#control panel labels
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boeing747 · 2 years ago
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Being a (semi) functional adult with adhd is like being a captain of the world's shittiest vessel but the team makes it work. We have workarounds you can't even imagine
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emergencyplumbingil · 2 months ago
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Why Sewer Ejector Pumps Can Fail Sooner.
After conducting a thorough investigation into the premature failure of sewer ejector pumps, several key factors have emerged that explain why these pumps might break down sooner than the manufacturer's warranty period:
Improper Installation.
One of the leading causes of early pump failure is improper installation. If the pump is not installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications—such as incorrect pipe sizing, inadequate venting, or poor alignment—this can cause strain on the motor and moving parts, leading to accelerated wear and tear.
Power Surges and Electrical Issues.
Power surges or fluctuations in the electrical supply can damage sensitive components within the pump, such as the motor or control panel. Even if the surge lasts only a second, it can burn out circuits or compromise the motor's efficiency. Without surge protectors or proper grounding, this can lead to premature failure.
Clogs from Improper Materials. Sewer ejector pumps are designed to handle waste and certain types of debris, but when improper materials—such as feminine hygiene products, wipes labeled as "flushable," or other non-degradable items—are flushed, they can clog or damage the pump. Over time, these clogs can cause the motor to overwork, leading to an early breakdown.
Lack of Regular Maintenance. Routine maintenance is often overlooked. Failing to check and service the pump periodically can result in small issues going unnoticed until they become larger, irreversible problems. Sediment buildup, worn-out seals, or deteriorating gaskets can all contribute to pump failure, especially in areas with hard water where mineral deposits may accumulate.
Overworking the Pump.
Many sewer ejector pumps are not designed to run continuously. If the pump is overworked due to improper sizing, such as being undersized for the household’s waste output or running too frequently, it can result in overheating and breakdown. Ensuring the pump is appropriate for the expected load is essential for longevity.
Environmental Factors.
Harsh environmental conditions such as excessive moisture, flooding, or extreme temperatures can affect the pump’s lifespan. Excessive moisture can cause corrosion of internal components, while extreme cold or heat can affect the motor and seals. Additionally, if the pump is exposed to corrosive chemicals or gases in the sewage, it can degrade faster than expected.
In most cases, premature failure of sewer ejector pumps can be traced to installation errors, misuse, or lack of maintenance. To ensure a pump reaches its full lifespan, it is critical to follow manufacturer guidelines, perform regular maintenance, and avoid flushing materials that can cause clogs. These preventative measures can help avoid costly repairs and ensure the pump functions efficiently for its intended lifespan.
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#flushable#Why Sewer Ejector Pumps Can Fail Sooner.#After conducting a thorough investigation into the premature failure of sewer ejector pumps#several key factors have emerged that explain why these pumps might break down sooner than the manufacturer's warranty period:#1. Improper Installation.#One of the leading causes of early pump failure is improper installation. If the pump is not installed according to the manufacturer’s spec#inadequate venting#or poor alignment—this can cause strain on the motor and moving parts#leading to accelerated wear and tear.#2. Power Surges and Electrical Issues.#Power surges or fluctuations in the electrical supply can damage sensitive components within the pump#such as the motor or control panel. Even if the surge lasts only a second#it can burn out circuits or compromise the motor's efficiency. Without surge protectors or proper grounding#this can lead to premature failure.#3. Clogs from Improper Materials.#Sewer ejector pumps are designed to handle waste and certain types of debris#but when improper materials—such as feminine hygiene products#wipes labeled as or other non-degradable items—are flushed#they can clog or damage the pump. Over time#these clogs can cause the motor to overwork#leading to an early breakdown.#4. Lack of Regular Maintenance.#Routine maintenance is often overlooked. Failing to check and service the pump periodically can result in small issues going unnoticed unti#irreversible problems. Sediment buildup#worn-out seals#or deteriorating gaskets can all contribute to pump failure#especially in areas with hard water where mineral deposits may accumulate.#5. Overworking the Pump.#Many sewer ejector pumps are not designed to run continuously. If the pump is overworked due to improper sizing#such as being undersized for the household’s waste output or running too frequently
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snorfbin · 11 months ago
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#im having audio problems and i dont understand why it has to be a problem on every single fundamental layer#my old headphones broke. the jack is no longer attached to the wire. broken as fuck#got myself some new ones for like 40 bucks. same brand just slightly better quality#but its got more bass than my broken headphones which i really really dont like#these headphones are expensive by my standards and especially around christmas tho#so i try messing around with my laptop first. mostly with the audio drivers to see if can update/roll back#cant do anything with my current driver so i try installing one that i know has a control panel with it#i know this bc it wouldnt stop popping up a couple years ago before i switched back to a default driver#so i go through the process of downloading and installing it but its not installing correctly#seems like its corrupted so i cant use that shit#im not a tech wizard so im out of ideas at that point and decide to spend more money on newer headphones#so i do that and buy the same headphones as the broken ones in hopes that theyd be of the same quality#so thats another 30 fucking bucks out of my pocket to buy them#im testing them out more with bg3 rn today and they still dont fucking sound the same as my broken ones#theyre still too bassy!#so i start looking into how to adjust the bass and get an audio control panel#but literally none of the sliders or functions are really labelled so im basically flying in the dark here#i dont know that much about fine tuning audio asides from the general level of quality that i like#im fucking with all these sliders and buttons and default configurations and nothing is sounding close to right#not even after 2 hours!#at this point im fucking sobbing bc all of this is absolute bullshit to me#also ive got flying insects in my room. idk what exact type they are but theyre smaller than flies and twice as annoying#theyre attracted to my desk light but get blown back by my fan#so i can see them fly in front of my face to reach my light then blow back in front of my face from the wind#killing them doesnt seem to fucking do anything bc theres always more#i dont keep food or eat in my room so i have no fucking clue whats attracting them here#ive been back to fucking around with my audio drivers while ranting here#and it seems like ive finally got shit back to normal now#which just feels like even more bullshit to me considering everything beforehand
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ralfmaximus · 6 months ago
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Recall is designed to use local AI models to screenshot everything you see or do on your computer and then give you the ability to search and retrieve anything in seconds. There’s even an explorable timeline you can scroll through. Everything in Recall is designed to remain local and private on-device, so no data is used to train Microsoft’s AI models. Despite Microsoft’s promises of a secure and encrypted Recall experience, cybersecurity expert Kevin Beaumont has found that the AI-powered feature has some potential security flaws. Beaumont, who briefly worked at Microsoft in 2020, has been testing out Recall over the past week and discovered that the feature stores data in a database in plain text.
Holy cats, this is way worse than we were told.
Microsoft said that Recall stored its zillions of screenshots in an encrypted database hidden in a system folder. Turns out, they're using SQLite, a free (public domain) database to store unencrypted plain text in the user's home folder. Which is definitely NOT secure.
Further, Microsoft refers to Recall as an optional experience. But it's turned on by default, and turning it off is a chore. They buried it in a control panel setting.
They say certain URLs and websites can be blacklisted from Recall, but only if you're using Microsoft's Edge browser! But don't worry: DRM protected films & music will never get recorded. Ho ho ho.
This whole debacle feels like an Onion article but it's not.
Luckily(?) Recall is currently only available on Windows 11, but I fully expect Microsoft to try and shove this terrible thing onto unsuspecting Win10 users via Update.
Stay tuned...
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boy-with-the-pink-hair · 1 month ago
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Yeah, I made a comic. Why? Cuz, I love to suffer. OTL
Based on my fic.*shameless self-promo* Relevant snippet below the cut.
...
Stepping deeper now into the cavernous inner chamber, he kept a hand on the wall as he peered into the gloom, wondering what could've caused the machine to malfunction. He took another step forward, nearing the far end of the chamber, his hand sliding along the wall until it passed over a slight depression and then a protrusion. His foot suddenly bumped against a thick cable on the floor and he shifted his weight in surprise. That's when he felt the protrusion beneath his hand sink into the wall with a click!
He stumbled back and saw a control panel where his hand had been, the buttons labeled on and off. He soon realized what he'd done as the chamber let out a heavy CLUNK and began to whir and hum, the glowing lines of circuitry growing brighter as the sound crescendo'd to a deafening peak. Danny heard his friends call out to him in surprise, but he found himself frozen in place as he turned to see a bright green light bloom at the end of the chamber into a brilliantly blinding flash!
Suddenly, a massive surge of energy ripped into his body! It took his breath away--pulled from his lungs in a painful scream as his muscles contracted violently, body spasming and convulsing as every nerve burned and sizzled! His heart pounded erratically in his chest, harder and faster than he'd ever felt in his life, as though it might explode! He clutched at his chest with another painful spasm, doubling over in pain as he tried to take a breath. It was an agony like nothing he'd ever felt before. It felt like dying. Like his body was being ripped apart, molecule by molecule.
Then as quickly as it began, it was over. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the floor, a blackness overtaking everything.
...
While the two friends busied themselves with their own activities, they didn't notice the atmosphere of the lab change... until it was too late. The CLUNK of the machine quickly drew their attention and both Sam and Tucker dropped what they were doing to watch in horror as it whirred to life.
"Danny?" Sam called out to her friend, "Danny, what's happening?!" The whir of the machine grew louder and louder, and Sam's heart sank in dread.
Tucker rushed back to the portal entrance to see what was happening, and joined in Sam's concern. "Danny, get out of there! Something's wrong!" he shouted over the noise, but it was too late. A bright flash of light burst from the machine, forcing the pair to shield their eyes as the deafening hum was replaced by Danny's agonized screaming.
"DANNY!!" Sam dropped her camera and lurched toward the portal entrance, but Tucker caught her waist and pulled her back.
"Sam, don't! It's too dangerous! You could get hurt!"
"But Danny's IN THERE!! We have to SAVE him!!" she argued, pulling against his grip, but Tucker held tight.
"I’m sorry, Sam... there's nothing we can do."
Yet, Sam refused to just stand by and do nothing. She broke free of Tucker's arms and rushed forward... but it was already over.
Danny's body crumpled to the floor with a thud and laid motionless beyond the threshold of the machine as a swirling green vortex formed inside. The two friends stared in quiet horror, before Sam stumbled forward into the machine to pull Danny's limp body back from that sinister green portal as it grew to fill the entire chamber.
She felt her heart clench as she dragged him back into the lab and rolled him onto his back. His once jet black hair was now a shock of white, and he felt cold beneath her fingers. A faint stench of burning wafted from his body, his suit a charred black and the rubber ashen. She knelt beside him, a hand on his chest, the other gently brushing the hair from his face.
"Tucker..." She looked back at the other boy in restrained panic, her voice wavering as she spoke. "He-- He's not breathing."
---
Read the rest here.
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paper-mario-wiki · 9 months ago
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i just invented 10,000 nuclear bombs that never stop exploding and when the explosion radius gets to its biggest point it stays that big and violent for the rest of time. the bombs are the size of a car.
i also just invented an airplane with completely normal control layouts, but every surface surrounding the control panel is covered in hundreds of hatch release levers for dropping payloads. they are all labeled as having different functions.
i also just started an international air mail delivery service with the aim to service the most land area from the sky, which is why prioritizing hatch release levers was so critical (to make sure we dont have to stop flying to drop the mail).
i also just employed 10,000 people from the dyslexic pilot convention to man our fleet of 10,000 hatch release lever planes and we plan to start making deliveries tonight. with an internal storage capacity of 1 large sedan, theres plenty of space for plenty of mail.
i do not remember where i put my 10,000 infinite atom bombs. i remember i had enough space in my hangar for 10,000 hatch release lever planes, or 10,000 infinite atom bombs, but not both side by side. i dont remember how i saved so much space.
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mouseyphia · 2 months ago
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Need to open up a sub's mind, like a control panel. A panel of countless dials and switches, to be manipulated, as I wish... And, whilst browsing this control panel... I spot a dial labelled "Obedience"... What if I just... turned that up a bit? Slowly turning that dial... From 50... to 60... to 70... to 80...
all the way up to 100.
Completely compliant. Obedient. So naturally and automatically. Perhaps the sub would just allow themselves to comply and obey, vacantly and mindlessly? That'd be really cute, I think.~
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todays-xkcd · 3 months ago
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Our lawyers were worried because it turns out the company inherits its debt from the parent universe, but luckily cosmic inflation reduced it to nearly zero.
Helium Synthesis [Explained]
Transcript
[Hairy sits on an office chair at the head of a conference table and has his hands on the table, with Cueball and Megan also at the table.] Hairy: These helium shortages every few years are such a pain. Hairy: Our company needs a reliable source of helium.
[The same situation, but now Hairbun is also seen at the table on the left side of Cueball. Cueball holds a cellphone in his left hand, which Megan looks at.] Hairbun: Where does helium come from, anyway? Cueball: Hmm, apparently most of it is from "Big Bang nucleosynthesis"? Hairy: Well, let's figure out how to do that.
[Hairy, Megan and Hairbun are working on a large machine labeled "Big Bang Nucleosynthesis," with Megan holding its wired control device in her left hand.]
[Two panels depict another Big Bang, followed by various stages of cosmic development, including galaxies and planets forming, shown in white on a black background.]
[The scene returns to the same conference room setup as before, with the characters in the same positions. Text at the top reads: "14 Billion Years Later."] Hairy: These helium shortages every few years are such a pain. Hairy: Our company needs a reliable source of helium.
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neolithicsheep · 2 months ago
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Ok so you're looking at the aftermath of Helene and you're thinking "shit, how would I keep my phone charged? What about my neighbors?" and you have some outdoor space and some cash. Your friendly formerly off grid sheep farmer is here to help.
You need this set up right here:
To that you will need to add:
Y connectors:
The 100aH (amp Hour) deep cycle battery of your choice - lead acid AGM will be cheaper, lithium (LiFePo) is more expensive but lasts much longer.
Finally, you need a small pure sine wave inverter like this one: https://a.co/d/70vRd79
Plug the panels into the Y connectors then into the single wire to run to the charge controller. They are now connected in parallel. Take them outside to a sunny spot and face them south and prop them up at about a 45 degree angle. This isn't perfect but it will be good enough.
Connect your battery and charge controller. Connect the panels to the charge controller. All of the places to do this are labeled and all you need is a Phillips screwdriver. I recommend doing it once in a non-disaster situation so you know you can do it but you'll be fine. Boom, you are getting electricity from the sun!
The inverter draws power even when it's not running so don't leave it hooked up when you're not using it. When someone needs to charge their phone, put those alligator clips on the matching color battery posts, turn the inverter on, and plug in the phone/radio. Voilà! A single 100aH battery is not going to run a bunch of things but it will help keep cell phones charged without using up the gas in your car.
The panels are weatherproof but everything else needs to be protected by the way so you'll need to set this up in a shed or garage or in the house. Lead acid batteries can produce hydrogen gas when being charged but just having one isn't a big risk.
FAQ:
Yes, you can permanently mount the panels to your roof if you own your home etc. They're designed for that!
It is true that places sell "solar generators" - those are a charge controller, battery, and an inverter in one box at a very high price point. When a component goes bad you will be unable to replace the component and must replace the entire $1000 box. They are also not upgradeable or expandable, this is.
You do not have to buy Renogy, I recommend them because they kept me in electricity for the years I was off grid.
You do not have to buy the kit, you can buy the components of it as and when you can afford them!
Remember to keep your battery on a trickle charger.
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machineplatesonline · 2 years ago
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5 Tips For Laser Engraving Wood
Wood in nature has pretty different fates. Some of the wood trees are used as fuels, disappearing quickly without any race. Some are also made into various tools, making people's lives better. However, there are other plants that can be enjoyed and valued. This type of wood is not pure wood but is laser etched stainless steel as a work of art or craft.
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Laser engraving technology reveals the potential benefits of wood. A hard, even ugly piece of wood isn't worth a penny until it's carved. However, laser engraving technology is not as simple as we talk about it. Why? This article is recommended here to give you some details through 5 tips on how to laser engrave wood.
Here Are The Top 5 Tips For Laser Engraving Wood
Denatured Alcohol
Use rubbing alcohol and a piece of white cloth to clean the fire marks after the painting is done. Make sure you spray the alcohol well enough to protect the work and avoid stains.
Low-tack Masking Tape
Before carving the wood, cover the surface of the wood with a little masking tape. In this case, the surface of the tree will not have brown or gray spots caused by smoke. After the job is done, remove the tape and you will notice that it is cleaner than before. This process can be time consuming if you are busy. Then, a paint remover can be used to speed things up.
Also read about,
What Is The Key Components of Electrical Control Panels?
Use Real Hardwood For Large Engraving
Our previous painting experience taught us that plywood is not as efficient as we thought. Then we chose hardwood for the big 3 piece painting. First of all, the grain on the top of the tree is flexible, beautiful and shiny. The second is that hardwood is heavier than plywood and the surface of the painting can ensure that it is safe. And the last is that the surface of the hardwood can be well controlled.
Experiments On Wood Engraving
Although we have not dealt with plywood in comparison to solid wood, we believe that you will be able to carve plywood well with the skills of a high-quality artist. It is recommended that you do research on other artists and different types of wood, in which you can find a better laser solution.
Burn At 1200 DPI
Higher engraving resolution can be achieved by increasing the number of dots per inch (DPI) and you can also check the legend plate engraving. More DPI means more often the laser will fire. Therefore, the plant can burn dark and therefore twice the time it will be necessary to burn if you follow this method. Therefore, you need to find a balance between the resolution of the light and the time spent.
As mentioned earlier, Machine Plates Online in Wisconsin is the place to go if you are here to search for "label engravers". You only have to work here with the best laser wood engraving. They also offer other services so that you can get what you need. You can call us at 1-262-369-5800 or email us at [email protected].
Reference Url, https://bit.ly/3B1WOMw
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kyahcomic · 2 years ago
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hyuny-bunny · 6 months ago
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rockstar bf!felix headcanons
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MDNI +18: oral, afab reader, slightly possessive felix
rockstar bf! felix who calls you his muse, takes every chance to incorporate you into everything he does. whether it be song about, your name turned into an acronym for their next title track, or a collage of photos with you sprinkled amongst them working as cover art for his album.
rockstar bf! felix begging you to come tour with him. he gets so lonely on the road, all he can think about after every show is how badly he misses you. he just wants to hold you close and never let go.
rockstar bf! felix convinces you to just come out for his summer tour that lasts 2 1/2 months touring europe. he knows he's selfish to take you away from all responsibilities but he'll spoil you rotten. besides he's secure enough to take care of the both of you now.
rockstar bf! felix's band released their third album which charted them at #1 on the top 100 for 4 week. his record label throws them a huge congratulations party at their labels recording studio. felix spends only about 10% of his time kissing ass to the higher ups until he takes notice of one of them who seems to grow a little too fond of you.
rockstar bf! felix who's quick to whisk you away from prying eyes. the little lace slip dress he bought you for tonight should've been for his eyes only but how could he deny the chance to flaunt you. he sly slides his over sized leather jacket to your shoulders, it's his attempt to cover up the way his hands grope all over your body.
rockstar bf! felix who can't wait until your home to ruin you. he's dragging you to one the recording booths furthest from where the party continues. his feverish kisses have you so dazed you hadn't notice when he pushed you up against the recording booths control panel or even the glowing red light of 'RECORDING' above your head.
rockstar bf! felix who pushes you down to your knees, asking you to show him how much you love him, how much you worship his cock. his hand fisting your hair as he fucks your mouth, sloppy wet sounds of you gagging and sucking him off so beautifully.
rockstar bf! felix who fucks you up against the glass of the recording booth room, your tits flushed up against the window for anyone passing to see. dragging his cock in and out of you so sweetly, while you cry out his name. the mark of your silhouette left on the glass window along with your handprints smudged in the same spots.
rockstar bf! felix who surprises you one afternoon when he's at the studio recording a single, texting you a preview of the new song. except when you take a listen it's not when you anticipate. instead of the sound of his sweet voice, it's an audio of you crying out his name and his grunts mixed with the sound of skin slapping on skin.
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fullonfandomindulgence · 7 months ago
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please clic for larger images, tumblr compression made these look all blurry. id below the cut
here i am still making mp100 comics in april of 2024. its just such comfort food. im highly normal about mob and tomes friendship
ID: three pages of black and white comics about Mob and Tome from the anime Mob Psycho 100.
panel 1: a leg and an arm extend from out of panel so that the hand on the arm can tie the shoe on the leg. lying on the ground is the other shoe, a cell phone, a keyring, and a polka dot carrying case. on the carrying case rests a sphere with a strange pattern on it. in the top right it says "January."
panel 2: a figure (its tome) pulls on a jacket. visible in front of her are a cabinet and a wall-mounted rack, all messy.
panel 3: with a door in the background, a closeup of tomes hand on her flipphone. the screen says "dialing."
panel 4: tome shrugs on her jacket and, holding her phone against her ear with her shoulder, smiles and says, "Oy, Mob! It's Saturday! Let's go telepath-hunting!"
panel 5: ritsu and mob sit on a blanket on the floor in front of a bookshelf. a little "pause" label extends from off-panel. both of them are holding controllers. ritsu leans against his hand, looking bored, as mob holds his cellphone to say "Hi Tome. Didn't we already find a telepath?" tome responds, "Oh, right."
panel 6: tome and mob dont really know what to say next. they both look cartoony and stupid. "..."
panel 7: tome, looking pained, curls a hand in the air in front of her and says, "Do you want to... walk around the city? Pointlessly?" mob says, "Sure, I guess that's what we normally do."
panel 8: tome looks mad. "No! We walk pointedly! In the direction of telepaths!" she points, pointedly. mobs eyebrows go a little down as he scratches at his face. "It's pretty funny that you were looking for so long when Takenaka was right next to you. For months. And then he left because you were too weird."
panel 9: tome, opening her front door, says, "Y'know what, Mob, maybe I'll invite him instead." Mob says "That's a good idea. Let's see if he can come with us."
panel 10: now exiting onto the walkway in front of her apartment, tome says, looking excited, "Actually I have been investigating something new. We should look for a haunted house!" mob thinks to himself, "Sounds like work..."
panel 11: mob looks skeptical and asks, "In the city?" tome responds, "Yep." behind mob, ritsu unpauses the game (ssb brawl) and starts thrashing mob (ritsu mains lucas, mob mains kirby)
panel 12: tome walks down the stairs of her apartment building to a concrete sidewalk with a row of trashcans nearby. she says, "My first guess is that new shaved ice place on 5th street." mob responds, "Oh." tome says "It's an old building! I think it's haunted!"
panel 13: mob, contented, says, "Okay. I'll meet you at the train station." pleased, tome responds, "Excellent!" ritsu looks back at mob with a mean smile on. the tv screen says "GAME!"
panel 14: mob yells, "Ritsu! What the heck!" tome, at a stoplight, replies, "Sure, he can come too." she presses the walk signal button. "BIP."
End ID.
making this comic i learned that you cant just put masking tape over your mistakes and re-ink on top of it bc the masking tape looks too dark when its scanned in. i guess ill just have to warm up more and be more deliberate when i ink like some kinda loser. or i could become truly insane and start gluing on little pieces of bristol
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pastlivesxpastlie · 21 days ago
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⋆☀︎。Smile Back ... At Me ⏾⋆.˚
Grumpy!Vessel x Sunshine!Reader
grumpy/sunshine, sickfic, housemates, fem!reader, hurt/comfort, fluff goes smut
a/n: there's easter eggs in here for three people 🧍🏻‍♀️
Taglist (that I decided I have now): @inv3ga
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“No no no. Don’t do this. Please. Please!” Vessel was distraught. Panicked. Verging on crisis. He stared at himself in the mirror, white knuckling the vanity. “Get it together, Ves. Don’t…don’t.” His breath was ragged…”fuuuuuck...”
How many sneezes in a row was that? 5? Oh…oh they’re still going. You knock on the bathroom door softly. Vessel rips the door open with a scowl, his nose and eyes red from whatever irritant deigned to infect your intrepid workaholic housemate. 
“What?” He asks, deadpan.
“I heard you sneeze like…8 times in a row. That’s concerning.”
“Yes. Thank you, doctor. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get cleaned up and go to work.” He looks you up and down. “Think you ought to do the same?”
You look down for a second at your pjs and gasp. Work? “Oh shit! I…hey… wait a minute!” Vessel just titters as he splashes some water on his face. “It’s my day off!” Again, he chuckles and pushes past you. “You know for someone so crotchety with me you sure know a lot about my schedule!” But he’s already down the hall. Of the housemates, Ves was the one you had the least positive interactions with…and yet…you saw each other the most. It just worked out that way with your schedules. Ves could go to the studio or work from home at will, and you seemed always to be home at the same time. 
“You’ve done this on purpose. To torment me.” Ves said once as his phone buzzed incessantly with notifications as you input your schedule in the shared housemate calendar. And, in your endlessly witty, carefree way, you responded “Aw Ves, finally you’re noticing all I do for you!” For the record, Vessel doesn’t hate you. He doesn’t really hate anyone. No. He’s just a little brusque. And short tempered. And he just likes things done a certain way, ok? You, on the other hand, seem too happy to be here. What are you plotting, he wonders sometimes. 
But today those thoughts are dulled by a throbbing pain behind his eye and the annoying feeling of his nose leaking at any moment. By 2:30, he’s ready for a 20 year long nap. He rubs his face in agony as he sits at the control panel. Usually the studio is a reprieve but one of his worst nightmares is unfolding. He’s sick. He has a cold. A sinus infection? Christ…the flu? He has to push through. He has to see this day to the end and finish this…”fuck it I’m done. I’m going home.”
“Literally just asked how the cymbals sounded, man. For fuck’s sake.” Even poor ii wasn’t safe from Vessel’s sick tirade. The two share a silent look of “the hell is wrong with you/me?” 
“Sorry mate,” Vessel rubs his temples and sniffs. “Uhm…yeah…there could be more…definition or whatever. I’ll see you lot later.” Vessel sulks out of the studio and towards the bus stop. If this was a comic strip, he’d be kicking a can with little fumes over his head. Vessel hates getting sick. It throws off his groove. Makes him unproductive. He’s no stranger to powering through but it doesn’t seem worth it this time around. This makes him feel weak. Like once he gets better he’ll need to work 10x harder just to make up for his time off. Make it up for who? Well…the label, for one thing. And ii. Part of his brain says “it’s only for yourself,” but he pushes that aside. Yeah he’s proud but he still needs to prove to everyone else he’s fine. He can manage. Hasn’t he always landed on his feet? Looking out the bus window at the passing houses and buildings doesn’t provide any distraction—just more fodder for his migraine. As Vessel rests his temple against the window, his phone vibrates, but he ignores it. Whatever it is couldn’t make him feel any worse...oh but he was wrong. So very wrong.
You: I’m sure you saw this on the calendar but it’s just us for the weekend. Are you still feeling sick? Want me to get some soup? Let me know. :)
You’re not surprised Vessel doesn’t reply to you. He’s at work and, well, you’re you. As you’re about to text him again, because you reaaaaalllllly want to get a jump on ordering food, he comes through the front door. “Tsk, you look miserable.”
Vessel so badly wants to be snarky. To tell you what an astute observation you’ve made. “I am…where is everyone?” You look at him a bit quizzically and tell you texted him…and that their trip was on the calendar, etc etc. Oh the defeated sigh he lets out! The misery of being cooped up with someone so chronically pleasant might do his head in if this migraine doesn’t first. And maybe it wasn’t your best idea to follow him to his room to ask if he needed or wanted anything, if he was hungry, did he have a fever, can you do— “Have you considered leaving me alone? You’re not my mum and you’re definitely not my girlfriend! Can take care of myself just fine without you flitting about trying to fix everyone’s problems…maybe you should...” He stops himself and rubs his hand down his face with a heavy sigh. “Fuck it. It’s not worth what little energy I have. Let me know what takeaway you’re thinking.” He shuts the door and leaves you in the hall. Was he suggesting that you spend more time on others than yourself? How dare he? How dare he be right and sound mean about it. But you don’t pout long because he opens the door again, but this time his shirt is off. Your eyes trace the curve of his shoulders…down to the ridges of his chest and abs. Close enough to touch. ‘Stop…he’s sick. And your roommate.’ He sniffs hard. He’s so stopped up. “I…should not be like that. I’m sorry. Pizza?” You look away, feeling shitty after overstepping…he must be really sick if you got an immediate apology. 
“Don’t you think something like soup or…you know what? We’ll do whatever you want.” That elicits a soft smile from him...with teeth no less.. Wait…”you just smiled at me. An honest to god smile...Ves…”
“Oh, sh-shut up.”
After dinner Vessel feels…weird. His head and body hurts…he can’t even think straight. And you notice. He can barely stay awake but there’s no way he’d be comfy on the couch. His long legs…you imagine him trying to curl up and get comfortable like a big dog on a tiny bed. You take a chance and put your hand on his shoulder. “Let me help you get in bed.” He sighs heavily like you asked him to give up music. “Is it really this hard to accept some kindness?” Apparently that was a shit question because he huffs and takes himself to bed. Fine. Maybe you should leave it alone but damnit he needs help…and attention. You come into his room with your arms full.
“What are you…” But you cut him off by dumping a big blue quilt on him.
“I always always always sweat shit out with this quilt.”
“I don’t have a fever.”
“Oh well, it’ll make you feel better. And…alsooooooo…” you hand him a stuffed puppy with floppy ears and a dumb, goofy look stitched on his face. “Just give him a squeeze.” Vessel looks at the stuffed dog and the quilt but can’t seem to look at you. If anything he’s looking down and past your feet.
“As persistent as my cold, you know that?” 
“You deserve a break. Let me know if you need something…you know where I am.”
“H-hey…wait…” You look back at him, and it’s as if he’s forgotten how to breathe. Did he ever know in the first place? All he knows is that any breath he takes after this night is for something beyond the music. Beyond himself, even though his efforts there are questionable. “Sit with me…for a bit?”
And you did. All night. Waking up next to him hugging your stuffed dog under your “sick day” quilt was such a sight. His eyebrows knit together like he was thinking. It must have been a fever dream, you think, as he groans softly and clutches the dog closer. You want to reach out, move the hair off his brow, feel if he has a fever…caress him. But you have to at least act like you know better. When he blinks awake he gives a lazy smile.
“You shouldn’t have stayed in here. What if you get sick?”
“I could deal.”
“Hm. Maybe you’d accept some kindness in return?”
After his cold finally fucks off, Vessel looks at you differently. Not necessarily because you did something for him. No. There was something different. After he snapped at you, and then later after you two had a long conversation about nothing before he drifted off, Vessel noticed something behind your eyes. God, those eyes. His walls came down. He was defenseless. It’s not like you’re best friends now or anything, but he felt moved to treat you gently. Hell, to smile back at the very least. 
Late one night, long after everyone went to bed, Ves notices your bedroom light is still on. “What am I doing?” He whispers to himself, but apparently too loudly because soon you’re opening your door.
“Oh thank fuck it’s you. Thought I was hearing things.”
“Jus’ me…I…why are you up? It’s 1:30.” You shrug. There’s that look again. He has to dig. He has to pry just a little. Just like you had with him. “Can I come in?”
You nod and let him in, motioning for him to sit on the bed. He sees your laptop out and wants to ask what you were up to, but you quickly put it away. “Better question is why you’re awake, Ves.”
He smiles sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck. “So no one has a good excuse, hm?”
“Hm.” You tease back, gently pinching his arm. He looks down at your fingers on him and his heart flutters. Ves lets his gaze drift slowly up your body…taking in every curve and slight movement before resting on your eyes. 
“What’s wrong?”
“W-w-what…? What are y-?” You try to act nonchalant. 
“Can just tell…something’s off with you.”
You sigh heavily and look up at the ceiling. “This…” you put your hands out, “is actually my natural state. Tense. Not nearly as bubbly or…like”
“A sunshine girl?”
“Yeah or…a sunshine girl.” 
Vessel looks at you with a sympathetic smile…he can see that blush dusting your pretty cheeks. He  lets his hand rest on your shoulder, squeezing it slightly but then pausing. “You’re knotted up, love. Can I…?” Without even hearing your answer, he moves behind you and rubs your shoulders. It hurts a little, only because you’re so tense. His wide hands cover your shoulders and luxuriously knead into your muscles. “What’s made you so tight,” he rasps close to your ear, “Hm? What’s eating at you?” 
You can’t help it. Your head lolls back to his chest and turns so you can look up at him. “All I do is run around taking care of business and other people. I don’t know how to care about myself.”
He can’t stop himself. Brain shutting down. Hands and lips have a mind of their own now. “I’m not gonna sit here and let you run yourself into the ground like I did. You should care about yourself…I…I could teach you…” Vessel trails his nose up your neck and kisses your ear softly before you jump up. 
“Jesus, dude, you can’t just come in here and…” but fuck it he doesn’t look precious wiping his hand down his face and hiding the strain in his pants. “Oh…fuck… actually you totally can.” Immediately you’re straddling his lap, held in place by his soft hands cupping your face…pressing you desperately into his. His kisses trail hungrily down your jaw and to your neck. He finds your pulse point and claims it with his hot, open mouthed kisses. Your hips grind against him like it’s the most obvious thing in the world…but of course, he adjusted to press his strong thigh against you...you are supposed to do this. Suddenly your thoughts are poisoned with guilt as you realize how tightly you’re squeezing his thigh and how you weren’t being exactly quiet. Vessel gently guides your head down so he can whisper to you.
“I’d take you far away from here…anywhere you wanted…just to hear it…I want to hear what I can make you say…how loud I could make you…”
“V-v-es we-...“
“Shh shh shh. It’s ok. Do you want to stop?” His voice is warm and sincere, like he’s meant to take care of you.
“No.”
“Then let me do this…for you. Some comfort…” he turns slowly to lay you on your back, “would you like that…” his fingers gently trace your breasts and tummy over your shirt… “could make you feel good…safe”…your shorts and panties are thrown off the bed…”when was the last time someone did that for you, darling? Made you cum…just to cum?”…your shirt is lifted, tits exposed to the chilly room and his starving eyes.
“Never.”
“For fuck’s sake,” he murmurs as he kisses your thighs and settles on his tummy, “no pressure for me then.” But you’re moaning softly already. You’re a live wire as the hands you’ve desperately tried to avoid fantasizing about explore your inner thighs and folds. His finger glides up and down the length of your needy pussy as he looks up at you…pure bliss etched all over his face in the dim lighting. “Atta girl, love. We’re just here to feel good. Hm?” You hear and then feel a wad of his spit hit your clit, followed by his fingers pressing against either side of it. Vessel wraps his left arm around your tummy as your body chases his touch. “Found something you like, did I?”
“Vessel,” you whisper breathlessly but it’s cut off by a strangled moan. His tongue gently darts out for little kitten licks on your clit. You don’t know if your reactions or what he’s doing is making him whimper like that, but you don’t care. Your hand caresses his hair lazily until you have to grab it and keep him in place. He’s taken your clit in his mouth…something you’ve never experienced. Forgetting every wall you placed around yourself with this man, you let your hips grind shamelessly against his perfect mouth. Vessel’s moans and hot breath nearly push you over the edge multiple times. 
“I…” he exhales, trying to catch his breath and contain himself, “am really going to enjoy this.” His middle and ring finger work into your wet cunt and find your g-spot quickly.  “That’s it…that’s it…you feel that? Feel my fingers rubbing you from the inside, yeah?” You can’t respond directly…you’re too busy squirming and whimpering fuck fuck fuck. It feels like you’re on fire as Vessel licks and sucks at your clit, your eyes rolling as your brain tries to compute that the same spot is being stimulated from different angles. It’s too much. 
“I’m yours…I’m yours….please I’m yours.”
“Mine, yeah? Good. You sound s’perfect…haven’t even had my cock.” It’s a miracle that you aren’t screaming out loud now as he sucks at your clit. Both hands tangle in his hair when he starts thrusting his hips against your bed. He moans pathetically into your clit, his hips landing soft blows into the mattress. “I…I’m sorry.” He stops and quickly pulls off his clothes…you swear you’re cumming a little just from the sight of his cock alone. “See what you do to me?” He breathes heavily, standing at your bedside with his cock throbbing without contact. “Seeing you…let yourself go… enjoying yourself… so fucking hard for you. Could cum just licking you out, babe.” You’re tempted to tell him to try it…but you feel empty.
“Make me yours…”
“How would you have me?”
You’re speechless for a second…he’s really into this. Into you feeling good. “Get on your back, angel.” Vessel does as he’s told and blushes at the pet name. He teasingly rubs his cock against your slit…tells you how tight you felt around his fingers…how good you are for him. You moan quietly…weakly…dreamily as you slide down each inch of Vessel’s cock. The stretch is beyond perfect…not uncomfortable…but still more than any stupid toy in your bedside drawer could do. You grind against him and bounce on his cock seemingly without much thought other than feeling good. And he doesn’t stop you, nor does he grab you and fuck up into your pussy. No…he just lays back like a good boy and takes it. Luxuriates in the feeling of the warm stickiness of your pussy…how it hugs his cock and threatens to drain him. You wince a little as your hips tense; still you weren’t fully relaxed despite your blissful state. 
“I’ve got you.” Vessel pulls you close to his chest, pressing your hips down. “Just lay down on me. Let me feel you.” He moans softly as you lay out, your legs scissoring with his just enough to keep his cock buried deep. Your lips crash together. You taste yourself on him…his mouth…and your mind goes even fuzzier. “Sweet girl…you like being lovey, don’t you? Hm?” His hips snap up and press into your cunt. “Little lover girl??”
“I’m…fuck I’m yours Ves…I’m your girl…”
“Let’s make it real then…” his hips thrust back and forth again before pressing deep into you, holding his cock hard against the limit of your pussy…”I’ll fill you to the fucking brim with my cum…leave my handprints on your ass…and-“
“And I’ll leave…little love bites on your chest,” you add, trying to weigh in and stave off your climax. Vessel groans out in response and holds you in place like a toy as you suck and lick at his soft skin. So much for handprints on your ass, though; he can’t help but cradle your back and head. Neither of you have ever felt this before. The soft, warm middle of equal parts wholesome chemistry and earth shattering lust. What was that in the delicate in-between? You bury your face in his neck and forget the world…forget your name…it’s just him. 
“So tight…” He gently lifts your head. “There she is…mmm. Need to see you…need you to see what you do to me.” Vessel tangles his hand in your hair to help fix your gaze on him. His throat bobs with each broken moan…god he wants to cry out for you so badly. For the way your body melts into his as he rolls his hips up and into you. For the way your slick runs out all over him, making a mess of you both. It’s all too much. You press your forehead to his and bear your hips down. Vessel grabs you and presses his hot, greedy lips to yours not just for a kiss, but to muffle the pornographic noises your pussy rips out of him. The feeling of his tongue on your lips pushes you over the edge. Your fluttering orgasm squeezes and milks Vessel’s cock for all it’s worth, causing him to fuck up into you like a rabid animal. He completely and unapologetically ruins you.
You wake up the next morning curled up against his back. He’s already awake and smiles brightly when he feels you pull him close. 
“Guess what.” He whispers. You barely mumble “hm” back to him, still sleepy and fuzzy from your late night tryst. Vessel chuckles and rolls over, your stuffed whale shark from the aquarium clutched to his chest. 
“Hey! That’s mine,” you grumble.
“Oh and suddenly you don’t share anymore…hm? Not my lover girl when the sun’s up,” he teases. “Anyways…it’s just us this weekend. We have some wasted time to make up for…don’t you think?”
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mostlysignssomeportents · 5 months ago
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Neither the devil you know nor the devil you don’t
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TONIGHT (June 21) I'm doing an ONLINE READING for the LOCUS AWARDS at 16hPT. On SATURDAY (June 22) I'll be in OAKLAND, CA for a panel (13hPT) and a keynote (18hPT) at the LOCUS AWARDS.
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Spotify's relationship to artists can be kind of confusing. On the one hand, they pay a laughably low per-stream rate, as in homeopathic residues of a penny. On the other hand, the Big Three labels get a fortune from Spotify. And on the other other hand, it makes sense that rate for a stream heard by one person should be less than the rate for a song broadcast to thousands or millions of listeners.
But the whole thing makes sense once you understand the corporate history of Spotify. There's a whole chapter about this in Rebecca Giblin's and my 2022 book, Chokepoint Capitalism; we even made the audio for it a "Spotify exclusive" (it's the only part of the audiobook you can hear on Spotify, natch):
https://pluralistic.net/2022/09/12/streaming-doesnt-pay/#stunt-publishing
Unlike online music predecessors like Napster, Spotify sought licenses from the labels for the music it made available. This gave those labels a lot of power over Spotify, but not all the labels, just three of them. Universal, Warner and Sony, the Big Three, control more than 70% of all music recordings, and more than 60% of all music compositions. These three companies are remarkably inbred. Their execs routine hop from one to the other, and they regularly cross-license samples and other rights to each other.
The Big Three told Spotify that the price of licensing their catalogs would be high. First of all, Spotify had to give significant ownership stakes to all three labels. This put the labels in an unresolvable conflict of interest: as owners of Spotify, it was in their interests for licensing payments for music to be as low as possible. But as labels representing creative workers – musicians – it was in their interests for these payments to be as high as possible.
As it turns out, it wasn't hard to resolve that conflict after all. You see, the money the Big Three got in the form of dividends, stock sales, etc was theirs to spend as they saw fit. They could share some, all, or none of it with musicians. Big the Big Three's contracts with musicians gave those workers a guaranteed share of Spotify's licensing payments.
Accordingly, the Big Three demanded those rock-bottom per-stream rates that Spotify is notorious for. Yeah, it's true that a streaming per-listener payment should be lower than a radio per-play payment (which reaches thousands or millions of listeners), but even accounting for that, the math doesn't add up. Multiply the per-listener stream rate by the number of listeners for, say, a typical satellite radio cast, and Spotify is clearly getting a massive discount relative to other services that didn't make the Big Three into co-owners when they were kicking off.
But there's still something awry: the Big Three take in gigantic fortunes from Spotify in licensing payments. How can the per-stream rate be so low but the licensing payments be so large? And why are artists seeing so little?
Again, it's not hard to understand once you see the structure of Spotify's deal with the Big Three. The Big Three are each guaranteed a monthly minimum payment, irrespective of the number of Spotify streams from their catalog that month. So Sony might be guaranteed, say, $30m a month from Spotify, but the ultra-low per-stream rate Sony insisted on means that all the Sony streams in a typical month add up to $10m. That means that Sony still gets $30m from Spotify, but only $10m is "attributable" to a specific recording artist who can make a claim on it. The rest of the money is Sony's to play with: they can spread it around all their artists, some of their artists, or none of their artists. They can spend it on "artist development" (which might mean sending top execs on luxury junkets to big music festivals). It's theirs. The lower the per-stream rate is, the more of that minimum monthly payment is unattributable, meaning that Sony can line its pockets with it.
But these monthly minimums are just part of the goodies that the Big Three negotiated for themselves when they were designing Spotify. They also get free promo, advertising, and inclusion on Spotify's top playlists. Best (worst!) of all, the Big Three have "most favored nation" status, which means that every other label – the indies that rep the 30% of music not controlled by the Big Three – have to eat shit and take the ultra-low per-stream rate. Only those indies don't get billions in stock, they don't get monthly minimum guarantees, and they have to pay for promo, advertising, and inclusion on hot playlists.
When you understand the business mechanics of Spotify, all the contradictions resolve themselves. It is simultaneously true that Spotify pays a very low per-stream rate, that it pays the Big Three labels gigantic sums every month, and that artists are grotesquely underpaid by this system.
There are many lessons to take from this little scam, but for me, the top takeaway here is that artists are the class enemies of both Big Tech and Big Content. The Napster Wars demanded that artists ally themselves with either the tech sector or the entertainment center, nominating one or the other to be their champion.
But for a creative worker, it doesn't matter who makes a meal out of you, tech or content – all that matters is that you're being devoured.
This brings me to the debate over training AI and copyright. A lot of creative workers are justifiably angry and afraid that the AI companies want to destroy creative jobs. The CTO of Openai literally just said that onstage: "Some creative jobs maybe will go away, but maybe they shouldn’t have been there in the first place":
https://bgr.com/tech/openai-cto-thinks-ai-will-kill-some-jobs-that-shouldnt-have-existed-in-the-first-place/
Many of these workers are accordingly cheering on the entertainment industry's lawsuits over AI training. In these lawsuits, companies like the New York Times and Getty Images claim that the steps associated with training an AI model infringe copyright. This isn't a great copyright theory based on current copyright precedents, and if the suits succeed, they'll narrow fair use in ways that will impact all kinds of socially beneficial activities, like scraping the web to make the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine:
https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/13/spooky-action-at-a-close-up/#invisible-hand
But you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, right? For some creative workers, legal uncertainty for computational linguists, search engines, and archiving projects are a small price to pay if it means keeping AI from destroying their livelihoods.
Here's the problem: establishing that AI training requires a copyright license will not stop AI from being used to erode the wages and working conditions of creative workers. The companies suing over AI training are also notorious exploiters of creative workers, union-busters and wage-stealers. They don't want to get rid of generative AI, they just want to get paid for the content used to create it. Their use-case for gen AI is the same as Openai's CTO's use-case: get rid of creative jobs and pay less for creative labor.
This isn't hypothetical. Remember last summer's actor strike? The sticking point was that the studios wanted to pay actors a single fee to scan their bodies and faces, and then use those scans instead of hiring those actors, forever, without ever paying them again. Does it matter to an actor whether the AI that replaces you at Warner, Sony, Universal, Disney or Paramount (yes, three of the Big Five studios are also the Big Three labels!) was made by Openai without paying the studios for the training material, or whether Openai paid a license fee that the studios kept?
This is true across the board. The Big Five publishers categorically refuse to include contractual language -romising not to train an LLM with the books they acquire from writers. The game studios require all their voice actors to start every recording session with an on-tape assignment of the training rights to the session:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/09/ai-monkeys-paw/#bullied-schoolkids
And now, with total predictability, Universal – the largest music company in the world – has announced that it will start training voice-clones with the music in its catalog:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/umg-startsai-voice-clone-partnership-with-soundlabs-1235041808/
This comes hot on the heels of a massive blow-up between Universal and Tiktok, in which Universal professed its outrage that Tiktok was going to train voice-clones with the music Universal licensed to it. In other words: Universal's copyright claims over AI training cash out to this: "If anyone is going to profit from immiserating musicians, it's going to be us, not Tiktok."
I understand why Universal would like this idea. I just don't understand why any musician would root for Universal to defeat Tiktok, or Getty Images to trounce Stable Diffusion. Do you really think that Getty Images likes paying photographers and wants to give them a single penny more than they absolutely have to?
As we learned from George Orwell's avant-garde animated agricultural documentary Animal Farm, the problem isn't who holds the whip, the problem is the whip itself:
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Entertainment execs and tech execs alike are obsessed with AI because they view the future of "content" as fundamentally passive. Here's Ryan Broderick putting it better than I ever could:
At a certain audience size, you just assume those people are locked in and will consume anything you throw at them. Then it just becomes a game of lowering your production costs and increasing your prices to increase your margins. This is why executives love AI and why the average American can’t afford to eat at McDonald’s anymore.
https://www.garbageday.email/p/ceo-passive-content-obsession
Here's a rule of thumb for tech policy prescriptions. Any time you find yourself, as a worker, rooting for the same policy as your boss, you should check and make sure you're on the right side of history. The fact that creative bosses are so obsessed with making copyright cover more kinds of works, restrict more activities, lasting longer and generating higher damages should make creative workers look askance at these proposals.
After 40 years of expanded copyright, we have a creative industry that's larger and more profitable than ever, and yet the share of income going to creative workers has been in steady decline over that entire period. Every year, the share of creative income that creative workers can lay claim to declines, both proportionally and in real terms.
As with the mystery of Spotify's payments, this isn't a mystery at all. You just need to understand that when creators are stuck bargaining with a tiny, powerful cartel of movie, TV, music, publishing, streaming, games or app companies, it doesn't matter how much copyright they have to bargain with. Giving a creative worker more copyright is like giving a bullied schoolkid more lunch-money. There's no amount of money that will satisfy the bullies and leave enough left over for the kid to buy lunch. They just take everything.
Telling creative workers that they can solve their declining wages with more copyright is a denial that creative workers are workers at all. It treats us as entrepreneurial small businesses, LLCs with MFAs negotiating B2B with other companies. That's how we lose.
On the other hand, if we address the problems of AI and labor as workers, and insist on labor rights – like the Writers Guild did when it struck last summer – then we ally ourselves with every other worker whose wages and working conditions are being attacked with AI:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/01/how-the-writers-guild-sunk-ais-ship/
Our path to better working conditions lies through organizing and striking, not through helping our bosses sue other giant mulitnational corporations for the right to bleed us out.
The US Copyright Office has repeatedly stated that AI-generated works don't qualify for copyrights, meaning everything AI generated can be freely copied and distributed and the companies that make them can't stop them. This is fantastic news, because the only thing our bosses hate more than paying us is not being able to stop other people from copying the things we make for them. We should be shouting this from the rooftops, not demanding more copyright for AI.
Here's a thing: FTC chair Lina Khan recently told an audience that she was thinking of using her Section 5 powers (to regulate "unfair and deceptive" conduct) to go after AI training:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mh8Z5pcJpg
Khan has already used these Section 5 powers to secure labor rights, for example, by banning noncompetes:
https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/25/capri-v-tapestry/#aiming-at-dollars-not-men
Creative workers should be banding together with other labor advocates to propose ways for the FTC to prevent all AI-based labor exploitation, like the "reverse-centaur" arrangement in which a human serves as an AI's body, working at breakneck pace until they are psychologically and physically ruined:
https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/17/revenge-of-the-chickenized-reverse-centaurs/
As workers standing with other workers, we can demand the things that help us, even (especially) when that means less for our bosses. On the other hand, if we confine ourselves to backing our bosses' plays, we only stand to gain whatever crumbs they choose to drop at their feet for us.
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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/2024/06/21/off-the-menu/#universally-loathed
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Support me this summer on the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop!
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Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg
CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
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maplebellsmods · 1 year ago
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Expanded Storytelling Relationship Bits Mod
I'm so excited about this! Revamp your Sims' relationships and unlock a world of storytelling possibilities with Custom Relationship Bits!
Whenever I play the game I always wanted to be able to visually see how each relationship was different so I thought it would be a great idea to add more relationship bits in the game. 
I don't know if I am the only one who loves to open the Sim Info Panel and look at the different relationship descriptions between sims. Gone are the days of generic labels like "Friend" or "Romantic Interest." With Custom Relationship Bits, you can now give your Sims personalized and meaningful relationship titles that reflect their unique connections. From "Childhood Sweetheart" to "Love-Hate Relation" and a lot more, the possibilities are endless. 
This mod is perfect for storytellers who want more depth and nuance in their Sims' relationships. Some of the custom relationship titles add depth to your Sims' interactions and help to shape their narratives. 
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You can access the relationship bit option my pressing on the target sim while you are in control of the sim with whom you want to set the relationship by clicking on actions and then the Enhanced Rel Bit Pie Menu. 
Above you can see all of the possible relationship bits you can choose from. They also each have their own description. (The Secret Admirer Rel Bit is the only one-sided bit)
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Some of the relationship bits have interactions that come with them. I would love to make more and expand on them but I don't know if this is something you would be interested in so let me know. 
More about some of the interactions:
Travel to Visit Long Distance Partner will have your sim leave the house for about two days and return with possible different moodlets.
With the virtual date option your sim will video call their long-distance partner for a few hours and it will make them really happy.
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Star-crossed lovers can share a forbidden kiss. And sims who have a love-hate relationship can share an "I hate you"(kiss).
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That is all for this mod! A lot of it is cosmetic, But I think it can really help relationships between sims feel more distinct. 
Does this mod require any DLC?
No, it does not.
What else do I need for the mod?
Lumpinou's Mood Pack Mod, so it is required for the mod to work properly.
You can get her mod here.
If you already have it great! But make sure it's up to date. Otherwise, it will break the UI
Maplebell Pie Menu: Download Below. If you already have it ignore. 
More Kisses Mod here. If you don't intend on using the kissing interactions you don't need to get it.
Questions and concerns you might have?
I want to remove the relationship bit
After you set the relationship bit an option to remove it will appear in the same pie menu.
Some interactions aren't showing
The interactions depend on the relationship bit you may have with a sim. For example, only sims who have had a summer romance can "Share Summer Memories. Only Study Buddies can quiz each other, only long-distance relationship simmers can have virtual dates etc...
I'm experiencing some weird bugs!
Let me know, please.
Report it here: Mod Bug Report
Public: 18/06/23
Download
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