#online radio environment

[bodhi-ryuchai]

Black Arrows to the Sun...)))->

Have any you ever heard the term multidisciplinary artist? I definitely have but I have yet to meet an indivudual in person. Alice Karveli a.k.a. Black Arrows personifies how a multidisciplinary artists operates. I’m planning Ambient Communion III compilation (in which I plan to finally put out this coming Winter 2025). It will feature some male and female experimental artist who music uses…

[planete777]

LEAF TAPES 2・⁠｡♪ LN4

( lando norris x fem!reader ft. oscar piastri )

read part 1!

IN WHICH. after months of radio silence, y/n and lando go trending for the same thing again... but this time, it's not only them.

WARNINGS. 18+, MINORS DNI!, non consensual explicit video leaked, sexual descriptions, twitter environement, mentions of getting high (as per), very self indulgent so just sit back and enjoy

NOTE. it's finally here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i've answered your requests, i hope you guys like it. my back aches from doing this so im gonna knock myself out lol. anyways, last fic for a few weeks, but i'll still be online/idle so u can still drop by my inbox if u want. okay ill let u go now bye and enjoy!!!!!

‧₊˚✩彡 taglist @laciijane @ferrarrigirl @norrizzandpia @mimi-luvzyu @multifandomwhore-003 (use askbox if you'd like to be added!)

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yn_ln

liked by landonorris, oscarpiastri and 789,331 others

yn_ln life lately <3

>comments<

landonorris literally obsessed with you

landonorris love the last picture who's that on the left -> yn_ln what happened to being obsessed with me :((( -> landonorris sorry 😅 i mean the left. -> user 😭

user oscar cameo!!!!! OSCAR!!! CAMEO!!!

user i want both of them!!11!!1!1! i can take both of you!!!! -> user so real

user couple goals.... brb just setting up the toaster and the bath

oscarpiastri picture 2.... minutes before disaster -> landonorris disaster??? i found it pretty entertaining -> yn_ln i'm still recovering 🤭 -> user CARE TO SHARE??? I WANNA KNOW!!! -> user yn girlie............ let's gossip -> yn_ln no can do luv xx 😌

oscarpiastri anyways i look so good -> yn_ln humble yourself babe x -> landonorris what she said ^ -> user don't listen to them oscar, you do love good ❤ -> oscarpiastri trust me, i know 😏

lily_mhe loved going out with u bby <3 -> yn_ln yes!! we should do it again.... without the boys 😒 -> alexalbon uhm wow -> landonorris i need to get used to sharing the loml </3 -> oscarpiastri lol -> yn_ln 🤭

user she's so pretty "$%$£"£$(!"£$

user why are they being so cryptic �� -> user they wanna kill me

user 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨 -> user i've got so many questions

user lily and y/n are for the girlies xx sorry i do not make the rules -> yn_ln speak it!!! -> lily_mhe yup!!

maxfewtrell no pic creds?? -> yn_ln i can give donations? -> user LMAOAOAO -> user max being bullied pt 2838474

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landonorris

liked by yn_ln, oscarpiastri and 1,302,811 others

landonorris ♾

<comments>

yn_ln look at us trending for the second time in 2 months 😝 -> landonorris ikr such icons -> oscarpiastri quite fun tbh -> user 😭 -> user u lot realllyyyyy dgaf and i love that for you

oscarpiastri i give the best cuddles ik -> landonorris u also give the best 🧠 -> yn_ln AND WHAT ABT ME? -> landonorris oh yeah... ig -> user what the fuck is going on??? 😭 -> user in broad daylist insta comments

user im surprised he didn't post a lil snippet on ig like yn did last time -> user literally 💀 -> user he wants us to have the full experience on twt fr

carlossainz55 im begging u, plz no more -> alexalbon 🙏 -> charlesleclerc 🙏 -> georgerussell 🙏 -> pierregasly 🙏 -> yukitsunoda 🙏 -> danielricciardo 🙏 -> lewishamilton 🙏 -> user they are going THROUGH IT!! -> landonorris we'll think abt it

user surprised, but not disappointed

yn_ln no more 🐱 for u! -> landonorris NO. U CAN'T DO THIS TO ME. -> user he survives purely off of the kitty cat. i support the hustle -> oscarpiastri spare the man 🙏 -> yn_ln nah he can just watch -> oscarpiastri fine by me

user foursome?? -> user join the line

[vintage-tech]

useful information: How to get a USB Blu-Ray player to work on your computer

Not a post about vintage technology, just an explanation of what you think might be simple to do but isn't: There are Blu-Ray players that plug into your computer by USB, and you discover that just plugging it in doesn't make it work* in the same manner that CD-RWs or DVD-RWs are automatically recognised and function. You will see "BR Drive" in My Computer and the name of whatever movie you have inserted, but that's as far as you're able to go.

*There is software you can buy to make a Blu-Ray (internal or external) function, sure, and if an internal came with your computer it's likely already installed -- but if you're like me you don't have that software, you're cheap and won't pay for software, and you want to use what you have installed already or find free solutions.

Looking in the Blu-Ray drive's package, there's not a lot of info about what you're supposed to do. The above no-name Blu-Ray player cost $40 from a popular website; name-brand ones can set you back $120 or so. Looking around online for those instructions, I never saw the whole set of directions in one place, I had to cobble them together from 2 or 3 sites. And so here I share that list. To keep out of trouble, I'm not linking any files -- Google will help you.

Get VLC, the free video player available for pretty much any operating system. Thing is, it doesn't come with the internals to make it work with Blu-Ray even if when you go to the Play Media menu there is a radio button for selecting Blu-Ray.

Get MakeMKV, a decoder for reading Blu-Ray disks. This had been totally free during the beta testing period but it's come out and has a month or two trial period you can work in.

Get Java if you don't already have it. Reason for this is, the menu systems on Blu-Ray disks uses this... technically it's not required, however it does mean you don't have options such as special features, language and sound changes, or scene selection if you don't have Java installed; insert a disk, it can only play the movie.

Get the file libaacs.dll online so you have AACS decoding. I am told it hasn't been updated in awhile so there may be disks produced after 2013 that won't work right, but you won't know until you try.

There's a set of keys you will also want to have so that the player knows how to work with specific disks, and so do a search online for the "FindVUK Online Database". There will be a regularly-updated keydb.cfg archive file on that page to pick up.

Got those three programs installed and the other two files obtained? Okay, here are your instructions for assembly...

In VLC: go to Tools, Prefs, click "show all"… under the Input/Codecs heading is Access Modules then Blu-Ray: Select your region, A through C. You can change this if you need to for foreign disks. Next related action: go to My Computer and C:, click into Program Files and VLC, and this is where you copy the libaacs.dll file to.

In MakeMKV: click View, then Preferences, and under Integration - add VLC.

Confirm that Java is set up to work with VLC by going to the computer's Control Panel, going to System Properties, and into Environment Variables. Click System Variables, and click New to create this key if it doesn't already exist: … Name: Java … Value: [the location of the Java 'jre#.##' folder... use Browse to find it in C:\Program Files\Java]

Let's go back into My Computer and C:, this time go to Program Data, and then do a right-click in the window and select New and Folder. Rename this folder "aacs" (without the quotes), and then you click into it and copy the keydb.cfg file here.

REBOOT.

And now you should be able to recognise Blu-Ray disks in your player and play them. Three troubleshooting notes to offer in VLC:

"Disk corrupt" -- this means MakeMKV has not decoded and parsed the disk yet, or that you don't have the libaacs.dll in place so that it can decode the disk. ...After checking the VLC folder for the DLL to make sure, launch MakeMKV, then go to File, Play Disk, and select the Blu-Ray drive. Now it will grind a bit and figure out the disk's contents.

A note appears when a movie starts saying there will be no menus, but the movie plays fine -- Java isn't running. ...Invoke Java by going to the Java Settings in Start: Programs. You don't have to change anything here, so Exit, then eject the disk and put it back in to see if the movie's menu now appears.

Buffering between chapters, making the movie pause for a few seconds? There is a setting for this but I need to find that info page again for where that is. (If you find it, tell me where it is!)

I don't claim to know a lot but if you have any questions I might have some answers or suggestions. So far I've watched "Office Space" and Disney's "Coco" without any issues beside occasional buffering.

[olomaya]

My Sims are getting political! After so many months, I'm going back to finish up my Politics/Community Activist mod. This is actually what my Student Council mod is based on (it's basically a baby version of the Poltiics mod.) My current Sim, Arie Wang (I forgot where I downloaded this sim from but she's lovely and perfect for this storyline I'm playing out!) is in the Community Organizer career which is an Active career (like Firefighter or Stylist) and right now is working hard to push a new law in that will increase University scholarships and grants for all students.

Arie is a member of the New Earth party, one of the 4 political parties I created. New Earthers are all about the environment and focus on pushing forward environmental policies but as a mom, education is something that Arie cares about so she's been out there trying to encourage people to vote and hoping to sway voters before election day.

Different political parties have issues that they are either strong in favor of or against. If a party is against the policy, it's near impossible to sway them to vote for it so it's best to target people who are neutral and could vote either way.

I'm happy with how this customized ITF layout is coming out though I still need to make more tweaks and edits and also figure out why the active Sim's photo isn't showing (as below). Maybe also changing the title (Local Political Scanner??)

After probably doing about 40 fundraising cold calls she finally got someone to donate money. And boy did they! She's at the point in her career though when she doesn't need to be doing calls so I'm going to have her get some volunteers to do the grunt work so she can focus on making friends in City Hall to build further influence.

Once a ballot measure is put up for vote, you have 5 days to campaign before voting day. Arie has been hitting the streets every day to canvas for votes, doing campaign calls and also raising money for the party to pay for advertising (TV, radio, online, print) which is the most effective way to sway voters.

Yesterday, I added in a VFX to show when a Sim has been successfully influenced either for or against the ballot measure in question and in testing it out, I saw that Arie has actually been campaigning AGAINST the measure this whole time! Oops!

I clearly messed up with a bool somewhere but at least the influence system is working as intended.

With 7 hours until the Election period begins, and all the time and money I've spent on campaign ads, it looks like I've just accidentally doomed my town to expensive education until I can repeal the law. The Free Llamas are not going to be happy.

Also, shout out to Stable Diffusion which I used to create the Political Party Icons. I'm obsessed with this tool and loved how they turned out.

[nasa]

Calling Long-Distance: 10 Stellar Moments in 2022 for Space Communications and Navigation

Just like your phone needs Wi-Fi or data services to text or call – NASA spacecraft need communication services.

Giant antennas on Earth and a fleet of satellites in space enable missions to send data and images back to our home planet and keep us in touch with our astronauts in space. Using this data, scientists and engineers can make discoveries about Earth, the solar system, and beyond. The antennas and satellites make up our space communications networks: the Near Space Network and Deep Space Network.

Check out the top ten moments from our space comm community: 

1. Space communication networks helped the Artemis I mission on its historic journey to the Moon. From the launch pad to the Moon and back, the Near Space Network and Deep Space Network worked hand-in-hand to seamlessly support Artemis I. These networks let mission controllers send commands up to the spacecraft and receive important spacecraft health data, as well as incredible images of the Moon and Earth.

The Pathfinder Technology Demonstration 3 spacecraft with hosted TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload communicating with laser links down to Earth. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center

2. Spacecraft can range in size – from the size of a bus to the size of a cereal box. In May 2022, we launched a record-breaking communication system the size of a tissue box. TBIRD showcases the benefits of a laser communications system, which uses infrared light waves rather than radio waves to communicate more data at once. Just like we have upgraded from 3G to 4G to 5G on our phones, we are upgrading its space communications capabilities by implementing laser comms!

3. The Deep Space Network added a new 34-meter (111-foot) antenna to continue supporting science and exploration missions investigating our solar system and beyond. Deep Space Station 53 went online in February 2022 at our Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex. It is the fourth of six antennas being added to expand the network’s capacity.

4. You’ve probably seen in the news that there are a lot of companies working on space capabilities. The Near Space Network is embracing the aerospace community’s innovative work and seeking out multiple partnerships. In 2022, we met with over 300 companies in hopes of beginning new collaborative efforts and increasing savings.

5. Similar to TBIRD, we're developing laser comms for the International Space Station. The terminal will show the benefits of laser comms while using a new networking technique called High Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking that routes data four times faster than current systems. This year, engineers tested and proved the capability in a lab.

6. In 2021, we launched the James Webb Space Telescope, a state-of-the-art observatory to take pictures of our universe. This year, the Deep Space Network received the revolutionary first images of our solar system from Webb. The telescope communicates with the network’s massive antennas at three global complexes in Canberra, Australia; Madrid, Spain; and Goldstone, California.

7. Just like we use data services on our phone to communicate, we'll do the same with future rovers and astronauts exploring the Moon. In 2022, the Lunar LTE Studies project, or LunarLiTES, team conducted two weeks of testing in the harsh depths of the Arizona desert, where groundbreaking 4G LTE communications data was captured in an environment similar to the lunar South Pole. We're using this information to determine the best way to use 4G and 5G networking on the Moon.

8. A new Near Space Network antenna site was unveiled in Matjiesfontein, South Africa. NASA and the South African Space Agency celebrated a ground-breaking at the site of a new comms antenna that will support future Artemis Moon missions. Three ground stations located strategically across the globe will provide direct-to-Earth communication and navigation capabilities for lunar missions.

9. Quantum science aims to better understand the world around us through the study of extremely small particles. April 14, 2022, marked the first official World Quantum Day celebration, and we participated alongside other federal agencies and the National Quantum Coordination Office. From atomic clocks to optimizing laser communications, quantum science promises to greatly improve our advances in science, exploration, and technology.

10. We intentionally crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid to test technology that could one day be used to defend Earth from asteroids. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, mission successfully collided with the asteroid Dimorphos at a rate of 4 miles per second (6.1 kilometers per second), with real-time video enabled by the Deep Space Network. Alongside communications and navigation support, the global network also supports planetary defense by tracking near-Earth objects.

We look forward to many more special moments connecting Earth to space in the coming year.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[hanzajesthanza]

"controversial opinion" 👀 ? do say…

(the tag for context; the subject being parasocial relationships)

well. i just don’t think that parasocial relationships are that bad. i haven’t looked into the scientific publishings on it or anything, but…

contrary to the popular opinion of moral panic, sound the alarms, the children are thinking they’re friends with streamers, i knew twitch was the work of the devil…

it seems to me that people have always been attached to people they don’t know in close ways. even if you hear a story about someone, some mythical being, that draws you close to an individual that you’ve never know IRL, but whose “presence” gave you comfort. people have liked and felt familiar with the ideas of people without actually knowing them, from like, day one.

and then, when writing, and later, radio and television, became widespread, ideas and communication did too, with people being fond of and comfortable with the presences of radio personalities and actors in their homes.

i think we’re just seeing parasocial relationships more prominently now, because technology has advanced to the point where, to share your opinions, ideas, artistic expression, while also attaching your face and your voice to it, has become ubiquitous. and this was happening before the concept of the influencer existed, there were bloggers and internet personalities in the 2000s and early 2010s.

we (gen-Zers) were the first generation to have grown up with such technology—maybe not “with a phone or iPad in our hands” (as gen Alpha has) but certainly from a young age—so we grew up with these video platforms, and thus, communication with and absorption of various personalities. and all of this in a time of when our social development is the most intense, i.e., childhood, then teenhood, young adulthood.

and at the same time, we are experiencing a growth in loneliness (“an epidemic of loneliness”), and also an actual pandemic, and other shifts in social environment, such as dating moving online…

so i think it’s only natural that parasocial relationships have risen as a phenomenon, and are more visible and more prominent than, perhaps, what it was like pre-smartphone, pre-blog or vlog days.

my controversial take is this.

i think parasocial relationships only become a problem when it leads to harm: to either the person as the object of the relationship, as in (at the least) rudeness, like assuming you’re actually friends IRL and treating them as or demanding their attention as such, or (at the worst) obsessive or violent behavior like stalking. or, to the person having the parasocial relationship, in being detrimental to their social skills over time.

but i think that, if you’re just looking at your phone and watching a video from a youtuber you’ve watched videos from since you were eight years old, chilling and not being harmful to them or yourself in any way… i ask, what is the harm in not just feeling entertained, but feeling a certain familiarity on an advanced level, feeling like you’re friends—as long as you are cognizant and comfortable with that you’re not actually friends, and that the relationship is one-sided, what’s the harm? i think it’s even kind of normal amongst people who grew up with that kind of technology in their hands, which connected them to such personalities.

in the coverage of parasocial relationships, i feel like it has been a little blown out of proportion by the media, through conflating the (shall we say) “well-adjusted, normal” crowd, with sad and ugly stories of stalkers and worse—because “creepy stalker fan” is a well-known archetype by now in pop culture, so it drives more engagement and outrage.

(edit: stalking and harassment are really bad and scary—im not denying theyre not—my thought, rather, is that the amount of “normal” or even “positive” parasocial relationships probably outweigh the creepy, harassment ones, but the worst outcomes are whats reported on the most)

and i feel like this conflation also happens because the people writing these sensationalized articles did not grow up with such technology, so it’s absolutely weird and alien to them to have such a familiarity with someone they don’t know IRL (like youtubers, streamers, whom are often objects of parasocial relationships), because they basically just didn’t grow up with it—television being different than online video platforms because online video allows you to share a lot more unedited, casual moments (like playing a video game, going shopping, even eating breakfast—you can livestream anything, or vlog anything really, even the most mundane things). and these are (i’d guess) the same people that don’t understand how you can make friends via the internet, and (maybe) believe that all social interaction via the internet is sinister or insincere in some form.

they don’t understand how a parasocial connection could be a normal thing, because they’re unfamiliar with the normalcy of such content which forms the relationship, which makes it bizarre and creepy to them; however, such parasocial relationships are becoming more normal, and are hardly worth fascinating oneself over for people who grew up forming them—so much so, that they didn’t even have to think about it as being abnormal. they (we) were able to form them and at the same time rationalize them, so it never occurred to us as being something to morally concern ourselves with. this also explains why such coverage of it only occured years after such a phenomenon was even occurring.

tl;dr my take is that the concept of parasocial relationships itself is somewhat of a non-issue, and only becomes an issue when individuals conduct unhealthy or harmful behavior, or when we want to talk about parasocial relationships forming as a symptom of larger societal issues (like the loneliness epidemic). but the moral concern with parasocial relationships i think stems from a generational divide around technology and constantly evolving social norms and landscapes :p

[unichrome]

AI and the value of labour (but only if it's yours)

Few of you have missed the whole AI/AI-art/ChatGPT-debate by now and even though few have the technical literacy to actually know what it is and its implementations, it hasn't stopped people from having opinions on it, and wow they sure are Opinions. It's mainly about how it's art-theft and will put already struggling artists out of business because now there's a chance that their dandelion found in a deviantart furry artwork they made using GIMP once will now be seen made sort of in the same style on a 250x250 pixel generated picture from a free online generator. And now I'm going to be snarky about it but also highlight a problem seen from the other end of this - the value of labour, and I'm not talking about the artists labour here.

But first let's look back a little bit for some well-needed perspective:

The logic for this is nothing we haven't seen before; you can't copy art and have it made available for just everyone to use like this! In the early 2000's it put musicians out of business and destroyed music forever with the introduction of napster. Pirate bay is why movies no longer are being made. It has destroyed art as we know it when people tauntingly right-clicked on a cryptobro's NFT and clicked "save as" (which I assume is also very problematic for the people who are vehemently against AI art? It's a literal 1-to-1 copy of your work). Media corporations are dying because intellectual properties are no longer protected under the copyright laws after 70 or so years. In the 90's there was even some video star who literally murdered a radio star. With the introduction of vinyl, it even killed live music forever.

So technology has been destroying just about all forms of art as we know it for a while now and each time it's the same doomsday predictions from the newly formed kind of art-christianity where some art has soul (Good, Skilled Laboured artists) and others hasn't (Evil, of course).

Now for the informative part of the post:

In the 1970's, computers as we know them today began forming, and with it, the value of a computer programmers skill and labour. Alongside with this, they saw a growing problem: Corporations owned everything they made, and corporations will also have the whole say about what will be present on a computer and the price of everything present on it.

This was not very appreciated by neither the programmers, and nor the customers (although few saw this growing problem coming). So in a weird twist of fate, programmers became one of the most left-wing labour-rights occupation you could find by forming Free Software Foundation, GNU, and essentially setting the stage for you to be able to use the free GIMP software instead of buying a staggering price for Adobe's Photoshop. It enabled you to download firefox instead of buying a copy of internet explorer. Because yes, before this kind of software activism formed, and the general environment of software development became to make it as freely available as possible - and having an outright despise for corporations like Novell and Microsoft for taking such huge amount of money to their own pockets instead of the developers, literally every piece of software cost money. A LOT of money.

This kind of 100% for free software usage we're used to has also led to us no longer being appreciative of the work and skill that goes behind keeping a software not only developed and updated continuously for decades, but also spending money on keeping it hosted and delivered to you for free. We even joke and scoff about the mere thought of having to pay 0.99 Euro for an app we'd use daily and a developer spent 2 years in the making. Meanwhile, when someone offers to pay someone merely 10 euro or so for a handmade blanket, there's an outrage about the value of labour and skill. And rightfully so! I support that, and so should you, even if it's labour that you weren't the one making.

And it doesn't end there either - we all know corporations has no trouble finding new ways to charge you money. Organisations like Free Software Foundation, various Linux projects and Mozilla have campaigned for a freer usage in general, leading to fair-use laws, campaigning for the right to repair your technology instead of having to buy new one all the time, as well as preventing corporations from banning every other piece of software on a computer that they don't want you to have (from a competitor or free alternative of their software).

I mentioned Adobe specifically, because in the wave of anti-AI-art outcry, artists are campaigning for a ban on making software that uses other peoples artistic similarities (not copies mind you, similarities, meaning making it a copyright infringement to have art that is similar to yours, since that's what AI-art algorithms create), and I'm sure right off the bat many of you can see the huge problem with that, but Adobe sure isn't. They're also gladly in on this, because that would mean that free alternatives of Photoshop like GIMP would also become a copyright infringement. So would a lot of our other free software we use daily and take for granted.

That's all I wanted to say about this I think. The TL;DR version is basically to value labour even if it isn't yours, and to not take it for granted. As a final part to remember about AI is that it is a tool, and like any tool it can be used for good or evil. AI is what made it possible for us to make sense of the large hadron collider data and made enormous leaps in scientific discovery in just a few years, that would otherwise had taken 500 years to sort through by humans, and with a much higher rate of error.

[hit-song-showdown]

Year-End Poll #59: 2008

[Image description: a collage of photos of the 10 musicians and musical groups featured in this poll. In order from left to right, top to bottom: Flo-Rida, Leona Lewis, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne, OneRepublic, Jordin Sparks, Sara Bareilles Usher, Chris Brown. End description]

More information about this blog here

Now well into the latter half of the decade, the direction pop music has been heading is even more evident. The music is starting to skew electronic in its sound and the plugin Auto-Tune is starting to be featured more as a stylistic choice, as seen with T-Pain and Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne's influence over rap would become even more prominent in the late 2000's and early 2010s. Especially with the artists that would eventually be signed to his label, Young Money Entertainment.

There are many reasons why the sound of pop was skewing towards club and dance music. Modern production techniques worked really well with the style, music-purchasing platforms such as iTunes worked better for listening to individual singles rather than full albums (which caters to dance music well), and the 2008 financial crisis. With the recession, more and more people were looking to pop music as an escape. As touring and traditional concerts became less financially accessible for both artists and audiences, clubs and parties served as environments to experience music with a group. To quote this article on the subject:

With themes of luxury, escapism and radical optimism, these upbeat and positive tracks provided comfort in the fantasy of extravagance. Despite most peoples’ situations at the time, almost every song on the radio was about loving life and getting money. Music was fast and people were dancing. (Amanda Kiefer)

But more than that, CD sales plummeted after the recession, while online music consumption soared. More and more, music was making its home on the internet.

There are a surprising number of articles written about dance music in the face of global financial inequality (and many of them have started popping up recently, I wonder why...), so I've linked to a few below.

"How music has responded to a decade of economic inequality" Scott Timberg, Vox

"The Recession in the Music Industry - a Cause Analysis" Peter Tschmuck

"How the Recession is Impacting Music, Too" Laura Palotie (this article is from 2008, so it's interesting as a contemporary reading of the situation.)

[mariacallous]

“Americans, your calls and texts can be monitored by Chinese spies,” a Washington Post opinion piece recently headlined. China has “growing cyber-sophistication and relentless ambition to undermine U.S. infrastructure” another Post article reported. Some analyses trace the recent exploitation to a telecommunications network backdoor created early in the era of digital networks to allow for court-authorized wiretaps.

When the digital wiretap law was passed in 1994, no one foresaw the kind of sophisticated intrusions apparently developed by the Chinese. It is an experience that we must remember as the design of digital network technology continues to evolve. 

I helped negotiate the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) that, some fear, created the exploitable access for Chinese spies. The concern at the time was that the evolution from analog to digital telecommunications was hindering law enforcement. “Some of the problems encountered by law enforcement relate to the explosive growth of cellular and other wireless services,” the House committee report explained. “[T]he increasing amount of transactional data generated by the millions of users of on-line services” was an accompanying problem. Written 30 years ago, it is a description of today’s communications environment, in which wireless networks deliver online digital information.

At the time, I was the CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), the wireless industry’s trade association. Along with wired communications providers, our members were concerned about the way the FBI was proposing to monitor communications across the new digital technology. After detailed and lengthy negotiations, industry and law enforcement mutually agreed to a result that addressed the FBI’s concerns about access to the new technology, while also addressing industry concerns.

On August 11, 1994, I sat next to FBI Director Louis Freeh before a joint House and Senate hearing to announce that we had reached an agreement on the CALEA legislation and to urge its passage. That what we jointly endorsed that day could, decades later, be potentially hackable by Chinese spies was not part of that discussion.

Today—30 years after CALEA—a new digital wireless technology promoted by both the industry and government is raising new cyber risks. Called Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), it is a new technical standard that seeks to copy for telecommunications infrastructure the scale and savings enjoyed by the computer industry’s interoperability of different pieces of network equipment from different vendors. In O-RAN, the network functions once performed by purpose-built hardware are instead virtualized in software. Based on input from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of Commerce, the software is broken into multiple layers, thus expanding the number of vendors.

The O-RAN concept is an important step forward that will deliver increased capabilities at decreased costs. Accompanying these advantages, however, is the challenge to mitigate the increased risk of cyberattacks resulting from software that relies in part on open-source code running on commodity hardware. 

Earlier networks ran on proprietary equipment utilizing proprietary software that offered focused protection against attacks. Moving more functions to hackable software that is disaggregated from a purpose-built network appliance creates new pathways to attack these new networks.

Another attractive aspect of O-RAN is how the shift to virtualize hardware breaks the chokehold of the traditional suppliers of network equipment. This advantages cybersecurity because it creates alternatives to Chinese hardware manufacturers, such as Huawei. Yet, this too comes with the countervailing paradox that such supplier diversity represents another increase in the number of attack trajectories in the networks.  

As the European Union’s Report on the Cybersecurity of Open Radio Access Networks concluded, while there are security benefits to the diversification of suppliers, “by introducing a new approach, new interfaces and new types of RAN components potentially coming from multiple suppliers, Open RAN would exacerbate a number of the security risks of 5G networks and expand the attack surface.”

Network operators and law enforcement were reportedly blindsided by the ability of Chinese hackers to create advanced persistent threats (APTs) to exploit CALEA. This experience, however, is but the most current of many warnings that the networks on which our nation relies are vulnerable. Whatever the outcome of the ongoing investigation, the latest exploitation should send a message that we need cybersecurity as a forethought, rather than an afterthought, in the design of digital networks, accompanied by ongoing oversight of network security.

Looking back to go forward

Twenty years after CALEA passed, I was chairman of the FCC, the agency responsible for America’s networks. As chairman, I tried to work with network providers to develop cybersecurity standards that were flexible enough to evolve with the technology and the ever-evolving attack techniques of those seeking to exploit the networks. The irrefutable fact is that every single one of the cyberattacks that affect our nation traverse, at one point or another in their transmission, a private network regulated by the FCC.

What we proposed in 2014 was that the companies implement and report on their adherence to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. The NIST Framework is a collection of best-practice internal controls developed collaboratively with industry that is continually evolving to help companies protect against cyberattacks. Along with implementing the voluntary NIST Framework, we asked the industry to identify where they set their objective cyber-risk threshold, their progress toward implementation of the Framework, and the steps taken to cure internal control shortfalls.

It was a new approach to network oversight that stopped short of regulatory micromanagement in favor of standards-based expectations. “The communications sector is at a critical juncture,” I said in a June 14, 2014, speech laying out the new program. “We know those [cyber] threats are growing. And we have agreed that industry-based solutions are the right approach… We will implement this approach and measure results. It is those results that will tell us what, if any, next steps must be taken.”

Unfortunately, the effort fell apart when the companies resisted a plan for reporting to the FCC. The industry argued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was a better place for such oversight. DHS, of course, had no regulatory authority over the networks. The Trump FCC then followed the industry’s preference and ceased the FCC initiative. 

DHS subsequently established the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is doing great work to advance best practices across the economy. Absent regulatory authority, however, such efforts can only go so far.  Cyber risk is a business risk; at the end of the day, how much a company invests in risk reduction is a bottom-line decision. The appropriate role for a regulator such as the FCC should be to establish expectations for such decisions to stimulate sufficient cyber protection by the nation’s networks—and then to inspect the results.

Today, the FCC’s minimal cybersecurity reporting obligations are constrained to cyber incidents that lead to outages, with no reporting requirements for compromises to confidentiality or network integrity. Amazingly, through its detailed reporting requirements on cyber issues, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has more information on cyber shortfalls than the regulator charged with protecting America’s networks. 

Thirty years ago, government and industry worked together to protect public safety and national security in a rapidly evolving digital environment. Ten years ago, industry and government could not come to terms with ongoing cybersecurity oversight at the FCC. The current cyberattacks are a clarion call that network security must be both a forethought in network design and an ongoing regulatory responsibility for the agency entrusted with oversight of the nation’s networks.

[chaztalk]

Highspeed Etoile

Studio: Studio A-Cat (Battle Game in 5 Seconds)

Summary: Rin Rindoh once had a dream of becoming a ballet dancer, but had to give up on that dream due to an injury. Afterward she became a NEET and a gamer who lived in her grandmother's house. But one day she is suddenly thrown into the world of racing.

The New Gate

Studio: Yokohama Animation Lab (The Witch and the Beast), Cloud Hearts

Summary: THE NEW GATE―an online game transformed into a life-and-death struggle for its players. Thanks to the valiant efforts of Shin, the most powerful of them all, an end to the game and freedom for everyone seemed within reach. But just moments after Shin defeats the game's final boss, he finds himself bathed in an unknown light and transported some 500 years into the future of the in-game world. Thrown from a simple game gone wrong into a strange new land, one young swordsman of unrivalled strength is about to embark on a legendary journey!

Vampire Dormitory

Studio: Studio Blanc. (Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan)

Summary: Mito, who has no family to rely on, lives on the streets, disguised as a boy. Ruka, a vampire, saves her from a perilous situation and makes her an offer: become his subservient thrall from which he can feed whenever he wants, and she can live with him —in the boys’ dorm. Because her very existence depends on her secret not being found out, every day is a new danger— to say nothing of that vampire! Meanwhile, Ruka, not knowing Mito’s a girl, dotes on her night and day in an attempt to ripen her “disgusting male blood”, but when real feelings develop… this dangerous romance between a crossdressing girl and an obsessive vampire begins!

A Condition Called Love

Studio: East Fish Studio (Fragtime)

Summary: Hotaru is a 16-year-old high school first-year who has always been ambivalent about love, preferring instead to have a lively life with her family and friends. So when she sees her schoolmate, Hananoi-kun, sitting in the snow after a messy, public breakup, she thinks nothing of offering to share her umbrella. But when he asks her out in the middle of her classroom the next day, she can’t help but feel that her life is about to change in a big way…

Tadaima, Okaeri (Welcome Home)

Studio: Studio DEEN (Sasaki and Miyano)

Summary: Hiromu Fujiyoshi knew that the gentle omega Masaki was his destined mate from the moment he first laid eyes on him, and now that they are finally married, he refuses to allow anything to destroy their precious bond. Neither a judgmental society nor interfering family members have succeeded in tearing down the life they've built, and together they've created a happy family. Because of the discrimination in their old neighborhood, Hiromu and Masaki have just moved into a new home where they hope to give their little son Hikari the safe, warm environment he deserves. With kind friends new and old, this affectionate family fills their days with happiness and love.

The Two Sides of Seiyuu Radio

Studio: CONNECT (Strike the Blood)

Summary: Yugure Yuhi and Utatane Yasumi, two high school voice actresses who just happened to attend the same school and coincidentally got placed into the same class, are the two hosts of a radio weekly program. As fellow classmates and voice actresses, they show all the listeners their great friendship! At least, on the surface. In reality, the quiet girl Chika and the gyaru Yumiko are complete opposites. And they absolutely cannot stand each other. Off air, chaos and insults erupt. On air, they're the best of friends. Just where will this tumultuous relationship lead them?

Astro Note

Studio: Telecom Animation Film (Orange)

Summary: Takumi, a gifted chef, was just let go from his job. He lands a gig at an old boarding house called Astro-sou, but hesitates to accept after learning he must also live there full-time. That is until he meets the beautiful and charming caretaker, Mira, and he’s sold. The two begin to work together and their connection deepens. But Mira has a secret: she isn’t from this world!

The Banished Former Hero Lives As He Pleases

Studio: Studio DEEN, Marvy Jack (Onmyouji)

Summary: Deemed a “good-for-nothing” for his low level and lack of a god-given Gift, Allen is stripped of his noble status and banished from the Duchy of Westfeldt. But Allen has a secret: he was a great hero in a previous life, and he’s thrilled for the chance to finally live the way he pleases! His drama-free existence, however, is soon interrupted by a desperate encounter with his ex-fiancée. As a former hero who still possesses the incredible powers from his past life, Allen can’t ignore someone in need—no matter how much he might like to! And so begins the new heroic saga our former hero never wanted!

[littledeathh]

"Landmine" is a perversion of consumerism

I adore jiraikei and slutpop. Despite originating in two opposing cultures and ideas, namely the USA's focus on sexual freedom and individualism, and Japanese cuteness and agreeableness, both express the human reaction to isolation, technology and consumerism. But what I love more is how perfectly they encapsulate "leftist" self-mutilation.

At first glance, both styles appear to be a standard pandering of common tropes -- "sex sells, beauty is good" -- backed by massive corporations putting out constant advertising. In fact, jirai and slutpop often employ commercial techniques, such as radio style song intros, flashy thought bubbles, glossy magazine covers, price tags, photoshoot poses, 1980's-2000's nostalgia for tech progress, corporate logos etc., in order to both satirise and perversely validate marketing brainwashing as a desperate attempt for approval, arrogance and self-harm.

Part of the aim of this art is to mimic advertising, as acceptance of the status quo. The "characters" in question are genuinely proud to resemble celebrities, posing with money, jewelry, bags and gadgets to an extreme. We often see collections bordering on hoarding of accessories, perfumes, sex toys, phones and cosmetics, strewn about an empty or messy apartment, full of garbage bags, sometimes splattered in human matter. The styles often make reference to late bills, tax evasion, unemployment, as well as emotional instability, often leading to prostitution and substance abuse as a method to make money and cope with life.

The second aim is to emphasize that this is a person who isn't and never will be part of the "elite". Their attempts to appear wealthy leave them destitute. Trying to portray beauty leaves them so frustrated they cover their walls in grime. No matter how many accessories they buy, they will never fill the void in their soul. Often we see these characters escaping into a fantasy world, where they can slip into their alter egos online, searching for virtual friendship to heal their real world isolation.

Despite being such a common theme, sex is actually understood as a method of revenge against expectations, manipulation or self-harm. The characters don't embrace sexuality because they do not understand love. A sense of cynicism pervades, that no matter how beautiful or wealthy, that person is corrupt and wishes that corruption was acknowledged.

References to recklessness, drugs, manipulation, madness etc. are actually considered first the person's direct fault, due to their rotten character, as well as an unfortunate adaptation to society, through phrases such as "sex sells", "rich live, poor die" and dehumanization into a piece of meat. This thinking leads the person to blame themselves more, rather than become angry at society, due to the fact that they are directly responsible for ruining their own life, while simultaneously trying their hardest to follow society's path to security.

My projection is that media messaging is particularly likely to lead to self-mutilation due to lacking a physical body to attribute disagreement to. Our human brains are built to sort an issue out with a direct entity, be it an animal, object or other human, which often leads to a discharge of energy. If the source of our misery has no physical source (mass media), that energy will be discharged into our own bodies through self-harming behaviours, our environment or people around us. For those isolated, their body and space are more accessible to destroy.

As long as such a person will continue to blame themselves and mutilate themselves due to nonconformity, they will redirect their true human emotions, which have a source -- conglomerates making up society's core -- into their own self-hate.

[theomeganerd]

Video Game News Stories for March 17th, 2024

Unionization Efforts Gain Momentum: The ongoing movement towards unionization within the gaming industry continued with news of another 600 Activision QA testers joining the cause. This development comes amidst the ongoing battle between Activision Blizzard and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) over union recognition. The additional workers joining the cause solidify the movement within Activision and could have significant implications for working conditions across the industry.

Epic Games Scores Victory in Europe: In a significant development, Apple reversed its ban on Epic Games' developer account following an enquiry by the European Commission. This reversal stems from the ongoing legal battle between the two companies concerning in-app purchases and Epic's use of its own payment system within Fortnite. While the ruling only applies within the European Union, it represents a potential turning point in the ongoing fight for fairer App Store practices.

SAG-AFTRA Considers Strike Over AI Terms in Contracts: The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is reportedly considering a strike over proposed contract language concerning the use of artificial intelligence in video game performances. The union is concerned about the potential for AI to replace voice actors and the lack of clear regulations regarding ownership and compensation for AI-generated performances. This development highlights the growing challenges posed by AI in the entertainment industry and the need for fair treatment of all performers.

Minors Prioritize Safety in Online Gaming Spaces: A new report revealed that minors and young adults prioritize safety in online gaming spaces. The study highlights concerns about harassment, bullying, and predatory behavior within online games. The findings call for developers and platforms to prioritize safety features and implement stricter moderation policies to create a more welcoming environment for younger players.

Industry Gears Up for World Video Game Hall of Fame Finalists Announced: The finalists for the 2024 World Video Game Hall of Fame were officially announced. The prestigious list includes iconic titles like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Pong. This year's inductees will be revealed later this year, sparking nostalgia and debate among gamers worldwide.

Twitch Viewership Dips: While the news wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, reports also emerged regarding a slight dip in viewership on Twitch in February 2024. While the exact reasons are still being investigated, this could indicate a shift in viewing habits or increased competition in the streaming landscape.

New Video Game Releases for March 17th, - March 22nd

Thursday, March 21st

Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Collection (PC): The critically acclaimed PlayStation 5 exclusive Horizon Forbidden West arrives on PC with this release. This Complete Collection includes the base game and all story-based DLC.

Final Fantasy 14 (Xbox Series X/S): Fans of the MMORPG rejoice! Final Fantasy 14 is finally playable on Xbox Series X/S.

Midnight Ghost Hunt (PC): This asymmetrical hide-and-seek horror game tasks players with either being a Ghost haunting a mansion or a Hunter trying to banish them.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile (iOS, Android): The popular free-to-play battle royale game Call of Duty: Warzone comes to mobile devices.

Friday, March 22nd

Dragon's Dogma 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S): The long-awaited sequel to the 2012 action RPG Dragon's Dogma is here! Expect an all-new story, new enemies, and a revamped pawn system.

Princess Peach: Showtime! (Switch): In this new musical adventure game, Princess Peach uses her singing voice to defeat enemies and save the day.

Rise of the Ronin (PS5): Team Ninja, the developers of Nioh, bring you Rise of the Ronin, a new open-world action RPG set in Japan during the Boshin War. Play as a former samurai forging your own path in a changing world.

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5): This remastered version of the RPG The Legend of Legacy includes a new guidebook function and high-definition visuals.

[riggro-digital]

Creating Brand Connection: A Guide to Launching Your In-Store and Internet Radio Stations

Creating your own in-store radio station or launching an internet radio station can be a powerful tool to boost your brand, whether in a physical retail environment or through an online platform. These stations allow you to create a tailored audio experience that captures your audience's attention, deepens their engagement, and ultimately contributes to sales growth. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to start both an in-store and internet radio station, customized for your business goals.

What is an In-Store Radio?

An in-store radio station is a personalized audio service designed specifically for your business, creating a more immersive shopping experience. Unlike public radio stations that cater to a broad audience, in-store radio is laser-focused on your customers, allowing you to control the music, promotional messages, and even special announcements. The purpose is to craft a sound environment that enhances the shopping experience, aligns with your brand values, and subtly encourages customers to make purchases. It acts as a direct channel between you and your shoppers, shaping their in-store behavior and elevating the overall atmosphere.

Benefits of In-Store Radio

Improved Customer Engagement In-store radio gives you a unique opportunity to captivate customers as they shop. You can create an enjoyable atmosphere with tailored music, and enhance that experience with targeted messaging. This personalization increases engagement, making the time customers spend in your store more enjoyable and potentially longer, leading to increased sales.

Strengthening Brand Identity Every element of your store, including the music and announcements, reflects your brand. With in-store radio, you can craft a distinctive sound that reinforces your brand’s personality and values. Whether through carefully selected playlists or branded messages, you can embed your brand into the overall shopping experience, making it more memorable for customers.

Boosting Sales By controlling the audio content, you can strategically broadcast promotions at peak times. For instance, announcing limited-time offers or upcoming events while shoppers browse can spur impulse buying. Background music that matches the mood of your store can also influence buying behavior. Studies have shown that certain types of music encourage customers to spend more time browsing, which can result in increased purchases.

Full Customization You have full control over your in-store radio, allowing you to adjust the audio content to reflect the season, current promotions, or special events. For example, during the holiday season, you can play festive music and run seasonal promotions, creating a thematic experience that resonates with shoppers.

How to Start an In-Store Radio Station

Define Your Purpose First, decide the primary goal of your in-store radio. Is it to create a relaxing environment with music? Or do you want to mix in promotional content that advertises new products or sales? Establishing your objective will help shape the overall audio experience for customers.

Choose Music Wisely Music should be aligned with your store's brand identity and your customers' preferences. For instance, if you run a luxury boutique, you might opt for calming, instrumental music to create a serene atmosphere. If your store caters to younger audiences, upbeat pop or indie tracks might be more appropriate. The right choice of music can make customers feel more comfortable and encourage them to stay longer.

Plan Promotional Interludes Decide how frequently you'll include promotional messages within your music playlist. You can use these interludes to inform customers about ongoing deals, upcoming events, or special product features. Strike a balance between music and marketing content so that the promotional material feels organic and not overwhelming.

Set Up the Required Equipment Setting up an in-store radio station is relatively simple. Basic equipment includes speakers, an amplifier, and a media player. Several companies, such as Custom Channels and Easy On Hold, offer services that allow you to manage and schedule content for your store. These systems let you pre-record promotional messages and curate playlists, which can be easily updated and automated.

Secure Music Licenses If you plan to use copyrighted music, you must obtain the necessary licenses to play it legally in your store. Organizations like ASCAP or BMI provide these licenses, allowing you to use music without risking legal repercussions.

Launching an Internet Radio Station

Taking your brand beyond the store walls with an internet radio station can greatly expand your reach. Whether you want to broadcast music, host live shows, or promote your products to a wider audience, an internet radio station offers endless possibilities.

Steps to Launch an Internet Radio Station

Identify Your Content Niche Decide what your internet radio station will focus on. Will you broadcast a variety of music genres, or will your station include talk shows, interviews, and informational content? For example, if you own a retail store, you could curate music playlists that match the vibe of your store while mixing in product recommendations and industry tips.

Get Music Licenses Similar to in-store radio, playing copyrighted music on your internet station requires licensing. SoundExchange, along with other music rights organizations, helps ensure that musicians are compensated for their work. Licensing your music properly is crucial to avoid legal issues.

Invest in Broadcasting Equipment The equipment needed for an internet radio station includes:

Microphone: A high-quality microphone is essential for voiceovers, interviews, or live shows.

Mixer: A mixer will allow you to balance music and voice levels during broadcasts.

Audio Interface: This device connects your broadcasting equipment to your computer, ensuring smooth audio transmission.

Broadcasting Software: You’ll need software to manage your radio stream. Free options like Mixxx are great for beginners, while professional broadcasters may prefer SAM Broadcaster or other paid alternatives.

Select a Streaming Host To stream your internet radio, you’ll need a hosting service. Platforms like Icecast and Shoutcast are popular for their ease of use and reliability. These platforms will host your stream and provide a link that listeners can access via your website, apps, or social media.

Promote Your Radio Station Promoting your new station is key to gaining listeners. Use social media, email marketing, and in-store advertisements to encourage customers to tune in. Offering exclusive online promotions or content for internet radio listeners can help increase engagement and build a loyal audience.

Maximizing Your Reach with Internet Radio

By integrating both in-store and internet radio stations, you can create a cohesive audio experience that strengthens your brand across multiple channels. Broadcasting your unique sound in-store and online enables you to build a stronger connection with both in-store shoppers and a broader global audience.

Whether you’re using these platforms to promote new products, create a pleasant in-store atmosphere, or connect with listeners from around the world, in-store and internet radio stations offer a valuable opportunity to make your brand unforgettable. With the right strategy, content, and promotion, launching your radio station can become an essential part of your business's growth. Read More

[aasthasposts]

Media: The Fourth Pillar of Democracy

In a democracy, there are three traditional pillars: the executive (government), the legislature (lawmakers), and the judiciary (courts). However, in today’s world, the media is often called the “fourth pillar of democracy” because of its essential role in holding the other three pillars accountable and informing the public.

1. Informing the Public

The media is the primary source of information for citizens. It keeps people informed about government policies, laws, elections, and important events, allowing them to make educated decisions. For democracy to function properly, citizens must be aware of what is happening in their country and around the world. Media outlets like newspapers, TV, radio, and online platforms help disseminate this information.

2. Holding Power to Account

The media acts as a watchdog, checking the actions of government officials, political leaders, and corporations. Investigative journalism exposes corruption, malpractice, and injustice. By reporting the truth and highlighting wrongdoing, the media helps prevent abuses of power. Without a free press, those in power could operate without oversight, threatening the integrity of democracy.

3. Encouraging Debate and Discussion

Media platforms provide a space for public debate and discussion. They allow diverse viewpoints to be heard, which is crucial in a democratic society. Whether it’s through news reports, opinion articles, or interviews, the media helps people engage with different ideas, fostering an environment where informed public debate can thrive.

4. Ensuring Transparency

For democracy to work, transparency is key. The media plays an important role in ensuring that government actions, decisions, and policies are open to public scrutiny. When journalists report on government spending, legal proceedings, and public policies, they ensure that leaders are acting in the best interest of the people and not hiding behind closed doors.

5. Protecting Freedoms

A free and independent media is one of the greatest protectors of individual freedoms in a democracy. It provides a platform for citizens to express their opinions, share ideas, and challenge authority without fear of censorship. It also ensures that voices from marginalized groups and communities are heard, promoting equality and inclusion.

Conclusion: The Vital Role of Media in Democracy

The media is not just a source of information—it is a cornerstone of democracy. It keeps citizens informed, holds those in power accountable, promotes transparency, and encourages public debate. As the “fourth pillar,” the media ensures that democracy remains strong, healthy, and responsive to the needs of the people. Without the media, democracy would lack the checks and balances necessary to protect freedom and justice.

[georgegraphys]

Honestly PR talk absolutely fascinates me, and it’s so interesting to see what others think.

It’s been clear for a while that Lewis has a big agency behind him which helps him create the image he wants, he has full control over that [as he should] which is obviously helped by Mercedes, and his advocacy off track

Whilst Lando really interests me too. McLaren PR go strong for him [maybe he has an agency to help with all that too] I don’t vibe with him, but clearly a lot of people do.

This leads me to George - clearly his new hairstyle and funny radios have helped endear him to more people, but a lot of people still consider him a PR robot [which is annoying because every driver does it] and in stark contrast to Lewis, Mercedes PR doesn’t hep him. As much much as he is going to wear what he’s comfortable with the slightly formal look he favours, maybe a slightly younger look would help? I don’t know. I really hope he gets the chance to really become the star he could be with the right things in place.

Hmmm how to put this 🤔 to words... Anon have you seen a tiktoker or youtuber or just any public figure you saw online that just out of nowhere they did something and that something is 100% their thing and they got famous/real successful by it? That's what I like to call a raw explosion

Some people do get famous because

a) they are backed by a good and big agency/experts behind them that knows what to do about them and directs everything

b) a good and supportive environment to help them develop their personality

c) a mix of luck and everything falling into place then it became a thing of your own or some kind of like your forte

I see George as option C. As you said anon, he doesn't have that good agency and he doesn't have that supportive team behind him like McLaren is to Lando. The climb to George's PR success is really unplanned, unexpected, raw.

While the Mercedes promotional strategies in China for him are planned. This one individual boom is not. Mercedes did not start "george russell is the type of guy..." trend, his management did not start the "intro pose" trend, and other trends. The trend happens NATURALLY and his management and Mercedes jumps on the bandwagon afterwards. Something about George is really raw. It's just him and his personality. His british-ness. Him being as interesting as a magical unicorn. It's just him.

People saw him as a PR robot. Like yes, he's a good PR guy but that guy is not a robot. His emotions seep through and about the way he talks? He is just a) goofy brit with a bit of awkwardness sometimes b) a natural born good conversationalist. There is nothing like a PR robot. People who call him that honestly never watch those k-pop idols whose interviews are drilled straight to the core of their brain. He is honestly doing very well so far. I think his looks fits him as it defines his uniqueness and people get to know him by his style. He is building his own brand through his current style just like what other celebrities and their unique styles do and it's good for him to just do his things and not follow a trend. But honestly style preferences are subjective so won't comment much on that.

But yeah, George Russell is a raw case of PR boom. He just does it naturally. Everything happens naturally. Unplanned. Some people can say shit that it's planned but notice how his memes are the most random things he does without noticing and his styles are just "Carmen said she likes it on me 😃😁😃😁"

[alaffy]

Only Murders in the Building, Ep. 4x04 - The Stuntman (Spoilers)

Well, the blurb was right about the unexpected face.  Also, that ending.

Oliver’s afraid he’s being cheated on because of an arm in a few photographs.  So, Oliver created a fake online profile to find out if he’s right.  This is creepy bs, and I won’t be focusing on this.  Although we do find out the Sazz was following Loretta on Instagram. 

There’s really two stories going on here.  One has to do with Mabel squatting in the apartment.  Well, she’s busy solving crime; so Howard steps in.  He’s doing it because he wants Mabel to help with his podcast.  But then a poster for tryouts to be in the movie is slipped under the door and so he leaves. Long story short, Mabel comes back to the apartment and sees the other tenants from the tower trying to move her bed. 

They finally decide to tell Mebel their secret.  Given her living situation, they figure they can cut her into their deal.  Mabel says she has to tell Charles and Oliver, but this won’t go into the podcast.  So, supposedly Dudenoff is a retired Professor who does live out of the country.  He acquired, well, essentially a floor (or most of one) in the West Tower ages ago and now rents portions of that floor to the families of the West Tower at an extremely low price as what he pays is Rent Controlled.  The woman on the radio is, supposedly, Christmas Guy’s ex and they say she’s not mentally sound.  In other words, she didn’t know anything about Sazz’s death.  I feel as though they are telling the truth about the rent, but not about the woman on the radio.

The main story, though, revolved around a bar where Stunt people used to hang out.  Also, around the dreams Charles keeps having about Sazz and how she kept telling him she was going to Paradise.  At first, no one in the bar wants to talk with them.  Especially Ben’s stunt double (that’s right, Paul Rudd is back).   

Except that’s not strictly true.  He’s hoping to get hired onto the movie being made about the podcast.  And, while the episode is quite funny, I’m just going to skip to the parts that are important about Sazz’s murder.  Charles discovers two things.  One, Sazz was in a lot of pain and was planning on retiring.  Two, Sazz mentioned a relationship she had with someone that the person was getting more out of than Sazz was; almost in the sense they were using Sazz.  Charles, as he’s learning things about Sazz that he didn’t realize, thinks that the relationship Sazz was talking about was with him (I have my doubts).

The reason why I question this is because we find out later, after Charles get knocked unconscious standing in as Sazz during her Wake (long story), that Sazz confided things to Charles that she normally wouldn’t tell others.  Specifically, Charles remembers a day where they were filming Brozos and that Sazz said that, when she retires, she planned to open up a place to train the next generation of stunt people.  Charles suggested that she buy the land that they were filming on because, once the government cleaned up the toxins from the environment (!), they were planning to sell the land. 

Sure enough, at the end of the episode, the trio go to the land and discover that Sazz was planning to build.  The trio start to snoop around, when they hear a noise coming from a shed.  Inside, they find (of all people) the Producer from the movie.  However, the Producer immediately pulls out a gun and threatens them. 

At the moment, I don’t have to much in the way of theories simply because right now we have all these parts, but nothing to connect them together.  We don’t even know who the intended victim is yet.  In fact, the whole thing has become so convoluted that they actually have two murder boards.  I’m still leaning towards the idea that Sazz was the intended victim because she got close to something that somebody didn’t want revealed; but I also feel like this plot of land…too much was made of it to not be important.