#Customers Blockade

[alphamecha-mkii]

Customs Blockade by Mariusz Gandzel

[marzipanandminutiae]

New doll? New doll!

This is Aurelia, a porcelain BJD by Adollable Dolls out of South Africa. Her official artist name is Faylynn, but I wasn't a fan of that

She came in this lovely box:

With some extras:

Silver hair ornament with a little clip so she or I can wear it, and a box of Lindt truffles that unfortunately got squished in transit

She's a lovely doll overall; I've had some porcelain BJD disappointment in the past, so I was pleasantly surprised to open her and not feel that (two of the three I had previously owned ended up disappointing me). There are a few flies in the ointment, however.

The Good: gorgeous doll, good quality porcelain, very well done painting, little molded rings, posing is decent, spring jointed (which I prefer to elastic because it doesn't wear out), painted pubic hair- don't let unrealistic beauty standards get to you!, very soft and well constructed wig, pierced ears and earrings, nice packaging, came with a pretty stand that has a little silver feet

The Bad: weirdly small and narrow feet for the size and proportions of the doll; definitely cannot stand on her own, eyes are ever so slightly unfocused, artist sprayed a very strong perfume inside the box, does take a bit of finagling to pose even though she gets there in the end

(also I dropped one of her earrings on my carpet and now I can't find it, which is not the fault of the artist and has me kicking myself because they are very cute little gold leaves)

Overall, I would recommend this artist for the most part. Just be aware of the tiny feet thing, and maybe ask her if she can not spray perfume on the package if you have any kind of sensitivities or just generally don't want that

Welcome home, Aurelia!

[touchaheartnews]

Mob Vandalizes Telecom Office in Festac Town Amid SIM Blockade

On a scorching afternoon in Festac Town, Lagos, an uproarious scene unfolded at a major telecommunications office. The incident, now widely referred to as the “SIM Blockade,” involved a mob of frustrated locals who took their grievances to the streets, culminating in a significant act of vandalism against the telecom office. The root of this chaos was a recent policy change that left countless…

[long-live-astronerd-ghost-king]

DPXDC prompt: Friendly neighborhood forensic pathologist Danny Fenton is a new master of The Court of Owls? (Dead on main, of course) +Part 2: Talon Dick

Don’t underestimate what a ghost will do for a higher education. You see, it's the custom of the Fenton family not to run away from things they are afraid of but to face their fear. So Danny Fenton, who has learned to fear scalpels, steel clamps and surgical retractors, decides to do something about it and to dedicate his life to giving souls of those who died a violent death the final rest and justice they deserve.

Well, it didn’t really come to him at once. It started out as a simple joke:

Danny didn’t think he could continue his education after school. Frankly, his grades suck. However, Tucker for fun applied for a scholarship for gifted villains from Gotham University on his behalf.

And hell, they are willing to pay money for his education. Pay in full! Living in Park Row is also incredibly cheap. And with his flying ability, he’ll also save on transportation.

Danny is not a villain. And he’s not planning on becoming one. But he couldn’t lose that chance.

Why do you deserve this scholarship? “My parents are renowned ecto scientists, and I’ve seen their dissection work at its best. Medical school is expensive, and this scholarship will help me accomplish my goal of becoming a forensic pathologist and helping maintain the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead…or use it for my own ends. Of course.”

Well, Mr Two-Face was fully confident that despite his grades in the subjects, Danny was fully committed to achieving high academic achievement. Finally, work experience of Dan came in handy somewhere.

There were only few things about the death that Danny didn’t find on his own or from his ghost friends, so he managed to graduate in record time. Young Fenton thought he was lucky enough to get a job near Crime Alley. It was odd that the job was available. Even a new specialist like him was allowed to work full-time. And the salary was very decent.

~~~~~~

Danny: Yes, Jazz, everything is just fine. I found a great job and I’m trying to relax and find a hobby, you know. Started feeding the local birds. Apparently they were abused, the poor things are so shy and aggressive.

The local birds:

~~~~~~

Let’s say that a returned Jason as undead cannot be killed for forever. The stab wounds heal quickly, the bullet holes sometimes itch unpleasantly for a few days, but in general his regeneration is at a level with some metahumans. This is convenient. But when Red Hood wakes up in the morgue after a particularly severe injury, he’s not happy. Sometimes even looking in the mirror at his dissection scar is difficult for him. And this situation is a fucking nightmare. Danny: Oh. Are you awake now? I’m sorry I didn’t have time to put you on the couch, I didn’t have clean sheets and my assistant would have killed me because of the new stains. Red Hood: What the hell? I’m sorry?! It’s fucked up! I’d love to see you wake up on the dissection table. Danny: Been there Done that. But hey, I didn’t put you there. You didn’t get here on my shift, give me a break.

Jason: …So, what's now? Danny: Well, I can offer you tea or coffee. Of course, only after I sew up the hole in your stomach and give you a change of clothes. Or I could go after the documents and pretend I didn’t notice one of my bodies got away. But then don’t dream about novocaine blockade. Pretty liver by the way, you don’t see that much in crime lords. Jason: Um, thank you? But you’re weird. Usually people are praised for the beauty of the face or eyes rather than… Danny: Wow, now I feel attacked.You wake up in your helmet. I can’t compliment what I can’t see. Jason: Gee, I’m surprised your colleague hasn’t taken it off yet. Danny: And lose important evidence? It is not customary for us to put curiosity above professionalism.

~~~~~

Jason learns quickly that although Batman is willing to go anywhere to track him, there are always exceptions to the rule. The morgue was one of them. Not surprisingly, the emotional constipation and uncomfortable theme of Jason’s death worked like a perfect bat repeller. Over time, Jason becomes really interested in a guy who genuinely laughs at his death jokes and listens to his problems at work without judgment. Danny is too cute and nice.

Danny*works*: No visitors allowed here.

Jason: Unless you are a zombie, right?

Danny:...Still not one of your hideouts. The book is where you left it, make some tea if you want it.

~~~~~

Jason, once again delivered without a sign of life to Danny after the fight, woke up during pupillary reflex test.

Jason: Oh, beauty, you are just dazzling today.

Danny: As I thought, your regeneration didn’t cure your concussion before your resurrection. I’ll give you referrals for all the tests and examinations. And we really should stop seeing each other like this. Please take care of yourself.

Jason: I don’t think you have the right to prescribe them to me. Danny: Technically I do not. But we live in Gotham. And for some time the hospital where I work at night is very sensitive to my requests.

Red Hood: And why? Danny: It’s hard to explain… Red Hood: Doctor Handsome, I’ve been through some shit, so try to surprise me. Danny: Okay, okay. Look, you are a crime lord for not too long, right? But criminals and cops are afraid of you and kids and your henchmen really likes you. Jason: ..So what? Danny: Can you please recommend how to maintain a reputation but so your people aren’t afraid of you? Jason: Why do you need this information? Your assistant finally realized you’re friends with walking corpses? Danny: It’s not about that! Although, like.. you aren’t wrong? It’s complicated. I may, well, accidentally, honestly, have seized power over a local secret aristocratic criminal society.

Jason: Baby, please tell me everything. I have a restaurant as a front for a business nearby. It’s a date. Let's go. Danny: Let me finish a few stitches first, Jay.

~~~~~

Red Hood and Red Robin fight near Batman: Hood: Replacement was on patrol without permission! Red Robin: And Jason is dating the new owner of Court of Owls! Batman:.. he's doing WHAT? Jason, how could you take such a risk? it is completely unprofessional and Red Hood: At least he loves me for what’s inside me! Red Robin: Yeah, like a beautiful liver. It’s a great relationship base. Red Hood: I’m talking about my feelings and interests. Dumb lil stalker with a big mouth! I’ll teach you not to bother my boyfriend.

~~~~~

Henchman: Boss. We shouldn’t go into that area, the rumors are that there are Talons here. Red Hood: All under control, they won’t touch us. Henchman: How can you be sure? The poem says 'Beware The Court of Owls, that watches all the time, ruling Gotham from a shadow..' Red Hood: Yeah yeah "speak not a whispered word of them or they'll send The Talon for your head". I’m sleeping with their boss, of course I’m sure. Henchman: Boss, don’t kid like that. Red Hood: I don’t pay you for gossip. Let's go.

Dick, to whom the memories began to return, haunts Jason because he did not cut for Lil Wing apple slices like he likes for lunch: Talon came to finish the job. Henchmen: scream

~~~~~

Jason *shows Danny 'Red Flags' on youtube*: Hey, baby, want to be a little shit on our date? I know where Brucie Wayne’s having dinner tonight, so you can meet the family.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Could I request some platonic batboys comforting their bestie after the bestie has to break up with someone? Going through it rn </3

I got you! Fuck your ex partner if they were a dick to you, fuck them for breaking your heart and you will come out of this with a healed heart and a sense of self because you deserve everything and everything! I also added Bruce as a bonus.

Dick would have you come over to his house, saying that Hayley was ready to also help you heal pass this relationship, all the while putting the dog into your lap and encouraging you to cuddle the blue staffy because Hayley was there to provide extra comfort beside him.

Dick had been through relationships himself and would offer the most advice to you in your time of need the best out of all the boys, he understands how your feeling in the moment, as if your life was coming to an end but he would remind you that’s not the case and that you were just not use to being independent.

‘You might feel like you’re dying right now, but you won’t feel that for long.’ He says as he rests a hand on your shoulder. ‘you’ve just grown a custom to being with someone that being without them feels as though you can’t function but I’m here to tell you that you can. You were independent before and you’ll be independent again. So I wouldn’t fret about things that’ll soon become irrelevant.’ He adds as he presses you against his side, kissing your forehead like he always did when he needed to calm your racing mind.

‘Okay?’ He asks as he looks you in the eye, smiling. ‘We’ll take care of you won’t we Hayley?’ He then looks at his dog who had long fallen asleep on your lap, letting out a little snort as you both laughed at the cuteness of Hayley and the hilarity of the moment. Dick would make sure that you were getting out and would have you come on walks with him and Hayley, or just getting coffee together, anything he can do in order to help you realise that just because your relationship didn’t work out it didn’t mean that you have to give up being happy all tighter.

You can be happy on your own as you can be happy in a relationship, you’ve just gotta find the right people to be happy independent alongside with.

Jason would also solicit similar advice as Dick, seeing as he’s been in a few relationships himself, telling you that you might feel as though you’ve lost apart of yourself but in reality it was you hiding that part of yourself in fear of your true self being rejected.

‘Such isn’t what a relationship should be, you should see each other for your best and worst, not just one or the other and you should feel comfortable being yourself with them too.’ He says to you as he throws his arm over your shoulder as you both overlooked Gotham together becuase you couldn’t enjoy the stars with all the light pollution. ‘You’ll get back up on your feet sooner or later but for now eat your food before it goes cold.’ He then scolds as he gestures to the food he had made for you before dragging you to the rooftops for fresh air.

He wants the bash the idiots head in, but he knew you needed a shoulder to cry on right now and that’s what Jason will do, for you were in a vulnerable headspace and were prone to doing stupid stuff; and Jason felt it was his duty to make sure you took care of yourself properly and would do things that you didn’t or couldn’t do if the breakup hit your mental health hard.

Jason would make sure that you and your ex’s paths never cross as he acts as a blockade between you both, having much against the ex for being a uncaring bastard for hurting you while making sure your day went by undisturbed by anything or anyone. He’s looking out for you and most of your time is spent either in a bookstore or in his apartment, where you two would watch shitty reality television, before making predictions on who’ll get kicked out tomorrow nights episode.

Damian

‘Shall I end them for breaking your heart?’ He says as he puts a hand on your shoulder, obviously not use to being the one to comfort another, but with the help of Dick he hoped he was being at least somewhat comforting for you in your time of need.

You raise a hand to pat his hand on your shoulder, weakly chuckling at the seriousness of his tone, for while he might say it out of a need to bring you some assurance that he will be by your side. Damian wasn’t one to half ass his words and was most likely not joking about taking out your ex boyfriend for breaking your heart. ‘Thanks but no thanks dami.’

‘You’re better off without them. They were weak and couldn’t keep up with you, they were intimidated by your presence and how you easily prove yourself as a powerful individual who can look out for themselves and was scared of your power.’ Damian replies as he sits down next to you, setting aside his sword as he has Titus draped across your lap and Ace lounge next to your side, knowing how much you loved the dogs as much as he did.

And you know he’s not lying becuase Damian saw no point in lying to you, it’s ridiculous and serves no purpose whatsoever other then to guard another persons feelings, nope Damian says it as it is and needles to say he didn’t like your ex and now they’ve proved that feeling he had right by breaking your heart. While you said that he couldn’t kill him, Damian would oh most definitely stand outside their window menacingly without really trying.

However until he gets the opportunity to scare the shit out of your ex, he’s by your side with you throughout your healing journey as you realise that Damian wasn’t joking about you and your power. Your heart might break but it’s still beating and to Damian you alleys proven you were stronger then your ex ten times over. Hell you might even spar if you’ve got some anger to let out…Damian will use this as an excuse just to say;

‘Imagine their face and attack with everything you’ve got until there’s nothing left.’

Damian is an advocate for expressing how you fell in whatever form you can available to you, whether it’s through art, writing, music or otherwise just let it all out because how can you feel better when your repressing your emotions; thus hindering your own healing.

Tim has ice cream, your beloved fluffy blankets, your favourite show and or movie queued up on his computer with take out on the way the moment you had told him the news of your break up.

He doesn’t waste time and tells you to put on your most comfortable clothes because you were staying over the night to recover from a rather lacklustre relationship, away from someone who didn’t deserve you in the slightest, though this is very dependant on what relationship you had with your ex partner but the message remained the same with Tim: movie night with a side of gossip session where you shit talk about your ex partner and their glaring red flags now you were out of that mess.

Seriously by the end of the night you are no longer crying tears of sadness but tears of laughter every time Tim had something to say about your ex partner, easily roasting them into oblivion while your grasping at your stomach as it ached pleasantly, before joining in on the roasting yourself by giving him some insider information that his hacking skills could never give him.

Bruce ‘I’m rich’ Wayne who takes you out on shopping sprees to heal your heart by attempting to make a dent in his wallet.

After all what wouldn’t heal the heart faster than spending ridiculous amounts of money on comfort foods, items and clothing of various kinds.

Seriously this man will tell you to get the biggest, most expensive jellycat plushy the shop had, only to tell you to get like two more of similar sizes before gifting you his card and telling you to go nuts on what you want. That or he’d buy you it himself when he sees how hesitant you are with sending his money, quickly to pick up the things you side eye for too long or wince at the price tag of and buying it in bulk for you without hesitation.

He’s treating you to a expensive dinner afterwards with expensive drinks being brought to your table bottle by bottle along with good food, not that Bruce cared in the slightest as the night was far from over for the both of you, far from it as by the end of the night you would’ve completely forgotten about your ex when your rich friend spoils you rotten.

No friend of Bruce’s will cry over a broke loser, this man will remind you of your worth but in a less threading way like a certain son would, even if the encouragement was there in spirit.

[heritageposts]

I know you posted in the tags of a post that you ordered a Kufaya from Hirawbi. Have you gotten yours yet. For me it's going on a month and I know the website says that it can take up to a month but I'm concerned US customs confiscated it given everything with suppression of anything Palastinanian.

i'm not american so i can't really help you. last update from mine was that my order shipped on the 26th of october and is on its way to a warehouse in germany

We’re excited to inform you that, true to the Palestinian spirit of resilience, we’ve navigated through the challenges presented by the Israeli blockade between the cities of the West Bank. Your Kufiyas are now on their way to our warehouse in Germany. Due to a high volume of orders, our team will need some more days to sort and prepare shipments. We appreciate your continued patience.

yours might also be in a warehouse somewhere in europe. i understand your concern with US customs, but they're probably dealing with a record numbers of orders so i'd just be patient for now

and to anyone else reading this: please continue supporting palestinian stores like hirbawi! they're still taking pre-order for some of their kufiyas

[digitalsymbiote]

The Solar Sprint

You ever heard of the Cannonball Run? It was a thing back on earth, back before corpo wars. It was an unsanctioned race across a continent. Folks would trick out cars with extra fuel tanks, police scanners, the works, and just burn their way from one ocean to the other. Driving for something like a day straight, avoiding cops all the way, and only stopping to refuel. Kinda wild, don’t you think? A test of speed and stamina, seeing how hard you could really push your vehicle.

That’s what the Solar Sprint started out as, you know. First time someone ran it, the Jovian blockade was still up. They blew right past the military lines, their mech too fast for any of those combat frames to catch. It was big news at the time, everyone thought it was some secret R.O.M. tech built to break the blockade. Turned out it was just some wrench-head who wanted to see how fast they could get from Mercury to Neptune. The crazy fucker actually did it too, straight shot from the solar collection station on Mercury, all the way to the NDS Research outpost. The scientists there nearly shit themselves when the Runner went blasting past their observatory like that. Can’t imagine they saw any frames out there that weren’t clunky research models before then, especially with the blockade still up.

There’s still footage of the first sprint up on the Net if you look. Some cargo hauler caught footage of the Runner nearly side-swipping his freight ship between Earth and Venus. There was a leaked clip of them breaking the Jovian blockade too, but you might be hard pressed to find that one these days. runners sometimes carry hard copies though, so if you run into the right people you might be able to see it.

It became a whole thing, y’know? Kind of a fuck you to the corps, the wars, all of it. Building frames in a different way, not just for blowing each other up. Was a kind of creative revolution, an expression of freedom. Corps can’t keep us down, yeah? Something like a thousand runners tried it over the next couple years. Not all of em made it; some of em got caught by the blockade, some of em their frames couldn’t handle the trek. But enough of em made it that it started to become a real competition. Who could make the sprint in the fastest time? Folks posted on forums about crazy ideas they were coming up with for propellants, aerodynamics, you name it. Gearheads across the net had a brand new obsession to pour over.

Soon enough though, the corps caught on, realized it was easier to sanction the thing than to try and stop people from doing it. Enough cargo freighters crashed, enough blockades ran, it became more profitable to make an event out of the thing. The Sprint lost some of it’s luster after that. Speed frames plastered with sponsorships and built with corpo parts didn’t really capture the energy of the original run. The yearly Sprint is technically open to public teams, but any self respecting Runner isn’t gonna attempt it during sanctioned times. Kinda defeats the purpose of it all if they clear the shipping lanes and wait for optimal conditions, right?

Every once in a while though, you might spot somebodies custom frame sitting in orbit around the solar collection station. And who knows? They might be the next crazy wrench-head to break that record.

[zeke-fanfucs]

GUESS WHOS BACK TO REGULAR POSTING CAUSE I KIDNAPPED ANOTHER OC!!!!! Me bitch! @solzticesoulz thank you for letting me borrow her! I love her-

Edit: OOPS. I JUST WOKE UP SLRRRYY.

The Great Plush War of Springrock

Faithful, Wildfire, Kerano, Albus (Target Practice), and Devlin (Nervous)

⸻

Kerano had received many gifts in her life.

A bunny plush named Fluffle.

A warm scarf Faithful sewed by hand.

Many n ugly, half-stuffed plushies from Devlin.

But none—none—compared to what Wildfire handed her that dusty Springrock morning with a grin full of chaos:

“A slingshot,” she said, crouched down and offering it with both hands like she was bestowing an ancient weapon. “Custom made. Lightweight. Adjustable tension. And I even painted flames on it.”

Kerano’s eyes were huge.

Faithful stepped outside, saw what was happening, and said immediately:

“Absolutely not.”

“She’s got great aim!” Wildfire defended.

“She’s six.”

“She’s six with potential.”

Kerano was already loading a rock. “I shall defend our household.”

“From what?” Devlin asked nervously. “Dust?”

“From Albus,” Kerano said, very seriously.

⸻

Albus was asleep in the hammock, one leg dangling off, one hand behind his head, mouth open in the dumbest snore you’ve ever heard

The twin moons hadn’t even risen yet. It was peak nap hour. The man was at peace.

Which, naturally, meant he was in danger.

From behind a crate, Kerano took aim. Fluffle was tucked into her belt like a tactical assistant.

Wildfire whispered behind her like it was a heist: “Go for the knee. That’ll wake him up without permanent damage.”

Faithful: “Wildfire—”

TWANG. PAP.

“—ow what the f—”

Albus JOLTED upright, nearly flipped the hammock, and slapped his thigh like he’d been stung by a god.

He looked around, wide-eyed, hair a mess, and saw:

Kerano.

Holding the slingshot.

Wearing shades Wildfire gave her.

Smirking.

Albus blinked.

“…did you just shoot me?”

Kerano nodded. “Justice.”

⸻

Five minutes later:

Albus was chasing her around the yard yelling half-hearted threats.

“YOU LITTLE FERAL GREMLIN—”

“YOU CAN’T CATCH ME I HAVE VELOCITY!”

Faithful sat on the porch sipping tea, watching the chaos. “Should I intervene?”

Devlin, beside her, already had the first aid kit out. “No use. She’s too fast.”

Wildfire reclined in a chair like a proud aunt. “That’s my girl.”

Faithful gave her a sideways look. “You are never allowed to give her explosives.”

Wildfire winked. “You say that now…”

⸻

Albus had been planning his revenge for hours.

Not because he was petty (he was).

Not because he was mad a six-year-old shot him in the thigh (he was).

But because if he let it slide once, she’d do it again.

So naturally, when Kerano went to the backyard to train her plush army, Albus sneakily filled one kiddie pool with cold hose water and laid a plank across it. His grand plan? Lure her, make her fall in. Victory. Classic uncle tactics.

Except Wildfire watched him from the roof and went:

“Oh no, you beautiful dumbass. That’s her trap zone.”

⸻

Two minutes later:

“ALBUUUUUUUS!”

THUNK. SPLASH.

Wildfire peeked over the edge of the roof, giggling so hard she almost fell off. “OH GODS—SHE GOT YOU FIRST!”

Kerano popped out from behind a barrel with a colander on her head and Fluffle duct-taped to her shoulder like a war mascot.

“YOU HAVE TRESPASSED INTO PLUSH TERRITORY!” she screamed.

Albus was flailing in the kiddie pool, soaked and sputtering. “YOU SWITCHED THE PLANK?!”

“I MODIFIED IT. LIKE WILDFIRE TAUGHT ME.”

Wildfire looks always, like she totally didn’t sabotage him.

⸻

Meanwhile inside the house…

Devlin peeked around the hallway. “Is the kitchen… barricaded?”

There was a wall of chairs, couch cushions, stuffed animals, and what looked like the laundry basket filled with potatoes.

A sign was taped on top:

“NO GROWN-UPS. ONLY WAR GENERALS.”

Faithful stood there in silence.

A wooden spoon in her hand.

Dinner half-prepped on the counter behind the blockade.

Wildfire peeked in from the side. “It was supposed to be a harmless rebellion.”

“Did she steal the spices?”

“…Yes.”

Faithful exhaled. Long. Deep. Saintly.

Then she stepped over the blockade without breaking eye contact.

Kerano’s plush guards fell silently. One by one.

And then, there she was.

Small. Messy. Fluffle still taped to her shoulder.

A kitchen ladle in one hand. The paprika jar in the other.

She looked up. Saw the look.

The Mom Look™.

Not angry. Not sad.

Just—You know better. What are you doing?

Kerano cracked instantly.

She dropped the ladle.

“…Sorry, Mommy.”

She rushed forward and hugged Faithful’s leg, burying her face into her hip. “I was defending the kitchen from tyranny but now I’m really sorry and I think Fluffle betrayed me.”

Faithful sighed and rubbed her back. “Let’s take down the barricade and maybe you can help me make dinner?”

“Can I stir the pot?”

“Only if you don’t put in that much pepper again.”

“…deal.”

⸻

Later that night:

Albus was still dripping water in the corner.

Wildfire was trying not to laugh as she towel-dried his hair.

Devlin, sipping tea, quietly said, “You got outwitted by a six-year-old with a stuffed bunny.”

“I want custody of her plush army,” Albus muttered.

Faithful, at the stove, smirked.

“Too bad,” she said. “They’ve already sworn loyalty to Kerano.”

[czteryd]

My guide to Internet warfare and taking back control

By which I mean minimizing screen time and wasting your life on making Zuckerber rich. Scrolling Instagram doesn't seem to be dangerous, but there is probably nothing less hurtful than wasting time of milliards of people on things they don't care about. Using willpower to work on this is a lie — you will need real weapons, technologies and strategy.

^this is the lost future you are fighting for. Technology can be good.

Remember, that wars are rarely won in a week, I am in trenches since last summer when i ditched my phone, when i say "It takes time" i mean 5–10 months. It is still hard, but the improvement is amazing.

This is a list of things I have been doing for more than a year that improved my life. Ranked with ease (EAS) + effectiveness (EFF) from 1 to 10.

It is still not perfect, but this is a warzone and you will adapt and not be allowed to surrender, soldier!

Remove the smartphone – 5 eas + 15 eff

Sorry. This is a military grade weapon that milliards of dollars are put into to make you waste your time as easily as you can. You can move forward with your phone, but nothing is as effective in taking control back during your commutes, breaks, walks and free time etc. and it is a very important part of learning to deal with stress without mindless scrolling and games. There is no real phone hacks to help you. We and the enemy know that timers don't work. If you can enable all enemy weapons with one switch it is not enough.

You will need a dumbphone or a custom rom to use this technique and stay in society.

It is not as hard as it sounds, actually you don't need it that much. Check out #dumbphone or r/dumbphones for inspiration and support. Me and many of my friends who done it as well don't look back.

Buuut i can't – 9 eas + 5 eff

Yes you can. But if you insist, still, buy a dumbphone or find one in the drawers and put your sim card there; carry them both. Now you can use the Internet only when you have wifi, but you can use offline maps, listen to downloaded music and watch downloaded movies, read pdfs etc. Check your email, bank, messages, memes at work or at home. You will regain control over walks, commutes and socialising. But if you still have any social apps, at home or during breaks, you are still cooked. It is still a very good first step to moving away from phone dependence.

Smartphone substitutes

Email, socials, work, school – all will now be done on a pc or a laptop. This is good. It allows you to distance yourself from stress, tiring family members, school, work and problems of others and engage with them only when you want to. It allows you to take a break. It is not your duty, to engage all the time and the ability to do so at your own pace is the biggest advantage you can get on the battlefield. If something important is going on — someone will call you, don't worry. Just inform others that WhatsApp is not a place to discuss emergencies.

Fun, music, reading – you will need to get a dumbphone that supports some music, pdf viewing, photos and maybe light web browsing, they do exist. Or just buy an mp3 player, some books and a notepad. An e-reader and a camera for the high tech soldiers. Y2K is back in fashion anyway, and you will be much cooler and people will start conversations. Having everything in one place was convenient, but, if it means having time–wasting hazards in your pocket, it is not worth it.

Libraries are here to support you on your journey.

Block the feed — 10 eas + 4 eff

Hopefully you got rid of your phone, the biggest danger now is your web browser.

Use LeechBlock to block or regulate access to the biggest dangers – youtube, instagram, fb, reddit. On the weak side it is no better than the timer in your phone, supportive, but not really effective and fills you with guilt. Guilt is bad.

On the strong side you will block all access, allow very rare and short usage, put as many defenses as you can, put blockades on your blockades. Your brain is very effective at overcoming barriers, but they need to be put in place.

It is the first step, but it is not enough to win the war. Real psychological effects will show only after months of usage and well adjusted settings that acknowledge how your brain works and as you adapt your barriers will need to adapt as well. On the flip-side it requires no real conscious work or wasting your willpower if your filters are good.

You will sometimes need to bend the rules, to fix something or watch a lecture or a tutorial or just for some well deserved Forgotten Vines Compilation. Remember to put them back in place later and spot the times where you never did — and do it then.

Warning: nerd shit! (3-6) eas + (7-10) eff

If your friends sent you a funny video — don't unlock the site to watch it. Use external software like MPV or VLC to watch this video using only the link, without getting rid of your defense line. This is easiest on a linux machine.

You also have the nuke – block websites on your router and gate settings. You will need the support of the rest of the war room members in your house to use it and it will cut access to actually useful things. But this is a war for your life and every sacrifice is worth it.

Block the biggest hazards — 6 eas + 9 eff

Sorry, but you will need to use some nerd tactics.

Shorts, reels, tik toks, explore, for you pages. They need to be blocked immediately and for good. No access, no overrides, no fiddling in options. LeechBlock browser addon will allow you to block specific pages with harder barriers. Do it and never change them.

They are the biggest danger and you know it. Your brain will not be mad if it won't get dopamine this way, it knows you would never find the perfect 1 minute video that would make you happy. The urge to scroll some shorts will go away real fast.

This will allow you to fight only the easier fights — against the normal infinite feeds.

UblockOrigin

Is a double edged sword. Removing ads makes your life on the internet easy and fun. It is only a good thing to a certain extent – our fight is to make some parts of the internet as hard and painful to use – but it will help you keep your sanity.

Use it to block the feed! Click on Ublock icon and use the little pipette to add a rule that blocks the infinite feed on webpages of your choice.

Select the area and click the blue button to create a rule on the main page. Now you will not be distracted with algorithmic content, but you are free to not block groups important for you or your work or still see notifications, messages and other functions.

Cons: sometimes your rules will break with time, you will need to make many of them. Removing ads from youtube is dangerous as the reward is easier to obtain, thus making the boobytrap more effective.

Don't use apps and don't use the browser. 10 eas + 6 eff

Minimize a chance of getting distracted while doing something else.

For messages, school and work remove the browser from the equation. Use desktop clients for messaging, microsoft office, Teams, email etc. They have exactly what you need and are often more convenient to use. No chance of opening Instagram in excel.

For social media and online entertainment use the browser, don't use the apps! You are going into the warzone, you will need the armor – Leechblock and other addons are here to help you. Time wasting apps are engineered to remove your personal defense – never use them.

No Screentime before coffee – 1 eas + 10 eff

This one is behavioral and requires actual brain work, but give yourself some time and it will give you great effects.

Do not check memes, messages, mail etc. before waking up. Easier said than done.

Going to school or work will be easier, waking up will be easier, you will start to eat and have more energy during the day.

It will require you to plan your day in advance, check the calendar and your plan for the day the night before. I never learned it as a child and it is very hard to work on it, but the effects on my psyche are immense.

If you got rid of your phone, you are halfway there. If you can remove your laptop from proximity of your bed — do it. If you have an ability to put your pc in a seperate room — it would be perfect, but not many are able to, including me.

Separate your working, from sleeping, from entertainment spaces, we worked on it during COVID soldier, don't forget your training.

Remove the noise — 1 eas + 4 eff

somewhat. You probably don't actually need podcasts and music to work, walk or sleep and regaining your ability to focus there is also important. Maybe substitute them with white/pink/brown noise at least sometimes, especially for brain heavy tasks this is very helpful to get work done in a reasonable amount of time. Blanket app is a good desktop noise generator that won't require the browser.

But I will not blame you if you won't, this is the least problematic part and humans have always met to do menial tasks while hearing others talk and many conditions are easier to live with some background noise.

Pick your allies

Internet is a meadow and a minefield. Place for art and support and knowledge filled with weapons designed to use you as an revenue generator. Watch content only from curated, quality places and people you follow. Never look at the algorithmic feed. Tumblr is a prime example of a site that can be your ally, but don't trust it – block the For You page.

don't lose your steam

Do not engage emotionally with things beyond your control. This was the twitter's weapon of choice. If you do not have the money or time to support a cause, you know about it and you know all your mutuals already support it – don't let the algorithm put it down your throat against your will.

Do not follow war hashtags, do not look at pages when you can see hate and violence against your will. Educate yourself, do as much as you can, follow people who inspire you and do real work, but allow yourself to move on if it is beyond your abilities or strength. Your local anarchist group will do more good in a month, than you reading political posts for years. If you honestly care – join them and focus on real work. If you can't contribute, just learn about it and move on. There will be more opportunities in the future and then we will need all your strength. This is the sad part of winning the war. Some sacrifices have to be made.

^you soon

Wish you luck soldiers. This is a fight worth fighting.

share your weapons of choice if you can and tell me about your experiences.

[lxdymoon0357]

“In the face of darkness, the absence of hope is a light that never fades. Our journey has been one of resilience and unwavering challenges. There is this building to create a brighter future for those in need. A call to compassion and unity - every share, donation and act of kindness matters. Stand with us, together And we have hope

My family and I are struggling to survive in Gaza, where war and blockades have left us without basic necessities like food, clean water, and medicine. My young son, Adam, has been especially affected, suffering from poor health due to malnutrition and a polluted environment.

We are reaching out for help to cover essential needs and survive these harsh conditions. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in our lives.

Please consider donating to our GoFundMe campaign and sharing our story. Your support gives us hope for a better future.

With gratitude,

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #222 )✅️

https://www.gofundme.com/f/9gnab-help-rebuild-dreams-after-war?attribution_id=sl:6d99f7ce-6f94-4ea6-8035-cb5885a48395&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=messenger

..

Go support them!!

[starboyshoyo]

A Beloved Tradition

Pairing: Luka x reader

Fandom: Honkai Star Rail

Genre: fluff

Word Count: 1.2k

A/N: This piece is a bit more worldbuilding-heavy than the others I’ve done! I enjoyed writing it though, so I hope you like it too!

A paper marriage in Belobog isn’t the only way to show off the love between a couple.

According to the laws of Belobog, a marriage would have to pass through the Bureau of Civil Affairs in the administrative district before it could become official. But as history would have it, those in high places would often ignore the needs of those below. The Underworlders of Belobog, fed up with having their marriage requests delayed or even outright denied, came up with their own ceremonies to acknowledge the love between couples in their community.

A traditional Belobogian Undergrounder’s wedding consists of preparing and seasoning an olm frog, roasting it over Geomarrow ores, and sharing the meal in the heart of town.

- Excerpt from The Heart of Jarilo-IV: Belobogian Customs and Traditions

+++

“I don’t think this is what anyone had in mind when they said to prepare the olm,” you laughed, shaking your head.

Your boyfriend and soon-to-be husband Luka grins at you. “What, you’ve never seen a frog wear a hat before? Expand your mind, sweetheart! This is gonna be the prettiest roasted olm Boulder Town has ever seen.”

In his hands is the main ingredient to a traditional Belobogian miners’ dish- an olm frog. He fiddles with a napkin, folding it into a cap to put on the amphibian’s head.

“Well, he certainly is a handsome olm,” you concede with a fond grin. You lift it up, surveying Luka’s work. Despite the seeming unwieldiness of his mechanical arm, Luka had been able to fold the napkin into surprisingly neat creases, balancing it delicately on the frog’s head. “Still, he’s not as handsome as my fiancé here.”

“Awww, you flatter me~”

A gag from behind you interrupts the sweet moment. Seele and Natasha stand a little ways back, the former holding tongs and turning pieces of geomarrow ore in the stove, keeping it red-hot. “Get a room,” she gags, “You two are sweet enough to make me barf.”

“What Seele means is that it’s good to see the two of you so in love,” Natasha adds, with a meaningful glance towards her adopted daughter. “But we shouldn’t keep your guests waiting. The other dishes are already done- only the olm is left.”

“Sorry, Natasha,” Luka apologized, but it was clear that he wasn’t abashed in the slightest.

“No worries,” Natasha replied. She smiled warmly at the two of you. “I don’t think anyone would blame you for wanting to drag on the festivities for a little while longer. Goodness knows we’ve had little else to celebrate since the blockade”

The four of you were silent for a moment. The halt of trade and transport between the overworld and underworld was a touchy spot for Underworlders- some of them wanted to maintain their pride and wait it out, while others proposed they fight back against the tyranny of the Supreme Guardian in the streets above. The divide caused a lot of trouble for Wildfire, who struggled to keep the peace between two sides.

“… It feels selfish to be celebrating in a time like this,” you admit self-consciously, breaking the silence. “There’s so much else to be thinking about; to be fighting for. But here we are, taking up Wildfire’s time for something that isn’t official business.”

Luka nods, echoing the sentiment. “It feels a bit weird to be off duty for the first time in months. I hope it’s not too much trouble for you.”

“Of course it isn’t!” Seele shakes her head. “We wanted to be here for you guys. Don’t get all sappy on us now, just because we’re being nice.”

“Everyone was so excited for you guys when they heard the news,” Natasha confirms. She takes the tongs from Seele, turning over the geomarrow in the belly of the stove. “Wildfire takes care of our own. And besides, it isn’t just for the both of you. Morale has been high ever since the planning began. It’s good for everyone to see that life goes on, even when times are hard.”

Between Seele’s fierce encouragement and Natasha’s kind words, it’s hard to stay doubtful. “Thank you, both of you,” you say to them, and you mean it.

+++

“Gather round, everyone! Master Oleg would like to say a few words.”

The settling murmur of guests around you roils in your belly as you sit at a table set up in Boulder Town’s square. Luka is lounging beside you with his normal arm flung over your shoulder. The roasted olm rests on the table between you, no longer sizzling hot but still pleasantly warm.

“How much longer before we eat? I’m starving,” he whispers to you with a grin. You nudge him back, shushing him as Oleg begins to speak.

“I’ll try to keep this short, seeing as the groom is getting a little impatient.” He shoots a smile at Luka, then coughs once before clearing his throat. “It’s great to see you all here today, in support of two of our dearest members of Wildfire. There’s a lot to be said about the state of the Underground right now-“ Oleg waits for the murmurs to pass through the crowd to continue. “But I think it’s safe to say that this union between our happy couple is proof that life goes on, both on the surface of Belobog and below. No matter the circumstances, we will find ways to thrive.”

Oleg nods to you. “On behalf of Wildfire and the entire Underground, we wish you two a happy and loving marriage.”

That’s your cue. Picking up the fork from beside the roasted dish, you use it to tear a piece of juicy meat from the side of the olm and hold it out to Luka. He grins and does the same with his own fork. You exchange them, taking the bites off of each others’ utensils- sharing your first meal in the town square, just as couples did for hundreds of years before you. The crowd erupts in whistles and cheers- and just like that, you’re forever bonded to the love of your life. Luka pulls you in for a kiss and you reciprocate, smiling into his lips as he leans his forehead against yours.

Roasted olm is said to taste like chicken, but there’s no way for you to make that comparison. After all, as an Underworlder you’ve spent your entire life by the glow of a Geomarrow furnace. You didn’t have the luxury of the sun or the sky or a grand Overworlder’s wedding. But today has proven that you don’t need any of that to thrive- or to love.

Taking your new husband’s hand in yours, you look around at the people surrounding you. Miners and their families, Natasha, Seele, Oleg and the members of Wildfire, residents of Boulder Town, Hook and the Moles- and of course, Luka.

“There’s more than enough food here for everyone. Please, join us! Let’s eat!”

How very loved you are.

Comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated!

[rjzimmerman]

Four years ago, I was keyboarding the same fucking story. Thanks to all the asshole trump cult people, I have to do this again. Plus we're going to spend $46.5 billion for this dumb project, which will undoubtedly be torn down right after trump gets tossed into prison or into a mental institution on the day after the inauguration of the next president.

Excerpt from this Sierra Club story:

In May of 2023, a female mountain lion squeezed through a picture-frame-size opening in a steel fence along the US-Mexico border. While hundreds of people tried to cross into the US, she headed south, looking for prey or water or a potential mate.

The 8.5-by-10-inch hole is one of a handful of wildlife passages cut into the fence, thanks in part to the urging of conservation groups. But these concessions fall far short of what’s needed to help mountain lions and other species survive the blockading of their habitat, wildlife advocates say.

The Trump administration completed 458 miles of fence during his first term but never finished the barrier. Now, new segments are going up, further fragmenting wildlife habitat. This time, President Trump has vowed to complete the project by the end of his second term. In April, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced new wall projects in Arizona and California, and construction has already begun on barriers in Texas. More barriers could be going up soon: Congress has included $46.5 billion for wall construction in the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed budget. 

Wildlife advocates and biologists who study the borderlands worry that filling these gaps could sever some of the last, best habitat in the region. 

“The wall has a large impact on wildlife and habitats along the border,” said Eamon Harrity, wildlife program manager for the Sky Island Alliance, an Arizona-based conservation group. “The border from San Diego to Texas crosses through some extremely biodiverse areas.” 

The geographic ranges of about 1,077 native animals straddle the border. The border bisects important habitat for 83 threatened and endangered species, including ocelots in Texas, jaguars and Sonoran pronghorn in Arizona, and Mexican gray wolves in New Mexico and Arizona. The barriers not only cut off animals from habitat but they also separate them from potential mates.

Today, the borderlands are divided by a total of 636 miles of fence, erected by the past four administrations. Many of the newer segments, which can cost $10 million to $20 million per mile, tower up to 30 feet high and have slender four-inch gaps between the steel bollards, barely wide enough to fit a hand through horizontally. In most places, a dirt road, between 60 and 150 feet wide, is bulldozed alongside the wall to allow for border patrols. These enforcement zones are often illuminated with bright lights that can disorient birds and insects.

[vulgaralien]

“In the face of darkness, the absence of hope is a light that never fades. Our journey has been one of resilience and unwavering challenges. There is this building to create a brighter future for those in need. A call to compassion and unity - every share, donation and act of kindness matters. Stand with us, together And we have hope

My family and I are struggling to survive in Gaza, where war and blockades have left us without basic necessities like food, clean water, and medicine. My you٨ng son, Adam, has been especially affected, suffering from poor health due to malnutrition and a polluted environment.

We are reaching out for help to cover essential needs and survive these harsh conditions. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in our lives.

Please consider donating to our GoFundMe campaign and sharing our story. Your support gives us hope for a better future.

With gratitude,

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #222 )✅️

https://www.gofundme.com/f/9gnab-help-rebuild-dreams-after-war?attribution_id=sl:6d99f7ce-6f94-4ea6-8035-cb5885a48395&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=messenger

..

Please donate and share!!!

[iamfarfromvibingrightnow]

“In the face of darkness, the absence of hope is a light that never fades. Our journey has been one of resilience and unwavering challenges. There is this building to create a brighter future for those in need. A call to compassion and unity - every share, donation and act of kindness matters. Stand with us, together And we have hope

My family and I are struggling to survive in Gaza, where war and blockades have left us without basic necessities like food, clean water, and medicine. My young son, Adam, has been especially affected, suffering from poor health due to malnutrition and a polluted environment.

We are reaching out for help to cover essential needs and survive these harsh conditions. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in our lives.

Please consider donating to our GoFundMe campaign and sharing our story. Your support gives us hope for a better future.

With gratitude,

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #222 )✅️

https://www.gofundme.com/f/9gnab-help-rebuild-dreams-after-war?attribution_id=sl:6d99f7ce-6f94-4ea6-8035-cb5885a48395&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=messenger

..

[2346khith]

“In the face of darkness, the absence of hope is a light that never fades. Our journey has been one of resilience and unwavering challenges. There is this building to create a brighter future for those in need. A call to compassion and unity - every share, donation and act of kindness matters. Stand with us, together And we have hope

My family and I are struggling to survive in Gaza, where war and blockades have left us without basic necessities like food, clean water, and medicine. My young son, Adam, has been especially affected, suffering from poor health due to malnutrition and a polluted environment.

We are reaching out for help to cover essential needs and survive these harsh conditions. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in our lives.

Please consider donating to our GoFundMe campaign and sharing our story. Your support gives us hope for a better future.

With gratitude,

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #222 )✅️

https://www.gofundme.com/f/9gnab-help-rebuild-dreams-after-war?attribution_id=sl:6d99f7ce-6f94-4ea6-8035-cb5885a48395&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=messenger

..

For those who see this please, visit their blog and reblog their blog’s posts so they  get more attention and if you have the money to spare please donate.

Also I apologize, but I do not have the ability to donate to you. Trust me if I had the ability I would but I don't and I can't. I have no bank account or credit card to transfer money to and no job to gain any money. Every time I ask my parents to help they shut me down so this is the only way to help you. Please forgive me.

[someonebeatyoutothisuser]

“In the face of darkness, the absence of hope is a light that never fades. Our journey has been one of resilience and unwavering challenges. There is this building to create a brighter future for those in need. A call to compassion and unity - every share, donation and act of kindness matters. Stand with us, together And we have hope

My family and I are struggling to survive in Gaza, where war and blockades have left us without basic necessities like food, clean water, and medicine. My young son, Adam, has been especially affected, suffering from poor health due to malnutrition and a polluted environment.

We are reaching out for help to cover essential needs and survive these harsh conditions. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in our lives.

Please consider donating to our GoFundMe campaign and sharing our story. Your support gives us hope for a better future.

With gratitude,

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #222 )✅️

https://www.gofundme.com/f/9gnab-help-rebuild-dreams-after-war?attribution_id=sl:6d99f7ce-6f94-4ea6-8035-cb5885a48395&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=messenger

..

PLEASE PLEASE DONATE! OR SPREAD THE WORD IF YOU CAN'T, DON'T LIKE, REBLOG, DO NOT JUST LIKE!