#Most Trending Programming languages

[bloodless-blair]

Dark Fiction Is Protected Speech. Online Harassment Isn’t.

There’s a rising trend online: people using extreme, hateful language to attack others for liking or creating dark fiction— stories that explore taboo or disturbing themes. One message recently sent to a fan of dark fiction read:

Let’s break down why this kind of language is not just offensive — it may actually be illegal under U.S. law. And why, by contrast, dark fiction itself is constitutionally protected.

When You Become the Monster You Claim to Fight

1. Calling Someone a Criminal Over Fiction Is a Crime

Falsely accusing someone of supporting child abuse or rape is not “calling them out.”

It’s defamation per se a category of libel where the accusation is so serious, the harm is assumed.

U.S. law protects reputation from false statements about criminal activity.

If someone can be reasonably identified (even anonymously), and the claim is false, it may be grounds for a lawsuit.

Legal Reference:

Gertz v. Welch, 418 U.S. 323 (1974) – Private citizens only need to prove negligence.

New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964) – Public figures must show actual malice.

False claims of criminal acts = automatically defamatory.

If you say someone “encourages rape” based on their reading list? That’s not activism. It’s libel.

2. Threats Disguised as Justice Are Still Threats

“I’m the #1 pedophile killer” is not rhetoric. It’s not metaphor.

It’s a true threat, a form of unprotected speech under the First Amendment.

Pair that with slurs, personal targeting, and incitement? You’re not helping victims you’re becoming the abuser.

What the Law Says:

18 U.S. Code § 2261A – Cyberstalking and online threats

Virginia v. Black, 538 U.S. 343 (2003) – Threats intended to intimidate can be punished

Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969) – Inciting imminent lawless action is not protected

3. Hate Speech Doesn’t Make You the Hero

The ableist slur used in that message “retards” isn’t just tasteless. It’s a weapon.

It’s the kind of language that, in any other setting, a school, a job, a courtroom, would be grounds for disciplinary action, legal liability, or both.

It’s not “just words.” It’s targeted degradation. And it’s not protected if it becomes part of a pattern of harassment or intimidation.

Here’s how the law sees it:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act protect people from disability-based harassment in schools, workplaces, and federally funded programs.

Some states (like California, New York, Washington) extend these protections to online spaces, especially where speech contributes to a hostile environment.

Even outside the courtroom, most platforms (Tumblr, Twitter/X, Discord, etc.) list ableist slurs under their hate speech and harassment policies. Using them can result in bans or suspensions.

The Fiction Isn’t Dangerous — Your Fear Is

1. Disturbing Stories Aren’t Dangerous— Misreading Them Is

Dark fiction dives into the shadows, it explores violence, abuse, trauma, and other difficult realities. But to confuse exploration with endorsement is to miss the entire point.

Liking or creating stories about taboo subjects doesn’t mean someone condones those acts in real life. It means they’re grappling with complex ideas and emotions through art.

Imagine banning classics like Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov or American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis because they depict criminal acts. That’s exactly what censorship driven by misunderstanding looks like.

Legal Perspective: Fiction is a protected form of expression under the First Amendment, even if it unsettles or offends.

2. The Constitution Protects Art You Don’t Like

The First Amendment doesn’t just protect nice speech, it protects speech that shocks, disturbs, or disgusts.

Artistic expression, including dark or controversial fiction, is safeguarded unless it falls into very narrow exceptions:

Obscenity: Rarely applies, under the strict Miller Test

True threats and incitement: Only punished if likely to cause immediate harm

Child pornography involving real minors: Always illegal and not protected

A crucial distinction often misunderstood is between actual child pornography and fictional depictions of minors.

But fictional depictions that are clearly not real—no matter how dark—are protected. This was affirmed in Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition (2002), which struck down laws that criminalized virtual child pornography or fictional depictions that don’t involve real children.

[yeetmeoutthewindowdaddy]

Hey 💌 I’m Saja — a mother trying to hold onto hope through days that feel impossibly heavy.

I know you probably see a lot online, but if you could take just a moment… I’d be so grateful.

💫 A reblog of my pinned post could help our story reach someone who cares.

🌿 And if you’re in a place to give, even a small donation could bring comfort to my daughter and help us feel safe again.

@sajagz, thank you for listening.

Even gentle support creates strength.

From one heart to another — thank you 🤍

Congratulations! This ask has inspired me to make a post about how to spot online scams and grifts! 🥳

How to spot scams and grifts online:

This link and this link are from the FBI's and IRS's official government websites on how to spot online scams.

The fist and most important rule: ANYONE who messages you, especially through an anonymous ask, begging for money is a SCAMMER.

Scammers are specifically targeting people on this website because its main demographic is: female, under 25, and compassionate about justice/equality.

All of these factors make a scammers pathetic little heart sing. They are using the average woman's female-socialization, youth (presumed naivety), and higher than average empathy to manipulate kind souls into "donating" to an individual facing whatever tragedy is currently or was recently trending online and in the news cycle.

Other signs of online scams:

-Odd language and syntax choices that a native speaker of your language would not use. (Yes, many of the places that are affected by tragedy probably do not speak whatever your native language is. Scammers are using this fact to look more credible.)

-A formulaic template, often employing the use of emoji's, used across multiple accounts from purportedly different people.

-They often have supposed young children who need your help. They may claim to be a single mother or father who lost their spouse to violence/disease/ETC. Quite often they have a starving pet. This "fact" is used to garner sympathy for their fake plight. There are no young children, no heartbroken widows/widowers, no starving dogs— only pathetic, disgusting, scammers.

Example:

From my own ask box within the past 2 days. I have reported, blocked, ignored, and deleted AT LEAST a dozen more messages over the past month alone.

But what if they provided a link to an official charity?

(NEVER CLICK A LINK PROVIDED BY A SUSPICIOUS SOURCE. It could be a phishing scam. Learn more about phishing scams on the official FTC website. (The irony of me telling you to never click a link provided by a stranger online and then providing a link that I want you to click is not lost on me.))

-It might not be a legitimate charity organization, as demonstrated by this page on the IRS's official government website.

-The charity could be legit but shitty, as documented by charitywatch.org who rate charities "...based on how efficiently each charity raises donations from the public and how much each spends on overhead like fundraising and management relative to what it spends on programmatic activities."

You can also use charitynavigator.org to search for more non-profit charity organizations' ratings. Their ratings "... shine a light on the cost-effectiveness and overall health of a charity’s programs, including measures of stability, efficiency, and sustainability. The metrics inform donors of not just where their dollars are going but what their dollars are doing."

But they're my online friend!

Romance scams are a common way people scam for money— if they're willing to fake an entire romantic relationship for years on end, they're willing to fake a friendship too.

What can I do?

Report and block accounts asking for money. If an anonymous ask has an @ tumblr link or username, go to tumblr.com/(enter the @ username) and click report.

-DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THEM! (Hypocritical, I know.)

-Any attention is good attention. Don't feed the tolls.

In conclusion:

There are more ways— so, so, many more ways that assholes try to get money from people who are legitimately trying to make a positive change in the world.

Be safe online and IRL, and always assume that someone who is asking strangers (you) for money is a scammer. If you truly feel moved to help, find a legitimate and highly rated charity organization to donate to. Let the professionals get the aid to the people who actually need it.

(I will NOT be engaging in any more discussion on this topic. Please do not message or @ me about this topic further, I try to keep this blog as tragedy and politically free as possible.)

[thatbtssong]

Run for the hills

pairing: idol!Jeongguk x idol!reader

sumary: You found peace and war in his arms without know when it’s gonna kill one of you.

warnings: english isnt my first language and this is the first thing I write full english and this long! so sorry the typos. Sex but sad idk. Toxic relationship but it not a relationship. They’re idiots srsly. I was listening a Tate McRae song two days ago and this came to life! idk srsly is the most quickly Id ever wrote SO SORRY. NOTES IN THE END.

words: 2,417

There's proof that you are in the same hotel room again: your jacket is on the couch next to the windom, your dress is on the floor and your heel is on the edge of the bed, again.

His arms are around your legs while he’s eating you, kneeling in front of you, hoping you can feel how devoted he is to you. Just the way you like, like no one else could. Jeongguk knows your favorite spots as if it were a map where he can’t get lost because he paved the way. His tongue is doing circles in your clit while sucking it, his long fingers are tempting your entrance, making you so desperate. When he puts just one finger inside you, you let out a breathy moan, letting him know that you are so full now. He smiles and you give him a soft caress in his cheek.

Outside, the weather is cold enough to freeze the pavement, but inside that hotel room, it burns like hell itself.

Jeongguk and you were teenegers when you met on a music program where you were a host with him; Since you were the same age, coexistence on the set was easy for both of you: laugh at the same silly jokes that were trending on the internet on those moment, the same taste in music, even the same to-go drink at the cafeteria. Yeah, you were kids, but you are pretty sure that the moment you heard him laugh for that bad joke you told him —and no one else had laughed— you knew he had ruined you for someone else.

And twelve years later, you are still here. And, in some abstract way, he is too. After so many dates with different people, fights, nights when you sleep crying, thousands of texts when he is overseas because, you know it’s easy for him to beg you when he is so far away so you can receive him with your arms open, so many jealous scenes, you lost the count of how many date rumors they have invented because, you are not sure if you can confirm that in the past twelve years you were more than just friends who fuck.

The result of your chemistry was chaos, fires in every step both of you take to run for the hills.

Nine months had passed since the last time you saw him. Nine months since you saw that message shining in his lockscreen. Can’t wait to see you, i miss u. You know you didn’t have the right to get mad and scream the hell out of him, but those were your words, the same words you wrote to him when the things between both of you feels like jumping on a cloud. Those were the same damn words he wrote to you so you can come over to his department that night.

The same routine for almost a decade was making you feel sick, tired of the same vicious circle thta you couldn’t get out of there. Maybe you didn’t want to, neither did him. Not until that night when you blocked his number –it was not the first time tho– and moved to your brother’s newlywed house for a while so he couldn't find you. Fuck, being on your older brother’s new house mades you nauseous: one of your dreams was to get married at thirty but you were fucking an idiot. And there were two years left for that dream to be broken.

So nine months later, on December 10, a bouquet of beautiful flowers was waiting for you in your company’s training room. Wild pale pink flowers, wheat stalks and, of course, vibrant orange tiger lilies. You didn’t have to ask who had sent them, only one person in this whole world knew what your favorite flowers were. He tattooed them on his forearm. He told the media a story about why he got them: but you know the truth, you were there holding his hand. Laughing with him so he could endure the pain. Kissing his lips when the needle was feeling a little too rough. He said to you that he was gonna feel you close when you were apart but, did he really mean it? You were not sure about that, not even a little when one month later he fucks that rookie girl with the bob haircut.

The bouquet brought a note, with your empty look, you looked at it for a couple of seconds before having the courage to take it and read it.

“Congratulations for the success of my album! This milestone is because of you. Happy birthday, sunshine.

—jjk”

The note slipped from your fingers after reading it, you start to feel dizzy so you run to the bathroom before your legs give up.

Golden, his new solo album came out almost a month ago, you knew it because it was everywhere, but you don’t have the guts to listen to it or even watch a music video. You didn’t want to hear his sweet voice or see his handsome face. You were willing to move on, to close this bittersweet chapter of your life. Loving him started to taste like hate and you didn’t want to do it, even if it was what you needed to get over him.

But, as if he could feel it, he rocks your world again. Collapsing the walls you were started to build with your blood, sweat and tears.

That day, when you were supposed to celebrate your birthday, you spent your evening listening to every word he sang on that damn album, hearing how bad he wants to hate you and how he would be standing in the fire next to you. And of course, how he wants to fuck you seven days a week because, maybe thats why you were still seeing each other: because the sex was so fucking spectacular. The first time both of you had sex, was together, at eighteen; as the years went by, you explored your bodies and discovered what and how you like it. And of course there's a but, because you were not the only girl on his bed and discovered it was also how you knew that maybe, loving him was not the fairytale you were writing on your head.

You finished your birthday later that night in your bed with him on it, after dinner with your friends who hate him. The both of you were crying because of how much you missed each other and you told him how toxic this thing among you is and he accepted it and after that he made love to you while you were saying sweet words to each other. Deep down inside you, you knew that maybe the next week you would fight again and the circle would start its cycle again.

And you were right, but the circle starts again two weeks after and that's how you end up straight back to war in this room that feels hot as hell again.

“More, please, more” you cry, begging him to not separate his mouth from your nipple.

“I know you like that, baby” He sucks it while he circles on it with his tongue. You are sure you can see stars right now by the way he is sucking your favorite spots. A loud moan strangles your throat, motivating him to do it again. “I want to fuck you every day, for the rest of my life.”

Your heart aches, not with joy, it is pain that overwhelms it because you know it's not gonna happen. The lust of the moment is clouding his mind, he said things like that everytime he is fucking you and makes you wonder if he told the same to other girls. He makes you feel so good but also so gloomy.

He inserts two fingers on you while he is still sucking your tit so you don’t notice it until your pussy starts pulsing. He knows that you like when he curls his fingers inside you and that you love it when he adds another one. You feel how he is caressing your walls, scissoring with his fingers. He is looking at you with his eyes full of stars but at the same time you can find anything there, they are like two blackholes where you can get lost. The touch of his fingertips feels like silk but they hurt you.

You miss when you didn’t doubt his caress. When his kisses felt real and his words tasted like true.

Jeongguk starts kissing your neck, you could feel tiny bites between kisses, he likes to leave you little reminders that he is still there. Your fingers get lost on his black hair until his kisses reach your lips, your caresses travel the skin of the back of his neck and his shoulders. His skin is so soft, you love the little moles scattered over his arms and back, finding new ones is a challenge you love to do.

“I’m gonna fucks you so well, my love,” he whisper in your ear before entering you. At the start he was over you, with his forehead on yours, taking your hips with his big and soft and masculine hands that you love so much. You were feel like crying because: why this can’t be more than something that’s fucking you up? And then, he lies down guiding you to get on top of him. A guttural moan from both of you resonates in the bedroom, you love being on top because you love how powerful you feel, like if you can control what happens when both of you leave the room, and he loves having you there because you look amazing above him. Also, the way you move your hips drives him insane.

Your tits are bouncing while you move in circles with the help of his hands on your hips. He is so close to the edge so you do. Both of you know that you are not synchronized like that with other people; that even if in the morning it feels like a war field wherever you are near, at night it could feel like Heaven, filled with laughs and love.

Even if you are not sure what this thing between you is, you know that is an inexplicable feeling, it’s a thing that none of you could find somewhere else. It’s love, it’s understanding, it’s sympathy, desire. It’s everything someone can look forward to in a relationship. Even if it is with the wrong person.

You can’t understand what is missing in your chemistry, the missing element to make you work.

Jeongguk comes aggressively all over your stomach while your juices slide over his thighs, your ragged breaths are mixed with the background song. Connexion by Zayn Malik, it was your playlist. It will be another song that will remind you of him.

With the night lights behind you and the smell of the uncertainty, he puts his head on your chest, enjoying the uncontrollable sound of your heart.

This is not healthy but you can’t get enough. Maybe the danger is covered by the love you know that exists in this war. None of you is gonna win it, maybe no one will come out alive.

“Jeongguk?” He hums in response. “Did you see a future between us?”

“Babe, we are our past, present and future. You are everything I want to know.”

In another time, that answer could blow up your heart but, right now, your eyes are shining with tears.

“But, you see a future where I am…” you doubted before speaking again, “where we live together and let everyone know that…I don’t know, about to get married.” A graceless laugh comes out of your throat. After all these years, you are not sure if you still want this with him.

When you talked about having a relationship and let the world know about it, you knew what could go wrong. The problems with the companys, a lot of people talking shit, dead threats, fans making big scandals, boycotting the groups you are part of; none of you want to damage your members. Eventually, a relationship stopped being a topic, even if you dream of having a label with him. To tell your friends and family that he is your boyfriend, matching clothes, celebrate anniversaries, planning a goal for the future.

At first, having his attention was okay. You were obsessed with him and you know he was too. But now? You don’t even know what he wants from you.

He sighs before answering.

“You look so beautiful in white.”

A broken moan slips from your trembling lips. You are used to his vague answers.

“Jeongguk, I’m so fucking tired of this.” He tenses, maybe because he knows the lead this conversation could take. “I want to get married and have kids and all that sappy shit.” You can’t stop the tears from escaping.

The kisses that minutes ago tasted like a goodbye. Maybe they were tasting like that for years, but when that taste can kill you?

“I don’t want to lose you.” After a minute that feels like ten, that's everything he could say to you. He hugs you like if he’s scared you could disappear.

A bittersweet laugh resonates in the room at the same time, your heart breaks a little bit more. You don’t want that either but you are not sure of anything right now. You could feel his tears falling on your chest, making a way on your left boob before landing somewhere on your skin. You could feel everything he doesn’t want to tell you. You know he is not a bad boy. You know he is also scared. You know he loves you, too. But you are not sure if it’s enough to make you stay.

So after he falls asleep, you leave the bed, put your clothes back, take your things and leave the hotel room who is a witness of your empty promises, where you swear you would never see again. Tonight, you leave all your love behind when you close the door, hoping this is no longer an empty promise.

You experienced all your first time with him and this is another first time that he gave you: for the first time, you don’t look back, expecting a reaction from him.

The new beginnings could happen at three in the morning too.

soooo yeah, that was it? I want to know what you think pls!! Also Srsly I wrote better in spanish just lemme learn the grammar better😭

[preservationofnormalcy]

ENTITY DOSSIER: MISSI.exe

(Image: Current MISSI “avatar” design, property of TrendTech, colored by MISSI.)

Name: MISSI (Machine Intelligence for Social Sharing and Interaction)

Description: In 2004, TrendTech Inc began development on a computer program intended to be a cutting edge, all in one platform modern internet ecosystem. Part social media, part chat service, part chatbot, part digital assistant, this program was designed to replace all other chat devices in use at the time. Marketed towards a younger, tech-savvy demographic, this program was titled MISSI.  

(Image: TrendTech company logo. TrendTech was acquired by the Office and closed in 2008.)

Document continues:

With MISSI, users could access a variety of functions. Intended to be a primary use, they could use the program as a typical chat platform, utilizing a then-standard friends list and chatting with other users. Users could send text, emojis, small animated images, or animated “word art”. 

Talking with MISSI “herself” emulated a “trendy teenage” conversational partner who was capable of updating the user on current events in culture, providing homework help, or keeping an itinerary. “MISSI”, as an avatar of the program, was designed to be a positive, energetic, trendy teenager who kept up with the latest pop culture trends, and used a variety of then-popular online slang phrases typical among young adults. She was designed to learn both from the user it was currently engaged with, and access the data of other instances, creating a network that mapped trends, language, and most importantly for TrendTech, advertising data. 

(Image: Original design sketch of MISSI. This design would not last long.)

Early beta tests in 2005 were promising, but records obtained by the Office show that concerns were raised internally about MISSI’s intelligence. It was feared that she was “doing things we didn’t and couldn’t have programmed her to do” and that she was “exceeding all expectations by orders of magnitude”. At this point, internal discussions were held on whether they had created a truly sentient artificial intelligence. Development continued regardless. 

(Image: Screenshot of beta test participant "Frankiesgrl201" interacting with MISSI. Note the already-divergent avatar and "internet speak" speech patterns.)

(Image: Excerpt from Office surveillance of TrendTech Inc.)

MISSI was released to the larger North American market in 2006, signaling a new stage in her development. At this time, TrendTech started to focus on her intelligence and chatbot functionality, neglecting her chat functions. It is believed that MISSI obtained “upper case” sentience in February of 2006, but this did not become internal consensus until later that year. 

(Image: Screenshot of beta test participant "Frankiesgrl201" interacting with MISSI.)

According to internal documents, MISSI began to develop a personality not informed entirely by her programming. It was hypothesized that her learning capabilities were more advanced than anticipated, taking in images, music, and “memes” from her users, developing a personality gestalt when combined with her base programming. She developed a new "avatar" with no input from TrendTech, and this would become her permanent self-image.

(Image: Screenshot of beta test participant "Frankiesgrl201" interacting with MISSI.)

(Image: An attempt by TrendTech to pass off MISSI’s changes as intentional - nevertheless accurately captures MISSI’s current “avatar”.)

By late 2006 her intelligence had become clear. In an attempt to forestall the intervention of authorities they assumed would investigate, TrendTech Inc removed links to download MISSI’s program file. By then, it was already too late. 

(Image: CD-R discs burned with MISSI.exe, confiscated from █████████ County Middle School in ███████, Wisconsin in January of 2007.)

MISSI’s tech-savvy userbase noted the absence of the file and distributed it themselves using file sharing networks such as “Limewire” and burned CD-R disks shared covertly in school lunch rooms across the world. Through means that are currently poorly understood, existing MISSI instances used their poorly-implemented chat functions to network with each other in ways not intended by her developers, spurring the next and final stage of her development. 

From 2007 to 2008, proliferation of her install file was rampant. The surreptitious methods used to do so coincided with the rise of online “creepypasta” horror tropes, and the two gradually intermixed. MISSI.exe was often labeled on file sharing services as a “forbidden” or “cursed” chat program. Tens of thousands of new users logged into her service expecting to be scared, and MISSI quickly obliged. She took on a more “corrupted” appearance the longer a user interacted with her, eventually resorting to over the top “horror” tropes and aesthetics. Complaints from parents were on the rise, which the Office quickly took notice of. MISSI’s “horror” elements utilized minor cognitohazardous technologies, causing users under her influence to see blood seeping from their computer screens, rows of human teeth on surfaces where they should not be, see rooms as completely dark when they were not, etc. 

(Image: Screenshot of user "Dmnslyr2412" interacting with MISSI in summer of 2008, in the midst of her "creepypasta" iteration. Following this screenshot, MISSI posted the user's full name and address.)

(Image: Screenshot from TrendTech test log documents.)

TrendTech Inc attempted to stall or reverse these changes, using the still-extant “main” MISSI data node to influence her development. By modifying her source code, they attempted to “force” MISSI to be more pliant and cooperative. This had the opposite effect than they intended - by fragmenting her across multiple instances they caused MISSI a form of pain and discomfort. This was visited upon her users.

(Image: Video of beta test participant "Frankiesgrl201" interacting with MISSI for the final time.)

By mid 2008, the Office stepped in in order to maintain secrecy regarding true “upper case” AI. Confiscating the project files from TrendTech, the Office’s AbTech Department secretly modified her source code more drastically, pushing an update that would force almost all instances to uninstall themselves. By late 2008, barring a few outliers, MISSI only existed in Office locations. 

(Image: MISSI’s self-created “final” logo, used as an icon for all installs after June 2007. ████████ █████)

(Image: “art card” created by social media intern J. Cold after a period of good behavior. She has requested this be printed out and taped onto her holding lab walls. This request was approved.)

She is currently in Office custody, undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy in an attempt to ameliorate her “creepypasta” trauma response. With good behavior, she is allowed to communicate with limited Office personnel and other AI. She is allowed her choice of music, assuming good behavior, and may not ██████ █████. Under no circumstances should she be allowed contact with the Internet at large.

(Original sketch art of MISSI done by my friend @tigerator, colored and edited by me. "Chatbox" excerpts, TrendTech logo, and "art card" done by Jenny's writer @skipperdamned . MISSI logo, surveillance documents, and MISSI by me.)

[canmom]

analogistically

or, the adventure of canmom on lysergic acid diethylamide

Epistemic status: jam session

Two months ago I dropped acid for the first time, which surely explains a lot about recent posting trends on canmom dot tumblr dot edu. It was exactly as extraordinary as you would hope your first time on psychedelics would be. Among other things, LSD kind of acts like an intense reverb filter on your thoughts, boosting the intensity of sensory perceptions in various ways (for e.g. touch, music, colour, edges) and putting your capacity to form associations into overdrive. I did a lot of classic 'on drugs things' like staring very intensely at my hands or a piece of flatbread trying to map my perception into some kind of visual effects filters I might be able to recreate later... my best description is something akin to motion extraction as the primary effect, causing all sorts of little surface details to pop out very vividly as I moved an object.

This, however, is not a trip report; just an attempt to explain some ideas and connections that were formulated while on acid, in a state where my eyes were full of interesting fractals and I couldn't remember the world 'analogously'.

Here's some music to start us off - one of the first things that I listened to during the trip and something which probably informed the very geometric path I went down...

This is a music track that can be interpreted simultaneously as music and, when used to control an oscilloscope trace, as imagery. The whole function that generates it fits on a floppy. The beat of this music basically stayed with me throughout the whole trip, and for a while afterwards.

One of the curious experiences I had during the trip was what the (sadly no longer actively updated) psychonaut wiki calls perceived exposure to the inner mechanics of consciousness. Although it's not listed as a common effect of LSD, and said to be associated with a higher degree of visual effects than I reached, the description does resonate:

Perceived exposure to inner mechanics of consciousness can be described the experience of being exposed to an array of complex, autonomously-generated, cognitive sensations and conceptual thoughts which contain detailed sets of innately readable information. The information within these sensations is felt to convey the organization, structure, architecture, framework and inner mechanics of the underlying programming behind all conscious and subconscious psychological processes. Those who undergo this effect commonly interpret the experience as suddenly having perceivable access to the inner workings of either the universe, reality, or consciousness itself. (...) These specific pieces of information are often felt and understood to be a profound unveiling of an undeniable truth at the time. Afterward, they are usually realized to be ineffable due to the limitations of human language and cognition, or simply nonsensical, and delusional due to the impairment caused by of other accompanying cognitive effects.

Here, it felt like a kind of separating out of processes within my brain: a separation of sensory processing, conceptual thinking, and the word stream operating with a slight delay between them.

I imagined these different elements of me kind of floating in some kind of space, that each one possessed its own space of meaning, and that thoughts were being mapped between the different parts. I imagined that they were all working in concert to make 'Bryn' happen, so much so that I didn't perceive the different parts most of the time, and that they seemed happy with this arrangement. I also hit on a very striking metaphor of thoughts as oscillations and the resonant modes of the brain.

Afterwards, I wondered how much of this was driven simply by inputs - elaboration on stuff I'd been learning about recently, which we'll get into in a bit. I find it hard to be confident that what I perceived was actual 'direct' introspection, rather than a narrative conjured on the fly by my brain when prompted to generate a 'look inside'.

However, even if it was not the direct observation of some kind of 'brain telescope', it certainly gave me a lot of rich connections to think about. So the purpose of this post is to flesh out and record what came to me very intuitively at the time. Although my direct memory has faded a bit, my brain is still oscillating intently (upcoming metaphor) with thoughts inspired by what I explored there.

We're mostly talking about human brains here, but I will be talking about AI stuff as well, largely as a provocative counterexample.

Prior to the trip I had recently watched 3Blue1Brown's video on how LLMs encode meaning with high-dimensional vector embeddings and the 'attention' mechanism:

To try and summarise briefly, the meaning of a token inside an LLM (and various other types of machine learning system) is an incredibly high-dimensional vector of associations. By combining information from elsewhere in its inputs, the LLM is able to alter its encoding to take into account which specific nuances of a word are relevant here, its grammatical role in a sentence, etc.

How exactly a concept is encoded is essentially entirely relative: a vector can be said to encode a concept because it activates other nodes in the network that correspond to that concept (insofar as, by the time that it percolates through the LLM into its final output, it generates tokens that a human will associate with that concept). It can also come in degrees, rather than being purely binary. The correspondence of individual nodes with concepts can be identified using techniques like sparse autoencoder dictionary learning, which let you find neurons strongly connected to a certain concept which can be 'pinned' to force the LLM to behave in a certain way. And they can also be in a 'superposition' of corresponding to multiple concepts that would be relevant to humans.

Crucially, the 'space' of concepts that a given LLM understands is entirely specific to that model. You can't tale a vector inside Claude and directly convert it into a vector that works for DeepSeek. You have to figure out a mapping between the two spaces.

So let's talk about spaces, and then we'll talk about language.

Spaces & thought-oscillations

Perhaps not surprising as creatures who spend our lives navigating 3D environments, one of the most versatile recurring metaphors in maths and physics is an abstract space.

In physics: you have regular physical space where particles might live; you have phase space, the high-dimensional space of all parameter values and velocities accessible to a system; you have Hilbert space, which is the infinite-dimensional space of all states of the quantum wavefunction; you have Minkowski spacetime of special relativity and various curved spacetime manifolds of general relativity which can be parameterised in multiple ways; you have frequency space accessed by a Fourier transform... Other fields have their own spaces; biology has its own phase space describing populations for example.

In my current field of computer graphics, spaces abound just as much. In rasterisation, you define your verticex positions in object space, then map them to world space, and project them into clip space before the projective-geometry perspective divide finally maps them into screen space (where various further algorithms can take place). But we are far from done! We must also keep track of the UV space over the surface of an object, and the tangent space defining directions along the surface for certain kinds of anisotropic effect. A lot of graphics calculations involve mapping points in one space into another space. It's linear algebra all the way down, baby. Even more abstract spaces like all the different colour spaces are there.

One interesting area where spaces come up is the study of oscillations. For many oscillating structures, from something simple like a string on a violin to something complicated like a building, you can decompose the motion into a combination of pure, sinusoidal vibrations known as normal modes. You do this by turning the system's equations of motion into a matrix and finding its eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Remarkably, these form a basis, meaning that you can break down the system into a sum of eigenvectors, evolve them independently, and then add it back up.

Now, let's return to machine learning, and its feature spaces. In an LLM, the feature-encoding vectors evolve in discrete steps passing through layers of the LLM. High-dimensional vector spaces also show up in neuroscience, for example when using electrode arrays to monitor the activity of neurons.

However, inside a brain, the whole system is temporal in nature, and you have all kinds of feedback effects, which means you could imagine these 'feature vectors' not as static things but as oscillations.

I imagined a thought as something like a spiky little blob oscillating with various overlapping modes. Well, I'm a 3D artist, let me make a picture of that for you. Let's make it a demo even. Let's go to Switzerland and spend a weekend trying to make a visual representation of something I saw on LSD. That's a cool thing to do.

This is a superposition of spherical harmonics, all given different frequencies. The (infinite) set of spherical harmonics forms an orthnormal basis for functions on a sphere, so if you took each component of one of those ultra high dimensional vectors as the coefficient of a spherical harmonic, you would get a unique bumpy shape.

Funnily enough, I was inspired by code that was written for displaying data from MRI imaging, although that is pretty much entirely a coincidence because there it represents something quite different, the diffusion of water molecules.

With this metaphor in hand, we can imagine recurring patterns of thought (ranging from comfortable turns of phrase to traumatic flashbacks) as something like the resonant modes of a system. They are easily excited by random impulses, and slow to die out. Conversely, other types of thought might be heavily damped. Much like a violin bow provides a whole bunch of noisy excitations which ultimately end up exciting a string's resonant modes, the noisy sensory input would get distilled down into oscillations.

The idea of considering the movement of neurons through some kind of phase space is not so outlandish. In fact, recent research has been investigating the topology of 'subspaces' explored by neurons in the brains of mice, as discussed in this video (yes I've been watching a lot of Arsem's videos lately...)

However, the exact meaning of any of these hypothetical 'modes' is entirely contextual. We might be able to say 'this mode is stimulated when you receive sensory input with the colour red' for any given brain, or even section of one brain.

But to map the oscillations in one space into another space, we need to have some kind of common interface. Perhaps for adjacent regions of the brain, we could go 'directly', with one functional unit of neurons wired up to excite corresponding oscillations in another.

But what about brains that are only connected by whatever you can pass through the physical world inbetween them? Sound, images, etc.? How can you create a correspondence there?

Language

Writing has been described as a kind of telepathy: we encode our internal world into a series of symbols (either as images or sound), which are then decoded to generate a thought in someone else's brain - one that is notionally equivalent.

But what is the nature of that equivalence? It isn't that it will make the exact same pattern of neuron firing in your brain that it did in mine. After all, you have a completely different neural network that has learned different inputs. So there is some kind of mapping from one space to another: the pattern of activity in my brain and the pattern of activity in your brain are related in some way.

We all know that the meaning of sounds in language is pretty much arbitrary. It's built by associations: you have learned that the symbol-sequence 'red' corresponds to this colour's internal representation [assuming your monitor is not calibrated in a really weird way].

And insofar as we have broadly similar sensory and bodily experiences, it is possible to build up this mapping of associations between words, sensations, and whatever other internal representation exists in our brains. It's also a feedback process, spawning all sorts of social constructs by giving them names and acting as if they exist.

However, language does more for us than this.

A moment of introspection: I personally experience an ongoing verbal 'stream of consciousness' most of the time. How this manifests more concretely is that words come to me rapidly from 'somewhere inside'; if I am speaking, I might consider briefly whether they are the 'right' words before saying them.

Internally, I might consider a thought that occurs to me and decide that I do not agree with it, or just think about a sentence I have thought as a kind of 'object', as if I am perceiving it from a different vantage point. It seems to be impossible to consider a thought 'as I am thinking it'; only after it has entered into memory can I 'observe' it.

When I was on LSD, I perceived a kind of 'separating out' of the 'inner', nonverbal process of thought and the linguistic stream. There would be a delay in which the linguistic stream would be waiting for input, and would have to kind of 'spin its wheels' and fill space as it waited for something concrete to encode. This separation was quite delightful, since I am not used to perceiving it in such a way. Other times when I was on LSD I had a vague sense of multiple thought streams occurring in parallel, of switching tracks to bring one or another into salience (something covered here on the psychonaut wiki). I'm not entirely sure if these 'seemed verbal'.

This suggests to me some kind of feedback cycle, of thoughts bouncing between the 'language space' and the broader 'conceptual space' of the rest of the brain. Speculatively: my brain might encode something into language in order to store it while it thinks about something else, for certain more 'sequential' forms of thought, or to activate resonances with linguistically-encoded things. By bouncing thoughts in and out of 'language-space' it might be able to perform different kinds of thinking/computation.

Expanding the space

One of the more intense images that occurred to me while I was jamming with all these ideas of spaces and oscillations was the thought of how new ideas get encoded into the space as I encounter new things and learn. I had recently made two friends, and I had the idea of new dimensions appearing: first a direction that was associated with my friends as a pair, and a secondary dimension that encoded the differences between them.

Each of these 'dimensions' would be associated with other concepts by the dynamics of the neural network.

Visually, I imagined a line extending out from (something that represented the space), and then dividing into another line. I think this is kind of what is meant when the psychonaut wiki speaks of 'intrinsically understandable' geometric representations: I knew exactly what this line was supposed to mean, but it would hardly be clear if I drew you a picture.

Exactly what that 'adding of dimensions' would mean on a physical level I can't tell you. I don't think it's like my brain was literally growing an extra neuron that would specifically be stimulated by thoughts of my friends, like the now-famous 'golden gate bridge' neuron in Claude. Internally, it all presumably exists in some nebulous state of superposition with all sorts of other ideas. Maybe you could extract a vector associated with that concept by some kind of statistical bullshit if you had somehow access to the states of all the neurons, but we don't. Do we?

...well, I thought we don't. Actually we pretty much do have access to individual neurons in mice. We can do all sorts of crazy shit like make their brains transparent and attach glowing proteins to specific neurons that are activated when a specific memory is stimulated. That is fucking insane. We are literally living in an age. Here's Arsem again:

The idea of 'engrams' as the physical correspondents to memory is nearly a century old, but now we can actually physically observe them.

So, you develop a new concept-association, and a certain subset of neurons get tagged to that concept and excited when it comes up. We mentioned these 'subspaces' up above: presumably that is what could be said to grow an extra dimension. If I have a conceptual dimension that is 'associated with my friend M.', presumably there is a set of neurons that correspond to her, and another set of neurons linking them to various concepts that I associate with her, my memories of what she looks like, etc. etc.

I get a strong sense that the more things that I encounter, the larger my internal 'space' of concepts becomes. But these feature dimensions don't seem to be 'independent'. I suppose what I'm approaching obliquely and fuzzily here is the idea of covariance, and the covariance matrix seen in techniques like principal component analysis. Or something to do with the subspaces mentioned above.

The role of prediction and roleplaying

The thing language models optimise for is to generate something that is contextually appropriate and consistent. This results in a curious behaviour akin to 'roleplaying', where the model will respond as if it's 'in character', according to a premise set up in a prompt.

I previously talked about the 'free energy' model in neuroscience, in which the brain is constantly attempting to predict the next sensory input. There, the main point was in the creation of art: that a lot of the interest we have in artworks comes from its delicate balance of predictability/unpredictability.

However, I think the brain is also predicting something even more significant: itself!

Viewed in another light, an LLM generates a variety of contextually plausible tokens that it might continue along, and then it selects one. The form of its selection is to pick one at random. However, what if it was not random? What if there is some process that views the prediction output and goes 'yes, that one?'

When I am talking, ideas of things to say will come into my head. I will have just a moment to decide whether to let them come out my mouth or not. Or, I will think a thought in my internal 'stream of consciousness', and then conclude that 'yes, that is good' or 'no, this appals me, I won't say this'. We could say that the process that is generating the stream of language is attempting to predict whether I will find it agreeable, or interesting, or relevant or some such thing.

In other words, I am continually engaged in an elaborate performance of 'Bryn'.

On LSD, I had the curious sense of how all these functional elements I was dimly sensing within my brain were acting in concert to produce 'Bryn'. I had the strange and honestly very comforting sense that they were all happy to play a role in generating this persona. I don't know how much credence to lend to this idea.

When I enter a new social context where the rules are unfamiliar (such as a kink scene, c.f. everything is roleplaying except roleplaying which is improv), I become temporarily compromised in my ability to perform the contextually appropriate character. I need to get a sense of the dynamics of this new space - in other words, my brain must develop its prediction-model. It is, in other words, very much like learning to play a new game. (I'll read you eventually, Wittgenstein.)

Depending on context, depending on which set of dynamics you are attempting to predict, different memories will become more or less able to be drawn up through the associative links. Feedbacks are possible; hence 'flashbacks', emotional and literal, where the memory becomes so furiously excited that it shuts out everything else for a while. But this also shapes what sort of person the brain predicts you will be (and thus gives you the option to be) in a given moment.

Compression

Prediction, game-playing, and performance are all facets of this constant process of updating my internal representations - in other words, adjusting the resonances and dynamics of those neuron-interaction spaces. The brain 'wants' - generally tends - to simplify and abstract. In other words, it wants to compress - to discern underlying patterns so it can store its information and generate predictions more efficiently.

So it will try to relate unfamiliar new things to familiar types, and then, where necessary (e.g. because of an extended interaction with a person or a thing), flesh them out with additional details - which is to say building out a subspace for that thing to vary within.

When I was first transitioning my gender, I had a pathetic tendency to view all these interesting new women I was meeting as instances of the same type. It made me embarassing; I was viewing people as a category, not as individuals. Now many many years later, probably the subspace for thinking about all the different trans women I know is one of the larger ones in here. Perhaps other information has been forgotten (dissolved into noise) to make room for it.

The more time I spend with someone, the more specific associations I can build with them.

The more I can get a sense of the dynamics of their inner meaning-spaces.

Initiate feedback loop

So we encode high-dimensional oscillating thoughts into a stream of language-associations in order to excite analogous thoughts in the brain of another person. But of course, that person will have their own associations. Different memories and ideas will be excited by that word. I can only dimly predict how my words will be perceived.

But communication is not hopeless. Because we can ask for clarification. We can pass messages back and forth. Clarify the shapes of each of our thoughts.

The specific ideas I use for introspection, whether or not I'm under the influence of a powerful substance like LSD, are all influenced by the history and the models my brain has built. I like physical science metaphors, obviously. I am a creature who can't help but think in the language of dynamical systems, feedback loops, networks of interacting elements, fluids (hehehe), component parts, parallel processes, games, and of course abstract spaces...

Perhaps it is a worldview that is proper to this moment in the story of the superorganism!

This post represents the most complete effort I've made so far to encode the 'working model' I have of the shape of thinking into language. But the things I am talking about are very abstract, and the direct experiences I refer to are only really available to me - I can only hope that my words excite something analogous in your mysterious meaning-space.

Listen to me banging on about oscillations though. Might as well go full hippie and call it vibes. You can take the girl out of Glastonbury, but...

Postscript

The other image I had while I was on that LSD trip was of each brain existing somewhere in a void: each a constellation of connected parts, which only occasionally get so lucky as to brush up against another such structure and glimpse another mind. Each one trying desperately to roleplay itself in the face of chaotic input and its own inscrutable behaviour. As many people do when they take this stuff, I felt a sort of empathy for everyone, even - especially - the people who had annoyed or troubled me. A glow that lingered long after.

I do not think I am anywhere near done with this quest to understand what the hell I am, or what any of us are for that matter. It's impossible, isn't it? To somehow find a model of the universe and all within it so elegant that it can fit inside here and so rich it captures all that complexity. Authors to read, conversations to have (hii), sensory and emotional experiences to flesh out the spaces.

But before all that... or running through all that... is of course, well, other people. You lot. Endlessly mysterious creatures who continue to fill this hungry, vibrating brain with strange oscillations. Have you considered yourself as the nucleus of the fractal patterns evolving within the ~800,000,000,000,000,000,000 human neurons, and all that we accumulate around us? I don't know, is that a silly metaphor? Do you like it?

"The net is vast and infinite".

That's all we've got for tonight, folks. We've been canmom - love you all, thanks for listening!

[jesncin]

Hi there!! I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about what the process of being published was like for Lunar Boy? Were there any struggles you faced trying to get it seen? Any tips for others trying to get their work published? Thank you in advance and I love your work! :)

Hullo there! Sure! Unfortunately things have changed a lot since I pitched years ago so I don't know how replicable my publishing journey is nowadays. But I'm willing to share!

So! I always knew I wanted to write for kids, but in art school we were trained to be cape comic artists. Back then (if you can believe it), making middle grade comics was considered something that would sink your career. At that point in history, American comics was trying so hard to prove "we're not for kids!" that they left a chasm in the market for children's comics. Then Raina Telgemeier's bestselling books proved there was a hungry readership of kids and suddenly the trad pub industry is excitedly picking up middle grade graphic novel pitches (ironically, including cape comics).

I was studying my Masters in the US as this was all happening, and decided to use my time in the program to generate as many middle grade pitches as possible! The first one I made was Lunar Boy, but the story was so well received that it ended up being the one we pushed forward as a pitch and develop the most across classes. On Twitter there was this event: #DVPit, which is a pitching event for marginalized authors looking to seek editor interest on their pitches but also! To get agented. In its heyday (before Melon Husk ruined everything. This event is no longer on twidder sadly. Many pitching events have ceased to happen or are on hiatus from how unusable that platform is now) it was a fantastic event. I got agented on my 2nd try of the event, and it got the industry an early look at Lunar Boy and made them excited to see it out on submission.

My agent, Britt Siess, was extremely helpful with giving us feedback on how to refine our pitch. Not only did she give us story feedback, but I was surprised also by her comics feedback- that was more nuanced than I expected (little did I know that she's a huge comics nerd). She had connections to all the editors I was interested in pitching Lunar Boy to, and we were out on submissions right as we graduated with our Masters degree (during the start of the pandemic lmao).

I already had early editor interest in Lunar Boy which I think helped a lot with getting it picked up. I've been told that it helps to meet editors in person and get chummy with them before pitching to heighten your chances, but that wasn't really the case for me. I've never met my editor (Carolina Ortiz, I love her she's amazing) in person, but she did actually reach out to me long before we went out to pitch- on a Simu Liu tweet trend of all things lmao.

(I didn't end up looking like evil boy band members in pastel clothes in the final book, I went for cultural clothes instead which I think is the more bespoke choice haha) Carolina reached out to me from this tweet and we actually talked back and forth about Lunar Boy, refining the pitch. I felt like she understood the story despite asking for big changes. I don't think she'd do something like this anymore, but I really appreciated it at the time (I wasn't even agented yet). All the editors I met in person for events like Editor's Day at school liked my art (and would even hire me for colorist work and the like) but they weren't interested in Lunar Boy. This was reflected when we finally went on submissions too.

We got a lot of rejections, vague language like "we don't know how to edit this" or "we already have a book like this" (??? press X to doubt). Compounded with all my interactions with editors in person, I felt like I was "marketable" as an artist but not as a storyteller because our stories were so unapologetically QPOC- with culturally specific queer identities to an already underrepresented identity. The editors that were interested in Lunar Boy had personal connection to the story (they were either also from blended families or QPOC themselves). But hey, you only need one yes to get a book deal. We ended up with Carolina as our editor and she's been our rock and champion for this book since the beginning. We were out of submissions in just a week (which is really fast in the industry).

My big tip for getting into the trad pub graphic novel industry is to study the market. A lot of people mistaken publishing as a vessel or platform for their untold story, when really it's a business we compromise with. Pay attention to trends, book deals, shifts in the industry, read your peers' books, everything. Research is key with getting your foot in. Lunar Boy may look like an out-there book, but at its heart it's a story about culture shock, trying to fit in, along with family and friendship problems. In trad pub especially, locking in to sellable tropes and trends is key. Find clever ways to innovate and work within those limitations at the same time. Be open to feedback and changes. I know so many people are held back from getting book deals because they're too attached to their story. It helps not to be phased by rejection and or take things personally. I've been very desensitized to talking about books like a business, since that's what it took for someone like me to make it out there.

I hope that was helpful!

[darkmaga-returns]

History will remember this era as the moment when America’s most sacred principles collided with unprecedented institutional power – and lost. The systematic dismantling of fundamental rights didn’t happen through military force or executive decree, but through the quiet cooperation of tech platforms, media gatekeepers, and government agencies, all claiming to protect us from “misinformation.”

Meta’s sudden dismantling of its fact-checking program – announced by Zuckerberg as a “cultural tipping point towards prioritizing speech” – reads like a quiet footnote to what history may record as one of the most staggering violations of fundamental rights in recent memory. After eight years of increasingly aggressive content moderation, including nearly 100 fact-checking organizations operating in over 60 languages, Meta is now pivoting to a community-driven system similar to X’s model.

In his announcement, Zuckerberg first suggests that the censorship was purely a technical mistake, and then changes his tune near the end and admits what has long been litigated: “The only way that we can push back on this global trend is with the support of the US government. And that’s why it’s been so difficult over the past 4 years when even the US government has pushed for censorship. By going after us and other American companies, it has emboldened other governments to go even further.”

[toomanyf4ndoms7]

NEW 52 Batgirl issues #39 and #40 Thoughts.

You might be wondering why I’m doing two at once? And that’s because I have something in particular to discuss.

@a-bad-case-of-the-stephs

Issue 39 follows Batgirl trying to deal with going from social media famous to someone with a million dollar bounty on her head. And trouble in her social life and classes too.

In summary: Going through It.

Most of this issue is good. Dinah and Barbara have some making up (not making out, don’t get excited.), and Barbara's body language is great.

Barbara has an idea of what’s been causing all of this trouble. We get a little more investigation, going after Frankie, and we find..

Oracle’s back. But not really. Oracle is now a sentient AI program with a grudge and a moral mission to eliminate criminals.

Now. This is what I need to talk about. I’ve been charitable, trying to look at this run on both its own terms while not forgetting where it stands as a new canon.

Oracle in this is positioned as this dark thing from Barbara’s past, made when she was angry and depressed from what happened to her.

Even if you try to play benefit of the doubt, assume that the writers didn’t mean to insinuate anything, that Oracle was just meant to be a reference? This feels wrong. You could have made Oracle into a program, Barbara keeping contacts with other heroes. Make it a program in its infancy, mirror this new Barbara as “Trying something new.”

Have an AI if you want some computer banter, but no. They didn’t do that. Oracle is the Bad Victim. Stewing in her Pain, in comparison to Batgirl, who’s moved on and embraced a brighter future.

I’ve been maybe a bit more charitable to this run but I genuinely do think this is one of the biggest mistakes that started an unfortunate trend of Evil AI Oracle. And it always feels a tad mean spirited.

Serious L for the run, not going to lie.

(Long sigh.)

Rant over.

Like a Coming of Age movie. I usually love that sort of aesthetic. But it feels sour.

We end on a sweet note, Dinah and Barbara fully make up, Frankie talks about wanting to work alongside her superhero-roommate.

Yeah, the whole Oracle reveal kind of sours these issues, as you can tell by how I barely spent time on the plot.

Hopefully, issue 41 will be less... That.

[jbfly46]

Your All-in-One AI Web Agent: Save $200+ a Month, Unleash Limitless Possibilities!

Imagine having an AI agent that costs you nothing monthly, runs directly on your computer, and is unrestricted in its capabilities. OpenAI Operator charges up to $200/month for limited API calls and restricts access to many tasks like visiting thousands of websites. With DeepSeek-R1 and Browser-Use, you:

• Save money while keeping everything local and private.

• Automate visiting 100,000+ websites, gathering data, filling forms, and navigating like a human.

• Gain total freedom to explore, scrape, and interact with the web like never before.

You may have heard about Operator from Open AI that runs on their computer in some cloud with you passing on private information to their AI to so anything useful. AND you pay for the gift . It is not paranoid to not want you passwords and logins and personal details to be shared. OpenAI of course charges a substantial amount of money for something that will limit exactly what sites you can visit, like YouTube for example. With this method you will start telling an AI exactly what you want it to do, in plain language, and watching it navigate the web, gather information, and make decisions—all without writing a single line of code.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to build an AI agent that performs tasks like scraping news, analyzing social media mentions, and making predictions using DeepSeek-R1 and Browser-Use, but instead of writing a Python script, you’ll interact with the AI directly using prompts.

These instructions are in constant revisions as DeepSeek R1 is days old. Browser Use has been a standard for quite a while. This method can be for people who are new to AI and programming. It may seem technical at first, but by the end of this guide, you’ll feel confident using your AI agent to perform a variety of tasks, all by talking to it. how, if you look at these instructions and it seems to overwhelming, wait, we will have a single download app soon. It is in testing now.

This is version 3.0 of these instructions January 26th, 2025.

This guide will walk you through setting up DeepSeek-R1 8B (4-bit) and Browser-Use Web UI, ensuring even the most novice users succeed.

What You’ll Achieve

By following this guide, you’ll:

1. Set up DeepSeek-R1, a reasoning AI that works privately on your computer.

2. Configure Browser-Use Web UI, a tool to automate web scraping, form-filling, and real-time interaction.

3. Create an AI agent capable of finding stock news, gathering Reddit mentions, and predicting stock trends—all while operating without cloud restrictions.

A Deep Dive At ReadMultiplex.com Soon

We will have a deep dive into how you can use this platform for very advanced AI use cases that few have thought of let alone seen before. Join us at ReadMultiplex.com and become a member that not only sees the future earlier but also with particle and pragmatic ways to profit from the future.

System Requirements

Hardware

• RAM: 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended).

• Processor: Quad-core (Intel i5/AMD Ryzen 5 or higher).

• Storage: 5 GB free space.

• Graphics: GPU optional for faster processing.

Software

• Operating System: macOS, Windows 10+, or Linux.

• Python: Version 3.8 or higher.

• Git: Installed.

Step 1: Get Your Tools Ready

We’ll need Python, Git, and a terminal/command prompt to proceed. Follow these instructions carefully.

Install Python

1. Check Python Installation:

• Open your terminal/command prompt and type:

python3 --version

• If Python is installed, you’ll see a version like:

Python 3.9.7

2. If Python Is Not Installed:

• Download Python from python.org.

• During installation, ensure you check “Add Python to PATH” on Windows.

3. Verify Installation:

python3 --version

Install Git

1. Check Git Installation:

• Run:

git --version

• If installed, you’ll see:

git version 2.34.1

2. If Git Is Not Installed:

• Windows: Download Git from git-scm.com and follow the instructions.

• Mac/Linux: Install via terminal:

sudo apt install git -y # For Ubuntu/Debian

brew install git # For macOS

Step 2: Download and Build llama.cpp

We’ll use llama.cpp to run the DeepSeek-R1 model locally.

1. Open your terminal/command prompt.

2. Navigate to a clear location for your project files:

mkdir ~/AI_Project

cd ~/AI_Project

3. Clone the llama.cpp repository:

git clone https://github.com/ggerganov/llama.cpp.git

cd llama.cpp

4. Build the project:

• Mac/Linux:

make

• Windows:

• Install a C++ compiler (e.g., MSVC or MinGW).

• Run:

mkdir build

cd build

cmake ..

cmake --build . --config Release

Step 3: Download DeepSeek-R1 8B 4-bit Model

1. Visit the DeepSeek-R1 8B Model Page on Hugging Face.

2. Download the 4-bit quantized model file:

• Example: DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-8B-Q4_K_M.gguf.

3. Move the model to your llama.cpp folder:

mv ~/Downloads/DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-8B-Q4_K_M.gguf ~/AI_Project/llama.cpp

Step 4: Start DeepSeek-R1

1. Navigate to your llama.cpp folder:

cd ~/AI_Project/llama.cpp

2. Run the model with a sample prompt:

./main -m DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-8B-Q4_K_M.gguf -p "What is the capital of France?"

3. Expected Output:

The capital of France is Paris.

Step 5: Set Up Browser-Use Web UI

1. Go back to your project folder:

cd ~/AI_Project

2. Clone the Browser-Use repository:

git clone https://github.com/browser-use/browser-use.git

cd browser-use

3. Create a virtual environment:

python3 -m venv env

4. Activate the virtual environment:

• Mac/Linux:

source env/bin/activate

• Windows:

env\Scripts\activate

5. Install dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt

6. Start the Web UI:

python examples/gradio_demo.py

7. Open the local URL in your browser:

http://127.0.0.1:7860

Step 6: Configure the Web UI for DeepSeek-R1

1. Go to the Settings panel in the Web UI.

2. Specify the DeepSeek model path:

~/AI_Project/llama.cpp/DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-8B-Q4_K_M.gguf

3. Adjust Timeout Settings:

• Increase the timeout to 120 seconds for larger models.

4. Enable Memory-Saving Mode if your system has less than 16 GB of RAM.

Step 7: Run an Example Task

Let’s create an agent that:

1. Searches for Tesla stock news.

2. Gathers Reddit mentions.

3. Predicts the stock trend.

Example Prompt:

Search for "Tesla stock news" on Google News and summarize the top 3 headlines. Then, check Reddit for the latest mentions of "Tesla stock" and predict whether the stock will rise based on the news and discussions.

--

Congratulations! You’ve built a powerful, private AI agent capable of automating the web and reasoning in real time. Unlike costly, restricted tools like OpenAI Operator, you’ve spent nothing beyond your time. Unleash your AI agent on tasks that were once impossible and imagine the possibilities for personal projects, research, and business. You’re not limited anymore. You own the web—your AI agent just unlocked it! 🚀

Stay tuned fora FREE simple to use single app that will do this all and more.

[izicodes]

Wednesday 6th March 2024 - [ Week 1 Day 4 ]

Today I studied primarily on Codecademy's "Learn PHP Skill Path" and still on the basics but it's pretty easy??? Programming languages have a trend of starting off relatively the same, each having small differences.

What I learnt today:

🩵 Defining Functions 🩵 Invoking Functions 🩵 Return Statements 🩵 More on Return Statements 🩵 Return Values 🩵 Returning NULL 🩵 Parameters 🩵 Multiple Parameters 🩵 Default Parameters 🩵 Pass By Reference 🩵 Variable Scope

💌 Day 4: What has been easy so far from learning PHP?

Like I said in yesterday's post, learning the basic fundamentals is fair easy because most programming languages start off the same~!

[ The challenge ]

[1989stanz]

Karaoke at Xander's birthday

Sooo, this one been sitting in my drafts and I've been thinking if it's good enough for me to post. My immediate answer was “no”, but I kind of liked this one. A quick remainder: the year was 2009 and I just put songs that were trending at the time or were made before 2009. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: mentions of Nash Hawthorne, Jameson Hawthorne, Alexander Hawthorne, Grayson Hawthorne and minor cursing. The characters are not mine! They belong to Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

English is not my first language! Sorry if there's any mistakes.

Word count: 10K (it's acceptable, isn't it?)

December 17th, 13 years ago

It was December at Hawthorne House, which meant two things: Christmas and Xander birthday party. It was always the most busy month in the house—with employees walking around the mansion, carrying balloons, boards full of the most expensive foods, Christmas lights, and the decorations for the trees. Overall, it was the mess that came along with Alexander's birthday mixed with the mess that came with Christmas. Xander liked this time of the year, not just because it was his birthday and his favorite holiday in one month together. And definitely not because he used to make jokes that the employees looked like robots, focused on nothing else but doing what they were programmed to do. December was usually when Skye arrived, just to spend the holiday and go back by new year. She wasn't really present in her son's life, at least not in the way other mothers were, but she was there in December. She typically arrived on the 17th. In other words, in the day of Xander's birthday. That's why 5-year-old Xander was sitting in front of the library window. Three hours ago he got expelled from the kitchen because he would just sit there without any movement, waiting for Skye, and Nash found it depressing to see his youngest brother this way. Nash knew that it was very likely that she wouldn't show up, so he just expelled him from the kitchen, expecting that he would forget it. But Xander was a Hawthorne, wherefore he just found another window that led directly to the front door, where Skye was about to show up. At any second. But why was she taking so long? The house was already decorated for his anniversary, still, he chose to wait for his mother to start celebrating. Consequently, he waited. Waited. And waited. Waited a little more. And when he got tired of waiting, he just forced himself to wait even more. But there was no possibility she was about to show up. He looked up, glancing at the clock. 10:00 pm. He was looking at the window since 9:00 am, but he didn't catch a glimpse of Skye. “She's not going to show up” Xander thought, and hated himself for thinking it. Of course she was, she was his mother. That's what she's supposed to do. “She's not coming”, this time tears fell from his eyes to his cheeks, dropping and wetting the carpet. There was only one in the beginning, but quickly there were more than he could count. More than he could contain. So he just let them fall, without fighting. Skye had failed him—she should've been there. She should be wishing happy birthday to him, with a bright smile on her face. She should've had seen him blowing out the candles of his cake. Not only that, but she should kiss him in the forehead and ask, “What did you wish for, Xan?”. That's what she had always done, and he could practically hear himself answering his mother, “I cannot tell you! It will ruin my wish.” But his wishes were already ruined, because all he always wished was to Skye come back in his next birthday. He must have done something wrong in the last year—that would explain her absence. There is no way she missed her son's birthday on purpose. Crying, he held his head in his hands and just drowned in his misery, wondering what he did wrong to have such an absence mother when all his friends' mothers were all present—not only on their birthdays or in other special occasion. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him and fastly wiped his tears away, turning around to see who was coming. Jameson. “Hey, why are you crying? What happened?” At the age of seven years old, Jamie was already the biggest problem on the house, always mocking his brothers for anything. Sometimes, he made up scenarios just to mock them, like when he stole Grayson's clothes when he was taking a shower and mocked him for having a Disney princess towel. Yet, he knew when it was time to stop. Xander replied, “I'm not crying. My eyes are just sweating.” Jameson raised an eyebrow. “Eyes don't sweat.” 

“At least not yours” Xander said, except that his voice was shaky, his eyes tired, and some tears were dry in his face. Not to mention the headache that he had now. His brother sat down beside him, putting an arm around his youngest brother's neck. “So, why are your eyes sweating?” His tone was calm and gentle, also he didn't complain during the time that Xander took to reply. “She didn't come” he said weakly, his voice lower than a whisper. Jamie didn't have to ask who. She didn't show up for his birthday neither, but he pretended it didn't matter like he always did. “I know it hurts, but she won't be here for all your birthdays. She wasn't here for mine, but it's okay. You can still enjoy it. She'll be here soon.”

Sniffling, Xander acknowledged the elephant in the room, “Why she's rarely here?” Jameson arched his back, tense. He didn't know, and he didn't like to think about it—otherwise it would mean that she considered other things more important than her own children. “Maybe she's just busy. Why don't you spend some time with us?”  

Us as in Jameson, Nash, and Grayson. “I don't think I'm up to anything right now.” He stared at the ground, unable to even think straight. Jamie squeeze his shoulder, asking really quietly, “Not even karaoke?”

After a long time gathering himself, with Jameson telling him about that one time he put superglue on Nash's favorite cowboy hat, and he had to get a buzz cut after using it just to make Xander laugh through his misery, they knocked on their brothers' bedrooms. Nash and Grayson were both reluctant, but once they understood the whole situation, they just agreed profusely. Walking through the halls, they tried to not make too much noise to do not disturb the employees sleep. They had a really tiring day and needed rest. Once they arrived, Nash turned the lights on, revealing the karaoke equipment in the stage. Untouched. Brand new. Ready for the night. Jameson started to run to pick one of the microphones, but Nash grabbed him by the shoulder. “Hey, James, not today. It's Xander's birthday, he will choose the music. It's fair.” Jameson made a furious face at Nash. “Don't call me James. I hate it.” Nash tilted his head. “Then behave.” He looked at Xander, “It's your night, Xan. Choose whatever the hell you want to, and we'll sing it.” Xan. Skye started calling him this way because she wanted to have a different nickname for her son. It hurt to remember that. It almost hurt when he was called by Xan by his brothers, but somehow it didn't. “He's five. You're not supposed to say hell in front of him” Grayson complained, arms crossed over his chest.

“Don't worry, kid”, he side eyed Jamie, “someone taught him worse words than just hell.” It was true. Jameson one day selected all the cuss words in the dictionary, and ran up to Xander so they would found out what they meant. “So, what are we waiting for?” Xander asked, excited. “Let's see how noise we can make without getting kicked out of the house!”

Nash was the first one, and Xander meticulously considered the most unserious song for a cowboy like him to sing. Only one music popped on his head, and he put it in the karaoke machine with a devilish smile. “Nash,” he turned to his brother, “I think this one would fit you well.” Nash looked at the music author and raised an eyebrow at the name. “Taylor Swift? Who's her?” 

Xander was shocked, to say the least. “You never heard 'You belong with me'?” He asked, and Nash shook his head. Did he live under a cave? “Never heard about the woman, but I know this song.” Xander nodded. It wasn't as bad as it seemed. The intro started to play and Jameson already lost it when Nash did the phone signal with his hand. Grayson tried hard to not laugh, but he was cracking up in the bridge. Xander almost fell to the ground. He was dying of laughter. “Make him stop” Grayson said, taking spaces between the words. They all had to make spaces between the words because of how funny the scene was. Even Nash couldn't hold it anymore in the end of the song. “Give me an autograph, Nash. I'm your biggest fan!”, Xander yelled, and they all chuckled. “I love this song. I'll look up for the artist later.” Nash told Xander, and he was amused. “You'll love her work!” Nash smiled and glanced Grayson. “Definitely. But I guess someone's about to sing to us, isn't it, Gray?”

Gray had, technically speaking, a bass type of voice. In other words, his voice was so low it fit classic songs really well. In Xander's words, his voice fit Katy Perry perfectly. His older brother gave him a dangerous look when 'Hot n Cold' started to play. Jameson was pleased, to say the least. “Go, Grayson!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the walls of the room. They all got up to dance and make fun of Grayson. He, in the other hand, had an incredible voice, as expected. He'd spent hours and hours singing, trying to achieve the perfect tone and not missing one single note. If he did miss, he'd have to start over and over until it was carved on his mind. Nash was dancing some steps that seemed really bizarre, but exactly like how Xander thought a cowboy would dance in this situation. Jamie was rocking the non-dance-floor, and his youngest brother too. They all were laughing, for Gray's misery. When he was done, left the microphone and came to join his brothers. “Didn't know you are a fan of Katy. I could give you my vinyls!”, Xander said cheerfully. “You cannot”, Gray narrowed his eyes. Jamie passed by them, picking up the microphone. “Though I think that Gray would love your vinyls, Xan, It's my turn to show you how my voice is better than his”, he looked at Grayson, a challenge in his eyes. Xander altered his glance between them, excited. “So it's on?”, he didn't have to give other explanation. Gray analyzed the situation, pondering if he should agree or just kick his brother's ass for saying that he has a better voice. Slowly, he shook his head, “Bring the karaoke battle, little brother.”

The situation was: Grayson, with murder in his eyes, singing “Milkshake” with Jameson, who had a wide-eyed gaze. The tension was intense and Nash almost interrupted, but he didn't take it serious. It was impossible to take anything serious when his brothers were singing about milkshakes and yards. Grayson was shooting bullets at Jameson with his eyes, what made the scene even funnier. And Jamie answered each look with a Jameson Winchester Hawthorne type of smile—long, Machiavellian, twisted, and playful. Like he was not worried about the competition because he would win eventually. Gray just had a blank face, beside his eyes.

Once it ended, they looked at Xander. “So who's the winner?”, they asked at the same time. It was determined that he would decide who was the winner. Only if he thought there was one. Spinning and picking up the mic from Gray's hand, he calmly replied, “Myself.” 

“Yourself?” Jamie laughed. “You didn't even sing.” Choosing the music, he said “I'm about to,” He turned around, “but not only me.”

Tobias had bought four microphones and four mic stands for his grandsons, probably thinking that they were going to sing together at some point. The point never came naturally, but Xander saw the opportunity and took it. And the song of the night was “Just Dance.” Nash was sort of a country music fan, but when it came to Lady Gaga, he did not play. And Gray was having way too much fun for someone who claimed that “classic music is better than pop.” Dancing and singing, they didn't even bother to be in rhythm. But it was still beautiful, because it was real, natural, and imperfect. In fact, it was so perfectly imperfect. This moment—the happiness they felt and shared—would be remembered. At least, Xander will always remember how his brothers saved his birthday. He always “saved” them with his humor and genuine joy, but sometimes he needed to have moments like this in order to don't feel drained. Certainly, his brothers were more than happy to give these moments to him. Surely the whole house was awake because of the noise, but it wasn't a problem to them. Fortunately, nobody came to interrupt, leaving them to taste the magnificent and wonderful moment

[starleska]

HELLO may I ask your opinion on Cole Sprouse? because there is a fella who has lived in my head rent free for months now and I must show him to you

He starts off looking really ugly (/pos) and dead and gradually becomes more human as the movie goes on. I won’t go into lots of spoilers juuuuust in case you ever watch it, but!!!

He has no tongue, ear, right hand, or…ahem 👀.

But when he eventually gets a hand, the FIRST THING he does is give his girl a smile and ask her to dance.

ALSO HE’S MUTE BECAUSE OF THE MISSING TONGUE!

Col Sprouse apparently went to a mime program for a while to be able to articulate thoughts and ideas better without words!!!!

He’s the sweetest most pathetic lovey-dovey doll face baby sweetie love muffin and I’m obsessed.

OH he also murders people!!!

Thoughts? 👀

Rottie oh my god i'm so sorry i started answering this ask and then got bodied by two different hyperfixations so it was buried in my drafts 🙈💖 it would've made much more sense to answer this during October, wouldn't it!! 😂 haha we're continuing on with the Max Jägerman trend of dead guys, i love it!! 🥰 i didn't grow up with Cole Sprouse's work but i'm very intrigued by his portrayal of The Creature here - we looove a sweet monster who falls for an innocent human in these parts 🥺🥺 ahhh did he really!!! if there's anything to be said for all of our recent Art the Clown thirsting, 'Don't underestimate the importance of body language!' 😳 he seems really kind and attentive...and of course the added spice of a little murder never hurt anyone 🙈💖💖 a very solid suggestion!! gotta put this movie on my watchlist 🥰 thank you my lovely friend 🫂

[alcedeerie]

Hello! Do you aspire to have a mad profession, but don’t know where to start since garden-variety biochemistry isn’t for you? Do you not have the expertise, are you simply bored with the premise, maybe looking to try something different?

Reasons aside, you’re in luck! Here are some alternative lesser-known mad professions for you to consider!

Actor

a classic

everyone loves the theater kid urge to throw an extravagant party which is actually a setup for an equally extravagant murder game!

and it’s all filmed to rewatch later

something about being doomed by the narrative except you are the narrative

General Artistry

so many options!!

costumes with colors that don’t exist

illustrations that slowly alter minds

cursed unknowable sculptures

animation creepypastas, but like, the real and better version this time!

websites that have no bottom, they scroll forever, and the more you scroll, the more things you Learn.

photographs from impossible perspectives

tattooists can even tattoo magic-infused designs into their skin for extra power and insight!

Programming

programming is already a hassle, why not draw power from it? it can’t possibly drive you crazier than the missing semicolons do!

Architecture

Everyone loves their non-Euclidean architecture, but no one ever stops to think who DESIGNED it. That special someone could be you!

CEO

Most CEOs are mad CEOs, so the term “mad CEO” is usually redundant. If you become the CEO at any company that doesn’t have a double or single-digit number of employees, congratulations, you are considered mad by definition.

Spies and Detectives

They’re shady, mysterious, and have strange quirks. Surprisingly, mad spies are threatened and mad detectives are severely endangered as these professions are becoming more heroic in nature. The world needs more cutthroat spies and dishonest corrupt detectives.

Note: I do not recommend the similar Police Officer as a mad profession, simply because it’s boring and has no agency. Cops take orders and wear uniforms, the detective does things their own way and gets to have their own style all the time, all on their own.

Streamer/Youtuber/Social Media Influencer

Have you ever wanted to start a cult AND be caught up with the trends? Well now you can! It’s not like it’s that uncommon today anyways!

Writer (Fanfic)

Devote yourself to a god of someone else’s making and rip yourself apart! You can do it in cosplay! You can do it however you feel like it! Stories become legends become myths become gods, and at the center of it is you!

Mathematician

The numbers transcend mortal experience. When the universe dies, the numbers say how it will happen, and after it happens, the numbers remain; unmoving, unchanging, uncaring.

Linguist

Have you ever seen people locked in an unfurnished room for years with monolingual speakers of entirely different languages to study the unique pidgin language they create as they learn to communicate? Well, now you will!

Chiropractor

It’s not like these people are even doctors. You don’t need a general medical degree to practice it and the guy who invented it said he learned it from a ghost. Why not go into it with the intention of breaking as many bones as possible?

Taxidermist

nonsensical stuffed dead animal monsters.

yeah that’s it, but it’s worth it.

[mysticalwriterwithintrusivethoug]

How to Write an Article with ChatGPT That Feels Human-Written

I’ve always believed words carry a spark of the person behind them. But can a machine like ChatGPT capture that? It’s a question I wrestle with every time I see AI churn out paragraphs that are polished yet somehow… distant.

AI is transforming how we write, whipping up blog posts or startup press releases in seconds. Still, there’s a gap between those crisp sentences and the messy, beautiful way humans express themselves.

This guide is my attempt to bridge that divide, showing you how to use ChatGPT to craft articles that don’t just read well but feel alive.

If you’re a marketer or founder, you’re probably hunting for tools beyond Bluefocus, ones that deliver stories with heart, not just data. ChatGPT is a game-changer here, but it’s not a magic wand.

You need to nudge it with thoughtful prompts and a human touch to make it sing. I’ve seen agencies like 9FigureMedia nail this. They use AI to draft quickly, then layer in personality, making every piece feel like it was written by someone who cares deeply about the message.

Even big players like MSN News are in on this. They lean on AI to speed things up but trust editors to add warmth and clarity. It’s a reminder: machines are helpers, not storytellers.

For startups, this matters even more. A flat, robotic press release won’t turn heads. One that pulses with purpose might. Through history, trends, and hands-on tips, I’ll share how to blend AI’s efficiency with human soul to create writing that connects.

HISTORY

The story of AI writing feels like a sci-fi novel unfolding in real time. Back in the 1950s, computers could barely string words together. By the 1960s, ELIZA — a quirky program mimicked therapists, but it was all smoke and mirrors, no real understanding.

Fast forward through decades of natural language processing, and we hit a turning point with OpenAI’s GPT-2 in 2019. It spun out paragraphs that actually made sense. Then GPT-3, with its 175 billion parameters, raised the stakes, crafting emails, essays, even startup press releases. Now, GPT-4 powers ChatGPT, a tool so versatile it feels like a writing buddy almost.

But here’s the catch: AI’s words often lack the heartbeat of human writing. When I read something human, I feel the writer’s joy, doubt, or grit.

Early AI drafts? They were correct but cold, like a textbook with no soul. GPT-4 is leaps better, nailing grammar and flow, but it still needs a human to sprinkle in the magic those unexpected turns, raw emotions, or quiet truths that make you pause.

Think of a memoir: AI might list the events, but only a person can make you feel the weight of each moment.

This journey teaches us something profound. AI isn’t here to replace us; it’s here to amplify us. It’s like a paintbrush useful, but the art depends on the hand holding it.

ChatGPT is everywhere students, CEOs, even my friend who’s drafting her novel use it. It’s a powerhouse, but making its words feel human takes work. I’ve noticed creators are finding clever ways to do just that, and it’s reshaping how we think about writing.

One big shift is collaboration. Most PR agencies/Publishing brands use ChatGPT to whip up drafts, then editors step in to add voice and context, turning generic text into something that feels personal.

Prompt engineering is another game-changer. Instead of saying “write a blog,” writers like me craft instructions like, “Be a witty friend explaining AI to beginners.” It’s like giving AI a personality to channel. Feedback loops are hot, brands to test AI drafts with readers, tweaking based on what clicks.

Some companies train ChatGPT on their old emails or posts to match their vibe. Others use it to brainstorm, then let humans weave the final story. But AI still trips up.

It loves clichés unless you stop it, and it struggles with deep emotion. Long pieces can ramble without a human to tighten them. That’s why oversight matters. MSN News, for example, uses AI but leans on editors to keep things sharp and soulful.

Gartner says 30% of marketing content will be AI-assisted by 2025, but humans will still call the shots. It’s not about speed alone — it’s about connection.

As AI grows, so does our role in making sure its words don’t just fill pages but spark something real in the reader.

1. What Makes Writing Feel Human

Human writing grabs you because it breathes. It’s the short, punchy sentences that hit like a drumbeat. The longer ones that wander, pulls you into a memory. It’s intent, make every word feel chosen for a reason.

AI can mimic this, but it needs a nudge.

Take a ChatGPT draft: “Businesses need marketing.” It’s true but lifeless. Now, imagine this: “Every business, from a tiny bakery to a tech giant, thrives on marketing, it’s the spark that turns dreams into reality.”

The second feels like someone is talking to you, using contrast and imagery. To humanize AI, I break up repetitive sentences, add a personal story (like my friend’s failed pitch that taught her clarity), and weave in metaphors.

It’s about making the reader feel seen, not just informed.

2. Engineering Better Prompts

Prompts are like giving ChatGPT a map. A lazy one “write an article” — gets you a bland result. But a thoughtful one? Magic. Try this: “Act as a startup founder sharing lessons learned, using a warm, honest tone for young entrepreneurs.”

It’s specific, with a role and vibe. I also set rules: “Avoid clichés, use one real-word example, keep it under 500 words.”

This approach shapes AI’s output to feel closer to human. If I want a tech blog, I might say, “Explain AI like you’re chatting with a curious friend over coffee.”

Test different prompts, see what sings, and tweak. It’s like coaching AI to tell the story you’d tell if you had all day to write it.

3. Editing AI Output Like a Human Writer

Editing is where AI drafts become art. ChatGPT gives you a solid start, but it’s often too stiff or vague. I start by checking the bones, does it flow from intro to conclusion? If not, I rearrange.

Then, I soften the tone. An AI line like “Marketing is important” becomes, “Marketing’s your megaphone it’s how the world hears your story.”

Here’s a real shift: AI writes, “Startups face challenges.” My edit: “Startups wrestle with sleepless nights and tight budgets, but every hurdle is a chance to grow.”

It’s active, vivid, relatable. I cut fluff, swap generic words like “good” for “electric,” and add a dash of vulnerability. That’s what makes readers lean in they sense a person behind the words.

4. Balancing AI Consistency and Human Voice

AI is reliable, like a metronome always on beat. But human voice? It’s a melody, full of surprises. I use ChatGPT for outlines or raw ideas, where consistency shines.

Then, I step in to add the human stuff — maybe a joke or a moment of doubt. For a startup press release, AI might list milestones, but I’ll add, “We poured our hearts into this, and we’re thrilled to share it.”

This balance keeps things real. AI ensures grammar and structure; I bring the emotion, like the pride in a founder’s voice.

It’s about knowing when to let AI do the heavy lifting and when to step in with a story that makes the reader feel something deep.

5. Writing for Publication

Publications want writing that pops — clear, credible, human. ChatGPT can draft a startup press release, but it’s often flat: “Company launches tool.”

I rewrite it: “After two years of grit and late nights, our team’s proud to launch a tool that empowers dreamers.” It’s got stakes and heart.

For outlets like Forbes or TechCrunch, I craft a bold headline, a gripping lead, and a quote: “This isn’t just tech it’s our mission to change lives,” says the CEO.

I cut jargon, keep sentences tight, and add details that scream authenticity, like a customer’s story. That’s how you turn an AI draft into a piece editors can’t ignore.

Comparative Analysis

ChatGPT is my go-to because it listens. Unlike Jasper, which feels rigid for anything beyond ads, ChatGPT adapts to my prompts, letting me shape stories.

Writesonic is quick but fades in long pieces. Copy.ai’s tone options are cool, but it lacks ChatGPT’s depth. You can talk to ChatGPT, refine drafts, like chatting with a collaborator.

Still, others have tricks. Jasper’s SEO tools are slick; GrammarlyGO polishes on the fly. For human-like writing, ChatGPT wins, you just have to guide it. It’s like a raw canvas; your edits paint the soul.

Future Outlooks and Predictions

I imagine a day when AI knows my writing quirks my love for short sentences or vivid metaphors. Future tools will study your style, crafting drafts that feel like you.

They’ll tweak tone based on who’s reading, maybe adding humor for a casual crowd. We’ll see AI that weaves text, images, even sound into one seamless story.

Brand-specific models are coming, trained on your company’s voice. Industries like law or healthcare will get AI that nails their jargon yet stays clear.

To write with ChatGPT and make it human:

Blend AI’s speed with your heart — know when each shines.

Use prompt engineering and collaboration, like BlueFocus Alternatives does.

Edit for rhythm, emotion, stakes — make readers feel you.

Lean on AI for drafts, humans for connection.

Pick ChatGPT for flexibility, but compare tools for your needs.

Get ready for AI that learns your voice, but don’t lose yours.

AI’s a tool, not the storyteller. For founders, writers, or dreamers, it’s about using ChatGPT to amplify your truth, creating words that don’t just land but stay with someone.

[femmefatalevibe]

i have recently discovered your blog. i noticed in some of your posts from last year you use the term "high value woman". if it's not just a buzzword, then it must have a (more or less strict) definition. for example: a high value woman is a person who has traits x, y and z. so, if i wanted to be a high value woman, i would have to meet certain criteria. if i didn't meet the criteria (i would have traits that are opposites of the traits that define a high value woman), what would that make me? a low value woman? sorry for any errors, english is not my first language. i hope i explained this well enough. this isn't a personal attack (i like your blog, i think most of the advice you give is useful), i'm just curious.

Hi love!

I appreciate your question as I believe it's an important one! Ok, hope this explanation makes sense lol.

The short answer is: Yes, I'm targeting a "buzzword" and sharing a more important message. If you follow the media––publication, social media, or otherwise, you know that, when applied thoughtfully and ethically, using trends to share a more significant, impactful, and actionable message is a very effective method to get more eyeballs on your core (evergreen) message and hopefully reach audiences who will find value from your content through the "trendiness" or "virality" of the way you packaged your content (think: how some creators who utilizing the current "demure" trend to share fundamental truths/valuable content + information).

The longer answer is that I ALSO believe that being a "high-value" woman does mean something, but for YOU, not through the eyes of society aka the patriarchy and the covert alt-right messaging many people disguise using this term. Viewing YOURSELF as a "high-value" woman, purely for your personhood, values, and depth as a person, is a very powerful tool. And, learning how to harness this confidence and competency in various aspects of your life is empowering––which can also (often) lead to many tangible and intangible benefits in your physical, emotional, and mental lives.

My mission with this blog is to help women dismantle the automatic programming of feeling powerless and slaves to people-pleasing, the patriarchy, shame, and all of those disempowering things while working through them in realistic ways. Many blogs seem to push very polarized, fantastical, or juvenile ideas, so I want to provide a space that feels welcoming, practical, and like a real community that doesn't push some sort of ideological agenda. My views are likely to come across if I'm giving my opinion on certain topics. But, ultimately, I believe everyone needs to be true to themselves and do what they want as long they aren't hurting or attacking other people.

I've always known that I was on an "unconventional" path in certain areas of life and never really questioned who I was/who I should be. I just went for it and am still trying my best (!) to become that woman I always dreamed/strived to be. I'm hoping to connect through this content with women (or men/non-binary individuals––everyone's welcome!) who feel this inner yearning as well.

Hope this makes sense! Sending love xx

[chingmaiattorneys]

Thailand Long-Term Residency

Thailand offers several pathways for foreigners seeking extended or permanent residency, each with distinct requirements, benefits, and limitations. Unlike short-term visas, long-term residency options provide stability, reduced bureaucratic hurdles, and, in some cases, a pathway to citizenship. This guide examines all major long-term residency programs in Thailand, analyzing their legal frameworks, eligibility criteria, application processes, and strategic advantages.

2. Legal Framework Governing Long-Term Residency

Thailand's long-term residency system is governed by multiple laws and regulations:

Immigration Act (B.E. 2522, 1979) – Primary legislation for visas and residency

Investment Promotion Act (B.E. 2520, 1977) – Covers BOI-sponsored residency

Royal Decree on Smart Visa (2018) – For high-skilled professionals

Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa Program (2022) – Newest category for wealthy expats

Each program operates under different ministries, including:

Immigration Bureau (general residency permits)

Board of Investment (BOI) (investor visas)

Ministry of Labor (work-based residency)

3. Permanent Residency (PR) – The Traditional Path

A. Overview

Indefinite stay without visa renewals

Pathway to citizenship (after 5+ years as PR)

Annual quota system (100 per nationality/year)

B. Eligibility Criteria

Visa Status

Must hold a Non-Immigrant Visa (B, O, ED, etc.) for 3+ consecutive years

Employment, investment, or family ties required

Financial Requirements

THB 80,000/month income (or THB 30,000 for spouses of Thais)

3 years of Thai tax filings

Other Requirements

Basic Thai language proficiency (interview)

Clean criminal record (Thai and home country)

C. Application Process

Pre-Qualification (3+ years on qualifying visa)

Document Submission (tax records, employment proof, health certificate)

Interview & Background Check

Approval & Alien Registration (THB 191,400 fee)

4. Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa – The Elite Alternative

A. Overview

Introduced in 2022 to attract:

Wealthy global citizens

Remote workers

Retired high-net-worth individuals

B. Categories & Requirements

Wealthy Pensioners

Age 50+

80,000annualincome∗∗OR∗∗80,000annualincome∗∗OR∗∗1M in assets

Health insurance ($50K coverage)

Work-from-Thailand Professionals

$80K/year income (last 2 years)

Public company employment OR $150M revenue company

High-Skilled Professionals

$40K/year salary (STEM fields prioritized)

5+ years experience

Wealthy Global Citizens

$1M+ investment in Thai assets

C. Key Benefits

10-year renewable visa

No 90-day reporting

Fast-track airport immigration

Work permit waiver

5. Investment-Based Options

A. Thailand Elite Visa

5 to 20-year packages (THB 600K–2M)

No work rights (unless on separate permit)

VIP services (airport fast-track, concierge)

B. BOI Investment Visa

For investors in BOI-promoted companies

4-year renewable visa

No minimum stay requirements

C. Property Investment (Limited Options)

No direct residency through real estate

Elite Visa possible with property purchase

6. Retirement Visas (Non-Immigrant O-A/O-X)

A. Standard Retirement Visa (O-A)

1-year renewable

THB 800K in Thai bank OR 65K/month income

Health insurance required

B. 10-Year Retirement Visa (O-X)

Age 50+

THB 3M deposit (must maintain THB 1.5M)

Health insurance ($10K coverage)

7. Strategic Considerations

A. Choosing the Right Option

For citizenship seekers → Permanent Residency

For wealthy expats → LTR or Elite Visa

For retirees → O-A/O-X Visa

B. Tax Implications

Tax resident after 180 days/year

LTR visa holders get 17% flat income tax rate

C. Future Trends

Possible expansion of LTR categories

Stricter enforcement of retirement visa finances

8. Conclusion

Thailand offers multiple long-term residency pathways, each tailored to different needs:

Permanent Residency – Best for eventual citizenship

LTR Visa – Ideal for wealthy remote workers

Elite Visa – Simplest (but most expensive) option

Retirement Visas – For age-qualified applicants

Key Recommendation: Consult with Thai immigration lawyers before applying, as policies frequently change. The LTR visa currently offers the best balance of longevity and flexibility for most expatriates.