#Electronic Ignition System Working

[drabblesandimagines]

Elevation

Leon Kennedy x female reader More of my fluffy nonsense

Hunnigan slams the phone down into the cradle at the end of her call and if you hadn’t already been casting auspicious glances up at the scene before you, her actions would’ve made you jump.

“What is it, Leon?” Hunnigan’s tone is blunt.

It would be so easy to look up at the handsome DSO agent then. You’d be perfectly within your right to look up too, your desk opposite sat directly opposite Hunnigan’s so you had ring-side side seats to the commotion. It wouldn’t look odd - he’d be in your eyeline, after all - but you fight the temptation, keeping your eyes fixed on the paper in front of you, fingers tapping idly away over the keyboard as you transpose to the screen.

Exactly what you’ve been doing the past ten minutes that Leon Kennedy has been wandering around the office, dressed in a pair of form-fitting jeans today, his gun holster peeking out from underneath a beloved leather jacket, directing all attention to a certain pair of assets.

Not that you were keeping track of how long he’d been there, of course, you had work to do.

“Huh?” For someone who had apparently been waiting on her call finishing, Leon’s thoughts seems elsewhere.

“I said,” Hunnigan adjusts her tone, “can I help you with something?”

“Does there have to be something? Surely a guy can just come visit his favourite FOS agent.”

“But you haven’t come to visit, you’ve come to loiter.” Hunnigan retorts. “I told you already, if I have anything for you, I will be in contact. Go home.”

There’s an incredulous scoff as he tries to think of a reason to stay, but it quickly transforms into a sigh as he admits defeat. “Fine.”

He begins his retreat towards the exit and you hear the tell-tale beep of his pass against by the door panel, the electronic lock then clunking in release.

“Have a good afternoon, ladies.”

You look up then – and only then - to find him looking directly at you. You give him a polite smile in return. “You too.”

He grins in return, a proper one that makes his eyes crease, before giving you a nod and a wave as he through the door. The smile stays on your lips as you reach for your mug of coffee – now ice cold - and take a sip.

“I think he likes you, you know?” Hunnigan states in her oh-so-nonchalantly way, making you choke on the gulp you’d just taken.

“What? No…! I mean, who?” Your voice is tight in response from having swallowed the liquid the wrong way, internally cursing. Smooth, real smooth.

“Leon.” The agent continues hammering away at her keyboard, kindly ignoring your attempts at being subtle.

“I don’t know where you’ve drawn that conclusion from.” You don’t – you really don’t. You could probably count the amount of conversations the two of you have had with all of your fingers, all just pleasantries.

“I’ve worked with him for years now and he’s never been here as much since your transfer started.”

“Coincidence, I’m sure. He just seems eager for work.”

Hunnigan goes to open her mouth in response when, thankfully, the phone on her desk rings. Saved by the bell.

--

Being afraid of elevators had never really been an issue until you had taken this assignment, being sent to work on the 12th floor. At the very least it’s proving to be a good workout the number of times a day you now trudge up and down the stairwell from your desk to the archives below. The DSO holds a surprising amount of paper copies of intel in the basement – both handwritten and old typewriter documents - secured behind a vault door, rumours of the place being rigged to ignite in flames if an intruder is detected to prevent it all from falling into the wrong hands.

The DSO board had decided that intel should now be stored in the government-secured cloud and on paper and you’d been brought in as an archivist/analyst hybrid, on loan from the CIA. The project you’d been tasked with, single-handedly, was transferring intel that was currently only held in those paper copies to the online system. There was technology that could do but it wasn’t perfect – scrawled handwriting would often prove indecipherable by most machines or it misread words, so everything would need quality checked. It was agreed a human touch was best and your name had come up after the CIA had undertaken a similar audit of their files a few years ago to excellent results. Once everything had been digitized, it had become easier to quickly identify any links between incidents past and present – using surnames, terms, intel – and even stopped a handful of potential ones, so the DSO had been keen to put the practice in place.

It did mean, however, that every day you’d go down to the vault, select a box of paperwork – either the one you’ve got partway through or a whole new one - trudge back up the many flights of stairs, and then start typing from page to screen to produce a digitized document. It was imperative that no-one else see the documents, so they’d set you up in Hunnigan’s office as one of their most trusted agents.

Wanting to look professional whilst in the office but not break your neck on the stairs, you kept a selection of heels in your locker to swap out of for your reliable sneakers. Hunnigan was still working away when you packed up around 7pm, kicking off your heels to switch out, and had been in a lengthy, hushed tone call for the past hour. You nodded your head as you heaved the box of documents up in your arms, and she waved back in acknowledgement.

Beeping your ID card at the door, the lock buzzed and the door opened automatically – a godsend as the box you had today was particularly heavy – everything within held in those awful arch-lever folders.

As you emerged, you heard the puff of the elevator doors beginning to slide shut, not even giving it a moment of thought. You turned to the left to head down the stairs as usual, when a gloved hand slammed between the elevator doors, preventing them from closing with a thud and giving you a start, turning to see a face.

The face of Leon S Kennedy catches you entirely by surprise. He hadn’t even been by the office today to bother Hunnigan, though you know he does have his own desk somewhere in the building, maybe even his own office. He smiles at the sight of you, beckoning you over.

“Hey. Hop on in - I’m going down.”

You hesitate at the invitation. You haven’t been in an elevator for years and he’s just stood there, waiting, holding the door open. You have to say or do something. “You okay?”

Next thing you know, as if you’d been hypnotized, you were walking towards the elevator, then stepping over the threshold into a place you swore you never would enter again.

“Basement?” Leon fingers hover over the button panel in anticipation.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

He presses the buttons for ground and basement simultaneously with two fingers, and the door slides shut with another puff of air.

The elevator and your stomach begin to descend in unison.

This is fine.

“Looks heavy. Can I…?” He gestures to the box, offering to take it.

“Oh, thanks, but it’s okay.” You bump the box up with your knee, trying to strengthen your grip on it. Your palms are sweaty, but you’re not sure if the cause is the elevator or the handsome man besides you.

Leon crosses his arms, leans back against the wall. “They still not given you a lackey to do all the grunt work? I thought that’s what they took on interns for these days.”

“It’s difficult when no-one else is meant to handle it, let alone see it but me.” Leon gives you a quizzical look at that. “It’s protocol, narrows down the potential for leaks. If anything gets out, it’s on my head, so…”

“What about when you take breaks? You don’t…”

You nod, shifting the box in your arms again. Why do they feel like jelly? “Gotta lug it back downstairs to be locked back in the vault.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Mm-mm. It’s fine – good exercise for me, I guess, between sitting at the desk all day, so…”

“Surely they could at least give you a desk closer to the grou-“

The elevator’s smooth descent is transformed into a shudder, followed by a loud metallic screech and a sharp jerk that makes your stomach truly drop before all motion halts. No, no, no, no.

“Huh.” Leon muses, calm as anything. He immediately presses the emergency call button, illuminated in red, but the only sound that emits out of the speakers is static. He presses it again to the same result, and then in rapid succession, as if that’ll coerce it into working.

You tighten your grip on the box, wanting to tell him to stop but, thankfully, he gives up before you can have the strength to find your voice and pulls his cell out from his pocket.

“Damn, no reception.” He looks back over to you then with a sympathetic smile. “Well, this is one way to get overtime outta us, hey?”

There’s no chance to reply before the elevator plunges into darkness and you drop the box immediately, thankfully away from your feet. It can only be a few seconds at the most but it feels like an eternity before the emergency lighting comes on, casting the small metal prison in a pale yellow hue.

Leon’s staring at you, looking concerned. “You okay?”

“Y-yeah.” You reply, not at all convincingly. You bend down to pick up the box to escape that blue-eyed gaze for a moment, heaving it back up in your arms. “Is this… normal for this office?” You hope he can’t hear how tight your voice is.

“Power must be down, seems like the back-up generator kicked in.” The agent shrugs, looking around the elevator as if something of use might be around. “It’ll prioritize the critical systems – so I’d guess lights, vending machines and elevators are not gonna be particularly high up on that list.”

“Wonderful.” You reply, breathily. It’s warm. Should it be warm? “Here, let me just…” Leon reaches over and gently tugs the box from your weak grip, no sign of surprise at the weight of it as he takes it. “We don’t know how long we’ll be in here, so let’s put this down.”

“No, I shou-“

“I promise I’m not going to try and read any of it.”

You watch him as he places it down, he’s sure to bend with his knees rather than his back, and tucks it into the corner under the button panel, out of the way. He stands back up to his full height, looking at you for a response, but all you manage is a shaky nod.

“Are you feeling okay?” “Y-yeah. Fine.” “Mm. Not a great liar.” He tilts his head, scanning you with his eyes once more. “What’s the matter?”   “I…” Another swallow in the hopes of your mouth not feeling so dry. “I don’t like elevators. Always take the stairs.” “Oh.” Not the answer he was expecting it seems. “Wait, why’d you get in, then?” “Well, er…” You hesitate again, how do you answer that? “You… You told me to.”

He can’t help the goofy smile that crosses his face. “Huh, that’s all it takes? Interesting. I’ll have to remember that.”

You’re about to ask him what that’s supposed to mean, the words just on the tip of your tongue when the elevator jerks and they turn into a shriek. It’s over before it even begins, really, but Leon’s reflexes now have you pressed up against the wall, his arms braced above your head to protect it from any sort of impact.

“It’s all right,” he says, softly. “I’m here, I’ve got you.”

Your heart is beating too fast, tears burn at your eyes at the fright. He’s so close, you can smell his cologne – musky, hints of vanilla – but this isn’t where you want to be having this moment.

“How about we sit down, huh?”

“I’m okay.” Your answer is breathy again, your chest feeling tight. Panting like you’d finished climbing up 12 flights of stairs.

“It’ll be more comfortable.”

“Don’t wanna…” You try and take a deep inhale, but it doesn’t seem to reach the bottom of your lungs. “Don’t wanna s-shake it.”

“You won’t.” He drops his arms from against the wall and instead grabs your hand, squeezes it in an attempt to ground you. “Trust me.”

You want to trust him, but the panic is too strong. This was such a bad idea, why did you do this?

“I…”

“We’ll do it together, okay?” He somehow coaxes you to shuffle forward and then slips in behind you, taking hold of your other hand. “Just lean against me and we’ll ease on down.”

Leon presses his chest firmly up against your back and you wonder if he can feel how hard your heart is beating. He wraps his arms around your waist next, meaning you’re hugging yourself in a way before he slides down against the elevator wall, bringing you down with him, onto the carpeted elevator floor. He thought it was a seamless maneuverer, but the way he’d felt your nails dig into his leather gloves from how tight your grip was, he knew you weren’t of the same opinion.

“There we go.” His thighs are spread either side of yours, now that you’re nestled inbetween his legs. “Worried you were gonna pass out – you’d gone really pale. Just sit here and concentrate on your breathing a minute, okay? Feel how I’m doing it.”

You close your eyes and try to concentrate on how he’s breathing, feeling his chest expand as he inhales, loudly and deliberately through his nose, holds the breath, then exhales heavily through his mouth, tickling the back of your neck.

You try and mimic him, get your inhales and exhales in sync and, slowly, the pressure begins to ease in your chest as you feel your breaths get deeper and deeper.

"Feeling a little better?”

His voice reverberates from his chest being pressed up against your back, feels comforting. “Yeah. Thank you.”

“Hey, don’t mention it. My fault you’re in here, after all.” He replies, gently. “I’m gonna move now, okay? Wanna check you’ve got the colour back in your cheeks.”

You nod, and he somehow manages to shuffle back and to the front of you with overly cautious movements – definitely for your benefit, ever the gentleman - withdrawing his legs into a crossed position and giving you a smile as he takes in your appearance. Being so fixed in his gaze makes your cheeks prickle with heat – maybe not the colour he’d hoped to be checking.

“Yeah, you’re looking better. Good.” He nods in affirmation, more to himself than you. “That noise – I think someone was trying to get the power back on, sounds like it only worked for a second before it could get going. The elevator’s not gonna fall.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve had to disable some of them before – for work, I mean. They’re all equipped with multiple failsafe systems to prevent that exact scenario.”

“Disable them?”

“Just so they stop…” He gestures in a circle as he tries to find the words, “elevating, I guess, so I’m not pursued. Make ‘em take the stairs.”

“Ah, right.” You nod. “Wind them a bit.”

“Exactly. If you don’t mind me asking, you always been afraid of them?”

“No. Got stuck in one in an old apartment block years ago – it didn’t feel particularly modern. There were three of us – me and two drunk guys who kept jumping up and down, convinced that would make it move. The fire department got us out after two hours cos I had one of those… episodes. Haven’t been in one since.”

“Idiots.”

“They just kept laughing the more panicked I got. I felt so stupid.”

“Panic attacks are no joke. That box breathing always helps me if I feel on edge, though.”

“Yeah, that was really good.” You feel a shy smile creep over your face. “If I had to get suck in an elevator with anyone, I’m glad it was you.”

He practically beams. “Now I don’t feel quite so bad. I’ve gotta ask again though, you really got in here just because I said to?” He’s already seen you a panicking mess, so why not just be honest? “Your smile helped too.” “Well, consider me flattered.”

“It’s a nice smile…” You swallow, a little cautious of the next word. “Enticing.”

You swear you see a smidge of colour flush Leon’s cheeks then, but it must be a trick of the artificial lights. “Well, since we’re confessing – yours is too. That’s the real reason I was bothering Hunnigan. Wanted to see if I could win another.”

“You came to see me smile?” You’re definitely blushing now – cheeks prickling with the heat.

“Guilty. I don’t think you’d remember, but a week or so back I was having a real shitty day. Went to go debrief with Hunnigan and she wasn’t there, but you were. When I stormed in, you just gave me the best and most genuine smile I’d seen in days. Meant a lot.” He rubs the back of his neck, sheepishly.

You smile again, can’t help it, and he groans, jokingly. “Ugh, see? Not again – I don’t think my heart can take how sweet it is.”

You don’t know what to say to that but you’re excused when, suddenly, the lights transition overhead with a flicker from the emergency dulled tones to the standard, harsh fluorescent light and the elevator begins its smooth descent once more.

“Finally, huh?” Leon gets up easily to his feet and then offers you a hand.

“Yeah.” You accept it without hesitation, goosebumps prickling up your arm as he wraps his fingers around your hand and he pulls you up with ease. Slyly, his other hand now rests on the small of your back, drawing you in close…

The elevator dings, announcing its arrival on the ground floor and the doors slide open to reveal a maintenance worker, clad in blue overalls, waiting in the lobby. Leon draws back then, but still keeps his hand steady on your back.

“You two all right? Power-cut had rotten timing, I was gonna repair that emergency speaker tonight when most of the office was cleared out.”

“All good, thanks.” Leon bends down, picks up the box again without question and you follow him out of the elevator in pursuit, only to hear a cell begin to ring from his pocket. He balances the box with one arm – you’ve no idea how – and pulls out the device, frowning at the name on screen.

“Sorry, I’ve really gotta take this.” His brows furrow in annoyance. “You be okay with taking that downstairs?”

“Yeah, of course. I really should take it back now anyway, you know, just in case…” You trail off as he eases the box over to you, making sure you’ve got it properly before he lets go. “Thanks… for everything.”

“Pleasure was all mine.” He replies, sincerely, before reluctantly lifting the cell up to his ear.

“Kennedy.”

You leave him to his phone-call and head down the stairs for a thankfully unremarkable trip down to the vaults to replace the box back in its rightful place. It’d be a lie to say when you climbed back up to the lobby that you weren’t disappointed when there’s no trace of him to be found.

--

The next morning, after passing through the security check, you make your way down to the archive vault as usual, pressing your hand against the door panel to gain access. Sadly, you’ve still got a lot of work to do in the box you’d been working on yesterday, so you dutifully log its withdrawal in the computer system, and heave it up once more in your arms before heading out.

You only make it up one flight of stairs when you see him, leaned up against the stairway wall, one arm held against his chest whilst his other hand is holding his cell, squinting at some text. He looks up as you scuff your trainer on one of the steps and he smiles as you reach him, tucking his cell back away.

“Good morning.”

“Morning. What brings you here?” You curse inwardly. “I mean, not that it’s not a pleasant surprise, just…”

He waves it off. “I getcha. Well, I have some pretty good sway here, you know, so I’ve volunteered.”

“Volunteered for what?”

“Volunteered…” He steps forward and wraps his arms around the box, “..to be your stairs lackey.”

“Oh, no – it’s fine, honestly.” You feel flustered at the very idea. Leon’s one of the top, if not the top agent of the DSO. He can’t be doing manual labour for you, he shouldn’t. “You have so many better things to be doing. I can mana…”

“Please?” He tilts his head, gives you that enticing smile again. “I mean, I could just tell you,” – he teases – “but I thought I’d ask this time, so you’re sure.”

The smile makes you feel weak at the knees and you’d already proven yesterday you couldn’t resist its magic. “Okay. But you should definitely take the elevator then.”

“Uh-uh.” He shakes his head, taking the box into his arms. “It’s good cardio, got my weight-resistance. You’re practically doing me a favour by taking the stairs.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hm. Though,” he bites his lip in a pause, “I may have ulterior motives.”

“Right, and what would those be?”

“If I were to, say, visit the office around six tonight and carry this thing back down to the vault, maybe you’d go to dinner with me?”

God, you feel absolutely giddy - there’s no way you can hold back your smile. “I think that’s… acceptable.”

“Then we have a deal. Ladies first,” he nods with his head to up the stairwell.

“No, I… I think you should go first. Just so I can keep an eye on you on the way up. I’ve got to make sure you’re not sneaking a peek at the assets, you know?”

He quirks an eyebrow, you know he’s wondering what you’re thinking, but he shrugs it off all the same. “As you wish.”

And as you follow him up 12 flights of stairs, you slightly breathless and him seemingly fine, you can’t help but sneak a look at a different pair of assets before you.

---

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Masterlist . Requests welcome . Ko-fi/Commissions

[isaut]

𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔, 𝒇𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓— f!reader x captain rex. 3.5k. ao3

calling lovers just like real people do... previous. masterlist.

The report is almost done. Rex thinks he’s fast at these, ever since Cody walked him through the shortcuts for it when Rex first was promoted to captain. What words to use, how to switch from tab to tab and box to box quickly. Rex likes to work on these reports in the back corner of the mess hall. It helps him not focus on the food before him– one hand punching against the electronic keyboard and another spooning mash into his mouth.

Cody clatters into the bench across from Rex, holding his own tray. He’s got a jellyfruit soda on his tray, and a little smile on his face. 

“Hey, Rex,” Cody says. He cracks open the can, taking a sip. Jellyfruit flavors are delicate, especially when carbonated. 

Rex looks up briefly, “Hey, Cody.” 

Cody shuffles his food around a bit on the tray, mixing his meat and potatoes together. They don’t smell like much of anything, and the steam that once wafted off of them has dissipated, leaving the food lukewarm and lifeless. “You almost done?” 

“Yeah, I just have a few more things to add,” Rex says. He doesn’t include his private conversation with General Skywalker, and he doesn’t include the nightly conversation between the boys about what they would do if they had a girl to entertain. It doesn’t have anything to do with the integrity of the mission, after all. 

Cody eats quietly while Rex finishes up. When he’s done, Rex locks the data pad and sets it aside. He returns to the meal in front of him. A heap of meat (unidentified) and beans (barely rehydrated). It’s especially dismal today. And yesterday. And the day before that. And everyday since he began taking meals with you in Naboo. 

“I just got out of a meeting with the Generals,” Cody says. He gives his meal one last pat through, spork coming down sideways on the mash before shoveling a bite into his mouth.  

Rex’s eyes play a pass of tennis between Cody and the soda beside his tray, eyebrows raised skeptically. “A meeting with General Kenobi?” 

“Uh, no. Well, yeah, he was there.” Cody talks with his mouth full and his hand over it. “With Skywalker too. He wants you to go find him in the hull when you’re done eating.” 

“He tell you what for?” 

Cody shrugs. “He was cryptic.” 

“Cool. Tano with him?” 

Cody shakes his head. “Nah. Don’t know where she is.” 

Rex nods. “Probably just another mission.” 

“Maybe he needs you and the ARCs to go back down to Naboo. That’s one hell of a classified mission.” 

Rex nods and rolls his shoulders back. “Yeah, it’s somethin’ else.” His heart thuds in his chest. The hopeful part of him, this new, undiscovered part of him, hopes that it’s that communication device he’s asked for. He only asked once, but he’s sure that General Skywalker hasn’t forgotten. 

The prospect of it ignites Rex. His silverware clatters to his tray and he stands. “I’m just going to go. I’m not going to be able to finish this.” 

Cody watches as Rex walks away. Rex has always finished his trays, no matter how disgusting the rations on them were. Cody sips his non-rationed can of soda. 

Rex arrives at the hull. There are men stationed around at the varying systems, focused on the buttons and screens before them. Only one, aside from the general himself, doesn’t look like the others. Anakin stands at the center, looking out towards the vast, emptiness of space. There’s a looming sense about it, as his black, Jedi garb sticks out amongst the gray-clad brothers. 

“General Skywalker,” Rex says, approaching him. 

“Rex,” Anakin says, turning and smiling at the other man. “Let's go on a walk.” 

There’s a vast amount of space to walk through. The hallways are artificially silenced, technology whispering under footsteps. Neither man exchanges a word as Anakin leads them on a winding path through the interior, putting distance between them and anyone else. They pass armories, barracks, mess halls, offices, bathrooms, until coming upon a little nook with no traffic. 

Anakin checks around for anyone, looking over his shoulder for a few moments, quiet to the Force. Rex does the same, though he can’t hear like the generals can. Anakin speaks first. 

“I have something for you.” 

Rex tries to quell his excitement, to not get his hopes up. He swallows, locks his jaw, then relaxes his face the best he can.  

Anakin reaches into his pocket, hand rustling against his lightsaber. He produces a hologram device. Silver, simple, and, “Untracked by the Republic.” 

It takes a moment before Rex accepts the device, body slow on the notion that he was receiving what he asked for. A gift he asked for. A privilege he asked for. 

His thumb slides over the silver that covers the glass of which the hologram is produced from. He swallows once more. 

“Thank you, sir.” 

Anakin’s hand rests on Rex’s shoulder, on the side that doesn’t have his elongated pauldron to designate his rank. Rex looks up from the technology to Anakin’s eyes.

“And keep it. It’s yours.” 

Rex repeats his gratitude.

“Enjoy it.” Anakin gives Rex one of those half smiles, one of the ones where his body can’t decide how to properly convey the emotion he’s feeling. His hand, flesh and blood, falls to his side stiffly. His mouth moves, as if to say something, but he decides against it. The words are repeated on his lips, with a simple, quiet modification. A simple: “Enjoy her.” 

And with that he’s turning, walking back the way the two of them came, gloved gold fingers dancing a wave by his side. Rex stands in the alcove for a beat longer, eyes back on the hologram device in his hands.

Excitement overtakes the surprise of the gift. There’s nowhere on his person to store it, so he holds it in his armored hand and immediately heads to his bunk. The door to the small room doesn’t open fast enough, the lights turn on a hair too slow to match his beating heart. He’s met with a familiar, comforting sight: his cot, impeccably made with his down clothes folded neatly at the end. The small table and chair he does his reports at, and the little mirror that sits above it– why he needs a mirror he’ll never know, so he tries to ignore it the best he can. 

Rex sets his helmet on the table beside his charging datapad. The hologram device follows, standing out as a new and shiny object. With his glance up, he’s met with his own reflection. 

It’s perhaps the last thing he wants to see right now, not when the idea of seeing you is so close to him. On the table, so to speak. 

Running his gloved, armored hand over his head, he can feel the stubble of his hair through his scalp, from the applied pressure. He doesn’t linger long in his reflection, setting about removing the gauntlets, letting them rest beside his helmet. The rest of his armor gets stacked neatly into the utilitarian chest at the foot of his bed, leaving the lid open. 

He casts a glance at his down clothes. He’s been given no time frame as to when he would be expected next, and the alarm could go off at any moment. 

There’s no time to shower. Rex pulls your frequency out from under his mattress. The note has worn down, the crease notable through your handwriting, the edges worn from being opened and closed so many times. But the information that resides there, the little calligraphic kiss, has not been compromised. 

A deep breath moves through his lungs as he tries to calm his beating heart. He sits at his little table, turning on the hologram device. It beeps awake, blue light rising out in a spiral. On the simple electronic pad, Rex taps in your number from memory. How could he not have it memorized by this point? 

The number is accepted, and a ball spirals up and down the light as it waits for a connection. As Rex waits for you to pick up. 

It’s 2:45 am. You’re asleep, alone, and you’ve given yourself a break from the performance of femininity for the evening. Swaddled in your weighted blanket and cotton comforter, your cheek is smushed against a pillow, the rest a mess around and under you. Instead of anything silken or linen, delicate and expecting, you’re in an old, ratty t-shirt that you keep to ‘dry your hair with.’ The hair, which was dried that evening with a microfiber towel, is tucked away in a bonnet to preserve both its texture and your sanity come morning. You breathe easily, thanks in part to your dehumidifier, fans, and nasal strip keeping your nostrils open.

There’s a ringing sound, on your family’s farm. You’re… yourself. Or some version of yourself, where you’re beaked and your hair falls to the floor, turning into the wheat that your uncle will harvest come the rise of the autumn moons. And there’s that ringing sound again, melodic and rhythmic coming from the sun. Or is it the wind? You aren’t alone in the wheat field, no, you turn to try and locate who might be with you and–

The ringing is your hologram disc. Bleary eyed, you come into consciousness. Throat and head ache from lack of water. The hologram disc. On your forearms, you grapple for the device, raising it up to see who could possibly be calling you at this hour… Probably Jolie, or maybe Misha with some divine intervention to your weird dream, or maybe it’s that private investigator the museum’s hired, who thinks he’s privy to all your time–

An unknown frequency flashes across the screen. Groaning, you let it fall back on the table as your head falls back into your pillow. 

Consciousness taps you. It’s an unknown number. 

Sitting up, perhaps a little dreamy from sleep still, you answer the call while you reach for your water glass. There’s a few moments, while you’re gulping down water, that you don’t hear anything. 

Then the call connects. 

The hologram flurries as it fully connects, wobbling as the frequencies find their bearings in the old walls of your apartment. And you were right to be a little dreamy– coming out of your device is a little, blue-hued Rex. You can see him from the ribs up, blacks tight against his figure. You press your palms to your eyes, trying to dissipate some of the sleep there. Instead you’re met with the petroleum jelly you’ve slathered yourself in. 

Luckily, you’re still half asleep and have no time to be mortified over your appearance. Not when you’re leaning over to click on your lamp.

On Rex’s end, the call is blank for a few moments, the technology working overtime to try and find a person through the darkness. Then, suddenly, you’re there. Well, it’s your shirt at first. Then you, as you lean back, still trying to get sleep out of your eyes with a finger dipping around your tear duct.

“Rex?” You ask. There’s a roughness to your words, still caught on sleep. 

Your name leaves his lips in a little breath. His heart accelerates, pounding in his chest. 

“I’m sorry it took me so long to call,” Rex says, rubbing his hands over his thighs. The material of his blacks is artificially smooth to his touch. 

“‘S okay,” you say, covering your mouth to stifle a yawn. That dream, the one you can’t remember any longer but yearn for, still clings to you. “What’s up?” 

“Nothing, really. We just got back in from Zakuul.” His heart won’t stop beating so fast. Rex brings a hand up to rub over his chest in a diagonal movement that does little to soothe. This is almost more nerve wracking than seeing you in person. Almost. 

You hum, eyes slowly adjusting to the brightness. Nonetheless, you invite Rex into your life once more, picking up the device and setting it atop one of your pillows. You arrange a few pillows so you can lean up against your headboard. “I’ve never heard of it. What’s it like?” 

“It’s swampland. Real nasty.” Gods, is this classified information? 

“How was the wildlife?” You ask, swiping the last of the sleep from your eyes away. 

“We got attacked by these big spiders—” 

“Oh, ew.” You shiver slightly and rub your arm. “I’m terrified of spiders.” 

“I don’t blame you.” Rex chuckles, lifting his hands up as a sign he would stop talking about it. He spares you the details, spares telling you the relief it was to be killing non-sentient beings. The lack of thought that went into it, the ease of it not sending a shiver down his spine if he thought about it for too long.“There were also these hairy hooved beings. Real bull-like.”

Humming, you let your eyes scan over Rex. Part of you wishes that you could see the room around him, get a glimpse into his own surroundings as he’s nestled into yours. “But you’re in one piece.” 

“I refuse to die in a swamp,” Rex states, hands coming to rest by his stomach. Careful to not cross his arms. 

You smile softly at that. “You know, swamps will mummify people under the right conditions. If it’s cold enough.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah. Learned about it in this book I’m reading.” 

“They still have you posted up at work?” 

He remembers. As if Rex doesn’t replay every moment of your meetings over and over again to make sure he can recall it all perfectly. 

“Yeah. I don’t have to pack my lunch anymore though, they’re letting me leave for it. I was getting tired of eating the same sandwich or salad for lunch everyday.” 

“What were you making?” 

You smile, mostly just because he’s asking. It makes you feel a little silly. “It’s this tomato basil bread from the bakery, which is really the best part of the sandwich. And then it’s greens and little chopped up cherry tomatoes with hot peppers and red onions. And there’s hummus on it. You’d probably like it.” 

“It sounds good,” Rex says, then, “There’s no meat on it.” Meals on the cruisers, while rations, were put together special to ensure that troopers were getting enough of every food group. Even if the fruit requirement was normally a few beige pills. 

“I’ll put chicken on yours if I ever make it for you,” you compromise. “How does that sound?” 

“Sounds good,” Rex says. He pauses. Truly takes in your outfit– a big tshirt and a bonnet, no makeup. You’re still the prettiest girl he’s ever seen. “What time is there?” 

“Oh,” you look off to the side, where your alarm clock flashes red. “It’s 2:51.” 

“In the morning?” 

“Yeah, but it’s okay. I’ve been waiting for you to call me…” 

“Were you sleeping?” 

He sounds so concerned, looks so concerned with his brows pinching together, it makes your heart flip. You slide your fingers under the collar of your shirt for a moment, tugging at it before releasing. “Yeah. But it’s okay. I think I was dreaming about you anyways.” 

The tips of Rex’s ears darken through the hologram, you can imagine they’re turning that cute shade of pink. 

“Really?” He asks. 

You rub your arm, smiling and looking down. “Yeah… at least I think so. I don’t know, I don’t remember my dreams all too often… sometimes my friend, the astrologist, sometimes she hypnotizes me to get me to remember them, but they’re always weird…” 

Rex’s tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip. His heart hasn’t stopped pounding in his chest. 

“What do you dream about?” You ask Rex. 

Rex pauses, glancing to the side, debating if he should lie. His eyes land on his armor, then back up to you. He’s a shit liar. “Nightmares, mostly.” It feels like a lie. He doesn’t have nightmares in your bed. 

Your brows pinch in sympathy. “That’s awful. What are they about?” 

“I don’t remember,” Rex answers truthfully. 

You hum, and leave the subject alone. No point in dwelling on the horrors. “What got you to finally call me?” 

“I finally got…” Rex decides to not tell you that he didn’t have a communication device prior to ten minutes ago. “Got clearance. Making sure everything is untraceable.” 

“Ah. I see.” The exhaustion begins to catch up with you. You yawn, despite yourself, quick to cover it with your hand. “Is it in your clearance to tell me what you’ve been up to today?”

“Uh, yeah. I’ve been having downtime… had to write up this report. But I went into the media library the other day and I found this documentary on Endor. I was going to watch it tonight…” Rex rubs his hand over his head. 

Your eyes light up, brows raising. “Really?” 

“Yeah! Yeah, it’s called… hang on…” Rex reaches for his datapad and unlocks it, scrolling to his media library and opening it up. “It’s called Endor Awakens. It was made a while ago… but I saw it when I was scrolling through the database and thought of you…” 

“You should bring it here and watch it with me instead,” you say, wistfully. Dreamily. With that tinge of sleep. Of want. Your hand slides over the pillow he sits upon, pinky tapping against the hologram disc thrice before your movements still. 

Rex chuckles at that, smiling like a fool. “Yeah, I’d like that.” The datapad clinks back onto the table from where it came.

“Are you able to tell me where you are right now?” You ask, genuinely curious. 

“Not really…” Rex trails off. He’s not quite sure where he is… Somewhere near the Outer Rim, he thinks. Still in Republic territory, but bordering on where the control of the darkness of space turns to the Huttese. “But it would take me a long time to get back to Naboo. Even through hyperdrive.” 

“You’re so brave for using hyperdrive,” you say, slowly sinking down into your bed. Rex watches, as the duvet engulfs you once more. It has a different pattern on it, from what he remembers. 

“Did you get a new blanket?” Rex asks. 

You look down at your comforter, running your hand over it. It’s a soft cream color with little flowers embroidered on it. It makes you feel like a little girl. 

“I just got a new duvet cover. ‘S cotton. Real soft. My pillows match it too.” 

“What happened to your other ones?” 

“Oh. I spilt red wine all over them. And I couldn’t get the stain out, so now they’re at the dry cleaners.”

“Red wine?” 

“I was having a little girls night and we came in here to play in my closet… Ended up spilling a glass of wine tripping over some shoes.” You wrap your arms around your fluffy duvet, holding it under your cheek as you gaze at the hologram. Despite your wishes, your eyelids feel heavy, the calmness of the call washing over you. “When am I going to see you again?” 

 “I don’t know. Soon, I hope.” 

Humming, you nod at that. “I hope so soon too…” 

“Hey,” Rex’s voice has you opening your eyes again. Once they’re open, Rex continues, “I’ll let you go to sleep, alright?” 

“No… just stay on while I fall back asleep,” you mumble. You should turn off the light. Arrange the pillows back so you’re only sleeping on one. But your bed is comfortable. You’re curled around your hologram device, knees tucked and it sits in the open space by your hips. “Tell me about somethin’ boring.” 

Rex swallows. He can’t say no to a request like that. So he settles back in the stiff chair, playing with his dog tags. 

“The fuel for star cruisers is actually stored and transported through carbon-freezing. The rooms that hold the barrels of it, along with the barrels, are made of solid carbonite. You need a special suit to access those areas, and only a few people have them because they’re so difficult to make. They have to be able to withstand the pressure changes too, because the coldness affects the PSI of the area. When we get fresh foods, like fruits and vegetables and meat, that isn’t dehydrated, it’s brought carbon-frozen…” 

He watches as sleep consumes you. As your eyelids flutter shut. As the little smile on your face evens out, as your lips puff up from being smushed against the pillow, before your mouth closes. Rex eventually trails himself off, watching you sleep. He wishes he could reach through and turn off the light, but that technology hasn’t been invented yet. 

Instead, he sits and watches. Until there’s a clamoring outside his room, his brothers talking to each other, that causes the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up. 

“Good night,” he whispers, to not be overheard, before ending the call. He tucks the hologram device along with your note under his pillow again, smoothing out the fabric over it. The footsteps outside his room pad away from him. 

Rex closes his eyes, scolding himself for hanging up so early. Then, he steels himself, and begins putting his armor back on. There’s always something he can be doing for the betterment of the Republic. Isn’t there?

[iamdispleased]

What’s Happening With Lumon, MDR, O&D, and Gemma

Buckle up, cowboys.

Spoilers: Severance, The Lexington Letters

My theory is that Lumon is a sort of shadow government in expansion. The Lumon building is a military base/bunker. While not the only thing Lumon does, Lumon makes weapons, particularly bombs. They probably made or are making nuclear weapons. O&D designs the weapons and run Lumon’s equivalent to the ENIAC. MDR locate where to use the weapons and deploy them, similar to radarmen. I also think Lumon used MDR to cause Gemma’s car wreck.

02/09/25 Edit: I just read Ricken’s book, The You You Are, and it totally decimated my Gemma theory. So, never mind about that.

03/21/24 Edit: LOL.

Petey’s map of the Lumon building heavily resembles a military base or bunker. The technology and aesthetic they use gives me old school military/N.A.S.A. vibes. The way it’s shot when Mark pulls out his locker’s drawer reminds me of a scene in a war movie or flashback— especially with the way his watch looks like a compass.

As I said, MDR are similar to radarmen. Radarmen first appeared during WWII in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. Part of the radarman’s duties was to detect and track vessels through radar equipment, find target locations for attacks (like bombings), and operate the Identification Friend or Foe system, or IFF.

The IFF system, also known as the Mark Identification Friend or Foe system, is an electronic system developed during WWII that military forces used to identify whether an aircraft or vessel detected on radar was friendly or an enemy. This could be why MDR focuses on “scary numbers”. The “scary numbers” represent enemies.

A macrodata refiner’s job description is to “remove impurities from data and reorganize it in its purest form”, and at first I thought MDR was creating atomic bombs specifically, because what is more pure than the atom? But now I could see this as MDR is locating Lumon’s enemies (imperfections) and bombing them (removing them); therefore, making the world/society (data) pure. By ‘pure’, I mean the, “Cleanse the world of our sins,” type pure.

Since radarmen are specifically related to the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, it would make sense as to why Irv is told his outie can swim gracefully and likes the sound of radar, which is what he named his dog after. In the 1970s, the radarman’s duties was split into a few separate jobs. The one MDR seems to resemble the most are Operation Specialist.

O&D design the weapons MDR uses, and seem to be running a machine like the ENIAC. The ENIAC is a big ole computer developed during WWII. It performed calculations for artillery firing tables, the construction of the hydrogen bomb, atomic energy, thermal ignition, and more.

MDR’s file names also clue in on this, with pretty much all of them having events associated with, wars, uprisings and the like.

Pacoima, a file Irv works on, is the name of a neighborhood in Los Angeles. A few screw-ups from radarmen have occurred there, like the 1957 Pacoima mid-air collision.

Moonbeam was the name of a Mustang fighter-bomber aircraft built during WWII.

In the Lexington Letters, Peg, a former MDR employee, thinks that her finishing the Lexington file caused one of Lumon’s competitors trucks to explode, ending with two employees being *burned* alive in the truck and four bystanders’ deaths. The company’s name was Dorner Therapeutics.

I believe Gemma ‘died’ in that accident. The connection to a therapeutics company could be the reason Miss Casey is a wellness councilor.

In 2x02, Mark says that Gemma can’t be alive, because he had to identify her burnt body. My guess is that Gemma’s body was burnt, but Lumon used some sort regenerative technology to heal her. Since Lumon ended up causing Peg to die in a car crash, I wonder if Mark took her job. (Maybe she didn’t die at all, and is in a Miss Casey situation.)

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first major battles of the American Revolutionary War. If the Lexington file involved Gemma’s accident, then that was the start of Mark working for Lumon. It makes sense for the start of Mark’s journey to be titled Lexington, the start of the Revolutionary War.

One final note— the actual severance chip itself looks like a bomb. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are bombs.

And fin.

(I have just started my first rewatch of Severance, and plan to examine it deeper, but I wanted to throw this out there before it’s Too Late.)

tldr: Lumon is a growing shadow government. The Lumon building is a military base/bunker. O&D’s job is to design weapons, while MDR’s job is to locate where to use them and deploy them.

Edit: I rewatched the scene where Mark and Devon are talking in 02x02, and Mark didn’t outrightly say that Gemma’s body burned. He said, “If Ricken died and burned, I’d be sad for you.” I still take this as Gemma’s body burned, though. Mark could have just said, “If Ricken died, I’d be sad for you.” So, the addition of, “… and burned,” feels super specific. Still— my b.

[mariacallous]

Hang onto your stuff. That’s the advice right-to-repair advocates are giving anyone worried about how the tariffs will hit their wallets—and collections of electronic gadgets.

Trade tariffs touch nearly every product, especially when they’re as widespread and sky-high as the ones president Trump announced on April 3. But electronics are especially dependent on worldwide trade. Components used to assemble devices are usually built in manufacturing plants in countries like China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Cambodia, which are now being hit with tariffs of 30 to 50 percent.

While the price increases as a result of this have not yet gone into effect—and are difficult to fully predict—these economic proclamations have already had broad repercussions. The stock market tanked in the days after Trump's announcement due to “extreme fear” in the market, according to CNN, and there have already been delays while companies assess the tariff impact, like the preorder for the recently announced Nintendo Switch 2.

The economic turmoil and uncertainty make the prospect of buying a new device, especially an already pricey smartphone, laptop, or gaming console, seem like it’s going to become a lot more expensive. And if buying something new becomes harder and harder, it makes more sense to keep what you already have going strong.

“Right to repair could not have come sooner,” says Kyle Wiens, CEO of the repairability company iFixit.

Right-to-repair efforts—actions by consumer advocates intended to raise public awareness and force companies to make devices more repairable—have been in the works for decades. In recent years, the push has made great strides. In 2024, the European Union instituted a ruling that requires companies to make devices more repairable. The right to repair has also garnered widespread bipartisan support in the US, even while in the throes of a chaotic federal administration that seems intent on dismantling many of the systems that keep the country running.

Wiens compares the moment to the early days of the Covid pandemic, a time when the future of how people would be able to get the new stuff they wanted looked similarly bleak. In 2020, Wiens wrote for WIRED that the right to repair would help foster resilience in times of uncertainty. As tariffs kick in and a global trade war ignites, the parallels start to feel very similar.

“We don't know what's going to happen,” Wiens says. “So what do we do? Well, repair is just the default.”

Wiens suggests that people should prepare for new device prices to increase by 50 percent or more. If you apply that same logic to the stuff you already have, it means that hanging onto your smartphone or laptop for another couple of years may be a much better investment then trading it in for something new.

"Just expect to keep anything that you have that's durable in any way,” Wiens says. “So durable goods—microwaves, toasters, cell phones, Nintendo Switches, whatever it is, they’re worth 50 percent more now than you thought they were.”

The tariff era will require a shift in how products are produced and reduced. Wiens says he has also been talking to workers at electronics recycling facilities and telling them not to harvest discarded products if they’re still working.

“Hey, whatever you are going to shred, stop shredding it,” Wiens says. “Whatever materials you're going to export, stop exporting it. That product's going to have more value than you thought.”

Despite the doom and gloom that watching the stock market plummet might invoke in our collective psyche, right-to-repair advocates hope this moment helps make the case for keeping devices in working order.

“I don’t feel like the sky is falling,” says Nathan Proctor, who helms the campaign for the right to repair at the consumer advocacy group PIRG. “First of all, Wall Street people are the 13-year-old girls of social commentary. Everything is total drama all the time. Let's not go overboard. Let's see how this plays out.”

Like Wiens, Proctor believes that repair makes society more resilient and will help people get through this where it can.

“It's going to be very disruptive in the short term,” Proctor says. “I'm not sure how long that's going to last or what the impact's going to be. But I do know that a more resilient society is better.”

Leo Gebbie, a principal analyst at the research firm CCS Insights says that another segment of the market that could benefit from higher tariffs are secondhand markets that sell used devices, like Backmarket. They’ve been doing quite well even before the tariffs were announced, with secondhand devices frequently bought and sold within the US. Now, that popularity is likely to increase.

“They are more cost-effective,” Gebbie says. “There is a strong supply of secondhand iPhones within the US, so for US consumers there shouldn't be a need to import those devices from elsewhere and have them subject to tariffs.”

Backmarket in particular seems to be well aware of its place in this trend, as right now it is cheekily offering a Recession Special where customers can use a code (ELON) to save 10 percent on their purchase. However, if demand for secondhand devices goes up, there could be a knock-on effect where more phones being sold in the US could lead to prices being raised across the board—including in European markets that have tended to have stronger demand for used devices than the US.

“Really we will [only] know more once we see prices change,” Gebbie says. “Obviously consumers are then in a position where they have something to react to.”

Rethinking how we repair and replace our devices already has an analogue for how to guide that behavior. The automotive industry (which is bound to feel its own impacts from the tariffs) offers an example of how to care for products long term.

“Do people buy new cars? Sure,” Wiens says. “Do they keep cars for 20 years? Absolutely. Yeah. Does anyone throw away a car because the windshield's broken? No.”

Sadly, even the repair side of things is bound to feel the effects of tariff inflation. Spare parts and tools needed to fix things depend on global manufactures as much as finished products do. Wiens, who runs a business that sells tools meant for repairing devices, says he will also directly feel the effects of the tariffs and be forced to pass the increased cost onto customers. Even then, he hopes that a silver lining in the tariff chaos will be consumers changing their buying habits.

“Let's stop buying cheap crap. Let's have fewer, nicer things, and let's use them for a long time,” Wiens says. “And so then you say, well, if we're going to stop buying new things, what do we do with the stuff? How do we take care of the things that we have? Well, that's where the right-to-repair world comes in."

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Cadillac was founded in 1902 by Henry Leland, who named the company after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who happens to be the founder of Detroit. Just 6 short years later Cadillac brought the idea of interchangeable parts to the automotive industry and laid the ground work for modern mass production of automobiles. As a result, Cadillac became the first American car to win the prestigious Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club of England. After earning such high praise Cadillac adopted the slogan "Standard of the World."

In 1910, Cadillac became the first company to offer a passenger car with a fully enclosed cabin, a major change from the vehicles of the time. Two years after that, in 1912, the company released the Model Thirty, the car with no crank, which was the first production car to feature an electronic self-starter, ignition, and lighting. By dropping the crank starter, Cadillac opened the door to women drivers, and was able to bring the prestigious Dewar trophy back to Detroit, making Cadillac the only car manufacturer to claim the award twice. Nearly three years later, Cadillac brought the world the V-type, water-cooled, eight cylinder (V8) engine, which would become the signature of the Cadillac brand.

The Roaring 20's was not only a big decade for the country but was also important for Cadillac. In 1926, Cadillac branched out and offered customers more than 500 color combinations to choose from. As the famous Henry Ford saying goes, you can have any color you want, as long as it's black. Cadillac changed this mentality. That same year, the company brought in designer Harley Earl to design the 1927 LaSalle convertible coupe, which made the car the first to be designed from a designer's perspective rather than an engineering one. What Earl created was elegant, with flowing lines, chrome-plate fixtures, and an overarching design philosophy, that made the Cadillac brand known for beauty and luxury.

In the middle of the 1930's a midst The Great Depression, while most companies and families were struggling Cadillac created the first V-type 16-cylinder engine for use in a passenger car. This engine would go on to be one of the most iconic engines in Cadillac history. Shortly thereafter, Cadillac released a V12 version to give buyers something between the already popular V8 and new V16 engines.

Cadillac went quiet in the 1941's when they suspended automobile production to help produce planes for the war. After the war ended Cadillac adapted some of the aircraft technology and created the first ever tailfin on a vehicle. This feature is now found on almost every car and was one of the biggest reasons that Cadillac was given the first ever Car of the Year award in 1949.

The tailfin took off rather quickly and by the mid to late 1950's it was being featured heavily in the design of nearly every vehicle. Also in the 50's Cadillac began developing power steering, which helped the automaker take third, tenth, and eleventh places at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After Cadillac's stunning "victories" power steering quickly became the new standard of the industry.

Small but meaningful innovations filled the 1960's for Cadillac. In 1963, the company made front seatbelts standard in their vehicles, which lead to the eventual passing of a federal law requiring front seatbelts in all vehicles just one year later. Then, in 1964, Cadillac brought to market automatically controlled headlamps and redefines luxury with Comfort Control, the industry's first thermostatically controlled heating, venting, and air-conditioning system. Over the next few years, Cadillac introduced variable-ratio power steering, electric seat warmers, and stereo radio.

While the 1960's were fairly quiet, with only some smaller, luxury items being introduced, Cadillac started out 1970 with a major bang. Cadillac opened the decade by unveiling the 400 horsepower, 8.2-liter engine Eldorado. With its completely redesigned axle this model boasted the highest torque capacity of any passenger car available at the time. Closing out the decade, Cadillac brought to market the 1978 Seville which used onboard microprocessors in its digital display. This started the era of the computerized automobile.

Throughout the 1980's Cadillac laid low, working on some new technologies that would come to market in the early parts of the 1990's. The first feature to debut was an electronic traction control system on front-wheel drive vehicles. Cadillac began offering this as a standard feature on the 1990 Cadillac Allante. This same year Cadillac would go on to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Two years later, in 1992, the company developed a feature that allowed the engine to run for up to 50 miles without coolant, and a unique induction system for near-perfect fuel distribution. The Seville Touring Sedan of that year would become known as the "Cadillac of the Year" thanks to features such as an all electronically controlled Powertrain, traction control, anti-lock brakes and speed-sensitive suspension. Closing out the decade, Cadillac introduced the, now iconic, Escalade SUV.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS AS 'THE STANDARD OF THE WORLD'

Coming up on the 100th anniversary of the Cadillac brand, the company had to do something big or the decade, and they did not disappoint. Cadillac started off the 200's by introducing the F-22 stealth aircraft inspired Cien Concept, which ended up winning a few design awards. Later in the decade, in 2008, Cadillac expanded the Escalade SUV by making it the world's first full-size luxury hybrid SUV. In the same year, the company redeveloped the CTS Sedan. This redesign has been incredibly popular and even won the coveted 2008 Car of the Year award. A short year later, the performance edition CTS-V, becomes the fasted V8 production sedan in the world, establishing a record lap time of 7:59:32 on Germany's famed Nürburgring.

[sngl-led-auto-lights]

Why do car headlights work without the keys in the ignition? Why has it been designed that way? Most of the electronics don't, what purpose is there in allowing the headlights to work other than making it easy to get a flat battery?

Car headlights are designed to work ​​without the ignition on for critical safety, legal, and practical reasons​​—despite the risk of battery drain. Here’s why this design persists and how modern cars mitigate downsides:

🛠️ ​​Key Reasons for Ignition-Independent Headlights​​

​​Emergency & Safety Use Cases​​

​​Roadside Emergencies​​: Change a tire, inspect damage, or signal distress in the dark without draining the engine.

​​Parked Visibility​​: Warn oncoming traffic if stalled in a hazardous location (e.g., fog, curves, low-visibility areas).

​​Personal Safety​​: Illuminate surroundings when entering/exiting the vehicle at night.

​​Legal Requirements​​

UNECE Regulation 48 (adopted globally) mandates independent exterior light controls for hazards and low beams.

In the EU/US, ​​parking lights​​ (which share circuits with headlights) must operate without ignition to comply with road safety laws.

​​Practical Functionality​​

​​Detachable Key Systems​​: Older cars with physical keys allowed drivers to remove the key but keep lights on for tasks (e.g., loading groceries).

​​Power Accessory Mode​​: Many modern cars support "ACC" mode (ignition off, lights/radio on).

​​Anti-Theft/Stealth Benefits​​

​​"Bulb Check"​​: Mechanics/testing facilities need to operate lights during inspections without starting the engine.

Leaving lights on briefly can deter break-ins in dimly lit areas.

🔋 ​​Why Other Electronics Don't Work​​

Most systems (radio, infotainment, power windows) drain the battery faster or aren’t safety-critical:

​​Higher Power Draw​​: Infotainment (10–30A) vs. LED headlights (2–8A).

​​Non-Essential​​: Entertainment systems aren’t needed in emergencies.

⚠️ ​​Mitigating Battery Drain: Modern Solutions​​

​​Automatic Headlight Shutoff​​: Most cars made after ~2005 turn off lights after 5–30 minutes (e.g., Toyota "Lights-Off," GM "Battery Saver").

​​Audible Alarms​​: Chimes if headlights are on when the driver’s door opens.

​​LED Upgrades​​: Draw ~75% less power than halogens (e.g., 20W vs. 55W).

​​Deep-Sleep Mode​​: Some vehicles (e.g., Tesla) disable non-critical loads if voltage drops below 11.8V.

🚗 ​​Notable Exceptions​​

​​Hybrids/EVs​​: Headlights run off the accessory battery (separate from the main drive battery), reducing stall risk.

​​Keyless-Entry Cars​​: Often require the key fob to be inside the car to power lights.

💡 Why Designers Accept This "Flaw"

The risk of occasional battery drain is outweighed by ​​life-saving utility​​—especially in emergencies where seconds count. As one engineer put it: "We design for the stalled car on a dark highway first, not the driver who forgets lights."

​​Pro Tip​​: If your car lacks auto-off:

Stick a note on your dash until muscle memory develops.

Use ​​parking lights​​ (if available) instead of headlights for short stops—they draw less power.

Modern designs prioritize safety, but battery protection has improved drastically—making this "legacy quirk" far less risky than it once was. 🔋🔧

[boxboxblog]

How Do F1 Cars Work?: Power, Transmit, Suspend

Alright part 2 everyone. Let's go.

1.Power Units

You have probably heard lots of yammering about power unit components before. Things like 'they took on too many and now have a grid penalty' are common to hear. But what is the power unit, and what does that mean?

So the power unit refers to the engine system that helps power the car. The modern F1 car is a hybrid, a mix between a typical Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Energy Recover Systems (ERS). The modern F1 ICE is a 1.6 liter V6 turbocharged engine and can rev up to 15,000 RPM. It uses gasoline and generates a majority of the power. I've explained how it works in an older post, but briefly it compresses air and fuel and ignites it to create combustion which generates energy. The turbocharger is a part of the ICE that helps condense air more, in turn forcing the engine to create more energy.

The ERS has two components. The first is Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K), which recovers energy from braking, stores it in the battery (which stores energy from the two units), and can be used as a boost to power. The second is Motor Generator Unit- Heat (MGU-H). This unit recovers heat energy from the turbocharger and converts it to electrical energy. It can either charge the battery directly or assist the ICE.

When teams get in trouble taking too many power units it essentially means they have replaced something like the MGU-H too many times. There is a cap for how many times you can replace a power unit component, but with the addition of more races every year the FIA is under pressure to increase this limit. Almost every single car takes the penalty at some point.

2. Transmission

The transmission is the semi-automatic gear box inside of F1 cars, which for them is 8-speed. It is located at the rear of the car and connects to the power unit. This is a part of the car that is famous for having issues, and often when a drivers car retires it is due to a gear box failure. With paddle shifters located under the steering wheel, drivers can change the gear in which they are driving. Different gears effect the traction, grip, fuel economy, and speed of the car and are used strategically throughout the race. Part of the transmission is the differential. The differential distributes power between the rear wheels when cornering, allowing the inside tire to rotate slower than the outside tire. The final majorly important part of the transmission is the clutch. In F1 the clutch, which is a device that connects the engine and transmission to the car is automated and controlled by electronics. It is usually used when starting the race or leaving the pit lane.

Grip levels, cornering speeds, and straight-line speeds all play a crucial role in gear ratio calculations. The teams have to find the perfect balance between acceleration, top speed, and adaptability. The team’s engineers use advanced simulations and data analysis to calculate the optimal ratios for each gear. They also take into account factors like tire wear and fuel consumption to fine-tune their calculations. All of this information can be gathered from electronic data gatherers inside of the car, running simulations, and also the drivers reporting themselves. Its why radio communication is so important in F1. This decision can make or break a race, and we have seen drivers lose due to an incorrect gear decision.

3. Suspension

The suspension system works to keep the tires in contact with the road and helps absorb the shocks F1 cars experience. This is created through a variety of springs, shock absorbers, sway bars, etc. Without the suspension, the chassis would be experiencing the full extent of the shaking and pressure, which would do damage to the car and be very painful for the driver. Anytime you see a driver shaking like crazy in the car, it usually means there is something off with the suspension. Suspension also allows the force of the bumps and the kinetic energy to be stored by a spring, which is then compressed, absorbing the energy transferred by that bump in the road and allowing all four tires to grip the road. The biggest difference between street car suspension and F1 suspension is that in an F1 car each tire is independently sprung, which means that they move on their own, useful around corners.

In F1 cars they have a pushrod or pullrod suspension. These systems transfer pressure from the wheels to the suspension dampers and springs. In a push-rod system, the rocker arms are placed at the highest point in the car. As such, the rod is under pressure as it transfers compression forces upwards into the rocker arms. In a pull-rod system however, the rocker arms are located between the upper and lower control arms, at the center of the car This means every time it hits a bump or curb, the wheel pulls on the spring which causes the pull-rod to go up and outwards from the chassis. Both are regularly used suspension types.

Teams regularly change how their suspension is functioning, and it is by far one of the most tweaked systems on the car. Truly, a weak suspension can make any car one of the slowest cars on the grid. So next time you hear a. driver complain about how slow they are on the straights, or how much their back hurts, it usually means their suspension is not where it should be.

That's all for this post, next one should be about braking, the various electronics/sensors, cooling systems, and wrap up of how everything works together.

Cheers,

-B

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[laughter-of-the-rose]

I am starting to feel as though spirituality is closely connected to the realisation of one's dependancy upon al-Haqq. To realise that one is entirely and completely dependent upon Allah swt while He is entirely independent of us.

It's an oft repeated teaching in Islam and Allah repeats the sentiment many times throughout the Qur'an. However, it's so easily overlooked without meditating on the depth and breadth of this sentiment. So easily do we get wrapped up in our daily lives that we think it is our will, our strength that has allowed us to do such menial things as breath or lift a glass of water. Yet even these are dependent upon the will of Allah swt.

I feel this concept is even easier to meditate upon within our modern scientific understanding of ecosystems. We start to learn at a very young age how the world is interconnected. That the clouds, the wind, the sea, the rain, the rivers, the valleys, the plants, the fish, even our settlements are a delicately balanced system. I sometimes meditate that our dependency goes so deep as if the electro magnetic force that holds the electrons around each of our atomic nuclei were to cease then we would simply dissolve into the air.

Yet we each take all of this for granted. We expect these apparent norms to continue indefinitely without comprehension of their change. Ultimately, we are not in control of whether they stay static nor if they change. Only Allah swt, the Haqq (truth), the Hayy (living) has this control.

To meditate upon this concept opens a well of spirituality within me, of which I have yet to find its depths.

All of this said, I have taken a conscious step backward from direct enquiry into sufi metaphysics. Some time ago I came across a variety of sources that warn against studying this topic without the guidance of a sincere teacher. It took me some time to quell my own arrogance that I may not be able to understand it by myself, afterall, it was being shown the work of Ibn Arabi by someone unexpectedly dear to me that ignited a tsunami that filled the well of spirituality of mine that was previously dried and empty. So I'm taking care to accept my shortcomings and approach the topic slowly. Inshallah I will be blessed to meet a great teacher and build a strong relationship with them.

If you're reading this I hope you found something beneficial regardless of your beliefs. I pray that we each and everyone of us are guided to the truth: the singular everlasting reality. Ameen.

[blowflyfag]

WWF RAW MAGAZINE: JUNE 2001

BLOWING IT UP!

Federation Pyrotechs Have a Blast

By Keith Elliot Greenberg

[The lights go down as the pyro goes up on the opening of SmackDown! With 120 airbursts just to start the show, the mood and excitement are set for the upcoming matches on the show.] 

In early 1999, the World Wrestling Federation decided to host an inferno match between Undertaker and Kane. The battle would be staged in a  ring surrounded by flames, and end when one of the Superstars ignited.

Steven Dobo, president of Zenith Pyrotechnics, had a month to prepare the spectacular stunt. The combustible heap would rise between four or five feet, he determined. Ringside camera men were warned to exercise caution before focusing on the fiery confrontation, and the front row was moved back so spectators would not leave the arena scorched by the sustained heat. 

Perhaps the most difficult part for Dobo–whose Deer Park, New York, company has been blowing things up for the World Wrestling Federation since 1994–was convincing the state and municipality to sanction the unusual event. “It was a little strange,” he recalls, “Sitting there, telling them, ‘Look, we’re going to use four fuel lines to feed natural gas to the ring, the ring will be engulfed, one of the Superstars is going to be set on fire, and everything will be fine.’”

Somehow, Dobo managed to persuade the authorities. And, once the heated altercation ended, he and his staff of pyrotechnicians instantly knew they’d done a masterful job. 

“In other professions, you’re never sure how well you’ve done,” he observes. We know right away. With pyro, you don’t have to wait two days for your boss to tap you on the back and say, ‘Nice work.’ The audience tells us immediately.”

Zenith Pyrotechnics has been getting a lot of positive reinforcement lately. In the pyrotechnic universe, according to Dobo, the World Wrestling Federation is the largest touring production, and the XFL’s display dwarf those of the NFL.

“I love watching people jump out of their sears.” The best part is when you know something is going to explode and they don’t.” says Ron Bleggi, the pyrotechnic crew chief for the World Wrestling Federation events, referring to the surprise and shock fans experience during an unexpected pyro burst.

Each World Wrestling Federation show has its own pyrotechnic flavor. “SmackDown! Starts with a cool-looking, beautiful opening,” Bleggi explains. “The airbursts are synchronized and look very technical. Raw Is War is organized chaos. It seems like all hell is breaking loose, even though we’ve programmed every move. Pay-per-view is the pinnacle of our pyro productions. We go all out. Every opening is different, depending on the theme of the show. The idea is to make fans’ jaws drop.”

The effects include airburst (there are more than 120 in every SmackDown! opening), flameballs, “flame projectors” rising in columns, and the stunning concussion mortars that rattle the arena. 

Bleggi maintains that Zenith boasts the most advanced pyro digital system in the world: “I can program a pyrotechnic displays involving 200 effects with one hit of the button.”

Elaborates Dobo, “There are no fuses or matches being lit. Everything is done electronically.”

At the inaugural XFL game, the pyrotechnics started on the 10-yard line, igniting down the field to the goal line, then up through the stands to the area above the TitanTron. At Giants Stadium-home of the New York/New Jersey Hitmen–fans are seated in a section behind the TitanTron, preventing Zenith from blowing up things there. Instead, explosives are launched from six positions in the end zone-in front of the TitanTron-and 20 spots in the upper deck above the screen. 

“Before an XFL game, we have several hundred devices ignited in a seven-second time frame,” Dobo says. “It’s different from a regular fireworks display, where you wait all night for the finale. We give it to you at the start of the show.”

In the World Wrestling Federation., many of the Superstars cue their own pyro. Kane, for instance, lowers his arms to spark his signature explosions. Kurt Angle accomplishes the same end by raising his hands. Too Cool’s fireworks start when Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty Too Hotty begin their dance. 

X-Pac’s entrance works because of its simplicity: two comets forming an “X”-shape. Tazz leaves the dressing room to pyrotechnic smoke devices, consistent with his tough, menacing style. Before they pull out their tables, Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley energize the crowd by charging the ring to the accompaniment of six rockets, and more than 50 separate effects in three seconds. Chris Jericho deliberately hesitates on his way to the ring, building tension as his music pauses–before the explosions begin.

Chyna’s pyro is fired from a bazooka, requiring her to practice beforehand at each arena, in order to prevent an unplanned volley into the stands. 

“We’re part of an overall experience,” says Dobo, whose other clients have included the VH-1 Fashion Awards, U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, New York’s Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration, and such performers as Mary J. Blige, Boys II Men, Phish, Brandy and Slipknot. “Your senses are not just being assaulted by the pyro, but the music, the images on the TitanTron, the other people cheering, and The Rock screaming, ‘If you smell what The Rock is cookin’.’”

At 25 years of age, Bleggi–who studied theatrical lighting in college, and grew up playing with Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan action figures–believes that he brings a youthful perspective to an ever-evolving genre: “I Know what I like, so I know what the fans like. They want things bigger, brighter and louder.”

But safety is as much a priority as mesmerizing the crowd. The company is licensed with local authorities and the Federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Technicians are stationed at each firing position to keep fans at a safe distance. In the unlikely event that something does go wrong, there are code words–like “cease-fire”--delivered via walkie-talkie to halt the sizzling spectacle. 

And, perhaps more than anything else, the pyrotechs intimately learn the dimensions of each building, engaging in lengthy discourses with local fire marshals about pushing the limit, but not exceeding it. 

“If we fire too high, we could see the ceiling on fire,” Bleggi notes. “If we fire too low, it’ll look like garbage. Fortunately for us and for everyone in the arena, we don’t expect either to happen.”

[arjunvib]

How does an engine contribute to a car's powertrain?

The powertrain in a vehicle is the system responsible for generating power and delivering it to the wheels to propel the vehicle forward. The operation of a powertrain can vary depending on whether the vehicle is powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE) or an electric motor (in the case of electric vehicles). Here's a general overview of how a powertrain works in both types of vehicles:

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicle - Combustion Process: In an ICE vehicle, the powertrain starts with the combustion process in the engine. Fuel (gasoline or diesel) mixes with air in the combustion chamber and is ignited by spark plugs (in gasoline engines) or compression (in diesel engines).

Power Generation: The combustion process generates energy in the form of mechanical power, causing pistons to move up and down within the cylinders of the engine. This motion drives the crankshaft, converting linear motion into rotational motion.

Transmission: The rotational motion from the crankshaft is transmitted to the transmission, which consists of gears that allow the driver to select different ratios (speeds). This enables the engine to operate efficiently across a range of vehicle speeds.

Drivetrain: The transmission sends power to the drivetrain components, including the driveshaft, differential, and axles, which transfer power to the wheels. The differential allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds, enabling smooth turns.

Wheel Movement: The power transmitted through the drivetrain causes the wheels to rotate, propelling the vehicle forward or backward depending on the gear selection and throttle input from the driver.

Electric Vehicle (EV) -

Battery Pack: The primary source of power for the EV, storing electricity in chemical form.Powers the electric motor and provides electricity for all electronic devices within the EV.

Battery Management System (BMS): Monitors battery cell conditions, including voltage, current, temperature, and state of charge (SoC).It protects the battery against overcharging, deep discharging, and overheating and helps balance the charge across cells. Ensures optimal performance and longevity of the battery by regulating its environment.

Inverter: Converts DC from the battery pack into AC to drive the electric motor.Adjusts the frequency and amplitude of the AC output to control the motor’s speed and torque. Critical for translating electrical energy into mechanical energy efficiently.

Onboard Charger: Facilitates the conversion of external AC (from the grid) to DC to charge the battery pack. Integrated within the vehicle, allowing for charging from standard electrical outlets or specialized EV charging stations. Manages charging rate based on battery status to ensure safe and efficient charging.

DC-DC Converter: Steps down the high-voltage DC from the battery pack to the lower-voltage DC needed for the vehicle's auxiliary systems, such as lighting, infotainment, and climate control. Ensures compatibility between the high-voltage battery system and low-voltage electronic components.

Electric Motor: Converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to propel the vehicle. It can be of various types, such as induction motors or permanent magnet synchronous motors, each offering different efficiencies and characteristics. Typically provides instant torque, resulting in rapid acceleration.

Vehicle Control Unit (VCU): The central computer or electronic control unit (ECU) that governs the EV's systems. Processes inputs from the vehicle’s sensors and driver inputs to manage power delivery, regenerative braking, and vehicle dynamics. Ensures optimal performance, energy efficiency, and safety.

Power Distribution Unit (PDU): Manages electrical power distribution from the battery to the EV’s various systems. Ensures that components such as the electric motor, onboard charger, and DC-DC converter receive the power they need to operate efficiently. Protects the vehicle's electrical systems by regulating current flow and preventing electrical faults.

In both ICE vehicles and EVs, the powertrain's components work together to convert energy into motion, enabling the vehicle to move efficiently and effectively. However, the specific technologies and processes involved differ significantly between the two propulsion systems.

[bigredbomb]

8/28/23 - Notes on the Gallery Space

QUOTE: "Systems are a kind of P.R. which, among other things, push the rather odious idea of progress. Progress can be defined as what happens when you eliminate the opposition."

COMMENT:

These two sentences in the reading interested me because they seem almost contradicting at a glance. The author states "systems" (the opposition, the limitations we are confined to in a space) ignite the spark of creativity, allowing us to progress and create new ways of displaying artwork. Yet, the author also states progress is what happens when the opposition is eliminated. To me, the author is saying that innovation occurs when we try to solve a problem, in this case the problem is exhibiting art work in a way that doesn't feel claustrophobic (salon style) or one where the works shown feel out of reach from each other (modern day white cube style). This limitation forces artists to think about how they want their work to be seen by the public eye before even laying down a stroke on their canvas. The display style should also reinforce the concept through all means possible to create a sense artifice between the work shown and the space it exists in.

It's quite the mission, to make something that is technically interesting, conceptually structural, and ingeniously presented. I believe here is where the opposition aforementioned needs to be transformed into a support character. This is where artists collaborate with curators and galleries to create exhibitions that feel genuine, not just a collection of images on a wall with circular colored stickers next to each work. Perhaps a curator could even select a work or series from an artist's portfolio to focus on, designing an environment that would best communicate what the artist is trying to say. I've personally always thought about this, specifically when it comes to digital art.

3. QUESTION: As digital art seems to be a medium on the rise for both commercial (illustration, graphic design) and more artistically expressive types of works, do you think digital artists should make an effort to publicly display (excluding social media) work made with this medium? Or are they better off leaving their work to only exist in cyberspace?

Digital art gets the short end of the stick in my experience. If there isn't some sort of highly advanced, giant, system of displaying the work (think about visuals at music festivals, installations that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of electronics to produce) then the art just feels like a passing ad on a television screen. Being that digital art mostly exists online, or in printed form, this is definitely something I want to figure out because of the love I have for the medium itself. I just really don't like any examples I've seen (so far) of it being presented for the public eye (aside from social media, blogs, and websites).

Maurizio Gomez.

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[mariacallous]

Health care systems do their best to safeguard against breaches. But all of us could be doing more to protect our confidential health data. That starts with understanding when this data is most at risk.

When a patient called to ask if she could email me a CT report and imaging, I wanted to help. But I heard the loud whirring of a smoothie or espresso machine and figured she was at a public café. She confirmed that she was calling from a coffee shop.

I asked her to use our hospital portal from home to protect her privacy. She said she wasn’t sure she remembered her login details and didn’t want to wait. She also didn’t understand why her records wouldn’t be protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

“I’m not surprised,” says Nichole Sweeney, general counsel and chief privacy officer for Chesapeake Regional Information System for Patients, a nonprofit health information exchange for several US states.

“The public may not realize that consumer-generated data is not protected. What she does with her own information is not secure. The federal government doesn’t regulate the health data itself. It’s the actual facility, medical office, or hospital—under HIPAA, a covered entity under that designation.”

Many of us also have devices at home that collect and store personal data about our health. I asked Sweeney if that data is covered if my doctor asked me to use the device.

She explains, “If I get my blood pressure taken at a clinic or any medical office, that is covered, and your personal data is protected. But if you take readings at home, this is not HIPAA. It’s not regulated. Those new wearable trackers? Those are not covered either. You’re on your own.”

So what else is not regulated? People. Any person using their own data is not covered under HIPAA.

Matt Fisher worked as a health care corporate and regulatory attorney. He is now general counsel for Carium, a virtual care platform. He believes people need more education about HIPAA and its limitations.

“It works effectively for what it was designed to do within the traditional health care industry. The issue is the assumption that it protects all information regardless of setting,” he says. “The fact is, as an individual who holds their own information HIPAA does not apply at all.”

Beyond hospitals and private medical offices, who is actually covered? Subcontractors. These include third-party associates, health plans, insurance companies, and individual physician providers. Labs, clinics, and any other medical offices that bill for their services are also expected to be HIPAA-compliant. Notably, this does not include social media businesses.

Even doctors, notoriously busy and working long hours, don’t always have the luxury of using patient portals to communicate effectively. They’re more likely to text or email colleagues with potentially sensitive information, all on personal devices that may or may not be locked down. But their goal is fast and efficient patient care, not necessarily data security.

Zubin Damania, who is a doctor and goes by ZDoggMD on social media, uses satire on his YouTube channel to educate viewers and poke fun at the health care system. His more than 488,000 YouTube subscribers no doubt include health care employees, but you don’t have to be one to appreciate parodies like “EHR State of Mind” (EHR is short for electronic health records), which is set to Alicia Keys’ hit “Empire State of Mind,” or “Readmission,” a play on R. Kelly’s “Ignition.” Damania hopes to inspire change in the health care tech sector so, as he puts it, “doctors can just be doctors.” Another target of his satire? Massive health data portals like Epic. He and other physicians believe the design of these systems can actually hinder security if medical personnel find it more restrictive than care-focused.

“Epic and others like it were not designed for use by clinicians on the front line trying to help patients,” he says. “These systems are giant billing platforms. It’s varying fields of data to be walled off.”

Sadly, Epic and others like it are all we have when it comes to storing patient data safely, and despite their flaws, these portals are still the safest available option for doctors and patients. Health care facilities are strictly regulated to receive federal government funding, and they must pass safety certifications, including security protections for patient data. They also seek to maintain industry recognition in order to stay credible and competitive. Want to make a hospital exec nervous? Tell them the Joint Commission is coming by for a visit. They need those gold star approval ratings.

Some patients are under the misconception that these systems are not really that secure. But in the past few years, data breaches have been rare (though they do happen). Hackers frequently target hospitals and health care systems for ransomware attacks, but it doesn’t pay for hackers to demand money when robust backups exist. While the industry has made some progress, the problem of individuals taking personal risks continues.

A former Department of Homeland Security adviser and a doctor, Chris Pierson is CEO of BlackCloak, a company that specializes in personal digital protection from financial fraud, cybercrime, reputational damage, and identity theft. He believes vigilance is key for doctors and patients alike.

Protect Your Entire Family

“I don’t think people realize that once someone is able to get just one piece of information, that can lead to opening others’ private data,” Pierson says. “It’s no longer the original individual on their computer, but additional family members’ identity that can be compromised.”

He explains that even if one organization keeps your data safe, another associated one may not, and that’s where criminals will strike. 

“It’s not just medical offices. It’s your pharmacy, labs, insurance company, anyone who keeps personal information. That has real value, and selling it is the priority.”

Victims of identity theft can be revictimized when personal information gets into multiple hands. A street address and verified phone number can go far, especially if the phone contains many contacts, who then become vulnerable to attack themselves.

“If you get Mom’s info, you can get the child’s as well. An ID card, social security, all of it, and then they have the ability to collect false medical claims or just extortion. It’s a two for one.”

Two-Factor Authentication Is Worth the Effort

Pierson mentions how critically important it is to use a multistep authentication system. Your level of protection goes up considerably just by using secure passwords and one-time authentication codes.

Thankfully, setting all this up is easier than it sounds. Apps on your phone or tablet can help. Google Authenticator, when paired with a service that supports authenticator apps, provides a six-digit number that changes every few seconds and can keep people out of your data even if they have your username and password. Other companies ask users to enter an SMS code as the second authentication factor, in addition to a password, although SMS codes are less secure than authenticator apps. Either approach is better than none—unless a hacker is in physical possession of your phone, they are not getting access.

Social Media and Tracking

Social media is becoming a popular way for health care providers and entrepreneurs to connect with the public—and often to sell them treatments or advice. These Instagram or TikTok accounts may offer tips from someone in the medical industry, which can appeal to those facing rising health care costs and difficulties accessing care. But an internet doctor’s background or popularity does not ensure that they observe strong privacy guidelines or secure their transactions.

My Instagram is flooded with offers promising everything from better sleep to improved sexual health. It’s nice to have options, but that help and any information you receive from those accounts or send to them isn’t covered under HIPAA. Any time you pay out of your own pocket for health-related items or services, or on a direct-to-consumer health app, there is no recourse if someone steals your personal information or shares it.

Along with social media and direct-to-consumer health options comes large-scale data tracking. Outside of official medical practices, you should view surveillance as an expectation, rather than an exception.

Ask Questions

When you sign up for any service, whether through a new doctor’s patient portal or an online supplement shop, ask how your data is stored and where it goes. Read the privacy policies and settings, even briefly, to find out what options you have to restrict the sale or reuse of your data. Check the default settings to make sure you’re not giving away too much information. Find out if the service or platform offers two-factor authentication and set that up if it’s available. Know that it’s rare for anyone to need your social security number, no matter what a customer service agent says. A birth date and address is usually enough.

Pierson and others agree that we all need to consider security from several angles and do our best to protect ourselves and our loved ones. “The sophistication of identity attacks will always evolve and change. Remember, they only have to get it right once, but we have to guess right all of the time.”

[jamesvince9898]

Unlocking Security Anytime: Reliable Auto Locksmith & Car Key Replacement Services by PavLock 24/7 Locksmith

Introduction Security and convenience are paramount when it comes to your vehicle. Whether you’re stranded outside your car in the middle of the night or you've misplaced your keys just before heading to work, having a dependable locksmith can make all the difference. PavLock 24/7 Locksmith stands at the intersection of urgency and expertise, providing round-the-clock services to handle any vehicle lockout or car key replacement needs. With fast response times, expert technicians, and a commitment to customer satisfaction, PavLock 24/7 Locksmith is the trusted name when people search for an auto locksmith near me or need car key replacement near me.

The Critical Role of Automotive Locksmith Services

Modern vehicles are equipped with increasingly complex locking mechanisms and electronic key systems. As a result, resolving automotive lockouts or key issues requires advanced tools and in-depth knowledge. PavLock 24/7 Locksmith is fully equipped to handle every make and model, offering a seamless solution that minimizes inconvenience and protects your vehicle’s integrity.

When you’re searching for an auto locksmith near me, it’s more than just about unlocking a door—it’s about having peace of mind that the job will be handled professionally and efficiently. Our licensed locksmiths are trained to work quickly without causing damage, ensuring your vehicle remains unharmed and fully functional.

Car Lockout Services: Fast and Damage-Free

One of the most common reasons people need an auto locksmith is being locked out of their car. Whether you’ve left your keys in the ignition, misplaced them during errands, or experienced a malfunction with your key fob, PavLock 24/7 Locksmith is your immediate solution.

Our rapid response team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When time is critical, especially in isolated or unsafe locations, our professionals arrive swiftly, equipped with the tools necessary to unlock your car without causing scratches, broken windows, or any structural damage.

So when you're frantically Googling “auto locksmith near me” during an emergency, know that PavLock will show up fast, work smart, and get you back on the road safely.

Car Key Replacement: Precision and Compatibility

Losing or breaking a car key is more than just a hassle—it can completely derail your schedule. Modern car keys are far from simple; they include transponder chips, electronic sensors, and advanced security codes. A standard hardware store cannot replicate them accurately. PavLock 24/7 Locksmith specializes in car key replacement near me solutions that are customized for your vehicle’s make, model, and security features.

Whether it’s a traditional key, remote key, key fob, or smart key, our mobile units can cut and program a new key on-site. We ensure full compatibility with your car’s electronic system, saving you the trip to a dealership—and a hefty price tag.

From duplication to full replacement, our services are seamless, affordable, and 100% guaranteed to function as intended.

Broken Key Extraction and Ignition Repair

Sometimes the problem isn’t the key—it’s the lock or ignition itself. Keys can snap off inside the ignition cylinder, refuse to turn, or become completely unresponsive due to wear or internal damage. In such cases, you need more than a standard locksmith; you need a specialist.

PavLock 24/7 Locksmith offers professional broken key extraction and ignition repair services. Our technicians have the skills to safely remove jammed or broken keys and repair or replace the ignition system without requiring a tow to the dealership. Every situation is approached with care, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum efficiency.

Transponder Key Programming On the Spot

Transponder keys have become a security standard for most vehicles, but programming them requires technical equipment and knowledge. If your transponder key stops working or you’ve misplaced your only copy, PavLock 24/7 Locksmith can program a new one right where you are.

Using OEM-compliant diagnostic tools, we program or reprogram your transponder key, syncing it with your vehicle’s immobilizer system. This service is essential not only for convenience but for ensuring your vehicle's security features are fully operational. When looking for a quick, accurate car key replacement near me, PavLock ensures your transponder keys are working perfectly with zero hassle.

Emergency Mobile Locksmith Service Anytime, Anywhere

Emergencies don’t follow business hours—and neither do we. Our 24/7 availability means we’re always ready to respond to your needs, whether you’re locked out in the rain at midnight or need a key replaced before heading to the airport. Every minute counts, and our team is committed to arriving promptly, equipped with everything necessary to complete the job on the first visit.

Our mobile locksmith units are strategically located across regions to cut down response times. Each vehicle is fully stocked with key blanks, cutting machines, diagnostic tools, and software to serve you on-site without delay.

Coverage for All Major Vehicle Brands

PavLock 24/7 Locksmith is proud to offer services that cover a wide range of automotive manufacturers, including but not limited to:

Toyota

Honda

Ford

Chevrolet

BMW

Audi

Nissan

Hyundai

Mercedes-Benz

Volkswagen

Whether you drive a compact sedan, a luxury SUV, or a commercial truck, our technicians are trained to handle the complexities of each brand’s lock and key systems. This ensures that when you need a reliable auto locksmith near me, you get expert service tailored specifically to your vehicle type.

The Advantages of Choosing PavLock 24/7 Locksmith

When you choose PavLock, you’re not just getting a locksmith—you’re investing in reliable service and long-term peace of mind. Here’s what sets us apart:

24/7 Availability: We are on call at all hours, including weekends and holidays.

Fast Response Time: Our mobile units reach you quickly wherever you are.

Certified Technicians: Each locksmith is licensed, insured, and trained in advanced automotive systems.

Affordable Pricing: Transparent rates with no hidden fees.

Advanced Tools and Software: State-of-the-art equipment ensures precision and efficiency.

Comprehensive Service: From simple lockouts to high-security key programming, we cover it all.

Safeguarding the Future: Preventative Tips for Vehicle Owners

While PavLock 24/7 Locksmith is always ready to help, taking proactive steps can reduce the chances of automotive key issues:

Duplicate Your Key: Always have a spare and keep it in a safe, accessible place.

Check Your Battery: Key fobs rely on battery power—replace them annually.

Avoid Forcing Keys: If your key doesn't turn easily, call us instead of forcing it.

Keep Contact Info Handy: Save our number in your phone for emergencies.

Routine Maintenance: Have your ignition and key mechanisms checked during vehicle servicing.

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Why does the Royal Enfield BS4 motorcycle have AHO (automatic headlights on) with its headlights directly connected to the battery instead of turning on the headlights when the engine is started?

​​Why Royal Enfield BS4 Motorcycles Use AHO (Automatic Headlights On) with Direct Battery Connection​​

The Royal Enfield Himalayan BS4 and other models in the lineup use an ​​Automatic Headlights On (AHO)​​ system with headlights directly connected to the battery rather than activating only when the engine starts. This design choice stems from a combination of ​​safety regulations​​, ​​practical engineering decisions​​, and ​​user-centric functionality​​. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

​​1. Compliance with Safety Regulations​​

​​Mandatory Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)​​: Many countries, including India, require motorcycles to have ​​always-on headlights​​ (or DRLs) to improve visibility and reduce daytime accidents. The AHO system ensures compliance without relying on rider input.

​​Global Standards​​: Royal Enfield designs motorcycles for international markets, where AHO is often legally mandated (e.g., Europe’s ECE regulations). Direct battery wiring simplifies adherence to these standards.

​​2. Enhanced Safety and Visibility​​

​​Always-On Headlights​​: By keeping headlights active regardless of ignition status, the motorcycle remains visible to other road users even if the engine stalls or the ignition is off. This reduces collision risks in low-light conditions or sudden stops.

​​No Dependency on Ignition Switches​​: Direct battery connection ensures lights function even if the ignition system fails, providing redundancy in emergencies.

​​3. Simplified Electrical Design​​

​​Reduced Wiring Complexity​​: Connecting headlights directly to the battery eliminates the need for relays or switches tied to the ignition circuit. This lowers production costs and minimizes points of failure (e.g., faulty relays).

​​Reliability in Harsh Conditions​​: The Himalayan BS4 is designed for rugged terrain. A simpler electrical system is less prone to damage from vibrations, moisture, or dust—critical for adventure touring.

​​4. User Experience and Practicality​​

​​No Manual Intervention​​: Riders don’t need to remember to turn on headlights, reducing human error. This is especially useful for novice riders or in fast-paced traffic.

​​Battery Drain Mitigation​​: While headlights draw power from the battery, the motorcycle’s alternator replenishes it during operation. Modern batteries and charging systems are robust enough to handle this load.

​​5. Historical Design Philosophy​​

​​Legacy of Analog Systems​​: The original Himalayan BS4 emphasized simplicity and durability over high-tech features. Direct wiring aligns with its "fix-it-anywhere" ethos, allowing easy repairs in remote areas without specialized tools.

​​Transition to Modern Systems​​: Newer models (e.g., Himalayan 450) integrate advanced electronics like ride-by-wire throttles and adaptive lighting, but the BS4 retains its analog roots for reliability.

​​Why Not Ignition-Activated Headlights?​​

​​Factor ​​​​Direct Battery (AHO)​​​​Ignition-Activated​​​​ Regulatory Compliance ​​Guaranteed adherence to DRL laws Risk of non-compliance if rider forgets​​ Failure Resistance​ ​Works even with ignition failure Lights fail if ignition circuit breaks​​ Complexity​​Minimal wiring, fewer components Requires relays/switches

​​User Feedback and Trade-offs​​

​​Positive Reception​​: Many riders appreciate the AHO system for its safety benefits, especially in mountainous or fog-prone regions like the Himalayas.

​​Battery Concerns​​: Some users worry about drain, but this is rare unless the alternator fails—a scenario addressed by regular maintenance.

​​Conclusion​​

Royal Enfield’s decision to wire headlights directly to the battery in the BS4 models prioritizes ​​safety​​, ​​regulatory compliance​​, and ​​mechanical simplicity​​. While newer motorcycles adopt adaptive lighting and ignition-linked systems, the BS4’s AHO reflects its design ethos: rugged reliability for adventure riders who value function over frills.

For riders concerned about battery life, ensuring proper alternator function and avoiding prolonged use of accessories while parked can mitigate risks.