#you can use most of your available credit and just pay it down when you need to have your score checked

[hms-no-fun]

Hi! I just read your post about your opinion on "AI" and I really liked it. If it's no bother, what's your opinion on people who use it for studying? Like writing essays, solving problems and stuff like that?

I haven't been a fan of AI from the beginning and I've heard that you shouldn't ask it for anything because then you help it develop. But I don't know how to explain that to friends and classmates or even if it's true anymore. Because I've seen some of the prompts it can come up with and they're not bad and I've heard people say that the summaries AI makes are really good and I just... I dunno. I'm at a loss

Sorry if this is a lot or something you simply don't want to reply to. You made really good points when talking about AI and I really liked it and this has been weighing on me for a while :)

on a base level, i don't really have a strongly articulated opinion on the subject because i don't use AI, and i'm 35 so i'm not in school anymore and i don't have a ton of college-aged friends either. i have little exposure to the people who use AI in this way nor to the people who have to deal with AI being used in this way, so my perspective here is totally hypothetical and unscientific.

what i was getting at in my original AI post was a general macroeconomic point about how all of the supposed efficiency gains of AI are an extension of the tech CEO's dislike of paying and/or giving credit to anyone they deem less skilled or intelligent than them. that it's conspicuous how AI conveniently falls into place after many decades of devaluing and deskilling creative/artistic labor industries. historically, for a lot of artists the most frequently available & highest paying gigs were in advertising. i can't speak to the specifics when it comes to visual art or written copy, but i *can* say that when i worked in the oklahoma film industry, the most coveted jobs were always the commercials. great pay for relatively less work, with none of the complications that often arise working on amateur productions. not to mention they were union gigs, a rare enough thing in a right to work state, so anyone trying to make a career out of film work wanting to bank their union hours to qualify for IATSE membership always had their ears to the ground for an opening. which didn't come often because, as you might expect, anyone who *got* one of those jobs aimed to keep it as long as possible. who could blame em, either? one person i met who managed to get consistent ad work said they could afford to work all of two or three months a year, so they could spend the rest of their time doing low-budget productions and (occasionally) student films.

there was a time when this was the standard for the film industry, even in LA; you expected to work 3 to 5 shows a year (exact number's hard to estimate because production schedules vary wildly between ads, films, and tv shows) for six to eight months if not less, so you'd have your bills well covered through the lean periods and be able to recover from what is an enormously taxing job both physically and emotionally. this was never true for EVERYONE, film work's always been a hustle and making a career of it is often a luck-based crapshoot, but generally that was the model and for a lot of folks it worked. it meant more time to practice their skills on the job, sustainably building expertise and domain knowledge that they could then pass down to future newcomers. anything that removes such opportunities decreases the amount of practice workers get, and any increased demand on their time makes them significantly more likely to burn out of the industry early. lower pay, shorter shoots, busier schedules, these aren't just bad for individual workers but for the entire industry, and that includes the robust and well-funded advertising industry.

well, anyway, this year's coca-cola christmas ad was made with AI. they had maybe one person on quality control using an adobe aftereffects mask to add in the coke branding. this is the ultimate intended use-case for AI. it required the expertise of zero unionized labor, and worst of all the end result is largely indistinguishable from the alternative. you'll often see folks despair at this verisimilitude, particularly when a study comes out that shows (for instance) people can't tell the difference between real poetry and chat gpt generated poetry. i despair as well, but for different reasons. i despair that production of ads is a better source of income and experience for film workers than traditional movies or television. i despair that this technology is fulfilling an age-old promise about the disposability of artistic labor. poetry is not particularly valued by our society, is rarely taught to people beyond a beginner's gloss on meter and rhyme. "my name is sarah zedig and i'm here to say, i'm sick of this AI in a major way" type shit. end a post with the line "i so just wish that it would go away and never come back again!" and then the haiku bot swoops in and says, oh, 5/7/5 you say? that is technically a haiku! and then you put a haiku-making minigame in your crowd-pleasing japanese nationalist open world chanbara simulator, because making a haiku is basically a matter of selecting one from 27 possible phrase combinations. wait, what do you mean the actual rules of haiku are more elastic and subjective than that? that's not what my english teacher said in sixth grade!

AI is able to slip in and surprise us with its ability to mimic human-produced art because we already treat most human-produced art like mechanical surplus of little to no value. ours is a culture of wikipedia-level knowledge, where you have every incentive to learn a lot of facts about something so that you can sufficiently pretend to have actually experienced it. but this is not to say that humans would be better able to tell the difference between human produced and AI produced poetry if they were more educated about poetry! the primary disconnect here is economic. Poets already couldn't make a fucking living making poetry, and now any old schmuck can plug a prompt into chatgpt and say they wrote a sonnet. even though they always had the ability to sit down and write a sonnet!

boosters love to make hay about "deskilling" and "democratizing" and "making accessible" these supposedly gatekept realms of supposedly bourgeois expression, but what they're really saying (whether they know it or not) is that skill and training have no value anymore. and they have been saying this since long before AI as we know it now existed! creative labor is the backbone of so much of our world, and yet it is commonly accepted as a poverty profession. i grew up reading books and watching movies based on books and hearing endless conversation about books and yet when i told my family "i want to be a writer" they said "that's a great way to die homeless." like, this is where the conversation about AI's impact starts. we already have a culture that simultaneously NEEDS the products of artistic labor, yet vilifies and denigrates the workers who perform that labor. folks see a comic panel or a corporate logo or a modern art piece and say "my kid could do that," because they don't perceive the decades of training, practice, networking, and experimentation that resulted in the finished product. these folks do not understand that just because the labor of art is often invisible doesn't mean it isn't work.

i think this entire conversation is backwards. in an ideal world, none of this matters. human labor should not be valued over machine labor because it inherently possesses an aura of human-ness. art made by humans isn't better than AI generated art on qualitative grounds. art is subjective. you're not wrong to find beauty in an AI image if the image is beautiful. to my mind, the value of human artistic labor comes down to the simple fact that the world is better when human beings make art. the world is better when we have the time and freedom to experiment, to play, to practice, to develop and refine our skills to no particular end except whatever arbitrary goal we set for ourselves. the world is better when people collaborate on a film set to solve problems that arise organically out of the conditions of shooting on a live location. what i see AI being used for is removing as many opportunities for human creativity as possible and replacing them with statistical averages of prior human creativity. this passes muster because art is a product that exists to turn a profit. because publicly traded companies have a legal responsibility to their shareholders to take every opportunity to turn a profit regardless of how obviously bad for people those opportunities might be.

that common sense says writing poetry, writing prose, writing anything is primarily about reaching the end of the line, about having written something, IS the problem. i've been going through the many unfinished novels i wrote in high school lately, literally hundreds of thousands of words that i shared with maybe a dozen people and probably never will again. what value do those words have? was writing them a waste of time since i never posted them, never finished them, never turned a profit off them? no! what i've learned going back through those old drafts is that i'm only the writer i am today BECAUSE i put so many hours into writing generic grimdark fantasy stories and bizarrely complicated werewolf mythologies.

you know i used to do open mics? we had a poetry group that met once a month at a local cafe in college. each night we'd start by asking five words from the audience, then inviting everyone to compose a poem using those words in 10 to 15 minutes. whoever wanted to could read their poem, and whoever got the most applause won a free drink from the cafe. then we'd spend the rest of the night having folks sign up to come and read whatever. sometimes you'd get heartfelt poems about personal experiences, sometimes you'd get ambitious soundcloud rappers, sometimes you'd get a frat guy taking the piss, sometimes you'd get a mousy autist just doing their best. i don't know that any of the poetry i wrote back then has particular value today, but i don't really care. the point of it was the experience in that moment. the experience of composing something on the fly, or having something you wrote a couple days ago, then standing up and reading it. the value was in the performance itself, in the momentary synthesis between me and the audience. i found out then that i was pretty good at making people cry, and i could not have had that experience in any other venue. i could not have felt it so viscerally had i just posted it online. and i cannot wrap up that experience and give it to you, because it only existed then.

i think more people would write poetry if they had more hours in a day to spare for frivolities, if there existed more spaces where small groups could organize open mics, if transit made those spaces more widely accessible, if everyone made enough money that they weren't burned the fuck out and not in the mood to go to an open mic tonight, if we saw poetry as a mode of personal reflection which was as much about the experience of having written it as anything else. this is the case for all the arts. right now, the only people who can afford to make a living doing art are already wealthy, because art doesn't pay well. this leads to brain drain and overall lowering quality standards, because the suburban petty bouge middle class largely do not experience the world as it materially exists for the rest of us. i often feel that many tech CEOs want to be remembered the way andy warhol is remembered. they want to be loved and worshipped not just for business acumen but for aesthetic value, they want to get the kind of credit that artists get-- because despite the fact that artists don't get paid shit, they also frequently get told by people "your work changed my life." how is it that a working class person with little to no education can write a story that isn't just liked but celebrated, that hundreds or thousands of people imprint on, that leaves a mark on culture you can't quantify or predict or recreate? this is AI's primary use-case, to "democratize" art in such a way that hacks no longer have to work as hard to pretend to be good at what they do. i mean, hell, i have to imagine every rich person with an autobiography in the works is absolutely THRILLED that they no longer have to pay a ghost writer!

so, circling back around to the meat of your question. as far as telling people not to use AI because "you're just helping to train it," that ship has long since sailed. getting mad at individuals for using AI right now is about as futile as getting mad at individuals for not masking-- yes, obviously they should wear a mask and write their own essays, but to say this is simply a matter of millions of individuals making the same bad but unrelated choice over and over is neoliberal hogwash. people stopped masking because they were told to stop masking by a government in league with corporate interests which had every incentive to break every avenue of solidarity that emerged in 2020. they politicized masks, calling them "the scarlet letter of [the] pandemic". biden himself insisted this was "a pandemic of the unvaccinated", helpfully communicating to the public that if you're vaccinated, you don't need to mask. all those high case numbers and death counts? those only happen to the bad people.

now you have CEOs and politicians and credulous media outlets and droves of grift-hungry influencers hard selling the benefits of AI in everything everywhere all the time. companies have bent over backwards to incorporate AI despite ethics and security worries because they have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders, and everyone with money is calling this the next big thing. in short, companies are following the money, because that's what companies do. they, in turn, are telling their customers what tools to use and how. so of course lots of people are using AI for things they probably shouldn't. why wouldn't they? "the high school/college essay" as such has been quantized and stripmined by an education system dominated by test scores over comprehension. it is SUPPOSED to be an exercise in articulating ideas, to teach the student how to argue persuasively. the final work has little to no value, because the point is the process. but when you've got a system that lives and dies by its grades, within which teachers are given increasingly more work to do, less time to do it in, and a much worse paycheck for their trouble, the essay increasingly becomes a simple pass/fail gauntlet to match the expected pace set by the simple, clean, readily gradable multiple choice quiz. in an education system where the stakes for students are higher than they've ever been, within which you are increasingly expected to do more work in less time with lower-quality guidance from your overworked teachers, there is every incentive to get chatgpt to write your essay for you.

do you see what i'm saying? we can argue all day about the shoulds here. of course i think it's better when people write their own essays, do their own research, personally read the assigned readings. but cheating has always been a problem. a lot of these same fears were aired over the rising popularity of cliffs notes in the 90s and 2000s! the real problem here is systemic. it's economic. i would have very little issue with the output of AI if existing conditions were not already so precarious. but then, if the conditions were different, AI as we know it likely would not exist. it emerges today as the last gasp of a tech industry that has been floundering for a reason to exist ever since the smart phone dominated the market. they tried crypto. they tried the metaverse. now they're going all-in on AI because it's a perfect storm of shareholder-friendly buzzwords and the unscientific technomythology that's been sold to laymen by credulous press sycophants for decades. It slots right into this niche where the last of our vestigial respect for "the artist" once existed. it is the ultimate expression of capitalist realism, finally at long last doing away with the notion that the suits at disney could never in their wildest dreams come up with something half as cool as the average queer fanfic writer. now they've got a program that can plagiarize that fanfic (along with a dozen others) for them, laundering the theft through a layer of transformation which perhaps mirrors how the tech industry often exploits open source software to the detriment of the open source community. the catastrophe of AI is that it's the fulfillment of a promise that certainly predates computers at the very least.

so, i don't really know what to tell someone who uses AI for their work. if i was talking to a student, i'd say that relying chatgpt is really gonna screw you over when it comes time take the SAT or ACT, and you have to write an essay from scratch by hand in a monitored environment-- but like, i also think the ACT and SAT and probably all the other standardized tests shouldn't exist? or at the very least ought to be severely devalued, since prep for those tests often sabotages the integrity of actual classroom education. although, i guess at this point the only way forward for education (that isn't getting on both knees and deep-throating big tech) is more real-time in-class monitored essay writing, which honestly might be better for all parties anyway. of course that does nothing to address research essays you can't write in a single class session. to someone who uses AI for research, i'd probably say the same thing as i would to someone who uses wikipedia: it's a fine enough place to start, but don't cite it. click through links, find sources, make sure what you're reading is real, don't rely on someone else's generalization. know that chatgpt is likely not pulling information from a discrete database of individual files that it compartmentalizes the way you might expect, but rather is a statistical average of a broad dataset about which it cannot have an opinion or interpretation. sometimes it will link you to real information, but just as often it will invent information from whole cloth. honestly, the more i talk it out, the more i realize all this advice is basically identical to the advice adults were giving me in the early 2000s.

which really does cement for me that the crisis AI is causing in education isn't new and did not come from nowhere. before chatgpt, students were hiring freelancers on fiverr. i already mentioned cliffs notes. i never used any of these in college, but i'll also freely admit that i rarely did all my assigned reading. i was the "always raises her hand" bitch, and every once in a while i'd get other students who were always dead silent in class asking me how i found the time to get the reading done. i'd tell them, i don't. i read the beginning, i read the ending, and then i skim the middle. whenever a word or phrase jumps out at me, i make a note of it. that way, when the professor asks a question in class, i have exactly enough specific pieces of information at hand to give the impression of having done the reading. and then i told them that i learned how to do this from the very same professor that was teaching that class. the thing is, it's not like i learned nothing from this process. i retained quite a lot of information from those readings! this is, broadly, a skill that emerges from years of writing and reading essays. but then you take a step back and remember that for most college students (who are not pursuing any kind of arts degree), this skillset is relevant to an astonishingly minimal proportion of their overall course load. college as it exists right now is treated as a jobs training program, within which "the essay" is a relic of an outdated institution that highly valued a generalist liberal education where today absolute specialization seems more the norm. so AI comes in as the coup de gras to that old institution. artists like myself may not have the constitution for the kind of work that colleges now exist to funnel you into, but those folks who've never put a day's thought into the work of making art can now have a computer generate something at least as good at a glance as basically anything i could make. as far as the market is concerned, that's all that matters. the contents of an artwork, what it means to its creator, the historic currents it emerges out of, these are all technicalities that the broad public has been well trained not to give a shit about most of the time. what matters is the commodity and the economic activity it exists to generate.

but i think at the end of the day, folks largely want to pay for art made by human beings. that it's so hard for a human being to make a living creating and selling art is a question far older than AI, and whose answer hasn't changed. pay workers more. drastically lower rents. build more affordable housing. make healthcare free. make education free. massively expand public transit. it is simply impossible to overstate how much these things alone would change the conversation about AI, because it would change the conversation about everything. SO MUCH of the dominance of capital in our lives comes down to our reliance on cars for transit (time to get a loan and pay for insurance), our reliance on jobs for health insurance (can't quit for moral reasons if it's paying for your insulin), etc etc etc. many of AI's uses are borne out of economic precarity and a ruling class desperate to vacuum up every loose penny they can find. all those billionaires running around making awful choices for the rest of us? they stole those billions. that is where our security went. that is why everything is falling apart, because the only option remaining to *every* institutional element of society is to go all-in on the profit motive. tax these motherfuckers and re-institute public arts funding. hey, did you know the us government used to give out grants to artists? did you know we used to have public broadcast networks where you could make programs that were shown to your local community? why the hell aren't there public youtube clones? why aren't there public transit apps? why aren't we CONSTANTLY talking about nationalizing these abusive fucking industries that are falling over themselves to integrate AI because their entire modus operandi is increasing profits regardless of product quality?

these are the questions i ask myself when i think about solutions to the AI problem. tech needs to be regulated, the monopolies need breaking up, but that's not enough. AI is a symptom of a much deeper illness whose treatment requires systemic solutions. and while i'm frustrated when i see people rely on AI for their work, or otherwise denigrate artists who feel AI has devalued their field, on some level i can't blame them. they are only doing what they've been told to do. all of which merely strengthens my belief in the necessity of an equitable socialist future (itself barely step zero in the long path towards a communist future, and even that would only be a few steps on the even longer path to a properly anarchist future). improve the material conditions and you weaken the dominance of capitalist realism, however minutely. and while there are plenty of reasons to despair at the likelihood of such a future given a second trump presidency, i always try to remember that socialist policies are very popular and a *lot* of that popularity emerged during the first trump administration. the only wrong answer here is to assume that losing an election is the same thing as losing a war, that our inability to put the genie back in its bottle means we can't see our own wishes granted.

i dunno if i answered your question but i sure did say a lot of stuff, didn't i?

[catastrophic-crow]

important correction!

a credit score is not, exactly, an indication of how "well" you will pay back a loan. it is an indication of reliability for the exact terms of a loan, which is why paying off a loan early or more aggressively can make your score go down. not directly—it has to do with active accounts and credit history and—it'll still drop your score to finish paying off a loan and remove it from your active accounts.

a credit score isn't for you. it's for corporations (most often) to know which customers they can maximixe their loan-lifetime profit from. someone who takes longer to pay loans back but always pays on time with the minimum payment will have a higher score (all else being equal) compared to someone who pays off their loans aggressively with the surplus of payments going to the principal of the loan, rather than early loan payments. (paying to the principal of the loan reduces the term of the loan, and thus the interest owed, and thus the amount of money they make off of you over the course of your payment on the loan. paying extra without specifying it go toward the principal will just "stock up" on payments to the loan, so the extra goes to the next payment, and then the next after that. doing this will not save you any money. it will still reduce your credit score if you pay off the loan early, even though they made the same amount of money off of you.)

yes, this is all even more horrendously complicated than you might have already been aware.

you're not even allowed to know the exact criteria used to determine your credit score, just approximations. also, you don't have "a" credit score. you have several. or many, even. it depends on the scoring methods the relevant institution(s) use, as well as the purpose for the score. is it for an auto loan? a home loan? a consumer loan, such as for an appliance or furnature? (some kinds of loan will drop your credit score just by existing on your history, even if you pay it off completely and on time.) are they using FICO 8? Experian? credit karma is well-advertised, but will that score be even remotely close to what someone sees when they evaluate your credit?

i know wayyyyyy too much about this, considering i can't really put the knowledge to practical use anymore, so. if you want to learn more, expect to spend many hours doing a lot of reading.

there are useful guides to outline the basics, but frankly at a certain granularity of knowledge you will need to just buckle down and read. and read. and read. and ask lots of questions. and keep track of the answers, and the context in which they're given.

no, it's not fair. no, it's not accessible. yes, this system is designed for others to use, and you're explicitly the product. yes, the many "gotchas" and "howevers" and "not-quite-but-actuallys" are very likely going to frustrate you and trip you up. if there's someone you know personally who is knowledgeable and willing to give you a place to start, having one or more detailed conversations with note-taking may be a good place to begin. just be wary of relying on their knowledge solely, because the rules change and if the last time it was relevant to them was several years ago when they last bought a car, they may give you bad (or at least un-optimal) advice by accident. yes, that is somewhat contradictory. i'm sorry i can't reveal a hidden, simpler way to understand all of this.

oh, yeah, and: i am not a laywer

[elliespectacular]

Any tips on how to correctly credit clips used in YTP? I'm very lost when it comes to finding copyright info and stuff like that.

The stakes are pretty low for YouTube Poop and crediting clips in the video/description is not standard practice - but it's a good thing to do! That said I am not an authority on this and even my method has some blind spots. These are just some generally good ideas for being a slightly-more-courteous-than-average shitposter.

The acknowledgement is the most important part, stating outright what the names of the sources are. Pay attention to the official titles of what you use and try to trace them to their original form - for example in The Price is Rice COMPLETE I wanted to credit the gamer-themed Dust-Off commercial I used in The Price is Rice Jr. Usually ads are more difficult to track down than other kinds of televised media, so often "___ TV Spot" does the job, but a quick peek at the official YouTube channel reveals that the ad's actual name was How to properly clean your gaming computer.

Then there's an acknowledgement of the owner. I try to list composers for music, directors for film, and of course artists for art. You aren't required to give an exhaustive list of every single contributor to the art you've sampled, but make sure you credit the person/company it belongs to at the very least. Going back to the Dust-Off example, the YouTube video contained a link to dust-off . com which now redirects to falconsafety . com - I lucked out because the top of the page indicates clearly that Dust-Off is a product owned by Falcon Safety Products Inc. but this info is often in the About section of a website or at the bottom of the page.

I like to throw the year on each YTP credit as well. Academic citations usually require a more precise publication date if available. Among other benefits it helps distinguish between things with the same name/owner that were rebooted later - for example there are multiple games called Sonic the Hedgehog owned by SEGA from different years (In fact in this example there are two games from 1991 so it's also important to note what system the game is for!) Generally your source credits should communicate to a viewer where to start looking for a specific thing or who to ask.

You can use Wikipedia to orient yourself if you need a lead on where to start tracking down copyright information for popular media, but make sure you cross-reference what's there with other sources. For Movies/TV I usually just look at the very end of their credits which usually has the copyright info. For music I use Discogs. Sometimes for more obscure or less-documented things I have to do some search-engine sleuthing.

If you're stuck, ask a friend for help! It can be fun and rewarding to track down something that isn't answered by a quick google search, and like most things turning it into a collaborative effort makes it less of a slog.

Copyright acknowledgement is tricky to do correctly and not every Best Practice applies to each situation. There may come a day when MLA-style citations become normal or required even for shitposts and your due diligence will become greater. Do your best, give credit where it's due, and you'll be fine :)

[late-to-the-party-81]

Finders Keepers - Chapter Three

AN: I hope you enjoyed the last part and the delve into your main characters' pasts. Please note that in this chapter our Reader is physically violated by the removal of her prosthetic without her consent. This is an assault on her body autonomy. Please do not read this chapter if this will trigger you - I will place a summary at the end so you can get the gist of what happens

Unbeta'd chapter

Dividers by @firefly-graphics and moodboard by me.

Bingo Fills - @buckybarnesbingo Square B4 - Deja Vu

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Chapter Two

Relationship: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Chapter word count: 3.3k

Chapter CW: Physical assault, kidnapping, non-consensual body modification, violation of body autonomy, threats of rape, implied threat of murder, non-consensual kiss, Hydra.

Chapter Three - Violation

It was like a twisted version of deja vu. Most of this scenario felt so familiar - the taste of dirt in your mouth, the aches from hitting the ground at high speed and, most of all, the embarrassment at being taken down so easily. What was different though, was the face of the man standing over you. You didn’t recognise him at all, but as your eyes roamed over him as he stared down at you, smug and predatory, you did recognise the red octopus patch on his jacket. You pushed yourself up onto your elbows.

“Hydra boys? What are you guys doing around here?” You knew from talking to your neighbours that Hydra had had a strong foothold in this area until about five or six years ago, when they’d suddenly moved territories. 

They did what you and Bucky did, but were far more organised and far less scrupulous. The worst thing you did was steal from piles of unclaimed junk in Bucky’s area, but apparently Hydra weren’t above outright thievery if it was required - there was a rumour of a grav-train heist gone wrong. And whilst they did offer credit, folk who took them up on that offer very soon regretted that decision. Even with the advanced medical procedures now available, it was still hard to earn a wage if you were nursing freshly repaired knee-caps, plus the fact that paying for said repairs would automatically put you in more debt.

The man staring down at you took a few steps closer and you fought the urge to scoot away. He obviously wanted you to stay put as well, as he planted a heavy boot on your chest and pressed part of his weight onto you. You gritted your teeth and swallowed down a moan of discomfort, just continuing to glare at his scarred visage.

“Decided it was time to take back our territory, sweetheart. And the best way to start is to bring Barnes back into the fold.”

“What do you mean? Barnes is a loner. Through and through.” You were confused about what he was talking about, but luckily he seemed to like the sound of his own voice and was more than happy to explain.

“He might be now, but he was once one of us. We parted ways on bad terms a few years back, but the boss thinks it’s high-time he rejoins us. Especially as he didn’t actually ask to leave. Just walked away and left us, which isn’t really how we do things.”

You furrowed your brows as he spoke. Had Bucky really been a part of the mean and vicious Hydra gang. Yes he was an asshole towards you, but his reputation with others didn’t match up with the picture this goon was painting.

“Nice story, but I fail to see what it has to do with me and why you decided I should eat dirt. Sounds like a you and Bucky issue.” You really wished he’d take his foot off of you. Your ribs were starting to ache like anything.

“Well he might need a bit of persuading - he can be a stubborn ass a lot of the time - and what better way to persuade him than to have his girl on our side.”

If your ribs, and therefore your lungs, weren’t so constricted you’d have laughed at the man’s statement. As it was, the best you could do was snort derisively. “Good luck with that!”

The man chuckled. “You don’t want to join us, toots? You’re breaking my heart.”

“Well, obviously I don’t want to join you - I have some standards. But it’s more that I’m not Barnes’ girl. He doesn’t give a shit what I do, as long as it isn’t stealing from him. We barely tolerate each other, and in fact he took all of my latest fee off me, not fifteen minutes ago.”

The hazel eyes looking at you narrowed and he suddenly removed his foot from your chest. You sucked in a deep breath, unable to stop your reaction, but didn’t have any time to get your breathing back to normal as he suddenly wrapped his fist into the front of your jacket, hoisted you back to your feet and slammed you back into the closest wall.

“Stop playing games. We know he lets you Find on his turf and we know he keeps an eye on you. Even if you’re not his girl in the traditional sense, Barnes definitely has a soft spot for you. Therefore, I reckon that if you’re with us, and it doesn’t matter to me if that’s willingly or unwillingly, sweetheart, he’ll definitely come after you.” He looked you up and down, as if only really assessing you for the first time. You felt like a piece of meat hung up in a butcher’s window. “If you’re not his girl, what about being mine? I could show you a good time.” He ran the back of his free hand down your face in caress and you repressed a disgusted shudder.

“Not fucking likely”, you ground out, and then made your move. You kicked him in the shin with your right foot. Hard. At the same time you wrapped both your hands around his wrist and twisted it. He shouted out in a combination of shock and pain and let go of you. You set off, sprinting down the alley, however you’d momentarily forgotten that he wasn’t alone. Several sets of feet set off after you and you jumped, midstride, as a stunner shot connected with the wall beside you, leaving a scorch mark and an acrid smell in its wake.

You quickened your pace, willing your flesh leg to keep up with your metallic one, but your wish was in vain. You stumbled and at the same time a stunner shot caught your arm, sending you spinning. Pain flared up your limb and a small voice in your head unhelpfully pointed out that this was beginning to feel like a pattern as you crashed back into the ground. 

You groaned, unable to move as footsteps approached, and once again your tormentor leaned over you.

��I realised, sweetheart,” he drawled. “I never introduced myself. The name’s Brock. Brock Rumlow. Remember it so you know what to scream later.”

Your eyes widened as he aimed a stunner at your chest. You heard the whine it gave off and then…

Nothing.

Your head was pounding and your tongue felt thick in your mouth as you woke up. You hadn’t been shot with a stunner many times, but you didn’t need to in order to know the feeling of a stun-hangover. You blinked your eyes open and you were glad that wherever you were, it wasn’t too bright.

It appeared to be some kind of empty warehouse, and you were the only occupant, sitting in a chair, your wrists tied to the arms and your legs….

Horror swept over you, along with a feeling of utter violation. Your left leg was tied to the chair by the ankle, but your right leg wasn’t tied at all, because the lower half of it was missing, your pants leg shredded to gain quick access. Bile rose in your throat and choked it back. Any thought that’d you’d had to play this cool in hopes of lulling Rumlow and his goons into a false sense of security went straight out of the window.

“You sick fucks!” You screamed across the space, your voice echoing off the bare walls and you started to struggle against your bonds. They’d regret this. As soon as you got free you were going to rain hell down upon them. The ropes rubbed painfully against your wrists and left ankle, but you were a woman possessed.

Suddenly, a large hand clamped down on the back of your neck menacingly, and you stilled, teeth gritted. Rage filled you were, stupid you were not.

“Did wonder when you were going to wake up, sweetheart” Brock bent down, his face appearing in your peripheral vision and his breath hot on your cheek. You wrinkled your nose at the stench.

“Give me back my leg,” you growled, your rage bubbling white hot inside you.

“And give you another chance to kick me? That shit hurt. Nah. Leg privileges are earned.” His other hand landed on your right thigh, and he gave a light squeeze of it through your ruined pants.

“Its a fucking part of me, jerk. I’d ask how you’d like it if I took your dick off you, but I doubt anyone, least of all you, would notice.”

He wrenched your head back in anger, and although it hurt you couldn’t help but grin up at him and how easy it was to push his buttons. Like any bully.

“I don’t know how you haven’t realised this yet, bitch, but you aren’t in charge here - I am. And if you’re nice to me I’ll be nice to you. However, if you continue like this…” Brock shrugged as his words tailed off and shoved your head back forward before releasing it. You continued to glower at him as he walked around the chair to stand in front of you, his thick arms crossed over his equally broad chest.

“What am I supposed to do if I need to piss or crap?” you questioned, hoping that the question would gross him out. Unfortunately he seemed unfazed.

“Ask me or one one of the boys nicely and we’ll carry you to the bathroom.”

“I’d rather hop, asshole.” The thought of any of them touching you made your skin crawl.

“If you prefer. It’s a long way from this room, princess.”

It was your turn to shrug in reply. 

A silence fell between you, but Brock just continued to stare as if you were an insect he was studying under a microscope. You squirmed beneath his gaze and bit your tongue until you couldn’t take it any longer.

“What now? We stay here staring at each other, hoping Barnes turns up at some point? I hate to break it to you - he’s not coming. I’m nothing to him.”

Brock smiled then and it made you more afraid than any of his macho posturing had. “You’d best hope you’re wrong, toots. Because if you’re right, and he doesn’t come for you then I’ve got no use for you.” He crouched down into your personal space, his large hands resting on both your thighs this time. “Well, no long term use. Short term on the other hand…” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to yours.

You pulled at your bonds again and wrenched your head away. “Ugh, you’re such an animal.” Brock just chuckled and stood up, nonplussed by your reaction.

“Sticks and stones, sweetheart. I’ll come and check on you later, see if your mood has improved at all. Don’t forget to shout loudly if you need the toilet - you’ll want us to hear you then.” He then turned away from you without a second glance and you were left alone in the dull light once more.

A few hours later and despite your resolve you were forced to call out. It was the most humiliating thing you’d ever had to do. You also hadn’t quite contemplated how hard it was to hop with a full bladder, but you’d be damned if you’d let any of them assist you. The nameless Hydra thug who accompanied you smirked and sniggered the whole time, but you did your best to ignore him. At least he didn’t come into the tiny, disgusting bathroom with you, so you had a few minutes to mentally pull yourself together again and inspect the marks on your wrists from being tied up. 

However, what you weren’t expecting once you’d finished was that you weren’t returned to the chair in the large, echoey space, your guard turning in another direction instead. He didn’t offer to help you and nor did you ask. Thankfully it wasn’t too far, but you had to stop several times and lean on the wall to catch your breath. When you finally reached your destination, the goon just gestured for you to go through the aperture he’d stopped in front of. You were wary but also intrigued. So far, aside from the violation of having your leg removed from you, none had perpetrated any violence upon you, apart from Brock’s kiss and unsubtle threats.

The room you entered was a small cell, and ironically it was bigger than your living space back at the apartment block. The only thing in it, though, was a bed. At least you’d be able to rest. When the forcefield buzzed into life behind you, you signed in resignation. You listened as the footsteps of your minder echoed away back down the corridor, leaving you in blessed solitude, and you allowed yourself to relax a little.

Manoeuvring yourself over to the small bed, you sat down. To stop yourself immediately lapsing in maudlin state, you decided to do something about your tattered pant’s leg. It had been cut twice, all the way up to mid thigh, by whichever complete bastard had done this to you - your money was on Brock - which at least meant you could tied the two flaps together and tuck the ends in so they wouldn’t get in your way or snag on anything. That didn’t take much time, so when that was done you lay down on the bed to rest - there wasn’t really much else to do unless you wanted to count the rivets on the wall.

You shuffled around for a few moments, trying to get comfortable, before realising that something in your jacket pocket was digging into you. You slid your hand in, and as soon as your fingers curled around the object you couldn’t help but grin. Brock and his cronies may have been clever enough to take your leg, but they obviously hadn’t done a proper search of your person. You still had your field disruptor.

Now all you had to do was wait for the right time.

In the end, you decided you weren’t going to wait too long. You knew Bucky wasn’t coming for you - you doubt he’d even realised you were missing, probably assuming any absence was because you were licking your wounds after your last encounter. However, if he wasn’t coming, then eventually Rumlow would realise that as well and you would become a nuisance or worse. A plaything. You had no desire to see how long his patience would last before it snapped and he took his frustrations out on you. Just the thought of him touching you made you want to wretch.

After you’d been placed in your cell you’d been left alone for another few hours, another guard only appearing to place some ration packs in with you. He didn’t speak to you and you acted as though he wasn’t there for the brief amount of time he was present. However, as soon as he’d gone, you devoured the food and drink, needing the energy, and then sat down by the edge of the field, so you could get a good look up and down the corridor.

There was a camera on the opposite wall, part way down, and you’d just have to hope that it wasn’t being monitored too well. You gave it a little wave anyway, listening out for the tell-tale whir of it refocusing. It didn’t make a sound, which didn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t being monitored, but you could hope.

Time started to lose meaning - you weren’t sure how long you’d been locked up here - but you did notice when the sky began to darken outside and then start to glow with the reflection of thousands of neon lights. The corridor remained empty and the sounds of people moving around in other parts of the warehouse lessened. You looked up at the camera. It still hadn’t moved. Did you dare risk it?

You slid your hand into your pocket again, gripping your field disruptor, balanced on the edge of your decision. Waiting for a sign.

The power light on the camera went out.

You blinked at it, disbelieving, then in the next second pushed yourself into action. Your disruptor was out in front of you, powered on, and you were scanning for the correct frequency. Your head jerked up when you heard a loud thud coming from way down the corridor and the whine of a stunner discharging.

“Come on, come on,” you muttered under your breath as you turned the dial by increments and then let out a small shout of success as you saw your device start to work. You willed it to work faster as the noises of a confrontation along from you became louder.

As soon as there was a gap for you to crawl through you did so as fast as you could. You powered off the disruptor and shoved it back into your pocket and then pulled yourself upright. Which way should you go? It seemed to you that the exit was more likely to be in the direction of the commotion, but without your full mobility or any kind of weapon it didn’t seem like it would be a good idea to go that way. Maybe you should find somewhere to hide and then try to sneak out when it all quietened down?

A pained shout from the direction of the apparent confrontation made your decision for you, and you started to move as fast as you could away from it. Panic consumed you, your mind making up all sorts of scenarios about what was happening behind you - there was no way whatever it was would be good for you. Was it another rival gang taking out Hydra? Or was the beast turning on itself? Rumlow had mentioned a boss after all - maybe he was unhappy with how the scarred man had handled things?

You clung to the wall, using each crevice as a hand hold so you could move faster. There was more stunner fire, but also the sound of phase pistols. Some folk weren’t messing around, apparently. Then most of the sounds diminished. One didn’t, however. The sound of a pair of heavy footsteps. Footsteps that quickened in pace and seemed to be getting closer to you.  You didn’t dare look around, your focus firmly on the doorway you could see up ahead. The desperation to get to it and its perceived safety was overwhelming.

This time when you fell, it wasn’t because someone threw something at you or tripped you. It was because you were fatigued. You tumbled to the ground, arms outstretched to try and stop your face meeting the hard floor. You let out a sound, half pain, half frustration and tears started to run down your face unbidden. The footsteps came to a halt behind you. You didn’t even have the energy to look up. You were beaten, well and truly and you waited for your next tormentor. The next humiliation. The next violation.

“We’ve gotta stop meeting like this, doll. I’m getting a sense of deja vu.”

For a moment you thought that your panicked brain was making stuff up, but you turned your head, and there he was, larger than life. More tears, ones of relief now, flowed from your eyes, and as he knelt to the floor and gathered you in his arms you hugged him back. Your face pressed into the stiff leather of his jacket and you inhaled the scent of it. The scent of him.

“You came for me?” Your voice was small, so unlike the normal you, especially the you around Bucky. However, it appeared you weren’t the only one behaving uncharacteristically, because you felt his arms tighten around you and what felt like a kiss to the top of your head.

“Always, doll. I’ll always come for you.”

Chapter Four

Chapter Summary: Reader is confronted by Brock Rumlow and Hydra goons who think they can use her to leverage Bucky into returning to them. She kicks Brock with her prosthetic leg and tries to escape, but is caught and shot unconscious. When she wakes she is bound to a chair in a warehouse, her prosthetic removed. Brock taunts her with threats of sexual and physical violence. Later she is transferred to a cell. She realises that despite her missing leg she still has her field disruptor and decides she needs to try to escape before Brock gets frustrated at Bucky’s failure to show. When  trying to decide when to make her move the security camera suddenly disables and the sounds of a fight reach her. She makes her move and escapes her cell but decides to try and hide rather than make her way through the confrontation to the exit. Whilst she is moving along she hears someone coming up behind her and she panics and falls. She expects some further horrors, but it is in fact Bucky, who scoops her into his embrace.

Tag list: @christywrites, @alexakeyloveloki, @wolfsmom1, @doasyoudesireandlive, @sonatabee-blog, @goldylions, @galactusdevourerofworlds, @apenny4thots, @km-ffluv @wheezy-stucky @mrs-illyrian-baby

[spacesapphi]

YIPPIEE time to bring in my ideas for Jas' parents and talk ab the kind of ppl they were when it comes to my writing! I haven't finished drawing them in my style yet, but I have picrews here as a very basic idea of what they would look like !

Their names are Amelia and Jason Anderson and I think ab them so much.... Ty to my moot moonferry for helping me figure out names for them!!

ANYWAYS more pieces of info below the cut for em :3

Amelia

- went to college as an education major, wanted to specifically work as an elementary school teacher!

- genuinely believes in the concept of magic (which TBF is real in Stardew) and will defend her belief to death

- she was so excited to have a daughter so she could dress her up in cute costumes and outfits, Jas was about 3 months old on her first Halloween and she had the most elaborate fairy costume on Earth

- Was put off by Jason's flirting at first bc she completely misunderstood his relationship with Shane and genuinely thought those two had a thing for a bit, even though they didn't (Def walked up to Shane like "hey just wanted to let you know your bf is hitting on me 🫤" "MY WHAT???")

- once she found out she was wrong, she finally reciprocated Jason's flirting and asked him out for their first date

- Took the film class she met Shane and Jason in initially because it was the only available class of a credit type she needed. She's happy she took it in the end

- Both of her parents passed, and like Shane, was raised by her aunt. That aunt passed away while she was in college though :(

- got into gridball to be a supportive gf to Jason at first, but soon became a huge enjoyer of it and the Tunnelers specifically!

- very much the level-headed and chill one in the relationship, she keeps Jason down to Earth

- loves storytelling, and was great at it. She had a genuine gift for doing different voices and making the books she read sound fun. Her students loved it

- like Jason, is fairly tall, standing at 5'10

- Jas looks JUST like her, just with Jason's hair color. Everything else is like an exact duplicate of Amelia though

- loves jewelry, specifically fun and funky earrings! She has a decent collection of them

- an amazing cook, she just generally has the knack for it! She can look at pretty much any dish and know what she needs to do to make it

Jason

- he was a visual arts major, like Shane! He genuinely wanted to be a movie producer one day

- He was also on a gridball scholarship like Shane, and while it was a big passion, he didn't plan on going pro with it

- a very goofy and funny guy, flirted with Amelia using the corniest pick up lines (they worked though so he considers it a win)

- TOTAL WIFE GUY he loves Amelia very much and would do anything for her

- also a total girldad, he was so excited to find out he was having a daughter, like running down the street cheering excited

- his family disowned him after he came out as bisexual, so he really doesn't have anyone. This fact also helped him bond a lot with Amelia and Shane,, given that all three of them didn't have much family in life.

- he absolutely has a motorcycle and would take Amelia on scenic drives for their dates. She thought it was so romantic!

- he is VERYYYY tall, like 6'4

- very close with a lot of the guys on the varsity gridball team. He's a total social butterfly and has an easy time connecting with a lot of people

- he helps Amelia get out of her shell, just like she helps him stay more grounded

- tried to play a love song for Amelia on guitar for one of their dates. He does not know how to play guitar. She thought it was cute anyways :)

- was very nervous the first time Marnie invited him and Amelia over to the ranch for Winter Star. Since she looks more "traditional" and is religious it reminded him of his family and he was initially worried she'd be like them. She thankfully is not and is a very understanding and accepting person (Shane had to go "dude she helped pay for my top surgery what the hell are you worried about")

- worst cook on earth, he pours cereal into a bowl and it lights on fire (/j but he's BAD at it)

- dormed with Shane in college, they got up to so much stupid antics while rooming together /pos

BONUS height chart for the trio. Shane is so short bro

[plumbob-boy]

RetailSims Satanic Set

So I noticed RetailSims.com is gone now. It's likely due to internet decay and most likely permanently gone, so I have taken the liberty to reupload the Satanism Set from that site, which is pictured below.

The set comes with 16 objects, some of which have recolors. The objects are bundled in a collection you can see in residential or community lots. The Lady on Red and recolors have a dependency on CEP, the rest are standalone.

All items are from retailsims.com and are unaltered. If the original uploader, HChangeri from Retail Sims, wishes these to be taken down, please send me a message and let me know. Again, I take no credit for these items and am only reuploading to maintain community access because I love these cc items and can't live without them!!

Download (google drive) (simfileshare)

Edit: I guess I'm a few years late to the party and some awesome people already archived everything from retailsims. that's awesome! but……. I'm just gonna go ahead keep this up just because I already made the post :p

Description and pictures of each item and recolor below the cut:

The Great Book

Object with 8 recolors

This book isn't just good, it's grrrrrreat (and damn old). Mesh created by Maxis. Recolored and edited by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com

Inverted Pentagram End Table

Object with 4 recolors

This table sports not one but TWO inverted pentagrams for twice the evil. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com.

Decorative Inverted Pentagrams

3 separate objects each with 2 recolors

Large

Hang this around your evil lair just enhance the evilness and scare idiots away. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com

Medium

Slide a table under this inverted pentagram using the "moveobjects on" cheat for a wickedly evil altar adornment. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com

Small

A little piece of evilness for your darkest decorating needs. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com

Altar and Shelves of the Abyss

3 separate objects with no recolors

2-Tier Shelves

Shelves with that "just stepped out of hell" look to them. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com.

Table

An altar with that "just stepped out of hell" look. Perfect for Satanic Ritual, Necromancy, or for the uber goth look. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com.

1-Tier Floor Shelf

Shelves with that "just stepped out of hell" look to them. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com.

Lady on Red Recolors

6 Recolors of a Maxis base game object

No description available

Note: Likely requires CEP which can be downloaded from MTS

Seal of Baphomet

Object with 5 recolors

"1. Stupidity—The top of the list for Satanic Sins. The Cardinal Sin of Satanism. It’s too bad that stupidity isn’t painful. Ignorance is one thing, but our society thrives increasingly on stupidity. It depends on people going along with whatever they are told. The media promotes a cultivated stupidity as a posture that is not only acceptable but laudable. Satanists must learn to see through the tricks and cannot afford to be stupid." - The #1 Cardinal Sin in Satanism according to Anton Szandor LeVey (c) 1987 www.churchofsatan.com

Altar Candle

Object with no recolors

Pay homage to Old Nick the proper way with this Satanic Altar Candle modeled after one used by a Satanic High Priest (www.churchofsatan.com). Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com

Double Candle

Object with no recolors

When you put two evil things together you get……twice the evil (duh!) Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com

Large Banner

Object with no recolors

Celebrate the black mass properly with this banner depicting Baphomet and an inverted cross. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com.

Large Banner

Object with no recolors

Celebrate the black mass properly with this banner depicting an inverted cross. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com.

The Satanic Rituals

Object with no recolors

Every Satanic ritual altar needs a copy of The Satanic Rituals by Anton Szandor LaVey....so here you are. Created by HChangeri. www.retailsims.com

Note: Place the altar table first, then objects on both slots (candles are recommended), then with moveobjects cheat enabled, place the Satanic Rituals book in the center of the altar table.

Magick Ritual Tools

Object with no recolors

Includes Book of Shadows, Wand, Chalice, Athame, Bell, and Candles.

Note: A duplicate floating version of the object intended for use with the moveobjects cheat enabled is also included for more customizable placement options.

Collection

The collection file includes all items described above, as pictured.

[onecantsimply]

Head empty. Just here to ask Mistress reader spoiling Jack. Out and in bed.

Also WHY IS YOUR DAMN FRIEND'S BURNED CHICKEN HAUNTED MY DREAMS-

LMFAO MY FRIEND'S CHICKEN HAS THAT NIGHTMARE-ISH EFFECT-

Warnings: NSFW ahead- 

-

Please, you have managed to give Jack every treat possible. New clothes, new sweets, new tea sets, and sometimes money if you didn’t need it. But there is accounting for the affection you will always spoil Jack with. 

Holding his hand? He’ll hold on to it for as long as possible. Any time you let go, he can’t help but feel a bit cold and cling to your hand the next time he knows it’s available. 

Hugging him? Awfully warm and he can’t get enough of it. Most likely when you hug him is in private. Mostly in cuddle sessions in which Jack would sometimes love to be the little spoon in. He likes feeling every bit of warmth you hold, so having you cling to him is going to make him fold sooner or later. 

Kisses will always be given between you and him in private. While you particularly kiss him on the cheek or his lips, he may as well aim for any part of you- He thinks of you as perfection, so even kissing your hand is like kissing you directly. Oh, and if he ever does get that direct kiss, he may freeze up for a few seconds so start dragging him around if he doesn’t move by then. 

It is now confirmed that Jack is your bbg. Your Sugar Baby because you got the methods. You got the cheat codes, and the shit. 

You spoil him with the money you got from putting someone in chapter 13 bankruptcy. Don’t worry about how you get paid. You take DEBIT, CREDIT, CHECK, APPLE PAY, EBT, PAYPAL, ALL THAT. YOU EVEN OFFER A PAYMENT PLAN IF SOMEONE’S THAT DEEP IN THE TRENCHES. You probably just robbed this American and got 10mil in Cold, hard, CASH BRO. 

Jack found out you do that. A lot. And that’s how you buy him the most expensive of shit in the best of quality. While he is proud of it, he is also kind of scared of how you keep doing this- But still, Jack can’t have normal people in his life- Mans got a mistress with the METHODS. 

He’s just glad to see that he can make the best of tea- 

Mans saw you gambling once. 

“I’m actually putting my bread on the line, and you’re out here tryna kick the bucket. Put some respect on my name, hoe.”

You left with Jack following after, knowing damn well that some frustration was going to be taken out on him in bed- 

NSFW AHEAD

Alright. As a mistress, you got the best opportunities to spoil Jack. Whether it be kissing his body all over and giving him the smallest of touches that make him lean into your touch with a faintly needy moan. Due to how you two have experience with this kind of thing... you know damn well of where Jack’s sweet spots are, so you abuse them. A lot. 

He believes he doesn’t deserve you in bed. Think you can overstimulate him just by touching him? Yeah. You can- You did it more than once- Just a little bit of edging and whispering your intents towards him. Trail some butterfly kisses down his chest and you’ll have this man calling you mommy. 

Blowjobs and fondling his balls may as well have him fold. Jack will lose every single time. It’s even easier to overstimulate him when you know the weak points in his dick. 

Let’s not forget any toys here. He is spoiled in those types of toys as well. Sometimes he has to use some of them when you aren’t available. They’re not as effective as getting a handjob, blowjob, or fuck session from you in general, but he knows damn well that this is what he has to deal with. 

Toys and your touch is impossible to edge him. He’s already excited enough that you’re watching a toy harden him up for you, so the fact that he might receive a blowjob or handjob right after always has him ready to cum at the slightest of touches you give. 

Depending on how hard you go right off the bat, Jack might be calling you mommy, or he’ll be trying to remember to call you mistress. It makes it even worse to get praised for how he’s being because of how much you’re already milking him. 

If you want to take it slow, Jack is completely fine with it- To be completely put in your hold is what he’s been adjusted to for the entire time you’ve been his mistress. Within thirty minutes, he’s trying to hold back a release while you’re watching him from above, crushing his balls under you. 

To get spoiled with the bliss of your touch, as well as the praise and looks you give him always has him going feral one way or another. He knows damn well he can’t win against you like this, especially with the edition of toys, as well as his kinks. 

He always loses. Lmao-

[luthwhore]

i am buying a house, and (maybe) you can too!

so... you want to buy a house, but you don't make a lot of money and you have no way to save up the recommended 10% recommended downpayment on a mortgage, which means you're basically going to be stuck renting forever, right?

well... actually, maybe not!

this post is going to be very US-centric, so i cannot speak to the homebuying experience in other countries, but if you live in the united states... you might be able to buy a house for much less up front than you might think!

this is gonna get long, but the main things you'll need are:

a credit score in the low- to mid-600s. this can vary by program, but most down payment assistance programs require somewhere between a 620 and 660. (i might make a second post at some point about credit scores bc fixing my credit score was a long and arduous process.)

enough in savings to cover a few up-front expenses. there are a couple of things that the down payment assistance programs won't cover. for me, we ended up having to pay ~$1500 up front total, which - to put it in perspective - is less than the deposit and move-in fees were going to be at most apartments in our area.

that's basically it! if you can do those two things, you might be able to buy a house!

let's talk about the details.

programs vary by state, but most states have down payment assistance programs of one kind or another. there's also a federal USDA loan program which is $0 down as well, but is only available in rural areas.

these programs WILL usually require you to have a certain credit score, usually somewhere in the 600s. (the particular program my housemates and i are using requires a minimum 640, but some require a higher or lower credit score than that.)

usually your first step is speak to a mortgage lender. the mortgage lender i'm working with is only available in the state of tennessee and not all mortgage companies accept all down payment assistance options, so i would research options in your state and then check to see if the programs have a list of preferred lenders and/or loan officers.

this sounds scary, but my loan officer has been a life-saver during this process. generally your loan officer wants to help you succeed, particularly when they know you're a first time home owner. tell your loan officer that you're going to be a first time home owner and you're interested in a $0 down payment program. they can run the numbers and see if you qualify, and if so, how much you can qualify for.

you can have multiple people on the mortgage with you, but everyone on the mortgage has to meet the credit score requirement.

if you do qualify, also talk to your loan officer about how much you can pay per month for a mortgage, too, since this might also impact what price range you're shopping in.

you'll also want a real estate agent. (trust me on this. you want a real estate agent.) my loan officer recommended a real estate agent to me and we quite literally could not have done this without him. your real estate agent does a lot more than just help you find houses to look at. they will also point out things that you might not know to look for and will also help negotiate with the seller for you.

when you talk to your real estate agent, tell them you are using a down payment assistance program and that you will need the seller to cover your closing costs. closing costs, for reference, are a bunch of small expenses that are paid when you officially sign the mortgage. typically both the buyer and the seller have separate closing costs, but it's fairly normal for buyers to ask the seller to pay for their closing costs for them in the current market. your real estate agent can then negotiate for this for you.

if the seller covers your closing costs and you can get approved for down payment assistance, there are only three things you will probably have to pay for out of pocket:

"earnest money." this is a small sum of money you pay to hold the house after the seller accepts your bid. (in our case, we paid $500 for our earnest money.)

the home inspection. our home inspection was also about $500, though the price of this could vary based on where you live.

the home appraisal. for us this was also about $500, though again, this could vary based on where you live.

and that's basically it! obviously talk with your loan officer and real estate agent about the cost of these things bc they might not be the same cost for you as they were for me, but for us, this ended up actually being cheaper than moving into a new apartment!

[classicquid]

Short Term Loans UK Low-Interest: Variations in Lender Terms and Conditions

People may need to look through a large number of company names before they find one when they finally put in the effort to find a direct bank that offers short term loans UK. For people that prioritize working with loan specialists, have previously worked with one, or have heard positive things about a certain company, their search is quite straightforward. In order to obtain the greatest credit practices, some people could go directly to their bank. You might end up using your bank or finding a reputable short term loans UK direct lender expert with cheap interest rates, depending on how you appear.

Should you reach the end of your loan term and find that you do not have sufficient funds in your account to reimburse the short term loans UK, you will face several challenges. If the assets aren't available, your bank will charge you an overdraft fee. The advance firm will try to swap the assets from your record. At that point, the creditor will charge you a fee for failing to pay the advance and carry it over to the following pay period. Your debt will continue to grow as a result of the high interest rates that will continue to be applied to the credit.

Family finances have been managed by people for a long time with limited or nonexistent charge card use. Some folks don't require a debit card; they just appreciate making payments with short term cash loans. Some persons were unable to use credit because they misused it or made mistakes with the obligation partition. Credit-tested people approach quite a bit of what the credit customers of the world have had easily accessible, since the majority of bank platinum cards may also be used as Master Cards. There's no sense of accumulated intrigue or fear of obligations. Charge cards directly deduct payment from your account balance. You will be responsible for overdraft fees and dealer non-funding fees if you are unable to make the installment payment.

You may require something as simple as basic supplies suddenly running out, or you may need something more substantial like extra money to pay for a wedding band or a big festival. Even though you may be certain that you can pay back any platinum card advances by your next paycheck, these advances come with a lot of risks. The repayment period for these short term loans UK direct lender is typically fourteen days, and the interest rate is typically between fifteen and thirty percent over that period. Though translated into an annual percentage rate (APR), that is an incredible 390 percent to 780 percent - far, absolutely more than the most over the top Visa charges. That may not appear like much more than charge card financing fees.

Since you can now compare loans online, getting turned down by your bank doesn't mean the end of the world. Classic Quid is one of many lenders that could be able to provide you with a short term loans direct lenders even if your credit score isn't the best. Because we recognize that your past financial performance may not accurately reflect your current circumstances, lenders will consider your current financial status when determining whether you will likely be able to repay a £1,000 loan if you have poor credit.

https://classicquid.co.uk/

[gynotai]

X-DAY

HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY TO X-DAY!!!!!

X-DAY, a game with 3 seperate versions (all lost), released on January 1st 1994, according to this pdf mentioning the games that Namco no longer supported service for as of July 2015. It's a combination of a quiz and fortune game that determines when you will die using your answers to questions and reaction time. This game is much more famous for its thankfully available sequel X-DAY2 and the remix X-DAY2000 in the Taiko No Tatsujin series. Despite the fairly high popularity of 2 and the release of soundtrack CDs for both games, the first X-DAY game remains lost, alongside its Web conversion (while the site is available via Wayback Machine, the game itself is seemingly inaccessible) and i-Mode port (old phone games like this aren't preserved very well generally, Namco had a bunch of these that are now lost). There are no gameplay videos of any version online, as far as I can tell, and I have yet to find actual cabinet photos either...

The X-DAY series is fairly known for its soundtracks, with both 1 and 2 having Namco Game Sound Express CDs, which are both heavily 90s Dance influenced and have a pretty intense sound to them, which seems to throw people off for a fortune game. The first game's in-game music was all done by Ayako Saso, but the arrange tracks on the album were by Ayako Saso, Shinji Hosoe and Nobuyoshi Sano. The second game was seemingly all done by Akihiko Ishikawa, with credits for the previous game's composer and arrangers as multiple songs in 2 were sequenced conversions of 1's arrange tracks. Ishikawa converted the remixes from 1 and also created the new FOX-day and FIX-day tracks.

I've never seen an image of an X-DAY 1 cabinet that isn't the same promotional one, sadly, as it seems most of them were converted into 2 cabinets. If you pay attention to images of X-DAY 2 cabinets, you can see that some look a bit different in their casing, having the physical features of a 1 cabinet. There are very few screenshots and the only ones I have ever found are from official promotional media and the CD. The machine also printed receipts showcasing your results, at least there are plenty of images of those around.

[This post is more focusing on X-DAY1 but just a fun fact about 2: it's actually surprisingly really progressive for a fortune game of the time (1996), featuring the ability to have gay relationships and also even having options for trans players! Funnily enough, relationships get referred to officially by the game as "Super" if one member is trans, and "Ultra" if both members are trans, which explains the song names "FOX-day - Ultra gay edit" and "FOX-day - Super les edit". Another bonus fact, there's a doujin X68000 game based on 1 called Super X-DAY X.]

Also thanks to X-DAY for getting me into this whole obscure arcade thing in general! The music led me down a rabbit hole.

[thessalian]

Thess vs "Help Desks”

Sweet blessed gods, if people are going to try to phase out and or cheap out on phone helpdesk staff for the sake of their bottom line, they could at least do it competently. I’ve been using automated phone trees of one type or another for a long time, since the days when “hold the line while we transfer you to an operator” meant “some people are still using a rotary dial phone”, and it’s amazing to me how they get smarter and yet somehow more ridiculous every time I turn around.

There’s a thing I’ve been dealing with at the behest of my parentals regarding my state pension. Basically, over here, your state pension is based on your National Insurance contributions, and you have to have 35 years of full National Insurance contributions before you can get your full state pension. Thing is, because I worked as a temp a lot, there are a lot of years when I didn’t make a full contribution, and there weren’t National Insurance credits available for a lot of reasons. (It doesn’t help that I was allowed and in fact encouraged to use a temporary National Insurance number for years and it doesn’t look like those years count towards my state pension now, even though I paid above the odds those years. Ugh.) Now, theoretically, if everything goes to plan, I should be able to claim my full state pension because I’ve got fifteen years of full contributions as of this tax year and I’m not due to claim my state pension until 2044. Or later, because they might change the laws on that again; wouldn’t put it past the government as is. Anyway, point is, I should be fine. But it’s possible I won’t be fine, because I am, after all, disabled. Also, let’s face it - my luck with jobs has been made of dogshit for ... well, most of my life, if you think about it. My luck’s holding so far but shit does happen, often, and often to me. So anyway, the point of all this is that you’re allowed to make voluntary contributions towards your state pension for the last five years that a full contribution wasn’t made. My parentals intend to make that voluntary contribution to take five years’ worth of pressure off my quest for a full state pension. Which is nice of them.

Now, if they just didn’t make it so damn complicated to give them money in that way, that’d be great.

They tell you to go to the website and follow the instructions to pay online or by direct debit. They don’t tell you that you need an 18-digit reference number until the box requesting one is staring you in the face. You actually have to go to ancillary information sources (non-HMRC help sites) just to find out how to get that 18-digit reference number they’re apparently so hot for. There are apparently two options for getting one: write to them and wait two weeks while they send one back by post, or call.

However, their automated voice-recognition phone tree piece of bullshit does not understand the difference between National Insurance reference number and National Insurance number. There is a difference. One you get given on a card so you can write it down on tax documents (like a social security number); the other is a very specific number used only by HMRC internally to deal with voluntary National Insurance contributions. However, the automated phone tree does not recognise this difference, so giving it the key phrase “National Insurance reference number” is useless. So is “voluntary National Insurance contributions”, and similar phrases. It’s not that the automated phone tree doesn’t understand it to a point; it just doesn’t recognise it as something I literally need to speak to a human being to sort out. Thus it just says, “Our lines are busy, look up the information online, good-bye”, and hangs up. No option to ask to speak to an advisor, nothing. Just “Check our website; bye. *clik*”

It took awhile, but I finally figured out how to actually speak with a human being in this instance. Every time it repeated the Google-perfect phrase I gave it and asked, “Is that correct?” ... I said “no”. Even if it technically was. See, at that point, deliberately playing obtuse is the only way to go, and even then it was a nightmare. First they just let me try again - “Is this correct?” “No.” Then it suggested some key phrases I could give it as search terms. I picked one that sounded close-ish but no cigar - “Is this correct?” “No.” Then it gave me even simpler verbal options that really did sound like basic Google search terms - “Is this correct?” “No.” Finally, they gave me a number menu, and at the end of that list was “To speak to an advisor, press 4″. They went all the way around the houses to make it as hard as possible to speak to a human being, because every one of the options I was given in the first three tries were designed to point you at the website and hang up on you. I know because I tried them on and off for a fair bit of last week.

Then I spent over an hour on hold. I can’t blame them that much because we are coming on to tax season but especially when you consider how hard that phone tree works to shunt all callers to the website ... fucking hell. All of that for an eventual conversation with a pleasant lady who asked a couple of questions, seemed grateful I had all the information she wanted to hand, and dealt with the whole thing in three minutes.

Don’t even get me started on the power company. On one hand, it’s a little easier to get to the “please hold for an advisor” stage. Not much, but a little. On the other hand, I’m pretty sure they outsource most if not all of their call center and web help staff overseas. Leaving aside the whole “You’re just outsourcing this work overseas so you can get a service while drastically underpaying your staff ... more than you can get away with here, anyway” problem, the other issue there is that if you’re providing call centre services to a company that does business in an English-speaking country ... it might be good if you at the very least made sure the staff providing the services can actually speak English to a reasonable degree. It’s hard to say that without worrying that I’m judging these people for not speaking English, but I swear I’m not judging. I don’t expect them to speak English because I’m fairly sure they’re not in England, or in any other country that speaks English as its first language, come to that. This is bad enough when it’s the web chat help system, where it’s pretty obvious that the person at the other end just copy-pasted your question into a FAQ search and then copy-pasted the result back to you without necessarily knowing what it said; it’s worse when it’s a human being and you need three tries for what effectively boils down to “I want to check my balance” but is a bit more complicated than that.

I’m sure that companies were wetting themselves in sheer joy when technology allowed for the automation of something vaguely resembling a help desk. Thing is, as my brother-from-another-mother says, computers are just very fast idiots. They will do exactly what you tell them, and only exactly what you tell them, and if your request deviates even a little from their parameters of what a request looks like, they will throw a fit. As for outsourcing overseas ... like I said, I don’t blame the people on the other end of the phone or web chat who don’t speak English very well. I blame the people who hire them on at ludicrously low pay and horrific hours and then setting them up for hours of abuse from customers who are a lot less polite than I am about their understandable inability to speak fluent English when they live in a country that doesn’t.

I think this pisses me off to a greater degree than usual these days because of a certain piece of rhetoric regarding jobs and people in this country doing them since the fucking Brexit referendum. They yell about “foreigners taking our jobs” while throwing ones that would actually be perfect for people in this country on a work-from-home basis - for the disabled, carers for small children or vulnerable adults, even for second jobs that wouldn’t require even more time spent on commuting - at places with fewer employment rights and minimum wage laws, which only results in a worse service and more stressed staff. If the xenophobes in this country don’t want “foreigners taking our jobs”, maybe they should demand that we stop throwing 'our jobs’ at ‘foreigners’ in a massively exploitative model that does nothing but fatten the profit margins of the CEOs. And also maybe don’t throw it at computers that require a certain specificity to function in a helpful way, when help desks are generally called by people who don’t have specifics - THAT IS WHY THEY ARE CALLING FOR HELP.

I mean, I think a lot of this boils down to “stop using technology to exploit people in the name of The Great God ECONOMY, you shitheads”, but with specific examples and a lot of frustration.

[ehwesson]

What To Know Before You Start Using Poshmark

Disclaimer: This isn’t a plug for Poshmark but Im seeing more and more ads and posts about it so I wanted to share my experience to help other people make more money from it and not fall into any scams.

Poshmark is an app meant to let you sell your old clothes with very little hassle. I started using Poshmark this month (1/30/2023) and have made 6 sales (about $100) at the time of this post. So here’s my advice and experience. This isn’t a complete guide and I’ll update as I go. If you have any questions or think something should be added let me know.

Poshmark has a lot of girlboss mlm energy. It’s not an mlm but a lot of people grind on this app like it is. There are a lot of features and notifications and can be overwhelming but if you keep your head down and just list your stuff, you’ll make some spare change. And if you’re like me $100 helps alot.

Making an Account:

USE A FRIEND CODE TO GET AN ACCOUNT. This gives you a $10 credit and free 2 day shipping. Most clothes aren’t over $10. So you get a free piece of clothing. I gave my wife my friend code and she was able to get a tomboyx compression bra for FREE. If you don’t have a friend code, you can use mine: EHWESSON. You can share your own friend code after you make an account to help out another person.

Use your email to make an account. DONT use google connect or link your social media UNLESS you plan on advertising on those platforms. Otherwise using a stand alone email is the safest way to not get locked out of your account.

The First 24 Hours of Making an Account:

The app is going to automatically make a post for you. It will show up on your “closet” titled: “meet the posher”. You can delete this but you cant opt out if it. It’s basically an introduction and uses your profile picture as the cover.

You are going to be flooded with follows, shares and comments by middle aged women and bots. When you share a new comers posts, you get share credits so a lot of people sit around and wait for new people to bombard them. This isn’t a bad thing, you get free followers and shares. I got 400 followers in the first hour. But it’s best you turn off your notifications for the first day or two.

The app automatically makes you follow 150 ish ambassadors. You can unfollow these people but you can’t opt out of it at first.

Poshmark notifications is all or nothing (at least for android). On my other selling apps I only have notifications for sales and messages but Poshmark only allows you see all of it or none of it. So I choose none and just check my email occasionally to see if I made a sale.

Make sure your shipping address and payment method are correct. There are a lot of one click buys (like when you accept an offer) and automated processes (like the shipping label being generated for your sales)

Listing Your First Item:

Take pictures of your clothes with the measurements. I lay my clothes on a plain background and lay a measuring tape on the waist and one from top to bottom to show the measurement in inches. I also take a picture of the tag with the size visible. Poshmark doesn’t allow returns for sizing. So if you can prove you had the measurements available, you’ll win the dispute.

Bundles. Shipping is $8 two day express usps shipping on every item. Thats mandatory for Poshmark purchasing. The seller is not responsible for the shipping cost, the buyer is. But that’s really expensive. So people usually opt in to do bundles. Where they can buy several items from your closet and only pay one shipping fee. When people make a bundle on your shop, you can offer them discounts to encourage buying. Bundling is a way poshmark tries to encourage sellers to list as much as possible to get more bundle sales.

Offering discounts. When someone likes your listing you have the option to offer a discount that expires in 24 hours. Poshmark takes a cut of all your earnings so plan accordingly while pricing. Discounts are a minimum of 10% and shipping is a minimum $2 discount. You have to discount both the price and shipping when you offer a discount.

Decline or counter all offers that have you losing or making very little money. If you accept an offer, it’s binding

First Sale What To Do:

Poshmark automatically sends you a pre made shipping label to your email after 3 hours. The 3 hours is a grace period for the buyer to cancel the order.

You don’t get your money released to you until the buyer rates you or it’s been four days after delivery. You have the option to message the buyer to please rate you but I just avoid it.

General Things To Note:

Redeemable balance is money you can withdrawal

Poshmark balance can only be spent on poshmark

Poshmark will encourage you to immediately spend your earnings back into the app, don’t fall for it unless you really need new clothes

Your closet is where it’s free to list your old clothes, a boutique is a paid service similar to Mercari. You pay to list items and have them advertised. Don’t sign up for a boutique.

Things To Avoid (As a Buyer and a Seller)

Lots (multiple pieces of clothing in one listing) of clothing for very cheap

Clothing that has been listed for long periods of time or has a ton of unanswered comments

Auctions, lives, comments from others begging you for shares

Avoid/block messages of people asking you specifically for photos of you in the clothing or asking for specifically used clothing (like underwear)

Posh Parties. You will get a notification for a new posh party every time you log on. These are great ways to get overwhelmed and buy things you don’t need.

Poshmark ambassadors. The people who grind on this app as a job. They will pull you under.

Thrift store lurkers. People with a ton of expensive nice vintage clothes listed that are all very different styles and sizes. These people will drive up prices like crazy and will just keep doing this.

I do NOT recommend this app for people with gambling or shopping addictions. It all can be very overwhelming and you can be easily swept away by the constant posting, notifications, “price drops”, sales, etc.

[taxconsultadelaide]

Smart Tax Advice for College Students and Recent Grads

Navigating the world of taxes can feel overwhelming, especially for college students and recent graduates just starting their financial journey. Smart tax advice isn’t just for seasoned professionals; it’s crucial for anyone looking to maximise their refunds and minimise liabilities. As you transition from student life to the working world, understanding the ins and outs of tax deductions, credits, and filing options can significantly impact your financial health. 

In this blog, we’ll break down essential tax advice in adelaide tailored for young adults, empowering you to make informed decisions and set a solid foundation for your future financial success. Let’s dive in!

The Importance of Understanding Taxes

As the saying goes, “The only certainties in life are death and taxes.” While it may not be the most uplifting quote, it’s true! Understanding your tax obligations is essential, especially as a college student or recent grad. The earlier you grasp the basics, the more prepared you'll be to handle your finances.

1. Learn About Your Tax Obligations

You might think, “I’m just a student; how could I have tax obligations?” Well, you’d be surprised! You may need to file a tax return if you earned any income during your studies—whether from a part-time job, internship, or freelance work.

According to recent data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), approximately 83% of young Australians between 18 and 24 are now required to lodge a tax return. 

2. Take Advantage of Tax Deductions and Credits

One of the best benefits of being a student is the number of deductions and credits available. There are several ways to save money on your taxes, from education expenses to student loan interest.

For example, you may qualify for the Education Tax Refund or other educational credits that can significantly lower your tax bill. In South Australia alone, over 50% of students claimed at least one tax deduction related to their education in the last tax year. Consulting professionals for tax advice in Adelaide can help you identify which deductions and credits apply to your situation, saving you a lot of money!

3. Keep Accurate Records

You might not think about bookkeeping as a student, but keeping track of your financial documents is crucial. Whether it’s pay stubs, tuition receipts, or records of your student loans, having everything organised will make tax season much smoother.

Consider using apps or software to track your income and expenses. Not only will this help come tax time, but it’ll also give you a better understanding of your financial situation throughout the year. According to a survey conducted by the ATO, about 65% of young Australians admitted to not keeping adequate records, which can lead to lost deductions.

4. Choose the Right Tax Filing Method

When tax season rolls around, you’ll need to decide whether to file your taxes yourself or enlist the help of a professional. 

If your tax situation is complex or if you simply want peace of mind, seeking tax advice in Adelaide can make a world of difference. As a reminder, around 40% of younger taxpayers in Adelaide seek professional tax advice to ensure they maximise their returns.

5. Plan for the Future

Finally, as you step into the world of work, it’s essential to think ahead. Will you be freelancing? Starting a new job? Each scenario has different tax implications. It’s wise to plan for the future and stay informed about how your tax obligations may change.

Conclusion

Navigating taxes as a college student or recent grad doesn’t have to be daunting. With the proper knowledge and support of tax advice in Adelaide, you can confidently tackle your tax obligations. Remember, being proactive about your taxes can lead to significant savings and peace of mind.

So, take a deep breath, embrace this new chapter, and don’t overlook the importance of smart tax advice. 

Source From : Smart Tax Advice for College Students and Recent Grads

[vcpphones2]

Best Mobile SIM Plans

With big carriers like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile offering an abundance of plans, it can be difficult to select a plan aligned with your usage needs. Prepaid plans tend to offer cheaper cellular data packages and no contract or credit checks.

For instance, Tello offers unlimited calls and texts on the T- best mobile sim plans network, plus free hotspot data for $25/month. However, its data speeds slow down after 35GB.

1.       Eiotclub

Eiotclub provides high-quality network coverage with an eSIM that is embedded in your device. It also offers a range of features and benefits, such as advanced privacy and security protection, tethering device management and real-time data usage monitoring. You can also easily create shared data plans and name your SIM cards to clearly identify their purpose for easy management. Additionally, the company’s app allows you to view your data usage anytime and anywhere. The company also has excellent customer support and competitive pricing.

2.       Mint Mobile

If you want a plan that’s prepaid and based on the T-Mobile network, then you should definitely check out Mint Mobile. The carrier is known for great phone support, solid download speeds, and a variety of plans to suit any data usage needs. It also offers a seven-day money back guarantee for new customers, making it one of the safest prepaid wireless providers to try.

The company offers a basic 5GB plan for only $15 per month but this rate is only available if you pre-pay 12 months of service upfront. Anyone who is able to do this will enjoy one of the lowest monthly rates in the industry.

However, Mint Mobile’s T-Mobile network is not as good as Tello’s in terms of reliability and speed, and its unlimited plan only offers 35 GB of high-speed data before your speeds are slowed. It’s still a great option for low to mid-data users, though. Mint Mobile also offers a family plan for a lower per-month price.

3.       Lycamobile

Lycamobile is a popular choice among consumers looking for a flexible mobile service provider that can suit their data and international calling needs. It offers a wide range of 12-month plans with blazingly fast 5G capabilities, as well as affordable international call add-ons to help you stay connected.

It also allows you to bring your own unlocked device and keep your existing phone number hassle-free. The plans come with various monthly data amounts and are loaded with benefits like free international calling to over 100 countries. Additionally, you can earn $5 free credit when you refer friends to mobile sim plans!

In terms of customer support, Lycamobile has a low Better Business Bureau rating. However, its user-friendly website and app make it easy to manage your account and plan. If comprehensive customer support is a priority, then it’s best to opt for major U.S. carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, which offer a wider range of eSIM-compatible plans and extensive network coverage.

4.       US Mobile

US Mobile is a budget-friendly MVNO with competitive plans that use Verizon and TMobile networks. They offer talk and text and international data roaming (Canada and Mexico) as add-ons to their unlimited plans.

They offer family plans with by-the-gig data, as well as a low-data plan at an affordable price point. The Unlimited Premium plan includes a staggering amount of high-speed data, and they even include a hotspot for their most expensive plan!

US Mobile's feature that sets them apart from other MVNOs is their ability to transfer plans between their network partners. This is a rare option, and allows for an excellent level of flexibility. For example, if you activate on the Warp 5G network but find that T-Mobile offers better coverage in your area, you can easily switch to the TMobile network with just a few clicks in their online dashboard. This is a great benefit for families that want to switch networks and save money.

[my-music-1460]

From Licensing to Streaming: The Full Journey of Distributing a Cover Song

Creating a cover song is a fantastic way to showcase your musical talent and pay homage to the artists who inspire you. However, the process of distributing a cover song is not as simple as uploading it to Spotify or Apple Music. There are essential legal and technical steps to follow, from obtaining the necessary licenses to ensuring that your song is correctly formatted for streaming platforms. For many independent artists, the journey from recording a cover song to seeing it live on streaming platforms can be daunting, but with the right strategy, it becomes a manageable and rewarding experience.

This article will guide you through the entire process of distributing a cover song, helping you navigate the legal, technical, and marketing aspects involved. Whether you're an emerging artist looking to gain exposure or an experienced musician wanting to connect with a wider audience, this comprehensive guide will ensure that your cover song release is smooth and successful.

1. Understanding the Legalities of Cover Song Distribution

Before you can even think about distributing a cover song, you need to ensure you have the proper legal permissions. In most cases, this means securing a mechanical license—a legal requirement for distributing recordings of cover songs. Unlike original songs, cover songs involve using someone else’s copyrighted work, and the original creator is entitled to compensation.

There are several services where you can obtain mechanical licenses, such as the Harry Fox Agency, TuneCore, and Easy Song Licensing. These platforms allow you to secure the necessary licenses in a relatively straightforward manner. Without this step, you risk facing copyright infringement issues, which could lead to your cover song being taken down or even legal repercussions.

2. Preparing Your Cover Song for Distribution

Once you’ve secured the appropriate licenses, the next step is preparing your cover song for distribution. This includes the technical aspects, such as audio mastering, tagging, and ensuring that your track’s metadata is accurate. Correct metadata is crucial for proper crediting and discoverability on streaming platforms. You’ll need to input details like the original song’s title, the composer’s name, and your role as the performing artist.

When preparing your track, pay close attention to the audio quality. Make sure the song is professionally mixed and mastered to meet the standards of major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Poor audio quality could negatively impact your song’s reception, even if the performance is strong.

3. Choosing the Right Distribution Platform

Choosing the right distribution platform is critical when distributing a cover song. There are numerous digital music distributors available, each with its pros and cons. DistroKid, TuneCore, and Ditto Music are among the most popular choices for independent artists. These platforms allow you to upload your music to multiple streaming services simultaneously, including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and more.

DistroKid: Known for its affordability and ease of use, DistroKid offers unlimited uploads for a flat annual fee.

TuneCore: A more premium option, TuneCore charges per release but offers additional features like mechanical licensing services and detailed analytics.

Ditto Music: Ditto provides flexible pricing plans and a user-friendly interface, making it ideal for artists just starting out with cover song distribution.

Make sure to choose a distributor that supports cover song licensing if you haven’t already secured your license. Some platforms, like TuneCore, offer this service as part of their distribution package.

4. Uploading to Streaming Platforms

After choosing your distributor, it’s time to upload your song. During the upload process, you’ll need to provide essential information such as:

Song Title: Make sure to include the word "Cover" in the title if required by the platform.

Artist Name: Use your stage name or band name, as this will appear on streaming platforms.

Metadata: Ensure that the songwriters and original creators are properly credited to avoid any issues with royalties or claims.

Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music use metadata to categorize and display your song. Missteps in this area could affect how your cover is listed or searched, making it difficult for listeners to find.

5. Promoting Your Cover Song

Once your cover song is uploaded, the work doesn’t stop there. Promotion is key to ensuring that your cover song reaches its intended audience. Here are some strategies to get the most out of distributing a cover song:

Social Media Campaigns: Promote your cover song across your social media channels, including Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Tease short clips of the song before its release to build excitement.

YouTube Promotion: Upload a music video or lyric video of your cover song to YouTube. YouTube is a massive platform for music discovery, and covers often perform well if accompanied by engaging visuals.

Submit to Playlists: Playlists are a powerful tool for getting your cover song heard. Platforms like Spotify allow you to pitch your song to curators for inclusion in editorial or user-generated playlists.

Fan Engagement: Interact with your fans by hosting live listening parties or Q&A sessions on platforms like Instagram Live or Facebook. Ask fans to share your cover song and include it in their personal playlists.

6. Monitoring Your Cover Song’s Performance

After the song is live, it's important to monitor its performance. Many distribution platforms, such as DistroKid and TuneCore, offer analytics that show how many streams your song is getting, which platforms are performing best, and where your listeners are located. This data can help you fine-tune your marketing efforts and focus on platforms or regions where your cover song is gaining traction.

In addition, tools like Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists provide valuable insights into playlist placements, listener demographics, and stream counts. Use these analytics to understand your audience and plan future promotions or releases.

Conclusion

The journey of distributing a cover song involves several critical steps, from securing the appropriate licenses to ensuring your song is properly tagged and formatted for streaming platforms. Although the process can seem daunting at first, understanding and executing each stage effectively will significantly enhance your chances of success. Remember, distributing a cover song isn't just about getting it live on platforms—it's also about promoting it, engaging with your audience, and monitoring its performance.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can turn your cover song into a valuable asset that not only pays homage to the original artist but also showcases your own musical talent. With the right approach to distribution and marketing, your cover song could be the key to reaching a wider audience and expanding your fanbase.