#fossil cake

[creativecake]

[hailthedragonmaster]

made the dino cakes from fossil fighters!

[its-dean]

Dr. Diggins finally got his Dino Cakes

[exasperatedoctopus]

Animated Megatron’s god-tier Yes-And game slays me every time. No wonder this guy has successfully Warlord-ed his way through millenia, literally anything can happen to him and he just spin-doctor’s his way to victory

[drhoz]

#2496 - Fellaster zelandiae - Snapper Biscuit

AKA Cake Urchin.

Fellaster zelandiae is and was endemic to Aotearoa - the other species, incisa, was found in Australian waters.

Sand dollars (also known as sea cookies, sea biscuits, or pansy shells) are flat, burrowing sea urchins in the order Clypeasteroida. They first evolved from other irregular echinoids in the Jurassic, and live in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, using their velvety spines to burrow through soft sediments, feeding on algae and organic matter. Some species prop themselves up sideways to feed on passing plankton.

Unlike most echinoids, sand dollars have developed a secondarily bilateral symmetry, including an anus towards the rear of the animal instead of centrally on top, as part of their evolution into burrowing animals.

Some sand dollar larvae have been shown to clone themselves if they detect the mucus of predatory fish in the water.

Whanganui Regional Museum, New Zealand

[fossilcookie]

All my Pride Fankids, Merry Pride Month from your local straight

[cupcakedex]

Cradily Great Ball cake by chocolate_coated_labrador!

[boo-the-ghost-is-a-host]

beautiful

fossil record patisserie

[jcmarchi]

Legacy Software Modernization Services: Key Steps & Strategies - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/legacy-software-modernization-services-key-steps-strategies-technology-org/

Legacy Software Modernization Services: Key Steps & Strategies - Technology Org

Ever felt like your old software is like that vintage car in the garage that looks cool but sputters every time you rev it up? That’s where we step in with our software product modernization services. It’s all about giving that old clunker a turbocharged engine and a shiny new paint job to keep it zooming on the information superhighway. And who does this with a wizard’s touch? Sombra, that’s who!

Software testing, code development – illustrative photo. Image credit: Danial Igdery via Unsplash, free license

Now, here’s the tea: about 90% of businesses are stuck in the digital Stone Age ’cause their tech is older than the fossils in a museum. And guess what? Over half the big-shot IT bosses are pulling their hair out because they can’t keep up with the cool kids on the digital block—all thanks to their ancient tech.

But hold your horses, ’cause modernizing isn’t just some walk in the park. It’s a major makeover. We’re talking serious TLC, but when it’s done right, you’re looking at slicing costs like a hot knife through butter, getting more customers, and leaving your rivals eating your dust.

So what’s this modernizing mumbo jumbo? Picture this: you’ve got an old app that’s about as slow as molasses. Legacy app modernization is like hooking it up to a rocket. We might tweak the code, move it to a swankier platform, or sprinkle in some new features that’ll make users grin from ear to ear.

Why should you care? Because clunky old software is about as helpful as a screen door on a submarine. It costs a fortune to keep running, and adding new bells and whistles is like trying to teach an old dog to text. With Sombra’s magic, you can shake off those old software blues and keep pace with today’s tech without tossing out all the good stuff you already have.

Let’s talk about the perks:

Maintenance? Piece of cake.

Old-school software is like a block of concrete—change one part, and you’ve got to redo the whole darn thing. We slice it into neat, manageable pieces that are a cinch to update. Think LEGO, not concrete.

Security that’s tighter than Fort Knox.

If you’re using software that’s as secure as a tent, you’re basically inviting hackers to a picnic. With our help, you’ll sleep like a baby knowing your data’s as safe as in mama’s arms.

Integration is so smooth, it’s like butter.

Our modernization mix means new tech plays nice with the old. It’s like making friends at a new school on the very first day.

Now, don’t just take our word for it. The numbers talk: boosting customer happiness is the big cheese for nearly half of the businesses who’ve jumped on the modernization train. And only a measly 1% said, “Nah, didn’t do much for us.”

If you’re all in, here’s the game plan in five easy-peasy steps:

Architecture Audit:

Think of it as a thorough check-up under your software’s hood.

Code Audit:

It’s like combing through your code with a fine-toothed comb to catch any gremlins lurking in there.

Refactoring:

This is like Marie Kondo-ing your code—it sparks joy by making it neat and tidy.

Performance Testing:

We put your software on a treadmill to see how much it can handle before it huffs and puffs.

Quality Assurance:

Last but not least, we’re all about that QA. It’s like having a guardian angel that ensures everything’s working like a dream.

So, there you have it. With Sombra’s software product modernization services, it’s like hitting the refresh button on your tired old software. And when it comes to staying ahead of the game, we’re not just playing— we’re changing it. Ready to join the party?

[kezibun]

Add the new story of seasons to this list and it was the best Direct Ever!!!

This is the only Nintendo direct ever

[hxzbinwrites]

Hi! I just saw that requests are open, yeah!! I'd like to request an Alastor x fem!Reader where Vox has a crush on her so he sends her a set of different tea flavor as a gift. The problem is that these contain a drug that inhibits the person (thanks, Valentino). Basically, his plan was to wait for her to drink the tea and then show up at the hotel and seduce her so he could have her for himself (my boy thinks she loves him, lol). The problem is that she had graciously offered the tea to Alastor, who drinks it. Vox asks her if she enjoyed the tea she lies saying it was delicious so he immediately shows up at the hotel but ends up finding Alastor who is being super affectionate with her, revealing his true feelings for her. Eventually Alastor attacks Vox as soon as he sees him forcing the other to flee. Fluff and comedy, basically. xD

Alastor x Fem! Reader x Vox | Tea Time Troubles

Warnings ⚠️:  Cussing, drugs, controlling and manipulative Vox, out of character Alastor.

"I dunno 'bout this Voxxy" Valentino said, handing him a baggie of the drug, a weak aphrodisiac lining the walls of the bag.

"Don't worry about me Valentino, I'll be fine" Vox reassured him, holding the bag up to his screened face. He smirked deviously as he put his hands behind his back.

"But you tell me all the time 'bout 'public image' and all that shit." Valentino retorted, crossing his lower arms against his stomach.

"Don't you worry your pretty little face about it Honey" Vox sneered, rubbing his cheek in a falsely affectionate way. "Vox is a big boy and can handle himself. I just gotta put this into some tea bags. (Y/n) WILL be MINE."

"Ugh" The moth groaned, taking a puff of his cigar,"She's not even worth it. She hangs out with radio, fossil trash. If she was good shed know who to choose. Besides, I'm better than she is, right?"

"You're wrong." Vox said, his left eye radiating hypnotizing waves out of anger,"(Y/n) is perfect. She's everything, and she will be mine."

Vox's demonic laughter could be heard across the building, sending chills down anyone who heard it's spine.

--------

"Honey!!" (Y/n) exclaimed, holding up the box of tea that arrived at their house,"Your tea shipment came!"

Alastor, who was reading the paper at the kitchen table, looked over to see his dear (Y/n) carrying two large cardboard boxes.

He teleported over, making his shadows place them atop of the counter. His keen eyes narrowed at the second box, seemingly almost identical to the first one.

"How peculiar!" Alastor said, tapping his cane on the second box, almost poking it as if it was a foreign object.

"What's peculiar about it?" The fellow deer demon asked, peering over at the box her partner was so intrigued by.

"I did not order two shipments of tea from the catalogue this month!" He replied, his smile tightening in irritation. Could someone be trying to plant something in this hotel? Trying to hurt any of his friends, his beloved, or him?

"Maybe it's a promo box?" (Y/n) suggested,"I mean, you are a loyal customer of theirs. Maybe they want you to try a new product, I hear that's the new rage."

"Ah" Alastor replied, walking closer to the counter to rip open the second box to be met with a letter and a large box of tea.

"Thank you for your loyalty Mr. Alastor. We're reaching out to our most loyal customers to give this Promo box to! We're asking that you try our newest flavor, a (your favorite flavor) but with a twist! Despite the erratic sounds at night in Hell, this tea should help you fall right asleep! If you enjoy it, please promote so on your beloved Radio Show!"

"I was right!" The doe said, looking up at her partner,"They must've given it to you because they know you're famous and can promote their tea! Very smart people, I wanna try one tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow? Why not today my doe?" Alastor said, looking down at his partner.

"My stomach isn't feeling the best. Charlie's cake wasn't fully cooked through, but I didn't want to be rude and not eat it. Especially because no one else was!"

Alastor chuckled, petting her sensitive ears. "Now now (Y/n), you should've listened to me! I know all!"

"Al..." She said, batting her eyes up at him,"Do you mind trying it for me? I wanna know if it's good, but I don't want to throw up in my sleep!"

"Why should I?" He inquired, smirking down at (Y/n). "It seems like this predicament could've been easily avoided my little doe! Hahaha!"

"Please" She softly asked, smiling at him back.

"I suppose I can try one cup of it." He said, sitting down at the table, fully expecting (Y/n) to make him the cup as he finished reading his paper.

She giggled at him and began to start the kettle. Moments like these can't be replaced, a docile and homey moment between the two of them. (Y/n) loved seeing this side of him. The Alastor side of him, not the Radio Demon.

(Y/n) opened the smaller box that was enclosed in the large one, picking out the first tea bag. She smelled the bag, the fumes of blended herbs wafting in her nostrils. It smelled lovely, she would've to drink one alongside Alastor.

But she held back on picking up another bag, knowing its sleeping effects. (Y/n) really didn't want to throw up while in her sleep, and potentially on Alastor, who would be as knocked out as her.

Sighing, she finished preparing the tea, pouring it in Alastor's favorite teacups, the one (Y/n) gifted him on their second anniversary many years ago.

She walked back over to him, placing the teacup on his saucer, putting the sugar cube in as well.

"Thank you dearest" Alastor said, his eyes skimming over the newspaper,"I shall be in our room in a moment, why don't you go ahead and get in your nightwear?"

"Alrighty" (Y/n) replied, patting the back of Alastor's chair. That was something the two of them did, (Y/n) knew when to touch Alastor and when to not. Still wanting to show him affection, she'll pat an object close to him.

Alastor gave her a soft smile before returning his focus to the newspaper.

The doe walked up the stairs in the hotel to their shared room. She got in her fluffy pajamas, completed each and every step to her skincare routine, and crawled into bed with a book.

The silence was only broken by the occasional turn of a page, this was (Y/n)‘s daily quiet time, as Alastor liked to read the paper before turning in for the night.

This normally is for about an hour, but tonight it was a mere 30 minutes as the door busted open.

The doe yelped, her skittish nature causing her to flinch at the sudden jolt of noise. Her partner flittered into the room before crawling on top of her, his eyes droopy from the affect.

“Hi sugar” He said, burying his face in the crook of her neck. His ears were pressed against his head as he affectionately nuzzled (Y/n). Alastor grabbed her waist and flipped her on top of him, allowing him to bring her closer to his body, her chest atop of his.

“Al-Alastor?!” (Y/n) exclaimed, tensing up. What has gotten into him!? He’s not one to ever make such…bold advances.

“Oh my love” He said, a dreamy lilt in his voice,”you’re just perfection incarnate. Such a lovely little fawn you are.”

Blushing heavily, she let him rest himself on her, snuggling contently. It was rather peaceful, she did not know where this sudden chance of behavior came from, but it certainly wasn’t the worst by far.

(Y/n)’s ears perked up hearing a notification sound ding from her phone. She slowly grabbed it to check what it was.

Alastor was not very keen on allowing this sort of technology in the house, especially knowing Vox is over all of it. So they made a compromise, he’d take out the camera and microphone and she could have the phone.

Seeing it was a message from Vox, she opened it.

Vox: “Hey sweetheart, I pulled a few strings and got a shipment of some new tea of (your favorite flavor) that was being tested. How did you like it baby?”

(Y/n): Oh, it was good, thanks!

Vox: Just good? You sure sweet stuff? Wasn’t it so good you could just kiss the lips off of the person who got it for you?

(Y/n) sighed, shutting her phone off and curling up with her lover.

“I think that’s a yes!” Vox said, throwing his hands in the air ceremoniously. He quickly put on his best bow tie, in hopes it would get taken off by fingers other than his, and made his way towards the Hazbin Hotel.

————

Vox searched through each room until he found the one you and Alastor shared.

He scowled at the door, seeing a heart with the initials scribed on it “(Y/i) + A”

Pathetic. He could give you so much more than that. He could give you the most advanced technological sign known to mankind just for some silly initials, not some shitty hard with nearly illegible handwriting.

He opened the door, his signature smirk dropping as he saw Alastor, his arch nemesis (in Vox’s eyes) peppering small little kisses all over (Y/n)‘s face, making her giggle.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” Vox yelled, his face was blue-screening.

Alastor took one look at the fellow Overlord and let out a long string of laughter, sitting up as he pulled (Y/n) into his lap.

“Vox?! What are you doing here?!”

“YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE TO DRINK THE TEA!! AND THEN YOU’D BE MINE!!”

Alastor hooked a arm around (Y/n)‘s waist, looking at his opponent across the room.

“This is my doe, my love, and we all know if she would’ve drank the tea, she would’ve always chosen me.”

Lets just say, the power around the Pride Ring went out after that comment.

————

Word Count 1,524

[mebis-art-dump]

For no reason in particular, reminder that:

- Most of hollow knight's world is caked in fossils, to the point that I would unironically consider the possibility that the sand, dirt and gravel we see is actually grinded up fossils eroded by the elements

- Fossilization may or may not occur faster in this world or in Hallownest in particular, as implied in the wanderer's journal entry on the crossroads statues

- Pyritized fossils are fossils formed from pyrite (fool's gold), sometimes also mixed in with other metals such as iron, instead of the more common rock ones. These are metallic and can look golden or metallic looking, just like geo. There's also opalized fossils but that's not relevant here

[littleapocalypsekitten]

Speaking as a Christian (albeit a progressive / universalist / kind of agnostic one), that Living like Christ stuff is very HARD. I mean, the best I can manage is not living like a Republican and being pissed off at the rich all the time, but I know that I do not have the moral courage for the kind of kindness / generosity / love for Humanity that this measure requires, nor do I have Rabbinical training. I like to try, but I understand that I have a very self-interest drive, when it comes down to it.

[amyzworldds]

Part two: Silent Scream - Great Cake Heist

Masterlist

Yn stashes a precious chocolate cake slice in the dorm fridge as her emergency snack. While she’s out with her parents, Hoshi, the group’s snack scavenger, spots it during a late-night fridge raid—ignoring the members warning. Pairing: Seventeen x 14th member Genre: Fluff, Humor

It had been a peaceful few weeks since yn’s dramatic “Offline YN” era ended, and the seventeen's dorm was back to its usual state of controlled chaos. Yn was once again flooding tiktok with DK collabs, spamming weverse with rants like “Seungkwan-oppa stole my hoodie and now it smells like his fancy cologne—send help,” and ordering random junk online (the latest arrival: a pair of slippers shaped like tiger paws). Her life-sized cardboard cutout still stood by the dorm’s front door, a silent sentinel reminding the members of her “greatness”—or so she claimed. Life was good. That is, until the infamous cake incident.

It all started innocently enough. Yn had a habit of stashing snacks around the dorm for “emergencies,” as she called them. One such emergency stash was a slice of chocolate cake she’d shoved into the back of the fridge about a week ago, claiming it was her “hunger savior” for when practice ran late or Mingyu ate all the good stuff (which happened often). Truth be told, she’d forgotten about it—letting it sit there, growing slightly questionable, while she munched on ramen and chips instead. But to yn, that cake was sacred… in theory.

Enter Hoshi, the human vacuum cleaner of seventeen. While yn was away visiting her parents for a weekend, Hoshi, in one of his late-night snack raids, spotted the lonely slice in the fridge. “Ooh, cake!” he’d exclaimed, eyes lighting up like a kid on christmas. The members, sprawled across the living room playing video games, immediately tried to intervene.

“Uh, Hoshi, that’s yn’s,” Jeonghan warned, not even looking up from his phone. “She’ll notice it’s gone. You know how she is about her stuff.”

“Yeah,” Seungkwan piped up, pausing his game. “Remember when I borrowed her earbuds for, like, five minutes and she posted a whole weverse essay about ‘Seungkwan oppa’s betrayal’? Don’t risk it.”

“It’s been in there forever,” Hoshi argued, already pulling the plate out. “She’s not gonna eat it. It’s practically fossilized. I’m doing her a favor!”

“Don’t say we didn’t warn you,” Joshua sighed, shaking his head as Hoshi gleefully shoved a forkful into his mouth. The cake was a little dry, sure, but chocolate was chocolate, and Hoshi wasn’t about to let it go to waste. He polished it off in three bites, licked the plate clean, and tossed it in the sink, grinning like he’d just pulled off a heist. The members exchanged looks but said nothing. They knew the storm was coming—they just didn’t know when.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Fast forward to a week later. Yn was back from her parents’ house, none the wiser about her missing cake. She’d been too busy terrorizing the dorm with her usual antics—blasting audios at 3 a.m., dragging members into yet another dance challenge, and propping her cardboard cutout in random places to “surprise” the members (Woozi nearly had a heart attack when he found it in the bathroom). The cake remained a distant memory… until movie night.

Vernon had recommended some artsy thriller that half the members pretended to understand while the other half (Hoshi included) zoned out. They were all piled into the living room, blankets and popcorn everywhere, with yn snuggled up next to Hoshi on the couch. She had her arm looped through his, clinging to him like a koala as she whispered commentary about how the main character “totally deserved to get caught, look at his dumb hat.” Hoshi, still riding the high of his cake crime going unnoticed, just laughed and patted her head. It was a rare moment of peace between the two—until YN’s stomach growled.

“Ugh, I’m hungry,” she whined, loud enough to make Dino shush her from across the room. “Ooh, I know! I’ll just grab my cake from the fridge. Been saving it for a night like this!” She untangled herself from Hoshi, oblivious to the way every single member’s head snapped toward him in unison.

Hoshi froze, mid-popcorn-chew, his eyes widening to the size of saucers. Seungcheol coughed into his fist. Jeonghan smirked like he was about to watch a live comedy show. DK whispered, “Oh no,” under his breath. Even Vernon, usually chill as a cucumber, paused the movie and muttered, “This is gonna be bad.”

“What?” yn asked, hopping up and heading for the kitchen. “Why’re you all looking at Hoshi oppa like that? Did he fart or something?” She cackled at her own joke, oblivious to the tension, and opened the fridge. “Okay, where’s my cake…?”

Silence. She rummaged around, shoving aside a carton of milk and some leftover protein shakes. “Huh. That’s weird. It was right here…” She straightened up, hands on her hips, and turned back to the living room. Thirteen pairs of eyes were locked on her—twelve of them guilty by association, and one (Hoshi’s) practically screaming for mercy. Then, like a synchronized betrayal, every member slowly pointed at Hoshi.

“HE ATE IT!” Mingyu blurted, throwing Hoshi under the bus without hesitation.

“Last week!” Seungkwan added, grinning wickedly. “We told him not to!”

“Traitors!” Hoshi yelped, flailing his arms. “You guys are the worst!”

Yn’s jaw dropped. She stormed back into the living room, glaring daggers at Hoshi, who shrank into the couch like a scolded puppy. “YOU ATE MY CAKE?!”

“It was old!” he protested, voice cracking. “It’d been in there for, like, a week! I thought you forgot about it!”

“FORGOT?!” yn screeched, throwing her hands up. “That was my emergency cake! My ‘I’m-hungry-at-2-a.m.’ cake! And you just… ate it?! Oh, that’s why you’ve been so nice to me lately—cuddling up during movie night, calling me ‘cute maknae’ yesterday! You were covering your guilty little tiger paws!”

“I’m sorry!” Hoshi wailed, clasping his hands together. “I didn’t think you’d care! It was practically a science experiment!”

“Didn’t think I’d care?!” yn gasped, clutching her chest like she’d been stabbed. “That’s it. We’re done. You’re dead to me, oppa.” She spun on her heel and stomped off, leaving the members snickering behind her. Hoshi buried his face in a pillow and groaned, “Why didn’t you guys stop me harder?!”

“We tried,” Jeonghan said, sipping his tea with a smug grin. “You’re just a cake-greedy idiot.”

--------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, the silent treatment began. Yn refused to look at Hoshi, let alone speak to him. He’d shuffle up to her at breakfast with those big, sad eyes, mumbling, “Yn-ah, I’m really sorry… I’ll buy you a new cake, I swear!” She’d just huff, flip her hair, and walk away. By day three, Hoshi was a mess—trailing after her like a lost kitten, holding out snacks as peace offerings (she took the chips but still ignored him), and whining to the others, “She hates me! I’m the least favorite member now—I used to be number one!”

“You were never number one,” Wonwoo deadpanned, not looking up from his book. “Maybe top ten on a good day.”

“NOT HELPING!” Hoshi wailed, collapsing onto the couch dramatically.

Then yn upped the ante. She dragged her life-sized cardboard cutout from its usual spot by the front door and plopped it right in front of Hoshi. “You wanna talk to me?” she snapped, arms crossed. “Talk to her. She’s the only yn you’re getting right now.” Hoshi stared at the cutout—its blank smile mocking him—and whimpered, “This is worse than the silent treatment.”

By day five, yn had turned it into a full-blown campaign. Every morning, Hoshi would wake up to find the cardboard yn propped against his bedroom door, staring him down. Sometimes she’d tape a note to it, like “Day 4 of you being a cake thief” or “Say hi to your new best friend, traitor.” Once, she even drew angry eyebrows on it with a marker, making it look extra mad. The members couldn’t stop laughing—Seungcheol nearly choked on his coffee when he saw it, and DK filmed Hoshi’s pitiful attempts to apologize to the cutout for future content.

“Please, yn-ah!” Hoshi begged on day six, dropping to his knees in the living room while she scrolled her phone, pretending he didn’t exist. “I’ll buy you a whole bakery! I’ll never touch your food again! I miss you yelling at me!”

She peeked over her phone, smirking. “Oh, now you miss me? Should’ve thought of that before you ate my cake, oppa. Say it to Cardboard yn—she’s still mad too.” She pointed at the cutout, now sporting a tiny paper sign that read “Hoshi = Yn Enemy #1.”

The members lost it. Mingyu wheezed, “She’s pettier than Jeonghan hyung, and that’s saying something!” Jeonghan just nodded approvingly, muttering, “I’ve taught her well.”

--------------------------------------------------------------

The dorm had been a warzone for nearly a week, all thanks to the Great Cake Debacle. Yn, was still icing Hoshi out—literally and figuratively—still stationing her life-sized cardboard cutout outside his door every morning with notes like “Day 5, Still a Cake Criminal” or “Tiger Oppa = Traitor Oppa.” Hoshi, meanwhile, was a walking disaster—moping around like a kicked puppy, whining to anyone who’d listen.

But Hoshi wasn’t one to give up easily, especially when it came to his chaotic little sister-figure. While out on a solo schedule—a dance workshop in the city—he hatched a plan. On his way back, he stopped at a fancy bakery, the kind with glass cases full of desserts so pretty they looked fake. He stood there, tapping his chin like a general strategizing a battle, then pointed dramatically at the counter. “Two cakes,” he declared. “One chocolate—her favorite—and one strawberry, just in case she’s feeling extra picky today.” The baker raised an eyebrow but complied, boxing up the treats with little bows on top.

Hoshi didn’t stop there. He swung by a convenience store and loaded up a bag with all of yn’s go-to snacks: sour gummy worms, a giant bag of spicy chips, and that weird mango-flavored soda she’d once ranted about on weverse for ten minutes “It’s like summer in a can, oppas don’t get it!”. By the time he got back to the dorm, he was lugging two cake boxes and a plastic bag practically bursting at the seams, looking like a man on a mission.

The living room was quiet when he walked in—too quiet. Most of the members were out or napping, leaving only yn sprawled on the couch, scrolling tiktok with her headphones on. Her cardboard cutout stood nearby, still sporting its angry marker-drawn eyebrows and a new sign that read “Hoshi’s Apology Rejected.” Hoshi took a deep breath, dumped his haul on the coffee table, and plopped down right in front of the cutout, ignoring the real YN entirely.

“Hey, cardboard yn,” he said loudly, unpacking the goods with exaggerated flair. “Look what I got! Two whole cakes—chocolate and strawberry. Plus gummies, chips, and that mango soda the real yn’s obsessed with. I was gonna share it with her, but since she’s still ignoring me…” He popped open the soda can with a dramatic fizz, took a loud sip, and smirked at the cutout. “Guess I’ll just eat it all myself. Too bad, huh?”

Yn’s head snapped up from her phone so fast her headphones nearly flew off. “What?!” she squawked, yanking one earbud out. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Oh, I would,” he shot back, grinning like a cheshire cat. He opened the chocolate cake box, grabbed a plastic fork, and scooped up a massive bite, hovering it inches from his mouth. “Mmm, smells so good. Shame the real yn’s too mad to have some. Cardboard yn doesn’t eat, right? More for me!”

“STOP!” yn screeched, launching herself off the couch and tackling him. The fork clattered to the floor as she wrestled the cake box out of his hands, her voice a mix of outrage and laughter. “You can’t just bribe me with cake and snacks, you thief! I’m still mad!”

“Am I a thief if I replaced it?” Hoshi countered, dodging her flailing arms with a cackle. “Two cakes are better than one old, crusty slice! And look—gummies! Soda! I even got the spicy chips you like! I’m the best oppa again, admit it!”

“You’re a sneaky oppa,” she huffed, but her resolve was crumbling. She eyed the chocolate cake, then the gummies, then the soda, her stomach growling loud enough for both of them to hear. “Ugh, fine! But only because I’m hungry, not because I forgive you!”

“Sure, sure,” Hoshi teased, handing her a fork. “Whatever you say, maknae. Dig in before I change my mind and eat it all.”

Within minutes, they were sprawled on the floor, surrounded by open cake boxes and snack wrappers, laughing like nothing had happened. Yn shoved a gummy worm in Hoshi’s face, demanding, “Say ‘Yn is the best maknae ever’ or I’m starting the silent treatment again!” He complied, mumbling through a mouthful of cake, “Yn is the best maknae ever,” only for her to cackle and smear chocolate frosting on his cheek.

The other members trickled in, drawn by the noise, and stopped dead at the sight. “Are they… okay now?” Dino asked, blinking at the sugar-coated chaos.

“Looks like it,” Seungcheol said, shaking his head. “Hoshi finally found the key to her heart: food.”

“Should’ve known,” Jeonghan muttered, smirking. “She’s pettier than me, but cake fixes everything.”

“Hey!” yn shouted, pointing her fork at him. “I heard that, Jeonghan oppa! You’re next on my hit list!”

“Better hide your snacks,” Hoshi stage-whispered, earning a playful shove from yn.

By the end of the night, the cakes were half-eaten, the snacks were demolished, and YN’s cardboard cutout had a new sign taped to it: “Hoshi = Forgiven (For Now).” Hoshi beamed, slinging an arm around yn’s shoulders. “Back to number one status, right?”

“Don’t push it,” she retorted, but she didn’t pull away, already plotting her next tiktok with him. The dorm was noisy again, the cake war was over, and yn's reign of chaos continued—with Hoshi firmly back in her good graces, at least until the next disaster.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

“Carbon neutral” Bitcoin operation founded by coal plant operator wasn’t actually carbon neutral

I'm at DEFCON! TODAY (Aug 9), I'm emceeing the EFF POKER TOURNAMENT (noon at the Horseshoe Poker Room), and appearing on the BRICKED AND ABANDONED panel (5PM, LVCC - L1 - HW1–11–01). TOMORROW (Aug 10), I'm giving a keynote called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE! How hackers can seize the means of computation and build a new, good internet that is hardened against our asshole bosses' insatiable horniness for enshittification" (noon, LVCC - L1 - HW1–11–01).

Water is wet, and a Bitcoin thing turned out to be a scam. Why am I writing about a Bitcoin scam? Two reasons:

I. It's also a climate scam; and

II. The journalists who uncovered it have a unique business-model.

Here's the scam. Terawulf is a publicly traded company that purports to do "green" Bitcoin mining. Now, cryptocurrency mining is one of the most gratuitously climate-wrecking activities we have. Mining Bitcoin is an environmental crime on par with opening a brunch place that only serves Spotted Owl omelets.

Despite Terawulf's claim to be carbon-neutral, it is not. It plugs into the NY power grid and sucks up farcical quantities of energy produced from fossil fuel sources. The company doesn't buy even buy carbon credits (carbon credits are a scam, but buying carbon credits would at least make its crimes nonfraudulent):

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/31/carbon-upsets/#big-tradeoff

Terawulf is a scam from top to bottom. Its NY state permit application promises not to pursue cryptocurrency mining, a thing it was actively trumpeting its plan to do even as it filed that application.

The company has its roots in the very dirtiest kinds of Bitcoin mining. Its top execs (including CEO Paul Prager) were involved with Beowulf Energy LLC, a company that convinced struggling coal plant operators to keep operating in order to fuel Bitcoin mining rigs. There's evidence that top execs at Terawulf, the "carbon neutral" Bitcoin mining op, are also running Beowulf, the coal Bitcoin mining op.

This is a very profitable scam. Prager owns a "small village" in Maryland, with more that 20 structures, including a private gas station for his Ferrari collection (he also has a five bedroom place on Fifth Ave). More than a third of Terawulf's earnings were funneled to Beowulf. Terawulf also leases its facilities from a company that Prager owns 99.9% of, and Terawulf has *showered * that company in its stock.

So here we are, a typical Bitcoin story: scammers lying like hell, wrecking the planet, and getting indecently rich. The guy's even spending his money like an asshole. So far, so normal.

But what's interesting about this story is where it came from: Hunterbrook Media, an investigative news outlet that's funded by a short seller – an investment firm that makes bets that companies' share prices are likely to decline. They stand to make a ton of money if the journalists they hire find fraud in the companies they investigate:

https://hntrbrk.com/terawulf/

It's an amazing source of class disunity among the investment class:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/08/money-talks/#bullshit-walks

As the icing on the cake, Prager and Terawulf are pivoting to AI training. Because of course they are.

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

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/09/terawulf/#hunterbrook