#scams in email attachments

[carolinemillerbooks]

New Post has been published on Books by Caroline Miller

New Post has been published on https://www.booksbycarolinemiller.com/musings/perchance-to-dream-17/

Perchance To Dream #17

When an email with an attachment popped up on my computer screen,  I snapped to attention. The message was from a New York book agent.  I’d queried the woman about my memoir Getting Lost to Find Home two years ago. Having heard nothing, I’d written her off.  Yet, the  email’s subject line read, “contract attached.”  Like a dog gazing up at a picnic table, I salivated. Was this agent making me an off I couldn’t refuse? My index finger hovered above the attachment while my mind raced. Should I scrap my plans to self-publish? Was that wise? And was my attorney available to read the contract? After a moment’s pause, I dialed a set of numbers, but they weren’t my lawyer’s.  The computer guy answered. I asked him if the attachment was a scam.   He didn’t keep me in suspense.  “Open that puppy, and I’ll spend hours cleaning up the mess. The address has been hacked.”  Sadder and wiser, I deleted the email before my computer guy could hang up. In the “good old days,” when the mail arrived by stagecoach, the cost of sending a letter was exorbitant and the inability to hack into someone’s communication was nonexistent.  The system may have been inconvenient but the mail was seldom tampered with unless the carriage was hauling gold. Further back in history, cuneiform tablets offered an additional benefit. Given the time it took to stamp a nasty message into the wet clay, a person could repent and make a pot instead.   But back to my point. Convinced no agent wanted my book, my thoughts returned to the question of how to promote it. With or without an agent, all writers face the same challenge. Genius doesn’t get noticed unless there’s chatter. And, there’s no chatter unless the author dances naked in Times Square.  And, maybe not even then. The usual route to fame is to plead for book reviews, readings, television appearances, and guest shots on podcasts or YouTube.  An alternative might be to hire trained squirrels to dance the can-can around the book’s cover on TikTok. Famous or known only to their mothers, writers climb the same rocky slope.  Though my memoir isn’t set to publish until November, my begging has begun. Like confetti, I’m offering advance reader copies (ARCs) to anyone in the writing world. A word to neophytes.  Never send an arc without receiving permission. Otherwise, your book will end up unread in a landfill.  On the other hand, if you get the nod and the reviewer likes your work, don’t be shy.  Flaunt it! That’s what I’m doing here. New York Times best-selling crime writer Rebecca Morris agreed to read my book and, though she is busy writing her own, she’s penned a full review.  That makes her more than a generous person.  It makes her a saint. Below are her remarks which I share with a grateful heart. Review for Getting Lost to Find Home By Rebecca Morris After Elizabeth Gilbert published Eat, Pray, Love (2007), and Cheryl Strayed wrote Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail (2012) hundreds, maybe thousands of women wrote memoirs about finding themselves. They went to Antarctica, the Alaskan wild, and around the world to do it, the more remote the better. A book that should be shelved with the best of them is Getting Lost to Find Home, by Caroline Miller. It is more poignant because it takes place in the 1960s English Midlands, with its post-war hardships, and Africa, where British rule is waning.  Miller, just out of college, is pursuing a British fiancé who finds numerous ways to stall marriage. While she waits, she teaches students in Englands (unable to understand their dialects) and in segregated Rhodesia, where her students catch insects in the air and eat them. At each teaching post, there is either no heat or too much heat.  Her experiences with her students, fellow teachers, and members of the many tribes she meets are told with a companionable self-deprecation.  Miller grew up to be the first Hispanic woman elected to office in Portland, Oregon, a strong advocate for citizen involvement in government and health care, and a prolific author and playwright.  The better-known memoirs stop in middle age. Elizabeth Gilbert and Cheryl Strayed became best-selling authors and their books were filmed. The poignancy of Getting Lost to Find Home is the coming-of-age story is told in the present tense by the author, now an elderly woman. Never married and with no children, she is the odd resident in her retirement center. She feels more like a stranger in a strange land than she ever did traveling. But, oh, the stories she can tell!

[storyteller-and-story-told]

How about everyone leaves me alone for like 5 minutes. How about we don’t add more things to my todo list until I’ve gotten the chance to accomplish like 1 thing

[mail-posting]

Sighs. Paranoia is a bitch huh

[voidify333]

Discord scam alert

If you get messages like this from a discord friend’s account, your friend has just become the victim of a phishing scam and the scammer is trying to get you too.

But my friend got his account back within an hour of this conversation, and your friend can get theirs back too.

The MO: using this scare story, the scammer tricks people into changing the email on their account to give the scammer control of the account. Once they have control, they use the hijacked account to send the scam pitch to all the victim’s friends

The motive: to try to get people who have nitro to bite, so the scammer can steal their credit card

Here’s how to keep your account safe and help your friend

DO NOT follow any of the instructions your friend’s account sends you. The scammer will lie to you and give you instructions to hand over control of your account.

DO:

Keep your cool. The scare story is a lie. The scammer has no power to force you to follow their instructions, they only have lies to try to trick you into it.

Ghost the scammer. It’s what I did as soon as I realised this was definitely a scam (I smelled shit immediately because my friend has a totally different typing style, but it would be harder to recognise coming from a random acquaintance), and they didn’t persevere any further after the end of the screenshot. Scammers target the vulnerable and avoid wasting effort on more difficult victims; if you ghost them they will sense you’re not biting and leave you alone.

Contact your friend on another platform if possible, to confirm that it’s not them and let them know they’ve been hacked

Direct your friend to the discord support ticket platform— my friend got his account back in like 30 minutes by sending a “hacked account” ticket here.

If your friend has nitro, make sure they get going on cancelling any compromised payment methods before the scammer can steal their money

Take this as a lesson to avoid repeated passwords and turn on 2FA on all your accounts, especially ones with any payment info attached— even if you think you’re too smart to get scammed, everyone has moments of not paying attention, and that’s what scammers prey on

[chlora-boii]

Did you know you can help kick beloathed plagiarist, James Somerton, off Patreon?

Go to:

https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

and fill out a form!

Here's how I filled mine out:

For "Please choose a request type below:", you can click "I want to report suspicious activity".

Add your email. You may need to have an email linked to a Patreon account to fill out "Your Patreon Email Address", but I'm not sure if they actually check that.

For "Please select the issue that best describes your situation", click "General" -> "I want to report a fake/suspicious account".

Enter his Patreon Page URL: "https://www.patreon.com/Jamessomertonx"

For "Subject", I put: "James Somerton is a plagiarist and scammer".

And for "Description", I wrote: "James Somerton is on record as having plagiarized heavily in all of the content he has created. He previously had a Patreon account where he made lots of money scamming people by pretending to be a writer and video essayist. He has also stolen $80,000 USD from supporters in Indiegogo through his "production company", Telos Pictures. This studio has produced nothing and never will, it is a scam. Patreon should not be allowing a known scammer to make money on their website with whatever his latest scam will be."

If you wanna find screenshots of evidence of him being a scammer, feel free to attach them to the report.

Then hit submit!

I don't know if the support team will actually listen, but it's worth taking a couple of minutes to show this guy we won't let him keep stealing from queer creators.

[rhaaclaws]

New Discord Scam Going Around

Ok so I'm making this post because I almost got completely scammed on there and I just want to mention what to do.

Essentially you just get a message from an infected user in your friend's list and they'll start out very casually. Then they go on about how they accidentally reported you for fraud and that you need to talk to someone from "support". they'll have a fake email attached to it.

They'll then go on to tell you that you need to add a guy called Rhys Davis

The nastiest part is how casually yet urgently they'll talk to you. Do not do what I did and even give them the light of day. Unfortunately, they're really good at what they do, and of course I started to panic and immediately messaged him.

I won't go too much into it but he'll tell you to change your email to one he generates and then log out. Then he'll hold it for ransom at a very small time frame. This is how I lost my account but thankfully no money because that's when I realized it was just a scam.

Here's how to get your account back if you lost it

To get your account back, go to the official discord website and submit a support ticket with the original email and they'll do the work for you. It's actually really fast and when you get your account it'll be temporarily suspended. Thankfully I got to it quick enough for it to not message much people who i didn't already get a friend to warn to.

Just making this to try to help anyone out there, since its super insidious.

Don't be stupid in the tags, this can happen to anyone

[jiihu]

𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋 — 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫

﹅ summary — struggling to afford your ever-growing bills, you decide to take up the offer of a woman you met in a café. however, she has one rule; don't fall in love.

﹅ content — sugarmommy!minjeong, age difference, angst

﹅ word count — 3.3k

﹅ a/n — this was supposed to be based off of the song ‘hundred dollar bill’ by lana, but honestly i lost the plot

it was 4 am and you were leaving minjeong's penthouse, your hood pulled up around your head to hide the many crimson marks she'd left littered across your neck and chest. your fingers tightly clutched the laptop that minjeong gifted to you during your first official meeting.

"education is important, sweetheart. take it. it's the least i can do."

minjeong always gave you pricey gifts under the guise of it being the 'least' she could do. coming from a background that was wildly different than hers, it took a while for you to get used to expensive things being the least.

as you stepped out into the quiet, dimly lit street, the cool early morning air sent a shiver down your spine. the weight of the thick, black coat you wore reminded you of the generosity of the woman you had just left behind. minjeong, with her elegant demeanor and enigmatic smile, had captivated you from the moment you met her.

you groaned, rubbing your temples as you looked at the email you received, your semester's tuition due already. "it feels like i just paid this yesterday," you mumbled, your eyes glaring at your phone as if it'd make the payment disappear.

you stood up with a sigh, leaving your bag at the table to place your order at the counter. "just a small tea and milk bread, please." the cashier nodded, pushing buttons on the register before reaching a hand out for your card. you passed it to him, silently praying that there was enough left on your card.

"ma'am? it says your payment was declined." you winced at the volume of his voice, your eyes darting around to see if anyone heard.

"i'll pay for her." you looked up to see a woman with shoulder-length brown hair standing behind you, a soft smile on her face.

"no, it's okay," you turned to the cashier, "i don't want anything." before he could respond, she stepped in front of you, holding out her card. you looked down and saw her passing him a sleek, black credit card and your breath hitched. how much money does this woman have?

"careful. it's hot." her words brought you out of your trance as she passed you your tea, her fingers brushing against yours as you took it. you reached out for your bread, but she'd already turned away and made a beeline to a booth in the back of the store. you hesitantly followed her, hoping that this wasn’t some sort of elaborate scam.

"sorry, this might seem odd, but i overheard what you said earlier. about your tuition." your heart started pounding, suddenly feeling embarrassed about a stranger knowing about your financial issues. "i understand if you're uncomfortable with my intrusion," she continued, her voice gentle and reassuring. "but i couldn't help but notice, and i'd like to offer you a helping hand. no strings attached."

you cautiously took a seat across from her, curiosity mingling with skepticism in your mind. "why would you want to help me?" you asked, unable to hide the hint of suspicion in your voice.

the woman's eyes softened, and she leaned forward slightly. "because i've been there," she replied, her voice laced with empathy. "i know how overwhelming it can be to face financial burdens, especially when it seems like they keep piling up. i've experienced my fair share of struggles, and now that i'm in a more stable position, i believe in paying it forward."

her words resonated with you, your heart fluttering at the idea of no longer having to struggle with money. "thank you," you finally said, genuine gratitude evident in your tone. "but how can i repay you?"

"think of it as a way for me to repay you for your passion for higher education. is that okay?"

you nodded, your heart fluttering as you took in the sight of minjeong. despite being in a dimly lit café, her beauty only seemed to intensify, and you couldn't help but feel a surge of nervousness as she held eye contact with you. the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, intertwining with the hint of minjeong's intoxicating perfume.

conversation continued between you two, minjeong asking about your expectations, and what you wished to gain from this arrangement.

"of course, i don't mind paying for your education. that's what i'm here for, right?"

from that moment on, minjeong had been helping you with not only tuition but also your rent, although you'd basically already moved in with her at this point. her penthouse was filled with your things, from paintings and vases with colorful flowers to clothes scattered around the rooms.

minjeong didn't mind, and in fact, told you how much she loved that you'd practically made the place yours. before you settled in, minjeong's place almost looked deserted, with barely any decoration adorning the walls.

you unlocked your car, collapsed against the seat, and turned on the heat. the instant warmth that enveloped you was a drastic change from the almost half an hour you'd have to wait for heat in your old car. the day after you picked up minjeong to see a movie, she already had a new car waiting for you with a red bow on top in the carport.

"i couldn't let you drive around in that. you deserve something better."

before you could leave, your phone buzzed and you looked down to see a message from minjeong.

'did you leave yet'

you furrowed your eyebrows, your thumbs hovering over the keyboard.

'no'

'is everything okay?'

she didn't respond for a few more minutes and you started to get worried, and shut off the car, prepared to go check on her before your phone buzzed again.

'yeah'

'can you come back up'

"i just left," you mumbled, your eyes starting to feel heavy reminded you of how early in the morning it was.

'minjeong?'

you watched the message bubbles appear and disappear repeatedly until she eventually sent the message.

'i can't sleep without you'

you smiled, your heart fluttering at the thought of minjeong still thinking about you, even after you left. you caught yourself smiling and quickly dropped it. you'd realize sometimes that you're thinking too fondly of her, occasionally smiling to yourself when she plagues your thoughts, which seems like it's on an everyday basis these days.

you jogged back towards the building, speed-walking through the lobby and back to the elevator. you punched in the penthouse button, scanning the card that minjeong gave you as the elevator started its ascent.

once you reached the top level, the doors could barely even open before you saw minjeong appear on the other side. she was standing in an oversized shirt and shorts with a pout on her face before she grabbed your arm, pulling you inside.

"sorry about that. i should've just asked you to stay instead of waiting," she mumbled.

you couldn't help but feel a mixture of amusement and affection at minjeong's pouting expression. her slightly disheveled appearance only made her more endearing in your eyes. you shook your head, trying to suppress the smile tugging at your lips.

"it's alright, minjeong. i don't mind coming back at all," you reassured her, your voice soft. "i'm happy to be here with you."

minjeong's pout faded, replaced by a soft smile that quickly faded into an indescribable expression. she didn't respond and instead led you further into the penthouse, her hand still holding onto your arm as if you'd turn around and leave any moment. the air was filled with a sense of familiarity, the scent of her perfume mixed with your own wafting around the rooms.

as you settled into the comfortable bedroom, minjeong gestured for you to sit on the bed while she headed into the closet. "i'll get you a change of clothes, hold on."

you nodded and watched as minjeong disappeared into the closet. the room seemed strangely quiet, and a wave of unease washed over you. you couldn't help but wonder why minjeong's expression had shifted so suddenly. had you done something wrong?

lost in your thoughts, you absentmindedly toyed with the hem of your coat, your mind replaying the moments you had spent with minjeong. the intimacy you shared, the way she made you feel special, and the genuine affection that seemed to bloom between you—it all felt too good to be true. you found yourself longing for more from her, even if you didn't want to admit it.

moments later, minjeong returned with a fresh set of clothes for you. she handed them to you without a word, her eyes avoiding direct contact. you felt a pang of anxiety in your chest, the weight of the silence becoming almost unbearable.

"i hope these will fit," she finally spoke, her voice lacking its usual warmth. "you can change in the bathroom."

confused and slightly worried, you took the clothes from her, carefully making your way to the bathroom. as you closed the door behind you, you leaned against it, trying to steady your racing thoughts. something was definitely wrong, and you couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was going to happened.

slowly, you changed out of your clothes, the unfamiliar tension in the room making even the simplest tasks feel heavy. when you emerged from the bathroom, dressed in the fresh clothes minjeong had provided, you found her sitting on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on a distant point.

"minjeong, what's going on?" you asked softly, your voice tinged with concern. "you seem… upset."

she let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping. finally, she met your gaze, and the vulnerability in her eyes made your heart ache. "i think we need to talk," she said, her voice laced with sadness.

a sense of dread settled in the pit of your stomach. you slowly approached her, sitting down next to her on the bed. "talk about what?"

she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, her jaw visibly clenching. "actually, can we talk in the morning? i'm really tired right now."

"minjeong."

"please," she looked at you, almost pathetically, her eyes pleading with you to drop it. you sighed, walking around her room to tuck yourself into the right side of the bed. you felt the bed dip as she laid on the other side, feeling her eyes on the back of your head before she pushed her arm under your head, her other hand coming to rest on your torso.

"i'm sorry," you barely heard, her voice not even an octave above a faint whisper.

you woke up the next morning to no sign of minjeong. not even the faint smell of her perfume lingered in the air.

"minjeong?" you called out, sitting up from the bed and looking through the doorway to the kitchen, hoping you'd see her there. you stood up, walked out of the bedroom, and looked all over the house for her, your heart pounding once you realized you'd looked everywhere.

you sat down on the couch, your hands slightly shaking as you laid your head against the arm of the couch. "fuck, she probably knows."

"i know what what?"

you jumped up, startled at the sudden sound of a voice. "minjeong? when'd you get here?"

you turned around to see minjeong standing by the entrance of the living room, her eyes filled with concern as she observed your distressed state. relief washed over you at the sight of her, the worry in your heart beginning to subside.

"i've been here the whole time," she replied softly, stepping closer to you. "i heard you calling my name. everything alright?"

you let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding and walked toward her, your steps cautious but filled with a mix of relief and confusion. "i… i thought you were gone. i couldn't find you anywhere," you explained, your voice wavering slightly.

minjeong's expression softened, and she reached out to gently cup your face with her hands. "i'm sorry. i didn't mean to worry you," she said sincerely, her thumbs brushing against your cheeks. "i needed some time to gather my thoughts, and i didn't want to burden you."

a mix of emotions flooded through you—relief, understanding, and a touch of lingering unease. you leaned into her touch, feeling the warmth of her hands against your skin. "i'm glad you're okay. but minjeong, please remember that i'm here for you. you can talk to me," you reassured her, your voice filled with genuine care.

minjeong's eyes softened, gratitude evident in her gaze. "thank you, sweetheart. i appreciate your understanding."

"also, what did you want to talk about last night?" minjeong's eyes hardened at your words, before it was gone almost without a trace, a gentle smile taking its place.

"nothing. it was silly." you looked at her, part of you wanting to press her about it, but the other part scared to bring it up in case it upset her again. "by the way, i found a newly built bathhouse earlier that we could go to. if you're interested, of course."

you raised an eyebrow. "bathhouse? i thought you hated those?"

"i do. but i know you like them." you nodded, smiling at her.

"i'd love to."

you lay down in one of the hot rooms, the steam enveloping your bodies as you both sought solace and relaxation. minjeong's arm served as a makeshift pillow behind your head, providing comforting support. the heat from the sauna seeped into your skin, creating a soothing sensation amidst the tense atmosphere.

as the minutes ticked by in silence, the weight of minjeong's words lingered in the air. you could sense her restlessness, her desire to address the topic that had been weighing on her mind. it was clear that she wanted to talk about something, and the uncertainty of it all made your heart pound in your ears.

minjeong's question stayed in the back of your mind, the weight of unspoken feelings lingering between you. but at that moment, as the steam swirled around you and the gentle sound of water echoed in the background, you both made an unspoken agreement to set aside that conversation for now.

instead, you decided to embrace the present moment and enjoy the tranquility of the bathhouse. the soothing heat of the sauna enveloped your body, relaxing your muscles and melting away any tension. you found solace in the simple act of being together, the unspoken understanding between you becoming a comforting presence.

as you reclined in the sauna, minjeong's arm still resting behind your head, you allowed yourself to fully immerse in the serene atmosphere. the sound of your steady breaths intertwined with the soft murmurs of other bathers, creating a sense of peacefulness.

occasionally, your eyes would meet, and a shared smile would pass between you, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken bond you two shared. words were not needed in that moment, as minjeong's eyes held the emotions that she could not express.

in the bathhouse, time seemed to lose its meaning. minutes molded into hours as you moved from one relaxing room to another, your conversations never about any serious topics. the hot springs, the cold rooms, and the aromatic steam rooms gave you relaxation that the both of you needed.

you relished in the intimate moments, the stolen glances, and the gentle touches that spoke volumes without the need for words.

as the day continued, and the bathhouse began to quiet down, you found yourselves back in the soothing embrace of the sauna. the warmth of the room cocooned you, making you forget about minjeong's words. at least, for now.

you leaned against minjeong's side, her presence both making you nervous, but also comforting. as you closed your eyes, a contented sigh escaped your lips, and a peaceful silence enveloped you both. in that moment, it didn't matter that the conversation about your feelings remained untouched. you assumed that she opted for showing you, not telling you.

"should we go home now?" you nodded, picking your head up from minjeong's shoulder. the two of you walked back to the locker room, enveloped in a casual conversation about dinner. "hey, can you go to the grocery store and get us some rice and pork belly? you can take the car, i'll call a driver."

"of course," you replied, a gentle smile on your lips. the thought of preparing a meal together felt comforting and familiar, and it could also be a way to finally get minjeong to say what's been on her mind lately. "i'll go to the one right down the street."

leaving the building, you made your way to the car and drove to the nearest grocery store. after you reached the parking lot, you sent minjeong a text.

'is there anything else you want'

you waited for a response before you went inside until about 5 minutes had passed and she hadn't responded. you tried to ignore the sinking feeling in your chest, putting your phone away and entering the store. as you shopped around for what you needed, you also picked up a few snacks from the shelves. "this looks like something minjeong would eat," you mumbled to yourself, putting random items into the cart.

you looked down at your phone again after you reached the register, hoping to see a response from her, but she still hadn't responded. with the groceries in hand, you returned to the car and began the journey back home. you tried to ignore the nervousness you felt, trying to only focus on the idea of making a meal with minjeong.

however, as you arrived at the penthouse, a sense of unease washed over you. you hesitantly stepped inside and realized, once again, minjeong was nowhere to be found, and the usually inviting atmosphere felt empty and devoid of her presence. a sinking feeling settled in the pit of your stomach.

walking past the living room, your heart sank further when you found a note left behind on the kitchen counter.

my love,

i couldn't find the words to tell you in person, so i'm telling you here. it hurts me to write this, maybe even more than you, but i've made the difficult decision to leave.

please understand that my intentions were never to cause you pain. you have brought immense joy and love into my life, and for that, i am eternally grateful. but there are emotions within me that i have been battling with, emotions that i find myself unable to express—to fully understand.

in our moments together, i have felt feelings that i have never experienced before. the way you touch my heart, the way you see into the depths of my being, it both exhilarates and terrifies me. and it is this fear, this overwhelming sense of vulnerability, that has made me decide to leave.

please know that my decision to leave is not a reflection of you or our relationship. it is a reflection of my own inner struggles, and my own need for clarity. i need time for myself, to find the courage to open up to you in a genuine way.

i’ve paid the rest of your tuition, and left some money aside for you in case you choose to further your education. you’re free to stay here as long as you want, but in case you don’t—in case the memories here are too much to bear, i’ve paid your rent for three years.

i hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, to understand that this is not a rejection of our love, but rather a painful step towards growth. i promise you, with every fiber of my being, that i will return when i am ready to share my heart completely and when i can give you the love and honesty that you deserve.

please take care of yourself, my love. hold onto the memories we have shared, and know that my absence is not an absence of love, but a necessary journey for us both. you have touched my soul in ways that words fail to capture, and for that, i will forever be grateful.

yours truly,

minjeong.

[unhinged-diaries]

Business Guide:

How to get started

When you have a business name in mind look up the domain name to see if it’s taken. You don’t want to spend money on an LLC just to find out that your name is taken. Thats a waste of money because you also have to pay to dissolve it.

If the name is not taken, great, don’t file an LLC yet. Go online and get a virtual business address. Why? If you’re running your business out of your home like I am, just know that it’s public information if you use your address to file your LLC. A virtual address should cost like $10-$20 a month. Use that to file your LLC.

Once you’ve filed that LLC get your Ein. That’s your Employee Identification Number. It’s your businesses tax id. It’s free to file on the IRS website. Don’t fall for the scam websites you guys.

Once you’ve gotten your EIN go to Google domains and get your website name aswell as 3-4 emails. An email for your social media accounts, an executive email for yourself, an ecomm@businessname.com for things like your business bank account, Shopify account, etc; and maybe a customer support email. I use the social email as a customer support email. All of this should be like $50/month.

Once you’ve don’t that get on Canva and make that logo bookie. Personally I paid someone on Fiverr to make mine because I’m a “soft business life” kind of girl and I’d rather pay the professionals. Thats just me though.

Once you’ve got your logo go ahead and get them social media accounts going. Instagram, tiktok, Facebook.

Alright now this is where it gets specific to clothing brands because that’s what I own.

Time to find a manufacturer. Head over to alibaba and search what kind of product you want to sell. Be sure to add “oem” if you want a manufacturer that customizes. Look for the amount of orders they’ve gotten on that product. If it says zero orders that’s ok. Some styles are new and thus haven’t been ordered yet. Check any reviews they have for other products. Also check the total revenue they’ve done. It’s on the store profile. I can’t tell you what the sweet spot is yet bc I’ve only used one manufacturer so far but I’d look for mid six figures and up if you wanna be real safe.

Chat with them and order a sample. Even if you buy from a vendor list you’ll need your own sample to make content with. I suggest buying one and first. It’s worth the wait because if you buy multiple and end up not liking them you’d have wasted money that could’ve gone into testing a different manufacturer.

Do not launch with more than 2 products. Even 2 is a stretch, wallai start with one.

This is because if you’re doing the preorder, which I suggest, you’ll be depending on customer orders to pay for the bulk order. Manufacturers do their moq by color or style. If you have too many options in your website and customers order a mix of things, you better pray you have enough money to cover the bulk for all those different styles. Stay safe and give them 1-2 options to choose from.

Pre order method is great if you don’t have a lot of cash to start with because the orders pay for themselves. Bulk orders start to wrack up. Especially if it’s a custom style or material. You don’t want to break the bank for something that might not sell.

Once you’ve gotten and approved your samples choose a launch date. 2-3 weeks before that launch dates post consistently. At least once a day but remember quality over quantity. Now don’t be tricked. Quality doesn’t mean a full cinematography. It means connecting with your audience and relating with them to a point where they’re like “this business gets it”. Either that or attaching yourself to an identity they want to have. “It girl ig influencer”, “feminine soft life babe” “clean girl Pilates princess” whatever the fuck it is embody ur as best as you can. When customers attach your product with an identity that is aspirational to them they will buy it without rationalizing. It’s why the luxury market makes so much off of ppl who can’t afford to buy it twice.

Focus on the backend

If you have a goal of getting an influx of orders and making a lot of sales, be sure that your business is structured in a way that can handle it happening at any given time. You know those tiktok businesses that get one viral video and sell out over night? That could be you but if you’re not prepared ppl are going to be upset. I suggest working backwards:

A customer service platform/inbox so that you can answer them right away with frequently asked questions.

Have stock so that you have something for customers to buy once they finally land on your website.

Have a well presenting website so that ppl don’t think you’re a scam. I’m going to do a post on this bc some of these business websites drive me fuckin nuts. Color theory ppl, color theory.

A social media page with some kind of social proof ie reviews from customers in some way shape or form. Ppl are going to be looking for what others have to say about your brand. Hire UGC creators to make videos that you can post on your page. They’re cheaper than influencers but still know how to convey the message well. You’ll have to have extra samples and items on hand to send them. Also check out their usage rights. Some will allow you to use their videos in ads but you have to pay extra and it’s only for a certain amount of time. But if they do it right, you’ll get a great return. Scared money don’t make no money.

A social media page that shows the products in movement and different lighting. I need to be able to imagine myself in the item before I buy it. Where would I wear it, how will it fit on me. Even when I’ve already ordered something I stay going back to the businesses social media page just to see the clothes again. I might even search it up to see other ppl wearing it.

Packaging

No need to go crazy with the packaging in the beginning. Don’t get me wrong, branding is important but as a beginner you may not have the money for that yet. You need to focus on spending money on what will give you the best return. Just get regular poly mailers from Amazon in your brand colors. You’ll also need:

A stack of 6x4 shipping labels

A thermal printer

A scale

When your manufacturer sends you the clothes they will most likely be in their own little bags. If not you can get those from Amazon too.

Later on you can go to alibaba and find a manufacturer to print you custom poly mailers for that extra edge. Put your logo, a cute message, and your social media handles on the bag and that’s it. Good to go.

You can also design your own thank you cards as well. I won’t be doing that.

Little things to remember

Don’t feel like you have to keep up with big brands. You don’t need to launch something every two weeks. As a matter of fact I advise against emulating super fast fashion brands. I only launch a new item once the pre ordered items have been shipped out to customers.

Be nice to your customers. You’d think this was obvious but it’s not. Some ppl are rude, ghetto, and uncouth. If you hate authority and have a smart mouth I think you should either take a customer service course or hire a virtual assistant from the Philippines to do your customer service for you because no customers = no money.

I’ll update this as I learn and grow:

12/18/2023

Influencers

Not every influencer with a mass follower base is going to be your influencer. It’s possible that you pay $5000 for an influencer with 75k followers to post your product on her page but that post makes you less than $3k. That means you’ve net negative $2k. What a fuckin waste of money.

This is why it’s important to develop a persona for your brand. What is your brand identity? Who is your target audience? What are their psychographics?

Where do currently shop? What are there favorite social media apps?What is their race? Their age? Their ethnicity? Are they in college or highschool? Do they have parents that support their lifestyle or are they hustlers? Are they concerned about price or quality more? Are they married? Do they have children? Are they environmentally conscious?

You need to embody Joe Goldberg and peer at them through their window. Acquaint yourself with every part of their life.

Also, you might not be your target demographic yet and that’s ok. The girls that shop with my brand have social lives. They go out with their friends and need outfits to wear. I don’t have a social life. The only clothes I wear are my work clothes to go to work and my robe when I’m at home.Or a sweat set and a bonnet to run errands.

Don’t think to yourself “ I would never wear that.” “I would never buy something at that price point”. That’s fine cuz someone else will. A lot of people will.

Another thing is your demographic could change once you start your business. It might be that you create content that attracts a different type of person than what you originally planned and that’s cool too. We don’t live in a perfect world. As long as they’re close enough to what you had predetermined it’s ok. Sometimes our business comes out different than we hoped but it’s just as good if not better. It’s like child. Don’t destroy its greatness trying to turn it into something it doesn’t want to be.

User generated content

Love, love, love her down. She’s that sweet spot between making content yourself and having an influencer with a large following make the content for you. UGC is a form of social proof which is something you need for an e-commerce brand especially. Ppl can’t just pop into your store and try on your stuff so they need the opinions of “regular” people to sell them on it. They want to see that person try it on, do a close up of the fabric, wear it to a social setting, etc;

What I like about UGC is that I can pick someone who fits into my brand persona to represent my brand even if I don’t. Someone that appears aspirational but still relatable. Like I said previously, you yourself might not embody your brands persona but you can pay someone who does.

A little translate for yall: I do not live in a nice apartment. My room is small, and dark, and filled with boxes. My living room has mix matched decor and I myself am not the body type I’d like to be (pls don’t hit me with body positivity babe). What I can do is pay a girl with the opposite of all those things and knows how to sell a product.

I have a girl right now that I’ve inquired to make posts for me and she’s got it all. Her rate for one video is $100 with an extra $30 for 90 days of usage in ads. $100 is the new 50 and for the return I’ll get on her, THATS A STEAL.

If you need to find a UGC creator search it up on tiktok and Twitter. Most of them have a portfolio of past work they’ve done. If you feel like they match your brands vibes, keep their info for when you’re ready.

I suggest to have a roster of them because if ppl keep seeing the same person over and over, the thought that that person is just a regular degular customer leaves their mind and you lose the magic of UGC.

Update 12/21/2023

I’ve been sick but yall ain’t paying me so it’s ok. Here’s the update.

Website

Your website is your home babe and when you’re preparing for guest you can’t have your home looking any type of way. Not only does it need to be clean but it needs to be cohesive and inviting.

You know how many times I’ve opened someone’s booking page on Instagram and I click off. Not only am I not reading through all of that small ass text but my head hurts cuz you’ve got a black font on a hot pink background.

Some of yalls websites to not comply with accessibility guidelines so pay attention to that bc you can be sued. Ppl should be able to read what you have on there without getting a headache.

Good rule of thumb is to have one primary color, and then black and white. Don’t over complicate it. Your primary color will be your logo, think twitters blue, then your secondary colors should be black and white, for your text. You might have an accent color like gold or silver, this should be used sparingly for a little dazzle.

If you’re a clothing brand like me, keep the text short and sweet. Think about it, when you go shopping on your favorite website are you bombarded with a soliloquy on how the collection came to be? And even if you are do you stop and read the whole thing? I don’t bc I don’t care. That’s what your Instagram story is for.

All I want to see is the attention grabber and a short,but convincing, tagline.

Example: Ski Resort 2023-“Stun the slopes and stand out on the ski lift with best sellers spotted at St. Moritz”

Let you images tell the rest of the story.

Don’t overwhelm them with options

Guys this is so important. The more options ppl see the less they buy or the less likely they are to buy. Why? This is the thought process.

“Omg the stuff on this website is so cute! Let me go through their catalog and add to my cart as I go”

5 minutes of scrolling

“Ok I have too many things in my cart let me just save to a wishlist instead”

Another 5 minutes of scrolling

“Ok I’ll just stop here and go back to my cart and decide what I’m going to get rn”

Goes to cart

Spends 10 minutes deciding what she’s gonna get bc there’s so many good options

Takes 10 items out of her cart and only buys two basics bc she knows those are less likely to disappoint.

And scene

That is if she didn’t leave after the second five minutes of scrolling. Nowadays five minutes on a non stimulating website is a lot, don’t let it take that long.

Obviously this also depends on the customers budget. Some people have the money to just buy everything in their cart (I wish- one day), but most are just window shopper you hope to convert with your nice styles, images, and prices. Don’t make it harder for people to give you their money.

I have more but I’m tired of writing so I’ll update yall tmrw.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for scaring a facebook scammer?

so theres this scam that goes around on facebook marketplace a lot where a person acts like they are gonna help people get a free government phone. there are government programs where you can apply for a free phone or phone bill but you need really personal info to apply like social security numbers (because stuff like Social Security and other welfare benefits is one of the things that can get you approved). well my last job was phone based and i was basically phone tech support half the time so I have talked to people personally who get scammed by these people and it made me mad.

So i decided to try and waste one of these scammers time on facebook. at first i was just acting like i wasnt tech savvy (giving a fake email address instead of home address when asked) but i got this idea. this person had their legal name attached to this scam post and it wasn’t hacked in any way. so i googled their full name and what city was listed on their profile. voter record websites show peoples addresses in some states and i hoped this scammer wasnt ignorant enough to attach their real fucking name to a scam listing.

Yeah so I found their address. I had no intention to post it anywhere but I thought to myself, what if I sent them their own home address when they ask me for one? so I did. and they stopped responding UNTIL i gave them a negative review on fb saying they are a scammer. suddenly they got super pushy and mean and starting asking me info about their own house. “what cars are outside, my maps arent working” and all that bullshit. so i look up their address on maps and describe the cars outside on google map satellite signal. at this point i know they’re just seeing how much I know about them (and everything was accessible with a google search so no hacking stuff here) and eventually they stop responding when i guessed wrong if they had their sibling living with them.

honestly i prolly didnt need to keep going after the first address and after i gave them a fake review but i fully just wanted to scare them away from scamming people. i’ve talked to older people personally and they legitimately deactivate everything and get a flip phone when they get scammed because of how terrified they are. i dont regret it but i wonder if it was unethical or just not productive to try and waste her time and at least give me the ability to give her a review saying shes a scammer. AITA?

What are these acronyms?

[jess-the-vampire]

IMPORTANT!!!!

so i didn't wanna make this post, I wanted to have this situation handled in private and move on, but it's gotten to a point where i don't feel like i have any choice but to put it out there into the public.

Because I don't think I'm going to get any results otherwise despite my attempts.

So I got robbed a few months ago, guy stole my bags with all my valuables in them, it really sucked and I'm still waiting for any updates on this situation.

In the meantime I had to attempt to replace my items that were stolen, so one of the items I did so was a keychain I was pretty attached to that happened to be on one of the stolen bags.

It was a preorder and it was hard to be sure they were still available given the artist did one last batch awhile ago.

The website I ordered from :

So I emailed the artist to make sure they were still in stock, even offered to pay extra for it to be manufactured if they weren't, i was told they were and it'd be sent out to me extremely soon. The artist was sympathetic to what happened to me.

So I wait a few weeks, up to a month, and it never came.

I emailed the artist again, telling them the package I paid for never arrived, they apologized and promised to send a replacement after I clarified my address just to make sure.

This package also never came.

The artist completely stopped responding to my emails after that.

I had told them ill update them if the packages arrived late, because the mail service can be slow, but they never did and despite telling them monthly nothing has arrived they didn't say a word to me or try to help.

This started back in JUNE-JULY, its been about 6 months since.

I even attempted again to order a package of three, in October, still hasn't arrived.

You might be asking if I have a tracking number for my packages, I don't, I never got a single one.

I even emailed the artist asking for some, no response.

I tried dming the artist and got no response, I genuinely don't know if they are just not checking their dms or just ignoring me in particular because they are active online to a degree.

I tried a PayPal report at one point and got some of my money back, but only for the first package. Because the other was on my card.

So that's more then 50 $ I haven't yet gotten my money's worth of nor got refunded to me.

I dont want to assume the worst of the artist, I just don't understand what's going on and I'm just frustrated, because the situation I went through was bad enough without this on top of it.

My friends were concerned about me being scammed, one package being missing can be waved off, three packages can not.

Best case scenario, this is all explained just to have been some mismanagement on the artist's part.

I want to hope that's the case, but right now I haven't gotten a single package, all my money back, or a single response in months.

At this point I don't even have evidence the packages were sent out at all without a tracking number.

I don't want harassment aimed towards the artist, I'm just hoping talking about what happened publicly either moves something forward on their part to getting what i paid for or preventing other potential customers from ending up enduring the same situation .

Because as of now, this is pretty upsetting and frustrating.

[knightfuryvawannabee]

Safely navigating DIY T – acquisition and health

A lot of the safety tips in terms of navigating online will come from this video, which is actually about safely navigating reproductive procedures post the overturning of Roe v Wade, but the safety advice works especially well here. If any questions are not answered here please feel free to shoot me an ask. Google Doc for easier navigation, says all the same stuff as here.

First off if you haven't already, check the transmasc guide on the DIY HRT Wiki, this post is made with the assumption you have already read that. -      General internet safety

When searching for and purchasing DIY T (especially injections), use the TOR browser with a VPN. This will keep your internet privacy as secure as possible, and the VPN will change your IP enough to make it look like it was accessed from a different location.

I personally use Proton, it’s a free VPN with an optional paid upgrade. The free version will connect you to either the US, Netherlands, or Japan.

Proton also has its own email service. Some of the sources where you can receive DIY T from may require you to make an account. I recommend using an email through Proton for this because it is end-to-end encrypted. If the site asks for a phone number just put in a repeating order of 0 to 9. 

-      Safety when purchasing T

Some sites where you can get DIY T will only allow the purchase through use of bitcoin or other forms of cryptocurrency. I know and understand we all have our thoughts on crypto and it’s use in the modern day, but unfortunately this is just how things are when navigating this.

The least scam-possible way I have seen when purchasing bitcoin, is to go through CashApp. They have an option to purchase and sell bitcoin in the app. I personally used this when buying DIY T to stock up in the case shit hits the fan. It’s pretty direct in purchasing and selling, sending is where it may get a bit tricky.

The source for DIY T listed on the DIY HRT Wiki will send you an email once you confirm your order, and you will be prompted to send the bitcoin through either a QR code or directly to a bitcoin address. I had a bit of trouble with the QR code, so what I had to do was type in the direct address. This will not bring up the company’s name, it will just allow the option when the address is fully typed.

If you are able to use a credit/debit card, what I recommend is using cash to purchase a prepaid visa and using that to order your T or otherwise online. This will make sure the transaction is not attached to your bank account.

-      Receiving T safely

I highly recommend getting your DIY T sent to a PO Box, and not your home address. The United States Postal Service is in personal experience – really secure and discrete. And even if your package does not fit in your box, you will be given a slip to take to the counter, and they will give you your package there.

When ordering, try to order from a warehouse based in your country. This is to avoid the hassle of it going through customs. But if you must order abroad, it is still very unlikely that your order will be stopped in customs. They do not open packages to check them, instead they use an x-ray machine. If your order does get stuck in customs, it’s likely because there’s an issue with paperwork, and not the order itself.

-      Administering T safely

When performing a T injection, make sure your supplies are sterile. Not just clean, sterile. Inspect the packaging of your syringes, needles, etc. If there is a tear or hole, do not use it.

For your T vials, yes, it is okay to draw from them multiple times. You can sterilize the vial by using isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) or an alcohol swab. You’re likely to not use the entire vial in one injection, so just keep it in a safe place, many even recommend keeping it refrigerated between doses.

Most if not all T vials will say to administer only via intramuscular, but you can still administer this subcutaneously. Even the vials I get through my doctor say For IM Use Only. It’s okay to administer it SubQ.

If you have trouble administering injections like I did for a while, I recommend this auto injector. You load the syringe into the device and press a button. The needle will go in and you just push the plunger down. This device is technically intended for insulin injections, but it works just fine for other injections.

My recommendation is to use an 18g needle to draw, and a 1/2in 25g needle to inject. This has left me with the least discomfort and uneasiness with injecting.

-      Blood work

If you’re on T, it’s recommended you get your labwork done at least every 3 months.

As someone who’s been given the run around in the medical field for reasons unrelated to my transition, I forever recommend ordering labs from Request a Test. This is something that is very common to do, I even ordered my own ANA test when I had to get other labs done for my work. Request a Test does not take insurance unless it’s through an HSA card. When ordering from RaQ, you will be prompted to select which LabCorp or QuestDirect facility you want the order sent to. I personally recommend LabCorp, especially considering the QuestDirect Testosterone test is only available for males. 

You will want to order at a minimum, a T level total test or a T level free test, and a CBC and CMP. The CBC is to help check for polycythemia, and CMP is to help check your liver function.

If you are worried about you ordering your T levels and that being found out, you can also order an at home testosterone test kit. The blood samples are collected through lancets similar to what is used by diabetic patients.

-      Acquiring T gel

Unfortunately there are not a whole lot of sources to get T gel from. But that does not mean they do not exist.

I personally have been using this brand called Androgenesis in between my injections, and it has been working really well. I take 50mg of T every two weeks, and when I got my bloodwork done recently my levels were >400, even when it’s really close to my next shot day.

You can order Androgenesis either directly from their site, or you can order it off of amazon. NOTE, that the standard formula on amazon can not be sent to a PO Box or amazon locker, because the site classifies it as a “potentially dangerous substance”. However the enhanced formula can be sent to a PO box or amazon locker and it works the exact same way.

Another site is Predator Nutrition (odd name but bear with me).

I am still waiting for my order, but I’d recommend either their EpiAndrogel or their Alpha Gel depending on which one is in stock at time of purchasing.

I also recommend keeping an eye out on Need2BuildMuscle. Their gel is currently out of stock, but from what I’ve seen it works quite similarly to AndroGel.

As of 08/02/2024 (Aug. 2nd), I did find sources for packets of 1% Androgel, which you can find here and here

Please note the brand name Androgel sources are ones I unfortunately have not been able to verify personally so please proceed at your own discretion, but the sources *are* listed on hrtcafe.net.

-      Who to tell?

No one *. If you doctor doesn’t know you’re on DIY T, do not bring it up. Don’t go talking about it all willy-nilly in the grocery store or whatnot.

*The exception is paramedics. If you are having a medical emergency, it’s probably a good idea to tell any emergency medical provider that you’re on testosterone so they can treat you properly. Remember, tell the cops nothing, tell the ambulance everything. The people on the ambulance are there to save your life, and I can guarantee they’ve dealt with circumstances far more severe than someone self-administering a specific hormonal medication. I say this as someone who’s on first aid at their place of work – and had to patch someone's hand after they were injured when I worked retail. 

tagging @mythical-moonlight

[luckypoppymilliemama]

I am seriously so saddened to realize people have used my name and my cat to steal money from some of you. This is crazy, never, ever did I think that my Poppy would be used negatively.

Let’s give a little rundown of who we are. I’m Michelle, a 30-something year old married mama to 3 skin kittens, and 3 fuzzy kittens. One of my skin kittens is an adult, the other two are rapidly approaching attempting to leave the nest. I am disabled, physically and mentally which leads to emotionally, too. My fuzzy kittens help a lot with that.

2 summers ago, a friend texted me asking if I wanted a kitten. Of course I did. Then I found out she was a feral kitten that her mama had left behind because her one back leg was missing a foot, so she couldn’t climb and jump like the rest of the kittens were, and she was getting too heavy to carry in her mouth. That kitten now only have 3 legs, and is my Lucky baby.

Come early February of the next year, I saw on a friend’s aunts rescue site two of the most gorgeous little calico kittens I had ever seen. I claimed them before Valentine’s Day, even though I wouldn’t be able to get them until after Mother’s Day since they were slow to grow. They were attached at the hip, there was no way I could get one and not the other. Those were my Poppy girl and Millie moon.

That’s how I ended up with my fuzzy kittens. They are the best fuzzy kittens I have ever met. All 3 of them have a different job in calming me and my middle daughter down while in emotional crisis. Poppy is and has always been that calming rumble that you try to concentrate on instead of everything else that is happening. And it works more than anyone would believe.

Poppy is sick. My go fund me has all the explanations and updates you could ever need; I even have to add the email with the vet when she gets a chance to email back to me. I have endless pictures and videos to show she is my little love.

Please, if you can, share this post anywhere and everywhere, across all forms of social media. My follower numbers are so low, I’m surprised it’s not a negative number. I know a bunch of you got scammed, and I’m sorry. I really am. If I could make it better, I would.

Myself, I’ve even cut back some of my less essential but still needed medications so I have the money to get Poppy the treatment she deserves. I just need my baby girl to be better. It’s time sensitive because we honestly don’t know how much time she has left with her red blood cell count being in the low 10s percent wise (I think it was 13-14% last time, and it should be above 35). I am extremely transparent in what I show you all because if you are helping pay for it, I figure you have a right to see where the care is going and what it’s being used for.

We are trying to get the maximum amount of funding so we can get all the testing done because the liver and spleen are just as important as the bone marrow biopsy, but we will not look a gift horse in the mouth. Whatever we get it, it’s another cent that we didn’t have to scrounge around to find, another minute off the ever clicking clock.

Best ways to donate: to the hospital itself:

Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency

Dial 267-727-3738, press 2, ask to place a credit on Poppy Riggs account, #FE22554C. All of this info is able to be found on the images in the gofundme.

The Gofundme. It is the *only* go fund me I have up. Anything else is a scam.

These account below are the only official ways to donate outside of the gofundme.

My email is listed below, and I am willing to answer any and all questions via email or on here, your choice.

Thank you so much for helping. It means everything to us.

[secretmellowblog]

Every time I read the chapter where Marius finds Thenardier’s scam letters, I’m struck by how much these literally just Are exactly like modern email scams.

Madame la Marquise: The virtue of clemency and piety is that which most closely unites sosiety. Turn your Christian spirit and cast a look of compassion on this unfortunate Spanish victim of loyalty and attachment to the sacred cause of legitimacy, who has given with his blood, consecrated his fortune, evverything, to defend that cause, and to-day finds himself in the greatest missery. He doubts not that your honorable person will grant succor to preserve an existence exteremely painful for a military man of education and honor full of wounds, counts in advance on the humanity which animates you and on the interest which Madame la Marquise bears to a nation so unfortunate. Their prayer will not be in vain, and their gratitude will preserve theirs charming souvenir.

My respectful sentiments, with which I have the honor to be

Madame,

DON ALVARÈS, Spanish Captain of Cavalry, a royalist who has take refuge in France, who finds himself on travells for his country, and the resources are lacking him to continue his travells.

^ this is what every email in my spam folder looks like right now.

[mycupofrum]

Friday snippet

Thanks for the tag @lovelymasks! In honour of Hot Prongsfoot Friday, I give you some thirsty Prongsfoot. Poor Father James is being tested by Sirius over and over again. :D Nsfw part is under the cut.

__

The next morning, James is reading his emails in his office. He has just finished replying to the last one and made himself a fresh cup of tea, when he receives a notification of a new email. The sender's name is S.O.B., which he doesn't recognise, and the subject line says, "Practical measures." Curious, James opens the email. 

Dear Father James, 

Please see the video file attached for missing information from our earlier discussion as well as a suggestion for the future. 

Do let me know what you think. 

I hope your day is full of revelations. 

Best regards, 

S.O.B. 

None the wiser, James downloads the file and hits play on the video, which displays only a black screen. He's just sipping his tea when the camera zooms out and he notices the dark background is actually that of a pair of boxers. The screen shows a man's lower body lying on a bed, his toned legs slightly apart and a hand resting on top of his bulge. 

James coughs and spits tea on the laptop screen. 

"Shit!" He places his mug down and wipes the screen with his sleeve.  

Someone sent him a believable-looking scam email, and he was foolish enough to download a porn video onto his computer. It's probably infected with viruses now. 

James should stop the video. Click away. Delete the email. Empty the Recycle Bin. Do a virus check. 

"Hello, Father," a low voice on the video says, and James tenses.  

The hand is slowly rubbing the bulge, pausing only to squeeze it. 

"I've been thinking about you." 

A mixture of panic and exhilaration runs through James, and he pauses the video, stands up and rushes to lock the door to his office. 

He paces around, covering his mouth, not knowing what the hell he's supposed to do. No one has truly come on to him since he became a priest, though he has had his share of longing looks from both younger and more mature women, and some of their husbands too. It's only natural and humane, but there's always been respect for his profession and conviction. 

Except now, and oh, how blatantly Sirius Black crosses the line. 

James sits by his desk and presses play again, knowing full well it is the path to perdition. 

"Take this as part of my confession."  

Sirius slips his hand inside his underwear and pulls out his hard-on, gently sliding the foreskin up and down a few times before pulling it back and stroking his length. 

James's mouth goes dry. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He leans back in his chair, spreads his legs, and moves his hand to stroke his crotch. The familiar flow of blood towards his lower body no longer surprises him, but watching Sirius on screen turns James on even faster than his own imagination.

__

Edit: Open tag!

[nando161mando]

Wow. This email from a UK hospital instructs healthcare workers not to test for COVID because it might keep them out of work for longer. What happened to "do no harm"?

(Source: Prof. Stephen Griffin)

https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/

[tyrannosaurusrexxi]

♡♡ Commissions ♡♡

Heya friends! I'm currently looking to open up commissions for people looking for any of the above in the title!

A little about me! I'm a lover of Transformers and tend to do mostly Mech art but can dabble in aliens/monsters and humanoids. Below will be examples of my art!

Depending on what you are after, prices will vary <3

My options and their prices for

humanoids/monsters:

$30 - anime style profile icons (images: below)

$25- half body coloured sketch (images: below)

$40 - half body fully rendered (images: below)(note image is full body but that is the quality to expect)

Mech art:

$50- profile icon/ headshot (images: below)

$70 - half body sketch (image: below)

$90 -half body fully rendered (image: below)

Also offer:

Monochrome sketch humanoids- $15 (image: below)

(Please note if wanted Monochrome sketch of mech art, it is $20. Aliens are $15.)

(Please also note the images are examples of my art! Examples that include 2 or more characters have extra price attached but are used to show my style! For example image 10 has three characters so cost more but for a mech icon in that style it is $50)

(Please also note all extra characters are an extra half of the price. Example, image 5 with 2 characters would be $25 + $12.5)

How many slots:

1:open

2: open

3:open

4: open

5: open

All prices are listed in USD and PayPal only! )

How will the commission work?

Send me a dm and explain what it is you are after! I will reply ASAP! your requests matter to me! When we discuss the commission I will request payment up front This is to ensure I am not being scammed, a lot of artists including myself have been there and I promise you it is nothing personal. Once i have completed the sketch/first concept I will send through an image to you via DMs. Once the sketch had your approval I will work to finish the peice and once finished 1 will send through the finished peice via DMs and if you are compl happy l'l send through a HD emailed version!

I am a full time student and work rather often so please note I may take time on commissions but do not worry! Inever forget. I always estimate anywhere from 3 days (if 1 am very quiet/free) to 2 weeks if l'm for example, in exams!

Rules:

• I have the right to deny a request I have the right to post the art on my socials so please send me an @ if you'd like me to @ you in the posts! I will not draw nsfw

• Wil can and will attempt furry art but note it is not my speciality will not draw obscene amounts of gore/blood only take PayPal -

• feel free to post the art! Just make sure to credit/tag me!

• please do not sell my art for more than it was worth/ originally priced. This includes selling OCs and please do not use my art to sell prints, merch ECT unless we discuss this previously and then prices may differ.