#jurisdiction friction

[skjam]

Movie Review: Coogan's Bluff

Movie Review: Coogan’s Bluff (1968) directed by Don Siegel Deputy Sheriff Coogan (Clint Eastwood) is sent from his native Arizona to New York City to extradite escaped felon James Ringerman (Don Stroud). He expects it to be a quick process, but Ringerman had a bad trip on LSD and is currently under observation at Bellevue. NYPD Lieutenant McElroy (Lee J. Cobb) explains a bit of the bureaucratic…

[alianoralacanta]

[ID: image 1: tweet by David Sánchez Olmos (@DSORacing) - Se reporta que por ley en Nevada, las coladeras no podían ser soldadas como se habia venido haciendo en los demás circuitos callejeros donde corre la F1. Translated from Spanish by Google: It is reported that by law in Nevada, the drains could not be welded as had been done in the other street circuits where F1 races. Quote-tweet by Spanners (@SpannersReady) - I am desperately hoping this isn't true. If this is true it's really really bad. It can't be true. They didn't not weld it but just hope some sealant would hold it. It can't be. Image 2: Tweet by The Engineer (@Engineer_LXIX): I can understand why. There's been some notable casino fires with a lot of deaths over the years. Nevada doesn't want to add risk/reduce coverage of fire suppression, just for the f1 circus. /end ID] EDIT 23:15 UK time 17/11/2023 - There was an error in how this was reported. There are alternative means of fire suppression in Las Vegas, including the part where the F1 cars race, so the provided explanation is not true. Thanks to @vegasgrandprix for providing improved information.

They should not be fucking racing in the streets of Vegas im so tired of screaming the same thing over and over

[artyandink]

amoralism | four

Summary: You and Dean Winchester are the top agents from Major Crimes. You’re also assigned as partners on the same case- a crime syndicate is running loose and buying out most of downtown New York. He hates you cause you hate him. You hate him cause you think he got in his position with his daddy’s influence. But this case is personal to one of you more than the other- and you may be getting too personal for comfort.

TW: So much sexual tension it’s illegal, Agent Dean Winchester (yes, he’s a warning in itself), mention of murder, Knights of Hell but they’re just murderous humans, fantasising, a mole in the FBI, thigh riding, Sam being the best friend everyone needed but no one asked for, failed professionalism, description of gore, torture and body desecration, inaccurate description of the FBI but we do it for the plot, Bela Talbot (she’s also a warning, yes), fantasies of seduction

Song Inspo: Liar by Camila Cabello

SERIES MASTERLIST

archaism

A knock on your door had you looking up from your desk, from the notes you were taking on the video found on the necklace’s hard drive. The only face you could see on that necklace was Abaddon’s, which did give you the warrant to put her in the Florence Supermax, which honestly didn’t feel like enough when your own body felt like it was being slashed and burned and disembowelled in tandem with this poor investment banker.

Didn’t help that she took a hatchet to the body even after the life left him.

“Come in.” You sighed, rubbing your eyes. And in came… “Ah.” Yet another tired rub of your forehead. “Trainee Agents Tran and Harvelle. Come in.” You gestured for them to enter, wishing you were also a trainee agent.

It was so much more simple back in those days. Just getting coffee for the superiors. Just some damn coffee. Not being caught in a web of sexual tension, organised crime and some really nasty crap.

“How can I help you?” You asked, feigning genuine interest when you actually wanted to hurl from the videos you’d been watching.

“We wanted to get an update on the Knights of Hell case.” Tran got out, fiddling with his fingers. Suck ups, great. “For, uh, Agent Nick Garrison.” You rolled your eyes.

Nick.

He’d come off fresh from the murder of his wife and baby, and it was bloody. He’d been trying to take cases, but Director Singer kept on insisting he take the desk job.

“Did he tell you he was working the case?” You clasped your hands in front of you, and you cut them off before they could start stammering. “No, I can’t give any information if you’re not working the case. It’s classified information, and Director Singer’s made that clear. I don’t wanna have to report to HR about breaching jurisdiction.”

“No, ma’am.” Harvelle bowed her head, then realised she wasn’t bowing to a queen and grabbed Tran’s hand, dragging him out. You groaned, closing your eyes and rubbing your forehead.

“That’s it. Take what you need.” Dean muttered, your back against his chest, legs spread and held in place by one hand gripping your thigh. Your head fell back against his shoulder, a myriad of sounds leaving your parted lips and slack jaw from his three fingers pumping in and out of your pussy. Stretching you. Breaking you. Wrecking you. Making you rock your hips in tandem with his movements and getting much needed friction on your clit from the rough palm of his hand. “Workin’ so hard, baby. I’m gonna release all your stress. Leave you so relaxed.”

God, you had half a mind to start touching yourself in the office to take the edge off. Right under your desk.

You’d do it. Damn the code of conduct.

“I need a change of panties.” You muttered, done with... “Everything else in my life, while I’m at it.”

“Five minutes, sweetheart. To take the edge off.”

Damn you for being an ass kisser. You could have taken the edge off with Dean Winchester.

Instead you’re here. At a desk. Watching someone be tortured to death and their corpse disembowelled.

”You were left alone? With a shirtless Dean Winchester?” Andréa gasped, sipping a tall glass of wine, her lips stained red from it. “Details. Now.”

You swallowed, clearing your throat. “Dré, I don’t think there’s anything to tell-”

“Yes. There is.” She raised her eyebrows pointedly at you. “Either he railed you nasty, or you pulled the usual professionalism card but you still banged and now you’re fearful for your job.”

“I’m still fearful for my job, railing or not.” You scoffed lightly, taking a long sip of your own wine and holding your glass out for another. “Sorry to disappoint, Dré, but… no. Nothing happened.”

“WHAT?!” Andréa slammed down her wine glass. Eyes wide, auburn hair only slightly out of place. Jesus, she’s shook.

“I know!” You raised your hands in surrender, wine slopping onto the floor. You carefully put it aside; you might be getting a little tipsy with how much you drank trying to recover from the memory. “Look, it happened like I told you; Dean pulled me in, told me to keep my eyes on him… and then his phone rang. His dad called him, and he took the call.”

“I want to bust John Winchester’s balls.” She muttered.

“Classy.”

“Do you think I care about class? I care about whether or not you can walk straight, and right now you should be wobbling from side to side, honey.” She took a very pointed sip of wine.

You sighed with a roll of your eyes, however affectionate it was. “That’s a very interesting notion.”

“It’s Dean Winchester!”

“I’m painfully aware that it is.”

You walked into Dean’s office to find him nursing a bloody temple with a sterilising cloth, which had you raising an eyebrow. You didn’t peg Dean for the working hard type, more like the hardly working. Unless you counted when he was in bed with a woman. Still hot.

And both of your minds switching back to the night where Dean had you in his arms, his whiskey-tainted breath fanning over your lips. Fingers that were tapping the desk were previously curled around your chin, gravelly voice telling- ordering you to keep your eyes on him and by God, you’d say yes sir if he hadn’t taken your ability to speak words with those piercing green eyes. And he wasn’t even your superior.

“Well, don’t you look super.” You drawled sarcastically, throwing down a file on his desk. Eyes moving down to the hands which had held you in place. Fingers that had gripped your chin in a way that almost made your knees buckle and hands fly to undo the drawstring of his sweatpants.

“Knock knock - come in - and yeah, I do look handsome.” Dean responded dryly, but gave you a smirk/grin, a click of his tongue and a wink that had no right giving you that large of a needy jolt through your cunt, soaking your panties instantly. Again.

You cursed yourself for being an ass kisser. Again. When there was a perfectly good cock there that you could be riding.

“I was trying to figure out information on the Abaddon case, see if we could get some of her buddies’ names.” Dean shrugged, swiping his bottom lip with his thumb. “Came out with nada and a cheap shot to the head.”

You cleared your throat, willing yourself to stop feeling so desperate. You were better than this. No you weren’t, but you weren’t gonna admit that aloud. “Director Singer wanted us to check this out. Probably after your failed, sorry ass attempt to find answers.” You watched him open the file, turning the page with a lick of his finger. Had it been anyone else, you would have internally cringed.

But no, it’s Dean Winchester. You wanted to be his index finger.

“Since we’re doing this off books, we have to arrange off book methods.” You rubbed your neck. “Bela Talbot, she’s a freelancer. Occasionally thieves - at least, that’s theory because we’ve never been able to prove it. But Director Singer’s booked us a five star room and an appointment so we can find out what she knows, how she knows it and follow that lead.”

“You’re more snappy than usual, sweetheart.” Dean smirked, mossy eyes trailing- no, roving down- not even that; he was undressing you with his eyes.

And he didn’t miss the way your jaw ticked.

Sign number one.

How your eyes darted from him to the files to the random objects like you wanted to throw something.

Sign number two.

How you occasionally prodded your cheek with your tongue as if you had a Spanish insult that would definitely condemn someone’s mother to hell on the tip of it.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was sign number three.

Dean Winchester had more than a GED and a give ‘em hell attitude. He had a college degree in criminology, a while spent in the academy and a penchant for figuring out when- “You’re stressed.” He muttered smoothly, and he had an inkling of why. He took hold of your wrist, and next thing you knew, you were pulled to his lap, straddling his thigh. Your heeled feet on either side. And clothed pussy right on powerful muscle.

Oh, boy.

“We haven’t talked about it.” Dean muttered, his eyes tracing your face (and dipping to check your blouse’s neckline, and it did not disappoint), calculating his next move, his hand splayed out on your lower back. “I know you better than you think. And you… are thinking about it.”

“I’m n-not.” You responded quickly and rather pathetically, especially as your words were negated by a whimper as his hand on your lower back slid down, down, down, cupping your ass, squeezing just right and using the purchase to pull you so your chest was flush against his. His nose bumping yours. The scent of a breath mint on your lips instead of whiskey.

Gee, the déjà vu was potent. When could you have possibly been in this situation before, hm? Totally not a few days ago. And five years before that.

“So, you don’t wanna talk about it.” He chuckled, tongue darting out to wet his lips as he looked you over- nope, banging you with his eyes this time. You could see it. He had you bent over the desk, railing the living daylights out of you with a hand over your mouth. “Let’s do about it.”

You swallowed, not protesting even as his fingers tangled in your hair. “That-That’s grammatically incorrect-”

His lips - god, his pillowy, sinful, criminal lips - crashed down onto yours, brow furrowed in concentration as the common sense went out of you.

Dean definitely had eaten a breath mint, and you could taste the coffee remnants on him. A kiss that was no less than filthy, needy and wanting. Smacking of lips on lips at a high frequency and temperature shooting far above the boiling point. Your hand threading in his hair. Other hand fisting the back of his shirt. His cologne your personally crafted aphrodisiac.

Dean was too far gone to care that anyone could walk in. His hand was gripping the soft strands of your hair in between his fingers, guiding your head how he liked it. Relishing your tinted, strawberry flavoured lip balm and how it flooded his tongue. Your perfume sending his hormones skyrocketing and making him zero in on you. Only you, always you. He’d missed out on his treasure all these goddamned five years.

Dean’s tongue licked at the seam of your swollen lips, demanding entrance, which you fought back and denied from him. Good that he’s skilled in getting what he wanted, because it didn’t take long to get you to allow him that access.

His hand came down in a sharp smack on your ass, which had a gasp falling from your lips which he caught with his own. Keeping both parted as his tongue tasted the jam and toast on yours, coaxing it into his mouth so he could suck on it and cloud your mind more than it already was fogged up.

“That’s it, open up for me.” Dean groaned into your mouth, pulling your kiss-swollen lips more apart with his thumb on your bottom lip. You felt his hand leave your ass, air hitting your previously skirt covered thighs and something sliding down your legs but you didn’t care when Dean was robbing you of professionalism.

Doing a thing with his tongue and teeth that had you throbbing and needy for him. Yeah, the Code of Conduct can go to hell.

His hand found home on your ass again, and just experimentally dragged you down and forward, drawn out and hard on the taut, deliciously clad muscle of his thigh.

Clit. Friction. Uh- pussy. Dripping.

Mind. Blown.

You had to actively pull him to you, lips more in a collision than a kiss to muffle the drawn out moan that came from your lips and those that spilled after while he simply hummed, grinding you on his thigh again and again until you were kissing him silly as well as rutting on his thigh like a desperate, horny teenager.

Not that either of you minded.

“Look so pretty, ridin’ my thigh.” Dean chuckled between hungry, heavenly kisses, now taking handfuls of your tit from shoving his hand (in a hot way) down the neckline of your blouse and rubbing your nipple over your bra with precise circles designed to make you go mad all while groping the flesh. “Makes a guy wonder how you’ll ride his co-o-oh, Jesus Christ, baby.”

For context, in retaliation, you’d started palming him over his slacks, grinding the heel of your palm in a way that had him rolling his hips forward so his cock could meet your hand for the first time ever through two thin barriers.

The slow movement of your hand and your hips that were dragging over his slacks a personified oxymoron of the way your lips would devour Dean’s and vice versa over and over again.

Every movement of yours synced to the way he’d toy with your tits and his hand would knead your ass under skilled goddamn fingers.

Swallowing every moan like second nature.

He definitely had some kind of qualification in the female body.

“Woah.” And both of you pulling away to see Sam at the door. Which incited pure chaos.

You jumping up. Fixing your skirt, your hair (your kiss-swollen lips were a gone case) as Dean manoeuvred his leg so you couldn’t see the obvious wet patch on his slacks.

Wet patches, if you count the pre-come stain that leaked through.

Ah, well, at least he’d pocketed your soaked panties. For… research purposes.

“Nothing’s happened.” Dean shrugged, trying to signal to Sam as if to say no, he did not want the news of him making out with his case co-head in his office, in FBI headquarters in DC.

Your mind was in a tizzy, especially as you hurried off before you could shake hands with embarrassment.

“I don’t know whether to say ‘finally’, ‘what the hell’ or bleach my eyes out.” Sam said to Dean with a light chuckle, folding his arms.

“How about you shut your mouth?” He scoffed back.

“I can’t just unsee that-”

“You were told to shut your mouth, not your eyes.” Dean grinned as if nothing was wrong, because nothing was wrong. That could just be one of his fantasies.

You were thinking the same thing. It could just be a vivid daydream. Or even a dream that you’ll wake up from at any moment.

But then Dean saw the wet patch on his slacks again. The soaked panties that he’d stolen off you and you’d let him. His lips were swollen and still buzzing from the heated sensations, ego on an all time high from how many moans he’d ripped from you even though he’d done so little. If this is what he’d waited for all this time - for five years - the wait was damn worth it.

You could still feel Dean’s hands groping at you as if he had a degree in your body. His harsh breath against yours. Lips bruising as they met over and over again— his thigh pressed between yours.

Your thighs rubbed together and- god damn, he’d stolen your panties. You weren’t even mad at him for it.

You were reeling from the - ahem - make out session display of professionalism. And Dean wasn’t making it any degree better.

“So, we’re not gonna talk about it?” He scoffed, folding his arms and quirking an eyebrow. “Five years, the time we actually break the Code of Conduct and we’re not gonna say a word of what went down?”

You gestured to him. “My point. We broke the Code of Conduct. Hell, we torched it!”

“It was just making out.”

“In your office.”

“Look,” Dean chuckled and ran his hand through his hair, “it ain’t my fault that your gorgeous ass is attracted to me. And it ain’t your fault that my handsome ass… is attracted to you. It’s a sexual thing.”

“It’s a sexual thing.” You repeated quietly, which didn’t help things, but hey- it’s the best he can do. “You have no regard for your job’s integrity.”

“You’re so uptight all the time.”

“And it’s better to be really damn loose?” Dean Winchester made your pussy drip leg bounce on the ball of your foot. It was a nervous tick. Or an angry tick. But you knew that you wanted to curse his bloodline in Spanish.

He could only offer you a scoff. “You know, this tough girl act is really unbecoming.”

“This tough boy act doesn’t cut you any favours.”

“Some may say it’s sexy.” A brunette slid into the seat next to him. Hair pulled up into a ponytail and threaded through a baseball cap that was pulled low over her brow- no doubt for disguise. Poorly orchestrated disguise, and Director Singer said she was a professional. Smug smile and manicured nails painted an eyebrow raising shade of rouge while she smelled strongly of Chanel.

Extending said manicured hand daintily towards Dean. “Bela Talbot.” She purred, playing up a sultry smile. “I’m your freelancer.”

“That Chanel or is it just me?” Dean shot back with a raise of his eyebrow. How did he know? He knew the notes of that perfume collection cause you’d worn it when you… made out with him and rode his thigh. Ahem.

“I’m a freelancer, but I’m not a savage. I indulge.” Bela replied before turning back to you and sliding a paper. “Knights of Hell. Hard bunch to track down, but I can tell you who they are and what they do. They’re like mercenaries. A secret service for an underground mafia ring. If you want a bloody death, the big boss will ring them up and then it’s bye-bye within a few hours. They play it like a game too. Whoever’s skill set meets the quota, that’s who they send out.”

“Abaddon.” You frowned, clasping your hands on the table. “Why was she sent out to that bank?”

“She plays with her food before she eats it.” Bela sighed, shaking her head. “Invades the mind of her enemy. If you don’t catch on quick enough, she doesn’t sing your tune, you sing hers. Like she’s Bach and you’re just his orchestra.”

“That’s colourful.” Dean muttered, sipping his coffee. “Who is this guy we’re about to talk to, by the way?” He was watching Bela carefully for any signs of deception.

Any at all and he had cuffs attached to his belt.

“His codename’s Cain.” Bela checked her nails with a pout. “But he was previously known as William Abernathy. He was the first Knight of Hell. For initiation he was made to kill his brother Cole Abernathy and had been trying to exit the gang since. Only got out a few months ago.”

‘Cain’ himself was a grumpy-ass man who seemed to lounge with bottles of beer on the best days and hard vodka on the worst. He had pictures of who seemed to be Neil, his brother, and another woman. Young. Beautiful, with an innocent smile on her face.

You wondered if she had known what William had done.

You watched Cain sit down with a gruff grunt, and

“Being a Knight of Hell makes you bitter.” He swept a thumb over his bottom lip, scoffing and shaking his head slowly. “You do horrible things. To innocent people, too. Most of us enjoyed it. I didn’t. That’s why I ran.”

You rubbed your cheek, sharing a look with Dean, who looked both incredibly concerned and curious. Not only was this syndicate dangerous, they took inspiration off Bible lore, which was how they contracted their code names.

“And your code name was Cain?” You asked, gesturing to him with a raise of your eyebrow. “As in… Cain and Abel? And your real name is William Abernathy?”

“Abel was my brother’s supposed ‘codename’.” William, previously ‘Cain’, deadpanned, sipping some bourbon with a blank expression. “Gave it after his death. Thought it was funny. They thought the same for my beautiful Collette too.”

“Collette?” Dean pointed to a photo, of a smiling woman in Cain’s arms. In a wedding dress, looking as if all the problems were gone. “This her?”

“That’s her.” Cain nodded, his voice wavering a bit. “She looked every bit as beautiful on our wedding day even when she died. Bloody, but so beautiful. She still smiled even then.”

“I’m sorry, Mr Abernathy.” You gave him a look of sympathy, taking a deep breath. “For your loss. Could you give us the names of the other Knights?”

Cain nodded. “I’ll do it. I’ve give you them all.”

“You run the risk of being hunted down.” Dean added quickly. “We can place you under witness protection.”

“Witness protection can’t do crap.” Cain scoffed, a cynical bark of laughter leaving him. “It'll end how it always does. A blaze of glory and no survivors."

You could easily see the truth. You saw it in his body language; he wasn't defeated, he was tired. Tired of fighting rather than losing. Cain was a shell. Empty.

"You want them to find you." You murmured, running a hand through your hair in partial disbelief. "You want to die."

Cain nodded, pointing a gnarled finger at you with a nod, writing a list of names down on a sheet of paper before handing them to you. "You're good, Agent." He sniffed, averting his eyes, which welled up. "First they took Neil. Then my darling Collette. That Hell took everything from me. Might as well let them finish the job."

"No, hold on." Dean stepped in with a wave of his hand. "We have to take you into witness protection, to testify."

A violent shaking of your head put him off and made him worry that you were having an aneurism. "We can't. Code of Conduct, Article 53, Section A, Subsection Alpha, line 5, written in '79 after the assassination of Jakob Brierkevald on his transportation to unwillingly testify against Russia. Unless given autonomous permission, law enforcement and/or federal authorities do not have the jurisdiction to detain the subject to testify in court, which directly relates to the Treaty for Human rights... even if it concerns national safety."

Dean stared at you as if you'd grown three heads. "Did you swallow the textbook?!"

"You didn't?"

“A spot of advice.” Cain spoke up gruffly, looking between the two of you. “Have angry sex. That could solve everything.”

“No!” You threw your hands up, then turned to Dean. “He basically signed a DNR for himself by saying that. We can’t do anything.”

“Isn’t there some kind of overrule clause?” Dean asked, folding his arms. “Rack that pretty head.”

“Not that I know of.” You shrugged. “It could be in some weird ass phrasing but if the subject decides, that’s final.”

“Son of a-”

“We’re federal agents, keep it together!”

“Hey, Bela.” You sighed, pacing slowly as you talked. “Thanks for the tip. We got a lot more to go off now, and turns out you weren’t as slimy as the FBI warned us you were.”

“Charming.” Bela quipped, hands in her jacket pocket with a smile, then she chuckled. “Happy to help. The Knights of Hell should be taken down a peg or two. Who better than the Fed’s finest agents?” Her eyes travelled to Dean tap dancing for fun a little way away, then back to you in amusement. “Or finest.”

“Yeah, he’s not the most professional one out there.” You chuckled, shaking your head.

"I didn't catch the traditionalist aspect from him." She shook her head, then caught how you were looking at Dean.

That was the most potent and obvious eye bang she'd ever seen.

"No, he's- ay, dios mío." The reason for your speech cutting off was Dean's succumbing to the heat and pouring a whole damn water bottle's contents over his face, making his shirt cling to his chest and wavering your focus.

One word. Muscle.

"Word of advice." Bela whispered in your ear. "You two really should have angry sex."

NEXT UP:

“Mom.” You painfully kept your voice level. Not wanting to raise your voice at your own mother, because even if she was a nasty piece of work - in your eyes - she still carried you for nine months. “This is unreasonable.”

Understatement of the Year award goes to you. Hopefully, also the Daughter and Sister of the Year awards too.

“What I do in my household is none of your business, niña!” Eleanor snapped back, her fingers too for emphasis. You felt familiar anger bubbling, but you told it not today.

You scoffed at the notion, though, rubbing Cassie’s shoulder. “You’re practically starving her!” Still shoving down unadulterated fury. “And pressuring her to have kids. Hell, I haven’t. I’m not even married.”

“You should be!” She responded quickly. Does this lady not get the point? “You should be married, bringing honour to your family.”

“You’re delusional.”

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Like what I’ve written? Let me know!

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[missmagooglie]

So I just reblogged a very thoughtful Hen and Karen character meta. And it got me thinking about Hen's arc this season. And the teasers have all kind of stressed Gerrard as being a central plot focus for Buck, stressing that Hen has bigger concerns at home and she has to toe the line with Gerrard so she doesn't lose Mara for good, but here's the thing. Here's the thing. I think THAT is the point of Gerrard. Hen has to find a way to serve under this odious man in a way that will prove she can handle the political pressures of leadership after failing to do so during her last stint as interim captain of the 118.

This got long, so under a cut it goes.

If you look at Hen across the past few seasons, and in particular if you look at last season, one of Hen's character traits that tends to cause her the most friction is that she does not compromise when she thinks (or knows) she's right. And this has historically been a huge source of strength for her. It's what allowed her to withstand Gerrard's captaincy the first time around. It's a huge part of what makes her an exemplary firefighter and paramedic.

It has also, in season 7 especially, been a huge hurdle for her when it comes to leadership. Hen is smart, she is driven, she is confident in herself and her decisions, and she absolutely does not know how to take "no" for an answer. And not once but TWICE in season 7, we saw Hen's conviction in her own assessment get her into trouble. The first was with Councilwoman Ortiz' son. As a paramedic, she absolutely made the right call. She correctly identified his inebriated state, and reallocated on site resources when he was belligerent toward Chimney and offered clear refusal of care. What Hen didn't do was think beyond the immediate facts of the scene and consider ways to limit liability if her assessment was wrong or there were facts she was unaware of (which, spoiler alert, there were. Of both the medical and political variety).

When Hen was being investigated, she did not respond the way an LAFD captain should have. She reacted personally, defensively. She correctly identified that the source of her trouble was political rather than personal, but she still defended herself on a personal basis rather than working with Chief Simpson to find a way to appease the grieving Councilwoman. She reacted as an individual facing a personal attack rather than a leader navigating a sticky political situation, and in the process made the investigation about her (lack of) wrongdoing. She thought that being vindicated would mark the end of her troubles, but instead she ended up making herself a target for a woman looking to blame someone for her grief. A savvy captain would have found a way to deflect attention and smooth things over with the Councilwoman to avoid long term repercussions with a powerful member of the city government, even if that meant accepting a carefully calculated token acknowledgement of blame (perhaps a vague and unspecified blame of the department overall rather than a specific individual, to reduce opportunities for reprisal) to appease the Councilwoman's pride.

Then, even after she was cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated within the span of a single shift, Hen was motivated BOTH by her love and loyalty to Bobby and Athena, but ALSO her own need to prove herself and her own instincts correct when she decides that instead of reporting back to the station to resume her post she was instead going to go against orders to comandeer a helicopter and fly into a hurricane well out of LAFD jurisdiction to try and rescue a cruise ship of unconfirmed status. And she did this with three of her direct reports in tow. Did she ask them to be there? Did she order them to follow her into that helicopter? No. But given that she was technically their commanding officer at the time, their actions were technically her responsibility.

Now again, Hen felt vindicated by the fact that she was RIGHT, the Uno was in dire distress, her blatant insubordination did save lives. But while her actions showed extraordinary individual heroism, they did NOT show the sort of steady, level-headed leadership Hen would need to earn a permanent promotion to Captain. She showed a willingness to do whatever needed to be done to solve the problem in front of her, but not an ability to think beyond the current problem and consider how to best serve the LAFD beyond the current emergency.

So how does all that relate to Gerrard? Well, first of all Hen made herself all but unpromotable in the eyes of Chief Simpson and undoubtedly the rest of the LADF brass, creating a leadership vacuum when Bobby retired unexpectedly. That gives the OPPORTUNITY for Gerrard to step in. But why Gerrard, specifically? Why not some new jackass to terrorize the 118?

Because everything Hen did to survive the first time she served under Gerrard leaned on her value as an individual. In order to grow into the leader the 118 needs, she'll have to survive Gerrard this go-round using completely different methods. And to make absolutely sure she experiences that growth, the show has conveniently given Hen PERSONAL STAKES that render her old methods of survival unusable. Everything Hen did to prove herself in the past involved bucking Gerrard's leadership, showing how capable she was even if it meant undermining him. Now, with Mara on the line, Hen has no choice but to toe the line and keep her nose clean. So how is she going to change tactics and work WITHIN the system? How is she going to show that she can follow regulations and orders she disagrees with, without sacrificing her dedication to doing her job to the utmost of her ability? How is Hen going to prove that she can make decisions that benefit the station and the department long-term while still giving the problem in front of her everything she's got? How can she balance the right thing to do RIGHT NOW with doing what's needed to serve the bigger picture?

If Hen meets Gerrard head-on with defiance and disdain, it will be proof that she has not grown in the intervening years any more than he has. Instead, Gerrard is going to be a test of Hen's ability to show genuine and meaningful leadership without recklessly flouting orders she may not agree with in favor of her own priorities.

Or at least, that's my hope.

[byrdstrolls]

KETOSN INTRO

Your name is Ketosn Hustle, and yes, Matise did name you that because he thought it was a marketable name for a baseball player. You have the older jade blocked on every possible social media since 2 sweeps ago, when you were forcibly acquired as a fleet sponsored athlete and removed from his clutches into new jurisdiction. Something you feel equal parts horror and relief regarding, despite you having no choice in the matter. Out of the frying pan into another frying pan. Why was the fleet so gung ho to have you in their commercials? Where did Matise, the soul sucking parasite without a creative bone in his body, get the idea for your name? Why is someone of your size and build even succeeding in a notoriously violent blood sport like Alternian Baseball?

These questions all have the same answer.

You did not pupate properly. You have been missing one arm since you came out of the cocoon. And along with regular run of the mill yellowblood pssionics, you were born with a unique hypothalamic skin and blood vessel disorder that makes your body able to rid itself of excess heat at unprecedented rates. This superior thermoregulation does two things- makes you incredibly vulnerable to hypothermia, and increased your body's ability to tolerate friction a hundred fold. Paired with the average yellowblood's capabilities of storing energy and acting as a battery, you are able to do something many pssionics can't without burning themselves up. You can conduct your own pssionic energy directly into your own intramuscular system, giving you the power you need to move your friction resistant body at very high speeds. That was a lot of words for something your baseball trading cards summarize in your listed abilities much more succinctly- 'Super Speed'

That stupid fucking vampire. He might as well have called Rollyn Ms. Pretty Beautiful and Nyghte Singy McSongface. But it's too late to change it, Ketosn Hustle is already on all the merch and ID and baseball cards

[dalliansss]

❛ worship me. until i tell you to stop. - BITM? ❤️

darker vibes

This is how Mairon finds Finrod Felagund: sitting in his quarters, holding a hand mirror and observing with grisly fascination how his burned face repaired itself: the flesh crawling, the sinews of muscle and tissue having its own life, stitching itself back together, preventing a blue-iris eyeball from falling out of the socket completely. The burned part of the head and scalp displays the same activity: burnt skin renewing itself, crawling in a hurry to cover the exposed part of the skull, covering it with a fresh blanket of flesh. Strands of platinum hair, previously golden blond, growing out of renewed follicles, creeping like the vines of Yavanna.

Mairon stands before the Elda-turned-vampire -- the culmination of his and Thûringwethil's years of study and research. Mairon thought dimly that it was a shame Thûri did not live long enough to see this masterpiece of a vampire -- but his mind swallows that thought; better that Thûri was dead, buried under the ruins of Tol-in-Gaurhoth, than entertaining thoughts of her own regarding Finrod Felagund.

There shall only be one overlord over Finrod Felagund here in Angband -- and it is Mairon. Not Melkor, not Thûri, not Gothmog.

"What happened to you?" Mairon demanded, grasping Felagund by the jaw with his gauntleted hand.

"That Gothmog," says Finrod, lifting fell blue eyes to meet his Maker's gaze. "Tried to pick a fight."

"Why?"

"I know not. I was minding my own business, looking for lunch amongst the stone quarries. He saw me, and then asked me what I was doing there. I said I was looking for lunch. He told me to look elsewhere, and I told him he does not command me."

"And?"

"His whip."

Mairon lets out a curse in Valarin. Lately, Kosmoko, formerly a Great Hunter of Oromë, has been grating his nerves more and more. It was only because Kosmoko be the strongest valaraukar under Mbelekhoruz's direct jurisdiction that Mairon has not allowed his precious, his maksima, to feed on him.

"Heal me," says Finrod. His face, still repairing itself, presents a ghastly sight. His eyeball, at least, has resettled back in its socket. "Lick mine wounds, so it heals faster."

Mairon turned his fire-iris eyes to the vampire. His temper flares. "Who are you, that suddenly you turn this tone to me? Have you forgot who commands you here, precious?"

What Finrod does next takes Mairon by surprise. The vampire's right hand -- decorated with oxidized gold rings and bracelets, darts forward and grasps him by his unarmored crotch. Grips him there.

"Lick mine wounds," Finrod repeats. "And so heal me faster. Mairon."

Mairon shuddered. He exhales, and the temperature in the vampire's quarters increases with speed. If an orc was to wander in there now, they would be burnt where they stood. Úmaia blood, thick in Mairon's veins, runs hot, hot, hotter. He hisses, grasps Finrod Felagund by the cheeks, tips his head back -- and Mairon thinks to twist that lovely neck, pull the head off completely, see how he likes the feeling of decapitation, and see how long it takes for him to heal from it. But that hand by his crotch, by his groin, forestalls his thoughts, and he shakes.

A long, serpentine tongue, blood-red, darts from Mairon's mouth, and he licks at the boiling flesh of the vampire, his greatest creation yet. Where his saliva trails the flesh triples its efforts, healing near instantaneously. So Mairon keeps at it, licking, licking, licking--

"Worship me," Finrod murmurs, and the hand by the úmaia's crotch tightens its grip. Vampiric talons snare into the fine chain mail, promising delicious friction. "Until I tell you to stop."

Mairon feels whatever heart he possesses leap; straining against his fana. He snarls, a wolf barely holding back its temper, and he licks across the damaged area holding the previously-dangling eyeball, and where his red tongue trails, the flesh is made new, as if it had not suffered any harm at all.

With inhuman strength Finrod gives him a shove, and Mairon crashes onto his back on the floor, armor and chainmail, all. The vampire quickly straddles him, and Mairon's pupils dilate, near consuming his irises, as he eagerly grasps Finrod by the hips.

"Worship me," Finrod whispers, and in his fell blue eyes, there is glee, and something else more sinister.

Mairon's blood boils.

@skaelds

[gaphic]

apparently there's a bit of friction about 'legos' being an incorrect plural but i think that's dumb as hell. 'legos' is a counted, plural noun. 'lego' is an adjective and a measured noun. you have less lego but fewer legos. you can have two legos or two lego bricks, but 'two lego' is stupid

i don't really care what the lego company has to say about this because they are danish and therefore i have seniority in this jurisdiction

[ncisfranchise-source]

“I loved it. I got to do some big cable work, explosion pullbacks, landing on the ground, concussion stuff. It was awesome. I mean, that’s why people tune in!” actor Todd Lasance says of NCIS: Sydney.

He’s not wrong. NCIS, now at 20 US seasons, has been a ratings blockbuster for CBS, spawning offshoots NCIS: LA, NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Hawaii.

Time for a little perspective from the other side of the Pacific which, according to Lasance, splashes Sydney Harbour across the screen.

“Our HQ is literally on Sydney Harbour… we open the doors and look to the right and the Harbour Bridge is above us.

“I know people say it’s priceless but you can’t put a price tag on that kind of view. Then we’re shooting with the Australian Navy on their bases, on the aircraft carriers. We were in the Seahawk helicopters, on the battleships, on the base with Navy personnel.”

Indeed the new series by Endemol Shine Australia lets the boys and girls play with big toys all in the name of naval investigation and security down under.

“We used the Rural Fire Fire Brigade HQ command (which they use for) a statewide bushfire operational command. It looks like a war room and we had 150 Naval crew in there,” Lasance continues.

“Stepping onto these bases, we all had to get clearances and go through the security checks. It was next level!

“This is actually happening!”

“I remember one shot in particular. Mackey (Olivia Swann) and I are flying the chopper and we’re on the deck of this gi-normous aircraft carrier. We’re in a Seahawk helicopter and we look over to the left and there’s the Harbour Bridge in the distance and we’re like, ‘This is actually happening!’ A chopper roars in on top of the carrier, everyone’s got their gear on, helmets for sound protection. Standing under the helicopter when it was 20 metres above the ground and the blades are nearly knocking you on your face… it’s awesome. They haven’t held back.”

Lasance, whose credits include Without Remorse, Spartacus: War of the Damned, True Spirit, Rescue: Special Ops, The Secrets She Keeps and Bite Club, plays AFP sergean Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim ‘JD’ Dempsey, thrown together with Former Marine Corps Captain turned NCIS Special Agent Mackey (Olivia Swann) when an American Submariner dies during a ceremony, marking the AUKUS agreement.

“We’ve got two sides clashing and that creates the friction”

But it’s not a welcome partnering, which differs from the unity that often exists in procedural investigation teams.

“Usually it’s ‘here’s your family and we’re gonna go on the journey’, whereas we’ve got two sides clashing and that creates the friction,” he continues.

“We’ve got those elements where we butt heads and keep each other on our toes. There’s also these beautiful, vulnerable moments and emotional elements peppered throughout the series. We get a bit of an insight into why they are the way they are. They save each other’s lives and rely on each other as well. So it’s the best dynamic, and the cast, I swear to you, is one of the greatest casts I have ever worked with. It’s like I have extended my own family.”

The crew also comprises AFP Constable Evie Cooper (Tuuli Narkle), Special Agent DeShawn Jackson (Sean Sagar), Forensic Pathologist Doctor Roy Penrose (William McInnes) and young Forensic Scientist Bluebird “Blue” Gleeson (Mavournee Hazel).

“He’s always paying her out, talking about ‘my jurisdiction'”

“JD is a dream role. He’s a country boy, the larrikin of the show. He’s kind of the comedic relief and the clash with Mackey, who comes in all business-like. She’s the maverick of the series and JD is breaking down her walls, and he ribs her all the time. He’s always paying her out, talking about ‘my jurisdiction,'” he explains.

“There’s cultural clashes between the Australianisms and the Americanisms and all that sort of stuff. But he grew up as a school teacher, and then ends up joining the AFP. He’s the head negotiator so he’s the leader. But obviously, the NCIS team is having to work side by side, to form a new kind of unit, which is a unique part of the show.”

Lasance also tackled all but one stunt in character.

“All the Spartacus training and the SEAL training I got to deal for Without Remorse and Black Site, comes into play. But I also like to do the stunts, because they get to use the shots. They don’t have to cut around those intense reactions. And then Liv who played Mackey kicks arse. She’s a weapon. She was stunt training, fire training, doing extracurricular stuff. She would finish on set, go straight to the stunt gym, do her fight training. We’re all hitting the gym, making sure we’re physically on point!”

“The enemy could be within”

In addition to the weekly crimes, creator Morgan O’Neill has woven in a further threat, if somewhat shrouded in mystery, across the 8 episodes.

“There’s an overarching enemy that could be embedded. So the enemy could be within. But there’s also an enemy that’s operating on a far bigger scale than what we realise. That’s the core of where our series goes and the finale episode heavily relates to my character too. It comes to a real head and the threat is on a huge scale,” he warns.

“If you’re really paying attention and you watch each episode, they start layering it in, and you start putting the dots together.”

After its World Premiere in Australia, NCIS: Sydney is fortunate enough to win a network screening on CBS next week. Are the writer / actor strikes to thank for this profile scheduling? Lasance isn’t sure but grateful for the exposure.

“All of our contracts are obviously local through MEAA, a local production company, through Paramount+ here. There was nothing relayed to us, initially, in the process. All of our deals are local and obviously, that’s why we had the SAG clearance when the strike happened,” he continues.

“The strike… in a weird way, it’s kind of helped NCIS: Sydney”

“The strike has reduced how much content is being put out, particularly on a global scale. So in a weird way, it’s kind of helped NCIS: Sydney and the franchise itself, because they’ve created an entire series that’s been allowed to shoot and continue production. I think it was us and the Game of Thrones spin-off in London.”

A second season will obviously depend on its performance in Australia and abroad, but Lasance is hopeful Australians will feel a sense of pride in having a local series elevated onto US network television. That may lead to more episodes and ultimately, more casting opportunities.

“It opens up those opportunities that you would never normally have access to. It allows you to pick and choose a little bit more and go after the roles that you really want to go for… it’s all about the heat…. but when you don’t have the heat, it’s a bit of politics that goes into the castings. You can miss out on jobs because you don’t have the profile at the time,” he says.

“I feel the pressure”

Lasance adds, “There’s such a massive following for NCIS, but I feel the pressure. I hope that they love the new series but the Australian audience is tough to win over sometimes. So I hope they’ve got a sense of pride to it. It’s shot here… local production, all local crews, Australian directors. Olivia and Shaun are from the UK, but everyone else’s Aussie on board.

“So we’re hoping that Australia then gets behind it.”

NCIS: Sydney premieres Friday on Paramount+

[onceafanalwaysshallbeafan]

I'm assuming that nobody has considered that the requirement to curate your own experience IS FUNDAMENTALLY THE REASON WHY THIS SITE STILL EXISTS.

Businesses put a premium on growth for growth's sake, without realizing that the friction is the fundamental reason that the people who are bad for any social media site are weeded out. Trolls don't like having to put effort into being able to do their mischief. They are fundamentally lazy. This has protected users of sites like Tumblr more effectively than any other measure that's ever been introduced by those who seek growth (because the imposition of policies to discourage trolling act to inhibit growth, and punting the issues by creating tools for users to protect themselves is... nothing more than adding additional fronts upon which users must curate their own experiences).

Frankly, it's exhausting trying to protect ourselves and our content from trolls who want to smear all over it and get brigades of users to do the same thing. That's why we're here, and not on e.g. Twitter.

But the other issue is this: You want to empower the world's creators, by giving them exposure, thus forcing them into the feeds of other people who are not their target audiences (even if you think they -are- their target audiences, because you cannot take the time to understand the nuances that differentiate their targets from non-targets)?

No.

I DON'T WANT THAT.

I want my audience to be small. I want my audience to grow by word of mouth. I want my audience to be something I can curate. I want to find friends through my content. I want the ways to find my content to be small, because I don't have media training, and I'm not sanding my edges down until whatI create is so bland and inoffensive I might as well not create. I don't want my art's rough edges to be exposed to the people who will cut their own minds and feelings on it, and who will then complain that I create art that is too unsafe and must be prevented from making my art available until I'm willing to adhere to their ideas of memetic safety.

Put simply: I want to opt out of your content pushing. But because any quality content that I create on your platform increases the value of your platform, we have a situation that can best be called "a conflict of interest". You want to show it off as a gem that can be found in the mines of your site.

And so, I must remind you of the legal regime we live under, that we've all been conditioned to understand: Under copyright, it's not your gem to show off. It's *mine*. And I'm the one who gets to decide on its public display, and how it is publicly presented. Display, distribute, duplicate, derive, and do (aka, perform): The 5 D's of copyright. I simply don't want my creations distributed or displayed by your algorithm, unless and until I choose -- for each individual creation.

So, please don't make "we can, at our sole discretion, feature content you create and give us a license to display" a part of your unilateral contract (aka AUP/EULA). I would view such as an unconscionable contractual clause, and would do my best to convince a judge that it is such. (If you want to know what these words mean in the legal context, I suggest you talk with your legal counsel for contract law. Here's a hint: an unconscionable unilateral contract can be rendered void, or an unconscionable clause in a severable unilateral contract can be severed, by a court of competent jurisdiction.)

So, perhaps you might consider doing something almost completely unprecedented: Why don't you talk with your existing users to understand their concerns? Why don't you involve them in your product design processes? Trust me, we understand the value that you offer, and we absolutely don't want to lose the last bastion of sanity we have in the social media sphere (which has, ironically, been maintained basically through the apparent insanity of its creation and lack of meddling for dozens of years). We know that you need revenue. We know that inflation means you need to grow.

But we truly don't want to lose what has made this platform uniquely tolerable and survivable.

So, if you want to listen at all to a rando user:

1) Stop worrying about "industry standards". The existing crop of industry standards (which have all been standardized by companies which want to do nothing but grow, regardless of the impact to their userbases) have, quite frankly, created a mass of completely unacceptable and unusable social media shit sites. If you want to retain your existing creator base, YOU MUST NOT FOLLOW INDUSTRY RUTS THAT WILL DESTROY YOUR SITE'S VALUE TO YOUR EXISTING CREATORS.

2) Bring users (preferably users who have social community experience, security expertise, web design, and perhaps some legal knowledge) in on your product design processes -- not just as surveys with percentages of pre-defined responses to work toward, but as actual voices who can create effective advocacy for and against particular direction decisions. Your users, because they've lived with this site for 15 years, are in a unique position to be able to tell you what they actually want, and be a lot more accurate about it than a middle or senior manager who is used to sheer metrics that don't take into account the number of existing accounts that have been driven away because they've shoved "I know better than you what you'll like" product strategies down their now-former users' throats. (To see why doing the latter is a bad thing, look at the exodus from Facebook and Twitter.)

3) Listen to the concerns of users who will actually be harmed by your initiatives -- listen to *why* they are worried, and either change the targeting of those features to not be so harmful and/or provide a means for them to opt out of the features entirely if they can't be effectively retargeted.

4) Regarding your principle 4: Give creators actual control over the exposure of their creations. You don't have to be Patreon, gatekeeping for contentgeld (like weregeld, but for content), but you do have to let us limit our displays, or else you are taking the inch we give of being able to display our creations and running a mile of deciding to harm us with too much exposure.

5) Let users create shadow accounts via their other social media accounts (like Google, or Facebook, or something they're already used to using). Don't force them through a full account sign-up flow when you can already perform the first leg of Authentication/Authorization just from their existing relationships. I mean, If they want to create a blog for themselves later, *you already have the flow written* for creating pseudonymous blogs-- just use their external authentication until you can say "hey, you should set up a way to get back into your blog just in case you lose access to your existing account provider, so why not set up a direct way to log in here for the same email address you've been logging in with through your other provider?" or something.

6) Doing the suggestion for #5 would also make your Principle 3 easier to implement, because there wouldn't be anywhere near as much account-creation friction just to participate in a discussion. (and then you could have them create a blog to reblog onto, if they wanted to.)

7) My personal tolerance for push notifications per day is *one*. I have all but given up on my email as anything useful because of the sheer number of companies and sites that are already doing the last bullet point on your principle 5. Don't make me consign your notifications to being filtered directly to Trash, as well. (If something I do manages to go viral, a *SINGLE* notification for each that it's doing so in addition to my standard summary notification would be tolerable.) Also, the one summary notification I get should go to a page in your app that actually presents all the numbers and links for the stuff it's reporting on, and not just disappear without necessarily giving me a chance to read it.

I recognize that I'm an older curmudgeon -- I'm in my mid-40s, have been using computers since I was 3, have been using the internet since I was 18, yadda yadda yadda -- but there is absolutely NO excuse for the bullshit that users have had shoved down their throats by other social media sites. You own something that is currently unrefined gold. Unfortunately, your management has the alchemical ability to turn it into lead. I'd prefer you not make it more of a hassle for your existing creator base to use than they find it worth, or else you'll end up destroying the fragile community ecosystem that's been able to thrive here, and making your investment more worthless than Yahoo made it.

Thank you for your time, attention, and consideration. I appreciate that you have made it this far through my wall of text.

Tumblr’s Core Product Strategy

Here at Tumblr, we’ve been working hard on reorganizing how we work in a bid to gain more users. A larger user base means a more sustainable company, and means we get to stick around and do this thing with you all a bit longer. What follows is the strategy we're using to accomplish the goal of user growth. The @labs group has published a bit already, but this is bigger. We’re publishing it publicly for the first time, in an effort to work more transparently with all of you in the Tumblr community. This strategy provides guidance amid limited resources, allowing our teams to focus on specific key areas to ensure Tumblr’s future.

The Diagnosis

In order for Tumblr to grow, we need to fix the core experience that makes Tumblr a useful place for users. The underlying problem is that Tumblr is not easy to use. Historically, we have expected users to curate their feeds and lean into curating their experience. But this expectation introduces friction to the user experience and only serves a small portion of our audience. 

Tumblr’s competitive advantage lies in its unique content and vibrant communities. As the forerunner of internet culture, Tumblr encompasses a wide range of interests, such as entertainment, art, gaming, fandom, fashion, and music. People come to Tumblr to immerse themselves in this culture, making it essential for us to ensure a seamless connection between people and content. 

To guarantee Tumblr’s continued success, we’ve got to prioritize fostering that seamless connection between people and content. This involves attracting and retaining new users and creators, nurturing their growth, and encouraging frequent engagement with the platform.

Our Guiding Principles

To enhance Tumblr’s usability, we must address these core guiding principles.

Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Retain and grow our creator base.

Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Improve the platform’s performance, stability, and quality.

Below is a deep dive into each of these principles.

Principle 1: Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Tumblr has a “top of the funnel” issue in converting non-users into engaged logged-in users. We also have not invested in industry standard SEO practices to ensure a robust top of the funnel. The referral traffic that we do get from external sources is dispersed across different pages with inconsistent user experiences, which results in a missed opportunity to convert these users into regular Tumblr users. For example, users from search engines often land on pages within the blog network and blog view—where there isn’t much of a reason to sign up. 

We need to experiment with logged-out tumblr.com to ensure we are capturing the highest potential conversion rate for visitors into sign-ups and log-ins. We might want to explore showing the potential future user the full breadth of content that Tumblr has to offer on our logged-out pages. We want people to be able to easily understand the potential behind Tumblr without having to navigate multiple tabs and pages to figure it out. Our current logged-out explore page does very little to help users understand “what is Tumblr.” which is a missed opportunity to get people excited about joining the site.

Actions & Next Steps

Improving Tumblr’s search engine optimization (SEO) practices to be in line with industry standards.

Experiment with logged out tumblr.com to achieve the highest conversion rate for sign-ups and log-ins, explore ways for visitors to “get” Tumblr and entice them to sign up.

Principle 2: Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

We need to ensure the highest quality user experience by presenting fresh and relevant content tailored to the user’s diverse interests during each session. If the user has a bad content experience, the fault lies with the product.

The default position should always be that the user does not know how to navigate the application. Additionally, we need to ensure that when people search for content related to their interests, it is easily accessible without any confusing limitations or unexpected roadblocks in their journey.

Being a 15-year-old brand is tough because the brand carries the baggage of a person’s preconceived impressions of Tumblr. On average, a user only sees 25 posts per session, so the first 25 posts have to convey the value of Tumblr: it is a vibrant community with lots of untapped potential. We never want to leave the user believing that Tumblr is a place that is stale and not relevant. 

Actions & Next Steps

Deliver great content each time the app is opened.

Make it easier for users to understand where the vibrant communities on Tumblr are. 

Improve our algorithmic ranking capabilities across all feeds. 

Principle 3: Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Part of Tumblr’s charm lies in its capacity to showcase the evolution of conversations and the clever remarks found within reblog chains and replies. Engaging in these discussions should be enjoyable and effortless.

Unfortunately, the current way that conversations work on Tumblr across replies and reblogs is confusing for new users. The limitations around engaging with individual reblogs, replies only applying to the original post, and the inability to easily follow threaded conversations make it difficult for users to join the conversation.

Actions & Next Steps

Address the confusion within replies and reblogs.

Improve the conversational posting features around replies and reblogs. 

Allow engagements on individual replies and reblogs.

Make it easier for users to follow the various conversation paths within a reblog thread. 

Remove clutter in the conversation by collapsing reblog threads. 

Explore the feasibility of removing duplicate reblogs within a user’s Following feed. 

Principle 4: Retain and grow our creator base.

Creators are essential to the Tumblr community. However, we haven’t always had a consistent and coordinated effort around retaining, nurturing, and growing our creator base.  

Being a new creator on Tumblr can be intimidating, with a high likelihood of leaving or disappointment upon sharing creations without receiving engagement or feedback. We need to ensure that we have the expected creator tools and foster the rewarding feedback loops that keep creators around and enable them to thrive.

The lack of feedback stems from the outdated decision to only show content from followed blogs on the main dashboard feed (“Following”), perpetuating a cycle where popular blogs continue to gain more visibility at the expense of helping new creators. To address this, we need to prioritize supporting and nurturing the growth of new creators on the platform.

It is also imperative that creators, like everyone on Tumblr, feel safe and in control of their experience. Whether it be an ask from the community or engagement on a post, being successful on Tumblr should never feel like a punishing experience.

Actions & Next Steps

Get creators’ new content in front of people who are interested in it. 

Improve the feedback loop for creators, incentivizing them to continue posting.

Build mechanisms to protect creators from being spammed by notifications when they go viral.

Expand ways to co-create content, such as by adding the capability to embed Tumblr links in posts.

Principle 5: Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Push notifications and emails are essential tools to increase user engagement, improve user retention, and facilitate content discovery. Our strategy of reaching out to you, the user, should be well-coordinated across product, commercial, and marketing teams.

Our messaging strategy needs to be personalized and adapt to a user’s shifting interests. Our messages should keep users in the know on the latest activity in their community, as well as keeping Tumblr top of mind as the place to go for witty takes and remixes of the latest shows and real-life events.  

Most importantly, our messages should be thoughtful and should never come across as spammy.  

Actions & Next Steps

Conduct an audit of our messaging strategy.

Address the issue of notifications getting too noisy; throttle, collapse or mute notifications where necessary.  

Identify opportunities for personalization within our email messages. 

Test what the right daily push notification limit is. 

Send emails when a user has push notifications switched off.

Principle 6: Performance, stability and quality.

The stability and performance of our mobile apps have declined. There is a large backlog of production issues, with more bugs created than resolved over the last 300 days. If this continues, roughly one new unresolved production issue will be created every two days. Apps and backend systems that work well and don't crash are the foundation of a great Tumblr experience. Improving performance, stability, and quality will help us achieve sustainable operations for Tumblr.

Improve performance and stability: deliver crash-free, responsive, and fast-loading apps on Android, iOS, and web.

Improve quality: deliver the highest quality Tumblr experience to our users. 

Move faster: provide APIs and services to unblock core product initiatives and launch new features coming out of Labs.

Conclusion

Our mission has always been to empower the world’s creators. We are wholly committed to ensuring Tumblr evolves in a way that supports our current users while improving areas that attract new creators, artists, and users. You deserve a digital home that works for you. You deserve the best tools and features to connect with your communities on a platform that prioritizes the easy discoverability of high-quality content. This is an invigorating time for Tumblr, and we couldn’t be more excited about our current strategy.

[truths89]

Catalytic Empiricists

The orphan born in New Jack City gon’ crank this cracker Box.

Passing Logos to the flocks; Fuck orthodox, Imma jimmy ‘dis paradox. 

I can’t see what time will sow, but the heavens bestowed my sword of favor.

Imma keeps it candor: Bump fiction— I’m that camouflaged commander! 

We got an imperceivable invasion not fit for this jurisdiction. Through benediction, I will level an interdiction to seal a metaphysical eviction. 

The silence was weird friction; Crucifixion yields conviction.

I got star nations on the line; I came to earth to burn a shrine.

The spectrum of light gave its cosign.  In the fractals, do you see the design?

Mystery is in the eye of the beholder.  When sober, you become a master decoder.

[daobox654]

Simplifying DAO Governance with Legal Wrappers

Introduction to DAOs and Their Governance Challenges Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are reshaping the future of collaboration and innovation. However, effective management for DAO legal wrappers and governance services remains a crucial challenge for these organizations. Ensuring compliance and streamlining decision-making processes are essential to unlocking the full potential of DAOs while maintaining trust within their communities.

Understanding DAO Legal Wrappers DAO legal wrappers are essential tools that enable DAOs to interact with the traditional legal and regulatory frameworks. These wrappers provide a legal identity, allowing DAOs to sign contracts, manage liabilities, and operate in jurisdictions with clear legal recognition.

Proper management for DAO legal wrappers is vital to mitigate risks and maintain operational efficiency. By ensuring the legal foundation of a DAO is sound, organizations can focus on their core missions without worrying about compliance hurdles. This management process often involves creating frameworks that align with local laws while still respecting the decentralized nature of the DAO.

Importance of DAO Governance Services Governance is the backbone of any DAO. The decentralized nature of these organizations demands a governance structure that is both transparent and adaptable. DAO governance services offer a way to establish rules, protocols, and voting mechanisms that ensure smooth decision-making and accountability within the organization.

These services can range from designing voting systems to setting up dispute resolution mechanisms. A well-defined governance structure fosters member trust and enhances the DAO’s ability to achieve its goals without unnecessary friction or mismanagement.

Key Considerations for DAO Success To ensure a DAO thrives, it’s essential to address the interplay between governance and legal frameworks. Combining DAO governance services with a robust legal wrapper provides a balanced approach, safeguarding the DAO’s operations while ensuring compliance. This alignment allows DAOs to operate seamlessly in both decentralized and traditional environments.

Another critical aspect is flexibility. DAOs must adapt to evolving regulations and community needs. Choosing governance and legal solutions that accommodate these changes can help DAOs remain competitive and sustainable.

Conclusion As DAOs continue to grow in popularity, their governance and legal requirements become increasingly significant. Effective management for DAO legal wrappers and the implementation of reliable DAO governance services are essential for creating sustainable, compliant, and efficient organizations. By addressing these areas, DAOs can achieve their mission while navigating the complexities of decentralized operations and traditional legal systems.

[xettle-technologies]

A Guide to Choosing the Best KYC Solution for Your Business

As businesses embrace the digital age, ensuring secure and seamless interactions with customers has become paramount. KYC and identity verification processes are at the forefront of this transformation, serving as critical safeguards against fraud while enabling compliance with stringent regulatory standards. For businesses operating in sectors such as e-commerce, financial services, and fintech, selecting the right KYC solution is more than just a compliance measure—it’s a key factor in enhancing customer trust and experience.

In this guide, we’ll explore the essential considerations for choosing the best KYC solution for your business, with a focus on leveraging software fintech innovations to optimize identity verification processes.

Why KYC and Identity Verification Matter

KYC (Know Your Customer) is a regulatory requirement designed to verify customer identities and ensure that they are legitimate. These processes are indispensable for businesses to:

Mitigate risks: Prevent identity theft, money laundering, and fraud.

Ensure compliance: Meet legal obligations such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) laws.

Enhance customer trust: Secure and reliable systems build confidence among users.

With increasing digital transactions and a growing emphasis on data security, robust KYC systems powered by software fintech solutions have become essential for businesses across all industries.

Key Features to Look for in a KYC Solution

Choosing the best KYC solution requires careful evaluation of its features and capabilities. Below are the critical aspects to consider:

1. Automation and Scalability

Modern KYC solutions must be able to handle large volumes of data quickly and efficiently. Look for tools that offer:

Automated Verification: AI and machine learning can verify documents and identities in real-time, reducing manual intervention.

Scalability: As your business grows, the solution should accommodate an increasing number of users without compromising performance.

2. Global Compliance

For businesses with a global customer base, compliance with regional and international regulations is critical. The best KYC solutions:

Support multi-language and multi-jurisdiction compliance.

Automatically update to reflect changing regulatory requirements.

3. User-Friendly Interface

Customers expect smooth onboarding experiences. A user-friendly KYC platform should:

Simplify document uploads and biometric authentication.

Minimize friction while maintaining security.

4. Integration with Existing Systems

Your KYC solution should integrate seamlessly with your existing CRM, payment gateways, or other fintech software. This ensures:

Efficient Data Management: Unified access to customer data across platforms.

Reduced Operational Costs: Avoiding the need for entirely new systems.

5. Data Security and Privacy

Given the sensitive nature of identity verification, robust data protection measures are non-negotiable. Ensure that the solution:

Adheres to GDPR, CCPA, or other relevant data protection regulations.

Employs encryption and secure data storage protocols.

How Software Fintech is Revolutionizing KYC

The rise of software fintech solutions has redefined KYC processes, making them faster, more accurate, and customer-centric. Here’s how fintech innovations are transforming identity verification:

Biometric Authentication: Fintech software incorporates fingerprint, facial recognition, and even voice-based authentication, offering unmatched security and ease of use.

AI-Driven Analytics: Artificial intelligence analyzes customer data to identify patterns and anomalies, enhancing fraud detection capabilities.

Blockchain Integration: Some KYC solutions leverage blockchain technology for secure and transparent data sharing across networks.

By adopting these advancements, businesses can not only improve compliance but also deliver a superior user experience.

Steps to Choose the Right KYC Solution

Selecting the best KYC and identity verification platform involves several steps:

Step 1: Assess Your Business Needs

Identify your primary objectives. Are you focused on fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, or improving user onboarding? Consider factors such as:

The size of your customer base.

Your industry-specific compliance requirements.

Expected growth in user numbers.

Step 2: Research and Shortlist Vendors

Evaluate potential KYC providers based on their track record and expertise in your industry. Key considerations include:

Reputation and reviews from similar businesses.

Their use of cutting-edge technologies such as AI and machine learning.

Step 3: Request a Demonstration

Before committing, request a live demo to understand how the solution functions. Focus on:

Ease of integration with your current systems.

The customer experience during onboarding.

Step 4: Compare Costs and ROI

While cost is a factor, prioritize long-term value over short-term savings. A reliable KYC solution should offer:

Reduction in manual verification efforts.

Lower risk of regulatory fines.

Enhanced customer satisfaction leading to higher retention rates.

Step 5: Ensure Ongoing Support and Updates

Regulations and customer expectations evolve. Choose a vendor that offers:

Regular software updates to reflect regulatory changes.

Comprehensive customer support and troubleshooting.

Benefits of a Robust KYC Solution

Implementing the right KYC solution offers numerous advantages:

Improved Efficiency: Automated processes speed up customer onboarding.

Reduced Fraud: Advanced verification methods minimize fraudulent activities.

Global Reach: Compliance with international regulations allows seamless expansion into new markets.

Enhanced Reputation: Secure and transparent practices build customer trust.

Conclusion

Selecting the best KYC solution is a strategic decision that directly impacts your business's security, compliance, and customer experience. By leveraging innovations in software fintech, businesses can streamline KYC and identity verification processes, ensuring they are efficient, secure, and customer-friendly.

Investing in the right KYC platform not only safeguards your operations but also positions your business as a trusted player in today’s competitive digital landscape. With a focus on automation, compliance, and user-centric design, the ideal KYC solution can drive long-term growth and success.

[unpluggedfinancial]

The Evolution of Finance: Traditional Systems, Bitcoin, and the Path Forward

The Complex Landscape of Modern Finance

Today's financial system stands at a crossroads. Traditional banking, despite its limitations, has built the foundations of our modern economy. Yet alongside it, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are carving new paths toward financial innovation. To understand where we're headed, we must first understand where we are—and how we got here.

Traditional Finance: Foundation and Friction

Traditional finance has achieved remarkable things. It's built global payment networks, created sophisticated risk management systems, and enabled tremendous economic growth. But this success comes with significant trade-offs.

The Hidden Costs

International transfers can take days and cost substantial fees. Business loans often require extensive documentation and collateral. For the 1.7 billion unbanked adults worldwide, even basic financial services remain out of reach. These aren't just inconveniences—they're barriers to economic participation.

Why the System Works This Way

However, many of these "limitations" exist for important reasons:

Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations help prevent money laundering.

Credit assessments protect both lenders and borrowers from unsustainable debt.

Settlement delays allow for fraud prevention and error correction.

Banking regulations protect consumer deposits and maintain system stability.

Understanding these reasons helps us appreciate both what needs to change and what needs to be preserved as we build the future of finance.

Bitcoin: Revolution and Reality

Bitcoin represents a fundamental rethinking of money and value transfer. Its innovation isn't just technological—it's philosophical.

The Transformative Potential

Borderless Transactions: Value can move globally without traditional intermediaries.

Programmable Money: Smart contracts enable new forms of financial automation.

Financial Inclusion: Anyone with internet access can participate.

Transparent Operations: Public ledgers create unprecedented financial transparency.

Censorship Resistance: No central authority can freeze or seize funds.

Real-World Impact

In countries experiencing hyperinflation or currency controls, Bitcoin has become a vital tool for preserving wealth. Venezuelan merchants use it to maintain business operations. Nigerian entrepreneurs leverage it for international trade. Salvadoran families receive remittances faster and cheaper than ever before.

Acknowledging the Challenges

However, Bitcoin's promise comes with its own set of challenges:

Volatility: Price fluctuations can make it risky for everyday transactions.

Technical Barriers: Wallet management and security require significant learning.

Energy Consumption: Proof-of-work mining has environmental implications.

Scalability: Network capacity and transaction fees during peak times.

Regulatory Uncertainty: Unclear legal status in many jurisdictions.

The Path Forward: Integration, Not Replacement

The future of finance likely isn't an either/or proposition between traditional finance and Bitcoin. Instead, we're seeing the emergence of a hybrid system that leverages the strengths of both.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Traditional Banks Adopting Blockchain:

Faster settlement systems.

More transparent operations.

New digital asset services.

Cryptocurrency Innovation:

Layer-2 scaling solutions.

Improved user interfaces.

Better integration with existing financial systems.

Regulatory Evolution:

Clearer legal frameworks.

Consumer protection standards.

Risk management requirements.

Building Bridges

The most promising developments aren't those that try to completely replace traditional finance, but those that bridge the old and new:

Digital payment systems that combine bank security with crypto efficiency.

Hybrid investment products that offer both traditional and crypto exposure.

Financial services that seamlessly integrate both systems.

The Role of Financial Education

As these systems evolve, financial education becomes crucial. People need to understand:

The basics of both traditional and cryptocurrency finance.

Security best practices for digital assets.

Risk management across different financial systems.

How to evaluate financial opportunities and threats.

Looking Ahead

The future of finance will be shaped by how we address key challenges:

Making financial services truly accessible to everyone.

Balancing innovation with stability.

Protecting consumers while enabling innovation.

Managing environmental impacts.

Ensuring privacy while preventing illicit activity.

Conclusion

The transformation of finance isn't about Bitcoin replacing banks—it's about expanding possibilities. Traditional finance provides crucial stability and consumer protections. Bitcoin offers innovation and accessibility. By thoughtfully combining these strengths, we can build a financial system that's more inclusive, efficient, and equitable than either could achieve alone.

The goal isn't to tear down the existing system, but to build something better—incorporating the best of both worlds while addressing their respective limitations. This nuanced approach, rather than an all-or-nothing perspective, offers the best path toward genuine financial innovation and inclusion.

This evolution won't happen overnight, but it's already underway. The winners will be those who understand both systems' strengths and limitations, and who work to bridge them thoughtfully and responsibly.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

📺 YouTube Channel: Unplugged Financial Subscribe to our YouTube channel for engaging video content that breaks down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand segments. From in-depth discussions on monetary policies to the latest trends in cryptocurrency, our videos will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed financial decisions.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.

Support the Cause

If you enjoyed what you read and believe in the mission of spreading awareness about Bitcoin, I would greatly appreciate your support. Every little bit helps keep the content going and allows me to continue educating others about the future of finance.

Donate Bitcoin: bc1qpn98s4gtlvy686jne0sr8ccvfaxz646kk2tl8lu38zz4dvyyvflqgddylk

[sicklyseraphnsuch]

Blood and Breath

At the surface level, they are as opposing forces may seem. Blood specializes in community, in forging bonds, in patience and compassion. Breath specializes in individuality, in pulling away from the crowd, in freedom and impulse.

But like all aspects, they actually share a truth.

Airflow and bloodflow. Arteries and bronchioles. Bonds. Connections and boundaries.

In every instance that we are different, we are also the same. You could be me and I could be you given different paths, different histories, different choices. Because boundaries are the space in which two things meet. The collision of boundaries leads to the connection. It's not Void because it's not the absence but the presence that creates a relationship.

The idea of a relationship - be it malicious or benevolent - cannot form unless two beings seek to exist. If everything was a single primordial soup, floating in space as dispersed atoms, no body would exist. Breath and Blood need each other to exist.

These are not the forces of identity (Heart/Mind), creation (Time/Space), or possibility (Void/Light). These are the internal forces that unite all of it together. That's why both Blood and Breath also have jurisdiction over Change. Because You are Me and I am You, once upon a different being.

They're a little sacrilegious in that sense. Because parts that are held sacred may be "defiled" in some way. Like for example, how integral is the Light aspect to Rose? The Time aspect to Dave? How sacred? What if their aspects could flip? What if their classes could flip/switch/turn around? Blood/Breath deal with how people Become, literally fucking transitional as transitional can get. (Whereas Heart/Mind deal with how people Be)

Blood/Breath can change the Heart/Mind to open up new Void/Light that will lead eventually to a new Time/Space. And in reverse, Time/Space creates the possibilities of Void/Light through which the Heart/Mind navigate in order to maintain Blood/Breath.

(Im not forgetting Life/Doom/Hope/Rage, each have their places and connected, but for the sake of simplicity, this is the set)

Skaia put the players in neat little boxes - giving them labels as a way to ground themselves, like building the foundation for a house. But this in turn created artificial segregations between the players, causing friction and strife. The goal of a Blood/Breath player is to essentially keep these labels block connection, while protecting the boundaries that enable Heart/Mind.

Blood/Breath removes the friction to let it all flow.

[factinhistory]

What Happened on September 18 in American History?

Throughout American history, September 18 has been a day of significant political, cultural, and social events that have shaped the nation in various ways. From the founding of iconic institutions to pivotal moments in wars and influential speeches, each event marked on this day reveals the diversity of American history. In this article, we explore key occurrences on September 18 across centuries, offering insights into the importance of this date in the historical narrative of the United States.

What Happened on September 18 in American History?

New Hampshire Becomes a County in Massachusetts Bay Colony (1679)

On September 18, 1679, New Hampshire became a county within the Massachusetts Bay Colony. At the time, New England was in the process of consolidating its territories under the influence of the British Crown, with colonies like Massachusetts expanding their influence over neighboring regions. New Hampshire, initially a separate territory, was brought under Massachusetts’ jurisdiction due to concerns over governance, defense, and relations with Indigenous peoples.

For several decades, New Hampshire remained politically attached to Massachusetts, although the arrangement was not without friction. Local leaders in New Hampshire sought greater autonomy and, in 1741, the colony was finally granted independent status. However, the political consolidation on September 18 laid the groundwork for future tensions between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as well as setting the stage for the eventual push toward greater colonial autonomy in the wider region.

Fort Ticonderoga in New York Opens (1755)

The opening of Fort Ticonderoga in New York on September 18, 1755, marked an important strategic development during the French and Indian War. Originally named Fort Carillon by the French, the fort was designed to control the narrow passage between Lake Champlain and Lake George, a crucial area in the conflict between the French and British forces.

Over the course of the war, Fort Ticonderoga became the site of several key battles, including its famous capture by American forces led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold during the early stages of the American Revolution. The fort’s importance on September 18 lay not only in its immediate military role but also in its symbolic status as a contested location that shifted hands multiple times between British, French, and American forces.

US President George Washington Lays the Cornerstone of the Capitol Building (1793)

On September 18, 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., signifying the birth of the nation’s central government. The construction of the Capitol was part of the broader effort to establish the city of Washington as the new capital of the United States, a city planned to be the political and administrative heart of the young republic.

The event was symbolic of Washington’s vision for a united nation governed by democratic principles. By laying the cornerstone, Washington set in motion the creation of a building that would become the seat of the legislative branch of the U.S. government, where Congress would convene to create laws for generations to come. The importance of September 18 in this context is enduring, as the Capitol has remained a central institution in American governance, representing the democratic values that continue to shape the country.

Tiffany & Co. Founded (1837)

On September 18, 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young opened a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” in New York City, a store that would later become the world-famous Tiffany & Co. Known for its luxury jewelry and iconic blue boxes, Tiffany & Co. initially focused on a broader range of goods before narrowing its scope to fine jewelry in the mid-19th century.

The founding of Tiffany & Co. on September 18 marked the beginning of an American brand that would become synonymous with elegance and quality. Over the years, the company gained a reputation for innovation in design and craftsmanship, particularly for its engagement rings and diamond jewelry. Today, Tiffany & Co. remains a symbol of luxury and timeless beauty, with its founding date remembered as a significant moment in American commercial history.

First Edition of The New York Times Published (1851)

On September 18, 1851, the first edition of The New York Times was published, marking the start of one of the most influential newspapers in American history. Priced at just two cents per copy, the newspaper aimed to provide accurate, in-depth reporting on political, social, and economic issues. Its founders, Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones, set out to establish a publication that would prioritize integrity and journalistic excellence.

Over the years, The New York Times has become known for its comprehensive coverage and its role in shaping public discourse. The newspaper has reported on some of the most critical events in American and world history, from wars and elections to social movements and technological advancements. The founding of The New York Times on September 18 remains a pivotal moment in the evolution of the American media landscape.

Booker T. Washington Delivers the “Atlanta Compromise” Speech (1895)

On September 18, 1895, Booker T. Washington delivered his famous “Atlanta Compromise” speech at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. Washington, an influential African American educator and leader, urged the Black community to focus on vocational education and economic progress as a path to self-improvement and racial uplift, rather than immediately demanding full civil rights and social equality.

Washington’s speech on September 18 was a turning point in the debate over the best strategy for Black advancement in the post-Reconstruction South. While some praised Washington’s pragmatic approach, others, like W.E.B. Du Bois, criticized it as too accommodating to segregationist policies. The “Atlanta Compromise” remains a key moment in the history of African American leadership and the ongoing struggle for civil rights in the United States.

Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” Copyrighted (1899)

On September 18, 1899, Scott Joplin was granted the copyright for his composition “Maple Leaf Rag,” which would go on to become the most famous and influential ragtime piece in American music history. Joplin, an African American composer and pianist, is often referred to as the “King of Ragtime” due to his role in popularizing the genre during the early 20th century.

“Maple Leaf Rag” was a groundbreaking work that blended African American musical traditions with Western classical elements. The copyright secured on September 18 allowed Joplin to gain widespread recognition and commercial success, although he would only receive modest financial rewards during his lifetime. Today, “Maple Leaf Rag” is celebrated as a defining work of American music and a testament to the cultural contributions of African Americans.

The Central Intelligence Agency Officially Established (1947)

On September 18, 1947, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officially came into existence following its establishment by President Harry S. Truman earlier that year. The creation of the CIA was part of the National Security Act of 1947, which reorganized the U.S. government’s intelligence and military functions in response to the emerging Cold War.

The CIA’s founding on September 18 marked the beginning of a new era in American foreign policy and national security. Tasked with gathering intelligence and conducting covert operations, the CIA became a central player in the U.S. government’s efforts to counter Soviet influence and promote American interests abroad. Over the decades, the agency has been involved in numerous high-stakes operations, both successful and controversial, and its role continues to be critical in shaping U.S. global strategy.

Rev. Sun Myung Moon Holds “God Bless America” Convention (1976)

On September 18, 1976, Reverend Sun Myung Moon held the “God Bless America” convention at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Moon, the founder of the Unification Church, used the event to promote his religious and political views, which combined elements of Christianity with a call for global peace and unity. The event was attended by tens of thousands of followers and was part of Moon’s broader efforts to expand his influence in the United States.

The “God Bless America” convention on September 18 was a notable moment in the rise of the Unification Church and its controversial leader. While Moon’s movement gained a significant following, it was also criticized for its unorthodox teachings and alleged cult-like practices. The event remains a significant chapter in the history of religious movements in the United States.

Conclusion

The events of September 18 in American history reflect a wide array of significant moments that have shaped the nation’s political, cultural, and social landscape. From early colonial developments and the founding of key institutions to important speeches, legal milestones, and cultural achievements, this date highlights the diversity and complexity of the American historical experience. By examining these events, we gain a deeper understanding of the forces that have influenced the United States over time.

[oddbookreport]

Well, remember when we ran root and everything was on the character sheet? I do think that some of this is malignant in so far as there are low-friction PBTA games you could play for the first time while beyond stoned and still not offload rules onto the DM. The “take the action to take the action” design ethos as opposed to “can I investigate” permission structure makes things a lot smoother for the DM because you aren’t doing this weird jurisdiction thing of “should I let the player do this” moment to moment

Not an original observation but it's legitimately insane how common of a story "I don't want to run d&d 5e anymore but I'm stuck running it because it's the only thing my group will let me GM for them" is. It's fucking everywhere in any non-D&D focused ttrpg space.

Like. I think "the person who does like 90% of the work to make the game actually happen gets to pick what game we play" should be the bare minimum of courtesy towards a GM.