[aaresx]

Margaret Atwood

[whitepeopletwitter]

[commandtower-solring-go]

There are a lot of really dog shit things in the world of tech that can be solved with a bit of time, some stubborn googling and maybe some special hardware and piracy is only the tip of the iceberg. 

Printers are notorious for claiming they’re out of ink when they haven’t come close to the suggested number of prints, and their cartridges literally still have ink in them. So after a bit of googling I found out how to ‘reset’ a cartridges automatic stopping system (its literally 1 physical wheel on the cartridge that you gotta turn back). The only downside is that I don’t get a digital ink monitor, but since it told me it was empty when still half full, I don’t mind. 

Like, you can just jiggle with some shit and solve one of the biggest money making scams in the post-industrial world and I don’t think people realise its that easy. 

Or, like, repairing your own technology. A few months ago, I swapped out my sister’s laptop screen. Did it myself, I removed maybe 4 screws, no vital parts were exposed and it cost me $40. I even got a choice of matte or glossy. 

My point is, any walls that capitalist technology presents you with will be a false one. And one already broken by a dedicated community of interesting people working hard for free to break down that wall.

[buckskinblues]

kids these days will be all “be gay do crime” and dont even know how to watch a cartoon without paying for it smh

[thedreadvampy]

IN FAIRNESS

piracy was definitely leagues easier a decade or so ago when thepiratebay was functional, megaupload was still running, and YouTube and Google made only the most cursory attempts to block copyright content. like let’s not pretend that the internet hasn’t got a lot more corporatised in the past decade or so. piracy is still possible and you can and should do it but it’s a LOT harder to do safely and reliably than it was.

[thebroccoligoblin]

^thank u

[theoutcastrogue]

Sorry, this is all wrong.

1) ThePirateBay is still functional. (It’s not the same pirate bay that it was back in the day, but let’s not get into Theseus’ ship territory. It’s still here and it still works, that’s all that matters.) There are plenty of torrent sites around, more than there were 10 years ago – although overall traffic has plummeted. Now as then, it’s a whack-a-mole game.

2) Why was it “leagues easier” a decade ago? Some countries, not all (not north America, for example), now mandate ISP blocking of torrent sites, but this new complication can be bypassed with one (1) step: a google duckduckgo search for proxies. No government agency or ISP can possibly keep up with proxies, it’s yet another whack-a-mole game. So yes, it was technically easier before, but I don’t see “leagues” anywhere.

3) It was safer before? Are you shitting me? Have you lot forgotten that the legal departments of MPAA and RIAA sued torrent sharers (not even uploaders) and asked for millions of dollars for damages? AND GOT THEM? (By which I mean they didn’t actually get millions since the people they sued didn’t have any, but said people were convicted and ruined and that was the goal in the first place. It was a deeply amoral and cynical scare tactic.) Well they stopped doing that at some point, and focused on hunting P2P and torrent sites. Running a site is certainly less safe today. Using one, though? Depending on where you are, the ISP may be allowed to block you after repeated instances, and that’s it. You’re not getting in trouble with the law or into crippling debt. And either way there’s only a minuscule chance that any of this will come to pass, which becomes zero (0) with a VPN. (Safety of course depends on the country, and in some cases piracy is the least of your concerns. Let’s not get into that.)

4) Ten years ago there was no Sci-Hub, and Library Genesis was in its infancy. If today it’s harder to find PDFs on google, it is orders of magnitude easier and more reliable to find them elsewhere. People just have to unstick their minds from the notion that stuff is either on google or doesn’t exist at all. Geez.

5) P2P still exists. IRC (the sharing channels in particular, #bookz and the like) still exists. Torrenting functions like it always did. All these methods are exactly as easy to use as before, i.e. not necessarily a piece of cake, there’s a learning curve. But it’s the same learning curve it was 10 years ago.

6) So what have we lost? Only YouTube (meh, the film/tv quality was appalling anyway, and music is still there) and direct downloads (at least the permanent ones: there are plenty of them still around, but files expire and you need to keep track of what goes up when. So this goes beyond knowhow, it’s about internet communities. Let’s not get into that either, it’s a huge subject.) It’s a loss, sure, but I wouldn’t call it a terrible blow.

7) And in exchange for that loss, we got streaming sites. This is piracy, too, and it’s much much easier than torrents, and tons of people do it. Any “piracy has declined” narrative either implies that we’re excluding streaming from the discussion for some reason, or is flat out wrong. Ten years ago, grandpa couldn’t possibly torrent a film, and it’s debatable if he even knew how to open the file you helpfully sent him. Now, as long as someone has set up kodi or similar, grandpa can watch it on his tv and it just feels like cable.

8) On why torrents in particular have declined in recent years, see here. It’s a big subject and I didn’t cover all of it, but the main reason is that people had access to easier methods to get what they wanted (some legal and affordable, some illegal and free), so they didn’t need to learn how to torrent. Ergo, they never did. There’s more of course, and there’s definitely a cultural shift too, but that’s a very long story so let’s not get into it. The linked post also includes some thoughts on why torrents aren’t dead and doomed just yet, and ooh, I forgot a very important one: you can’t stream photoshop.

To summarise, internet piracy is NOT more difficult, unreliable, and unsafe today than it was 10 or 20 years ago. For reasons why people (young or otherwise) seem less versed in it, please look elsewhere. I have thoughts on that too, but this is already a very long post, so I’ll just leave you with the best kind of thought. I’ll leave you with a doubt:

ARE people less versed in piracy? Are they really? Or is it simply that 20 years ago, internet users were computer geeks by definition, whereas now everyone’s online? Perhaps the percentage of skilled pirates in the general population remains more or less the same, and the only thing that’s dropped is the percentage of skilled pirates to total internet users. I can’t be sure without statistical evidence, but it’s a possibility.

[pulchrabelle]

You can literally google “watch _____ free online” and find most movies but the third result just download Adblock or popup blocker and you’re golden it truly couldn’t be easier

[chickenmcnuggies]

I’ve been meaning to make a piracy masterpost for awhile and what better time than now?

Materpost: A curated Githup tutorial of links to more torrent sites, software, VPNs, uBlock origin filters, ect. Basically everything you could ever want starting out. Do be warned though it doesn’t appear to have been updated in awhile so a few of the links are dead.

GAMES:

Vimm’s Roms: NES era->ps3 era roms and emulators to play them. Has user ratings on games. Cons: slow download speeds.

NxBrew: Switch roms/game updates/dlc

nsw2u: More switch roms. Check here if nxbrew doesn’t have the game you’re looking for.

Hshop: 3ds games/updates/dlc. Very well organized and sorted by console region. Bonus ability to generate QR codes to scan with homebrew to begin download directly on your console.

Oldgamesdownload: Old 90’s-2000’s PC games and some gamecube games. Technically, all of the games here are abandon ware, meaning the original company/creator doesn’t sell nor make money from the games anymore period. If you’re into that.

Fitgirl repacks: Heavily compressed PC games, and other various consoles. Small downloads and faster speeds for the size of the games. Somewhat limited game selection.

Steam unlocked: Steam games with easy-to-use installers. Check here if fitgirl doesn’t have what you’re looking for.

Steam Underground: A user forum for piracy support, usually about installing cracked games. Does have some scattered PC game downloads.

Google doc of Skyrim SE creation club content.

Amiibo life: Amiibo bins, can be loaded with some homebrew to load in games without any external source, or, if you buy writable NFC cards, you can make your own free amiibos.

Books:

Library Genesis: a good all-in-one ebook finder. Has books, magazines, scientific papers, ect. Well organized and able to sort by Author, Genre, ect ect. Almost all books in .epub format

Calibre: Not piracy but a free software for reading said .epub files, and other ebook formats. Good for sorting your books.

Sci-Hub: Research papers, academic books, pdfs, ect. Helpful for collage students.

IT ebook: eBooks about learning programming languages.

audiobookbay: Audiobook downloads.

Booksonic: Audiobook streaming.

5e.tools: Dnd player’s manual, guide, ect.

Books on learning various languages.

Mangadex: Manga, Doujinshi.      

Headspace sleep audio.

Various books and manuals.

Streaming:

ustvgo: Free streaming of live tv, has most US cable tv channels.

tutturu: Spiritual successor to Rabbit, allows you to stream your screen with friends.

Yes movies: Movies

Kimcartoon: Cartoons/animated movies

aniwatcher: Anime

animedao: Anime

Computer software:

getintopc: Wide selection of pc (mostly windows) software of all sorts, and different versions. Can personally vouch for the site, I’ve gotten Photoshop, Maya, and Sony Vegas from here over the years.

Other:

the eye: An archive of old roms, OS systems, roms (non nintendo), comics, books, ect, ect. Cons: No search function and slightly hard to navigate.

1337x.to: Torrent site for movies, shows, games, comics, ect.

ThePirateBay: The classic.

Recorded broadway musicals. Verying quality.

[unyanizedcatboys]

Finally someone actually posted links instead of just bitching or saying “it’s easy”

[zoanzon]

Ok just want to plug the eye a bit more considering I lost a few hours in their yesterday.

the eye has been up since 2017 and in the last four years have accumulated 140TB of data (according to their own reports). Part of their growth is just their own work, part of it is absorbing other archives/open directories that were having issues: I know rpg.rem.uz used to be its own archive - gave way to The Trove, which is having its own issues right now unfortunately… - but now most-all of their content can also just be found on the eye. Same with a few dozen other archives.

And they have ‘old roms, OS systems, roms (non nintendo), comics, books, ect, ect’, but massively more than you might think just based off how this sounds. Like…

They have it all.

If you want to try and homebrew alcohol, go check their stuff. If you want to try and read books that are out of print or otherwise in public domain (and some that aren’t yet in public domain), go check their stuff. If you want to run a campaign and can’t pay for expensive print tabletop books, go check their stuff. If you want to fuck off into the woods to live off the land (or research how that would work for a writing project), go check their stuff. If you’re trying to learn shit about drugs - any drugs, almost - go check their stuff.

Hell, if you want to go read what looks like literally every research paper on coronaviruses from 1968 up to Feb 2020, you can do that too!

As chickenmcnuggies said its a mess and a half to navigate through their collections, partially with how large it is and the fact quite a few folders were once whole other archives since absorbed by the eye…

But goddamn you can lose an afternoon just going through all the stuff they have.

[freeuwus]

when you accidentally close one of the 600 ao3 tab you’re reading

[hedwig-dordt]

When will Sherlock fandom return from the war?

January 1st, 2023 

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

Here forever baby

[excentricat1]

I keep seeing the idea that the Supreme Court is un-impeachable and it’s NOT TRUE. Supreme court justices can be impeached, and have. Samuel Chase was impeached in 1809. Abe Fortas resigned rather than be impeached in 1969. Fourteen other federal judges (also lifetime appointments) have also been impeached.

And there is grounds for impeachment for several of them. Lying to the Senate during your confirmation hearing is Federal Perjury. They have comitted public crimes.

Call your congresspeople. Let them know you want these criminals removed from their authority. They are not untouchable.

Contacting Congress

Contact Congress U.S. House of Representatives: * Telephone:  [phone] * Website:  http://www.house.gov/  U.S. Senate: * Telephone:  202

CONGRESSIONAL INSTITUTE

[thingsisaidweredumb]

I quick reblogged this while I was on a work call, but now that I’m off... 

You need to bring up specifics. Ask your congress people for specific actions.

So we need to:

Impeach Justice Thomas for the many times he failed to recuse himself (including this one) when he had financial motivation to vote in a specific manner AND for his wife’s role in January 6 and his leveraging of his position for her benefit. 

Impeach Justice Kavannaugh for his misleading words to the Senate during his confirmation hearings regarding his stance on Roe v Wade.

Impeach Justice Gorsugh for his misleading words to the Senate during his confirmation hearings regarding his stance on Roe v Wade.

Focus on Thomas because he has the most evidence and most compelling case. 

Example script:

I am __ and I am a constituent of ___. I am calling concerning what I believe to be gross misconduct and “Bad Behavior” from (a) member(s) of the Supreme Court. It has come to my attention that Justice Thomas received financial incentive that may have informed his vote in the recent case that overturned Roe v. Wade and others. I think his conduct requires congressional review an I think it is right for ___ call for his impeachment. Furthermore, I have heard various Senators express they were mislead and lied to by Justices Kavannaugh and Gorsuch during their confirmation hearings. I believe this to be “Bad Behavior” worthy of impeachment and congressional review as well. Thank you.

“Bad behavior” is important because it is the language used in the Constitution. 

Be specific and pass it on!

[cx-shhhh]

This is a callout post.

[boldlyanxious]

It’s called bedtime stories

[juliastiles]

Listen. Last night…Why did you say you hadn’t seen anything?

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

He looks so stupid I love him

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

I just realized some shit ; A cat is like a sibling. They eat all your food, get into you physical space, physically hurt you, insult you in different languages but if anything was to happen to them you would to everything in you power to get them out of harm's way. You complain abt them 24/7 but if somebody else has the AUDACITY to talk trash abt them, yo gonna beat this person's ass.

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

Draco : they say "you are what you eat" and I don't want to be a pussy, therefore I announce you that I'm gay.

Pansy : So you'll be a dick then.

Draco : oh... Uhm-

Pansy : I mean you're already one there's not that much damage to do

[lukebrandens-deactivated2015111]

10000% sure greg lestrade’s phone has so many things regarding sherlock being drunk or drugged

[221b-carefulwhatyouwishfor]

Please release Greg’s phone footage as a DVD extra.

[capt-john-h-watson-md]

The power of Irene Adler’s phone is nothing compared to Gavin Gary Greg Lestrade”s.

[threepatchpodcast]

Imagine if Lestrade had a Vine account!

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

There should be an AU where they're influencers

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

Our flag means death, Good omens and Loki are the new superwholock. Be prepared.

[frankencain]

Sherlock + text posts, unhinged edition

Bonus:

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

I just watched Good Omens and

Neil Gaiman had warned us

[byjove]

Watson and Holmes have a true crime podcast. Holmes goes off on very boring scientific tangents at least thrice an episode and Watson guides him back on topic with his extremely dry sense of humor. Lestrade is occasionally a guest on the show and Holmes finds new ways to subtly suggest he’s an idiot. Mycroft is in like one show a year and the fans love him because he’s unexpectedly very funny. They ask for more Mycroft episodes and it becomes a running gag that every week Mycroft is in a different obscure location where he cannot he reached. Mrs. Hudson invites herself in and knows a suspicious amount about dismemberment strategy and blood spatter.

[byjove]

Watson: Hello, and welcome back to the show. The elder Holmes will not be consulting on this case as he is still trapped in the catacombs and we have received word he has dropped his phone in a puddle of Parisian sewage. Rotten luck, truly. In other news, our landlady has begun rendering fat for the creation of lye soap, she claims it is lard but we have not seen her bridge club rival in some time. We will certainly come back to that later but now for the more pressing topic.

Holmes: This week we will be discussing the rash of arsenic poisonings occurring in Whitechapel between 1884 and 1887.

Watson: This week we WILL be discussing the rash of arsenic poisonings occurring in Whitechapel between 1884 and 1887, so help us God.

[byjove]

Watson: How have you been since we last spoke, Lestrade.

Lestrade: Well, somewhat vexed. A woman in my jurisdiction received a pair of human ears in the post and my wife has left m-

Holmes: WAIT WAIT, GO BACK!

Watson: EARS?

Holmes: EARS?!?!?!?

[byjove]

They also have a “Toby Tax” which is an agreement that they’ll post a new picture of Toby every time he barks in the background of the podcast.

Toby is a retired cadaver dog that Holmes rescued and Toby occasionally assists him in cases.

[marzipanandminutiae]

music historian Irene Adler was a guest in one episode (about the sordid personal lives of 19th century European opera stars) and fans will not stop begging them to have her back on

[drharleyquinn-medicinewoman]

oh my gosh you guys are geniuses THIS IS THE MODERN ADAPTATION WE NEED seriously I need this someone get on it

[eulangelo]

reblog and put in the tags a movie or something not necessarily horror or thriller that scared the shit out of u as a kid and explain why (bonus point: u can add if uve gotten over it or not)

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

Class was boring af so I doodled this

Sherlock loves Rosie unconditionally, but her friends don't get the same treatment lmao

[lampadaireetdeltaplane]

I made a thing...