u.s. folks: your digital life is about to be radically altered if these laws are enacted.
platforms and tech companies have been taking significant steps over the past few years to comply in advance.
one thing is clear: OS-level verification and app-level autosurveillance capabilities that use facial scanning and deep metadata analysis are fundamentally incompatible with a free internet.
make your calls and emails as soon as possible.
Within the next week, Congress is preparing to vote on the KIDS Act, a sprawling package of legislation that seeks to control Americans’ web browsing and private messaging. The package includes a revised version of the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, combined with a collection of other internet bills, study bills, reporting requirements, and new regulations. Instead of debating any of these proposals on their merits, lawmakers are attempting to move them all at once under an ultra-expedited process.
Buried inside the KIDS Act are provisions that will push online services to verify all users’ ages, require government-directed moderation p
the KIDS ACT, which includes a version of KOSA, has made it through the House. There is also a Senate version of KOSA which has not. as of right now, KOSA is not law, it's still going through the legislative process.
this entire package is v messy, requiring companies to moderate speech on big topics that come up a lot in everyday life. it's not just about giving companies permission to violate your privacy, but making it mandatory to read and surveil everything-- including your DMs.
meaning: corporate social apps will spring for the most restrictive forms of age-vetting and invasive moderation to avoid lawsuits.
full details here.
ok, now what?
contact your Senator's office and send them an email based on the EFF's template about the Kids Act as well as KOSA. Making calls and emails by over the next week ensures that internet censorship concerns are what they'll be hearing about first day back on July 13.
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And a second bingo card for my other Shadow, Nico Mercar. Soft launched his existence in this fic so I’m posting a bit more about him :)
Unfortunately for him his dad sucks, unlike Elio 😔. (This is why Uncle Charon’s the 🐐) so he gets a bingo
POV: your bff accidentally blighted the city so now you’re dying and considering leaving the Templars for the Grey Wardens (and the hot monster hunter you met)
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An absolutely breathtaking YCH commission of Davrin and Wyll by @drathe!!! The details were executed perfectly! They look so tender and in love, I can barely breathe. Bladewarden, my beloved! 😭💙
"Come now, Mr. Lavellan—surely we can work something out, hm?"
Ayla snickered under her breath as Emmrich cooed his futile little pleas up against the storage room door. "This is all quite unnecessary, I assure you!"
She rolled her eyes. "You're wastin' your breath, Em." Ayla hopped up on a shelf and leaned back, kicking her feet and laughing again when he rolled his eyes too, ignoring her.
"My dear Mr. Lavellan, surely as a man of reason, a fellow scientist, you must—"
He was interrupted by Tal's loud, scathing laughter from the other side of the door.
"Nope!"
...good ol' Varric sings an original song...🐮
"Cows?!"
"Don't judge me until you've read the whole thing," he said, holding up his hands in protest.
Ayla rolled her eyes but did as the idiot said, snickering while she did—even more so when Emmrich read it over her shoulder and joined in.
"You know that tune 'Gals Around'?" Varric asked, humming it under his breath.
"'Course, sugar."
"Great. Well, just replace 'gals' with 'cows,' and you're halfway there."
She threw her head back against Em's chest in a loud cackle.
"Oh, this is gonna be good."
...and Emmrich makes a confession. 👀
"My darling, girl. Please forgive me." He squeezed Ayla's hand where he held it between his, and let out another long, tortured sigh.
"…There's something I must tell you."
Ep. 10 | The Dead Wife 🪦
A Nugflix Original Series
Directed by @sunny374940 & @mushrooms-x-moss
THIS EPISODE'S GOT:
🔥 Ayla doing a bit
💞 Idiots in Love
👶 A babysittin' Tal
🪦 Dead Wife Lore™️
🐮 And Varric's COW SONG
READY FOR A PINT AT THE GRIFFON? 🍺
READ NOW ON AO3!
Episode vibe check & another sneak peek below!
Dedicated to Thana Ingellvar, my pal @guacamolleee's Rook, and Emmrich's tragically deceased wife. RIP, sugar. 💕
𐚁 Ayla, preparing to sing a Varric original (apparently)
Ayla gave Emmrich another lingering kiss before following Antoine up onto the stage. Varric joined them, loudly clearing his throat to get everyone's attention. And it worked…
…but not well enough.
"HEY! Y'ALL ARE GONNA WANT TO HEAR THIS ONE!" she hollered, winking at Em when he snickered.
"The fuck is she yelling about?" Tal asked, disentangling himself from Bull to join him at Edwin's table. Tally boy and Bull must have had a fun afternoon, she reckoned, given the giant grins they had on both their faces.
Ayla heard Emmrich snicker again before replying, "My dear Mr. Lavellan, I'm afraid you'll just have to find out for yourself."
Tal made a horrified expression and glanced back up at the stage, and now it was Ayla's turn to snicker as she counted them down, her fingers flying as she plucked the familiar tune on her guitar.
Then Varric downed the rest of his pint and started to sing.
Well, everything is better with some cows around
Livin' in town sometimes brings me down
Let me bestow this western blessing and share what I have found
May you always have cows around
The bar had exploded into hootin' and hollerin', but of course, Ayla didn't have eyes for really anyone else besides Emmrich, who was laughing along with Bull and staring at her with the sweetest, most adorable fucking look on his face.
C'mon you know that you got too much time on your hands
Not merely enough complication in your plans
You need to invite all the frustration that you can
May you always have cows around
Ayla finally managed to pull her attention away from her handsome doctor and gawk around, smirking at Mayor Cassandra, who had her head in her hands. But Ayla could still see her lips threatening to curl into a full-on grin beneath them. Tal looked even less enthused, honestly, about as much as Uncle El at the bar…
Ayla grimaced, recalling the lyrics she'd just skimmed in Varric's nearly impossible-to-read handwriting.
Andraste, take the reins.
🐮 CATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON AO3!
Looking to catch up on the latest Yeehaw Peepaw? 👀
🃏 Episode 9: Wicked Game
❤️🔥 New On NugfliXXX!
Tal x Bull: Beautiful
🐴 Yeehaw Peepaw! Master Post
Ploppin' the usual cowboys below to say howdy! Gentle tags as always, and absolutely no pressure to read! ILYSM!!! 🤠💕
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A few facts about Mercar Rook's canonical family background, in case anybody missed these tidbits:
Rook says in a conversation with Tarquin that their father "commanded legions near Ventus." Rook was found on a battlefield as a baby, likely near Ventus, and adopted into a military family.
According to a letter from Maevaris to Dorian, there is a high-ranking Soporati named Charon Mercar, who serves in or near Ventus as a "Legatus" in the Tevinter military. (In ancient Rome, a legatus was a high-ranking military officer equivalent to a modern-day general.)
Given the previous information about Rook's father commanding legions near Ventus, it seems likely that Charon Mercar is Rook's father.
EDIT: I should have said adoptive father here to make it clear that Rook is not Charon's biological child.
Charon Mercar has "privately expressed support for reform" and has influence with the current Imperator of the Tevinter military. (In ancient Rome, the title "imperator" was used to indicate the highest rank of military command.)
It makes sense to surmise that despite not being mages, Rook's family is as highly ranked in Tevinter society as a Soporati can be and has some influence in Tevinter's military and political affairs.
Obviously you don't have to take any of these facts as canon for your Mercar Rook, I just wanted to share them for anyone who might be interested.
the contrast in lucanis' early game responses to bellara and davrin are sooo funny and also quietly devastating. the vibe is like
BELLARA: heey so... how are you feeling lucanis? generally, I mean. or specifically, if you'd rather talk about something in particular! well, you usually don't, so no worries if not, you know, no pressure, only if you'd think it'd maybe, I don't know, help! I know it doesn't always. but ah, um... are you -- alright? (in the pantry. we should probably stop asking you about this but are you sure you're alright in there? it's where the parsnips live. and you now, too, I suppose! just... you and the onions. and a demon. sorry, didn't mean to remind you! you see I'm only asking because um for a second there I thought the dark circles under your eyes were actually bruises and it jumpscared me a bit)
LUCANIS (tired but soft): I'm fine, Bellara. Really. Don't worry about me.
VS.
DAVRIN: So hey lucanis. just out of interest. what the fuck is your damage anyway. why are you like this
LUCANIS (at his most 'orders one black coffee and drives away' and also honest): Well you see Davrin since you're asking: I am in hell. Also go fuck yourself.
[id. A twitter post by @/Bennieeexyz
Jury duty letter came addressed to my cat.
Not a mistake. "Felix Martinez" - that's his full name according to his vet records.
My last name. His first name. Somehow he's a registered voter now.
Called the county clerk.
Me: My cat got summoned for jury duty.
Clerk: Is the name correct on the summons?
Me: Yes, but he's a cat.
Clerk: Is Felix Martinez a legal resident of this county?
Me: He's a legal cat.
Clerk: Sir, if the name matches our records, he needs to appear or file an exemption.
Me: He can't file anything. He has paws.
Clerk: You can file on his behalf.
Me: Under what exemption? There's no box for "is a cat."
Clerk: (pause) Check "unable to serve due to medical reasons."
Me: What's the medical reason?
Clerk: He's a cat.
Me: That's not a medical condition.
Clerk: It is if it prevents him from serving.
Sent in the form. Got rejected two weeks later.
"Insufficient documentation. Please provide medical professional's statement."
Took the letter to my vet.
Me: I need you to write that my cat can't do jury duty.
Vet: Why is your cat summoned for jury duty?
Me: Excellent question. No good answer.
Vet: This is the weirdest request I've gotten.
Me: Can you just write that he's medically unfit to serve?
Vet: On what grounds?
Me: He's a cat.
Vet: (started typing) "Patient is unable to serve due to species-related limitations including inability to speak, read, or comprehend legal proceedings."
Me: Perfect.
Sent it in. Got another rejection.
"Summons is mandatory. Failure to appear will result in contempt of court."
My roommate thought this was hilarious.
Roommate: Felix is going to jail.
Me: This is serious.
Roommate: Bring him to court. See what happens.
Decided that was actually the only option left.
Day of jury duty, put Felix in his carrier. Brought the entire paper trail of rejection letters.
Checked in at the courthouse.
Clerk: Name?
Me: Felix Martinez.
Clerk: (looked at the cat carrier) Is that Felix?
Me: Yes.
Clerk: (long stare) He's a cat.
Me: I've been saying that for six weeks.
Clerk: Why didn't you file an exemption?
Me: I filed three. All rejected.
Showed her the letters. She read through them, expression shifting from confusion to disbelief.
Clerk: Someone rejected the veterinary documentation?
Me: Twice.
Clerk: (called her supervisor over) You need to see this.
Supervisor read everything. Looked at Felix. Looked at me.
Supervisor: How did a cat get registered to vote?
Me: You tell me.
Supervisor: This is a data error.
Me: Took you six weeks to figure that out.
They dismissed Felix immediately. Apologized for the inconvenience.
Supervisor: We'll remove him from the voter registry.
Me: Appreciate it.
Supervisor: (pause) Out of curiosity, how would he have voted?
Me: Probably whatever party supports universal treats.
Got a formal apology letter a week later and a voter registration card.
For me this time. Apparently I wasn't registered, but my cat was.
Roommate: Felix committed voter fraud.
Me: Felix committed nothing. He's innocent.
Roommate: That's what they all say.
Felix is sleeping on the jury summons now.
Fitting end to his legal career.
end id]
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