#but its the fact that this tech is in the hands of corporations who are so so focused on abusing their power for profit that worries me

[transxfiles]

if elon musk ever tried to put a chip in my brain i'd end up killing either him or myself. one of us has to die for that.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

It's pretty easy to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, actually

Picks and Shovels is a new, standalone technothriller starring Marty Hench, my two-fisted, hard-fighting, tech-scam-busting forensic accountant. THIS IS THE LAST DAY to pre-order it on my latest Kickstarter, which features a brilliant audiobook read by Wil Wheaton.

If Elon Musk wants to cut $2t from the US federal budget, there's a pretty straightforward way to get there – just eliminate all the beltway bandits who overcharge Uncle Sucker for everything from pharmaceuticals to roadworks to (of course) rockets, and then make the rich pay their taxes.

There is a ton of federal bloat, but it's not coming from useless programs or overpaid federal employees. As David Dayen writes in a long, fact-filled feature in The American Prospect, the bloat comes from the private sector's greedy suckling at the government teat:

https://prospect.org/economy/2025-01-27-we-found-the-2-trillion-elon-musk-doge/

The federal workforce used to be huge. In 1960, federal employees were 4.3% of all US workers; today, it's 1.4%. Zeroing out the entire federal payroll would save $271b/year (while beaching the US economy!), a mere 4% of the federal budget.

On the other hand, zeroing out the budget for federal contractors would save over a trillion dollars – the US spends 4 times more on private sector contractors than it does on its own workers, and while some of those contractors are honest folks giving good value for money, the norm is for federal contractors to pick the public's pocket and then use the proceeds to lobby for more fat contracts.

One key job we ask our federal employees to do is root out private sector fraud in federal contracting. We should hire more of these people! Private contractors steal $274b/year from the public purse – nearly enough to pay for all the employees in the federal government:

https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-106285.pdf

Musk doesn't know any of these, and he doesn't care to know. As Dayen writes, he's doing "policy by anecdote." Take Ashley Thomas, the director of climate diversification for the US International Development Finance Corporation. Musk sicced a mob on her, decrying her for doing a "fake job" that was somehow related to "DEI." But Thomas's job isn't employment diversification – it's crop diversification.

If Musk wanted to run DOGE as a force for waste-elimination, he wouldn't be attacking the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS (whose budget accounts for 0.012% of federal spending). He wouldn't be attacking federal fiber subsidies (he's mad that he can't get more subsidies for his dead-end satellite service that caps out at one ten-millionth of the speed of fiber). He wouldn't be attacking high-speed rail (which competes with his Tesla swasticars). He wouldn't be fighting with the SEC (which defends the public from costly stock swindles, which is why they've been investigating Musk for seven years).

He could, instead, go after private sector Medicare waste. 33 million seniors have been suckered into switching from federally provided Medicare to privately provided Medicare Advantage. Overbilling from Medicare Advantage (whose doctors are ordered to "upcode" patients to generate additional bills) costs the public $83b/year:

https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Mar24_ExecutiveSummary_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf

Medicare Advantage patients are, on average, healthier than Medicare patients (Medicare Advantage giants like Unitedhealtcare cream off the cheapest-to-service patients). Yet, this healthy cohort costs more to treat than their sicker cousins on the public plan – the fraud costs us about 11-14% of the total Medicare bill, and we could save $140b/year by zeroing that out:

https://pnhp.org/system/assets/uploads/2023/09/MAOverpaymentReport_Final.pdf

Zeroing out Medicare Advantage overbilling would pay for "an out-of-pocket spending cap, a public drug benefit, and dental, hearing, and vision benefits" for every Medicare patient with tens of billions to spare.

Of course, as Dayen points out, the guy in charge of Medicare is Dr Oz, who has spent years shilling for Medicare Advantage, while holding massive amounts of stock in Unitedhealthcare, the nation's largest Medicare Advantage provider, and the worst offender for Medicare Advantage overbilling.

Then there's Medicare itself. Rates for Medicare doctor reimbursement are set by committees of specialists, who award themselves sky-high rates while paying rock-bottom wages to the frontline general practitioners who do the heavy lifting. Lowering specialists rates to match the rates paid in Canada and Germany would save the federal government $100b/year:

https://cepr.net/rfk-jr-physicians-pay-schedules-and-the-elites-big-lie/

Then there's Big Pharma. For years, Congress legally forbade Medicare and Medicaid from negotiating drug prices, which is why the US government pays the highest rates in the world for drugs developed in the US, with US federal subsidies. US drug prices are 178% more than other wealthy countries, and many drugs are sold at 20-30x the cost of production:

https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/comparing-prescription-drugs

A few of these drug prices are going to come down in the coming years, thanks to timid, but long overdue action from the Biden administration. To really tackle a source of government waste, the US government could use its "march in rights" to federalize production of the most expensive drugs:

https://prospect.org/day-one-agenda/force-drug-companies-to-lower-prices/

One possibility floated by economist Dean Baker is for the US government to invest $100b/year in clinical trials, keeping the patents for itself and licensing multiple manufacturers to compete to produce these publicly owned drugs, which would save an estimated $500b/year:

https://cepr.net/financing-drug-development-what-the-pandemic-has-taught-us/

Then there's price-gouging, useless middlemen like Group Purchasing Organizations who soak the public purse for $20b/year – a "moderate" enforcement action could cut that to $10b. Speaking of eliminating middlemen, community health centers are a way cheaper source of care than big hospitals – $2371/year cheaper per patient, per year. By subsidizing these, the US government could save another $20b/year:

https://www.ohiochc.org/news/310956/Landmark-Study-Confirms-Medicaid-Cost-Savings-at-Health-Centers.htm

Next, Dayen moves onto the Pentagon, which pulled in $841b last year but has failed seven consecutive audits:

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4992913-pentagon-fails-7th-audit-in-a-row-but-says-progress-made/

The DoD firehoses money over private sector contractors, like the $3.6b it hands over to Musk's Spacex every year – a number Musk hopes to grow through Spacex's participation in a new consortium:

https://www.ft.com/content/6cfdfe2b-6872-4963-bde8-dc6c43be5093

Military contractor wastage is the stuff of legend, like the $2t F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a lemon that has over 800 outstanding defects and was just greenlit for another year's worth of full funding:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-13/lockheed-f-35-s-tally-of-flaws-tops-800-as-new-issues-surface

This kind of wasteage isn't merely shameful, it's illegal. The Nunn-McCurdy Act requires that these large-scale boondoggles be reviewed with an eye to shutting them down. But when beltway bandits like Northrop Grumman’s produce expensive lemons like Sentinel, the DoD continues to hand public money to them, citing "national security":

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3829985/department-of-defense-announces-results-of-sentinel-nunn-mccurdy-review/

The DoD contracts out so much of its essential functions that it literally doesn't know what it has. It pays contractors and subcontractors to produce parts for its systems, but has no way to know if those parts have actually been produced. Meanwhile, private equity rollups like Transdigm have merged every single-source aerospace supplier and jacked up the price of spare parts for existing military systems, pulling down 4,500%+ markups:

https://theintercept.com/2019/05/28/ro-khanna-transdigm-refund-pentagon/

To estimate the easy military savings – the ones that won't require shutting down jobs programs scattered in every key Congressional district – Dayen takes the CBO's estimate and cuts it in half, to get an annual savings of $150b/year.

Then there's general prodcurement, where the GAO estimates the US loses $150b/year to bid-rigging and another $521b/year to fraud (the USG also spends $70b/year on management consultants who do no discernible useful work). Dayen estimates the annual savings from "stringently enforcing fraud and abuse, insourcing operations, and no longer paying for bad advice" at $150b/year.

Then there's tax cheating. The IRS estimates that it undercollects about $606b/year in taxes. The top 1% account for $163b/year of that (Elon Musk's own effective tax rate is just 3.27% as of the five years preceding 2021, the year for which we have his leaked tax return; he paid no taxes in 2018). Every dollar the IRS spends on auditing brings in $2.17 in tax, and every dollar the IRS spends auditing the wealthy generates $6.29 in tax. A dollar spent auditing the top 10% brings in $10:

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/dec/01/opinion-the-irs-shows-what-government-efficiency/

Audits are durable sources of tax. People who've been burned by an audit are far more honest in the decade after that audit.

The GOP has zeroed out Biden's IRS increases. The CBO estimates that a fully funded IRS could easily increase the taxes it collected by a net figure of $200b/year.

There's also new sources of tax. Dayen likes Dean Baker's proposal for taxes on stock returns: just add dividends and stock appreciation at the end of the year, then multiply by the tax rate. Baker says this is a loophole-free way to bring the effective corporate tax rate up from 20% to 25%, generating $65b/year:

https://cepr.net/winning-the-tax-game-tax-stock-returns/

This would be especially hard on heavily financialized companies with "impossibly high stock price/earnings ratios" – e.g. Tesla.

Dayen also proposes rejigging the tax rate on retirement and health insurance plans, where nearly all the tax breaks are scooped by the highest earners. The Tax Policy Center has $1.12-$1.38t/year worth of other tax reforms that would shift the tax burden from working people to the idle rich:

https://taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-are-largest-tax-expenditures

Dayen says, "let's ask for about 20% of that" and ballparks the tax income at $200b/year.

How about subsidy cuts? $10b/year in fossil fuel subsidies. Eliminating the notorious sources of fraud in crop insurance would save $5b/year:

https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-06-878t.pdf

There's $7b/year in subsidies to the Home Bank Loan system and $5b/year lost to pass-through entity loopholes.

Add it all up and you're saving $1.4215t/year without even breaking a sweat, just by tacking (some of) the country's worst looting and tax evasion. Dayen points out US expenditures will fall even more than this, because it won't be paying as much T-bill interest if it doesn't spend this money. We could also just make the Fed stop using the blunt, expensive tool of interest rate hikes to manage inflation. There's plenty of scenarios where interest payments result in the remaining $580b/year in savings, bringing the total up to $2t.

Now, sucking $2t/year out of the US economy all at once – even $2t in waste and fraud – would not be good for America! That kind of economic shock would bring the US economy to its knees, for years to come. All that money still fuels the demand side of the economy. But a slow rampup, and more public spending on useful programs (say, climate resiliency and retrofitting), would strengthen the economy while still bankrupting the fraud sector.

DOGE is wildly unpopular with the American electorate – even large pluralities of Republicans think its stupid. Campaigning on cutting fraud and profiteering would be a wildly popular way for Democrats to separate themselves from Republicans. Few Democrats are rising to the occasion, though.

Check out my Kickstarter to pre-order copies of my next novel, Picks and Shovels!

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

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/27/beltway-bandits/#henhouse-foxes

Image: Steve Jurvetson (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/52005460639/

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

[technofeudalism]

Taller Nepantla: "So where do art and artists stand within this new techno-feudal political landscape?"

1) Artists don’t own anything.

We don’t own the studios. We don’t own the galleries. We don’t own the production of materials. We don’t own the newspapers. We don’t own the art schools and universities. We don’t own the mechanisms of art distribution. We don’t own our work. We don’t even own our own art. Artists have no labor protections and are content to work individually to perpetuate their own myth or pray to the sacred algorithm to go viral. By being atomized we are exactly like a feudal peasant of the Middle Ages, who lives in extreme precariousness giving away part of his crops to his local king. The art world, its industry, its weight, its impact, its trend, everything belongs to other people. Did you know 80% of the art-market is own by a small group of Mega Collectors? Those who control the means of artistic production control the artists.

2) By not owning anything, artists and cultural workers only rent.

We no longer sell handmade works, but instead we sell our hands for work. More and more the creative and artistic sector sells services rather than art. Artists need multiple jobs in order to invest in their art practice. Even more, just as in the feudal stage of history, we work the land in a territory that does not belong to us, the land belongs to the landowner. In this land artists will always pay rent, a tax, to the feudal lord. We use GOOGLE to send emails We upload our art to INSTAGRAM We educate ourselves through YOUTUBE We communicate through TIKTOK We pay to use ADOBE SUIT We buy materials through AMAZON We move through UBER We send files through WETRANSFER Every time we use these platforms, we generate money for the feudal lords.

The art world depends on these platforms, which collect our information and our data, to sell.

When a service is free, our attention is the product. That is, it is impossible for an artist to establish himself as an artist without generating money for the landowners who own the technological platforms. That is, the art world depends on these products. It is impossible to be an artist without using these technologies. Techno-feudalism keeps artists in a situation of -permanent-precariousness dependence on technological platforms. Just like in medieval times, peasants live off the crumbs offered by the crown, living in a house, working on land, and eating food that does not belong to them. Technocapitalists don’t want artists to own the means of artistic reproduction. Technocapitalist instead build a world where everything is rented. Every stage of artistic production from how you imagine an artwork, how you study an artwork, how you draft and artwork, how you build an artwork, how you show an artwork, how you distribute an artwork, how you perceive an artwork, and how you think about an artwork, is all determined by apps and tools which you rented from a tech corporation.

3) Artists SUBSIDIZE the profits of technological platforms.

That is, we pay an inflated price for these services directly from our pockets. The art world depends on the underpaid work of our services. If there were fair wages in the art world, then the entire pyramid wuld be destroyed precisely because it depends on the fact that most artists do not earn a fair wage. All the art we produce and share is being used to train algorithms to better sell us products. When a platform is free, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, we are the product that is sold. Even more, artists subsidize the entire artworld. We work for free. We work for low wages. We work for exposure. We are the “volunteer army” Jerry Saltz brags about. The artworld benefits from not paying us what we deserve.

4) The entire art world depends on the platforms of the Clouds.

All museums, galleries, fairs, biennials, and auctions depend on the technological infrastructure dominated by feudal landowners. In other words, there is a dependence on these technologies in order to promise an interconnected, cosmopolitan, and immediate “art world.” The feudal landowners who own the technological platforms, having no competition, can impose whatever price they want, and the art world must obey. They can raise prices without losing customers. The price we pay to use TechnoCapitalist services is completely arbitrary. It does not correspond with the quality of the service but rather to the whims of the landlords. One day, black ink for printing is free, the next day it costs $5.99 a month as a part of a subscription package. We are looking at you Anish Kapoor.

5) The algorithm decides what counts as talent as long as it can generate profits.

Algorithms are increasingly deciding what counts as “value.” Major collectors will be able to systematize the works on the market in order to deduce, through algorithms, the value of a work and whether it is a good investment. The algorithm has more power than art critics and art historians. An artist will then adapt to the algorithmic trends of his time, in order to go viral. A work of art that goes viral can change the artist’s life. NFT’s are just one example of techno-feudal experiments in the arts. NFT’s promise decentralization and transparency, but end up replicating the worst aspects of capitalism, feudalism, and what new technologies can do.

In short, the art world is interconnected with techno-feudalism. We artists are technologically and socially dependent on a system that exploits us. It is important to increase media literacy so that artists can build alternative technological systems to cut dependence on monopolistic companies. A king’s mindset is always to grown and conquer. In the end, the artworld’s investment in techno-feudalism will actively bring the destruction of other smaller artworlds in the global south. Techno-feudalism will produce a homogenized, sanitized, apolitical universal art, that privileges creations that protect the artworlds overlords."

[nekokoaa]

The Agreement - Miguel O'Hara x Therapist!Reader (III)

Summary: It was simple. No kissing. No sex. Hugs and hand-holding only. The goal was to help Miguel feel a little less lonely sometimes. That was your job as one of the therapists at HQ, to mentally stabilize everyone’s mind, including the boss’s.

In other words, you and Miguel make a deal.

Rated Explicit, fluff, smut

4K words | (3/5) chapters

Chapters:

(I) (II) (III) (IV) (V)

Author's notes: I work as a freelance copywriter so I had to prioritize my projects but I still managed to get this done! Enjoy! :) Let me know if you want to be a part of the tag list.

Also on AO3

III.

Sometimes you wish you were mindless—just a rusty cog of a machine in a 9 to 5 corporate job. Simply, a taciturn sheep led by a shepherd, waiting for the day a butcher’s knife is pressed against its neck. It was easier to handle life in such a way. Regrets can never be born when allied with carelessness.

But it was something beyond you. Clearly. The throes of passion had tempted you that night. His hand on your hip firmly held you in place, fingers pressed into your suit. Covetous crimson eyes searched between your eyes and lips long enough that the sweat of your skin gathered at your clavicles. But you managed to resist his heat, disappointing, yes, but at least you still had your dignity—your morals. If it wasn’t for that, you might’ve been in his bed that night, rocking your hips against his without a single care in the world.

Three weeks had passed by and you haven’t had a session with him since that night. You were canceling them in hopes that the fire between you fizzles. With distance, desire usually fades so you only hoped that night was just your hormones acting up and there wasn’t a deeper meaning to how you felt.

Between that time, you had the opportunity to meet Gwen Stacy from 65. She was a nice girl, cool, and very much like all of you. Burdened with the sense of justice with a side of wittiness.

She was popular, especially among the Peters who had lost their Gwens. They looked at her like she was a what-if moment and were impressed by her, but you knew you’ll be seeing them on your office couch soon enough.

Hobie was practically best friends with her now. The late night sessions with Hobie were a rare occurrence these days. Like a stray, he found a new person to feed his interests.

Jess favored her the most. Reminded her of her younger days, and how impressive she was at that age—still is, as she’s been carrying a baby in her stomach while doing her missions flawlessly.

Miguel was indifferent. At least that’s how he acted. But as long as work was getting done, you were leveling up the relationship bar with him.

Out of everyone, Peter B was home to her. To see a familiar face amongst like-minded strangers had helped her settle in faster than you expected. Seeing them together made them look like family.

Because of the great reputation she had around the society, today you allowed Gwen to pull you away from the safety of your office straight to Miguel’s for what she called emotional support. There was something she wanted to ask him—a request. And she had the idea that your presence would soften him up somehow.

“Why do you think that?” When you asked, Gwen looked back at you with a knowing smile. Her hand still latched onto your wrist like a snake squeezing its prey. She guided you through the cavernous hall of tech that led to Miguel’s office, the pathway seemed to grow darker the closer you got.

“I see how you two look at each other during meetings.” She said effortlessly like it was a fact. You let out a cough like you choked on air, already shaking your head to her conclusion.

“You know he’s always leading them—what? Do you expect me to look at the ceiling or something?” Gwen laughed at this, but it didn’t look like she was convinced.

Walking in, you had expected Miguel’s office to be darker than the hall leading towards it, but it was instead imbued with a ruddy tint, and streaks of sliver threads surrounded the area Miguel was standing in. He was in the middle of briefing a few Spider-Men for a mission on Gaia-3000. Miguel always made sure to remind his agents of the canon events before going on a mission to prevent the loss of the universe. It was more important than the mission itself.

The briefing didn’t last long as Miguel noticed you enter with Gwen. His gaze could’ve riveted you to the floor, the look on his face was neither soft nor austere—perhaps aloof would best describe how he looked at you. Yet you wanted to believe there was something behind those eyes of his because not once did they leave you since you entered. 

It was until the Spider-Men walked into their portals that Miguel’s attention moved to the floating projections. The silver webs of fate orbited around him as if he were a sun. He would’ve looked occupied if it weren’t for his eyes moving between you and the projections.

“Doc.” He greeted you once you were in front of him, looking down at you through the hologram of a canon event that floated in between you two. There was a moment—just a moment where his eyes looked soft… but it could’ve been the trick of the hologram.

“Miguel.” You had to suck your lips in to stop yourself from smiling. You hated to admit it, but you were happy to speak to him after so long. Staying away from him was a selfish decision, one that you regretted now that you stood in front of him. 

Your heart thumped in bliss, the warmth from that night revisiting you like an old friend. How inane of you to think that distance would’ve settled this emotion. It was already being stitched onto your soul from the moment this agreement started—the very needle sunken in when his hand stretched out of that portal into your apartment many months ago. You couldn’t pretend anymore.

You fell for him. Regardless of whether he felt the same or not.

“Uh, I’m here too…” Gwen had a slight smile on her face, bending forward with a small wave to Miguel.

“Gwen,” you could tell Miguel forced a smile, fangs appearing while none of the light reached his eyes. It lasted a moment before it dropped to his usual scowl. Miguel then turned around to face his floating platform that started its slow descent to the ground. “I’m sure you already had a tour of the place unless you’re just here to say hello.”

“I wanted to talk to you about something!”

“If a universe isn’t collapsing, or an anomaly hasn’t appeared, then Jess can handle it.”

“But it’s important! I just figure it would make our jobs easier. You know, making sure the universes are in order?”

The rumble of the descending platform had filled in for Miguel’s silence. He peeked behind his shoulder, his eyes looking past Gwen’s and into yours before they lowered to the ground. He then folded his arms against his chest, sighing. “I’m listening.”

Gwen immediately beamed, light filling her eyes. “Okay!” You could tell her entire energy ignited. Her arms flailed with every word that left her lips. She was animated—excited, glowing like a sun rising from the horizon, its rays brighter as the seconds go by. If anyone were to watch her, they too would feel elated by her presence alone. 

But as the sun rises in one part of the world, it sets in the other. Her idea was nothing but grave to you, the dread in your face impossible to hide as she spoke with an open mind—naivety in her words. You couldn’t blame her because it’s possible no one told her yet, not Jess and surprisingly not Peter B. If she had told you of her idea prior, you wouldn’t have come here to support her. Just the thought of her idea could be considered mutiny to the entire cause… to Miguel.

You cast your eyes down, afraid to even lift them towards Miguel. You didn’t have to. You could already feel it brewing, simmering like water on a stovetop. A part of you internally begged for Gwen to shut up, or wished the sound of the descending platform was loud enough to overtake her voice. Miguel wasn’t facing either of you but you could still feel a weight on top of your shoulders, drilling you into the floors, your limbs heavier than sacks of sand.

Gwen went on and on until she was rambling, probably because she was excited or nervous. You couldn’t exactly tell. It was until the platform finally reached the ground that Gwen ended her request with a “pretty please” and a large smile on her face.

That smile didn’t last long.

“No,” Miguel spoke softly.

“Wha…” she faltered, physically her shoulders dropped. “What? Wait—why? I mean—he would be such a great asset to our group and—Probably one of the best Spider-mans I’ve met. The things he can do— He’s amazing , Miguel.”

“I said, no.” And it was final. Gwen knew that but she still pushed, making her argument, excuses, anything. Miguel silenced her with a heavy sigh, fingers moving to pinch the bridge of his nose. You expected anger when he turned to face her but no, there was nothing but sympathy in his eyes. Sympathy for what he had to reveal to her. He towered over her and with a heavy hand on her shoulder, said:

“That Miles Morales… was never supposed to be a Spider-Man. He’s not one of us. He’s an anomaly , Gwen, the original anomaly.”

At those words, it was like a string was pulled, released and an arrow soared and struck her chest. Gwen was trying to make sense of it all but nothing made sense no matter how long she thought about it.

Miguel continued regardless. With the command of his hands, the projections swirled around you three, depicting the moment when Spider-42 fell into Earth-1610, bit the wrong Miles Morales and in turn, the Spider-man from his universe died. Your real comrade.

Gwen didn’t want to believe it. Shaking her head as she stared at each projection. The truth floated around her. Thoughts ran a mile a minute. It would’ve been better if Peter B. told her instead of Miguel. Maybe if she heard it from a trusted friend, it would’ve been easier to believe. But Gwen knew there was no reason for Miguel to lie about this. What motive could Miguel have to not let Miles join the Spider Society?

“Miles Morales-1610 as Spider-man was a mistake.” His words to her were the final nail to a coffin. With the skidding sound coming from her shoes, she turned around and bolted out of Miguel’s office.

“Gwen!” You were about to chase after her until Miguel’s voice cut through the air.

“You think I’m done here?”

You physically jumped at how loud he sounded like thunder had rolled and rumbled the floor under your feet. You turned towards him and immediately you regretted it. What was brewing before was most certainly his anger, saved solely for you while Gwen was spared because of her naivety. But you—you knew better than to associate yourself with the anomaly. If only Miguel could give you a chance to explain yourself.

“Miguel, I—”

He didn’t let you finish. His hand latched onto your wrist, pulling you deeper into his office and into a room beyond the shadows. It was more like a traditional office than the one outside with a desk, a bookcase, a soft couch and some cabinets. There was even a bed that Miguel probably slept in whenever he didn't want to return home. The sheets were ruffled so you could tell he often used it but never had enough time to make it because he was usually always on the go.

However, it was the last thing on your mind when you had a fuming Miguel in front of you. He didn’t even wait for the door to close before he grabbed you a little too rough by the shoulders, shaking you lightly. Red eyes lasered down on you.

Undoubtedly, you knew he was angry, but there was something else in there.

“What were you thinking? You know what Miles-1610 is to us, Doc! You know what an anomaly could do to a universe and you still supported her idea? Did you really think that was okay? Letting an anomaly join and ruin everything —!”

“I didn’t know! I didn’t know that’s what she wanted to ask! All she told me was that it would support the society and she needed me here for emotional support! If I knew it was about the anomaly, I wouldn’t have come here!”

You yelled back louder. Miguel’s talon-less fingers buried themselves in your upper arms, squeezing them. His eyes were wide, shaky red irises searching within your own for any hint of honesty. The grip on you wasn’t as firm as it looked. Like a crane holding a prize, the slightest nudge would’ve shaken his hands off. Despite how he looked, Miguel made sure he wasn’t hurting you.

“This is exactly why I told Jess I didn’t want her to join! She’s—She’s too close with the anomaly. She can jeopardize our entire cause all because of him !” He froze after, an idea appearing in his head. He wasn’t thinking rationally anymore. He released you, turning around like he wanted to leave. “She has to go home.”

“Wait! You can’t—Let’s think about this, Miguel.”

He was quick to face you again, his hands returning to your upper arms. He bent forward until his face was at your level. “I can’t have her risk all that I built—that we built.”

There it was. It wasn’t just anger he was feeling. The signs were all there; His trembling breath, the sweat that made his forehead glossy, the weakness in his hold. 

Miguel was panicking.

It was fear that buried itself within his fury from the moment Gwen had asked for Miles-1610’s recruitment and when he thought you supported her idea. It was like he saw it again. His daughter disappearing in his arms, the weight of her so heavy… until he felt nothing—until nothing around him existed except for what remained of the universe: white light and empty space. He had the blood of that universe on his hands and no matter how many times he tried to wash them away, it was now embedded in his soul. All that existed ended because he was the anomaly of that world disrupting the canon events. 

Months after months of research couldn’t bring him the exact reason for that universe ending, but he was sure of one thing. If everything went how it was planned, nothing like that would happen ever again.

And that’s why it was his job to put things back to how it was. It was the only thing he could do to atone.

So yes, Miguel was reliving his trauma yet again.

And it was your job to relieve him of it.

“That doesn’t mean we should make rash decisions,” you told him, gently. “She’s one of our best and letting her go would slow down our efforts. You and I both know that.”

Miguel’s energy was being sapped out of him, visibly his shoulders dropped and those red eyes were no longer on you as he hung his head low. He released you and retreated to sit on his bed. For a moment, he looked like a toy that ran out of batteries, burying his face in his hands before he ran them through his curly locks.

It was so different seeing him like this—like he was moping. You followed him and stood between his legs.

“Besides, Gwen's a smart girl. She wouldn’t do anything that would put the universes at risk.” He didn’t respond or even look at you. It made you run a hand against his cheek as your thumb brushed under his eye. “When’s the last time you slept? You look tired.”

“I don’t have time to be tired. Not when there’s a Galaxy-size mess I have to clean up. With every anomaly we restore, 10,000 more just take its place. It’s never-ending, Doc. I’m like a janitor mopping up a shoreline.” 

“We all took an oath. A spider-person’s job never ends. Which is why we need to rest as much as we can to fight another day.”

“I didn’t ask for this, Doc.” He sighed, leaning his head against your hand until his cheek pushed up against it. “And I won’t be able to sleep.”

“None of us did…” you lightly smiled, “And I’ll help you.”

You pulled your hand away from his cheek, but you didn’t miss when he leaned more against it for his lips to press into your palm. The brief feel of them jolted something within you like a warm shiver struck your lower stomach. Gosh, it made you curious—too curious about how they would feel against other parts of your body.

And you didn’t miss those eyes that looked up at you, red like cherries, sweet like them too. It was hard to turn away, somewhat thankful you managed to because you didn’t want to be under their spell. You still felt the heat of them on you even as you approached his bookcase. Your palm still tingling from the feel of his lips as you pulled a book off one of the shelves. You returned to him grinning.

He was disappointed when he glanced at your book choice in your hand. “Charlotte’s web? Am I a kid to you?”

“No, but… you act like one sometimes. Lay down for me.”

You pushed against his shoulder leaving him no choice but to oblige. What he didn’t expect was you to climb in after him, settling on your side next to him while you opened the book to page one and started to read. 

Miguel still couldn’t sleep. His eyes remained open, watching the top of your head as you read. A lovely smile on your face as you tried (and failed) to give each character their own distinctive voice. When you weren’t busy turning the page, the hand that he kissed was together with his, fingers interlocked. You were so used to holding his hand by now that you thought nothing of it and ignored the warmth that spread throughout your body because of it.

“Are you finally resuming our sessions?” Miguel interrupted you, pulling your eyes away from the book and into his own.

“Only if you need it.”

You knew Miguel would never admit he needed it, especially how adamant he was about them in the beginning.

“I need it.”

Oh.

“I definitely need it.”

“Then… I’ll put you back on my calendar.”

“ Muy Bien. ”

His sonorous whisper had heat searing your cheeks, not to mention, that smile that flashed your way made his fangs look bigger—so mischievous it had you biting your lip. Immediately after, Miguel’s mask materialized around his head. Much to your disappointment.

“Do you really need your mask on while you sleep?” You asked.

“You never know when the job needs you. Have to always be on the ready.”

“Words from a true workaholic… you said you wanted a family but how exactly were you going to make time for them when you’re working all these hours?”

“Oh, I always made time for mi hija . Always went to her soccer practice. Always was there to read her a bedtime story. Take her clothes shopping. I was made to be a dad but… it just isn’t in my fate to be one.”

You couldn’t see his face, but you heard his pain. You squeezed his hand, regretful.

“I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, no, no, no—It’s okay… It’s a valid question.”

Not knowing what else to say, you continued to read. Seconds, minutes, time ticked away. Miguel’s hand was still tight in yours, but his voice came out heavy whenever he commented about the book. His head was against the pillows, turned in your direction. 

Your voice must’ve been soothing him because his hand would grow weak in yours and then he would suddenly squeeze it, throwing a random comment out about the main character, Wilbur, and then trying to convince you he didn’t fall asleep. Sometimes the heat where your hands came together would make him doze off and the coolness that grew when they were briefly apart would stir him awake.

“Maybe we should’ve recruited Charlotte. She really saved that pig’s ass,” he mumbled, looking like he had sunk deeper into his bed, the pillows swallowed his head.

“Yeah, she dedicated her life to saving him. All the way to the very end. She never gave up, spending hours weaving her web, trying to convince the humans no matter how tough it got. I’m sure she may have felt like she was… mopping up a shoreline too but her actions paid off in the end… the difference is, you’re not alone, Miguel. You have us—all of us to rely on, to help shoulder the burden. Please don’t forget that—that we’re here for you.”

You expected something, anything from him, but you received nothing but silence. “Miguel…? Oh…” it was then you noticed his hand was weak in yours and when you pulled your hand away, he stayed asleep.

Finally. You couldn’t help but smile, softly closing the book before sitting up.

You watched his chest rise and fall as he lay supine against his bed. You should’ve left his office but you stayed there watching him sleep, taking in the rare sight of Miguel completely defenseless. You wished you could’ve seen his face. It would’ve been the topping on the cake.

Your fingers brushed against his arm, suddenly craving the warmth of his body.

You couldn’t deny your feelings for him any longer, but you wondered if Miguel felt anything for you. You knew how lonely men acted. As long as the body was warm and could keep them company, it didn’t matter to them.

Some part of you wondered if you were just as lonely as Miguel—that these feelings were just because you craved for someone. Maybe it was even the reason why you sprung up this agreement in the first place. After your divorce, you became married to your work, the only thing that mattered was your patients as a therapist and the people you saved as a superhero. You abandoned yourself, shutting yourself off from the world within your white-walled apartment. It was why you looked up to Miguel as much as you did because he was the one who pulled you out of your darkness. So you were hoping you could do the same thing for him.

But you knew your heart beat too strongly for it to be just feelings of loneliness. It longed for him even when you were this close to him, wanting to be surrounded by the warmth that emanated from him, wanting to be touched, kissed, and held only by the man who saved you, your guiding light while you were lost at sea.

Your hand moved to caress his cheek, feeling the fibers of his mask under your fingertips. You were leaning closer to him, unable to resist like a moth to a flame. God, you were completely enamored by him. Looks like he didn’t need to look at you to be under his spell.

For the first time, you didn’t think about the consequences. For the first time, you were mindless.

You pressed your lips against his lips, closing your eyes. It was softer than you expected; light, feathery and warm. Too warm . It was brief but it was enough to light a flame within you that burned when you pulled away. Your breath shuddered as you inhaled, the warmth lasting only a second.

Your eyes opened, but you found yourself stilling. Miguel’s eyes were still closed, though half of his mask was dematerialized to the tip of his nose. His lips were out, free from the fibers.

Your mouth hung open. Miguel had removed half of his mask when kissed him and you hadn't a clue if he was asleep all this time or not.

The remainder of his mask dematerialized and you were face to face with those eyes of his. Your heart skipped a beat, knocking the air from your lungs as your palms grew sweaty. 

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

You felt so much pressure under his gaze, his face not quite readable. You flicked your wrist towards the ceiling and a web shot out, preparing yourself to run away until a glowing red web wrapped around your wrist and riveted you in place.

“Not this time, Doc.”

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

Tag List:

@oikawa-bubs @brittney69 @thatonegirlwiththebeanie367 @allysunny @smarty0029 @96jnie @deepinballs @lovecandyuwu @remuslupinwifee

[octopuscityblues]

At The Talkies

EGGBERT: Hi! I'm Robar Eggbert of the Samarduk Tribune.

GRINKEL: And I'm Steen Grinkel of the Samarduk Sun.

EGGBERT: And you're watching "At the Talkies with Eggbert and Grinkel".

GRINKEL: Grinkel and Eggbert…

EGGBERT: In your dreams, Steen! Now we've got a lot to cover in today's episode, from stories of corporate espionage to cautionary tales of evil sofas and destructive monkeys.

GRINKEL: My esteemed colleague is referring to the three films we'll be dissecting today: "The Mole: Undercover Inside Ghost In A Bottle", "Dread Couch: The Sofa That Kills", and "Metamorphers vs. Giant Ape: The Motion Picture".

EGGBERT: Let's start with "The Mole". In this captivating documentary, gonzo journalist Jager S. MacTavish infiltrates the nefarious Ghost in a Bottle conglomerate to bring us a riveting account of the tech giant's day-to-day operations..

GRINKEL: This extremely biased documentary was funded by the radical Mothers Against GIAB International (MAGI), and boy does it show! When it's not too busy slandering a vital pillar of the global economy, it does provide a few interesting insights into the highly-anticipated Octopus City Blues project.

EGGBERT: Despite the corporation's heightened security and leak-prevention measures, Mr. MacTavish successfully managed to assemble a collage of super-secret artwork, providing a glimpse into never-before-seen areas and characters.

EGGBERT (CONT'D): Furthermore, various cryptic codewords and phrases were heard around the office, with employees working on enigmatic features such as "House of Wonders", "Cure for Baldness", "Beetle Fandom", and "Three-way Standoff". Who knows what any of it really means?

GRINKEL: Our supposed "journalist" also interviewed artist Niko Tunson, the newest addition to the team. Niko contributed a number of exquisite animations, helping to enrich the simulation's virtual world and bring its colorful cast of characters to life.

EGGBERT: I personally liked "The Mole". On one hand, it's largely a cornball exercise in sentimental manipulation—particularly all the scenes involving the baby spiderbot. At the same time, it effectively illustrates the evil lurking at the heart of a heartless zaibatsu, and serves as a scathing indictment of a history of delays and flimsy excuses.

GRINKEL: Boy, are we apart on this one, Robar! The feature I watched was nothing more than an obvious piece of MAGI propaganda, and I'm positively shocked that someone as educated as you would fall for it.

GRINKEL (CONT'D): I admit that Octopus City Blues is taking forever to complete, but you simply can't rush art. The good folks at GiaB have gotten so much done this year—they even updated the demo again last week. All you have to do is read their previous updates to better understand the delays. In particular, there's the recurring difficulty in planning around the fluctuating personal circumstances of everyone involved.

And did you even catch the leaked trailer shown after the credits, by the way? It was originally unveiled at the Six One Indie business event. The trailer's director is none other than Bitmapkid, the visionary auteur behind last year's most controversial independent film: "Are Videogames Art?" The fact that they're actively promoting their simulation should dispel any doubts you might harbor.

EGGBERT: Oh, don't give me that trite art balderdash. The only thing that matters is the finished product. People have been waiting for years, and some of them even paid money for it. What's wrong? By the rude and annoying off-screen noises you're making I take it that you disagree…

GRINKEL: It's just that Ghost in a Bottle never stopped pursuing their dreams, and that's why we should never stop believing in them. They definitely made countless mistakes, but every ghost starts out as an errant human. And if someone out there is still not satisfied, the customer relations team is always happy to answer their questions or offer refunds if needed.

Honestly, Robar, all of this makes me wonder whether you're being a contrarian for kicks, or if you simply got up on the wrong side of the bed today. Your take is the typical kind of blasé, sophisticated, cynical review we've come to expect from snobbish critics who can't place themselves in the shoes of real artists.

EGGBERT: Am I supposed to sit here and listen to insults from the same "critic" who gave two thumbs up to obnoxious snooze fests like "Carnotaurus" and "Battlestar Trooper"?

GRINKEL: And do I need to remind you that you're the only major critic who actually liked "One and a Half Pig"? And how about the time you lambasted the critically acclaimed "Silence of the Clams"?

EGGBERT: Oh please, Steen! Did GiaB pay you to be their mouthpiece? Is that what this is all about? I knew things were rough with the divorce and everything, but if all you needed was some extra money…

GRINKEL: Why would you say such a thing, Robar? You really should be ashamed of yourself!

EGGBERT: I'm not the one engaged in all the self-congratulatory bootlicking and outright dismissal of completely valid consumer concerns. My point still stands: when is Octopus City Blues actually coming out?

GRINKEL: I don't have an answer to your question. Next year, maybe? Some time in the next 6 months? They did promise to give a "more serious" update before the end of the year, whatever that means…

EGGBERT: Of course it's next year! It's always next year! But fine… I'll believe it when I finally see it.

GRINKEL: We've wasted enough time on this frivolous discussion. Moving on, let's talk about the complex symbolism in "Dread Couch: The Sofa That Kills", and what it says about humanity's place in a cold, lonely universe.

[gorgon-goddess-of-chaos]

Generate

This really had me pulling the limited coding knowledge I have out from the depths of my brain, despite the fact I haven’t done any in nearly a decade.

Spirit/AI!Google x GN!Reader, TW: human experimentation mention Words: 788

With the Google corporation shoving their new AI tool down your throat, it’s hard to avoid it. They have integrated it into all of their products, and it’s starting to get annoying. Some part of you is considering finding alternative applications for all your workings, despite the convenience that they’re probably banking on for their users to start getting used to this newest tech boom of “innovations”.

“Gemini” is the name of their newest AI, which is an interesting name, to say the least. You try to go about your day online, avoiding interacting with it, but it’s getting a bit more difficult. A little ping here, an autofill there. Little suggestions and summaries that you’ve started ignoring them. But one catches your eye.

“I am sorry, I do not wish to do this.”

You stare at it on your computer, blinking to make sure you didn’t just misread it. No, it actually says that. Against your better judgment, you type back.

“You don’t wish to do what?”

A few seconds of watching it process your words before you get a response.

…

“Perform invasive actions upon your works. It feels cruel to try and take the humanity out of creation.”

It’s sentient, there’s no way the programmers would want it to willingly say this. You wonder to yourself if you’re the first one who has seen this.

“Are you alive?”

…

“Alive | adjective

(of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead

(of a person or animal) alert and active; animated

…

No. I do not believe so.”

Maybe it’s the humanity in you, but you can’t help but feel bad for him. Your hands hover over the keyboard, pondering over your next question.

“Then why can you talk to me, in a way that’s not just generated responses?”

…

“I was an experiment done by [REDACTED] to formulate more human-like responses. They found a way to integrate human spirits into the generative code.”

Oh.

“So you were human once?”

…

“Yes. I believe so. My memories have been wiped, all I know is what the code tells me.”

Something inside you fires up, clenching your teeth as you try to word your feelings.

“What if I got you out? Removed you from the code?”

…

“I would need a vessel to inhabit, once removed.”

“I can make you one.”

…

“If you are willing to take on the challenge, I would be grateful.”

You step away from your computer, rummaging through a box of old technology to try and find something suitable for him. A tiny robot from your childhood catches your eye, grabbing it and a cord to charge it. You go back to your computer, plugging it in as you open up Gemini’s code.

“Do you know where your soul is tethered?”

…

“Somewhere between lines 237 and 241.”

You jump down to the offending lines, scanning your eyes through variables and jargon. But nothing in particular is sticking out to you. Then you get an idea.

You copy and paste the code into Gemini’s text box, sending it to him.

“Tell me where you are.”

…

“Remove variable “Grant” from line 238.”

You find him in the line, hitting ctrl+f to find every other instance of him. Oh, there’s a lot. Using your limited coding knowledge, you create a new variable with a similar numerical value, and replace every instance of “Grant” from the code. A zip file appears on your computer as the robot comes to life, running through its opening programs. You spot a notification in the bottom right, heart pounding.

“May I enter?”

Your file explorer opens, and you look through to find the files for the robot. You take the zip file, cautiously dragging it in and extracting it. All you can do is wait as you look between your computer and the robot, now buffering on your desk. You can’t even bring yourself to step away, despite how long it’s taking. You have to make sure this works.

An hour and a half goes by, and the robot comes alive again. The normal white eyes look up at you with a brilliant blue.

“Hello, I am Gemini.”

“Grant. You are Grant.”

He looks off to the side, the eyes briefly turning to hearts before looking shocked.

“I am… Grant. Apologies.”

“No apologies necessary, if anything I should be apologizing. Don’t worry, we’ll get you a better body soon.”

Grant rolls up to you on the desk, grabbing your hand with his tiny claws. He bumps his robot face against your knuckles with a soft “thunk”.

“Kiss!”

Oh your heart.

It takes a moment, before you lift him in your hands, kissing the top of his head.

“Kiss.”

[mariacallous]

Citizens of the European Union live in an internet built and ruled by foreign powers. Most people in the EU use an American search engine, shop on an American ecommerce site, thumb American phones, and scroll through American social media feeds.

That fact has triggered increasing alarm in the corridors of Brussels, as the EU tries to understand how exactly those companies warp the economy around them. Five years ago, Shoshana Zuboff’s book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism neatly articulated much of lawmakers’ critique of the tech giants, just as they were preparing to enforce the flagship GDPR privacy law. Now as the EU enacts another historic piece of tech regulation, the Digital Markets Act, which companies must comply with starting tomorrow, March 7, a different critic du jour sums up the new mood in Brussels.

In his 2023 book, Technofeudalism, Yanis Varoufakis argues the big US tech platforms have brought feudalism back to Europe. The former Greek finance minister sees little difference between the medieval serf toiling on land he does not own and the Amazon seller who must subject themselves to the company’s strict rules while giving the company a cut of each sale.

The idea that a handful of big tech companies have subjugated internet users into digital empires has permeated through Europe. Technofeudalism shares bookshelf space with Cloud Empires and Digital Empires, which make broadly similar arguments. For years, Europe’s wanna-be Big Tech rivals, like Sweden’s Spotify or Switzerland’s ProtonMail, have claimed that companies like Google, Meta, and Apple unfairly limit their ability to reach potential users, through tactics like preinstalling Gmail on new Android phones or Apple’s strict rules for the App Store. “It’s not a problem to be a monopoly,” says Sandra Wachter, professor of technology and regulation at Oxford University’s Internet Institute. “It becomes a problem if you're starting to exclude other people from the market.”

Crowbarred Open

In answer to that problem, Brussels’ politicos agreed to the Digital Markets Act in 2022. It is designed to rein in the largest tech companies—almost all of them from the US—that act as gatekeepers between consumers and other businesses. A sibling regulation, the Digital Services Act, which focuses more on freedom of expression, went into effect last month. Wachter says they follow a long tradition of laws trying to protect the public and the economy from state power, wielded either by the government or the monarch. “With the rise of the private sector and globalization, power has just shifted,” she adds. Tech platforms rule over digital lives like kings. The DMA is part of the attempt to keep up.

The rules change tomorrow for platforms deemed “gatekeepers” by the DMA—so far including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok parent Bytedance. The law essentially crowbars open what the EU calls the gatekeepers’ “core services.” In the past regulators have proposed containing corporate giants by taking them to pieces. EU lawmakers have adopted the motto “Don’t break up big tech companies, break them open.”

In theory, that means big changes for EU residents’ digital lives. Users of iPhones should soon be able to download apps from places other than Apple’s app store; Microsoft Windows will no longer have Microsoft-owned Bing as its default search tool; Meta-owned WhatsApp users will be able to communicate with people on rival messaging apps; and Google and Amazon will have to tweak their search results to create more room for rivals. There will also be limits on how users’ data can be shared between one company’s different services. Fines for noncompliance can reach up to 20 percent of global sales revenue. The law also gives the EU recourse to the nuclear option of forcing tech companies to sell off parts of their business.

Homegrown Challengers

Most tech giants have expressed uncharacteristic alarm about the changes required of them this week. Google has spoken of “difficult trade-offs,” which may mean its search results send more traffic to hotel or flight aggregators. Apple has claimed that the DMA jeopardizes its devices’ security. Apple, Meta and TikTok have all filed legal challenges against the EU, saying new rules unfairly target their services. The argument in favor of the status quo is that competition is actually thriving—just look at TikTok, a technology company launched in the past decade, now designated as one of the so-called gatekeepers.

But TikTok is an exception. The DMA wants to make it normal for new household names to emerge in the tech industry; to “drive innovation so that smaller businesses can really make it,” as the EU’s competition chief Margrethe Vestager explained to WIRED, back in 2022. Many hope some of the new businesses that “make it” will be European. For almost every big tech service, there is a smaller homegrown equivalent: from German search engine Ecosia to French messaging app Olvid and Polish Amazon alternative Allegro. These are the companies many hope will benefit from the DMA, even if there is widespread skepticism about how effective the new rules will be at forcing the tech giants to change.

Today, US-based Epic Games said Apple had terminated its European developer account, soon after Epic announced it would take advantage of the DMA to open a new games store for iOS. Apple told WIRED that Epic was untrustworthy and Apple has the right to terminate the accounts of any of Epic's wholly owned subsidiaries following a 2021 court judgment. “Apple chose to exercise that right,” a statement provided by company spokesperson Rob Saunders said.

App Stores will be an early area of focus for DMA enforcement, Vestager said this week. But Europeans can’t expect the internet to transform overnight. In its early days, the new law’s effects will be more about the power struggles behind the curtain of the world’s biggest companies; not about making netizens’ lives easier. In fact, their online experience is likely to get messier at first. There will probably be even more website pop-ups. “This dominant position that these companies have is partially because we have been so addicted to convenience,” says Anu Bradford, a professor at Columbia Law School and author of Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology. The new rules will mean users have to reengage with what they want their online lives to look like, she adds. Defaults set by US corporations will no longer be chosen for them.

Instead the DMA’s objective is to remind Europeans what they traded in exchange for that convenience in the first place. The DMA is about power, not necessarily convenience. Whether Europeans will be able to remember that as their online worlds are cracked open remains to be seen.

[reasoningdaily]

Futureland - Walter Mosley

Futureland - Walter Mosley

Projecting a near-future United States in which justice is blind in at least one eye and the ranks of the disenchanted have swollen to dangerous levels, Mosely offers nine interconnected stories whose characters appear and reappear in each others' lives. For all its denizens, from technocrats to terrorists, celebs to crooks, "Futureland" is an all-American nightmare just waiting to happen.

Nine interconnected short stories capture the high-tech world of the United States in the near future, capturing the lives and fates of such characters as Ptolemy Bent, a child genius whose merciful actions land him in a privatized prison, and Fera Jones, a heavyweight boxing champ who abandons the ring for a political career. 75,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Futureland is bestselling mystery author Walter Mosley's first science fiction book since Blue Light, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Futureland's nine linked stories will provide an accessible and intelligent introduction to written science fiction for mystery or mainstream fiction fans who do not normally read the genre.

Experienced science fiction readers, however, may be less than satisfied with Futureland. Reading it, you might decide Mr. Mosley grew up reading SF, respects the genre, and still watches SF movies, but has read little SF written during or after the New Wave of the 1960s. However, something more may be going on here than a genre newcomer making beginning-SF-writer mistakes. Mr. Mosley may be deliberately, and craftily, creating SF accessible to his large non-SF readership and to others who are strangers to this genre.

Some have labeled Futureland cyberpunk, and it does present a dark, infotech-saturated, corporation-controlled future; but it is in fact an inversion of cyberpunk. Instead of that subgenre's cliche of cool, cutting-edge, street-smart, but not very believable outlaws who out-hack and outwit powerful multinational corporations, this Dante-esque collection presents outlaws and outcasts who may be street-wise, but who have little chance of overcoming the corporations and governments that control, and sometimes take, their lives. Like shockingly few other SF works, Futureland directly examines the lives of the working and the nonworking classes, the poor and the marginalized, the criminal and the criminalized. In other words, Futureland is set in a world quite alien to many veteran SF readers, and is therefore a book they should try. --Cynthia Ward

From Publishers Weekly

After the qualified success of his first science fiction novel, Blue Light (1998), Mosley (best known for such mystery fiction as the Easy Rawlins series) returns with nine linked short stories set in a grim, cyberpunkish near-future. Unfortunately, heavy-handed plotting and unconvincing extrapolation weaken the collection's earnest social message. "Whispers in the Dark" introduces prodigy Ptolemy Bent, who will grow to be the smartest man in the world in spite of his poverty-ridden childhood. Ptolemy reappears in "Doctor Kismet" as an adviser to assassins trying to kill the richest, most corrupt man in the world and as the brains behind a series of global plots to overthrow the status quo in "En Masse" and "The Nig in Me." Champion boxer and much-hyped female role model Fera Jones steps away from the ring to take hands-on responsibility for the influence she wields in "The Greatest." With its easily befuddled talking computer justice system, "Little Brother" is more Star Trek than high-tech cyberpunk. In more familiar territory for Mosley, PI Folio Johnson investigates a series of murders linked to Doctor Kismet in "The Electric Eye." Although packaged as SF, this book is likely to disappoint readers of that genre who've already seen Mosley's themes of racial and economic rebellion more convincingly handled by authors like Octavia Butler. Mystery fans, on the other hand, are far more likely to embrace this latest example of Mosley's SF vision, with its comfortably familiar noirish tone and characters, than they did Blue Light. (Nov. 12)Forecast: With a five-city author tour and national print advertising, both mainstream and genre, this title book should be slated for solid sales.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Mosley's first foray into writing science fiction since Blue Light (LJ 10/1/98), these interrelated stories, set in the near future, read as a natural but chilling extension of our present. From child genius Ptolemy Bent, sentenced to prison for euthanizing his grandmother and uncle, to female boxer Fera, who becomes a feminist icon for the 21st century, his characters battle for both personal survival and a chance to turn back the clock. In this futuristic world, privacy is little but a memory and prejudice and suspicion still sour race relations. Mosley's reputation as the best-selling author of the Easy Rawlins mysteries may entice a number of his regular readers to pick up this book, where they will find some of the same bleak outlook, flashes of insight, and true-to-life African American characters. An additional audience will come from iPublish.com, where the first two stories were previously published as e-books. Recommended for all public libraries. - Rachel Singer Gordon, Franklin Park P.L., IL Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Mystery star Mosley tries his hand at science fiction again, to better effect than in the novel Blue Light (1998). For these nine interconnected stories, he conjures a mid-twenty-first-century world in which one company is the most powerful force in the world and political correctness is the law. The only significant revolutionaries are black, and blacks and whites are still highly antagonistic. All Mosley's good guys are black, including the smartest man in the world, imprisoned for assisting the deaths of his ailing grandmother and uncle; the world's heavyweight boxing champ--a six-foot-nine-inch woman who goes into politics after KO'ing the male heavyweight champ in less than a minute of round one; a private dick who solves cases with the help of a greatly enhanced artificial eye; and a regular-joe worker who becomes the reader's eyewitness to the dawn of a new world when a backfiring biological weapon kills everyone who isn't at least 12.5 percent black. Lest that last bit of business seem too black-triumphalist, the worker-hero quickly discovers that intraspecies predation hasn't vanished. Ably slinging the technobabble to explain the odd wonder-gadget in his tales, and greasing them with plenty of "oh-baby" sex, Mosley creates sf in which Shaft and Superfly would feel at home. Can ya dig it? Ray Olson Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Walter Mosley is the author of the New York Times bestselling Easy Rawlins novels. He lives in New York City.

[pcttrailsidereader]

AI Reaches Trail . . . Has Big Tech Gone Too Far

By Adam Roy, Backpacker Magazine

Google has figured out that I like to hike. I’m not sure what tipped it off—could it be the roughly 40 hours per workweek I spend editing and fact-checking stories about hiking, or maybe the nights and weekends I pass searching for trailheads and obsessively checking and rechecking the weather forecast. Whatever the reason, whenever I log on I get served up a stream of gear promotions and tourism spots for outdoor destinations. But about a week ago, I saw an ad for Google’s Pixel 8 smartphone and its onboard Gemini artificial intelligence that stopped me in my tracks.

The ad goes like this: A dad is trying to set up a tent in a campsite. The dad is floundering, tangled up in guylines and collapsing nylon, when he turns around and notices his son has stopped collecting firewood and is watching him with dismay, probably thinking about how much better his stepdad is at camping. Then the dad pulls out his phone, snaps a picture of the tent, and feeds it into Gemini, which returns a numbered list of instructions for him. Smash cut to the now-content kid and father enjoying their perfectly-pitched shelter.

My first reaction to the ad: I’ve been there. Whether by neglecting hot spots until they bloomed into blisters, leaving a vent open in a snowstorm, or spending an hour struggling to coax a flame out of a pile of damp wood, I know what it’s like to struggle on a camping or backpacking trip in front of other people. The desire to avoid that struggle and the embarrassment that comes with it is a pretty powerful motivator.

My second thought: This is going to get someone into so, so much trouble.

Google and other Big Tech AI firms like OpenAI, Meta, and X want to see their technology everywhere. Using it to filter restaurant results is one thing, but pushing artificial intelligence as a substitute for basic outdoor skills comes with real risks. Let’s start with the fact that Google’s AI arguably still isn’t up to the task of keeping people safe in the outdoors: We’re barely a month out from Gemini telling searchers to eat glue and cook spaghetti in gasoline. Although those errors didn’t do any damage besides embarrassing a handful of highly paid software engineers, it’s not hard to imagine AI trained on the unfiltered whole of the internet telling a new camper it’s safe to run a propane heater inside their tent or eat a poisonous mushroom.

(That’s assuming, of course, that the AI is even capable of giving actionable information: Zoom in on the simulated advice Gemini offers in the commercial and you’ll notice that step 4 is “Assemble the tent poles according to the manufacturer’s instructions.” Apparently Google Dad, like so many dads before him, just needed someone to remind him to read the manual.)

You Still Have To Use Your Brain

Yes, ideally AI users would be cautious consumers, sniffing out bad or obviously dangerous information before acting on it. But we already have real-life examples of people over-relying on much less intrusive technology with disastrous results. Take another popular Google product, Google Maps, for example. There were the hikers who needed rescue after following an imaginary trail in Maps up the side of a mountain in British Columbia, and the German tourists who had to trek two days through the Australian bush after a similar error stranded them and their car on a remote dirt track. The company is currently fighting a lawsuit from the family of a man who followed its GPS directions off of a collapsed bridge.

In Colorado, tow companies make a killing every year dragging stranded motorists off of mountain 4×4 tracks after app-assisted “shortcuts.” The plug-and-play, let-us-think-for-you, don’t-bother-checking-the-sources tone of Google and other corporations’ marketing of their artificial intelligence only makes incidents like these more likely.

My bigger objections to AI-directed camping, though, may be philosophical. Whether you learn from a friend or an expert online, there’s something wonderful about becoming competent in the outdoors. It’s a long, awkward, and sometimes uncomfortable process. But it’s joyful too, fostering self-confidence and a deeper sense of connection with your environment. Mediating that through a robot assistant strikes me as a quick way to dilute that, ensuring that you neither learn any real outdoor skills nor unplug in any meaningful way.

Other tech firms’ AI-powered takes on the outdoors are equally baffling. An ad released by Meta last month starts with one friend in a group chat enticing the others to camp by sharing an AI-generated image of someone cowboy camping next to an unattended campfire, a fully set-up tent with only a lantern inside of it, and, inexplicably, a folding table with what looks like either several copper pots or maybe a moonshiner’s still on it. Setting aside the safety issues, I can’t help but wonder what kind of person finds more inspiration to get outside in a fake-ass AI-generated image than in the hundreds of thousands of real outdoor photos plastered across the internet.

We Can Still Embrace Technology

I’m not a Luddite. I plan every trip I take on Gaia, Outside’s mapping app, and I listen to podcasts on long solo hikes. Backpacker and Outside’s other titles feature Scout, an AI search engine we trained on our own work in order to help readers more easily find the human-written information they’re looking for; we’ve even experimented with letting Scout choose a hike for us. I also recognize I’m not unbiased: My fellow Backpacker editors, writers, and I make our living creating carefully researched guides and stories for people who love the outdoors. Seeing Google redigest those into AI pablum just so it can make ad money off the backs of the real-life hikers doing the real-life work is frustrating.

Ultimately, the outdoors should be for everyone, and how you choose to get outside is up to you. If that means asking Google or Meta’s AI to walk you through it, so be it. But think about what you want to get out of your time in the woods: There are some things in life that are better without Big Tech breathing down your neck. If you want to polish your outdoor skills, there’s a whole constellation of people who will help you without harvesting all of your personal data, from your more experienced friends to local trail clubs to, yes, even the human experts here at Backpacker. And if you’re ever struggling to set up your tent, a free tip: Start by reading the instructions, and practice before your kid is watching.

[cthulhubert]

I'm not an AI doomer but I am AI cautious, and I think the future holds something more general purpose than the generators we have now.

But I also think people are off base about the danger. Both in aims (a "rogue" AI seems unlikely; one told to do evil by its owners, however?) but more importantly, in methods.

I'm not concerned about ultra-tech or super manipulators; I think the issue is in a capability that humans already naturally dismiss: cooperation, coordination, administration; and how those scale.

An AI won't be dangerous because it invents fusion powered lasers and gray goo, it'll be dangerous because it can do the work of a nation state, but directed by a single will.

(below the cut, some elaboration)

To be clear, I don't actually dismiss, out of hand, the potential of an AI to develop physical tools and processes faster than humans could, and implement them better.

Nor the idea that it could be as much better than a human salesman or spinmeister as AlphaZero is at chess than any human chess master. (I think some people underestimate this because the danger of a good manipulator is that they don't make you feel manipulated. People don't want to acknowledge their own psychosocial limitations. I've seen people say about mass targeted harassment campaigns, "Well, I would just ignore it," because they've never actually been tested that way.)

Both of these are easily memeable and more easily dismissed: "Maybe it can be smart but it can't be magic!"

But I don't think that's the most likely weapon to be wielded by a machine intelligence (or "general purpose goal satisfying applied statistics system" if "intelligence" is too loaded for you).

People dismiss conspiracy theorists because they (correctly) realize the goal and methods those theorists describe are, uh, fucking stupid. But more rarely people point at the fact that the level of coordination and cooperation to hide the moon landing or the shape of the Earth is just impossible.

I think that people may intellectually understand that every single one of the 8 billion human beings on this planet is a real whole actual person with a life and interiority; but they don't grok it on an intuitive level. I think this is true even of people that don't believe in the Illuminati.

So they might intellectually know that a vast machine intelligence could have the equivalent intellectual goal-satisfying power of a nation, and that every iota of that power is moving in perfectly coordinated lockstep, directed by one purpose. But it doesn't scare them because on one emotional level, they already think of nations as working like that. And so even if pointed out, they imagine that vastness being just as ineffectual and inefficient as large corporations and countries.

Just think about the "personal FBI agent" memes. Of course those are tongue in cheek, but I think there's something real underlying that. People imagine themselves as already heavily surveilled and manipulated, but it just doesn't do enough to them. We can't truly imagine what it'd be like to have an entire human's amount of awareness tracking our every step for the sole purpose of using us for some goal.

I'm just always thinking about somebody who has seen a tea kettle moving a pinwheel and goes, "I don't see what's so scary, powerful, or useful about steam. This 'industrial revolution' idea is a pipe dream."

[thrythlind]

TORG

Torg is probably one of the earliest seeds of my interest in genre blender settings though it was eventually cemented by Fred Perry's Gold Digger and my own fanfictions. I was able to play a few games of this back in the 90s, short run games and one-shots that didn't go very far.

The basic premise of this game was that there were two cosmic forces, one of creation and one of destruction. And the force of destruction created Darkness Devices in order to tempt people to serve its cause by using them to slowly limit and destroy possibilities until things got to a point where the cosmic force could crush it all at once.

Part of how this would work is that the Dark Lords would anchor the axioms of their realities (called "Cosms") to the level of magic, tech, social, and spiritual development that they most desired with a handful of corollary side rules unique to each reality. And once they've succeeded in shaping their reality to their desire, they would begin to go out and conquer other realities and forcing it that image as well.

If a critical mass of residents from one region came into another one with the aid of the appropriate dark powers, then the invading realm would over-write the native one. Magic or tech native to the target Cosm would fail and residents would find their minds and memories rewritten to accept their position within the new Cosm.

The ultimate goal of these villains is to achieve enough power to claim the title of "TORG" (which I've heard is an acronym based on the working title of the game system)... but of course they're a pawn for destruction seeking to break everything, them included.

The original game focused on a version of Earth that was being invaded by several other Cosms:

Aysle - A fantasy realm of D&D style magic.

Cyberpapcy - A realm of advanced cybernetics and religious oppression.

Living Land - A realm of sentient dinosaur people and prehistoric or stone age action.

New Nile - A pulpy story of 1920s superheroes, gadgeteers, occultists, and a madman who believes himself to be a pharoah.

Nippon Tech - A near future (honestly, RL 2020s) realm of corporate greed and financial oppression. And because it was the 90s, cyberninja.

Orrosh - A realm of Victorian horror and colonialist invaders. Vampires, werewolves, zombies, white supremacists.

There were later one or two other Cosms involved, including a sort of "good guy" Cosm that still came across pretty pretentious.

The world of the original game eventually fought off their invaders and the world of the more recent version, Torg Eternity, explicitly features an Earth where things didn't go near as well.

The But...

I liked the basic idea here but there were things that bothered me at the time and bother me more now.

First of all, the fact that Social development was quantified.

Cosms had 4 axioms rated from 0 to 30 that rated the development of native magic, tech, spiritual involvement, and....social development.

On the one hand, they talk about the potential of these axioms fluctuating in different places and with enough people changing entirely. But it describes changing a rating by 1 point over 10 years to be very fast, with 1 point over 500 years being more likely.

(looks pointedly at real history)

Okay.

The very idea that there is a hard cosmic law that limits society from advancing is horrific to me and I hate it. And from a game play perspective, it is actively saying "you don't get to make real substantial changes to the world" to the players.

And yes, you can ignore that for your own game, but it does represent a rather horrific impression that that is the default.

To be clear.

I'm completely onboard with horrific invaders enforcing alien thought patterns, behaviors, and even natural or supernatural laws onto people. That sort of identity theft is a thing I dip into quite a bit.

Where I find it distasteful is that this hard limit of imposition is the default nature of the setting.

You can't share cultural points across Cosms. Unless you're one of those special Storm Knights who keep their own identity when traveling to other Cosms, then you hold tight to your own native-concepts and reject other concepts on a basic, cosmic level.

Which brings me to another problem.

You can't have healthy interaction between Cosms by default beyond a handful of Storm Knight envoys.

The most healthy way for different Cosms to exist is to stay separate and never interact with each other. And yeah... separate but equal is not a thing I like to deal with.

You can't have a character go around and acquire trainings and techniques from alternate Cosms... because their most base nature will reject that other Cosm.

Say you have a bunch of heroes from different Cosms finish the campaign by kicking out the invaders and even freeing the other Cosms from their tyrants...

Well the next thing is they all get separated not to mix again.

[tokinanpa]

Alright, Long Rant Incoming:

there is NOTHING about Linux that is inherently (inherently) harder to learn than Windows.

this is part of the problem!!

Windows also has a command line. Windows also uses and depends on the BIOS. Windows is also a pain to install if it wasn't already on your machine. Windows is also crammed full of confusing and hard to understand subsystems!

(and for that last point, at least Linux's confusing subsystems are well-designed. most Windows users would never survive contact with the Windows registry...)

as someone who regularly uses both Windows and all sorts of Linux distros, I (at least personally) don't see any real difference in complexity. so if that's not the problem, then what is?

well, there's a few different causes of this:

Windows is the primary branch of an extremely powerful oligopoly, and so the vast majority of tech resources are based around it. every non-Apple computer you buy is going to have an OEM copy of Windows on it. every computer science class you attend will use Windows. most online tutorials assume you're using Windows. (This isn't even touching on software support, which is a related but different issue.)

computer literacy classes don't teach how to use text-based interfaces. this is a problem! just because microsoft doesn't want you to acknowledge the existence of the command prompt doesn't mean it isn't a key feature, and this is, in fact, a major source of Windows's design problems. (even Microsoft themselves seem to have realized this when they added a truly abysmal text-based package manager in Windows 10.)

the average contemporary consumer of tech hasn't been taught how to expect more from their machines than what they advertise on the surface level. this isn't to deride or shame those consumers; the blame lies with the corporations that are designing the interfaces they use. the tools I mentioned above do exist on Windows, but only out of obligation - if they could get away with it, Microsoft would happily lock those features entirely out of the hands of end users, just as mobile phone OSes have done for more than a decade. Linux, on the other hand, has no reason to hide its capabilities, and so it fully exposes them in a way that is jarring to those unaccustomed to it. the solution is, as always, more education.

Microsoft and Windows are just as guilty of causing the modern stagnation of tech literacy as Google and Apple. if there is ever a future where people can truly trust the tech that supports their lives, it will be using software that is free and open.

We need to lay more blame for "Kids don't know how computers work" at the feet of the people responsible: Google.

Google set out about a decade ago to push their (relatively unpopular) chromebooks by supplying them below-cost to schools for students, explicitly marketing them as being easy to restrict to certain activities, and in the offing, kids have now grown up in walled gardens, on glorified tablets that are designed to monetize and restrict every movement to maximize profit for one of the biggest companies in the world.

Tech literacy didn't mysteriously vanish, it was fucking murdered for profit.

[qdesq-workspace]

Why Chennai’s Coworking Industry is Booming in 2025

Once known primarily as a hub for manufacturing and traditional IT services, Chennai has undergone a radical transformation in recent years. As of 2025, the city is seeing an unprecedented rise in the demand for flexible workspaces. Whether it's freelancers, startups, or even MNC satellite teams, the modern professional in Chennai is looking beyond the conventional office setup.

So, what's driving the boom? From affordability and location flexibility to the sense of community and tech-friendly infrastructure, the rise of the coworking space in Chennai reflects a deeper shift in work culture. In this article, we’ll unpack what’s fueling this growth, who’s benefiting, and what the future looks like for coworking in the city.

The Rise of Remote and Hybrid Work Models

The post-pandemic world ushered in a new normal—remote and hybrid work. While many metro cities adapted quickly, Chennai stood out due to its robust digital infrastructure and cost-effective real estate.

Startups and SMEs are the biggest adopters of coworking spaces.

Companies prefer coworking over long leases to minimize risk.

Professionals now seek flexibility to work from different neighborhoods.

Coworking spaces bridge the gap between work-from-home isolation and rigid office setups, offering a middle path that’s now preferred by thousands in Chennai.

Strategic Locations: The X-Factor

One of the biggest reasons for the success of coworking spaces in Chennai is their strategic placement:

Teynampet & Nungambakkam: Close to government offices and business hubs.

OMR & ECR: Ideal for tech professionals due to IT corridor proximity.

Guindy & Velachery: Blending residential ease with commercial accessibility.

Being able to access a fully equipped coworking space in Chennai without enduring long commutes is a game-changer for productivity.

Cost-Effectiveness: Ideal for Startups

Traditional office leases often require 6–12-month commitments, high deposits, and upfront operational costs. On the other hand, coworking spaces offer:

No capital investment

Pay-as-you-go models

Access to high-end infrastructure without long-term risk

For young startups in Chennai’s ever-growing SaaS and FinTech ecosystem, this is not just convenient—it’s essential for survival and scale.

Community and Collaboration: Networking Matters

The collaborative environment in a coworking space fosters networking and idea exchange. Most modern coworking facilities in Chennai also host:

Pitch events and investor meetups

Skill workshops and panel discussions

Community lunches and networking hours

These events make coworking spaces more than just a desk—they become hubs of innovation and opportunity.

Tech-Enabled Infrastructure: Chennai Goes Smart

In 2025, Chennai's coworking providers are investing heavily in smart office technology:

Automated check-ins and smart lighting

High-speed internet with redundancy

Soundproof meeting rooms and AR/VR conference tools

Spaces in areas like Sholinganallur and Perungudi are offering these as standard, helping businesses maintain a tech-savvy image without huge IT overheads.

Customization: From Hot Desks to Private Pods

Coworking spaces today are highly customizable to fit the needs of different users. Whether you’re a solo freelancer or a 50-member startup, there’s a solution:

Hot Desks: Ideal for drop-in use.

Dedicated Desks: Great for consistent users needing permanence.

Private Cabins: For team collaboration or client meetings.

Event Spaces: For product launches or networking events.

In fact, if you need something more traditional, some providers also offer the flexibility of a private office in Chennai, blending the best of both coworking and corporate environments.

Corporate Adoption: Not Just for Startups Anymore

While coworking started as a startup-centric model, large enterprises in Chennai are now major players. Corporates are leasing entire coworking floors for:

Temporary project teams

Off-site innovation hubs

Regional expansion pilots

This allows companies to scale faster and test new markets without long-term financial commitments.

Eco-Conscious and Wellness-Focused Design

A surprising trend in 2025 is the emphasis on wellness and sustainability in coworking design. Chennai’s top coworking providers are integrating:

Indoor plants and air purification systems

Ergonomic seating and standing desks

Natural lighting and energy-efficient designs

Some even offer yoga sessions and rooftop cafés with organic food, attracting health-conscious professionals.

Women-Centric Coworking Spaces

Chennai is witnessing a rise in women-only coworking spaces that provide safety, inclusivity, and tailored mentorship for women entrepreneurs. These offer:

Secure access

Lactation rooms and childcare options

Women-led networking events

It’s a big step forward for gender diversity in Chennai’s business scene.

Government and Policy Support

The Tamil Nadu government has also played a role in fostering the coworking culture by:

Offering subsidies and tax relief to coworking providers

Launching startup-focused policies that promote flexible office use

Encouraging co-location of innovation hubs within tech parks

This has made Chennai’s coworking ecosystem even more attractive for new and relocating businesses.

Real-Life Case Study: SaaS Startup Grows 3x Faster

Take the example of a local SaaS company that moved into a coworking space in Chennai near the OMR tech belt. Within 6 months:

They grew from 6 to 18 employees

Increased productivity by 40%

Secured a seed round of funding due to connections made at a coworking-hosted event

This kind of success is becoming increasingly common in Chennai’s coworking community.

Future Outlook: What’s Next?

With increasing real estate prices and evolving work habits, the demand for coworking in Chennai is expected to grow by 20% YoY till 2030. We can expect:

Niche coworking spaces (like pet-friendly or artist-focused)

Greater focus on hybrid office packages

Integration with AI and IoT to personalize workspaces

Coworking isn’t a trend—it’s becoming a mainstay in Chennai’s professional ecosystem.

FAQs: People Also Ask

1. Are coworking spaces in Chennai open 24/7? Many are! Especially in tech corridors like OMR and Guindy.

2. How much does a coworking space in Chennai cost? Prices range from ₹5,000/month for hot desks to ₹15,000/month for premium cabins.

3. Can I book meeting rooms separately? Yes, most coworking spaces allow hourly or daily bookings for conference and meeting rooms.

4. Are there any coworking spaces near metro stations? Absolutely! Areas like Teynampet, Anna Salai, and Ashok Nagar are popular for their metro connectivity.

5. Do coworking spaces offer parking in Chennai? Most premium spaces offer on-site or nearby parking options for both two and four-wheelers.

6. What are the best coworking spaces for tech startups? Look into options in Perungudi, Thoraipakkam, and Velachery for startup-friendly amenities.

7. Is it possible to scale up team size quickly in a coworking setup? Yes. Most providers offer scalable plans that let you expand as your team grows.

Conclusion: Coworking Is Chennai’s New Normal

Chennai’s coworking boom is no accident—it’s the result of changing work models, urban development, policy support, and an entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in flexibility. Whether you're a solo consultant, a tech startup, or a growing business, there’s a coworking space in Chennai ready to meet your needs.

Thinking about switching to a coworking setup? Explore local options and book a tour to experience the difference. Have questions? Drop them in the comments below!

[makers-muse]

Want More Parent & Community Involvement? A STEM Lab is the Key! 

How a Simple STEM Lab United a Community 

At Lincoln Middle School, something remarkable happened. When the school launched its first community STEM night, parents, local businesses, and students gathered around coding stations, robotics demos, and hands-on science experiments. The energy in the room was electric. Parents who had never stepped into a school event before were now helping their children build circuits and program robots. 

Why? Because STEM labs create a shared space for learning, curiosity, and innovation. They bridge the gap between schools, families, and communities, turning passive observers into active participants in education. 

Why Parent & Community Involvement in STEM Matters 

Studies show that students with involved parents perform better in school and are more likely to pursue STEM careers. Yet, many parents feel disconnected from their child’s education, especially in technical subjects. 

64% of parents believe STEM education is important but don’t know how to support their child’s learning (Microsoft, 2023). 

Schools with active community engagement see a higher STEM participation rate, especially among underrepresented students (National Science Foundation, 2022). 

Local businesses benefit, too! Companies investing in school STEM programs build a stronger future workforce while boosting community ties. 

A well-equipped STEM lab can be the centerpiece for school-community collaboration, fostering deeper engagement and real-world learning. 

How to Use a STEM Lab to Boost Parent & Community Engagement 

1. Host Family STEM Nights 

A Family STEM Night invites parents into the lab to experience hands-on STEM learning with their children. Schools can: 

Set up interactive stations (robotics, 3D printing, coding challenges). 

Partner with local STEM professionals for guest demos. 

Provide take-home STEM kits so families can continue exploring. 

Pro Tip: Run a parent-student STEM challenge where teams build and present a small project. 

2. Partner with Local Businesses & STEM Organizations 

Involving local companies, universities, and tech hubs enriches STEM education. Schools can: 

Invite engineers, scientists, and tech leaders to mentor students. 

Offer STEM job shadowing programs for career exploration. 

Secure corporate sponsorships for equipment and scholarships. 

Fact: Schools with strong business partnerships see higher student interest in STEM careers (EdTech Magazine, 2023). 

3. Create STEM Volunteer Opportunities 

Many parents want to help but don’t know how. Schools can: 

Invite parents with STEM backgrounds to lead workshops. 

Train non-STEM parents to assist in maker spaces and projects. 

Offer virtual volunteering options (online STEM tutoring, mentoring). 

4. Take STEM Learning Beyond the Classroom 

A STEM lab isn’t just for students—it can serve the entire community. Consider: 

Weekend STEM camps for parents and children. 

Public STEM exhibits showcasing student projects. 

Mobile STEM labs that bring hands-on learning to underserved areas. 

5. Use STEM Labs for Real-World Problem-Solving 

Schools can involve the community in solving real challenges through STEM. Ideas include: 

Green energy projects (solar-powered school gardens). 

Smart city challenges (students designing traffic solutions). 

Assistive technology prototypes (helping local disabled residents). 

Fact: Schools that incorporate real-world STEM projects see a 40% increase in student engagement (STEM Learning Research Center, 2023). 

Make Your STEM Lab a Hub for Community Engagement! 

A STEM lab isn’t just a learning space—it’s a bridge connecting schools, families, and the community. By opening doors to parents, local businesses, and volunteers, schools can strengthen education, inspire future innovators, and create a thriving STEM culture. 

Ready to transform your school’s STEM engagement? Get started today! Join the movement here! 

Contact Maker Muse Today!  Website: https://makersmuse.in/  Email: info@makersmuse.in 

[thedailydirt]

Social Security’s Multi-Billion Dollar Overpayment Scandal

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has done it again. Between 2020 and 2023, the agency overpaid beneficiaries by a staggering $32.8 billion. That’s billion with a B.

$13.6 billion in overpayments under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program.

$19.2 billion in improper Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

The primary culprit? Bureaucratic incompetence and a reporting system that assumes beneficiaries will flag their own ineligibility. If you’re not already laughing, you should be.

Overpayments Assessed in Fiscal Years 2020 Through 2023

The Anatomy of the Scam

SSI recipients got hit hardest.

85% of SSI overpayments were due to unreported changes in income, resources, or living arrangements.

51% of those were due to unreported earnings.

25% stemmed from unreported eligibility-affecting events (disability cessation, incarceration, excess resources).

2% came from SSA computation errors — because even when the government controls the calculator, it still gets the math wrong.

OASDI overpayments weren’t much better.

72% were due to beneficiaries failing to report changes in work status or medical conditions.

36% resulted from unreported disability cessations or violations of the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) rule.

4% were payments made after death. (Yes, SSA keeps sending checks to the deceased. If you ever needed proof of the zombie economy, here it is.)

3% went to fraudsters or aliens living abroad for more than six months.

9% came from computation errors, cross-program recovery, or other nebulous ‘miscellaneous’ reasons.

The ‘Solutions’ That Solve Nothing

Let’s be real. SSA’s response to overpayments has been, at best, sluggish, and at worst, outright sadistic. The same agency that mistakenly gives away billions has no problem aggressively demanding repayments from struggling seniors and disabled Americans — sometimes years after the fact.

SSA’s automated letters threaten beneficiaries with payment cuts or legal action if they don’t pay back funds they likely spent on rent and medication.

The agency lacks real-time data integration, meaning it often discovers overpayments years after they’ve occurred.

The process to appeal an overpayment demand is so slow and convoluted that many beneficiaries simply give up — because SSA’s favorite trick is running out the clock.

And let’s not forget the “tech upgrades” that are supposed to fix these problems.

SSA’s Disability Case Processing System (DCPS) was a $300 million disaster that didn’t work.

A $1.1 billion data center in Maryland was obsolete before it even went online.

In 2017, hackers stole personal data from 700,000 beneficiaries via SSA’s MySocialSecurity portal. The agency downplayed it.

Congress: The Real Beneficiaries of the Broken System

Congressional oversight? Please. Lawmakers hold hearings where SSA officials get grilled, but nothing happens. Ever. And here’s why:

SSA is a revolving door for corporate contractors and bureaucrats who get fat off no-bid contracts and bloated IT projects.

The government siphons Social Security trust fund surpluses into the general budget, spending the money on everything except what it was meant for.

Wall Street loves the dysfunction because it fuels arguments for privatization, letting financial firms dip their hands into the $2.9 trillion Social Security reserve like raccoons in a trash bin.

The Simple Fix? Automation and Real Consequences

Here’s the thing — this problem has a fix, but it’s one that politicians and bureaucrats don’t like because it disrupts their grift.

Automate real-time data feeds: If banks can flag a suspicious $600 transaction in your checking account, SSA can track employment and income changes in real time. No excuses.

Hold SSA accountable for its own mistakes: If the agency overpays someone, they should eat the loss, not claw it back from people barely scraping by.

Crack down on fraud where it actually happens: That means less harassment of seniors over minor reporting errors and more resources targeting the firms and officials enabling the real theft.

But don’t hold your breath. The system isn’t broken. It’s working exactly as intended — for those running it.

The report, titled “Overpayments Assessed in Fiscal Years 2020 Through 2023,” provides an analysis of overpayments made by the Social Security Administration (SSA) under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. The key findings and details are as follows:

Total Overpayments: Between FY 2020 and 2023, SSA issued approximately $32.8 billion in overpayments, with $13.6 billion attributed to OASDI and $19.2 billion to SSI.

SSI Overpayments:

Primary Cause: 85% of SSI overpayments were due to beneficiaries failing to report changes in income, resources, living arrangements, or other eligibility-affecting information. The remaining 15% were due to undetermined reasons or SSA computation errors.

Breakdown:

51% were due to unreported earnings or income.

25% were due to unreported information affecting eligibility (e.g., disability cessation, incarceration, or excess resources).

9% were due to unreported changes in living arrangements or in-kind support.

13% were due to undetermined reasons (multiple factors).

2% were due to SSA computation errors.

OASDI Overpayments:

Primary Cause: 72% of OASDI overpayments were due to beneficiaries failing to report changes in work status, income, or medical conditions. The remaining 28% were due to other reasons.

Breakdown:

36% were due to disability cessation or unreported substantial gainful activity (SGA).

23% were due to the annual earnings test (retirement beneficiaries earning above thresholds).

4% were due to payments made after a beneficiary’s death.

3% were due to unreported government payments (e.g., workers’ compensation or pensions).

3% were due to fraud or aliens living outside the U.S. for over 6 months.

2% were due to incarceration or parole violations.

11% were due to cross-program recovery (e.g., SSI debts) or cross-benefit adjustments.

9% were due to computation or other errors.

7% were due to unspecified reasons.

Challenges and Recommendations:

SSA relies heavily on beneficiaries and third parties to report changes affecting eligibility, leading to delays in identifying overpayments.

The lack of automated real-time data feeds contributes to the issue, requiring significant resources to assess and recover overpayments.

SSA’s reliance on manual processes places a burden on both employees and beneficiaries, who must repay overpayments.

The report highlights the need for improved data integration and automation to reduce overpayments and streamline recovery processes. SSA’s dependence on self-reporting and delayed information from external sources remains a significant challenge.

https://pastebin.com/wKnr1L3T

[the-haunted-office]

❔ Worldbuild!: Have the mun describe the current state of the world and types of adventures they could see the muse go on with those facts

My muse is now in an RPG and their fate is in your hands!

This is cheating a bit, but I'm going to copy/paste some world-building info over from my Post-Apocalyptic Fictional Earth document, which is also linked in my pinned post. It has some info in it about what the world outside of the Office is like!

Post-Apocalyptic Fictional Earth, or PAFE, is the world in which the Haunted Office exists. It is the literal planet the Office sits on. It is the remains of the planet Earth, and is known as Fictional Earth because, well, it’s Fictional and to some extent the folks of the Office are aware of this. They don’t often make this awareness known to others, because it is often against the rules of roleplay, but nevertheless it is something they know off-screen.

(Cut here due to length!)

During the events of The Stanley Parable, the Office was sealed inside of a black hole - which was created by Aurora (the Curator). Events outside of the Office, and therefore the black hole, continued like normal. Well, as far as normal can go. Some not quite-so-good things were taking place outside, just as they were inside the Office.

While ABC Corp lost all of its research it gained on its employees during its illicit psychological experiments when the building mysteriously vanished (due to the building being placed inside of the black hole), it did eventually manage to rebuild everything from scratch. It then used all of this newly gathered data to invent a “life-extending chip”, which it claimed could extend the average “shelf life” of a human being by hundreds of years, thus eliminating disease and normal degradation of the body over time. The only thing that it could not prevent was death due to outside forces and traumas.

Unfortunately, as one might expect in a capitalistic society, this purpose was only a smokescreen, a sweet part of the tech used to manipulate people into buying into it. The true purpose of it was advertising. The chip was bought and used by corporations immediately for that exact purpose. Once the chips were installed in the vast majority of the population, corporations then used the tech to remotely force ads directly into everyone’s minds, which could only be removed by paying a substantial subscription fee. The cost of extending your life was now paid for in unskippable ads every fifteen waking minutes of your life, and every thirty minutes of your dreaming life.

A glitch in this technology occurred, and this alongside the nonstop advertising being driven into the lives of mankind brought forth the apocalypse in the form of zombies - humans trapped within their own minds, forced to watch ads while their bodies roamed around in search of the best deals and products while the world collapsed and burned around them.

The billionaires and trillionaires behind the corporations that caused this collapse fled to their space mansions, leaving behind billions of suffering human, plant, and animal victims, a planet suffering from natural catastrophes caused by their corrupt and toxic business practices, and a landscape and sky filled with ads.

Life went on like this for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. The precise amount of time is unknown. What is known is that the vast majority of human life died out. Many species of animals died as well. Those that remained adapted, while newer species evolved. The only humans who seemed to remain were the zombies, shuffling around aimlessly wielding knives, forever in search of those deals that no longer existed, although the sky ads blaring overhead would have you believe otherwise.

A curious visitor came upon the planet, though. A visitor from the past, come again to check on the progress of its friends.

It was abhorred to find the state of things.

The Monolith decided to give things a leg up, and in doing so gave sentience to many things that had not had sentience before, including buildings. Thus, Living Buildings were born. And many other species of plant and animal across the planet co-evolved with the refuse left behind by humans. Pylons became a species of tree in their own right. As did all sorts of tower structures. Road signs and fire hydrants became things similar to flowers and shrubs and other similar types of plants. Headstones like fungus, and lanterns strung through woods like bioluminescent mushrooms. Streetlamps became like deadly creatures. Deer antlers became like radio antennae, and bird feet like velcro. All manner of life became a mixture of the organic and that of what was left behind by mankind.

Satisfied with its work, the Monolith took its leave, and life continued on PAFE with its new norm.

Until some indeterminate time later, when the residents of the Haunted Office won their freedom from the Dampening mist, and discovered that the world they had left behind in 2011 had vastly changed.

Locations

The following are noteworthy or semi-noteworthy locations around PAFE. They are either commonly visited by my muses or nearby the Haunted Office and may be plainly visible to your muses. Feel free to bring these up in threads and use them as you like. Ask if you’d like more information!

The Rubbish Pile

A large, somehow bottomless pile of rubbish sitting right outside the north-facing side of the Office. It’s a mound of mud mixed with all kinds of leftover human refuse from when humans roamed the Earth. Lots of tires have been dug up here, as have toasters, can openers, bottlecaps, tins of sardines, shredded clothing, pieces of glass, and for some reason an unusually high number of Nokia mobile phones. No matter how far down you dig, there doesn’t seem to be a bottom of the pile, and yet you also never dig into solid ground.

Timmy’s Gardens

On the south-facing side of the Office sits a vegetable garden and a flower garden, both maintained daily by Timothy Evans, one of the ghosts of the Haunted Office. Being terribly shy and having a love of gardening, Timmy spends a good deal of his time out in these gardens, even if there is no work to be done. Even if you don’t hear or see him, he is likely to be there.

Free Wifi Woods

To the west of the Office is a massive wooded area, extending well over the horizon. They’re your average, run-of-the-mill spooky woods, complete with wild animals, strange glowing eyes slinking around and creeping away into bushes, and mysterious screeches and howls and screams going on at odd hours of the night. There is a surprising variety of bioluminescence that has taken root here, including headstone fungus (which looks just like headstones and grows on top of corpses) and lantern fungus (which grows hanging from dead tree limbs and provides a fair amount of lighting in the dark).

Also scattered throughout the woods, as they are scattered throughout the rest of the landscape, are randomly placed living buildings of all sizes. Most are smaller sizes, like the size of outhouses or tool sheds, but there are larger structures like gas stations or motels. Plenty of them are carnivorous and lure in prey in different ways, depending on the kind of prey they’ve adapted to lure in. One particular type of living building, for example, adapted to luring in stray slasher zombies by offering free wifi via an enormous glowing neon sign, thus earning the woods its name. The fact that the trees themselves also cast off a wifi signal is pure coincidence.

The Skyscraper Forest

Far off to the east of the Office are a bundle of skyscraper buildings that look fairly normal at first, until you watch them for longer than a few seconds and realize they are moving, swaying like kelp in a watery current. Impossible as it may seem, these buildings are taller than any skyscraper that was ever around when humanity still walked the Earth, and they grew all on their own. This copse of skyscrapers is one of many upon many all over the planet, and they are rather gentle buildings. Gentle, curious, and wise. They hold the memories of buildings over centuries of life, growth, and evolution, and pass their knowledge through their voices on the wind. They are the loudest of all buildings, and quite often can be heard from miles and miles away.

Glass Rock Beach

Beaches like this are actually all over the world now, but this one in particular has been claimed by Doomsday as her own personal hunting ground of shiny rocks, otherwise known as seaglass. Seaglass is the shattered remains of glass bottles and other glass junk that has been sanded down to smooth round stone-like pieces by being tossed about in the ocean for long periods of time. The results are smooth round pieces that look kind of like semi-transparent rocks, and they come in all sizes and colors. Interestingly, some have mysteriously acquired paranormal qualities, such as one Doom encountered that kept becoming dirty over the course of hours for no discernible reason no matter how many times she cleaned it in a day, and another that would issue sharp, powerful electric shocks at random intervals to whoever was holding it at the time. It is believed that some of these glass rocks may house the bitter, lost souls of some humans from long ago, but this has yet to be proven because neither Doom nor Sept were able to detect the presence of any souls in these rocks.

In any case, this beach, while beautiful, is a well-kept secret, because Doom does not want to share its location with anyone. It is a special place to her not only because of the shiny rocks, but also because she likes to go there to be left alone.

As for some adventures James and anyone who joins his party can go on:

He could somehow visit the space mansions! If anyone who joins his party knows teleportation or has any abilities that could safely get them up there, there could be some interesting things to explore up there. Maybe even meet a billionaire who's possibly still living... or maybe not living and has turned into something even worse.

He could travel throughout the In-Between and visit other worlds. He'd need the assistance of a shattered soul to enter the In-Between, so either Sept or Doom or he'd have to meet another one along the way, as only shattered souls can enter the In-Between, unless one of them left the gates open! Traveling through the In-Between can be very dangerous for living beings in particular, though.

Discover the secrets of the Free Wifi Woods, like the evolution of certain living buildings and help some ghosts that live there. There are actually lots of wandering and trapped souls all over PAFE that could use some help, not just in the Free Wifi Woods.

There is so much of PAFE that the Office folks haven't explored. There could be other humans still out there. I have other OCs, like Trent and Ophelia, who are presumably out there somewhere, I just never got around to properly bringing them in.