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portmanteau

@barkingzerbra

she/they | minor | currently on the rottmnt brain rot
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Me: oh yeah, if you think school photography is hard now, try imagining doing this with film.

The new girl: what’s film?

Me: … film. Like… film that goes in a film camera.

New girl: what’s that mean?

Me: … before cameras were digital.

New girl: how did you do it before digital?

Me:… with film? I haven’t had enough coffee for this conversation

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New girl: I need you to show me how to format the usb.

Me: format?

New girl: yeah what do I do?

Me: you… put the usb in. Then you make a new folder on it and rename it with (name, date, location)

New girl: but how do I do that?

Me: … they dont… teach you this anymore, do they?

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The lack of computer skills is becoming a problem. Like there was a period of time where the older workers in office jobs had to be brought up to speed on computers, but now a lot of the newer workers have the issue too.

There’s a lot of assumed technical literacy because we had a whole generation brought up on desktop computers, but now it’s one that was brought up on phones, tablets, and chromebooks. Phones are easier to use, but that means the users have never had to work around the daily problems presented by most desktop environments.

But our systems are still set up assuming the kids are “digital natives” who just already know this stuff. So no one teaches them. So a new employee walks into the office… and they just don’t.

30-something here. And this is frightening for a few reasons.

Much of the back-end architecture will soon be more difficult to maintain, as those with the expertise retire or when the one guy volunteering to update a niche corner of some minute software function that holds up ¼ of the computer world dies.

While products are made to be “easier to use” now, which has made them more accessible, they aren’t made to last, contributing to tech pollution / e-waste. Many consumers don’t know how to upgrade or repair their own tech…if they are upgradeable.

Which brings me to my next point.

I bought a new low end laptop recently. Not chrome book, but actual Windows PC laptop. I haven’t had a personal computer for a while and with a lot of expectation to “return to the office” because COVID’s over, right? *heavy eye roll*, I wanted something cheap and portable. I found a deal because a lot of low end laptops are being discounted because school children aren’t remote now. I was actually looking for refurbished but found what I wanted cheaper new, sadly.

Finding one that I knew would run the software I needed or that wouldn’t be bogged down just with Windows? A challenge. You’ve got to know what RAM, HDD vs eMMC vs SSD, cores, age of processors, and all those specs mean.

Finding one that wasn’t Windows in “S mode,” a bullshit mode that locks you into the Windows app / store for ALL software (where they take a cut of each purchase)? Even more challenging.

When I booted it up…I imagine most people just click yes through things because why not, just want to get right to it, right?

The amount of privileges I had to decline because of targeted data collection, for ad preferences and other nefarious reasons; the number of easy-to-miss “no thanks” options to decline enrollment in bloatware; the number of things that wanted me to launch the free trial, where they could automatically enroll me into a monthly PAID subscription and could report failure to add a credit card to pay for it to credit agencies (!); many of these presented as the “recommended” or default option… ASTOUNDING.

And then I still had to go into system settings and turn off additional data tracking that they didn’t even present during set-up, along with bloatware bullshit programs they wanted to always run at start-up. Because I knew where to go and find that stuff. Don’t even get me starting on fucking Cortana.

Technology has gotten bad. Even 10 years ago, it was a couple simple agreements not to pirate, using software at your own risk, etc. and that was it.

Now? Waiving rights, arbitration, hidden terms that could leave you owing money if you don’t uninstall it, data collection to link accounts and literally track every move / your exact location / your usage, attempts to personalize ads through your specific searches, inability to block cookies unless you download a Google app!?, four pop ups for every website, as the default?

It is scary how much tech that was designed to increase productivity and make life easier has become yet another way for corporations to track us, sell to us, and sell their data on us, even potentially incriminating us.

Oh, and heaven forbid you know what you’re doing and try to upgrade or repair your equipment yourself. Warranty voiding? Should be illegal, may be illegal in some areas, but they still tell you it’ll void your warranty. Good luck finding the parts. Using non-OEM parts will void the warranty too…by design.

I did not survive Windows Vista era to deal with this bullshit.

I did not survive

Windows Vista era to

deal with this bullshit.

Beep boop! I look for accidental haiku posts. Sometimes I mess up.

Anyone have any resources for technology literacy for beginners?

General basic safety

How to avoid ransomware, malware, hacks, and how to maintain good data privacy.

^ this has intermediate information (as well as beginner info) that I think people who grew up on the internet benefit most from (so it won’t tell you what a phone is, or how to press the power button to turn on a computer). I recommend all sections the personal section under the top drop down (except the one aimed at children).

Same deal as above, with quizzes and additional topics.

^ this one is mostly video and audio which some people might helpful

HTML

W3schools is a well known free resource for coding. I recommend HTML because it gives basic website building capabilities, so you can create a neocities website for example or even edit your Tumblr theme. You can also learn CSS (used with HTML to make prettier websites) and Python (used to make programs).

Touch typing

Touch typing is using the home row on keyboards. It allows people to type faster than pressing individual keys one at a time, like on a smart phone.

This site has lessons, and honestly looks much nicer than the program I learned to use touch typing with.

This site has lessons and practice tests and speed tests to measure progress. In middle school I was taking a practice test about three times a week and a speed test once a week for about fifteen minutes each time, if that helps.

These three areas are the main things people were taught in computer literacy courses.

I also recommend checking your local library or other educational resources (like local colleges, your current college/highschool/middle school etc, the college you graduated from). These can have in person instructors which can be super helpful. Feel free to send me any questions and stuff, if I don’t already know I’ll try to find out and share where I found it!

Helpful things I’ve done with my windows computer to make it safer/more efficient:

  • Installing Malwarebytes/enabling windows defender
  • Creating a backup of my computer on a hard drive
  • Setting permissions for apps to start on startup
  • Getting a password manager
  • Installing a web browser that isn’t chrome
  • Changing old passwords into better, more secure passwords- especially websites that have debit card info

I hope this helps :D

Bruce always worries when his children disappear or leave Gotham, but he gets even worse when it's Dick or Tim.

This is the thing, Jason goes off world with Kori and Roy and comes back calmer and saner.

Cassandra rarely stays in Gotham. She has a hard time remembering to call home, but she does, and Bruce is immensely happy to hear from her.

Damian goes off and returns with a sense of self and victory. He had a lot of fun with Jon, no one knows what they were up to.

Dick leaves and when he's back, he is carrying 3000 new tons of ✨trauma✨. He's been tortured, held hostage, save a small planet, lost his teammates. It's been a hellish week, let alone a month.

Tim disappears, doesn't call, doesn't text, nobody knows where he is. He comes back one day with a longer criminal record and the loyalty of a gaggle of assorted unhinged individuals.

Bruce trusts Jason, Cass and Damian to be responsible. Dick attracts danger, and Tim stumbles into it instead of sidestepping it.

Love to imagine Jason trying to thrive as a legit crime lord only to flop because his family keeps ruining his street cred.

Case in point,

Jason: Now that you've heard my evil plan, what's your rebuttal, Batman?

Bruce: (Starts clapping)

Jason: NO, don't--

Bruce: You're so smart, honey (tries to take a picture)

Jason: stOp-

-

Jason: Here to stop me, Robin?

Tim: No, I need a book report

Jason: Wha- do it yourself, you fucking accident!

Tim: I don't know why the fucking door is red!

Jason: WHAT- It symbolizes the passion of violence you dumb BITCH--

-

Dick: I'll give you 10$ if you don't commit crimes tonight

Jason: 10$? What can I do in Gotham with 10 dollars?

Dick: Uh, buy an apartment?

Jason: An apartment is 13$!

-

Jason: I'm gonna take it easy on you, Spoiler--

Steph: Is that my perfume?

Jason: Wha-- no.

Steph: Cass, does Red Hood usually smell like lavender and cotton candy?

Cass: Nope

Jason: OKAY, sue me, I don't wanna smell like 'warrior musk' and 'tears of a war widow'

someone stop me from writing a lawyer au istg

edit: i will now apparently be writing a lawyer au. i've screenshotted the blogs who asked me to tag yall when i write it so uh. yeah. might be a while tho

edit 2: everyone who reblogged this is fake for not telling me i misspelled lawyer 😭

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What I love about One Piece: the context is this is a very serious scene where she reveals she's betrayed her new friends, and the very act of confessing this betrayal will condemn her to immediate execution for blasphemy, but because this is One Piece, it involves the phrase “special lobster express”

We were having a figure drawing class this morning and a priest came in and started flicking holy water and salt everywhere. I think some of it got onto my shoes. They came in, splattered us with holy water, and then left without a word

Apparently the floor's haunted?? In the words of my professor, "it has bad vibes".

There was a dude outside waving a candle. The priest had a tin can of water that he would dip his fingers in and throw at the ground. He walked around the classroom in a circle and didn't look us in the eye. Every one of my classmates were silent while we watched. The model we were referencing (who was also a classmate) was sat on the table holding the pose he was modelling while salt was being sprinkled around him. The priest didn't even knock he just went in and started flicking

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i dont know exactly how to articulate this in a way other people havent but everything is too fast now. 24/7 news cycle, online focuses that last for hours instead of months or years, songs written just so ten seconds can go viral. movies and books churned out to meet some nebulous income quota. idk. im motion sick

Bill Watterson, 1995

You're not alone or the first to feel like everything is going too fast

this is to the guy in the electronics department at walmart who when I approached and said “game” because it was the only word that would come to me, went “yeah” and walked me straight to tears of the kingdom, no questions asked

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I love how Zuko's perception of the gaang must have done a complete 360 after joining them like

Zuko, before joining: this is a group of extremely skilled benders, i must be prepared for any possible situation when i run into them

Zuko, right after joining: wait a minute these aren't trained warriors they're bunch of goofy kids that have somehow survived without adult supervision all this time, i shouldn't have been so worried

Zuko, seeing Katara bloodbend: what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what-

I just love the moments when Zuko acts younger than his age due to his severely stunted social skills.  like when he’s acting like a bratty preschooler while being gently bossed around by iroh in ba sing se or when he’s trying to socialize with the gaang for the first time.

I mean, let’s be real: Zuko has been starving for the attention of his peers for years, and once he gets his first dose of social approval and acceptance on his field trip with aang, he ends up going a bit off the rails chasing the high of Friendship.  like he’s trying SO HARD to be Just A Normal Guy here, but he waaaaay overshoots his mark and ends up going all the way back around to “something’s a litttttle off about this dude” again.

I can’t get over how Zuko, when confronted with the mystifying quandary of how to make friends for the first time in his socially-deprived adolescent life, draws an absolute blank and, with no actual hands-on experience to draw from, simply defaults to “imitate Uncle.”

Zuko’s thought process immediately after joining the gaang was clearly: “I really want these people to like me.  Uncle would say that I should just be myself and show them the real me.  but that will never work!!  I’m not likable!!!  …but Uncle is.  everyone likes Uncle.  obvious solution: just be Uncle and everything will be Fine,” and then proceeded to give his best imitation of iroh down to the tea and bad jokes.

Zuko after possibly the world’s worst punchline delivery: “This is great! I’m going to get a good grade in Being Uncle, a thing that is normal to want and possible to achieve!” 

“nailed it”

Hey wow so you know how Sokka loses all his weapons over the course of the series (not just his boomerang and space sword in the final episode, but also his spear, machete, club…) and how he slowly leans into working as the group’s planner? You ever think about how he physically and literally loses the ideals that were keeping him tied to seeing his worth in the war, and began to see himself as his own person who could survive this war & live in a better world? How he let go of his toxic masculinity and started to embrace himself as he was, but he had to use those weapons in his own creative, non-destructive way, and eventually he lost them entirely? How he helped the war effort through creation, by making plans & traps & inventions & armor, not by destroying things? You ever think about how he replaced his sword with a paintbrush in the final scene? You ever… you ever…