a failed writer

Carolina Milanesi, an independent technology analyst, said Google is trying to make its cash cow business — search — richer and more personalized, and it will make shopping easier. But there is a risk that users may have fewer choices about what to click. "Right now it's: I ask a question, I get a bunch of answers and I feel that I'm in control as to which answer I take, or if I'm looking for something, which product I'm going to end up buying. That is going to be less so going forward," she said. Milanesi envisions AI-enabled search and agents proposing products to consumers — perhaps even those they have requested — but with less clarity or choice around where it's coming from. "If you're going to say: 'I want a pair of Jordans, go find them,' you're not necessarily sure what steps have been taken and whether the AI has used a source or a store that was paid for and therefore came up in the search results," she said, "or if AI actually went and did their due diligence and picked the best for me as a customer."

And here's one from Time magazine (May 20, 2026):

While Google already has “AI Mode,” the company will now power the whole search bar through its new Gemini 3.5 Flash model.  Instead of the classic list of blue links, Google Search will now also generate a custom page with an AI-generated summary of what you’re searching about, which will then trigger a conversation with AI Mode on the main page, allowing users to ask follow-up questions—similar to the kind of layout you would see when opening ChatGPT.

And a little more from Time's article on how this may affect the websites that we are trying to search for:

Films reflect the time period in which they were made.

Our most popular films right now are all reboots, sequels, and reused IPs.

On one hand, you could make the case that our generation is being deprived of its place on cultural timeline, because (as far as the mainstream goes) all we're being given is rehashed ideas from other time periods. Seems rather boring to analyze.

But on the other hand, I think future film historians will find that this era is culturally fascinating. Not because of the "nostalgia bait" itself, but because it represents the emergence of independent cinema and streaming.

When TV was invented, people could watch filmed media at home. You no longer had to go to a theatre just to watch cartoons or comedies.

So the studios responded with a wave of epics in the 1950s. They said "Okay, you can get Dick Van Dyke at home, but you can't get Ben-Hur." Television couldn't compete with the budget, big name stars, or visual tech that film studios could offer. They were financially incentivized to blow your socks off with visuals and big name stars.

But with the emergence of streaming and independent film, that's no longer the case. A-listers are happy to take TV roles, and TV offers Hollywood-level visuals. You don't need to mess with the theatre system at all. It's easier than ever to make good-looking movies and share them with the masses with no major studio backing.

So what's the one thing that studios still have going for them? What's the one thing that Disney can give you that an independent filmmaker can't? Yoda. The Little Mermaid. Iron Man. Fucking brands. That's all they have, so that's all they sell.

i have to ask, do you have any prompts to help with a romance within a college band? character A is their manager--full of energy, snarky, and outspoken, but is a quiet, mushy mess whenever she thinks about the way her heart skips around B, the bassist, who is much more of a passive listener and supporter; he's the band's best ear and can't help but smile at A's shenanigans with their drummer and guitarist. so much mutual pining. they even ship C and D (lead & keyboardist) together but shy away from ever thinking that could reflect on themselves.

both think that the other is the absolute cutest, most heaven-sent dream person they could have ever thought of, but i'm not sure how to make them grow closer in their situation without going ooc on them and having one make an explicitly romantic move.

i'd honestly love to see what your take is on this, and it would be a lot of help!

Aww that is such an amazing compliment! :D

I actually am kind of a sucker for Band AUs, but I'm not sure I read a lot of original stories with bands in them.

Band Prompts

Even a small band like theirs, that is just known by the locals, has their groupies. As the manager, Person A, needs to handle them and they especially love to kick out the groupies that are here for their bassist, Person B.

Person A and Person B love to make jokes to each other about the obvious pining between their band members Person C and Person D - not knowing that C and D do the same about them.

The band's manager, Person A, has a great gig lined up for them, which could kickstart their whole career. Right before their performance, Person A needs to calm everyone down. Even the calmest one of them, Person B, can't seem to shake the nervousness and needs some extra encouragement.

The three band members have their own little ritual before a performance and Person B keeps insisting that as their manager, Person A should also be involved in it.

Their lead, Person C shows up one day to rehearsal with a new love song they wrote about a couple that is just too stupid to realize that they are in love. Person A and Person B think that it's Person C's way to get Person D to finally admit their love, but the song is actually about them.

Hope you like them!

I wrote this poem somewhat inspired by your contrapuntal stuff. This is about two different kinds of hauntings 💔

Later that day we went to the movies to watch that new Captain America film. I cringed the whole way through, while she waffled on in my ear about “comic-accuracy” (I love her, but she’s a nerd.)

‘Maddie, I’d love to hear this after it’s over but please let me listen to the dialogue.’

She looked like she was about to cry, and I thought I’d made her sad by essentially telling her to shut up, but then she smiled and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much joy come out of a single person from such a simple thing to say. 

Later I dragged her to the makeup store and essentially role-played as a straight couple with an apathetic boyfriend so she could pretend not to want to be there while I explained what everything did, dropping the man voice I’d been trying to hold in public for years just to yap about different lipstick shades like a valley girl.

And I went up to the register with her, and she was practically shaking when she handed one stick of eyeliner to the woman behind the register and she commented on how nice it was for “him” to be buying me something.

And we played it off, until we walked out the store and made a dash for the family-bathroom where I did her eyeliner while she cried and giggled and took a million pictures of herself and wiped it off and tried to do it herself over and over until it looked decent and then she hugged me so hard I nearly cracked a rib.

I can’t really explain what that afternoon meant to either of us. She and I drifted apart after a few months because meeting up became really hard, but still I remember that day like it was yesterday. I think I’ll remember it forever.

It's Witch Hat Monday!

I titled this one the Root of Magic but I think a better title would be the Root of My Despair 😆 😂 😢 😭

First tweet: “I saw a piece of fabric? on the floor of my room so I went to pick it up but it was actually the moonlight that entered through the window lmao”

Like I've read so many rare/crack ship fics. I simply do not care who is fucking who and long as they're fictional characters.