#unsecured load

[redhoodscorvid]

Jason Todd vs. Tropes pt 1

Let's talk hypervigilance and weapons safety!

Pick your preferred version of events. Era: Jason has survived his showdown with Bruce in Under the Red Hood. He has not yet reconciled with any of the bats.

All guns are loaded unless in a traditional gun safe(s). If one weapon of a particular type is outside of a safe, that's the one that counts for this poll.

Reply or reblog with why you picked what you did... and where you think any explosives might be.

[tomorrowusa]

Here's a story that may be overlooked because of the terrorist incident in New Orleans and the exploding Tesla in Las Vegas.

A MAGA nut named Brad Spafford has been arrested for stockpiling a large cache homemade explosives at his garage near Norfolk, Virginia.

Federal agents in the US found one of the largest stockpiles of homemade explosives they have ever seized when they arrested a Virginia man on a firearms charge last month, according to a court filing by federal prosecutors. Investigators seized more than 150 pipe bombs and other homemade devices when they searched the home of Brad Spafford north-west of Norfolk in December, the prosecutors said in a motion filed on Monday. The prosecutors wrote that this is believed to be “the largest seizure by number of finished explosive devices in FBI history”.

FYI: the FBI dates back almost a century. So that covers a lot of history.

Most of the bombs were found in a detached garage at the home in Isle, along with tools and bomb-making materials including fuses and pieces of plastic pipe, according to court documents. The prosecutors also wrote: “Several additional apparent pipe bombs were found in a backpack in the home’s bedroom, completely unsecured,” in the home he shares with his wife and two young children. Spafford, 36, was charged with possession of a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act. Law enforcement officers allege he owned an unregistered short barrel rifle. Prosecutors said that he faces “numerous additional potential charges” related to the explosives.

The FBI was tipped off about Spafford by a concerned citizen.

The informant, a friend, told authorities Spafford had disfigured his hand in 2021 while working on homemade explosives. Prosecutors said he only has two fingers on his right hand. The informant told authorities that Spafford was using pictures of the president, an apparent reference to Joe Biden, for target practice and that “he believed political assassinations should be brought back”, prosecutors wrote. Numerous law enforcement officers and bomb technicians searched the property on 17 December. The agents located the rifle and the explosive devices, some of which had been hand-labeled as “lethal” and some of which were loaded into a wearable vest, court documents state. Technicians detonated most of the devices on site because they were deemed unsafe to transport, though several were kept for analysis.

Spafford is a determined wannabe domestic terrorist. He even continued to manufacture explosives after accidentally blowing off three fingers on his right hand.

Donald Trump has nominated the notoriously unqualified Kash Patel to head the FBI. More worryingly, Patel pals around with the far right and has made threatening remarks against journalists and political opponents. Among Trump's pack of loathsome nominees, Patel stands out as the worst. He would likely ignore domestic terrorists.

[homestuckreplay]

here's what happens when you read too many rage comics

(page 848-861)

While John and Dave are busy in combat, we get to go exploring with Rose and Jade! There’s some back and forth between them, but I’ll take them one at a time.

Jade :D

While leaving her house, Jade gets contacted by the world’s lamest troll. carcinoGeneticist’s whole deal, messaging Jade, is to talk in all caps, call her ‘stupid’ and an ‘idiot’, and accuse her of fucking everything up. There’s no targeted insults, no creativity, no clever and subtle manipulation, no hiding the existence of the trolling. I give carcinoGeneticist a 2/10 trollscore because at least they were able to get around Jade’s blocklist, but this is a sad and lackluster beginning to trolls in the narrative, if indeed they come back. Hopefully twinArmageddons has something more interesting to say.

Jade continues to be different to the other kids. Her grandfather’s list of interests is as long as his profession as a ‘world renowned explorer-naturalist-treasure hunter-archaeologist-scientist-adventurer-big game hunter-billionaire extraordinaire’ (p.790). His love of big game trophies, suits of armor and decrepit mummies all make sense here, as those are things he’s personally hunted and stolen on expeditions, but his ‘plundering’ of beauty parlors (p.855) is as unexpected as the idea of a business clown. Dad, Mom and Bro are all weird in that they’re extremely focused on a couple specific things, Grandpa is weird because he’s into loads of things all at once. There’s also strangely colored lights coming from the other floors of Jade’s house, hinting at more weird stuff Grandpa’s up to.

It’s Jade quoting from the past, but this is technically the second line of dialog in Homestuck (the first being Dave’s ‘Stop!’ on p.354):

"Jade, study hard and keep your rifle at the ready. When adventure summons, I know you will rise to the task and take your rightful place among the DAUGHTERS OF ECLECTICA." (p.855)

This better not be another spooky grandparent prophecy, because Act 3 already has more than enough of those. But speaking of Jade-John parallels, the big game trophy blocking Jade’s transportalizer (p.857) looks oddly familiar side by side with John’s desktop (p.24). Are we to understand that Jade’s grandfather killed the Firefox of this universe?

Rose <3

I’m so into Rose’s story right now because she’s the first kid who’s had a chance to explore a new place. John, Dave and Jade are all still ‘homestuck’, but Rose has escaped to this whole mysterious lab. And that’s after already getting the coolest house, with its waterfall, observatory, cat mausoleum, and 20-foot tall granite statue of a mighty wizard. Page 850 gives such a great sense of scale with tiny Rose comprehending the horrors and wonders of the space.

The lab’s ‘HUBGRID’ (p.850) is a big green chessboard, 8x8 squares each with 12x12 locked, glowing atomic devices for a total of 9,216 hubs, divided into four segments, with aisles and a transportalizer at the center. Comparing these side by side, it’s the exact same pattern as the ones in Jade’s house, and there’s also one of these hubs visible in the lower corner of Jade’s room powering one of those devices. Could the lab transportalizer go to Jade’s island? Or to a different SkaiaNet lab, as this one is described through coordinates (p.860)? Jade’s grandpa has a laboratory (p.780), so these could be one and the same, and Rose and Jade playing with the same gadgets feels relevant while the story is cutting back and forth between them.

Earlier, Rose connected to lab wifi network SN_LAB0413, which unlike the other SN_LAB wifi options was ‘mysteriously and quite conveniently UNSECURED, requiring no password’ (p.239). Today, a kiosk shows the command ‘> unlock SN_LAB0413’. I think Act 3’s theme might be showing how planned all these circumstances were that previously felt like coincidence, although that still doesn’t answer who exactly planned all this, or where they got their knowledge from.

> Rose: Place velvet pillow on strange platform. Be the mad scientist.

[butdaddyilovehim99]

*taps on microphone and clears my throat* i hate to break it to y’all but Gale most definitely is a country fan in any universe where he’s a cowboy

he’s 24 and grew up in Wyoming (I’m 24 and grew up in Wyoming) no matter how much you resist you will find yourself listening to country music while driving down the county road you live on when a semi truck with a flatbed trailer pulls out in front of you—fully loaded with unsecured 1.5 ton round hay bales and you’re not even mad when you gaze the the foal and mare you watch everyday during your commute to and from work

[katjohnadams]

So, it is the end of the world as we know it.

This is not an alarmist statement, it's an unfortunate fact. But you do not need to panic, deep dive into prepper content, or load up for a mad max future.

The end of the world as we know it, this time, is going to be horrifically mundane, and you need to be ready for it. But it won't be fantastical and heroic; it will be surviving on a daily basis.

Understand food safety and prep. Trump will deregulate a lot, and your groceries are going to be more dangerous. Know how to cook things correctly and identify food poisoning quickly. Remember what you ate so if there is an outbreak, what remains of the FDA can figure out the vector quickly. Do not assume recalls worked and be cautious.

Consider a home food garden if that's an option. Growing food is work intensive but rewarding.

Secure your property. Make sure your doors and windows are safe. Locks all working properly. Be able to really lock down your doors if possible.

Take a gun safety course. You don't need to be a gun owner to be in a situation where shit hits the fan and an active shooter occurs near you. If, somehow, a firearm gets dropped at your feet, you should know how to unload, safe, and/or disable it safely.

Get as many forms of ID sorted ASAP. Assume that having legal identification is going to become a needed component of your average day.

Get medically up to date as much as you can manage. Medical services are probably going to be heavily affected by this administration, and not in a good way. Try to get that tooth pulled, that medication updated, etc.

Become a digital ghost. Scrub your online existence to bare needed minimum. Make it as hard as possible to ID you from your socials as possible. Wipe your timelines. Delete pictures. Do not hang your own ass out to dry.

Use secure communication and censor unsecured communication heavily. Communicate digitally as needed and assume it will all be subpoenaed. If it can be accessed in any way by law enforcement, don't say anything you wouldn't say to a judge and prosecutor.

Join some form of mutual aid group. Community networks will be essential for moments the shit hits the fan.

Be ready to assist those who will be oppressed and attacked. That will look very different for every situation, but don't take unnecessary risks.

Do not post on socials offering to provide aid in that manner. That just creates "justifiable" cause for law enforcement to target you. If you want people to know you will help them, be vague as fuck. Do not say you'll drive people to Planned parenthood. Offer to drive people if they need it, no questions asked.

If your socials are or could already be compromised, don't beat yourself up but assume that fixing them is a lost cause. Make new socials as anonymized as possible. Yes, you'll have to basically start from scratch and that sucks, but numbers on social media are not even close to being as important as your literal physical safety.

Have a living will that is known to multiple people and establish Power of Attorney with loved ones now.

Consider removing any bumper stickers that identify you as being progressive. Assume that vehicles with that will be targeted by police and vandals.

But most of all, remember that "the end of the world as we know it" is not "the end of the world, period."

The end of the world as we know it has come many times before and often tragedy follows. But so does life. The sun will still rise. It is our duty to adapt, grow, and be there to see it.

[naritaren]

Hello. Hi. I would say I survived my first craft show of the season but that would be a fucking lie.

Rundown of the comedy of fucking errors that is my life.

I was up at 3am wide awake because I kept thinking of shit I needed to do. Ed finally got me back to sleep around 4:30 by talking to me about Dota and rubbing my back.

I woke up on time, but realized I didn't have enough time to properly refresh my stock. I pack everything up and I'm *confident* I didn't forget anything important.

As we get going, our route to the venue followed a squall line of a nasty thunderstorm so it was super bright to the right of us and pitch black to the left with tons of lightning. We had to unload in the middle of a storm.

We get mostly set up and Ed is panicking that my new table was broken (it's not btw but there was some panic). The organizer comes around to collect my ST-19 operation form. Which was sitting on my fucking desk at home. Thankfully, they had some extras so I filled it out and they said they'll pull my tax id off my old form. Cool.

As Ed ran to Target to get a pen for me to fill it out, I realized something really fucking dire.

The keys to my money box were sitting on top of the fucking form. 😐

Ed didn't answer his phone while I'm trying to get him to run home to get it. This was discovered at 9:20am. The show started at 10am. We live 30 minutes away. The situation is worse when I realized the card reader is also inside the money box. The organizer had a tool box and Ed literally broke the lock on the money box and I worked all day with it unsecured.

Things were going fine, a bit slow, but then I realized I was out of my electrolyte drinks when I thought I had packed two bottles. I only had one. This is where I tell you guys I have to drink them to help regulate my blood pressure because of my meds. Fine. I'll just buy some water and a soda.

I get up at one point to use the bathroom and when I was on my way back, I see a family looking at my stuff and the person next to me telling them that I'll be right back.

That family? Well I recognize them anywhere. They were my ex-husband's sister, niece, nephew, brother in law, and father. The chances are low but they're never fucking zero I guess.

So I hide out until they leave and give the organizer a heads up. Thankfully this was about an hour before the end of the show.

And then I was almost fully loaded in my car (alone btw) and picked up one of my totes and IMMEDIATELY collapsed from my blood pressure dropping.

I got help and I got home safely, but holy fucking shit what a long ass day.

I have a couple of weeks before I do this again at least. Next show is also an easier time setting up and tearing down and my new money box will be a combination lock instead. But yeah

[mellifiedman]

Just got hit in the head real fucking hard because my boss thought it was a great idea to store a bunch of tall unbalanced shit upright on a cart and then leave it unsecured while we were loading up the van. Never gone from "I like my job!" to "I need to get out of here so I don't quit on the spot" so fast in my life. Time for urgent care lol

[whoneedsmisandry]

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[kaluxsims]

Hi! I love your stuff! I was wondering if you know where I could find a 3t2 conversion of the dark halo? I found one but the link goes to an unsecured site that won’t load on my computer. It has malvertising apparently? Thanks.

Hi! Thanks! I don't think I'm familiar with whatever that is? This is more of a @sims2packrat kind of thing.

[inappropriate-aunt]

So I have a new gym membership! I cancelled my other one in June because it was getting too expensive (and it had started expensive!) and I figured I could just run outside while it was warm. But winter is now on full blast here (high of 22F/-5C with wind chill making it feel like 4F/-15C and ice on the roads where I run), so I needed an indoor workout place.

I really missed having a gym! The atmosphere of everyone working out encourages me to do a few more core exercises and properly finish my cool down. I lost a bit of fitness last year due to illness and injury, or rather, my fitness efforts went into rehab efforts instead, which is good! No more back pain and a much stronger core for building up my running fitness.

I know there's a joke about the New Year New Me people in the gym acting like lunatics in January, but honestly I think at my old gym I always saw the scariest behavior in the summer. I once saw a guy stand on an unsecured bar on a rack (you know, the one you use to load plates on) so he could reach the top of the rack to do pull ups (there is a step nearby you are supposed to use for this). I was watching him while I was running so I couldn't do anything, but me and this older guy on the treadmill next to me were like...oh man, are we about to watch this dude paralyze himself? So I guess now is a good time to remind everyone-

Never risk your body for gains, people. No matter how confident you are in your balance or strength.

It's just not worth it. I mean, I think a big reason why I hurt my knee last year is that I refused to stop running long enough for it to heal, and I wasn't doing enough strength and conditioning. My goal last year was to do a half marathon, and I never got there because of that. So I'm not setting a distance/race goal this year, and instead want to focus on keeping my workouts more balanced. Limiting my runs to when I'm fully rested and replacing one run with a bike should let me train more consistently, and consistency is key.

After all, life is an endurance test, not a race.

[five-rivers]

Life's Great Lie 14

AO3

“I guess,” said Sam, “the good thing is that we were planning on going to the Ghost Zone anyway.”

“You were what?” asked Maddie.  She looked sideways at Stark.  “It was my understanding that the problem had to do with aliens.  Not ghosts.  Not our area of expertise, but of course—”

“We’ll beat up anyone that messes with our kids!”  The statement was emphasized by the sound of the bazooka cocking. 

The effect was slightly ruined by Sam’s knowledge that the sound was an entirely unnecessary addition Jack and Maddie had built in.  A flip of a switch could disable it entirely. 

“Ow!” yelped Jazz. 

“Well, if our doctor hadn’t just been zapped into a hell dimension, you’d be getting better care,” said Romanov.

“And if your arrow guy didn’t shoot me, I wouldn’t need medical care.”

“I said I was sorry!” said Barton, who was doing some kind of wrist exercises now that he was no longer tied up.  “I was being mind controlled.”

“Stuff you do while being overshadowed doesn’t count!” agreed Jack. 

“I don’t blame you for shooting me,” said Jazz.  “I am judging you for the whole unsecured interdimensional portal thing and missing the obvious Nazis.”

“They’re not that obvious,” said Romanov. 

“We are wasting time,” said Thor.  “Open your portal to Helheim and retrieve Banner so we can continue our search for my brother.”

“That is the reason Dr. Banner was brought on board,” said Romanov. 

“I’m not sure we do need to search for him,” said Jazz.  “It’s something I’ve been thinking about.  The things Danny wanted from us, I mean.  I’m sure Sam and Tucker have, too.  But, Mom, Dad, you remember the ecto-converter?  How much power could it…”  She shook herself subtly.  “How much power could it extract from a level seven ghost?  How many places can produce that much power?”

“A level seven ghost?  Where would Loki even—” Maddie cut herself off.  “Oh, right.  Phantom.”

“Danny,” corrected Sam.  

Maddie sighed.  “He’d need a power plant.  For a portal like the one he’s creating…”  She trailed off. 

“Didn’t you guys make a portal in your basement?” asked Barton. 

“The Ghost Zone’s different!  It’s always around us, right next to us, even now, and it’s chock full of energy!  Once it connects, it’s—Well, not easy to make it self-sustaining, but it’s doable!” explained Jack.  “But his portal, it goes somewhere in this universe.  Somewhere really far away, right?”  He looked to Thor for confirmation.

“I believe that to be so,” agreed Thor.

Jack pumped his fist.  “Yeah!  So, Loki’s gotta get some power to punch through that difference!”

“But the reason HYDRA and SHIELD wanted the Tesseract in the first place was the power it could produce,” said Captain America.  “Wasn’t it?”  He shot Romanov and Barton a look that wasn’t quite a glare. 

“Oh, yeah, Mr. America, sir!  That thing has loads of power!”

Captain America pointed a finger at Jack.  “Don’t call me that.  It’s Rogers.  Steve.  Even Captain America.  But if the Tesseract has power, then what—"

“Think of it like a potential barrier,” said Stark, who was tinkering with a piece of his armor.  “Or activation energy.  Or, if that’s too scientific for any of you, needing to heat something up, put energy in, before it burns, puts energy out.  Which is technically activation energy.”  He jerked his head sharply to one side.  “So, that checks out.  I don’t suppose he told you where he was going?” he asked Barton. 

“Not really.  The last few days are a bit…  Blurry.  And I didn’t need to know.  What I didn’t need to know, I didn’t ask about.  I mostly remember Loki and Danny arguing about it.  One of the places was apparently pretty heavily populated.”

Natasha paused.  “Fenton—Danny was arguing with Loki?”

“Not real arguments.  More repeatedly stating his opinion.  But he did seem… different from… the rest of us.”

“Well, knowing that might help us rule things out,” said Maddie.  “Beyond that, we can eliminate anything too inconsistent, like wind power.  Probably not hydroelectric, either.  Nuclear?  Coal?”

“I don’t know,” said Stark.  “That doesn’t seem like Loki.  I mean, far as I can tell, there was no reason for him to be walking down the street in the middle of Amity Park.  He was grandstanding.  Whatever he’s doing, he wants to be seen doing it.  He wants an audience.  I know the type.”

“Because you are the type?” asked Romanov. 

“Ha ha, very funny.  I might be a narcissist, but Loki, Loki’s a full-tilt diva.”

“Stark.”

Stark waved Thor off.  “Yeah, yeah, I get it.  He’s still your brother.  But we’ve made him run twice, now.  How’s he going to react to that?”

“Loki has never liked losing.  But then, neither of us has.”

“He wants to beat us.”  He pointed a screwdriver at Thor before turning it on Maddie.  “He wants parades, he wants flowers, he wants monuments with his name plastered—”  He froze. 

“You thought of something?” asked Jazz. 

Stark rubbed his hand over his mouth.  “He’s going to Stark Tower.”

“Great,” said Jazz.  “So we can get going!”

Maddie nodded and turned to the control panel to punch in coordinates.  “But don’t think we forgot what you were saying about going to the Ghost Zone, young lady.”

“It’s not like we were going to hide it from you,” said Sam, exasperated.  “We’re going to go fight an army, right?  So, we’re going to need an army.  We have contacts on the other side, or at least Danny does.”

“I don’t think introducing ghosts to this situation is the right thing to do,” said Maddie. 

“Come on, you can’t think that all ghosts are evil after—”

“Danny’s not a ghost, he’s a unique case—”

“Wow, I can just imagine that conversation going well.  ‘Danny, we only think you’re half evil—”

“Sam!” snapped Jazz.  “That’s not necessary.  Mom, I’ve met some of these people, and if we don’t manage to stop the portal from opening, and everyone on the other side can do stuff like what Loki did when he was fighting Tucker, we’ll need back up beyond a bunch of people with guns.  No offense.”

“None taken,” said Captain Rogers.  “I agree.  We should notify the local police and National Guard—”

“About what, an alien invasion?” asked Stark, whose work on his armor had become notably more frantic.   

“Well, we can’t exactly tell HYDRA.”

“Wait, wait,” said Barton.  “That was real?  That was a real thing?  SHIELD has been infiltrated?”

“Yep,” said Romanov.  “Not the news you wanted?”

“Not really, no,” said Barton. 

“The army,” said Captain Rogers.  “They’re reliable?  You can really get them to come?”

“At least some of them are,” said Jazz.  “The Far Frozen, Dora’s people, the Greeks.”

“And even for the unreliable ones, a lot of them used to live here.”  Tucker shrugged.  “They might still care enough to help.”

“Then we need them.  Dr. Fenton, Dr. Fenton, will you be able to build a portal?”

“Between the porta-portal and the rest of what the kids brought, we should be able to make a stable portal if we start now,” said Maddie. 

“Actually, we don’t need to do that,” said Tucker.  “Not for this part, anyway.  Might need it later, for the actual army.  Can I have my staff back now?”

Romanov frowned deeply, but swung the long, thin bag off her shoulder. 

“Thank you.  I can send a few of us straight to the Zone.”

“Are you okay to use that?” asked Jazz. 

“I can handle it,” said Tucker, notably not yet opening the bag.  “I didn’t go full megalomaniac when I was fighting Loki in Amity Park.”

“You tried to bite me,” said Iron Man.

“I’m sure that’s a common problem,” said Sam, dryly.  “Who’s going?”

“I was thinking me and Val,” said Tucker.

“I will join you,” said Thor. 

“The Ghost Zone isn’t for everyone,” warned Sam.  “It takes some getting used to.  And you kinda need to be able to fly.”

“I can fly, and while I am sure you are both fine warriors—” he inclined his head towards Tucker and Val “—returning Banner to this realm will require strength.”

“Isn’t anyone going to ask me if I want to go?” asked Val.

“Don’t you?” asked Tucker. 

“Sure, but…”  She swallowed.  “Jeez.  This is really happening.  Yeah, I’m going to go.  How do we do this?”

“Just stand near me.  Uh, Mrs. Fenton, where will your portal be in the Ghost Zone?”

“We’ll try to put it near our home portal,” said Maddie.  “But we don’t have a lot of experience with placing portals in specific places in the Ghost Zone.  There hasn’t exactly been a point.”

“Oh!  I’ve got an idea!” exclaimed Jack.  He dove sideways, making Barton jump out of the way and opened a cabinet under one of the dashboards.  “You can use this!”  He chucked a blocky item at Tucker.

“The Fenton Finder?”

“Upgraded!”

“We added a feature to find the Ops Center after it got lost last time,” explained Maddie.  “The signal should be able to work through a portal.”

“Okay,” said Tucker, “got it.”

“Great,” said Captain Rogers.  “You three go.  Fentons, you build the portal—”

“One of us will have to keep the Ops Center on track.  Our autopilot isn’t that good.”

“I can do that,” said Jazz.  “And Sam can tell the rest of you guys what you can expect from fighting Danny.”

“I’m not telling you how to kill him or anything,” warned Sam.  “But his powerset and how to manage ghosts in general…  I can do that.”

“Cool!” said Tucker.  “Now that we’ve agreed on that, can we go now?  You do need to get closer to me, Mr. Thor.  Great.  Now let’s hope Egyptian magic and Norse magic don’t explode on contact or anything like that!”

Val did a double take.  “Wait, what—”

Sand swept over the three of them, leaving a thin layer on the floor. 

Sam clapped her hands together.  “Okay, let’s get started on Ghost Fighting 101!”

“Aw, I want to do Ghost Fighting 101…”

“We’ve got a portal to build, Jack.”

“Oh!  Yeah!  Gotta love portals!”

.

“… And those are the basics,” finished Sam. 

“The basics,” repeated Natasha.  “Okay.  The basics.”

“Hey, fighting people who can turn invisible and intangible isn’t easy,” said Sam, “and Danny’s our heavy hitter.”

“I don’t suppose you have any arrow-type things?”

“I don’t know, but I can take you to the armory.  If you promise not to shoot Jazz again.”

“You’ve got it.”

“And after that, we should all get some rest,” said Captain Rogers.  “Some of us have been awake for over twenty-four hours.”

“Not like an extra hour is going to mean much,” said Stark. 

“You’d be surprised,” said Captain Rogers.  “Soldiers learn to sleep when they can.”

“We’re not soldiers.  These kids we’re relying on?  Especially not soldiers.”

“Hey, it’s us or HYDRA,” snapped Sam. 

“Yeah, yeah, I get it.  I have to work on this, anyway.”  He rapped his knuckles against the faceplate of his helmet. 

.

“Wow,” said Sam, sitting in the copilot’s chair, “that was tiring.  Who knew that assassins were so obsessive about weapons.”

“Literally everyone,” muttered Stark.

“Yeah,” said Jazz, “that tracks.  Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

Stark snorted.  “If anyone is sleeping, I’m a teetotaler.  We saw capsicle go thataway, and no one with that kind of expression on their face is sleeping.  Drinking, maybe.”

“You are a teetotaler, though, aren’t you?” asked Jazz. 

“What?”

“I mean, I know you used to always be in the paper partying, but given everything, I know you’re more responsible than to get drunk when you have direct access to some of the most dangerous weapons in the world.”

“There’s a huge gulf of difference between getting drunk and having drinks now and again.”

“Welp!” said Sam, before Jazz could reply.  She did not need to be in the middle of Jazz trying to expand her ‘billionaires I have interrogated’ list.  “I’m going to go see if anyone is sleeping.”

She walked out of the control room.  The Ops Center was surprisingly large, all things considered.  Or maybe not surprisingly.  It had more or less doubled the size of Fentonworks.  Greater emphasis on more. 

Now, if she were the one sulking around, where would she go?

Observation deck, probably.  Assuming she knew it existed.  She walked through a couple more doors and slid down a ladder.  Sure enough...

Well.  She had wanted to talk to him. 

“Captain Rogers?  Are you okay?  I thought you wanted to sleep.”

“You know,” said Captain Rogers, staring down out the window at the rapidly passing countryside, “one of the first things I used the internet to look up was how the war went.  SHIELD told me, but the joke about military intelligence, that’s an old one.  Books had more.  Went to my own museum exhibit.  Figured out the internet.”  He shifted his hands slightly on the rim of his shield.  “I didn’t like the Neo Nazis, wanted to…” 

“Kill them all?” asked Sam. 

“Something like that.”  He smiled at her, thin and tense.  “I understand why they’re not all in jail.  I don’t like it, but I understand it.  I can… live with it, most of the time.  There’s always going to be bullies.  HYDRA, though?”  He shook his head, not turning his gaze from the window.  “I thought… I really thought we had gotten them.  It just feels like all of it was for nothing.”

Sam shifted her weight, tapping her foot behind her.  “My great-grandparents were from Germany,” she said.  “I’m Jewish.  So, yeah.  Kind of a do the math thing.”  Captain Rogers turned to look at her and she shrugged. 

“Miss, you don’t have to—”

“You’re right, I don’t have to.  But I am.  They, um, they didn’t get out in time.  But they still got lucky.  Sort of.  They were caught about the same time the Kreischberg Facility needed more laborers.  Slaves.  Test subjects.  So, they got sent to Austria.  It’s how they met, actually.  You know, other families have cute stories, but-- Never mind.  They were—The one time I heard it from them, it sounded like they were on the operating tables when you came in.”  She paused to swallow.  “From the beginning, everything you did, it wasn’t for nothing.  If it was, I wouldn’t be here.”

The captain looked up at her. 

“Just, you know, something to think about.  And you really should take your own advice.  Get some rest.”

.

Danny craned his neck, gazing up at the glittering expanse of Stark Tower from the safety of the alleyway.  He’d never seen a building this tall in person.  It was honestly giving him a little bit of vertigo.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” said Selvig, with a chuckle.  “But that’s nothing to what we’ll have in the next couple of hours.”

The part of Danny that was Fenton giggled along with Selvig.  Phantom, however, was hoping his friends got his messages, such as they were.  Danny as a whole… He had mixed feelings.  Obviously.  “Yeah, I guess not.” 

Loki’s hand dropped onto Danny’s shoulder.  “Enough talking.”

“Right,” said Danny, letting invisibility and intangibility wash over all three of them.  “Let’s go.”

[sab201030]

Does it make me a bad person that I find it endlessly hilarious that there's a very real phenomenon of children of American soldiers/cops/gun owners finding their parents firearms *unlocked* *unsecured* and *loaded* and playing with them like toys, leading to these baby children killing themselves and or others. Like. That's 100% a personal skill issue if ur toddler found ur glock and shot you in the nuts or whatever. Firearm safety is a joke to the average American and they pay for it every day.

[fishrpg]

2024-11-24: The Rocks of Oskus-ool (Rim 6)

Unusual crystalline asteroids float in surprisingly regular intervals here, forming a spherical matrix. The crystals vary in size, but generally all of them seem to be made of a translucent sandy yellow crystal that resemble hexagonal pillars of rock (imagine if the pillars the Giant's Causeway were free-floating). Each crystal lets out perpetual drone in certain electromagnetic bands, though the pitch depends slightly on the mass of the asteroid. When the drone is converted to a human-audible format, it is said to sound like a beautiful piece of music as performed by an igil, a traditional stringed instrument of Tuva.

Each crystal is highly resonant to these frequencies (and any harmonic multiples), and the energy of the constant drones cause the crystals to naturally congregate in predictable nodes of acoustic stability. This system is stable as long as the background levels of resonant frequencies remain relatively constant. However, many of those frequencies are produced by the systems of traveling spacecraft, and the additional acoustic load causes nearby crystals to vibrate and explode into a shower of shrapnel.

Whenever you enter this hex, roll 1d6 and consult the table to determine which system is causing catastrophic resonance to the asteroids. Failure to deactivate the system will result in serious damage to the ship.

Resonant Systems and Consequences (d6)

Comms. Both sending and receiving of transmissions are included in this system. Perhaps the least consequential system to lose access to...unless you need to call for help.

Temperature Control. Disabling this system causes the the temperature of the ship's inhabitable areas to drop below freezing. Any task that requires fine motor control is done at disadvantage until the ship returns to normal temperature.

Artificial Gravity. Unsecured items float through the cabin, and each time the ship's trajectory is adjusted, each person aboard must roll a DC 17 Dex saving throw to avoid getting walloped by the cabin debris.

Atmosphere Recirculation. Your ship now has a limited amount of time to get out of area, because otherwise you will suffocate as CO2 builds up. EVA suit-based air supplies may mitigate some of this concern if they are present aboard the ship, but they don't tend to last very long.

Main Power. Nearly everything is plunged into darkness and shadow when the main power gets cut. Any tasks that rely on sight will take 1d4 times longer than usual to accomplish.

Navigation. You'll need to fly by sight, manually calculate orbital trajectory (50% chance of ending up in the wrong hex), or rely on an outside vessel to help guide you.

In Tuvan folklore, the igil was said to have been first crafted by a man named Oskus-ool whose prize horse was murdered. The spirit of the horse came to Oskus-ool in a dream and provided instructions on how to make the instrument that would be known as an igil. When the igil was played, it sounded like the lost horse, and Oskus-ool kept playing until the spirit of his horse returned to the world and brought with her a thundering herd of horses.

Each asteroid is like one of the multitude of horses that Oskus-ool's music summoned, and the great herd is ready to stampede whenever the song demands it.

[mac-n-cheese-flavored-arson]

I have to take medical transport for all of my doctors appointments and I've never had good experience with them even a single time

Sometimes it's not my driver's fault and I can't blame them just because the one company that provides medical transport in my area cares more about profit than the disabled people who's lives depend this service, but even more often than that it's the drivers fault, and it's gotten so bad that I don't want to even go to appointments anymore

In no particular order here are a handful of the things that have happened during these trips

- I scheduled a wheelchair accessible ride but my driver wasn't told so there was no ramp or wheelchair lift (I had to rely on the drivers disassembling and loading my wheelerchair where I couldn't see them, and one time a driver broke part of it on accident, this has happened a dozen times at least)

- I scheduled a caregiver to come with me but my driver wasn't told so when my caregiver tried to come with me the driver yelled at us and then made me wait while she called her supervisor

- A driver texted the entire time she was driving and almost rear ended three separate cars

- A driver blasted music so loud that it was hurting my ears and gave me a migraine, and refused to turn it down because "my boss says I'm allowed to listen to music while driving patients"

- A driver was listening to a political talk show (one of those unhinged republican guys, but I would be just as upset if it were any other specifically political thing either) over the car speakers the entire time I was in the van

- A driver was holding her phone watching tiktoks the entire time which made her run multiple red lights and stop signs

- A driver telling me personal medical details about another patient and that she's "faking it" because he saw her take a single unassisted step on her porch (not a hippa violation because he is technically not a medical worker)

- Dozens of times my wheelchair hasn't been secured safely and there's no seatbelt (only unsecure wheel locks) so I've slid and rolled around, tipped over backwards and hit my head, tipped forward and been thrown out of my chair, and dislocated both shoulders holding onto my wheels to avoid worse injuries again (this is almost every single time I use the service btw, like 9.5/10 times), one time I was thrown forward out of my chair and the driver looked back at me, said nothing, and didn't even offer to pull over or anything

- My driver sat with me in the van for over 35 minutes at a gas station because his boss refused to send him more gas money for the company van, and he had to call and ask multiple times while we sat there on empty (he had already been working for 16 hours btw and was scheduled to work again in less than 8 hours)

- A driver used my body as a support while securing my wheelchair (put his hand on my shoulder to help him lean down, without warning or consent) which dislocated my shoulder

I don't know.. it's just so incomprehensible that people who's full time job is driving disabled people, are people who shouldn't even be allowed to keep their license at all and have zero training on dealing with disabled people. That the one company here driving disabled patients doesn't have safe vans and dangerously exploits their few good employees. I shouldn't be worried that a regular doctors appointment will end in a head injury and an ER visit. I shouldn't be worried that I'm going to get in a serious accident with no seat belt because a medical driver is watching tiktoks. I shouldn't be worried about my wheelchair getting broken because they "forgot to tell my driver" and sent an inaccessible van. It shouldn't be this hard, and it's unforgivable, not to mention how traumatic it is that this just keeps happening and I have no other choice

G-d we fucking deserve better

[gaykarstaagforever]

Good to see the Germany military is using unsecured consumer-grade video conferencing software to discuss high-level operations.

Plus I have to assume that Cisco's Webex is probably innately capable of better security than it looks like was being used here, considering it is enterprise video conferencing sofware. Did anyone call and ask them? Probably should have done that.

"NO THE RUSSIANS JUST HACKED IT!"

Yes. And "hacking" means you get into systems where you're not wanted. And you routinely do that by waiting for some moron to use "1234" as a password, or stick a USB they found at a cafe, that you loaded with key-loggers, into their military work laptop.

Real life hacking is like 80% waiting for people to do something stupid that you can take advantage of. Moscow has a whole military unit of hackers, and most of what they do all day is sending foreign government officials spam emails with links they mindlessly click. They aren't cracking Engima machines most of the time.

[gmmcoindia]

Safety First: Navigating Heavy Equipment with Confidence

Heavy equipment serves as the backbone of various industries, including construction, mining, agriculture, and forestry. These powerful machines enable the efficient completion of complex tasks, but their operation requires an unwavering commitment to safety. Due to their sheer size and power, heavy equipment demands strict adherence to safety protocols. In this comprehensive blog, we'll explore crucial safety tips for using heavy equipment, covering everything from training and certification to emergency procedures.

Training and Certification Operating heavy equipment requires a solid foundation of training and certification. Proper training equips operators with a deep understanding of the machinery's features, controls, and safety guidelines. Certified operators are better prepared to make informed decisions, handle unexpected situations, and reduce the risk of accidents.

Read and Understand Manuals Every piece of heavy equipment comes with an operator's manual provided by the manufacturer. These manuals contain valuable information on machine operation, maintenance requirements, and safety precautions. Familiarize yourself with the manual thoroughly before operating the equipment to ensure safe and proper usage.

Pre-Operational Checks Performing pre-operational checks is essential to prevent accidents caused by mechanical failures. Regularly inspect the equipment for signs of damage, leaks, or wear. Check fluid levels, tire pressure (if applicable), and ensure that all safety features, such as lights and alarms, are functioning correctly.

Safety Gear and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Operators should always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while operating heavy equipment. This may include hard hats, high-visibility clothing, gloves, ear protection, and safety glasses. PPE is designed to minimize the risk of injury in case of accidents or unforeseen events.

Seat Belts and Enclosed Cabs If the heavy equipment is equipped with an enclosed cab, operators must always wear seat belts while operating. Seat belts provide an extra layer of protection in the event of sudden movements or accidents.

Maintain a Safe Distance Operators and other workers must maintain a safe distance from operating heavy equipment. Establish clear work zones and restricted areas to prevent unauthorized access and minimize the risk of accidents.

Communication Protocols Effective communication is vital in a work environment involving heavy equipment. Ground personnel and operators should establish clear communication methods, such as hand signals, radios, or signaling devices, to convey instructions and warnings.

Avoid Overloading Exceeding load capacities can compromise the stability of the equipment and increase the risk of tipping over. Adhere to manufacturer guidelines regarding load limits to prevent accidents.

Mind Your Surroundings Always be aware of your surroundings while operating heavy equipment. Watch out for obstacles, pedestrians, and other vehicles, particularly in busy job sites. Use mirrors, cameras, and other aids to enhance visibility.

Emergency Procedures All operators should be well-versed in emergency procedures. Understand how to shut down the equipment quickly in case of a problem and know the steps to take in the event of an emergency.

Proper Parking and Shutdown When parking heavy equipment, ensure that it is on a level surface and all safety devices are engaged. Lower attachments to the ground, engage the parking brake, and turn off the engine before leaving the equipment.

Secure Loads Properly When lifting or carrying loads, make sure they are securely fastened using appropriate attachments. Unsecured loads can shift, causing an imbalance and potentially leading to accidents.

Adapt to Weather Conditions Weather conditions can significantly impact heavy equipment operation. Rain, snow, and wind can create slippery surfaces and reduce visibility. Adjust your driving behavior and exercise extra caution during adverse weather.

Scheduled Maintenance Scheduled maintenance is essential for keeping heavy equipment in optimal condition. Regular inspections, fluid checks, and servicing help prevent unexpected breakdowns that can lead to accidents.

Clean and Organized Work Area A clean and organized work area is essential for safety. Remove tripping hazards, debris, and obstacles that could impede the safe operation of heavy equipment.

Avoid Distractions Operating heavy equipment requires full concentration. Avoid distractions such as phone calls, texting, or engaging in conversations that divert your attention from the task at hand.

Tire Safety Inspect tires for wear and damage regularly. Proper tire maintenance ensures stability and prevents blowouts that can lead to accidents.

Beware of Power Lines Exercise caution when operating heavy equipment near power lines. Maintain a safe distance to prevent accidental contact, which can result in electrocution.

Immediate Reporting If you notice any mechanical issues or abnormalities during operation, stop using the equipment and report the problem to supervisors or maintenance personnel immediately.

Continuous Training and Improvement Safety protocols and technology are constantly evolving. Stay updated with the latest safety practices and techniques through ongoing training, seminars, and workshops.

Conclusion Operating heavy equipment is a task that demands precision, knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to safety. These comprehensive safety tips can help operators minimize risks, prevent accidents, and ensure the well-being of everyone involved. From proper training and certification to thorough pre-operational checks and effective communication, each step plays a crucial role in maintaining a safe work environment. Safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone on the job site must work together to prioritize it. By embracing a culture of safety and adhering to these guidelines, operators can confidently operate heavy equipment while mitigating potential hazards and contributing to the success of projects in various industries. Readmore...