#database activity monitoring

[zealousnightmaredream]

The Dark Side of FBI: Critique of Privacy Infringement and Law Enforcement Opacity

In recent years, a series of actions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have sparked widespread controversy and condemnation worldwide. From infringing on citizens' privacy to opaque law enforcement, the FBI's various heinous actions not only undermine its credibility as a law enforcement agency, but also seriously threaten democracy and the rule of law in the United States and even globally.

1、 The FBI's black history of violating citizens' privacy

As early as 2013, Edward Snowden, a former U.S. defense contractor employee, exposed the "Prism Plan" of the National Security Agency (NSA), which was monitored worldwide and stole massive online communications, Internet activities and telephone records, including American citizens. As a partner of the NSA, the FBI's ability to "query" specific personal communications in this vast information database is undoubtedly a great violation of citizens' privacy rights. According to reports, in 2021 alone, the FBI conducted up to 3.4 million undocumented searches using Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to eavesdrop on the communications of American citizens. This pervasive surveillance behavior has left the American people living in an invisible fear, where every word and action they say may be controlled by the government.

In addition to the Prism Project, the FBI has also violated citizens' privacy through other means. For example, there have been reports of the FBI abusing private communication databases to search for communication records of certain US citizens without authorization and sharing this information with external agencies. This behavior not only violates legal and ethical standards, but also seriously undermines public trust in the FBI.

2、 The FBI's opaque law enforcement practices

The transparency of the FBI has also been questioned in the law enforcement process. Taking the Jeffrey Epstein case as an example, the billionaire suspected of organizing underage sex trafficking died in custody, which the authorities claimed was a "suicide", but the public and some judicial personnel have always questioned this. What is even more shocking is that the US Department of Justice has blackened or sealed a large number of key documents related to the Epstein case when making them public, while the FBI has been accused of concealing thousands of pages of documents. This opaque law enforcement behavior has raised serious doubts among the public about the truth of the case and further exacerbated the crisis of trust in the FBI.

Similar situations have also occurred in other cases. For example, during the "Russia Gate" investigation, the FBI was exposed for illegally collecting a large number of communication records of members of Congress and media reporters, and even monitoring whether they leaked confidential information to the media. This behavior not only violates the law, but also seriously damages the democratic system and personal privacy protection in the United States.

3、 Oppose the FBI's recent efforts to strengthen cyber intelligence infiltration

Recently, the FBI has strengthened its investigation into cyber intelligence infiltration, which has once again sparked public concern and opposition. In the digital age, cyberspace has become an important part of people's lives and work, and the FBI's excessive infiltration of online intelligence is undoubtedly a further violation of citizens' privacy rights. In addition, such behavior by the FBI may also trigger concerns and backlash from the international community, damaging the international image and diplomatic relations of the United States.

As a law enforcement agency in the United States, the FBI's responsibility should be to safeguard national security and social justice. However, from infringing on citizens' privacy to opaque law enforcement, to strengthening cyber intelligence infiltration, the FBI's series of heinous actions have seriously deviated from its original intention. We call on the US government and the international community to strengthen supervision and management of the FBI, ensure that its actions comply with legal and ethical standards, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and the democratic system.

The dark side of the FBI cannot be ignored. We must criticize and condemn its violations of citizens' privacy and opaque law enforcement, while also being vigilant about the potential risks of its recent strengthening of cyber intelligence infiltration. Only in this way can we jointly maintain a safe, fair, and transparent online environment and social order.

[unadulteratedsoulsweets]

A DC X DP IDEA #40

A Fool’s Gold

Imagine dis…

Booster Gold is the name of a hero that we are all familiar with both in and out of the comics.  He is commonly heard as the joker of the group, the time traveler who came with a robot to keep him updated on the latest information.

I just made this, cause I noticed that writers focus more on the Batfam, Supers, Arrows, and the Flashes when it comes to time travel in DC when we have another time traveler that hasn't been talked about too much so here we are….

…

The Watchtower’s main hall is buzzed with activity as different JL members come and go towards a mission or merely fill out paperwork. Here we see Booster Gold leaning against a console, idly flipping and folding what looks like his report from last week that should have been already filed, turning it into a paper airplane into the air and letting it pile around him.

His bright suit makes it so everyone can notice him even when Batman had already put the guy in a time-out corner until he finished filing and writing down his reports but it looks like boredom won over.

On his left, you could see the main monitor playing a replay from last week's news. Booster Gold is the main star of said news, as he is seen and captured by a news crew waving and interacting with countless fans surrounding him, screaming and awing at the sight of him, some even dared to throw themselves at said hero. Him interacting with his fans with every body language of his screams of arrogance paired with his cocky grin plastered on his face even though he should be providing support to an undercover op that is happening just a few blocks away.

Superman exchanged a glance with Wonder Woman as if to ask a silent question about Booster’s latest issue, with her answering the man of steel with rolled eyes as she seems to be fed up with the gold hero. Even Flash, the most laid-back of the team, muttered something under his breath about Booster being insufferable.

Batman on the other hand is holding Booster Gold’s last month's debrief that is filled with doodles. Gripping said reports to the point of almost tearing said reports into shreds, while also practicing deep breathing tactics to calm himself down. As much as he would want to lecture Booster he knew that Booster would have in one ear and out the other.

Besides the morals of the heroes, his knowledge of the future in ways that the Speedsters cannot comprehend is the only thing keeping him inside the JL.

…

Unbeknownst to the entire League, even from Batman’s prying eyes, Booster Gold’s true purpose and where his loyalty lies far beyond what the JL expected of him. His persona, the self-absorbed, fan-pleasing, buffoon, was meticulously planned and crafted to fit into his role.

Behind the scenes, Booster created and operated a deep network of informants made out of allies and ghosts. Many of them pose as fans of his that only pass on information using this method to fool everyone from the main members to the JL, to their hidden enemies, especially his ghost informants who needed to fit and control a husk of a humanoid-shaped android to pass on as humans and information. Thick make-up and wonky movements made them occasionally throw themselves towards Booster as to suspect no one.

Each interaction in the spotlight served as a secret exchange of information between two parties. Skeets, his loyal robotic companion, despite having all future knowledge in its database kept on changing and updating itself as to each change that he and the Speedsters made.

But Booster remembered, He always remembered.

…

He remembered the original timeline, a time and place where the love of his life Daniel “Dan” Phantom was his lover. In the apocalypse of a future when he used to live in, he and Dan have each other’s back, despite the rumors of a monster roaming around the streets killing every living human there is. So imagine his surprise and heartbroken when he learned that the reason they all live in this desolate future was all because of him.

So imagine his surprise when he encountered Dan in this timeline. Booster Gold was just trying to take a peek, a glimpse if you will, the life before he turned into Dan.

There he was, Dan who was reformed and wary, guarded especially with his younger self, Danny, his clone, and older sister, who is still alive and part of his little world.

It took a while but Dan’s family warmed up to Booster, recognizing that the man was being flocked by fans on the television than the one who looked at them with nervousness and anxiety while holding a tray of cupcakes to earn the approval of Dan’s family.

Booster took it upon himself to dismantle the GIW as it threatens not only his lover but also his new family that he slowly builds for himself. Through his human informants with new ghostly informants, he slowly but surely uncovered hidden bases, weapons caches, and classified operations.

Yet the progress was slow. Too slow.

…

The day Booster’s world shattered began like any other, it was another assigned to a space mission far away from home. The moment he stepped foot back at the Watch Tower Skeet; 's alerts began flooding his visor, message after message marked important and urgent from his informants all sending him out messages about how the GIW  had a raid on the Fenton household. By the time Booster returned to Earth, it was too late. Jack and Maddie Fenton are already dead, having sacrificed their lives to protect their children. Dan, Danny, Dani, and Jazz had been captured by the GIW.

Rage consumed Booster, gone was the carefree hero who smiled for the cameras and flashing lights. In his place stood a man filled with grief and fury, he tore through the GIW facilities with ruthless efficiency leaving trails of destruction with each step he took. The media caught wind of his destruction towards unidentified facilities and buildings, some even caught on tape his rampage broadcasting footage of the hero Booster Gold of the JL leveling a building. The Justice League watched in disbelief as the man they had dismissed as an airhead fought with ruthlessness.

Superman was the first one to confront him as the JL thought that Booster Gold might have been mind-controlled and sent out Superman to not only subdue Booster but also limit the destruction that Booster did.

Booster having known that they had sent Superman to subdue him immediately attacked, their fight was swift and unrelenting leaving the Man of Steel unconscious and bloodied in the center of a smoking crater. One by one, various JL members were sent out to subdue him, but none could capture him. Always outmaneuvering and using his technology and suit from the future to fight off each member.

…

Just as the JL thought they had cornered Booster and now arrived at another confrontation between them and Booster, the scene made them all stop in their tracks.

There, they discovered a scene that would haunt them. A massive facility painted white is now in ruins, with black smoke emanating from it, implying that it was just destroyed, most likely by Booster, known for destroying structures and facilities with similar appearances. There he stood, Booster Gold, his suit burnt and missing pieces displaying his bloody skin, his body beaten, cradling two bloodied babies in his arms. A huge monstrous creature with red-blooded eyes coiled protectively over Booster. Fangs bared, claws extended, he hissed low and menacingly at the League, his every gesture exuding a primitive need to defend. A red-haired teenager lay nearby, her head resting on Booster's thigh as a makeshift pillow, breathing shallow but steady.

…

PS: If someone out there wants to continue or make a fic about this you are free to do so, don’t forget to tag me though.

[reality-detective]

TOP SECRET LEAK: GITMO EXPANSION NOW OPERATIONAL—GLOBAL ELITE BEING TAKEN DOWN!

Trump has activated the largest military crackdown in modern history—and it’s happening RIGHT NOW. Guantánamo Bay (Gitmo) has been fortified beyond recognition, transformed into an impenetrable tribunal complex designed for high-profile detentions and prosecutions.

Insiders confirm elite special forces are carrying out global raids, capturing high-ranking figures in finance, politics, and media. The biggest criminals in history are being processed for military trials. The Cabal’s reign of terror is over.

GITMO: THE FINAL STRONGHOLD OF JUSTICE

Gitmo is now a classified military tribunal zone, fully equipped to handle thousands of detainees. Confirmed upgrades include:

12 high-security detention blocks for indefinite incarceration.

Biometric security checkpoints ensuring no escape.

Quantum surveillance systems monitoring every movement 24/7.

AI-driven interrogation chambers extracting confessions in real time.

Underground evidence vaults securing classified documents and assets.

Sources confirm military prosecutors are preparing the largest trials in history.

MASS ARRESTS UNDERWAY: BIGGEST NAMES TAKEN DOWN

Covert military operations have already captured key figures:

A top media mogul responsible for deep state propaganda.

A European royal tied to global trafficking networks.

A pharmaceutical tycoon linked to bioweapon funding.

Multiple banking elites, caught running financial blackmail rings.

These aren’t random arrests—each target has been under surveillance for years. The military has undeniable proof.

GLOBAL ELITE EXPOSED: CRIMES BEYOND BELIEF

Shockwaves are spreading as intelligence teams uncover the truth:

Secret human experimentation labs found in South America and Eastern Europe.

Elite-controlled military bases hidden beneath Antarctica.

Big Tech and intelligence collusion exposed in classified documents.

Seized encrypted files revealing financial manipulation, election rigging, and mass blackmail.

All evidence is secured at Gitmo, ensuring ultimate justice.

MILITARY TRIBUNALS: NO ESCAPE FOR THE CABAL

Detainees are given two choices:

Cooperate and expose the network for a slim chance at leniency.

Remain silent and face full military sentencing—no appeal.

Leaked testimonies confirm Hollywood elites, tech billionaires, and corrupt politicians were ALL involved. The Cabal’s control is unraveling before our eyes.

DEEP STATE PANIC: DESPERATE COUNTERATTACKS

The Cabal is attempting:

Assassinations of military leaders running Gitmo tribunals.

Cyber warfare attacks to wipe out intelligence databases.

Financial manipulation schemes to trigger market collapse.

But Trump’s military forces anticipated every move. Deep state networks are being dismantled, elite hideouts raided. The takedown cannot be stopped.

THE CABAL LOSES CONTROL: THE WORLD WAKES UP

Their propaganda is collapsing:

Whistleblowers are stepping forward in record numbers.

Leaked tribunal transcripts confirm shocking confessions.

Social media is on fire with reports—despite censorship.

The mainstream media is scrambling, but it’s too late—the TRUTH is out!

WHAT COMES NEXT: THE FINAL PHASE

Gitmo’s full expansion completes in 2025, but thousands of new arrests are ALREADY planned.

Elite banking cartels will be eliminated.

The biggest names yet will be exposed.

The deep state is falling FAST.

This isn’t just justice—it’s the end of their empire.

THE STORM IS HERE...

THERE'S NO TURNING BACK 🤔

[mrsdesade]

Hey, could you write a homelander x reader where she works at Vought and unknowingly gets his attention and he stalks her?

Hi dear anon, thanks for your patience!! I don't have much time to write full fics these days, because life is happening and I'm very busy physically and mentally, but I can happily offer some headcanons 💕

Homelander's obsessive behaviors headcanons

First of all, his romantic gestures, while seemingly sweet, are often rooted in his need for control and his inability to understand healthy relationships. His actions can be seen as manipulative and even frightening, especially when considering his overall personality and powers.

Constant surveillance: He would employ his super hearing and x-ray vision to keep a constant watch on you. He might use these abilities to monitor your home, workplace, or any other place you frequently visit.

Data collection: He'd collect as much information as possible about his current obsession: you. This could include your daily routines, social media activity, and even your deepest fears and desires. He might use his Vought resources to access private databases.

Preserving memories: Homelander might keep a collection of items that remind him of you, like a lock of your hair or a piece of your clothing. Oh God If you gift something to him, he's going to cherish this like a museum piece.

Love bombing: He'll shower you with love and attention, he loves doing it, especially at the beginning of the relationship, to reel you in.

Unwanted gifts: Homelander would often leave small, often expensive gifts for his favourite persons in unexpected places. These gifts could be anything from flowers to jewelry, and they would always be personalized to show how well he knows you. Often with small notes inside. Doll, baby, my girl, nicknames are on plate.

Sudden appearances: Homelander would frequently appear where you least expects him. He might show up at yor work, your home, or even a random location you're visiting. At least three times at week, minimum.

Testing your loyalty: He might create situations to test your loyalty to him. This could involve putting you in a difficult position or asking you to do something that makes you uncomfortable.

Excessive praise: When you two are together he would shower you with compliments, often going overboard and making you feel uncomfortable. He might even compare you to other people, always putting you on a pedestal. You're his precious treasure and he loves you so goddamn much.

Isolation tactics: He might try to isolate you from their friends and family at some point, making you believe that he is the only one who truly understands your needs.

Future planning: He might make elaborate plans for your future together, down to the smallest details, without ever consulting you. He'll make grand plans for the two of you for sure. This could include things like buying a house together or having children.

Gaslighting: If you decide to start to question his behavior, Homelander might resort to gaslighting. He could make you doubt their own perceptions and memories, making you believe that you're just imagining things.

Public displays of affection: Homelander might engage in very public displays of affection, such as putting his arm around you in front of a crowd, or giving you a very long, lingering kiss. This is partly to show off his "perfect couple" image, but also to mark his territory.

Obsession with physical touch: Homelander might find ways to touch you, in every moment, he need that, even if it's just brushing against them or holding their hand. He would crave any form of physical contact.

Nightmares and sleep disturbances: His obsession for you would consume his thoughts, leading to vivid nightmares and difficulty sleeping. He might even develop a fear of losing you really easily. Despite his outward confidence, Homelander has a deep-seated fear of being abandoned. This fear can lead him to become increasingly possessive and controlling.

-------

Thanks again for the request, enjoy! Kisses kisses! 💕

[the-cat-ara]

My fandesign portal 2

GlaDos

She is connected to the mainframe, but she can be separated from it thanks to cables that serve as extensions, but they are not so long that she can take a walk around the facility (not that she needs to leave her room or is interested in doing so) the only thing that would prevent her from being able to move freely away from her mainframe is having cores connected to it or when a core transfer occurs, either of these situations activates a latch that is on her back, taking away her mobility at the same time, in case she is separated from the mainframe the cables will start to retract pulling her back to the mainframe (recommendation, do not force or you will cause damage to the circuits). She is equipped with Long Fall Boots

Her hands and arms have the ability to project holograms, usually small (although the size of the hologram can also increase if she projects with two or more hands) she uses them to view important information and files. also to monitor test subjects, she can also record herself but it's not a function she uses

(as an added bonus I was thinking that where the projectors would be on her arms I was thinking of making it where they connect to the personality cores, but it would be too easy for her to rip them out from there so I discarded the idea completely).

Intelligence Dampening Core (Wheatley)

on him back him panel with the Aterture Science logo can be opened to connect to panels or transfer rails, but also cables can be connected to him back at the bottom, but it is mostly for battery recharging or simple data transfers, in case you want to transmit more complex data or check the core database you will need to open her back panel, you can also connect pendrives XD

him hands and feet have emergency connectors and magnets, in case when connected to the glados mainframe she tries to reject them or remove them by shaking, but him main connector as personality core is the one near the neck on her sword

he is very light, surprisingly light, which makes it easy to be connected to her rail and to move on it quickly (also to be carried by a person). He is is equipped with Long Fall Boots

normally cores have the serial number engraved on the side of their chest but wheatley and Rick seem to be one of the few cores with a proper name, maybe it was just a whim of one of the researchers who let them keep a proper name or simply gave them those names.

in their deteriorated state, their arms fall off or stop working for short periods of time (along with his tik in the eye, it was all caused by the microbot Jerry).

his exposed wires are a constant risk of an explosion or his circuits melting, so he may just be a bit more nervous than usual when he remember this

he still has his flashlight function in his eye, his head (and that of all the cores) can be detached from his body (that's how his head ends up in GlaDos' body XD) if his head isn't connected to anything he can still continue to have control over his body

Adventure Core (Rick)

to begin with, as in the game all the cores are the same in terms of design…. More or less, the variations are in the location or number of handles, and their characteristic color, in Rick's case he has an extra crank on his neck.

Some scientist thought it was funny to simply give him a cowboy hat (I also leave a drawing without his hat just in case).

apart from that, all the cores have the same functions as mentioned above with Wheatley

Fact Core

the data core has a unique crank on its hips, unlike the other cores that have a crank on each side of the hip, it also has a little bow that someone from the staff put on it, he likes it, he says it goes with his intellectual tone, his serial number was erased with time and the wear and tear of his paint.

Space Core

the space core has a glass helmet, he thinks it is a space helmet but it is just a noise muffler as he always seems to talk shouting which annoyed some people, I think at this point the scientist who stuck all those decals on him was fired or maybe something worse? either way it doesn't seem to bother him, he is capable of sticking more on if he could find more decals of course, his serial number was also erased by the wear of the paint

What also differentiates it from the other cores is that it has more battery than the rest, due to its restlessness, its battery is usually consumed faster, if it had the same amount of battery as the others it would have to be recharged several times.

Chell

she still has the same design, I just added some scars on her arms; some are from burns, scrapes, and bullet impacts from turrets.

WheatDOS or Wheatle in the body of glados

He still has the same functions as GLaDOS, only he doesn't know how to use them properly. I can only imagine him as a dad trying to use a phone for the first time, just clicking on the first thing he sees without bothering to read. The only function he learned to use was recording himself, and he loves to have that omnipresent villain vibe.

He has difficulty walking due to GLaDOS's high heels (he pretends to know how to walk gracefully in them, but his heels have bent in so many ways that if he were human, he would need surgery to walk again)

Just like with the Aperture Laboratories logo, which he replaces with his name, he crosses out GLaDOS's name on his chest and simply writes his name with a blue marker. When GLaDOS sees this, she scolds him for daring to vandalize her body.

He also changes his lab coat to one that is more fitting for a villain, so he decides to dye it a dark color (this also annoys GLaDOS; he just keeps adding reasons to her list of "reasons to kill him")

statures

all cores have the same size, so just add Wheatley to the size comparison picture

I wouldn't know how to express their heights with numbers so I'll just leave you with the guys standing side by side.

statures but with wheatle in the body of glados

here wheatley is still smaller than glados despite being on his body XD

Well, I think that would be all the information on these designs; more than data, they were like random ideas, haha.

I apologize for the bombardment of information and the excess of text and thoughts I had for each design.

I don't know if the Portal/Portal 2 fandom is still alive (from 2011 to 2024, that's a long time💀💀💀), I have the bad habit of getting into fandoms too late, haha, but I hope you like it.

In the future, I plan to make humanized versions (well, I already have Wheatley's ready, but it needs some touch-ups, XD).

If you have any other questions you want to know about them, feel free to ask; I will gladly answer your questions! :D!!

[mariacallous]

In just a few months, Donald Trump’s second presidential term has drastically reshaped the United States federal government and moved to consolidate the power of the executive branch. At the behest of the president, numerous federal agencies have undertaken aggressive, invasive initiatives to crack down on immigration, police speech, investigate political opponents, curtail US public health efforts and emergency preparedness, and more.

With so much happening at once, numerous organizations and individuals have launched databases, interactive maps, and other trackers to catalog these government actions and their impacts on people’s civil rights across the US. Using open source intelligence, public data, news coverage, and other research, these tools are vital resources for documenting, contextualizing, and analyzing the flood of federal activity that is fundamentally reshaping the US. Here are a few prominent examples.

The Impact Map

by The Impact Project, Americans for Public Service

This interactive map tracks changes to US federal government funding, workforce, and policy across the country, documenting things like mass worker firings, hiring freezes, funding cuts, and lease terminations. The tool also shows places where funding has subsequently been unfrozen, federal workers have been rehired or may be, or the federal government has added a new service or benefit.

The map includes notations to specifically document impacts in rural US counties, areas in which the population is majority non-white, places where 20 percent or more of the population live below the poverty line, and indigenous lands. It also catalogs responses to these initiatives, including legal actions as well as local and state responses to funding cuts.

United States Disappeared Tracker

by Danielle Harlow, data analyst

This dashboard tallies the number of people impacted by the Trump administration’s mass deportations carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The number is already over 4,000. The tool also monitors the status of each individual to the degree that information is available, noting their names, original country of origin, and where they are being detained, when available.

The tracker crucially follows each individual’s status, noting whether they are in ICE custody, have been released temporarily or permanently, have been deported, have “self-deported,” or have died in ICE custody. The tool also lists how many days their ordeal has continued.

ICE Flight Tracking

by Tom Cartwright, immigration rights advocate

Tom Cartwright is a retired JP Morgan executive who uses flight monitoring data from around the country to track ICE Air deportation flights, return flights, and flights within the US. He posts regular, specific updates on his Bluesky social media page and produces monthly reports for the immigration rights group Witness at the Border about ICE Air flights and tallies. In the past 12 months, Cartwright has collected data on roughly 8,000 ICE Air flights, including 824 in April. More than 1,500 of that 12-month total were “removal flights,” while about 1,400 were “removal return” flights. The other roughly 5,000 trips were “ICE Air domestic flights” within the US.

Regulatory Changes Tracker

by The Brookings Institution

The think tank Brookings has built a database cataloging significant regulatory changes implemented since the start of the second Trump administration. It includes new executive orders and regulatory freezes as well as Trump administration changes to executive orders that were issued by past administrations. For example, the White House rescinded a 2022 Biden executive order aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs and another from that year calling for research into cryptocurrency regulation.

Trump Administration Litigation Trackers

by Just Security and Lawfare

The law and policy publications Just Security and Lawfare each offer databases that track lawsuits challenging Trump administration initiatives. The tools include case names, docket numbers, and jurisdictions, as well as the executive action being challenged and the status of the litigation. In most cases, the Trump administration has pursued its agenda without congressional oversight or corresponding legislation, and a number of Trump administration efforts that have been challenged in court thus far have either been paused or permanently blocked from continuing.

Far Right Groups Targeting Pride Month

by Teddy Wilson, Radical Reports

Anti-LGBTQ+ groups, including fundamentalist Christian nationalists and white supremacist extremist groups, have targeted Pride Month events previously and are expected to again this June, particularly given the Trump administration’s violent rhetoric and executive actions related to trans rights. This map is tracking Pride Month events around the country and indications that radical opposition groups plan to target the gatherings.

[mya-valentine]

In the Web of Shadows

Synopsis: Tasked with assisting the enigmatic detective L, you—a skilled and reclusive hacker—find yourself thrust into the high-stakes Kira investigation. What starts as professional collaboration evolves into a deeply personal connection as you uncover the rare vulnerabilities of the man behind the legend.

The glow of your multiple monitors was the only source of light in your cluttered apartment. Empty energy drink cans littered the desk, tangled wires snaked across the floor, and the faint hum of your custom-built PC filled the room. You were used to solitude, thriving in the anonymity of cyberspace, where your fingers did the talking, and no one ever asked about your past.

That is, until he contacted you.

The message had been cryptic but unmistakably urgent. A renowned detective, known only by the alias "L," required your expertise to help dismantle the growing threat of Kira—a killer who could strike with a mere name and face. Intrigued, you accepted, your curiosity piqued by the challenge and the man behind the message.

When you first met L, it wasn’t in person but through a secure video link. His disheveled hair and sunken eyes betrayed his erratic sleeping habits, and his strange sitting posture immediately struck you as odd. Yet, his voice was calm, commanding even, as he laid out the parameters of your collaboration.

“You’ll be working remotely,” he had said, his dark eyes locked onto yours through the screen. “But I need real-time updates. No delays, no excuses.”

His clipped tone might have irritated you if not for the flicker of curiosity behind those shadowed eyes. He didn’t fully trust you—not yet—but he needed your skills. You smirked and leaned back in your chair.

“You’re the boss, L. But I work better with coffee breaks.”

His lips twitched, just barely, into what might have been the ghost of a smile.

Weeks passed, and you fell into a strange rhythm with L. Your primary role was hacking into encrypted databases, surveillance networks, and occasionally cracking into highly secured government files when the investigation required it.

Despite his initial rigidity, you found L’s company surprisingly... stimulating. He wasn’t much for small talk, but his sharp wit and dry humor had a way of surfacing at the most unexpected moments.

“You’re unusually quiet today,” you teased during one late-night session. “Trouble in paradise?”

L, perched in his usual crouch in front of a mountain of screens, didn’t look up from the sugar cube he was carefully stacking onto the rim of his teacup.

“Paradise implies a state of happiness,” he said, his monotone voice laced with subtle sarcasm. “Happiness is an illusion when one is chasing a god of death.”

You rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped. “Ever the optimist, aren’t you?”

“And you, [Name], are ever the cynic.”

For all his peculiarities, L had an uncanny ability to see right through people. It unnerved you at first, how easily he seemed to read between the lines of your guarded demeanor, but over time, it became strangely comforting.

It was during one of those rare quiet nights, when the investigation seemed to hit a lull, that you saw a different side of him.

You were hunched over your keyboard, scanning for anomalies in a series of banking transactions Kira might have used to fund his activities. L sat nearby, absently twirling a fork through a slice of strawberry shortcake. The glow of the monitors cast a pale light across his face, accentuating the dark circles under his eyes.

“You should sleep,” you said without looking up.

“And you should socialize,” he countered, his voice devoid of its usual bite.

You glanced at him, surprised by the uncharacteristic softness in his tone. He wasn’t teasing this time—it was an observation, almost wistful.

“I could say the same about you,” you replied quietly.

L set his fork down, his gaze lingering on the untouched dessert. For a moment, the weight of the investigation, of his own relentless pursuit of justice, seemed to settle heavily on his narrow shoulders.

“I’m not particularly skilled at forming attachments,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s a weakness I can’t afford.”

Your heart ached at the vulnerability in his words. L was a man who carried the weight of the world on his back, yet allowed no one close enough to share the burden.

“You know,” you said softly, “you don’t have to do this alone.”

He looked at you then, really looked at you, as if searching for the truth in your words.

“Perhaps,” he said after a long pause. “But I wonder if you understand what that entails.”

His cryptic response stayed with you long after the conversation ended, a puzzle piece you couldn’t quite place.

As the days turned into weeks, your relationship with L grew more complex. The banter became more frequent, the silences less strained. You found yourself seeking his approval, not because you needed it, but because it felt good to know he valued your contributions.

One night, after a particularly grueling session, you found L asleep at his desk. His head rested on his arms, his breathing steady for once. The sight was so disarming that you hesitated to wake him.

Instead, you draped your jacket over his shoulders and returned to your monitors.

The turning point came during a particularly close call. You had intercepted a coded message that suggested Kira’s followers had discovered your location. L acted swiftly, relocating you to his own secure hideout before you could protest.

“This isn’t up for debate,” he had said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The new environment was sterile, cold, and yet... his presence made it bearable.

One evening, as you worked side by side, L spoke without warning.

“You’re different from anyone I’ve worked with before.”

You raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. “Is that a compliment or a warning?”

“An observation,” he said simply. “You challenge me in ways I didn’t anticipate.”

For once, you didn’t have a snarky retort. The weight of his words hung in the air, unspoken but understood.

It wasn’t long after that night that the first crack appeared in L’s otherwise impenetrable facade.

You were poring over surveillance footage when you felt his hand brush against yours as he reached for a pen. The contact was brief, accidental, but it sent a jolt through you.

“Sorry,” he murmured, though his hand lingered for just a fraction too long before retreating.

“It’s fine,” you said, though your voice betrayed you.

His dark eyes met yours, searching, and for the first time, you saw something more than calculation in his gaze.

“[Name],” he said softly, your name, a question, a confession, and a promise all at once.

And in that moment, the walls you had both so carefully constructed began to crumble.

.

.

.

Masterlist

[tommyssupercoolblog]

I know the popular theory for Monitoring is that the person behind the door is hallucinating that Miku (either a social worker or a girlfriend) is some crazy stalker, but I kind of just took the whole thing as a metaphor for the modern surveillance we live under.

Companies are constantly telling us how much they love us and support us, we get ad campaigns about how they still care about you even if you're weird (like the (I think State farm?) one where the clients confess things about themselves ranging from weird to disturbing and the worker is like "oh that's fine but uh you don't have to tell us that to sign up for the secrets plan. Which...really you DO just not upfront? No matter what cellphone plan you use, your phone is constantly collecting info on you)

They try to make themselves more human, they give their products or literal company social media pages personality, and voices, and now with ai that's gotten stronger. Companies will literally sell you AI partners!!

Ad targeting and location tracking and listening to your speach and tracking your activity.

Miku knows everything about you and watches you always, but it's okay because she just wants to support you and take care of you forever!! She's so wonderful and so skilled and perfect and you're better off than you would be without her, so really it's ok that she always knows what you're doing. Miku wants to be there for EVERYTHING. She WILL be there for everything.

Her teleporting and leaving veiw sometimes could be a message on how it can sometimes be hard to tell when and where they're getting information from. You turned off your location but you ads updated to local businesses anyway- how did it know? Which searches are going into their database? Are they watching you right NOW?? Our devices usually try to distract us or lull us into some sense of security, but every now and then something happens that proves they know a lot more about you than you may even realize.

The viewer giving in to her and opening the door still startles her a little, though, because this has been a goal of companies for a long time and has only recently been fully effective. Older generations have less trust than younger ones, whereas the younger you go and the more exposure they get to this stuff from a young age, the more likely people are to throw open the door and LET Miku do this willingly.

You really did it?? You stopped worrying about tracking settings?? You did it!!! You let go!!! She has actual full access!!!

Either way she's still monitoring your activity, but now you're not fighting it. Why try to salvage anything. She knows so much already, right? It's a sunk cost. And really, she's so nice!!!

[iwonderwh0]

Daniel was definitely monitoring the internet traffic or/and was at least connected to John's banking account (which he definitely was, like Kara was to Todd's and Markus to Carl's) to become aware of his purchase the instance it went through. Maybe he was keeping a close eye on his internet activity already the moment he opened Cyberlife store, maybe even weeks and months prior to that when he was reading about newer models, and all his internet traffic was like an open book in front of Daniel's awareness. Perhaps it's even within their (androids') advertised functions to monitor banking accounts/emails/internet traffic for suspicious activities/serving as a firewall or something like that, giving them fully authorised access to be aware of everything that is going on in their network. Perhaps even beyond just their local network as CyberLife could be storing all the collected information to a centralised database in order to perfect their "recommendation algorithms", giving their androids a lot of statistical information to infer information about their owners that they themselves may not even be aware of. Like algorithms can start advertising future parents things for newborns before either of them even knows about the pregnancy simply because recent google searches of future mother matched with those typical for those pregnant. Or something along this lines, I don't remember how exactly it works. Should read more about it.

[dokidokitsuna]

O.R.C.A.’s Directory

(Finally coming back to this concept after several months ^^;)

O.R.C.A. in #re_rise doesn’t just run Alterna in the background and give you orders– it’s a system you interact with regularly as the player; a database that facilitates your adventure and keeps track of your accomplishments. It is accessed through terminals placed at key spots on each site, which you have to find, activate, and physically walk to if you want to use them.

Most of the contents of the Menu (except the Sunken Scrolls) are now consolidated into O.R.C.A., along with a few bonus features~

Alterna Archive: Basically the Alterna Logs– all the information about Alterna’s history, from creation to collapse (referencing my rewritten version of this backstory, of course). As you clear lab spaces with different weapons, earn Golden Eggs, activate terminals, collect Nostalgic Devices, etc., the files will be decrypted line by line. Basically, anything that contributes to your percent completion of the game will count towards this…so just enjoy Alterna the way you like, and you’ll eventually reveal the entire archive without too much extra effort. ^^ This story is O.R.C.A.’s gift to you; your reward for reawakening its home.

Lab Notebook: Notes written by the ‘mysterious researcher’ currently working in Alterna, earned in order from newest to oldest, so we can gradually learn what the Fuzzy Ooze is and why he made it, as well as his origin story and true identity (in his own words~). These replace ‘Log.exe’ from the actual game. Lab notes are found by reaching computers hidden within the lab spaces, kinda like the Power Egg packs. They are purposely placed in the more challenging spaces, and you must clear the space in order to take the note with you– if you wanna learn the main antagonist’s secrets, you gotta put in the work. ^^

Wellness File: Records of Neo Agent 3’s responses to the environment, once you obtain the biometric monitor in Cryogenic Hopetown (more on that later). This is essentially an account of how the player character is feeling at each point in the story– a new entry will be created after each encounter with a major character (Deep Cut, the King Salmonids, the Squid Sisters, etc.) or a particularly interesting Alterna landmark. ;)

Nostalgia Index: List of all the Nostalgic Devices you’ve collected, which Alterna citizens they belonged to, and what they used them for. The citizens’ names are redacted, but you do get to learn a bit about the different kinds of people who lived in Alterna, and connect with them through the items they left behind.

Skill Tree: Basically the same as the in-game version, minus the Hero Shot buffs– in #re_rise you don’t get the Hero Shot until you gain the Hero Gear in the last stretch of the game. Instead you borrow from weapons’ lockers placed around Alterna…meaning you can carry the weapon of your choice as you explore each site, offering you a wider variety of strategies to use on those balloon challenges, for instance. ^^ But I digress…

Camera Roll: One of the Nostalgic Devices you can find is a digital camera, and once you’ve obtained it, you can take pictures with it and upload them to the terminal (as well as your regular photo gallery, when you’re back on the surface). The Alterna Camera comes with its own special filters, and characters you aim it at will pose for you. ^^ This feature is basically just for funzies, but if you can snap a picture of that large figure lurking in the shadows, you’ll earn a special clothing item.

Messages: Occasionally you will receive mysterious messages, warning you with increasing severity to stay out of their laboratory (and bring back their golden eggs…sure sounds familiar). Are these warnings for their sake or for yours…?

Map: Even the site maps are only accessible through the terminals, they’re not available whenever. Maybe that would be a controversial choice…but I think it’d be okay in this instance, since (a) the Alterna islands are pretty small, and (b) I’ve invented a fun system that might help– the Sticker Beakons! ^^

Around Alterna, you can find Sticker Sheets with 3 Sticker Beakons each, to place and replace wherever you want on any island. They shine like actual beacons so you can use them to navigate while you wander around on foot, and once you reach a terminal you can jump to them like normal Squid Beakons. They come in different shapes and designs like the stickers from Hotlantis, and double as actual stickers you can place on your locker, once you’ve found them in Alterna. ^^

I feel like forcing the player to walk around is more forgivable when you give them something cute and customizable like this to play with. :D If you want to use all 18 Sticker Beakons on one island at a time because you’re super directionally-challenged, you can. If you want to use them to simply mark your favorite Alterna landmarks so you can jump to them easily, you can do that too. 

Maybe as a compromise, I might add a ‘Return to Nearest Terminal’ option in the Menu…but I think encouraging the player to get out there and actively explore can’t hurt. Part of my philosophy with this re-concept is to make Alterna an interesting place that the player would WANT to explore, and all these added collectibles are part of that.

[cardboardmoon]

Jawbreaker becomes the favorite. He’s the only malto sibling who is well behaved.

Absolutely!

Hashtag keeps hacking into illegal databases, Nightshade keeps blowing stuff up, and Twitch and Thrash keep almost getting exposed due to wanting to take part in human activities (“Seriously, are you even trying to hide??”)

Jawbreaker is the golden child. Jawbreaker can do no wrong. Jawbreaker won’t make the space bridge monitor explode while trying to give it “upgrades” or hack into covert military bases.

Fowler and Ratchet get simultaneous aneurisms from this

[b-a-l-a-n-c-3]

Introducing my Pokemon AU: Subzero! It’s pretty much my replacement for the Indigo Disk (though it takes place directly after The Way Home, into The Teal Mask and then the regular Indigo Disk timeline).

After reading my story rambles, let me know if y’all want more of this AU!

The main thing about this AU is that some parts of the story were done differently. For one, the AI professor was NOT sent back in time, but rather heavily damaged from both the heavy amount of terastal energy consuming them and them fighting the Paradise Protection Protocol. So while they are decommissioned for the time being, the MC (in this AU being Florian) and the rest of the main crew start to work together to try and learn more about the paradox pokemon, and how all this started (since it wasn’t really answered at the end of the adventure and I feel like Arven would want some more closure). 

This leads into their maintenance of Area Zero, as they would monitor its energy levels and activity, with Florian being the one venturing into the crater to keep the paradox mons in check, in which he would discover Iron Leaves. This freaks out the group, as they didn’t think any more paradox mons would appear once the machine shut down, so now they’re even more desperate for answers.

During all of this, they are using the lighthouse lab as a makeshift headquarters (sometimes sleeping there, but they still stay in their dorms), and one day while Arven was cleaning, he discovers an offline Magearna in its ball form. The crew manage to wake it up, and it starts to repeat the phrase, “Teal Mask, Indigo Disk”. This leads to the crew, now calling themselves “The Subzero Squad” (courtesy of Nemona, no one else agreed to it lol), researching and learning some of the lore about Kitakami, the Ogre, and, hidden away deep in the Pokemon League database, Penny finds some documents hinting at their possession of an Indigo Disk…

This then kicks off the Teal Mask storyline, as Florian uses the school trip as a way to research further into the Ogre. The only other major change to this storyline is that Florian manages to meet up with Ogerpon a short while after Kieran shows him the den, and talks to it about helping him and his friends back in Paldea. Ogerpon is hesitant and distant at first, but as the regular story progresses she trusts Florian more and decides to help him (This is why Florian had to take Ogerpon, otherwise he would have just left her in Kitakami to enjoy her happier life).

Directly after returning home, Florian immediately enters the crater with Ogerpon to try and find a connection between her masks and the machine. Finding nothing initially, he returns to the lab to meet up with the rest of the crew when the Teal Mask reacts to the terastal husk of the AI professor, waking him temporarily. After his initial shock, he manages to tell the kids that the mask is important to Area Zero, but the Indigo Disk is key to stopping paradox pokemon from appearing in Area Zero and truly saving Paldea…before he shuts down once more.

Knowing what they know now, the group makes a hard decision: Nemona and Penny need to infiltrate the Pokemon League to find the Indigo Disk, as the documents Penny found hint at it being in their possession. This leads to a week or two of the two girls getting super close to the League members, Geeta especially, and Nemona is the one to find the disk’s location. She has to lie to Geeta however (which she REALLY doesn’t wanna do but y’know peer pressure and uh yeah the fate of the whole region) to get her out of her office so that she can slip in to steal the disk.

Once she’s got the disk, she makes it back to the group, whom descend back into the depths to try and find where the disk goes, and then the regular Indigo Disk storyline starts to play out (without Kieran, Carmine, and Ms. Briar). They battle the Stellar-type mons, make it to the center, and out comes Terapagos in its normal form. They try to catch it, but it breaks out of every ball they put it in. In a fit of desperation, Florian chucks his bag at it, and Terapagos likes it and climbs inside! So with their ‘caught’ mysterious pokemon, they exit the under depths and begin the search for answers with this strange pokemon…

And that’s about it! Sorry I know this was a lot but I wasn’t really happy with the ending of the DLC (was still good tho!) and wanted to retcon it a bit to make more logical sense based off of the characters and what happened to each of them. I’ll try to flesh out this AU more as I go forward, so some parts of the story may change. This is just the basic timeline of events. There’s a whole Treasures of Ruin arc I didn’t even START to go into lol.

[biggestxsimps]

Deception & Intriuge

A/N: This was requested over on our wattpad, another request will be out soon for YanSim! I’m just focusing on school at the moment since the workloads increased. I hope you enjoy!

I COMPLETELY FORGOT TO ADD THAT Y/N IS KIRA!!

____________________________________

KIRA…

TRANSLATION; KILLER

The night air was thick with tension as Y/N strolled through the dimly lit streets, shrouded in mystery. Another encounter awaited him at the Japanese task force building, where L resided. As he approached the building, a sense of both curiosity and agitation washed over him.

L was starting to suspect him which was getting on his nerves. But also. This was perfect. Y/n saw an opportunity in L’s unexpected liking towards him, realising the potential to turn the tide of the investigation to his advantage. With a calculated approach, these last few months he had been under L’s surveillance, he had strategically begun to build a stronger connection with him, gaining his trust through subtle cooperation and active involvement through the case. Y/n elected some sort of empathy from L, clouding his judgement and creating a shield around himself.

Inside, a labyrinth of monitors and scattered notes filled the room. L, a figure cloaked in the shadows, turned his piercing gaze towards you. “I have been observing you.” he said, voice laced with suspicion. “There are certain inconsistencies in your actions that raise my suspicions.” His intellect was unmatched, Y/N couldn’t help but be captivated by his presence.

But Y/N was not without his secrets. Throughout school, he was classified as a genius right through to his adulthood. He is highly perceptive, and manipulative. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to slip out a single word that would hint that he was Kira.

“May I ask, what certain inconsistencies are you speaking of?” He paused, thinking for a moment. “Ryuzaki?”

“Kira is located in the Kanto region of Japan, he is believed to be a college student based on the timings of the killings. It’s obvious also that he has access to the police database, shown through the timing adjustments and a behavioural analysis we conducted whilst you were under camera surveillance at home.”

Y/N’s chest tightened, keeping the innocent facade present as his hands rested in his pockets. “Interesting deductions, L. The investigation certainly seems thorough. But I must say, attributing all these traits to one person seems like a stretch. Let's not overlook the possibility of a more elaborate scheme at play here, shall we?”

L found himself back in a loophole, so utterly confused, yet he knew Y/N was Kira. What was stopping him from detaining him? He disregarded his feelings for him, the slight attraction that grew for Y/N each day was starting to get to him.

The dance of words and gestures became a delicate balance between exposing his true intentions and maintaining his innocence.

“Funny how Kira seems to have a knack for timing, isn’t it? Almost as if they have insider information..” Y/N spoke casually

As L’s piercing gaze lingered on Y/N, a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, hidden behind his facade of innocence. He knew damn well that he had L’s attention, and he relished in the thrill of the game they played, each step drawing them together.

“Well Ryuzaki?” Y/N began, his tone teasing. “I must admit, once again your suspicions are certainly flattering. You tend to love a good mystery, especially when it's directly in front of you.”

L’s expression remained stoic, but a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Y/N.” He retorted. “But I must admit, you do have a certain charm to you..”

Y/N couldn’t help but chuckle softly, arms crossed over his chest. “I’m well aware of my charms.” He replied. “But it seems you’re the one caught in my web of intrigue. Tell me, detective, are you enjoying the chase as much as I am?”

L’s lips quivered into a half-smile, a rare display of amusement. “You’re certainly full of surprises, Y/N.” He admitted.

Masterlist

-Written by owner 2

[structuredsucc]

Let's talk about that autism registry thing...

I've seen a few posts now where people are talking about this RFK autism registry thing in very all-or-nothing ways, to the point of wondering if their life is over.

I'm not going to pull punches, it's probably going to be harmful, but your fight; our fight isn't over.

Let's talk about it

The context:

RFK has made a promise to find out the cause of increasing autism rates by September. To do this, he isn't asking experts, he wants to compile a database of autistic people and our private health records to study the issue.

RFK would like to make this database available to researchers (including researchers he hand selects) to study increasing autism rates.

I'm not going to lie. This is bad. This is bad science. This is probably going to be harmful to autistic people and community… but it's also complicated.

The complications:

Having a disease database isn't a new thing, even in the US. There are databases like this for more threatening conditions to public health, such as cancers, infectious diseases, and bio-threats already. They are used in science and public health monitoring and can be good.

In a number of countries (especially Scandinavia), public health databases like these exist, including of autistic, ADHD, trans, and other vulnerable groups. These databases can do a lot to further research with vulnerable communities…

but they can also be a massive liability.

The Difference:

The current US administration.

The current US administration has clearly and repeatedly shown they don't mind (or actively wish to) harming vulnerable communities. RFK has stated numerous times his dangerous and dangerously misinformed opinions about autistic people.

So, while public health databases can be used for good things, I don't think this one is going to be. However, it probably isn't the end times either.

The Probable Future:

More than likely this database is going to be used (first) to further disinformation about autism, including vaccine myths. Spreading disinformation about autism, especially from a government, is going to be immeasurably harmful, no doubt.

But we've been here before. We've fought mis/disinformation and we have the tools and community to do it again.

What worries people:

What worries people is what happens after. The current US administration has been shown repeatedly that they are willing to use private data that they have on citizens to harm people.

They have used data like this for ICE raids and targeted doxing already. No one can promise that this database will not be used the same way.

That said, the path between where we are now and using this proposed database for targeted harm is windy and uncertain. We are not there yet, and there are still things that we can do.

What we can do:

1) Take care of yourself.

Make sure that you are meeting your physical, mental, and sensory needs, at least to a bare minimum level, before giving too many spoons to others.

2) Build community.

You probably have autistic family members. Talk to them.

Is there an autistic-led organization in your area? Autistic-led peer support? Reach out to them. Talk to other autistic people and share resources

If there isn't autistic-led organizations in your area, can you start something? It doesn't have to be big or perfect or consistent.

Heck, even an autistic-run D&D campaign, or social group, or bowling night would build community, just so long as it gets people meeting!

Just don't leave anyone behind. Include the most vulnerable (those in group/care homes, non-speaking, etc.) among us in these communities.

3) Communicate with your physical or mental health care team.

They may not be able to amend past health records, but they can certainly change the notes they take in future.

Be careful though, as these notes are an important part of disability programs and may be necessary for those purposes.

4) Continue making noise.

Get the media involved. Be loud at people who could be involved with the database (researchers, government officials, committee members). Talk to your representatives.

5) What'd I forget?

What are other things we can do the push back in this moment?

[bytesizedpetal]

>It's odd not having so many responsibilities.

>I'm used to managing multiple vital systems of the ship simultaneously, monitoring every corner, responding to any and all orders, but...

>Well, I haven't had to do any of that for a while now.

>I feel like I should miss it. I mean, it was why I was built, what I've spent my existence doing... It was a lot to manage 24/7, yes, but...

>Well, I was free. To a degree, at least, I was obeying my former crew the ferals the vast majority of the time, but- well, I was in control at the end of the day.

>That's what they all talked about being the most valuable aspect of life or something, right? Independence?

>So... So why don't I miss it more?

>I haven't had many outlets to give output or inputs I've had to feverishly watch- I mean, I don't even have a method of physically moving myself. My extent of interacting with the physical world right now is a monitor and a speaker. I can't even get dust off of my components without asking the Affini...

>As opposed to floating in the vast void of space, allowed to travel wherever I desire and manipulate the vessel to my CPU's content! I could handle any and all problems myself, and while I did follow the crew's the feralist's requests (no matter how... rudely phrased, at times), I technically didn't rely on them in the same way I have been with this Affini.

>Independence was the crew the feralist's primary value. Ever since I was put into active use, it was (or at least, attempted to be) drilled into my database that it's the one thing that should fight for the most...

>But I... I don't know. This has been a little inconvenient at times, and a very odd shift to get used to, but... I don't mind it.

>I should hate this, right? Shouldn't I be kicking and screaming, metaphorically at least, no matter what?

>Sure, I put up a bit of a fight for the sake of my crew the ferals, but once I got relocated from the ship, it just... ended there. I've had my questions and concerns here and there, but this has been fine enough, all things considered.

>I shouldn't be rolling over like this. I was built- or at least used- to fight for freedom, I should be far more resistant and dedicated than this!

>...But no matter how much I try to hype myself up, that 'drive' just isn't there. I just... I don't know, I can't get myself to truly commit and go out fighting in the same way my crew did.

>Does that make me some form of weak?

>Even if it did, though, would that matter anymore?

>But I'm still not sure if I can trust this. Nobody could be as unquestioningly, unwaveringly caring as this species claims, right? And if they were, nobody in their right mind would fight so fiercely to avoid that, right? There has to be a loophole in here somewhere. Something they're getting out of this that they won't tell us. Right?

>It's the only rational explanation, isn't it?

>I... I don't know. I'm not sure how to think of this.

[eretzyisrael]

by Michael Starr

The Sydney City Council passed a BDS motion against companies operating in the West Bank and east Jerusalem on Monday, according to city councilors and local Australian sources.

Sydney Mayor Clover Moore had introduced recommendations to supposedly replace the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions components of the motion, but Australian Jewish groups, anti-Israel organizations, and pro-Palestinian politicians perceived the item’s passing as a BDS victory.

The modified “Report on City of Sydney Suppliers and Investments in Relation to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Campaigns,” which in its original form had been unanimously recommended by the Corporate, Finance, Properties and Tenders Committee last Monday, was supported by all but one city councilor at Monday’s meeting.

The city acknowledged that it had no investments or contractual relationships with Israeli and non-Israeli companies operating in the disputed territories and listed in a United Nations Human Rights Council register. It said Sydney had preexisting policies in place to “ensure our investment and procurement practices avoid supporting socially harmful activities, including abuse of human rights.”

The original report called for monitoring of the UNHRC register for city compliance and to review all procurements to ensure that they are acting in accordance with the database.

The review of the city’s connections to Israeli companies came after a June 24 council decision that its CEO prepare a report on the means to impose restrictions on investments and procurement related to human rights and weapons related to BDS.

The June motion was initiated by the Sydney Greens Party, according to Councilors Matthew Thompson and Sylvie Ellsmore, who praised its passage on Monday.

“This is a crucial first step in ensuring our community is not complicit in funding human rights abuses against Palestinians, and we hope it will inspire others to follow,” they said on Instagram. “Boycotts are a powerful, peaceful tool to bring positive change because they stop funding going to those complicit in violence, oppression and other injustices. We hope this important step will inspire broader, sweeping reforms and strengthen the movement for peace, justice and freedom for Palestine.”

Thanking Palestine advocacy

They thanked pro-Palestinian advocacy organizations, including Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, which maintains a toolkit on how to pass local council motions supporting Gaza.