#meme regulation units

[duckapus]

(5/11/24: edited because I was looking through stuff and realized at some point I'd forgotten to start from 0 when counting the MRUs)

"Emulation is stable. Trinity is online. Drive inserted. Ready to install on your command, sir."

"Proceed."

"Yes director. Uploading mod... now."

"...Upload is progressing smoothly. Time until Activation estimated at 3 minutes."

"Excellent. Hopefully there are no complications."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great Sky Island

It's a beautiful morning here among the clouds. The Forest Ostriches graze. The Chu Chus slosh along between the trees in search of prey. The temple's bell chimes, prompting the Steward Constructs to resume their work. And far below, the people of Hyrule stir as well, preparing to go about their days.

None of them have any idea of the madness that is to come.

Far above even the highest Sky Island, a mysterious object appears, hurtling down like a meteorite. As it falls it becomes clear that its current path will bring it down directly on top of the Temple of Time.

Soon enough it arrives with a monumental CRASH, yet the Temple remains intact, with the object simply embedding itself into the flat roof. Said object appears to be a silver flash drive, monolithic in scale, with a strange circular symbol painted in orange on the front. A few moments later, a robotic voice calls out.

"Uploading the latest Spicy Memes."

A wave of blue energy pulses out from the drive, traveling across all of Hyrule in seconds, causing anyone it touches to behave strangely and leaving a variety of bizarre people and creatures in its wake. Not done, lighting arcs out from it, causing the temple itself to glow and then emit beams of light in seemingly random directions. Wherever these beams end, a portal is formed, each with a past version of Hyrule on the other side. One bolt of electricity from the drive happens to graze a nearby fairy, causing it to jitter in place and rapidly shift between various colors while spamming Navi voicelines.

Eventually the light show ends, and the drive's front opens to reveal a man with brown hair and eyes who looks otherwise identical to Link (pre-arm loss) wearing an orange version of the Hero of Time Armor Set.

"Hey, what is up every...body?" he looks around, realizing that he's completely alone, "Uh...anybody home?"

As if in answer, the out-of-control fairy careens into his face, still spouting random voicelines. He's initially freaked out, but quickly gets an idea and ducks back into the clearly-bigger-on-the-inside flash drive, coming back with a video camera and a laptop. Within a few minutes he's filmed the fairy and edited the resulting video into a Carameldansen Rave Meme, which he then uploads to the internet (the digital multiverse's internet. much like SMG8 the technological limitations of living in a medieval fantasy setting prevent him from uploading within his actual universe).

Soon after, a flash of light pulses out from the fairy, and their color settles on a deep blue despite the fact that all of the BotW/TotK fairies are supposed to be pale pink. Their flight has calmed down significantly, and they're not saying random voicelines anymore.

They are, however, still talking...sort of, "WwwOOw tHaAAAAaat zuuUc- IIiiII1!iizzzzthhhhaAat7tmeE33ee?"

"...da fuk."

"HhhOoOolLlLlDddDDiIiIiIiiiIIIIti11111igoO0oddafffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffiIigYYyyiuuuooouuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrthIs outwaitokayisthisrightnotoo f a s t a l m ost got it! Okay, testing, testing, do you read me now?" She still sounds synthetic, but at least now she's coherent.

"...Yeah?" 'the fuck just happened?'

"Sweet. Now, my name's Loni. Who the hell are you and what did your weird-ass ship thing do to me?"

"Oh, I'm MRU1, a Meme Regulation Unit! It's my job to keep the universe stable by posting about all the memes my Command Pod uploaded and protecting... the..." He suddenly goes wide-eyed and runs off, "Oh shit I've gotta find my Anchor!"

Unfortunately, there's a certain problem with that, as he realizes when he reaches the edge of the roof, "Uh...that's a pretty long way down."

"Yep."

"...and it's even further to the actual not-flying ground."

"Sure looks like it."

"...is there like a ladder or..."

"LOL no. Sucks to be you dude."

"goddamnit"

[memenewsdotcom]

@neuralink to test on humans

[frommybookbook]

Earlier today, some friends and I were discussing one of those Star Trek captains memes. You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones that pit the captains against each other with pithy descriptions that glorify and champion the men and shit on Janeway. The ones where Picard is describe as the wise teacher and scholarly diplomat; Kirk is the brave trailblazer and lovable rogue; Sisko is the take-no-shit commander and more-than-human uniter; Archer is the quick thinking explorer and the avenging do-gooder; Pike is the empathetic Boy Scout and the quippy everyman…and Janeway is an irrational murderer and erratic loose canon. And, as usual, I went on a bit of a rant. They (looking at you @redsesame, @epersonae, and @emi--rose) told me to share it here so, if you trudge through this whole thing, blame them.

Does Janeway make some questionable decisions throughout VOY (Prodigy!Janeway is a different conversation for another time)? Yes, absolutely. But here’s the thing: every captain does. What I still love about her though and will champion until I'm blue in the face is that Janeway owns her decisions more than I think any other captain does.

Picard and Kirk hide behind the Prime Directive a lot. That's the reasoning Picard gives for not interfering in the drug running in “Symbiosis” and leaving the Ornarans trapped in dependence on the abusive Brekkans. His line, “Beverly, the Prime Directive is not just a set of rules. It is a philosophy, and a very correct one. History has proved again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well-intentioned that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous." is a cop-out we hear from him time and time again, especially to Dr. Crusher, as she is the one who most often calls him on his bullshit.

Kirk does the same thing. We still this when he leaves Shanna and the other thralls behind in "The Gamesters of Triskelion" and when he forces Elaan of Troyius into a marriage she clearly doesn't want because it's "for a greater good." And all the while, he's got Spock at his side giving him confirmation bias that he's following regulations.

And Sisko, Sisko makes some of the most horrific and destructive decisions of any captain and uses not only the Prime Directive to fall back on, but he's got the Dominion War to blame. He poisons an entire planet to get back at one man he feels betrayed him in "For the Uniform" and don't even get me started on his actions in "In the Pale Moonlight".

Enterprise is so unjustly shat on by the fandom that I almost hate to bring some of Archer's questionable choices into this conversation but I'm going to do it anyway. Similar to Sisko and the Dominion War, Archer has the threat of the Xindi in his back pocket to excuse some of his worst behavior. If Tuvix is the worst thing people can point to for Janeway, then we have to talk about Archer and Sim, the simbiont created solely to be a living tissue donor for an injured Trip, a procedure that will kill the living, breathing, sentient Sim. Archer orders Sim created against the arguments made by Dr. Phlox. He rationalizes his decision with the same argument for the greater good that we see from all the others. He says to T'Pol before Sim is created "…we've got to complete this mission. Earth needs Enterprise. Enterprise needs Trip. It's as simple as that." And it doesn't end there. When Sim is grown enough for the procedure and has figured out what's going to happen to him, he challenges Archer himself, arguing for his own right to live, and Archer sticks to his guns. This exchange directly between Archer and Sim is haunting.

Archer: I must complete this mission; and to do that, I need Trip. Trip! I'll take whatever steps necessary to save him. Sim: Even if it means killing me? Archer: Even if it means killing you. Sim: You're not a murderer. Archer: Don't make me one.

Not only do all of these captains (except Archer, who arguably writes the damn thing himself at the end of the series) have the Prime Directive to fall back on, they also have Starfleet/the Federation/Vulcan High Council right there on speed dial to validate their choices and hear their excuses and give them another commendation. They all know that ultimately, they can turn to someone higher in command to turn to for help.

Janeway is alone. She is alone with her crew 70,000 lightyears from home with only her training and her own moral compass to guide her. Yes, she claims the Prime Directive a lot but she also goes with what she feels is right and she is clear about that with her crew. When she makes the decision to split Tuvix, despite what everyone else says, she sticks to it and more importantly, does the procedure herself. Picard would have forced Beverly to do it, saying Doctor I gave you an order, your conscience be damned, and Archer does the same to Phlox with Sim, but Janeway takes the tool out of the Doctor's hand and says it's my call, I'll do it. When everyone is angry and mad about her destroying the Caretaker's array, she stands up for her decision and says yes, I did it, because it's what my Starfleet training said to do AND because I think it was the right thing and it's on me to make the hard choices.

She also can admit when she made the wrong decision, which isn't something we see from the other captains. In the season 5 opener, "Night", we see her in a depressive state because she's questioning her decision to effectively strand her crew in the Delta quadrant but she comes out of it when she's reminded by her senior staff that the crew believes in her and trusts her, she should do the same for herself. When the Doctor has a mental crisis in "Latent Image" after questioning his own choice to save the life of Harry Kim over that of another crew member, Janeway admits she did the wrong thing by first deleting his memories of it so he could get back to work and then sits with him for days while he works through it because that's what captains do.

And she does all of this without the backup and support of Starfleet. She doesn't have anyone higher on the chain of command. She's 70,000 miles away from the admiralty and her support system. There's no one higher than her to give her a break from making every decision.

To quote my fellow Missourian Harry Truman, for Janeway the buck stops with her in a way it doesn't for any other captain and she is painfully aware of that and owns that and that is why I love her and she's my captain.

[cyberpunkonline]

The Untamed Web: How Internet Culture Rebels, Evolves, and Defines Our Digital Age

What is Internet culture? The question drifts through the ether like a rogue signal, elusive and captivating. To untangle this web, we must trace its lineage back to its inception, a digital genesis rooted in the analog rituals of Deadheads in the 70s. Much like those dedicated followers of the Grateful Dead, early Internet denizens sought connection and community, but instead of tapes and stories, they shared bytes and bits in mailing lists and Usenet newsgroups. Here, intellectuals, hackers, and rebels mingled in a digital potluck of ideas, raw and unfiltered.

As the dial-up tones gave way to the persistent hum of a growing network, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) emerged as the heartbeat of this underground culture. Real-time interaction became the new frontier, a global speakeasy where minds met in channels dedicated to everything imaginable. This wasn't just idle chat; it was a crucible for innovation and rebellion. Hacking groups like Cult of the Dead Cow and Legion of Doom pushed the limits of technology and legality, shaping the Internet in their anarchic image.

Then came vaporwave, the eerie soundtrack of a digital dystopia. This genre, with its nostalgic echoes of the 80s and 90s, felt like the Internet itself was creating music. Vaporwave artists like MACINTOSH PLUS crafted tracks that were both haunting and familiar, resonating with those disillusioned by the encroaching corporatization of digital spaces. It was a sonic rebellion, an aural middle finger to the commercialization of the Internet.

Memes, those viral fragments of culture, became the lifeblood of this digital underground. From the early days of "All Your Base Are Belong to Us," a quirky mistranslation from the game Zero Wing, to the complex narratives of modern memes, these digital artifacts spread like wildfire, uniting and dividing communities in equal measure. The tragicomic saga of Harambe, the gorilla shot at the Cincinnati Zoo, turned into a meme that evolved into a cultural phenomenon and even inspired a cryptocurrency in his legacy. Memes are the modern folklore, ever-evolving and reflective of the current digital zeitgeist.

At its core, Internet underground culture embodies the cyberpunk ethos—an unyielding rebellion against corporate overlords, a fight for digital freedom and privacy. Piracy, casual hacking, and the rise of cryptocurrency are not just acts of defiance but declarations of identity. This culture stands in stark opposition to corporatism, advocating for the decentralization of information and power. The emergence of decentralized networks and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are testaments to this ongoing struggle for autonomy.

Influences of Discordianism, with its embrace of chaos and rejection of traditional structures, permeate this culture. The Internet thrives on disruption, finding beauty in the unpredictable and the chaotic. It's a digital frontier where order is constantly challenged, and chaos is celebrated.

Politicians view Internet culture with a mix of fascination and fear. The concept of an "ungovernable" digital populace is both an ideal and a nightmare. Early Internet pioneers dreamed of a decentralized, unregulated space where freedom reigned supreme. However, as the Internet has grown, so too have efforts to control it. Governments impose regulations, corporations seek to monetize it, and the original vision of an ungovernable digital utopia becomes harder to live. Yet, pockets of resistance remain, where the spirit of rebellion and the desire for autonomy continue to thrive.

But like any culture, it has a dual nature. The democratization of information and the global connections fostered by Internet culture are profound positives. Yet, the same platforms that unite can also incubate hate speech and cybercrime. It is a reflection of humanity itself, with its myriad facets of light and dark.

So, what is Internet culture in 2024? It is a digital rebellion, a chaotic blend of nostalgia, anti-corporatism, and radical freedom of expression that continues to shape and redefine the digital landscape. In one sentence: Internet culture is the chaotic digital tapestry woven from the threads of rebellion, nostalgia, and the relentless pursuit of freedom.

We seek resistance. It begins with the maintainance of the culture.

[radiosummons]

Real talk: Does the Jedi Order have a tax exempt status?

I know it's somewhat of a meme to make jokes about how the Jedi don't know how to pay taxes, or rather questioning whether they get paid or make any income at all. And, yes, this question is kinda dumb in the sense that whether the Jedi Order has tax exempt status or not, it doesn't effect the over all story or any actual SW lore in any way that actually matters.

I also know that tax exempt status works differently in other countries besides the US (yes, hello, I am American. I hate it here, too). But for the sake of taking this very dumb question at face value, would the Jedi Order:

1) Count as a religious institution in the eyes of Republic law?

2) If so, would their status as a religious institution have any impact on whether they attained tax exempt status from the Republic?

3) What standards and regulations would the Republic IRS have in place regarding tax exemption?

4) Do the Jedi even have an accounting department?

I would peronally argue that, yes, the Jedi Order is in fact a religious institution. On the account of the obvious connection to the Force and heavily coded (if not just downright) religious practices that the Jedi follow.

However, even if the Republic were to grant the Jedi Order the status of a lawfully recognized religious institution, I'm not sure if this would actually lead to them a guaranteed tax exempt status.

According to United States IRS standards and regulations, the Jedi Order could and would also be seen as a religious institution. However, one of the biggest stipulations for retaining tax exempt status is that the religious institution does not attempt to or make any influence on legislative or attempt to influence political campaigns.

(Palpatine voice: Ironic).

Now, if the Republic had similar stipulations, I would argue that, no, the Jedi do not get tax exemption. Mostly because one of the longest known duties associated with the Jedi Order is their role in assisting with galactic diplomacy. It would be literally impossible for them to not get involved in some capacity, especially when their aid is often directly requested (whether by a Republic aligned planet or not).

That being said, this is all going by the standards of the IRS. And at the risk of sounding too jaded, there are hundreds if not outright thousands of religious institutions in the US that should have lost their tax exempt status decades ago. And yet ....

Obviously, this all ultimately depends on what standards the Republic would theoretically have in place for situations like this. And while I would never actually want George Lucas--or any other writer for that matter--to attempt to give us a canon answer, I can't help but wonder.

Even if the Jedi Order was completely self-reliant--which I personally don't think is possible due to them, well, living on Coruscant for thousands of years-just as an example. It just doesn't make sense to me that the Jedi would limit themselves to only what they make in house when they could have easy access to other local businesses, ya know?--whose to say that they wouldn't still be required to pay for taxes like regular citizens?

The Jedi Temple, again, has literally been there for thousands of years. I don't think it's entirely out of the realm of possibility that the Republic wouldn't have sent their own SW IRS agent at least once to audit the Jedi Order.

I honestly wouldn't even be surprised if that Jedi Order would be given a slight form of tax exemption, but only if certain conditions were met. Like, I don't know, what if an official member of the local Coruscantii/Republic government were to make a direct request for the aid of the Jedi. Maybe they'd get a tax write off for all the transportation and housing (or vehicular damage) they'd acrue while on this government sponsored mission?

Or what about this? Business institutions in the US get tax write offs for charitable donations (which the fuckers exploit to hell and back, fuck me). I have to wonder if there was a point in time (maybe the early years of the ye Old Republic) where someone had to bring up the fact that a lot of what the Jedi do could count fall under charitable tax deductions. So if they wanted to continue taxing the Jedi Order, they'd probably have to change up the definition or something.

Idk, man, I'm sort of spit balling random thoughts at this point.

I'd also like to say that I believe the Jedi do, in fact, have an accounting department. Just to keep thing running smoothly in regards to the Temple budget and so on. It would be kinda hard to keep a place that big with that many occupants still around and for that long without having someone keeping a close eye on the Order's spending.

Mostly, though, I just find the idea of the Jedi being audited absolutely hilarious.

[madsworld15]

Why Queer as Folk (2000) Was Seemingly Forgotten

An analysis by a professional TV Critic

Let me start off by saying the initial run of Queer as Folk and its current resurgence can be represented by this mantra by Brian Kinney: There are two kinds of straight people. The ones who hate you to your back and the ones who hate you to your face.

The initial run of QAF coincides with the first half of the statement: hate behind your back.

So, recently I started thinking about how in the early 2000s, Queer as Folk seemed to be on a trajectory of going down in TV history. Then, seemingly just as quickly, people stopped talking about it. So much so that by the time I finished watching it in 2009, I only got a few good months of chatter on social media platforms (Twitter mostly) with other fans before it just stopped being talked about in a wide-reaching manner.

I will even admit that I stopped thinking about the show not long after that and wasn't reminded of its full impact on my psyche until late last year when it was back on easy-access streaming due to Showtime's merge with Paramount+.

But why is it that this show is only just now starting to pick up speed again? (I'm talking fan cams on TikTok, memes, etc.)

I have some theories about all of this, so buckle in.

To really get a grasp of what Queer as Folk was working against when it aired on Showtime -- a paid subscription channel back before the days of an overabundance of streaming services, you have to look at the climate we were living in. Also, how inaccessible a paid TV channel was for most people.

So, in the early 2000s, life in the United States, and probably the world, but I'm not fully educated enough to comment on that, wasn't the greatest for those in the LGBT+ community. It would be years before the President of the United States would pass legislation that Gay Marriage be legal nationwide.

Employers were able to fire people for being gay, and the employees couldn't fight it. Gay parents had very little in terms of rights to their own children; in fact, some couldn't even adopt the kids they wanted to because there were no laws against discrimination.

All of these things are depicted left and right throughout Queer as Folk, with Ted getting fired from his job, Michael being extremely closeted at his job, and Melanie not being afforded rights to Gus because of adoption regulations during that time.

So, for our community to receive a show that was by us for us, we were overjoyed. There was something so resolutely refreshing about the unapologetic manner in which these characters were allowed to present themselves and live their lives. And while the show gets dinged today for its lack of racial diversity, we were glad to see queer people represented in a variety of ways -- we got to see the Emmett's and Justin's of the world being friends with the Ted's and Michael's and Brian's.

Not only that, these characters got to love who they wanted, however, they wanted, and whenever they wanted. Characters like Michael and Emmett could go from wanting to freely fuck whoever to finding that special person and settling down. We got to see Ted find the right guy at the wrong time over and over and over again until it was finally the right guy at the right time.

But most of all, we got to see a character like Brian, who, in the hands of a straight person, might've actually gone "soft" and "domestic" just by being with Justin. Instead, we got to see him never change his opinion about what he wanted, but still finding love in his own way.

However, not long after the show ended (like around 2008), the climate in the United States started to shift more towards open acceptance of the queer community. So, people stopped needing an escape from the hardships of real life because things seemed to be on an upward trend toward love and equality. Therefore, Queer as Folk sort of fell off the radar of viewers because we didn't want more of the gritty, complicated, messy queer stories. We wanted our stories to be happy and lighthearted.

(Keep in mind I am speaking in terms of general viewers. There are always exceptions to the rule)

Then, in 2016, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, and suddenly, it was totally okay for people to openly mock us and hate us.

This is where the resurgence of QAF falls into the second half of Brian's mantra: hate us to our face.

Around 2016/2017, people started talking about this show again. And the love and fervor for it has only increased exponentially over the last few years, especially with the onset of COVID-19 and the merging of Showtime/Paramount+. Both events made the public more aware and able to access the show.

Now more than ever, we need something that isn't afraid to show queer people as we are, not as the media and those outside our community paint us. We need to feel like there is a media format that understands what we are like when we are with our closest friends. We say things that, in today's world, would probably get us canceled, and we judge those around us and have very biased opinions about certain people.

Brian Kinney's unapologetic "I am who I am and fuck anyone who tries to change me" attitude is the exact level of strength and courage we wished more people right now had. His biased, but not illogical, opinion of non-queers needs to be loud. It needs to be shouted from the rooftops because we now live in a world where we are hated just for existing as we are.

Even our rights that had been given to us just a decade ago are being stripped away from us once more. So, the fight for love and equality continues, and the hope that Queer as Folk gives us is important now more than ever.

So, people are seeking this story out and are begging others in the world to watch it and understand that we have always been here. We've always been these flawed but loving characters. We deserve to be heard.

In 2022, Peacock tried its best to create a redo of the series but failed miserably. But why? If we are desperately looking for queer media that is gritty, unapologetic, and real, then why didn't we latch onto this latest iteration?

The answer is simple. This new version was great at creating a more diverse image of the characters created for the Showtime series but failed to understand that recreating things almost note for note with entirely new characters isn't what we want.

It would've been better if the show stuck to broad-stroke themes and made these characters and their experiences their own. Queer today is different than queer in the early 2000s, just like queer in the 2000s was different than queer in the 1980s. Trying to put queer 2000s stories into a queer 2020s world isn't going to work.

We need to embrace this resurgence of Queer as Folk (2000) and give it the love and attention it should've always had. Perhaps finally giving its rightful due in the eyes of the history of queer media. Does it have its issues as the world changes? Absolutely, but we also can't sit here and deny the insane level of impact this show had on the queer media we now know and love.

We wouldn't have casually queer shows like Schitt's Creek, Heartstopper, and Our Flag Means Death if Queer as Folk hadn't broken down our walls and made us realize that we can demand stories for queer people by queer people.

[mariacallous]

As the United States prepares for the upcoming November election, misinformation and disinformation have spread through memes. Memes are any idea, expression, or opinion that uses text, visual imagery (e.g., a photo, video, or gif file) with or without sound, which can be copied and shared online. For researchers, they are co-constructions that have meaning primarily in humor, which can be shared by multiple users, and in the case of the internet, across various platforms. The convenient availability of commercial artificial intelligence (AI) tools has also contributed to the existing meme economy. Software like X’s AI chatbot called Grok can quickly generate such images, especially with its ability to use famous peoples’ likenesses, copyrighted material, violent content, or pornographic image generation.

The reality is that AI-generated memes have been inserted into the political conversation. These altered images often seem harmless to voters, particularly because they are sometimes shared by people they trust in their personal and professional networks. It can be difficult for policymakers or content moderators to definitively assess their impact because the humor or profile of memes makes them appear innocuous. In the current policy environment where content moderation and domestic AI policy are still evolving, those who develop and disseminate memes can potentially influence voter information about candidate issues, character, and other relevant election information without the usual guardrails that either regulate speech in the U.S. or trigger attention based on the manipulation of political content.

What are memes?

Tugging on the emotions of voters is a critical part of influencing them to act. Memes present unique opportunities because they can disseminate information and foster a sense of community through humor and other apolitical ways. Examples of the persuasive power of memes have appeared in efforts to spread political messaging, alter the stock market, or even influence the way the public thinks about war.

The current campaign efforts on both sides are also no exception. The Trump campaign and his allies have created an assortment of AI-generated memes to uplift the former president, which have been shared on the social media platform X and Truth Social. There has also been a share of visualizations that have ridiculed the other side, including one of Vice President Kamala Harris leading a communist rally, while another showed many Taylor Swift fans endorsing his campaign. Trump supporters like Musk have even reposted an AI-altered, “parody” video of Harris calling herself a “deep state puppet” and “the ultimate diversity hire.”

On the other side, Vice President Harris’ campaign and allies have generated their own share of memes. During the 2024 Democratic National Convention, the highest number of content creators and online influencers ever were in attendance to capture these and other messages for attendees and viewers. Throughout the event, robust online content was created, including the dissemination of memes to capture emotional responses to the various activities and speakers. Doug Emhoff, the second gentlemen, was often the subject of memes as he openly conveyed his support for his wife, Kamala Harris. Tim Walz’s son, Gus, also became a viral meme as he mouthed his admiration for his father during the acceptance speech. The Harris campaign and allies have been equally culpable in their use of satirical tools. Her team has also been accused of falsely captioning AI-generated videos and memes of the former president. Through their use of clips from a Trump rally in North Carolina, the Harris social media account played up the theme that the former president was “lost and confused” in his suggestion that he was in another state—a point that was later fact-checked and clarified by the Harris team.

Probably the most viral memes being shared by both parties and their allies have been those AI-generated memes of cats on social media platforms, which tout the conspiracy theory and disinformation reference by Trump regarding Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio—some of which were posted by the former president himself.

As these visualizations continue to become a part of the political landscape, memes will increasingly feed into misinformation and disinformation efforts, and cloak facts in humor and satire to elicit more emotional responses from voters. Due to congressional inaction on copyright protections for the data training large language models (LLMs) or more stringent legislation to curb the flow of false information, memes can flourish and, under current election laws, be perceived to be harmless in nature.

Memes are also not necessarily deepfakes

Congress has also made it clear how they categorize memes when it comes to election and other voter interference. Pending legislation, including the DEEPFAKES Accountability Act, create carve outs for memes, humor, satire, parody, and other commentary as a justification of an individual’s freedom of expression. However, the task of deciphering what is parody and what is deceptive can be very challenging. Despite the deceptive posts by Trump and Musk, for example, the label of satire provides some immunity from liability. Such posts also receive additional protections under Section 230, which shields online platforms that disseminate the information from any liability or association—even if vile or offensive.

Memes also can provoke “rage-baiting,” which refers to using online content to elicit strong negative emotional reactions from users. However, the significant gaps in policy make their dissemination possible and plausible. An examination of the handling of memes in a global context makes the case for stronger guardrails and increased community awareness.

Globally, memes have been perceived as fueling extremist behavior. In 2024, a memo from the Netherland’s National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCCS) considered memes to be an “online weapon,” suggesting that the lack of strong content moderation on online platforms has made it easier for memes to thrive and nest themselves in mainstream messaging that disguise their goal of radicalizing unsuspecting online users. In their new book “Lies That Kill,” co-authors Darrell West and Elaine Kamarck point to these and other examples that persuade not just voters, but other everyday people, to consume false information at rapid speeds.

Memes are the next form of political influence

Misinformation and disinformation will continue to be a focus leading up to the November election. While the time has run out for any meaningful legislation to counter deepfakes prior to this election cycle, AI-generated memes are something that policymakers, and especially campaigns, need to monitor. Because of their ability to cloak deeply hateful and vitriolic messages into humorous and satirical images, they have been downplayed in the flow of political rhetoric. Given this, Congress should reconsider the carveouts from pending legislation to quell deepfakes, especially in their use of copyrighted materials and their role in rapidly spreading disinformation. Such loose creation and dissemination of memes should also encourage Congress and other lawmakers to consider some real investments in AI literacy for everyday people to understand the consequences of what they share online. In the meantime, campaigns need to be on the lookout for memes that are harmful or that could potentially lead to violence.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Rupa Subramanya

Published: Mar 6, 2024

One of the first things you learn—or should learn—in Civics 101 is that there is no freedom at all without freedom of expression. Free speech is the essential freedom from which our other rights flow. It’s a right that we have taken for granted in the West. 

But a new wave of hate speech laws has changed that. In English-speaking countries with long traditions of free expression—countries like Canada, Britain, and Ireland—this most basic freedom is under attack. 

Take Canada. Civil liberties groups north of the border are warning a new bill put forward by Justin Trudeau’s government will introduce “draconian penalties” that risk chilling free speech. How draconian? The law would allow authorities to place a Canadian citizen under house arrest if that person is suspected to commit a future hate crime—even if they have not already done so. The legislation also increases the maximum penalty for advocating genocide from five years to life.

These punishments depend on a hazy definition of hate that Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, executive director and general counsel of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, has warned could blur the line between “political activism, passionate debate, and offensive speech.” 

The proposed law is in keeping with the Trudeau government’s broader hostility to free expression. I’ve reported before for The Free Press on this censorious turn in my country, from the crackdown on the trucker protesters to the backdoor regulation of online speech. And, testifying before the U.S. Congress in November, I urged Americans to treat Canada’s war on free expression as a cautionary tale. Increasingly, though, what’s true of Canada is true across the English-speaking world. 

In Ireland, the government is pressing ahead with controversial new restrictions of online speech that, if passed, would be among the most stringent in the Western world. 

The proposed legislation would criminalize the act of “inciting hatred” against individuals or groups based on specified “protected characteristics” like race, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation. The definition of incitement is so broad as to include “recklessly encouraging” other people to hate or cause harm “because of your views” or opinions. In other words, intent doesn’t matter. Nor would it matter if you actually posted the “reckless” content. Merely being in possession of that content—say, in a text message, or in a meme stored on your iPhone—could land you a fine of as much as €5,000 ($5,422) or up to 12 months in prison, or both. 

As with Canada’s proposed law, the Irish legislation rests on a murky definition of hate. But Ireland’s Justice Minister Helen McEntee sees this lack of clarity as a strength. “On the strong advice of the Office of the Attorney General, we have not sought to limit the definition of the widely understood concept of ‘hatred’ beyond its ordinary and everyday meaning,” she explained. “I am advised that defining it further at this juncture could risk prosecutions collapsing and victims being denied justice.” 

In Britain, existing online harm legislation means that tweeting “transwomen are men” can lead to a knock on the door from the cops. Now the governing Conservative Party is under pressure to adopt a broad definition of Islamophobia as a “type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” 

Other parties have adopted this definition, and free-speech advocates in Britain worry that it is only a matter of time until a Labour-run government codifies the definition into legislation. To do so, they argue, would mean the introduction of a de facto blasphemy law in Britain. 

These growing restrictions on speech across the Anglosphere are making the United States, with its robust First Amendment protection of speech, an outlier—though not for the Biden administration’s lack of trying. 

In April 2022, the Department of Homeland Security announced the creation of a “Disinformation Governance Board” to “coordinate countering misinformation related to homeland security.” There was an immediate pushback from free-speech advocates, who pointed to the obvious fact that this new body would necessarily impinge on protected First Amendment rights. The administration dropped the idea a few months later. 

Then, in September 2023, a federal court ruled that the Biden administration violated the First Amendment when they “coerced or significantly encouraged social media platforms to moderate content” during the pandemic. 

Jay Bhattacharya was one of the scientists on the winning side of that case. Writing in The Free Press after the ruling, he recalled being grilled on the First Amendment during his citizenship test when he was nineteen. “The American civic religion has the right to free speech as the core of its liturgy,” he wrote. “I never imagined that there would come a time when an American government would think of violating this right, or that I would be its target.” 

The trouble isn’t just the Biden administration. 

Listen to Barbara McQuade, an MSNBC legal analyst and professor at the University of Michigan Law School. Her new book, Attack from Within, details “how disinformation is sabotaging America.” America’s “deep commitment to free speech in our First Amendment. . . makes us vulnerable to claims [that] anything we want to do related to speech is censorship,” said McQuade in an interview with Rachel Maddow last week. 

A worrying number of Americans appear to be sympathetic to McQuade’s argument. A 2023 Pew survey found that just 42 percent of voters agreed that “freedom of information should be protected, even if it means false information can be published.” 

McQuade has it backward. The First Amendment is a feature, not a bug; a strength, not a vulnerability; and the bedrock of American freedom and flourishing. 

Across the English-speaking world, we once took our civil liberties for granted. Freedom of speech was understood as a blessing of democracy, not something that needed to be fought for every day. We thought that opaque and vague laws were used by those in power to punish their political or ideological opponents only in illiberal autocracies such as Russia or China. But we were wrong. And those now fighting censorship in Canada, or Britain, or Ireland, wish they had a First Amendment of their own to fall back on. 

==

Calls for censorship always come from those in power to silence dissent.

You're not supposed to notice that although they're doing it in the name of - and using the language of - "victimhood," those calling for censorship and restriction of speech are the ones who hold power from that claim to victimhood.

[mumblesplash]

You got me thinking all night bout skulk and stuff, I read the post and thought.

Yo.

What if, the souls used in the cities came FROM skulk? They developed a special way to harvest and utilize it maybe? And people who die harvesting skulk just add to its value so there's no real safety regulations?

Maybe they use societal offenders to harvest the skulk? You did this to me.

I never think about minecraft lore.

(link)

!!! so re: your first ask i might be misinterpreting what you’re saying but if you’re referring to the souls used in the soul torches and lanterns around the cities that really could go either way. there are a number of potions available in ancient city loot boxes which imply they had access to nether wart which in turn means they probably did have soul sand and could have just used that, but i’ve also been considering whether observing the sculk itself is what made this ancient civilization realize it was possible to isolate and repurpose the energy of souls (i tend to think of xp as like. units of measurement of Soul Energy if that makes sense) to create potions in the first place, in which case what you’re proposing would certainly be possible.

as for the ancient city people developing a special way to harvest sculk, it’s sort of the other way around from what you were saying but that’s arguably already canon :D enchanted silk touch hoes are another fairly common loot item, and also the only way to obtain sculk blocks. if you break any sculk without a silk touch hoe specifically it just drops xp. i think a very plausible interpretation of this is that trying to get samples of sculk, say for study or experimentation, disconnects the pieces from the main body of the organism and kills it, so the people trying to study it had to develop a tool that would preserve the original state of whatever it was harvesting. hence: invention of the silk touch enchantment

and re: the ancient city priest meme. yeah. they’re a little better at hiding the evil but that’s pretty much what felix is like. they will sell your soul to the warden for one corn chip

also just as a side note i’ve been pondering what word to use for what the sculk is (as in herbivore/carnivore/omnivore). maybe spectrovore? it doesn’t mean ‘soul eater’ EXACTLY but i like ‘spectro’ as a prefix because the sculk only eats souls that are already dead and i am obsessed with the implications of needing to specify that

[furmity]

Australian memes are as much a joke to us as anyone else, but sometimes... just saw a video with a dude gesturing at the pile of shit (bricks, fencing wire, etc.) in his back yard and saying how we all have ‘em and wouldn’t trade ‘em, it unites us all... reminded me of the fucking AFFRONT it is that my current house did NOT have the regulation pile of bricks which are VERY useful for keeping reptiles don’t you know and why the fuck am I paying all this faaaking rent for you to have cleaned up the yard and not leave me mefuckin bricks, mate! Had to source them fuckin ELSEWHERE mate. Fuckyas. Fuckin rich cunt suburb, eh?

[duckapus]

Tales From the Grid: Battle Nexus Bozos

An arc on the Grid's channel where Timmy, Piper and a few of the Links (obviously including the Anchor version) are invited to participate in the Battle Nexus Tournament (from TMNT) taking place in the Fairly Oddparents Server (remember; Timmy's server is made up of the Nickelodeon multiverse instead of just the FOP universe thanks to the canon crossovers he's been part of).

And since this can't just be a simple tournament arc, the Syndicate sneak past the Battle Nexus's robust security with their firewall-proof portals to cause trouble, along with their newest allies; the Shredder and his Foot Clan, specifically one of the 2003 Shredders (leaning towards Cyber-Shredder because computer stuff, definitely not using the demon one because he doesn't play well with others, even moreso than most Shredders). I know that one wasn't a Nick show but Rise Shedder's bad at subtlety, worse than Demon Shredder at team-ups, and also very dead (plus he doesn't really have a Foot Clan to lead during the time where he's in any state to do so), and I'm not that fond of 2012 Shredder even though I liked the show.

That being said I'll probably include multiple versions of the Turtles if I decide to properly write this out. I'm already including multiple Links so why not right?

[contemplatingoutlander]

I'm so tired of my peers on the left who DON'T know what "socialism" is and who consequently inadvertently feed into right-wing disinformation about socialism.

Apparently Simon Donald who wrote the above meme doesn't know what "socialism" is and neither does the OP of this post @rickmctumbleface.

However, they also apparently don't know how "communism"--as it is practiced today in mainland China--has evolved, or they wouldn't have posted this:

Communism - nobody can be rich.

As Statista reports:

According to the Hurun Global Rich List 2023, China housed the highest number of billionaires worldwide in 2023. In detail, there were 969 billionaires living in China. By comparison, 691 billionaires resided in the United States. India, Germany, and the United Kingdom were also the homes of a significant number of billionaires that year. [color emphasis added]

So "communism," as it is practiced today in China, allows for some free enterprise, capitalism, and wealth accumulation. My guess is Marx would be turning in his grave if he knew what was happening there.

Back to "socialism." Here is a basic definition of "socialism" from the Google English Dictionary (i.e., Oxford Languages):

a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. [color emphasis added]

The problem is that when many Americans talk about "socialism" (like they do in the above post) they are actually talking about "social democracy" which is a movement to reform and regulate capitalism, and provide a basic safety net, without the goal of eventually abolishing the capitalist system. This fits with the above post's definition of "anybody can be rich but nobody should be poor."

These Americans are also generally not even talking about "democratic socialism," which can be temporarily reformist in similar ways, but which ultimately hopes there will be a transition to full socialism, where basically no one is rich, but no one is poor.

Consequently, when some people on the American left (who are in fact "social democrats") proudly proclaim they are "socialists," they feed into the fears that the right wing spreads that they are actually "socialists" who want to abolish capitalism and take over all the means of production.

This confusion allows the right to get away with absurdly proclaiming that the U.S. Democratic Party is "socialist," as is Joe Biden. I mean Joe Biden? Seriously?

If you don't believe me about how even the most left-wing American politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are NOT "socialists," read this article by Annalisa Merelli:

Here are some excerpts from the article:

Sanders, who describes himself as a “democratic socialist,” provides fuel to Trump’s rants against a socialist takeover of America. But despite the longstanding negative connotations of socialism—and its powerful effect in halting social reforms such as universal health coverage—the senator from Vermont doesn’t seem too concerned about the effect a socialist label can have on his campaign or proposals. While it might not sound as dramatic, what Sanders is isn’t a socialist—democratic or otherwise—it’s a social democrat. Social democracy is a reformist approach that doesn’t do away with capitalism in its entirety (as, instead, socialism eventually suggests) but instead regulates it, providing public services and substantial welfare within the frame of an essentially market-led economy. Other leftist politicians such as Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also fall into this camp. [...] The Democratic Socialists of America describe their proposals as social democratic, essentially using the two labels interchangeably, advocating that social democratic reform “must now happen at the international level” and using northern European countries as references for their vision. This seems inaccurate, however, and feeds the misunderstanding Trump is banking on. Democratic socialism does not pursue a model like Finland, for instance, which has not done away with capitalist ways of production or a private market. The key difference between democratic socialism and social democracy is precisely that the former advocates for social ownership of the means of production, and does not believe in reforms within capitalism (although it does support temporary social democratic actions), but in a revolution of the system. The platform Sanders is running on is reformist, and what he is proposing is a US that looks much more like Canada, or Europe—which certainly are not socialist nations. Whether he believes that the end goal is beyond what Europe has achieved (and the history of his political beliefs suggests so), he still isn’t proposing an actual revolution (not within his lifetime, at least) and should just label himself accordingly. [color emphasis added]

So, my fellow people on the left, please don't arrogantly define political economic systems that you don't understand. You are giving the far right political ammunition against us.

[edited]

[urbtnews]

ETZ Introduces DOGE and SHIB IRAs: Bringing Meme Coins to Retirement Accounts for Crypto Enthusiasts

ETZ Introduces DOGE and SHIB IRAs: Bringing Meme Coins to Retirement Accounts for Crypto Enthusiasts Stay Trendy with URBTNews.com ( Subscribe Today Free!) ETZ Launches Innovative Retirement Accounts for Dogecoin and Shiba Inu ETZ Launches Innovative Retirement Accounts for Dogecoin and Shiba Inu SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, September 5, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- ETZ, the leading platform for cryptocurrency retirement accounts, has made headlines with its latest offering. Investors can now hold the popular meme currencies Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) within Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). This unprecedented initiative caters to meme coin enthusiasts looking to diversify their retirement savings using these digital assets. A Bold Step for Meme Coin Investors ETZ’s new service marks a significant shift in retirement investing options. With DOGE and SHIB now available in tax-advantaged accounts, users can incorporate high-risk, high-reward assets into their portfolios. Individual Retirement Accounts, whether Roth, Traditional, SEP, or SIMPLE, can now include the excitement and unpredictability associated with meme coins. “DOGE and SHIB have captured the imaginations of millions of investors worldwide,” said , at ETZ. “We’re thrilled to provide our users the opportunity to integrate these tokens into their long-term retirement strategy. It’s all about offering choices and appealing to the next generation of investors.” The Rise of Meme Coins Dogecoin initially launched as a joke, has since solidified its place within the cryptocurrency community. Its strong community and frequent market fluctuations have attracted many investors. Shiba Inu, often referred to as the "Dogecoin Killer," has also developed a significant following, boasting millions of holders and a rapidly growing ecosystem. ETZ’s decision to offer these assets in IRAs taps into growing investor demand for alternative investments. This approach balances the thrill of meme currencies with the structure and benefits of tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Transforming Retirement Investing ETZ’s innovative move reflects its commitment to broadening the scope of what investors can do with their retirement accounts. This offering appeals to individuals interested in merging traditional financial planning with the dynamic, fast-paced crypto landscape. “At ETZ, we believe that the future of finance revolves around choice,” Jiazi Guo remarked. “Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a meme coin enthusiast, we aim to help you build a retirement plan that genuinely reflects your values and interests.” About ETZ ETZ stands at the forefront of cryptocurrency retirement innovation. It offers a secure, regulated platform for investors to hold digital assets in tax-advantaged accounts. With a diverse selection of investment options, ranging from established cryptocurrencies to trending meme coins, ETZ provides investors with the tools they need to take charge of their financial future. Samuel JohnsonETZemail us hereVisit us on social media: X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. Stay tuned as ETZ continues to redefine retirement account options, bridging the gap between traditional investments and the emerging crypto economy. Investors can now enjoy the benefits of tax-advantaged retirement accounts while taking advantage of the thrilling landscape of meme coins. ETZ Introduces DOGE and SHIB IRAs Read the full article

[blockinsider]

Could China Lift Crypto Ban by 2024? Justin Sun Sparks Speculation

Key Points

Justin Sun, Tron founder, fuels rumors of China lifting its cryptocurrency ban.

Speculation arises despite no official confirmation, with Hong Kong potentially becoming Asia’s crypto capital.

Justin Sun, the founder of Tron, has recently ignited further speculation regarding China’s potential lift on its cryptocurrency ban. On August 18, Sun posted a tweet suggesting the unbanning of crypto in China, asking for the best meme to represent this event.

Although this tweet sparked discussion about the potential unbanning of crypto in China, there has been no official confirmation to support this. Back in 2018, China imposed a complete ban on cryptocurrency and Bitcoin trading activities. Later in 2021, the country, which was once home to the world’s largest crypto miners, also introduced a Bitcoin mining ban.

The Rise of Crypto in Hong Kong

However, with the increasing penetration of crypto into the global financial market, China appears to be reconsidering its stance. It is reported that the Chinese administration is using Hong Kong as a proxy to rekindle crypto activity. Over the past year, Hong Kong regulators have been active in introducing crypto regulations in the market and launching regulated investment products such as Bitcoin ETF and Ethereum ETF.

With strong support from the Chinese administration, Hong Kong is poised to become the crypto capital of Asia, competing with other large markets such as South Korea and Japan.

Speculations on China Lifting Crypto Ban

The rumor of China lifting its crypto ban is not new. Last month, Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz suggested in a tweet that China might consider unbanning Bitcoin by late 2024. However, Novogratz later deleted the tweet, and his statement was met with skepticism. The recurring cycle of speculation has led people to take these rumors less seriously. Some suggest that if China were to change its stance, it would likely be a gradual shift rather than a sudden reversal.

China is likely keeping a close eye on developments in the United States, where both major political parties have been showing increasing interest in the crypto market. Former President Donald Trump has even hinted at holding Bitcoin as a reserve asset for the US and issuing crypto cheques to reduce the $35 trillion US debt.

[stabbymage]

answers for the DT question list

@fooltofancy thanks for asking me on discord

Why did they agree to accompany Wuk Lamat to Tural? Needed something to do, she was earnest enough. And on the off chance Wuk Lamat wasn't over blowing her 'must not be allowed to take the throne' wrt Zoraal Ja, then well someone needs to kill a warmongering head of state. (insert 'ill do it again' goofy meme). most importantly Erenville, someone she already has somewhat of a rapport with networked it.

What was the first thing they did when they arrived in Tuliyollal? Sleep. Kidding it was follow the plot and stay with Wuk Lamat.

What was their initial impression of the four claimants? How did this change over the course of the story? Crappy in all their special little ways, but having potential. It didn't, lmao, that sounds bad but her opinions of them personally didn't impact her view of them being good or bad head of a massive country. Feels pity of BJJ after the reveal, kind of in a "ah that explains it" kind of way. Koana? He's like, a guy, would let him study her queen automaton. Zoraal Ja? Loser, bad vibes, another tin tyrant.

What is their impression of Gulool Ja Ja? Do they agree with his method of cultivating leadership? He's old, admirable of his ability to fractured peoples into a country that has survived nearly a century, albeit only because he's the one whose united them is that is part of the peace.

How do they feel about Wuk Lamat looking up to them as a mentor figure? Did this attitude change as the story progressed? Maybe. if she ever listened. Sorcha would feel like she'd give guidance and then Lamaty'i would just, ignore it. Not out of malice but simple youthful exuberance and naivety. (not like sorcha is old herself lmao). also Lamaty'i's clinginess that exists is forgivable since she's an impressionable sheltered barely adult as far as Sorcha is aware. Even if she does find it incredibly uncomfortable.

How did they feel about competing against Thancred and Urianger? Fine? She's kicked both their asses in before. Urianger due to Plot and Thancred just to due sparring. Their presence did more to make her willing to give Koana's tech bro ass the benefit of the doubt than anything else.

Were they happy with the outcome of the rite of succession? Yes. The two new Dawn Servants are reasonable, likable and are at least liked by their people. Also technically free house by an ever welcomed guest.

Why did they want to explore Xak Tural? Were they happy to have Erenville along as a guide or would they have preferred to explore on their own? She likes traveling and exploring, that's why. Incredibly happy actually, when she does travel with more than just herself she only likes going with one or two people, not to mention he's got a strong working knowledge of the area, fauna, floral and people.

What was going through their mind when the dome dropped? Watching Erenville's reaction, he had been telling her that his home was in that direction after all. Then the people who were trapped, since her kneejerk reaction was that they were dead.

What were their first impressions of the Alexandrians? Admired their ability to seemingly thrive in such a levin soaked area, almost wondered if their continued existence was the result of Ascian machinations or their own industriousness. Then Namikka died and their amnesia wrt her, and utterly soured any positivity she had for them. This doesn't mean she's rude, but that aspect alone is so unsettling to her it permeates her entire opinion of them.

What was their initial impression of Sphene? How did this change as the story progressed? Suspicious, wrong. It didn't. She feels no pity or remorse for killing her because she never liked her. In Sorcha's mind there was no 'what if :(' there was only ever 'get out.'

What was their opinion of the culture of recycling souls and the use of regulators? Did this change as the story progressed? Disgusting on every level. Grow the fuck up, people get hurt, people die. Their use isn't part of the 'cultural differences'. It's something that actively kills the natural cycle of souls by doing what the aetherial sea does writ small. The thing that gets to her the most of it however? The stolen memories of loved ones who died. That's the real thing that makes it turn form pitiable to disgusting.

What was their initial impression of Cahciua? Interesting...too much energy, but not annoyingly so. Quickly became a checklist for 'what not to do' as a mother.

How did they feel about the Endless? Barely a whisper of a ghost. An affront against nature. Untenable, Unsustainable, Unforgivable. She might have found pity for the shut downs if it wasn't about creating simulacra for the memory of the dead than the benefit of the living. Are these built from solely the memory of the dead person? Or a mix of the dead's memory + the impressions and interpretation of the person from the living's stolen memory.

What was their experience like in Living Memory? It might have affected her if she didn't like work through all this back with, drk SB quests, the Atiascope and Pandaemonium. Pretty but hollow if nothing else, off putting, a mausoleum for the dead at the expense of those that yet remain. Really she spent most of her time wondering if she should try to comfort Erenville or not. Overall more interested in the other's reactions to it.

What are their thoughts about the Key? She saw that Azem sign, that thing is hers. Everyone else is paws off, you especially Y'shtola. If denied she really would have had thrown her weight as savior of the star lmao.

The theme of family and legacy is repeated throughout Dawntrail—did this theme resonate with your character? Were there specific moments relating to family that impacted them? Yeah yeah...mostly from the angle of the being the legacy leaver actually though! She doesn't want any future accolades for her children to be attributed wholly to that they're her children, like how all of GJJ's kids' successes are attributed to the fact they are his children.

What important relationships changed or developed throughout Dawntrail? She got to be actual friends with Erenville :),

What was their favorite location in Tural? Shaaloani or the lower section of Yak T'el.

Do they lean more Tuliyollal or more Solution Nine? Tuliyolal. S9 has way too much ethical baggage for her tbqh.

If they had to summarize their journey in Tural, what would they say? Sorcha would say "Not Paid Enough"

What are they doing now? Sleep, weekly visits to her daughters. Having a fuck ton of anima lets her do that.

[killbotic]

#𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂: ... a private and highly selective original character designed and executed by audra / kiwi, featuring ... [ 𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐘 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 ] beloved television icon! an artificial intelligence unit designed to schedule programing and fill empty time slots with her various talk shows, cooking demonstrations, and other activities. decommissioned after a strange series of urban legends surfaced regarding the hostess speaking directly to certain viewers, watching them through their television sets. Ruby was placed in storage, and re-purposed many, many years later for the [𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍]'s war effort. the taste of blood seems to have reignited some ... old habits. do not follow this blog if you are: a minor, a personal blog, or a proshipper. you will be blocked. be aware that this blog horror oriented, and may contain themes that are graphic in nature.

𝐀 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 ... analog horror, violent entertainment, speaking to the masses, television as a form of control, abandoned icons, corruption, humanity.

𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐎 ... nyt1ba, sentinalle, & stilettaux.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐒: info & lore & memes & blogroll.

rules & regulations.

i. activity: expect sporadic to low activity across all my blogs including this one. i work full time from home and i often post a lot of ooc content in between my job duties. if this bothers you, i wouldn’t recommend following. additionally, please do not pester me for replies — i can’t always work up the motivation to write. i will respect and abide by everyone’s speed and responsibilities in return! the easiest way to interact with me is by plotting or sending in memes.

ii. selectivity: i am very selective with who i write with and tend to favor my friends or those writing partners i have plotted with in the past. i am very open to plotting with new mutuals and you’re always free to drop into my im’s or request my discord handle if you’re interested! if i haven’t followed you back, do not unfollow and refollow to get my attention or i will block you. additionally, please do not ask me why i did not follow you back. if you are on again / off again mutuals with me and have softblocked me more than once, I won't follow you back. it gives me anxiety.

iii. etiquette: needless to say, if you write or post anything homophobic, transphobic, racist, or harmful in general you will be blocked on sight. same goes for anyone who writes or supports incest or pedophilia / shipping with characters that are minors (or aging them up for the sake of writing sexually explicit content). i will also block anyone who is under 18 years old or who does not have a rules / about page. as stated above: if i have blocked you, please don’t come to me to ask why — i am cultivating my own space, please respect that.

iv. shipping: as always, no force-shipping, and I would prefer if our muses have chemistry prior to shipping. i’m very open about plotting ships and not very picky, but as always i reserve the right to turn down a ship if i don’t see it working out or I dislike the idea of it. you have the right to do so as well. this may also be a good time to mention i will not write any sexually explicit content on this blog (or any of my others) so please do not send me nsfw memes or images. i will not budge on this. there may be suggestive content on this blog. while I won't write sexually explicit content, I will still write suggestive material. this will be under a readmore and tagged with tw suggestive.

v. nsfw content: there will be mentions of blood, gore, drugs, violence, and other dark themes present on this blog. as stated above, i will not write any sexually explicit content on this blog, but there may be suggestive content present (under tw suggestive). everything will be tagged accordingly, but i can sometimes miss things. the last thing i want to do is trigger someone so if i’ve forgotten to tag something, please let me know. all triggers will be tagged under the: tw trigger format. please do not follow this blog if you're not okay with gore as it is frequently present and capable of happening in any thread.

vi. do not interact: please do not interact with me if you write with binary (unboundtravels) or goomi (pinxminked / shecharm). I am not comfortable seeing them on my dashboard any longer and am looking to cultivate my own safe space. I will go into details in private if need be, but feel free to softblock or hardblock me if you intend to write with them in the future. thank you.

vii. credit: all graphics were edited by me using photopea. please do not lift any ideas from this blog. if you have any questions just ask!