#los angeles room addition

[structuraremodeling]

Home Improvement Projects To Do This Summer

Spring arrives and you start dreaming of Summer trips to the beach and BBQs in the back yard. As you survey your Los Angeles outdoor space you start to make a mental list of all the projects that need to get done. The roof was a little leaky this winter and as a Los Angeles homeowner you may have been putting off these repairs. The deck is looking like it needs a refinish. Perhaps you’re thinking it would be a good time to call on a custom deck builders near me Los Angeles to help you repair those rickety steps. Your neighbor is siding his house and now and maybe you’ve notices that your home is now looking a little shabby. Have you been watching your favorite home remodeling shows all winter and while “sheltering in place” and now you’re dreaming of updating your space? Now is the time to work with a general contractor for kitchen remodel !!! Los Angeles is blessed with great weather year-round…. but there are some home renovation projects that are best reserved for summer. Here are some of the top summer home improvement projects for Los Angeles homeowners.

Outside Projects:

Repair or replace your roof- Winter is the rainy season in L.A. The best time to replace or repair your roof is in the heat of the summer when it is nice and dry. Get it done now. Having a leaky roof could create mold issues in your home or cause further structural damage. This could add additional costs to your Roof Renovation if you wait. Build an outdoor kitchen– We have all been spending more time at home. Cooking has become the new “it” hobby. Indulge your gourmet fantasies and build the outdoor kitchen of your dreams. Both practical for outdoor entertaining and a prudent investment in the value of your home. In Los Angeles, an outdoor kitchen renovation will provide many joyful opportunities year-round. Replace Home Siding– Is your exterior paint no longer standing up? Is your house looking a little sad? It may be time to consider siding your home. There are so many new choices. Something for everyone’s taste. Most of these new materials are weatherproof and fireproof which is perfect for the challenges of living in Los Angeles. Make your neighbors jealous by renovating your exterior. Build a New Deck/ Outdoor Living Space– A new deck design will add additional living space to your home and give you that resort lifestyle you have been craving. Add an option for shade. Maybe a fireplace or fire pit. How about a water feature or jacuzzi? When you hire a Professional L.A. Contractor, they will help you create an inspired space with whatever outdoor area you have to work with.

Summer Interior Renovation Projects:

New Kitchen– Have you been thinking it’s time for a new kitchen? Whether you invest in a full kitchen remodeling in Los Angeles or just focus on replacing the countertops and resurfacing the cabinets, summer is the perfect time to complete this home kitchen remodel. You can use your outdoor kitchen or set up a temporary outdoor space for your family. The kids are off from school. Life is more laid back. Choosing now as a time to remodel your kitchen will help the renovation project feel more like a camping adventure and less disruptive. New Windows and Doors. – Add some drama and flair to your home with new windows and a new front door. This is a practical upgrade and will add a new dimension of beauty to your Los Angeles Home. New windows will save you time and money. They will keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Protect you and your furnishings from the sun and UV rays. You can even have windows installed that are made with earthquake-proof glass! A new front door not only provides an upgraded level of security but, also a wonderful opportunity to update your Los Angeles homes’ curb appeal. Your new door should be fireproof and break-In resistant. An easy way to upgrade the look of your home. New Ceiling Fans– Are your ceiling fans from the 1970s and sound like they are limping along. New modern ceiling fans will keep you cool while lighting up your world. Important to have a ceiling fan in each room of the house for airflow and to help the air conditioning system on those steamy 100-degree Los Angeles Summer days. Replacing them will keep your family safe from any falling objects!!! Some Simple Additional Hacks- Upgrade your curb appeal with a selection of Los Angeles Drought -Free Plants. Add a pop of color by including your favorite flowers. Your home will look amazing both inside and out. Add a vegetable garden and include your favorite herbs. Wrap some solar twinkle lights around your trees. Time to add a new fruit tree or exotic palm.

[mdmcustom-remodeling]

Redefine Your Space: Expert Second Story Addition Solutions in Los Angeles

Are you yearning to enhance your home with additional bedrooms, bathrooms, or extra living space but find yourself limited by the constraints of a single-story layout? Expanding horizontally would encroach upon precious outdoor areas, a sacrifice you may not be willing to make. The solution lies in thinking vertically – consider a second story addition.

At MDM Custom Remodeling, Inc., we specialize in crafting bespoke second story additions in Los Angeles, tailored to fulfill your vision of a dream home. With a wealth of experience and a proven track record, we offer an extensive portfolio showcasing satisfied clients who have successfully expanded their living space with our expertly executed projects.

Our approach is comprehensive and client-centric, ensuring a seamless journey from conceptualization to completion. We begin by collaborating closely with you to understand your unique requirements, preferences, and aesthetic aspirations. Our design team then conceptualizes the ideal second story addition, optimizing space utilization while maintaining architectural harmony with the existing structure.

Throughout the construction process, our skilled craftsmen prioritize precision and attention to detail, delivering impeccable results that exceed expectations. We handle every aspect of the project, from obtaining necessary permits to adhering to local building regulations, ensuring a hassle-free experience for our clients.

Furthermore, we understand the importance of integrating modern amenities and sustainable features into your second story addition, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency while future-proofing your home. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond construction – we strive to create living spaces that not only meet but exceed your expectations, enriching your lifestyle and adding long-term value to your property.

With MDM Custom Remodeling, Inc. as your partner, embarking on a second story addition journey in Los Angeles is a seamless and rewarding experience. Let us help you transform your home into the haven you've always dreamed of.

[classycherryblossomcomputer]

Transform Your Los Angeles Home with Room Additions and Custom Doors

Introduction

In the fast-paced city of Los Angeles, where trends come and go, homeowners are constantly looking for ways to upgrade their properties to meet their evolving needs and preferences. Two popular options for enhancing your home are room additions Los Angeles and custom doors Los Angeles. In this article, we delve into how these investments can transform your living space and add value to your property.

Room Additions: Expanding Your Living Area

Whether you need extra space for a growing family or want to create a dedicated workspace, room additions Los Angeles provide a flexible solution to your spatial constraints. Snow Construction specializes in designing and building seamless extensions that seamlessly integrate with your existing architecture, ensuring a cohesive look and feel throughout your home. With their expertise in zoning regulations and building codes, they can navigate the complexities of the construction process, making your vision a reality.

Custom Doors: Enhancing Curb Appeal

Your home's exterior sets the tone for the rest of the property, making it essential to invest in high-quality custom doors Los Angeles that make a lasting impression. Snow Construction offers a wide range of customizable options, from elegant wood designs to sleek contemporary styles, allowing you to express your personal taste and enhance your home's curb appeal. With their attention to detail and commitment to craftsmanship, you can trust them to deliver doors that not only look beautiful but also provide security and energy efficiency.

Conclusion

As a homeowner in Los Angeles, you have the opportunity to elevate your living space with room additions Los Angeles and custom doors Los Angeles that reflect your style and meet your practical needs. Whether you're expanding your home to accommodate a growing family or simply want to enhance its aesthetic appeal, Snow Construction has the expertise and resources to bring your vision to life. With their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, you can trust them to deliver results that exceed your expectations. So why wait? Contact Snow Construction today and take the first step towards transforming your Los Angeles home into a sanctuary of style and comfort.

[davidsblogs123]

Strengthening LA's Foundations Bob The Paver's Unmatched Structural Concrete Services

Bob The Paver fortifies Los Angeles with unparalleled Foundation Inspection services Los Angeles CA. Strengthen your foundations with our expertise. Trust the difference.

[dorabellingham]

Stars

warnings: none

characters: jude x reader

summary: when you, a hollywood actress, need to shoot an underwear campaign with him.

may contain spelling and translation errors!

You, or rather Y/n Marx, were at the height of your career. You were the most sought-after actress in Hollywood, winning awards like the Oscar and the Golden Globe, even though you were so young. Your performances in romance films, dramas and comedies have made you a global icon. Your ability to transform into any role and the charisma you exuded on camera made you an unbeatable force in the film industry. The english actress, who won hearts all over the world, has been everywhere: red carpets, magazine covers and, now, in a campaign for Skims, a renowned fashion brand. You were used to being the center of attention, but this campaign would be different. It wouldn't just be about you.

For the first time, you would share stardom with someone, and that someone was none other than Jude Bellingham, one of the most promising football players in the world and an idol in Europe. You had heard about him several times through the mutual friend you had been friends with since the days when you were still a young rising star.

Jude was, in addition to being a football star, a charismatic man, with a legion of fans around the world. He had a relaxed and natural way that captivated anyone, whether on the field or off. You've never met him in person, but his name always comes up in conversations with your friend. You exchanged messages here and there, but nothing very significant... Until that moment.

Campaign day has arrived. The set was located in a stunning mansion in Los Angeles, filled with luxurious environments and stunning views. Upon arrival, you were greeted with the usual treatment: a team of makeup artists, stylists and assistants, all ready to make sure you looked perfect for the photos. You, as always, remained calm and professional, greeting everyone with your warm smile. However, the player's name echoed in the set. You knew he was there too, but the idea that you would finally meet in person left a slight feeling in your stomach.

Y/n Marx wasn't easily intimidated, but something about this encounter made you feel different. Maybe it was because, in all your fame and success, you'd never really taken the time to get to know someone in such a...sincere way. And Jude was someone who shared that pressure of fame, someone who perhaps understood it on a deeper level.

While you were in the dressing room, you caught a commotion coming from the main entrance. It was him.

—Jude has arrived!

The makeup artist commented casually.

You looked in the mirror, taking in your impeccably prepared reflection for the cameras, but your heart started to beat a little faster. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for the first interaction.

When you finally returned to the set, you were on your back, adjusting your dress for the first photo. He heard footsteps and then Bukayo's familiar voice.

—Y/n, this here is Jude, but I'm sure you already know each other because I talk about him so much.

He joked, with that typical smile that always warmed up any room.

You slowly turned around and met Jude's eyes for the first time. It was something beyond what you expected. His photos on social media didn't do justice to the presence he exuded in person. Tall, with an easy smile, and with that look that mixed curiosity and a certain charm. You stared at each other for a moment, the world around you seemed to slow down.

—I finally meet you in person!

Jude said, extending his hand to you with a smile that revealed both tranquility and slight nervousness.

—Yes, finally! —You replied, with a soft laugh, accepting the handshake. —Saka don't stop talk about you.

The touch of your hands seems to last a little longer than necessary. There was something about the energy between you, something neither of you expected.

The photo session began, and the first poses were relaxed, with the two laughing and interacting as if they were already old friends. Jude, despite being more used to football pitches than fashion cameras, surprised everyone with his ease. He moves naturally, his athletic body perfectly complementing the campaign's aesthetic.

You, on the other hand, were in your comfort zone, but something about the man's presence made you feel vulnerable, in the best of ways. There was something genuine about him that took her out of her usual impeccable posture. At times, you found yourself actually laughing, something rare on such controlled film sets.

After a few hours of photos and videos, the team took a break. You turned around in the rest area, both of you with a bottle of water in your hands, still adjusting your costumes.

—You're really good at this.

You commented, breaking the silence as you sat next to him on the white sofa that decorated the set.

—I was a little nervous at first.... —He admitted, shrugging. —This isn't exactly my field, you know?

—It doesn't even seem like it! —You laughed. —You look very natural.

You were silent for a moment, just watching the team move around. Then, Jude looked at you, his gaze more serious this time.

—You are much more reserved than I expected. —He said, with a sincerity that caught her by surprise. —I always see you on screen, so confident, but you have this way... different in person.

You blurted out, a little shy.

—It's different being in front of the camera as Y/N Marx and just being Y/n, you know? —You confessed, something you don't usually do with strangers. —People don't always understand that.

—I understand. —He replied, with a simplicity that made your heart quicken. —I think we have that in common.

The look between you lasted longer than expected, a silent exchange of understanding that was interrupted when Bukayo appeared out of nowhere, throwing a pillow at the two of you.

—Hey, I don't care about a romantic atmosphere on the set!!! —Bukayo joked, laughing loudly. —Come on, you still have a few more photos to take.

The rest of the day passed quickly, but that exchange of looks between you was recorded in both of your minds. When the photo session ended, and the sun was already setting, you said goodbye, but with a feeling that this meeting would not be the last.

As you got into the car that would take you back to the hotel, you couldn't help the smile that insisted on appearing on your lips. Jude also looked different. You both knew something special had happened on that set, something that no camera had ever fully captured, but that they would both feel for a long time.

And so began the love story between a Hollywood star and a world football icon.

[highonmarvel]

Ribs

Bucky Barnes: Mob!Bucky finds you. 18+ only.

additional content warnings here!

CONTENT WARNING, PLEASE READ: This piece includes graphic depictions of domestic violence. Seriously, this is really dark; do not proceed if you are uncomfortable with explicit descriptions of physical and verbal abuse and rape. This is your warning. This is fucking dark. I can not stress this enough. I am fucked up.

Non Con Warning!

What’s scarier than dating Bucky? Leaving him.

You thought with dating the most notorious mob boss in New York, the biggest danger would be his enemies, no: the biggest threat to your safety was him. When you had first met him, you hadn’t known who he was, having only moved to New York a few months prior. He was charming, and he had an air of danger about him you couldn’t help but be attracted to; you thought it would be fun, a New York bad boy, he was all mysterious. You didn’t have any friends at the time, so no one could have warned you about who he really was, and by the time you found out, you were in too deep.

Maybe him being suspiciously rich should have raised a red flag, because even the most pretentious of the wealthy don’t take a limo to a bar, but he had, that first night you met him. The loud chatter had ever so slightly dimmed when he entered the bar, but you only thought it was because he was wearing an expensive suit, and though you rolled your eyes at the flashy display, you couldn’t help but stare at him as he made his way through the room—crowds parted, everyone tried to appear that they hadn’t noticed him, but it was crystal they had. You can’t not notice a man like that.

He disappeared into a back room with two men trailing behind him, and after a few minutes emerged looking slightly disheveled, but satisfied. You tried your hardest to focus on… something else when he sat down beside you and ordered a whiskey, but that was practically impossible when everything about him was magnetic. You chanced a look at him only to find him already staring at you, blue eyes twinkling with a mischievousness you couldn’t quite place and a small smirk. He had taken you home that night.

You hadn’t fled because of his business, selfishly, you could live with the fact he hurt other people—for a while, you could live with the fact he hurt you too, because he just had you captivated. He was harsh, brutal, but could also be loving, he bent over backwards to your every desire—say the word and he’d do it.

Except when you asked him to stop.

You had to leave New York altogether, you knew; he ran the whole fucking city, there was no way you could hide from him in the kingdom he ruled. You had struggled to pick where to go next, if you had had the money, you honestly would have left the fucking continent, started a new life in Namibia or Australia or Japan or however far away from him as you could get, but for now you were restricted to the States. Was Los Angeles too big a city for him to find you, or was it too obvious? Maybe he had people there, you had no idea. Would a small town be too quiet to scream for help, or so obscure he wouldn’t even think to look there?

You settled on a random town in Colorado.

You had ditched your phone the second you could—you had had to hold onto it a bit longer in order to get around, and received many calls and angry texts, but you had tossed it into a street somewhere in Oklahoma and picked up a random brick phone just to have. You thought you were being dramatic at first, taking all these measures, but no, James Barnes is the most powerful man in New York state, more powerful than you could have imagined when you first discovered who he was. He runs everything. He always gets what he wants, and he wants you.

I’ll find you you fucking cunt.

His last text message to you before you had destroyed your phone. You didn’t doubt he could.

You cut your hair, dyed it a shade darker, and spent the first month looking over your shoulder, jumping at shadows, barely speaking to anyone, unsure of who you could trust and who you couldn’t, even from so far away you remained cautious. Picking a job was difficult; if you got an office job, could he find out through fucking white collar records or something? If you got a job in retail, would someone recognise you and alert him?

You got a job at a bookstore—fairly quiet, and the rows of shelves seemed like good enough hiding places were he to hunt you down. Hunt.

In front of the mirror, you pull up your t-shirt to examine your ribs: the bruises are starting to fade, and there’s only a dull pain when you run cold fingers over the light blue. The final reminders of the night you had feared for your life, the night you had decided you had to leave, were starting to fade.

Bucky had gotten violent many times before, but never had you feared for your life; you genuinely thought he was going to kill you.

He had come home fucking livid like you’d never seen before, and three months later you still have no clue as to why. At least when he had been drinking his blows were slightly less hard and you were sometimes (very rarely) able to outrun him and lock yourself in a bathroom for the night, but that night he was drunk purely on anger.

You were genuinely surprised he hadn’t broken your ribs; just hit after hit until you could barely breathe—you thought you’d suffocate. Turns out he had fractured your right foot, but even still you left New York limping badly, knowing if you stopped even to just get it checked out, you’d never make it out the city.

Here, in your new town, you got your foot checked out and fixed up by a friendly doctor, Dean, who you’d taken a liking to. Though it was a bit worse for wear considering you’d left it unchecked for a week, and even now you still couldn’t walk quite right, he assured you you’d make a full recovery.

Dean and you had been growing closer, and you thought he would eventually ask you out, until one day he stopped visiting you at work—usually he’d come in every Wednesday afternoon, but he hadn’t, and you couldn’t reach him online. You even went into his practice, but his assistant had said he’d just taken a camping trip. Your stomach twisted, but you left it, and took he had just gone away for a while.

Deep down, you knew.

The third Wednesday afternoon Dean hasn’t dropped it. You walk back to your place a little down; despite not knowing him well, you were really growing to like him.

You sigh, kicking off your shoes as you enter your apartment and into the pile by the door. You turn on the lights as you make your way through the small place, still limping slightly: corridor, light on; kitchen, light on; living room, light on.

You can’t even say your blood runs ice cold, more like it freezes in your veins.

Bucky is seated comfortably in your armchair, of course nursing a drink, face entirely stoic, and eyes fixated on yours, as if he had been staring at that exact spot for hours, knowing you would fall into his line of vision.

But the door was locked, you want to cry, How did he get in? No windows are broken, nothing.

“Sweetheart,” he coos as he sets his drink on the side table, “I’ve missed you.”

“Why?” is all you can muster, barely a whisper, more like a nearly silent whistle in wind, one you can only hear if you were to really strain for it, and if you knew what to listen for. Why is he here? After three fucking months, you thought (hoped) he’d just lost interest—this can’t be the first time he’s had a girl run away from him considering how he treated you. Why is he so set on this? You can only imagine it’s stubbornness and pride, not wanting to lose a prize, no matter how ill he treated it. And why you?

Of course, though, you can’t articulate any of these thoughts, you can barely even think them, can’t process them, all turning to a light buzz in your in your mind, one that could be mistaken for pure static—just absence of thought. No thoughts, all thoughts, you can’t even care about.

“Of course I missed my favourite girl,” he offers, a lopsided smirk forming on his handsome features, “Sit,” he instructs, so gently you wonder if you’ve imagined it—a very direct order (and you know he doesn’t like to be disobeyed), yet delivered in the softest manner.

The bruises on the right of your ribcage sting as you stare back at him, unmoving. Bucky never repeats himself, and he doesn’t now, seeming to overlook your defiance (though really it’s shock) as he leans forward slightly and begins speaking to you.

“You’re a smart girl, I can tell from how you really tried to cover your traces when you left, huh? You’re a smart girl, so why would you do something so stupid?”

He stands, and you stumble back with a whimper at a harsh misstep on your injured foot.

“And now you’re out here all alone… you need someone to take care of you; look at you, honey,” he gestures to your foot, and if you could get your vocal chords to work, you would scream at him that he did this.

He stalks towards you, and where the sudden adrenaline comes from, you have no idea, but you dart for the front door. He’s on you in a second, slamming your head against the door and watching you slide down. He stands over you a foot on either side of your body and looks down on you, slightly amused.

He’s pure evil.

It occurs to you the front door is locked anyway, you’re caged under him in the narrow corridor, and so you try to crawl through his legs, but he turns and grabs you by your injured foot.

You shriek in pain and desperately try to claw forward, but he tugs you back and twists harshly so you have no choice but to turn over or risk him twisting your fucking foot off.

With more strength than you’ve ever mustered, you swing your left foot up and kick him hard in the crotch. He howls in pain as he drops your foot.

“You fucking bitch!”

You scramble to stand and dart for your bedroom, hoping to climb out the window. He limps after you, and you cry out as he grabs a fistful of hair and tugs you back. You manage to stumble into the bedroom. He grips the doorway and you slam the door after him, hearing a deafening crunch and a yell behind you. You push your back against the door, planting your feet firmly in the ground and trying with all your bodyweight to keep him out, but he easily blows it in, and you fall forward.

You start screaming at him and kicking, but he catches your legs, leaving you to only pathetically wiggle underneath him. He leans down and shouts, “Shut the fuck up!” bringing down a hand you feebly attempt to grasp to stop him, but he slaps you, “You’re a fucking cunt!”

You assume you’re crying, but you can’t feel anything on your cheeks but the sting of his hand.

He drops down to his knees and straddles you easily, despite your struggling against him. He punches you in the face, his rings leaving deep cuts against your cheek. Again, and again, and again, until his knuckles are bloody from the cuts he’s left. You attempt to cough but he brings a fist down and punches your throat. You can barely gasp before he grabs your neck and pulls you up close to his face.

His voice is dangerously low as he drawls, “You’re lucky I have the decency to fuck you on the bed.” He spits in your face and slams your head back down into the floor. He gets off you and, before you can even move, kicks you in the ribs; you can feel the bruises—the healing bruises, they were healing—bloom once again against your skin, against your bones. You roll over before he grabs your left arm, twisting harshly and pulling you across the small room.

You feel your shoulder pop out of place and scream louder than you ever have in your life, an intense white hot pain shooting across your shoulder as it’s dislocated. You can’t even beg him to stop through your sobs and unbearable pain, you can’t breathe, you want to throw up.

This time, you almost wish he does kill you. You wish for him to kill you.

He pulls you up onto the bed, your shoulder blade sliding further across your nerves and sparking pain as intense as the first few seconds all over again. He tosses his suit jacket to the side as you try to sit up. He presses down hard against your injured shoulder, and you choke on your own cry, suffocating more than screaming, at this point.

He punches up from your chin and your head lolls back, your teeth hitting each other harshly, before he uses the opportunity to grasp your throat with one hand, tearing your skirt off with the other.

It’s too painful to struggle other than weakly kicking your legs, which he effortlessly ignores, maybe he doesn’t even feel it.

Mind over matter, Mind over matter, Mind over matter—

You repeat to yourself when you hear him spit in his hand and softly groan as he runs his hand up and down his cock. You don’t even know when he unbuckled his belt.

You close your eyes and try to focus on your breathing; Mind over matter, mind over matter, mind over matt—

He head-buts your forehead, effectively pulling you out of your attempted mental respite. Bucky is scary; he looks down at you with wild eyes, and you hadn’t noticed blood dripping from his temple. You briefly wonder how much blood you’re covered in when he interrupts your thoughts; “Stay with me, bitch.”

“Please stop,” you finally find words rather than shrieks, your voice hoarse and words slurred, like you’ve never spoken before.

He just smiles—smiles—and then thrusts into you, stretching you open, not giving you any time to adjust to his massive length before pounding into you, beyond rough, beyond violent, he’s a fucking mad man, he’s feral. You attempt to grab onto his shoulders and pry him off but your own shoulder hinders you. You weakly punch at him with your right hand, but he doesn’t feel it, and at this point, you’re just exhausted. Throat hoarse, head aching, shoulder burning, foot in pain, and your ribs on fire.

He lets go of your throat and feels around on the bed for his jacket, pulling something out of the inner pockets.

Before you can even process it, he places his other hand over your mouth and presses something cold and metal to your knee. He fires the gun, the bullet flying from the front of your kneecap, shattering the cartilage, and resting in your flesh. He presses down harder on your mouth so your scream is completely guttural.

“Try leave me now,” he pants as she shoots out your other kneecap.

He presses the gun to the right side of your rib cage, digging into the bruises, “Next time you leave me will be in a fucking body bag.”

Ribs (II)

✪

[gigabyte-flare]

Hybrid

(A Gigabyte Flare One Shot)

Summary: The year is 2123. The latest craze to hit the market are Hybrids, humans genetically engineered to have animalistic traits, born and raised to be the perfect companion. Your mom convinces you to get one since you live alone in a big city, however you get way more than you bargained for

Word Count: 3.8k

Pairing: puppy!Leon Kennedy x fem!reader (afab)

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Actions depicted in this story are not condoned in real life. You are responsible for your own content consumption. If any of the following warnings trigger you, please read at your own risk. Minors do not interact, this story is 18+ only.

Warnings: Pet play, dubcon, oral (f receiving), somnophilia, sex [p in v], mommy kink, breeding kink

A/N: Finally hopping on the puppy!Leon band wagon! Huge shoutout to @nexysworld for creating the adorable puppy!Leon for this fic's banner and for her and @elfven-blog for enabling me to write a puppy!Leon fic. Also lightly inspired by the puppy!Leon POV series by Nekrophil/ABP0RNS on Twitter (go check them out, their artwork is *chef's kiss*) Enjoy!

“Hybrids, the latest craze in New Los Angeles for human companionship. Humans spliced with animal DNA and raised to be your best friend! Hybrids are the perfect addition to any household! Adopt your Hybrid today at your nearest--”

You abruptly change the channel, sitting in a living room with your mom at her condo.

“Those things freak me the fuck out…” you say, mindlessly scrolling through channels.

“Hybrids? Aw, really? I think they’re cute!”

You turn to your mom, giving her a disgusted look, “really? You don’t see anything wrong with those things?”

She shakes her head, “no worse than the cyber augmentations people get, sweetie”

You watch your mom ponder for a moment, her eyes suddenly widening, “you should get one!”

“What-- Mom, no!”

“You’re in that apartment all away across town all by yourself, it’ll be good for you!”

🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

How you got dragged out to adopt a Hybrid is beyond you. Your mom somehow convinced you to at least go and look at what they have available for adoption. You lean your head against the passenger window and watch the sights of the city. You mindlessly listen to your mom rattle on about how excited she is to look at the Hybrids and you picking out one, which finally draws your attention.

“Whoa hold on, Mom, I never said I was buying one! I just said I would look, that’s all!” you draw your attention back out the passenger window, “besides, I can’t afford one, you know that. I’d never have enough credits in my lifetime for something like that.”

“Hun, I’m going to help you with that, don’t worry. This is for your wellbeing, after all!”

“Great…”

The large neon sign proclaiming that it was the location of a Hybrid adoption center made your stomach sink. Your mom pulls the car into the parking lot, getting out and practically dragging you out of the passenger’s side to go into the building. The reception area is a blinding white, a stark contrast to the neon grunge of the city outside. The woman behind the desk greets both of you both with a smile.

“Welcome to the Hybrid adoption center! How can I help you ladies today?”

Your mom grasps you by your shoulders, pushing you forward, “my daughter wants to see the Hybrids available for adoption today!”

“Oh that’s fantastic!” the receptionist says, her smile still plastered on her face, “what kind of Hybrid are you looking for?”

You look at the receptionist with a confused look, “what do you mean what kind?”

“Well, we have different kinds that are spliced with different animals! However, our dog and cat Hybrids are our most popular, would you like to start with one of those?”

You look at your mom for a moment before shifting your attention back to the receptionist, “um… I guess the dog ones…?”

“Great choice! Now then, I’ll notify our active adoption coordinator and have her come out to take you to see what we have for dog Hybrids, have a seat!”

You and your mom take a seat in the waiting area. You lean forward, fiddling with your fingers as you both wait. Your mom was more excited to see the Hybrids than anyone. You just wanted to please your Mom and move on. You had no intention of adopting a Hybrid. The sound of a door sliding open makes you jump as a woman with a clipboard comes out to you and your Mom.

“Are you the two ladies here to see our dog Hybrids?” she asks enthusiastically.

“Yes we are!” your mom immediately answers, practically jumping out of her seat. 

The woman motions for you both to follow her, you do so reluctantly. She leads you down a set of pure white corridors before coming upon another door that slides open. Both sides of the room were lined what you could only describe as cells and you see them, the Hybrids. You expected to hear barking for some reason, but that’s not the case here. They all are saying hello and grabbing the bars that keep them in their cells. 

“They can talk…?” I ask.

“Yes! Hybrids are perfectly capable of human speech! Did you have something in particular in mind for a dog Hybrid?”

“You should get a male--” Mom interjects.

“Mom!”

The coordinator just laughs, “we have plenty of males to choose from, let’s take a look!”

The first thing you notice is all of them are naked, making this whole situation even more awkward. Hybrids were quite literally people with animal parts grafted onto them; it was quite unsettling to you.

“How is this even ethical?” you whisper to your Mom.

“Stop it!” your Mom scolds you. 

Most of the Hybrids were much too… eager and hyper for you, making you a little uncomfortable. It wasn’t until you got to one of the last cells when a Hybrid actually caught your attention. He, of course, was nude like the rest, but he wasn’t jumping all over the place trying to get your attention. He was laying on his back, looking up at the ceiling. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and, admittedly, he was quite gorgeous; you were bummed he was a Hybrid and not a human. He finally notices you, rolling over and smiling as he grasps the bars on his cell.

His voice is gentle, “hi there! I’m Leon!” his matching blonde tail wagging back and forth. 

Something you hadn’t noticed before was that all the Hybrids had two sets of ears, their human ears and their animal ears, “do they all have two sets of ears?” you ask.

“So their animal ears aren’t actually ears, they’re simply appendages meant for cosmetics. Their human looking ears are their actual ears.” the coordinator replies, “this is Leon, he just turned 21; he’s a very calm boy, very loyal and friendly, but protective, too.”

“Oh sweetie he’s perfect for you! Look at him! He’s adorable!” your mom exclaims before speaking to the coordinator, “she lives in an apartment all by herself.”

“Oh! Leon would be perfect for you! What do you say?”

Your gaze shifts to Leon, his pretty blue eyes practically pleading at you, his tail still wagging. 

You let out a heavy sigh, you can’t believe you’re actually doing this, “I’ll take him.”

🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

The next few days were a blur, consisting of filling out paperwork and buying things Leon would need for when he comes home. Thankfully Hybrids eat the same things humans do, so you just have to make sure you buy for two instead of just for yourself. The day came for Leon to come home to your apartment and your first order of business was getting clothes on him, having him naked all the time was just way too weird. That was proving harder than you anticipated. 

“No! It’s itchy!” Leon whines, kicking off the pants and underwear you had put on him for the fifth time before curling up on the floor.

At that point you conceded defeat, you were just going to have to deal with him being naked for now. You guessed it made sense, he’s probably been naked his entire life. You watch him as he plays with a rubber bone you had bought him, immediately noticing his canine teeth were much sharper than a normal human’s would be. You look over in the corner where you had a large crate set up, it was actually at the coordinators recommendation that you get a crate for him even though the idea of putting him in it made you really uncomfortable. You’d hope you wouldn’t have to use it.

Your attention returns to Leon, who’s still playing with his bone happily, sporting this new collar you got him. It was a blue leather collar to match his eyes and had a bone shaped tag that had his name on the front and your contact info on the back.

“Leon,” you suddenly call to him, holding your hand out, “wanna play fetch?”

Leon immediately perks up onto his haunches before crawling over to you with the toy in his mouth.

You tried your damned hardest not to focus on his very large dick, even flaccid it was quite large. Again, you curse that he’s not a human internally. He drops the toy from his mouth into your hand and you reach out, giving him a scratch behind one of his dog ears. His cheeks turn red, leaning his head into your touch. 

“Aren’t you a sweet boy…” you say before tossing the toy gently. 

Leon chases after the toy, picking it up in his mouth and bringing it back over to you for you to throw again. You do this a few more times before Leon decides he’s had enough, he climbs up onto the couch next to you, laying his head in your lap as he stretches out across the rest of the couch, his tail making a rhythmic thumping sound as he wags his tail. You run your fingers through his hair, looking down at him.

His blue eyes look up at you and he smiles, “I love you, Mommy!”

You feel your breath hitch at his words, but you quickly recover and smile back, “love you too, Leon.”

🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

“Leon, get back here right now!” 

You never thought you’d be starting your day chasing Leon around the living room with a pair of boxers in your hands.

“Leon, come on! My best friend is coming over and I can’t have you running around naked, at least wear these boxers for god’s sake! I even cut a hole in the back for your tail, just get over here so I can put them on!”

“No! It itches!” Leon protests, somehow managing to stay one step ahead of you as he darts around the living room on all fours.

After a while, you manage to corner him on the couch, quickly slipping on the boxers, making sure to pull his tail through the makeshift hole you had made. He starts to pull them off when you scold him.

“Leon, no! Do you want to go in the crate?”

Leon stops, pulling the boxers back up and giving you the most pathetic puppy eyes, “no, Mommy…”

“Then they stay on at least until my best friend leaves, ok?”

Leon nods, climbing off the couch, grabbing his rubber bone before climbing back onto the couch to chew on it. 

“Thank you… good boy…” you say before you work on cleaning up your apartment for your best friend to arrive. 

About a half hour goes by when you hear your phone go off, a notification displaying that there is someone at the door. With a couple of taps on your phone, your best friend’s face appears on the screen.

“Hey there, I’m here!” she says, giving you a big smile.

“Hang on Hailey, I’ll be right there!”

You go up to your apartment door, push a few buttons on the key panel next to the door and the door slides open. Hailey, your best friend since you were kids, comes in and gives you a hug.

“It’s been too long! What is it that you wanted to show me?” Hailey asks. 

You motion for Hailey to follow you into the living room, where you find Leon still contently chewing on his bone, the boxers thankfully still on.

“Is… is that one of those Hybrids?!” the shock is evident in Hailey’s voice.

“Y-Yeah… mom convinced me to get him; his name is--”

“Hi there!” Leon sits up, his tail wagging in full circles as he looks to your friend, “I’m Leon!”

Hailey leans over to whisper into your ear, “are all Hybrids that hot?”

You elbow her, “shut up! It’s hard enough to deal with as it is without you mentioning it!”

Leon looks between the two of you, cocking his head in confusion, his tail still wagging, now hitting against the couch. 

“Listen, I’m pretty sure most people fuck their Hybrids, like, look at him, how could you not?”

“Hailey, no! That’s fucking weird.”

“You’re telling me that you haven’t at least thought about it?”

“We’re not talking about this, not in front of Leon.”

Leon, meanwhile, has returned his attention to his rubber bone, chewing it aggressively when he suddenly picks up an unusual scent, one he’s never smelled before. He stops chewing, flaring his nostrils as he sniffs the air. Whatever it was, it smells sweet, almost like a wildflower. He quickly realizes that it’s you that smells like this, even though it was so faint. He wanted to get up and stuff his nose into you to take in more of this sweet smell, however, he knew he’d get in trouble, especially with your friend being here. To his dismay, you and your friend went back into the kitchen to hang out, bringing that irresistible smell with you.

🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

In the dead of night, Leon is restless, tossing and turning in his plush bed that sat at the foot of your bed. The smell from the other day has only become stronger over time and it was getting to Leon’s head. The smell was making his cock hard, something he hadn’t really experienced until now. It is almost painful; just him simply running his fingers along his cock made him flinch. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore, he sat up, carefully climbing onto your bed. You were laying on your back, sound asleep with your legs spread open.

Leon gently crawls his way between your legs, the intoxicating smell emanating from the spot between your legs; he notices a dark spot on your panties. Gently, he presses his nose against the wet spot, inhaling deeply as his tail wags back and forth.

That’s it… that’s where that smell is coming from…

He glances up at you, you’re still sound asleep. He gently hooks a finger on your underwear, pulling them aside to reveal your glistening cunt to him; it practically makes him salivate. He hesitantly runs his tongue over your slit, his eyes fluttering closed as he savors the taste of you. You suddenly stir, your hips shifting slightly as a soft moan comes out of you. Your eyes flutter open and you look down to find, to your horror, Leon between your legs, eating you out. 

You blink a few times before shouting, “LEON!”

Taking his mouth off of you, Leon’s eyes widen as he pushes himself off the bed, letting out a soft whimper as you sit up and cover yourself with your blanket. 

“In your crate!” you point to the bedroom door, your face beet red, “now!”

“Mommy… I’m sorry… I just--”

“GET. OUT!”

Leon’s puppy ears droop and his tail tucks itself between his legs as he crawls out into the living room. You follow behind him, making sure he puts himself in his crate before shutting the crate door behind him. Looking up and whining at you, his fingers grip the bars of the crate as he stares up at you, pleading to you with his blue eyes. Unfortunately, you simply shake your head at him and walk back into the bedroom, shutting the door behind you. Leon feels tears well up in his eyes as he grips the bars on the crate. 

What did he do wrong? He was only doing what his instincts told him to do, why was that bad? Releasing his grip on the crate bars, he makes himself as comfortable as he possibly can in his situation, crying himself to sleep, your sweet scent still lingering in the air.

 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

You didn’t sleep a wink the rest of the night, between the sounds of Leon’s cries echoing through your bedroom door to just the thought of waking up to Leon eating you out disturbed you to your core. You finally get yourself out of bed, throwing on your pajama bottoms before walking out of your bedroom. You find Leon awake in his crate, his eyes red and puffy from crying all night. Upon seeing you, he immediately sits up, gripping the crate bars, his tail wagging so hard it was a blonde blur. Against your better judgment, you walk up to the crate, unlocking it to let him out. 

As soon as you open the crate door, Leon bolts out, wrapping his arms around your legs, holding you tight. The fact that he buries his nose into you and deeply inhales doesn’t go unnoticed by you. 

“Thank you for letting me out, Mommy! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ll be a good boy, I swear!”

You pry his arms off you and push him away, “Just… just go play with your toys Leon…” you say before walking into the kitchen to make yourself coffee and breakfast. 

Once you have your coffee and breakfast, you practically collapse at the small dining table, rubbing your face with your hands. What are you going to do? You could start crating him at night, but something about that didn’t sit right with you. Suddenly, you feel something rest on your lap and the sound of something thumping against the floor. You move your hands away from your face to find Leon’s head resting in your lap, his tail wagging against the floor.

“What’s wrong, Mommy?” he asks, his blue eyes looking up at you, his puppy ears erect and alert. 

“Nothing, Leon…” you say with a sigh, “you must be hungry. I’ll make you something to eat…”

You get up from the table and over to the stove where you make him some eggs and bacon. Once finished, you put them on a plate and set it on the floor in front of him and watch as he scarfs it down. You sit back down at the table and slowly pick away at your breakfast and take sips out of your coffee mug. You feel Leon rest his head onto your lap again. You look back down, finding him looking up at you longingly, his tail wagging insistently. 

“What is it, Leon?” you ask, leaning back in your chair.

Leon doesn’t say a word, however, as he climbs up until he’s face to face with you, staring directly into your eyes, his tail still wagging. He lets out a soft whimper as he grinds his hips into the side of your thigh. You happen to glance down, greeted with his painfully hard member rubbing against you. Looking back up at him, Leon whimpers again, his hands softly caressing your arms.

“Leon… are you ok…?”

You watch as Leon swallows hard before he continues rutting himself against your thigh, his breath trembling.

“I need… to mate with you…” Leon finally replies, his grip on your arms tightening as he continues to grind into your thigh.

Your heart begins to race as very conflicting feelings begin to overtake you.

This is so wrong, you think to yourself.

That thought doesn’t stop you as you lean forward, giving Leon a gentle kiss on the lips, cupping his face in your hands. Leon deepens your kiss, his tongue dancing with yours before playfully biting your bottom lip. You stand up from the table, leading him back into the bedroom, shutting the door before you begin to undress. As soon as you're naked, Leon stands up on two feet, pushing you into the bed face first so that your backside is propped up. You feel yourself tremble in anticipation as you feel Leon climb onto the bed behind you. You flinch when you feel his cock caress your soaked slit, coating itself in your arousal before he pushes himself inside you. 

“Oh… Oh god--!” you cry out as Leon’s length fills you completely, pushing into your g-spot almost immediately, your fingers gripping your sheets. 

You hear Leon whimper as his hips begin to move into you. He starts out slow, but he quickly gains confidence and begins to thrust into you harder and faster, his hands gripping your hips so hard that you’re bound to have bruises later. 

“Yes… oh yes, Mommy… you feel so good…” Leon moans as he pounds into you harder, “am I a good boy…?”

“Yes…” you reply in a breathy moan as your eyes roll back into your head, “you’re such a good boy, Leon… you fuck Mommy so good…”

You feel his hands grip your hips even tighter as he pulls your body to him, thrusting into you even harder, his loud moans and whimpers filling the room along with the wet sounds of your needy cunt taking him. 

“Aaaaahhh… f-fill me up with your puppies Leon--!” you suddenly cry out, your pussy walls squeezing around his cock as he continues to thrust into you.

Leon growls in response, placing one of his hands onto your back to push you into the mattress as he fucks you relentlessly. His instincts are in overdrive, his thoughts completely overtaken by his burning desire to breed you. 

“Oh my god… you’re such a good boy, Leon!” you praise him, completely drunk off his cock, your legs trembling as you’re filled with complete ecstasy.

You suddenly feel his cock start to swell inside you and you quickly realize he is knotting. It feels surprisingly good, making you feel full. You sit up on your knees, pressing your back against his chest as he continues to thrust into you. You wrap your arms around the back of his neck, nuzzling your cheek against his as his hands find their way to the front of your body, caressing your breasts as his chin rests on your shoulder.

“I can’t wait…” Leon starts, his voice rough, “to see your belly full of my puppies.”

You repeatedly moan his name, the word fuck and good boy as he pounds his cock into you, your legs starting to feel weak as they violently tremble. Before they give way, a sudden warmth fills your pussy as he pushes himself inside you as hard and deep as he possibly can, his hands gripping both your breasts tightly as he bites into your shoulder. You let out an animalistic moan as you also cum on his cock, your greedy cunt milking his seed deep inside your womb. 

Both of you collapse onto the bed in exhaustion with his length still buried inside you, ensuring that not a single drop of his cum is wasted. His arms and legs wrap around you as his face nuzzles into the back of your neck. Your whole body is trembling, completely overwhelmed by how good Leon was for you. You reach back, running your hand through his hair and caressing one of his puppy ears, whispering softly to him that he is a good boy.

You’re going to get used to this.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

It’s been twenty years since my Microsoft DRM talk

On THURSDAY (June 20) I'm live onstage in LOS ANGELES for a recording of the GO FACT YOURSELF podcast. On FRIDAY (June 21) I'm doing an ONLINE READING for the LOCUS AWARDS at 16hPT. On SATURDAY (June 22) I'll be in OAKLAND, CA for a panel and a keynote at the LOCUS AWARDS.

This week on my podcast,This week on my podcast, I read my June 17, 2004 Microsoft Research speech about DRM, a talk that went viral two decades ago, and reassess its legacy:

https://craphound.com/msftdrm.txt

It's been 20 years (and one day) since I gave that talk. It wasn't my first talk like that, but at the time, it was the most successful talk I'd ever given. I was still learning how to deliver a talk at the time, tinkering with different prose and delivery styles (to my eye, there's a lot of Bruce Sterling in that one, something that's still true today).

I learned to give talks by attending sf conventions and watching keynotes and panel presentations and taking mental notes. I was especially impressed with the oratory style of Harlan Ellison, whom I heard speak on numerous occasions, and by Judith Merril, who was a wonderful mentor to me and many other writers:

https://locusmag.com/2021/09/cory-doctorow-breaking-in/

I was also influenced by the speakers I'd heard at the many political rallies I'd attended and helped organize; from the speakers at the annual Labour Day parade to the anti-nuclear proliferation and pro-abortion rights marches I was very involved with. I also have vivid memories of the speeches that Helen Caldicott gave in Toronto when I was growing up, where I volunteered as an usher:

https://www.helencaldicott.com/

When I helped found a dotcom startup in the late 1990s, my partners and I decided that I'd do the onstage talking; we paid for a couple hours of speaker training from an expensive consultant in San Francisco. The only thing I remember from that session was the advice to look into the audience as much as possible, rather than reading from notes with my head down. Good advice, but kinda obvious.

The impetus for that training was my onstage presentation at the first O'Reilly P2P conference in 2001. I don't quite remember what I said there, but I remember that it made an impression on Tim O'Reilly, which meant a lot to me then (and now):

https://www.oreilly.com/pub/pr/844

I don't remember who invited me to give the talk at Microsoft Research that day, but I think it was probably Marc Smith, who was researching social media at the time by data-mining Usenet archives to understand social graphs. I think I timed the gig so that I could kill three birds with one stone: in addition to that talk, I attended (and maybe spoke at?) that year's Computers, Freedom and Privacy conference, and attended an early preview of the soon-to-launch Sci Fi Museum (now the Museum of Pop Culture). I got to meet Nichelle Nichols (and promptly embarrassed myself by getting tongue-tied and telling her how much I loved the vocals she did on her recording of the Star Wars theme, something I'm still hot around the ears over, though she was a pro and gently corrected me, "I think you mean Star *Trek"):

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4IiJUQSsxNw&list=OLAK5uy_lHUn58fbpceC3PrK2Xu9smBNBjR_-mAHQ

But the start of that trip was the talk at Microsoft Research; I'd been on the Microsoft campus before. That startup I did? Microsoft tried to buy us, which prompted our asshole VCs to cram the founders and steal our equity, which created so much acrimony that the Microsoft deal fell through. I was pretty bitter at the time, but in retrospect, I really dodged a bullet – for one thing, the deal involved my going to work for Microsoft as a DRM evangelist. I mean, talk about the road not taken!

This was my first time back at Microsoft as an EFF employee. There was some pre-show meet-and-greet-type stuff, and then I was shown into a packed conference room where I gave my talk and had a lively (and generally friendly) Q&A. MSR was – and is – the woolier side of Microsoft, where all kinds of interesting people did all kinds of great research.

Indeed, almost every Microsoft employee I've ever met was a good and talented person doing the best work they could. The fact that Microsoft produces such a consistent stream of garbage products and crooked business practices is an important testament to the way that a rotten organization can be so much less than the sum of its parts.

I'm a fully paid up subscriber to Ronald Coase's "Theory of the Firm" (not so much his other views):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_the_firm

Coase says the reason institutions exist is to enable people to work together with lowered "coordination costs." In other words, if you and I are going to knit a sweater together, we're going to need to figure out how to make sure that we're not both making the left sleeve. Creating an institution – the Mafia, the Catholic Church, Microsoft, a company, a co-op, a committee that puts on a regional science fiction con – is all about minimizing those costs.

As Yochai Benkler pointed out in 2002, the coolest and most transformative thing about the internet is that it let us do more complex collective work with smaller and less structured institutions:

https://www.benkler.org/CoasesPenguin.PDF

That was the initial prompt for my novel Walkaway, which asked, "What if we could build luxury hotels and even space programs with the kind of (relatively) lightweight institutional overheads associated with Wikipedia and the Linux kernel?"

https://crookedtimber.org/2017/05/10/coases-spectre/

So the structure of institutions is really important. At the same time, I'm skeptical of the idea that there are "good companies" and "bad companies." Small businesses, family businesses, and other firms that aren't exposed to the finance sector can reflect their leaders' personalities, but it's a huge mistake to ascribe personalities to the companies themselves.

That's how you get foolish ideas like "Apple is a good company because they embrace paid service and Google is a bad company because they make money from surveillance." Apple will spy on you, too, if they can:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

Disney and Fox weren't Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed lovers making goo-goo eyes at each other across the table at MPA meetings. They were two giant public companies, and any differences between them were irrelevancies and marketing myths:

https://locusmag.com/2021/07/cory-doctorow-tech-monopolies-and-the-insufficient-necessity-of-interoperability/

I think senior management's personalities do matter (see, for example, the destruction of Boeing after it was colonized by sociopaths from McDonnell Douglas), but the influence of those personalities is much less important than the constraints that competition and regulation impose on companies. In other words, an asshole can run a company that delivers good products at fair prices under ethical conditions – provided that failing to do so will cost more in lost business and fines than they stand to make by cheating:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/24/record-scratch/#autoenshittification

Microsoft is a company founded and run by colossal assholes. Bill Gates is a monster and he surrounded himself with monsters, and they hired monsters to fill out the courts of their corporate palaces:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/14/patch-tuesday/#fool-me-twice-we-dont-get-fooled-again

To the extent that good things come out of Microsoft – some of its games products, the odd piece of hardware, important papers from MSR – it's in spite of the leadership; it's the result of constraints imposed by competition and regulation – and that's why Microsoft pursued such an aggressive program of extinguishing its competitors and capturing its regulators.

In retrospect, I think one of my goals in that talk was to convince those people doing good work for a rotten institution to go elsewhere and do other things. Certainly, that's one of the goals I pursue in the talks I give today. At the time, some of Microsoft's highest-profile technologists were publicly resigning over the company's war on free/open source software, so it wasn't an unrealistic goal:

https://web.archive.org/web/20030214215639/http://synthesist.net/writing/onleavingms.html

What I did not expect what that publishing the talk on my site and blogging it on Boing Boing would spark a wave of public interest that would get its message in front of several orders of magnitude more people than I spoke to at Microsoft that day. Partly, that was because I released the talk into the public domain, using the brand-new Creative Commons Public Domain Declaration (which was later replaced with the CC0 mark, due to legal issues withBu its drafting):

https://web.archive.org/web/20100223035835/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Some mix of the content of the speech, the spirit of the moment, and the novelty of that wide open license sparked a ton of interest. Jason Kottke recorded an audio version that Andy Baio hosted:

https://kottke.org/04/06/cory-drm-talk

My brutalist ASCII transcript was quickly converted to beautiful HTML by Matt Haughey and Anil Dash:

https://web.archive.org/web/20040622235333/http://www.dashes.com/anil/stuff/doctorow-drm-ms.html

For people who needed a hardcopy, there was Patrick Berry's printer-friendly stylesheet:

https://patandkat.com/pat/weblog/mirror/cory-drm/doctorow-drm-ms.html

Multiple people recorded (and sold!) audio versions, and then there were all the fan translations, into Danish, French, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (both EU and Brazilian), Spanish and Swedish. I stayed in touch with some of those translators, and they helped me translate the position papers I wrote for UN WIPO meetings. Those papers were so effective that ratfuckers from the copyright lobby started to steal them and hide them in the UN toilets (!):

https://web.archive.org/web/20041119132831/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/002117.php

Re-reading the speech for my podcast on Sunday, I expected to be struck by the anachronisms in it, and there were a few of those to be sure. But far more clear was the common thread running from this talk to other talks I gave that took on a significant life of their own, like my 2011 "War On General Purpose Computing" talk for CCC:

https://memex.craphound.com/2012/01/10/lockdown-the-coming-war-on-general-purpose-computing/

And my work on Adversarial Interoperability:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/10/adversarial-interoperability

And my most recent work, on enshittification:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/27/an-audacious-plan-to-halt-the-internets-enshittification-and-throw-it-into-reverse/

In other words, I've been saying the same thing – in different ways – for more than 20 years. That could be depressing, but I actually found it uplifting. Two decades ago, I was radicalized by a fear that the internet would be seized by corporations and governments and transformed into a system of surveillance and control. I found my way into a job at EFF, where I worked with colleagues across multiple disciplines – coders, lawyers and activists – to fight this force.

At the time, this was a fringe cause. Most of the traditional activists I'd come up with in the feminist, antiwar, antiracist, environmental and labour movement viewed digital rights as a distraction and dismissed its partisans as sad, self-obsessed nerds who mistook fights over the management of Star Trek message boards for civil rights struggles:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/10/04/small-change-malcolm-gladwell

I thought I was right then, and I think history has borne me out. The point of waging these fights – both in the wide public sphere and within political movements – is to get people activated before it's too late. Every day that goes by is a day when the internet becomes more inhospitable to political organizing for a better world – more surveillant, more controlling. I believed then – and believe today – that the internet isn't more important that the other fights I waged as a young activist, but I think that the internet is fundamental to those fights.

Saving the planet, smashing patriarchy, overthrowing tyranny and freeing labor are all fights that will be coordinated – Coase style – on the internet. Without a free, fair and open internet, those fights are infinitely harder to win.

The project of getting people to understand, care about, and fight for digital rights is a marathon, not a sprint. When I joined EFF, it was already 12 years old. There were six people in the org then (I was the seventh). Today, there's more than a hundred of us, and we're stretched so thin! The 30+ year old idea that internet policy will intersect with every part of every fight has been utterly vindicated.

Back in 2004, I asked Microsoft why they were willing to fight the US government to the death over antitrust enforcement, but were such wimps when confronted with the entertainment industry's demands for DRM. 20 years later, I think I know the answer: Microsoft understood that DRM would let them usurp the relationship between creative workers, entertainment industry companies, and audiences. Their perfect instincts for seeking out and capitalizing on opportunities to seize monopoly power drove them to make deliberately defective products, in the belief that their market power would let them cram those products down our throats:

https://memex.craphound.com/2004/01/27/protect-your-investment-buy-open/

Here's a link to the podcast episode:

https://craphound.com/news/2024/06/16/my-2004-microsoft-drm-talk/

And here's direct link to the MP3 (hosting courtesy of the Internet Archive; they'll host your stuff for free forever):

https://archive.org/download/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_470/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_470_-_My_2004_Microsoft_DRM_Talk.mp3

And here's the RSS feed for my podcast:

https://feeds.feedburner.com/doctorow_podcast

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/18/greetings-fellow-pirates/#arrrrrrrrrr

[vintagelasvegas]

Thunderbird / Silverbird / El Rancho

Thunderbird Hotel, 1948

THUNDERBIRD, '48-'76

'46: Marion Hicks and Lt. Gov. Cliff Jones purchase property for a planned Nevada Ambassador hotel on 3/11/46. The property was bought from Guy McAfee, Art Ham, and J.K. Houssels who had planned a hotel called Casa de Oro. Sale price is rumored $85,000.

'47: Officers of Thunderbird are a Las Vegas and Los Angeles group, Hicks, Jones, V. Sayer, J. Lane, P. Wagoner, J. Wells (Reno), and J. Kozloff. Hicks as builder. Construction begins on 46 acre lot in Oct.

'48: Thunderbird opens 9/2/48. 107 rooms, 75-foot observation tower. Signs by Graham Sign Co (RJ 8/18/48).

'53: Hicks builds the spin-off Algiers Hotel.

'58: renovation, adding new second floor over casino framed in rectangular box, new porte-cochère. New signs by Western Neon (RJ 11/24/58, RJ 12/24/58).

'59: “Thunderbird” logo changed, road sign replaced in Fall.

'61: road sign moved to the front-center of the hotel, fire-shooting stick added to both birds.

'62: new road sign and pylon.

'63: Thunderbird Downs quarter horse track opened, Oct. 5 (RJ 9/24/63).

'64: Sold to Del Webb Corp in Sep.

'65: 700-ft horizontal “Thunderbird” sign by Bill Clarke/Ad Art installed over the south rooms in Jun. (RJ 6/10/65); road sign & pylon replaced with one road sign and new neon bird.

'72: Sold to Caesars World Inc.

'73: Blue/green sign painted zigzag red/orange in summer.

'76: Sold to Tiger Investment Co (Thomas, Mack, K. Sullivan, et al), leased to Major Riddle in Dec.

SILVERBIRD, '77-'81

'77: Reopened as Silverbird in Jan.

'78: Thunderbird signs replaced by the 190-ft sign/porte-cochère designed by Raul Rodriguez for Heath, built by AdArt. (RJ 3/29/78)

'81: Closed in 12/3/81.

EL RANCHO, '82-'92

'82: Sold at auction to Ed Torres in Feb; renamed El Rancho in Apr (RJ 3/18/82, 4/7/82). Opens at El Rancho 8/31/82.

'87: Tower addition.

'92: Closed Jul. 6.

2000: Tower demolished, Oct. 3.

Other sources include: New Hotel To Be Built.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, 3/13/46 p1; Vegas as Playground. Review-Journal, 7/31/46 p5; Construction Started. Review-Journal, 10/28/47; Thunderbird Hotel. Review-Journal, 8/29/48; Martin Stern Jr. profile by P. Michel. UNLV Libraries, archived 3/10/2004.

Photos: (1) Postcard c. 1948. (2-3) Undated aerial photo of construction, by Las Vegas News Bureau. Radio station KENO west of the Thunderbird site. (4) Undated, during construction. Photo taken from the observation tower, by Las Vegas News Bureau. (5) Same models as the color postcard, from Union Pacific Railroad Photographs (PH-00043), UNLV Special Collections & Archives.

[gotta-winwin]

2019 debut year <> breaking the news

word count: 1.2k TW: slight sexism if you squint author notes: hi! thank you so much for taking the time to read my works~ this one's written from svt's pov and will not have cyana in it

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Seungcheol supposed he should've known today was going to be messy day. It wasn't the fact he'd woken everyone up 15 minutes late and they'd all been late for practice. It wasn't even the fact that no matter how long they practiced, the choreo just wasn't feeling right. He could feel Hoshi's annoyance and anger boiling up by the second, as he watched the younger boy pace back and forth across the room. It was the fact that their manager had been called away to meet with their CEO. It was never a good day when the CEO got involved in things.

"What do you think they've got the CEO here for?" Dino muttered to Vernon, who looked just about dead on his feet.

The boy in question gave a slight shrug, turning to Seungcheol as if he had all the answers. "Do you know why he's here, hyung?"

He felt like he was disappointing his team as their leader when he reluctantly shook his head.

"It's not going to be anything good." Jeonghan offered from the opposite corner of the room.

"Psh. Be a bit more optimistic, please." DK groaned from the floor, an arm covering his eyes in fatigue. "Today sucks enough already and it's barely noon."

Jeonghan opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by the sound of the practice room's door slamming open.

"Ah! Mr. Han!" Seungkwan's voice rang through the silence as the boys pushed themselves up to bow, greeting the CEO.

Seungcheol studied the man's face and decided that perhaps Jeonghan was wrong. Mr. Han was smiling, eyes cheery as he scanned the room to make sure everyone was present.

"I have great news for you boys." Mr. Han walked closer to the center of the room, his eyes falling on each of their awaiting faces, as if he was trying to gauge their potential reaction. "We've decided to add an additional member to SEVENTEEN. She will arrive from Los Angeles tomorrow and will be apart of SEVENTEEN indefinitely. This is non-negotiable."

A burst -- full of confusion, worry, and a twinge of anger filled the room in a chorus of remarks.

"Los Angeles?!"

"Another member?"

"Wait- she?"

"Do we really need another one?"

Seungcheol sighed. Perhaps Jeonghan had been right after all. "What do you mean she, sir? We're a boy group."

Mr. Han looked at him. "SEVENTEEN will be the first ever boy group to have a female member. A twist on a co-ed group. You will be making kpop history - world history."

"Is this really a good idea though?" Woozi's voice rang through the muddle of voices. "What will the fans think? And the media outlets?"

"Woozi's right." Seungcheol tried to get Mr. Han to see reason. "She will face immense backlash and we will lose fans." He couldn't imagine a world where any fans would support another girl being so close to their idols. He couldn't see this girl -- their new member -- ever agreeing to such an insane proposal.

"She's already on her flight here. There's no changing this, boys." Mr. Han continued to speak despite the multiple protests. "I suggest you welcome Soyeon with open arms and make her feel at home. Your first comeback with her will make or break your career."

"We're fucked."

It was Woozi's turn to pace back and forth across the practice room. They'd been taking turns, drifting from sheer panic to disbelief and numbness.

"Maybe it won't be so bad." Mingyu spoke up, nods of approval coming from most of the others. They all seemed to have accepted their new reality, almost excited to finally meet her. "The fans could love her."

It was only Woozi, Wonwoo, Hoshi and Seungcheol that looked more than hesitant to agree. They'd been debating the new addition to their group for hours now, never deciding on a final fact.

"I'm excited." Joshua murmured from his spot on the couch. "Mr. Han said she was from LA, right?"

"She's Chinese too." Minghao offered, his own eyes betraying how happy he'd been to hear that.

"And she's the same age as me." Dino inputted. He glanced at his hyungs who were still not sold on the idea. "You know how much I've wanted someone my age."

"She's younger than you, Chan." Vernon corrected. "Manager-hyung said her birthday's in December."

Dino threw his hands up in the air. "Even better. I won't be the maknae anymore."

"We don't need her though." Everyone turned to look at Woozi, who finally spoke after looking distressed for so long. "We're doing fine without another member and taking her in will only endanger us. We don't know how well she'll work with us. We've got our own dynamics that we've finally figured out. We've just reached a point where we can rest a bit, not worry so much about how people perceive us. Who knows what might happen once she joins."

"She'll have it the worse out of all of us." Seungcheol added. "It's highly likely the fans and media will come for her, not us."

"Then we help her." DK insisted. "That doesn't change anything."

"Why are we even debating this?" Seungkwan asked. "It's not like us saying no will do anything. You heard the CEO. She's literally on her way to Korean right now."

There was silence as the weight of his words sunk in. This wasn't some metaphorical event, or even something that could take months to happen. Their new member was on her way here as they spoke, and in less than 24 hours, they would be 14 instead of 13.

"Whatever." Woozi was the first to break the silence. "I haven't worked this hard just for some stranger to come and break things apart. I'm heading home."

"Hyung-" Dino got up to stop him but Woozi was faster, grabbing his jacket before slamming the door behind him.

"Don't bother, Dino." Seungcheol sighed. "Nothing's gonna change his mind until she gets here."

"The dorm." Minghao muttered suddenly, making everyone turn to look at him, confused. "It's a mess." He clarified. "And we have a girl moving in."

"Fuck." They all moved at once, getting up and getting ready to head out.

"So we've accepted her this easily?" Wonwoo asked, frowning as he watched his fellow members pack up.

Mingyu slapped him on the shoulder. "Cheer up, Woo. Changes aren't all bad."

"I'm scared." Dino whispered to Vernon. "What if she's scary?"

Vernon snorted. "Half of us are still terrified of the female gender. She'll be scary either way."

Seungcheol watched as everyone packed their bags and left the practice room, a group ready to clean the dorm and another group heading out to restock their depleting fridge. He couldn't help but wonder if Pledis really knew what they were doing and why the responsibility seemed to always fall upon his shoulders. Following the crowd out, he could only hope their new member would fit as well as they all did predebut and was ready for the challenges awaiting her. He knew all he could do was lead and guide her. Everything else would have to be up to her.

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author note: thank you so much for reading! poor seungcheol and his leader responsibilities :( i'm so excited for you guys to see how cyana and svt's first meetings go!

[shukraastro]

Vedic Astrology - Future Spouse Prediction: The Name part 2

As I already discussed the method to predict predict the prominent sounds the Future Spouses name in my previous post (link below), now I will show some examples.

Example 1 Angelina Jolie

Her Birthdate is June 4th, 1975 at 1:05 am in Los Angeles (US)

In her D9 chart her 7th house has the sign of Aquarius, therefor her 7th lord is Saturn. Her Saturn is places in Taurus in Krittika Nakshatra.

The Hindi letters for Krittika Nakshatra are:

आ equals an A (ah) sound

ई equals an I (eeh) sound

उ equals an U (ooh) sound

ऐ equals an E (ai) sound

Her first husbands name is Johnny Lee Miller (I sound in all 3 names)

Her second husbands name is Billy Bob Thornton (I sound twice in the first name)

Her third husbands name is Brad Pitt (E sound in first name, I sound in the last name)

As you can see the sound I is very prominent in the names of her Ex-spouses. Brad Pitt even has two different sounds present in his names, not only the I sound in Pitt but also the E sound in Brad.

Additional note: Another point I wanna add is that her Ketu in her D1 chart is also in Krittika Nakshatra. And Ketu also holds an important signaficance in the Spouse analysis, because it represents our partner from a past life. I forgot to mention that in my previous post (I might add that later on there as well). But the reason why Ketu in the D1 chart can also be a strong indicator of the spouse is because it is similar to our lowest point, while Rahu is similar to our highest point, since it represents our destination where we are heading towards in this lifetime and Ketu is where we started. In this manner it is kinda similar to our Darakaraka and can also indicate traits of a spouse who comes from a past life.

Example 2 Justin Bieber

His Birthdate is March 1st, 1994 at 0:56 am in Stratford, CA

In his D9 chart he also has the sign of Aquarius in the 7th house. Again, the ruler is Saturn and it's places in Sagittarius, Uttara Ashadha Nakshatra. Let's also look at his Ketu in the D1 chart, it's in Krittika Nakshatra and let's also look at his Darakaraka planet which is the Moon and in the D9 chart his Moon is in Swati Nakshatra.

Now we got Uttara Ashadha, Krittika and Swati.

Uttara Ashadha Nakshatra Hindi letters:

भे भो जा जी

Sounds: Be (bhe) Bo (bho) Ja Ji

Krittika Nakshatra Letters (we already discussed above)

Sounds: A (ah) I (eeh) U (ooh) E (ai)

Swati Nakshatra Letters:

रू रे रो ता

Sounds: Ru (roo) Re Ro Ta

As everyone knows he's married to Hailey and Hailey's full name before getting married was Hailey (E sound) Rhode (Ro sound) Baldwin (Bo sound). The Bo sound in Baldwin is very subtle in the pronunciation. Like I already mentioned in the previous post, you need to give it some room when comparing these sounds in Hindi with the sounds in names from different foreign languages.

Example 3 Amitabh Bachchan

His Birthdate is October 11th, 1942 at 3:00 pm in Allahabad (IN)

In his D9 chart his 7th house is in the sign of Scorpio, Mars is the ruler and is placed in Cancer, Ashlesha Nakshatra.

The Hindi letters for Ashlesha Nakshatra are:

डी डू डे डो

Sounds: Di (dee) Du (doo) De Do

His wife's full name before she got married to him was Jaya Bhaduri (Du sound).

These were just some of the examples I gave. 95% of the celebrities who I've looked up their charts and applied this method was accurate. I have also applied this method on both my parents and relatives and it has always worked. I really hope I was able to demonstrate this in a comprehensive way for you guys.

Thanks for reading🌺

link to part 1:

[structuraremodeling]

What Better Time Then Now to Have a Fabulous Home Office!

Hey LA…

Like it or not, we are all spending more time at home these days. Whether you are on Zoom calls with your customers and office mates or teaching your fifth grade Math class on-line. Everyone is dealing with the new demands of working from home. We now view our favorite Late-night TV hosts and News Anchors live from their own homes. We are getting a look into the inner sanctums of people’s lives in a way that we never have before. Working from your bed may have been acceptable in the past…it’s just not going to cut it for the long haul. Don’t you deserve a beautiful and functional space…. even if you use just to pay your bills. Now is the time to consider a home office remodeling project. You may be starting from scratch or realizing its time to remodel your home office space. It was fine working in the corner of your family room when it was you, your partner and your Great Dane. Now with your expanded family including kids, grandparents or returning college students you need your sanctuary…A place to work, create, dream and just get it done! Let’s start by identifying your space. A professional LA General Contractor will help you get creative. Do you have a room you can dedicate for your office? If not, you can start with a wall of your bedroom or maybe repurposing the basement space or the garage. There are solutions available even if you live in a Tiny Home.

Let’s get started by identifying your needs for your Home Office Remodeling:

Do you work from home full time?

Are you on regular video conference calls?

Do you need space for designing, drafting or building?

Do you generate a lot of paper or are you a green technology person?

Do you work best in complete silence or do you need some signs of life around you?

Do your technology needs require upgrades in cooling and electrical?

Here are some tips from the pro LA General Contractors:

Lighting is an important key to having a space that energizes you and keeps you productive. Scientific observations suggest that when our natural rhythm of light and dark are not interrupted our health, immune system and hormones functions improve. The better we feel the more productive we are.

Now would be a great time to add natural lighting to your space. New Windows, French Doors to the garden or even a Skylight.

Make sure you work with your General Contractor to create as much storage space as possible. They will help you to plan and use the space well. If you have high ceiling don’t be afraid to use the space above for storage. Built in Custom Cabinetry will keep you organized.

Psychologists observed that we are more peaceful and energetic when not distracted by piles of clutter. If you have the chance to watch the popular Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo or read her book Joy at Work: Organizing your professional Life you will get to observe how transformational organizing your workspace can be. After all, you don’t want your conference call to go viral because your kid ran into the room naked while you were on a video call with your CEO…or you didn’t realize that your camera was on, revealing that your LA Home Office (with a much-needed room addition Los Angeles) was a total disaster. Even if organization has alluded you for your entire life, having a custom designed home office will inspire you. Go online and find the perfect Chair, draw dividers, laptop stand and ways to hide all the wires. Find colors that make you feel happy a nd creative. Enjoy customizing your new domain!!! This last tip is from the LA General Contractors at Structura Remodeling, a five-star LA based General Contracting and Remodeling company. Successfully Serving the LA community for more than 16 years with their amazing designs and execution. Hire Professional LA General Contractors to ensure your satisfaction and peace of mind. Structura will do the work so you can get back to work in a healthy, organized, and inspiring environment.

[reyesranch]

“tommy is not even enthusiastic or excited to hangout with buck like he is eddie. he spends the entire episode laughing and smiling hanging out with eddie and whether or not that interest is romantic or platonic—“ im gonna stop you right there.

that’s THE difference. with buck and tommy currently dating, it’s 100% safe to assume tommy had only platonic intentions with eddie (because its kinda weird to think a gay man will automatically be into every guy they meet and can’t just be friends with them) but he’s romantically interested in buck. therefore the approach with buck is going to be much different.

does tommy even know if buck is queer? he definitely picked up on the vibes in the loft scene. but while you may interpret it differently, we can also interpret that tommy could be just as anxious to be the one to contact buck first to hang out, possibly in fear of rejection/reading the room wrong. the vibe of the harbor scene is flirtatious, maybe it’s difficult to see it the first time because hey, it’s two guys, but watching it back a second time it’s there and you can practically see tommy trying to feel out the vibe himself. he also tells buck to hit him up at the end. we didn’t get to see tommy’s side of it all. it could be implied tommy was also fishing for information about buck from chris, that tommy could have been hoping eddie would invite buck to hangout, we simply don’t know! but what i do know is that if tommy was to be a bad guy in the story, we would have known by now. 911 doesn’t exactly shy away from showing you who the villains are in the story.

furthermore,

why else would tommy kiss buck? because buck’s a dude and tommy’s desperate? the excuse that tommy is just wanting to get to the 118 is overused and ridiculous. he already has the 118. he’s friends with hen, chim and eddie outside of buck and bobby was his boss before too. is he getting a little small found family in return? sure, but to think tommy’s some evil mastermind about is… definitely a choice.

saying that tommy letting buck set the pace means he making buck do all the work is also just, completely fucking wrong. tommy letting buck set the pace means he cares, because he doesn’t want to pressure buck, he wants to make sure they’re moving at a speed buck is comfortable with. buck is a newfound bisexual, it’s actually pretty considerate for tommy to let buck take the reigns of the relationship.

then, to even imply tommy only might want buck for sex is also just, gross. if that’s all he wanted he would have been gone after their date. he wouldn’t agree for a second chance, he wouldn’t put in the effort to show up for buck. he could just go on grindr, it’s fucking los angeles dude. this is a guy ready for a steady, committed relationship.

im once again begging you guys to actually watch the show without any biases. you’d be able to understand and pick up on what is truly happening on your screen if you did.

addition: also to act like tommy has never smiled or laughed around buck… be for real.

[lunarla123]

Friday Night Fightin - GF Reference Sheet

The apples of my eye, have Stacie the classy succubus, and she will fight for and with her mans.

Friday Night Fightin BF Ref Sheet Friday Night Fightin Pico Ref Sheet

Name: Stacie Daemon

Nickname: Star

Birthday: 10th May

Age: 26

Orientation: Polyamorous demisexual

Species: Demon succubus

Height: 5'5ft

Weight: 166 lbs

Voice: Bubble's villain cover heh

Relationship status: Dating

Family: Marco Daemon (fightin!DaddyDearest), Janice Daemon (fightin!MommyMearest)

Partners: Mikey Angel (fightin!BF), Derrick Dino (fightin!Pico)

Friends: Neena Arachnes (fightin!Nene), Darnell Phoenix (fightin!Darnell)

Acquaintances: John Dino (fightin!Tankman), Skid Skelly and Pump Pumpkin (fightin!SkidandPump)

Enemies/Rivals: Neena Arachnes (fightin!Nene) (They like to compete in friendly rivalry when given an opportunity), Ayumu Obake (fightin!Senpai)

Personality: In juxtaposed to her two partners, she's the most reserved out of the trio and the emotional pillar for them to stand and lean upon. She's always open with her feelings and can act a bit aloof in dangerous situations. Despite this, she acts just as mischievous as her lovers, silently enabling their antics and would watch the chaos unfold from the sidelines with backup popcorn until she needs to intervene. She loves getting either Mic or Dee to wear girly accessories with her or bring them along in her Sunday Shoppings, always having the pleasure to spoil them with gifts and adoring affections.

Personality flaw: An idealist, she tends to be passive and often indecisive when stressed, unable to make a decision in a desperate situation due to growing up only knowing how to listen but not how to act despite being a social butterfly. Despite this, she's determined to get better at taking the lead, especially when it came to helping Dee and Mic with their mental disorders.

Likes: Fashion, socializing, shopping, Lo-fi songs, Mic's singing, Dee's marksmanship, her partners, spoiling her partners, giant teddy bears, fried tuna sandwiches, going along with her partners' shenanigans, Vocaloid covers, rosemary tea, Spring season.

Dislikes: Her parents (more so neutral of them), seeing her partners suffer alone, being helpless, thunder, jumpscares, quiet rooms, two faced people, lemons.

Powers: Heel kicks (basic combo attacks), Dual tail whips (heavy combo attacks), Airborn (uses her wings to double jump and glide), Succubus sweet kiss (blows a kiss as her tails create a heart shockwave at a certain direction), Heart stepdown (dives down heel first to the ground causing anyone below to take heavy damage), Devil's aroma (creates an enticing smoke that lures a person nearby with no resistance), Lovebeam (long range attack)

Backstory (summary): Stacie was a rich girl growing up, sheltered for almost her whole life. She was given a personal bodyguard that would later be her childhood friend and much later sweetheart Derrick. Wanting to live outside of her confined and monotone home, she would take any chance to be out in the warm daylight and meeting as many people as she could with Derrick by her side, along with Mikey soon after. Everyday was different than the last, and she wouldn't trade them for anything else. Well, if she was given the offer to trade their disorders away, she would offer her life without a second thought just for them, all so they could have the chance to feel inner peace and true happiness.

Additional notes:

She has sectoral heterochromia on her left eye

She wants to cuddle Mikey so bad during cuddle times but knows it makes him uncomfortable if it's too long

Has various kinds of hoop earrings

Always takes the opportunity to tickle her partners at their weak spots when they least suspect it

Hair is often tied and/or in a braid

Horns are supposed to shape a heart (Idk if that was shown well)

[marimayscarlett]

LIFAD turns 15 years old today 💿🎶

On this day, the 16th of October 2009, the album 'Liebe ist für alle da' was released. The work for this album started the year prior, as the preproduction for the album took place from February to October 2008. The focus of the band in the beginning period of the production lay on learning how to work together again, playing songs together and gather ideas. In Hermannshagen, over the course of about one month, the band came up with up to 90 recordings of little snippets (like choruses and riffs), which they recorded for later.

After this brainstorming period, the band moved to the Beesenstedt castle in Sachsen-Anhalt to rehearse. The process apparently was less than easy due to tension in the band. The individual members seemingly first had to reconnect with each other, since the last production had been some time ago. Richard described the process of working on the album as difficult at times: "Everyone was involved and interested in everything, which meant the decision-making power was practically zero because everyone wanted to go in a different direction. Six people on the boat and everyone playing captain – that's really tough."

After the work period in Germany, the band moved over to the US for recording. Drum recording took place in the Henson Studios located in Los Angeles, and the final destination were the Sonoma Studios in San Francisco. The studio they had booked there fell far short of their expectations – the band felt cramped and not as comfortable as they had hoped for a successful recording of their new album. Paul describes it as follows: "There we ended up in a studio that was in the middle of a retiree resort. We had imagined that differently, because actually the area was quite cool. There were cougars and deer running around, but we were in the middle of nowhere, and when we booked, we couldn't see the barbed wire that fenced off all the paths. We felt cramped, and on top of that, the studio wasn't exactly inviting. The owner had hung unsightly things everywhere that we had to take down first. However, after de-cluttering the rooms, we started to feel better."

In total, about 20 songs were recorded, of which 18 songs were published (15 on the special edition of the album, plus Mein Land and Vergiss uns nicht on the single for Mein Land, and Gib mir deine Augen on the single for Mein Herz brennt.)

The promotion for this album was done by advertising clips, for example an old lady enjoying "Frühling in Paris" and a bodybuilder lifting weights while listening to "Mehr".

Eugenio Recuenco was the artist behind the album aesthetic - he shoot the pictures for the booklet as well as for the cover of the album. Richard mentioned a similarity to the painter Hieronymus Bosch regarding the style and arrangment in the pictures. In the US, the cover was censored - an additional inlay paper on top of the usual cover showed the cover picture, but without the woman on the table

Less than a month after the album's release, it was placed on the German index. The reasons given for this were the song Ich tu dir weh, which was seen as glorifying violence, as well as this particular image of Richard:

Due to these reasons, from November 11, 2009, the original version could only be sold upon request to adult customers and was no longer allowed to be advertised. On the re-release of the CD following the indexing of the album, there is only a several-second pause in place of the song. On the cover, Ich tu dir weh is crossed out in red and marked with the footnote "Removed after censorship by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany." The letters of the song lyrics in the booklet were replaced with Xs except for brief excerpts.

After a lengthy legal dispute, the album was finally removed from the index in October 2011 and can once again be distributed with Ich tu dir weh.

Nevertheless: The album, like its predecessors, entered directly at number 1 on the German charts and stayed there for two weeks. In total, it was in the Top 100 for 83 weeks. It also held the number 1 spot for several weeks in Austria and Switzerland, and even reached the Top 20 of the album charts in the USA and the UK. In the ranking of the best-selling albums in Germany in 2009, Liebe ist für alle da ranked 7th.

Some additional facts surrounding the album:

During their tour for the album, Rammstein performed Ich tu dir weh with altered lyrics.

The album was originally supposed to be called Wiener Blut – like the Rammstein song about child abductor Josef Fritzl. However, they decided against it because there was already a Falco album with the same name.

Richard about the album title: '"Liebe ist für alle da" (Love is there for everyone) is a very Christian thought. Of course, one must ask, is love really there for everyone? I would hope that it is. Can we forgive those who have misunderstood love? I often think about that, and I fail, then make some progress, only to go back again.'

The chorus of Frühling in Paris is inspired by Edith Piaf's chanson Non, je ne regrette rien.

Four years after the album's release, Führe mich was used as a soundtrack for Lars Von Trier's controversial film Nymphomaniac.

The song Haifisch is inspired by Mack the Knife from Brecht's The Threepenny Opera.

Sources: rammwiki metalhammer rammstein.de welt.de noz.de

[disneytva]

Disney Branded Television Sets PRIMOS Premiere For July 25th As Part Of Disney Channel Epic Mid-Summer

Oigan Primos! from the talented people who brought you Big City Greens comes a new meaning for BEST SUMMER EVER. ☀️🌈🖍️📔

Disney Branded Television has set the series premiere for Primos with a two-episode premiere July 25 at 8:00 p.m. Pacific on Disney Channel (with two new episodes airing every Saturday starting July 27). An initial batch of episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ starting July 26.

“Primos” follows Tater Ramirez Humphrey, an imaginative free spirit bursting with creative energy who is ready to spend the summer of her 10th birthday sorting out her goals and dreams. But her plans are derailed when she learns that her mother has invited all 12 of her primos — cousins — to spend the summer at their home and share her room.

Joining the talented Primos guest cast includes

Gabriel Iglesias (Jorge R. Gutierrez "I-Chihuahua") as Tio Gustavo, Sarah Sherman (Anaapurna Animation's "Nimona) as Carmela, Cheech Marin (Pixar Animation Studios "Coco") as Abuelo Pop, Sherry Cola (Pixar Animation Studios "Turning Red") as Ms. Mahoney, Bill as Kyle MacLachlan, Jaime Jarrín (Los Angeles Dodgers) as Día de la Cultura Announcer and Xolo Maridueña (DC Studios "Blue Beetle" Marvel "Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur").

Primos songs are GRAMMY nominated composers Alana Da Fonseca and Bobby Studley (Tim Burton's "Wednesday", Disney Channel Original Movies "Teen Beach Movie" franchise). Jim Lang (Nickelodeon Animation Studios "Hey Arnold" franchise) serves as score composer, Hey Arnold! creator Craig Barlett does additional guest clay animation.

Karla Sakas Shropshire (Nickelodeon Animation Studios "The Loud House", Disney Television Animation "Katz Café") serves as story editor.

Inspired by growing up in Fontana and Riverside with the chicano culture Primos has gotten praise by fellow industry members such as Jorge R. Gutierrez (Nickelodeon "El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera", 20th Century Animation "The Book of Life", Netflix Animation "Maya And The Three"), Phil Lord (MTV Animation "Clone High", Sony Pictures Animation "Cloudy For A Change Of Meatballs" franchise,"Spiderman In To The Spiderverse" franchise), Sofiá Alexander (Crunchyroll Originals "Onyx Equinox", Disney "Phineas And Ferb"), Guillermo Del Toro (Dreamworks Animation "Rise of The Guardians", "How To Train Your Dragon 2" "Tales of Arcadia" ,20th Century Animation "The Book Of Life", Netflix Animation "Guillermo del Toro's Pinnochio"), Miguel Puga (Nickelodeon Animation Studios "The Casagrandes", DC Studios & Warner Bros Animation "Blue Beetle The Series" ), Megan Nicole Dong (Netflix Animation "Centaurworld", Locksmith Animation "Bad Fairies" ) and more.

PRIMOS will be used by Disney TVA Multiplatform with their short series "CHIBI TINY TALES", "THEME SONG TAKEOVER", "BROKEN KARAOKE" & "HOW NOT TO DRAW" , Tater and The Ramirez Family will set to appear on CHIBIVERSE Season 2.

Additionaly a Primos soundtrack by Walt Disney Records is set to debut July 26th on digital music platforms

PRIMOS joins Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur,Kiff, Big City Greens,Amphibia,The Ghost and Molly McGee, Hamster & Gretel and Hailey's On It! on getting official albums.