#Tech Tip Tuesday

[cavillionlearning]

Tech Tip Tuesday: Boost Tableau Performance with Context Filters

Boost the performance of your Tableau dashboards by using Context Filters! ⚡ This trick helps you manage multiple filters more efficiently, making your data visualisations faster and smoother.

[theworkingblog]

Tech Tip Tuesday

Tech Tip Tuesday

I wasn't familiar with Google Keep until I started exploring ways to maximize Google products this year and stumbled upon this neat tool.

If you're looking for a way to integrate without stepping outside google, here are some benefits of the tool?

Note-taking: Users can quickly jot down ideas, thoughts, or important information in text format.

Checklists and Lists: Google Keep enables users to create checklists and lists for tasks, groceries, or any other items they need to keep track of.

Reminders: Users can set reminders for specific notes or lists, helping them stay on top of their tasks and commitments.

Color Coding: Notes and lists can be color-coded, making it easy to visually organize and differentiate between different types of content.

Collaboration: Google Keep allows users to share notes and collaborate with others in real-time, making it a useful tool for teamwork and group projects.

Cross-Platform Syncing: Notes and lists created in Google Keep sync across all devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, ensuring that users have access to their information wherever they go.

google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj-0ZKJkKKFAxVIEFkFHV4eAxIQFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fkeep.google.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw1NKNFGiEfwHk17jfPT0BM0&opi=89978449

[apocalyp-tech-a]

Tech upon receiving the fateful data rod with encrypted files from Echo on Pabu. I love the owl-ish look he has from time to time. And the determination he has with decrypting the data for Echo, especially when he hears where it came from.

[turquoise-cyan]

[sierraconsult]

Advocate for short, daily learning sessions (5-10 minutes) on various topics. This keeps learning continuous and engaging without feeling overwhelming.

[thezombieprostitute]

Tech Tuesday: Bucky Barnes

Summary: You get a much needed win.

Warnings: Caretaker stress, Mentions of assault and violence, Work stress. Please let me know if I missed any.

Previous

Tech Tuesdays Masterlist

"Exquisitely done," Jefferson praises at your latte art. You smile at the compliment, grateful your nerves aren't making your hands shake too much. "The college students absolutely love the cutesy latte art. Really anything they can take a photo of and share online. You'll get much better tips for that kind of thing so I encourage all employees to practice new techniques and designs during the slower hours. The only catch is that you have to drink every cup you practice with."

"I'm happy to hear that. My...my last job didn't call for a lot of latte art so my skills are rusty."

"We're just getting out of midterms week so there should be more downtime for practicing," he reassures.

"You talk like I've already got the job," you chuckle halfheartedly.

"Because you do," he smiles. "And no, it's not just because my cousin recommended you. It's because you've got the experience, the knowledge, the skill. Plus, I need a manager who can help me handle all of these student employees."

"Manager?"

"Did Bucky not tell you? The turnover rate is high here because I hire so many students. I need another adult in the place who will stick around."

"I...I just wasn't expecting..." You take a breath to get your brain functioning. "What all does being manager entail?"

Jefferson chuckles, "so you accept the job?"

"I just need some more details before I fully agree, but I'm very inclined to accept."

"Excellent!"

Bucky remained in the cab of his truck for your interview. You'd asked him to out of concern Jefferson would be more influenced to hire you if he was reminded of the familial connection. He knows better, Jefferson never lets that sort of thing cloud his judgment, but he still acquiesced. You needed to prove to yourself you could do it. That's something he understands.

He sends another "thank you" text to Steve and Newbie. Honestly, if it weren't for them, he'd have likely ended up going to prison for assaulting August. It'd be well deserved, but it wouldn't have been good for you or Robby.

Bucky's gotta admit, he's been having fun introducing Robby to Dungeons & Dragons. He missed his chance to play with Jake's group so he could help you out. But he's thinking he might be able to start up his own little group with you, Robby, Steve and Newbie. Maybe. Something for the back burner. In the meantime, coming up with stories and characters with Robby is a lot of fun.

He's startled out of his thoughts by the passenger door opening. You climb in, all smiles, and cup his face with your hands.

"Thank you, Bucky," you say as tears start forming in your eyes. "I got the job. Thank you, so much, for getting me the interview."

"It's no--" he's cut off by a deep, passionate kiss that has him hungry for more. He grips the back of your head as he returns the kiss, moaning as you let his tongue push past your lips.

The kisses and touches become more intense and you want to lose yourself in them but you can't. You don't want to disappoint Bucky, but you can't keep going. You gently try to pull away and he immediately stops and lets you go.

"I'm sor--"

"No need for apologies, Sweetie," he says breathily, gently caressing your cheek. "You don't ever need to apologize for not wanting to go further. Especially after everything you've been through today."

"Thanks for understanding," you smile back.

"It's what a good boyfriend does," he chuckles. "Let's get you home so you can tell Robby and celebrate."

When you enter the apartment, Robby is fully engrossed in his Pokémon Eevee game and doesn't even look up from the screen. Knowing he's been just as stressed as you lately, even if it's in his own way, you gently sit next to him on the couch.

"Got you some McDonald's nuggets," you tell him as you place the bag on the coffee table in front of him.

"Thanks," he says in his monotone voice.

"I also want you to know I got a new job." Robby winces at your words; another change in his life. "But it's a good thing because my new boss isn't going to mess with my schedule. I'll be able to work the same hours every week. We're going to get back into a routine."

"That's good," he replies, tone lighter, relief in his voice.

"Do you mind if Bucky stays to celebrate the new job with us?"

"No, he's cool," Robby nods his head once.

"Thanks, Robby!" Bucky smiles.

Robby's smile widens, still never looking away from the screen. Bucky sits next to you on the couch, bringing the rest of the food you'd gotten to celebrate.

"Do you mind if we watch something?" you ask Robby.

"No," he shakes his head as he puts down the Switch. "Just so long as we don't watch some gross romance stuff," he chuckles.

"No worries there," you smile.

The rest of the night is spent with you cuddling up with Bucky, all three of you laughing, happy, and able to relax for the first time in a long, long while.

Next

Tech Tuesdays Masterlist

Tagging: @alicedopey; @darsynia; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory; @late-to-the-party-81; @lokislady82; @ozwriterchick ; @peaches1958; @ronearoundblindly; @stellar-solar-flare

[thecozycat]

🧡 Tuesday Tips #2 🧡

What Are RSS and Atom Feeds?

The Small Web movement is about reclaiming personal control over the internet, moving away from the corporate, ad-driven platforms that dominate the online space today. One of the biggest advantages of using RSS or Atom is that you can follow nearly any type of content from all over the web—blogs, news websites, YouTube channels, podcasts, even academic journals! As long as the site provides an RSS or Atom feed (which many still do), you can add it to your reader and automatically get updates when new content is published. You have full control over the flow of information, making it possible to keep up with your favorite creators and websites without being tracked or bombarded by irrelevant content suggestions (Facebook, I’m looking at you).

RSS and Atom feeds are a perfect fit for curating personal content feeds in this movement. You can even follow your friends across the small web as well! It’s like having your own personal news feed of all your friends, except there’s no corporation deciding when, how, or if you’ll even see their posts. You curate your own personalized feed, and using either RSS or Atom ensures that no algorithms can ever manipulate what you see.

So what exactly are RSS and Atom feeds? Both RSS and Atom are web feed formats used to publish updates from websites. They allow you to subscribe to blogs, news sites, podcasts, or any site with frequent updates so you can get all the latest content in one place, typically through an RSS reader.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication): One of the oldest and most popular formats for delivering content updates to users. Websites publish RSS feeds in XML format, which feed readers then display for you.

Atom: A more recent alternative to RSS, designed to address some limitations of the original RSS format. Atom feeds use XML like RSS but have a different structure and were developed to offer more features and flexibility.

Both formats serve the same purpose: they help you get content updates automatically.

Can Your RSS Reader Read Atom Feeds?

The good news is that most modern RSS readers support both RSS and Atom formats. This means you don’t have to worry about whether a website offers an RSS or Atom feed—most readers will be able to handle both seamlessly. 

RSS & Atom Feeds vs. Big Tech Social Media News Feeds

Most social media platforms do not display posts in chronological order. Instead, they use algorithms to determine what content to show you based on your behavior—what you click on, like, or share. These algorithms analyze vast amounts of data and prioritize content that’s most likely to keep you engaged for as long as possible. This manipulation works to increase user engagement and, ultimately, profit for these companies, but it also has a profound impact on what we see and believe. Here are a few examples:

Echo Chambers and Polarization Algorithms tend to show us more of what we already like and agree with. Over time, this creates echo chambers—digital spaces where we are surrounded by similar viewpoints. When people only see content that aligns with their own opinions, it reinforces their beliefs and prevents exposure to different perspectives. This phenomenon can fuel political polarization, as users become more entrenched in their viewpoints, leading to heightened social division.

Amplification of Emotional and Sensational Content Algorithms are designed to promote content that triggers emotional responses, particularly outrage or fear, as these emotions tend to generate more engagement. This is why sensationalized news and emotionally charged political content often appear at the top of feeds. For example, Facebook’s own internal studies, revealed in the 2021 Facebook Papers, showed that its algorithm was amplifying divisive, angry content because it kept users engaged longer. This is particularly harmful when it comes to false narratives, as these stories are more likely to be shared when they evoke strong emotional reactions, leading to widespread public deception.

Surveillance and Data Harvesting Another corrupt aspect of Big Tech’s manipulation is the way these companies harvest vast amounts of user data to further refine their algorithms and maximize ad revenue. Companies track every click, scroll, and interaction to build a detailed profile of each user. This information is sold to advertisers or used to tailor the content in your news feed to keep you hooked. Beyond mere advertising, this data can be used for more insidious purposes, such as political manipulation. More broadly, Big Tech can shape the course of social movements by giving disproportionate visibility to certain voices or downranking others. This power can be used both to promote grassroots campaigns, but also to suppress dissenting voices.

Surveillance Capitalism This term describes how Big Tech companies monetize personal data by surveilling users and creating predictive models of human behavior. By using data harvested from news feed interactions, tech companies can sell detailed user profiles to advertisers, who use these insights to target individuals with precision ads. This economic model, built on constant surveillance, makes it nearly impossible for users to avoid being tracked online. Surveillance capitalism turns user behavior into a commodity, violating privacy in the pursuit of profit. Worse yet, this behavior-modifying system can be used to influence not just what we buy, but how we think and act.

The “Filter Bubble” Effect The term “filter bubble,” refers to the personalization algorithms used by Big Tech to show you only content that aligns with your previous preferences. This isolation of information creates a self-reinforcing loop where users are insulated from viewpoints that challenge their assumptions. This leads to a distorted reality in which everything we see online confirms our existing beliefs, regardless of whether those beliefs are factual. For instance, someone interested in a certain political ideology will be fed more and more content supporting that viewpoint, while dissenting or critical information is filtered out, creating an illusion that everyone shares the same perspective.

RSS & Atom feeds offer a stark contrast to Big Tech news feeds in several key ways:

No algorithms.

No tracking.

No targeting.

No data harvesting.

No distractions.

You’re in full control the content you consume without external corporate influences and manipulation.

RSS and Atom feeds allow you to escape the grasp of these algorithms, trackers, data harvesting, as well as corporate and political agendas. When you use an RSS reader, no one is tracking what you’re reading or recommending content to you based on targeting you and your activity. You can browse in peace, knowing you’re not being manipulated by a hidden algorithm. Using RSS and Atom feeds gives you complete control over the content you consume. Instead of relying on a platform to decide what’s relevant or interesting to you, RSS and Atom empower you to curate your own digital experience. Isn’t that great? You can subscribe to as many or as few feeds as you like, organize them into categories, and stay informed on your own terms to the content and people that matter to you most.

TIP: As you subscribe to multiple RSS feeds, organization becomes key. Most RSS readers allow you to categorize feeds, grouping them by topic or priority. For example, you might have separate folders for news, tech blogs, personal interest websites, or even specific topics like web development. Organizing your feeds ensures that you never miss important updates while keeping your content stream manageable.

...........................................................................

Choose Your RSS Feed Reader

Browser Extensions:

If you’re looking for a list of user-friendly, privacy-focused, fully free and actively updated open-source RSS feed readers for (primarily) Firefox and Chrome-based browsers, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive right in! ........................................................................... FEEDBRO Feedbro is an RSS feed reader that is compatible with both Firefox and Chrome browsers. It offers a user-friendly interface and has features such as feed filtering, sorting, and a built-in search engine. > Get it for Firefox > Get it for Chrome > Get it on Microsoft Edge ........................................................................... SMART RSS Smart RSS allows you to follow new posts on your favorite websites exposing RSS and Atom feeds in a three pane view, providing background loading of new articles and allowing you to organize sources into folders. > Get it for Firefox > Get it for Chrome ...........................................................................

Android & IOS Apps:

Mobile apps are notorious for tracking and harvesting user data, possibly even moreso than pc given the modern smart phone’s ability to record audio, video, and keep track of your location in real time. Here is a list of free, open source, privacy-focused RSS feed reader apps for both Android and iOS so you can enjoy your favorite RSS feeds on the go. ........................................................................... FEEDER Feeder is a fully free/libre feed reader. It supports all common feed formats, including JSONFeed. It doesn’t track you. It doesn’t require any setup. It doesn’t even need you to create an account! Just setup your feeds, or import them from your old reader via OPML, then get on with syncing and reading. > Get Feeder on Google Play (Android) > Get Feeder on F-Droid (Android) ........................................................................... Flym News Reader While no longer being updated, Flym News Reader is still an excellent news reader for Android. Flym News Reader is a simple, modern, totally free (no ads) and opensource project which keeps you inform by fetching your websites/blogs and displaying them in a mobile-optimized way. > Get Flym on Google Play (Android) > Get Flym on F-Droid (Android) ........................................................................... Fiery Feeds Fiery Feeds is a powerful and highly customisable feed reader and read-it-later client that syncs with most services. It features article view modes, feed management, flexible layouts, smart views, color themes, and more! While I wasn’t able to uncover if it was open source, the developer does have a good privacy-respecting policy here. It’s one of the better alternatives for IOS. > Get Fiery Feeds for IOS ...........................................................................

Other PC Software:

So, it looks like you’re on the hunt for the perfect RSS feed reader. Luckily, there are a ton of great open-source options out there that are user-friendly, privacy-focused, free, and actively updated. Let’s dive in! ........................................................................... QuiteRSS First up, we have QuiteRSS. This RSS feed reader is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it a great option for those who use multiple operating systems. The interface is simple and intuitive, with a clean layout that’s easy to navigate. To add a new feed, simply click on the “Add Feed” button and enter the URL of the feed you want to subscribe to. You can learn more about their features here. Pros: • QuiteRSS is lightweight and doesn’t use up a lot of system resources. • Available for multiple operating systems. (Windows, Mac, and Linux) Cons: • Some users have reported issues with syncing across devices. > Download QuiteRSS ........................................................................... FEEDREADER For those who want a simple, no-frills RSS feed reader, there’s FeedReader. This reader is available for Windows and Linux. The interface is clean and easy to use, with a basic layout that won’t overwhelm users with too many options. Pros: • FeedReader has a built-in browser, making it easy to view articles without leaving the app. • Available for multiple operating systems. (Windows and Linux) Cons: • Some users have reported issues with syncing across devices. > Download FeedReader ........................................................................... Tiny Tiny RSS Another great option for those who want a privacy-focused RSS feed reader is Tiny Tiny RSS. This reader is self-hosted, which means you’ll need to have your own server to run it on. However, this also means that you have complete control over your data and can ensure your privacy. Adding a new feed is as simple as clicking on the “Add Feed” button and entering the URL. Pros: • Tiny Tiny RSS supports plugins, allowing you to customize it to your needs. Cons: • Setting up a self-hosted RSS feed reader can be daunting for users who are inexperienced with self-hosting their own servers. Best avoid Tiny Tiny RSS if you are unfamiliar with this process. > Tiny Tiny RSS Installation Guide ........................................................................... Feedly Last but not least, we have Feedly. This RSS feed reader is available for Android, iOS, and web, with a paid version available for those who want even more features. Feedly is known for its clean, modern interface that’s easy to navigate. Pros: • Feedly integrates with a ton of other apps and services, making it easy to save articles to read later or share them on social media. Cons: • Some users have reported issues with the free version being limited in features. > Sign Up For Feedly ...........................................................................

Getting RSS feed URLS

In order to subscribe to a website’s RSS feed and add it to your feed reader, you will first need to get the RSS URL (aka link or web address) to the feed you want to follow.There are a few ways to do this, so if you’re totally new to RSS, let’s start with the easiest way first.

First, you’ll need to know what website or blog you want to subscribe to. If you’re not sure, try searching for it in Google.

Once you’re on the website or blog, look for the orange RSS feed icon. It looks like this: Sometimes it’s located in the top right corner of the page, or at the bottom of the page.

Click on the RSS feed icon. This will take you to a page with a lot of code on it. Don’t worry, you don’t need to understand any of this code!

Look at the address bar in your web browser. This is the URL for the RSS feed. Copy this URL.

If you’ve chosen an RSS Reader from the options previously discussed, open your RSS reader. This could be an app on your smartphone, browser extension, or a website or program on your computer.

In your RSS reader, look for an option to add a new feed. This option might be called “Add Subscription” or “Add Feed”.

Paste the URL for the RSS feed into the field provided in your RSS reader. Then click “Add” or “Subscribe”.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully subscribed to an RSS feed. Now you’ll be able to read new articles from this website or blog as soon as they’re published.

What if there is no RSS feed icon on a website I want to follow?

Unfortunately while many websites are RSS compatible, many websites do not offer RSS directly as a subscription option (ex. Youtube, certain blogs, etc). In this circumstance, it gets a little trickier if you aren’t very tech savvy. Have no fear! I will walk you through the process.

The easiest solution if you are not tech savvy is to use the Get RSS Feed URL extension below for your web browser. This extension will automatically grab the rss feed of the page you’re currently visiting (if it has an rss feed available), and then you can simply copy and paste it from your extension to your reader if your RSS reader is on PC. If your RSS reader is on mobile, however, you can use your PC to create a list of all the feed URLs you want to follow, email the list to yourself, and the copy/paste each url from your list by accessing your email from mobile.

> Get RSS Feed URL for Firefox > Get RSS Feed URL for Chrome

If you are a bit tech savvy, however, there is a more straightforward way to get RSS URLs that is much faster.

If you are on PC, check the source code: If you can’t find the RSS icon, you can check the source code of the website. Right-click on the website and select “View Page Source” or “Inspect Element”. Look for the “” tag with the type “application/rss+xml”. The URL located in the “href” attribute is the RSS feed link. Copy and paste the link into your preferred RSS reader.

One other thing you can try is experiment with adding each of the following to the end of the URL of the page you want to follow: /feed /feeds /rss /rss.xml /atom.xml .atom In most cases where an RSS feed is available, adding one of these options to the end of the page’s URL will bring up the page’s RSS feed. This method is hit or miss but always worth a try as it often comes up successful.

For example, if you wanted to subscribe to my status updates (located at https://status.cafe/users/thecozycat) you would add https://status.cafe/users/thecozycat.atom into your RSS feed reader. Or if you wanted to subscribe to my website activity feed (located at https://smallweb.thecozy.cat/activity/feed/), you would add https://smallweb.thecozy.cat/activity/feed/ into your Feeder app. Now, you’re probably asking, how do you know which one is the right one? You will need to test each of the six options in your web browser by trying each of those options at the end of the url you want to add to your feed. If it’s wrong, you’ll likely get an error page. If it’s right, you’ll see a page with code on it OR your browser may prompt you to download the feed file. That’s how you know you’ve got the right one.

How to Make a Website RSS-Compatible

If you’re building a website and want to offer RSS feeds:

WordPress: By default, WordPress generates an RSS feed at yourwebsite.com/feed. You can also customize it using plugins like RSS Post Importer.

Static Site Generators: Static site generators like Jekyll and Hugo support RSS feeds natively, allowing you to create them automatically as part of your build process.

Custom Websites: For custom sites that don’t offer automatic RSS or Atom feed functionality, you can create an XML file that complies with RSS or Atom feed standards, which includes your website’s content updates.

The RSS feed is essentially an XML file that contains metadata about your website’s posts and updates. This file is structured in a specific format so that RSS readers can interpret and display your content.

Example of a Basic RSS File:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> <rss version="2.0"> <channel> <title>Your Website Title</title> <link>https://yourwebsite.com</link> <description>Your website description goes here</description> <item> <title>Post 1 Title</title> <link>https://yourwebsite.com/post-1</link> <description>Summary of your post goes here</description> <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate> </item> <!-- Repeat the <item> block for each new post --> </channel> </rss>

Step 2: Modify the Feed for Your Site

Replace the text between the , , and tags with details about your site.

Each tag within the block corresponds to a single blog post or update. Add or remove these as necessary.

Ensure the reflects the correct format as shown in the example above.

Step 3: Save and Upload Once you’ve created your RSS file, save it as rss.xml (or another name you prefer, like feed.xml). Upload this file to the root directory of your website so that users can access it via https://yourwebsite.com/rss.xml.

Making Your Feed Public

Now that your RSS file is live, you’ll want to let people know they can subscribe. Add a link to the RSS feed URL on your website, usually in the header, sidebar, or footer (though, you can place it wherever you like). Many sites use an orange RSS icon, which is easily recognizable.

Keep It Updated

Since this is a static feed, you’ll need to manually add new posts to the RSS file as you create them. Simply update the feed XML file with new <item> blocks whenever you add new content, then re-upload the file.

Big Tech and RSS/Atom Restrictions

RSS and Atom are incredibly useful, though you’re probably wondering: if it’s so great, why aren’t more people aware and using it? Personally, and this is just my belief due to what I’ve witnessed with big tech censorship over the years; it is by design that it is not often spoken about anymore. Big tech (and/or “big brother”) companies want everyone to stay stuck in their own information silos, because it is much easier for them to control narratives and the information you consume there, as well as have more control over your private data for their own capitalistic gains. Those who control the flow of information ultimately control the minds of the masses, and that control can make them a heck of a lot of money.

Unfortunately it is big tech websites such as Facebook that block people’s access to retrieving RSS/Atom feeds from their websites, because if they allowed you access to their RSS/Atom feeds from outside of their website, then they wouldn’t be able to contain you to their controlled information silos, track you, or profit off of you using your data. It’s against their own best interests to allow you this freedom, as keeping you contained to their walled gardens allows them to continue their data harvesting monopolies. So that is probably the biggest downside about RSS and Atom feeds when it comes to big tech social media platforms, is that if the information you care most about comes from your loved ones whom are contained within the walled gardens of these big tech social platforms, you won’t be able to retrieve RSS/Atom to create feeds from your friends there.

Not all social platforms are like this, however. You will just have to experiment with retrieving the feeds from different platforms to discover which big tech platforms have blocked RSS access and which ones haven’t.

Conclusion

I think that covers all the bases! The reason for this article, while a bit lengthy, I feel it is important to teach those who may not be tech-savvy in simple terms that are easy to understand.  I think it is important for everyone to know how to use RSS and Atom, and create their own feeds independent of Big Tech social media platforms. Especially in this day and age where Big Tech has so much control and grasp on the information we consume and our private data is so heavily abused, there has never been a better time to start using RSS and Atom feeds. Aside from TheCozy.Cat being my own personal space, I also want it to double as my personal contribution to helping folks break free from their relationships with corrupt corporate entities.

If you have any questions or suggestions to add to this post that could make it even better, leave me a comment letting me know! As I receive feedback, I will make adjustments accordingly to make this article as simple as possible for those who are just getting started with RSS/Atom feeds.

And as always, if you found all this information useful, be sure to bookmark this page so you can easily find it again. Consider sharing it with your friends as well so they too can discover how to curate their own RSS and Atom feeds!

This post was originally shared from my small web blog here.

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[clone-whore-99]

*slides $900 In Monopoly money over*

Got any sub!Tech and Dom!femreader in the back?

Behave

Sub!Tech x Dom!F!Reader

Rating: 18+, this page is only for adults

Warnings: Dom/sub relationship, restraints, blindfolds, safewords, oral (M! Receiving), edging, teasing, orgasm denial, light slapping, biting, unprotected PiV, not proof or beta read cuz I wanted this up before Tech Tuesday ended LMK if I missed any (✿◡‿◡)

Authors Note: *pockets the money* your wish is my command. Okay, I wrote this really quick and I do hope it lives up to your expectations. I am mainly a sub myself, so it was a fun challenge to write this as a dom instead. Hope you like it!

If you like it, please do let me know by liking and commenting and maybe even reblogging, it would mean a lot to me 🥺👉👈

If you want to, you can also help me by buying me a coffee ❤

The waiting. The anticipation. Never knowing when or where the next touch was going to come from. That was probably the worst part for Tech… And the most exciting.

Once again, Tech found himself completely naked and sprawled out on a bed. His hands were cuffed to the headboard above his head and his vision was obstructed by a blindfold.

This soldier was completely at your mercy.

Your hand barely caressed his cheek, but it was enough for a visible shiver to run down his body.

“Have you thought about what you did?” Your voice sounded like poisoned bristlemelon. Sweet, but deadly.

“Yes.” Tech replied, his voice restraining to hide his desperation. “And I deeply apologize.” 

Not letting him off that easily, you lightly tucked at his restraints. A sign for him to continue talking.

Tech let out a shaky breath. For such a genius, he could be oblivious at times. But this time, he was certain about what he did wrong. “I am sorry for having interrupted you, my dear. I will do better next time.”

Good. He’s learning.

You got up and walked towards the other end of the bed, your finger lightly tracing his bare skin on the way. “We both know you won’t. But that’s why I am here. Safeword?”

Your hand was inching closer to where he wanted it the most, closer to the inside of his thigh, closer to the only part of him that wasn’t lying down. 

“I won’t need it.” He was trying so hard to hide the desperation in his voice, but lost all composure when you pulled your hand away. With a desperate gasp, his hips shot up from the bed, looking for the much needed touch you denied him. 

You lightly slapped his hip, making him lie flat on the bed again. “That’s not how this works, love. If you want me, I need to know it. Now, safeword?”

“Macrofuser.”

Of course that was his safeword. You smirked to yourself and the weight of the bed by Tech's feet shifted, as you finally settled in.

“Good boy,” You praised, with a kiss to his thigh as a reward. His stiff cock twitched in response, needy and already dripping with precum. 

You had made sure he was all riled up, by the time you cuffed and blindfolded him. And you had made him wait for what probably felt like forever to him, every now and then making small sounds and touches to keep him aroused.

He had been good. Only begged to be touched once, when you used a loud toy near him, to pleasure yourself. He deserved a little treat.

With one hand on his thigh, inching slightly closer to his hard member, the tip of your fingers on the other hand brushed against his shaft. 

This was enough for the clone to let out a loud moan, his hips bucking into the air.

“Easy now, soldier, you want this to last, don’t you?” You asked, your voice a mix of humor and danger.

“Ah yes, apologies.” Tech’s voice was barely louder than a whisper, all his energy and focus was spent on you and your touches.

Your fingers kept running up and down his shaft, not fully grasping and stroking it, but enough to keep him whimpering and needy. Your other hand abandoned his thigh to cup and massage his balls.

The small sounds he made was like music to your ears. You loved this. The genius who never shut up, completely at your mercy. All his thoughts had been replaced by you and his voice turned into an instrument that only you could play so beautifully.

It was hard for you to control your own need, when he was completely displayed like this and his body begging for yours.

Leaning over, you replaced your fingers with your tongue, placing it flat on the base and running it up the shaft, all the way to his head. You ran your tongue in circles around his tip, before completely engulfing him in your mouth.

It was impossible to fit all of him, without choking yourself. He was long and girthy, with a slight curve to it. Every time you sucked him off, it would turn into a sloppy mess - and this time was no exception.

A mixture of precum and spit was running down the part your mouth couldn’t reach, working as lube for your hand, which was now fully grasping and working his shaft.

It didn’t take long for Tech to lose what little control he had left, for his legs to do little kicks in an attempt to ground himself, for his hips to buck him deeper into your mouth to chase his high and for his whimpers to turn into full blown moans.

You let this go on for just a little bit longer, just long enough for his balls to tighten, for him to nearly cum - and then you pulled away.

Tech cried out in frustration, his legs and hips still moving in the hopes of creating enough friction to carry him the rest of the way. Though he felt his high slip away, like sand between fingers.

You waited a bit, watching to make sure he wasn’t actually in any real distress or discomfort. Once assured of this, you patted his thigh to calm him down, while clicking your tongue in tsk-tsk sound. “You know love, if you want to cum, you need to behave.”

“It was a natural reaction, I had little to no cont-”

The sound of skin hitting skin interrupted him, as your hand landed on his thigh in a slap - not enough to truly hurt him, but enough to leave a mark. 

“No excuses,” You ordered.

With a defeated sigh, your genius apologized once more, keeping it short and direct. And with no explanations added to it.

“Better,” you praised, your hand caressing the skin that was just slapped. Then you pushed yourself further up the bed, climbing his slim frame and leaving a trail of licks, kisses and bite marks on your way.

With a last playful bite to his neck, you sighed contently. “Oh Tech, whatever shall I do with you? An exceptional man in every way, and yet you still don’t know how to follow orders.”

A smirk appeared across the soldiers lips, a rare but welcoming sight. “I suppose we just have to continue these lessons, until I do.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were enjoying this.” You chuckled, as you began lining yourself up with him.

Everytime his head just graced your lips, Tech gasped in anticipation, his whole body stiffened and shivered, waiting for the glorious feeling of being inside of you.

You lowered yourself onto him, throwing your head back in a moan of ecstasy. It didn’t matter how many times you’d experience this, he always stretched you perfectly and hit all the right spots. It was like the two of you were made for each other.

Tech always managed to hit that special spot, deep inside you, that made you see stars in no time.

As you began moving, finding the right rhythm and pace, the two of you moaned in harmony, creating music like no other.

Knowing that Tech wouldn’t last long after everything you’d put him through, you began rubbing rough circles on your own clit and teasing your own nipples, to hurry your own orgasm along the way.

Tech smiled knowingly, feeling your hand against his pelvis, he knew you were working to make the two of you orgasm at the same time. He was also, between moans, stuttering the components to different metals, trying to keep himself from cumming without your permission.

In any other situation, you would have punished him for this, but you were so close yourself, that you were willing to let it go. Especially since Tech was pushing his cock even further inside of you and making it twitch in the most delicious way.

You leaned over and left open mouthed kisses on his neck, before whispering in his ear: “Cum with me, my love.” An order you did not have to repeat.

Tech’s head was thrown back in ecstasy so hard, his blindfold flew off. The groan he let out vibrated through your body, as ropes of his seeds shot deep into you.

The feeling was overpowering for you too, making you bite down on his shoulder to keep yourself from getting too loud. Your hands dug into his skin and he was struggling against his restraints. 

Wave after wave of pleasure shot through the both of you, a seemingly never ending high.

You collapsed on top of him, gasping for air, as his cock began going soft inside of you.

But your job wasn’t done yet.

Reaching up, you freed the soldier from his restraints and helped him put his goggles back on. You placed your hands on his cheeks, caressing them gently.

“How are you doing? You did so well, you were so good. Do you need anything? Water? Food?”

An exhausted chuckle escaped the genius' lips, as he wrapped his heavy arms around you, holding you against him.

“Just let me hold you for a while, okay?” He whispered against your head.

“If that's what you want,” You agreed, resting against him.

Dividers by: @djarrex and unknown

Taglist: @zoeykallus @the-rain-on-kamino @ashotofspotchka @chxpsi @maulsrightleg @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @wildmoonflower @nunanuggets @lokigirlszendaya @wholesuhmsstuff @pb-jellybeans @dangraccoon @roam-rs

Please let me know if you want to be added to my taglist (✿◠‿◠)❤

[flyingcatstiel]

SuperBat Week 2024 fic recs

DAY 4 - THIS IS A LOVE STORY/THIS IS A DETECTIVE STORY On a case | Undercover | Damsel in distress

Brothers come in kinds by AgapantoBlu [T, 35,300 wc]

Clark Kent has received an anonymous tip containing Jason Todd’s original autopsy, and implying Bruce Wayne had been abusing him before that. Of course, he hurries to offer his protection to the other children. Tim is thoroughly exhausted and misses being an only child. Bruce broods.

Comment - Investigative journalist Clark Kent has a job cut out for him. Good thing he can rely on Superman's long time friend Batman to get closer to the brooding Bruce Wayne. Suspicious thing that everyone is so protective of Mr.Wayne. (#on a case, #under cover)

Man of Steel, Man of Heart by capsicleonyourleft [M, 13,700 wc]

Clark gets information that Lex Luthor is in possession of Wayne Tech and decides to confront Bruce Wayne about it. As he suspected, Wayne isn't involved with Luthor, but he is ready to look into it. It's just Clark's luck that some paparazzi catches their meeting on film and suddenly the papers are filled with "SUPERMAN: WAYNE'S LATEST CONQUEST?"

Comment - Lots of undercover sleuthing in the name of a case here. When such fine detective as Bruce Wayne, Superman, Clark Kent and Batman join their forces, it will be over soon, right? (#on a case, #under cover, #damsel in distress)

mission parameters by shipyrds [E, 33,400 wc]

"Bruce." Clark turns towards him, leaning back against a bank of consoles. "We're not actually going undercover. We don't need an elaborate backstory– if anything, it'll be harder to keep straight. It doesn't have to be complicated." He spreads his hands. "Here's a story: we're members of the same elite fighting force. After years of saving each other's lives in the field, we fell in love. That's it." Bruce swallows past the almost-truth of it. In Clark's warm smooth radio voice, it sounds plausible. It sounds like something that could happen. — Bruce and Clark pretend to be married for diplomatic reasons. When they return to Earth, things are a little different.

Comment - Justice League's diplomatic mission takes Bruce and Clark to outer space and out of their comfort zones. To pretend that they are mated is challenging. To pretend that it doesn't mean anything is the hardest part of this mission. (#on a case, #under cover, #damsel in distress)

Overboard by FabulaRasa [E, 3,100 wc]

Bruce invites Clark to a cruise on the Wayne pleasure-craft, where he has to spend a weekend watching Bruce do his thing. It may be more than he can take.

Comment - Clark wanted to to see what is real about Bruce. A sliver of Bruce's honesty was too much. (#on a case, #under cover)

poker face (raise it, baby, stay with me) by susiecarter [T, 2,600 wc]

Clark Kent meets Matches Malone on a perfectly unremarkable Tuesday. Bruce hadn't arranged it that way. He hadn't intended for it to happen at all.

Comment - Some disguises keep people apart. Some disguises bring people closer. Isn't it ironic that Matches Malone turned out to be the latter type of disguise. (#under cover)

Satisfaction Brought It Back by slippin_into_darkness, SpiritsFlame [G, 18,200 wc]

Bruce always thought that Superman's cute shtick of rescuing cats from trees was a bid for publicity—until a confrontation with a magic user leaves him stuck as a cat. He learns how mistaken he was when Superman not only rescues him, but takes him back to a small Metropolis apartment. The opportunity to learn more about the alien can't be ignored, but is Bruce ready for everything he will learn about someone he has only ever regarded with distrust and dislike?

Comment - The best undercover job is when your enemy can't even start to imagine that your are in his lair. Take that alien, Cat!Bruce is on the mission and he will unearth your secrets. (#undercover)

To the Highest Bidder, a Fake Dating Caper! by RedFive [E, 29,100 wc]

On a rainy night in Gotham at a charity auction co-hosted by the Wayne Foundation and the Chapman Family Trust, Clark shows up to help Bruce out of a bind. As an organizer, Bruce can't bid on the item he's put up for auction, but Clark can, which would prevent it from falling into the hands of his enemies. The only problem? He neglects to tell Clark that the item in question is a date with Gotham's most eligible bachelor, Bruce Wayne. Or that he'd be wearing a dress for the occasion.

Comment - Sometimes a man gotta wear a red dress to get his friend to face some truth. Sometimes, his friend can still surprise him. There's also a case to solve, if other things go pear shaped. (#on a case, #under cover)

My other superbat fic recs are here

[localmutantlesbian]

Tips for Living at the X-Mansion

Keep your valuables in a duffel bag. The likelihood of the mansion blowing up or becoming ground zero for a Juggernaut vs Colossus fight is not as high as people joke, but it's not zero either. I would suggest having anything of high sentimental value, your ids and/or passport, some cash, and like, a granola bar packed away.

Bedrooms are divided into singles, doubles, and four to a room. Priority for singles is given to university students (18+) and kids with more volatile mutations. If you want a more social experience, go with the four to a room; if you want something a little quieter, go for a double.

Yes, we do have Taco Tuesday and yes, it really is that good. Grab your spot in line early!

Classes get interrupted and end abruptly all the time. Never during a test though. So study, because unless the mansion is physically blowing up you will still have to take that test.

Tennis shoes, long sleeves, and pants are your friends in the Danger Room (unless of course you have a physical mutation that changes your skin in some way- or your own super suit). That floor is hard, and you will rub off skin when Wolverine flings you around like a hockey puck.

If you see a button or a lever oh my god do not mess with it just leave it be please

No one sleeps in this goddamn house. Between trauma, mutations that prevent sleep, and teenagers being teenagers, at least half the school is up at any point during the night. The small kitchen has great snacks (check the top cupboard). There’s usually someone doing a marathon of some kind in the common room.

There are about a dozen secret passageways, some more secret than others. At least two lead into the town nearby, you know if hypothetically you wanted to sneak out and get some snacks or catch a movie or something. Try not to do it when Professor X is awake/on campus though.

It gets cold in the winter. You would think the heating system would be better considering the high tech x-men super lab in the basement but nooooo. So make sure you have some sweaters and blankets handy. And if you're a pyrokinetic, please don't try to start a fire in your room sans fireplace...trust me you are not the first person to think of that and it never ends well.

We do have a prom, but it is prim villain takeover time so you're better off taking a trip down to NYC instead.

[cavillionlearning]

Tech Tip Tuesday - Tableau Datasets

Dealing with large datasets in Tableau? Here's a tip to improve performance: Use Extracts! Extracts store your data locally, making it faster and smoother to work with compared to live connections. Perfect for big data projects!

[theworkingblog]

Tech Tip Tuesday

Tech Tip Tuesday

Do you use Gmail? Over the next few weeks, on Tuesdays, we'll be sharing tips to maximize your efficiency with email, focusing particularly on Gmail. However, we'll also sprinkle in some tips from other email hosts.

If you're a Gmail user, these tips might offer a quick and easy way to communicate and save time.

Check out 6 ways Gmail uses AI features to help you save time (blog.google)

For a more intermediate/advanced exploration of automation options within Gmail, watch this short tutorial: How to Save Time with Gmail Automation (Step by Step Guide) (youtube.com)

[witchyintention]

The Right Timing: When to Work Your Magic for Maximum Power

Description: Timing is everything, especially in magic! Learn how to align your spells with cosmic forces for the best results.

Magic isn’t just about candles, herbs, and willpower—it’s about timing. Sure, you can do a spell whenever you feel like it, but why not supercharge your results by working with the universe instead of just winging it? Whether you’re casting under the full moon, aligning with planetary hours, or avoiding Mercury retrograde disasters, the right timing can be the difference between instant results and crickets.

So, let’s talk about how to time your magic like a pro—no more guessing, just pure cosmic precision.

Moon Phases: Your Magic’s Best Friend

The moon isn’t just a pretty nightlight; it’s a powerful force that influences energy, emotions, and magical workings. Each phase holds a different type of power, so aligning your spells with the lunar cycle can amplify your results.

New Moon – Fresh starts, new beginnings, setting intentions. Ideal for manifestation spells, planning, and long-term goals.

Waxing Moon – Growth, attraction, and abundance. Perfect for money magic, love spells, and anything you want to increase.

Full Moon – Peak power, clarity, and illumination. Great for divination, psychic work, or any spell that needs extra oomph.

Waning Moon – Release, banishing, and letting go. Time to kick bad habits, cut toxic ties, or do that freezer spell on your annoying neighbor (ethically, of course).

🌕 Bonus Tip: Eclipses are wild cards—they shake things up and bring sudden changes. Some witches avoid spellwork during an eclipse, while others use the chaotic energy for deep transformation. Choose wisely!

Planetary Days and Hours: Because the Universe Runs on a Schedule

If the moon is your general guide, planetary influences are your fine-tuning tool. Each day of the week is ruled by a different planet, which means certain energies are stronger on certain days.

Monday (Moon): Emotional work, dreams, intuition.

Tuesday (Mars): Courage, protection, strength, motivation.

Wednesday (Mercury): Communication, wisdom, travel, business.

Thursday (Jupiter): Luck, prosperity, success, expansion.

Friday (Venus): Love, beauty, relationships, harmony.

Saturday (Saturn): Banishing, discipline, protection, endings.

Sunday (Sun): Power, vitality, healing, success.

For even more precision, you can use planetary hours, which divide the day into segments ruled by different planets. That’s right—Saturn’s influence isn’t just on Saturdays, but at specific hours of the day, too. If you really want to geek out, you can use a planetary hour calculator to schedule your spell down to the minute.

Retrogrades: Proceed with Caution (or Don’t, If You Like Chaos)

Ah, Mercury Retrograde—the cosmic event that turns texts into misunderstandings, tech into paperweights, and travel plans into a mess. But Mercury isn’t the only planet that goes retrograde!

Mercury Retrograde – Communication breakdowns, tech failures, and general confusion. Avoid signing contracts, starting new projects, or sending that “we need to talk” text. Perfect for reflecting, revising, and reconnecting with the past.

Venus Retrograde – Relationship drama, financial instability, and bad haircuts. Not the time for major love spells or beauty rituals!

Mars Retrograde – Low energy, frustration, and conflicts. Pause aggressive spells and avoid confrontation magic.

Saturn Retrograde – Lessons in discipline, structure, and karma. Good for inner work, but don’t expect shortcuts.

Jupiter Retrograde – Slow luck, delayed opportunities. Time to reassess goals instead of chasing new ones.

🌟 Pro Tip: Retrogrades aren’t all bad—they’re great for reflection, internal work, and fixing past mistakes. Just don’t expect things to move forward smoothly.

Solar and Lunar Eclipses: Magical Wildcards

Eclipses are powerful, but unpredictable. A solar eclipse is great for resetting intentions, while a lunar eclipse is deeply transformative. Some witches avoid spellwork during eclipses, while others harness their power for shadow work, truth-seeking, and breaking through barriers.

If you choose to work with eclipse energy, be prepared for unexpected outcomes. Think of it as the universe saying, “Oh, you want change? Buckle up.”

Sabbat and Seasonal Magic: Aligning with the Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of the Year provides natural checkpoints for your magical workings. If you like working with seasonal energies, these are perfect times to perform certain spells:

Samhain (Oct 31) – Ancestral work, spirit communication, shadow work.

Yule (Dec 21) – Rebirth, renewal, protection.

Imbolc (Feb 1) – New beginnings, inspiration, cleansing.

Ostara (March 20) – Growth, fertility, abundance.

Beltane (May 1) – Passion, love, creativity.

Litha (June 21) – Strength, success, manifestation.

Lammas/Lughnasadh (Aug 1) – Harvest, gratitude, prosperity.

Mabon (Sept 21) – Balance, reflection, preparation

These festivals are great for big-picture spellwork, helping you align your intentions with natural cycles.

So, When Should You Cast Your Spell?

In short, it depends on your intention. If you’re casting for love, do it on a Friday during a waxing moon in Venus’ planetary hour. Need to break a bad habit? Try a waning moon on a Saturday in Saturn’s hour. The more aligned your timing, the stronger your magic will be.

But let’s be real—keeping track of moon phases, planetary days, hours, and retrogrades can feel like juggling flaming wands while blindfolded.

Why Guess When You Can Know?

If you want to take out the guesswork and make sure your spell timing is on point, I offer custom astrology readings that help you align your magic with cosmic forces for maximum results. Don’t leave your spells up to chance—work with the stars, not against them.

🔮 Check out my shop for a custom astrology reading! Ko-Fi

Other Links

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Saturday linkdump, part the sixth

On September 12 at 7pm, I'll be at Toronto's Another Story Bookshop with my new book The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation.

On September 14, I'm hosting the EFF Awards in San Francisco.

I usually write this blog 5-6 days/week, but every now and again, I take a break, and when I do, I get massive link backlogs of stuff I want to write about, but lack the time to address in depth. When that happens, I turn my Saturday edition into a linkdump. Today, I present the sixth in the series – here's the other five:

https://pluralistic.net/tag/linkdump/

Why was I offline and away from my blog? I went to the dirt rave. Yes, I was one of the 70,000+ people stuck in the mud at this year's Burning Man, and when I emailed my editor at the New York Times to say I might be late on the op-ed I was working on, she asked me to write about what this year's mud crisis meant:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/opinion/burning-man-flood-playa-climate-change.html

tl;dr:

Bad weather is normal at Burning Man (it's a feature, not a bug);

Mostly burners leapt to the occasion, which is what people almost always do in disaster situations;

This is the second Burning Man heavy weather year in a row;

The climate emergency is tipping the Black Rock Desert from "extremely challenging" to "impossible";

This isn't the last event, place and tradition that will have to be radically reconsidered in light of the climate emergency;

But now I'm home, in my hammock, with all the laundry done – just in time to leave again. I'm about to head back to my hometown of Toronto for a book launch. The Internet Con, my latest nonfiction (from Verso Books) came out last week, and I'll be appearing at Another Story Bookshop on Tuesday:

https://anotherstory.ca/events/29283

Internet Con is a "Big Tech disassembly manual." It explains how Big Tech got so big (lax anti-monopoly enforcement, which led to regulatory capture, which let Big Tech abuse our privacy, labor rights, and consumer rights), and how we can use interoperability so it's no longer Too Big to Fail, nor Too Big to Jail:

https://www.versobooks.com/products/3035-the-internet-con

You can read a long excerpt from the book in Wired, which lays out some of the shovel-ready legislative, regulatory and technical proposals that are the book's main purpose:

https://www.wired.com/story/the-internet-con-cory-doctorow-book-excerpt/

You can also hear me read the whole introduction and first chapter of the audiobook on my podcast:

https://craphound.com/internetcon/2023/08/01/the-internet-con-how-to-seize-the-means-of-computation-audiobook-outtake/

That comes from the audiobook, a DRM-free, independent edition that I financed, produced and narrated myself. You can get the audiobook everywhere except Audible, Apple Books, and Audiobooks.com, all of which have mandatory DRM policies. You can also get it direct from me:

https://transactions.sendowl.com/products/78992826/DEA0CE12/purchase

The DRM-free ebook is available everywhere ebooks are sold (Kobo, Kindle, Nook, etc), as well as in my own DRM-free ebook store:

https://transactions.sendowl.com/products/78992801/9C4FC2B8/purchase

Verso's books are sold in bookstores around the world; you can support your local bookseller by buying it through Bookshop:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-internet-con-how-to-seize-the-means-of-computation-cory-doctorow/18771891?ean=9781804291245

If you'd like a signed copy, there's stock at Book Soup:

https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245

Now, it was inevitable that I would do a book event for Internet Con in Toronto – I've never had a bad event there, and I love my hometown – but the timing of this event was driven by a non-book-related factor. Talking Heads is appearing together at TIFF, to support the re-release of Stop Making Sense, the greatest concert film in human history:

https://pluralistic.net/StopMakingSense

People often ask me what my favorite book is, and I always tell them that you should never trust people who have one favorite book, as it inevitably turns out to be The Bible, The Fountainhead, or Mein Kampf. But while I don't have a favorite book, I have a clear and unambiguous favorite band.

If I was forced to listen to no music other than Talking Heads for the rest of my life, I would be perfectly happy. Ecstatic, even. Throw in David Byrne, Tom Tom Club and Casual Gods and I probably wouldn't even notice anything missing.

There's a running joke among my Burning Man campmates that whenever I'm in charge of the music, I'm just shuffling Talking Heads rarities, and whenever someone puts on anything else, I demand to know which Talking Heads album it came from. Which is all to say: I have tickets for the Talking Heads event at TIFF and I could *not be more excited.*

Continuing on the Canadian theme, one of the annual highlights of Canadian media is the Massey Lectures, a series of public lectures given around the country and rebroadcast on CBC. These are always great, but recent years have been superb – Ron Deibert's 2020 series was unmissable:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/11/10/dark-matter/#citizenlab

This year's Masseys are shaping up to be the GOAT. They're presented by Astra Taylor, an activist rock-and-roller turned documentary filmmaker who is one of the founders of the Debt Collective, fighting for student debt cancellation. Everything Astra does is amazing and her profile on CBC Ideas gives some background on the role that unschooling played in making her the powerful activist she is today:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/astra-taylor-interview-2023-massey-lecturer-1.6959320

There's no question that things are messed up right now, but Astra and people like her shine out like beacons of hope. 17 years ago, self-described "democracy nut" Tom Stites gave one of the seminal lectures on the role news media play in democracy:

http://citmedia.org/blog/2006/07/03/guest-posting-is-media-performance-democracys-critical-issue/

17 years later – and from his perch as editor at the essential International Consortium of Investigative Journalists – Stites presents us a long-overdue, extremely pertinent followup: "Building Civic Energy is the Goal, Not Saving Old News Business Models":

https://banyanproject.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hope-College-speech-for-Banyan-website-1.pdf

Stites's intervention is extremely timely, because policymakers all over the world have made the mistake of thinking that Big Tech is stealing the news media's content, which is absolutely untrue. It is good, actually, to index news stories and let people discuss, quote from and link to news stories. News you're not allowed to talk about isn't news, it's a secret.

But Big Tech is stealing from news. They're not stealing content – they're stealing money. The Google/Apple duopoly rakes 30% off every subscription payment collected in an app. The Google/Meta duopoly rakes 51% out of every ad-dollar (and maintain that death-grip through creepy, privacy-invading surveillance ads). Meta and Twitter hold social media subscribers hostage, forcing publishers to pay to reach their own subscribers.

We don't want the news to be Big Tech's partners – we need them to be Big Tech's watchdogs. "Link taxes" and other profit-sharing arrangements between the media and tech cut against the civic energy Stites wants to build.

(You can read more about this – along with policy prescriptions for halting Big Tech's rent-extraction from the news – in "Saving the News From Big Tech," my EFF white-paper:)

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/04/saving-news-big-tech

If your spirits are lifted by stories of principled activists achieving important – and improbable – victories, you could do worse than to attend the EFF Awards on in San Francisco Sept 14 (I'm the emcee). This year, we're honoring Alexandra Elbakyan for her founding of Sci-Hub, the Library Freedom Project and the Signal Foundation:

https://www.eff.org/awards/effawards/2023

In more activist news: Mozilla produced a startling and astoundingly good – if demoralizing – report on the state of digital privacy and security in the automotive sector:

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/

Entitled, "It’s Official: Cars Are the Worst Product Category We Have Ever Reviewed for Privacy," the report reveals just how absolutely terrible the automotive sector is when it comes to privacy practices, collecting (and selling) (and giving away) information about your sex life, your geneology, your genetic characteristics, and your smell (no, seriously).

Their recommendations for which new car you should buy boil down to "don't buy a new car." I have been urging consumer research groups to release a report like this for a decade. There are whole categories of gadgets – like, say, "smart speakers" – that are unsafe at any speed. At a certain point, reviewers need to have the guts to say that every manufacturer in an entire sector is a dumpster fire and they should all be dragged in front of a firing squad – or at least a Congressional committee.

Cars, after all, are nightmares of privacy invasion and rent-extraction, the source of autoenshittification on a massive scale, a mobile form of technofeudalism:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

The fact that cars score so badly on privacy is especially ironic given the campaign Big Car waged against the 2020 Massachusetts Right to Repair ballot initiative, in which car manufacturers held themselves out as the defenders of driver privacy from unscrupulous third parties who couldn't be trusted to handle the vast troves of data your car collects with every hour that God sends:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/09/03/rip-david-graeber/#rolling-surveillance-platforms

This is a familiar refrain: monopolists often claim that any check on their absolute authority over their users will expose those users to privacy risks. Apple has run a global ad-campaign claiming this, and while Apple does prevent Facebook from spying on iPhone owners, they also secretly spy on those customers in exactly the same way that Facebook used to, and lie about it:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

It turns out that giant companies just aren't good proxies for their customers' interests, and that the power they amass through monopolization shouldn't be counted on as a source of user safety. Monopolists won't reliably defend user privacy – that job belongs to democratically accountable regulators. That's an argument I developed in detail with Bennett Cyphers in our EFF white-paper "Privacy Without Monopoly":

https://www.eff.org/wp/interoperability-and-privacy

That is, rather than getting privacy by "voting with your wallet," you need to get it by voting with your ballot. "The market" is an election that you vote in with dollars, which means that the people with the most dollars always win. When there are zero cars on the market that are safe to drive, you can't vote with your wallet by buying a good one.

On a related subject, the DOJ Antitrust Division has brought the most important tech anti-monopoly case of the century, charging Google with monopolizing search:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/technology/modern-internet-first-monopoly-trial-us-google-dominance.html

Part of the DOJ case turns on the fact that Google goes to extraordinary lengths to keep you from every trying another search engine, paying out more than $45 billion every year to be the default search on every device, program and service you might use. In other words, Google spends entire Twitter's worth of dollars every year, lighting it on fire to keep you from finding out about rivals.

Google argues that this is fine, actually, because these are only defaults, and users can dig through their settings to change their search engine. Sure, Google – and the first 20 search results you serve are only defaults, and it wouldn't matter if you were ordered to put them ten screens down, because users could always scroll to see them.

But search defaults aren't the only way that Google locks in searchers – and then harms us by invading our privacy. Google's ubiquitous Chrome browser ties Google's search to Google's invasive, nonconsensual, total surveillance. Chrome turned 15 this year and Google made a huge PR splash out of the anniversary:

https://blog.google/products/chrome/google-chrome-new-features-redesign-2023/

But all that puffery conspicuously failed to mention that Google had quietly rolled out its long-discredited, new surveillance technology, FLOC, which it pretended to kill in 2021:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/22/ihor-kolomoisky/#not-that-competition

FLOC is back, rebranded as the Topics API: this is a system for spying on you so advertisers can target you. Google is spinning this as a privacy improvement because it might someday replace "third party cookies," one of the creepiest web surveillance systems.

But as Ron Amadeo writes for Ars Technica, Chrome is the last major browser to support third party cookies – both Safari and Firefox block them by default. So Google is basically saying, "We are going to improve your privacy by changing how we spy on you, even though all our competitors don't do this kind of spying at all":

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/09/googles-widely-opposed-ad-platform-the-privacy-sandbox-launches-in-chrome/

This kind of gaslighting, where Google pisses in all our mouths and tells us it's raining, is the hallmark of a decrepit, arrogant, crapulent monopolist that needs to be shattered in the courts. Kudos to the DoJ for doing the people's business here – and kudos to DoJ antitrust boss Jonathan Kanter for promising that he will not go into corporate law when he finishes his stint in government.

The DoJ isn't the only public agency that's serving the American people. The FCC just announced proceedings to force cybersecurity labels for "smart" devices:

https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-governmental-affairs/fcc-proposes-cybersecurity-labeling-program-smart-devices

This is long overdue, and it's a welcome action from the FCC, which was hamstrung for years because cowardly Democratic senators joined with homophobic, libelous Republicans in blocking confirmation hearings for the amazing Gigi Sohn:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/15/useful-idiotsuseful-idiots/#unrequited-love

After years of abuse, Sohn bowed out. Now, Anna Gomez has been confirmed to fill that fifth FCC chair, turning the FCC into a fully operational battle station:

https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/senate-votes-approve-anna-gomez-5th-fcc-commissioner

The fact that there's all this great stuff going on in the administrative branch is easy to lose sight of amidst the circus of federal electoral politics, in which Donald Trump has retained his role as ringmaster and chief distractor.

Thankfully, we have expert Pantsless Emperor skewerers like Ruben Bolling around – his latest Tom the Dancing Bug revives his brilliant Calvin and Hobbes-inspired Trump gag:

https://boingboing.net/2023/09/06/tom-the-dancing-bug-a-calvinesque-and-hobbesian-look-at-taking-a-mug-shot.html

Well, that's me signing off for the weekend – I've got to pack for my flight to Toronto. If you're looking for more weekend fun, check out the trailer for Fractured Veil, the video game my old pal Chris DiBona has been working on for seven years and which is heading for Steam early access next month:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjNd3QQnENU

Just watch it. I mean. Wow.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/09/nein-nein/#everything-is-miscellaneous

Image: Roel Schroeven (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/roelschroeven/45413895

CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

[thezombieprostitute]

Tech Tuesday: Curtis Everett

Summary: Your ex shows back up in your life.

A/N: Reader is female. No physical descriptors used.

Warnings: Ex-boyfriend angst, Hospital setting, Past abuse. Please let me know if I missed any!

Previous

Tech Tuesday Masterlist

You should've known better than to check Chase's file. Curiosity about your ex never leads to anything good. It's not that you were surprised there was no emergency contact information, no. Even when you were dating Chase had no real friends or family. It's part of what made you stick with him for so long; you felt bad for him. That same feeling started creeping into your thoughts as you realized he still didn't have anyone.

One of the reasons you became a nurse was because you wanted to help people. Sometimes a person is just down on their luck, having a really bad day, and needs a little support, to be treated like a human. But then there are people like Chase. People that prey on your kindness and attach themselves like a leech.

Not only had he drained you, he hurt you so badly you struggled to take care of others. If you'd met Curtis first, you know it wouldn't have taken so long to meet up in person. Curtis had been nothing but respectful but you still kept him at arm's length because you were scared. It made you hate Chase, but hate yourself even more for letting him hurt you so much.

And seeing Chase unconscious, on a ventilator, with no one to help him out, it's tugging on your heartstrings. You know you shouldn't feel for him. Hell, he's not even your responsibility. Let the other nurses look after him, get him connected with community resources or something to make a damn friend. You don't have to do anything with him. No matter how much you pity him.

It's almost time to clock out and you're even more exhausted than usual. You don't know if you'll be able to make it to the coffee shop to meet with Curtis but you want to keep your promises. He's a good person and doesn't deserve to be stood up or have you cancel at the last minute.

Heart: We're still on for the cafe?

Snow: As long as you're up for it. You've had a rough night.

Heart: And it looks like you were gaming all night.

Snow: Nah, accidentally stayed logged in while I went to sleep.

Heart: Okay.

Snow: Is it okay if I treat you at the cafe today?

Heart: Why?

Snow: You had a really rough shift and I want to help you, a friend.

He knows how you feel about owing people but he's yet to ever hold a debt over you. It's always you insisting that you owe, never him calling in favors. Never guilting you about things he's gotten you.

He's not Chase, you remind yourself.

Heart: Okay. Thank you.

Curtis breathes a sigh of relief at your last message. With how long it took you to respond he was worried he'd overstepped. But not only did you reply, you agreed! This is a big moment for him.

And considering he's in his car, already waiting for you at the cafe, he's also glad you didn't cancel on him. He wouldn't have blamed you, of course. He knows how sensitive you are about Chase. He really does just want to help you deal with the stress of having that asshole show up in your life again.

For now, though, he's going to set a timer and get some sleep. He's going to be running on fumes today, but you're worth it.

You park your car just as Curtis is walking into the cafe. You take a moment to appreciate how tall and thick he is. He hides it pretty well when he's trying to not be intimidating but the man is built. Especially for an IT guy. Maybe you should ask him him for workout tips.

When you walk into the cafe Curtis turns towards the door and smiles at you. You're almost too tired to fight back the shy giggle you feel. Instead you just smile and join him in line.

"So, what do you recommend?" he asks, looking over the menu.

"I normally get something without a lot of caffeine because I'm on my way home to sleep," you reply. "Something sugary for that quick boost for the last leg of the journey to bed."

"Sensible," he nods. His lower lip just out just enough to let you see his piercing more clearly and notice how plump and kissable his lips are.

Damnit. Get a hold of yourself, woman! The sleepiness was causing some of your filters to disappear and you didn't want to say the wrong thing and embarrass yourself.

"I'm kinda feeling like getting something warm and chocolatey sweet," you say instead. "Help fight the cold of the morning."

"Whatever you want, you get."

"And if I want the entire menu?" you joke.

"Considering how long it would take them to make up all the drinks, and for you to drink them, I day go for it. That'll give us more time to chat." He smirks at you and that urge to giggle comes back. You swear his eyes are brighter than you remember.

"Well I don't want to fall asleep on you, nor do I want to take that many trips to the bathroom, so I'll just go for a decaf mocha." You chuckle nervously. Your guard is way down and he's being so nice.

"Anything to eat?"

Taking a look at the pastry selection you point to your favorite. "Gotta go with the cranberry orange muffin."

"Really?" he raises an eyebrow.

"And what's wrong with cranberry orange?" you counter.

His smile widens, "nothing. That's why it's one of my favorites."

The conversation flows smoothly between the two of you. Almost as easily as when you're gaming together. He's a lot more animated a talker than you expected.

"You know, I'm starting to think you've been lying to me, Snow." Your smirk is the only thing keeping Curtis from panicking. "You keep telling me you're a real grumpy person but I'm finding you to be damn delightful company."

He throws his head back and laughs so hard he doubles over for a second.

"Don't scare me like that," he pleads between laughs, making you giggle. "And I promise you, if my co-workers, my brother, were here, they wouldn't recognize me."

"Hmmm. I'll take your word for it. For now," you jokingly threaten.

The longer you talk the less stressed you feel. He helps you completely forget about the hospital, about Chase. Part of you knows you'll have to go back to it again tomorrow but, for now, it's just you and Curtis, talking strategies for taking down Thurgon the Shadow Calamity and having fun.

Next

Tech Tuesday Masterlist

Tagging @alicedopey; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory; @late-to-the-party-81; @lokislady82; @peaches1958; @peyton-warren @ronearoundblindly; @stellar-solar-flare; @thiquefunlover63

[izicodes]

Tuesday 12th December 2023

End of September: I quit my first proper tech job after 2 years.

End of October: I applied for university on a whim and got a place.

Start of December: Randomly got a new tech job without searching.

God blessing me left, right, and center?! That's just a summary of what's been happening the past few months. I will go into more detail below~!

Here are some tips for talking to people on LinkedIn: post 💕

If you're wondering how I got here in terms of my coding journey: video | post 💕

End of September

I quit my job because it was getting tiring and I couldn't see any chance of me developing there. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to do my apprenticeship with them and then go on to become their Jr Web Developer - but from there, everything felt static. When the projects being given were getting absolutely boring, I knew then I needed some kind of change. So, I just quit. I said on a Monday I was quitting and that same Friday, I left. Politely and respectfully, of course.

End of October

I was so random how I did this but my Dad suggested for me to apply to university. I told him I didn't even have the right qualifications they wanted. He said "Bet". We looked at the local universities and none mentioned any apprenticeship certifications but mentioned work experience in the field. I applied with that knowledge. Wrote the cringiest personal statement about why the universities should accept me - and it worked. I got into the university of my city which seemed super prestigious to me, 18-year-old me would be screaming that I got a place at the university that I deemed for super smart people.

I made a post about it: link 💕

Start of December

My plan now was to wait until university next September 2024. I planned to relax, level up my current skills by myself or helping via volunteering, and maybe get a few certificates (because I love my name on certificates), and, most importantly: catch up on some anime shows - which I did complete:

Ushio & Tora: 2nd Season

Hunter x Hunter

Vinland Saga

JOJO Part 5 (again)

Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season (still watching)

Basically, I was supposed to relax until around February time, then start looking for a new job - tech or non-tech.

!! At this point, I was not looking for a new job !!

Last Tuesday I got a message from a recruiter on LinkedIn saying my profile was cool and would love to help me get an interview for a Frontend Software Engineer position in the city. I had a hunch to tell him I was okay and wasn't looking for a new job right now, but I was getting bored recently and this to me was an exciting new thing to do, so I said yeah why not!

The meeting was on the following Thursday and I met the IT manager. He liked me (same back to him) and wanted me to meet the team next Monday (yesterday). Afterward, I was feeling "Oh wait this is getting serious, I'm only here on a whim, like I'm actually doing good?" so I thought "Okay let's make an effort on the next 'interview'!!".

Monday came and I met the funniest set of people ever in a tech team. Then I thought "Lowkey highkey... would be so cool to work here~!" and the feedback I got was really positive. I got the job. Today I talked to their HR to finalise things.

All of this is thanks to the Almighty God, Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of course~~! 🥰🙏🏾☦️