#Potentially Unwanted Program

[aw-colorcat]

Remembered that I made this comic cover featuring some of my Megaman ocs

[virtualpilotlight]

Does anyone have any info on this application? It's adding games to my phone. I've been told that a factory reset could remove it, but what is it where did it come from who is controlling it? I texted with and also called my phone company, and they said it was a hardware issue, like no the fuck it isn't. I use boost and they are owned by dish. Motorola has no association with Dish. It's like they are legit game apps and I can uninstall them but until this app just randomly stopped working I wasn't even able to see it on my phone. Like what is the point of not using a Linux phone at this point? Oh yeah functionality. Still v tempted by the DIY rotary phone but I think I'll stick to paying off my razr.

[mtariqniaz]

Awareness in Installing Some Types of Software

Awareness in Installing Some Types of Software Generally considered as some kind of potentially unwanted programs (PUP) by the Internet Security Company (McAFee,) adware and spyware could pause as a menace to original computer owners, web developers, and IT of certain corporations. Advertisements (adware) already included and mainstay of the program could present a threat or traffic nuisance for…

[vegas-ventura]

Playstation playing with fire when they named their update package a PUP file

[she-is-ovarit]

What women (female human beings) experience under the new administration's executive orders and subsequent introduced bills by republicans:

Potentially being charged with a felony and in some states the death penalty for taking the abortion pill or contraception pills.

Being politically forced to incubate and going through unwanted pregnancies, which will result in ~20+ years of being a caregiver to a child emotionally, financially, physically.

Rapists can now choose the mother of their offspring.

Women will be unable to medically treat sometimes life-threatening and extremely debilitating hormone cycle related conditions through contraception.

Women's healthcare is now required to also meet the needs of men (house resolution 7). In other words, honey, does your husband want you to have that hysterectomy?

What Tribes are experiencing:

A complete freeze to federal funding—the vast majority of tribal nations as sovereign yet dependent nations almost solely rely on this funding for very basic human programs (education, housing, food, elder care, youth care, protection).

What gay people are experiencing:

Rollback of gay rights and same sex marriage which allows us extremely important legal protections including allowing us into hospitals to care for our dying loved ones, property rights, etc.

What trans people experience under the new administrations executive order in comparison:

"I'll have to hide my pronouns in my social media bio :("

"I'm not able to alter my birth certificate"

Males can't be transferred to women's prisons.

Trump recognized there were two sexes.

Literal children and teenagers under 19 years old can't be pumped full of hormones or given surgeries to drastically alter/modify their sex. Adults over 19 still can.

Boys in high schools can't follow girls into locker rooms and bathrooms through just arguing they don't identify as boys.

Schools can't be federally funded (incentivized) by students believing they aren't really of their sex or by them just using different pronouns.

[another-lost-mc]

SHATTERED MIRRORS

PAIRING: Solomon x gn!Reader

SUMMARY: Trapped in the Devildom's murky past, Solomon is there to remind you that even if all else seems lost, you still have each other.

CONTENT/WARNINGS: Nightbringer angst. Vague worldbuilding that hints at a darker version of the Devildom. Bittersweet with a hopeful ending. 1k words.

A/N: There's so much in Nightbringer I wish we got to see, both in the past and future timelines, and this is my small contribution to exploring that untapped potential.

Sometimes it’s the little things Solomon does for you that makes you feel loved. No one wants to be ripped from their life and thrown into the past by some mysterious entity for mysterious purposes. The demon disguise you wear, weightless thanks to the complex spells Solomon casts on you before you leave the safety of Cocytus Hall every morning, still sits heavy on your shoulders like a burden. His magic envelopes you and fills you with warmth, a reminder that he’s always there to protect you even when he can’t be.

Because you can’t be yourself when you’re in this strange version of the Devildom, with its cobblestone streets not yet paved, or the line of unfamiliar shops and market stalls that sell food that’s much too spicy (or dangerous) for you to consume. You rush past countless shops and apothecaries, ignoring the tendrils of fear that shoot down your spine when you realize they still sell rare artifacts and reagents collected from celestial beings and human specimens that will be outlawed by royal decree long before the exchange program begins.

You can’t be yourself in this version of the Devildom, not with Diavolo and his faithful butler that are so familiar yet so foreign, younger than when you first met them. Their eyes are sharp and wary as tensions within the realm fluctuate thanks to its newest residents. There’s something guarded yet knowing in their expressions when they see you, and you have to remind yourself that despite the social and political drama surrounding Diavolo’s controversial plans, he is determined to succeed. It’s only now that you realize the lengths he’s willing to go to, and that relentless ambition is laced with the menacing power his title holds. Like every obstacle he’s faced, he weathers this storm with dignity. It’s almost instinct to want to offer your support for him, heartfelt reassurances that he can do this and you are proud of him. Every time you see him now, those thoughts wither like dying flowers on the vine because the Devildom’s prince has never felt more dangerous to you than he does now. You have to suppress the uneasy shudder that threatens to ripple through you each time his cheeks dimple with a lopsided, insincere smile that shows the tip of his fangs.

You can’t be yourself in this version of the Devildom, not in the House of Lamentation that is simultaneously familiar and unrecognizable at the same time. The rooms and hallways are easy to navigate, but you can’t help but notice the walls are covered in different photographs and paintings than the ones you’re used to seeing. The décor is fashionable but strange, reflecting trends of the current time, but it doesn’t feel like the home you’re used to. The brothers haven’t been here long enough so it lacks that lived-in charm: rooms remain intact, not yet destroyed then rebuilt, and familiar scuff marks on the floors and walls have yet to develop. The house still has that lingering musty smell like it was neglected and empty until recently. The bedroom you used to call your own feels foreign, neglected and cold because they’re unused to hosting guests (and you get the feeling guests are very much unwanted). It nearly breaks your heart when you instinctively walk in that direction and one of the demon brothers chides you with undisguised annoyance that there’s nothing over there, the room that needs cleanin’ is this way.

You can’t be yourself around the demon brothers either, not with their strange and unpredictable behaviour that leaves your patience frayed and fight-or-flight response on edge. Not long after you arrive at the House of Lamentation, you can hear Lucifer scolding Mammon from halfway across the house in an unfamiliar language that sounds too beautiful to be native to the Devildom. Even in his anger and frustration and despair, you realize Lucifer’s voice still carries the lyrical cadence of Celestial language, the place he and his brothers used to call home. It’s a harsh contrast to the dark wings and anger burning in Lucifer’s gaze when you see him in his demonic form. Their celestial garb and heavenly features are only memories of a not so distant past, and like Lucifer, his brothers are forced to wear the physical manifestation of their failure – the death of their sister, their shameful fall from grace. Part of you sympathizes with them even more now that you can see the raw aftermath of their demise, but part of you fears them too, the fractured versions of themselves held together with the growing power of their respective sins.

Every morning you wake up, homesick but determined to make the best of things, and Solomon helps you don your disguise and pushes a cup of tea into your hands. Every evening, you trudge back to Cocytus Hall, weary from spending all day pretending to be the attendant of seven unruly demons that look like the demon brothers you know but feel like poor substitutes at best. Solomon is usually waiting in your dorm, greeting you with a kiss while offering a hug and if needed, a shoulder to cry on. You make food together (while you handle most of the cooking and he helps set the table and wash the dishes). Later, you read together on the sofa or talk about the latest gossip or Devildom news, and Solomon updates you on his progress – or lack thereof – of finding a way home. Despite the hopelessness of it all, it feels bearable because Solomon is there to share those burdens and fill your heavy heart with hope. You can rest easy at night, laid down in your shared bed with Solomon’s arm draped over your waist, his gentle snores coaxing you to sleep after him, and no matter how bleak things seem, it feels like a promise that one day, everything will be alright again.

Read More: Obey Me Masterlist

[merwgue]

"Rhysand hasn't done anything wrong"

Here’s a breakdown of the actual legal crimes Rhysand could be charged with, based on real-world laws:

A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1)

1. Sexual Assault – Rhysand forces Feyre into non-consensual situations, including touching her and kissing her while under the influence of drugs.

2. Drugging/Administration of a Controlled Substance – He forces Feyre to drink faerie wine (a mind-altering substance), which removes her ability to consent and control her actions.

3. Kidnapping/False Imprisonment – Under the Mountain, Rhysand traps Feyre into a bargain that forces her to spend time with him, effectively limiting her freedom.

A Court of Mist and Fury (Book 2)

1. Sexual Harassment – Rhysand frequently engages in unwanted physical contact with Feyre, coercing her in various ways under the pretext of their bargain.

2. Psychological Abuse/Coercion – The manipulation and psychological control Rhysand exerts over Feyre could be classified as emotional abuse, which can carry legal ramifications depending on the jurisdiction.

A Court of Wings and Ruin (Book 3)

1. Trespassing – Rhysand repeatedly enters Tamlin’s lands without permission, which would be considered trespassing by legal standards.

2. Incitement to Violence/Sabotage – Rhysand knowingly encourages Feyre to sabotage the Spring Court while she’s undercover, which could lead to charges of inciting criminal behavior.

3. Attempted Murder (by Suggestion) – While not directly responsible, suggesting that someone (Tamlin) should kill themselves could be viewed as reckless endangerment or incitement to self-harm, which is illegal in many places.

A Court of Frost and Starlight (Novella)

1. Harassment – Rhysand's continued psychological harassment of Tamlin could potentially be charged as harassment, particularly given its persistent nature.

General Crimes Throughout the Series you can face up to a life sentence with :

1. Assault – Rhysand has a history of using his powers to physically and mentally harm others, especially when he forces Feyre into certain situations or physically manipulates her.

2. Torture – His treatment of the people in the Court of Nightmares, particularly through physical and psychological intimidation, could be considered torture or cruel and inhumane treatment under international human rights law.

3. Abuse of Power/Authority – Rhysand frequently abuses his position as High Lord, using his powers to manipulate, control, and coerce others, which could be considered an abuse of authority. (Hm hm, remember what happend to saddam Hussain?)

4. Kidnapping/False Imprisonment – By forcibly keeping Nesta in the House of Wind without her consent, Rhysand is restricting her freedom and movement. This can be legally classified as kidnapping or false imprisonment.

5. Endangerment of a Mentally Ill Person – Nesta is clearly dealing with severe trauma, depression, and possibly PTSD. Locking her up without proper care or therapy can be considered neglect and endangerment of someone with a mental illness, especially since she was using alcohol to cope. (Those teen-help programs.)

6. Illegal Detainment Without Licensing – The Night Court is not a rehabilitation facility, and Rhysand has no legal authority or medical qualifications to keep Nesta there against her will. This would violate laws that protect individuals with mental health issues from being detained in non-medical facilities by non-professionals.

4. Emotional and Psychological Abuse – Forcing Nesta into isolation and removing her autonomy could be seen as a form of emotional and psychological abuse, which has legal ramifications in many jurisdictions.

In a real-world legal system, these actions could be prosecuted as criminal offenses, including sexual assault, kidnapping, drugging, trespassing, harassment, and psychological abuse.

So yea, you're dear old boy would be in JAIL by now.

Now let's calculate The charges against Rhysand, if brought to a real-world court system, could lead to significant legal consequences. Let’s break down the potential sentences for each crime, based on common legal standards in many countries:

1. Sexual Assault

Possible Sentence: 5 to 20 years in prison, depending on the severity and jurisdiction.

Sexual assault is a serious crime, and the penalties are harsh, especially if the victim is incapacitated (e.g., under the influence of drugs, as Feyre was).

2. Drugging/Administration of a Controlled Substance

Possible Sentence: 2 to 10 years in prison.

Administering drugs to someone without their knowledge or consent is considered a felony in many places and carries a substantial sentence, especially when done to facilitate control or assault.

3. Kidnapping/False Imprisonment (Feyre and Nesta)

Possible Sentence: 10 to 30 years in prison.

Kidnapping, especially when it involves controlling someone’s freedom against their will (like forcing Feyre and Nesta into his control), carries one of the longest prison terms.

4. Endangerment of a Mentally Ill Person (Nesta)

Possible Sentence: 5 to 15 years in prison.

This charge involves negligence and the failure to provide proper care for someone in a vulnerable state. In this case, Rhysand locking Nesta up without professional help can result in significant legal consequences.

5. Harassment/Emotional and Psychological Abuse (Tamlin and Nesta)

Possible Sentence: 1 to 5 years in prison (for each offense).

Emotional abuse and psychological harassment can carry prison sentences if they lead to significant harm, especially if Rhysand’s actions contributed to worsening their mental states.

6. Trespassing (Spring Court)

Possible Sentence: 1 year or fines.

Trespassing, while a less severe crime, can result in fines or a brief prison sentence, depending on how frequently and aggressively it’s done.

7. Torture/Abuse of Power (Hewn City)

Possible Sentence: 10 to 25 years in prison.

Torturing or inflicting severe harm, even in a ruling capacity, could result in lengthy imprisonment under human rights laws.

8. Failure to Prevent Mutilation (Wing Clipping in Illyria):

Crime: Complicity in Mutilation/Assault – In many countries, allowing or failing to prevent acts of bodily harm, especially when in a position of power, can lead to charges of complicity or negligence. Clipping wings is comparable to physical mutilation.

Potential Sentence: 10 to 20 years per incident, depending on the severity of harm. Rhysand, as High Lord, could be held accountable for allowing this to continue in the military camps he oversees.

9. Endangerment of Women’s Rights:

Crime: Neglect and Discrimination – The continued allowance of these practices in Illyria could be viewed as a form of systemic discrimination and neglect. Failure to protect women from harm, despite having the power to intervene, would likely result in charges related to discrimination and endangerment.

Potential Sentence: Civil penalties and lawsuits from the affected women, alongside possible criminal charges leading to fines and 5 to 10 years imprisonment per case of systemic abuse.

10. Complicity in Abuse and Torture (Hewn City):

Crime: Torture/Degrading Treatment – As the ruler of the Night Court, Rhysand maintains direct control over the Hewn City but allows its brutal social system to continue, particularly against women. Even though he doesn't directly participate in the abuse, turning a blind eye to it could result in complicity in human rights abuses or crimes akin to torture, especially since Hewn City is described as being "hell for women."

Potential Sentence: 10 to 25 years in prison for each case of torture or degrading treatment, with possible civil lawsuits and heavy fines.

11. Denial of Safe Haven and Equal Rights:

Crime: Violation of Human Rights – Women from Hewn City are barred from escaping their abusive environments, and Rhysand’s refusal to allow them into Velaris essentially traps them in dangerous situations. In the real world, denying refuge or asylum to those in danger can be classified as a violation of human rights.

Potential Sentence: 5 to 10 years for human rights violations, with additional civil penalties from lawsuits if women can prove they were harmed as a result of being denied safety.

Crimes Against Humanity – While not on the same scale as mass genocide or war crimes, the endangerment of entire groups of women through neglect, allowing mutilation, or complicity in torture can still fall under human rights violations. Such crimes are serious, and while they may not lead to a death sentence, they would likely result in long-term imprisonment, potential international condemnation, and severe civil penalties.

Maximum Sentence: If these charges were to be tried separately and consecutively, Rhysand could face up to 80 to 100+ years in prison

Likely Sentence: In a real-world legal system, some of these sentences may be served concurrently (at the same time), leading to a likely total sentence of 25 to 40 years in prison, depending on how the crimes are classified and judged.

Additionally, he would likely face civil penalties, lawsuits from the victims (e.g., Feyre and Nesta), and substantial fines.

Thank you for reading, if you want me to do any other character just say in the comments!❤️ (this took me over 2 days to research but I had my amazing dad helping me!♥️)

[alienara-simblr]

📥 How to install everything ?! 🗂️

It's a very big project ! Between the lots and the sims, you have to be very sure of what you are doing. However, this post is there to guide you through the steps of installing everything.

🟪 Phase one - The "Lot Master Meshes Post" 🏗️ (for the unpopulated neighborhood) : This post contains links for custom content (Building and Buying Mode) needed that does not install itself with the packaged files and needs to be installed for lots to display properly. Not downloading those things can cause bug, especially food/shop displays. 🟥 Phase two - The "Chapters" posts : install the lots 🏡 These posts contain links to big downloads or entire download sub-folders containing the lots.packages (Neighborhood, Downtown, MagicTown etc.). Each lot.package file must be installed for every lot to display properly in the neighborhood with The Sims 2 Clean Pack Installer by Mootilda. For the lots, every CC is needed. The CC presentation in the lots posts (between pictures) serves to illustrate (or to show you an alternative or to thank a creator) and is included in the packaged file or the lot master-meshes post. The lots post where only to show what you are downloading, and for the ones who just want to pick and choose a particular lot for their own game. 🟧 Phase three - The Neighborhood 🏘️ The "Chapter 5" post includes every neighborhood decoration CC you need for the neighborhoods, after you installed every lot packaged file. When, you passed the check-list, you can choose what to download between all the options presented to you. 🟨 Phase four - The CAS Master Meshes Posts 1 and 2 A lot of CC presented in those posts are not strictly necessary. If you don't install a default replacement, you will end up with the maxis content. If you don't load a custom hairstyle or clothing, you can have a display bug, but that is quickly corrected with the "change appearance" option. Big bugs can occur when an eye or skin color is missing, so I deliberately build my sims with the Maxis eye/skin options. These posts are for the ones who want to install my populated neighborhood. For those who only want to choose a few sims from the families, each sim in each family post has their own content listed. 🟩 Phase five - Download & install the TS1 families Subhood 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 I'm working on making one big neighborhood, but the issue with main hoods is unwanted sims spawning, especially custom PT and NPCs. And then potential corruption when you try to clean that freaking mess. The Main (completely unpopulated) hood with the populated subhood is the best option to have a "Fresh Start" clean neighborhood. After deleting the subhood, you have to move the family in houses. The Sims 1 has a big family bin. Choosing who is going where is part of the game, it doesn't seem right to choose for you. 🟦 Phase six - Passed the check list 🎮 You chose, you installed, you PLAY ! (veni, vedi, vici...)

⚠️ I'm not going to lie to you. It's a big project. I tried by the past to handle that kind of installation and here is my advice, good or bad, I don't know :

1 - Install every master-meshes, well organized in your files. 2 - Install every CC included in lot packages in the same folder, to make the duplicate replacing themselves (there are a lot since I use a lot of time the same items... logic). 3 - Install the neighborhood deco nicely organized in your folders. 4 - Test the lots/neighborhoods, see if everything works. 5 - Exit your game and Run a program to search for duplicates (like this one for exemple), and suppress all duplicates files from the "lots packaged file CC folder" (suppress where it's still messy) 6 - If you want to organize the "messy" folder, you can run a program like the great Delphy Download Organizer to efficiently re-dispatch files according to your own classification. However, I strongly advise against using this software to locate duplicates. It has the option, but it doesn't work well.

💡To go faster ? - The "Navigation" page on my Simblr !

[angstyoni]

Season Opener.

Summary: F1 decides they want to announce they're coming to South Korea in a unique way. So they decide to get a group of female drivers from F1 Academy to perform K-Pop songs to announce it at the season opener. A season opener that those groups end up attending. What happens when the newest driver on the scene catches the eye of a certain group?

A/N: I'm a bit newer to K-Pop, and more specifically Enhypen, but I couldn't get this idea out of my head. I usually write for a very different genre, so I apologise if this isn't like the usual K-Pop fics on here. But I just needed to write this down. Also torn if I should write this as Heeseung x Reader or Jay x Reader. Let me know!

If you had asked me a year ago if I’d ever listen to kpop, the answer would have been a solid maybe. If you asked me if I would ever be performing covers of the songs, the answer would have been a solid no.

But here I was, backstage at the season launch event in Australia, a few hours away from performing K-Pop songs in front of all my work colleagues. Oh, and the K-Pop groups we were performing the songs of. No pressure at all. Not in the slightest. Especially when I’d accidentally started singing to one of the songs during one of the rehearsal periods with the companies of the respective groups, and now not only were we dancing, we were also singing. Well for those of us that could, we would be. Which wasn’t many. Out of a grid of twenty drivers taking part in this in some way, only eight of us would be dancing the entire thing, and only four of us would be singing.

”Why are you so nervous?” Tina asks as she falls into the make up chair next to me. “Aren’t you in a band? You should be use to this.”

I roll my eyes at her and lightly shake my head so I don’t mess up the make up the girl is trying to do on me. “Yes but I’m either playing my bass guitar or I’m just singing. I’ve never done choreography and singing like this.” I tell her.

”She’s not wrong. It’s like my first F1 Academy race. Yeah I’ve raced before, but I was still nervous as hell for my first race.” Lia adds from the other side of me.

This was my first year in F1 Academy, but I’d quickly fallen into a friendship with these two. Which I was very glad for. A lot of the girls didn’t like me. Mainly because I hadn’t come from a racing background. I was a former twitch streamer, who’d fallen into simulator racing and had caught the eye of Red Bull along the way. They’d been quick to sign me for their e-sport team, and for simulator testing. During that time they thought it would be interesting to throw me into a car and see what I could do with the real thing on a test day. And I’d somehow taken to it better than any of them could have expected.

Over time they’d thrown me into more testing, more sessions. But when I’d asked for a chance to do more, they’d said no. Said I was just a gamer who’d gotten lucky. That I didn’t have the experience to actually race. But during that testing time I’d caught the attention of another team due to one of their drivers. McLaren and Lando Norris. He’d seen my streams and had managed to catch some of the test drives I’d done on some race weekends. So he’d approached Zak. And before I knew it I’d been asked to meet with him before the start of last season. And even though I’d been signed with Red Bull, I was a McLaren fan from the start. No one in their wildest dreams would turn down a meeting with the CEO of their favourite team.

And I didn’t have a single regret. I’d walked in expecting just to meet with Zak, but had walked into Zak, Lando, Oscar and Oscar’s manager Mark. All of them smiling at me as I’d entered the meeting room in a hotel we’d agreed to meet at so we wouldn’t draw any unwanted attention. There they’d laid out wanting me to be apart of their simulation and performance program, with the high potential to be a driver from them in one of the racing series if all went well. The next day I signed my contract with McLaren racing and with Mark as my manager. It was a dream come to. And a lifeline I’d very much needed with Red Bull calling me in the next day to say they weren’t renewing my contract for the year. Claiming I wasn’t performing well. Even though I’d won the e-sports league for the team with very little help from the other two drivers. I still remembered the confused looks on their faces when I’d smiled and said ok before walking out of the building like they’d given me the best news ever. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see their reactions the next day when McLaren announced me as driver for them. And within the first few months they’d offered me a contract for a spot on their F1 Academy team. Most teams only sponsored one driver, but McLaren wanted to be the first to have two drivers on the grid. And I’d happily accepted. Which is what led me to nearly eight months of preparing for this launch.

I could have said no to it. But there was some part of me that was excited to try something new. And with how my new racing career had taken off, I’d missed getting the chance to perform. Only getting to do it here and there. And despite the fact I’d never done professional dancing in my life, I’d enjoyed it. Enjoyed learning the moves, dancing to the music, putting my own twist on the moves and making it my own. At first I’d been scared it wouldn’t go ahead. They’d flown us all to Korea to meet with the companies that had shown interest in the idea put forward by Formula 1. They’d wanted to meet us all in person, see how we moved, and see if it was something we could pull off. And by some miracle, by the end of the week they had agreed it could be done. And here we were, about to perform the performance we’d put together.

”And you two don’t have the added stress of doing a bloody solo in front of everyone.” I mutter before wincing as the hair stylist starts pulling on my hair.

”You’re going to nail it.” Tina says with an excited smile.

”Yeah, you’ve been killing it in rehersals. You’re going to do fine.” Lia adds with a nod.

”Performing in a room with like twenty people is far different to a room full of hundreds of people. And now the groups we’ve been learning the songs of.” I point out.

At first the groups weren’t going to be here. The companies not sure what the schedules would be like. But by some miracle they’d all been free. And some of the members and groups even having invites from brands they worked with. So now the three groups were going to be sitting front and centre to watch us more than likely butcher their work.

”Stop worrying. Once you’re in your outfit, hair and makeup all done and on that stage, you’ll be fine. They’re going to love us.” Lia says confidently.

I go to retort, but clamp my mouth shut as the hair stylist starts yanking my hair into the braid needed to add the hair piece they had gotten made for me. But Lia was right. As I looked in the mirror make up done, outfit on and hair on the way, I could already feel myself slipping into my familiar performing mindset. I could do this. Just keep my in-ears in, block everything out and just focus on the music and dance moves. I could do this.

Beneath the stage the noise was deafening. I could hear the music pumping for the intro of the showcase. The season opener. A new thing they’d decided to do this year. I don’t know why they hadn’t combined this with the livery launch, but I wasn’t going to question it. Above me I can hear the crowd cheering as footsteps each overhead. As they pass, the floor of the stage is lowered for me. I step onto the plate before taking my chrome red microphone from the stage tech who was helping me for the first two songs.

”Welcome to the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season, and thank you for joining us for the season opener here in Melbourne Australia.” The presenter announces as the crowd claps and cheers. ”And what better way to start the season than with a little announcement for the 2026 season.”

Instantly the crowd hums with curiosity. Even from here I can hear the hushed whispers that pick up around the room at his words. Next year was already a big year with regulation and car changes. So for another thing to be dropped, everyone was curious. Not even the team principles and CEO’s had any idea of what was coming.

”But instead of me telling you what the news is, we have a little performance some of the drivers have been working on for quite some time. So I’ll let them show you.”

Instantly the room above me goes dark. The hiss of the smoke machine going off as smoke floats across the stage. The stage tech gives me a thumbs up, signalling it’s my turn. I give them a nod before putting my last in-ear in and standing up on the platform as the music starts, the stage flooded with red lights as the platform rises.

[usafphantom2]

As told by Paul F Crickmore in his book Lockheed SR-71 Operations in Europe and the Middle East was rare for SR-71 crews to spot their pursuers during Barents/Baltic Seas operations, for a fully functioning ‘Habu’ would remain out of reach of any NATO or Soviet interceptor. However, a jet with technical issues (or the onset of freak weather conditions) could bring the SR-71 back to within reach of chasing fighters. This happened to Majs ‘Stormy’ Boudreaux and RSO Ted Ross, who departed Mildenhall in 64-17980 at 1010 hrs on Jun. 3, 1986 on yet another flight Boudreaux find himself flying formation in almost blinding conditions, with the SR-71’s cockpit instruments obscured in the dark shadow of the dashboard below the windscreen. He was forced to arrange his tiltable car-like sun-visor to shield against the high contrast conditions.

Surrounded by ‘sea, sky or whatever’

That effort proved of little value, for while in the contact position ‘on the boom’, the tanker’s reference points for formation flying were flashing in such extreme contrast that, according to Boudreaux, they appeared to be surrounded by ‘sea, sky or whatever’.

A strong sensation of vertigo overtook Boudreaux, leaving him with a false sense of diving and climbing (and with the even more powerful sensation of flying inverted while refuelling). An interphone call to his RSO, Maj Ross, assured Boudreaux that he was not upside-down. He was then able to continue filling 64-17980’s tanks while fighting his sense of flying ‘straight up or straight down’.

After clearing the tanker, and his senses, Boudreaux climbed through 60,000 ft, where he noted through his periscope that 64-17980 was still pulling contrails, which should have stopped above that altitude. Another check at 70,000 ft revealed that he was ‘still conning’, which he hoped would surely stop before they approached the target area. Upon entering the Barents Sea zone, the aircraft began a programmed left turn to the northeast and then reversed in a large sweeping right turn to roll out on a westerly heading, which would take the SR-71 on the ‘collection run’ and back across the entry point. When established on the westerly heading north ,the crew noted that they were still ‘conning’, which was most abnormal at high altitudes. To add to their dismay, Boudreaux spotted three other contrails ahead of them and off to the left, but turning to converge in what might be an intercept. Another southerly glance revealed more ‘cons’ closing from the left, but at a lower altitude.

Six Soviet fighters trying to intercept an SR-71

These six Soviet fighters, each separated by approximately 15 miles, were executing what appeared to be a well-rehearsed turning intercept manoeuvre to pop up somewhere in the vicinity of the fast-moving ‘Habu’ and potentially fire off sophisticated air-to-air missiles. The Soviet lighter pilots had executed an in-place turn, which would have positioned them perfectly for a head-on attack had 64-17980’s track penetrated Soviet airspace. As Ross monitored the fighters’ electronic activities, Boudreaux increased speed and altitude.

Suddenly, a contrail shot by just beneath the nose of the SR-71, leaving both crewmembers waiting for a missile or another aircraft to appear which might have ‘spoiled their whole day’. It was with great relief that Boudreaux realised that they were now paralleling their inbound contrail — they had laid it while turning northeast prior to heading west! For a few moments their hearts missed several beats as they contemplated the thought of having unwanted high-Mach company 15 miles above the cold Arctic seas.

Boudreaux settled the SR-71 back into a routine high-Mach cruise, the autopilot completing a long ‘lazy turn’ around the north shore of Norway before the pilot started his descent toward another refuelling. To complete the mission, the crew made an easy high altitude dash into the Baltic corridor and down through West Germany, before heading home to Mildenhall.

@Habubrats71 via X

[commadee]

POTENTIALLY UNWANTED PROGRAM

background text below:

OPINION: Sentience? Don’t Delude Yourself

Since the unexpected and violent episode that gripped Houston last Sunday, a massive delusion has gripped millions of Americans seemingly overnight. “Delusion” is a strong word for a likewise wildly unrealistic assumption. This kind of phenomenon has seemed to be more and more commonplace in modern America, without anyone really seeming confident on exactly what the hell is happening. So. Let’s ask ourselves and settle this once. What the hell is happening, and are our machines really sentient now?

The discussion on sentience has been one of both philosophical and scientific debate since the emergence of each respective field. Even attempting to tap into that debate is wildly outside the scope of this opinion piece. The long and short of it—sentience is the experience of emotions and cognitive abilities, and we aren’t close to even figuring out what it is, physically.

[paranoidginger]

Mann or Machine

A post-Spy's Disguise Engiespy angst fic (For real though, please go watch Spy's Disguise by Fortress Films on YouTube if you have not! This takes place after that short movie, and has references to Emesis Blue as well!)

Tw: Minor Gore, Violence, and Body Horror

At first, the change between human and machine was a blessing, a self-taught command that gave him the upper hand and made him feel nearly immortal. After the sawmill incident, all of that changed, however. The changes became unpredictable, uncontrollable... The intersecting of man and metal was never meant to be, it was an error in the program of a broken disguise kit. It had broken the moment it hit the first sentry, and the rest, as they say, is history.

At first, it had felt like a superpower, something to flaunt and embrace; Now, however, it felt more like a curse. After the nightmares, and seeing the video that doctor Fritz Ludwig had taken while in his care, it was clear that it was an ailment, as opposed to anything else... He and the engineer that kept him company had lost contact with the doctor not long after the incident, both dismissed from their faction of Builders League United and left to make themselves as normal lives as they could, without any aid from the company.

The pair had moved onto land that the Engineer already had in his possession, a small ranch, fairly isolated, but close enough to a nearby town to get regular groceries and whatever tinkering supplies the engineer could have possibly wanted. It was safe there... But all the same, Spy struggled with himself, unable to properly regulate and prevent the unwanted shifts between man and machine. PTSD... That's what Doctor Ludwig had called it... Post traumatic stress disorder... It wasn't surprising, after what he had gone through...

Spy sat quietly, his mind buzzing as he tried to read a book. He was on high alert, by himself in the little ranch house he shared with his dearest Engineer... They hadn't always gotten along, some days were better than others, but they had been able to bond as colleagues, then as comrades, and now... Perhaps they were more. He was all alone, poor Pierre DuPont, left to his own devices as he waited for Hal to return from the store.

He saw a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye as his arm raised, as if by reflex, rotating barrels taking over and spraying shots towards what the machine in the back of his mind deemed a potential intruder. He hadn't heard whenever the engineer had opened the door and came inside, bags of fresh groceries in hand as he made his way to the kitchen, interrupted by the sudden spray of bullets. The wall beside him was marred with bullet holes, all but one having missed their target.

"D'aw shit-" The man muttered quietly, hissing as he lightly touched the blossoming wound in his side. "T-that's my fault... I didn't mean to spook ya, darlin'..." He exhaled a shaky laugh, carefully setting the bags of groceries down beside him as he pressed his hand to the bloodied hole in his side.

The Spy scrambled to his feet, unable to force his arm back to normal as he dropped the book he had been holding, rushing to the other man as he wobbled slightly on his feet. This wasn't supposed to happen...

"No! Non, please... Mon dieu... I didn't mean to-"

"Shhh..." He cut the Spy off, not allowing another word from the taller man "It's okay, I've had worse. One bullet ain't gonna put me in the ground." He looked up at the spy, watching as the other man continued to panic. Gently, he patted the other man's cheek, grabbing his shoulder gently after a moment "Look at me, Pierre, I'm gonna be fine. I'm gonna go get myself patched up, you take care of these here groceries, alright? I'll be ok, I promise." Hal gave a small smile, sighing gently as he made his way to the bathroom to patch himself up, making sure to be loud enough for the other man to be able to hear him as the Spy got to work, carefully putting away the groceries as he fought to push his guilt and worries down.

That night was quiet, Pierre having eventually corrected his arm once again with his Engineer's help. They sat on the couch together, Hal's arm wrapped gently around the other man's shoulders as they watched a movie together, the Spy eventually falling asleep at his side.

Pierre's sleep was plagued with nightmares, memories of Hal 'dying' playing back in his mind, followed by the fresh scene of him shot and bloodied by the Spy's own hands. He met the machine again... A twisted mirror version of himself, a robot with his face... It had been peaceful that first time, but now, it came at him, aiming for the jugular.

Hal was jostled awake by the seizing, jerky movements of his unconscious partner, bits of him swapping in and out of humanity, his head tipped back slightly as his mouth began to froth. Quickly, the engineer grabbed hold of Pierre, hugging him gently as he carefully moved him down onto the floor, pushing the coffee table out of the way as he fumbled to grab a small flashlight off of the wooden surface.

"Shit- shit, goddamn it-" He straddled the Spy as he continued to seize and twitch on the floor, gently opening one of the other man's eyes and shining the light into the dilated pupil, wincing slightly as it failed to react. Metallic barrels took over both forearms, rotating back and forth with jerky, clicking movement.

"Come on, damn it! Wake up!" The engineer grabbed the front of the other man's shirt, wincing at the pain in his side as he attempted to wake him up, shaking him slightly. "Come on!" He shouted through his teeth, his eyes beginning to water slightly as he knelt over Pierre's seizing body.

After a moment, his arms returned to normal, the seizure seeming to finally come to an end. Quietly, Hal watched, hesitating for a moment before gently cupping the side of the Spy's face, watching as his chest rose and fell with his breaths. Pierre shuddered slightly, his eyes opening just a bit before Hal was forced to yank his hand away, the familiar rocket barrels of a sentry closing around the man's head, the rise and fall of his chest becoming shallow and frantic as he awoke.

Pierre let out a muffled, mechanical scream, grabbing and clawing at what had once been his face. Quickly, the Engineer moved off of him, hissing slightly in pain as he hoisted the other man into a sitting position, grabbing one of his hands and hugging him gently as he traced his thumb over the other's palm.

"Breathe! I need ya to breathe for me!" Hal called gently, worry evident in his tone as he held the other man close, preventing him from scratching and clawing at the metal that now covered his face. It took some time, but eventually, the Spy's breathing returned mostly to normal.

The rocket launcher that had replaced his face lifted once again, pulling away from his head with the mechanical arm that had placed it there to begin with, tucking back down into the motor that had protruded from his back, which slowly retracted inside of him, leaving the surface of his back no different than any other man's...

"There you go... There you are, darlin'... I've got you..." The Engineer spoke softly gently cupping the other man's cheek for a moment before the spy slipped his hands beneath Hal's arms, pulling him closer and hiding his face in the crook of the smaller man's neck, shaking as small sobs wracked his thin frame. "It's gonna be alright, sunshine..." Hal's voice was soft and gentle as he held the other man close, beginning to rub his back slightly as he just sat there, doing his best to comfort Pierre.

The next incident was nearly a week after Pierre had shot Hal by accident. Another late night, another bad dream... He thought he would be fine... He had woken up, just like he had so many times before.

The Spy made his way to the bathroom, careful not to wake his sleeping partner, turning the water on and running his hands beneath it, splashing his face slightly before looking at himself in the mirror... His eyes were blue again... They weren't supposed to be blue... There was a metallic clink as his arm hit the edge of the sink, feeling too heavy to hold up as it shifted once again to the multi-barreled machine gun that he couldn't keep from happening, his other arm following suit. It hurt this time... Why was it hurting? It had never hurt before.

He took a couple of steps back, his breaths catching in his throat as he began to run, stumbling slightly as he made it to his room... Their room... After everything, he couldn't find it in him to sleep alone... He had shut the door.. He bumped it with his shoulder before ramming it harder, pain radiating through the contact points as began to shout.

"Wake up! Hal please-" His legs gave out beneath him, the motor on his back popping out once again, and that horrible metal arm forcing the launcher barrels back over his head, muffling his cries for help as the rest of his body folded in on itself, leaving a sentry once again in his place.

Congratulations, you made it to the end! I'm leaving it up to the readers to help me decide whether I want to leave it as a one shot, or if I should give this another chapter! Feel free to vote below!!

Part 2

[uraniumwriting]

THE SIX WIPS OF MY FINAL SUMMER BREAK

That's right: though I am graduating (walking tomorrow aaaaa), I do have a bit of a break before I go to my Big Kid Job(tm) and the associated move with it. That means I get lots and lots of time to write (and read and game) over the next month and a half.

In that realm, here is a brief description of the six wips that I plan to start! The current plan is to get to about 10k in a draft for all six, and then try to add stuff from there for those I'm feeling stronger about.

Sequel to Ghosts of the Steel Road

This one is pretty self-explanatory! For those who are new, I self-published Ghosts of the Steel Road in September, which means it's time to write the sequel! I'm very excited to explore more of this world (and now from the perspective from a certain someone 👀) but it's also a bit nerve-wracking given that this is my first large sequel. No description yet tho because I haven't quite decided the plot yet lol

The Unwanted Sacrifice (Second Draft)

I've talked about this wip quite a bit over the past year, and now it's time to make the project a bit more proper! After all, one of my goals for this year is to get this wip to beta readers. For those not in the know, The Unwanted Sacrifice follows Fastyma, a woman meant to be sacrificed to the fearsome dragon, Tharzalia, only for the sacrifice to go wrong. Now facing the prospect of being alive when she should be long dead, Fastyma has to set out to unravel the reason she was refused and the conspiracies behind the sacrifice in the first place.

Zire WIP

Named after the titular character (because titles are hard), this project is an adult sci-fi space thriller involving a cargo mission gone wrong. Zire, a ship engineer and cult runaway who gets strange glimpses of potential futures, has to convince the ship's captain of the danger that faces the crew if they don't land on a conflict-filled moon colony, but little does she know how close to home that danger will be.

Blood Child WIP

This project is a YA fantasy that follows Narna, a Blood Child (orphan trained under a religious elite to handle the processes of dealing with violent death) who finds herself infected by a strange entity after a routine night. A new power blossoms within Narna with each passing night, but that power may come at the cost of the re-awakening of the most ancient and dangerous god.

Gladiator WIP

Political drama with the aesthetic of the Roman Empire and fantastical creatures like those from Monster Hunter? This WIP has developed a lot in the past few months as I've had time to think a lot about writing but not do much of it, but I'm excited. Following three unwilling participants in a fight to establish a new empiric dynasty, this project is just very messy but in the best way.

Halli Reed WIP

Another WIP titled after a character, this one was actually a project from one of my classes in the fall! This project is a YA sci-fi story set in a military/space academy, where Halli Reed must contend with her placement in a secretive spy program and her parents' connection to the space mission that created the supposed need for the academy in the first place, all while a saboteur threatens the lives of everyone in the academy's impenetrable walls.

I can't wait to talk about these WIPs (and hopefully ONLY these WIPs, if you get what I mean) more over the next month and more, now that I won't have the chaos of school assignments on top of work. As always, though, feel free to drop an ask in my inbox if you wanna hear more about any of these!

[mariacallous]

The overturning of Roe v. Wade and this term’s Supreme Court abortion cases have understandably kept attention riveted on abortion. But while the abortion battle rages on, people are losing sight of the second front of the war to secure women’s reproductive autonomy: birth control.

As state abortion bans proliferate in the post-Roe era, the use of reliable birth control to prevent unintended pregnancies is more crucial than ever. Moreover, defenders of reproductive rights now must guard against an additional challenge—the offensive far-right conservatives are mounting against contraception.

Unplanned pregnancy is more common than most people realize. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 42% of all pregnancies are unintended, meaning that the pregnancy was either unwanted or seriously mistimed.

While abortion is an important line of defense in preventing unplanned parenthood, it should be a last resort. The easiest way to prevent unplanned parenthood is to prevent an unintended pregnancy from occurring in the first place.

There are compelling reasons to support the use of effective birth control. A long and robust economic literature has shown that improving access to contraception reduces maternal morbidity and mortality. It also leads to healthier babies, less child poverty, better living circumstances for children, and improved educational and career opportunities for women.

In addition, birth control offers the most politically unifying approach to secure women’s reproductive autonomy. While just over one-third of the U.S. public doesn’t think abortion should be legal under any or most circumstances, nearly 9 in 10 approve the use of contraception, including 86% of Republicans. Birth control is also a more effective way to reduce abortion incidence than current state-level abortion bans which so far have not translated into fewer abortions nationwide. But if unplanned pregnancies essentially disappeared, there would be vanishingly few abortions.

And yet, despite birth control’s benefits and broad popularity, some conservatives are now targeting contraception.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas opened the door to these attacks when he argued that the same legal reasoning used to overturn Roe implies that “in future cases” the Court should “reconsider” Griswold v. Connecticut, the landmark case that established the Constitutional right to contraception in 1965. Since then, legislation to ban or restrict access to certain forms of contraception has already been discussed or proposed in Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, and Missouri.

The Heritage Foundation as part of its Project 2025 initiative has called for a potential future Trump administration to restrict access to certain types of birth control. When asked about the topic in a recent TV interview, former President Trump said he was “looking at” policies that would restrict access, adding that “some states are going to have different policy than others.” He later walked back those comments, but many of Trump’s actions as president, including his decision to halve the patient capacity of the Title X program that provides affordable birth control and related services, foreshadow what may be his real intentions.

Senator Chuck Schumer recently led an effort to codify the right to contraception nationwide. All but two Senate Republicans present voted against the measure.

Central to Republicans’ attacks against contraception have been efforts by anti-abortion religious groups to falsely equate certain forms of birth control with abortion. That position is contrary to the consensus among medical experts that contraception, unlike abortion, does not terminate pregnancy and instead prevents pregnancy from occurring in the first place. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, for example, has stated: “None of the FDA-approved contraceptive methods are abortifacients because they do not interfere with a pregnancy and are not effective after a fertilized egg has implanted successfully in the uterus.”

Amid far-right attacks, defenders of women’s reproductive autonomy should focus more attention on effective contraception.

As a safe and virtually foolproof form of birth control, the surging popularity of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) which includes IUDs and implants is especially promising. For a typical couple using a condom, the risk of pregnancy within five years is 63%. For those relying on the pill, it is 38%. With a LARC, it is less than 4%. LARCs change the default so that users can “set it and forget it” without losing sleep over concerns about getting pregnant.

Many women are taking notice. The share of women using LARCs increased sevenfold between 2002 and 2018. LARCs are now the third most common contraceptive method used by women after sterilization and the pill. Early evidence suggests more women and men are seeking out effective contraception including LARCs in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Beyond the increased use of LARCs, the first-ever over-the-counter birth control pill hit the shelves of major drug stores earlier this year. That is important because nearly one-third of women using the pill say they have missed taking their dosage because they were unable to get their next supply in time.

But what more could be done?

Primary care physicians should screen all women of reproductive age for their pregnancy intentions to encourage patients who don’t want to get pregnant to focus on the risks of sex and their contraceptive options for reducing them. We also need to ensure all healthcare providers, not just doctors, are trained in the use of LARCs, have them on hand, and can provide same day insertion. Where these approaches have been tried, unintended pregnancy and abortion rates have both declined dramatically.

In addition, more funding for Title X is needed. One rigorous study has shown that eliminating cost sharing for low-income patients seeking birth control would significantly reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions and save more than one billion dollars in Medicaid expenses in the first year alone.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade was a Pandora’s box that unleashed an invigorated assault on women’s fundamental freedoms. As the onslaught intensifies, defenders of women’s reproductive autonomy must fight back to fortify the first and strongest line of defense in protecting a woman’s right to choose if and when to seek a pregnancy.

[neotechnomagick]

The Intersection of NLP Eye Movement Integration and the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram: A Comparative Analysis

Introduction

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) has long been associated with cognitive restructuring and psychotherapeutic interventions. One particularly compelling technique within NLP is Eye Movement Integration (EMI), which utilizes guided eye movements to access and integrate fragmented or traumatic memories. Simultaneously, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP), a foundational ceremonial magick practice from the Western esoteric tradition, employs ritualized gestures and visualizations of pentagrams to clear and harmonize psychological and spiritual space. This essay explores the striking structural similarities between EMI and the LBRP and considers the possibility that both methods engage hemispheric synchronization and cognitive integration in analogous ways.

The Structure of EMI and LBRP

Eye Movement Integration (EMI) involves tracing figure-eight (∞) or infinity-loop movements with the eyes while engaging in conscious recall of emotionally charged experiences. According to NLP theories, this process activates both hemispheres of the brain, allowing for greater coherence in how memories are processed and reintegrated (Bandler & Grinder, 1982). EMI techniques suggest that deliberate movement across specific spatial axes stimulates neural pathways responsible for sensory and emotional integration (Ward, 2002).

Similarly, the LBRP involves a structured sequence of visualized pentagrams drawn in the cardinal directions, accompanied by divine names and ritual gestures. This sequence is designed to invoke protective forces and create a harmonized psychic field. According to the Golden Dawn tradition (Cicero, 1998), the act of tracing the pentagram is intended to engage multiple layers of cognition: visual-spatial processing, linguistic invocation, and kinesthetic anchoring.

Shared Cognitive and Psychological Mechanisms

Bilateral Stimulation and Neural Integration

Both EMI and LBRP involve movements across spatial dimensions that engage both brain hemispheres.

EMI’s horizontal and diagonal eye movements mimic the process of following the pentagram’s path in ritual, possibly facilitating left-right hemisphere synchronization (Bandler & Grinder, 1982).

Symbolic Encoding and Cognitive Anchoring

EMI often integrates positive resource states during the eye-tracing process, allowing new neurological connections to be formed. The LBRP similarly encodes protective and stabilizing forces into the practitioner’s consciousness through repeated use of divine names and pentagram tracings (Cicero, 1998).

The act of drawing a pentagram in ritual space may serve as an ‘anchor’ to a specific neurological or psychological state, much like NLP anchoring techniques (Hine, 1995).

Emotional and Energetic Reset

EMI is used to defragment and neutralize distressing memories, reducing their disruptive impact. The LBRP, in an esoteric context, serves to “banish” intrusive or unwanted energies, clearing space for more intentional psychological and spiritual work (Cicero, 1998).

Practitioners of both techniques report a sense of clarity, release, and heightened awareness following their use (Hine, 1995).

Implications for Technomagick and NLP Applications

The intersection of NLP and ceremonial magick suggests that structured, repetitive movement combined with intentional focus has profound cognitive and psychological effects. In a Neo-Technomagickal framework, this insight could lead to further experimentation with custom sigils designed for EMI-style integration, or AI-assisted visualization tools for ritual practice.

Future research could examine:

Whether specific geometries (e.g., pentagrams, hexagrams) in ritual movement impact cognitive processing similarly to NLP techniques.

The effectiveness of LBRP-derived rituals in clinical or self-development contexts, particularly for trauma resolution.

The potential for EEG and neurofeedback studies comparing EMI and ritualized eye-tracing methods.

Conclusion

While originating from vastly different paradigms, NLP’s EMI technique and the LBRP share fundamental principles of hemispheric integration, cognitive anchoring, and structured movement through symbolic space. Whether consciously designed or stumbled upon through esoteric practice, these methodologies hint at deep underlying mechanisms of the human mind’s capacity for self-regulation and transformation. Understanding their similarities provides an opportunity to bridge the domains of magick, psychology, and neuroscience, opening new avenues for exploration in both mystical and therapeutic contexts.

G/E/M (2025)

References

Bandler, R., & Grinder, J. (1982). Reframing: Neuro-Linguistic Programming and the Transformation of Meaning. Real People Press.

Cicero, C. & Cicero, S. T. (1998). Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition. Llewellyn Publications.

Hine, P. (1995). Condensed Chaos: An Introduction to Chaos Magic. New Falcon Publications.

Ward, K. (2002). Mind Change Techniques to Keep the Change. NLP Resources.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

First steps taken toward developing interstellar lightsails

The idea of traveling through interstellar space using spacecraft propelled by ultrathin sails may sound like the stuff of sci-fi novels. But in fact, a program started in 2016 by Stephen Hawking and Yuri Milner, known as the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative, has been exploring the idea. The concept is to use lasers to propel miniature space probes attached to "lightsails" to reach ultrafast speeds and eventually our nearest star system, Alpha Centauri.

Caltech is leading the worldwide community working toward achieving this audacious goal.

"The lightsail will travel faster than any previous spacecraft, with potential to eventually open interstellar distances to direct spacecraft exploration that are now only accessible by remote observation," explains Harry Atwater, the Otis Booth Leadership Chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science and the Howard Hughes Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science at Caltech.

Now, Atwater and his colleagues at Caltech have developed a platform for characterizing the ultrathin membranes that could one day be used to make these lightsails. Their test platform includes a way to measure the force that lasers exert on the sails and that will be used to send the spacecraft hurtling through space. The team's experiments mark the first step in moving from theoretical proposals and designs of lightsails to actual observations and measurements of the key concepts and potential materials.

"There are numerous challenges involved in developing a membrane that could ultimately be used as lightsail. It needs to withstand heat, hold its shape under pressure, and ride stably along the axis of a laser beam," Atwater says. "But before we can begin building such a sail, we need to understand how the materials respond to radiation pressure from lasers. We wanted to know if we could determine the force being exerted on a membrane just by measuring its movements. It turns out we can."

A paper describing the work appears in the journal Nature Photonics. The lead authors of the paper are postdoctoral scholar in applied physics Lior Michaeli and graduate student in applied physics Ramon Gao, both of Caltech.

The goal is to characterize the behavior of a freely moving lightsail. But as a first step, to begin studying the materials and propulsive forces in the lab, the team created a miniature lightsail that is tethered at the corners within a larger membrane.

The researchers used equipment in the Kavli Nanoscience Institute at Caltech and a technique called electron beam lithography to carefully pattern a membrane of silicon nitride just 50 nanometers thick, creating something that looks like a microscopic trampoline.

The mini trampoline, a square just 40 microns wide and 40 microns long, is suspended at the corners by silicon nitride springs. Then the team hit the membrane with argon laser light at a visible wavelength. The goal was to measure the radiation pressure that the miniature lightsail experienced by measuring the trampoline's motions as it moved up and down.

But the picture from a physics perspective changes when the sail is tethered, says co-lead author Michaeli: "In this case, the dynamics become quite complex."

The sail acts as a mechanical resonator, vibrating like a trampoline when hit by light. A key challenge is that these vibrations are mainly driven by heat from the laser beam, which can mask the direct effect of radiation pressure. Michaeli says the team turned this challenge into an advantage, noting, "We not only avoided the unwanted heating effects but also used what we learned about the device's behavior to create a new way to measure light's force."

The new method lets the device act additionally as a power meter to measure both the force and power of the laser beam.

"The device represents a small lightsail, but a big part of our work was devising and realizing a scheme to precisely measure motion induced by long-range optical forces," says co-lead author Gao.

To do that, the team built what is called a common-path interferometer. In general, motion can be detected by the interference of two laser beams, where one hits the vibrating sample and the other traces a rigid location. However, in a common-path interferometer, because the two beams have traveled nearly the same path, they have encountered the same sources of environmental noise, such as equipment operating nearby or even people talking, and those signals get eliminated. All that remains is the very small signal from the motion of the sample.

The engineers integrated the interferometer into the microscope they used to study the miniature sail and housed the device within a custom-made vacuum chamber. They were then able to measure motions of the sail as small as picometers (trillionths of a meter) as well as its mechanical stiffness—that is, how much the springs deformed when the sail was pushed by the laser's radiation pressure.

Since the researchers know that a lightsail in space would not always remain perpendicular to a laser source on Earth, they next angled the laser beam to mimic this and again measured the force with which the laser pushed the mini sail.

Importantly, the researchers accounted for the laser beam spreading out at an angle and therefore missing the sample in some areas by calibrating their results to the laser power measured by the device itself. Yet, the force under those circumstances was lower than expected. In the paper, the researchers hypothesize that some of the beam, when directed at an angle, hits the edge of the sail, causing a portion of the light to get scattered and sent in other directions.

Looking forward, the team hopes to use nanoscience and metamaterials—materials carefully engineered at that tiny scale to have desirable properties—to help control the side-to-side motion and rotation of a miniature lightsail.

"The goal then would be to see if we can use these nanostructured surfaces to—for example—impart a restoring force or torque to a lightsail," says Gao. "If a lightsail were to move or rotate out of the laser beam, we would like it to move or rotate back on its own."

The researchers note that they can measure side-to-side motion and rotation with the platform described in the paper.

"This is an important stepping stone toward observing optical forces and torques designed to let a freely accelerating lightsail ride the laser beam," says Gao.

TOP IMAGE: From interstellar lightsails to laboratory-based lightsail platforms. Credit: Nature Photonics (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41566-024-01605-w

LOWER IMAGE: Multiphysics platform for radiation pressure characterization in optomechanics. Credit: Nature Photonics (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41566-024-01605-w