I remember graveyards, toiling in the dark for others to live in the light.

You survived, that is what counts!

6 when things go a bit too awry or I am zoning after a long day, depending on who you ask a 1 nearly always(add an asterisk for sleepy), actually around a 3-4.

Some would debate an 8, though I think I have gotten above that nowadays.

To quote Mafuyu: “Men are gross.”

The unfortunate truth is, no matter what one does, no matter what one says, no matter your proximity or lack thereof to the person, not exclusively men(I think back to a girl who was my “friend”(debatable) who fetishized me to high hell) but certainly a large relative proportion, one will catch someone’s eye and the unfortunate attention thereof. Especially from self-described incels.

While it is trite to say “ignore it,” the reality is that treating them as the gross folks they are and living your best life is the best remedy, as they are not going to change no matter how much you bend over backwards, so it is best to just stand tall and when they try to be gross, tell them to fuck off.

I am reminded of this song, which while not wholly relevant you did mention in a comment specifically chasers(bastard scumbag pigs…) so you might enjoy the song if you have not heard it before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsG5PThdZfE

One is never truly boring or unfunny,

But rather understood by themself alone,

Where some may never get their humor,

But they shall sparkle on as the queer dear they are.

Also: Dresscodes overrated, embrace the all-black get-up.

You deserve all the wonderful days for being an amazing sweetheart. Very very sweet post.

Let me look through my growing library-called-a-room:

It might be considered a “safe,” or “of course it is,” pick, but “Love Me For Who I Am,” would be my answer. It is a series that helped me understand myself a lot, and I credit it for helping me understand the complicated feelings I had inside when searching for who I really was and how to engage with the world around me. On the heels of that, “Is Love The Answer?” is a one-shot that is a phenomenal read exploring the spectrum of Aromanticism. Imagine that recommendation coming from me cough bio cough, but seriously, those two reads I think can safely be called cornerstones of my reading journey. I have read many amazing series(SAO:Progressive the LN(not the fake other ones), Drugstore In Another World, When Will Ayumu Make His Move? and otherwise), but those two really helped lay out in print what I could not put into words, and showed that there was an answer.

All of the ones I mentioned I would recommend, but those first two would be my genuine answers to your question.

So cuuuuuute! And very nice find with the jacket! I have some genuine London Fog Trench coats from a while back with some being about the same price too, never know what you can find thrifting!

Aside from specifically the GMS suite, which you can compile AOSP without, Google has contributed much of its own into the AOSP. I will concede that I do not know how much is GMS and how much is not, but even something as basic as push notifications requires Google or a workaround that has been made(MicroG) which effectively intercepts the calls.

They can restrict access to the current form of the Source as they are the Arbiters of who can obtain the Source. When I went to try to get the most recent AOSP some time ago, one of the requirements was agreeing to Google. All projects that stem out of the AOSP agreed to the terms Google laid out for the access to the AOSP. It is only “open source,” insofar as Google allowing one to access it. It is akin to a park that is free to access, so long as you pay the toll booth at the authorized road to get there.

Ah yes, the doting motherly bitty.

Accurate.

Custom ROMs, such as CalyxOS, are based on AOSP. Per their own website(which lambasts Google and highlights Samsung for some reason):

“Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is the core backbone for all Android phones that manufacturers such as Samsung build upon. Maintained by Google, AOSP receives contributions from developers around the world.”

By using a Custom ROM, and from developers contributing to the AOSP, they are supporting Google, agreeing to Google, and helping Google further their ends. Yes, your experience may differ from stockdroid, but if you think you are away from Google, Calyx admits in that one line that despite their platitudes, they are still beholden to Google. If Google restricts access to AOSP, which they can as they are who grants access in the first place, congrats, it becomes the high waters or a dead project.

Then the follow up will be: “I’m altering the deal again! Pray I do not keep altering it!”

Android is a bad joke that is only “open,” insofar as Google allows/has failed to prevent. The AOSP effectively is Google, to access the source you have to bind yourself to, you guessed it, Google. All Android phones require you to agree to Google’s terms regardless of if you sign up for an account or ever link one to your device. OEMs, even ones out of the Mainstream, lie in bed with Google and speak it as a positive that they maintain compliance to Google’s demands.

That said, the power-grab, while unsurprising and not unprecedented, makes the veneer of openness and the practical greater access control afforded to users compared to iOS underground at best, which is problematic. Android at least does have greater freedom compared to iOS, with very practical utilities that rely on the ability for indies to come into the scene and do so. But to kneecap the ones that keep their ecosystem afloat, Google is playing quite an interesting game.

The best solution is to leave Google and Apple entirely, but that is easier said than done for most.

Close enough to midnight snack for me, I kind of borked my sleep a bit but hopefully soon to crash. Eventful week it has been.

Ah yes, HOAs. “We represent the best interests of how we feel toda–OI WHAT YOU DOIN’ CUTTIN’ YOUR SHRUB?!”

Eh, fair enough. But still, bleh. At least you are in good spirits it seems, I like seeing that.

The people on there do not either, haha. But you are still very lovely dearie, never forget that.

Uniform Policy: Enforced and changed specifically to target people. I remember when my old workplace had a uniform ordering sheet, people ordered a particular uniform from said sheet, then when I tried, it was an issue and I was told “that is not an allowable uniform here.” Funny that.

Also, please be careful. We have had the conversation before briefly about VRChat, I want you to be safe. As long as you are just there to vibe with media though, you should be alright. Remember the block button and use it liberally.

Open secret of special places with a special link that provides an interface to view media in the deep waters.

Also, obligatory ugh VRChat.

Absolutely. There is nothing wrong with a story that respects its characters but exposes what happens to said characters and crafting a story around it, even if it goes into very dark places. No topic is off-limits to cover in my point of view, but it must be done with tact. When the advertising material for the Manga calls its disabled character useless? That is not tact.

If they have any self-respect and any care at all, they would cancel the adaptation, and the author would do something better, not continue to allow the festering of a tasteless read. But they are unlikely to do any of that.

I remember when people had an outcry to such a degree that a disabled character was censored a decade ago, Derpy Hooves. Her crime?..existing, with crossed-eyes, and while trying to help, failing at it. Sure, the other character was abrasive, but Rainbow Dash was normally abrasive. And despite it all, she never told Derpy to get lost or not be there, the worst she did was ask Derpy to “just sit there and do nothing.” The character was not the problem, the dialogue could have been nicer, but they outright removed her existence as a disabled pony while dollying the dialogue, which many took umbrage with as many identified with and loved Derpy as a well-intentioned but clumsy pony. Eventually they did do her justice by bringing her back properly, and fanworks treated her with the love and respect deserved, but still.

That side-tangent is to say, my how things have changed. If this stunt would have been pulled a decade ago they would have been blackballed from the industry.