#living in the eu this affects me so

[acorviart]

Europe VAT laws not changing any time soon, recent. If understand FAQ well, mean shipping to Europe impossible for several years minimum?

That's correct, I won't be shipping to the EU for the foreseeable future due to some import packaging regulations that either have already been implemented or are planning to be implemented in the future.

Note that this is for EU countries only—I can ship to all other non-EU countries like Switzerland, except for the UK due to the UK's own convoluted VAT system.

The only workaround I can offer for EU folks is that you can have a friend or family that lives in a non-EU country place an order to deliver to their address, and then they are able to ship that order to you marked as a gift. Not an option for everyone, I know.

Longer explanation under the readmore for those curious:

As it stands now, each EU country has its own system and fees that I can't keep up with (for example, France would cost me 80 euros per year), I'd need to individually register and report to each country, some require reporting and tracking of what sources of packaging I use, I believe? It's all very complicated, and it makes my head spin just trying to figure out what the requirements actually are, so that's why I stopped shipping to the EU entirely out of an abundance of caution. I also just don't get enough sales to the EU to justify the headache, I'd probably actually lose money paying all the fees. Actually, while I was looking up details while writing this post, apparently there's a new PPWR that's going to replace the old EU Packaging Directive? This is why I can't handle this (ಥ﹏ಥ)

As for why this doesn't seem to be affecting all companies—corporations can obviously afford their own professionals whose entire job is to handle this stuff, and the requirements are also different for large vs small volumes. Meanwhile, a lot of other small or 1-person businesses straight up don't know about these requirements, because it's not like there's a memo passed around about updates to international shipping law. It's also even more confusing because some packages are slipping by without any issue, probably in part due to how the regulations are still new and still being implemented, so I assume it's kind of a mess.

I know of a few people who are willingly taking the risk and shipping to the EU anyway and have had no consequences (for now at least), but I'm not risking the fines ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Now for the UK, their VAT system doesn't have anything to do with packaging, but what it does require is similar registration with the government, and I'm required to collect and pay the VAT myself. No thanks!

TLDR; laws hard. laws also expensive. too stupid to figure out and too fearful of fines. no ship to countries

fun story: someone also once emailed me this long diatribe about how they think I'm shit at research and that I'm just making all this up (specifically just to screw with europeans or something, I guess?), so I sent them a few links to the literal official government websites where I got my info (like that UK one), and they never responded. lol

[fanficgirlysmhh]

Home Comfort

This is a cute little fanfic about Jude Bellingham after England lost the game

Jude Bellingham trudged through the door of his home, the weight of England’s loss to Spain in the EU Cup pressing heavily on his shoulders. The usually vibrant and energetic footballer was a picture of defeat, his eyes downcast and his steps slow. The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator and the distant sound of traffic outside.

“Jude?” your voice called gently from the living room.

He managed a weak smile as he saw you. You stood there, wrapped in his England jersey, which hung loosely over your frame, reaching just above your knees. Your hair was slightly tousled, and you looked at him with eyes full of concern and love. For a moment, the heavy fog of disappointment lifted slightly.

“Hey, love,” he murmured, trying to sound upbeat but failing miserably.

You approached him slowly, wrapping your arms around his waist and resting your head against his chest. “I’m so sorry about the game,” you whispered, feeling the tension in his muscles.

Jude sighed deeply, leaning into your embrace. “It’s just... we were so close, you know? And to lose like that...”

You nodded, understanding his frustration. “I know, babe. But you played amazingly. Everyone could see how hard you worked out there.”

He squeezed you gently, his head dipping to rest against yours. “Thanks, y/n. I just... I feel like I let everyone down.”

“You didn’t,” you said firmly, pulling back slightly to look up at him. “You were incredible. And no matter what, I’m so proud of you.”

His eyes softened at your words, and he let out a small, sad chuckle. “You’re always so good to me.”

“Because I love you,” you replied, giving him a playful smile. “And I know just how to cheer you up.”

Before he could ask what you meant, you took his hand and led him to the couch. You pushed him gently to sit down and then stood before him, letting the jersey slide slightly off one shoulder. Jude’s eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight of you wearing nothing but his football tricot.

“Y/n...” he began, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

You grinned, pleased to see a hint of his usual spark returning. “Shh. Just relax, okay? Let me take care of you tonight.”

Jude leaned back, watching you with a mix of amusement and affection. You climbed onto the couch, straddling his lap and wrapping your arms around his neck. His hands settled on your waist, his thumbs brushing against your skin.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” he said softly, his gaze locking onto yours.

You leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “I know,” you teased, earning a chuckle from him. “And so are you. No matter what happens on the pitch, you’ll always be my star.”

Jude kissed you back, a deep and lingering kiss. For a moment, the disappointment and frustration melted away, replaced by the warmth and love he felt for you. When you finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against yours, his eyes closed.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice full of gratitude.

I tried my best 😅

[inkfamy]

Are you saying you don't like Skybound Starscream? :(

I'm not sure what post this is a response to, but I absolutely adore him. The more a narrative tries to make me dislike a character, the more my affection grows. Energon Universe Starscream is evil to the point it's comical - he murdered someone literally the moment he woke up, he's killing civilians as they try to run away, smushing people with his bare hands, slapping Soundwave and making him drop his dead cat, destroying a hospital on purpose, cannibalising an injured comrade for parts, kicking said dead cat like a football and it's only been 4 issues. His rationale behind every horrible thing he's done is that he's just that much of an asshole and he thinks it's funny. The narrative is hitting every single "this guy fucking sucks" button, the dude hasn't managed to be on-page without doing something completely egregious. I fully expect him to be shown taking candy from a baby at some point. He's completely over the top, out of control, he's going to run out of allies before the first story arc even ends. He's like a villain from Saturday morning cartoons. He should have a long pointed moustache so he can twirl it.

I can understand why people are already baying for Starscream's blood but I love him. I have loved every iteration of Starscream for almost 20 years and I will love every iteration of Starscream for the next 20.

I hope EU Starscream lives forever, I hope he only gets worse every moment and never, ever self-reflects or feels an ounce of remorse. He's my perfect little feral cat baby that hates everything and everyone and I want to see him bite and scratch and pee on the carpet because it's just really entertaining to watch him go.

[probadbatch]

I've been trying for almost a year to wrap my head around why Tech's maybe-probably-death affected me so much. I am nearly thirty years old. I've had a lot of characters I loved get killed off from my various fandoms - most of whom I was far more attached to than Tech.

Obviously a lot of it is just how incredibly well executed the scene is. The dialogue and performances are impeccable. The pacing and tension builds wonderfully. The music is some of the Kiner fam's very best work. That sigh of acceptance as Tech looks up and says "when have we ever followed orders" is enough to break your heart even if nothing else had happened. And the way the scene lingers for just a moment before the rail car snaps back into place and the pace of the scene is back to a breakneck speed. Enough time to hurt but not enough to come to terms with it.

Honestly they should win Emmys for just this one scene.

But that's not all of it. And whatever that 'other' part is, that's what I can't pin down.

Tech wasn't my favorite character of all time. He wasn't even my favorite character on this show. If you'd asked me the week before, I'd have said I had no particular feelings on Tech one way or the other.

And the other weird thing is that I cry at fucking everything but Tech's death didn't make me cry. The aftermath made me cry but the actual scene just shocked me cold. I've never had that before. And it still gives me the same feeling a year later. I don't know why.

And I don't know why I'm so not on board with the idea of his death being permanent. I'm an out and proud angst gremlin. Major character death for hardcore angst is my jam. But I just can't do it this time. I don't know. Something about these guys just makes me want them to get a happy ending. One where Crosshair comes home and they heal and don't have to say goodbye to anyone. I don't even want fanfic of anything less.

Normally when I don't get the ending I want, I can just ignore it and live in fanfic (or the old EU) forever. It doesn't get to me. I don't know if I can accept that this time. I've probably just deluded myself into thinking he isn't really gone. But I'm going to hold out hope until the credits roll on 315. Maybe even after that.

I wish I could say what it is about this that I'm having such a hard time with. I'll probably never be able to figure it out.

[linkedsoul]

HI MY FRENCHIES FROM THE 3RD CIRCUMSCRIPTION OF FRENCH PEOPLE ABROAD aka my French residents of Northern Europe and especially London: (and my English speaking followers who'd like to French elections drama)

Macron's candidate, Vincent Caure, is blatantly lying on his program about his opponent's party, the NFP, which feels very dishonest and, frankly, kind of pathetic? I know Frenchies in London voted a lot for him but PLEASE let's not let a liar get ahead of the race.

He claims the NFP - a coalition of green and leftist parties - will have Mélenchon as Prime Minister. For some reason, the French media is OBSESSED with making Mélanchon (the leader of a prominent leftist party) THE DEVIL. Look. I know some people don't like Mélenchon even on the left. But he's NOT EVEN PART OF THIS ELECTION. Besties: he's not a candidate anywhere. And even less for French people abroad. And even worse: the NFP has NEVER said who they'd send as Prime Minister if they get the majority in the assembly. This is FAKE.

He pretends French people abroad will be doubly taxed because of the NFP wants to put back the "exit tax", and that the NFP is obsessed with the universal tax (aka paying taxes for your country even when you work abroad). The exit tax is a specific tax that affects only people who own A LOT in assets. I have no idea how to even reach to that kind of criteria. I don't think neither me nor any of the French people I know in Dublin have the assets required to have to pay the exit tax. I wish I had that amount of money so I could get taxed on it! Alas, Vincent Caure and I don't live in the same world because it's not even remotely a worry for me. As for the universal tax, it's nowhere in the NFP's program so I guess they're not as obsessed with it as Vincent claim they are.

He offers to put more procedures online such as passpot renewal online whereas the NFP offers nothing. Ok slay king, then run your campaign on that instead of telling lies. Unless this is your only good point?

He claims that the NFP wants to end nuclear energy, which would make us depend on Russian gas. Nowhere is this written on the NFP program. There are only 4 mentions of the word "nuclear" in the NFP program and none of it is associated to the word "stop" or "end", half of them are not even about nuclear energy itself... I don't see where he got that from.

He does agree that the NFP wants to make railways more accessible but argue that they didn't vote for a law making mobility within France easier. Fair! He forgets to mention most of the supporters of this law were his party only and BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT voted against, citing lack of funding for this law as an issue, that the Prime Minister back then brushed away, so take that what you will. Also want to note his only point for this program is that they're going to use the funding for transport that they already have so... ok good? that's not revolutionary. That's just expected.

He also claims that:

the left is the one who led to the far right taking the lead when it's his own party who called for an election. Like. The move no one expected nor wanted except the far right. That was all Macron. That was all your party. You guys flirted so much with the far right that you led them right in, that is NOT the left's fault and even less your favorite scapegoat, Jean-Luc Mélenchon - who, I'd like to remind everyone, is not a candidate for this election oh my god shut up about Mélenchon already I don't care about Mélenchon why are you obsessed with Mélenchon

The left wants a Frexit because of their tax policies (debunked above) and nuclear energy policies (also debunked above). The left is notoriously pro-EU, his opponent is a British-French citizen who probably saw the shitshow of Brexit from the front rows. And even if the left wants to tax VERY rich people trying to avoid being taxed on their huge assets out of France (fun fact: it's for the people who try and get their assets moved to Dubai not to pay taxes on them lmao) and wanted to reduce the use of nuclear energy, that does not equate Frexit, like, I... I don't see the correlation.

The left is planning for 300 billion more expenses and intends to cover for those expenses by taxing people the most. The thing he's not saying is that they intend to tax the richest. It's the rich the target. The very VERY rich. Not you, regular French immigrant to Ireland who struggles with the cost of life in Dublin and cry for a better flat.

ALL IN ALL: Vincent Caure is a liar who ment comme un arracheur de dent et fait sa campagne dessus, ce qui est un peu dégueu.

He cries about potential taxes that would only affect a very, very tiny minority of French people who were probably trying to evade said taxes anyway and tries to frame it as "double taxing French people abroad"

The left wants to tax the rich and good for them and good for us who are not playing in the targeted tax bracket AT ALL.

Macron's party is the one who's fucked us all over; Attal is a notoriously impopular Prime Minister; they're a party for the rich (as proven above by trying to act as if a tax on the rich was gonna be a double tax for everyone like... lmao how out of touch are you) and love to frame themselves as the only right solution QUAND C'EST EUX QUI NOUS ONT MIS DANS LA MERDE

As with the rest of his party, he's obsessed with Mélenchon, who has nothing to do with this specific election since the opposition is initially from the Green Party.

SVP SI VOUS ÊTES DANS LA 3E CIRCONSCRIPTION DES FRANÇAIS À L'ÉTRANGER, VOTEZ CHARLOTTE MINVIELLE AU MOINS POUR NE PAS ÊTRE REPRÉSENTÉ PAR UN CANDIDAT QUI VOUS MENT SANS HONTE POUR AVOIR DES VOTES

and for my English speaking friends: please pray for us all (at least here the far right is not gonna pass but I'd rather not have such a liar for deputee please and thank you)

ET COMME TOUJOURS, ON EMMERDE LE FRONT NATIONAL!

[iir-blog]

What I like about the new generation of sweet love, being a player of all beemoov games since 2015. -GIVEAWAY NG

I think that compared to the old one, the first thing that caught my attention was the layout of the game, the designs have evolved a lot and are simply very beautiful and detailed, the layout is incredible, super colorful, it attracts a lot of attention whoever played the original sweet love knows it well the difference in the look of the two, I really loved the new features added to the game by beemoov after listening to their players, they added things that would make our lives easier in sweet love, like the feature of going back to the last choice made which has already saved me a lot so as not to lose the image and not even the paw's costume after I accidentally clicked on the wrong choice, I also loved the calendar where now the countries increase according to their frequency in the game and this really helps to complete the episodes, it took me years and years to finish the first season of old sweet love but I can easily follow this one and even buy some clothes to participate in the competitions.

But what I'm liking most so far is the story of the character and the crushes, skins and ethnicities that are much more diverse than in the first game, a more engaging story even though it's still at the beginning, the special scenes with your crush are very cute and powerful. I always play them (although this option is bugged for me) very interesting characters in such a way that I personally can't decide who my crush will be.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for our dear new girl after having followed the entire story of the old girl for so many years and the affection I have for my account. @tetrakys

₊̣.̩✧*̣̩˚̣̣⁺̣‧.₊̣̇.‧⁺̣˚̣̣*̣̩⋆·̩̩.̩̥·̩̩⋆*̣̩˚̣̣⁺̣‧.₊̣̇.‧⁺̣˚̣̣*̣̩✧·.̩₊̣.̩₊̣.̩✧*̣̩˚̣̣⁺̣‧.₊̣̇.‧⁺̣˚̣̣*̣̩⋆·̩̩.̩̥·̩̩⋆*̣̩˚̣̣⁺̣‧.₊̣̇.‧⁺̣˚̣̣*̣̩✧·.̩₊̣.̩₊̣.̩✧*̣̩˚̣̣⁺̣‧.₊̣̇.‧⁺̣˚̣̣*̣̩⋆·̩̩.̩̥·̩̩⋆

Em portugues:

O que eu gosto na nova geração de amor doce, sendo uma jogadora de todos os jogos da beemoov desde 2015.

Acho que em comparação com o antigo a primeira coisa que me chamou atenção foi o traço do jogo, os desenhos evoluiram muito e ficaram simplesmente muito lindos e detalhados, o layout esta incrivel super colorido chama muita a atenção quem jogou o amor doce original sabe bem a diferença do visual dos dois, eu amei muito novos recursos adicionados no jogo pela beemoov apos escutarem as suas jogadoras adicionaram coisas que facilitaria nossa vida no amor doce, como o recurso de voltar na ultima escolha feita que ja me salvou muito para não perder a imagem e nem o traje da pata apos ter clicado sem querer na escolha errada, tambem amei o calendario que agora os pas vão aumentando conforme a sua frequencia no jogo e isso ajuda demais a completar os episodeos, levei anos e anos para conseguir termina primeira temporada do amor doce antigo mas esse estou conseguindo acompanhar tranquilamente e ainda comprar algumas roupas para participar das competições.

Mas o que eu estou gostando mais ate agora e a historia da personagem e dos paqueras, peles e etnias muito mais diversificadas do que no primeiro jogo uma historia mais envolvente mesmo que ainda no inicio, as cenas especiais com seu paquera são muito fofas e poder jogar elas sempre (apesar dessa opção estar bugada pra mim) personagens muito interessantes de tal forma que eu pessoalmente não consigo decidir qual vai ser meu paquera.

Estou no aguardo para ver o que o futuro esta rezervando para nossa querida newcete apos ter acompanhado toda a historia da docete antiga durante tantos anos e o carinho que tenho pela minha conta.

[spicybleach]

ℰ𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒰𝓃𝒶𝓋𝒶𝒾𝓁𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒: ℳ𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓈𝒶 𝒮𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾 𝓍 𝒦𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓇𝒶

As promised,I’m writing this short angst one shot based off my experience with being called EU in a past relationship. Finally got around to writing this and posting about this. Bear with me, I still struggle with this statement and the affects of what my ex gf/fiancée did at the time. Feedback is greatly appreciated.

TW: Angst, Insecurities, Crying, lots of reassurance. Mel comforts me 🥹, YOU WILL BE CRYING by the end of this, sorry 🫶🏾 VERY SMALL SMUT,Quotes directly from the source so this is really real and I want it to be authentic as possible.

Word count: ummm idk.

- 𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 ~𝘈 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬~

𝘒: Honestly since you called me “emotionally unavailable” idk something in me changed. I’ve been trying to fix whatever has/ is happening with me but you’re still frustrated and upset and I understand that I’d be upset too

𝘌𝘹: of course it changed something in you. it would do that to anyone & that’s understandable. it wasn’t to hurt you, more so to enlighten you but i wasn’t sure you understood still. you shouldn’t be trying to fix it alone, it’s a feeling, built up feelings and a lifestyle, you can’t just change it overnight & that’s something i’ve got to understand

𝘌𝘹: it’s very upsetting to see something affect you so much but it happens, i went through it & there’s no difference with you, you’re human & we all process things differently

𝘌𝘹: but lately i’ve been thinking, a lot. i’ve had a lot of time to think about what i want & what i need. i won’t continue to do just to please others around me, and the same will apply to you, i don’t want you feeling the need to just do to please me or anyone else.

𝘒: It doesn’t seem like you understand, you want me to move and be on the same level you are and I’m over here beating myself up for it because I’m not there and because I know how upset you are and how long it’s taken me to shake whatever is happening to me.

𝘌𝘹: it’s hard for me to give so much of myself, just to receive a portion of it back, & that’s how it’s always been. it’s frustrating, but you told me not to give up on you & i’ve been holding out on it because walking away doesn’t solve anything but if it always resolves to me being frustrated and you being overwhelmed and beating yourself up, then maybe we should take a few steps back.

𝘒: I know you didn’t want to hurt me but it did hurt. Because I did realize I wasn’t as emotionally available. Ever since then that’s all I thought about when I wasn’t around you.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥.

𝒫𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒹𝒶𝓎...

Melissa and Kassandra just got done having the most sweaty, hot, sticky, messy, things that are probably not even legal sex of their lives. Not even Sunday church could wash these sins away.

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *As I reach my peak, my fingers bite down your shoulder, a loud moan escaping my lips as your fingers continue to draw out my high.*

Darling… darling… you’re so…. I feel…. oh…. oh god……

*My body continues to tremble for you, unable to get myself to calm down as I feel your fingers against me still*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Shhh.. it’s okay baby.. I got you *I kiss your lips*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I practically melt against your kiss, my body still quivering and shaking and completely overwhelmed with you. My breath begins to slow as you soothe me with kisses*

Darling….. I…. oh, darling……. that was more than… i.. I can’t.. think…

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: *I chuckle at the sound of you being speechless* * I push you down on the bed so you can catch your breath. I collapse beside you on my back*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I collapse onto my back beside you, my hand instantly reaching out for you as the only thing I can feel is the overwhelming urge to be close to you. I pull you closer to me, my still trembling body pressed up against you as I try to calm down*

Darling…. that was…. I can’t even…..

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: *I look up at your glowing face, I smile. I reach up and caress your face.* yeah?? It was magical..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I press in closer against your touch, my eyes closing as I relish in the way your fingers feel on my skin*

Darling… yes…. it was magical…. it was perfect…. and I… I can’t get enough…..

*I pull you even closer to me, my own breath slowly evening out against your skin as I try to get my breathing back to normal*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: You were amazing.. ugh I can’t get enough of you.. work is going to be so hard tomorrow.. okay *i whine* new rule.. while we’re on school grounds no pda.. I mean hand holding and the occasional kiss is okay but beyond that we have to be professional…

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I pull you into my arms again with a pout at your words, my body flushing again as you describe me as ‘amazing’*

Darling please… don’t talk about work…..

*I bite my lip as I think about the rule for a moment, my grip on you slightly tightening*

Darling….. fine, no pda in school…… but I can’t go that long without touching you, darling…

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I know I don’t like that rule either but to keep us from getting in trouble or loosing our jobs we’re gonna have too baby okay? *I kiss your nose. Gently caressing your hair*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I sigh at your words, knowing that you are right but still not wanting to have any time where I can’t touch you when I need you*

Darling…. Darling I don’t like it…. but you are right…. we can’t risk it…. just…. just promise you won’t make me go too long….

*I gently nuzzle your neck, my body relaxing at the feel of your fingers running though my hair*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I know..but If I were the reason for you loosing your job I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself but if it came to that I’d quit before anything.. I know how much you love being a teacher Mel.

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I sigh softly as I lay my head against your shoulder, my arm wrapping around you tightly as my breathing begins to even out, my body feeling completely relaxed against you*

Darling… if…. if it ever came to that then you would come with me. We’d find new jobs together. You do understand that there is no one else I will allow to touch me like this, right, honey? I can’t and will never give this up…

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I know baby but no, you’d keep your job and I’d find another.. you wouldn’t lose me ever, never.

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I lift my head from your shoulder to look at you in the eyes, a frown on my face at even the thought of you leaving me*

Darling…. Darling I can’t work with any of these idiots without you. I love them.. but I can’t do it without you, I’m not putting up with Gregory and him not liking pizza and Ava and her antics for longer than I have to. I will come with you.

*I kiss you gently on the lips, my frown melting instantly at the feel of your lips*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Barbara is your best friend… absolutely not baby. You two are inseparable.

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My frown turns into a pout as you dismiss my words, my head shaking slightly as I look at you in the eyes*

Darling…. my friendship with her is nothing compared to what we share. Darling…. I don’t care who it is… I can’t do this job without you.

*I pull you even closer, my body completely pressed to yours as I try to make you understand* Please… you gotta understand, sweetheart.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: You won’t have to worry. I’m not gonna be leaving anytime soon or ever okay? Don’t worry about it * I pull you into a tight hug*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I bury my face into your neck tightly in your hug, my body clinging to you as you reassure me, your words causing me to shiver slightly, the thought of losing you sending my heartbeat into a panic*

Darling… I want to believe you…. but…. but never say never….. but I’ll hold onto you for as long as you promise to hold on to me, okay?

*I pull back from your neck to look at you with seriousness in my eyes, needing complete reassurance*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I promise. Oh believe me.. I’ve never broken any promises right?? Why would I start now hm? * I look you in the eyes with a sense of worry*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I look at you with a frown at your question, my face breaking into a mischievous grin as I think of our past. My head starts to shake softly at your question, my fingers trailing down your neck, my tone completely teasing*

Darling…. are you sure you want to ask that question? *I bite back a smirk at you, my eyebrows raising at you*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Oh I’m sure.. have I broken any promises on purpose?? * I look at you with a confused look on my face.*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I hum against your neck playfully at your words, my teeth biting gently as you try to convince me, my body squirming on top of you in happiness*

Darling, you have broken a few promises…. but I suppose it isn’t your fault that you aren’t able to keep them from me… I’m just too good at convincing you…. are you sure you aren’t getting too old to withstand me?

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: You’re right I can’t keep anything from you. I’m positive.. I’ll never get too old for you. I love you too much

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I smile gently at your words, the way you sound so sure makes my heart flutter and my body relax against you, knowing that your words are true. My fingers continue to trace up and down your body softly as I think about you, my face breaking out into a wide smile as I look at you*

Darling you’ve been with me for so long… you know I’m not leaving…. I mean…. I put up with you…

*I smile softly as I kiss you, my hand coming to your face softly*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: How can you not put up with me? *i smile*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *A smirk breaks out onto my face, my fingers trailing down to your chest to playfully poke you, my eyes narrowing in on you*

I have no idea…. I can’t imagine how I’ve dealt with you this long…. your voice, your attitude, your ego….. I don’t know why I do it….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Because??? You.. say it..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I smirk at your words, my voice growing soft as I look down at you. My hand softly strokes across your cheek as my eyes connect with yours*

Because…. Because I love you, darling… now what are you going to do with that information?

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Say I love you back… I love you

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My smile grows wider as I keep looking into your eyes, gently pulling you closer against me. My voice is as gentle as I look into your eyes and whisper to you*

I love you… I love you so much. You are my one…. The only one for me….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I smile resting my head on your chest *

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I wrap my arms around you as you lay against my chest, my fingers threading through your hair tenderly. I lay there for a moment, holding you close and just enjoying the feel of you on top of me. My eyes stare up at the ceiling as I lay against you, your scent surrounding me. My head turns to yours gently, my lips finding the top of your head to press a tender kiss to it*

My love….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Yes baby??

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I sigh softly, my arms tightening around you slightly as the thoughts run though my mind. I gently press another kiss to your temple, my hand gently squeezing your thigh*

Darling…. you’re the only one in this world made for me, you know that?

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I am?.. really? * my eyes light up *

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My breath stutters as joy fills my body at the soft look of surprise on your face at my words, my body pulling yours even closer at your happiness*

Yes, really, my love. You are the only one I want forever, the only one who makes me feel complete. Forever my love, my darling….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Aw… I- I don’t know what to say baby.. * I pout my lip.*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I giggle at your pout, my fingers gently caressing the bottom of your lip, lightly tugging down as I look at you*

Darling, you’re so cute…. why are you pouting? You are just so cute, my love….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Keeping myself from.. crying..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My brows raise at your words, my eyes narrowing in on you, my fingers tracing down your chin, tilting your head up towards me as I look into your eyes*

Darling… why are you trying to hold back tears? Please tell me what’s wrong….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * A single tear escapes from my eyes* you’re- you’re… mmm.. sorry…

I’m not use to having any type of emotional regularity. The last time I even said anything about my feelings, my emotions I was in the wrong. I was made to feel guilty about them.

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My face softens instantly at the feeling of your tear on my thumb, my heart beating faster at the sight of your tears.*

Darling…. my love…. what is wrong? Please… please tell me, don’t hold it in, darling, please….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I close my eyes and take a deep breath in..* okay… um.. you’re just so incredibly amazing to me.. and I’ve never been able to experience a love like this before and it’s all so overwhelming sometimes because.. I can’t even express how I feel into words and… *I start sobbing*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I immediately pull you close against my chest as I hear you start to cry, my arms wrapping tightly around you and holding you to my body. I hold you as tightly as I can in an attempt to comfort you, my fingers soothingly stroking the back of your head*

Oh my love…. my sweet, sweet love….

*My voice is as gentle and soft as possible as I hold you close, not sure what else to say to help soothe you, my body relaxing as you lay against me*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Why do I keep crying like this? This is the second time today! * I laughed a little before I continue to cry in your arms*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I smile softly at the sound of your little laugh as you cry, my hand gently stroking up and down the back of your head in reassurance. I can’t help but laugh with you, a chuckle escaping me before I respond*

Darling, crying is good for the soul! It’s a good way to release emotions. And what did I tell you about apologizing for your emotions? Never apologize when you are expressing your feelings to me…. I want to know how you feel, even… if it brings you to tears.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Do you really?? Or do you think I’m just a big baby?… * I sniff wiping the tears off your chest.*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My head cocks at your words, a small scowl forming on my face at your thought that I wouldn’t want to know how you truly feel. My hand cups your face softly, my thumb gently wiping a stray tear away*

Darling, I don’t think you’re being a big baby…. Why would you even ask that? What could have ever made you think that I wouldn’t want to know how you feel?

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I cry* because people in the past have said I’m too emotional or not emotional enough, I’m quote; ‘ Emotionally Unavailable’. Because I’m afraid you are going to be just like everyone else who promised who wouldn’t leave me and then surprise surprise, you leave! *I pull away from you a bit*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My heart clenches as you speak about the past, a frown covering my face at the thought of those idiots that broke your heart so easily. My hands find your face again, gently pulling you back so you look me in the eyes*

Darling… you are not emotional unavailable… how could you think that? You’re not too emotional… darling you’re perfect. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, my love. And I would never… ever… leave you. You hear me?

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: No… this is my insecurities getting the best of me and when I let my guard down… * I wipe my eyes.* that’s when shit falls apart! Then I get hurt and then the cycle just continues!!! I’m sorry for yelling at you baby.. I’m sorry

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I shake my head violently at your words, my eyes pleading for you to hear me as my thumb brushes more tears off your cheeks*

Darling, don’t you dare apologize for crying. Don’t you ever apologize for your feelings. I meant what I said, there is nothing to be apologized for. And I would much rather you be open and emotional with me then hold it all in, okay? I want to know how you are feeling my love.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: *I shake my head* it’s not okay baby.. I’m not use to someone being so emotionally responsible like you and then there’s me..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My heart clenches at your words, my breath catching in my throat at the look in your eyes. My lips twitch slightly as you look down, my fingers tracing along your jaw for a moment as I gather my thoughts. When my eyes look back up into yours, they are full of nothing but sincerity and love as I talk*

Darling, please listen to me…. You are emotional, yes, but that is not a bad thing. I don’t mind emotional… in fact… I love emotional.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I don’t know if I can.. * I start sobbing again*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I immediately pull you back into my arms, holding you tightly against you. My chin rests on your shoulder as my arms wrap around you, not saying a word, just holding the trembling form of the woman I love so tightly that I am almost worried I’m squeezing the life from you*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: It’s okay if you don’t want to do this anymore.. I-

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My eyes squeeze shut at your words, my heart practically beating out of my chest as fear floods my body at the thought. My own breath stutters as my grip immediately tightens around you, my head shaking furiously in your neck as I cling to you*

NO. Never…. Never say that to me. You hear me? There is not a place on this planet that will take me from you. I am never leaving you…. Never

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Baby.. you’re just going to.. get tired of me like everyone does. And.. I’m okay with that. *I kiss your cheek lightly *

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My body pulls away at your words, my hands moving to grip your shoulders as I look at you as seriously as I can*

Don’t you EVER say I’m going to get tired of you. You don’t know how wrong you are. All I’ve ever wanted was to find someone like you. So no, I will not get sick of you because I love you. And I will never stop.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I look into it your eyes. I caress your face.* oh.. darling.. tell me how wrong I am then hm?

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My breath catches at the sensation of your hand on my face, my heart swelling at the sweet gesture. I take your hand and raise it up to my lips to press a gentle kiss to your palm, my eyes never leaving yours as I speak*

Darling, you’re so very wrong. I am so in love with you that I will never ever be able to have enough. I don’t care how many years it’s been, one year or twenty….. I will never get tired of you.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I sigh quietly* we’ve been dating all of a couple hours now.. I know you love me and I love you- tell me more on how wrong I am..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My eyebrows raise at your words for a fleeting second before I realize what you are doing, the warmth of my love for you spreading through my body as I gently rest my forehead against yours, my eyes looking into yours seriously as I speak my words with a love and passion that I’ve never held for anyone else*

Darling, we’ve been together as a couple for just a couple of hours, sure… but we’ve been dancing around these feelings for a very… very…. very long time, haven’t we?

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I open my eyes again and tears weld into them again.* I-

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My heart practically stops at the sight of the tears forming in your eyes again, my arms looping around you in an attempt to soothe you. My thumbs stroke lightly at your cheeks, wiping away any tears before they can trail down your face*

Oh… no… no sobbing… stop crying…. please…

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Please… stop-

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I pull your body close against mine, my fingers gently stroking at the back of your head as I try to hold you as tightly as I can. My head gently rests on top of yours as I whisper to you, my voice soft and gentle*

Darling…. look at me…

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I don’t know- I- If I can..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My voice grows just a little firmer as I speak to you, my eyes pleading with yours as I gently move your head so you can look at me*

Darling, please…. you have to look at me. We will never get anywhere if you just keep your eyes closed. Please… open your eyes and look at me, my love….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I look into your eyes.* what?? They’re open now.. now what?

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My heart calms down as i see your eyes open again, the love and adoration in my own eyes on full display as I look at you*

Darling… the reason I asked you to open your eyes was because I wanted to get to look at you. You’re gorgeous… so beautiful…

*My thumb lightly glides over your now tear stained cheek, before I continue to speak to you, my voice practically a whisper in your ear*

And you’re mine.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I’m- I’m none of those things.. that is all you..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I can’t help the way my heart begins to shatter at your words, my brow furrowing just slightly as I hold back the urge to tell you how wrong you are. A small sigh escapes me, my hand gently tucking a loose piece of your hair behind your ear*

Darling, if you don’t think you’re beautiful then you need to get a new pair of glasses. You’re perfect, darling. No, in fact…. You’re more than perfect. You’re extraordinary and you’re all mine

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: *I scoff a little* I’m not the one who wears glasses.. you are.. I-you- mmm- I

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I can’t help the small smile that starts to form on my face at your small joke, a breathy chuckle escaping me as I look at you, my gaze still so full of love and adoration for you*

Yes, you’re right…. I did forget that I wear glasses, didn’t I? But that’s not what matters right now. Right now what you need to do is listen to me…

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Mmm- * I groan* listening…

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My smile grows wider at your groan, my hand on your chin lifting your face so you’re looking me straight on again, my fingers gently cupping your cheek as I gaze into your eyes*

Darling…. Repeat after me. “I, [insert name] am beautiful and perfect.”

*I smile softly at you, knowing how difficult this will probably be for you*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Mmm I- hmmm… I don’t even compare to how beautiful you are to me…

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I can’t help but shake my head at your comment, a small groan escaping me as i look at your stubborness*

Darling, that is not what I asked. I asked you to repeat what I said. Go on. “I, [insert name] am beautiful and perfect.” We’ll worry about me in a minute. But please, for me, repeat what I said. Do it for me.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I- * I roll my eyes* you know Jesus doesn’t like liars.. how can I say something I don’t find myself as.. how am I suppose to get into heaven with you?

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I can’t help but smile softly at the groan I hear from you, my thumb stroking your soft cheek as I continue to look into your eyes with love and adoration. A small chuckle escapes me as you joke at the thought*

Darling, there is nothing about you that would get you kicked out of Heaven. In fact, just look at you…. You’re an ANGEL. So let me tell you once again, look at me….

*My gaze never leaves your eyes as I wait patiently for you to repeat my words*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: *I grown a little louder again.* Melissa Schemmenti… fine… ugh… I… Kassandra am beautiful and perfect.. happy??

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *As soon as the words leave your mouth the smile blooms wider on my face, my eyes lighting up as you finally say what I wanted to hear and a breathy laugh escapes me. I pull you closer to me, my arms wrapping around your body tightly as I smile at you, my thumbs gently stroking your face again*

Never happier, my love. And if you ever need a reminder of how beautiful and perfect you are, I will be here to tell it to you as many times as you need to hear it.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I bite my lip* mmm.. let me hear it again..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I can’t help the smile that graces my face as I realize what you’re asking me, my heart fluttering with love for you as I stare into your soft, dark eyes. My voice comes out in a whisper, my breath gently tickling your face as I lean in a little closer to you*

You are beautiful. You’re perfect. You’re sweet. You’re kind. You’re smart. And you’re mine.

*My fingers stroke softly at the skin of your cheek again.*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: *I softly smile.* tell me how much you love me?… please…

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I pull you closer and gently nuzzle my nose against yours, my fingers now gently tracing up and down your arm as I look into your eyes and speak to you in a soft whisper*

How much do I love you? I love you from the tips of your messy curls… down to the tips of your perfect toes. In fact, darling, I love you in every fathomable way. And I will not stop loving you. Ever.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Yeah?? Do you now?

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My head moves back a little as I raise an eyebrow at your statement, my eyes widening in disbelief at the possibility that you question my love and devotion to you. A small sigh escapes me as I look at you intensely, my voice practically a whisper as my heart rate begins to speed up.*

You doubt my love for you? How could you question it? I would do anything in the world for you, my love. Anything. And I do mean ANYTHING. That’s how much I care.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: No.. I don’t doubt that.. I just wanna hear you keep saying it..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I can’t help the small grin that forms on my lips as my heart skips a beat at your response. My thumbs gently stroke your cheeks, a shiver coursing through me at the thought of telling you how much I love you over and over again*

In that case, darling, then you will hear it. Again. And again. And again. I love you. I love you more than the moon loves the stars. And I will continue to proclaim my love to you forever and ever, and never get tired.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Mmm.. I love the way you say I love you. The way your.. left eye twitches ever so slightly.. the corner of your lips curling with the words dripping from your voice..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My eyes search your face as you describe the way I say “I love you”, my heart stuttering at the thought of it. I can’t help the small breathy chuckle that escapes me at your comment*

Darling, you’re so observant. I’ve never realized what happens to me when I say “I love you”. My left eye really does twitch like that?

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I nod my head slowly.* yeah… it’s cute actually… it happened this morning when you told me you loved me back..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *A small smile stretches across my lips as you remind me of the first time I said “I love you” back to you. My fingers gently move up to your face, my fingertips gently grazing over the soft skin of your face as my gaze on you grows intense again*

Darling… I’m glad you find it cute because… I’ll be doing it for the rest of our lives.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Oh.. please?

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I can’t help the small breathy chuckle that escapes my throat at your words, my heart swelling when I think about what you’re saying. My thumb gently caresses along your cheek as I look at you*

Darling… I will repeat it until the end of time. I will say “I love you” as often as you want to hear it. Every time you need to hear it. Always and forever, my love… I will love you forever.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Say it a million times more …

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *A wide smile grows on my lips as you speak, my heart practically bursting with love for you as I start to whisper it over and over to you, my hands moving to tangle gently in your hair as I pull you closer to me.*

I love you, darling, I love you… I love you I love you I love you…. I love you.

I love you…. I love you… I will always love you…

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: *I smile big as you tell me how much you love me* Like the Dolly Parton song?!..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *A small breathy chuckle escapes me as I realize the reference you’re making, my smile growing wider as I look up at you and whisper softly once again*

Well… like the Dolly Parton song… but better. Because it’s to you. I will always love you, darling.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Mmm.. I didn’t know I was better than that iconic song..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *The corner of my mouth quirks up in a small smirk as I let out a small chuckle, my fingers gently running from your hair and down your back, resting on the small of your back*

Oh darling…. of course you’re better than that song. Because instead of some random person saying they’ve loved someone for a hundred lifetimes, you’ve got me, declaring that I will love you for a million lifetimes to come. So yes. You are better than that song.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: *I kiss your nose. I pout my lip* Baby… you mean all that? Really?

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *Your kiss on my nose makes butterflies flutter in my stomach and as you pout at me in question, I can’t help but smile at you once again*

Yes, love…. I mean every single word that comes out of my mouth. I will love you for eternity, for a million lifetimes to come. Nothing will ever change that. You will always, always, always have my love, darling. You will always have me….

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I love you.. so much baby.. I’m sorry.. again * I pull you into a tight hug*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My body fits perfectly against yours in your tight hug and a content sigh escapes me as I bury my face in your hair, the smell of your shampoo filling my nose as I hold you close*

I love you, my darling. I love you…. And you have nothing to be sorry about. Nothing you could ever do would make me love you any less, darling.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I do.. I’m sorry for yelling at you. I’m sorry if I didn’t make it seem like I didn’t love you I’m- sorry

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I pull away slightly from the hug to look at you as you speak, my gaze soft and tender as I listen to you.*

Darling you have absolutely *nothing* to be sorry for. I should be sorry for not showing you that you were perfect. I should’ve done that from the start. *I pull you into me again, nuzzling my nose against you again as I speak softly, my warm breath tickling your neck and ear*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: You have shown me.. I’m the one who was too blind to see…

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *The sound of your muttered words makes me shake my head softly, my hand gently running up and down your back as I speak*

Darling…. You’ve got to stop blaming yourself. There is absolutely *nothing* wrong in that beautiful little mind of yours. You’re perfect just as you are and you will always be perfect to me.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I can’t help it.. I’m sorry baby.. I’ll do better I promise..

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *The softness in my voice becomes more firm as I stare at you intently, refusing to let you blame yourself for the situation*

No, baby *you’re* the one that doesn’t have to apologize. It’s *me* who needs to apologize for not making sure you felt beautiful and perfect all the time. You’re perfect, darling, don’t ever think you’re anything but.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Baby… you do make me feel all those things and more..it’s my fault

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *The small frown on my face immediately deepens as you continue to blame yourself while refusing to listen to me.*

No, darling, it is not your fault. And I will continue to tell you that it’s *not your fault* until I die. So don’t you worry your pretty little head over it, ok, baby?

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Mmm… you know I will… I’m stubborn like.. you. * I kiss your face*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *A wide smile appears on my face at your words and as you kiss me, my hand gently tracing along your jawline*

Darling, we are both the same kind of stubborn, aren’t we? *a small chuckle escapes me* I love that about you, though. It’s adorable.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Mmm.. I think you’re more stubborn but I digress. It is? Maybe I’ll be more stubborn often yeah?

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *I can’t help the small laugh that escapes me at your comment, my eyes twinkling as I stare at you*

Darling, I am not more stubborn than you. I love your stubbornness, but I’ll continue to tell you how perfect and beautiful you are, so try as I might, it will be difficult to get you to be more stubborn.

*I nuzzle my nose against yours affectionately before I gently press my lips against your skin, kissing softly.*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: And where did you think I learned from?? You. The best there ever was.. * i lightly kiss your jaw*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *A small content sigh escapes me at your soft kiss and as I gently grip the back of your neck in my hand so that I can keep you close, my breath hitches*

Baby…. The best there ever was… *my hand runs softly down your back, lingering on your butt, my eyes sparkling with adoration as my heart bursts with love for you.*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: Mhmmm, that’s you. * I wrap my arms around you tightly*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *The way you cling to me so tightly causes me to pull you even more closely to me, wrapping my arms firmly around your body and holding you close*

You’re right, darling. *I whisper quietly as I softly nuzzle my face against yours, placing soft kisses along it*

That’s me. Because I’d do anything for you, darling. Anything…. *my breath hitches and I can feel my heart beating faster*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: I.. love you so much.. you’re an angel.. * I stare into your eyes*

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: Mmm…. Darling *I can’t help the way my heart skips a beat as you stare at me so intently, my hand moving to gently cup your chin, my thumb gently grazing over your cheek and the corner of your lip*

I would gladly give up heaven if it meant being with you, my love. *I pull you softly into me, my lips gently brushing over yours*

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: * I kiss your nose repeatedly.* I know you’re gonna get there, I’ll make sure of it. But now you’re just my heaven on earth.

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *A small breathy chuckle escapes me as your lips press onto my nose over and over again, my gaze growing soft and tender as I stare lovingly at you*

Darling… I love you so much. You’re the love of my life, darling. And I would spend forever being your heaven on earth, as long as you’d let me be.

𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢: You’re mine forever.

𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢: *My heart practically soars at your words and as I hold you tight, a soft, happy sigh escapes me, a tender smile growing on my lips as I look at you*

I’m yours forever. And don’t you forget it, darling. *I gently brush my lips against yours, before pulling away and burying my face against your neck, pressing soft kisses there*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰̀ 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦��𝘵𝘦𝘳.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 ��𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘭 ❤️

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵: @sasheemo @privatetruths @winters-witch24 @meowmeowhissss @schemmentis @morgana-larkin @sebcheb

𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥!!! 𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 ✨

[itneverendshere]

twitter is a hellscape right now and i’m tired of these americans thinking that that this won’t affect us day-to-day as well. the us economy is the backbone of the modern world. your right-wing politicians embolden ours and speaking as a brit, nigel-wankstain-farage was at a trump rally (this man has five seats in our parliament, in perspective, labour have 411 and trump fans are cheering him? my guy, he lost) you don’t think this won’t affect the outside world? last i checked there weren’t any wars on your continent, but there are on ours and your stupid actions directly affect the shit putin will do. (i get it wasn’t everyone, but it was still 71 million of them).

trump plans to put a 20% import tax on all us exports, and because of what went down with brexit the us is the uk’s biggest trade partner because england decided they didn’t want to be in the eu anymore. freedom for them, but not for scotland and wales. (please let scotland back in eu, we don’t like them either!)

to think as kids we wanted live in america. one of these days, i’m gonna apply for my irish passport and either move to portugal, the netherlands or just sling my hook into the atmosphere.

like the us sends money to my country so bible thumpers can yell at women having abortions, and trans kids wanting to live in peace, at the very least the “scottish family party” are a piss-take.

and don’t even get me started on gen z men. i truly hope the “loneliness epidemic” kills them, their spirit and i hope their last dying breath is them wondering why women wouldn’t come anywhere near them because they wanted “lower gas prices” over a girlfriend and using basic empathy. it is insane that they are trump’s newest voter pull and the last nail in the “gen z are gonna change the world” attitude, gen z might but men, will be in fact, men.

sorry this is so long!

i'm with you 100,000%! it's fucking wild how some people in the U.S. STILL don’t see, or just don’t care, how deeply their political landscape impacts the rest of the world.

america’s economy, culture, and politics are still so influential that the ripple effects are impossible to avoid ANYWHERE. the way right-wing populism bounces back and forth across the atlantic is terrifying.

people like farage latch onto figures like trump, and it just stokes the fire of their own political issues (we have them in portugal too).

brexit’s def amplifyed the uk reliance on the us, economically. now, if trump or someone like him pushes a 20% import tax? that’s not just a hit to the U.S. economy, it’s a huge blow to the UK too, and that’s on top of everything you're already managing post-brexit.

for the gen z "men" leaning into this far-right rhetoric, i honestly hope they never procreate. just die. there’s this generation with so much potential for change, but instead, more than half of them are pulled into this warped mindset that values “freedom” as an excuse for a lack of empathy, all in the name of economics or whatever else (stupid fucking finance incels).

like you said, how the fuck is another human being or basic kindness/human right less important than some superficial metric that ultimately benefits no one?????????? those fucking podcasts have also contributed to this mentality and i see it everywhere, it makes me sick to my stomach. the violence towards women has grown EVEYWHERE (not that it ever stopped, but now we see it even in younger kids, like aged 7-12 INSANE).

[mymainwastoocluttered]

You Make My Head Spin (for the wrong reasons) (Jamil Viper)

Jamil Viper is not stupid

NOTE: I only write for female reader but everyone is welcome to read it!

Warning: Angst

Following the tradition started with Halloween Jade, I'm going to break Jamil's heart for breaking mine <3

Eu sei que a música, nesse caso, seria no ponto de vista da Leitora e não do Jamil, mas a vibe é o que importa.

Jamil Viper is many things, but he is not stupid.

So when the blushing and the fidgeting come, he immediately figures it out: (Y/N), the beloved Ramshackle Prefect, has a crush on him. And it is a strong one, if the occasional stuttering and shy look are anything to go by, which is uncharacteristic of the person who has no problem calling people out on their bullshit and who practically took over Night Raven College from the Headmage’s useless hands.

Jamil is not interested in her, however. He appreciates her, and considers her a good friend. She is the one who he opened up about his problems, who knows how far his feelings towards the unfair role life has given him since birth, who sides with him through thick and thin, who keeps him in his toes before he can do something he might regret, who accepts his real self and expects nothing from him but a good life. Out of everyone in the school, she’s the one who holds most, if not all, of his trust—and “trust” is a resource Jamil is very stingy with.

But he does not feel the same as she does for him.

There’s no blush on his cheeks when she hugs him, there’s no sweat on his hands when she touches his shoulder in support, there’s no stuttering when she smiles at him. His heart doesn’t even do that skipping beat thing when she talks to him. There is no love for her in his heart, no romantic love. Just a great deal of platonic affection.

But Jamil is greedy, and a bit twisted.

(Y/N) doesn’t confess and he allows it.

Instead of bringing her feelings to light, Jamil allows her to nurture them in the silence of her own mind, pretends he doesn’t see, pretends he is oblivious.

Because it brings him a rush of–of power, perhaps? It’s one incredible sensation, the knowledge that out of everyone, out of all the boys that would kill and die and live to gain her affections, she chose Jamil. She fell for Jamil. Jamil Viper, the man born to be second to Kalim, is the winner of the Prefect’s heart.

Some nights, he goes to sleep feeling high in said feeling.

Maybe it is cruel of him, but he doesn’t think much about it. (Y/N) is more than capable of stopping this odd relationship of theirs if she wants, and it’s not like Jamil is going out of his way to string her along. He’s not touching her more than necessary, or hugging her longer than acceptable, or helping her beyond occasional situations. Even when the vindictive voice in his mind, the one who relishes in seeing her come back to him and place him at the center of her attention, tells him to, Jamil keeps things as they are. It’s better that way, neither taking steps to meet in the middle. Everything will eventually sort itself out, he figures.

Jamil Viper is not stupid, he sees when change comes months later.

She stops stuttering, but keeps on smiling. She stops blushing, but keeps talking. She stops fidgeting, but keeps on helping. She keeps on being friends with him, but she doesn’t crush on him anymore.

It should’ve made him relieved.

It doesn’t.

She blushes, she stutters, she fidgets, she smiles, she talks, she helps, she laughs and hugs and kisses her new crush. Her new boyfriend.

That damned eel.

Jamil almost stumbles with the force of the jealousy that hits him. He has only felt it once, towards Kalim and his easy path to success, but right now it is so strong, he feels like throwing up. One hand shoots up to hold the wall, a shaky breath leaving his lips, when he sees (Y/N) get on her tiptoes and press a sweet kiss to Floyd’s lips, giggling when the merman rubs their noses together after. After another sweet kiss, she leaves, a dreamy look on her face and a skip on her step, the same expression she’d have on after Jamil thanked her for helping him with his chores.

His eyes only leave her form when he hears a grating giggle, and he is not sure what his expression is, but it certainly is not pleasant if Floyd is smiling so happily.

“Sea snake~” Floyd greets, showing off his sharp teeth. There is a glint in his mismatched eyes that makes Jamil’s nausea worse. “Shrimpy is so cute, isn’t she?”

“... congratulations on getting together,” he says through gritted teeth.

“You’re late by a few days, but thanks~”

Jamil suddenly remembers a sunny day last week, where she looked so happy he joked that she might rival the sun. Instead of the pretty blush, she only laughed softly and changed subjects to something else. 

He’s not sure if he hates more the fact she didn’t even tell him or the fact she… the fact she fell for someone else. Someone who isn’t Jamil.

“... I see. Good for you.”

“Yeah, good for me. I’m dating the Prefect, how lucky am I?” Floyd’s grin turns malicious without, somehow, losing the edge of affection. “I couldn’t just let her go, you know? Not when she finally started liking me back.”

“Right. Well, goodbye.”

Jamil turns around and walks away. He runs away. He literally starts running once he’s back at the Dorm, taking advantage of the fact everyone is in class right now. He should be too, but between missing class and having to explain why he looks like he might pass out crying to Crewel and the entire class, he’d rather miss it. Crewel can shove homework down his throat when Jamil doesn’t feel like crumbling.

He feels like crumbling.

He had thought, the one who thought himself ever so smart, that it was nothing but a passing crush. That he didn’t feel the same. That he wouldn’t care when it inevitably went away and she started liking someone else. Jamil had counted on that, even.

And now look at him. He laughs to himself, alone in his room, alone with the pieces of his heart, alone with the bitter taste on his tongue. And now look at him, head spinning, sitting on the floor and hiding in his knees, like a sad child. Feelings he had not recognized earlier scream at him now. He didn’t blush, he didn’t stutter, he didn’t get sweaty hands and skipping beats, but he got so much joy. He had so many smiles. He thought of her so many times. He longed for the moments she’d come looking for him.

He slept with the sound of his name on her lips for a lullaby.

The man who thought himself so smart, incapable of seeing his own tells of love.

Jamil Viper is not stupid, but he is a fool.

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT ECOMMERCE NEWS (INCLUDING ETSY), LATE JULY 2024

Things have been hectic so this is a long one update - all the Etsy and other ecommerce news from the past month, broken down for your convenience!

Next week could be a big Etsy news week, with the 2nd quarter report being released, and the mature items ban kicking in. I'm also working on analysis of the new Creativity Standards, but we may not have more substantial information on those until Etsy makes another move. Right now the categories are a mess, but that could change.

A reminder that you can receive more timely updates plus exclusive content - including live chats with me on select topics such as Etsy's new Creativity Standards - by supporting my Patreon: patreon.com/CindyLouWho2

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

The European Union is considering making packages valued under 150 euros subject to customs duties when entering the EU. This is widely seen as a way to reduce Shein and Temu orders. 

The Etsy Creativity Standards announced on July 9th have a lot going on; here is my short summary so far. [post by me on Patreon] While I would not worry too much about this just yet, I expect them to be more important in the near future.  Etsy adding "Made by", "Handpicked by" to every listing is currently full of errors, but more disturbingly, even when a seller points out these errors with arguments from the written policy, Etsy Support is sometimes insisting that the designations are correct. For example, original paintings are lumped in with AI designs and digital downloads. [Post by me on LinkedIn] 

Amazon is imposing new rules regarding on-time delivery rates (OTDR); sellers that do not meet the standard of 90% on time delivery will not be able to continue selling. Businesses are exempted if they use the following tools: Shipping Settings Automation, Automated handling time, and Amazon Buy Shipping. Amazon is allowing only 5 days after shipment for products to arrive within the US. You can read the announcement and vigorous forum discussion here, and EcommerceBytes did a summary of the changes and some complaints.

ETSY NEWS 

As Etsy's widespread ban on many adult-themed products is about to take effect on Monday, I considered why Etsy felt the need to take far more drastic steps than Amazon & eBay has in the same markets. [post by me on Tumblr] The upcoming ban started by getting media attention from Mashable, and quickly escalated to the New York Times [not a gift link; soft paywall]. Etsy is still not commenting on why they are doing this. From the NYT article: "Even before the ban, it was getting harder to run his business, Mr. Goldstein said. So, he thought, “Why don’t we just make our own marketplace?” This year, he started the website Spicerack as an independent alternative to Etsy. The online boutique already has about 75 sellers, which are vetted to make sure they’re not “dropshippers” or simultaneously listing products on e-commerce behemoths like AliExpress or Amazon. Mr. Goldstein said that Spicerack is in the process of adding about 100 more sellers, half of whom signed up when the Etsy ban was announced." From the BBC: “In many countries there is pressure on platforms, sometimes backed by new legislation, to do more to prevent under-18s from encountering explicit content, and to remove illegal or "harmful" content from their platforms. Payment processors are also increasingly wary of working with platforms that enable sex based commerce....those concerns could be addressed by more clearly labelling and separating adult product listings..." The Guardian interviewed a few sellers who are affected.

While Etsy previously stated that the new shop set-up fee would be $15 USD, they quietly changed that, to whatever they feel like charging. [post by me on Patreon]

In case you missed it, the new listing form seems to be triggering Etsy Ads campaigns to start without the seller’s knowledge. [post by me on LinkedIn] Since my post, there are still more reports of this happening, and even more. 

I regret to inform you that Etsy’s Search Analytics are going to disappear after August 14 [post by me on LinkedIn], per a banner on the page.

Canadian sellers will have to pay a 1.15% “Regulatory Operating Fee” on all of their sales income (including shipping and gift wrap) starting August 15. This is likely due to a new law taxing large ecommerce platforms 3% of their Canadian income, which came into effect June 28. The tax applies retroactively back to the beginning of 2022, so Etsy is likely overcharging us to cover those earlier amounts. 

Sellers having difficulties with the domestic pricing tool not working correctly may want to try these tips from an Etsy forum thread: Set the domestic price to the global price amount, save, and then go back in and change the domestic price to your preferred amount, then save again. This apparently works for both new and existing listings, but there are 3 drawbacks: 1) it is time-consuming, 2) it needs to be done any time a listing is changed/edited (including renewals), and 3) it doesn’t seem to work for France. (I don’t ship to France so I cannot test the last point.) Remember, if you have a sale go through for the wrong price, contact Etsy and demand to be compensated the difference. 

Still don’t believe that Etsy is serious about shipping on time? See this Reddit thread by a seller who ignored a 30-day warning, so all of their items were removed from search. From this screenshot, it appears their average order value was fairly high, but that doesn’t mean Etsy will tolerate late shipping from shops with cheaper items, so beware. 

Etsy is testing filtering out digital items from search results unless the terms match a digital item search. See Etsy forum threads here and also here. 

A new academic study calls out Etsy and other online marketplaces for allowing illegally-killed bats to be sold on their sites. “We refute any assertion that the online bat trade is ethical. Again, statements that bats were captive-bred are absurd—bat farms are nonexistent—and it would be impossible for suppliers to find bats that have died naturally in the kind of condition and numbers needed to supply an ornamental trade. These bats were hunted.” The New York Times has also now covered this story [soft paywall]. 

The virtual seller education event Etsy Up is scheduled for September 10. You can register here, but there is no program yet. Usually this event has almost nothing worthwhile for experienced shops, and Etsy generally uses it to push their paid services and integrations along with basic info. 

Etsy is looking for sellers to join their Advocacy program and “share your story”. Beware that sometimes Etsy’s “advocacy” is as much for Etsy as for its sellers, so they are looking for stories that fit Etsy’s own goals. 

The Etsy Design Awards have opened; the final date for submissions is August 8. 

Etsy’s second quarter results for 2024 will be released July 31.

ECOMMERCE NEWS (minus social media)

General

Shein and Temu are facing investigations under the EU’s Digital Services Act. “In a press release, the EU said it’s asking Shein and Temu for more information about measures they’ve taken to meet DSA obligations related to what’s known as “Notice and Action” mechanisms, which should allow users to notify the marketplaces of illegal products.It has also requested info related to the design of their online interfaces, which the pan-EU law mandates must not deceive or manipulate users, such as via so-called “dark patterns”.” Temu is also being sued by Arkansas for having an invasive app that is accused of harvesting data without user permissions. “According to the complaint, Temu is allegedly obscuring its unauthorized access to data through misleading terms of use and privacy policies that do not alert users to the full scope of data that the app can potentially collect. That includes not telling users about tracking granular locations for no defined purpose and collecting "even biometric information such as users’ fingerprints."

Amazon

Amazon now has an AI shopping “assistant” on its US app, called Rufus. “Customers can ask questions about products, comparisons and buying considerations. The AI can provide suggestions for specific tasks or projects.” As per usual with AI, “tests show Rufus doesn’t always provide accurate information.” A review from Marketplace Pulse notes that “Amazon’s AI assistant fails to help shoppers find the best product among the millions in the catalog. It transforms broad questions like “What are the best cycling gloves for winter?” into a few links to product searches — the same searches a shopper could have typed themselves. It refuses to make product recommendations, show specific products, or suggest from the thousands of options. It can’t directly answer the question, “What are the cheapest batteries for my TV remote?”

Any sellers who had items removed for being plants or seeds when they actually aren’t should follow the instructions linked to here to get the situation resolved. An Amazon employee warned sellers: “Please do not acknowledge the violations as these will result in the deactivation of your listings.” Affected businesses should instead appeal the flags.  

Amazon is planning a discount drop shipping from China section, widely seen to be competition to Temu and Shein. However, “[i]t is not clear if these shipments will be made using a U.S. trade provision that exempts individual packages worth less than $800 from U.S. customs duties.”

The European Commission has asked Amazon for more information on “recommender systems, ads transparency provisions and risk assessment measures.” 

Only 1% of US Amazon sellers also offer their items outside of North America. “Due to its proximity to the U.S., Canada has more successful sellers from the U.S. than Canada.” If you have a unique product, this could be an opportunity.  Amazon returns are creating huge workloads for UPS stores and other retailers that accept them. “Amazon “makes up about one-tenth of our profits, but it takes up about 90 percent of the working day,” said Jeremy Walker, a store associate who worked at a UPS Store near Dallas that received between 300 and 600 returns per day.”

Depop

After trying it out in the UK, Depop is removing selling fees for the United States, starting July 15. Payment processing fees still apply. “[B]buyers will now be charged a "marketplace fee" of up to 5% plus a fixed amount up to $1.”

An interview with Depop CEO Kruti Patel Goyal reveals they plan “to bring Depop to a bigger and broader audience over time.” 

eBay

eBay is slowly rolling out changes to the Active Listings page. 

eBay sellers can now get cash advance loans through Liberis, the balance of which gets paid as a percentage of the seller's sales. 

New sellers in the UK might see “automated feedback” on some of their orders, to "help [users] buy and sell with confidence". It will say "This seller successfully completed an order", and is removed once the actual buyer leaves feedback. 

Michaels MakerPlace

Abby Glassenberg reviews Michaels’ MakerPlace popups inside their retail stores. Results seem mixed.

Shopify

A few hundred thousand Shopify users may have had their names, addresses and other data put up for sale on July 3 after a breach. Shopify denies it had any security issues and claims the data came from a third-party app. There was a known data breach at Evolve Bank and Trust in June; that institution is a supporting partner for Shopify Balance. It does appear that Shopify is notifying the affected individuals.

Walmart Walmart is adding pre-owned collectibles to its marketplace. “Eligible categories include Toys (Figures, Dolls, Trains, Plushies, Games, LEGO, Funko, Diecast Cars & Hot Wheels); Media & Music (Movies, Vinyl, Music, SteelBooks, Musical Instruments & Entertainment Replicas); Trading Cards; Comic Books & Books; Sports Memorabilia; and Coins.”

All Other Marketplaces

Indiegogo is opening an ecommerce website for items created through crowdfunding campaigns on the platform, called IndieShop. 

Etsy-owned Reverb now has an “outlet” page, where businesses can sell off their overstock, seconds and out-of-date models for 20% off and free shipping. Most products sold through the main portion of Reverb are used, not new, so this competes with regular sellers. 

Not sure if selling on Faire is right for your business? Here’s a handmade-focussed review of the wholesale site.

Payment Processing

Klarna is now available through Adobe Commerce (previously Magento). 

Shipping

USPS rates for labels on most platforms went up July 1, ahead of the previously-announced July 14th increases. Ina Steiner re-posted the numbers from eBay and Pirate Ship. 

USPS released the addresses and other data of logged-in Informed Delivery users to Meta, LinkedIn and Snap. The company claims it didn’t know the data transfer was happening. 

The free USPS Priority medium shipping tubes are no longer being made, but you can still order existing stock. 

Royal Mail’s Tracked 28 & 48 are now available at post offices. 

UPS’s holiday surcharge rates for the US have been released; the lower surcharges start September 29th.

Shippo has new Canada Post rates from now until January, and the Tracked Packet rates to everywhere but the United States are cheaper than Etsy’s (which are based on Level 4 of Solutions for Small Business). Remember that Shippo makes you pay for a higher tier of service if you use over 30 labels per month.

[being-of-rain]

I just listened to The Children of the Future, and really enjoyed it (Sarah and the Brig were such a delight in it, and Tim Foley is definitely one of my favourite current regular Big Finish authors). But I found it interesting that Three seemed to think he was near the end of his current life, because that's a trope that turns up a fair amount in the Dr Who expanded universe. Basically every classic Doctor seems to know when they're in their final few years, (it sometimes feel like Seven spends half his EU life thinking about how he's going to die soon,) because the authors just can't help themselves. The stories are deeply rooted in the continuity of the TV show, and the emotions of the fans who are writing the new stories. So every time a Doctor reaches their final season they get a meta self-awareness about it, which is something that I don't think ever happens in Classic Who itself. Even in New Who, the melodramatic 'the end is coming' attitude only turns up when the Doctor is told so by someone else. It's just when authors are looking back on the show that authors add the knowledge in, as if it wouldn't have any affect on the character or stories.

I don't know where I'm going with this yet. It's not something I really dislike, because I'm a fan too, and I understand exactly the bittersweet place that the writers are coming from. And in some stories, like The Children of the Future, it works really well and adds an extra dimension to the character (which goodness knows is always welcome when it comes to a character as well-worn as the Doctors). But it's another instance where it feels like the Doctor is really in-tune with the timeline (or narrative) of themself and everyone around them. Things like that always puts me in mind of TV Movie Eight, who reads people's entire lives like a book just by being around them. Or even less deliberately than that: he instinctually, maybe even subconsciously, picks up on their destinies, like long-time audience members of a specific genre, passively recognising the tropes and character archetypes as they're introduced.

[gallifreyanhotfive]

*more warning for me talking about my watching the show fic*

Anyway, context:

I did not expect that much interaction on my silly sleep deprived post! ❤️

As some of you probably know, my original plan was to go into Storm Warning after The Giggle, but I didn't know what to choose after that, which is what I was trying to figure out while writing that other post.

Anyway, I've been doing some thinking...

PROPAGANDA (probably gibberish but my brain is evil rn)

TV Movie: 7 regenerates into 8 because of the American Healthcare System. The Master is a goo snake. He slithers into a new body and proceeds to want the Doctor’s body the whole damn movie. Post regeneration sillies. The Master literally roars like a wild beast. 8 kisses Grace. He fuckin FORGOR. 8 talks about his father for a little bit. Half human????

Night of the Doctor: 8 regenerates into War. Lots of interesting ties to the EU. Short but devastating. This guy pretty much does himself in. Depiction of common perception of Time Lords at the time

Storm Warning: CHARLOTTE POLLARDDDDDDDDD. 8 gets a new companion! He is whimsy and so much more, but there is a foreboding sense to it. RAMSEY THE VORTISAUR. 8 talks a little bit about the Academy Era. Both this and the TV Movie would eventually lead to Zagreus.

The Conscript: 8 gets forced to be apart of a Time War recruitment camp under the threat of Ollistra doing something to his companions. Very good depiction of Time Lords being used as cannon fodder. YOU ARE NOT SONTARANS. Disturbing Gallifreyan nationalistic song. 8 makes everyone's lives difficult. Daleks daleks daleks

Day of the Vashta Nerada: Gallifrey is trying to weaponize the Vashta Nerada for use in the Time War. This doesn't end well. Pretty much everyone dies! Enter GIANT Vashta Nerada and enter the Nerada Vashta.

A Heart on Both Sides: NYSSAAAAAAAA. Nyssa is on The Traken providing hospital relief to those affected by the Time War. She has a helper named Dr. Foster (wink). They go to the planet Reeve, which is incredibly anti-Gallifreyans because the High Council has been blowing up their factories. Time Lord spy. Anti Gallifreyan graffiti and the use of Praxis gas, which almost kills 8.

The Lords of Terror: companion Bliss wants to go visit her parents, only to discover it has been covered in a big dome. 8 gets tortured yet again. Are the Daleks or the Time Lords responsible for this atrocity? Gallifrey is a fucked up society.

In the Garden of Death: 8, Bliss, and the Twelve are in a Dalek POW camp. Oh no they forgor everything! The Daleks torture the heck out of these guys. These amnesiacs briefly wonder if 8 is a bad guy. Interrogation on Interrogation on Interrogation

Mary's Story: Two 8s collide with Mary Shelley and Co at Villa Diodati. First an older 8 who has been affected by vitreous time, leaving him in horrific shape (burns, muscle, bone....I'll spare you the details) to the point where he literally dies for a little bit. Gets electrocuted and turns into basically Frankenstein's Monster. Young 8 turns up, finds these really quite embarrassing, saves the day, and takes Mary on as a companion

[bopinion]

2023 / 47

Aperçu of the week:

"Anyone who wants to save money for the future these days also believes that standing still is the most energy-saving way to reach the goal."

(Sascha Lobo, German media personality and columnist)

Bad News of the Week:

Western democracies have always been able to come to terms with right-wing political currents. Even when they have established themselves. Marine LePen from the Rassemblement National, for example, repeatedly makes it to the run-off for the office of president. It seems fundamentally impossible that she would win. After all, there is always a solid majority of upright democrats who stand together and would never accept that a right-winger could actually take a seat in government.

And now that is exactly what has happened. A right politician at the head of state. In a western democracy. In our immediate neighborhood. In the Netherlands. Geert Wilders and his Partij voor de Vrijheid (Party for Freedom) won the elections there by a clear margin. He is laying claim to the office of Prime Minister. And has a good chance of forming a coalition with a solid parliamentary majority.

Wilders has made a name for himself over the years primarily as an enemy of migration - although that's what always gets me most excited about former colonial powers. Closing borders, banning the Koran, deporting asylum seekers. He has refrained from using these harsh tones in this election campaign. Certainly more out of tactical considerations than out of an actual change of opinion. And was therefore probably elected after 11 years of Mark Rutte as a contrasting program to "business as usual".

A look at Italy provides some hope. There, Georgia Meloni from the right Fratelli d'Italia became head of government for the first time in the West just over a year ago. And is proving to be much less radical in day-to-day politics than in the election campaign. "The office is stronger than the person" is often said. If that is the case, our democracies will be able to withstand it.

Nevertheless, I am increasingly worried that right-wing extremist ideas are becoming more and more acceptable in society. Elections will be held in several eastern German states next year. And the far-right (officially listed as such by the constitution protection agency) AfD is leading all the polls. Next year's European elections could also see a landslide to the right. Whereby the right-wing parties of the EU actually stand for the exact opposite of European ideals. That leaves me stunned.

Good News of the Week:

When Germany's political parties disagree on whether a law complies with the constitution, they appeal to the "Federal Constitutional Court", our Supreme Court. These guardians of our fundamental law then interpret it in a non-partisan way and the discussion is settled. So far, this has always worked excellently, the judges have always lived up to the claim and can be regarded as an absolutely neutral supreme authority.

Now they have once again did justice to this responsibility by literally upholding a decision made by the last "grand coalition" of conservatives and social democrats in 2020. It was about electoral law reform, an issue that directly affects the parties and the basis of their political activity - free elections. And therefore unsurprisingly met with little approval from the opposition parties at the time. In essence, the issue is whether a candidate for a seat in the Bundestag who wins in his or her constituency gets a seat in the parliament even if the party to which he or she belongs would actually be entitled to a lower percentage of seats nationwide. And if so, whether the other parties are then entitled to compensation. The latter was limited by the reform, the former was not.

In my opinion - and I have no legal interpretation skills whatsoever, but I do have a healthy sense of justice - this is absolutely fine. For two reasons. Firstly, according to the constitution, MPs are only bound by their conscience in their work. And therefore theoretically not to any party (not even their own). This premise has been strengthened. Secondly, every vote must be worth the same. If a candidate who has clearly won their constituency does not get a seat in parliament, their votes would no longer count. And no one in that constituency would have the representation to which they were entitled.

I am aware that the regulation - which, by the way, is being called into question by the at the moment ruling coalition in the current legislative period - mainly benefits the small parties CSU (Christian Social Union) and Die Linke (The Left). I am largely unconvinced by their programs and positions. But that doesn't change the fact that I defend their right to exist in parliament. If they are elected, they are elected. Period. In this respect, I am once again very satisfied with our political system.

Personal happy moment of the week:

On Sunday, I remembered boiling hot that I had overlooked a task from work. The shock was huge. Especially when I realized that I wouldn't be able to iron out this lapse on my own. So I dropped my pants in front of my co-workers. And I had a wonderful experience of collegiality: four (!) colleagues put their own plans for the start of the week on hold to help me out of the mess. It feels good. Thank you very much!

I couldn't care less...

...about black week. Because Germany experienced its very own kind of black week: the budget plans for 2023 were retroactively thrown out the window. And the German national soccer team saw its slight hopes of an improved performance dashed by losing matches against Turkey and Austria - what hurts us especially.

As I write this...

...winter has come to Bavaria. And it really did. Unfortunately, due to scheduling problems with the dealership, we haven't received our winter tires yet. As a result, I'm riding my bike to the station in snow flurries and minus 5 degrees Celsius (which always seems colder to me at the beginning of winter than minus 15 in February) to wait outside for a winter-delayed train. But winter is still beautiful. I bravely remind myself of that.

Post Scriptum

90 years ago, the Holodomor occurred in what is now Ukraine. The term Holodomor ( Голодомор - 'killing by hunger') stands for the famine in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in the 1930s. An estimated three to seven million people fell victim to famine during this period. Since independence in 1991, the Ukrainian government has been seeking international recognition of the Holodomor as genocide. This assessment is gaining increasing support, but is being criticized by the Russian government in particular. This is hardly surprising.

After all, it was Joseph Stalin who pursued the political goal of suppressing the Ukrainian desire for freedom and consolidating Soviet rule in Ukraine. In the spirit of Russification, Ukrainian culture was to be eradicated. This included the murder of around 10,000 clerics, the deportation of more than 50,000 intellectuals to Siberia - and the death of millions of the largely peasant population. No wonder that people in Ukraine tend to get scared when the current Russian tsar dreams of good old Soviet times.

[findingnemosworld]

𝐦𝐞𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐨 - 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨 𝐤𝐚𝐤𝐚

・𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬

( 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐚 𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨 𝐤𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩? )

𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐩, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐭 ( 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐢𝐭 )

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐈 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐬𝐨 … 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 ….

The chiming of her doorbell incited confusion in her as she wasn’t expecting any visitors to stop by tonight, she was off from work and had spent the day cleaning the house, now she was making dinner for herself; she turns off the stove then walks out of the kitchen towards the front door, she stands up on the tips of her toes to check and instantly smiles upon realizing who it was.

It was her boyfriend of two years, Ricardo.

The pair met three months after his move to the MLS team Orlando City FC, completely by chance – she was sent as a journalist to write an article about him, and that was the setting stone which lead to them getting to know one another on a deeper level, obviously with the level of fame he has, they’d agreed on keeping their relationship under wraps.

The second reason for their agreement was the fact that he was ten years her senior, and he didn’t want her to be affected by the negative backlash.

She opens the door with a bright smile, " Olá meu amor " she says before cradling his face to press a soft kiss on his lips.

" Olá, minha linda menina " He murmurs, wrapping his arms around her waist, " I missed you so much "

Her eyes soften, and a sweet smile adorns her lips. " I missed you too " she nuzzles her nose against his, " How was training? "

" It was tiring, but I’m excited for what’s coming ahead, I’m also excited for the tournament " He sighs with a smile, " However I am most excited for the time I’m going to spend with you, I’ve got the weekend off so we are going to take the chance of renting out a cottage in the forest, just you and me " he pecks her forehead.

She grins then says, " I love it " exhaling a deep breath she adds on. " Are you hungry? cause I was making something to eat, so I can make more for the two of us and we can ea— " her ramble was cut short by the sensation of his lips colliding with hers, in a mixture of passion and pure love which elicited a moan from her that he swallowed into his own lips.

He pulls back and smiles softly, " I am hungry " he whispers, licking his lips. " Hungry for you "

It all transpired in a blur, their clothes were thrown across the living room in the heat of kissing and touching one another, if there is one ( amongst many ) of the things she adored about him, it was his intense passion that he tends to show in every aspect of his life, most especially in the bedroom.

He sets her down on her back, on their soft bed and sighs with a smile on his face, " Eu tenho tanta sorte " he whispers to himself before crawling on top of her, kissing every inch of exposed skin in his way until he crawled back up to kiss her lips while his digits settled between her legs to tease her slick pussy, " I love you so much baby " he sighs against her lips, " I love you more than you’ll ever know "

She wraps her arms around his neck, rhythmically meeting his movements by arching her back off of the bed, " Oh Ricardo, right there " she whines, " so good "

" You like it, menina " He smiles against her lips, pecking them before he nestled his face in her neck. " Such a good girl for me "

She threads her fingers through his hair, " I do, I love it so much " she sighs, she struggled to keep her lids open. " Oh my … right there "

The knot in her lower abdomen erupts all the while his digits moved in a rapid motion, " My girl, my sweet good girl " he sighs, replacing his digits with his hard and aching cock that slowly nestled inside of her walls causing a gasp to escape from him, " I missed this " he sighs.

She wraps her arms around his back and nods, " Me too, I missed you so much " she sighs, pecking his lips.

He deepens the kiss, " I promise, I’ll make up for all the lost time this weekend " he leisurely started to thrust in and out of her, " Yes, yes " he sighs.

She moans against his lips, " Keep going please, don’t stop " she whines.

" Oh I won’t stop baby, I’m not stopping anytime soon " He said in between their kisses. " I love you " he sighs

" I love you too " She moans, as she rides through her second orgasm, followed closely by him riding through his release. " Oh yes, it feels so good, you feel so good baby "

He pressed soft kisses against her cheek, " I love you baby, I love you so much " he moans in her ear.

" I love you too " She sighs.

He stills for a moment, before pulling out to go to her bathroom to grab two wet cloths to clean them up, once they were all cleaned up, he tucks her in his arms with a sweet smile then says, " Good night sweet girl "

" Good night my love " She smiles.

[fireflowersims]

Pinned post for reasons:

Why make this post

Bunch of reasons. Mostly bc I currently have a lot on my mind

Who are you?

Fire(flower)(sims); a simmer whose most popular posts are about international events for some reason

Full legal name, age, address and credit card details?

Haha no

For which games do you create?

Sims Medieval of course! (just kidding).

No, I create for the Sims 2 and Sims 2 only.

Aren't you part of Sun&Moon?

Yup. I mostly do coding, optimization and localisation stuff.

Why is a simblr posting about politics and news sometimes? I came here for pixel people, not flesh people!

Sometimes rl news and crap just gets ya and you gotta release those emotions. Politics? They're unfortunately pretty inescapable. Also tumblr is often so US-centric, someone has to post about things affecting Europe too.

Why do you have opinions on the Israel/Palestine situation?

Because I think that shutting off people's access to water, food, electricity and medicine and then bombing their housing and killing civilians is a crime against humanity. Not to mention the whole colonization aspect. Also, my grandfather lived through the Dutch winter famine of 1944 and I do not wish the trauma he got from that on anyone.

Why aren't you (more) active?

RL shit. I have a job that takes up a lot of time and energy. Rn my dad has a type of cancer that is both relatively rare, difficult to treat and a high mortality rate to boot, very stressful to say the least. Insert wayyyy more shit besides that.

You're a metalhead? What type of metal? Got any recommendations?

Folk metal, black metal and death metal for the most part atm. But I also listen to other subgenres. Do ask me about cool songs, albums or artists I've been vibing to. I'd love that. (I need distractions)

Folk metal? Black metal? You some nationalist or alt-right wackadoodle?

There are things I like about my country and things I absolutely despise about it. I do not believe anyone's religion or ethnicity makes them inherently superior to others, so no: I'm no nationalist alt-right wackadoodle. If anything, I'd call myself anarchist-leaning. I just got into metal via blackened folk metal, that's all.

Ew politics

Yeah, agreed. Politics ew, yucky stuff

When are you going to be posting sims stuff again?

Difficult to say. When I have time, when I have energy. I do have a whole lot of stuff I want to finish up and post.

Hobbies

Sims, sleeping, cooking, music, travel, doing weird stuff for shits and giggles sometimes

What languages do you speak?

Depends. Dutch natively, Low Saxon ??? (It's complicated), English fluently. German and (EU) Spanish decent enough but fluctuate depending on how often I get to use them.

A bunch of others to various much lower levels. Just bc I can conjugate some verbs, string together a sentence or two or know some words, doesn't mean I can have a conversation or understand anything beyond "hi, yes, thank you, bye"

What do you do irl?

Internet stuff. You're not gonna get anything more specific. It describes it perfectly.

Fandoms?

Wouldn't you like to know

Will this post or your awful theme ever be modified?

Probably and possibly. We'll see

END

[thessalian]

Thess vs Big Brother

For those of you who aren't aware (because I know a lot of you are USian or at least not being here in the UK, and there's a lot going on right now), there have been some ... issues ... in the UK the last little while. And by "issues", I mean "alt-right riots". Supposedly rallies, but y'know. More are expected over the weekend. I will be staying indoors as much as possible, even though I did have plans to be Out And About at least a little this weekend. A nearby borough already had its bits of violence not all that long ago, and that was severely under-reported. If anyplace else in London is going to have some of that shit (because Whitehall, while it makes a statement, isn't a place where you'll find mosques or businesses run by non-white people the way, say, Clapham or Peckham or most of outer London), it'll be in that borough. Those who are now having to call themselves "anti-racists", since all of the other terms for "not an asshole" have been turned into insults, are planning counter-protests. So ... yeah. Riots.

The reason for this particular blog entry title is what our relatively new PM, Kier Starmer, wants to do about it. What he wants to do is expand the use of live facial recognition technology. Which, because we're not in the EU anymore and we left before the EU laws we had to write into our own human rights record could catch up with the technology, is a highly under-regulated technology. Hell, Starmer suggested this expanded use of facial recognition on the same day that the EU passed a law largely banning the use of facial recognition software.

Please understand that this is talking about shit like checking whether someone's on the Naughty List before they're allowed to so much as board a train, and phrases like, "where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the individual depicted is about to cause an offense". Emphasis mine, because we already know that five people got arrested and sentenced to years in jail just for talking about a protest on fucking Zoom. Stuff like this could be used to go, say, "Well, this guy was under suspicion of planning a protest, and he wants to go to Liverpool; he shouldn't be allowed to go and cause trouble in Liverpool, so he is not allowed on the train".

Combine live facial recognition technology (which already struggles with identifying Black people) and the various recent bills that allow for much greater stop-and-search powers, and no legal restrictions on how this can be used? It's a fucking human rights nightmare. We've already got voter ID; apparently shit like this amounts to having a national ID scheme. Except instead of some jackboot-wearing asshole asking to see your papers, they'll just point a bodycam at you and let you hope to hell that it doesn't read your face wrong. Or right, honestly. We've thrown "innocent until proven guilty" out the fucking window because they don't even wait until you've done anything.

And this is the response to white supremacist assholes rioting, attacking mosques, and stabbing thirteen people at a dance class. "Let's implement a solution that will most negatively affect the people these white supremacist assholes are actually attacking! YAAAAAAY!"

Fuck this country. Fuck it right in the ear. And fuck Labour. Then again, the Tories would probably have been worse at this point. Though I wonder how the white supremacist assholes would have felt with Rishi Sunak, who is not exactly white, still being Prime Minister. Then again, they'd have preferred Farage, who is not quite encouraging violence this weekend but is saying that it's an inevitability and will only get worse. On Formerly-Twitter. It's the fascist asshole's tacit permission, and we all know it. Especially the people who will use it as such and throw a brick through some poor shopkeeper's window. Or worse.

This place scares me and I can't complain to my mother because she very much believes in "if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear" and supports things like banning face coverings and the like Because Terrorism. Then again, she lost so many friends on 9/11 and I sometimes think that got to her in ways she hasn't really tried to explore in, say, therapy. Me? I believe until innocent until proven guilty, and too much of this doesn't really seem to care if you're guilty, and while it's being talked about in the context of alt-right riots, you know that's not how it'll be used long-term.

*whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine*