#Business Wifi Installation

[cmctelco]

The Unique Benefits Meraki Distributors Provide to Small and Medium Enterprises

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face challenges when setting up reliable network infrastructure. As these businesses grow, they must ensure their networks are secure, efficient, and scalable. This is where the role of Meraki Distributors comes into play. By offering cloud-based solutions and simple installation processes, distributors help SMEs keep pace with the demands of modern technology.

They provide seamless solutions that are easy to manage, making it ideal for businesses lacking a dedicated IT department. Whether for remote work setups or managing multiple locations, the expertise of these distributors can make a significant difference. In this guide, we’ll discuss the unique benefits Meraki distributors bring to SMEs.

Simplified Network Management

One of the standout benefits of working with Meraki Distributors is their simplified network management. Cloud-based systems allow businesses to manage their network from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility is particularly helpful for SMEs, which often operate with lean teams. They can rely on remote monitoring and control instead of investing in a complex on-site IT infrastructure. The process of Cisco Meraki Installation is streamlined, making it quick and easy for businesses to get up and running without technical complications.

Enhanced Security Features

Security is a top concern for all businesses, especially those dealing with sensitive customer data. Meraki distributors offer strong security measures that help SMEs protect their networks from cyber threats. With features like automatic updates, firewalls, and intrusion prevention systems, SMEs can ensure their network remains safe and secure. Additionally, the cloud-based nature of Meraki systems means that security updates are deployed quickly, keeping the business one step ahead of potential risks.

Scalable Solutions for Growing Businesses

As SMEs grow, their network needs change. What works for a small company today may not be enough in a year. Meraki distributors provide scalable solutions that can grow alongside the business. Whether adding new locations, expanding the workforce, or integrating new technologies, these systems are flexible enough to adapt. Fiber optic connections, provided by professional Fiber Optic Installers, offer faster speeds and more reliable connections, ensuring businesses can continue operating smoothly as they expand.

Cost-Effective Solutions for SMEs

Budget is always a significant factor for SMEs, and Meraki distributors understand this challenge. By providing cloud-based services, businesses can reduce the need for expensive on-site hardware and maintenance. The simplified Cisco Meraki Installation process also helps cut costs, as fewer resources are needed to set up and maintain the system. With Meraki, SMEs can benefit from a robust and secure network without the high costs typically associated with such systems.

Remote and Multi-Location Management

Another significant advantage of working with Meraki distributors is managing networks across multiple locations. Many SMEs are expanding to new markets and need a network that can handle the demands of remote operations. With cloud-based management, businesses can easily monitor and control their networks from a central location, regardless of where their branches are. Whether managing a small office or multiple locations, Meraki Distributors provides the tools necessary to maintain efficiency and connectivity.

Last note

Simplified network management leads to enhanced security and scalability. These solutions reduce IT costs and provide the reliable support SMEs need to thrive in today’s competitive market. When combined with the expertise of Fiber Optic Installers, these services ensure that businesses have the tools they need to succeed.

To help improve your business operations and give you access to top-quality network solutions, check out CMC Communications. They are experts in providing smart technology solutions for businesses of all sizes. Focusing on being reliable and excellent helps organizations boost their operations with the latest network services.

[onlysushicat]

domestic DK request

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - It's weird where I am right now, Okay?

Organized, in each category, by ones I'm enjoying most at the top. However, I've put quite a few on hold for travel reasons.

Oct 2023 Wk 4

Only a few screen shots for you this week, my hotel wifi is actually THAT bad.

Ongoing Series - Thai

My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thurs iQIYI) 1 of 8 - Classic unlucky in love failed crush on straight bestie = both v queer and v emo yaoi. I gotta say I like these actors way better in this than their previous series, and maybe that’s because Tew is more like Tul and I just like Meen better when he’s… erm… mean. All of which is to say, this is off to a wonderful start and I am about to lose my very sleep deprived little mind... ready for a ABL ecstasy rant?

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH I CAN'T EVEN.

"I play support because that way everyone is happy to see me show up," might be the single best moment of characterization BL has EVER seen.

Look here, in the grand cornucopia of BL universes this is my metaverse. It's pulp... but relatively high production. It has an established pair that I know I like... but who were given crap before. It's a tidy little script, it's not gonna run too long, and it's ALL the archetypes and tropes I love but rarely see. It's Japan's style otaku plus Korea's style gangster, Thailand's style friendship group, and it arrived out of NOWHERE. It's Korea's IP & money, Thailand's talent, and China's streaming service.

Do we know what the hell is going on?

No we do not.

Do we care when it's this much fun?

No we do not.

(In this I speak for everyone... no, EVERYONE.)

This show I why I got into BL.

Don't bother me with trifles. Me and My Dear Gangster Oppa are sailing off into the infinite pixilated sunset together, thank you very much.

Dangerous Romance (Fri YT) ep 11 of 12 - I managed to watch most of it on low rez before YT "discovered" I was in Asia and therefore could not be allowed to watch Asian shows. (AKA my VPN failed me.) But it seemed like a good ep.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) Lucky Love ep 10 of 24 - I enjoyed this 2 part installment, it’s a bit of a sad sack recovery SAGA, but the acting is genuine, the couple believable, and the story felt particularly queer to me. 7/10 but close to an 8. It was really quite charming.

However: Next week looks not good on many levels - it's horror and I spotted guitar. Which is even more horrific. 

Absolute Zero (Thai Weds iQIYI) ep 5 of 12 - do temporal paradoxes exist in Thailand? That is the question. I gotta say Tor (Ongsa) is carrying this show and is doing a really great job, it's just the story itself doesn't resonate with me. Ugh it's so sad.

Is it, indeed, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?

We only on ep 5 and had a full story arc already, there is A LOT more to go.

Venus in the Sky (Tues iQIYI) 9 of 10 eps - the fact that in losing Sky Venus also lost his surrogate family explains his resulting bitterness a little bit more. I wish we had gotten this back story much earlier. Still stupid pulp made me cry, which of course means it's back in my good books. This story is slow as fuck, but I'm going on a rollercoaster with it.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Kiseki: Dear to Me (Taiwan Tues Viki & iQIYI) ep 11 of 13(?) - I love them, okay? All of them. This is a great sappy classic Taiwanese BL and it is my baby and you can’t take it away from me. MINE. 

You Are Mine (Taiwan Fri Viki) eps 8 of 10 - oh noes it got sad, I thought they would at least would have had drunken sex before the drama. Sigh. Still the kissing was good, as it should be from Taiwan.

If It’s With You AKA Even If I Fall In Love With You AKA Kimi to nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo’ (Japan Gaga) ep 4 of 5 - Amane is so brave. About being gay. Being out. Confessing. Its admirable if scary. Otherwise this ep was pretty slow. 

Bump Up Business (Korea Gaga) 3-4 of 8 - how do I feel about this show? Conflicted. Are OnlyOneOf doing a great job? Yes, actually. Am I enjoying it? No, not really. Is this anyone's fault? I don't think so.

The little linguistic negotiation was cute tho. And we seem to have gotten idols kissing in a BL both in the same group, so that glass ceiling dildo has finally been broken.

NineMill are unexpectedly good, also KB plays a great evil ex. Of the 3, I think only Nine is good enough to go into acting permanently (but he's not tall enough). Still, all hail OnlyOneOf... kings of the "gay concept." You boys make me v nervous but as couple-branding goes, you just out branded Thailand. Mad props baibies. Legit never thought I'd see the day.

Trust Korea to be in it to win it.

Mr Cinderella 2 (Vietnam Sat YT) ep 6 of ? - i pretty much just forgot to watch this.

It's Airing But...

I Feel You Linger in the Air (Fri grey) ep 8 of 12 - I will try to watch and do a series review in November but... not sure I will be able to. Fingers crossed.

Love in Translation (Sat iQIYI) ep 8fin - completed but I couldn't catch the last ep, my final thoughts in Nov.

Only Friends (Sat YT) ep 12 fin - completed, but see afore mentioned YT issues. I'll review it in Nov. I anticipate better internet soon.

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 1 of 10 - I find this series more fun to binge, so I'm waiting until it completes its run.

I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan Tues Netflix-Japan & ????) - in classic JBL fashion, I Cannot Reach You could not be reached. 

Can I Buy Your Love From A Vending Machine? AKA Sono Koi, Jihanki de Kaemasu ka? (Japan cinema release in-country only) - This one is a movie from Japan so in customary fashion who tf knows when (or if) it will get international distribution. Salaryman Ayumu Koiwai just can't tear his eyes away from the strong, muscular man as he checks on the stocks of the vending machine in his office.

One Room Angel (Japan Gaga) - adaptation of Harada’s manga of the same name (which I did not like) about a convenience store clerk who's stabbed, nearly dies, and returns home to find an angel waiting for him. With only 5 eps and a good chance this won’t end happy, I'm gonna wait and let you tell me how it goes.

Next Week Looks Like This

Upcoming October BL

10/31 SHADOW (Thai Gaga) 1 of 14 - this is a horror BL featuring ghosts and other paranormal elements in a high school setting. I'm not wild about Thai horror (or horror at all). It features Singto (who did paranormal BL He's Coming to Me) opposite Fluke N (who's done a couple horror's before). Also Fiat. Dan suffers from sleep paralysis, and in his dreams he sees a shadow that suffocates him. It gets worse when he transfers schools.

Upcoming November BL

11/3 Twins the series (Thailand ????) 1 of 10

11/17 Pit Babe (Thai) - Pavel my love!

11/19 Bake Me Please (OhmFluke but not, Thailand)

11/22 7 Days Before Valentine (Thailand) - horroresk

11/25 The Sign (Thailand) - horroresk

11/30 For Him the series (Thailand) - high heat

VIP Only (Taiwan) - may be delayed/canceled

Cooking Crush (OffGun, Thailand) - may be delayed, there some kinda gossip/rumor/shade happening at GMMTV

Wuju Bakery AKA Space Bakery (Korea) - this one may be DOA

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

My Universe - I just enjoyed the angle of this kiss shot.

Uh huh. Sure, honey. (Bump Up Buisness)

COULD THIS EXPLAIN THE SNUFFLE KISS?!!!!

(Last week)

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for taking fridge keys?

This already sounds ridiculous but my mum got locks on our fridge and one cupboard a few years ago because my dad usually eats whatever is in them. You may think yeah as he should right? But the thing is he does so without any regard to the three of us (me, my sibling and my mum). This means he just eats whatever he wants and doesn’t even try to replace it in any way. He can’t cook and he usually makes a large mess after he does eat from the fridge (he always says he’ll clean it but never does). Like plates, leaves and stems (from fruits and chilis) all over the table. Sometimes he’ll even leave basically empty tupperware in the fridge. My mum has often yelled at him and us (me and sibling) about this. Yelling at dad for eating and yelling at us for letting him.

More info on my dad, he works night shifts 6pm to 6am. Despite having a phd (this is a low blow but he often prides himself upon this — yeah sure a phd is a big deal but surely you can do better things with it (or is getting a job with a phd harder I have no idea)) he earns less (works in a factory as a manager?) than my mum (works in healthcare). As well as this he pays for our utilities (rent, electricity and wifi). I am unsure as to why they don’t split this between themselves better. I am missing information in this part — actual salary and reason for weird utility bills split (more accurately the lack of).

Well turns out the whole locking-food-away business doesn’t work out well emotionally as me and my sibling feel and have felt guilty participating in this. So, ever since our mum installed those locks we just unlocked the fridge for our dad. Inevitably, he made a mess of some sort every time we did.

My mum has suspected that dad has found where we keep our keys for at least two weeks now, and I think today was proof of that. Yesterday I clearly remember that I locked the fridge when I went out with my mum and came back in the afternoon to find it unlocked. I locked it. Today I went down to eat something and to my annoyance the fridge is unlocked and there’s like five plates (all dirty) on the table. Leaves from strawberries and stems from chilis just kind of everywhere. I wanted to clean it but I didn’t want to risk talking to him (I would’ve just been annoyed). I ate anyways but I decided to take the keys with me after I do. I’m just tired of this and he’s horrible at communicating (often calls me “reactionary” when I try to talk back to him — I find this ridiculous because more often than not he’s the one who’s reacting to such stupid things).

So AITA?

What are these acronyms?

[seat-safety-switch]

I think every artist is used to the idea of “stop working on it.” At some point, the work is done, and adding extra stuff to it will just make it worse. They’ve all gone through the experience of adding a comma splice, and turning a decent-feeling sentence into a clunky technical thing. Or they’ve bolted on a stray brush stroke, and ended up having to redo all of the hair. Or they’ve messed with the skin shader for their holographic controlled-sentience AI wife and wrecked the frame update time. Business people, though, have never experienced this.

Business folks live by the concept of adding value. If you add value to a thing, then you can sell the thing for more (or to more people.) The easiest way is to give people what they’re asking for, and the convenient part of that is that you can always find someone who will ask for a new feature without being forced to pay for it. Really devious customers will tie the addition of that feature to giving you money.

Examples abound of this phenomenon. Have you ever avoided installing a software update because you know that some project manager somewhere refuses to accept that the project is “done,” and insists upon adding a useless feature that makes it worse? Or bought an oven with a downloadable “turkey mode” that requires wifi access to work? Or bought into some product that used to be great before the upper management decided that their engineers need to stay busy, and added a cost-reduction step or redesign that rendered the thing fragile? I bet you have, and there’s a good reason for this.

It’s because it’s less risky for these folks to “add onto” something that is already loved, than to start something new that maybe will be ignored. That’s subtracting value, even if it isn’t from the same thing. And then they get taken out to the woodshed. How dare you take this risk, they are told by bigger business people, presumably.

There is only one way for us to get out of this: go and make some new stuff. Is it risky? Sure it is. Good thing we’re too stupid to know this, what with our lack of business learnin’. The fact that this philosophy dovetails with my inability to ever actually finish a project but instead switch between ideas a thousand times a second is total coincidence.

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

Breaking Ajax out of prison. *waves* Hi Wifi! Sending this brainrot in. Enjoy the vacation!

***

You are Wriothsley's well-traveled sister. You've been away from Fontaine for a while, growing your business in Liyue and Inazuma. You walked with a purpose, towards your brother's office in Meropide. Except, you know he wasn't there. He had taken the day off and you were one step closer to being a criminal. You were disgusted at the verdict of the justice machine installed at the Opera Epiclese. You received a letter from one of his agents and your friend, Violet, as you so casually called the Electro Cicin Mage. You rushed back home when you found out that Childe was behind bars.

How dare the nation of justice snatch away the only person who convinced you to live? You met Ajax during a dark period of your life. You had challenged the Oceanid in Liyue, with no intention of fighting back. It was a bit poetic how you wanted to lose your life to water, after leaving the nation of hydro. Ajax watched the battle unfurl from the edge of the mountain, only to notice that you weren't moving at all. You fell to your knees, eyes shut and waiting for the rushing tide that never came. When you opened your eyes, blue eyes peered at you with concern and curiosity. Electro buzzed in the air, only to dissipate with a flick of his hand, as he switched off his Delusion.

Now, it was your turn to save him. You only hoped that your brother's stories were accurate. Your brother has been trying ro recruit you for years, saying that your skill would be very useful in bringing in criminals. Little did he know that you would use the skill that he praised you for, not to bring in criminals but to break out one. Hall after hall, you walked, using the vapor in the air to conceal yourself. Ajax is a Harbinger. They would have kept him in the cells with more security. You just needed a distraction. Thankfully, Violet and her fellow agents, are there to cause a ruckus. You've reached the deepest part of the prison. Your eyes searched for dark, ginger hair - passing by a couple of cells before hearing a muffled groan. You followed the sound, dropping your cover and came face to face with eyes as blue as the depths of Fontaine. Ajax stares at you with alarm and parted lips. Placing your index finger on your lips, you requested his silence. You shut your eyes, concentrating as you became one with the water. Your body separated into tiny bubbles that passed through the small opening of the cell. Your flesh coalesced back into one piece. Ajax' arms found your waist, face pressed against your neck. He had gone too long without you. Your scent brought him comfort.

"Jax," you whispered. "Priorities." You pushed something cold into his hand.

"Oh. My vision," he smiled softly.

"Archons, please do not leave your vision behind. I almost had a heart attack when I saw that it was dull." You bit your lip, turning away. "I thought you.."

Lips pressed against your nape softly before settling on the back of your head. "Sorry. Never again."

A sigh escaped your mouth. You could never stay mad at him. Not when he had to endure being imprisoned. You eyed the inside of the cell.

"But love, now that you're here. What's the plan? When are you visiting again?"

You turn to Ajax with a winning smile, one that you often saw on his face instead of yours.

"I'm not visiting. We're getting out."

You explained how Fatui agents were ready to serve as distractions in different parts of the city. There were mekas prepared to go berserk and run loose. Fontaine is organized, they will subdue the threats quickly. You just needed enough time to get Ajax out.

"How are we getting out? My blades are sharp and ready. Or I could transform." He paused. "I just...i actually just didn't want to transform because of your brother. Didn't want to leave a bad impression."

Your hands found his cheek, stroking softly. He leaned into your hand.

"You've held out long enough. This time, I'm the one saving you. We're leaving without a trace."

His eyes widened slightly.

"I have been practicing a lot. I can do it now for extended periods of time. I can maintain the unseen form for more than one person."

Ajax titled his head to the left, giving your hand on his cheek a soft peck.

"Whatever happens, I'm proud of you. Thank you."

Before you could respond, there was a series of explosions. Shouting followed, then footsteps as guards ran towards the entrance of Meropide.

"Hold my hand. Don't let go."

Ajax stepped closer to you, slotting you against his body as he hugged you right.

"Well, that's also a way of holding me."

Ajax chucked, as he placed his chin on top of your head. Your locked your arms around him. Shut your eyes and both of your bodies dissolved into bubbles. This time, you needed something more advanced than bubbles, you needed to be vapor. Unnoticed and unseen. As vapor, you passed through the high security cells now devoid of guards. You passed through the halls. The strain of the concentration wore you down. But Ajax kept you going. Finally, you passed through the reception and the entrance. You were at the edge of Opera Epiclese but you kept the form for a little while longer. Your forms plunged into the water, now zooming towards Elynas. You online relinquished your hold and control once you've reached the shore. Your forms coalesced back into human bodies.

Ajax' arms were still around you when you fell to the ground in exhaustion. Your breaths came hard and your mind burned in pain. Worry etched over Ajax' face. He needed to take care of you now.

You opened your eyes after a deep sleep. A single crystalline eye peered at you. Happy chirps followed as Legacy nuzzled you.

"Legacy?"

Understanding the question in your voice, Legacy gingerly took a note from the desk and pushed it into your hand.

Childe's wrote: Legacy's face is not recognizable.

You were in an old house that seemed to have been abandoned. The bedsheets seemed cleaned enough. The floors look like they have been mopped recently. In the corner of the room, you spotted a mop with it's handle broken. Legacy must have tried to clean up. You smiled at the thought.

Breaking Ajax out of prison took more effort than you thought. But pushing yourself to the limit proved that you could do it. Your skill was useful after all. Legacy nudged your hand, asking for pets. You scratched behind his horn, earning a rumbling purr. You nuzzled into his side, while petting him. Although on the run and officially a criminal, you felt safest with Ajax and Legacy. You would break the law over and over again if it means keeping them safe.

MACCHIATOOOOO I MISSED YOUUU ;v;;;; AND THIS IS SUCH A MEAL I AM EATING THIS UP

you have to rest for a couple more days after you wake up- pushing yourself so much completely sapped your energy. Legacy does his best to care for you, fetching fruit and flowers from outside while you're confined to bed (the flowers are to cheer you up, because he knows you love them so) and nudging your shoulder with his head to get you to lay down. he desperately wants to make sure that you don't exhaust yourself more, and he WILL lay on top of you to make sure you don't move- carefully, of course! his head nestles in the soft skin of your stomach, brilliant sapphire eye looking at you stubbornly as he lets out a light huff, having found you trying and failing to stand for the third time that day. and once you begin to recover, he helps you walk, gently holding your hands with his claws or even carrying you in his arms to go sit outside for some fresh air, the cool ocean breeze washing over you

there haven't been too many mekas looking for you and Ajax- if you were being honest, you suspect Wriothesley being your brother had something to do with it- and the few that did come after you were swiftly dealt with by a protective Foul Legacy, eagerly bumping his forehead against yours afterwards for pets. he hasn't seen you in so long, after all, always shut away in Ajax's mind even when they were both thrown into prison. he tried to tell the Harbinger that he could help, he could get them out of there, but Ajax always refused! Foul Legacy was so lonely; it was like drowning in a cold, starless sea, bringing back memories he'd rather forget. so he clings to you now, craving the sensation of your gentle hands running through his hair, soft and fragile after being surrounded by the cold metal of the prison. sometimes he finds his thoughts drifting back to icy water and chains and bars and the crushing pressure of the sea, and he curls around you with a whimper, wanting to be held until he drifts off to sleep, comforted by your presence

when you're asleep and he knows no one else is around, Ajax takes over for a few minutes, pulling you close to his chest and murmuring that he missed you so, so much, speaking for both him and Foul Legacy

[itsbenedict]

From the beginning | Previously | Coin standings | 60/70 | 37/37

Once again, some kind strangers have left you some supplies. You get another WIFI ACCESS POINT, to replace the one you're about to use, plus another NOBLE BELT TUT BOTNET BULLET (bringing you back up to 4) and a spare SOFTWARE PATCH (bringing you to 2). Wait, 2? Walter says yeah, I've had this one lying around since before I fell down in the sparkling abyss. Adea says well why didn't you SAY so?!

You're both distracted by the priciest purchase yet, though: a BIONIC MINTER BIT COIN MINER. This device- although someone appears to have briefly gnawed on its casing- can be installed anywhere you can find a power outlet, and it'll just spit out free money! Five Coin in the amount of time it takes for you to lose 1 hunger! Or... free minus the electricity it consumes, but it's not like it's your electricity you'd be using in this otherworld. Just leave it to run, then come back later, and you've got a massive pile of cash to spend! And there's power outlets all over this tower, so setting it up should be no problem.

Yep, there's definitely no downsides to using this machine!

So that's very convenient. Satisfied, you dig into ACCESS QUEENLIEST JUICE ION, PRONTO! "JOCQUES NINELITE PROSECUTION CASE".

Jocques Ninelite, apparently, is a local entrepreneur, who recently quit his government job as a HAZARD WICK to found the Ninelite RECEDING NEST, a technology startup. His new company has developed and is distributing EDEN SNAKE, and this has Governor Thinrar extremely mad at him for some reason. This document details dozens of attempts to come up with charges that'll stick to him so he can be arrested and his DECADE'S CHOICES confiscated, but most of them have run aground on insufficient evidence.

There's reams of legal jargon attempting to find obscure laws and bylaws under which selling EDEN SNAKE is illegal, but he apparently knew the law and meticulously avoided any of the various traps- Thinrar's legal advisors don't think they can make any of these stick in court.

Ninelite was found snooping around the scene of an apparent terrorist bombing in the MR. SQUEAK TABLEWARE 15 years ago, and is suspected of having tampered with the crime scene- but no physical evidence exists.

There's a half-finished case for an antitrust suit in here, alleging anticompetitive hiring practices where he attempts to poach talent from other companies. Nothing he's done has technically been illegal, though, but they're working on drafting new legislation that might be able to get him retroactively.

The RECEDING NEST's R&D experiments are under investigation for workplace safety violations, but they haven't been able to get an inspector on-site without alerting them ahead of time- everything they've done under surveillance has been free of occupational safety hazards.

They're even trying to get the corporate campus written up for landscaping code violations. This city has a landscaping code?! What kind of HOA nonsense is this?

You'd think a rich tech CEO would have mountains of dirty laundry, but a concerted effort by the local government has been totally unable to pin anything on him, which is odd. No one's record is this clean unless someone's put effort into cleaning it. How has he been covering his tracks?

The NEXT TO MOLASSES SACRAMENT CORONAMELT TAX ASSESSMENT reveals a similar battle involving Thinrar's legal team trying to pin something on a local business owner. This time, though, it's looking a lot less flimsy. RANDOM SEED, owner of the mountainside casino-resort MONTE CARLO, is very plainly guilty of dozens of counts of felony tax evasion, and HAZARD WICK specialist ONE-TIME PAD has volunteered to go retrieve the last pieces of evidence needed to bring him down.

...The emails between Thinrar and his legal team, though, reveal there's more going on here. Apparently, none of this tax evasion is new- rather, it's been tolerated for decades as part of some kind of under-the-table deal with the casino. Not even tolerated, exactly- it'd just be redundant to pay taxes when RANDOM SEED has been paying such humongous bribes to Thinrar in exchange for exemption from the city's gambling laws.

Somehow, MONTE CARLO has been producing more Coin than it could possibly be extracting from the pockets of desperate gamblers, and it's been keeping the city's municipal budget (and Thinrar's gubernatorial campaign) afloat for years. They're only prosecuting him now because the money is starting to dry up, and they think they can finally get better election odds by making a show of rooting out corruption. (Y'know, rather than by taking kickbacks from that same corruption.) Most of these emails are discussing how to prevent retaliation, and prosecute the case without exposing their own illegal dealings.

These files are like something out of an Ayn Rand novel- corrupt bureaucracy trying to keep down poor innocent captains of industry. The naked corruption on display is pretty flabbergasting- is it all like this?

You've been at this a while- do you want to keep digging, or has your governorship's REIGN PEAKED and you'd like to go somewhere else?

To be continued | 60/70 | 36/36

[arctic-hands]

Thirty minutes and 9 paragraphs into an excited list of alternatives to Spotify's monopoly re: music, videos, podcasts, audiobooks, for weenies like me who are nervous about pirating, and my app crashes.

Well now I'm on a laptop and I swear to god if this crashes too I'm calling it a conspiracy.

LEGAL ALTERNATIVES TO SPOTIFY:

Music: There are virtually limitless options here. Buy music directly from the musicians/band! If they don't sell mp3s directly from their site, they almost certainly have CDs for sale, so buy those and rip the mp3s to your computer (if your computer doesn't have a CD slot, you can buy an external one for fairly cheap). Go to a new/used music store, they still exist!, and buy albums there. Buy old albums from ebay! Go to goodwill or other thrift stores and browse there collection of cast-off music for cheap, you never know what you'll find. Hell, browse their cheap vinyl if you prefer their sound and get a vinyl-to-MP3 conversion device if you like. They even have conversion devices for cassette tapes, if you find a treasure that was only ever released on tape. Once upon a time I would have said Bandcamp for MP3 or even physical albums (I once upon a time got an AUTOGRAPHED TO MY NAME CD of Lauren Ruth Ward's Well Hell album), but they recently union busted and a lot of artists pulled their stuff from them. I don't really know anything about 7Digital's business practices, but they are another seller of MP3 music, as well as MP4, FLAC, and WAV.

Music DEVICES: If you just want to manage everything on one device, your phone, get the free VLC app! It's open source and is absolutely wonderful. I only ever used it for music, but it's capable of much more than I realized, and it's open source and ad-free! And the audio files are tiny, even when I was running out of room on my sixteen gig old phone, I still had a substantial music library on it before before I got a dedicated music player.

Which brings me to my next point: MP3 PLAYERS STILL EXIST! I own two! My first one is a twenty-dollar SanDisk Clip Jam (an established and sturdy brand), my current is a thirty-dollar Phinistec Z6 (that just came out of nowhere it seems). Each have their pros and cons, and there are so so so many options out there. Some are smart, some don't even have wifi (neither of mine do). Some have expandable card slots for even more music. Some are extremely basic, some have a plethora of features. Some are cheap but still decent in sound, some are high-end for that true audiophile experience. Some have touch screens, some have buttons, some have no screens at all. Some only use wired earphones, some only use bluetooth, some (like the Z6) can use both! There are so many brands out there even in Twenty Twenty-four. Even the random brands cropping up online are some really good shit, and I bought both of mine used bc I have concerns about the lithium industry. Oh, and some are regular battery powered. And you don't need iTunes or anything, I just use the basic Windows Media Player to rip my CDs or put mp3s music on my player. In fact I've been avoiding Apple players because I'm worried they'd brick older devices, especially ones with wifi. But there are so many options out there, it's impossible to name them all.

Audiobooks: YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE AUDIBLE! Libro.fm has a similar business model (an optional subscription fee with a free credit every month, or the option to buy book without a subscription for a little bit extra price), and you can direct the profits to the indie bookseller of your choice! I have mine set to go to Baltimore's anarcho-feminist bookstore, Red Emma's. How to listen to the audiobooks you buy? Libro has an app you can listen to directly from! AND they have the option to directly download from the site (meaning no program you have to install) the book in non-proprietary mp3/mp4 files so you can listen to it on any device that can use those files! THAT INCLUDES MP3 PLAYERS! Almost every music player on the market now not only plays audiobooks, but has sections on the device specifically for them! Some, like the Clip Jam, are even proprietary audible-compatible if you still use or already have books there (check audible's site, and you'll have to go thru a registration process). I was listening to audiobooks on both my CJ and the Z6 (the Z6 doesn't have a section for them, but still played them), but I recently bought an e-ink/e-paper (meaning no backlit LED screen causing eye strain or insomnia) ereader, a Pocketbook Touch HD 3, and that is mp3/mp4 capable for audiobooks, and is easier to maneuver books with since it's meant for books. ALSO: the library apps Hoopla and Libby also have audiobooks you can listen to via phone or computer/browser, depending on your library's catalog. Some ereaders can even have the apps for them, and if they have audiocapabilities you can use the ereader for that too.

Podcasts: There are so many apps for this. I have Podcast Addict (I don't remember off the top of my head if it's on apple, I use android, but there are still so many apps). Literally I only had to sacrifice one podcast when I stopped using spotify, PodcastAddict has everything else I've ever listened to or want to listen to in the future. You can download them for offline use on your phone, and, you guessed it, MOST MP3 PLAYERS HAVE PODCAST SECTIONS TOO. MINE DO! There are still ads at the beginning and end, but I usually skip over them without care.

Video: This one is a bit trickier as YouTube is also a monopoly, but what I do is just watch yt on my phone's Firefox browser with UBlock Origins adblocker installed. Sometimes yt gets into a hissy fit with adblocker, but UBlock usually gets ahead pretty quickly thus far. And if in the periods Origins is losing, I just find something else to do. I'm sure someone else has recommendations for videos, they're just not a big part of my life right now.

Anyway, don't let the horrid beast that is spotify monopoloize the audio industry OR your time! There are options, and even if you're not a luddite like me that hates having everything on my smartphone bc I'm worried about privacy or companies yoinking their stuff off my devices via wifi (like Amazon did once with their copies of, of all things, Nineteen Eighty-four about a decade ago) at the whim of corporations. You HAVE OPTIONS! YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CONTROL YOUR MEDIA AND REJECT MONOPOLIES!

[lastintheserverbox]

jade if your wifi still isn't working install this and run it real quick i use it all the time to speed things up k okay bye sorry sorry okay bye okay let me know if this works okay bye see you okay sorry

[64bitremovenetblockerV0241.ZIP] -💾

"And with Mark's new tools...I think he could do some patches out there to stabilize things. I'm busy in here, but I should contact him."

[sachou-posting]

Mr. President are you still out there in the wild?? Where are you getting the WiFi to post all the way out there???

YEARS ago I needed a surgery to repair an injury 😰😭🙀🙀🙀 and the doctors made a mistake and installed an antenna 😝🤣🤣🤣😜😋💕🙏🥶 it worked and got better funny enough!!!!! Now I get good signal almost anywhere which is beautiful for my business I love that Doctor I wish he wasn’t arrested for Malpractice 🙏😭😭😋💥🙀🥶😍🔥💔💔 I know it works when my arm Tingles it tickles 🤣🤣🤣

[businesscatfelix]

made a ref for the artist working on felix’s new pngtuber (took a while getting around to it 😭)

felix is a catboy who registered himself as an LLC to pay less taxes. however he did not own or run a business. so he found an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere, installed a wifi connection, and now streams himself drawing and playing video games as a job. ^___^

[formulawolff]

I know things have been crazy so I wanted to ask first, are we still able to send in little thoughts or head cannons about gg and toto or are you putting all that on hold?

you guys can keep sending them in!

i have just been so busy 😭 i’ve been trying to do doordash, instacarting, etc. so i can save up some cash to install wifi!

i plan on hopefully being able to sometime at the end of next week! (hopefully by next friday)

also, today was my pookie’s birthday & it’s my best friends birthday tomorrow so i’ve been a little preoccupied

i’m so sorry for being inactive!!! it’s been so crazy over here since i moved. hoping for some calmer days ahead so i can get some fics & blurbs posted <3

[dylanjermei]

Tech Trek: Week One recap

Hey everyone,

Can you believe I've already been in Zadar for a week? The time really goes by when you're having an amazing time, and we've had a whirlwind of experiences both at work and during our free time.

Here's what we've been up to. This week, our primary focus was getting things set up and running smoothly at the University of Zadar. To ensure that everyone has a reliable connection, we measured and mapped out the WiFi strength in every room of the new dormitory. Plus, we installed three new computers for students to use, and we made sure that the network was configured perfectly.

But it hasn't been all work and no play. Zadar has so much to offer, and we've been making the most of our downtime. One evening, we took a leisurely stroll to the Sea Organ, a unique architectural marvel that transforms the movement of the sea into beautiful music. Watching the sunset while listening to the melody of the waves was an unforgettable experience, and it's moments like these that make me fall in love with this city more and more each day.

And speaking of sunsets, we made sure to catch another breathtaking one while we were out and about. We found the perfect spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange. It was the ideal way to unwind after a busy day and to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us here in Zadar

Stay tuned for more updates as I continue to share my Zadar journey with you all.

Vidimo se uskoro!

Dylan

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

I'm on tour with my new novel The Bezzle! Catch me next in SALT LAKE CITY (Feb 21, Weller Book Works) and SAN DIEGO (Feb 22, Mysterious Galaxy). After that, it's LA, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix and more!

#20yrsago How to get free iTunes from Pepsi with every bottle https://web.archive.org/web/20040319061658/http://www.macmerc.com/news/archives/1270

#20yrsago Woman sued for file-sharing brings RICO countersuit against RIAA https://forums.musicplayer.com/topic/44111-ironic-twist-riaa-sued-by-mom/

#20yrsago FCC Chairman’s astounding statement of Internet Rights https://web.archive.org/web/20041022115925/hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243556A1.pdf

#20yrsago Free WiFi influences 40% of Schlotskys’s customers https://web.archive.org/web/20040404003117/http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20040218005460&newsLang=en

#20yrsago Bnetd brief: a legal doc that sings https://web.archive.org/web/20040716143522/https://www.eff.org/IP/Emulation/Blizzard_v_bnetd/20040217_bnetd_Reply.pdf

#20yrsago Jim Macdonald explains writing https://web.archive.org/web/20040317104013/http://pub43.ezboard.com/fabsolutewritefrm3.showMessageRange?topicID=257.topic&start=1&stop=20

#20yrsago Story of the TiVo remote https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/technology/now-preening-on-the-coffee-table.html

#15yrsago Geeks go to New Zealand Parliament to protest new copyright law https://www.flickr.com/photos/taniwha/sets/72157614045293527/

#15yrsago NYPD’s enforcement of non-existent subway photo-ban costing taxpayers a fortune in lawsuits https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/nyregion/18about.html?_r=1

#10yrsago American overseas volunteerism: what really works https://medium.com/thsppl/the-problem-with-little-white-girls-and-boys-b84d4011d17e

#10yrsago Hungry man defeats TSA’s war on peanut butter by spreading it on crackers https://takingsenseaway.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/letter-from-a-passenger-i-made-a-bagful-of-peanut-butter-crackers-and-was-no-longer-considered-a-terrorist-threat/

#10yrsago American citizen and EFF sue Ethiopian government for installing British spyware on laptop https://www.eff.org/press/releases/american-sues-ethiopian-government-spyware-infection

#10yrsago Dante for fun: kids books that retell the Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso https://memex.craphound.com/2014/02/18/dante-for-fun-kids-books-that-retell-the-inferno-purgatorio-and-paradiso/

#10yrsago Tessellated Escher cookies https://www.flickr.com/photos/fdecomite/12598506655/in/pool-41894168726@N01

#5yrsago 童絵解万国噺: a wonderfully bizarre 19th century Japanese fanfic history of America https://twitter.com/nick_kapur/status/1062823813338091520

#5yrsago Public records requests reveal the elaborate shell-company secrecy that Google uses when seeking subsidies for data-centers https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/google-reaped-millions-of-tax-breaks-as-it-secretly-expanded-its-real-estate-footprint-across-the-us/2019/02/15/7912e10e-3136-11e9-813a-0ab2f17e305b_story.html

[lowvoltagehouston]

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[asksoldieron]

SO-24: Whatever Happened to Poor John?

If there's a lot of engagement on this, this post is liable to get real long, beware before you expand.

No art, but I am working on it and I will add it retroactively. The eyes are letting me draw, just real slow.

Welcome to the Engagement Lounge, for La Goualante du Pauvre John (253|24) an instalment! Short comments can go in the replies, but there's a 475 character limit. Longer ones will need a reblog. Remember to @asksoldieron if you're reblogging someone else's reblog, so I can see it too!

Woo! We just got back from a 2 night stay on a houseboat, it was definitely trying to kill us (I'll do a post on the main blog later, I have so many scary pictures), and we loved it anyway. So I'm distracted, but I did manage to unwind a little. No wifi, only phones! But I think I got pretty much everything formatted OK before we left. We'll see!

Now it's time to back up and see what happened to John after he smacked into the Elysium Inn's glass door and escaped into the wild! His friends picked him up and they're ready to do more terrorism together! ...Well, maybe in a little bit. They all need a break to unwind, too, but they're not gonna get it. Jenny will put her big brother back together as best she can, but she's going to be a little irritated with Erik and Co. and everyone else who allowed him to break down that badly.

And we end on a cliffhanger! The "real spy" is suddenly revealed! Unfortunately, that'll be all you get for about two months, unless I can put something cool together for our birthday in April. It's doubtful.

The spouse and I are about to have the most stressful two months of the year (probably... hopefully). He's got to prep for his CPA exam, which is 8+ hours of testing over multiple days. They will require him to do two practice cases a week, timed, the longest of which will take 5 hours. We expect adding that much fake accountant business on top of his actual job and everything else we gotta do will fry his brain. And there's the added stress that the test costs thousands of dollars. If the unlikely happens and he fails this time, taking it again will hurt. We can swing it, but it'll hurt.

It looks like his current employer has his back, though. The capitalist exploitation is different up here! A promotion to a better-paying position that will qualify for the experience he needs to be a full CPA (he needs 2.5 years) is in the works. If he gets it, he can stay with them, and they'll pick up his school costs. His dream job is still doing actual, meaningful work for a nonprofit of some kind, but he can hack this one for another 2.5 years if necessary. As long as we can still afford food and housing! I think we can. The whole immigration thing seems a bit backed up, but when we're allowed to own property, we can afford a floating house like that houseboat we stayed at. Not exactly like it, dear god no, but similar. That may be what our future holds.

But we gotta make it to June, first! I have no idea what my internet life will look like or how often you'll see me, but I'll try to get some stuff done. Hopefully, I can come back with another six, illustrated, as soon as the stress abates. Thank you for your patience until then!

[Back to Site?]