clearview AI's customer database leaks https://pluralistic.net/2020/02/28/pluralistic-your-daily-link-dose-28-feb-2020/#petard

#1yrago When private equity destroys your hospital https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/28/5000-bats/#charnel-house

[steveinscarlet]

I tried to scan the main ol' crazy eyes Joe picture but he was too big to properly fit in the scanner so this is the best I could do

Text below the cut

BRINGING UP BABY

Joe Elliott doesn't want children - he's got enough on his hands nursing a billion dollar baby called Def Leppard. Mat Snow hears why arguably the world's most successful rock 'n' roll band can still stroll down the street without being recognised. Pictures by Peter Anderson

BY THE time you read this, you'll know something that was on the cards a couple of weeks ago but by no means a dead cert.

That is whether the British Phonographic Institute, in all its majesty and wisdom, opened an envelope at the black tie, gala dinner and announced that the award for Rockin' Pneumonia, Boogie-Woogie Flu And All-Round Fabness goes not to Brother Beyond, Yazz, nor even Bros, but to a bunch of blokes who won't see 25 again and who play guitars, drums and stuff often quite loud.

Yes, you will know now what Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and I didn't know then whether there will be a BPI BRITS Award for Best British Band decorating his parents' mantelpiece.

"Def Leppard winning anything is hilarious," he chuckles. "It's nice to be nominated, but we're never going to win anything. We're a stick-in-the- mud heavy metal band - Long 'air and jeans: we can't vote for them, can we?"

JOE ELLIOTT is in mellow mood. After nearly three months off, following the highly lucrative but tiring 14-month Hysteria tour, he at last has time to chew the fat back home in a beautiful bay just outside Dublin, where he is spending his 'year out' of the UK for tax reasons.

Unlike the other four Leps, who get itchy after only three weeks off the road, Joe needs the time to lounge around, catch up with his listening and watch a few videos.

"I've been revelling in the fact that I've been able to get a sore throat and it doesn't matter!"

A week in the sun apart, Joe has not been neglecting his career as the mouthpiece of arguably the most commercially successful rock 'n' roll band in the world today.

There will be rehearsals for the new album. (Robert 'Mutt' Lange, the so-called 'sixth Lep', will not be producing). Hopes are high that it might be in the shops sooner than 1991, given that their two previous albums, 'Pyromania' and 'Hysteria', have been beaten only by Michael Jackson in terms of how long we've had to wait between releases - and how many copies we've gone out and bought. But, right now, Joe has the luxury of reflecting on his place in the scheme of things.

It seems that what he ultimately craves is to be recognised as one of the true rock greats, on a par with the people who turned him on in the first place, back when he was a soccer- crazy, only child growing up in Sheffield, when he was a bored youth maintaining stocks of grinding wheels and oil rags for Osborne Mushet Tools.

Back then, people like Alice Cooper, Jethro Tull, T Rex and, especially, Mott The Hoople kept him sane. Def Leppard's record company, Phonogram, have signed Ian Hunter and it's the best news Joe's had all year.

His list of heroes includes just about everybody who made a raucous noise in the '70s his years of yearning to escape the humdrum world of work and home. That need is still Joe's guiding force so he won't be taking a cue from his friend Jon Bon Jovi's 'New Jersey' and calling his next album 'South Yorkshire'. "Can you imagine it?" he guffaws.

"Ian Hunter summed it up brilliantly in his book Diary Of A Rock 'N' Roll Star - 'I left my heart in Watford?' How can you sing about Scunthorpe or Huddersfield?

"Let's face it, everybody would say, Fair play for doing it - but they'd laugh at it whether they were fans, journalists or friends. I remember when Saxon had this song called 'Northern Lady', and it just stank. Leave it out! Jesus Christ! Flat caps and Yorkshire pudding is the impression people get, even though we all know it's not like that. "They don't all keep pigeons, which is what a lot of people south of Nottingham seem to think. There's no romance, no beaches in Sheffield. A car chase in San Francisco is always going to look better than one through Hackney. But then they could never have Sherlock Holmes in America. It's a different world.

"I'd sooner go for the British approach, which is totally ambiguous: it doesn't say anything, it doesn't mean anything," Joe goes on. "I can't even describe what half the bloody songs are about; they just sound alright. You are what you listen to. You explain what T Rex's lyrics are about. If you can figure his out, then you can figure mine out. 'Hub-cap diamond star halo' means more to me than 'I went down to the river', I'm afraid. People can relate to that Springsteeny thing but, to me, T Rex made your imagination work harder.

"If I wrote from experience, I don't think it would sound very good me singing about the last five-a-side soccer game I had.

"Whenever I sing about women, it's always invented," says Joe, rebutting the charge of sexism which, in fact, I hadn't levelled at him.

"Who's to say that the honkytonk woman ever existed? It could have been a complete figment of Jagger's imagination. I used to write from personal experience don't think I never have.

"On the second album, we wrote about all sorts of stories; Steve (Clark) once hijacked a taxi in Paris and tried to write a song about it. But it just sounded like a piece of shit, so we scrapped it, rewrote the lyrics, made them up, and it was a lot better."

SO, IF not 'South Yorkshire', S perhaps 'Catatonia'? 'Schizophrenia' (a double- album)? Or (Bob Geldof's suggestion) 'Paranoia'? Another psychological disorder, surely?

"Probably," reckons Joe. "It was a complete coincidence, the last two. 'Hysteria' was an idea Rick (Allen) came up with. It was after all the stuff with his accident. The first time we ever seriously experienced it was on the '83 tour, and it got pretty close to it two days after his accident - the reception area of the hospital was teeming with newspaper reporters and kids. And, because we weren't all that popular in England at the time, it made it appear more massive. Rick was on the front page of the Daily Star - and there were all these journalists, like Rick was The Queen or lan Botham. We had to be snuck in through the f***in' laundry chute to go and see him! "I always imagine that Fish - and I'm not knocking the guy - has everything worked out in advance: This is the album title, here's the sleeve - now let's go write the music. The last thing we have is the album title; we panic so much. "Hysteria' was going to be called 'Animal Instincts' at one stage: then we thought that sounded really stupid. We had the sleeve ready, so that was four grand down the drain. It just wasn't right - so we used it for the book instead."

Having repeated, even exceeded, the success of the hard-to-match 'Pyromania' album with 'Hysteria', Joe has found that the way to cope with sky-high expectations is to ignore them.

"I have no doubts about the next album," he declares. "I'm not 100 per cent sure that it'll be as big as the last one, though it may be a better record. Much of it is down to timing. I don't believe success should be based on sales. But everywhere you look it's figures, figures, figures.

"Success should be judged on the sound of the bloody thing. I'm not worried about it. We'll make a record and put it out, and it'll do whatever it does."

What about the live act? "We've had a few approaches from the States to go back and do some shows this summer. Believe it or not, 'Hysteria"s gone back up in America the album's doing better now than when we were out there. It's been 'Top Five in three different years - '87, 88 and now '89.

"Anyway, I was talking to Adam Clayton about it the other day, and he said, You've got to be careful because where do you go from stadiums? What do you do go back to clubs? "That's why we have managers. We have opinions, but we don't have our finger on the pulse like they do. We're too busy trying to sing in tune, play the songs and look cool like a pop band is supposed to do and still keep an eye open so you don't get ripped off. But you can't be a master of all trades.

"When does a spectacle become untoppable? It doesn't. You do a gig on the moon and put the PA on Pluto... Satellite gigs? Hologram gigs? Put the audience in the middle and us outside!"

ON TOUR, the Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses and Love And Rockets albums never left cassette deck. Back home, the Irish magazine Fresh has asked Joe for a fan's-eye view of the new releases.

"I played the Lou Reed album ten times and, in my opinion, it ain't 'Transformer', it ain't 'Sally Can't Dance', it's not 'Coney Island Baby' and it's definitely not 'Berlin'. Every song's about f***ing New York! All about some guy with needles in his arms! "But I grew up with 'Transformer', which came out when I was 12. And 'Berlin' was really depressing but great to listen to in the bath. The new one sounds like demos, which has a sort of charm, but some of it's a bit weird. That song, 'Last Great American Whale' I can't make my mind up whether it's a piece of shit or it's genius. He just talks it he makes Mark Knopfler sound like the guy out of Foreigner. Very strange."

Fine Young Cannibals' "The Raw And The Cooked' gets short shrift from Joe: "I'll never forgive them for slaughtering the Buzzcocks". As for Blondie's remix album, 'Once More Into The Bleach', it's "awful".

The new Supremes compilation is another matter: "F***ing brilliant," Joe raves. "To hear 'Nathan Jones' the way I remember it, not the way f***ing Bananarama slaughtered it. I got my first snog to that song, under the stairs at the Top Rank in Sheffield in 1971, Saturday morning youth club."

Joe advises me to check out The Hooters and The Quireboys; I recommend The Replacements - right up his street. But Joe (29) is of an age to get his real kicks from the stars of yesteryear.

"I've met Jagger at the studio. He was great he kept stealing our f***ing newspapers! Have you got the Daily Mirror? I want to do the crossword.

"Robert Plant came to see us in Chicago. He was great. When we played in the round we used to go on in laundry baskets. His tour manager bet him ten dollars he wouldn't push one out. So he put a hat on, pair of shades, stuffed his tour jacket full of jumpers to make him look fat, and pushed it out to the middle of the stage, right through the audience! "It's funny because he's a Leo as well, and Jagger. All frontmen are Leos," Joe muses. "Those detailed analyses of your star sign tell you things you often don't like to hear. 'Capable of being childish' - I suppose I am. 'Always has to be the centre of attention' well, when it suits me. "Sometimes I just like to bury myself, but that's what my gig is, that's what everybody wants: a big, loud, bloody... you know. "But Jagger's the best; he's got the lips of an elephant on the body of a dwarf. Brilliant. The ultimate frontmen are those you can caricature in cartoons - Jagger, Steve Tyler, Rod Stewart, Bowie, Townshend, Meat Loaf, Alice Cooper... You couldn't really draw me but it doesn't seem to have hindered our success.

"To be honest, once you're as big as we are and you don't have those sort of features, it's nice. I don't have to send the maid out to buy the News Of The World. I can walk down Oxford Street."

So what is the secret of Def Leppard's success?

"Most people in bands have got families, and maybe that's the reason we have the success we have: nobody's married or got kids," reasons Joe.

"I can't see Phil (Collen) starting a family when he hasn't even got a home. And I definitely have no desire to be a father.

"The only times I've ever thought about it have been provoked by TV documentaries like World In Action. I seriously think I would rather adopt an eight-year-old Brazilian kid and give it a real good start in life.

"There's enough kids without me bringing another one into the world. And to be quite honest, after my mumps I don't know if I can!

"I can miss out the nappy stage, which I'd detest. And I don't like the idea of a nanny bringing the kid up because you might as well not bother; you might as well buy one. "I don't want a kid; the band's too much of a bloody baby!"