#this is exclusively for people that understand the bolded text

[just-a-coining-blog]

disclaimer at bottom PLEASE read it

Obsesslovein

Your love is obsessive and all consuming. You might feel as though the only way to describe your sexuality/romantic orientation is as “obsessive”.

This includes acknowledging the harmful aspects of obsessive behavior.

Platonicobsesslovein

Your platonic love is obsessive and all consuming. You might feel as the only way to describe your platonic care/love for people is as “obsessive”.

When you make a friend you may feel as though you’re obsessed with them.

This includes acknowledging harmful aspects of obsessive behavior.

Faultobsesslovein

You identify as obsesslovein and feel guilty, upset, or otherwise bad for having obsessive behavior.

This is NOT romanticization of obsessive behavior. This is NOT related to yandere in ANY WAY. You must acknowledge the negatives of obsessive behavior, and understand that it is not related to yanderes before using this label.

[left image ID: The obsesslovein flag, it has a bright pink, magenta, and light red/pink stripe. In the middle is a heart with darker versions of the colors.]

[middle image ID: The platonicobsesslovein flag, it has a red, pink, and orange stripe. In the middle is a heart with darker versions of the colors.]

[right image ID: The faultobsesslovein flag, it has a purple, light blue, and light purple stripe. In the middle is a heart with darker versions of the colors.]

[astradyke]

hey so I've been a casual Dan & Phil fan for years but never really a part of the fandom. Recently started scrolling thru the tag and like...did I miss something? Have they actually said for real for real that they dated? Like I'm queer and tbh 2 gay guys living together for that long have to at least done *something* but I'm not an rpf person (no shade) but I do wanna be up to date on the Dan and Phil facts (phacts?) Obviously they're some kinda soulmates but tbh I know some queerplatonic soulmates who aren't *together* so idk if that's them or not. Am I missing receipts or is their relationship presumed given their whole situationship? Genuinely asking and no shade to your shipping intended.

hiya! i'll try to be succinct here but i might totally miss some things as a heads up :P

In Basically I'm Gay on the Daniel Howell channel, the same monologue that led to the description of them as soulmates also included the statement: "And that was when, through the magic of the Internet, I met Phil. And obviously we were more than friends, but it was more than just romantic [...] The relationship we formed, at that point, was something that I needed in my life." Despite "relationship" being a neutral, versatile term, the preceding sentence confirms they've been in an explicitly romantic relationship. along with that explicit confirmation, we also know from several other relics from 2009-2011 in particular that the two were at the very least actively flirting (I can retrieve a few formsprings for you that point to this if u want just lmk!). Additionally, in 2010, Phil made a privated video addressed to Dan that explicitly confirms a romantic relationship; this video was unprivated via a YouTube glitch in September 2011 and circulated heavily in late 2012. it was a serious incident that outed them and thus people don't talk much about it. I've never seen it in full-- it's pretty much off the Internet entirely due to copyright strikes-- and I really solely bring it up for context that they were dating at that period in time.

Basically I'm Gay only indicates a past romantic relationship, leaving their current one ambiguous, and both Dan and Phil's respective coming out videos state that they want to keep their personal dating lives private (both of these videos were released in 2019). Since then, though, there's one other explicit confirmation of their relationship-- I had a difficult time hunting down this exact interview in entirety, but my lovely mutual freckliedan helped me find the relevant screenshot:

[ID: In bold, the interviewer's text says: "So, just like a normal gay couple then?" Below, Dan's response is not in bold, and says, "Basically, yeah."]

I was able to find another screenshot at this post as well, which has the actual context confirming that they were discussing Phil previous to this. Now, obviously, this interviewer was a little forward in their questions, so I understand any reluctance in considering Dan's response-- however, Dan is a professional, and if he was sincerely uncomfortable with this line of questioning, I have faith in his ability to avoid answering it altogether. I therefore assume he knew what he was doing, and that this can be taken as a valid statement. This was from 2023 iirc.

Both of these excerpts-- from Basically I'm Gay and from this interview-- do suggest that Dan and Phil have a romantic relationship. On top of both of these more concrete confirmations, there's a lot more information/statements they've made public that corresponds with a romantic relationship, even if none of them are technically exclusive to romantic relationships.

A brief list: They've lived together for approximately 13-15 years, and bought a house together with a mortgage (for brevity's sake, I'll exclude other things that kind of pair with this). They make frequent sex jokes on their channel, several of which stating things about the other's sexual preferences. They recently went on holiday together, just the two of them, and given the tourism biz and how they discussed the holiday it seems like they were in a place intended for couples. Phil's sister in law, Cornelia, refers to Dan as an uncle to her child. They use pet names for each other. They frequently joke with the phandom, riffing off of jokes about their relationship (reacting to posts saying they are in a situationship, making a joke about having a joint toilet, etc.) This is most arguable, but it's highly likely that they share a bed as well (again, going off of the images/videos they've shown us of 'Dan's bedroom'). Lastly, other interviews with Dan include him being highly verbose about his relationship with Phil, but he's referred to him briefly as his "husband" in a long list of other words like "soulmates" and "just mates", ending with "who the fuck knows?", in one past interview (I have a picture of this but I can't attach it rn I can find it if you'd like though!)

It's not impossible that Dan and Phil's relationship isn't currently romantic, and even operating off of the assumption that it is, there's information we don't know about that (whether they're monogamous or polyamorous, for example, or whether or not they share a bed). It honestly just seems unlikely that their relationship is queerplatonic, given the past statements indicating that it has been romantic historically and the interview (+ supplemental evidence) suggesting that it currently is (I am very aware of the variation in QPRs, though, so I'm sympathetic to that interpretation from folks. However, I also understand that many explicitly romantic partnerships are considered to be QPRs-- in media or with real people-- in a way that contributes to gay erasure. It's nuanced and I am not the person best equipped to eloquently discuss it). Obviously, just to underscore here, we are not owed any information about their personal lives and the vast majority (if not the entirety) of the phandom just riffs off of the information they tell us, all of which happen to point to a romantic relationship. They clearly don't have any discomfort in us assuming this, and I personally don't believe they'll ever give us any more conclusive statement about their relationship any time soon, given that they've told us enough that the implication of a romantic partnership is pretty solidly there.

TLDR: Dan and Phil have "hard launched" (AKA released information that portrays their relationship as irrefutably romantic) 2-3 times. There is also other more indirect information that seems to confirm a romantic relationship, though if one wanted to, it could be read as non-romantic-- however, given those conclusive statements, and the current way they treat phandom commentary about their relationship (AKA not giving a shit), it is the effective conclusion that they are in a romantic relationship. Other conclusions, such as them being queerplatonic or them having broken up, seem to rely on a lot of critical assumptions, while the idea that they are in a romantic relationship is in line with their own statements as well as what we generally see out of them.

Thank you for your patience and your very kind ask! PS calling it "phacts" is funny as fuck, I did not utilize that verbiage here through my reply but you were a visionary for this. have a lovely one :D

PS. If any folks want to add, or if I missed something when glancing back over this and corrections are needed, please please please share! I am so deeply not a phandom history i am simply a little guy! much love

[beneaththehalo]

nfwmb [rafayel x fem! reader]

an exploration of your married dynamic with rafayel based on the song. there are references to sex and murder, but nothing explicit. the song lyrics are indented, small text, and bolded. 1.3k words. link to ao3!

When i first saw you / the end was soon / to Bethlehem, it slouched /And then it must’ve caught a good look at you / Give your heart and soul to charity / ‘Cause the rest of you / the best of you / honey, belongs to me

another charity gala as rafayel’s wife. parasitic leeches of linkon hoping to boost their image through large donations that barely make a dent in their generational wealth. a drink at the bar, a waltz with a man fifteen years your elder, and the flick of your hair to drain their wallets. it would all be worth it once you could present the large donation check to your favorite ocean conservation charities — saving the sea turtles, clean the beach, etc. in fact, your knack for playing the game is what attracted rafayel to you in the first place. a measly event reporter drowning your sorrows in seconds at the buffet table, ranting to the poor photographer. in a crowd of fairweathers, you were the first real person rafayel had seen. it intrigued him.

you could say the rest was history, but you certainly didn’t make it easy for him as you were wary to trust another snooty, rich man. artist types tended to be uppity, over pretentious, and full of themselves, but their big pockets made them an easy target for charity. you changed your mind on him when you heard him talk about his paintings for the first time, no longer filtered through the PR-lens of Thomas, you saw the true tortures, loves, and muses of a real artist. of course, you were both a bit inebriated at the time which helped forego the filters as you both ranted over the pompous event. when you found out who he was, you thought you’d lose your job and never speak again. you will forever be thankful that the opposite happened.

ain’t it a gentle sound, the rollin’ in the graves? / ain’t it like thunder under earth, the sound it makes? / ain’t it exciting you, the rumble where you lay? / ain’t you my baby? ain’t you my baby?

it wasn’t always easy. the attention that came with being rafayel’s significant other was something you weren’t used too. microphones shoved in your face, constantly ending up on worst-dressed lists, and never knowing who you could trust out of your business contacts. it was fatiguing — this image of mr. rafayel’s perfect wife. she never said anything controversial, so she didn’t have morals or values. she never demanded attention away from her husband. she hardly ate in public or sipped more than one cocktail. yet, she women still seethed with jealousy and found any excuse to tear her down. they told her she would never meet his needs. she wasn’t pretty enough or smart enough to understand his art or tall enough or whatever bullshit excuse the media sold. rafayel’s ability to be a sex symbol as well as an artist was important, you were a threat to the brand.

you can imagine all that external pressure caused an implosion. insecurity breakdowns at home, intimacy interrupted tears, anger, and frustration. rafayel was ever-understanding, his patience with your struggles admirable. and on one such night, he said, “fuck my brand. i fell in love with you because of your capacity to care, tenacity, and raw emotion when you discuss your passions. i could lose my whole career, but i can’t lose you. not to people who don’t know you,�� he says, planting a firm kiss upon your forehead. from then on, the dynamic shifted.

nothing fucks with my baby / nothing can get a look in on my baby / nothing fucks with my baby / nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing

you were married within a year or so, quick for some, but why wait for something you know will never change? the wedding naturally received a lot of attention despite it being a private elopement. tabloids clamored for the exclusive interview about the marriage of the famed rafayel and if he had any regrets about marrying at his younger age. would this effect his career? was he considering children? intrusive vultures thinking they were owed answers just because of rafayel’s fame. they never received any.

for rafayel was too busy burning every detail of your body into his mind each night. memorizing his favorite canvas and painting purple hues upon the skin of your neck. he touched you as if to prove that you were the only one who could ever draw his attention. all of your insecurities reduced to ash with his steady rhythm and guidance. he was everything you would ever need, and no one could satiate you more. it was heaven on earth, the connection you both shared. you’d both rather be damned than give that up.

if i was born as a blackthorn tree / i’d wanna be felled by you / held by you / fuel the pyre of your enemies

and here you are, back at the scene of the crime, aka this month’s charity gala to benefit coral reef restoration and preservation. you’re a few cocktails deep, the liquor always making things much easier to bear when conversing with the wealthy elite. men who hated their wives, women who loathed their husbands, and children far too privileged to be well-adjusted. people always found you easy to talk to, a little too easy to talk to, which normally you didn’t mind, it caused them to open their wallets all the same. however, tonight was not your night.

one of the men was blathering on and on about his petulant divorce. nothing you had not heard before. he was bolder than the others though, his words slurring a bit as he drapes himself over you. most people knew not to mess with you. for one, you could handle your own. for two, rafayel was rather possessive. so when this man thought he was clever, groping you inappropriately and making inane comments at your behest, something had to be done. so in your best, pseudo-sympathetic voice, you coax him into a private hall. rafayel isn’t far behind.

ain’t it warming you, the world gone up in flames? / ain’t it the life you, you’re lighting of the blaze? / ain’t it a waste they’d watch the throwing of the shade? / ain’t you my baby? ain’t you my babe?

the smoldering, remnant ashes of the man are promptly flushed down the toilet. rafayel cleans his hands at the sink, the small cut across his face already healing. you fix your hair, and blot at any of the smearing of your makeup. “better off anyways,” rafayel mutters, giving you a once over. he gingerly takes your face in his hands, resting his forehead against yours, “Ça va mon amour? [are you alright my love?]” he whispers. you nod, nuzzling your nose against his.

he peppers delicate kisses across your face. then drapes a few more down your exposed neck and collar. all your worries assuaged for the time being as you float in his attention, the memories of the disgusting socialite washed away as he fans the flames of your nerves. “rafayel,” you sigh, leaning into his touch, “you keep at it and the coral reef will never receive their generous check.” he whines in protest, but ultimately agrees and accompanies you back out to the party.

nobody mentions the missing man, and rafayel was such a smooth talker that any questions were easily forgotten. in the end, you had raised over $1.2 million for coral reef restoration, which was a feat in itself. when the party finally concludes and you tiredly shed your personas at the door of your shared home, you couldn’t be more grateful rafayel was who you had chose to spend your life with. and now that you were finally alone again, he would take that chance to remind you.

nothing fucks with my baby / nothing can get a look in on my baby / nothing fucks with my baby / nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing

beneaththehalo || est 2024

[whatdoeseverybodywant]

You're The Only Girl for Me - Chapter 9

yes, i did post this already, but I wasn't happy with it so.... 🤷🏽‍♀️

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS

Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated ❤ 

Trigger Warning: mentions of domestic violence

All OC Characters belong to me

Series Masterlist

Taglist: @christinabae @southerngirl41 @reci1996 @jeyusos-girl @jeyusosgirl @melaninsugababy @baconeggndcheez @bemybabiibish @jstarr86 @nbanenefrmdao @purplehairgawdess @arination99 @alyyaanna @m3llowww @gomussy @jeysbae @empressdede @harmshake @theninthwonder @badbitchcentralinc @romansnumberonegirl @bebesobrielo @venusesworld @babysyhsyh

if your name is bold, tumblr won't let me tag you

DECEMBER 28th 2020 - Pensacola FL

Whatchu’  wearin?” Josh asked as he and Airielle were talking on the phone. She looked down at her white long sleeve shirt and jeans and rolled her eyes. “I’m wearing lingerie at the supermarket.” He had flown to Georgia the day after Christmas to spend the rest of the week with his kids. She had thoughts about him and his ex-wife, but she had to remember that she and Josh weren’t technically together, they had gone on a couple of dates but they weren’t exclusive. He was technically a free man and could do what he wanted to.  

“Shit, bet the bag boys are loving that.” She laughed loudly at that, causing people to stare at her. “I can’t wait to see you.”

“Awe, You miss me?.” She asked teasingly. 

“Mmhmm.” He hummed. “You know I do.” He paused, “ I told my sons I was seeing someone.” That stopped her. 

“You did?” She asked, surprised. She didn’t know why she was surprised. They had met each other's family already. 

“Yeah, they old enough to understand why me and they mom not together. They want to meet you.” Airielle almost hung the phone up on him and blocked his number. “You still there?” He asked after she didn’t say anything for a full minute. 

“Yeah,” She breathed out. “I would love to meet your kids.” 

AIRIELLEJONES

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“Wait, he said his kids want to meet you?” Airielle nodded and took a sip of her mimosa. As soon as she got off the phone with Josh, she called her cousins and set up an emergency meeting at their favorite brunch spot. 

“What did you say?” Airielle groaned and put her head in her hands. 

“I lied and said I want to meet them too.” Yasmine and Ashley looked at each other before bursting into laughter. “Shut up.” She said, throwing a piece of toast at each of them. “I panicked. I ain’t know what to say.” Airielle sighed and bit her lip. She was so close to texting Josh and telling him that they were moving too fast. 

Yasmine narrowed her eyes at Airielle. “Don’t you try to run away from that man Airielle.” Airielle opened her mouth but Yas cut her off.  “No, You knew he had kids and you still went on dates with him. Did you think you were never gonna meet them?” Airielle shrugged. 

“I don’t know.” She stressed, throwing her arms up in the air. 

“He ain’t Christopher. And you need to understand that.” Yasmine placed a couple of dollars down on the table before standing up and walking out of the restaurant. 

“She just wants you to be happy, Rih. And from what I seen at Christmas, Josh makes you happy.” Ashley smiled and patted Airielle’s hand before getting up and following Yasmine out of the restaurant. 

“Fuck.” Airielle whispered and placed her head in her hands. 

JANUARY 1st 2021 - Friday Night Smackdown

Josh was pissed. After he talked to Airielle the other day she had went ghost on him… again. All his calls and text messages went unanswered. He had thought about flying back to Pensacola to pop up on her but decided not to.  He was angry as fuck and didn’t want to say something he regretted. 

The first thing Josh did once he stepped foot into Tropicana Field was go search for Airielle. The last time she went ghost on him was because she was feeling him. And now this time he was sure it was because he brought up his kids. 

“Yo, you seen Airielle?” He asked Kayla as he walked over to her. Kayla looked up from her phone and rolled her eyes. 

“No, I haven’t seen your little girlfriend.” Josh rolled his eyes. He didn’t even know why he asked her bitter ass anything. When he tried to walk away she stopped him by grabbing his arm. “Is that all you have to say to me?”  Josh sucked his teeth and pulled his arm free of her grasp. 

“I ain’t got time for this Kayla.” 

“You haven’t said one word to me since September.  Since Airielle got here.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “It’s like you just threw me to the curb for her.” 

“It was never like that with us and you know it Kay. You and I both know we was drinkin’ that night and one thing led to the other.” 

“So you never felt anything for me?” She felt her eyes water. Kayla was beyond embarrassed. 

“Shit, don’t cry aight? I’m sorry if I made you feel that way okay?”  She nodded but a tear still slipped out her eye and down her cheek. 

“Fuck, I’m sorry.” He said and pulled her into a hug. 

Airielle felt horrible about avoiding Josh. She knew her cousin was right about Josh not being anything like Christopher but she couldn’t help it. Christopher had put her through hell for six years. From the verbal abuse to the actual domestic abuse that had landed her in the hospital with a broken nose and two broken ribs. 

After she was finished getting her hair and make-up done she decided to go and find Josh to apologize to him. She walked around the arena, checking catering and Joe’s locker room but not finding him. She turned down the corridor that led to the Gorilla and came to a stop as she saw Kayla and Josh hugging. 

“Oh.” Airielle said, making them both look over at her, her eyes bounced between the two of them before she turned around and started walking the way she came from. 

“Airielle wait.” Josh let go of Kayla and went to chase after Airelle.”Lemme explain -”  She sighed and stopped walking and turned to face him. 

“Josh, it’s cool. You don’t have to explain anything.” She said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s not like we were together anyway.” She shrugged 

“Don’t give me that bullshit Rih. You know damn well you my girl.” 

“How? How was I possibly supposed to know that?” She felt her heart rate increase and her palms start to sweat. 

Josh frowned his face up at her. “Am I trippin? You met my family, I met yours and I told you that my kids know about you. You think I tell my kids about just anybody?”  Airielle crossed her arms and looked away from Josh. I need to get outta here. She thought. All she wanted to do was apologize, not get into a debate on whether they were together or not. 

“I was coming to look for you.” He said, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. “I stopped to ask Kayla if she seen you-” 

“Josh, you don’t have to explain anything to me.” He just blinked at her before continuing. 

“And she said she didn't, so I was gonna go on my way. But she wanted to talk about me and her and I had to tell her there was no me and her. She started to cry so I gave her a hug.” He summarized. 

“Look. I gotta go alright? Gotta see what I have to do tonight.” She removed his hand off her face before walking away.

Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated ❤ 

[juney-blues]

ever since i made THIS POST a lot of people have been asking for a tutorial, even though in pretty much all of the screenshots i included the specific part of inspect element showing exactly what i edited.

so buckle the fuck up I guess because the tumblr userbase want to find out how to make html pages unusable and who am I to deny you.

get ready for Baby's First HTML and CSS tutorial lmao

ok so first things first we need to go over BASIC HTML

html is made up of these things called "tags" which specify certain parts of the web page, such as

HEADERS (<h1> through <h6> in terms of importance)

PARAGRAPHS (<p>paragraph here</p>)

LINKS (<a href="linkhere"></a>)

BOLDED SECTIONS OF TEXT(<b>bold here</b>)

and a bunch of other stuff,

by default however, specifying all of this just gives us a plain white page with plain black text of varying sizes

that's of course, no fucking good, and sucks shit, so the arbiters of html decided to let us STYLE certain elements, by adding a STYLE parameter to the tag

this can change any number of elements about how things are formatted.

text colour, page colour, font, size, spacing between elements, text alignment, you name it? you can change it!

you might've noticed that, certain elements are nested in other elements

and that any changes that apply to one element, apply to everything included under that element!

how convenient!

anyway this method of styling things by adding a style=" " to their tags is called "in-line style"

i think because the "style" goes "in" the "line"

it's generally ALSO a pain in the ass to style an entire website like this and should be exclusively reserved for small changes that you only want to apply to specific parts of the page.

for any real change in style you want to create a <style> section in your page's header!

this can be used to make changes to how all elements of a type in your page are displayed

or even add new elements with whatever wacky styling you want that can be used with the <div> tag!

wow! isn't css just dandy!

and hell you can even use External CSS™ if you're making multiple pages and want them all to have a consistent theme, by pointing to a .CSS file (which is basically just a <style> header without the <style> tags lmao

ok this is all well and good and very interesting if, say, you're making your own website

*cough*neocities*cough*itsreallycoolandfree*cough*

but you came here because you want to FUCK UP A WEBSITE and make it look STUPID!!

so this is where the transform css property comes in~

you can read up on it HERE if you want the details but basically it allows you to apply mathematical transformations to any html element you want,

all of these fun bastards,

they can be really useful if you're doing some complicated stupid bullshit like me

OR for having fun >:)

if you'll remember, earlier i said that css properties apply to literally everything nested in an element,

and you MIGHT notice, that literally everything in pretty much all html files, is nested in an <html> tag

you can use style=" " or regular css on pretty much ANY html tag,

INCLUDING HTML!

ok ok that was a lot of buildup for something that i could've explained in one or two lines, but i gave you all this fundamental knowledge for a reason,

well, two reasons, go make a neocities

CHAPTER 2: THIS POST HAS CHAPTERS NOW

CSS KEY FRAMES BABYYYY

THESE FUCKERS DON'T WORK AS INLINE STYLING

I HAD TO TEACH YOU HOW CSS WORKED, TO GIVE YOU THE KNOWLEDGE YOU NEED, TO ANIMATE PAGES. TO MAKE THE FUCKERY COMPLETE!!!!

OKAY SO AGAIN READ UP ON THIS IF YOU WANT THE FULLEST POSSIBLE UNDERSTANDING

BUT WHAT KEYFRAMES ALLOW YOU TO DO, IS ANIMATE CSS PROPERTIES

and then make a class, which calls that animation...

and then assign that class. to your html tag.

and then vomit forever

we can do it in 3d too,

the only limit is your imagination... (and how many parameters you want to look up on w3schools and mozilla mdn web docs)

CHAPTER 3: APPLYING IN PRACTICE

ok now the fun thing about all of this, is you can apply it to your blog theme, literally right now

like literally RIGHT now

like step one, make sure you have a custom blog theme enabled in your settings, because that's turned off by default for some reason

step 2: edit theme

step 3: edit html:

step 4: apply knowledge in practice >:)

[autball]

The idea that autistic people lack/struggle with empathy comes mainly from two things:

1. The (ridiculous and outdated) research that supposedly showed we lack Theory of Mind. Turns out it’s garbage, but unfortunately it just won’t die.

2. The fact that allistic people don’t know how to read us and are conditioned to assume the worst about us.

So in my ongoing effort to dispel this myth, here is a non-exhaustive list of areas we may struggle (or “struggle’) when it comes to empathy. Do note that these issues are not exclusive to autistic people, they are not all things WE are “doing wrong,” and that none of them involve completely lacking or being incapable of empathy.

[Image description: POSSIBLE REASONS AN AUTISTIC PERSON MAY “STRUGGLE WITH EMPATHY” - Infographic by Autball.

Translucent white boxes with black text on an aqua to green diagonal gradient. The boxes read:

(1) We Show It Differently: We may be trying to help in a way that we would find comforting but you don’t.

(2) Don’t Realize What’s Happening: We’re not all bothered by the same things, so we may not realize there’s anything to be upset about.

(3) Perspective Taking Issues: Cognitive Empathy is not the same as Affective Empathy; we can feel it if we get it.

(4) Didn’t Pick Up On Cues: If you’re relying on facial expressions, body language, or us “reading between the lines,” we just may not get the message.

(5) It Wasn’t Extended To Us: It’s hard to understand the concept when we don’t get any/enough experience with it ourselves.

(6) Conditioning: We’ve been told we lack empathy so many times that we’ve stopped trying.

(7) Alexithymia: If we can’t identify our own emotions, it’ll be hard to show them, or even recognize them in others.

(8) Big Feelings Are Overwhelming: Some people learn to “turn off” their empathy/hyper-empathy in order to maintain/survive.

(9) Misinformation: A lot of people call things “empathy” that aren’t actually empathy, like putting others’ needs before our own.

(10) Just Not That Emotional: Emoting just might not be our thing; that doesn’t mean we can’t understand what’s going on.

At the bottom in bold white text is the following: * = (asterisk equals) Allistics struggle to do these things with us too! See: The Double Empathy Problem. (The first four boxes have asterisks in them.)]

[dumplingsjinson]

It honestly sounds like he’s trickle-truthing because you found out. Like you said you paused your profile and he took the opportunity to change his up, thinking you wouldn’t see. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find out more later. I obviously haven’t seen your personal messages and I’m pessimistic af. I hope I’m wrong. But if he’s doing shady stuff like this so early in the relationship it will only get worse at it goes on. Seems like he’s being bold because you’re long distance and he thinks he can get away with stuff. Just be careful okay? Trust your gut.

I can absolutely understand what you're saying here, and I've thought about this, too, myself. My friends are also sus about it because some things don't add up but again, for the sake of my own peace of mind, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

He's changed his profile up back then, but we were casually dating and we never had the talk at the time so it was okay. But it's not acceptable this time around. Also, I never thought about the pausing the profile thing in that way, though, simply because I'm not sure if he even remembers that I told him I paused my profile until I brought it up AFTER he changed his Hinge up again this second time around. I also feel like since he had changed his profile up back when we were just casually dating, I don't think he was taking advantage of that to change up his profile, since during that first time, I didn't have my profile paused at that time. (This is me saying I don't think he's that bright at times LMFAO.)

I will reiterate, when I asked him about exclusivity at first, after the first profile change up, he was like "I thought we were past that?" so in his head, we were probably already exclusive in a way? That's my own interpretation and I could be completely wrong. So with that in mind, I think he's just doing no thoughts head empty type of shit and doing stupid shit like purely chatting with people on a dating app with no intentions of actually dating them (something I've done myself, which I will explain a little later on) instead of communicating with me, because he's not thinking things through properly. Like, he's probably not trying to do harmful shit is what I'm saying.

We're not gonna be long distance in about 2 weeks' time, so hopefully when I get back, things will get better because I do understand how this long distance thing is fucking it up for him a bit because it's messing with my head a lot too and like I said, there have been times when I was doubting things and just wanted to end things with him right here, right now, and probably break his heart in the process because I know he cares for me to an extent, and he means it when he says he loves me.

He broke it off with his ex because they had to move and they'd have to be in an LDR if that was the case, and he was not up for that. Which is why I'm saying that's an explanation (not an excuse, because what he did wasn't okay).

He's deleted his dating profile. For all I know, he could have other apps, or he could recreate the Hinge profile, but I've deleted all my dating apps as well as my own profiles, and again, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I will also be very honest and say that when we were exclusive, there was this guy I was still talking to on Hinge. It was a text from either one of us every few days, and I was only talking to him out of pure boredom, and I knew nothing was ever going to happen and we were never going to meet up. It was purely just to chat. We started talking 2-3 months before I met cat guy, so there's also that, and I knew early on nothing was going to come out of it with the way things were going. This is why I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, and believe that he's actually just chatting with people. I've also made friends on these dating apps before SO. There's also that. Not justifying his actions, but just explaining why I want to believe him as someone who's been in that position before.

I'm treading carefully. I'm a really big over thinker, so my gut is usually not the most reliable.

I hope he's not actually doing anything behind my back, and that he can regain my trust, and that he's not going to be a lesson for me to learn from.

But thank you for looking out for me and I'm so sorry for this ramble. I'm aware it sounds like I'm convincing myself or justifying his actions but trust me, if he ends up hurting me (praying he won't), then I'm gone.

[heartinhands]

hi and welcome to my lowkey multimuse. who knows how active it will be, not me! rules under the cut.

ren, 24, white, they/he, i work full-time

no freaks! no racism, shipping adults w children, incest, and the like.

i am not anti-callout. if it feels important and needs to be shared, i will share it. this is different from drama that can be privately resolved and excessive negativity

i am not the fastest writer these days, sorry :(

contrary to the above if something catches my eye, i might reply very very quickly. please don't worry about it and please take your time to reply, i understand!

w muses and muns who are of age nsfw content or discussion might feature but i really can't say how prominently. it will be tagged as "nsfw" if it does though.

feel free to ask if you need anything tagged. my tagging system follows "cw word" guidelines

largely iconless unless i have the icons already from a previously existing blog! i've gathered a few free-to-use iconsets from blogs across tumblr and have left them unedited if they are free-to-use. as such, the icons vary in size depending on source.

i prefer longer, more literate replies. note that all this means is that i don't tend to engage as much with the short jokey ic rp posts. don't worry about matching my length in threads!

i try to match other people's formatting; personally i use small text and occasionally bold and italicize font. if my partner doesn't use small text, i won't either. for the umineko muses i write, red and blue text will feature as it is a canon aspect of the game, but outside of that i don't use colored font.

i love verse making! i will gladly write a verse to write with your muse, or do crossovers, etc. etc. give me your oc, give me duplicate threads, let's goooo.

typically i am multiship-exclusive on my blogs but since this is primarily a friends-only multimuse i am moving this to be purely multiship here! *with an exception, namely that vergil is singleship with fer's oc cam

muse list here.

[sizepostcards]

How to Write Direct Mail Letters That Stand Out: Proven Examples

In the digital age, direct mail may seem outdated, but it remains a powerful tool for businesses looking to connect with customers on a personal level. However, for your direct mail to be effective, it needs to stand out from the competition. Crafting compelling, attention-grabbing letters is key to achieving this. This article will explore proven examples and strategies to help you write direct mail letters that leave a lasting impression.

1. Start with a Strong Headline

The headline is the first thing your recipient will see, so it needs to capture their attention immediately. A compelling headline should be clear, concise, and relevant to the reader's interests.

Example: “Unlock Exclusive Savings Just for You!” – This headline creates a sense of exclusivity and urgency, encouraging the reader to keep reading.

2. Personalize Your Message

Personalization is crucial in direct mail. Using the recipient’s name and tailoring the content to their preferences or past interactions with your business can increase engagement.

Example: “Dear [Recipient’s Name], we noticed you’re interested in [product/service], and we have an exclusive offer just for you!” – This approach makes the recipient feel valued and understood.

3. Highlight the Benefits, Not Just Features

Your letter should focus on how the recipient will benefit from your product or service rather than listing its features. People are more likely to respond when they understand what’s in it for them.

Example: Instead of saying, “Our software has 24/7 customer support,” say, “Never worry about technical issues again – our 24/7 support team is here to help you at any time!”

4. Use a Clear Call to Action

Your direct mail letter should have a clear and compelling call to action (CTA). Whether it’s visiting your website, making a phone call, or using a coupon code, the next steps should be easy to follow.

Example: “Call us today at [phone number] to claim your 20% discount!” – This CTA is straightforward, action-oriented, and includes a sense of urgency.

5. Incorporate a Limited-Time Offer

Creating a sense of urgency can motivate the recipient to act quickly. Including a limited-time offer encourages them to take immediate action.

Example: “Hurry – this offer expires on [date]. Don’t miss out on your chance to save!” – A deadline adds pressure and urgency to the decision-making process.

6. Keep It Simple and Concise

Your letter should be easy to read and to the point. Avoid using overly complicated language or lengthy paragraphs. The goal is to convey your message quickly and clearly.

Example: Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and bold text to highlight key points. A simple, clean design will make it easier for the reader to digest the information.

7. Add a Personal Touch

Including a handwritten note or signature can add a personal touch to your direct mail letter, making it feel more intimate and thoughtful.

Example: “Looking forward to helping you achieve your goals, [Your Name]” – A personal sign-off can make the recipient feel more connected to the sender.

Conclusion

Examples of Writing direct mail letters that stand out requires creativity, personalization, and a strong focus on the recipient’s needs and desires. By using compelling headlines, personalizing your message, focusing on benefits, and incorporating clear calls to action, you can create direct mail that resonates with your audience and drives results.

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Standard Postcard Sizes and International Postage Rates – Wix

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[cursedhunting]

rules

mun: i am well over the age of 21 and because of this i do not feel comfortable writing with anyone under that age. i am a full time student and have other responsibilities on top of that my main blog takes priority which is why if anyone wants my discrd just ask as i do not publicly post my tag. i am open to not only chatting with people on there but also rping, if that's also your jam.

content warning: mature or potentially triggering subjects present ranging from mental illness, blood, gore, sexual situations, gas lighting, murder, torture, self destructive behavior, religious themes, demonic possession, questionable intent, and mentions a miscarriage and mentions of drug and alcohol use. if smut is written it will be tagged with usft / and nsft / if you need me to tag anything else, please let me know. i am only human so i might end up forgetting to tag something specific, this does not mean i did it on purpose. simply let me know and i will correct myself.

writing: this is a writing focused blog which means that i wish to develop this version of natasha further. that being said i prefer pre-established dynamics and the open lines of communication that come with plotting. best way to interact with me is through memes as i do not put out starter calls. i usually answer memes as if they were starters, because of this if it becomes a patter of meme replies not being acknowledged in any way shape or form --even after i send the link as a private answer--, i will likely not answer any more memes from you for a while. however if you ever feel the need to drop a thread, please go right ahead. i completely understand all i ask is that you let me know. since i am new to this fandom and this is not a canon character in the show i will prefer light plotting over winging interactions, especially if we have never interacted.

formatting: i use small text, italics, bolding throughout my replies if you need me to change the font size, all you have to do is let me know. i am more than happy to accommodate my writing partners. iconless replies are also happily accepted from my partners as i won't always use icons, especially if a reply turns long.

reply speed: i use the queue because it saves me unnecessary stress. however i will not have a tag for things that are queued. if i have hella muse because of a reply, i will reply fast and probably write a lot, my writing partners do not have to match my length. all i ask if that i am given something to work with. i don't do one liners either.

shipping: i love shipping but i will not ship with any characters under 25 without prior plotting as by the time s1 rolls around natasha is 30 years old. as stated above, i prefer open lines of communication with those i am actively writing with. if you want to ship let me know and we can discuss the potential !

mains/exclusives: as of right now i do not practice either but i am more than willing to discuss things with people i actively. the potential of either or is open but currently not a priority.

other: i will be avoiding people who chronically delete / remake their blogs so if this is you and i accidentally follow you you can hard block me.

credit: all edits and psds are made by me. icon blockquotes credit

[jerlrd]

Maximizing ROI with Email Marketing 

Email marketing remains a cornerstone for businesses to connect with their audience effectively, despite the dominance of social media and instant messaging platforms. Its ability to deliver one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) makes it indispensable. For every $1 spent, businesses see an average return of $36, indicating a remarkable 3600% ROI. However, email marketing success demands a strategic approach, careful planning, and adherence to best practices.

Understanding Email Marketing

Email marketing involves sending emails to prospects and customers to share news, promote products, or offer special deals. It aims to build relationships and drive sales. A staggering 75% of consumers prefer email as their channel for brand communication. Personalization plays a significant role, with tailored content increasing engagement and effectiveness.

Building and Growing Your Email List

A strong email list is foundational for effective email marketing. Utilizing lead magnets, such as free ebooks or exclusive discounts, can attract subscribers. Promote your sign-up forms across your website and social media platforms to grow your list quickly.

Creating effective opt-in forms is crucial. Keep forms simple, asking only for essential information like name and email address. Use compelling call-to-action (CTA) buttons to encourage sign-ups and A/B test different designs to optimize your forms.

Regularly clean your email list to improve deliverability and engagement rates. Remove inactive subscribers and segment your list based on activity levels. This ensures you target active subscribers more effectively.

Crafting Compelling Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing recipients see and greatly influences open rates. An attention-grabbing subject line can make the difference between your email being opened or ignored. Focus on creating subject lines that intrigue recipients, stir emotions, or promise value. Personalization, such as adding the recipient's name, significantly increases open rates. Using urgency and clarity in your subject lines further enhances their effectiveness. Experiment with A/B testing to identify what works best for your audience.

Creating Engaging Content

Captivating content is essential to keep readers interested once they open your email. Use a mix of text, images, and videos to make your message more memorable and engaging. Visual elements break up text and capture attention, catering to different preferences and learning styles.

Balance is key. Avoid overwhelming readers with too much information. Deliver key points succinctly and provide links to additional resources. This approach keeps readers engaged and encourages interaction.

Ensuring Mobile Optimization

With most people checking emails on their phones, mobile optimization is critical. Your emails must be mobile-responsive, adapting to different screen sizes and orientations. Keep text short and clear for readability on smaller screens, ensure buttons and links are easy to click, and optimize images for quick loading. A seamless mobile experience boosts user engagement and prevents recipients from abandoning your emails.

Crafting Effective Calls-to-Action

A compelling CTA motivates recipients to take action, whether it's making a purchase, signing up for a webinar, or downloading a resource. Use persuasive language, make CTAs prominent and easy to find, and incorporate contrasting colors and bold typography to draw attention. Visual cues like arrows or icons can further enhance CTAs, making them visually appealing and intuitive to use.

The Power of Personalization

Personalization goes beyond using the recipient's first name. It involves creating highly targeted content that matches the recipient's preferences, behaviors, and past interactions. Personalized emails capture attention better and encourage action, leading to higher engagement and conversions. Offer targeted recommendations and exclusive deals based on past purchases or browsing history to enhance the customer experience and boost conversions.

Optimal Timing and Frequency

Finding the right timing and frequency for your campaigns is crucial. Experiment with different send times and frequencies to understand when your audience is most receptive. Avoid overwhelming subscribers with too many emails, which can lead to fatigue and increased unsubscribe rates. Track performance to see what works best and adjust your strategy based on data.

Enhancing Campaigns with A/B Testing

A/B testing helps refine your email marketing strategies by experimenting with different subject lines, content, CTAs, and send times. Use insights from these tests to continuously improve your campaigns. This iterative process ensures your emails remain relevant and effective.

Conclusion

Email marketing remains a powerful tool for engaging audiences, driving sales, and building brand loyalty. By following best practices—such as segmenting your list, crafting compelling subject lines, personalizing content, ensuring mobile optimization, creating clear CTAs, and maintaining compliance—you can maximize your email marketing effectiveness. Continuously monitor performance, experiment with new strategies, and adapt to your audience's evolving needs to achieve measurable results and drive business growth.

[speedyposts]

Worst drought recorded hits Spain’s Catalonia, sparking fears and ingenuity

Barcelona, Spain – The Magic Fountain is a popular tourist attraction where coloured jets of water shot up in the air as classical or pop favourites played.

Not anymore.

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Like fountains across Barcelona, it lies dry and a little forlorn with signs reading: “Fountain turned off due to drought”.

The free musical show at the water feature, which had run for nearly 100 years, is another casualty of what Catalan authorities in northern Spain have described as the “worst drought ever”.

After three years without sustained rainfall, emergency measures were brought at the weekend, which include a ban on refilling swimming pools in hotels or campsites or topping them up unless recycled water is used.

If the heavens do not open in the next few months, Spain may order two ships per day to carry water from Valencia to the Catalan capital, Barcelona port authorities said.

Tourists visiting Catalonia – Spain’s most popular tourist region, which attracted 18 million visitors last year – face the prospect of swimming pool closures as experts predicted pools will inevitably run dry because of spillage and evaporation.

The only exception will be swimming pools used for medical reasons.

With the lucrative summer tourist season ahead, campsites are exploring ways to use seawater in pools. One option could be bringing seawater to top up pools, but this is expensive.

Washing cars and watering public gardens were banned as part of the first stage of this emergency plan – unless the water comes from an approved recycling system.

Swimming clubs with outdoor pools are exempt – for now – but are banned from using showers. Television reports showed showers being taped up so they could not be used. Beach showers were turned off.

On the beach in Gava, a town south of Barcelona, Lavinia Mestre was taking advantage of unusually hot weather for February to enjoy a quick swim.

“I know some people who have stopped coming to the beach because of the lack of showers. But I bring a bottle and use the seawater to get the sand off my legs,” Mestre, a 20-year-old student, told Al Jazeera.

“I understand why they have turned off the showers and it is not much of a sacrifice in the middle of a drought.”

In Barcelona, many have been stirred into action after months without rain.

As Ana Miquel waited for the water to warm in her kitchen, she collected five litres in a bottle.

“We have no choice but to save the water. It is silly to waste the water when we have a chronic drought,” Miquel, 65, a retired hotel executive who lives in Barcelona, told Al Jazeera.

The restrictions affect about six million people in Barcelona and 200 towns, or about 80 percent of the region’s population.

Miquel Marti, a university lecturer in urban planning in Barcelona, believes people must change their behaviour while living in a drought.

“We put a bucket in the shower to collect water then use it in the toilet. We take less water to wash up and make sure that the washing machine is not on a long cycle. We have to change the way we live,” Marti, 50, told Al Jazeera.

Authorities are under no illusion about the seriousness of the drought, which has seen reservoirs in the region fall to 15.8 percent of normal levels, according to Spanish government figures.

“It’s the worst drought ever recorded,” Pere Aragones, Catalonia’s regional president, told a press conference last week.

The emergency measures are designed to reduce the daily amount permitted for residential uses from 210 to 200 litres (55 to 53 gallons) per person.

An average 10-minute shower consumes 150-200 litres (40-53 gallons), according to the World Health Organization.

Most households in Barcelona already fall well below that limit. However, hotels are using far higher amounts of water, according to a 2016 survey from Barcelona Regional, a development authority, which showed that Jacuzzis and pools in five-star establishments exceeded 540 litres (143 gallons) per guest per day.

The Barcelona Hotel Guild, an industry body, hit back by publishing a report from 2022 which claimed that after years of campaigns about sustainable water use, the average daily use per person in five-star hotels had fallen to 242 litres (64 gallons).

Yurbban Hotels, which has three hotels in Barcelona, has asked guests to take up the “four-minute shower challenge.”

“We have decided to go a bit further and involve our guests so that they shower in four minutes,” said Javier Diaz, director of hotels and sustainability.

If there are no rains before spring, the personal daily limit will be lowered to 180 litres (47 gallons), then 160 litres (42 gallons).

Under the new restrictions, agricultural irrigation must be cut by 80 percent – and water use in livestock farming by half and in the industry and leisure sector by 25 percent.

If triggered, a second phase of restrictions would see showers at gyms switched off.

Catalonia’s water crisis comes after Spain and other parts of Europe suffered a series of heatwaves last year that depleted reserves through evaporation while consumption increased.

In Andalusia in southern Spain, a deep drought has also left authorities considering bringing in similar emergency measures.

Antonio Aretxabala, a hydrology expert at the University of Zaragoza, said Spain’s water crisis was caused by a lack of rain and over-use of water for agriculture, which only accounts for 2.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

“We have a climate without rain for years and exorbitant use of water for agriculture. About 85 percent of water use is for agriculture. The rest is for human and industrial use,” he said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

“Spain is one of the driest parts of Europe, but it has one of the biggest hydraulic footprints in terms of the kind of products we export like tomatoes or other fruit.”

Aretxabala said humans had adjusted their behaviour to climate change, but agriculture had not changed fast enough.

The drought is not only affecting humans but also damaging trees, which are essential to absorbing carbon dioxide that prevents further climate change.

“The lack of rain means trees are weaker and more prone to illness and drying out. This means that they can absorb less carbon dioxide and there is a greater risk of forest fires,” said Marta Gonzalez Santis of the Catalan Technological Forest Centre, which published a report on Monday on the damage that climate change is doing to vegetation cover.

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[mediaevalmusereads]

Conflict is Not Abuse: Overstating Harm, Community Reaponsibility, and the Duty of Repair. By Sarah Schulman. Arsenal Press, 2016.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Genre: nonfiction, social psychology

Series: N/A

Summary: From intimate relationships to global politics, Sarah Schulman observes that inflated accusations of harm are used to avoid accountability. Illuminating the difference between Conflict and Abuse, Schulman directly addresses our contemporary culture of scapegoating. This deep, brave, and bold work reveals how punishment replaces personal and collective self-criticism, and shows why difference is so often used to justify cruelty and shunning. Rooting the problem of escalation in negative group relationships, Schulman illuminates the ways cliques, communities, families, and religious, racial, and national groups bond through the refusal to change their self-concept. She illustrates how Supremacy behavior and Traumatized behavior resemble each other, through a shared inability to tolerate difference. This important and sure to be controversial book illuminates such contemporary and historical issues of personal, racial, and geo-political difference as tools of escalation towards injustice, exclusion, and punishment, whether the objects of dehumanization are other individuals in our families or communities, people with HIV, African Americans, or Palestinians. Conflict Is Not Abuse is a searing rejection of the cultural phenomenon of blame, cruelty, and scapegoating, and how those in positions of power exacerbate and manipulate fear of the "other" to achieve their goals.

***Full review below.***

CONTENT WARNINGS: discussion of police brutality against black people, domestic violence, Israel-Palestine war, HIV/AIDS, suicide, etc.

I initially became interested in this book after seeing it quoted on Tumblr. The user was using it to analyze some questionable fandom behavior, and the book looked interesting enough that I went out and bought a copy.

Overall, I found Schulman's text to be incredibly thought-provoking, grounded, and honest. The premise (if I can sum it up in a sentence) is that overstating harm can lead to a refusal to resolve conflicts, which in turn does nothing but destroy communities and enhanced the power of the State (which only has dominant group interests in mind). This thesis is genrally very well-supported; Schulman selected effective examples as case studies and was convincing in her arguments, moving from interpersonal relationships to wider geopolitics in a way that was clear and sensible. In fact, I found Schulman's arguments to be so convincing that for chapters where I had some skepticism going in, I found myself understanding and coming around to Schulman's point of view by the end.

I think I also benefitted from reading this book at the time I did. I not only read it around the time I read Jon Ronson's "So You've Been Publicly Shamed," but also during renewed aggression by Israel against Palestine. As a result, Schulman's points about shunning and shame made me think about group behavior and conflict on social media, while the chapter on Israel-Palestine in 2015 remained sadly relevant to Israel-Palestine in 2023-2024. If either of these topics are of interest to you, I think you would benefit from this book.

That being said, I don't think I'd recommend this text to just about everybody. Despite Schulman's constant insistence that she is primarily a novelist, she does write with an academic tenor that may be difficult for some readers. I also think this book might be difficult for people who are unwilling or unable to reflect on the harmful behavior perpetuated by specific groups: supremacists certainly, but also progressives and various victimized groups. Schulman asks queer people, women, people with trauma, etc to take a good look at their own behaviors, and some people might not be so open to that. Still, the work is important and necessary for social cohesion, so even if the subject is difficult, I think it's worth engaging with.

TL;DR: Conflict is Not Abuse is a deeply insightful book about the way humans defend themselves from discomfort, offloading conflict resolution onto the state in a way that empowers dominant (and often oppressive) groups. While some readers might struggle with the writing, the study within is as relevant to today as to its original 2016 audience.

[crossfoxbuns]

404, AI, and the Fall of Google

404 Media is a damn good website. This independent news outlet is fun by 4 very talented people and they cover tech news in a bold way, that larger organizations can't or won't do, and in a sustainable way in a world where newspapers are failing left, right, and center.

They recently made a move that seems weird and counter-intuitive: requiring your email address to read their articles going forward. They explain their reasoning in a recent post:

"We are unwilling to sit idly by and let AI endlessly scrape and repackage our work, or clueless media executives drive companies we have worked for into the ground, and are trying to strike a balance where we can monetize our work in a way that is not annoying and allows us to make enough revenue to continue to do the work we do. ...... We are unwilling to gamble our livelihoods or our company’s future on the idea that we can build a successful business model by focusing exclusively on collecting a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a penny every time someone clicks one of our articles."

DALL-E and other image-generating AI doesn't concern me. It's more in the faces of the general public, so it's going to get regulated and controlled, it's only a matter of time. Art has a certain feeling and humanity to it that AI can't understand or replicate anyway. And if you really need that extra specific stock photo for your project, there's responsible and ethical ways to use AI for that, thanks to the efforts of Getty Images and others.

The AI I'm concerned about most is plain old GPT and other text generators. They are so good at producing stuff that is just barely skimming on the pond of shit that it works for SEO reasons. Truth is optional. It's safe to assume now that in most web searches, there's more AI-generated garbage and accidental misinformation than actual true and useful information. AI articles scraping content from real news outlets as well as each other creates a massive game of telephone, where you never know what part of the chain you're reading.

Thanks to this, Google, Bing, Duck, Ecosia, it doesn't matter - search engines have become garbage.

Social media is a whole other cesspool of a different flavor, I covered that in other posts in the past.

As a creator

So as someone who would like to grow an audience online, things look real bleak. Granted, I don't know what I'd want to grow an audience for - just that a platform would be good to have. Most likely it'll be art/commission related or writing/story-telling related. Something creative. Whatever it is, it's something I specifically don't want AI getting its grubby little tendrils on.

I haven't got much of an audience, I can count the people who read this stuff on one hand (thank you, by the way! <3). But if I want that to grow, I need to think discoverability. And as I think these thoughts, things seem pretty familiar.

Back in the 90s, search engines existed, but they just weren't good yet. Social media didn't exist at all. It was all email, forums, blogrolls (ask your parents), and word of mouth. The internet wasn't so much the place where "everything happens" and more like the place where "you found your people." There was a little adventurous feeling whenever you discovered a new website, like an island in the ocean. Mostly it had nothing on it, or it was definitely "not my type" of island, but sometimes you struck gold and found a big island with a whole neighborhood of awesome people there, and those moments were what made (still make) the internet great.

Now, it's less like an ocean. It's more like a dense, heavily paved city, where every building is full of robots and the billboards are all fake news stories, and the very foundation the city is built on are SEO practices that Google themselves have no reason to make better. Instead of discovering islands, you find these little hole-in-the-wall delis and clubs and shops. They may be small, crowded on all sides by the robots, and the rent sucks, but they're genuine. They are real people running real businesses, and they're so hard to find nowadays.

As someone looking to carve out a space for themselves in a world like this, it's easy to feel like hiring the robots is the way to go. Cramming your site full of SEO crud and slapping your logo on every bit of merch imaginable. Making something, or having robots make something, hoping for a hundredth of a hundredth of a hundredth will give you a penny each.

No, 404 is making the right move here. The AI SEO spaghetti has filled the entire world. The ocean used to mean no-one is there, now it's just fake people. Discoverability has not changed. If anything, the strategies from the 90s seem to have only gotten better.

Abandon the search engine. They are useless for helping people find you. This lets your site load faster, be more direct. Your website is your home, invite people in and show them a good time. They will remember you and tell their friends. Keep a list of links: "These websites are good too!" Keep an email list. They're free to start - once you have enough of an audience where it costs something, you should be able to cover those costs.

As we rebuild an internet that works for US, we're carving out a network of tunnels beneath SEO City. We are the underground, the speakeasy, the secret club. Never mind all that meaningless noise up there on the surface.

Thanks for making it through this little soapbox rant of mine. As I post more of my creative stuff, expect to see some of it in the wild, but most of it behind a wall of some sort. Email, telegram channel, I dunno. Wherever it ends up, I'll see you real people there.

You brave little anarchists, you. <3

[gazette-change-of-name]

Can I Change My Name by Deed Poll if I Was Born in Scotland?

Transforming one's name is a critical important choice. Whether you're hoping to take on another character, right an incorrect spelling, or basically wish to go by an alternate name, the most common way of changing your name by deed survey in Scotland is an inquiry that numerous people brought into the world in this lovely nation frequently consider. In this thorough aide, we will dig into the most common way of changing your name by deed survey assuming you were brought into the world in Scotland, revealing insight into the legalities, prerequisites, and steps engaged with this undertaking.

Understanding Deed Poll

Before we explore the specifics related to changing your name in Scotland, it's crucial to comprehend what a deed poll is. A deed poll is a legally binding document that allows you to officially change your name. It is a straightforward and widely accepted method for individuals seeking a name change. Deed polls are recognized throughout the United Kingdom, including Scotland.

Scotland has its own general set of laws, which is discrete from the overall sets of laws in Britain, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Be that as it may, with regards to changing your name by deed poll, the interaction is amazingly comparable all through the UK. This consistency guarantees that people in Scotland have similar freedoms and potential open doors as those in different pieces of the UK with regards to changing their names.

Prerequisites for Changing Your Name in Scotland

Changing your name in Scotland by deed poll is a relatively straightforward process, but there are certain requirements you must meet:

1. Age Requirement

You should be somewhere around 16 years of age to change your name by deed survey in Scotland. People more youthful than 16 will require parental agree to continue with a name change.

2. Purpose

Your choice to change your name should be real and not so much for false purposes. The name change ought not to be an endeavour to hoodwink or dupe anybody.

3. Complete a Deed Poll Document

To change your name, you'll need to complete a deed poll document. This document should include your old name, your new name, and a statement expressing your intention to adopt the new name exclusively.

4. Witness Signatures

Your deed poll document must be signed and dated in the presence of adult witnesses. These witnesses should likewise give their names, locations, and marks on the record. Normally, two witnesses are adequate, yet it's fitting to talk with a legitimate master to guarantee consistence with all guidelines.

5. Notify Relevant Authorities

Once your deed poll is complete, it's essential to notify various authorities and institutions about your name change. This includes updating your name on your passport, driver's license, bank accounts, and any official documents.

The Deed Poll Process

The process of changing your name by deed poll in Scotland can be summarized in the following steps:

1. Prepare the Deed Poll Document

Begin by drafting the deed poll document. You can do this yourself or seek professional assistance. Make sure to include all the necessary details, and consider using bold text for your old and new names to ensure clarity.

2. Witness Signatures

Arrange for adult witnesses to sign the deed poll document. Ensure they understand the significance of their role as witnesses.

3. Obtain Multiple Copies

After the document is signed and dated, it's a good idea to obtain several copies. This will facilitate the process of updating your name with various authorities.

4. Notify Relevant Authorities

Take the necessary steps to update your name with government agencies, financial institutions, and other entities that hold official records of your name.

5. Update Personal Documents

Supplant individual records like your passport, driver's license, and some other distinguishing proof cards with your new name.

End

All in all, assuming that you were brought into the world in Scotland and wish to change your name by deed survey, it is not at all impossible and legitimately perceived. Scotland's general set of laws is as one with the remainder of the UK with regards to name changes, guaranteeing a consistent cycle. Make sure to meet the age prerequisite, act with authentic goal, complete the deed poll precisely, get observer marks, and advise the pertinent specialists. Changing your name can be an extraordinary encounter, and with the right methodology, it very well may be done effectively and as per the law in Scotland. Thus, in the event that you've been pondering, "Could I at any point change my name by deed poll assuming I was brought into the world in Scotland?" — The response is indeed, you can, and this guide has furnished you with the fundamental data to get everything rolling on this excursion.

After acknowledging could we Change our Name by Deed Poll if we were born in Scotland, we can make change of name deed poll replacement.

Ready to Start Fresh With a New Name?

Let Us Handle The Paperwork And Guide You Throughout Process.

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[pressurewashing56]

Pressure washer logo design

Designing a Memorable Pressure Washer Logo

Your pressure washer logo is more than just a visual symbol; it's the face of your business. It's what potential customers will remember and associate with your services. In this article, we will explore the importance of a well-designed pressure washer logo and provide insights on how to create one that leaves a lasting impression.

The Significance of a Strong Logo

Why Does Your Logo Matter?

A logo is often the first point of contact between your pressure washing business and potential customers. Here's why it matters:

Instant Recognition: A well-designed logo ensures that your business is instantly recognizable. When people see your logo, they should immediately think of your services.

Professionalism: A professional-looking logo conveys trust and credibility. It suggests that you take your business seriously.

Memorability: A memorable logo sticks in people's minds. When they need pressure washing services, they are more likely to remember your business if your logo is memorable.

Differentiation: Your logo sets you apart from competitors. It should be unique and reflect your brand's identity.

Creating Your Pressure Washer Logo

1. Understand Your Brand

Before you start sketching ideas, take the time to understand your brand identity. What values does your business represent? Are you focused on eco-friendly cleaning, speed, or thoroughness? Your logo should align with your brand's personality.

2. Keep It Simple

Some of the most iconic logos in the world are incredibly simple. Think of Apple, Nike, or McDonald's. A cluttered or overly complex logo can be confusing and forgettable. Aim for simplicity.

3. Choose the Right Colors

Colors have a psychological impact on people. Blues convey trust and professionalism, while greens suggest eco-friendliness. Reds can evoke a sense of urgency. Select colors that align with your brand's message.

4. Incorporate Relevant Symbols

Consider including symbols or elements in your logo that relate to pressure washing. This could be a water droplet, a pressure washer wand, or a clean surface. These symbols help convey your business's focus.

5. Typography Matters

The choice of font is crucial. Script fonts may suggest elegance and attention to detail, while bold, sans-serif fonts can convey strength and reliability. Test different fonts to see what fits your brand.

6. Versatility is Key

Your logo should look great in various sizes and formats, from business cards to billboards. Test its scalability to ensure it remains clear and legible.

Designing Your Logo

1. Sketch Your Ideas

Start by sketching out rough concepts. Don't worry about perfection at this stage; the goal is to get your ideas on paper. Consider shapes, symbols, and text placement.

2. Digitalize Your Design

Once you have a rough concept, use graphic design software to create a digital version of your logo. If you're not confident in your design skills, consider hiring a professional graphic designer.

3. Test and Refine

Show your logo to friends, family, or colleagues and gather feedback. Make refinements based on their input. Ensure the logo reflects your brand identity.

Using Your Logo Effectively

1. Consistency is Key

Use your logo consistently across all your marketing materials, including your website, business cards, uniforms, and social media profiles. Consistency builds brand recognition.

2. Protect Your Logo

Consider trademarking your logo to protect it from unauthorized use. This ensures that your logo remains exclusive to your business.

Conclusion

A well-designed pressure washer logo is an invaluable asset for your business. It's a visual representation of your brand identity and sets the tone for your customers' expectations. By following the principles of simplicity, relevance, and versatility, you can create a logo that not only looks great but also helps your pressure washing business stand out in a competitive market. Invest time and effort into your logo design, and it will pay off in terms of brand recognition and customer trust.