#guard monitoring software

[boaillustration]

The Artisul team was kind enough to send me their Artisul D16 display tablet to review! Timelapse and review can be found under the read more.

I have been using the same model of display tablet for over 10 years now (a Wacom Cintiq 22HD) and feel like I might be set in my ways, so getting the chance to try a different brand of display tablet was also a new experience for me!

The Unboxing 

The tablet arrived in high-quality packaging with enough protection that none of the components get scratched or banged up in the shipping process. I was pleasantly surprised that additionally to the tablet, pen, stand, cables and nibs it also included a smudge guard glove and a pen case. 

The stand is very light-weight and I was at first worried that it would not be able to hold up the tablet safely, but it held up really well. I appreciated that it offered steeper levels of inclination for the tablet, since I have seen plenty other display tablets who don’t offer that level of ergonomics for artists. My only gripe is that you can’t anchor the tablet to the stand. It will rest on the stand and can be easily taken on or off, but that also means that you can bump into it and dislodge it from the stand if you aren’t careful. It would require significant force, but as a cat owner, I know that a scenario like that is more likely than I’d like.

Another thing I noticed is how light the tablet is in comparison to my Cintiq. Granted, my Cintiq is larger (22 inches vs the 15.8 inches of the Artisul D16), but the Artisul D16 comes in at about 1.5kg of weight. While I don’t consider display tablets that require a PC and an outlet to work really portable, it would be a lot easier to move with the Artisul D16 from one space to another. In comparison, my Cintiq weighs in at a proud 8.5kg, making it a chore to move around. I have it hooked up to a monitor stand to be able to move it more easily across my desk.

The Setup

The setup of the tablet was quick as well, with only minor hiccups. The drivers installed quickly and basic setup was done in a matter of minutes. That doesn’t mean it came without issues: the cursor vanished as soon as I hovered over the driver window, making it a guessing game where I would be clicking and the pen calibration refused to work on the tablet screen and instead always defaulted to my regular screen. I ended up using the out of the box pen calibration for my test drawing which worked well enough.

The tablet comes with customizable hot-keys that you can reassign in the driver software. I did not end up using the hot-keys, since I use a Razer Tartarus for all my shortcuts, but I did play around with them to get a feel for them. The zoom wheel had a very satisfying haptic feel to it which I really enjoyed, and as far as I could tell, you can map a lot of shortcuts to the buttons, including with modifier keys like ctrl, shift, alt and the win key. I noticed that there was no option to map numpad keys to these buttons, but I was informed by my stream viewers that very few people have a full size keyboard with a numpad anymore. 

The pen comes with two buttons as well. Unlike the hot-keys on the side of the tablet, these are barely customizable. I was only able to assign mouse clicks to them (right, left, scroll wheel click, etc) and no other hotkeys. I have the alt key mapped to my pen button on my Cintiq, enabling me to color pick with a single click of the pen. The other button is mapped to the tablet menu for easy display switches. Not having this level of customization was a bit of a bummer, but I just ended up mapping the alt key to a new button on my Razer Tartarus and moved on.

The pen had a very similar size to my Wacom pen, but was significantly lighter. It also rattled slightly when shook, but after inspection this was just the buttons clicking against the outer case and no internal issues. The pen is made from one material, a smooth plastic finish. I would have liked for there to be a rubber-like material at the grip like on the Wacom pen for better handling, but it still worked fine without it.

Despite not being able to calibrate the pen for the display tablet, the cursor offset was minimal. It took me a while at the beginning to get used to the slight difference to my current tablet, but it was easy to get used to it and I was able to smoothly ink and color with the tablet. The screen surface was very smooth, reminding me more of an iPad surface. The included smudge guard glove helped mitigate any slipping or sliding this might have caused, enabling me to draw smoothly. Like with the cursor offset, it took me a while to get used to the different pressure sensitivity of the tablet, but I adapted quickly.

So what do I think of it?

Overall, drawing felt different on this tablet, but I can easily see myself getting used to the quirks of the tablet with time. Most of the issues I had were QoL things I am used to from my existing tablet. 

But I think that’s where the most important argument for the tablet comes in: the price.

I love my Cintiq. I can do professional grade work on it and I rebought the same model after my old one got screen issues, I liked it that much. But it also costs more than a 1000 € still, even after being on the market for over 10 years (I bought it for about 1.500 € refurbished in 2014, for reference). The Artisul D16 on the other hand runs you a bit more than 200€. That is a significant price difference! I often get asked by aspiring artists what tools I use and while I am always honest with them, I also preface it by saying that they should not invest in a Cintiq if they are just starting out. They are high quality professional tools and have a price point that reflects that. You do not need these expensive tools to create art. You can get great results on a lot cheaper alternatives! I do this for a living so I can justify paying extra for the QoL upgrades the Cintiq offers me, but I have no illusion that they are an accessible tool for most people. 

I can recommend the Artisul D16 as a beginner screen tablet for people who are just getting into art or want to try a display tablet for once. I wouldn’t give up my Cintiq for it, but I can appreciate the value it offers for the competitive price point. If you want to get an Artisul D16 for yourself, you can click this link to check out their shop!

AMAZON.US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TQLGC81

AMAZON.JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07T6ZT84V

AMAZON.MX: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07T6ZT84V

Once again thank you to the Artisul team for giving me the opportunity to review their display tablet!

[jaeyunluvbot]

midnight fiction

genre/tags 𝟅𝟈 coworkers to lovers, strangers to lovers, coworker!wonbin x fem!reader, fluff, tiny bit of angst

word count 𝟅𝟈

NOT PROOFREAD

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

You sit at your desk, fingers moving deftly across the keyboard as you try to make a dent in the long list of tasks piled up for the day. The to-do list pinned to your monitor catches your eye, each unchecked box causing a pang of stress.

“Y/N!” Your manager’s voice breaks your focus, and you turn to see him walking toward you, his usual “I need you to do something for me” smile plastered across his face.

“Got a second? The new hire’s here—can you give him the tour? Show him the ropes?”

You smile curtly and hold back a deep sigh. “Sure. I’d be happy to.”

“I knew I could count on you!” he says, flashing you a grin before heading off.

You push back from your desk, grabbing the folder he’d dropped on your desk, and mentally preparing yourself. Usually, you love helping people, but your workload is already overwhelming, and your manager adding random tasks constantly certainly doesn’t help.

As you make your way to the lobby, you spot him—Wonbin. He stands near reception, tall and a little stiff in his crisp shirt and tie. His eyes flit around the room, a mix of curiosity and nervousness on his face. Clearly a new hire.

“Wonbin, right?” you call, forcing a friendly smile as you approach.

He turns toward you, and his face lights up. “Yeah, that’s me. You must be Y/N.”

“That’s me,” you reply, extending a hand. “Welcome to the team. I’m here to give you the grand tour.”

“Thanks,” he says, shaking your hand firmly. “I really appreciate it. Sorry to take up your time.”

The sincerity in his voice catches you off guard, but you brush it aside. “No problem. Let’s get started.”

As you lead him through the office, you point out the essentials—the break room, the conference rooms, the kitchen. “We have free coffee here, and snacks, but if you value your life, don’t touch anyone’s lunch in the fridge,” you say with a smirk.

He chuckles, his nervous energy easing a bit. “Good to know. Anything else I should know?”

“Stick with me, and you’ll survive,” you joke, surprising yourself with how easily the words come.

“I’ll hold you to that,” he says, flashing a grin.

By the time the tour ends, you begrudgingly admit he’s not as bad as you’d expected. He’s polite, eager to learn, and genuinely seems to care about getting things right. Still, you’re trapped under a mountain of work, and the extra time you’re spending with him feels like another item on your already endless to-do list.

“Alright,” you say as you stop near his desk. “That should cover the basics. Let me know if you have any questions. I’m just over there.”

“Thanks, Y/N. I’ll try not to bother you too much,” he says with an earnest smile.

You give him a strained smile before heading back to your desk, already trying to refocus on your workload. But something about his tone lingers in your mind—a small, not unpleasant, but still unwelcome distraction.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Weeks later, the two of you have settled into an unspoken rhythm. Wonbin often comes to you for help, and while it cuts into your work time, you can’t bring yourself to turn him away. He’s quick to pick things up and always grateful, which softens your frustration even on the busiest days.

“Alright, for this system,” you say one afternoon, sitting beside him at his desk, “you need to make sure the codes match these formats. If not, you’ll get an error that’ll make you want to quit on the spot.”

He leans closer to your monitor, his face contorted in concentration. “Got it. Match the formats or die.”

“Exactly,” you reply with a chuckle. “Here, give it a try.”

He takes the keyboard, carefully navigating the program. “Like this?”

“Perfect. Just double-check the—”

“Y/N!” Your manager’s voice interrupts again, sharp and expectant.

You swivel in your chair, already bracing yourself for another request. “Yes?”

“The scheduling software is acting up again. Can you fix it? And after that, HR needs help with the training program revisions.”

You plaster on a polite smile, even as irritation prickles beneath your skin. “Sure thing.”

“Great. Thanks!”

As he walks away, you stare blankly at Wonbin’s monitor, overwhelmed by everything you still need to do, plus these new tasks.

“Wow,” Wonbin says softly, breaking the silence.

“What?” you ask, turning back to him.

“Do they always dump this much on you?” he asks, disbelief clear in his voice.

You give him a tired smile. “Pretty much. I’ve got a knack for being reliable, I guess.”

“That’s not fair,” he says, frowning.

“It’s just how it is,” you reply with a shrug, masking your frustration. “Anyway, let’s finish this up so I can deal with that mess.”

Wonbin watches you for a moment, his expression pensive, before nodding and turning back to the screen. As you work together, you try to push your stress aside, but you can’t help but notice the way he looks at you—like he sees right through you.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The buzz of conversation and clinking glasses filled the air as your team settled into a lively bar for the evening. It wasn’t your first choice for how to spend a Friday night, but you’d gone along with it—mostly out of guilt for turning down every other optional team event.

Wonbin, obviously, had found his way to your side the moment you arrived. “First office outing,” he said, holding up his drink with a sheepish smile. “Don’t let me embarrass myself too much.”

“I’ll try,” you said, grinning despite yourself.

The evening kicked off with lighthearted conversations and drinks, but it didn’t take long before someone spotted the karaoke machine in the corner. A cheer rose from the group as a few coworkers rushed to sign up for songs, dragging the less enthusiastic along with them.

“No way I’m singing,” you said, taking another sip of your drink.

“Oh, come on,” Wonbin teased, leaning closer. “You can’t let them have all the fun. Besides, it’s a team thing—bonding, right?”

You gave him a skeptical look. “You’re way too eager for someone who’s been here for like five minutes.”

He laughed. “I’m just trying to fit in. Plus, karaoke’s fun. You should try it.”

You laugh and shake your head furiously, “Singing really isn’t my thing, so no thanks.”

He drops it there and you appreciate him not pressuring you to venture too far outside of your comfort zone.

It didn’t take long for the microphone to find its way to you. Someone had signed you up—likely as a joke—and before you could protest, your coworkers were chanting your name.

“You’ve got this,” Wonbin said, nudging you toward the stage with an encouraging grin.

Reluctantly, you chug the rest of your drink, and made you way to the stage, picking the first familiar song you see, deciding it was better to just get it over with. The music started, and as you sang, you felt your nerves ease. By the end of the song, you were smiling, met with loud applause and cheers from the team.

“Not bad!” Wonbin called out as you returned to your seat, cheeks flushed from the attention.

“Don’t get used to it,” you muttered, though you couldn’t help laughing.

When it was his turn, Wonbin took the stage with the same amount of energy he had at work, a lot. He picked a fast-paced, upbeat song and leaned fully into the performance, complete with exaggerated dance moves that had the entire room doubling over with laughter.

You couldn’t stop smiling as you watched him. He looked so carefree, so genuinely happy, and it was contagious.

You’d never noticed how attractive he actually was, usually too distracted with your work and general disdain for the office environment. You brush the thought off as quickly as it had entered your mind, not needing to add a crush, however small, to your already hectic life.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The outing ended with you and Wonbin leaving together, walking side by side toward the bus station. The streets were quieter now, the buzz of the bar replaced by the soft hum of passing cars and the occasional whooshing of the wind.

“That was… surprisingly fun,” you admitted, glancing at him.

“See? Told you karaoke’s not so bad,” he said, smirking.

You chuckled, shoving your hands into your pockets. “Alright, fine. You win this one. But seriously, you were… something else up there. That dance routine?”

“I aim to entertain,” he said with mock pretentiousness, making you laugh again.

As the laughter faded, you found yourself relaxing in his presence in a way you hadn’t expected. The conversation turned quieter, more genuine, as you opened up about the stress you’d been feeling at work. He listened intently, nodding occasionally, his expression softening.

“You do way too much for that place,” he said finally. “They don’t deserve you.”

His words caught you off guard, and for a moment, you didn’t know how to respond. “It’s just… part of the job,” you said lamely.

“Doesn’t mean it’s fair,” he said, his tone firm. “You deserve a break, Y/N. Or at least someone to help take some of the load off.”

You gave him a small smile, touched by his sincerity and care. “Thanks, Wonbin.”

He shrugged, but his eyes stayed on you, warm and steady. “Anytime.”

You turn away from him, your shoulder gently shoving against his as you resume walking towards the bust stop. Your face feels suddenly a bit warm, but you elect to blame it on the biting wind.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Your surprising new after-work routine had started as a coincidence. One evening after work, you found yourself walking toward the bus station at the same time as Wonbin. The conversation was light, filled with random musings about the day and jokes about a particularly obnoxious coworker who always seemed to have something urgent five minutes before clocking out.

The next day, it happened again. Then the day after that. Before long, it became a routine.

“Okay, so tell me if I’m crazy,” Wonbin said one evening as you both trudged along the quiet sidewalk. His breath puffed in the cold air. “But does Mr. Lee always call for a meeting just to hear himself talk?”

You snorted. “Absolutely. The man loves the sound of his own voice. Did you notice he always asks questions, then interrupts when you answer?”

Wonbin’s laugh rang out, warm and genuine. “Right? It’s like, ‘Why even ask, man?’”

You shook your head, still grinning. “It’s honestly a skill. He could teach a class on how not to communicate.”

“Sign me up,” Wonbin said, mock-serious. “I need to be prepared.”

The conversation flowed effortlessly, the stress of the workday melting away as you teased each other and bonded over shared grievances. It was strange, but comforting—having someone who just got you.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

A few weeks into your routine, the weather took a sharp turn. That day, you’d rushed out the door, forgetting your jacket in your scramble to make it on time. By the time you and Wonbin started your walk to the bus station, the cold had sunk its teeth into you.

“Are you seriously not wearing a jacket?” Wonbin asked, glancing at you as you shivered beside him.

“Forgot it at home,” you admitted, hugging yourself for warmth. “It’s fine. I’ll survive, we’re almost at the bus stop anyways.”

He frowned, stopping in his tracks. Before you could ask why, he shrugged off his own jacket and draped it over your shoulders.

“Wonbin—no, you’ll freeze!” you protested, trying to hand it back.

“Relax,” he said, waving you off. “You’ve helped me so much with work—even though you’re swamped. It’s the least I can do.”

You hesitated, looking at him. “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” he said with a small smile. “I’ll be fine. My bus is quicker, anyway.”

The jacket was warm, carrying the faint scent of his cologne. You pulled it tighter around yourself, your face heating despite the chill. “Thanks,” you mumbled.

He grinned. “Anytime. Just don’t forget it again, or I might start charging you.”

You rolled your eyes, but your heart felt lighter. The walk continued, the silence between you now companionable. You glanced at him, his hands shoved in his pockets against the cold, and a thought you hadn’t dared to entertain before crept into your mind: maybe, just maybe, there was something more here.

It didn’t take long for your routine walks to the bus station to evolve into hanging out outside of work. At first, it was casual—a quick coffee after a long day, or splitting fries at the diner near the office. But soon, those quick moments turned into hours of talking, laughing, and getting to know each other beyond the walls of cubicles and meeting rooms.

One evening, after an especially frustrating day, the two of you sat on a bench at a small park near the bus stop. The air was crisp, and Wonbin had insisted on grabbing hot chocolate, claiming it was the ultimate stress relief. You had to admit, despite the chill, it was helping.

“So,” Wonbin said, leaning back on the bench and licking his cone thoughtfully. “Any progress on that scheduling software you were cursing under your breath all day?”

You groaned. “Don’t remind me. I feel like I aged ten years trying to fix that. Honestly, it’s just one more thing making me wonder if I should stick around here.”

Wonbin turned to you, his brows knitting in confusion. “What do you mean?”

You hesitated, not sure why you felt nervous admitting it. But with him, it was easy to be honest. “I’ve been looking at other jobs,” you said finally. “I don’t know if I want to stay at the company. It’s just… a lot. And I feel like I’m always being forced to work on something way above my paygrade, you know?”

Wonbin stayed quiet for a moment, staring down at his half-melted cone. “Yeah, I get that,” he said softly. “But, selfishly, I think you should stay.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Why’s that?”

He grinned, but there was something in his tone that felt unusually sincere. “Because I’d miss you too much if you left.”

The words hung in the air, catching you off guard. He said it casually, almost like a joke, but the way his eyes lingered on yours told a different story.

You laughed nervously, trying to ease the tension you suddenly felt. “Well, that’s sweet, but I don’t think ‘keeping Wonbin company’ is a valid reason to stay in a job I hate.”

“Hey, it could be a selling point,” he said with a playful smirk. “Think about it: ‘Excellent coworker morale boost included.’”

You rolled your eyes, but the smile tugging at your lips was impossible to hide. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe,” he said, shrugging. “But I mean it. You’ve made this whole thing so much easier for me. I don’t know how I’d survive without you.”

Your heart fluttered, and you quickly looked away, focusing on the streetlights flickering in the distance. “Well, I haven’t decided anything yet,” you said, your voice quieter.

“Good,” he said, nudging your shoulder gently. “Because the office wouldn’t be the same without you. And neither would my life.”

The conversation drifted to other topics, but his words stayed with you long after you’d said goodbye for the night.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

This day had been nothing short of brutal. Deadlines were looming, the to-do list on your desk seemed to grow longer instead of shorter, and your manager had barely acknowledged all the extra work you’d been handling. By the time five o’clock rolled around, you were drained and on the verge of breaking down in tears.

As you packed up your things, Wonbin appeared by your desk, his usual bright smile in place. “Hey,” he said, tilting his head to study your expression. “You okay?”

You forced a tired smile. “Just a long day.”

He frowned, clearly unconvinced. “Come on, we’re leaving. You need a break.”

You blinked, surprised. “What?”

“Arcade,” he said, grabbing your bag off the back of your chair and slinging it over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“Wonbin, I’m not exactly in the mood—”

“Exactly why we’re going,” he interrupted, a teasing grin lighting up his face. “Trust me. It’ll help.”

Reluctantly, you followed him, not having the energy to argue with him after the day you’d had.

He practically drags you out of the office, grabbing your hand to guide you, and surprisingly, he doesn’t let it go until you reach your destination.

The arcade was brightly lit and buzzing with energy, packed with kids and teens shouting excitedly over games. As you stepped inside, you couldn’t help but laugh. “Wonbin, we’re the only adults here.”

“So?” he said, unfazed, already scanning the room for a claw machine. “We’re twenty-something. That’s basically still kids, right?”

You shook your head, the stress of the day momentarily lifting. “Debatable.”

But it didn’t take long for you to get swept up in the fun. The two of you battled it out at a racing game, shot hoops side by side, and groaned dramatically when the claw machine refused to let go of the stuffed animal Wonbin had been trying to win for you.

By the time you were done, your cheeks hurt from smiling and your bad mood was a distant memory. Wonbin had even won you a cute plush from a claw machine, and when you’d tried to pay him back for the cost of how many tries it took him to win, he brushes you off, claiming it’s a way for him to thank you for helping him when he was still a new employee.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

You can’t help but feel a touch of sadness at the ending of your little outing, selfishly wanting to spend more time with Wonbin, even though you knew you could use some rest too, probably more than he could.

The two of you walk side by side to the bus stop, occasionally exchanging hushed words, but mainly enjoying the quiet of the city at night.

The bus stop was quiet, the streetlights casting soft swaths of light over the sidewalk. You stood side by side, the energy of the arcade still lingering in the air between you.

“Feeling better?” Wonbin asked, his tone more gentle, almost loving now.

“Much,” you admitted. “Thanks for dragging me out. I needed that.”

He smiled, shoving his hands into his pockets. For a moment, he seemed to hesitate, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by something more serious.

“Y/N,” he started, his voice unusually quiet.

You turned to him, tilting your head. “Yeah?”

He took a deep breath, meeting your eyes. “I like you. I mean, really like you. And I know it’s probably bad timing with everything going on, but… I want to take you out. On a real date.”

Your heart skipped a beat, warmth blooming in your chest at his words. But just as quickly, reality set in.

“Wonbin,” you said softly, your voice tinged with regret. “You know how strict the company is about coworkers dating. I can’t… I don’t want to risk either of our jobs.”

His face fell slightly, but he nodded, his understanding clear. “Yeah, I figured you’d say that. I just… I wanted you to know how I feel.”

You offered a small, sad smile. “I’m really glad you told me. And if things were different…”

He smiled faintly, his usual brightness dimmed but still there. “It’s okay. I get it.”

The bus arrived, and you both climbed on, sitting in your usual seats together. The ride was quiet but comfortable, his confession lingering in the air between you.

Though you hadn’t said it out loud, you couldn’t shake the realization that you liked him too. And now, you weren’t sure how to handle the growing feelings that had been set in motion.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The past few weeks had been a blur. Work piled higher than ever, and the looming deadline for the big project had consumed almost every waking moment. You’d barely had time to think, let alone spend any quality time with Wonbin. Your evenings were spent in exhaustion, collapsing into bed before you could even reply to his last message.

Despite the distance, he never complained. He still texted you every day—little updates about his life, random memes, or just simple “Don’t forget to eat!” reminders. You tried to keep up, but it wasn’t the same as seeing him in person.

You missed him. And it seemed like he missed you too.

The stress at work finally hit a breaking point one late night as you stared at your computer screen, the relentless grind taking its toll. With a deep breath, you decided enough was enough. On a whim, you updated your resume and applied to a few jobs, not really expecting much.

But to your surprise, an offer came in—one that promised better hours, a higher paycheck, and the kind of work-life balance you hadn’t experienced in years. The decision wasn’t easy, but deep down, you knew it was the right one.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Two weeks later, your resignation letter had been submitted, you were on your very last day, and your going-away party was in full swing.

The office was buzzing with energy, laughter echoing through the room as your coworkers gathered to celebrate your time at the company. For the first time in ages, you felt like you could breathe again. The weight of work stress had finally lifted, and for the first time in a long while, you felt genuinely happy.

Wonbin was there, of course, standing off to the side with his usual warm smile, watching you with an expression you couldn’t quite place.

“You look happy,” he said softly when you crossed paths during the party.

“I feel happy,” you admitted. “It’s like I can finally move on from… everything.”

His smile grew a little wistful. “It suits you.”

As the party wound down and the others began to leave, you found yourself volunteering to stay behind and clean up. Wonbin joined without hesitation, the two of you working in comfortable silence as you packed away decorations and collected stray plates and cups.

The quiet was soothing, a stark contrast to the chaos of the last few months.

“So,” you said suddenly, breaking the silence. “About that date?”

Wonbin froze mid-step, blinking at you as if he hadn’t heard correctly. “What?”

You turned to him, a small, teasing smile playing on your lips. “You said you wanted to take me out, but I don’t date coworkers, remember?”

His brows furrowed in confusion, and then realization dawned. His eyes widened. “Wait… you’re not my coworker anymore.”

“Exactly,” you said, your grin widening.

The joy on his face was instant, a brilliant smile spreading across his features as he closed the distance between you in a heartbeat. Without hesitation, he leaned down and kissed you—soft and sweet, filled with all the feelings you’d both been holding back for months.

When he pulled back, his expression was full of wonder. “You’re serious about this?”

“Very,” you said, your cheeks warm. “I thought you’d be sad to see me go though. Something about missing me too much?”

He laughed, his voice soft and full of affection. “I’ll miss you, sure. But now I can do this…” He kissed you again, slower this time, his hand gently resting on your cheek.

When he pulled away, he grinned. “So yeah, it’s a win in my book.”

You laughed, your heart lighter than it had been in months. Maybe leaving the job was the right move after all—especially if it meant stepping into something new with him.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

AUTHOR'S NOTE 𝟅𝟈 this one was requested by my best friend so kenz if ur reading this, ur welcome pookie! i lowkey love this one, so pls make sure to leave a like and comment if u also enjoyed it.

masterlist.

[mariacallous]

This month, Andrew Bernier, a US Army Corps of Engineers researcher and a union leader, says that he has received a barrage of menacing messages from the same anonymous email account. Unfolding like short chapters in a dystopian novel, they have spoken of the genius of Elon Musk, referenced the power of the billionaire’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and foretold the downfall of “corrupt” union bosses.

But the most eerie thing about the emails, which Bernier says began arriving after he filed an official charge accusing the Trump administration of violating his union’s collective bargaining agreement, is that they included personal details about his life—some of which he believes might have come from surveillance of his work laptop. The author referenced Bernier’s union activities, nickname, job, travel details, and even the green notebook he regularly uses. The most recent email implied that his computer was loaded with spyware. “Andy's crusade, like so many before it, had been doomed from the start,” one email stated. “The real tragedy wasn't his failure—it was his belief that the fight had ever been real.”

The unsettling messages, which were reviewed by WIRED, are an extreme example of the kinds of encounters that workers across the US government say they have had with technology since President Donald Trump took office. WIRED spoke to current employees at 13 federal agencies for this story who expressed fears about potentially being monitored by software programs, some of which they described as unfamiliar. Others said that routine software updates and notifications, perhaps once readily glossed over, have taken on ominous new meanings. Several reported feeling anxious and hyperaware of the devices and technology around them.

At the General Services Administration (GSA), one worker cited a Chrome browser extension called Dynatrace, an existing program for monitoring app performance. Inside the Social Security Administration (SSA), another employee pointed to Splunk, a longstanding tool that’s used to alert IT staff to security anomalies like when an unauthorized USB drive is plugged into a laptop. At the US Agency for International Development (USAID), one worker was caught off guard by Google’s Gemini AI chatbot, installations of which kicked off days before Trump took office.

“Everyone has been talking about whether our laptops are now able to listen to our conversations and track what we do,” says a current GSA employee, who like other workers in this story, was granted anonymity because they didn’t have authorization to speak and feared retaliation.

Dynatrace and Splunk did not respond to requests for comment from WIRED.

The workers’ accounts come as Musk’s DOGE organization is rapidly burrowing into various government agencies and departments, often gaining access to personnel records, logs of financial transactions, and other sensitive information in the process. The efforts are part of the Trump administration’s broader plan to terminate thousands of government employees and remake the face of federal agencies.

Like many private companies, US federal agencies disclose to staff that they have tools to monitor what workers do on their computers and networks. The US government’s capabilities in this area have also expanded over the past decade.

It couldn’t be learned whether the Trump administration has begun using existing tools to monitor employees in new ways; multiple agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the General Services Administration, denied that they have. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Public evidence has not emerged of new government purchases of user-monitoring software, which is generally needed for detailed surveillance such as tracking which files a worker has copied onto a thumb drive. Some of the updates and changes that have been noticed by federal workers date back to software purchases and plans enacted long before Trump was in power, WIRED reporting shows.

“I will say my concerns are primarily based in general fear as opposed to specific knowledge,” says a worker at the Department of Homeland Security, who adds: “I’d love to be told I’m wrong.”

But activity that some workers perceive as signs of increased surveillance has prompted them to take precautions. Bernier, who works as a civil engineer for the Army Corps based in Hanover, New Hampshire, says the messages he received spooked him enough that he asked local police to keep an eye on his home, removed the battery from his work-issued laptop, and kept his work phone on airplane mode while traveling to a non-work conference last week. “There are things I don’t control but actions I can take to protect myself and my family,” he says.

Bernier’s anonymous emailer and the Army Corps did not respond to requests for comment.

A person inside the Environmental Protection Agency told WIRED last week that they’ve witnessed coworkers back out of Microsoft Teams meetings, which can be easily recorded and automatically transcribed, when they are related to topics they believe could get them fired. “Definite chilling effect,” the person says. The EPA did not respond to a request for comment.

An employee at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), whose work with international partners is being audited by DOGE operatives, says they and their colleagues began avoiding messaging one another and have “really cut down on putting things in writing” in recent weeks. They report that correspondence from their supervisors has also significantly dropped off. NOAA declined to comment.

At the Federal Bureau of Investigation, anxiety around officials possibly targeting officers and activities perceived as being disloyal to the president has cratered morale, a federal law enforcement source with knowledge of the agents' concerns tells WIRED. The FBI declined to comment.

Aryani Ong, a civil rights activist and cofounder of Asian American Federal Employees for Nondiscrimination, a group that advocates for government workers, says those she’s been in contact with are in a heightened state of alert. In response, some federal employees have turned to encrypted communications apps to connect with colleagues and taken steps to anonymize their social media accounts, Ong says. (Federal workers are granted an allowance to use non-official communication tools only “in exceptional circumstances.”)

Insider Threat

Long before Trump’s inauguration, user activity monitoring was already mandated for federal agencies and networks that handle classified information—the result of an executive order signed by then-president Barack Obama in the wake of a massive breach of classified diplomatic cables and information about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010. The capability is part of government-wide insider threat (InTh) programs that greatly expanded after Edward Snowden’s leak of classified surveillance documents in 2013, and again after an Army specialist murdered four colleagues and injured 16 others at Fort Hood in 2014.

The US government’s current approach to digitally monitoring federal workers has largely been guided by a directive issued by the Committee on National Security Systems in 2014, which orders relevant agencies to tie user activity to “specific users.” The public portions of the document call for “every executive branch department and agency” handling classified information to have capabilities to take screenshots, capture keystrokes, and intercept chats and email on employee devices. They are also instructed to deploy “file shadowing,” meaning secretly producing facsimiles of every file a user edits or opens.

The insider threat programs at departments such as Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, also have policies that protect unclassified government information, which enable them to monitor employees’ clicks and communications, according to notices in the Federal Register, an official source of rulemaking documents. Policies for the Department of the Interior, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporate (FDIC), also allow collecting and assessing employees’ social media content.

These internal agency programs, overseen by a national task force led by the attorney general and director of national intelligence, aim to identify behaviors that may indicate the heightened risk of not only leaks and workplace violence, but also the “loss” or "degradation" of a federal agency’s “resources or capabilities.” Over 60 percent of insider threat incidents in the federal sector involve fraud, such as stealing money or taking someone's personal information, and are non-espionage related, according to analysis by Carnegie Mellon researchers.

“Fraud,” “disgruntlement,” “ideological challenges,” “moral outrage,” or discussion of moral concerns deemed “unrelated to work duties” are some of the possible signs that a worker poses a threat, according to US government training literature.

Of the 15 Cabinet-level departments such as energy, labor, and veterans affairs, at least nine had contracts as of late last year with suppliers such as Everfox and Dtex Systems that allowed for digitally monitoring of a portion of employees, according to public spending data. Everfox declined to comment.

Dtex’s Intercept software, which is used by multiple federal agencies, is one example of a newer class of programs that generate individual risk scores by analyzing anonymized metadata, such as which URLs workers are visiting and which files they’re opening and printing out on their work devices, according to the company. When an agency wants to identify and further investigate someone with a high score, two people have to sign off in some versions of its tool, according to the company. Dtex’s software doesn’t have to log keystrokes or scan the content of emails, calls, chats, or social media posts.

But that isn't how things work broadly across the government, where employees are warned explicitly in a recurring message when they boot up their devices that they have "no reasonable expectation of privacy" in their communications or in any data stored or transmitted through government networks. The question remains if and to what extent DOGE’s operatives are relying on existing monitoring programs to carry out Trump’s mission to rapidly eliminate federal workers that his administration views as unaligned with the president’s agenda or disloyal.

Rajan Koo, the chief technology officer of Dtex tells WIRED that he hopes the Trump administration will adjust the government’s approach to monitoring. Events such as widespread layoffs coupled with a reliance on what Koo described as intrusive surveillance tools can stir up an environment in which workers feel disgruntled, he says. “You can create a culture of reciprocal loyalty,” says Koo, or “the perfect breeding ground for insider threats.”

Already Overwhelmed

Sources with knowledge of the US government’s insider threat programs describe them as largely inefficient and labor intensive, requiring overstretched teams of analysts to manually pore through daily barrages of alerts that include many false positives. Multiple sources said that the systems are currently “overwhelmed.” Any effort by the Trump administration to extend the reach of such tools or widen their parameters—to more closely surveil for perceived signs of insubordination or disloyalty to partisan fealties, for instance—likely would result in a significant spike in false positives that would take considerable time to comb through, according to the people familiar with the work.

In an email last month seeking federal employees’ voluntary resignations, the Trump administration wrote that it wanted a “reliable, loyal, trustworthy” workforce. Attempts to use insider threat programs to enforce that vision could be met by a number of legal challenges.

US intelligence community analysts are required by law and directive to provide unbiased and objective work. That means avoiding cherry-picking information to deliberately alter judgements or falling prey to outside pressure, including from personal or political biases. These standards, even when not officially codified, are core to the professional ethics of any intelligence practitioner or law enforcement analyst conducting assessments of insider threats.

A 2018 national insider threat task force framework notes that federal programs should comply with “all applicable legal, privacy and civil liberties rights, and whistleblower protections.” Bradley Moss, an attorney representing US intelligence and law enforcement personnel, says that "disloyalty" to the Trump administration is “too vague” an excuse to terminate employees with civil service protections, adding that if "they're going to go through the statutory process, they need to demonstrate actual cause for termination."

A federal law enforcement source warns that monitoring could theoretically be used to gather political intelligence on federal employees, while the administration looks for more palatable reasons to terminate them later; similar to how law enforcement may obtain evidence that's inadmissible in the course of a criminal investigation, but then search for another evidentiary basis to file charges.

Joe Spielberger, senior legal counsel at the Project On Government Oversight, a nonpartisan group fighting alleged corruption, says that if Musk were serious about cutting government waste, he would be strengthening protections for people who report corruption and mismanagement. Any warrantless or mass surveillance of federal workers without transparent guidelines, he says, would represent a major concern.

“When you create this culture of fear and intimidation and have that chilling effect of making people even more fearful about calling out wrongdoing, it ensures that corruption goes unnoticed and unaddressed,” Spielberger says.

[yandere-paramour]

I was rereading the baking a cake for Atalanta post recently (where in the beginning it says that the search for darling has died down) and was wondering if Darling goes officially missing when Ata kidnaps them? Does Ata allow darling to have contact with their friends/family early on after 'relocation'? Given Atalanta's power and influence, I assume it wouldn't be difficult for her to shut down any police searches, but would she? I imagine she uses Darling's phone/information to contact their loved ones as them and reassure them that darling is alright. I imagine that she'd still want to maintain a good reputation and not have her wife be a missing person.

I know that when I imagine yandere scenarios, at least for me personally, the scariest part is worrying my friends and family. Would Ata her darling text, call, or even meet up with loved ones to not arouse suspicion? (With supervision obviously). If I was taken by Ata, I'd probably want to pretend like everything is fine and make sure my family know I'm safe, even if I'm a little scared and wary of Ata in the beginning. With Ata, I wonder how she'd respond to darling begging in tears to be allowed to contact loved ones and reassure them, even trying best to appeal to Ata's possessiveness and find a balance.

Darling meeting up with their loved ones and awkwardly explaining that they got a new job and housing and are very busy but ok while Ata stands in the background in a hoodie and sunglasses (more realistically a bodyguard lol).

Sorry for the super long ask I wanted to make sure I explained properly, hope you're having a good day!

Don't worry, Atalanta would never fully separate you from your loved ones. At least, not without good reason. After relocation, you will be able to contact your loved ones and explain to them that you are safe but you cannot give any more details. If you can't be trusted, Atalanta will contact them for you. Either way, there will be strict instructions given, promising egregious punishment if your family tries to hire a private investigator or file a missing person's report. Atalanta will get annoyed but she can just wave away any problems your family creates and then you won't hear from them for a long, long time. Certainly long enough for them to learn a lesson.

Atalanta loves you, and she doesn't want you to see her as a captor. If you were begging her and you absolutely needed to see your loved ones or you were going to go insane, she would gently calm you down and then arrange a meet-up for you. Because it is still in the early stages of the relationship, it will be in a secure location and you will have a number of both obvious and plainclothes guards around you as well as wear a tracker, but you'll get to see them. She might even come with you if she has time. If you behave well, you can even call and text them. Of course, Ata will have someone monitoring your family to ensure they don't do anything stupid along with the spy software on your phone, but the illusion of freedom is better than nothing, right?

[dr-futbol-blog]

Aurora, Pt. 9

Inside the simulation, Sheppard has located the ship's Captain seemingly inside his own private quarters. Whether he had just happened to land on him, had been searching various places before finding him or had been drawn to the Captain through that magnetic pull between the Ancients is unclear. Startled by Sheppard, the Captain seems ready to call for help but like the guard, he seems to get some kind of a feel regarding Sheppard that at least makes him want to trust him.

Sheppard: Hi! Me again. Wait, wait, please, just... listen. I'm not here to hurt anyone.

The reason that people want to trust Sheppard is not just his charming personality, as he has very obviously received training in psychological warfare, in manipulating people to get them to behave the way that he wants or needs them to behave. Here Sheppard shows the Captain his open palms, which is meant to convince the target of the fact that he is not concealing a weapon, which is made amusing by the fact that he actually is holding a weapon. Only, the Ancient popsicle is so unfamiliar to him that it does not even register as a weapon, and hence it takes him a beat to realize that showing the Captain that he is not carrying a weapon while brandishing a weapon is counterproductive. And so he puts the weapon away, slowly approaching the man while displaying his empty palms like he would a wild animal. He emphasizes his message of being nonthreatening with his words and tone matching his gestures. Even his facial expressions are designed to put the target at ease, to establish a friendly rapport.

Also, let us note the fact that Sheppard is approaching the Captain where he likely could have said what he was going to say from where he was standing. Getting closer probably would have made convincing the Captain easier if he managed to make him feel comfortable in his presence, but this is also a case of Sheppard being physically pulled toward an Ancient. He may not realize what he is doing, he may not be doing it out of any conscious choice on his part, but he definitely feels the need to approach this man just as he had approached the man that had first caught him.

Sheppard: I want to help you. Help all of us. I know all this sounds strange but just give me a chance to prove that what I'm saying--

Where the Captain is at least curious enough to listen to Sheppard without calling for help, the wraith takes him out before he has a chance of convincing him of anything. We do not know what kind of training the or members of the Ancient military may have had in human (or Ancient) behaviour, but it is possible that the Captain was convinced more by what ever neural feedback he was getting from Sheppard, his vibes. He even tells his First Officer, "What if he is telling the truth? Do you not sense it too? That something is wrong?" There is a psychic component to how the Ancients interact with each other, and the Captain was feeling something about Sheppard.

Sheppard is zapped unconscious by the wraith using the Ancient popsicle, and he is carried away by two guards. Neither of these men are the young guard that Sheppard had left in the brig, and given that the wraith tells the Captain that Sheppard had only just escaped (and apparently had made his way directly to the Captain, just knowing where he would be), the young guard was probably still locked away. What is interesting is that there is a mirror behind the Captain and we can see both Sheppard and the wraith's reflections in it. One might expect to see the wraith in the reflection but we do not, the mirror image is that of the First Officer, even though by her evil smirk we are able to tell by now that this woman has to be a space vampire in disguise. What it tells us is that the wraith has near complete control of the simulation.

Back in the real world, what ever software McKay was running to monitor Sheppard's vitals alerts him immediately to the fact that Sheppard has shifted into a deeper state of sleep, him being rendered unconscious in the virtual environment manifesting in a shift in his brain wave patterns. The reason why McKay is able to catch on so quickly is that he was monitoring Sheppard's brain waves while they were standing there. McKay does not know what the change means but he is immediately concerned because any change is not good.

Teyla: What is wrong? McKay: Delta waves? Dex: What are they? Caldwell: Doctor McKay? Are you ready to be beamed aboard? McKay: It hasn't even been five minutes! Teyla: Doctor McKay has discovered a problem. Caldwell: What kind of a problem?

It is interesting that while McKay is triggered by the data, Teyla pings that something is wrong from McKay's expression, reading him just as expertly as McKay reads the computer read-out. And like we have seen her do many times with Sheppard, she picks up explaining the situation to Caldwell as it seems that McKay is in the kind of zone that makes it difficult to engage in civil communication and he answers Caldwell's questions just by snapping at him. But it is interesting that McKay makes a reference to the passage of time and his sense of how much time has passed because we have seen that dissociation makes his sense of time distorted. We cannot be sure if his approximation of only five minutes having passed is correct or not, but Caldwell certainly seems to feel like they have had more than enough time to sort out what ever they needed to get Sheppard out of the pod.

McKay: Colonel Sheppard's EEG frequencies are decreasing. I'm reading delta waves which indicate that he's unconscious within the virtual environment. I'm not sure how it happened but something's definitely wrong in there. Caldwell: Even more reason to pull him out. McKay: That would be a mistake. Look, additional data I've been able to decipher from the wraith's biometrics receiver shows significant manipulation of the feedback loop, something we were clearly not aware of when Sheppard went in. Caldwell: We were also clearly not aware of the two wraith cruisers approaching.

McKay is clearly frustrated having to explain things when he should be doing things, but it is testament to Sheppard having trained him to explain things to him in a way that he can understand that McKay is actually doing that here. He is taking the time to explain what the problem is and what his assessment of the situation is.

Also note his use of the word "Look" here. We have seen Sheppard physically react to hearing this word and it may be caused by situations such as this, of McKay using it when he is explaining something, the explaining often happening in tense and time-sensitive situations. Hearing the word in such contexts would cause a Pavlovian reaction, as mentioned by McKay at the beginning of the episode, of Sheppard reacting physically to hearing the word. It triggers him into paying attention to what ever follows it. It also underscores the importance of exchanging looks in their communication. Whether he does it consciously or not, by saying the word "Look" McKay is asking Sheppard to look at him while he is explaining something, to focus on him so that he can ascertain by the look on Sheppard's face whether his explanation is sinking in.

McKay: Colonel, this wraith is controlling the program which means it might have booby-trapped it as well. We're talking about Sheppard's life here. Caldwell: And I'm talking about the lives of not only every person aboard this ship but every person in Atlantis when the wraith find out it wasn't destroyed.

McKay is presented with a clear dilemma here. Sheppard's life versus the lives of everyone on the Daedalus and in Atlantis. Caldwell has laid out the stakes for him in no uncertain terms. And while keeping Atlantis, his home, safe is extremely important to McKay, it should come as no surprise what his choice is. At the end of the day, Atlantis is a place. It is Sheppard that has made it home for him. It is Sheppard that is his home. And the thing is, as Sheppard points out by the end of the season, McKay works extremely well under pressure. It is possibly the result of his childhood environment, of having used homework and chores to escape the tense atmosphere created by his parents who hated each other and blamed him, but as long as he has something to do, as long as he has something to occupy himself with, McKay is not paralyzed by a ticking clock. Caldwell has given him a deadline, and he is going to use that time to do what has to be done.

Caldwell: I'm well aware of what's at stake here, Doctor. Get him out of that pod, or my men will. Caldwell out. McKay: I'm going in! Look, stall Caldwell, buy me some time, just a few minutes at the most. Teyla: What if you are unable to disconnect? Dex: Caldwell's gonna blow that ship whether you're in there or not.

When McKay had told Sheppard that he should be able to disconnect him without permanent brain damage, he had mostly been joking. But he had meant that he would do everything in his power to make sure that Sheppard would come out of the experience unscathed. He had been keeping a keen eye on Sheppard's vitals the whole time because he was concerned for his safety and well-being. And here Caldwell had threatened to send his men to forcefully disconnect Sheppard without any of them having any idea what that would do to him. Caldwell was asking him to choose between Sheppard's mind and the people of Atlantis.

McKay thinks about it for only a beat and decides that his own life if the cheapest commodity here. Teyla had asked earlier which would be the greater loss, himself or Sheppard. And McKay had made it sound like he thought it was Sheppard, obviously. He should go. Only, he had not meant it then and he certainly had never thought that Sheppard's life was worth less than his own, very much to the contrary. Risking his own life to save Sheppard was as easy as breathing. This was why he had allowed Sheppard to go under in the first place, that he might be able to fix what ever might go wrong from the outside. And so he looks around for a vacant pod, quickly devising a plan of how he might be able to help Sheppard from the inside.

McKay: You see, the thing is, Colonel Sheppard and I have sort of gotten into this habit of saving each other's lives, and it's my turn. It could be your turn next.

Because both Teyla and Ronon are looking over his shoulder, clearly concerned, McKay feels the need to give them an explanation. Despite the impression that both of them may have gotten earlier when he was playing 4D chess by letting Sheppard to go under, McKay both values Sheppard's life more than his own, he also considers his own life cheap currency to start with. He does not value his own life, and Weir had to remind him of how important his life is to everyone on Atlantis at the end of Trinity (S02E06) because McKay, due to his poor self-esteem, just does not understand his worth. But even if he did, Sheppard would still be worth more to him because Sheppard is the most important person in his life. Sheppard is the love of his life. Sheppard is his life. Obviously he is going to go in to save him.

But that is not something that he can tell them, and certainly cannot let Caldwell in on this fact. So he comes up with a plausible reason. They have gotten into the "habit of saving each other's lives." And certainly they have done that a lot. Where Ronon is new to the team and has not observed them do that a lot, Teyla has been observing them much longer. But even she is not privy to the extent that they have been saving each other's lives. In the early days, they were often saving the lives of everyone on Atlantis and each other besides. But it had evolved to them saving each other in particular by the Genii Siege (The Eye S01E11, where Weir and McKay were pretty much the only people on Atlantis at the time when Sheppard decided to kill a whole lot of people to save them) and The Defiant One (S01E12), when McKay and Sheppard had been the only people on the whole planet and had both risked their own lives to protect the other.

They had saved each other's lives so much that they had lost count, and it was not important anyway. Love is not a reciprocal relationship, it is a contest on who gets to do more for the other person. And it was not just that they were willing to risk their own lives to save the other, both of them would be willing to risk a whole lot more lives than just their own to save the other man to the point where both of them were willing to sacrifice literally every other human life to save the other in The Last Man (S04E20). They both did that. McKay erased his whole timeline and Sheppard was willing to let the human race go extinct.

Realizing that his desperation to get in to save Sheppard, the ease with which he was willing to jump from the frying pan right into the fire, was probably beginning to look real suspicious to people that they were supposed to be hiding their feelings for the other from, he tacks on the "might be your turn next" at the end. Like it was the result of good old team spirit that he was doing this for. And for sure, he did care about his team members and would go to all manner of lengths to save them too. But that was not what this was about. He just was not allowed to tell them what this was really about.

McKay: Look, hit this to manually disconnect me. If I do not regain consciousness, go ahead and open Colonel Sheppard's pod. Have us beamed directly to Daedalus, and make sure they have a medical team waiting.

It is obvious that McKay is afraid, but being afraid had never stopped him from being brave. Note again that as McKay is giving Teyla instructions, trying to be as clear about them as possible, he begins by telling her to "Look," using this word to make her focus on what is important. And what is most important to him is Sheppard, which is why he tells her what to do with him first. The first thing they need to do is to make sure that Sheppard gets beamed out of the ship before Caldwell blows them up. He, the genius that is vital to the running of Atlantis, is not only willing to sacrifice his life but to weather actual brain damage to get Sheppard out of there. He is not doing this for a friend. He is not looking at her with this pleading desperation because he wants to save his team leader. It takes actual effort to not see this for what it is.

Teyla: Are you sure you wanna do this? McKay: I'm sure I don't! OK.

McKay sounds like he is close to hyperventilating as he lays himself down on the platform, his voice clearly trembling from fear. He is also honest in admitting to Teyla that he really does not want to be doing this. The fact that this is so difficult for him just emphasizes the importance he puts on Sheppard's life. Ronon looks away, clearly thinking about something as McKay prepares to go under and where he obviously respects what McKay is doing, it is never entirely clear what he thinks about McKay's relationship to Sheppard. He also does not like the fact that he is not able to protect neither Sheppard nor McKay when they are under.

McKay: Alright. There's more than enough air in there. Right. Course there is. Crew's been sealed inside these things for thousands of years. Teyla: Are you alright? McKay: Yeah, it's just my claustrophobia. I'll be fine.

McKay confesses to suffering from claustrophobia, the fear of enclosed spaces. One of the known causes of claustrophobia is a traumatic childhood experience, and may in fact result from repeated exposure to something like a child being shut into a pitch-black room unable find the door or the light-switch, being locked in a closet as a means of punishment, or being neglected by being left alone in their parents' car. Given what McKay has exposed about his childhood environment, any number of experiences such as these may have resulted in him developing claustrophobia.

But what is interesting is that this is not the first time that we see him enclosed in a tight space where there is a chance of air running out. We saw him concerned with the availability of air in The Siege (S01E19) in his space suit, where he actually explicitly confessed to having claustrophobia, and in The Intruder (S02E02), locked in the cockpit of a fighter-interceptor with Sheppard. In the former case, Peter Grodin was able to walk McKay through the experience by soothing him, telling him he was going to be fine. In the latter case, Sheppard had told McKay that they might conserve the air by McKay not talking. At all. And with this, Sheppard had been able to trigger McKay's indignation, clearly displayed in how he folded his arms and started sulking. In fact, this may have been a conscious strategy by Sheppard for getting McKay's thoughts away from the closed space and the air running out to being miffed with him instead.

Both Sheppard and Grodin had been able to hack McKay's brain into making him feel better in a situation that was clearly causing him anxiety, and it is entirely likely that Sheppard knows about McKay's fear of being confined in a small space feeling like air is going to run out. Their strategies were different but Sheppard's was the more efficient one, diverting McKay's thoughts away from the experience. Annoyed with Sheppard, McKay had spared not a single thought to air running out and being confined in a small space. Here, as he tries to convince himself that there is more than enough air in the pods, he might also be trying to summon his internal Sheppard to give him more courage for the experience.

McKay: I hope. Now, the system should engage once you send me in. Teyla: Alright. McKay: Right. So, send me in? Teyla: Oh! Yes! Good luck. McKay: Right.

McKay and Teyla's exchange here just before McKay goes under can be contrasted with McKay and Sheppard earlier, the difference emphasizing the ease with which Sheppard and McKay communicate. Here, McKay expected Teyla to get that he wanted her to send him in by saying the words "once you send me in," but she was clearly waiting for some kind of a command or order from him to press go. McKay's exchange with Sheppard had been much more succinct:

McKay: Ready? Sheppard: I was! McKay: Good!

Also, note that there was no wishing of luck or anything that might be interpreted as a good-bye in their exchange because they have that on-going conversation and they never really leave each other, they just temporarily vacate each other's presence. In fact, the moment Sheppard came out from the pod, they picked up their conversation with:

McKay: So? Sheppard: Worked! McKay: Well course it worked!

All of this just emphasizes the ease of their communication, as well as the way they "talk as only a husband and wife can talk, that is, apprehending one another's thoughts and exchanging ideas with extraordinary swiftness and perspicuity, contrary to all the rules of logic, without the aid of premises, deductions, or conclusions, and in a quite singular way," as the communication between Pierre and Natasha is described in War and Peace. Teyla and McKay are close, they have worked with each other on the daily for over a year and live in each others' pockets. They are friends and colleagues. And yet their communication is completely different from the way Sheppard and McKay communicate. Here, Teyla and McKay finish their exchange as McKay goes under. Sheppard and McKay never finish their exchange.

Continued in Pt. 10

[rin-henricov]

What would Storm Hawks do if they had the internet

Piper

Piper could have done so much more if she'd had the Internet. Instead of searching for information about various crystals in the Atmosian libraries, she would have asked for his help. However, it is worth noting that not all the information contained in the books can be accessed, so sometimes she will still have to go outside. Of the entire squadron, she will be the only one who applies the knowledge gained from the Internet to her work purposes. That's why Piper only turns to him when she really needs to know something. She would probably also devote herself to researching scientific articles in an effort to create more powerful crystals, spend time studying Atmos cultures, and most likely use her free hours to watch music videos.

Junko

Junko could watch cute videos with cats and read popular cooking articles, but it wouldn't improve his cooking skills in any way. When he found a new recipe on the Internet, he would try to implement it, but he would still replace the main ingredients with other products. His list of friends would include his entire family line, including distant relatives from the farthest reaches of the Atmos. Perhaps in the early days of using the Internet, Junko would have believed in such common myths as «put your iPhone in the microwave and it will charge in a matter of minutes». If it weren't for Piper, who would explain to him in more detail how the Internet works, his faith could only be strengthened.

Finn

Finn would constantly send memes to the group chat, which would make him an indispensable participant in many discussions. He would also actively trolling the Rex Guardians on various anonymous forums to attract more attention to his person. There were times when his lines went viral, and his name became synonymous with memes, but then they were quickly forgotten, which at first was very upsetting for a teenager. In his spare time, he would record cover versions of his songs on guitar and send them to his friends by email. In addition, Finn would become an avid player of online shooters, where his skill would allow him to dominate not only the battlefield, but also in virtual worlds.

Stork

Stork uses social media only for intended purpose, considering the Internet to be a source of unreliable information, and is afraid that excessive online presence may negatively affect his brain neurons. He would have thought it was some kind of mind-control device, and that if he was strapped to a monitor screen, his mind would turn to mush. Perhaps he could develop anti-virus protocols for the special software used by the squadron. But in addition to this, his piggy bank of strange phobias could include not only the fear of mind worms, but also concerns related to various network viruses. In general, he wouldn't even come close to a computer, but if he had to, he would probably see some things that would require long-term therapy.

Aerrow

He would visit the Sky Knight forums on a daily basis to keep up with the latest developments in Atmosia. This would allow Aerrow to correspond directly with the sky knight council and be aware of when the Cyclonians would take the next step. Perhaps, with Stork's help, he could also create some sort of device to track the subsequent actions of enemy forces, so that no one would be caught off guard by a surprise attack. In addition, Aerrow would use the internet to make online purchases of the new crystals Piper needed for her research. Most often, Aerrow would send important sociological surveys to group chats, the results of which would be required by the government themselves, greatly increasing the effectiveness of their squadron status.

Radarr

Radarr would be the type of lemur who, if they had access to the Internet, would use it mostly to watch funny shows and animal memes. But Radarr wouldn't know how to use a computer at all, and he wouldn't even know what a keyboard was. In addition, his tail would constantly cling to the wires, which would only add to the inconvenience in his life. Absolutely everyone in the squadron would like to take a look at his browser history.

[friendofthew0rld]

Blog Post #2 - due 2/6/25

1. How do digital security measures reinforce existing power structures, particularly in terms of class, race, and access to resources? Although we are typically unphased by the prevalence of security cameras and data-collection systems that we come in contact with on a day-to-day basis, we don’t realize how much more prevalent they are in low-income neighborhoods, as crime is much more likely to be reported there. One fact that stuck out to me was how digital security guards are “so deeply woven into the fabric of social life that, most of the time, we don’t even notice we are being watched and analyzed” (V. Eubanks, 2018, p.16). In my own experience, I have worked a few sales jobs where we have only about 1 or 2 cameras that surveillance the exterior of the shop, where customers frequent. However, when I need to drop cash in the safe located in the office, I am usually overwhelmed by the number of cameras on the monitor, which monitors every corner of the employees' workspace. There are about 5 separate cameras that locate various angles of one single space. For one, this heightened surveillance serves as a tool to monitor productivity and compliance with policies, but also to reinforce power imbalances between employers and their employees. These cameras may also be used to target and monitor specific racial groups, as an employer may monitor a Black or Latino worker far more than a White or Asian worker holding the same job position/status.    

2. Nicole Brown poses a significant question: “Do we really understand the far-reaching implications of algorithms, specifically related to anti-Black racism, social justice, and institutionalized surveillance and policing?” (Brown, 0:14). The answer is, in many ways, complex. However, Brown brings up a very important point. Many algorithms are trained with the potential to improve many areas of our lives, however, they can prove damaging in terms of predictive policing as well as perpetuating biases and inequalities. According to Christina Swarns in an article titled “When Artificial Intelligence Gets it Wrong,” “facial recognition software is significantly less reliable for Black and Asian people, who, according to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, were 10 to 100 times more likely to be misidentified than white people,” further emphasizing how algorithms may lead to false identifications, caused by a lack in diversity–highlighting the need for improvements in algorithmic technology to mitigate the harm caused for marginalized communities. In regards to predictive policing, algorithms that are trained to predict crimes utilize historical crime data, which may result in higher policing rates for those areas, when the historical data may just reflect biased policing as opposed to true criminal activity. 

3. How do surveillance and algorithms affect healthcare outcomes for minorities? In a video titled “Race and Technology,” Nicole Brown explains that since White people are recorded to make up a majority of healthcare consumers, the healthcare system’s algorithm deems White individuals more likely to require healthcare than their non-White counterparts (Brown, 2:12). Although we are typically used to having our information and activity utilized by certain social media platforms to generate user-centered content, I think the connection between algorithms and healthcare outcomes is an interesting topic to unpack, as I never have thought about this connection. “Doctors and other health care providers are increasingly using healthcare algorithms (a computation, often based on statistical or mathematical models, that helps medical practitioners make diagnoses and decisions for treatments” (Colón-Rodríguez, 2023). Colón-Rodríguez uses a case study of a woman who gave birth via c-section in 2017, and how the database was later updated to reflect a false prediction that Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino women were more likely to need c-sections, and were less likely to naturally give birth successfully as opposed to White women. For one, this prediction was false, and it further caused doctors to perform more c-sections on Latino and Black women than White women. C-sections are known to be generally safe but are known to cause infections, blood clots, emotional difficulties, and more. This case study reflects how healthcare databases will often profile individuals based on race and may make generally false predictions which oftentimes result in unnecessary–and sometimes–life-threatening outcomes for minorities (in this case, minorities with vaginas).  

4. In what ways does the normalization of surveillance threaten democratic values like free speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to privacy? Similar to feelings of surveillance that I expressed to question 1, the normalization of such surveillance in many aspects of our society may cause instances of self-censorship, suppression of dissent or negative feelings towards individuals of higher status, and the exploitation and misuse of personal data. Workers in a workplace may censor the topics they speak about for fear of customers or employers hearing such issues. People may also censor themselves when in a crowd, where phones may be utilized to monitor activity. Fear of reprisal may cause individuals to refrain from speaking out about injustices and dissent for people, policies, or events. The misuse of personal data threatens our right to privacy because we as consumers are unaware of what exactly is being utilized–and even if we do, we are not made aware of how long such data is being held and utilized. 

References

Brown, N. (2020, September 18). Race and Technology. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8uiAjigKy8

Colón-Rodríguez, C. (2023, July 12). Shedding Light on Healthcare Algorithmic and Artificial Intelligence Bias | Office of Minority Health. Minorityhealth.hhs.gov. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/news/shedding-light-healthcare-algorithmic-and-artificial-intelligence-bias

Eubanks, V. (2018). Automating Inequality: how high-tech tools profile, police, and punish the poor. St. Martin’s Press.

‌ Swarns, C. (2023, September 19). When Artificial Intelligence Gets It Wrong. Innocence Project. https://innocenceproject.org/when-artificial-intelligence-gets-it-wrong/

[kalianos]

It is a little past midnight. Have brainworms.

god I remember when windows 8 came out, immediately bought and installed it to troubleshoot Intuit Pro-Series. I was a chaotic force for good in some weird ways back then. Also Ironically working for Intuit was the first time I stopped hanging out in online spaces. ANYWAY!

Higher level techs were spreading the word that neither program would work on it. ProSeries and Lacerte (Corpo Tax Software) weren't built to handle Mobile Tablets. Day 1 of tax season that year and I had to walk a tax preparer installing pro-series on a windows tablet.

The Higher tech was confused as hell how I did it....apparently they couldn't understand how windows would just interpret the finger touch press as a mouse click. Now to right click, that was moon magic to me back then. Though I think they just wanted a mobile way to make tax sheets and input data then just slam it over to their desktop in the office/at home. You would be amazed how many people had this tax preparer software on their home computers. Hell I remember someone who had this expensive stuff and bought it every year just to do their own taxes and some of their friends.

Also obligatory, fuck Intuit. Never use Turbotax or H&R block to file what can be done for free. I gave away so much free stuff when I was in Turbotax even though I knew they were doing it on purpose to bait people to stay in their ecosystem before they "shut down" our ability to give out stuff for free. You can only word things in so many ways to avoid getting nabbed by the monitor police.

:V Call centers man, we had a department in one corner of this open office floor plan dedicated to monitoring us, recording our calls, and making notes on anything we did.

Randomly remembered this when someone was bringing up how Windows 11 wasn't the worst Windows OS and people were jumping on how Windows 8 was terrible and windows vista doesn't work on low powered systems. (Hey! Let's ship an OS that works best at minimum 2gb of ram! On systems that barely had 512mb! Because that was listed minimum spec. What Could Go Wrong?)

Double fun irony. That call center job was how I ended up making friends, learning more social skills, accidentally stealing someone else's girlfriend by being more outgoing and out there. Discovering the joy of dating someone who used to be a runway model and artist in new york who was more than a little obsessed with sucking dick. Older women man...definitely confirmed.

The downsides of having said person be your girlfriend when you are an immature little shit of a man and there was a good....seven year gap I think in our ages? Then again she was on Instagram constantly after me with a new guy on her shoulder every month after that...so minor gold star for being the longest relationship?

AAaaaaaaaaand figuring out the age old problem of "YOU SHOULD NEVER ROOM WITH SOMEONE YOU WERE FRIENDS WITH IN HIGH SCHOOL" due to the whole....situation that made my last year of freedom a descent into hell and depression that took almost a year and a half to escape. You know like, you friend is leaving the military...that he asked you to join up with him in....and you get dumped out leading to two year depression spiral where you took a call center job out of desperation to do SOMETHING with your life before you wasted away into a worthless pile of shit.

ONLY for him to show back up, joining the National Guard, and after apartment hunting for less than a week shooting down all your suggestions and saying we need to get this luxury 2 bedroom apartment that just opened up in this brand new apartment complex which..pricey, and doesn't include utilities. :D WHAT COULD GO WRONG!? Hey turns out....food costs money.

Walking in from work one day planning on changing to go out with friends to a bar only to walk into a big fat shirtless old guy sitting on your couch. Having to shoo said friends away from the door from the master bedroom. Only to find out hours later that it was your roomate/bestfriends dad who was now...crashing on your couch for a while?

Also not paying the bills. Getting a GI Bill to go to a mildly scammy tech school to learn HVAC and then...not...doing that....and basically flat out not getting a job. I can not stress how pissed off and stressed out I was for an entire year straight. My natural light brown/blonde streak in my hair got a few white hairs in it from that experience.

Though I am not going to lie it was a wonderful experience. KNOWING that yet again...as I was paying for half the rent, the electric, the internet, I THINK there was a gas bill as well? $100 easy a month on electric in 2012 was kinda hell for my area but oh well. KNOWING that he came to me saying he couldn't pay the water bill. So I needed to cover it. And me pulling a Luane from King of the Hill moment. I paid my fair share, I can live without water for a bit. (I was already having to drive to my parents house every week to do laundry sooooo....yeah we didn't have a washer and dryer for most of the year.)

THE HILARIOUS THRILL OF JOY I FELT WHEN I LEARNED ON MY DAY OFF AS MY ROOMMATE COMES IN HALF COVERED IN SOAP FROM HIS SHOWER TO TELL ME THE WATER WAS SHUT OFF! AHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Schadenfreude. Justified.

The amount of times I had to cover all the bills and the Rent...sometimes completely in a 12 month lease was hellish.

So hellish I somehow managed my money to not go into debt back then. Instead I almost to the Penny Zero'd out myself. Including renting the Uhaul to transport my stuff back into my parents house.

OH and him running to the office to grab the deposit money and just leaving with it to buy an engagement ring. That also sucked. Not like I didn't know where a lot of the money was dissapearing to. When you hear stories from friends about him going to a certain fake Australian restaurant and tipping the waitress personally over $100....in 2012. And constantly making us go back to that restaurant to specifically get her and tip her more money.

.....ah memories. Oh yeah and I got invited to a threesome around that time. Probably should have said yes since I knew them but oh well.

And to think I wondered when I was half my age if I would even survive up today. All the things I would have missed out on experiencing. Never was suicidal. Just genuine curiosity in some morbid fashion if I would someone how just be able to live as my crazy stunted self.

....We own a mower now. We have to fix a few more things on it and the tires definitely need to be replaced but it mows better. And now my girlfriend doesn't need to drive her parent's mower down the highway just so we can cut the lawn. It was worth it for piece of mind.

A handful of people I went to school with have apparently tried to reach out to me a few times. At least one of them died a month after doing so. Never opened that message to find out what they said and that was about a decade ago now. We didn't interact much but I am pretty sure he just thought I was annoying dumbass. Wonder if I should completely erase that.

Think I'll title this brainworms or something. I kinda just let my fingers typed whatever came to mind. This was fun.

:V May you not be bored to death if for some reason you read this. I should add a cut not to take up space. Yis yis.

[spousesolution]

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[bathoarchives]

Fikile Malikongwa Discusses Her Debut Short Film And Becoming A Creative

Fikile Malikongwa is a filmmaker, model and creative based in London, She recently released her first short film 'Convictions Of An Empath' which debuted at the Raindance Film Festival. In this conversation, we talk to her about the process of producing her film, being in the creative collective 'WISE', her favourite movies and music and much more.

fikile for WISE, photographed by septemberline

Would you say you knew early on in your childhood that you wanted to be an artist or is it something that you learned later on?

It was definitely an early inclination as a child. I’ve always been naturally curious & constructive and imaginative. That is the heart of who I am as a person . Contrary to what people immediately see, I’m a very guarded and quiet individual and I do tend to get shy. I have never been the best at saying what’s on my mind when one first meets me. When I’m creating, when I write or communicate a visual or even a sonic idea, is when I start to feel my most confident. I just soar.

When and how did you move to London?

I first got to London in 2022 for about 3 months to complete a short directing course. After a very painful waiting period at home,I got the chance to relocate here at the end of September 2023, to complete my BA in film practices.

fikile photographed by frank gorski

How is being a creative in London compared to Botswana?

I would say it is different but the tasks and craft of the game remain the same. The audiences can be wider and it is exciting but you still have to fight to get your foot in the door and be taken seriously. The privilege of Gaborone having a smaller community is the immediate reach of your art. But this is a chapter I’m very grateful for. It really means a lot to me, to be confident enough to share what I’m working on now. I'd just like to relate to people more.

How did you learn filmmaking and writing, did you go to school or are you self-taught?

With the script work, I’ve been writing since I was young. Creative writing was a strength of mine in primary school. Editing clips and making use of overlays or effects for personal projects is also something I’ve always been fond of. I was actually interested in theatre and acting before I realised how much I would really love to produce/direct my own work. Drama is just my first love. After graduating high school is when I familiarised myself with editing softwares, the primary ideas of continuity in scenes and different cuts, insert shots, how tedious grading and sound engineering can be. What writing a script for the camera looks like and how actors need to be spoken to. I learnt that sort of work when I enrolled in a film institution in New York after high school. I’ve enjoyed being a sponge to this kind of world. I’m very new it and I'm just getting started really.

fikile for WISE, photography by septemberline

Around 2021/2022, we were introduced to ‘’WISE STUDIOS’’ a collective you are a part of, what is the story behind it?

“WISE” primarily stands for “With Intelligence, Souls Exceed”. The first shoot that we ever brought to life, with the computer monitors was actually the first time that all of us met and spoken in person. The idea of the collective was really thought of by my homies, whom I love dearly. WISE is essentially a creative agency with the expanse for creative freedom. We wanted to start something cool together and we share the same love for multimedia.

Who or what would say has influenced the way you approach your creative process?

I think a lot of my youthful interests and surroundings have influenced me. All of the non-intellectual artsy stuff. I was a very emotional child and I’m a very emotional young woman. I like nostalgic and romantic and painful palettes of life, wherever they lie. Being a young African female creative, yearning for this idea of a fleeting career in film, it is very scary but these kinds of challenges excite me. I’ve always been ambitious and I’ve never been one to take a break from creating, even when I'm at my lowest. My friends at home inspire me. The music I listen to and the conversations I have with them about our experiences inspire me.

a still from convictions of an empath

You recently released a very captivating short film "Convictions of An Empath", how closely do you relate to such an emotionally grabbing story?

I relate very closely to this first short release. I actually first got to know the word “conviction(s)” in a therapy session about two years ago. I learnt that I often lacked “self-conviction” when I spoke about my own experiences or how I've felt about something that I’ve seen or something that has happened to me. And the word empath has always stuck with me because I’m known to be that very understanding person in other people’s lives. The script was hard to flush out because it is a personal piece, but I wanted to focus on the concepts of forgiveness and how non-linear that can be in intimate relationships. Forgiveness does not look the same to everyone. Sometimes it means nothing, sometimes it means everything. I figured that if I want to debut a first film, it had to mean something to me first.

What was the thinking like behind the whole conceptualization of the film? especially considering that it is a short film, what helped you make a storyline that's not lackluster for a short movie?

This is a great question! I think just the time frame that I was given to tell the story. I needed the script to have a sense of a beginning, some sort of an arc where one character doesn’t remain the same, a sense of conflict and a solid ending that kept people entertained. I wrote the script based on conversations I’ve had in my own past, but also things I’ve never gotten to really say. And I figured if I can combine that with the idea of a flashback then maybe it will be good enough for a short piece. I’ve also learnt to start simple. There are so many things I want to accomplish when filming but keeping it simple and cohesive is what works. There is still so much I want to say and put out! And I had to get some sort of cool shots and editing in there without jarring an audience.

How did you find the actors?

Esmeralda and Gelson are two actors in the acting department at a film school in London. I didn’t really have to source them out, even though one of them works under an acting agency. I spoke to both of them over coffee dates and at parties and so, through conversation I just knew that I had to get them in my first film prior to seeing any of their work. I was lucky enough to do this with no needed budget. We all became really good friends, and they were able to approach the script as realistically as possible, and I was happy about that.

fikile photographed by kwami lee

You’re also a model, how did you get into that?

I started freelance modeling in around 2015/2016. My approaches to modelling really come from photographers and very particular shoots and poses that have inspired me. For reference images on set I always go to Cameron Reed, Conor Cunningham, Renell Medrano and Edwig Henson’s work. I had worked with some really talented photographers in Gabs and fashion brands and then there was this really wonderful shoot that I had with Glotto, and Mboko is just brilliant at whatever she touches, it was when I still had my blonde wig phase and after that I started contacting other photographers that I’d longed to work with on instagram and built a portfolio. To this day I think Septemberline has captured my best work. He’s always been far ahead of his time. Current photographers that I’ve come across in London or even New York would be astounded by his catalogue.

What were some of the challenges you faced when creating the film?

Shooting on location. That park scene was shot in February and it was very cold when we filmed it. It was shot at the top of Primrose Hill park, and my sound designer, Elia Cordaro, had an issue with his lavelier mics; so we had to ADR the whole conversation which is essentially when one re-records the entire dialogue in the studio.

How do you handle creative blocks?

I put the creative project away for a while, and try ground myself in reality. I've learnt to release the guilt that comes with taking my time, if I have enough time. Yoga and meditation help to just destress a lot of the tension I hold in. Immersing myself in what’s actually happening around me, going outside. Watching trash tv. When I feel like I’m getting overly intellectual with something I’m creating it helps to stay away from it. Then the inspiration comes back.

What kind of music do you like listening to and what is your favorite album right now?

I listen to a lot of alternative music, indie, bossa nova, baile funk, jazz and hip hop. I don’t have a favourite album at the moment but my playlists heavily consist of Kaytranada, Ojerime, King Krule, Babyxsosa, Naomi Sharon and Clairo.

What are your favorite movies?

Leon the Professional (1994), Before Sunrise (1995), Love Jones (1997), Passing (2021), C’mon C’mon (2021), and Ladybird (2017)

fikile at the raindance film festival screening

How did you get to debut your film at the Raindance film festival?

I submitted it for the student showcase which is during the very last day of film festival programme, where they screened BA films, MA films and a whole bunch of student films. I received an email one day before the screening that mine was chosen to be in the selected titles category. It was a dream, it still is.

Describe the feeling you had when people were watching your first ever film at the theatre?

You know the feeling you get when you’ve finally grasped that one thing that you know you’re really good at? And it feels like you’re flying and like you could do that for the rest of your life? When you’d discovered a part of your purpose. That’s what it felt like. My younger self is astounded.

What's next for you?

Many things, I can only hope. I have a long way to go but I'm happy to be here. I’m drafting a new script, I’m connecting with more black female filmmakers. Another print shoot is lined up. I’m leaving the rest up to life.

[plaguelily-art]

And a little concept page for Link, whose design I am...still struggling with a bit (it's not as intuitive to draw). The "armor" design is actually just the light armor for all the Hylian guards, and I think Link wears it for exactly one chapter but I figured I'd toss together a ref anyhow. Still tweaking color palettes though because my art looks so different depending on which monitor I'm viewing it on...

—————————————————————————

2023, Summer Digital (Adobe Photoshop) Redesign and concept for this story and its character iterations belongs to me. Link is a character from the Legend of Zelda series, and belongs to Nintendo. Artwork belongs to me.

This image (published by the artist to deviantart.com/plaguelily, plaguelily-art.tumblr.com) may not be reproduced, copied, edited, republished, reuploaded, distributed, or redistributed in any way, and I do not give permission for the creation of any sort of derivatives of my work including the use of the work in datasets used for generation of AI art or any other sort of procedurally generated image program or software. Thank you.

[empyrasofytwaresolution]

Complete Guide to Understanding the Atlassian Teamwork Collection

Atlassian Teamwork Collection is designed to help modern teams collaborate more effectively, stay organized, and deliver work faster. It combines Atlassian’s most powerful tools into one seamless ecosystem—making it easier for teams to manage tasks, communicate, and track progress.

Whether you're leading a product team or coordinating across departments, this collection offers everything you need to keep your projects aligned and efficient. In this guide, we’ll explore what’s included, how it benefits teams, and why it’s a smart choice for any growing organization.

1 . What Is the Atlassian Teamwork Collection?

The Atlassian Teamwork Collection is a bundled suite of Atlassian tools that helps teams manage their work from planning to execution. It connects software, knowledge, and communication workflows to reduce silos and improve collaboration.

Designed for technical and non-technical teams

Combines project tracking, documentation, communication, and governance

Enables better cross-functional collaboration and visibility

2 . Core Tools in the Teamwork Collection

The Atlassian Teamwork Collection includes a powerful lineup of tools tailored for better planning, collaboration, and visibility. Each tool plays a specific role while working seamlessly together to streamline how teams get work done.

Jira

Jira is Atlassian’s agile project management tool designed for planning, tracking, and releasing work. Teams use it to manage sprints, assign tasks, and monitor progress with customizable workflows.

Confluence

Confluence is a collaborative workspace where teams can create, organize, and share documentation. It’s ideal for project planning, team wikis, meeting notes, and knowledge sharing.

Loom

Loom lets users quickly record and share video messages to reduce meeting time and improve clarity. When integrated with Atlassian tools, it helps teams communicate updates asynchronously.

Rovo AI Agent

Rovo is an AI-powered teammate that surfaces relevant content and suggests next steps based on team activity. It enhances productivity by connecting work insights across tools.

Guard Standard

Guard Standard provides data security, governance, and compliance features across Atlassian Cloud products. It ensures sensitive data is protected while maintaining control over user access.

3 . How It Improves Team Collaboration

By using integrated tools, teams spend less time switching between apps and more time focusing on meaningful work. Updates, documentation, and feedback all stay in sync.

Real-time collaboration across tools

AI-powered updates and intelligent suggestions

Clear communication without needing extra meetings

4 . Who Benefits Most from It?

Whether you're a startup or an enterprise, these tools support various departments and job functions.

Project Managers for planning and reporting

Developers for code tracking and sprint boards

Content Teams for documentation and Loom updates

IT & Security Teams for governance and compliance

5 . Deployment Options and Pricing

You can use the Atlassian Teamwork Collection in the cloud or on a data center environment based on your compliance needs.

Cloud deployment for scalability and ease of use

Enterprise-grade Data Center option for control and security

Pricing based on user tiers and selected features

6 . Key Benefits of Using the Atlassian Teamwork Collection

The collection reduces tool sprawl and makes cross-team collaboration easier. Everything your team needs is connected and optimized for productivity.

Unified experience across all tools

Enhanced collaboration and faster decision-making

Scales with your team as you grow

7 . Common Use Cases for the Collection

This suite supports a wide range of teams and workflows, from technical builds to business operations.

Agile software development

Knowledge management and team onboarding

Project tracking and sprint execution

Remote team communication and async video updates

8 . Getting Started: Best Practices

Start with the core tools your team needs most, then expand. Use templates, training, and integrations to drive adoption.

Begin with Jira and Confluence for structure

Integrate Loom and Rovo for enhanced communication

Use Guard to manage access and data integrity

9 . Why Choose Empyra for Your Atlassian Setup?

Empyra is a trusted Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner with over 30 years of experience helping organizations adopt and optimize Atlassian tools.

End-to-end consulting, implementation, and support

Custom onboarding for your team’s workflows

Trusted by over 300 enterprise clients

Conclusion

Atlassian TWC is more than just a bundle—it’s a complete teamwork solution. With tools like Jira, Confluence, Loom, Rovo, and Guard, your team can manage tasks, share knowledge, stay aligned, and protect data—all in one connected platform. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, adopting this suite can drive collaboration, speed, and success across your organization.

[meika-kuna]

Is a Remote Proctoring Test Safe and Private? Here's the Truth

As online education continues to grow, the remote proctoring test has become an essential tool for institutions to maintain academic integrity during virtual exams. This digital solution enables students to take tests from home while ensuring fairness and security through video monitoring, browser lockdowns, and AI detection. However, it also raises valid concerns about privacy, data handling, and system reliability. Understanding how a remote proctoring test works—and whether it can be trusted—helps students and educators navigate this evolving space confidently. In this article, we break down the security features, myths, and truths behind remote proctoring tests in depth.

Understanding Privacy Concerns in Remote Proctoring

Many students express anxiety about the privacy implications of a remote proctoring test. The idea of being watched through a webcam, having screen activity recorded, and sharing identification details can feel intrusive. Institutions must be transparent about the data they collect, why it’s collected, and how long it’s stored. Most remote proctoring systems only access what’s necessary and comply with privacy laws like GDPR and FERPA. Still, it's essential that users are informed and can consent knowingly. Building trust starts with understanding these concerns and addressing them directly, especially as remote proctoring becomes increasingly common across global platforms.

How a Remote Proctoring Test Protect Your Data?

When taking a remote proctoring test, your personal data and exam footage are handled with layers of digital protection. Secure cloud storage, limited access permissions, and advanced user authentication systems are common safeguards. Reputable proctoring platforms implement strong cybersecurity protocols to protect identity documents, recorded video, and exam logs from breaches. Often, data is encrypted both in transit and at rest to further guard it from hackers or unauthorized access. Moreover, most systems adhere to international privacy standards, ensuring your academic and personal records remain confidential. Ultimately, data protection is a foundational component of a secure remote proctoring test.

Is Your Webcam Secure During Online Exams?

A central feature of any remote proctoring test is the use of a webcam to monitor test-takers. While this raises concerns about potential misuse or unauthorized access, reputable systems ensure camera activation only occurs during the exam session and with user consent. Additionally, many platforms offer transparency by showing live recording indicators and allowing users to test the camera settings beforehand. Proctoring software does not have permanent control over your webcam—it’s programmed to deactivate immediately after the session ends. Robust firewalls and one-time access tokens are also used to minimize risk, ensuring the security of your webcam during online assessments.

What Happens Behind the Scenes of a Remote Proctoring Test?

A remote proctoring test involves more than just a live proctor watching through a webcam. Behind the scenes, artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms actively monitor behavior for red flags like unusual eye movement, background noise, or sudden tab switches. These systems compile detailed activity logs, flag suspicious behavior, and alert human proctors for manual review. During this process, secure servers collect and store encrypted data for auditing. In many cases, tests are reviewed post-exam to validate flagged issues. This sophisticated combination of automation and human oversight ensures that remote proctoring tests remain fair, secure, and free from technical biases.

Can Remote Proctoring Tests Be Trusted for Fairness?

A well-implemented remote proctoring test can uphold fairness by deterring cheating and ensuring every test-taker has an equal opportunity to perform. AI-based systems monitor all candidates impartially, flagging only rule-breaking behaviors, not appearances or backgrounds. However, fairness also depends on how proctoring software handles accessibility needs, varying internet speeds, and diverse environments. Leading providers allow accommodations like additional time, breaks, or alternative formats for students with special needs. Institutions must also ensure that every flagged case is reviewed by a human to prevent false accusations. When managed responsibly, remote proctoring tests offer a credible and equitable solution for online exams.

Data Encryption in a Remote Proctoring Test Explained

Data encryption is a critical component of security in any remote proctoring test. From the moment you submit your ID or begin recording video, your data is encrypted—converted into a secure, unreadable format that can only be accessed with special keys. Encryption ensures that if data is intercepted, it remains unusable to hackers. There are typically two types used: encryption in transit (as data moves from your device to the server) and encryption at rest (when stored in databases). Together, these methods protect sensitive information from breaches and give both institutions and students peace of mind during virtual exams.

Remote Proctoring Test Myths vs. Reality

There are several myths surrounding the remote proctoring test that create unnecessary fear among students. One common myth is that proctoring software spies on users 24/7, which is false—access is limited to the exam session only. Another misconception is that the AI unfairly targets people, but modern systems are trained for impartiality and always include human review to ensure accuracy. It’s also believed that proctoring tools store videos forever; however, data retention policies usually limit storage to 30–90 days. Understanding the realities behind these myths can help students feel more confident and informed when preparing for a remote proctoring test.

Conclusion

The rise of the remote proctoring test marks a pivotal shift in modern education and assessment. While privacy, fairness, and data protection are valid concerns, technological advancements have made proctoring systems more secure, ethical, and effective than ever before. Institutions and providers must continue to communicate transparently, educate users, and adopt best practices to maintain trust. For students, knowing how the process works—from webcam access to encryption—can ease anxiety and build confidence. As remote learning continues to expand, the remote proctoring test will remain an essential, evolving tool that ensures integrity without compromising security or personal rights.

[primevalprototypefrenzy]

Why Your Digital Life Needs a Security Checkup (And How Vulnerability Scanning Can Save You)

Hey tech fam! 👋 Let's talk about something that might sound super technical but is actually pretty important for anyone who uses the internet (so... everyone?).

What's This "Vulnerability Scanning" Thing Anyway?

Think of vulnerability scanning like getting a regular health checkup, but for your computers, websites, and digital stuff. Just like how a doctor checks for health issues before they become serious problems, vulnerability scanning looks for security weak spots before hackers can exploit them.

It's basically an automated security guard that goes through all your digital assets and says "Hey, this password is weak," or "This software needs updating," or "This door is wide open for cybercriminals."

The Different Types of Digital Health Checks 🩺

Network Scanning: Checks your WiFi, routers, and all the tech that connects your devices together. Think of it as examining your digital nervous system.

Web App Scanning: Looks at websites and online applications for common hacker tricks like SQL injection (sounds scary, right?).

Database Scanning: Makes sure your stored data isn't sitting there with a "please steal me" sign on it.

Wireless Scanning: Checks if your WiFi is basically broadcasting "free internet and data access" to the whole neighborhood.

How Does It Actually Work? 🤖

Discovery Phase: The scanner maps out everything connected to your network (like taking inventory of your digital house)

Detection Phase: Compares what it finds against huge databases of known security holes and vulnerabilities

Risk Assessment: Ranks problems from "meh, fix when you have time" to "OMG FIX THIS NOW"

Reporting: Creates reports that actually make sense (hopefully)

Why Should You Care? 🤷‍♀️

Because Hackers Don't Take Days Off: They're constantly looking for easy targets. Regular scanning helps you not be one.

Compliance Stuff: If you run a business, there are probably rules you need to follow. Scanning helps with that boring (but important) paperwork.

It's Cheaper Than Getting Hacked: Trust me, prevention costs way less than dealing with a data breach. Way, way less.

Expert Help: Professional services give you more than just "here's a list of problems" - they actually help you understand and fix things.

What Makes a Good Vulnerability Scanning Service? ✨

Covers Everything: Should check all your digital stuff, not just some of it

Stays Updated: New threats pop up daily, so the service needs to keep up

Customizable: Your business isn't exactly like everyone else's, so your scanning shouldn't be either

Plays Well With Others: Should work with your existing security tools

Clear Reports: Nobody has time for technical gibberish without explanations

Real Talk: The Challenges 😅

Performance Impact: Scanning can slow things down temporarily (like how your phone gets slow during updates)

Information Overload: Sometimes you get SO many alerts that you don't know where to start

Not Enough Time/People: Small teams often feel overwhelmed by all the security stuff they need to handle

Pro Tips for Success 💡

Set up regular scans (like scheduling those dentist appointments you keep putting off)

Mix up authenticated and non-authenticated scans for different perspectives

Actually track whether you've fixed the problems (revolutionary concept, I know)

Learn to ignore false alarms so you can focus on real issues

The Future is Pretty Cool 🚀

AI and machine learning are making vulnerability scanning smarter. Soon, systems might even fix some problems automatically (while we're sleeping, hopefully).

We're also moving toward real-time monitoring instead of just periodic checkups. It's like having a fitness tracker for your cybersecurity.

Bottom Line 💯

Look, cybersecurity might seem intimidating, but vulnerability scanning is actually one of the more straightforward ways to protect yourself. It's like having a really thorough friend who points out when your digital fly is down before you embarrass yourself in public.

The internet can be a scary place, but you don't have to navigate it defenseless. Regular vulnerability scanning is like having a really good security system - it won't stop every single threat, but it'll catch most of them and give you peace of mind.

Ready to give your digital life a security checkup? Professional services can handle all the technical stuff while you focus on... literally anything else. Check out comprehensive vulnerability scanning solutions here and sleep better knowing your digital house has good locks on the doors.

Stay safe out there! 🛡️

What's your biggest cybersecurity worry? Drop it in the comments - let's discuss! 💬

#cybersecurity #vulnerability #techsafety #infosec #digitalsecurity #smallbusiness #technology #hacking #cybercrime #datasecurity

[scrumptiousharmonypuppy]

10 Best Practices for Digital Tensile Testing

Source of Info: https://www.perfectgroupindia.co.in/10-best-practices-for-digital-tensile-testing.php

One of the fundamental techniques used in material analysis to assess the mechanical characteristics of different materials is digital tensile testing. It yields very useful data regarding tensile strength, elasticity, ductility, and other properties for a wide range of materials, including metals, polymers, textiles, and composites. It is crucial to comprehend the best practices in order to maximize the effectiveness of this potent method. The following list of the top ten digital tensile testing best practices will assist you in optimizing your material analysis workflow and discovering fresh avenues for material characterization.

Calibration Confidence Make sure your testing apparatus is calibrated accurately and up to date to start with a strong base. Frequent calibration checks provide accurate and dependable results, boosting the confidence you have in your testing procedure.

Sample Selection Savvy Make careful selections of your samples, taking into account aspects like surface condition, size, shape, and homogeneity of material. Properly prepared samples minimize variability and improve data integrity by guaranteeing consistency and repeatability in test results.

Gripping Guidance Right sample holding is essential for precise and representative test results. Choose grips that are appropriate for the shape and type of material you are using to ensure even stress distribution and avoid early sample failure.

Strain Sensibility Optimize strain measurement accuracy by selecting an appropriate extensometer and ensuring proper installation and alignment. Precise strain control enables detailed analysis of material behavior under various loading conditions.

Speed Selection To properly capture important material responses, strike the ideal balance between the speed of the test and the rate at which data is acquired. Adjust testing parameters based on the deformation properties of your material to prevent over- or undersampling of the data.

Temperature Tact Consider the effects of temperature on the properties of the materials by conducting tests in controlled environments. Temperature baths or chambers allow for the assessment of both mechanical and thermal properties while preserving the integrity of the specimen.

Data Delve Utilize cutting-edge software features to process post-test data and monitor in real-time as you delve deeply into analyze data. To fully comprehend the performance of a material, extract insightful information from fracture analysis, stress-strain curves, and modulus calculations.

Safety Spotlight Give priority to safety procedures so that during testing operations both people and equipment are protected. To effectively reduce potential hazards, put in place the necessary safety measures, such as personnel training, emergency stop mechanisms, and machine guarding.

Standard Compliance Adhere to relevant industry standards and testing protocols to ensure consistency and comparability of results. Familiarize yourself with ASTM, ISO, or other applicable standards, and follow prescribed procedures meticulously to maintain credibility and reliability in your testing endeavors.

Continuous Improvement Embrace a culture of continuous improvement by soliciting feedback, conducting regular audits, and staying abreast of technological advancements in digital tensile testing. Strive for excellence in every aspect of your testing process, driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of material analysis.

Conclusion In conclusion, you can fully realize the potential of this adaptable method for material characterization by learning the best practices for digital tensile testing. You may improve the precision, dependability, and effectiveness of your testing processes by following calibration guidelines, making the most of sample preparation, and utilizing cutting-edge data analysis technologies. As you proceed with your material analysis journey, adopt these best practices as a guide to help you make ground-breaking discoveries and breakthroughs in the fields of materials science and engineering.

Build an environment of ongoing learning and development within your company by working together with colleagues and industry experts to share best practices and insights. In materials science and engineering, you can lead significant breakthroughs and stay ahead of the curve by adopting a proactive and forward-thinking approach, which will ultimately shape the field's future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is digital tensile testing? Digital tensile testing is a method used to evaluate the mechanical properties of materials by applying tension until the material breaks.

Q: Why is digital tensile testing important? Understanding a material's strength, elasticity, and ductility is essential for a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and aerospace. Digital tensile testing offers valuable insights into these properties.

Q: How often should calibration checks be performed? As advised by the manufacturer, calibration checks ought to be carried out on a regular basis—typically, at least once a year or whenever there is a substantial alteration in the testing environment.

Q: What types of materials can be tested using digital tensile testing? Metals, polymers, textiles, and composites are just a few of the materials that can be tested using digital tensile testing.

Q: How can I improve the accuracy of my digital tensile testing results? To improve accuracy, ensure proper sample preparation, select appropriate testing parameters, and adhere to relevant industry standards and protocols.

[aliyaqoobsblog]

Everything You Need to Know About Diesel Flow Meters

In a world where fuel is both costly and necessary, keeping tabs on diesel usage accurately has never been more important. Whether you're operating a fleet of trucks, a building company, or simply a diesel-powered generator, having a clear understanding of just how much diesel you're burning can save time, money, and effort. That's when diesel flow meters come into play — reliable machines that do their thing quietly in the background to maximize efficiency, reduce waste, and impose accountability.

What Is a Diesel Flow Meter?

A diesel flow meter is a device that computes the flow of diesel fuel so that you can accurately measure consumption. Diesel flow meters can be mechanical or digital and are usually installed in fuel lines to measure the amount of diesel that passes through. By converting flow into meaningful data, they let businesses and consumers manage fuel smartly.

But a diesel flow meter does more than show you numbers. It tells you a story — about where your resources are going, how efficiently they're being used, and where you can make changes.

Why Does It Matter?

Imagine having a fleet of vehicles with no concept of diesel usage. Fuel costs could skyrocket at an instant's notice, minute leaks could go unseen, and theft could go unseen. With a diesel flow meter, you have control and transparency. Each gallon of fuel is traced, and traceability brings peace of mind.

For those who work in challenging environments — dusty construction sites, remote farm fields, or hectic transportation hubs — having a good diesel flow meter is like having a trusted buddy. It does not complain, it does not sleep, but it is always busy making your operations stay on schedule.

Types of Diesel Flow Meters

There are different kinds of diesel flow meters available in the market today:

Mechanical Flow Meters: Durable and simple to use. Most commonly used in hand-actuated fueling systems where electricity is not an issue.

Digital Flow Meters: Precise readings and tend to be software-compatible for monitoring and reports.

Turbine and Oval Gear Meters: Ideal for industrial use with high flow rates and high accuracy.

Each of these types has its merits depending on your particular needs. How you select among them will most likely be based upon your surroundings, flow rate requirements, and quantity of data to be recorded.

Choosing the proper meter

When selecting a diesel flow meter, some factors to take into account are:

Flow rate capability

Accuracy levels

Resistance to adverse conditions

Ease of installation and maintenance

Compatibility with your system

And don't forget – it's not always about specs. It's about trust. A quality diesel flow meter is an investment in efficiency and long-term savings.

A Final Thought

Diesel is not cheap, and making the most of it can be the difference between turning a profit and running at a loss. A diesel flow meter may seem insignificant, but it has big jobs to do. It helps you take measure of that which counts. In a day when every drop counts — for your business, the planet, and your sanity — a diesel flow meter is something more than a tool. It is a silent sentinel guarding your resources.

Choose wisely. Monitor responsibly. And let your diesel flow with purpose.