#anti chromium

[melyzard]

Time for a new edition of my ongoing vendetta against Google fuckery!

Hey friends, did you know that Google is now using Google docs to train it's AI, whether you like it or not? (link goes to: zdnet.com, July 5, 2023). Oh and on Monday, Google updated it's privacy policy to say that it can train it's two AI (Bard and Cloud AI) on any data it scrapes from it's users, period. (link goes to: The Verge, 5 July 2023). Here is Digital Trends also mentioning this new policy change (link goes to: Digital Trends, 5 July 2023). There are a lot more, these are just the most succinct articles that might explain what's happening.

FURTHER REASONS GOOGLE AND GOOGLE CHROME SUCK TODAY:

Stop using Google Analytics, warns Sweden’s privacy watchdog, as it issues over $1M in fines (link goes to: TechCrunch, 3 July 2023) [TLDR: google got caught exporting european users' data to the US to be 'processed' by 'US government surveillance,' which is HELLA ILLEGAL. I'm not going into the Five Eyes, Fourteen Eyes, etc agreements, but you should read up on those to understand why the 'US government surveillance' people might ask Google to do this for countries that are not apart of the various Eyes agreements - and before anyone jumps in with "the US sucks!" YES but they are 100% not the only government buying foreign citizens' data, this is just the one the Swedes caught. Today.]

PwC Australia ties Google to tax leak scandal (link goes to: Reuters, 5 July 2023). [TLDR: a Russian accounting firm slipped Google "confidential information about the start date of a new tax law leaked from Australian government tax briefings." Gosh, why would Google want to spy on governments about tax laws? Can't think of any reason they would want to be able to clean house/change policy/update their user agreement to get around new restrictions before those restrictions or fines hit. Can you?

SO - here is a very detailed list of browsers, updated on 28 June, 2023 on slant.com, that are NOT based on Google Chrome (note: any browser that says 'Chromium-based' is just Google wearing a party mask. It means that Google AND that other party has access to all your data). This is an excellent list that shows pros and cons for each browser, including who the creator is and what kinds of policies they have (for example, one con for Pale Moon is that the creator doesn't like and thinks all websites should be hostile to Tor).

[neon-emojiz]

Elements!

Sulfur

Chlorine

Argon

Potassium

Calcium

Vanadium

Titanium

Scandium

Chromium

Manganese

[No spoons for ID rn]

[rainyfestivalsweets]

Well, one of my friends started a new business.

Which is annoying to me because she sent me a message asking about my goals and shit- acting like we haven't been talking nearly every day for years.

She knows what I have been doing (or I thought).

She knows that I regularly review my diet and regularly exercise.

She sent me a template message and when I said I was already on something, she asked me to post a tester message on the Facebook.

I did it. OK, whatever...but she wouldn't tell me even what fucking company it was. Are you fucking kidding me? 😒

So a friend signed up for her program and messaged me. So I asked what company it was.

But why the fucking cloak and dagger. We are actual friends. Starting a fricking business and hitting me up without telling me what the actual business is? Come on!

Apparently this pissed myself off to the 9th level. She should know that I am with a coach, and doing the damn thing every day. Ugg.

Apparently on of the things is skinny coffee:

$55 for 15 servings, I think.

In comparison to the slim coffee I previously reviewed:

Which was...$35 or $39 for 30:

So...

Idk if ya'll run across stuff like this.

Weirdly enough, I probably would have bought a package if she hadn't been so fucking weird about it because as you know, I am trying alot of weird shit. I was extremely heavy for a long fucking time. And if a weight chart says I am supposed to weigh 120.... good God. I am still 80 pounds away from that, AFTER 120 pound loss.

I am already on something that is helping me, it is called Nomorbidity from The Ambrosia Collective. I also started Alkemi from them back in October.

I have also been taking something called Slim from TS transformations.

If you are interested in either of those, just use Google and order them.

What is the point of this?

Oh yeah, I am super fucking annoyed that a person who got weight loss surgery hit me up like a fucking acquaintance; pretending like we haven't been heavily involved in each other's lives.

If you start a business, don't do this. Your friends deserve better.

I am probably going to fall down an anti-MLM series of posts now.

[rotpunks]

i think its time to stop acting like all chromium-based browsers are evil and firefox is the one true browser. use firefox if you want, but if the goal is to move people off chrome, you are not helping by demanding everyone get used to a completely different layout instead of letting them download brave

[libartz]

They really think I’ll take them back.

Lol. Lmao, even.

[izicodes]

Switching to Firefox

This post is to answer @leaveblackkbrosalone’s question on my post about me switching to Firefox!

I recently had an eye opener moment when researching about Google and how they collect data to alter the things they recommend you and other things. And it was astonishing how much data they collect on you and how they track you every movement whilst on Google/Chrome/Other Google services e.g. Google PlayStore.

I truly believe there are better alternatives out there than the default Google Chrome people tend to use. We now live in world of constant data breaches and online tracking, therefore protecting your online privacy and security has never been more important.

I’ve recently deleted Chrome from my phone and computer and switched to FireFox and I’ll explain why~!

What is Firefox?

Firefox is the famous fox web browser! It is a free and open-source that is developed by the Mozilla Foundation. It's designed to be fast, secure, and customizable, and is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Firefox includes a suite of built-in features, such as enhanced tracking protection, custom themes (so important obviously) and add-ons, and a flexible interface that can be tailored to the user's needs.

Why Firefox and not Google Chrome?

There are a bunch of reasons why I chose to delete Google Chrome and why I prefer FireFox now, let me list some:

Privacy

Firefox has a strong focus on privacy and security, with features like built-in tracking protection and a strict anti-tracking policy.

In contrast, Chrome is owned by Google, a company that relies heavily on data collection and advertising for its business model.

Customisation

Firefox has a much more flexible and customizable interface than Chrome, with a wide range of add-ons (equivalent to Chrome’s ‘extensions’ I believe) and themes available to personalize your browsing experience.

Open-source

Firefox is an open-source project, meaning that anyone can contribute to its development and review the code for security issues.

Chrome, on the other hand, is based on the Chromium project, which is also open-source but is controlled by Google.

Cross-platform compatibility

Firefox works on a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices.

Chrome is also available on multiple platforms, but it's more heavily integrated with Google's services and ecosystem.

Performance

Firefox has made significant improvements in recent years and is now a competitive browser in terms of speed and efficiency.

Still, Chrome is known for its fast performance

Community-driven

Firefox is developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, which has a strong focus on user empowerment and community involvement. This means that Firefox users have a voice in the development process and can contribute to the browser's future direction.

With all of that being said, there is one particular area that caught my eye that I mentioned briefly: the Privacy and Security.

Firefox’s Privacy and Security Advantages

Firefox definitely has advantages in these areas than Google Chrome surprisingly!

Enhanced Tracking Protection

Firefox includes built-in tracking protection that blocks many common types of trackers by default, including

third-party cookies, cryptominers, and fingerprinters

This helps to protect your online privacy and reduce the amount of data that's collected about you. Below are the options for the 'Enhance Tracking Protection' in the settings:

No Google Tracking

Oh boy, I like this one. So unlike Chrome, which is owned by Google and ties into its advertising and data collection ecosystem, Firefox is developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation and has no affiliation with Google or any other major tech company. This means that Firefox is less likely to collect and share your data with third parties.

No Sign-In Required

While Chrome requires you to sign in with a Google account to access certain features, Firefox does not require any sign-in at all. This means that you can still use Firefox without creating a user profile or linking your browsing activity to any personal information -

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to use the Google search engine WITHIN FireFox, it might still prompt you to sign in but you still don’t have to! Also, the choice is there to create an account just to sync bookmarks and tab from one device to another e.g. phone to laptop.

Private Browsing Mode

(Another very important part!) Firefox offers a Private Browsing mode that doesn't save your browsing history, cookies, or temporary files. This can be useful for browsing sensitive content or preventing others from seeing what you've been looking at.

Firefox's Private Browsing mode offers a more robust set of features for privacy and security than Google’s Incognito mode. Within the ‘Settings’, you can customise your privacy settings more extensively than Google Chrome. You can choose to block all third-party cookies, prevent websites from accessing your location data, and clear your browsing history and data automatically when you close the browser.

Google's Incognito mode does not block all cookies or prevent all forms of tracking.

Open-Source Security

Like I mentioned before, Firefox is an open-source project, meaning that anyone can review the code and contribute to its development. This helps to ensure that security vulnerabilities are identified and addressed quickly, and that the browser remains as secure as possible. You too can find something and report it to the repository via creating an issue!

To Conclude

Of course, these are just some general reasons why you might prefer Firefox over Chrome, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and priorities. I know with developers, they would prefer Chrome for the dev tools and I think it’s almost a standard to use Chrome (though at my workplace we use Microsoft Edge), anyhoo Google is just a default for web browsing and search engine. I also know it’s hard if you have a whole Google ecosystem set up like Google docs to Sheet to Slides, emails, calendar etc, you can still use them but on a safer browser.

I would also recommend using ‘DuckDuckGo’ for a search engine as they too are really good with security and privacy but as a search engine (plus on their phone app they have a cool animation when you want to delete you browsing data from the tabs hehe)!

Links to interesting pages for more information on this topic:

YouTube videos: video 1 | video 2 | video 3 | video 4

Articles: article 1 | article 2 | article 3

I’d say give it a go, if you don’t like it I still recommend anything but Google Chrome! Well, that’s all and thank you for reading! 🥰👍🏾💗

[maypop-the-dragon]

PSA: Free Software

Reading this may really save your time, privacy, and money! Reblog or share to spread awareness!

Folks often use software that’s expensive and sometimes even inferior because they don’t know there are alternatives. So to those unfamiliar: basically, free and open-source (FOSS) or "libre" software is free to use and anyone can access the original code to make their own version or work on fixing problems.

That does not mean anyone can randomly add a virus and give it to everyone—any respectable libre project has checks in place to make sure changes to the official version are good! Libre software is typically developed by communities who really care about the quality of the software as a goal in itself.

There are libre alternatives to many well-known programs that do everything an average user needs (find out more under the cut!) for free with no DRM, license keys, or subscriptions.

Using libre software when possible is an easy way to fight against and free yourself from corporate greed while actually being more convenient in many cases! If you need an app to do something, perhaps try searching online for things like:

foss [whatever it is]

libre [whatever it is]

open source [whatever it is]

Feel free to recommend more libre software in the tags, replies, comments, or whatever you freaks like to do!

Some Libre Software I Personally Enjoy…

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is an office suite, much like Microsoft Office. It includes equivalents for apps like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, which can view and edit files created for those apps.

I can't say I've used it much myself yet. I do not personally like using office software except when I have to for school.

OpenShot

OpenShot Video Editor is, as the name suggests, a video editing program. It has industry-standard features like splicing, layering, transitions, and greenscreen.

I've only made one video with it so far, but I'm already very happy with it. I had already paid for a video editor (Cyberlink PowerDirector Pro), but I needed to reinstall it and I didn't remember how. Out of desperation, I searched up "FOSS video editor" and I'm so glad I did. There's no launcher, there's no promotion of other apps and asset packs—it's just a video editor with a normal installer.

GIMP

GNU Image Manipulation Program is an image editor, much like Photoshop. Originally created for Linux but also available for Windows and MacOS, it provides plenty of functionality for editing images. It is a bit unintuitive to learn at first, though.

I've used it to create and modify images for years, including logos, really bad traceover art, and Minecraft textures. It doesn't have certain advanced tech like AI paint-in, but it has served my purposes well and it might just work for yours!

(Be sure to go to Windows > Dockable Dialogs > Colors. I have no idea why that's not enabled by default.)

Audacity

Audacity is an audio editing program. It can record, load, splice, and layer audio files and apply effects to them.

Audacity is another program I've used for a long time. It is not designed to compose music, but it is great for podcasts, simple edits, and loading legacy MS Paint to hear cool noises.

7-Zip

7-Zip is a file manager and archive tool. It supports many archive types including ZIP, RAR, TAR, and its own format, 7Z. It can view and modify the contents of archives, encrypt and decrypt archives, and all that good stuff.

Personally, I use 7-Zip to look inside JAR files for Minecraft reasons. I must admit that its UI is ugly.

Firefox

Firefox is an internet browser, much like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari. While browsers are free, many of them include tracking or other anti-consumer practices. For example, Google plans to release an update to Chromium (the base that most browsers are built from these days) that makes ad blockers less effective by removing the APIs they currently rely on.

Aside from fighting monopolies, benefits include: support for animated themes (the one in the picture is Purple Night Theme), good ad blockers forever, an (albeit hidden) compact UI option (available on about:config), and a cute fox icon.

uBlock Origin

As far as I know, uBlock Origin is one of the best ad blockers there is.

I was on a sketchy website with my brother, and he was using Opera GX's ad blocker. Much of the time when he clicked on anything, it would take us to a random sponsored page. I suggested that he try uBlock Origin, and with uBlock Origin, that didn't happen anymore.

Linux

Linux is a kernel, but the term is often used to refer to operating systems (much like Windows or MacOS) built on it. There are many different Linux-based operating systems (or "distros") to choose from, but apps made for Linux usually work on most popular distros. You can also use many normally Windows-only apps on Linux through compatibility layers like WINE.

I don't have all four of these, so the images are from Wikipedia. I tried to show a variety of Linux distros made for different kinds of users.

If you want to replace your operating system, I recommend being very careful because you can end up breaking things. Many computer manufacturers don't care about supporting Linux, meaning that things may not work (Nvidia graphic cards notoriously have issues on Linux, for example).

Personally, I tried installing Pop!_OS on a laptop, and the sound output mysteriously doesn't work. I may try switching to Arch Linux, since it is extremely customizable and I might be able to experiment until I find a configuration where the audio works.

Many Linux distros offer "Live USB" functionality, which works as both a demo and an installer. You should thoroughly test your distro on a Live USB session before you actually install it to be absolutely sure that everything works. Even if it seems fine, you should probably look into dual-booting with your existing operating system, just in case you need it for some reason.

Happy computering!

[arcadekitten]

hey so feel free to delete this if this isnt the right place to be asking about this but im having trouble getting blackout hospital to save properly, if i save the game and then close it then open it again it erases everything i just did and i have to start over from the beginning, im not sure if im doing something wrong or not

I remember a few players encountering this when Blackout Hospital first released! When I asked on some RPGMaker forums about it I was told that it could be an issue with Windows, and specifically Windows 11. These were the responses I got: From user ATT_Turan: "That sounds to me like an issue with permissions. If your players put the game in a directory where they don't have write permissions, the save files wouldn't be created. Windows 11 does some screwy things with permissions, I've found. The Program Files folder, which is the default for a lot of programs, has write permissions disabled by default and it can be difficult to change (I found it impossible with a moderate amount of effort). You can ask them to right-click on their saves folder and see if the read-only box is filled in. They can try unchecking it and seeing if the change saves, otherwise they might need to try putting the game in a different directory. It could also be an issue with an overly aggressive anti-virus/malware software."

From user Andar "As a third option, it could be a browser setting - especially if they are using chrome. RMMV games are HTML-games running in a browser, and the default exe is a chromium-based browser. If their computers have especially restrictive security settings, that might prevent the browser from saving anything - or rather everything saved gets deleted on closing the browser." I hope these answers may help you somehow!! I would look into your permissions and security/antivirus programs & softwares!

[pekkhum]

:3

(Also do you have options on firefox?)

I have contacted an expert in regards to your first inquiry and this is his response:

:3

As for Firefox I have many options in Firefox disabled, actually, such as these:

I also have opinions on Firefox, however, including the most important one:

In an era of absolute Google control of the internet, when they no longer need to pay attention to the checks and balances of internet standards organizations and can simply strong-arm the world into doing things their way (as Microsoft once could), it is absolutely critical for as many users as possible to use a non-Chromium browser and insist on sites supporting it.

This is the best way to weaken the Google stranglehold that allows them to make bold and blatant anti-consumer moves, such as the recent broadly despised changes to protect their revenue model from user choice.

And that is just one of my opinions on Firefox. 😁

[blogging1202]

Java Burn Ingredients

When examining Java Burn's formula, each ingredient is chosen because of its proven health benefits and its potential to help with weight management. This part of the review looks closely at the main components.

1

L-Theanine

This natural amino acid, known as L-theanine, is present in mushrooms and tea. It has the ability to create a sensation of fullness, aiding in weight loss efforts. Research studies have indicated that regular intake of L-theanine supplements can lead to improvements in attention, focus, sleep quality, mood, and relaxation levels.

2

L-Carnitine

This ingredient, known as L-Carnitine, is an FDA-approved drug that assists in weight loss, promotes heart and brain health, and enhances overall well-being. Additionally, L-Carnitine provides various other health benefits, including regulating blood glucose and sugar levels, enhancing insulin sensitivity, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. It can also help alleviate symptoms of insomnia, nervousness, muscle fatigue, and thyroid issues.

3

Chromium

This essential trace mineral, chromium, plays a crucial role in the body by enhancing lipid metabolism, as well as processing and synthesizing proteins and carbohydrates. It also improves insulin sensitivity. Numerous studies have demonstrated that supplements containing chromium can assist individuals in managing type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. As highlighted in the SDGLN Java Burn review guide, chromium works naturally in the body to reduce body weight by breaking down fat.

4

EGCG

Epigallocatechin gallate, known as EGCG, is a plant-based compound that reduces inflammation, supports weight loss, and fights chronic diseases. Studies indicate that epigallocatechin gallate protects you from cell damage and oxidative stress. It even helps increase metabolic function and lower the risk of heart disease.

5

Chlorogenic Acid

Chlorogenic acid is rich in anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-obesity properties. It even supports preventing and fighting chronic diseases. Many studies on chlorogenic acid have shown that it helps lower glucose and insulin spikes right after food intake which results in a healthy way of losing weight. With the right amount of chlorogenic acid, you can lose more weight because it helps your body absorb less sugar.

6

Caffeine

Caffeine has been proven to boost the metabolic rate, making weight loss more achievable. Research indicates that caffeine has the potential to elevate the resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is the rate at which the body burns calories while at rest. A study published in the National Library of Medicine demonstrated that caffeine consumption increases fat burning in obese individuals. Additionally, caffeine aids in regulating blood sugar levels, enhancing brain function, improving memory, and potentially combating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

[yddaw]

Sometimes it’s unfortunate seeing that a lot of people are anti [insert technology here]. It makes sense of course, but it seems like the idea being shared is that the technological tool itself is “bad” but not the company using it.

Like Chromium is not the same thing as Chrome itself. And AI is not only for stealing content and reselling it. But having so many companies do this and use these tools with little to no regulation (specifically on privacy) paints such a nasty image for the tool that has so much potential 😩

[izzy-ikigai]

[Browser names in bold if you just wanna skip to the paragraph you want to tell me I'm completely wrong about because that's your browser]

So, in light of the possible future where some of the chromium-based browser might get kicked right in the content-blocking code with Manifest Version 3, I actually felt the need to look around for alternative browsers to our holy lord the Google Chrome if we can't even have uBlock anymore.

Obviously I'd love to have a browser that won't die in the next 2 years, so either backed by a company or backed by a large community would be neato. It's fine if it's chromium, as long as content blockers will keep functioning or at least have alternatives. I did consider MS Edge for a hot second, I read somewhere it's supposed to not yield to Google for the new APIs but couldn't find it again, but then I remembered that Microsoft is an anti-consumer oriented company that pours billions into AI and making our lives worse in general and that even if it does run on Linux I do not fucking care.

I went over a few of the obvious choices and while yes, Firefox is oh-so-different, the basic threat/security model of FF is still lacking. Trading one security issue(not being able to run full-fledged content-blockers) for another one seemed a bit like a letdown to myself.

And while yes, the company Mozilla puts a lot of money in advertising how privacy-oriented they are(on social media, with targeted ads, lol) the have gotten to a point where that's simply not completely true anymore.

I also looked at Brave, it has a few cool features and the notion of a crypto wallet built right into the browser gave me the ultimate anti-climax and the tab was closed with Mach 10(someone please make a video about what would actually happen with a finger going mach 10).

For now I arrived at Vivaldi for testing. It has a few decent built-in things like tracker/ad-blocking(via url lists, which works pretty decent on it's own but I decided to additionally also run uBlock since URL list don't catch everything).

It also has an absolutely overwhelming amount of customization that made me realise how "default chromium-based browser" is basically like plain rice and I've just gotten used to plain rice every day to the point where I didn't question if that's good or nah. Vivaldi made me realise that spices exist. I know it sounds ridiculous, it's just a stupid browser, after all, BUT...

Just look at this Tab Cycler.

Or this Spotlike-esque in-browser search

Oh you would like your tabs on the side, cuz that's what the cool kids do? WELL WHICH SIDE IS IT THEN????

Oh you said tiling your windows in your operating system's UI sucks so your browser should do it? Yup, if for some weird reason that resonates with you, it also does that.

Pause button so you can focus on something non-internetty? That little shit hides in the corner of the status bar.

A weirdly functional and also overly customizable side-bar? Got that as well.

Honestly, when I say an overwhelming amount of customization, I mean it. I've been playing around with this piece of shit for like 4 hours and I watched the intro videos to some of the things and I really feel like I haven't even scratched the surface.

Someone please tell me some dealbraker about this browser, it's almost 3AM and I need to sleep. Like holy fuck this thing feels like someone went "imagine if your browser was as much of a full-time job as emacs was".

And no, I'm not switching to Vivaldi (yet). I'll obviously give it a solid month before I'll make such an obviously life-changing decision. I might even do a cheeky install on my phone I guess.

[cosmererambles]

The mist condensed on her clothing as water droplets. They flew off as she plummeting, exhilarated at her speed. Flaring pewter, she landed on the roof top, bare feet clinging apex of the roof. Another figure stood, facing north, hands on hips. Mauve approached, throwing back her long tail of hair. Kelsier turned, face obscured by the hood of his cloak.

“Took your time tonight.” “I got distracted.” She smiled, stepping up beside him. “I’ll never tire of falling through the mists.” “It’s amazing, isn’t it? Almost five years and I’ve never tired of it.” He looked up. “What is it?” Mauve paused, she’d been reaching up to pull back his hood. “The mist?” He glanced down at her sidelong, throwing it back himself. “Yes. I’m sure you know what it is.” He gave her a knowing smirk, and she scowled. “You are dreadfully annoying at times.” He grinned, bowing mischeviously. “Guilty as charged, but really.” His grin softened, his eyes shining in the wan light cast from the stars. “What is it?” “The mist is the condensed, vaporous power of a god.” Mauve whispered. His jaw dropped, lips parting, smile fading. “What?” “That’s all I’ll tell you, Kelsier. Some things you need to figure out for yourself.” He waved a hand, turning away. “You being here is enough to ruin that philsophy. You’ve already given me two more metals.” He twisted on his heel, looking at her again. “When are you going to show me the rest?”

“Don’t you think it’d be more fun to figure them out yourself?” Mauve teased, sitting down on the roof top. Kelsier eyed her, sitting down beside her a moment later. “The metals; you said they couldn’t be found. Not with your technology.” “Correct. They will be.” Kelsier sighed. He withdrew from his pocket a silvery bar of metal. Malatium. “Please, Mauve? I thought this was it; whatever it is. Knowing there are sixteen, instead of ten? It’s insane.” She smiled, pulling from within her vest pocket a long, thin bar of metal. She held it out to him; he took it.

“Electrum. This is possible to refine in your time, though it’s difficult.” He gazed at it, the tiny thing in his palm. “It’s power?” He asked, turning it over, the bar of Malatium still clutched between two fingers.” “Electrum shows your own possible future. It works like atium, only it shows your own future, instead of your opponents. It’s an anti-atium. Burn this when your opponent has atium, and they won’t be able to get a bead on you. You’ll be evenly matched.” He stared at it. Then, slipping the Malatium back in his pocket, he withdrew a file. In turn, she took out an empty vial, which he took, grateful.

“Why didn’t you show me this one earlier?” He accused, glancing at her sidelong. “This is important.” “And you don’t think Chromium or Bendalloy are important, Kelsier?” She scooted closer. “I plan to show you one more metal.” He raised a brow. “Just one?” “You’ll know the others, soon enough.” Done filing, he handed her back the bar of metal, which she pocketed. Silence fell between them. Comfortable silence. She longed to lean against him, to speak to him as she had spoken to her own Kelsier. Her Kelsier, with the spike in his eye, that comfortable gait, that easy laugh. Her Kelsier…Who was beyond her reach now…

“I’m sharing them with Vin, you know.” Kelsier spoke suddenly, unaware of her change in mood. She looked at him. “They are gifts, Kelsier. I don’t mind what you do.” He smiled at her. “I knew you wouldn’t mind. Just wanted to let you know.” He took her hand, and she raised her brows in shock as he stood, taking her with him.

“Help train her with me? Spar with her; she needs it from someone not me.” “Spar with Vin? Are you sure? She could kill me, you know?” He laughed, taking her other hand in his. She cherished his warmth. “Despite the girls insane amount of skill, I believe you outclass her in every conceivable way. At least for now.” “Oh, she will surpass me, easily.” Mauve smiled, gazing at him. “Vin will become the greatest Allomancer this world has ever known. Though, not my favorite.” Kelsier raised a brow, smirking. “Oh? Who is that?” Mauve leaned in, kissing him lightly. No. Not her Kelsier. The taste was off, the way he spoke was different. But he did taste good, the pressure of his hand on hers made her feel alive. That was all she wanted, at the moment.

“I’ll spar with her, but on my terms.” She pulled away. “I’ll drop in tomorrow night.” She winked, tossing a coin over her shoulder. Kelsier smiled. “Can’t wait.”

He left Vin on a roof top, promising to return in a moment. He jumped a few roofs away, burning copper to shroud his movements. He picked his way back, lithe movements soundless on the rooftop shingles, ash clinging to his ankles and calves. He crouched near a chimney, watching.

Any moment now.

Vin swung around, and Kelsier sensed her, pulsing waves of power falling through the air. Daggers flashed; Vin caught them between her own. Kelsier grinned, crouched, eager.

Mauve pounced on the girl, who noticed her just as she’d begun her descent. She’d let her copper lapse, wanting to give Vin a proper warning, unwilling to take her by surprise. She didn’t fancy finding another body, not when she was this close to her end goal. The girl met her daggers with her own, a soft yelp escaping her as she pushed herself backwards off decorative lightning rod. Mauve picked up speed, pulling coins from her pack and flinging them in a fan before her. Vin pushed them back, wary. Mauve grinned.

“Come on Vin. Fight me. You need practice with a Mistborn.” Vin eyed her, black eyes unreadable in the night. Mauve had always wanted to meet her; meet Kelsier’s adopted daughter. He’d spoken of her fondly, often falling into praise of her on their night time strolls, as they reminded him of her.

“Who are you?” “Not an enemy, I can assure you.” Mauve tossed her hair. Tired of waiting, she lunged. Vin parried her, dodging to the side, mistcloak flaring. “I’ve seen you with Kelsier.” Vin tested her, an experimental dagger thrust sent her way. Mauve knocked it aside, then stepped back, smiling. “Yes. You would have.” Those large eyes stared at her, searching her. “Are you sleeping with him?” Mauve’s lips parted in surprise. “You are blunt. He wasn’t lying about you.” Vin didn’t smile. She simply stared. “Are you?” “The answer is no.” Mauve said, after a chuckle. “I’m not.” Not yet, anyways… She peered at the girl, daggers ready. Vin, cautious, took her in.

“You’re mistborn…but using metal daggers?” “Try and push them out of my hand, Vin.” She held one up, it’s blade catching refracted starlight. Vin’s eyes widened. “I…” “Can’t, can you? I can’t push on them either; they are allomantically inert.” She smirked. “I promised Kelsier I would spar with you.” “So?” Mauve lunged. Vin pushed herself off the roof, and the chase was on.

She was very good. Too good, for how little training she’d received. While they had been trained by the same person, Mauve had the training of a Kelsier was extremely book learnt, and had the benefit of all the metals. Vin was just gifted. Vin led her through the slums, their bare feet slipping on ashy roofs, slick with condensation. Mauve would catch her, and daggers would flash. Vin managed to knick her, slicing a slit in her jerkin. Mauve grunted, annoyed, paying her back with a slit up the front of her shirt. Vin hissed in anger, tossing coins her way. Mauve pushed them aside easily, jumping backwards, flipping midair and plummeting. Vin followed, silent.

A figure flew out of the darkness. Mauve pivoted on her heel, dropping a coin and pushing herself upwards, catching the figure, butt of her dagger driving up into their chest. A grunt of pain and a hiss of annoyance, and Mauve smiled, withdrawing her dagger and letting them pass. Vin clung to a nearby rooftop, watching with intense eyes.

“Completely unnecessary.” Kelsier rubbed his side, watching as she and landed with a puff of ash. “Unnecessary? Hardly.” Mauve scoffed. “Did I hurt you?” “Terribly. I’ll be out for days.” Mauve flipped her hair into his face as she turned, looking up at Vin.

“Coming down, Vin?” Kelsier looked up, smiling. “Come down, Vin. I should formerly introduce you two.”

After introductions, they found a tall building to rest on; a tower of one of the many keeps. Mauve sat, one leg hanging off the building, the other stretched out before her, holding her gold mind in her hand. Kelsier sat close to her, and Vin, a little ways off. Mauve felt her eyes, felt the way she noticed the tension between the two of them.

“She’s not lying, Vin.” Kelsier spoke, holding out oneof Mauve’s bars of metal. This time, it was chromium. She’d shown him that their first night meeting. “There are sixteen metals, not ten.” “You told me there were ten.” “I didn’t know there were more. Except for this one.” He fished out his bar of Malatium, and shot a glance at Mauve. “She still won’t tell me what it is…” Mauve smiled, looking at him.

“I can tell you now.” She took it from him. “This is…Malatium. It’s an alloy of atium and gold. The atium you burn…” She held up a vial she’d picked from his pocket, to which his stunned look was her reward. “Is an alloy of atium and electrum. You cannot find pure atium in the Final Empire without refinement.” She gave him back the vial.

“How do you know these things?” Mauve didn’t answer. She looked back out into the mists, feeling her lungs slowly return to how they should be, the popped capillaries and vessels knitting closed.

“She won’t say. I’ve tried asking her.” Kelsier shook his head. “Best forget the how and focus on the now, Vin. The metals she’s shown me are incredible.” Vin took the chromium, peering at it. It shown brilliantly, even in the wan light. “What is it?” “Chromium.” “And?” Kelsier smiled. “It leeches another allomancers metal reserves. Completely wipes them. All you have to do is touch them and burn that metal.” Vin’s eyes widened. “That’s…insane.” “That’s what I said. Until she leeched my own reserves away.” He held out a hand, palm up. Mauve looked at it, feeling a pang of longing. That hand was so close to the hands she’d held nearly everyday for…for a long time. Knowing what he wanted, she pulled out the Bendalloy bar, returning the Chromium to her pouch for safekeeping.

“This is bendalloy.” “What?” Vin took her, eyebrow raised. “That’s a mouthful.” “I know right. Wait until you find out what it does. Mauve, can you -.” She’d already begun moving, taking about ten steps back, smiling knowingly. Kelsier winked at her. Then threw up a bubble.

His bubbles were pathetically small. She couldn’t blame him; he’d only just received the metal, after all, and wouldn’t have enough of it to practice to make anything of decent size. As it was, it fit him and Vin, and that was all. She could make out movements within the bubble, though she knew what to look for. It dropped. Vin gasped.

“It speeds up time?” “For those within the bubble, yes.” Kelsier handed the bar back to Mauve, who stepped forward and took it. She sat back down beside him. “That’s…incredible.” “Isn’t it? Think of what we can do with these metals, Vin. Inquisitors don’t have access to them. We do.” He let the words hang. Vin’s gaze unfocused, and she looked out over the mists.

“How much do we have?” “You have until the bars run out.” Mauve answered. “Their here for Kelsier to use, and through him, you.” Vin looked at her. “You seem awfully attached to him.” Mauve smiled. “I am, aren’t I? Ah well, you’ve found me out.” Kelsier grinned as Mauve stood up, stretching.

“I am going to turn in.” She turned, ready to leap off the roof, only to pause when Vin spoke. “Your daggers. What are they?” Mauve paused, then turned, looking at the girl. So intense. “Aluminum. Hardened and refined to be sharp as your glass daggers, without any of the drawbacks.” With that she leapt off the roof. She heard Vin clamber to catch her, to continue interrogating her, but Kelsier stopped her. Mauve smiled as she disappeared into the night.

He cornered her a short time later, ambushing her from an alley way and dragging her into a kiss. She had a dagger pressed to his throat, another slanted to pierce a kidney, before his lips met hers, and she melted. “You left without our parting kiss.” He complained, unphased by the weapons at his throat and side. She withdrew them, stepping back, smiling.

“I wasn’t about to kiss you in front of Vin. She’d get ideas.” “Ah yes. She asked if we were sleeping together.” He leaned against the wall. “Where would she get that idea?” He leaned in. “Why do I feel this for you, Mauve? As if…I know you.” She couldn’t answer. The silence hung long. Frustrated, he pulled her into an embrace, fingers running through hair.

“Stay with me tonight. You deserve a soft bed to sleep in.” “I’m more than capable of finding that.” “I’m sure you are.” He whispered. “Humor me.”

Oh to sleep beside him again. She let him hold her, feeling the soft, steady beat of his heart, and nodded. “I’ll meet you at the shop.” She replied. “Don’t forget to let me in.” He grinned, stepping back. “I’ll have a bath drawn.” He nodded to her feet. “Don’t want those under my sheets.” She rolled her eyes, and smiled. “Only if you take it with me.” His grin broadened. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

[emi-matchu]

reads this then thinks some more about the recent uptick in the Mozilla savior narrative

Firefox certainly isn't scummy like e.g. Brave is now, but like. wanna give it another year or two and see about that?

(more thoughts and context below the cut)

my point here isn't to say that Firefox isn't the best option today in many cases; it's that any plan that doesn't include the fact that Mozilla is also low-key gross is setting people up for failure 😐😭

if you wanna be using a good safe browser, the only working model is to actively pay attention, and be prepared to hop every few years—as it is with all modern software (or to simply accept a certain amount of risk to your privacy & security because you're busy; that's reasonable and choosing the best browser for the greater good isn't a serious moral obligation imo)

currently this is my list of reasonable bets by platform:

Windows: Vivaldi, Firefox

Mac: Safari, Firefox

Linux: Chromium, Firefox

but like. the expiration date on that recommendation is end-of-2024, possibly sooner, depending on when the incentives of their product teams make the usual pivot from pro-user to anti-user

and I think Firefox is one of the most liable to turn earlier than expected, especially as they hurry to position themselves as AI leaders and actively reduce human input in web development…

(note too that I'm making these recs on the assumption that Vivaldi and Linux-packaged Chromium continue to have the ability to turn off or delete the scummiest new Chromium features—so far they've been reliably doing this, but it's possible that their capabilities might change in the coming years, as things get more baked in)

[chhajedabrex]

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[geminicollisionworks]

Continuing with this week's posts of audio wonders from the surreal comedy group The Firesign Theatre (1966-2012). Previously:

1. Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him (1968) and notes about the influence on us and Life With Althaar.

2. How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All (1969)

Bringing us up to 1970's Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers.

In which the central hapless hero figure of their previous longform works ("P," played by Phil Austin in the first; "Babe," played by Peter Bergman in the second) is transmuted into David Ossman as "George Leroy Tirebiter Camden N-200R" ("Camden N-200R" being a location-specific surname in an obliquely suggestive fascist future world), who in an evening of late night TV viewing finds himself sucked into the televisual world itself after accepting its sustenance. As he tries to find a way out, he passes through the Seven Ages of Man, reliving his past in fragments of an anti-Communist teen movie (High School Madness) and a Korean War picture (Parallel Hell).

This LP (originally titled We'll Be Hieronymus Bosch in Jest a Minute, but Faust...) was the first time the Firesigns had spread a single piece over two sides of a vinyl album, and was an immediate commercial and critical success. It was nominated for a Hugo Award in 1970 for Best Dramatic Production, and has been inducted into the Library of Congress's registry of notable American recordings.

Hope you enjoy it, take off your shoes, and don't touch that little chromium switch...