#in general electronic communications are not secure

[oliolioxenfreewrites]

OC Intro Interview with Raelin & Garrick

thank you @the-golden-comet for the tag! this is the one that was robbed from us last night, by faulty electronics (not my fault for not periodically saving... 👀💀) this was so so so much fun to write! these two are adisa's backbone. they show her that even though the darkness consumes her, she still has a bunch of light in her life...

This is a bit of a long one, but pls let me know any thoughts or reactions! Feedback is always appreciated as well 🫶🏾

Today, we have Garrick Bramwell and Raelin Vespera with us. Rick is a loyal warrior and protector, and Raelin is a fierce and guarded fighter. Both have been through immense hardship, yet they stand resilient and strong. Let��s dive into their thoughts and experiences.

The interview is a bit long, but so where the generations. I couldn't sums by

Interviewer: Welcome, Garrick and Raelin, you guys are from Syrithya, fraught with conflict and angering civilians against the tyrannical nobility. I’ll make sure to start with something light. What’s your favorite thing to do to avoid responsibility?

Rick: (smirking) Honestly, I like to disappear into the woods. It’s peaceful, and no one can find me there. There’s something about the solitude that helps me clear my mind and think about everything that’s been happening. It’s a way for me to escape the chaos, even if just for a little while.

Rae: For me, it’s a good sparring session. There’s nothing like the physical exertion to take my mind off things. Plus, it’s a productive way to avoid responsibility – I’m getting stronger and more prepared for whatever comes next. Sometimes, though, it’s just about finding a quiet spot and carving a piece of wood into something new.

Interviewer: If you could choose anyone in the world to be your sibling, who would it be?

Rick: (glancing at Rae) I think I’d choose someone like Rae. Tough, dependable. But Adisa is my sister in spirit, and that bond is stronger than anything blood could create. We’ve been through so much together, and that kind of history makes us inseparable.

Rae: I’d choose Rick, no question. He’s got your back, no matter what. But Adisa too, as weird as that would be considering… anyway, they both embody the kind of loyalty and strength I value. We’re a family forged by circumstances, and that’s sometimes stronger than anything else.

Interviewer: What is the most sublime thing you have ever eaten and why?

Rick: There was this roasted boar at a village feast once. Perfectly cooked, seasoned just right. I can still taste it. It wasn’t just the food, though; it was the sense of community, the laughter and stories shared around the fire. It’s those moments of peace that stick with you.

Rae: Freshly caught fish, grilled over an open fire. Simple but unforgettable. There’s something about the taste of food you’ve caught and prepared yourself. It’s honest and pure, a reminder of simpler times and the satisfaction of self-sufficiency.

Interviewer: What was the worst day of your life?

Rick: The night of the attack on Zyx. I lost everything. Seeing the village burn, hearing the screams, and feeling helpless I tried to save as many as I could. It was the night that changed everything, it took away my family and my sense of security.

Rae: The night my village was razed. Changed everything. I was only 15 dude, I had to grow up fast—too fast. (there's a brief pause as Raelin clears her throat) Learning to survive on my own. It was a baptism by fire, and it’s left scars that I carry with me to this day.

Interviewer: What’s your worst nightmare?

Rick: Losing those I care about and not being able to protect them. That feeling of helplessness is something I never want to experience again. It’s what drives me to keep fighting, to keep getting stronger.

Rae: I’d have to agree. But also, becoming like the people we fight against. I fear losing my humanity, bro. Like becoming a soulless husk, in the pursuit of frivolity. It’s a fine line, and it’s easy to cross without realizing it; Kirjani had no choice, she was put through a hellish experience. I don’t fault her in the slightest.

Interviewer: If a monster asked you your worst nightmare, what would you tell it and why?

Rick: I’d tell it the truth. Fear of losing loved ones. Monsters thrive on fear, and it’s best to face it head-on. Acknowledging your fears gives you power over them, rather than letting them control you.

Rae: I wouldn’t give it the satisfaction. I’d probably laugh and tell it to find someone else to scare. Giving a monster your fears is like giving it a weapon. I’d rather keep my fears to myself and use them to fuel my strength.

Interviewer: Would you give away secret information if tortured? Be honest.

Rick: (serious) I’d like to say no, but everyone has a breaking point. It’s about how long you can hold out and what you can do to protect those secrets as long as possible. I’d resist as much as I could, for as long as I could, especially if it meant protecting Adisa.

Rae: I feel the same, but I’d hold out as long as I could. Torture breaks everyone eventually, but the key is to hold out long enough to find another way out, to protect those you care about for as long as possible.

Interviewer: Who could you trust most with a secret?

Rick: Adisa. Always. We’ve been through too much together. There’s a bond there that’s unbreakable, and I know she’d protect any secret with her life.

Rae: Lena. Without a doubt. Her loyalty and friendship is unwavering, and I know she’d keep my secrets safe, just as I have always kept hers.

Interviewer: You have been caught somewhere you shouldn’t be! Quick, what is your excuse?

Rick: (laughing) I was just making sure everything was secure. Can’t be too careful. I’d try to make it seem like I was there for a reason, to avoid suspicion and buy myself some time.

Rae: I’d just say I was lost. People usually believe a lost traveler. It’s a simple excuse, but sometimes the simplest explanations are the most believable.

Interviewer: How good is your sleep schedule?

Rick: Not great. Nightmares don’t help. The past has a way of haunting you when you close your eyes, and there are always things to worry about, plans to make, and people to protect.

Rae: Nonexistent. Always on edge. Sleep is a luxury when you’re constantly on guard, but you learn to take rest when you can, even if it’s just a few minutes here and there.

Interviewer: Do you have any siblings? If so, is your relationship good?

Rick: Adisa is like a sister to me. Our bond is strong, even if it’s not by blood. We look out for each other and support each other. She’s my family.

Rae: No blood siblings, but Rick and Adisa are my chosen family. We’ve built a bond that’s just as strong, if not stronger, than any blood ties.

Interviewer: What’s the toughest time you had to endure growing up?

Rick: The transition from childhood to warrior. The training was brutal. But it was necessary. It taught me discipline, strength, and the importance of protecting those who can’t protect themselves.

Rae: Same. Learning to fend for myself after losing everything. It was a trial by fire, but it made me who I am today. Stronger, tougher, and ready for anything.

Interviewer: What’s your relationship with your family like?

Rick: My parents are gone, but the memories are good. Adisa and I are like family now. We support each other through everything, and that bond is unbreakable.

Rae: My family is gone. But Rick and Adisa fill that void. They’re my family now, and I’d do anything to protect them.

Interviewer: Do you have any hobbies? If so, what ones?

Rick: Woodworking. It’s calming. There’s something therapeutic about creating something with your hands, something tangible and lasting.

Rae: Hunting and carving wood figures. It’s a way to clear my mind and focus on something other than the battles we face. Plus, it’s practical.

Interviewer: Do you dream often? What do you dream about?

Rick: Too often. Mostly about the past. The things I’ve lost, the people I couldn’t save. But also about a better future, one where we’re free from fear and tyranny.

Rae: Same here. The past and what the future holds. Dreams can be a way to process what’s happened, but they can also be a source of hope.

Interviewer: Have you ever been in love?

Rick: (pausing, glances over at Rae without turning his head to avoid eye contact) Yes, once. But things changed. We grew apart, and now we’re just good friends. Adisa will always hold a special place in my heart, but Kirjani and I both knew it wasn’t meant to be.

Rae: (glaring at Rick) Yes. It’s complicated. Love isn’t always straightforward, and sometimes it’s about finding a balance between your feelings and your responsibilities.

Kirjani: (appearing out of the dark corner of the room where the ceiling lights casts shadow) Aww, how sweet! I didn’t know you two were such romantics. Lena is gonna be so mad at you two for holding back on her for so long? Rae, you didn't answer the question. Who's the lucky one?

Rae: (blushing slightly) Ani? This completely mysterious person; you must know... it’s someone who challenges me, who sees past my defenses. Someone who’s strong but has a gentle heart. Ani1, I mean it that’s all you’re getting out of me.

Kirjani: (smiling with all 101 torture hijinks in mind) Well, well, looks like we have a mystery on our hands. Don't worry, Rae, your secret is safe with us. For now. Her archetype is a hybrid sorceresses, lunatic and trickster. Explicitly on no

Rick: (chuckling) You know she isn't gonna let this go now, Rae.

Rae: (rolling her eyes but smiling) I know, but some things are worth keeping close to the chest.

Kirjani: (grinning) Oh, come on, Rae. We all have our secrets. But you know I’m here for you, no matter what.

Interviewer: Well, that certainly adds some intrigue... doesn't it? Let’s continue. What is your least favorite thing in the world?

Rick: Injustice. Can’t stand it. Seeing people suffer because of those in power infuriates me. It’s why I fight.

Rae: Cruelty. Especially towards the innocent. There’s no excuse for it, and it’s something I will never tolerate.

Interviewer: What is your biggest pet peeve?

Rick: People who don’t listen. When you’ve seen what we’ve seen, you know how important it is to pay attention to the details.

Rae: Hypocrisy. People who say one thing and do another. It’s infuriating.

Interviewer: Would you consider yourself different?

Rick: Definitely. My experiences have shaped me in ways I never expected. I’ve had to adapt, to become stronger, to survive. It’s made me different, but it’s also made me who I am.

Rae: Same here. Different, but stronger. My past has forged me into a fighter, someone who won’t back down.

Interviewer: How far would you go to save a loved one?

Rick: As far as it takes. No limits. I’d sacrifice anything to protect those I care about, especially Adisa.

Rae: All the way. No hesitation. Family, whether by blood or bond, is everything.

Interviewer: Would you team up with your worst enemy if it was your only option?

Rick: If it meant saving lives, yes. Sometimes you have to make tough choices for the greater good.

Rae: I would. But I’d be watching my back. Trust is hard to come by, but sometimes you don’t have a choice.

Interviewer: What is the worst insult you can give?

Rick: Calling someone a coward. It strikes at their core.

Rae: Traitor. Nothing worse than betrayal.

Interviewer: What is the nicest thing someone could say to you?

Rick: That I made a difference. Knowing that my actions had a positive impact means everything.

Rae: That I’m trusted. Trust is earned, and it’s the highest compliment.

Interviewer: Are you a jealous person?

Rick: Not really. I’ve learned that jealousy is a waste of energy.

Rae: I can be, dude! I try my best not to let it show. It’s a human emotion, but it’s better to focus on what you can control.

Interviewer: Have you ever committed a crime?

Rick: Depends on your definition of crime. I’ve broken laws to protect others, but I stand by my actions.

Rae: Same. In some eyes, yes. But it’s about survival and justice.

Interviewer: Are you neat or messy?

Rick: Neat. Can’t stand chaos. Order helps me think clearly.

Rae: A bit of both. Depends on the situation. Sometimes you need order, other times you need flexibility.

Interviewer: How do you feel about crying? Let it out or hold it in?

Rick: Hold it in. But sometimes it’s necessary. It’s a release, a way to process emotions.

Rae: Let it out. It’s healing. Holding it in only makes it worse.

Interviewer: Who do you live for? Why?

Rick: For those I care about. They’re my reason. Adisa, especially. She’s my anchor.

Rae: My chosen family. Lena is like a baby sister to me. Rick, the older brother I never wanted. (she playfully elbows him hard in the stomach causing him to wince). And of course, the beautiful and sometimes... disturbing, Kirjani Channing. They give me purpose and strength.

Interviewer: Who has betrayed you most?

Rick: The nobility. They took everything. Their betrayal is what fuels my fight.

Rae: Same. They’re the root of all my pain. Their actions have shaped my path.

Interviewer: What style of accessories do you wear? Is it willingly?

Rick: Practical stuff. Weapons, tools. It’s all about function.

Rae: I would have to agree again, practicality over fashion.

Interviewer: Thank you both for your time. This has been enlightening.

Rick: Anytime.

Rae: Thank you, this was fun. Glad to share.

Tag List! (reply, or ask to be added or removed) + anyone interested in an open tag!

@illarian-rambling @kaylinalexanderbooks @leahpardo-pa-potato @slenders1ckn3ss @somethingclevermahogony @inky-duchess @sassystyl @rotting-moon-writes @highlycosmic @avaseofpeonies @oc-atelier @ceph-the-ghost-writer @paeliae-occasionally @davycoquette @unforgettable-sensations @hissorrow22 @boredwritergirl @scorpiothesaint @thewrathoffemalerage @rirori-jeorgiarn @spookyceph @enne-uni @the-scaredy-crow

[reachartwork]

Hardening Your Electronics Against Technopathic Threats

Introduction

Welcome to the not-so-gentle art of hardening your hardware against technopaths. Now, before you panic about some rogue superhuman frying your precious rig from the inside out, let's get a few things straight. This isn't about turning your PC into a tank, but about being smart. Think of it as cyber hygiene for the age of brainy hackers who skipped the keyboard and went straight to mind control.

So: Here's how we prevent these new-age hacker freaks from getting more intimate with your home network than you'd ever been with your girlfriend.

First things first: the "Principle of Least Resistance" in dynology. Sounds fancy, but it's simple. About 80% of superpowers that do shit do so in predictable ways. They're like that one annoying friend who only knows one joke. Once you've heard it a hundred times, it's easy to see coming and dodge. The good news is, this predictability is your armor. Sure, every technopath is unique, like a snowflake, but most of them melt the same way under heat.

So, what does this mean for hardening your electronics? It means don't freak out thinking you need to prepare for a million different powers. Most technopathic threats follow certain patterns, and if you can guard against those, you've covered your bases against the majority. Think of this guide as your cheat sheet to keeping your tech safe without breaking the bank or your brain. Let's dive in and show those brainy hackers that we're not just sitting ducks in this digital pond, and I'll teach you how to make your hardware tougher than a two dollar steak, well-done.

Common Technopathic Abilities: The Usual Suspects

Alright, let's talk about what these technopathic troublemakers can actually do. Most of them fall under a few basic categories, so don't worry, you won't need a PhD in Superhuman Studies to get this.

Direct Electronic Manipulation: These guys can chat with your electronics without saying a word. They might turn your devices on and off, mess with your settings, or even fry your circuits. It's like having a ghost in the machine, but less spooky and more annoying.

Data Messing: Think of these technopaths as the ultimate data thieves. They can read, rewrite, or delete your data. If you thought regular hackers were bad, these folks can do it without even touching a keyboard.

Signal Highjacking: Wireless signals? More like open invitations for these types. They can intercept, disrupt, or spoof wireless communications. Think of it as someone eavesdropping on your Wi-Fi conversation, but with the power to shout louder than you.

Power Surge Creators: Ever had your lights flicker during a storm? These technopaths can do that to your devices on purpose. They generate power surges to short-circuit your electronics. It's like giving your tech an unwanted electric shock therapy.

How These Abilities Wreck Your Hardware

These abilities aren't just cool party tricks; they can turn your beloved gadgets into expensive paperweights. Direct manipulation can damage your hardware's physical components, data interference can compromise your privacy and security, signal highjacking can cut you off from the digital world, and power surges... well, they're just bad news all around.

In the next sections, we'll cover how to turn your devices from sitting ducks into digital fortresses.

[proxylynn]

What’s Vox’s power ? Is he trying to mind control us or something?

[According to the wiki...Vox's abilities are...]

Electrokinesis - Depending on his emotions, Vox possesses the ability to control electricity. If he's angered, he can potentially make it so that a Hell-wide blackout happens. He caused a blackout to Pentagram City in "Radio Killed the Video Star" when he was overwhelmed by Alastor's taunts.

Electricity transformation - Vox can turn into electricity, which he can use to move around or enter and travel through electronic devices such as security cameras, watches and television monitors that he can control as he pleases. He can do things while inside devices such as changing his outfit and scenery. There are a few flaws to this: the place Vox wants to go has to have some form of modern technology he could go through as he apparently can't teleport through an old-style radio. He also physically can't do anything outside said device.

Spark generation - He can create sparks from his fingertips, which can be used to ignite and/or light something, like when he lit Valentino's cigarette in "Radio Killed the Video Star". He can even generate sparks on his body, especially when he is angry. He also causes what looks like a small surge or ripple of electricity to appear through the floor during Stayed Gone from his feet. It is hard to tell if this is part of the spark generation or a separate ability entirely.

Bioluminescence - Vox generates blue light from his screen face when he is in a dark room.

Hypnosis - In "Radio Killed the Video Star", it is shown that with his left eye, he uses hypnosis to keep his audience drawn into his program and keep their interest. He can use this even when he isn't physically present. The devices he sells share his ability. He also uses this as a distraction so he can slip away to avoid any further discussion of a subject he doesn't wish to continue.

Communication - He can receive calls from people such as Velvette with his screen head similar to calling on a phone. He can transfer the call to another device.

Video playing - Vox can play videos on his face.

Electronic device synchronizing - He can plug himself into other devices with the help of cables.

Scrying - As shown in the prequel comic, A Day in the Afterlife, Vox is seemingly able to see through other screens, appearing to stare directly at Alastor while projecting into the TV display of a window-fronted store. He appears to need to be plugged into a device to do this.

Self-replication - Vox was shown to be able to make clones of himself in "Radio Killed the Video Star" during Stayed Gone. However, he has only displayed the ability on television and it is unknown if he can do it physically.

Acoustokinesis - He can manipulate the sound of his voice to sound more intimidating. He can also generate different sound effects such as echoing voices and the sound of a winning game machine.

Skillset

Musical Talent - Vox has shown to be a talented singer.

Dancing - Vox can perform amazing dance routines, like handling complicated moves to even being able to hold Valentino, a taller sinner, into a dip.

Charisma and manipulation - The reason why Vox is a successful entrepreneur is that he can use his charm to manipulate others into buying his products even without his hypnosis powers, such as acting as he cares about his customers and making up products on the spot not even in production yet. He even uses this to successfully calm down Valentino to prevent further damage.

Technology intuition - Being a businessman and head of VoxTek, Vox has great understanding of technology, allowing him to use his electrical powers to their full potential.

[mariacallous]

Mike Lindell has spent the past four years desperately trying to prove the 2020 election was stolen from president-elect Donald Trump. In the early hours of November 6, attending Trump’s election night watch party, Lindell’s crusade appeared to be at an end when Trump walked on stage to announce his victory.

But that’s not how the infamous pillow salesman saw it.

“I've been trying to get rid of these electronic voting machine companies in the United States for four years,” Lindell tells WIRED. “That's been my whole focus. And that doesn't stop, but hopefully it gets easier.”

For the past four years, Lindell has crisscrossed the country nonstop. He has been doing interviews with anyone who will listen, filing frivolous lawsuits that go nowhere, hosting cyber symposiums filled with disinformation, hiding election deniers running from the law, and spending more than $40 million of his own money to claim that the 2020 election was stolen by the voting machines used in US elections.

Lindell has been an important part of a vast network of local, state, and national groups that coalesced around Trump’s own baseless claim that the 2020 election was stolen. These groups, which communicated on platforms like Telegram and Facebook, have spent countless hours attending online meetings, making bogus challenges to voter lists, and even knocking on doors to expose so-called illegal immigrant voting schemes.

Lindell, along with others around the US, has helped lead the movement, pushing bogus conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, spreading racist claims about illegal immigrants, and priming followers to reject any result other than a Trump victory. And yet, despite the fact that they got exactly what they want, many show no signs of stopping now.

When WIRED spoke to Lindell last week, he was in California working to secure information that he believes will ultimately show voter fraud in down-ballot races in the state.

“I haven't taken a break,” says Lindell. “After the election, I went on my annual hunting trip with my sons and my nephew. That was two days, but I was actually working from the deer stand. I'm always working on my phone.”

Some election deniers are even pitching for roles within the new administration—including Lindell.

To WIRED, Lindell suggested the establishment of a “bureau that’s really focused on keeping our elections secure.” When asked whether he would run such a bureau, Lindell says, “Oh, absolutely, my team would plug right in.”

Of course, there is already a bureau that secures US elections: the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, whose director, Jen Easterly, said in a November 6 statement that there was “no evidence of any malicious activity that had a material impact on the security or integrity of our election infrastructure.” Easterly has announced that she will be leaving her position on the first day of Trump’s new administration.

But Lindell could have some competition for the role of election czar, as other figures who used the election denial movement to carve out lucrative careers seek to cash in on that fame.

“If I may be so direct, I request consideration to be appointed in a special capacity to pursue electoral reform as part of your administration,” Seth Keshel, a well-known election conspiracist whose Substack newsletter has almost 30,000 subscribers, wrote in a letter he sent to Trump last week. “My research into electoral corruption would pair well with the efforts of your Attorney General to identify and pursue remediation into corrupt election procedures that render over 200 electoral votes non-competitive, including corruption I have identified even in your 2024 election victory that cost our coalition of America First candidates many down ballot races.”

In recent days, speculation on X suggested that Patrick Byrne, former Overstock CEO and another major funder of the election denial movement, was willing to join Trump’s new administration as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Byrne clarified the situation on Sunday, writing on X: “I would do it if I were asked,” while adding: “I will not be asked. 47 and I are not close.”

In the immediate aftermath of Trump’s victory, it did appear as if some election deniers were done: “Time for me to go look for a job, put in the good word for me,” David Clements, a former business law teacher at New Mexico State University who became an election denial superstar, wrote on his hugely popular Telegram channel.

But now, the election denial movement has picked up where it left off prior to the election, pushing baseless conspiracy theories despite Trump’s victory. In many cases, as Keshel outlined in his letter, they believe that while the presidential election was run properly, many down-ballot races where Republicans did not win were likely fraudulent.

Within days of the election, Clements was back on the horse, pushing conspiracies about down-ballot election results, including the one Lindell says he is investigating in California.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think election conspiracy theorists are packing up and going home,” Brendan Fischer, deputy executive director at Documented, tells WIRED. “Election conspiracists have built an enduring infrastructure, and in the months to come, the ‘election fraud’ narrative will reemerge and be used to justify restrictive new voting laws, and to lay the groundwork to challenge future elections that MAGA Republicans might lose.”

Clements has also been championing the case of another election denier, Tina Peters, a former Colorado election official who was jailed last month for tampering with voting machines.

Being incarcerated has not stopped Peters from continuing to push election denial conspiracies. This week, clips from a video interview posted on X show Peters pushing more conspiracies about the 2020 and 2024 elections while wearing an orange jumpsuit.

One election denial Telegram channel, known as Election Education, decided to let its followers decide on what the future holds, posting a survey entitled “What Next?” The first option—“it’s time to move on”—got just 1 percent of the vote. Far and away the biggest response—76 percent��was for the option “I’m in this for the long haul. Lots of work to do.”

Recently, the election denial movement has latched onto the race of GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake, who was among the loudest voices pushing election conspiracy theories in recent years. Lake lost to Democrat Ruben Gallego last week.

While Lake posted a video accepting her loss last week, that hasn’t stopped the election denial movement from claiming the vote was rigged.

“There was all kinds of fraud that was done in this last election,” Lindell said. “Right now they're trying to steal down-ticket [races]. Kari Lake in Arizona, that's blatant, it's so blatant.”

Right-wing pundit Dinesh D’Souza, whose disproven conspiracy film 2000 Mules helped supercharge claims of election fraud around the 2020 election, has also been pushing similar claims. In a video posted on X last week, D’Souza said: “I refuse to believe [the result], that makes no sense at all,” before adding that while there is no evidence of cheating, he is still demanding a recount.

A week after the election, the Election Integrity Network, a well-funded group that has been at the forefront of the election denial movement, hosted a meeting to discuss next steps. It was attended by almost 200 members.

“The red wave came in on very slim margins, so it is very important that we keep in mind during our celebratory times, that we have a lot more work to do,” Kerri Toloczko, the executive director of the group, said during the meeting, according to a recording reviewed by WIRED. She then added that the group needs to focus on elections in the future, including the 2026 midterms, while warning about vague election fraud conspiracies.

“Obviously, we’re not going away,” said Toloczko. “We have new elections coming up. Virginia has one every year. We've got the midterms. New elections [mean] new games. We don't know what they're playing at yet, but I guarantee you they'll be playing at something. So we need to figure out what that is.”

The group’s founder, former Trump adviser Cleta Mitchell, continued to push the baseless claim that a flood of illegal immigrants were voting in US elections, when that figure has been shown to be vanishingly small. She said the group “had a lot of work to do” on the issue and she “hoped the incoming administration will take it seriously.”

While Mitchell and Election Integrity Network haven't stopped, some groups in the election denial movement are pausing to reassess and see what’s next for them.

Catherine Engelbrecht, the cofounder of True the Vote, one of the most prominent election denial groups that has organized drop box monitoring and large-scale voter challenges, said last week that she was going on “a brief hiatus.”

“Our focus is shifting toward supporting grassroots organizations in building local influence and advocating for common-sense reforms,” Engelbrecht wrote in her channel on the fringe platform Locals.

For Lindell, who approaches election denial with the fervor of a religious zealot, the idea of stopping now is not something that has ever crossed his mind, even if his efforts have left him with no money and huge legal bills.

“I have to [keep going], or we lose our country,” says Lindell, adding that if he has to borrow money to continue funding his efforts, he will. “I wouldn't trust any election done with computers ever. I will never stop until we get the paper ballot, hands counted.”

[ieatmoonrocks]

MHA DR-Self Hero Profile

(I'm not an artist but I tried ;~; )

Hero Name: Impulse

Considering MHA's fantastical laws of physics and such, I'm taking some liberties here, I know EMP's don't necessarily work this way :)

Quirk: Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP)

I can use and manipulate EMP’s to affect anything that can use or run on electricity to my will. At some point I learn to control biological tissue by manipulating electrical signals in the cells. I can do anything from diagnosing issues in electronics to accessing any information (even the most confidential) as long as it’s on the device or connected to the internet in any way. Firewalls and encryption can take a bit longer to navigate through, but in general are no issue. No trace is left behind; my activities cannot be traced, even if I pull up the information on a computer for others to see. I can interface with tech and view everything in my head, so battery usage in devices is minimal due to there being no need for screens or physical input. Outside electrical sources are not needed to manipulate most objects.

Skills:

Some of these skills are gained and perfected in my time at UA.

Parkour:

Agility and Speed: Enhances my ability to move rapidly through urban environments, chase villains, or reach areas inaccessible by conventional means.

Escape and Evasion: Allows me to evade capture or dangerous situations.

Rescue Operations: Facilitates swift navigation in disaster zones.

Skateboarding: Translates into Hoverboard use

Quick Transportation: Provides a fast and agile mode of transportation, allowing me to cover ground quickly.

Enhanced Maneuverability: Helps me perform sharp turns and evasive maneuvers during pursuits or escapes.

Combat Utility: The board can be used as a tool in combat, either as a weapon or a shield.

Krav Maga:

Self-Defense: Equips me with practical combat skills to neutralize threats quickly and effectively.

Close-Combat Proficiency: Enhances my ability to handle hand-to-hand combat situations.

Situational Awareness: Trains me to remain vigilant and responsive to immediate threats.

Electronics and Programming:

Tech Control: Allows me to interface with and control technology.

Hacking: Enables me to hack into security systems, disable electronic traps, or access critical information.

Repair and Modification: Equips me with the skills to repair damaged tech or modify devices on the fly.

Cybersecurity:

Counter-Hacking: Allows me to defend against cyber-attacks from villains.

Data Protection: Ensures the safety of personal and mission-related data.

Tech Defense: Helps me implement security measures on their own devices.

Neurobiology:

Safe Manipulation: Enables me to manipulate biological electrical signals safely.

Medical Assistance: Provides the knowledge to offer medical aid, such as stabilizing heartbeats or alleviating pain.

Enhanced Strategy: Offers insight into how opponents' nervous systems function, aiding in the development of effective, non-lethal combat strategies.

Tactical Thinking and Strategy:

Mission Planning: Helps me develop effective plans for complex missions.

Adaptability: Equips me to adjust strategies quickly in response to changing conditions or unexpected challenges.

Team Coordination: Enhances my ability to work with and lead teams, coordinating actions and resources.

Leadership and Communication:

Team Leadership: Prepares me to lead teams of other heroes or rescue personnel, making critical decisions under pressure.

Public Interaction: Equips me to communicate with the public, media, and authorities.

Conflict Resolution: Enhances my ability to de-escalate situations and resolve conflicts peacefully when possible.

First Aid and Emergency Response:

Medical Assistance: Allows me to provide critical care in the field, stabilizing injured individuals until they can receive professional treatment.

Disaster Response: Equips me to manage disaster scenarios, providing aid, organizing evacuations, and ensuring public safety.

Self-Care: Enables me to tend to my own injuries during missions.

Support Items:

Smart Visor:

Augmented Reality Interface: Displays real-time information overlay, including maps, data streams, and tactical readouts, directly in the user’s field of vision.

Enhanced Vision Modes: Includes night vision, thermal imaging, and x-ray vision.

Universal Integration: Can connect to any electronic device or network within range.

Communication Hub: Functions as a secure communication device.

Mental Command: Responds to mental commands for hands-free operation.

Insulation: Protects against electronic surges.

Retractable Smart Wires:

Grappling hooks: Equipped with small yet extremely strong and durable grappling hooks that can latch on to most surfaces, or grip to self when wire is wrapped around an object.

Electric Conductivity: Can channel the user's EMP directly through the cables.

Durable and Flexible: Made from a thin high-strength, flexible material that can withstand extreme conditions and physical stress. Made from a Material that while remaining flexible, does not tangle with itself.

Automatic Retraction: Retracts into a compact, portable spool when not in use.

Variable Length: Length can be adjusted as needed, extending up to several yards.

Collapsible Hoverboard:

Folding Mechanism: Folds down from the size of a skateboard deck into a compact, pocket sized form.

Electric Propulsion: Uses a high-efficiency electromagnetic propulsion system for smooth and silent movement, easily controlled by the user’s quirk.

Remote Summoning: Can be summoned to the user’s location.

Stability and Control: Features advanced gyroscopic stabilization for smooth rides over various terrains.

Speed and Maneuverability: Capable of high speeds and sharp turns.

Pocket Tech:

Micro Bugs

Micro Cameras

Micro Drones

Mini Bombs

Costume:

Sneakers:

Shock-Absorbing Soles: Provides superior cushioning to absorb impact during high-speed movements and long jumps.

Conductive Fabric: Allows me to channel EMP.

Magnetic Traction Pads: Ensures superior grip on the hoverboard, maintaining stability.

Lightweight and Breathable: Keeps the feet cool and dry, enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue during long missions.

Reinforced Toe and Heel Caps: Provides extra protection against impacts and enhances durability.

Socks:

Conductive Fibers: Allows me to channel EMP.

Moisture-Wicking Fabric: Keeps feet dry and comfortable.

Compression Zones: Provides targeted compression to support key areas of the foot and ankle, improving blood circulation and reducing fatigue.

Shock-Absorbing Padding: Enhances comfort by absorbing impact and reducing stress on the feet.

Antimicrobial Treatment: Prevents the growth of odor-causing bacteria, keeping the socks fresh and hygienic.

Seamless Construction: Reduces friction and prevents blisters.

Thermoregulatory Properties: Keeps feet warm in cold conditions and cool in hot conditions.

Reinforced Arch Support: Provides additional support to the arch, enhancing stability and reducing the risk of injuries.

Pants:

Durable Fabric: Provides protection against wear and tear.

Conductive Threading: Allows me to channel EMP.

Moisture-Wicking and Breathable: Keeps me cool and dry.

Reinforced Knees and Seat: Provides extra durability and protection.

Flexible: Ensures a comfortable fit that adapts to my movements, providing flexibility and reducing restrictions.

Multiple Pockets: Provides ample storage space for tools, gadgets, and personal items.

Thermoregulatory Properties: Keeps me warm in cold conditions and cool in hot conditions.

Harness:

Durable Material: Ensures the harness can withstand the rigors of combat and daily use.

Ergonomic Design: Provides comfort and support during prolonged wear, distributing weight evenly.

Adjustable Fit: Provides a customizable fit, ensuring the harness stays secure and comfortable.

Attachment Points: Allows me to attach additional gear, tools, or accessories.

Quick-Release Buckles: Ensures the harness can be easily and quickly donned or doffed.

Integrated Power Conduits: Allows me to channel EMP, enhancing my ability to manipulate the smart cables.

Reflective and High-Visibility Elements: Increases visibility in low-light conditions, ensuring I can be seen by allies and avoid hazards.

Shirt:

Conductive Fabric: Allows me to channel EMP.

Moisture-Wicking and Breathable: Keeps me cool and dry.

Compression Zones: Provides support to key muscle groups, improving blood circulation and reducing muscle fatigue.

Reinforced Seams: Enhances durability and prevents tearing.

Thermoregulatory Properties: Keeps me warm in cold conditions and cool in hot conditions.

Flexible and Stretchable: Ensures a snug fit that moves with my body, providing full range of motion and reducing restrictions.

Antimicrobial Treatment: Prevents the growth of odor-causing bacteria, keeping the shirt fresh and hygienic.

Gloves:

Conductive Fabric: Allows me to channel EMP.

Ergonomic Design: Provides a natural fit that reduces hand fatigue and enhances dexterity.

Reinforced Palms and Fingers: Offers extra protection against abrasion and impact.

Touchscreen Compatibility: Allows me to interact with touchscreen devices if needed.

Breathable and Moisture-Wicking: Keeps hands cool and dry by allowing sweat to evaporate quickly.

Adjustable Wrist Straps: Provides a secure fit, ensuring the gloves stay in place.

Shock-Absorbing Padding: Reduces impact and vibration, protecting the hands.

Antimicrobial Treatment: Prevents the growth of odor-causing bacteria, keeping the gloves fresh and hygienic.

Jacket:

Insulated Fabric: Provides superior warmth without adding bulk.

Waterproof and Windproof Outer Layer: Protects against rain, snow, and wind.

Conductive Threading: Allows me to channel EMP.

Heated Panels: Integrated heating elements providing adjustable warmth on demand.

Breathable and Moisture-Wicking: Keeps me dry and comfortable by drawing sweat away from the skin.

Adjustable Hood: Provides additional warmth and protection, and can be removed when not needed.

Multiple Pockets: Provides ample storage space for tools, gadgets, and personal items.

Reinforced Seams and Elbows: Enhances durability and provides extra protection in high-stress areas.

Reflective Elements: Increases visibility in low-light conditions, ensuring I can be seen by allies and avoid hazards.

Stealth Version:

Light-Absorbing Fabric: Reduces visibility by minimizing light reflection.

Sound-Dampening Fabric: Reduces noise generated by movement.

Minimalistic Design: Reduces the risk of snagging or catching on obstacles, ensuring smooth and silent movement.

Hood and Mask: Provides additional concealment.

+1 Brownie point if you read this whole thing :)

[akitsukihikaru]

GAKU GENJIRO'S MHA REFERENCE SHEET IS HERE!!!

Art by @socialllyawkwardalien

QUIRK DETAILS

Description: With Glitch Walk, the user has the ability to manipulate digital and technological systems by generating glitches. They can access and control electronic devices, causing them to malfunction or behave unexpectedly. This allows the user to bypass security systems, disable surveillance cameras, or even disrupt communication networks. Additionally, they can glitch their own body, allowing them to phase through solid objects or teleport short distances by distorting their form.

DRAWBACKS

1.Overuse of the quirk can cause the user to experience disorientation and dizziness, similar to motion sickness, due to the constant manipulation of digital signals and glitches.

2.The user is only able to manipulate digital and technological systems, so they may struggle in combat situations that involve purely physical opponents.

3.Glitching their own body comes with the risk of temporary loss of control, causing unintended effects or leaving them vulnerable.

[fall-of-achilles]

Dorm Essentials

Here is a super comprehensive list of every item I could think someone would need in a dorm. Obviously this will differ from person to person and room to room.

*Check your university's rules surrounding these items

Uni Essentials- a comprehensive list of electronics, stationary and clothing

Storage

Carts that roll under your bed

Loft equipment to add extra space

Collapsible fabric bins

coffee cart

desk organizer

If you have a private bathroom

over toilet shelving

shelving for shower

hand soap

Toilet Plunger

toilet brush and cleaner

speaker (don't bother your neighbours)

toothbrush holder

shower mats

toilet paper

small trash can

shower curtain

If you have a communal bathroom

shower caddy

shower shoes/ slides

General Bathroom needs

towels

shampoo

conditioner

body wash

skincare

makeup

toothbrush

toothpaste

body wash

loofah/ wash rag/ body scrub

Q-tips

Cotton balls/ pads

Hand soap

If you have a microwave/ kitchen area

Ice cube trays

microwave ramen cooker

single cup coffee maker*

plates/bowls/silverware/cups

rice cooker*

Hot plate*

milk frother wand thing

paper towel holder

salt and pepper grinder

Pitcher

Brita

french press

measuring cups/spoons (liquid measure)

toaster*

tupperware

lunch box

Chip clips

Mayo, ranch, salad dressing

Popcorn popper* my dorm allows a hot air popper

Snacks and Food

granola bars

trail mix

Chips

instant matcha/coffee

Kcups

peanut butter (or other nut/soy butter)

jam/jelly

candy

mints

gum

Brita water filter

reusable water bottle

olive oil

vinegar

cookies

salt/pepper

instant coffee

honey

Popcorn kernels

Butter/ margarine

Cleaning Supplies

Broom

swiffer/ mop

disinfecting wipes

all purpose cleaner

duster

scrub daddy

dish soap

laundry detergent

dryer balls

baking soda

vinegar

cleaning rags

Pinsol/Fabuloso

small steamer/ iron*

stain remover

Medicine/First Aid

bandaids

gauze

tape

liquid bandaid

nyquil

ibuprophen/tylenol

cough drops

cough medcine

pepto bismol

covid tests

hand sanitizer

Neosporin or my personal favourite PRID

Cooling and heating packs

Antacid ( tums)

Other

Nightstand

area rug

Desk lamp

Night light/ small lamp

large trash can

room spray/ oil diffuser

desk chair

laundry hamper

sheets

pillows

curtains

towels

wash cloths

paper towels

tissues

Pads/tampons

hangers

Command hooks

heated blanket*/ weighted blanket

extension cord*

printer*

small fireproof safe (with all your legal documents in it)

tool kit

flashlight

Bedside organiser

Door draft/ window draft stopper

Clothing shaver

Batteries

pepper spray

security birdie

Condoms

From home

Photos

blankets

stuffed animals

decorations

[silbeni]

GHOST TRAIN!

Pronouns: he/xe\they (Same as Dante, since they are one and the same)

Namesake: Ghost Train - Gorillaz

STATS

Power: D

Speed: D

Range: N/A

Durability: D

Precision: D

Potential: S

ABILITY

Retry

In essence, Ghost Train is a time travel, groundhog day like stand. It grants Dante the ability repeat the last 24 hours as Ghost Train. Dante cannot change their own past self’s actions (as in directly control them) but he is able to influence them. There are several things in the way of this, however.

Invisibility

Ghost Train is invisible to everyone including themself in the past (with two exceptions.) Xe cannot speak, he can only communicate through notes - and as clever as Dante is, he can be quite inattentive at times and miss them. He himself becomes an obstacle.

Ghost Train is only able to be seen in brief flashes, that is, whenever they are directly hit, or when xe attacks.

Electric shock

Ghost

Ghost Train only has one method of attack, and it's pretty weak. He can generate and shoot shockwaves of electricity, but it doesn't do much against another stand user, and it also reveals their location, so it must be used wisely. Ghost Train has a poor constitution, which is why his success hinges on staying hidden. 

Their electricity can also be used to short circuit electronics, like security cameras.

If their cover is blown, they have the useful ability to phase through objects. However, that doesn't completely ensure safety. They can be followed and hunted down as they aren't fast. They can only move via floating, and that isn't a very efficient way of travel.

Infinite range

Xe can go anywhere, xe isn't tied to his past self like a regular stand would be. Though, it is dangerous for Ghost Train to stray far from past Dante, as xe cannot call it back when it is in use, leaving his past self vulnerable to attacks. This is generally a non-issue as Dante usually triggers his ability at the end of a day, or immediately when he is attacked, but this weakness could be potentially exploited by a smart enemy. 

Stealth

Aside from being unable to speak, xe doesn't make any sort of sound (expect for. of course, their attack). Combined with their other minor abilities, Ghost Train is suitable for reconnaissance as they are virtually undetectable.

[avaleigh16]

Title: Task Force 141: Operation Midnight Vengeance

Mission Objective: Infiltrate and neutralize a high-profile enemy target in a heavily fortified compound.

Team Composition:

- Ghost (Simon "Ghost" Riley): Master of stealth and intelligence gathering.

- Soap (John MacTavish): Skilled in close-quarters combat and weapons expertise.

- Gaz (Sgt. Kyle Garrick): Tactical specialist with excellent marksmanship.

- Price (Captain John Price): Veteran leader, tactical genius, and combat expert.

- *Female Agent Y/N (Tanya): Covert operative skilled in intelligence analysis and assassination.

Mission Briefing:

Task Force 141, codename "Bravo", has been deployed to undertake Operation Midnight Vengeance. Our target is an enemy general, known for his role in orchestrating terrorist attacks and trafficking illicit weapons. Intelligence suggests that he is currently holed up in a heavily guarded compound in the remote mountains of Eastern Europe.

The team will be inserted stealthily via helicopter near a pre-designated location overlooking the target's compound. Ghost will lead the recon, using his unmatched expertise to gather intel on the enemy's defenses, patrol patterns, and potential VIP hostages. Female Agent Y/N will provide support to Ghost as an intelligence analyst, utilizing their advanced electronic surveillance skills.

Once the team's information is compiled, Soap will lead the assault team, accompanied by Gaz and Price. Their objective will be to infiltrate the compound silently and eliminate any resistance encountered, securing the target with lethal precision. Female Agent Y/N will maintain communication with the team, constantly monitoring enemy movement and updating the team on potential threats.

Stealth, speed, and synchronization will be crucial to the success of Operation Midnight Vengeance. The team must work together, exploiting weaknesses in the compound's security, and maintaining the element of surprise at all times. Any compromise could jeopardize the mission and endanger innocent lives.

Gear up, Task Force 141. The world is watching, and we must bring justice to those who threaten its peace.

Operational Plan:

Phase 1: Infiltration and Reconnaissance

- Ghost and Female Agent Y/N will infiltrate the area, gathering intel on the compound's layout, defenses, and VIP locations.

- Using advanced surveillance equipment and their expertise, Ghost and Female Agent Y/N will relay real-time information to the assault team.

Phase 2: Assault and Target Extraction

- Soap, Gaz, and Price will execute the assault, moving swiftly and silently to eliminate enemy resistance.

- Soap will take point, leading the team through the compound, neutralizing threats with precision and deadly force.

- Gaz, the team's marksman, will provide cover fire and eliminate targets from a distance.

- Price will provide overall tactical guidance, ensuring the team's movements remain undetected and coordinated.

- Female Agent Y/N will support the assault team, relaying critical information and assisting in the elimination of high-value targets.

Phase 3: Extraction and Extraction

- Once the target has been secured, the team will rendezvous at a pre-determined extraction point for immediate extraction.

- In the event of compromised extraction, the team will utilize contingency plans to escape enemy territory and return to friendly lines.

Remember, Task Force 141: success hinges on your individual skill sets and flawless team coordination. Execute the mission with utmost precision, and ensure the safety of each team member. Good luck, and bring them home.

[shaolinrouge]

The Different Components of a Drivesuit & The Drift

Pons Machine: The machine created and developed by Caitlin Lightcap, that allows two brains to join together into a single consciousness. Early designs of this machine looked something like skeletal clamps (or those scalp massagers, if that’s more your style), but the design was altered slightly to rest within a pilot’s helmet, allowing them to Drift with each and the Jaeger when it’s on. 

Circuitry Suit: A suit that is skin tight, somewhat like a wetsuit that a surfer may use. It uses a synaptic processor mesh (synaptic is in reference to the word synapse, which is the juncture between neurons) to interface and connect with the central nervous system. The interior is designed to resemble a circuitry board woven into the black polymer material with which the suit is designed. The suit itself uses technology to read the electronic potential of muscular cells and evaluate the movement made by skeletal muscles and relay these movements and impulses to the Jaeger with a time lag close to zero, keeping the reaction speed of the machine almost equal to the speed with which the human skeletal muscles can generate impulses; however, this suit works both ways. In an effort to keep the pilots’ responses as quick and accurate as possible, pain is also transmitted by this connection, meaning the pilots can feel whatever hits a Jaeger takes. 

Battle Armor: The armor that we, as the viewers, see pilots wearing when in a Jaeger. It is created of a polycarbonate substance and helps a pilot overcome the intensive physical strain placed on a human body when piloting a Jaeger. Additionally, it can protect the pilots from outside danger such as debris.

Spinal Clamps: A complex series of moving parts that is always active, as shown in the movie. When it comes into contact with a pilot’s battle armor, the spinal clamp will secure itself to the pilot’s vertebrae (or, more likely, the circuitry suit right above the vertebrae), linking the pilot’s circuitry suit to different parts of the Jaeger’s spine. The spinal clamp also connects and secures the back of the body armor. 

Helmet: This is the final piece of the body armor, designed to protect the pilot’s head; however, it has many other purposes. At the point above the jaw (marked by circles on several of the designs in the movie), the helmets contain communicators that allow pilots to easily communicate verbally with each other and LOCCENT. Helmets can also provide emergency oxygen to pilots if they are trapped in a wrecked Conn-Pod or submerged in the ocean. Finally, and most importantly, the helmets of a pilot’s battle armor contain the Pons Machine necessary to Drift. 

Data Relay Gel: A substance within the helmet that sends the electronic impulses of one pilot to another. While the pilot’s minds are one, they also need to have synchronized movements, so relay gel allows the detected movements from one pilot’s circuitry suits to be relayed to the other.

Mind Meld: To begin the Drifting process, the Pons Machine must be activated and the pilots must engage in the Mind Meld. This is when pilots share memories with each other, as well as emotions and instincts. During this process, pilots go silent and let the memories flow by while attempting to clear their minds of all thoughts. 

R.A.B.I.T.: A Random Access Brain Impulse Trigger. “Chasing the R.A.B.I.T.” or latching onto the memory is highly discouraged, as it may cause a pilot to become trapped within a memory. While this isn’t necessarily dangerous, it has been known to translate into a Jaeger’s actions (Mako accidentally activating the Plasmacaster) and at a certain point, it becomes highly difficult to tear a pilot from the memory without forcefully disengaging the Drift. 

Neural Handshake: The final step. The neural handshake allows the pilots to connect to the Jaeger and control its movements. In all situations, this process is overseen by a PPDC J-Chief LOCCENT Officer (Tendo Choi, in the movie) to ensure the connection remains stable. This step is only possible if the pilots are in an active Drift and are connected to the motion rig within the Conn-Pod.

Headspace: The space created by the melded minds of pilots in the Drift. This headspace allows pilots to communicate at extremely quick speeds.

Drivesuit Room: A room that pilots enter before boarding the Conn-Pod. Within this room, technicians help pilots into their Circuitry Suit, Body Armor, and Helmet. Because of time restrains, technicians and pilots must be prepared to deploy in seven minutes or less.

Conn-Pod: The central control system of every Jaeger. Pre-launch, Conn-Pods are detached from the Jaegers. While detached, pilots board the Conn-Pod and are secured to a motion rig, as well as a hydraulic platform. After the Drop, the Conn-Pod connects to the rest of Jaeger and opens various interfaces. Once this process is complete, pilots can view a layout of the environment around them, access a physical control panel to power the weapons, and engage in the neural handshake.

Motion Rig: The system that secures a pilot to their Jaeger. It is a mechanical cradle that connects to the spinal clamps and arms of both pilots and must be sealed in place by technicians.

Hydraulic Platform: The complex mechanical structure beneath the feet of the pilots which allows them to move the Jaeger. Additionally, this system locks the pilots’ boots into place. 

[just-horrible-things]

Guards

The drones are unsettling. 

There are four of them, although the general public and even most of the garrison think there are only two. They only ever see two at a time. The armour covers skin tone, grimly masked helmets hide any distinguishing feature. And they all move the same, behave the same, share the same eerie silent coordination. 

Maybe they communicate electronically.

Popular opinion has it that they never sleep, but the governor has learned that it isn't true. They just don't sleep much. 

At any given time, one rests, one trains, and two accompany the governor as silent, ever-present guards. He has no illusions that they are solely for his protection – although he is certainly thankful for that function. 

Drones are made in batches of twelve, and the smallest unit size still considered battle-ready is six. That means that these four once had eight additional companions, since destroyed. 

The governor wonders if they mourn, in whatever capacity they have. They aren't supposed to feel emotions, not in any human sense. But are they aware of the missing drones' absence? Do they think about them, now they aren't here? Do they make plans that would take more than four, and then remember, and have to correct themselves? 

Probably not. 

Even when all four are together, in the secure suite where the governor sleeps and handles his most sensitive paperwork, they are silent sentinels, never moving from their positions except to meet their basic needs or to practice at the simulated range.

The human shape is a lie. Just a convenient shell to hold the artificial intelligence that pilots them. 

Once you see them really move, you understand that. 

99% of the time they're passive. They follow orders. In the first week he had them do all kinds of pointless things for him – fetching his coffee from across the room, holding his coat. He supposes it was an attempt to make them less intimidating. 

They never hesitated. They never showed any hint of resentment. There’s no reason to think they’re even capable of feeling resentment. 

Still, he stopped doing it. It felt… disrespectful. They’re killing machines, not service staff.

99% of the time they’re – not dormant, but something else. Idle. Watchful. Ready.

The other 1% proves their worth.

The first time one laid a heavy hand on his shoulder, the governor was so surprised that he completely failed to recognise the urgency of the signal. The insurgents watching didn’t make the same mistake.

His recollections are blurry, flawed. The precise, dry report from the drones in the aftermath described only three gunshots. But he remembers it as a barrage, a veritable hail of noise and mortal peril. There must have been screaming from the crowd, but he has no memory of that.

Mostly he remembers the bruising impact as one of the drones scooped him up, easy as if he were a child. The hard edges of armour plates left dark lines of bruise across his skin that took a week to fade. 

Perhaps his memory exaggerates the speed, but the drone sprinted with him, totally unburdened by his weight. The garrison soldiers were left behind, still only beginning to react to the gunshots.

Straight to the armoured car and into the back seat without the drone ever releasing its grip on him. He had never felt so acutely without control.

“Return to Command Central.” The first time he’d heard any of them give an order. Nothing in the command structure gives the biodrones authority over any of the governor’s staff, but the driver doesn’t hesitate.

There are more potent and fundamental authorities than written hierarchies.

And for all the weight of his writ, the governor is a doll in the drone’s steel grip.

The other one, he learned later, went hunting. Seven dead, though there’s no way to identify whether any of them were truly involved in the attack. 

By the time the drone returned to give its report, the governor had pulled himself together enough – changed his clothes and hastily restyled his hair – to cope gracefully with the news and start formulating a plan for the requisite speech to the unhappy public.

There have only been a handful of incidents severe enough to spur the drones to action. But every time they fulfil their function, he finds himself lying awake that night. There’s no use at all in dwelling on unpleasant possibilities. But in the small, dark hours, the images are hard to banish.

If the capital call him back, he has no doubt that his bodyguards will see that he goes, whether that’s walking tamely between them or slung casually into the back of a truck. There’s no resisting their superhuman strength and terrible efficiency.

Without that efficiency, he could easily be dead already. And it only takes one bullet – one carefully lined up shot. 

And still he must stand in front of his enemies, speak unwelcome ultimata with no shield but the flimsy illusion of fearlessness.

Because if he fails to walk this tightrope between control and appeasement, if the populace rise up en masse – four guards will not be enough to hold back the tide, however potent.

[beardedmrbean]

The former lead pastor at LexCity Church was indicted Thursday on seven felony counts related to sex crimes, including rape.

Attorney General Russell Coleman announced Thursday his office had secured the grand jury indictment against 47-year-old Zachary King.

Six of the charges in the indictment were the same ones with which King had already been charged last month — first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual activity, third-degree rape, third-degree sodomy, and one count of first-degree sexual abuse. The indictment also added a charge of unlawful transaction with a minor.

Unlike a trial jury, grand juries like the one that handed down King’s indictment do not determine if defendants are guilty. Instead, they determine what charges, if any, a defendant will face based on evidence presented to them by prosecutors. They can either bolster or reduce the charges brought forth by prosecutors.

King’s arrest citation says he resigned from the church, formerly called Quest, after being confronted by church staff over allegations of an improper relationship with a minor.

He was arrested in July and accused of raping a 15-year-old for more than a year between January 2023 and this past April.

The incidents happened at the pastor’s home, the minor’s home and at the former pastor’s church, according to court documents.

King also used Snapchat and WhatsApp to communicate with the minor and share and receive sexually explicit images, according to court documents.

After King’s arrest, LexCity announced it would permanently shutting down.

“Our hearts are broken for those who have been hurt and are hurting, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. However, with heavy hearts, we feel it is in the best interest of the Kingdom and our community that we discontinue our ministry,” LexCity Church said in a statement posted to its website.

[thepackersmovers-blog1]

Moving to Electronic City: Embrace the Tech and Culture

Moving to a new place with the help of Packers and Movers Lucknow to Bangalore or by yourself is an exciting adventure, especially when you are moving to Electronic City. This dynamic tech hub is home to numerous IT parks, start-ups and a diverse community. The city is blessed with incredible weather and clean air. The electronic city welcomes people from all over India.  In this blog, we will discuss things you should consider before making the transition.

1. Understanding the Locale

Electronic City is divided into three phases. The Phase 1 is the most developed. So, it's important to familiarize yourself with the area, as each phase has its own unique characteristics and amenities.

2. Connectivity

One of the biggest advantages of living in an Electronic City is its connectivity. The area is well-connected to main parts of Bangalore via the NICE Road and the Outer Ring Road. Public transport options include buses and the upcoming metro extension, making commuting easier.

3. Cost of Living

The cost of living in Electronic City can be different based on your lifestyle and housing choice. Housing is generally more affordable than in central Bangalore, but prices can differ significantly between phases. Be sure to research and compare rental options.

4. Housing Options

From apartments to gated communities, Electronic City offers a range of housing options. There are some factors you should consider before choosing the options, like proximity to your workplace, safety, and other amenities. There are some popular residential areas as well, such as Ayyappa Nagar and Neeladri Nagar.

5. Employment Opportunities

Electronic City is a major IT hub, hosting companies like Infosys, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra. If you're in the tech industry, you'll find ample job opportunities in this city. Networking events and meetups are common, so take advantage of these to expand your professional circle.

6. Lifestyle and Amenities

The area has a variety of amenities, including shopping malls, restaurants, and recreational facilities. The nearby Forum Mall and other local markets can easily fulfil your shopping needs. For food lovers, there's a mix of local eateries and international cuisine options as well.

7. Education and Healthcare

Electronic City is home to several reputable schools and colleges, making it suitable for families. Healthcare facilities are also easily accessible, with hospitals like Narayana Hrudayalaya and Columbia Asia nearby.

8. Cultural Diversity

It has a blend of professionals from different parts of India and the world; Electronic City offers a rich cultural experience. Engage in local festivals, events, and community gatherings to connect with new people.

9. Weather and Environment

Bangalore has a moderate climate, but Electronic City can be warmer due to urban heat. Ensure your living space has adequate ventilation and cooling systems. Green spaces and parks, like the nearby Electronic City Park, provide a nice escape from the hustle and bustle.

10. Safety and Security

Electronic City is relatively safe, but it's wise to be aware of your surroundings. You can take suggestions from your friends or Packers and Movers in Electronic City, as they have complete knowledge of the local area. It will help you in choosing residential areas with good security measures and stay informed about local news and community updates.

Conclusion

Moving to Electronic City can be a rewarding experience, especially for those in the tech industry. By understanding the local environment, amenities, and lifestyle, you can make a smooth moving and enjoy everything this dynamic area has to offer.

[mariacallous]

Exclusive: Hezbollah handed out pagers hours before blasts - even after checks

BEIRUT, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah was still handing its members new Gold Apollo branded pagers hours before thousands of the devices blew up this week, two security sources said, indicating the group was confident they were safe despite an ongoing sweep of electronic kit to identify threats.

One member of the Iranian-backed militia received a new pager on Monday that exploded the next day while it was still in its box, said one of the sources.

A pager given to a senior member just days earlier injured a subordinate when it detonated, the second source said.

In an apparently coordinated attack, the Gold Apollo branded devices detonated on Tuesday across Hezbollah's strongholds of south Lebanon, Beirut's suburbs and the eastern Bekaa valley.

On Wednesday, hundreds of Hezbollah walkie-talkies exploded. The consecutive attacks killed 37 people, including at least two children, and injured more than 3,000 people.

Lebanon and Hezbollah say Israel was behind the attacks. Israel's secretive military intelligence Unit 8200 was involved in the planning, a Western security source told Reuters this week. Israel, which has since stepped up airstrikes on Lebanon, has neither denied or confirmed involvement.

The batteries of the walkie-talkies were laced with a highly explosive compound known as PETN, another Lebanese source familiar with the device's components told Reuters on Friday. Up to three grams of explosives hidden in the pagers had gone undetected for months by Hezbollah, Reuters reported earlier this week.

One of the security sources said it was very hard to detect the explosives "with any device or scanner." The source did not specify what type of scanners Hezbollah had run the pagers through.

Hezbollah examined the pagers after they were delivered to Lebanon, starting in 2022, including by travelling through airports with them to ensure they would not trigger alarms, two additional sources told Reuters. In total, Reuters spoke to six sources familiar with the details of the exploding devices for this story.

The sources did not specify the name of the airports where they conducted the tests.

Rather than a specific suspicion of the pagers, the checks had been part of a routine "sweep" of its equipment, including communications devices, to find any indications that they were laced with explosives or surveillance mechanisms, one of the security sources said.

The attacks, and the distribution of the devices despite the routine sweep and checks for breaches, have struck at Hezbollah's reputation as the most formidable of Iran's allied 'Axis of Resistance' umbrella of anti-Israel irregular forces across the Middle East.

In a televised speech on Thursday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said the attacks were "unprecedented in the history" of the group.

Hezbollah's media office and Israel's armed forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment for this story.

Taiwan-based Gold Apollo has said it did not manufacture the devices used in the attack, saying they were made by a company in Europe licensed to use the firm's brand. Reuters has not been able to establish where they were made or at what point they were tampered with.

A batch of 5,000 of the pagers were brought into Lebanon earlier this year. Reuters previously reported that Hezbollah turned to pagers in an attempt to evade Israeli surveillance of its mobile phones, following the killing of senior commanders in targeted airstrikes over the past year.

Hezbollah's conflict with Israel dates back decades but has flared up in the past year in parallel with the Gaza war, heightening worries of a full-blown regional war.

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

After the pagers detonated on Tuesday, Hezbollah suspected more of its devices may have been compromised, two of the security sources, as well as an intelligence source, told Reuters.

In response, it intensified the sweep of its communications systems, carrying out careful examinations of all devices. It also began investigating the supply chains through which the pagers were brought in, the two security sources said.

But the review had not been concluded by Wednesday afternoon, when the hand-held radios exploded.

Hezbollah believes that Israel opted to detonate the group's hand-held radios because it feared Hezbollah would soon find that the walkie-talkies were also rigged with explosives, one of the sources told Reuters.

The walkie-talkie explosions left 25 people dead and at least 650 injured, according to Lebanon's health ministry - a much higher fatality rate than the previous day's pager blasts, which killed 12 and wounded nearly 3,000.

That is because they carried a higher payload of explosives than the beepers, one of the security sources and the intelligence source said.

The group's probe into precisely where, when and how the devices were laced with explosives is ongoing, three of the sources said. Nasrallah later said the same in the speech on Thursday.

One of the security sources said Hezbollah had foiled previous Israeli operations targeting devices imported from abroad by the group - from its private landline telephones to ventilation units in the group's offices.

That includes suspected breaches in the past year.

"There are several electronic issues that we were able to discover - but not the pagers," the source said. "They tricked us, hats off to the enemy."

[secularbakedgoods]

Runners

(science fiction, 1100 words)

It’s the end of the fiscal year. Hunting season has begun.

Ultimately, it all kicked off with the invention of the “workplace transparency plan.” As ad revenue stagnated, social platforms instead offered corporate clients access to their employees’ private messages. For a small subscription fee, employers could learn who their workers were communicating with and retaliate as they saw fit.

Within months, an entire industry of talent recruiters found themselves stonewalled by a terrified workforce. With electronic communication lost to them, the recruiters — far behind on their quotas — resorted to more drastic methods.

Strive Solutions is a midsize software company on the third floor of a converted building in the old warehouse district. Its two vintage elevators are too old to support ID card readers, so a pair of security doors flanking the reception area are all that stand between potential intruders and Strive’s inner sanctum.

A few minutes past 3:00 in the afternoon, both elevators open and the mob piles out.

Runners always raid in force, the better to overwhelm any on-site security. Where once the typical recruiter was a bland, nonthreatening thirtysomething in business-casual pastels, now they trend toward linebackers’ builds and stab vests. Those who aren’t the general size and shape of a refrigerator are the most dangerous of all — quick, clever, and vicious.

Not one of them is over the age of 30. Running is a youngster’s game.

The security doors are RFID-locked, but made of glass. Somebody puts a boot through one of them, and the runners barely slow as they stampede through.

The bulk of Strive’s employees work in an open-plan area referred to as “the Pit” whenever management isn’t around. The runners swarm through it with ease, unhindered by hallways or doors, vaulting over desks and chairs when they need to.

Certain pieces of equipment are standard. Every runner carries a tablet, ruggedized to withstand all sorts of abuse and equipped with a fingerprint scanner. A simple swipe of a new recruit’s thumb and the contract is sealed, filed instantly with their new employer. Signatures were once the preferred endorsement, before someone realized a fingerprint was valid even if the owner of said finger was unconscious.

Most of the runners also carry weapons, usually truncheons or collapsible batons. Those who don’t are about to learn that Strive’s CEO has a blacksmithing hobby and an office full of medieval weapons.

The rest of a runner’s arsenal varies with personal preference.

Barry Duboc, like most of his colleagues, goes for the easy money: junior employees who are easily seduced by playground offices and extravagant launch parties, and are easily intimidated into signing anything put in front of them. Clients don’t pay much for cannon fodder like this, but Barry makes up the difference in volume.

Inside a military surplus document holder, its metal edges filed razor sharp, Barry carries photos of his client’s break lounge — stuffed wall-to-wall with vintage arcade games — and a laminated copy of their dense recreational calendar. Before long he’s herded a sizable number of impressionable young programmers away from the safety of their fellows.

A few yards away, a 6’7” runner with tattooed sclera and brass knuckles on both hands sinks his teeth into the earlobe of a production intern.

Seasoned runners like Tom Saunders know where the real money is: senior developers, not so easily swayed by treats, parties, or threats.

Tom never goes on a run without a copy of his client’s benefits package, a breakdown of their flexible working policy, and a stun gun. This time, though, Tom’s got a secret weapon: his client operates out of a refurbished boutique hotel and offers private offices to its senior employees. The promise of working behind a door that can close attracts two senior web developers, one production manager, and an automation engineer.

Shelly Fleming is a virtuoso; she glides through the bedlam of the Pit like a shark through a school of fish. Painstaking research, careful maneuvering, and perfect timing have brought her here, today, for one target alone.

Over the weekend, Strive’s lead software architect posted anonymously online about her struggles at work since transitioning. Unfortunately, the post went viral and a characteristic turn of phrase gave her away. She was summoned to Strive’s HR department ten minutes ago for a lecture on “undermining the company’s public image.”

Shelly bursts into the room with a six-figure contract and her client’s novel-length Diversity & Inclusion policy. If the architect took the time to actually read the policy, she’d quickly realize it was crafted with great care to serve as a flawless legal and political shield while entitling the company’s employees to no actual protection or recourse from discrimination. But time isn’t a luxury she has anymore.

She winds up at the center of a tug of war between Shelly and the HR manager, whose brightly painted nails carve deep lines into the architect’s arm as Shelly drags her from the room.

Of course, Strive has invested in countermeasures. An expensive renovation over the holidays transformed the entire office into a Faraday cage, ensuring no wireless signals can go in or out. The runners’ contracts are all hosted on a remote web service; they must get their prizes out of the building.

Barry ushers his pack of recruits back through reception, but the elevators take precious seconds to arrive and more to depart. Strive’s two security guards beat several of the defecting juniors unconscious before they can escape, and a particularly zealous manager drags another from the elevator as the doors close.

Tom knows better, and heads for the stairs; unfortunately, the route to the stairwell leads past Strive’s executive suite. He loses one of his recruits to a flying tackle from the COO, who adorns his desk with high school football trophies.

Shelly cased the office in advance. She leads the architect to an old fire escape at the far end of the floor, near the server room. The windows are locked, but a quick blow from Shelly’s collapsible baton and they’re both home free, clambering down the side of the building.

As quickly as it started, it’s all over.

Of the dozens of workstations arrayed throughout the Pit, almost half now sit empty. Broken glass and loose papers lie scattered across the floor, alongside a few office chairs knocked over in the chaos. Strive’s remaining workers peer uncertainly from beneath their desks.

A light breeze wafts through the shattered window.

Strive’s CEO storms and rages for an hour, cursing the disloyalty of his former employees. Then, shutting himself in his office, he places a call to his own recruiter.

(my ko-fi)

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA’s Europa Clipper Gets Set of Super-Size Solar Arrays

The largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for planetary exploration just got its ‘wings’ — massive solar arrays to power it on the journey to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft recently got outfitted with a set of enormous solar arrays at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Each measuring about 46½ feet (14.2 meters) long and about 13½ feet (4.1 meters) high, the arrays are the biggest NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission. They have to be large so they can soak up as much sunlight as possible during the spacecraft’s investigation of Jupiter’s moon Europa, which is five times farther from the Sun than Earth is.

The arrays have been folded up and secured against the spacecraft’s main body for launch, but when they’re deployed in space, Europa Clipper will span more than 100 feet (30.5 meters) — a few feet longer than a professional basketball court. The “wings,” as the engineers call them, are so big that they could only be opened one at a time in the clean room of Kennedy’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, where teams are readying the spacecraft for its launch period, which opens Oct. 10.

Flying in Deep Space

Meanwhile, engineers continue to assess tests conducted on the radiation hardiness of transistors on the spacecraft. Longevity is key, because the spacecraft will journey more than five years to arrive at the Jupiter system in 2030. As it orbits the gas giant, the probe will fly by Europa multiple times, using a suite of science instruments to find out whether the ocean underneath its ice shell has conditions that could support life.

Powering those flybys in a region of the solar system that receives only 3% to 4% of the sunlight Earth gets, each solar array is composed of five panels. Designed and built at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, and Airbus in Leiden, Netherlands, they are much more sensitive than the type of solar arrays used on homes, and the highly efficient spacecraft will make the most of the power they generate.

At Jupiter, Europa Clipper’s arrays will together provide roughly 700 watts of electricity, about what a small microwave oven or a coffee maker needs to operate. On the spacecraft, batteries will store the power to run all of the electronics, a full payload of science instruments, communications equipment, the computer, and an entire propulsion system that includes 24 engines.

While doing all of that, the arrays must operate in extreme cold. The hardware’s temperature will plunge to minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 240 degrees Celsius) when in Jupiter’s shadow. To ensure that the panels can operate in those extremes, engineers tested them in a specialized cryogenic chamber at Liège Space Center in Belgium.

“The spacecraft is cozy. It has heaters and an active thermal loop, which keep it in a much more normal temperature range,” said APL’s Taejoo Lee, the solar array product delivery manager. “But the solar arrays are exposed to the vacuum of space without any heaters. They’re completely passive, so whatever the environment is, those are the temperatures they get.”

About 90 minutes after launch, the arrays will unfurl from their folded position over the course of about 40 minutes. About two weeks later, six antennas affixed to the arrays will also deploy to their full size. The antennas belong to the radar instrument, which will search for water within and beneath the moon’s thick ice shell, and they are enormous, unfolding to a length of 57.7 feet (17.6 meters), perpendicular to the arrays.

“At the beginning of the project, we really thought it would be nearly impossible to develop a solar array strong enough to hold these gigantic antennas,” Lee said. “It was difficult, but the team brought a lot of creativity to the challenge, and we figured it out.”

More About the Mission

Europa Clipper’s three main science objectives are to determine the thickness of the moon’s icy shell and its interactions with the ocean below, to investigate its composition, and to characterize its geology. The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet.

Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the development of the Europa Clipper mission in partnership with APL for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. APL designed the main spacecraft body in collaboration with JPL and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The Planetary Missions Program Office at Marshall executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission.

NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft, which will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.

TOP IMAGE: NASA’s Europa Clipper is seen here on Aug. 21 at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Engineers and technicians deployed and tested the giant solar arrays to be sure they will operate in flight. Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux

CENTRE IMAGE: NASA’s Europa Clipper is seen here on Aug. 21 in a clean room at Kennedy Space Center after engineers and technicians tested and stowed the spacecraft’s giant solar arrays. Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux

LOWER IMAGE: This artist’s concept depicts NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter. The mission’s launch period opens Oct. 10. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech