#atm machine apply

[tiercel]

Things are a little tight for everyone right now but ouhhman

[supernovalcholism]

A Quiet Moment

~ small series

~ Viktor x reader pt1 , pt2

[ cw: none atm

✮₊⊹₊⋆ ☠︎︎ ⋆₊ ⊹✮

The lab was dim, the faint hum of machinery and the occasional click of a tool the only sounds in the air. Viktor’s glasses reflected the flickering light of the workbench, his face drawn in deep concentration as he made adjustments to one of his latest projects. You’d been working alongside him all day, the hours slipping by unnoticed as the two of you focused on your shared passion for innovation.

You glanced up from your own work, watching Viktor. His brow furrowed in concentration, the furrow of his brow deeper than usual today. There was something different about him, something not quite so focused on the task at hand. It was subtle—perhaps it was the way he shifted every time you walked by, or how his gaze lingered a little longer than necessary when it met yours. It was clear to you that he, too, had noticed the quiet pull between you two.

You put your tools down and stepped closer. “We’ve been at this for hours,” you said softly, your voice cutting through the silence. “Maybe we should take a break.”

Viktor didn’t immediately answer, but his eyes flicked to you, and there was an unmistakable spark in them. The way his lips parted as if about to speak, then paused, as though weighing his words, made your heart beat a little faster.

“I... I suppose you’re right,” Viktor murmured. His voice was quiet, more thoughtful than usual, his gaze unwavering now. It wasn’t the first time he’d let his guard down in front of you, but there was something about the way he looked at you now—intensely, almost as if he were seeing you for the first time.

You took a step closer, your presence drawing his attention completely. The usual distance between the two of you seemed to shrink as your eyes met. Neither of you said a word; the quiet in the lab felt almost charged now, a palpable tension hanging in the air.

He finally set down the tool he was holding, his hands reaching for you with a deliberation that matched the careful precision he applied to his work. He cupped your face gently, as though testing the waters, his touch cool against your skin. There was something delicate in the way he held you, a quiet uncertainty in his movements.

Your breath caught in your throat, the weight of the moment settling between you. His fingers brushed against your cheek, lingering there for just a moment before he leaned in, slowly, his lips brushing yours in a soft, tentative kiss.

The kiss was gentle at first, as if both of you were unsure whether to push this moment any further, yet neither of you could pull away. His lips moved against yours with a quiet intensity, a slow exploration that had you leaning into him instinctively. The outside world—the machines, the experiments, the ticking of the clock—disappeared in an instant. It was just you and Viktor, sharing a moment of rare intimacy.

When he finally pulled back, his breath was warm on your lips, and for a moment, neither of you said anything. Viktor’s eyes were darker than before, and there was a flicker of something in his gaze, something softer, more vulnerable than you’d ever seen in him.

“Perhaps... we could take a longer break,” he suggested, his voice low and steady, yet there was an almost hesitant edge to it.

You smiled, brushing your thumb over his hand, still resting on your face. “I think that sounds perfect.”

And for once, the work could wait. 𓋹

pt.2 soon…

[ 12/5/24 ]

[starryoak]

One thing I suspect will be a major theme of Beyond The Spiderverse is one that Across the Spiderverse lightly touches on in ways that I’ve only half seen pointed out; that society often forces people to become criminals by excluding them from ‘normal’ society.

Now, see, I’ve seen it pointed out with Aaron Davis and, of course, Earth 42 Miles, and that’s completely logical, because our Miles himself explicitly states that they’re good people underneath it all who had little choice but to become villains, but what I haven’t seen pointed out…

…Is that it also applies to our main villain, The Spot. After all, we hear it from the man himself when he tells it to the bodega guy when first robs that ATM machine*, he hasn’t been able to get a job, his family won’t look at him, he has nowhere to go! If you think about the fact that it’s been a year and a half since the incident that turned him into this thing, he didn’t go to crime as his first option! He can’t have, or he wouldn’t be this desperate and terrible at it! He’s doing this because he’s an unemployable freak of nature with a body like a skin-suit! He’s the definition of a person who had no choice but to turn to crime, because he’s visibly incapable of living a normal life!

What I especially find interesting about this is that Miles is easily able to recognize the situation when it applies to his uncle and his alternate self, instantly understanding that they have become criminals not out of malice, but necessity, and yet he absolutely does not seem to recognize this to the full extent he could when it comes to Spot.

But what’s even more interesting is how much that makes sense! Spot literally presents his situation to Miles in a way that is deliberately (at least attempting to) obsfucating his situation! He frames himself as Miles’s nemesis, even though he’s pathetic and miserable and has no plan whatsoever, Miles is fifteen. Of course he doesn’t have the life experience to recognize this man has clearly been abandoned by society and is lashing out in fear and desperation when the man is deliberately provoking him to perceive their situation the way he does!

But in the end, I think that it’s impossible to avoid that the parallels between Miles and Spot go beyond just their connection, but rather, I think the fact that Earth 42 Miles became a villain is intrinsically tied to The Spot and his situation; they’re both people who were given no other choices in life but to turn to crime, and have done terrible things because of it. I genuinely think this will be a theme of the final movie, that society sometimes forces people to become things they otherwise never would because it gives them no other choice.

[dagnab]

ur so right abt Viktor's seasons 1 vs. season 2 characterization!

after re-watching season 1 tho the framing of Viktor's earliest private forays into body modification are framed/"shot" like they're a dangerous, taboo transgression. as a disabled person that really irks me because the writers/narrative like to pretend they're impartial but they're really really not. like people can be like well the hexcore/arcane was dangerous and it was reckless but that was of approaching narrative analysis completely sidesteps the fact that everything about the world was a choice made by writers/artists and probably shaped by execs. idk it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth because he's doing it because his body is getting in his way at a time when time is of the absolute essence and he really is one of the few people capable of making massive change in Zaun with his work. Feel like people's kneejerk to that is he could've left it to Jace, he didn't have to live to see the fruits of his labour but Jayce has shown him he cant be fully trusted to stay the path.

anyway sorry for jumping into ur inbox and rambling. i just wanna see more discussion around Viktor from disabled ppl because he's rotating like a microwave hotpocket in my mind atm

No seriously thank you for reading my rant and chatting up my inbox!! I need to converse with people about this or ill go stir crazy 🙏 anyone's always welcome to drop in. This activated another long ass manifesto from me so I'll put it under a cut.

On your point about Arcane's disability narrative- I totally agree. Looking back at season 1 I'm struck by how much better characterized Viktor is, but I agree that the disability metaphor isn't well thought out.

I can tell they course-corrected on purpose for season 2. Viktor's story became very much an anti-eugenics, "you were never broken" thing, and I appreciate that sentiment. But that misses the mark too in many ways. Many people have already posted about this, but isn't it reasonable for Viktor to want reprieve from his chronic illness, which was a result of his childhood poverty? In a world where people can replace limbs, doesn't it make sense for him to want to alleviate the pain of his bad leg and back with mechanical augments? It's pretty clear in s1 that Viktor isn't motivated exclusively by shame, he just doesn't want to die. Super reasonable goal, as you mention!

IMO they just kind of wrote themselves into a hole that couldn't be thematically tied up all that well. And not to be a preachy OG machine Viktor purist.. but I do think this started in season 1 when they decided to make the hexcore like an evil manipulaty magicy entity. IMO it should have stayed just an unthinking tool, like a hammer, able to do good or hurt depending on the will of the wielder. They even set that up here, in this scene:

This is just like, so much more interesting. These are devices explicitly made to help the working class.. but it's so obvious that they will one day be misappropriated as weapons. Heimerdinger's warning about the arcane corrupting it's users still applies even if Hextech isn't all inherently evil. Power will do that on its own. Viktor and Jayce want to use hextech to help the people, Piltover elites want to use it as a weapon. I think they should have just stuck with that core conflict. No need to twist hextech into an ontological evil. It majorly distracts from the class divide, which used to be THE overarching plot of Arcane.

In general, making the hexcore all sinister is one of those super common cop-out writing choices where the "villain" is obviously right so they need to find some way to "complicate" things. The hextech-evilification was also what led to Sky getting fridged, another meh writing choice they tried to roll back in s2. When I think about it, all of my (few) complaints with the first season's writing are a result of the hexcore turning purple! That deviation from the original lore ended up compounding in the long run, leaving us with a messy Viktor arc, political narratives being sidelined. etc.

I think the Viktor self-surgery scenes SHOULD have been dark and scary and full of shame and resentment, but NOT because "hexcore taboo". Instead the emphasis should have been placed on Viktor having to try to treat himself all alone, isolated in his lack of support. No need for Sky to get dusted, it's tragic enough that Viktor is resorting to playing solitaire operation. The finger of blame should point at Piltover, not at one disabled guy trying to survive.

Imagine you grew up next to a chemical plant and every other kid in your city had incurable lung disease and nobody in power was interested in researching the one possible treatment, they only want to develop it as weaponry. I'd become the machine herald too.

[moretheta]

so, chrollo's working theory is that hisoka is working with a prince. personally i can't see him being recruited by any of the elder princes (tubeppa and up), both because it's not really their style (no, not even tserriednich. he's way too self-absorbed to have his spotlight stolen IMO) and also because they weren't even hiring bodyguards at the time. one of them would have had to reach out to hisoka, which goes against their pride and also makes no sense because i don't think the guy is quite famous enough to be on the radar of most of these people.

regarding the middling princes, i could see a case being made for 6-8. would be hilarious if tyson sponsered him just because he was a prettyboy. but tyson and luzurus don't really seem in-the-know regarding the inner mechanics of the succession war, so i doubt they've gathered much information on halk's ability; they don't really care enough atm. and salé-salé is dead.

i don't think it's halk either- i think he'd find hisoka morally challenging to say the least. and, most importantly, he's already got a retinue of extremely loyal guards at his disposal. i don't think he's desperate enough to resort to hiring a horny murderer.

the younger princes, however, are pretty desperate. i could see a scenario in which one of the lower-ranked queens would sponser hisoka if he applied and showed off his skills. but that kind of begs the question: why have him on board and not put him to work? he's been at the slot machines this whole time, as far as we know. it wouldn't really make sense to hire a skilled hunter to protect your child but let him run loose playing his own game. i could however see kurapika employing him for recon work, or as some kind of deterrent against the spiders in case he found out independently that they would be on board.

my other theory is that he wasn't employed by a prince at all- perhaps he was hired by a high ranking member of the mafia... maybe one who would have automatically been granted a room in the VVIP lounge on tier one, but vacated it to establish their own hideout... hmm, i wonder who that could be....

[miralyk]

AH hi i'm back, i was absent bc i was participating in the global boycott and taking care of my mom after she needed to go in for appendix surgery, apologies for not warning beforehand on this blog!

activity will still be generally slow due to prioritizing animation classes and trying to apply for internships, but in the meantime, i'll be catching up to asks/messages and doodling small stuff i can atm,, i may even make "lore/explanation" posts for stuff like the ghosts in the machine au lmao, but yes, ty to everyone that reached out and i'm grateful for us all sticking together :'''I

[bearmemesreviews]

Skylanders Review: Trigger Happy

Oh yes, my first fave. Let's talk about one of the many "subspecies" of Skylanders: The Gremlins. You see, since a major part of the Skylanders are the collectible figures, they would obviously need a way to make manufacturing them easier. So, while each figure is obviously unique in how it's detailed, they will often use a specific body type as templates for multiple figures. Similarly to how Neopets and their alternate forms work. Spyro shares the "Dragon Template" with several other characters, which we'll see soon, but for now we have the "Gremlin Template".

[Image: Trigger Happy is a short Gremlin with a Firey orange and sandy tan color scheme. His body is covered in uniformly orange fur, with the inside of his ears and the entire front of his body/the area acting as his face being tan. He has small stumpy feet and muppety three fingered hands with forearms thicker than the rest of his limbs. He has yellow eyes with black irises, almost always crooked, alongside fur around & in-between his eyes that's orange - making a pattern resembling a domino mask. He is almost always smiling with his comically large tongue hanging out, with teeth that are almost human-like with sharp canines. He wields two large pistols designed to fire gold coins, and in this specific image, he's straddling a golden cartoon missile Dr. Strangelove style.]

With Trigger Happy you'll be able to get what the body type is all about. A neckless and round being, more like the head itself is its entire body, supported by four limbs. There's not many of them, but each one is so unique it really does highlight how you can stretch one body type in so many ways.

Trigger Happy is a mysterious little guy, being the token "crazy loose cannon" as his name would suggest. He simply showed up one day, explicitly role playing as a western hero type, and protected frontier towns from bandits with custom-made guns that used coins as ammo. He's a Tech Skylander, as being an engineering savant is basically second nature to all fictional Gremlins, and he can even bring out a Coin Gatling gun as a special move.

He has a high pitch, kinda grating, voice; but in early Skylanders trailers he has an accent that sounded like an incomprehensible mix of Spaniard and Frenchman - almost like he's a Team Fortress 2 character.

In fact, doesn't that game have its own...

Anyway, I love these reviews because it really does highlight why I love my favorites. Trigger has a simple design, but making one of your playable characters marketed towards children a gremlin packing heat is just instantly hilarious. And it's only today, as I'm writing this, that I realize that the pattern of fur on his face is meant to resemble a domino mask. That really ties together his "Goldslinger aesthetic," though I still think he needed a ten-gallon hat.

Alternates: I don't know if I'll talk about all the recolors and occasional redesigns some Skylanders get, but I feel like I should tell you guys that Tigger Appy gets to wear an Evel Knievel Daredevil's costume for Superchargers, the game where the Skylanders get to Mario Kart with Bowser and Donkey Kong. Both he and the other two I reviewed by now have another-other form, but they're so weird we'll have to review those things by themselves down the road.

We'll get to Gimmicks once we get to Giants.

Trigger Happy is a fun exploration of his trope, and it's nice to know that the Skylanders team had bangers right out the gate considering he's one of the first few original Skylanders designed after the beta five.

Motto: "No Gold, No Glory." - Great Catchphrase, even if it's very obvious that it doesn't apply to him specifically. His lore outright states that the townsfolk that he saves get rich from the amount of gold coins his battles leave behind. I think that concept applies to the NPCs of Mario and Sonic games too, considering those two mascots become ATM machines whenever they walk into anything with a sharp corner.

The same thing happens to babies by the way. 4/5.

Trigger Happy gets 5 Chompies. The first of my personal roster.

Those cowards couldn't even be bothered to arm this child.

[lemonsweet]

Do you think the reason people like The Spot so much is because he’s kind of a sympathetic villain? Like yeah as the movie progresses he gets more evil and wants to ruin the life of this teen boy and he causes some destruction and seeks more power to do so, but I keep thinking back to the beginning of the movie where he’s just trying to steal money from an ATM because he was broke and homeless and couldn’t get a job. Like why does Miles feel the need to stop him so bad, considering he wasn’t hurting anyone at that time? What’s The Spot supposed to do to survive? Apply for government disability? And like sure he got into that life changing accident because he worked for an evil corporation or whatever, but under capitalism most people work for an evil corporations at some point. Do you think The Spot is so likable to some because of his tragic backstory? Or do you think it’s just his holes?

from what I've seen of how ppl act abt him on my posts a lot of ppl are calling him meow meows or whatever so I think ppl are going crazy just abt at the conceptual idea of a nerd guy that eats shit trying to rob an ATM and is funny and a "villain." So yeah I think kind of metaphorically a lot of ppl do just like him for his holes. Not to say everyone is being like that ofc ( I like him too) and yeah since all the concept stuff there is like this hes definitely meant to be likeable and sympathetic. (He also was probably like that for almost a year before even doing anything or crossing paths with miles)

(ALSO abt the ATM thing. I don't know if this is me crazy pattern searching but I noticed a lot of parallels with atsv and spiderman 2 which makes sense bc olivia octavius was the original villain for atsv before they changed it so miles had his own thing. i think the ATM part is supposed to mirror the part where dock ock is evilly robbing a bank and throwing people so he can buy more parts for his evil machine which I also think the spot was also doing because all he seems to be doing in his apartment is building dimension colliders, I don't think he actually has to eat or anything. Still doesn't excuse that miles was stopping a dude from stealing non aggressively but o well he's 15 and it's a spiderman movie and he's spiderman. Long parenthetical sorry)

I think the whole part where he gets more power/holes is also symbolic of him also not becoming human/himself anymore like most spiderman villains lose themselves to their own powers but also becoming the "plot." He was a background character (even according to that concept writing he was a background character in his own life treated unfairly by his peers) pulled to the foreground by miles for miles and I think the vision of spot hovering over a bunch of spiderman corpses means that only miles is supposed to fight him too. He's living proof that miles is supposed to be spiderman and that Miguel is wrong.

So yeah I think he's a cool character 👍

[unma]

hello im here to learn about the gideon naming reason

also yeah, machines are the coolest and I love them dearly 🤝

Okay so this is a rather simple one but one that gets a little laugh outta me when I think about it. Alright. Remember this guy?

Him. Yeah. Gilbert. The absolute monster that he is. We all hate him. Some of us hate hate him. I hate hate hate him, especially because Pholia and Echidna did not deserve the shit he put them through.

yeah.

I've mentioned it occasionally, but I am absolutely awful at remembering faces and names. I remember people more often by what they wear, their hair color and how they act and so on, and the same applies to characters. But this means that I will go "Oh, them," give an entire rant about why I want a character dead, and then proceed to not remember their name properly.

And because of that, I once called him Gideon. Specifically when @ashmonarch and I were discussing his Proud quest.

Ever since I made this mistake I have swapped between Gideon and Gilbert for him in my head, entirely by accident and also because I can't be bothered to actually remember his name properly. My hatred for him means I will never actually remember his name proper, and even if I do, I will swap out of spite just cause.

Anyway, my current laptop has been a pain in the ass ever since I got it (like, I literally spent an hour troubleshooting its audio the moment I got it) and is just... worse than my previous one in every way. No touch gestures, two charging ports and both are acting up, it also came with Win 11 which I despise (I never updated my older laptop) and seemingly runs worse than my previous laptop that had half the RAM. No, seriously. 16 gigs of RAM and I can't even play HI3 at a manageable framerate (and I played terraria for years at, like, 10fps, so I have low standards for that) if it even runs at all. Did I mention this thing has no touch gestures? That's so dumb. How am I supposed to use a laptop like that. Also, the function and control keys are swapped. Also, some of the keys have stopped working for no discernible reason, and I might have considered taking this thing to a repair shop or something, if I didn't just want it replaced in general. Oh yeah, no touch gestures. Did I mention that? Not only does that mean I can't use the touchpad as well as I did on my old laptop, the fucking right click button came off at some point and now I have to deal with awkwardly pressing the little circle button inside i. Which, again, wouldn't be a problem with the right click. Also the case is screwed in weirdly for some reason so I couldn't take off the back without fear of damaging it for a good while. Also this thing has bricked on me twice in the last couple of months. For literally no reason. Like it bricked a couple days ago because I tried to restart it. Literally fine 5 minutes ago and then that happens. Okay. Also the function keys are weird (I don't care about this one, it's fine actually, and useful in some places).

I think that large block of text of complaints says enough. I've been procrastinating getting it replaced, but only because I'm a tad busy atm. But in the meantime, having to deal with this hunk of junk means I've grown quite a dislike for it, especially because being a computer science major means I need a reliable computer. Also having it brick on me randomly when I want to write is not ideal.

I hadn't named laptops before, but then I saw someone I follow do the same and thought, huh, that's neat. So I bestowed upon this laptop the name that comes up when I think of things I hate. Gideon. I mean Gilbert. Well, maybe if Gilbert wasn't such an asshole he'd get his name actually properly used, but I hate him so it's Gideon.

And that's the story behind how I named this laptop Gideon.

Extra Gideon hate from when I was liveposting to discord about that arc (and a bit more from after) under the cut:

In general, my opinion on Gilbert comes down to this:

[nippon-nomad]

日本へようこそ！

So you’ve decided to take that leap of faith and book a ticket to Japan have you? Congratulations; You’re in for a treat! Whether you’re drawn to the Island nations plethora of ancient Temples and Sacred spaces or the hustle and bustle of the cityscape, Japan and the Japanese people will leave a lasting impression on you that you will undoubtedly carry with you for all your days.

Japan, as we know it today, has a long history of being known for its distinct culture and traditions, some of which extend back to 300BC, what is referred to as the 'Jomon period'. Many elements of the Japanese culture developed fully undisturbed by outside influences and continue to be practiced with the utmost precision and dedication to the ways of old.

A finely balanced mix of unyielding tradition and ever evolving state of the art technologies, there are numerous other reasons why Japan is considered to be one of the world’s most fascinating countries.

So what exactly can you expect to find in Japan? Here’s a basic breakdown to make planning your trip that bit easier.

Language: The national language of Japan is Japanese. English wayfinding is widely available in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto however sparingly found in smaller, countryside towns. Other languages commonly found include Chinese and Korean, with a smattering of other Foreign languages also available.

My advice, no matter how short or long a stay you have planned, is to learn even the most basic of Japanese. You’ll be amazed how accommodating the Japanese people can be when even the most basic of attempts at speaking Japanese is made and who knows, you might just end up making some new friends simply just by trying!

As the saying goes, you’ll never know if you don’t go!

Currency, Credit Cards & ATMs: The official currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY).

In Japan, cash is still very much king. While payment by card is becoming more widely accepted in restaurants and stores, my strongest recommendation is to carry a fair amount of cash with you. This applies to travel in major cities (where thankfully ATM’s are more widely accessible; hello 7-11 cash withdrawals!) as well as smaller, less well-appointed country towns.

At the time of posting 100 Japanese Yen (basically the equivalent of our dollar) buys $1.08 AUD and 69 US cents.

Banking: For cash withdrawals majority of Japanese banks will accept foreign cards (though be prepared to be stung by nasty transaction fees if you don’t have a bank card with 0 transaction fees on international withdrawals (hello Citibank!) with some exceptions.

Things to be aware of when your stash of cash starts to dry up is that not any and all ATM’s will accept International bank cards. I mean this literally; I have been stuck in a situation where my Australian bank card would not physically fit into the card slot of an ATM machine. Don’t be like me. Don’t be that person.

Other things to note is that some ATM’s as well as the cards themselves may have a restriction on what time of day money can be withdrawn. Not only that, but often, ATM’s located in banks are only available during banking hours (typically 9AM to 3PM) and not the full 24 hours some of us are used to.

Additionally, depending on your bank and card type, you may incur a daily cap (often￥300,000 which is equivalent to about (at time of posting) just over $3000AUD) on the amount of money that can be withdrawn from your card and account.

Power Plugs: Power plugs in Japan are type A and B. Plug type A is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and plug type B is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin.

The standard voltage is 100 V, and the standard frequency is 50 / 60 Hz for those wanting to know.

To save yourselves suffering from having a dead phone or no charge in your camera battery (the literal worst thing for photography enthusiasts) I can’t stress how lifesaving a universal adapter is. Using a universal adapter takes the hassle out of having to purchase dedicated Japanese plugs for your devices and what not.

Just make sure that whatever plug and or adapter you go for has surge protection and a converter for hairdryers and hot tools. Let’s not be causing the entire hotel to experience an electricity surge now.

Safety: Japan is one of the safest countries in the world and is perfect for solo travellers.

Being a woman and one that enjoys solo travel, I can personally attest for the safety of Japan. While not recommended (let’s use some common sense here people), the chances of getting mugged while meandering around the streets at 3AM are pretty much zero to none.

It goes without saying that it pays to be aware of your surroundings and do what you must to keep yourself safe, day or night-time. If travelling in groups, be sure to keep an eye out for one another and organise a dedicated time and meeting spot in the case that one of you does get lost (it happens to the best of us!).

In the case of an emergency, you can reach emergency services on the following numbers:

Police: 110

Coast Guard: 118

Ambulance and Fire Services: 119

Emergency telephone numbers can be called from home phones, mobile phones and public phones. When making an emergency call from a public phone, neither money nor a pre-paid telephone card are necessary.

Although there are a few operators who speak English, if you do happen to find yourself in a situation where you need to call upon emergency services, you should be prepared to explain your situation in Japanese, so that the operator can assist you in the best way possible. It is advisable to speak slowly and specify if you need an ambulance (救急車です,  kyuu-kyuu desu) wish to report a fire (火事です, kaji desu), or need to report a crime to the police (犯罪です, hanzai desu). 

[ghostoftheyear]

I guess the scammers are getting smarter, or I’m getting dumber. Maybe both.

So I’ve been looking for a job, which means putting my resume (with contact info) up on LinkedIn and applying with it. I’ve gotten a couple of texts from random numbers asking if I’m interested in X job, but when I replied, there was no response. Fine, whatever, there are a millon other people looking for similar remote work so I’m not really surprised.

So another text didn’t really surprise me, but the fact that they were offering $29/hr for remote data entry work was a surprise. What has followed has been problematic at best.

It all sounded fine, the company (Transcenta) is legit, and I got an email offer with all the paperwork that one usually fills out on being hired, including a W-4. It was weird that they didn’t have fillable PDFs and they wanted me to print it all, fill it out, scan it and return it, but I was able to do that and I did. $10 at Staples to have it printed out on good paper, but whatever.

But then they couriered me a check for $4,950.00. For their special equipment (an HP copier/fax machine/printer/scanner that costs that much? Really?). And then the weird money shit started today. This person whom I’ve been in touch with on MS Teams has me sending things via Zelle. To their “vendor”. Oh, you can’t send more than $500? OK, send another $500 to this address. Use Apple Pay? It’s not working? All right, let’s use Paypal. You used the wrong thing with Paypal, it needed to be friends & family, we have to have it today. Why are you worried? We want you onboard and working ASAP. OK, now I want you to drive to the bank, withdraw the money and deposit it at a bitcoin ATM. (I’m actually surprised he didn’t start asking me about iTunes gift cards.)

I finally, far too late, went “No, I’m not doing this. I’m done.” I can’t believe it took me as long as it did (although my hackles were up during all of this, today is where it all went too far). Unfortunately it being Saturday, I can’t get in touch with a person at the bank to help me, nor can I call SSA, until Monday. I sent an email requesting that my personal information be deleted and destroyed, and I’m going to try and move things forward on Monday. I blocked the guy on MS Teams and I’m going to contact the police if I have to.

Just. Be wary, folks. I don’t even know if I’m safe yet, or if I will be. I can only hope I stopped it all in time. (Edited to add the FTC’s information page about it.)

[frost-queen]

HIII BESTIE, how have you been?? So far i’m doing amazing, carrying 2 quizzes that i’ll know i’ll fail at is 😭 anyway, i hope u r doing well 🫶🏻

also i’m going back into drawing, is there any habits that u want to apply into ur life? how was ur valentine’s day? mine was nice, our student council organized an event , safe to say i’ve been to the jail booth 2 times and the cops were NOT PLAYING ALONG they were defo mad at us - ALSOO i’ve been getting into walking dead, daryl dixon is so 😍🫶🏻

HOPE UR DOING WELL BESTIEE 🫶🏻💗

Hiii Bestie, I hated my alarm this morning for going off but it had no choice as I got class today. I'm literally sitting here waiting for it to start in 30min or so at 8 in the morning, which godly unlike creature would come up with this???

Ohh how nice of you to get back into drawing, I wish you lot's of inspiration 🤗🍀

My valentines day was nothing special, just another day in the week sadly 😔 I did see my school do something fun for valentine by putting a grabbing machine here, grabbing for gifts and I hate it cause I was at my internship 😭 so I couldn't do it.

A habit I should reply to my life atm 🤷🏼‍♀️ sleep more I guess hahahah no I'm just not sure.

I'm feeling a bit tired but doing okay ✌💗

[harrelltut]

IMMORTAL U.S. MILITARY KING SOLOMON- MICHAEL HARRELL, JR.™

1968 GEN X HIM [MICHAEL] QUANTUM CODING INTRANET ARCHITECT [CIA] ENGINEER @ QUANTUM HARRELL TECH [QHT] LLC

1968 GEN X HIM [MICHAEL] 90% EXTRATERRESTRIAL [ME] 10% HUMAN SIDE OF QUANTUM HARRELL TECH'S [QHT'S] HIGHLY COMPLEX [ADVANCED] ANCIENT TELECOM MACHINE [ATM] INFORMATION [A.i.] INTRANET [A.i.] & INFORMATION [A.i.] TECHNOLOGY SCIENTIFICALLY ENGINEERED & APPLIED [SEA] @ QUANTUM HARRELL TECH [QHT] LLC

1968 GEN X HIM [MICHAEL] ELECTRONIC [ME] TECHNOLOGY OF CORPORATE STRATEGY AND WORLD TRANSFORMATION OF QUANTUM HARRELL TECH'S [QHT'S] HIGHLY COMPLEX [ADVANCED] ANCIENT COSMIC ALGORITHMIC [CA] COMPUTATIONAL [COMPTON] STAR WEB GATEWAY LANGUAGE ARCHITECTURE [L.A.] of APPLE INC [A.i.]

1968 GEN X HIM [MICHAEL] PUTTING SIRIUS 1999 KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS INTO ACTION OF 2223 QUANTUM COMPUTING INTRANET ARCHITECTURE [CIA] BUILT IN EXTRA EXPENSIVE [BEE] Y2K 2000 BUDGETS... INTERACTIVELY MAINTAINED [I'M] IN 2023 BY QUANTUM HARRELL TECH [QHT] LLC

1968 GEN X HIM [MICHAEL] 4 EVER [ME] BUILDING PRIVATE INTRANET MILITARY [I'M] DOT [I.D.] GOV APPLICATIONS PERFORMING HIGHLY COMPLEX [ADVANCED] ANCIENT QUANTUM 6G INTERNET SECURITY MANAGEMENT RISKS OF MOOR UNIQUE [MU] SOLUTIONS @ QUANTUM HARRELL TECH [QHT] LLC

[spacenutspod]

Ken Freeman (center) receives the ATCA Award for ATM-X Digital Information Platform (DIP) from Rachel Jackson, Chair ATCA Board of Directors (left) and Carey Fagan, President and CEO ATCA (right).NASA Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) Award to the NASA ATM-X Digital Information Platform (DIP) TeamIn November 2024, the Digital Information Platform (DIP) team received the prestigious Industry Award from the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) at the annual ATCA Connect Conference in Washington, DC. The award recognized the team’s efforts in supporting NASA’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership (SFNP), which aims for net-zero carbon emissions from aviation by 2050.  The DIP sub-project focuses on increasing access to digital aviation information to enable efficient and sustainable airspace operations.  DIP team has been conducting live operational demonstrations in North Texas Metroplex environment since 2022 with commercial airlines on the Collaborative Digital Departure Reroute (CDDR) tool that applies machine learning to make predictions on runway availability, departure times, and arrival times. DIP has signed Space Act Agreements with five major US airlines to carryout operational evaluation of CDDR in complex metroplex environments and is now deploying the CDDR capability to Houston. CDDR machine learning algorithm intelligently provides re-routing options to the operators by using real time weather and operational data reducing delays, fuel burn and carbon emissions. DIP is part of the Air Traffic Management – eXploration (ATM-X) project, which is focused on transforming the air traffic management system to accommodate new air vehicles.  More information on the ATCA award is at: https://www.atca.org/detail-pages/news/2024/11/15/atca-presents-annual-awards-at-atca-connect-recognizing-exceptional-efforts-made-to-the-worldwide-air-traffic-control-and-airspace-system.

[digitaltechsolutions]

Biometric Authentication: The Key to Next-Gen Security

In a digital world that is increasingly becoming a part of our lives, securing sensitive data and personal information has been a priority. Traditional authentication methods, such as passwords and PINs, are not enough to thwart sophisticated cyber threats. Biometric authentication has emerged as the revolutionary technology that promises enhanced security and convenience for users. This blog will explore the world of biometric authentication, its benefits, challenges, and the promising future it holds for secure access.

What is Biometric Authentication?

Biometric authentication is a technique of ascertaining an individual’s identity based on unique biological traits. Unlike traditional authentication systems that rely on something you know (passwords) or have (keycards), biometrics use something inherent to you. Common types of biometric systems include:

1. Fingerprint Scanning: Popular among smart phones and secure systems.

2. Facial Recognition: Used in mobile devices, airports, and law enforcement.

3. Iris and Retina Scans: These have proven to be accurate in delicate settings.

4. Voice Recognition: Used in virtual assistants and for authenticating on phones.

5. Behavioral Biometrics: Novel techniques for analyzing typing patterns, gait, or other unique behaviors.

The Advantages of Biometric Authentication

1. High Security

Biometric features are unique for people and almost impossible for someone to break in through access without proper authorization. People can guess or even steal the password, whereas one cannot duplicate biometric data.

2. Ease of Use for a User

Biometric system reduces remembering the complex passwords and carrying some form of a physical token. A biometric device would immediately provide access by merely scanning or identifying him.

3. Faster and Easier

Biometric authentication is often faster than traditional methods, thereby providing better user experience with equal security.

4. Less Chance of Fraud

Biometric systems make it difficult for the attackers to impersonate a user, thereby reducing identity theft risks.

Real-World Applications of Biometric Authentication

Biometric authentication has been applied to various sectors:

Banking and Finance: Biometric access to mobile banking apps and ATMs through facial recognition or fingerprints.

Healthcare: Protecting the confidentiality of patient data and controlling access in hospitals.

Travel and Aviation: Airports’ security and boarding procedures simplified through biometric passports and face-scanning gates.

Government Services: National ID schemes and e-voting systems with biometrics.

Smart Devices: Smartphones, wearables, and IoT devices with fingerprint and face-scanning.

Challenges in Biometric Authentication

Despite its many advantages, biometric authentication faces challenges:

Privacy Concerns

Biometric data collection and storage raise privacy issues. If breached, this data can be misused since biometrics cannot be changed like passwords.

Accuracy and Spoofing

While systems are improving, some biometric methods can still be fooled by high-quality reproductions of fingerprints or facial features.

Cost of Implementation

Advanced biometric systems can be expensive to develop and deploy, making them inaccessible for smaller organizations.

Data Security

Biometric data also require robust encryption to prevent hacking and ensure long-term security.

The Future of Biometric Authentication

The future of biometric authentication is bright, as technology continues to advance:

Multimodal Biometrics: Using multiple types of biometric attributes in a single interface, for example, fingerprinting + facial recognition.

AI and Machine Learning: Improving both the accuracy and efficiency of biometric systems by pattern learning and anomaly detection.

Contactless Biometric Solutions: Growing touchless technology that are fueled by pandemic responses – facial and voice recognition.

Integration with IoT: Biometrics used for securing smart homes, connected vehicles, and wearable devices.

Blockchain-Based Biometrics: Storing the biometric data in blockchain to ensure privacy and tamper-proof records.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, biometric authentication is shaping the future of secure access. Its ability to offer greater security while making things easier for users makes it a crucial tool in fighting modern cyber threats. But issues of privacy and security would have to be addressed in order to make it widely accepted.

As the world shifts towards a password less society, biometrics is a glimpse of the future, which is seen as a more secure and efficient manner for authenticating and accessing various systems. For both businesses and individuals, maintaining awareness about this technology and its advancements is key to navigating the evolving digital security landscape.

[apextradefunding]

Effortless Multi Account Trading with NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier

Managing multiple trading accounts can feel overwhelming, especially when every second counts in fast paced markets. NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier eliminates the hassle by automating trade replication across accounts, ensuring accuracy, speed, and consistency. Whether you’re a professional managing client portfolios or a retail trader diversifying strategies, this tool is a game-changer.

Why Traders Love the NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier

1. Saves Time and Increases Accuracy

Manually replicating trades across multiple accounts can lead to costly errors. With NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier, trades are copied automatically, ensuring consistency without requiring constant supervision.

Did you know? Manual trading errors account for up to 20% of losses in multi-account trading scenarios. Automating this process can significantly reduce such risks.

2. Perfect for Cross-Market Trading

If you trade crossovers between minis and micros, the NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier handles the complexity for you. It seamlessly transitions between these markets, ensuring your strategies remain effective across different asset classes.

3. Effortless ATM Integration

Advanced Trade Management (ATM) strategies, including take profit and stop loss adjustments, are mirrored in real-time across all connected accounts. This ensures that every account operates under the same risk and reward parameters.

4. Customizable to Your Needs

Flexibility is key for traders. The NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier allows you to:

Adjust trade sizes for each account

Exclude specific accounts from certain trades

Apply account-specific rules based on strategy

Key Features That Make It Stand Out

Real-Time Trade Replication: Trades, ATMs, and adjustments are copied instantly across accounts.

Cross-Market Compatibility: Perfect for trading across minis, micros, and other market types.

Customizable Settings: Adjust parameters to match your trading goals.

Error Reduction: Automated copying eliminates manual entry mistakes.

How Does It Work?

Getting started with the NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier is straightforward:

Integration: Sync the tool with your NinjaTrader platform.

Setup: Configure account-specific parameters, such as trade size multipliers and exclusion rules.

Trade: Execute trades on your primary account and watch as they are automatically mirrored across all connected accounts in real time.

Why It’s a Must Have Tool for Traders

For Professionals: Streamline account management and improve client satisfaction.

For Day Traders: Minimize delays and errors in fast-moving markets.

For Scalpers: Execute high-frequency trades with precision across multiple accounts.

Boost Your Efficiency and Profits

In today’s competitive trading environment, tools that enhance efficiency can make all the difference. The NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier doesn’t just save you time—it helps you focus on refining your strategies instead of managing repetitive tasks.

“This tool has transformed my trading workflow. I can manage multiple accounts effortlessly while ensuring every trade aligns with my strategies.” – A Professional Trader

Conclusion

The NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier is an essential tool for traders looking to simplify multi-account management and enhance their efficiency. Its robust features, from automatic trade replication to cross-market compatibility, make it the ultimate choice for professionals and retail traders alike.

Ready to revolutionize your trading experience? Explore the NinjaTrader 8 Trade Copier today and take the first step towards effortless multi-account trading.

Special Offer by Apex

It's super simple to use. Sign up today for immediate access and get a 75% discount off the normal price of $597, PLUS receive a bonus activation on another machine free! All for only $150 USD a limited-time offer, exclusively from Apex!