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[mostlysignssomeportents]

Pluralistic: Leaving Twitter had no effect on NPR's traffic

I'm coming to Minneapolis! This Sunday (Oct 15): Presenting The Internet Con at Moon Palace Books. Monday (Oct 16): Keynoting the 26th ACM Conference On Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing.

Enshittification is the process by which a platform lures in and then captures end users (stage one), who serve as bait for business customers, who are also captured (stage two), whereupon the platform rug-pulls both groups and allocates all the value they generate and exchange to itself (stage three):

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys

Enshittification isn't merely a form of rent-seeking – it is a uniquely digital phenomenon, because it relies on the inherent flexibility of digital systems. There are lots of intermediaries that want to extract surpluses from customers and suppliers – everyone from grocers to oil companies – but these can't be reconfigured in an eyeblink the that that purely digital services can.

A sleazy boss can hide their wage-theft with a bunch of confusing deductions to your paycheck. But when your boss is an app, it can engage in algorithmic wage discrimination, where your pay declines minutely every time you accept a job, but if you start to decline jobs, the app can raise the offer:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

I call this process "twiddling": tech platforms are equipped with a million knobs on their back-ends, and platform operators can endlessly twiddle those knobs, altering the business logic from moment to moment, turning the system into an endlessly shifting quagmire where neither users nor business customers can ever be sure whether they're getting a fair deal:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

Social media platforms are compulsive twiddlers. They use endless variation to lure in – and then lock in – publishers, with the goal of converting these standalone businesses into commodity suppliers who are dependent on the platform, who can then be charged rent to reach the users who asked to hear from them.

Facebook designed this playbook. First, it lured in end-users by promising them a good deal: "Unlike Myspace, which spies on you from asshole to appetite, Facebook is a privacy-respecting site that will never, ever spy on you. Simply sign up, tell us everyone who matters to you, and we'll populate a feed with everything they post for public consumption":

https://lawcat.berkeley.edu/record/1128876

The users came, and locked themselves in: when people gather in social spaces, they inadvertently take one another hostage. You joined Facebook because you liked the people who were there, then others joined because they liked you. Facebook can now make life worse for all of you without losing your business. You might hate Facebook, but you like each other, and the collective action problem of deciding when and whether to go, and where you should go next, is so difficult to overcome, that you all stay in a place that's getting progressively worse.

Once its users were locked in, Facebook turned to advertisers and said, "Remember when we told these rubes we'd never spy on them? It was a lie. We spy on them with every hour that God sends, and we'll sell you access to that data in the form of dirt-cheap targeted ads."

Then Facebook went to the publishers and said, "Remember when we told these suckers that we'd only show them the things they asked to see? Total lie. Post short excerpts from your content and links back to your websites and we'll nonconsensually cram them into the eyeballs of people who never asked to see them. It's a free, high-value traffic funnel for your own site, bringing monetizable users right to your door."

Now, Facebook had to find a way to lock in those publishers. To do this, it had to twiddle. By tiny increments, Facebook deprioritized publishers' content, forcing them to make their excerpts grew progressively longer. As with gig workers, the digital flexibility of Facebook gave it lots of leeway here. Some publishers sensed the excerpts they were being asked to post were a substitute for visiting their sites – and not an enticement – and drew down their posting to Facebook.

When that happened, Facebook could twiddle in the publisher's favor, giving them broader distribution for shorter excerpts, then, once the publisher returned to the platform, Facebook drew down their traffic unless they started posting longer pieces. Twiddling lets platforms play users and business-customers like a fish on a line, giving them slack when they fight, then reeling them in when they tire.

Once Facebook converted a publisher to a commodity supplier to the platform, it reeled the publishers in. First, it deprioritized publishers' posts when they had links back to the publisher's site (under the pretext of policing "clickbait" and "malicious links"). Then, it stopped showing publishers' content to their own subscribers, extorting them to pay to "boost" their posts in order to reach people who had explicitly asked to hear from them.

For users, this meant that their feeds were increasingly populated with payola-boosted content from advertisers and pay-to-play publishers who paid Facebook's Danegeld to reach them. A user will only spend so much time on Facebook, and every post that Facebook feeds that user from someone they want to hear from is a missed opportunity to show them a post from someone who'll pay to reach them.

Here, too, twiddling lets Facebook fine-tune its approach. If a user starts to wean themself off Facebook, the algorithm (TM) can put more content the user has asked to see in the feed. When the user's participation returns to higher levels, Facebook can draw down the share of desirable content again, replacing it with monetizable content. This is done minutely, behind the scenes, automatically, and quickly. In any shell game, the quickness of the hand deceives the eye.

This is the final stage of enshittification: withdrawing surpluses from end-users and business customers, leaving behind the minimum homeopathic quantum of value for each needed to keep them locked to the platform, generating value that can be extracted and diverted to platform shareholders.

But this is a brittle equilibrium to maintain. The difference between "God, I hate this place but I just can't leave it" and "Holy shit, this sucks, I'm outta here" is razor-thin. All it takes is one privacy scandal, one livestreamed mass-shooting, one whistleblower dump, and people bolt for the exits. This kicks off a death-spiral: as users and business customers leave, the platform's shareholders demand that they squeeze the remaining population harder to make up for the loss.

One reason this gambit worked so well is that it was a long con. Platform operators and their investors have been willing to throw away billions convincing end-users and business customers to lock themselves in until it was time for the pig-butchering to begin. They financed expensive forays into additional features and complementary products meant to increase user lock-in, raising the switching costs for users who were tempted to leave.

For example, Facebook's product manager for its "photos" product wrote to Mark Zuckerberg to lay out a strategy of enticing users into uploading valuable family photos to the platform in order to "make switching costs very high for users," who would have to throw away their precious memories as the price for leaving Facebook:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/08/facebooks-secret-war-switching-costs

The platforms' patience paid off. Their slow ratchets operated so subtly that we barely noticed the squeeze, and when we did, they relaxed the pressure until we were lulled back into complacency. Long cons require a lot of prefrontal cortex, the executive function to exercise patience and restraint.

Which brings me to Elon Musk, a man who seems to have been born without a prefrontal cortex, who has repeatedly and publicly demonstrated that he lacks any restraint, patience or planning. Elon Musk's prefrontal cortical deficit resulted in his being forced to buy Twitter, and his every action since has betrayed an even graver inability to stop tripping over his own dick.

Where Zuckerberg played enshittification as a long game, Musk is bent on speedrunning it. He doesn't slice his users up with a subtle scalpel, he hacks away at them with a hatchet.

Musk inaugurated his reign by nonconsensually flipping every user to an algorithmic feed which was crammed with ads and posts from "verified" users whose blue ticks verified solely that they had $8 ($11 for iOS users). Where Facebook deployed substantial effort to enticing users who tired of eyeball-cramming feed decay by temporarily improving their feeds, Musk's Twitter actually overrode users' choice to switch back to a chronological feed by repeatedly flipping them back to more monetizable, algorithmic feeds.

Then came the squeeze on publishers. Musk's Twitter rolled out a bewildering array of "verification" ticks, each priced higher than the last, and publishers who refused to pay found their subscribers taken hostage, with Twitter downranking or shadowbanning their content unless they paid.

(Musk also squeezed advertisers, keeping the same high prices but reducing the quality of the offer by killing programs that kept advertisers' content from being published along Holocaust denial and open calls for genocide.)

Today, Musk continues to squeeze advertisers, publishers and users, and his hamfisted enticements to make up for these depredations are spectacularly bad, and even illegal, like offering advertisers a new kind of ad that isn't associated with any Twitter account, can't be blocked, and is not labeled as an ad:

https://www.wired.com/story/xs-sneaky-new-ads-might-be-illegal/

Of course, Musk has a compulsive bullshitter's contempt for the press, so he has far fewer enticements for them to stay. Quite the reverse: first, Musk removed headlines from link previews, rendering posts by publishers that went to their own sites into stock-art enigmas that generated no traffic:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/oct/05/x-twitter-strips-headlines-new-links-why-elon-musk

Then he jumped straight to the end-stage of enshittification by announcing that he would shadowban any newsmedia posts with links to sites other than Twitter, "because there is less time spent if people click away." Publishers were advised to "post content in long form on this platform":

https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/111183068362793821

Where a canny enshittifier would have gestured at a gaslighting explanation ("we're shadowbanning posts with links because they might be malicious"), Musk busts out the motto of the Darth Vader MBA: "I am altering the deal, pray I don't alter it any further."

All this has the effect of highlighting just how little residual value there is on the platform for publishers, and tempts them to bolt for the exits. Six months ago, NPR lost all patience with Musk's shenanigans, and quit the service. Half a year later, they've revealed how low the switching cost for a major news outlet that leaves Twitter really are: NPR's traffic, post-Twitter, has declined by less than a single percentage point:

https://niemanreports.org/articles/npr-twitter-musk/

NPR's Twitter accounts had 8.7 million followers, but even six months ago, Musk's enshittification speedrun had drawn down NPR's ability to reach those users to a negligible level. The 8.7 million number was an illusion, a shell game Musk played on publishers like NPR in a bid to get them to buy a five-figure iridium checkmark or even a six-figure titanium one.

On Twitter, the true number of followers you have is effectively zero – not because Twitter users haven't explicitly instructed the service to show them your posts, but because every post in their feeds that they want to see is a post that no one can be charged to show them.

I've experienced this myself. Three and a half years ago, I left Boing Boing and started pluralistic.net, my cross-platform, open access, surveillance-free, daily newsletter and blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/drei-drei-drei/#now-we-are-three

Boing Boing had the good fortune to have attracted a sizable audience before the advent of siloed platforms, and a large portion of that audience came to the site directly, rather than following us on social media. I knew that, starting a new platform from scratch, I wouldn't have that luxury. My audience would come from social media, and it would be up to me to convert readers into people who followed me on platforms I controlled – where neither they nor I could be held to ransom.

I embraced a strategy called POSSE: Post Own Site, Syndicate Everywhere. With POSSE, the permalink and native habitat for your material is a site you control (in my case, a WordPress blog with all the telemetry, logging and surveillance disabled). Then you repost that content to other platforms – mostly social media – with links back to your own site:

https://indieweb.org/POSSE

There are a lot of automated tools to help you with this, but the platforms have gone to great lengths to break or neuter them. Musk's attack on Twitter's legendarily flexible and powerful API killed every automation tool that might help with this. I was lucky enough to have a reader – Loren Kohnfelder – who coded me some python scripts that automate much of the process, but POSSE remains a very labor-intensive and error-prone methodology:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/13/two-decades/#hfbd

And of all the feeds I produce – email, RSS, Discourse, Medium, Tumblr, Mastodon – none is as labor-intensive as Twitter's. It is an unforgiving medium to begin with, and Musk's drawdown of engineering support has made it wildly unreliable. Many's the time I've set up 20+ posts in a thread, only to have the browser tab reload itself and wipe out all my work.

But I stuck with Twitter, because I have a half-million followers, and to the extent that I reach them there, I can hope that they will follow the permalinks to Pluralistic proper and switch over to RSS, or email, or a daily visit to the blog.

But with each day, the case for using Twitter grows weaker. I get ten times as many replies and reposts on Mastodon, though my Mastodon follower count is a tenth the size of my (increasingly hypothetical) Twitter audience.

All this raises the question of what can or should be done about Twitter. One possible regulatory response would be to impose an "End-To-End" rule on the service, requiring that Twitter deliver posts from willing senders to willing receivers without interfering in them. End-To-end is the bedrock of the internet (one of its incarnations is Net Neutrality) and it's a proven counterenshittificatory force:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/06/save-news-we-need-end-end-web

Despite what you may have heard, "freedom of reach" is freedom of speech: when a platform interposes itself between willing speakers and their willing audiences, it arrogates to itself the power to control what we're allowed to say and who is allowed to hear us:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/10/e2e/#the-censors-pen

We have a wide variety of tools to make a rule like this stick. For one thing, Musk's Twitter has violated innumerable laws and consent decrees in the US, Canada and the EU, which creates a space for regulators to impose "conduct remedies" on the company.

But there's also existing regulatory authorities, like the FTC's Section Five powers, which enable the agency to act against companies that engage in "unfair and deceptive" acts. When Twitter asks you who you want to hear from, then refuses to deliver their posts to you unless they pay a bribe, that's both "unfair and deceptive":

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/10/the-courage-to-govern/#whos-in-charge

But that's only a stopgap. The problem with Twitter isn't that this important service is run by the wrong mercurial, mediocre billionaire: it's that hundreds of millions of people are at the mercy of any foolish corporate leader. While there's a short-term case for improving the platforms, our long-term strategy should be evacuating them:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/18/urban-wildlife-interface/#combustible-walled-gardens

To make that a reality, we could also impose a "Right To Exit" on the platforms. This would be an interoperability rule that would require Twitter to adopt Mastodon's approach to server-hopping: click a link to export the list of everyone who follows you on one server, click another link to upload that file to another server, and all your followers and followees are relocated to your new digs:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/23/semipermeable-membranes/#free-as-in-puppies

A Twitter with the Right To Exit would exert a powerful discipline even on the stunted self-regulatory centers of Elon Musk's brain. If he banned a reporter for publishing truthful coverage that cast him in a bad light, that reporter would have the legal right to move to another platform, and continue to reach the people who follow them on Twitter. Publishers aghast at having the headlines removed from their Twitter posts could go somewhere less slipshod and still reach the people who want to hear from them on Twitter.

And both Right To Exit and End-To-End satisfy the two prime tests for sound internet regulation: first, they are easy to administer. If you want to know whether Musk is permitting harassment on his platform, you have to agree on a definition of harassment, determine whether a given act meets that definition, and then investigate whether Twitter took reasonable steps to prevent it.

By contrast, administering End-To-End merely requires that you post something and see if your followers receive it. Administering Right To Exit is as simple as saying, "OK, Twitter, I know you say you gave Cory his follower and followee file, but he says he never got it. Just send him another copy, and this time, CC the regulator so we can verify that it arrived."

Beyond administration, there's the cost of compliance. Requiring Twitter to police its users' conduct also requires it to hire an army of moderators – something that Elon Musk might be able to afford, but community-supported, small federated servers couldn't. A tech regulation can easily become a barrier to entry, blocking better competitors who might replace the company whose conduct spurred the regulation in the first place.

End-to-End does not present this kind of barrier. The default state for a social media platform is to deliver posts from accounts to their followers. Interfering with End-To-End costs more than delivering the messages users want to have. Likewise, a Right To Exit is a solved problem, built into the open Mastodon protocol, itself built atop the open ActivityPub standard.

It's not just Twitter. Every platform is consuming itself in an orgy of enshittification. This is the Great Enshittening, a moment of universal, end-stage platform decay. As the platforms burn, calls to address the fires grow louder and harder for policymakers to resist. But not all solutions to platform decay are created equal. Some solutions will perversely enshrine the dominance of platforms, help make them both too big to fail and too big to jail.

Musk has flagrantly violated so many rules, laws and consent decrees that he has accidentally turned Twitter into the perfect starting point for a program of platform reform and platform evacuation.

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/2023/10/14/freedom-of-reach/#ex

My next novel is The Lost Cause, a hopeful novel of the climate emergency. Amazon won't sell the audiobook, so I made my own and I'm pre-selling it on Kickstarter!

Image: JD Lasica (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elon_Musk_%283018710552%29.jpg

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

[sucktacular]

Okay it just seems to be the dash itself that is fucked. Understandable, didn't want to use that anyway. Clearly it's my least used part of this app and this is fine. :)

Is Tumblr mobile being impossibly slow for anyone else or is that a me issue?

[princessb4mbi]

MESSAGES I CAN’T SEND

꩜ tags black!reader, therapist!eren, college setting, age gap (reader in 20s, eren in 30s), power dynamic, not so protective sex? mentions of death [not proofread]

꩜ synopsis isn’t it obvious to hide your private life better? or was it not obvious when a video of you dry-humping a pillow was sent to your therapist.

@ word count 3.6k

story below the cut !!

ever since you’ve lost your mother to old age, your mental health has spiraled downwards a little bit. you’ve had the privilege of knowing when she WOULD die and at-least died in a proper place rather than somewhere shitty, so that’s cheered your spirits up a little bit. she was your best friend though, and losing your best friend is painful. you went to her whenever you could, talked on the phone for hours, and slept in her bed every night as if you were still five years old. 

you weren’t the only one suffering though, your childhood friend sasha couldn’t stand watching you wither away. even though she did everything she could, she knew she was capable of oh so much. 

you weren’t the only one suffering though, your childhood friend sasha couldn’t stand watching you wither away. even though she did everything she could, she knew she was capable of oh so much. 

“do you want me to hook you up with my therapist? he’ll seriously help you clear all cloudy thoughts away y/n,” sasha says caressing your cheeks

you move your face away from her hand, “they aren’t cloudy thoughts sas, im just grieving my mother..” 

“i know baby, i know.. but i don’t want to grieve YOU if you die of a heartbreak. i want you to get better, physically and mentally.” sasha looks at me emphatically.

she pulls out her phone and scrolls through her contacts until stopping at a card called “dr.jaeger”. “listen, give him a call please. his prices are cheap and his place is nice. it’s not like those dull white offices with an ugly long chair and a monotone person.” 

you sighed, reluctantly agreeing to her copying and pasting the number to your phone. “okey, i gotta go now babe, but PROMISE me you’ll give him a call, he’ll help you, and if he doesn’t i’ll play for any of your bills ok?” sasha says packing up her stuff. she kisses your cheek before leaving the quiet study area, leaving you alone to your own thoughts. 

you stare at the contact card, pulling dr. jaeger’s name up on your laptop and scrolling through his website. sasha was right about one thing, his prices WERE cheap. about $65 an hour and he also had packages where two weeks of therapy would be about $350 in total.   

the prices however, weren’t enough to convince you fully, as your scroll down to see the reviews.  

“dr. jaeger saved me. after the loss of my wife, i never felt like so lonely, but my daughter told me about him and he’s helped me heal properly and not turn to anything crazy. he’s an amazing person with amazing talents as such a young age. 5 stars” 

ok.. that was something. not that you were going to invalidate them, but that seemed just.. fake. you decided to read another one.

“oh my gosh. no one would believe how amazing someone is at listening and understanding a person’s thoughts. dr. jaeger was nothing like those terrible therapists who make you pay $100 for an shitty hour call. oh how i wished i can say more, but the character limit is fu” 

you giggled at that one. maybe i should give him a call. with a deep breath, you called the number. 

“hello? my name is y/n, i’d like to speak to dr. jaeger please.” 

— 

it’s been about a month since you’ve scheduled a session with dr. jaeger, only having to wait that long due to “heavy traffic”. sasha is currently driving you to the building. 

“you know, i’m really proud of you for calling. i was scared you were going to stay depressed forever.” sasha says over her 80s radio playing. 

“let’s not get too happy yet, he could still be shit at his job..” you say cutting down any happy thoughts. 

“you’re STILL doubting him y/n? i get that some people are money hungry, but i promise you he’s not. if he was, do you think ME of all people would be recommending you to him? i mean c’mon, have some faith please.” 

“i’m sorry, i just nervous ok. my stomach is doing backflips at the moment.” 

“hey man, if you feel like farting, ill park somewhere and you can walk the rest of the way.”

you two pull up to the parking lot, fancy with a modern style front. the office itself if very modern and 2 floored. 

“k, i’m gonna drop you off here, call me when you’re done ok?” 

you walk out of sasha’s car, waving her goodbye while she drives away. you walk into the sleek office, with painting from what you the assume were from the last two centuries. 

the receptionist greets you with a nice smile “welcome, how may i help you today?” you give her your name. “ah i see, you right on time then, ill have this guard guide you to dr. jaeger’s office.” just then, a semi tall man with a black uniform from comes in-front of me. “right this way.” 

he leads me into the elevator, where he then leads me into a hallway with lots of rooms. there’s multiple therapists in this building, all with different ways. as i look through the glass windows, i see pet therapy, group therapy and even massage therapy. the guard finally stops at a door, with a name tag having “DR. JAEGER” on it. “here’s your room, have a nice day.” he says as he’s walking away. you give him a quick thank you and knock on the door. 

a deep “come in.” follows shortly after, and you enter the room. first impression of when you enter the room was that sasha was right. the room was anything from boring, and didn’t have white walls but instead had a mix of brown and auburn. there was lots of old-style decor too. a record player, cd’s and even the tv was kinda old. 

however you were greeted with the most shocking thing of all, dr. jaeger himself. he looked away from his papers, to look at you and gave you a warm smile. his visuals was… something you didn’t expect. most therapist are middle-aged men and women, that are sort-of not the most attractive. but that was ok, because they wanted to help you, not seduce you. dr. jaeger on the other hand was extremely beautiful. he has dark brown hair, put up in a semi-messy bun, the most luscious green eyes, and very kissable pink lips. 

i guess you were admiring his facial features for too long to notice dr. jaeger looking at you weirdly. “maybe un-responsive.” he mutters to himself, typing down on his laptop. upon hearing his words, you apologize and scurried to the seat in-front of him. 

“or not. . . my name is dr. jaeger, if you’ve haven’t gotten a chance to see on the door.” 

“i did, sorry for not responding earlier.” 

“it’s ok, its common for most genders to be shocked at how i look.” dr. jaeger said in a non-concerned voice. you were took aback a little by his comment, most genders to be shocked at how he looked? you were wondering if he was just annoyed at the common occurrence or just knew that he was an attractive man. “pushing that aside,” he sighed “sasha has told me a lot about you.” he says looking up at you. 

“she did?” you question.

“mhm, she cares for you ms….” he looks at the paper look for your last name. 

“y/l/n.” 

“ah, thank you. sasha cares for you ms. y/l/n. she talks about your recovery, and wants you to best happy for her.” he says maintaining eye contact. you can’t respond to such kindness. all you can do is nod your head and smile. 

“but as a therapist view-point, the death of a loved one is one of the hardest battle we have to overcome as a human being. no matter how emotionless a person may be, the death of anything else to them will always cause someone to break. that’s just how we are, we humans . . . after all.” he says empathically. 

“my job isn’t to make you forget your mother, or forget the pain you feel about her. you always feel pain lingering about her, and that’s ok. i’m just here to help you reduce that pain.” 

you were shocked. cheap prices, handsome therapist AND a good one at that? maybe it’s good to stay faithful after all. 

— 

it’s been about 3 weeks since you’ve had daily therapy sessions with mr. jaeger and he’s honestly been helping you a lot. you had different kinds of sessions, like walking around and even some pet therapy. today was for a usual one-on-one walk around the building beautiful outside landscape.

as you and dr. jaeger walk around, you wave to the other clients with their own therapists. “see how social you’ve gotten? when we first came here, you were begging to stay back inside due to all the people,” he jokes around. “now, you’re friendly with them. it’s good progress.” he smiles to himself. 

“it was only because of you, dr. jaeger. i don’t think i’d be the way i am without your help.” 

“ah. . . don’t flatter me too much. let’s sit right here yea?” he says pointing towards the swinging wood benches. “it’s beautiful outside, isn’t it ms. y/l/n?” he turns to look at you. 

“yea, it really is.” you turn back to stare at him. god, you can stare into his eyes for hours. it’s something that about that were so addicting, that you couldn’t look away if you wanted to. to break the silence, you decided to follow up with a cheeky comment. “say dr. jaeger, you really know how to keep a client.” he moves his head to the side, confused. “i like to believe that my clients stay with my due to how i help them and not my looks.” ah fuck. it was not received well at all, and you just profusely apologized to him. 

“but, if my looks did make people stay, that wouldn’t be all too bad huh,” he says giving a hearty laugh. “but tell me now, ms y/l/n. does my looks make you stay?” you were at a loss for words. one part of you wanted to say “fuck yes” while another part of you wanted to say “absolutely not”. and you of course went with the latter. 

“whatever your answer is, it doesn’t bother me either way. . . but it looks like our time is up ms. y/l/n.” you look down at your phone for the time. it was up after he exclaimed. the two of you head back to his office to pick you up your stuff. 

that night later, you were chilling in your bed, getting ready to dose off. you however, couldn’t sleep without thinking about a fantasy. it didn’t matter what type, other than it having to be something interesting. you close your eyes, your mind shifting to dr. jaeger, and the moments between you two that drove you insane. like that one time he wore a turtle neck, showing off his clothed six-pack abs. you imagined yourself touching them, feeling the rock-hardness of them. you open your eyes again, looking around the room. to be honest, you haven’t.. you know what, in a while and you thought it might be time to do it again. 

you move your bedsheets closer to the edge to give you more space. and moved all your pillows away except for one. you pulled your phone out and started to record. it might seem weird to other people, but you like to record yourself, in the time that you couldn’t find anything good on twitter or reddit. 

you start to rock your hips back n forth on the pillow, assuming it the body of a male. maybe it was dr. jaeger body you could’ve been assuming it off. either way, it turned you on, seeing how you started to move faster on your pillow. one of your hands grip the pillow, as the other hand massages your boob. you move faster, enjoying the friction your clit is getting between the pillow and your soaked panties. you close your eyes, imagining dr. jaeger guiding your body with his big, veiny hands. as you’re about to climax, you can’t help but subtly whimper his name. 

once you’ve finished, you end the video. while you’re cleaning up, sasha enters the room. “hey girlie, i was thinking of getting some drinks tomorrow night? wanna come?” she says exciting. “i would but i have a session with dr. jaeger tomorrow.” 

“boo, you’re boring.” 

“whatever, i’m going to the shower, so let me know if anything happens ok?” 

“yea yea boring y/n.” 

you go to the bathroom and take off your clothes, hopping inside the shower. you turn on the water, letting the lukewarm water hit your skin. you are alone with your thoughts until sasha comes inside the bathroom. 

“not to be nosey, but dr. jaeger texted you.” she says. 

“mhm really? what did he say?” 

“i didn’t look at it properly, but something about a daily wellness video?” you knew right away. dr. jaeger usual makes his clients make videos of themselves with positive affirmations, then with their consent, he’ll use it on his website for future clientele. 

“ahh ok! just send him the most recent video.” you photo gallery takes forever to update, so there’s a chance it’ll take forever to show the video of your “naughty time”. 

“ok, sending right now… and it’s sent. if he wants a further conversation, i’ll let you know.” 

“thanks sash.” 

as you walk out the steamy bathroom, and get ready for bed, you check your notifications for any new ones. you go into the chat between you and dr. jaeger, seeing if theres anything new. you took a look at the video of your affirmation, seeing the shirt you wore today as the thumbnail. you clicked on it, expecting your face to zoom out, as you were testing the camera quality always. to your shock, you camera didn’t zoom out. but instead was your body moving back and forth on something. your heart dropped. it couldn’t be. you’re praying it wasn’t. you skip some of the video to see if it was truly what you think it was, but the video suddenly changed to a more in-depth shot of you humping the pillow with your panties being in view. 

your heart start to beat faster than usual. you click off the video to delete it right away. dr. jaeger didn’t respond to it, and it said it was ‘delivered.’ you wanted to tell yourself that he hasn’t seen it, and probably watches those videos early in the morning. you weren’t going to stress yourself out though, you were just gonna go to his office per usual, and get counseling per usual.

— 

you take a deep breath and knock at his door, hoping it all ends well. you hear his “come in” but it sounds different from before. his voice went an octave lower. you walk into the room, seeing a more “messy” side of dr. jaeger. at-least he didn’t look at cleaned up as he usually does. his bun was a lot more frizzy from before and he had two buttons undone on his button up shirt. 

maybe he had a rough morning. you think to yourself. “good morning ms. y/l/n. how was your night?” you stopped for a second. such a simple question was something so dangerous to you. “it was fine, dr. jaeger. how about yours?” 

“oh. one of the best i’ve had in a while.” 

“ah. mine was the worst i’ve had in a while.” you mumbled. 

“really? i would’ve assumed you’ve had a very nice night ms. y/l/n.” 

you stare at him confused. what could he mean by that? yea, you fixed your hair a little better than usual, and your eye bags have gone away overtime, but you truly did have a sleepless night yesterday. dr. jaeger gets up from his chair, to lean on his desk, standing in-front of you. he stared down at you with his usually lighter colored eyes now displayed a dark-green. and his pupils were more extended. 

“i don’t know what gives you the impression that i’ve had a nice night dr. jaeger.” 

he bends to to match the height of the chair, and put both of his hands on the rest, restricting me from mounting off of it easily. “let’s cut the crap, y/n. i saw what you sent me.” at this moment, it felt like 100 daggers were suddenly lodged into your chest. 

“i wondered why you asked what you did yesterday. i thought to myself ‘maybe she thought i was attractive’, but i see it was more than that i see,” he says not breaking eye contact. “you see, as a human, we see something we like, and have many kinds of thoughts about it. and i see the thoughts you have towards me are stronger than what i expected.” 

“i’m truly sorry dr. jaeg-“ 

“call me eren, seeing as that is what you called me in the video.” 

“i’m sorry eren, truly. i don’t want to do anything to make you uncomfortable or hurt this relationship between us.” i say holding back my tears. 

“hurt? uncomfortable? those words are out of the park right now,” he says standing up. “to be honest, tell me why you came today y/n.” 

“to have a therapy session with you.” you meekly say.

“is my looks standing in the way of you healing with the death of your mother?” he says standing behind me. 

“not at all, dr. jae- eren.” 

“so then what provoked you to send me a five minute long video of you fucking yourself to a pillow in the imagination that it’s me?” you were at a loss for words. he was right. your heart sank as his word dug deeper into you. and you couldn’t hold back your tears anymore. you started to quietly sob, feeling large hands down your shoulders. you feel a hot breath near your eyes chill down your spine. “don’t cry, not in this manner at least,” he says in your ear. 

“cry because you can’t handle it, y/n.” 

you stopped and turned to look at him. he had a devilish grin on his face. “handle what?” you say, not catching his gist. 

“you’ll find out soon enough.”

eren lifts you up by the arm and spins you around to face him completely. you didn’t know what was going on, but you didn’t want to push away. your faces was a mere 4 inches away from each other. “can i? y/n. . . can i give you what you want?” 

you look at his eyes then his lips then his eyes again. fuck it, you nod your head and eren kisses you passionately. he stops kissing you for a moment to push the chairs aside. you look at his desk to see his usually messy papers cleaned up to the side. he planned this probably . . . eren picks you up and places you on his desk. 

he places a hand on your chin, rubbing it gently. “open it baby,” he says as his kisses you again, but placing his tongue all over the inside of your mouth. his hands tug on the bottom of your shirt, signaling for it to be removed. in between each kiss, you both take off a piece of clothing until you up to your undergarments. eren slips his large hand under your breast, fondling with it while he leaves wet hickeys on your neck. with the other hand he unclasps the bra, throwing it the ground. he kisses you again, muttering “nice tits”.

you pull at the band of his underwear, “want you in me ren’.” you whine. “patience baby.” eren says sliding your panties off to the floor. 

“are you on any pills by any chance?”, he says rubbing ur slick all over your cunt. “m-mhm ren.’”

“good. so i don’t have to hold back.” 

eren slips his underwear off, revealing his long, veiny and girthy dick. you want to guess it’s around 6-7 inches, but it was gonna tear you up regardless. he strokes his dick, ‘lubing’ it up with his pre-cum. he inches closer to you, having his dick and your hole just one insert away from each other. you open your legs wider and lay down on his desk, giving him more access to yourself. “didn’t even have to ask.” eren said.

he teases the tip of his dick on your clit. your whole body tingles in response, arching your back off the cold desk. “please ren’…” you beg, desperately wanting his dick buried into you. “please fuck me eren.” 

“as you wish.” with that, eren aligns himself with your entrance, slowly pushing himself in. the both of you moan simultaneously from the pleasure you both felt. eren starts to push his hips back and forth into you, keeping a firm grip on your waist. eren keeps a nice pace, making sure to satisfy both sides. suddenly, eren lifts your legs, wrapping them around his waist. you jolted from the tingle he gave you. you were trying to conceal your moans, but every time it was getting louder than usual, eren made sure put his hand over your mouth.

eren’s pace starts to unstable, moving fast at times and then slowing down to grind himself on you. you can tell he was close to his climax, seeing how desperate and shaky thrusts were. 

“‘m so close baby. . .” he grunts. 

“‘ren please! mhm.” you whine, begging him to release. 

“at the same time? what a good girl..” he barely breathes out. 

eren picks you up by the waist to pull you closer to him. there wasn’t enough space between you too, but he didn’t care. eren grinds his dick into you, feeling his dick throb in your walls. then, you feel a warm liquid pour inside of you, while at the same time cry out from your orgasm. 

[iwonderwh0]

I wish the insistence of massive platforms moving towards never-ending stream of ads, bots, algorithmically pushed nonsense and rage baits and generated shitposts along with premium subscriptions resulted in the renaissance of personal websites with people building their own, maybe a little ugly but cozy websites to blog where they do whatever the fuck they want and visit their friend websites and share links to their other favorite personal websites. Domain-name purchase is cheap and so is hosting for websites with small enough traffic and size. Like, it's cheaper than what some if not most of those platforms ask for premium.

I don't think a thing like that will happen any time soon, but let me dream.

[stardust-swan]

How to Fly Like a Hollywood Star - Part 2: Before the Airport and At the Airport

[Part 1 - Packing]

Before the Airport

🛩 If booking flight tickets online, use incognito mode. Airline websites use cookies to adjust the prices of tickets, so if you visit a website often, the price will be more expensive. Using incognito mode prevents this.

🛩 You can't book tickets through this site, but it tells you who has the cheapest fares.

🛩 Flight Connections can be your best friend when booking flights.

🛩 Be careful with low budget airlines. The tickets may be cheap, but they try and make you pay through the nose for every else, like food, checked bags, seat assignments, etc.

🛩 First flights of the day are always your best bets in terms of availability and options if you get bumped, at least on major routes. If you have two options to take a leg always plan to take the first one I.e. Ten seats on the 7am departure is far more likely than ten seats on the 9am. People oversleep, people change their flights, people get stuck in traffic, etc.

🛩 Study what type of plane you'll be on prior to booking seats. Business class will nearly always have only two seats per row, but on some big jets, economy class will have two seats towards the back of the plane. This is because the plane narrows there. This is good, because there's extra space next to you on the floor if you're in the window seat, and you won't be in the dreaded middle seat. Be aware that some planes have the latrine next to that aisle (but sometimes it's the galley, so you'll have the aroma of fresh coffee near you throughout the entire flight). You can find a map of your flight's seats here.

🛩 Get window or aisle seats if you can. Aisle seats are better if you need to pee a lot, but the downside is that you'll have to get up for other people in your row. Window seats are good for not being disturbed, but you'll have to ask people in your row to move if you need the toilet. Avoid middle seats if possible, there's no benefit to them.

🛩 Get business class tickets if you can. On some airlines they're only a little bit more expensive than economy, and the experience is so much better.

🛩 Sometimes, saying you're a doctor can get you upgraded ahead of others. So try your luck and fill out the "Title" section with "Dr" when you fly.

🛩 Bring a powerbank for your phone, just in case your phone battery dies. The flight may not have a charging outlet, and they can be difficult to find in an airport, which is a nightmare if you have your boarding pass or vaccination proof on your phone.

🛩 Take a screenshot of the airport map, your boarding pass, and vaccine cert just in case you have difficulties accessing the airport WiFi. Make a photocopy of your passport and keep it in your luggage.

🛩 Download some music ahead of your flight (this app is the best for downloading music if you're an android user), and bring something to read on board. Use Library Genesis to download any books you want to read on an electronic device offline.

🛩 Take a picture of your luggage in case it gets lost.

🛩 If your luggage gets lost, in many places airlines are obligated to pay you compensation, so don't just let it slide. Use this site to get compensation (going directly to the airline may cause them to do the runaround so you won't get anything). Keep the receipts of clothing, toiletries, etc, you bought and claim. If you're don't fly often, buy stuff with the assumption you won't get your claim. If you do fly frequently, then you can begin buying expensive items, and they don't complain.

🛩 If you're in the EU and something goes wrong with your flight, check this website to find out your rights.

🛩 Check your phone coverage abroad. Most big carriers have programs where you can pay by the day for international access (between like $2 and $10 depending on country) but international roaming fees are terrible if you forget to activate an international plan. Get a prepaid cellphone sim card if possible.

🛩 Make sure you call your bank/credit card company to authorize your cards for use abroad. Check what the international transaction fees are. Consider getting some cash in the currency of your destination before you go. Major banks will have it on hand, most others can order it for you.

At the Airport

🛩 Dress smartly, for example, a neat pair of jeans, white shirt, and well-cut blazer or cardigan. Don't dress like you're at the beach, in shorts and sandals. The air conditioning is often cranked up at airports and planes are usually cold because of the air vents, so you'll be chilly, and it's impractical if there's an emergency and you need to evacuate. Instead, wear layers. Not too many, as it's a pain taking them off when going through security, but it's good to wear a warm cardigan just in case you're freezing, which you can take off if the heating in the airport is too high (London Heathrow is always boiling hot in my experience). Avoid gym gear; it belongs in the gym (this applies to all situations, not just flying). If you're wearing sneakers, wear trim ones, not clunky running shoes. If you're lucky, dressing smartly might bump you up a class, and you'll never know when you might meet a person in a high position at the airport, or sat next to you in business class.

🛩 Go to the airport as early as you can. Sometimes, checking in very early can get you bumped up to spare seats in a higher class.

🛩 Once you go through security, you can't get out again (unless you want to go through security a second time). Don't leave the secure area (usually, if you're going in the direction of baggage claim, you're headed out).

🛩 If you get lost in the airport, don't hesitate to ask the staff for help.

🛩 If the airport is huge, you can generally use Google Maps on your phone if you don't know where to go.

🛩 Don't trust anyone who offers to carry your bags.

🛩 Be aware of your important belongings in the airport. They’re generally safe, but if your brain is in a million places at once it’s easy to misplace little impossible things (phone, wallet, passport, ticket, etc.).

🛩 When transferring flights, go to your next flight immediately. It may take you longer to get there than you expect.

🛩 If you miss your connecting flight, the airline will rebook you. There will be a line to wait in or a number to call for details if this happens.

🛩 Listen to the overhead announcements, as airlines might not always text if there's a change to your flight or a gate change.

🛩 If you have a long wait in the airport, get up and walk around every few hours. Or explore the city you're in if you feel comfortable.

🛩 Some airports have yoga rooms, art exhibits, etc. Make use of them if you have time.

🛩 Food is more expensive in airports, so if you're on a budget, try to eat before you go, or bring snacks. However, buying snacks in the airport is still less expensive than on the plane. On many airlines, if you fly business class, snacks and drinks are complimentary, so check ahead of time on the airline's meal policy.

🛩 If you have access to the lounge, you'll be able to shower, which can be very refreshing during a long day of running around.

[usafphantom2]

How to identify and track military aircraft in online applications

It is surprisingly easy to track what is flying above you, but there are limits - you will still see only what the military wants you to see.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 12/24/2023 - 14:40 in Military

The system, known as ADS-B, allows you to quickly search for what is flying in your vicinity, or even on the other side of the world.

In the past, before the 2000s, people looked at the sky and saw the trail of condensation created by commercial and military jets at high altitudes and wondered what would be the aircraft that passed over our heads, where it was going, where it came from. Today, thanks to a worldwide transponder system, you can track even U.S. military aircraft.

About a decade later, it was already possible to follow commercial aircraft, knowing which airline, flight level, speed and route taken by the flights, being able to accurately follow the arrival of a plane at the airport.

Currently, equipped with a smartphone and with a particular app or website, we can find all this and much more.

Civil aviation authorities around the world began to implement Automatic Transmission of Dependent Surveillance (ADS-B) in the early years. The ADS-B is an aircraft-mounted transponder system that transmits a variety of information in real time, including the location, speed, direction of the aircraft and a unique transponder code for each aircraft. This information, plotted on a map, gives pilots and ground controllers the ability to quickly get a sense of the local airspace (or the airspace of most places on Earth).

Transponder signals can also be captured by cheap terrestrial receivers that amateurs, aviation enthusiasts and others can build for less than $100 using widely available hardware and software, some of which can be obtained on flight tracking sites.

Movement of aircraft tracked by the ADS-B Exchange around the world.

As of 2021, ADS-B transponders are mandatory in the USA, Europe, Australia, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Taiwan and Vietnam, and the system is being implemented in China, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

In the United States, almost every type of aircraft - from commercial aircraft and small private aircraft to military fighters, helicopters, bombers, tankers, information-collection aircraft, transport, special operations aircraft, drones and even VIP aircraft carrying the president and members of Congress - are required to transpose into controlled airspace.

A screenshot of the online flight tracking site ADS-B Exchange showing a snapshot of military flights in the United States on July 18 of this year on the ADS-B Exchange.

The information is not only available to the aviation community. The ADS-B Exchange website gathers aircraft tracking data and makes it available in real time, allowing anyone to track air traffic anywhere the system is working.

Unlike FlightRadar24.com or FlightAware.com - which rely on flight tracking data streams provided by the FAA and other international aviation authorities or obtained from Aireon's global ADS-B air traffic surveillance and tracking network, as well as ground-based ADS-B receivers - ADSBExchange.com relies on thousands of independently owned ground-based ADS-B receivers and multilayer devices, or MLAT.

MLAT receivers in groups of three or four in a small geographical area use triangulation to track aircraft. In other words, if an aircraft is not using ADS-B for transponder as military aircraft sometimes do, MLAT receivers can still capture their S-Mode transponder signals and establish a position and tracking for an aircraft, as well as altitude and speed data.

The network of receivers of the ADSBExchange.com website includes 10,000 MLAT devices worldwide. As it does not collect flight tracking data from government or commercial sources, it may offer "unfiltered" flight tracking.

ADS-B Exchange merges ADS-B data with other publicly known data on military and civilian aircraft around the world. Individual aircraft are plotted on OpenStreetMap - a free geographical database of the world - represented by color-coded icons according to altitude. The icons range from individual autostos and Cessna 182 to four-engine Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 civil aircraft. Military icons include U-2, KC-135 Stratotankers, C-17 Globemaster III, C-5M Super Galaxy, V-22 Ospreys and so on, although fighters are often represented by a more generic icon model of swept wing and stuffy nose.

A click on the icon includes spatial information, including ground speed, altitude and location, ADS-B signal strength and other data. It also includes the registration of the aircraft, the country of registration and adds a photograph or thumbnail of the aircraft when possible.

All this means that, with the click of a button, you can instantly find out what is flying near you.

Although aircraft tracking has long been a niche hobby among aviation enthusiasts who like to catalog the comings and goings of aircraft, the public availability of transponder data in mid-air also offers journalists, researchers and other observers an effective means of tracking the movements and activities of the planes of the richest and most powerful in the world. The aggregation and analysis of public flight data shed light on the CIA's torture flights, the movements of the Russian oligarchs, and Google's friendly relationship with NASA.

Flights from ISR platforms tracked in the Ukraine region for a period of one month, at the end of last year.

More recently, these tracking techniques have gained international attention after attracting the wrath of Elon Musk, the richest man in the world. After buying social media giant Twitter, Musk banned an account that shared the movements of his private jet.

Despite repeated promises to protect freedom of expression - and a specific promise not to ban the @ElonJet account - on the platform, Musk censored anyone who shared the whereabouts of his plane, claiming that the data obtained entirely legally and totally public was equivalent to "murder coordinates".

A Global Hawk flown remotely with the indicater FORTE12 was the last aircraft tracked over Ukraine before the invasion of Russian forces and the closure of the country's airspace to civilian air traffic, according to the global flight tracking service Flightradar24.

Soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a US Global Hawk, with the indication FORTE12, was followed almost daily by thousands of people on the Flighradar24 platform.

Publicly available flight tracking data is a growing problem for the U.S. military, a senior Pentagon official said recently.

Sites such as ADSBExchange.com, FlightRadar24.com and FlightAware.com aggregate flight data in the United States and abroad using a combination of commercial and citizen-owned sensors that capture the movements of commercial, civil and military aircraft in real time, 24 hours a day.

"The Department of Defense considers open source flight tracking and data aggregation on our aircraft a direct threat to our ability to conduct military air operations around the world," the U.S. Air Force said.

An F-35 fighter was tracked in the Flightradar 24 app earlier this year, during a flight near Phoenix, Arizona.

Aggregated by websites and retransmitted on social media accounts, the data can be a free source of intelligence for nation-states, terrorist groups or individuals, revealing everything from operational movements of aircraft, aviation units and troops to training standards, development test flights and the movements of government officials, experts said.

This image shows a Beechcraft King Air configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in the military aviation field of Baledogle, Somalia, in 2021. The U.S. civil registration code on the side was not assigned to any specific aircraft at the time and its exact operator remains unknown. However, this is very much in line with the types of aircraft that JSOC allegedly operates clandestinely and that would be interested in hiding the activities through the proposed aircraft flight profile management database tool.

Therefore, military aircraft routinely transmit their ADS-B data, but have the option to turn it off when necessary. The Pentagon is well aware that aviation enthusiasts - and potential opponents - monitor ADS-B data and that aircraft turn off transponders when they do not want anyone to observe them. Often when following the aircraft they simply disappear abruptly from the map.

The U.S. military is also known to use fake hexadecimal codes, which identify a transponder as belonging to a specific aircraft, to help mask certain sensitive flights. For example, the U.S. Air Force VC-25A Air Force One jet that transported President Donald Trump to Afghanistan in 2019 electronically disguised itself for a time as a KC-10 Extender tanker in this way.

As a particularly notable and relevant example of tracking high-profile U.S. military flights, the U.S. Air Force C-40 Clipper aircraft that transported Nancy Pelosi, then a representative of the Democratic Party in California and mayor, to Taiwan last year was visible online, despite concerns that the Chinese military might try to forcibly prevent the flight from reaching the island or harassing it otherwise.

This flight, which used the SPAR19 indicative, was one of the most tracked of all time in terms of total simultaneous users monitoring it on the popular website FlightRadar24, and ended up taking down the app for a period of time.

The Ghostrider trail on the night between November 20 and 21, 2023, on Radarbox.com.

In mid-November, something new happened: a U.S. aircraft involved in combat apparently left its ADS-B on, and did so intentionally. An AC-130J Ghostrider attack aircraft carried out an airstrike against a target that had launched a missile attack against U.S. forces at Al Assad Air Base in Iraq. The AC-130 gunship has a variety of weapons, including 30mm and 105mm cannons, and precisely guided bombs and missiles, and usually flies in lazy circles above its target, pouring firepower on the targets below. In Al Assad's retaliatory air attack, according to The Aviationist website, the Ghostrider involved apparently kept his transponder on all the time, drawing large circles on the ADS-B map and it was possible to be seen on the Radar Box website.

In Brazil, it is possible to track several military aircraft in aircraft tracking applications, including the most widespread Flightradar24. Next, you can see the KC-390, C-130 Hercules transport aircraft or T-27 Tucano coaches in flight near the Air Force Academy. The FAB has hidden data from the presidential aircraft A319 (VC-1) and E190 (VC-2) on these sites.

FAB T-27 Tucano aircraft are often seen flying near Pirassununga, AFA headquarters.

More recently, it was possible to follow the flights of the Brazilian Air Force that went to seek refugees and Brazilian citizens who were and Israel and the Gaza Strip. The KC-30 and KC-390 aircraft could be tracked in real time on the tracking platforms.

If you are a fan of military aircraft or just like to know what is happening when you hear the noise of aircraft engines, ADS-B is a free and reliable tool that you should use to track and identify planes. Observing fighters, spy planes and transport coming and going can help you get to know your armed forces. Just keep in mind that, at least when it comes to military flights, you will only see what the military wants you to see.

BONUS

From Christmas Eve, the flight tracking site Flightradar24 will be keeping an eye on Santa Claus and his reindeer Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen as they accelerate around the world.

Initially tracking Santa Claus was a challenge, but thanks to an ADS-B transponder installed a few years ago and the reindeer horns functioning as an additional antenna, Flightradar24 uses a mixture of terrestrial and satellite ADS-B coverage to track Santa Claus during his busiest night of the year.

To follow the good old man, go here.

Tags: Military AviationtrackingTechnology

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[foursguru]

The Digital Edge: Why Every Business Needs a Dynamic Website Design and Affordable Hosting Solution

In today’s digital age, a strong online presence isn’t just an advantage—it’s essential. From a sleek website design to cost-effective web hosting, every element of your online platform plays a critical role in capturing, engaging, and converting visitors. At Foursguru, we understand that each of these components needs to work in harmony to set your business apart. Here’s a breakdown of why a Digital Marketing Company, Website Design Company, and Cheap Website Hosting are essential for businesses striving to succeed online.

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For more information, please visit our website here: https://foursguru.com/

[herrystectics]

Tired of Cheap SEO Gimmicks? Get Real Results with Expert SEO Agency in Ahmedabad.

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[seoagency-7575]

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[lyncotek]

Vinyl wraps have emerged as a powerful tool for businesses looking to maximize their Return on Investment (ROI). In today’s competitive market, companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to attract customers and stand out from the crowd. Vinyl wraps offer a cost-effective and highly customizable solution that can significantly impact a business’s bottom line. From vehicles to storefronts, vinyl wraps provide a versatile marketing platform that can drive business growth in various industries.

Understanding Vinyl Wraps What are Vinyl Wraps? Vinyl wraps are adhesive-backed films that can be applied to surfaces such as vehicles, windows, walls, and floors. They come in a variety of colors, textures, and finishes, allowing for endless design possibilities. How Do Vinyl Wraps Work? Vinyl wraps adhere to surfaces using pressure-sensitive adhesive, providing a seamless and durable finish. They can be easily applied and removed without damaging the underlying surface, making them ideal for temporary promotions or long-term branding.

Benefits of Vinyl Wraps for Business Growth Increased Brand Visibility Vinyl wraps serve as dynamic mobile billboards, transforming vehicles into attention-grabbing advertisements capable of reaching a broad audience. Whether navigating the highway or parked amidst the hustle and bustle of an urban environment, wrapped vehicles effectively capture attention and enhance brand visibility.

Versatility and Customization Options for full wraps, partial wraps, or decals are available, allowing vinyl wraps to be tailored to fit any brand or marketing campaign.. From bold graphics to subtle branding, their unique identity and messaging can be reflected by businesses tailoring their vinyl wraps.

How to Maximize ROI with Vinyl Wraps Define Your Objectives Before investing in vinyl wraps, clearly define your marketing objectives and target audience. Whether aiming to increase brand awareness, drive foot traffic, or promote a specific product, align your vinyl wrap strategy with your overall business goals.

Design for Impact Create eye-catching designs that capture attention and communicate your brand message effectively. Incorporate bold colors, striking imagery, and clear messaging to ensure your vinyl wraps leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Choose High-Quality Materials Invest in high-quality vinyl materials and professional installation to ensure longevity and durability. Cheap materials or improper installation can result in premature wear and damage, negating the benefits of your investment.

Measure and Analyze Results Track the performance of your vinyl wrap campaigns using metrics such as brand impressions, website traffic, and sales conversions. The data needs to be analyzed to determine which strategies are effective and where adjustments might be necessary to maximize ROI.

Stay Consistent and Refresh Regularly Maintain a consistent brand identity across all vinyl wrap designs and marketing materials to build brand recognition and trust. Refresh your designs periodically to keep them relevant and engaging, ensuring continued impact and effectiveness.

Conclusion Vinyl wraps offer a cost-effective and versatile solution for businesses looking to maximize their ROI and drive business growth. By leveraging the benefits of vinyl wraps, companies can increase brand visibility, target specific demographics, and protect their assets while achieving measurable results. With careful planning, creative design, and strategic implementation, vinyl wraps can become a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal, delivering long-term value and sustainable growth for your business.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) How long do vinyl wraps last? Vinyl wraps can last anywhere from three to seven years, depending on factors such as material quality, installation technique, and environmental conditions.

Can vinyl wraps be removed without damaging the underlying surface? Yes, vinyl wraps can be safely removed without leaving residue or damaging the surface underneath, making them ideal for temporary promotions or lease vehicles.

Are vinyl wraps suitable for all types of vehicles? A versatile marketing solution is provided by vinyl wraps for businesses of all sizes, which can be applied to almost any vehicle, including cars, trucks, vans, buses, boats, and motorcycles.

Can vinyl wraps be customized to match my brand identity? Yes, vinyl wraps can be fully customized with your brand colors, logo, and messaging to create a cohesive and impactful marketing presence.

How much does it cost to wrap a vehicle or storefront with vinyl? The cost of vinyl wraps varies depending on factors such as size, complexity of design, and material quality. It is best to consult with a professional installer for a customized quote based on your specific needs.

[repguardians]

5 Effective Tips to Optimize Your Google Ads Campaigns for Better Conversions

Google Ads is a powerful platform that can drive significant traffic and conversions to your website. However, creating an effective campaign that yields high conversions can be challenging. To help you get the most out of your Google Ads campaigns, here are five effective tips to optimize your campaigns for better conversions.

Utilize Targeted Keywords Effectively

Keywords are the foundation of any successful Google Ads campaign. Targeting the right keywords ensures that your ads are shown to the most relevant audience, increasing the chances of conversions. Here’s how to make the most out of your keyword strategy:

Conduct Thorough Keyword Research

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs to find keywords that are relevant to your business. Look for keywords with high search volume and low to medium competition to maximize visibility without overspending on clicks.

Use Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases that users are more likely to use when they are closer to making a purchase. These keywords often have lower competition and can lead to higher conversion rates. For example, instead of targeting “running shoes,” you might target “best running shoes for marathon training.”

Negative Keywords

Implement negative keywords to exclude search terms that are not relevant to your products or services. This helps to refine your audience, ensuring that your ads are only shown to potential customers. For example, if you sell premium products, you might want to exclude terms like “cheap” or “discount.”

Craft Compelling Ad Copy

Your ad copy is crucial in attracting potential customers and convincing them to click on your ad. Here are some tips for creating compelling ad copy:

Focus on Benefits

Highlight the benefits of your product or service rather than just listing features. Explain how your offering can solve a problem or improve the customer’s life. For example, instead of saying “High-quality running shoes,” you could say “Run longer and faster with our high-quality running shoes.”

Include a Strong Call to Action (CTA)

A strong CTA encourages users to take the next step, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or downloading a guide. Use action-oriented words like “Shop Now,” “Get Started,” or “Learn More.”

Use Emotional Triggers

Emotions play a significant role in decision-making. Incorporate emotional triggers in your ad copy to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Words like “exclusive,” “limited time,” and “special offer” can create a sense of urgency and excitement.

Optimize Landing Pages

Once a user clicks on your ad, they should be taken to a landing page that is relevant and optimized for conversions. Here’s how to ensure your landing pages are effective:

Consistency and Relevance

Make sure your landing page content matches the ad copy and keywords. If your ad promises a discount on running shoes, the landing page should prominently feature the discount and the relevant products.

Clear and Concise Design

A cluttered landing page can overwhelm visitors and lead to high bounce rates. Use a clean design with clear headings, bullet points, and ample white space to make it easy for users to find the information they need.

Fast Loading Speed

Page speed is critical for user experience and conversions. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check your landing page speed and implement recommendations to improve it. A fast-loading page ensures that users don’t leave before it even loads.

Strong CTA and Forms

Your landing page should have a clear and prominent CTA. If you are using forms, make them as simple and short as possible. Only ask for essential information to reduce friction and encourage more conversions.

Leverage Ad Extensions

Ad extensions provide additional information and can make your ads more compelling, increasing the chances of clicks and conversions. Here are some useful ad extensions to consider:

Sitelink Extensions

Sitelink extensions add extra links to your ad, directing users to specific pages on your website. This can improve the visibility of important sections of your site and provide users with more options to engage with your brand.

Call Extensions

Call extensions allow users to call your business directly from the ad. This is particularly useful for businesses that rely on phone calls for conversions, such as local services or high-ticket items.

Location Extensions

Location extensions show your business address and make it easier for users to find you. This is beneficial for brick-and-mortar stores or services targeting local customers.

Callout Extensions

Callout extensions add extra text to your ad to highlight unique selling points or special offers. Use them to showcase free shipping, 24/7 customer support, or other valuable features.

Implement Conversion Tracking and Use Data Insights

Tracking conversions is essential to understand the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions. Here’s how to utilize conversion tracking and data insights effectively:

Set Up Conversion Tracking

Use Google Ads conversion tracking to monitor actions that are valuable to your business, such as purchases, form submissions, or phone calls. This data helps you understand which keywords, ads, and landing pages are driving conversions.

Analyze Performance Data

Regularly review your campaign performance data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Look at metrics like click-through rate (CTR), cost per conversion, and return on ad spend (ROAS). Use these insights to adjust your bids, keywords, and ad copy.

A/B Testing

Conduct A/B testing to compare different versions of your ads and landing pages. Test different headlines, ad copy, images, and CTAs to see what resonates best with your audience. Continuously optimize based on the results to improve your conversion rates.

Optimizing your Google Ads campaigns for better conversions requires a strategic approach and ongoing adjustments. By effectively utilizing targeted keywords, crafting compelling ad copy, optimizing landing pages, leveraging ad extensions, and implementing conversion tracking, you can significantly enhance your campaign performance. Remember that continuous monitoring and optimization are key to staying ahead of the competition and achieving your business goals. Start applying these tips today and watch your conversions soar!

[transpondster]

A meme bounced around Brooklyn last summer: ‘What if we kissed at the Tom Verlaine book sale?’ Verlaine, who formed and fronted the band Television, died on 28 January 2023. Over the years he had acquired fifty thousand books – twenty tons or more – on any number of subjects: art, acoustics, astrological signs, UFOs. The sale of those books – a two-day affair in August, run out of adjacent garages in Brooklyn – was a serious draw. Arto Lindsay, the avant-pop musician, walked by. Tony Oursler made a short video and posted it on Instagram. Old friends, some of whom looked as if they hadn’t seen daylight in decades, found each other in the long line. Verlaine had split his enormous collection between storage units: one a short walk from his Chelsea one-bedroom, four more across the river in Red Hook, near the foot of the Gowanus Canal. Verlaine didn’t use Uber. To get to the Brooklyn facility he’d take a rickety grocery cart on the F train, ride it out to Smith and Ninth Street, the highest Subway station in the city, and walk the rest of the way. In a crowd, Verlaine stood out. He was tall, thin, fine-featured. (‘Tom Verlaine has the most beautiful neck in rock and roll,’ Patti Smith wrote in 1974. ‘Real swan like.’) He had never quit smoking and wore a car coat, like a character out of film noir. But there he had been, bumping his cart down several sets of stairs and escalators and wheeling it, under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, across seven lanes of traffic, to Red Hook. The books had to go somewhere.

Alex Abramovich | At the Tom Verlaine Book Sale

You can still buy Verlaine’s books from Better Read than Dead and Capitol Hill’s websites. His record collection will go on sale, one of these days, at the Academy Record annexes in Greenpoint and the East Village. They’re a reminder of different days in a different city, where the bookstores and record stores stayed open late, and you could poke around in them even after a night out at CBGB, and the stuff that you’d get there was cheap, and the space that you needed to store them was cheap, and, even if you worked in a bookstore, you could afford an offset press and start your own poetry imprint, or find a loft space in SoHo and start your own band.

[guestbloggingproblog]

How to Maximize Organic Traffic for Business Websites?

In today's fiercely competitive online marketplace, securing online deals and driving traffic to your website is essential for business success. While some may suggest that organic traffic is easily attainable, the reality is quite different, especially in the intensely competitive digital landscape. As a business owner, one of the toughest challenges you'll face is attracting organic traffic to your website. However, investing time and effort into generating organic traffic is one of the most rewarding investments you can make.

While paid strategies like Google AdWords (PPC) and Twitter sponsored posts can provide immediate traffic boosts, they are not sustainable in the long run. In contrast, organic traffic offers a smarter and more sustainable way to drive traffic to your website, especially when coupled with efforts to acquire quality backlinks. Although it requires time and effort, the rewards of organic traffic far outweigh the investment.

The Importance of Organic Traffic

For business websites, driving traffic is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and visibility. Achieving top rankings in relevant search results is essential for attracting organic traffic. However, acquiring external links from related websites is challenging but essential for boosting your website's authority and search engine rankings.

Harnessing Smart Strategies for Organic Traffic Boost

Create High-Quality Content: Focus on producing top-notch content that provides genuine value to your audience. Quality content not only improves your SEO but also enhances your reputation and attracts loyal customers.

Target Long-Tail Keywords: Instead of competing for highly competitive short-tail keywords, target long-tail keywords that are specific to your business. These less competitive keywords can yield significant traffic gains.

Avoid Google Penalties: Stay away from black-hat SEO tactics that can result in Google penalties. Buying cheap links, using excessive anchor text, and publishing plagiarized or low-quality content can harm your SEO efforts.

Ensure Consistency: Maintain a consistent flow of traffic to your website by investing in reputable traffic providers. Consistent traffic helps stabilize your website's performance and visibility over time.

Targeted Traffic Acquisition: Work with traffic providers who employ white-hat strategies to deliver targeted traffic to your website. Focused traffic not only reduces bounce rates but also strengthens your website's search engine ranking.

Share Your Content: Utilize social media platforms to share your content and engage with your audience. Sharing posts across social networks can drive additional traffic to your website and improve engagement.

Other Smart Traffic Techniques

Blog Marketing through Social Media: Leverage blogs and social media to promote your content and engage with your audience.

Hold Contests and Encourage Participation: Organize contests to drive traffic and encourage audience interaction.

Analyze and Optimize: Use analytics tools to track post-performance and identify the most effective marketing strategies.

In conclusion, building organic traffic requires time, effort, and persistence. Avoid shortcuts and focus on creating valuable content, targeting the right keywords, and engaging with your audience through various channels. By implementing smart strategies and consistently investing in organic traffic generation, you can strengthen your online presence and drive sustainable growth for your business.

[athena-turns-into-an-eagle]

pi pico website?

Say, I was just thinking—we’re all mad about the 4–7 big websites having taken away our internet. If we wanted to make it more accessible to host a website from actual scratch, then how accessible (& how cheap) could we make it?

So uhh. This might be insane but to my fellow technically-minded individuals: you all think you could host a micro-website on a Raspberry Pi Pico W?

I know it doesn’t have any power at all but what if you don’t get a lot of traffic either? I honestly have no idea how that works out.

Anyway I’m ordering one now! Very curious if I can host a microblog with €8 of hardware.

[pihost]

Cheap WordPress hosting: how to find the best offer

If you want to create a WordPress website, it is important to find reliable and affordable hosting. With so many options available, it can be difficult to find the perfect deal. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to find cheap, quality WordPress hosting

Assess your hosting needs Before you start looking for cheap WordPress hosting, it is important to determine your hosting needs. How much traffic do you expect to have on your site? How much storage space will you need? Do you need additional features such as automatic backups or technical support?

Compare hosting offers Once you have assessed your hosting needs, you can start comparing the available offers. Many hosting providers offer special deals for WordPress sites, so be sure to look for deals that fit your needs and budget.

Check customer reviews Before signing up for cheap WordPress hosting, make sure you read customer reviews to get an idea of the quality of service offered. Look for reviews on reliable review sites to get a clear picture of the quality of customer support and the reliability of the provider.

Check the quality of customer support A good cheap WordPress hosting should have an efficient and responsive customer support. Make sure the provider you select offers quality customer support by testing their support channels.

In summary, to find good cheap WordPress hosting, it is important to assess your needs, compare the available offers, read customer reviews and check the quality of customer support. Follow these simple tips to find the perfect WordPress hosting package for your site.