the power of hitting 'end task' on a glitchy program in task manager is intoxicating. i feel like an assassin. i feel like a tyrant. you don't want to work properly? begone. off with your head. i need to kill my apps with a guillotine
Task Manager was created by Dave Plummer; and he released a fascinating 13-minute video discussing the application's origins, inner workings, and little-known features:
On the subject of Task Manager's speed and efficiency when dispatching other, errant applications:
"Philosophically, I wanted it to be a powerful tool. If you had admin rights and wanted to end the shell, that's up to you. You could set something to real-time priority, and freeze your box - also okay.
I believe the operating system should be the arbiter of what's allowed; and my job was not to second guess it."
(I cannot recommend the video enough; it is not only informative, but an illustration of a time when - incredibly! - major software companies prioritized the needs of their end-users.)
I have been on hiatus for some time, and thought I should expound on matters.
Act I.
My employer went all-in on a single, decade-long project. There would be big bonuses if it succeeded, and bankruptcy proceedings if it failed.
Success was predicated on many factors; including that the company provide of hundreds of thousands of pages of compliance documentation.
Unfortunately, the organization was catastrophically inept when it came to record-keeping; and despite my warnings, did not proactively address this failing.
It inevitably fell to me to address this shortfall, and I spent the final two-years of the project working evenings and weekends to gather, identify, and sort said paperwork.
I learned long ago to reject overwork; but there was a silver lining, in that my efforts would lead directly to the aforementioned bonus.
Act II.
Unbeknownst to me, our CEO was also finally stepping down; to be replaced by the COO.
I had an excellent working relationship with the former.
The latter... not so muchĀ¹.
I was surprised to learn, upon the conclusion of the project, that the COO had initiated a restructuring that eliminated three positions: my own; that of my junior associate; and in a particularly cruel move, that of my spouseĀ³.
Act III.
Having been with the organization for some years, I walked away with a substantial severance package.
(The outgoing CEO was a man of little integrity; but evidently he felt at least some remorse for signing off on this exceptionally dickishā“ act.)
Our former ties dissolved and newfound resources at our disposal, we promptly moved far, far away.
Act IV.
And then I broke down.
Like many, I spent my best years trying to climb a ladder that was slowly being pulled out of reach. What success I found came at the expense of my physical, mental, and emotional health.
(The avoidable overtime was merely the latest in a long line of abuses perpetrated by and / or allowed to occur under the watch of the nepotistic boy's club that masqueraded as company management.)
I've spent the last year wrestling with, and recovering from, the resulting burnout.
Hence, my hiatus: the consequence of spending far too much time in front of a computer, followed by never, ever wanting to do so again.
Notes:
Ā¹ I don't know why. This is not feigned ignorance: the COO and I worked well together; but upon returning from sabbatical, his demeanor became increasingly and inexplicably hostileĀ².
Ā² Okay, there's one possible reason: he wanted to change the color of a navigation bar to a hideous shade of baby blue, and I argued against doing so.
Ā³ My spouse was the highly-commended head trainer for another department. Following their termination, several of the contract hires they had trained were given permanent roles.
ā“ "Dickish" is an understatement: my spouse was locked out of company systems, and notified via email - and all mere weeks before a major surgery. I myself was told that an issue with my 401k contributions would be swiftly rectified (it wasn't), and that my health insurance would continue until the end of the year (it was immediately cancelled).
[Stiffly.] Good heavens, my back! This suffering is most insufferable; one would pen a remonstrative missive to the Times, were such an endeavor permissible in the purview of oneās own pernicious musculature!
LAUREN.
[Crossing room.] Oh, ibuprofen; faithful, dependable ibuprofen! Come to me now; I require release from the animosities of this fractious anatomy. [Opens bottle and swallows pill.]
We have been laughing all evening because my wonderful, sweet, lovable idiot cat fell asleep in the crook of my arm - despite his eyes being wide open!
Just imagine gentle snoring from this little guy as he disaffectedly stares a hole through time and space itselfā¦
This Author notes that a combination of Unicode superscript numeralsĀ¹ and the ā®sāÆĀ² formatting sub-type may be utilized concomitantly to approximate the divagateĀ³ authorial style of noted poetā“ E. E. Foot (for whom the ubiquitous āfoot noteā is so namedāµ).
Ā¹ The first three numerals are - for historical reasons - located in the Latin-1 Unicode block; the remainder may be found in the aptly-titled Superscripts and Subscripts block.
Ā² Lit.: āSmallā.
Ā³ Meandering, digressionary; from the Latin verb, divigari (āTo wonderā).
ā“ ā¦And āpoet of notesā, as it were! (It should be remarked that Foot was, by day, a dutiful, detail-oriented customs agent; and it is oft-theorized that this choice of profession strongly influenced Footās idiosyncratically particularized approach to prose).
āµ This is, factually-speaking, a fiction; but fictionally-speaking, a marvelous fact.
@ people who carry bags everywhere what do you put in them what is there to bring other than chapstick, keys, phone and maybe a tampon why are you packing a suitcase to be outside for 5 hours
For as long as I can remember, I've been in the habit of carrying around all manner of spare tools and supplies for whatever minor emergencies life might throw in my direction.
Since downsizing from a backpack to a messenger bag, I've had to give greater consideration to the volume and weight of such items; but this has only served to gamify my choices!
(Heck: I've modified my current bag multiple times, to better organize the contents; and now I'm planning to construct a new bag from scratch, to hold everything exactly the way I want.)
The following are always in my bag:
Hedgehog best friend;
Keys (on a retractable winder);
Wallet and checkbook;
A6 notebook(s), pencil, ultra-fine marker;
Hairbrush, hair ties;
Netbook and charger;
Folder of miscellaneous papers;
Spare N95 masks and hand sanitizer;
Tissues, spare padĀ¹.
There are two optional item sets that I include unless traveling light - a personal care bag:
...And what could broadly be termed a 'repair kit':
Multi-toolĀ², bit driver, additional bits;
Needles, thread, safety pins;
Universal charging cableĀ³;
Emergency rain ponchoā“.
Ā¹ I'm a great believer in the idea that trans girls should carry a spare pad, in solidarity. However, this also proved personally helpful during my lengthy period (no pun intended) of post-reassignment healing.
Ā² Once used to fix the latch on an ornery stuffing machine at a Build-A-Bear.
Ā³ Each year I attend a convention with my friend; and one of the major highlights is a puzzle-solving activity - the research for which can quickly drain a phone battery.
ā“ Prompted by a situation in which I had to cross a small distance through driving rain, and did not have an umbrella with me.
My name is Sera, you may not know me but you know my past work behind the scenes here and there, such as the Mass Effect trilogy, Dragon Age, Silent Hills, and many others.
I am an agoraphobic indigenous KanienŹ¼kehĆ”:ka (Mohawk) mixed lesbian who has fought for several years a worsening health condition that is currently killing me. The point of no return is not that far away. I have spent years exhausting any paths and means to get help, enduring extreme and near endless pain. I have sold all I have, spent every dime to my name. I have received various forms of help over the years in this battle, but I have reached the critical point I have feared all this time. And to make matters worst, the family responsible for inflicting a lifetime of abuse on me is stalking me very heavily online, which has not only exacerbated my agoraphobia, but has also made the efforts to build this harder than I could describe. Know that I share as many details as I can while seeking to avoid undermining my immediate safety, I hope you understand. This post is a highly abridged version of the content in the link, the unabridged and unedited version is available below the Read More cut ā¤
If you have been following me for a while, you are familiar with my struggle and saw me talking about it throughout the years. There are no other options or help besides this, besides you. I need your help or I'm going to die, this is the last chance I have left. I'm afraid to my core, I still have a life in front of me, dreams to pursue. If you read this far, I know you may be inclined to share and move on, but I am asking you to pause and think if you have a dollar that could make all the difference. I know it can be troublesome to stop and actually do it, I am asking you to please consider doing it.
If you yourself have a health condition, I salute you for fighting your own battle. Regardless of whether you donate or not, if you read this far, know that you are loved.
A warm thank you to @transmechanicus , the kind soul who made this possible. I would be lost and doomed without your help. Erika did not believe thank yous were necessary, but they are. Attempting to save a human being's life is no small act. Whether it succeeds or fail, no thank yous will ever be enough. Even as the pain consumes my body, I am able to feel hope thanks to this. There are no words invented to express this level of thanks, but if I get to live, I will search for it.
(Please don't put tags on this unless it is to actually talk or comment something. As always, kind words are appreciated.)
My name is Sera, you may not know me but you know my past work behind the scenes ā¦ Erika Gordon needs your support for Help Sera Access Life
My name is Sera, you may not know me but you know my past work behind the scenes here and there, such as the Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age, Silent Hills, and many others.
I am an agoraphobic indigenous KanienŹ¼kehĆ”:ka (Mohawk) mixed lesbian who has fought for several years a worsening health condition that is currently killing me. The point of no return is not that far away. I have spent years exhausting any paths and means to get help, enduring extreme and near endless pain. I have sold all I have, spent every dime to my name. The system, I feel, is indifferent to my situation. I have received various forms of help over the years in this battle, but I have reached the critical point I have feared all this time. And to make matters worst, the family responsible for inflicting a lifetime of abuse on me is stalking me very heavily online, which has not only exacerbated my agoraphobia, but has also made the efforts to build this harder than I could describe. Know that I share as many details as I can while seeking to avoid undermining my immediate safety, I hope you understand.
If you are reading this, you are one of the few people who can help save my life. A single dollar is enough to make a tremendous difference. There is no other options or source of help besides this, besides you. I need your help or I'm going to die, this is the last chance I have left.
The goal is a series of treatments and challenging surgeries that will remove small metal shards near vital organs and bones in my body. It is categorized as severe internal injuries secondary to a traumatic event. As medical professionals have put it, "the lack of immediate surgical intervention necessitates a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment approach aimed at mitigating the risk of disease progression and optimizing long-term outcomes."
My injuries are from a car accident which injured me immensely and took the lives of my two closest friends in the world. This page does not ask for the full amount of the procedures and treatments, since it is a very large sum of money that cannot be reached that quickly. The page only asks for enough to get me started in the process and access proper vital treatments in countries of the european union. Adding time to the clock, giving me a chance to fight this battle and launching an important part of the process towards saving my life.
I know you may be inclined to share and move on, but I am asking you to pause and think if you have a dollar that could make all the difference. You may be but a few clicks away from truly helping someone who desperately needs it. I know it can be troublesome to stop and actually do it, I am asking you to please consider doing it.
If this fails to reach its goal, I will die. I'm afraid and I need your help. I still have a life in front of me, dreams to pursue. If you read this far, you are the only chance I have left. Don't underestimate the difference a dollar can make, your dollar could be the one dollar we come short of. The expenses covered by this amount ranges from the medical consultations, medical treatments, surgeries and, of course, accessing said treatment, reaching the places where I need to go. I will have a true chance at fighting for the remaining amount myself.
As for cheaper alternatives, it is mainly temporary fixes that would not fix the issue and waitlists that I would die waiting on years before my turn comes. This is it, this is the only way I have that provides the care I need, in the timeframe I need it, with a success rate that gives me a chance to live.
Thank you for reading this and for persevering in the brutal system we all live under. If you yourself have a health condition, I salute you for fighting your own battle. May we all make it and may we all have the softest of epilogues. Regardless of whether you donate or not, if you read this far, know that you are loved.
I would like to thank Erika, a dear friend who has made this possible at all. Without her, I would be lost. I would also like to thank immensely Milica, who has been on this journey with me for so many years, almost since the beginning. Her medical knowledge and her kind heart, her support and dedication, have allowed me to survive long enough to get to this point. I would not be here still without her. I would like to thank the amazing and loving Dana, who has been here during the good days as much as the bad days. She has been a beacon preventing me from giving up hope. I would have abandonned before getting to this point had she not been there for me. And thank you to Oli, who has been my champion, it is thanks to his help that I can move around where I need to go. A great support and a great friend. I would like to also thank Bruna, a kind heart who has never failed to cheer me on, even when her life was not perfect, she never stopped cheering and supporting me.
I would also like to thank my tumblr mutuals, you know who you are, those who have been in my DMs offering me your kindness, laughter and support in these dark times. Your help has also saved me more than once. You are true blessings. Thank you for never giving up hope during the days I felt like doing so.
You have all carried the torch during the days I couldn't, and for that, I can never thank you enough. I have lived and survived because of you, your help in every form has made a difference in the world. I am ready to fight for my life, and whether I reach my goal and live, or fail and die, know that none of it was wasted. You have all made me a better person and that is the mark of true love transpiring from one person to the next. Thank you for believing in me when I could not. I love you all.
In an ideal world, we would all have access to the healthcare - especially of the life-saving variety - that we need. Unfortunately, this is not the case; and until such a time as we can make it so, all we have to rely upon for assistance is one another.
If you are able to, please consider donating to Sera's fundraiser; every contribution helps.
alcohol: whatever is in that glass Iāll drink it and ask for more. (but tequila enjoyer)
warm drink: sniperās jar jk jk, coffee.
Iām not a picky eater as you can see. anyway, tagging ma bros @scrunckled-idiot @another-delta-lover @tf2addictedmann @thatonesimp-e @aniolleq @zeldot @sewerdraws
Eggs: Poached when in a breakfast sandwich / over Eggs Benedict; white omelette with Swiss cheese if Iām being good; friedĀ¹ if Iām not.
Steak: My sympathies to the well-done folks (a preference frequently born of poverty); but medium-rare is objectively the right way to go.
Milk: For drinking, almond milk (preferentially with honey, over ice). Skimmed milk for everything elseĀ².
Alcohol: Oban 14, chilledĀ³.
Warm drink: So, so much coffee. So much. (Although green tea is also good!)
Ā¹ The closest US equivalent would be āover hardā; although Americans like to smash the yolks and / or move the eggs off of heat before the edges are crisp.
Ā² I know that full-fat milk is considered superior in taste; but I was raised on skimmed, and reacclimatizing my taste buds is, alas, not a priority.
Ā³ Do not mistake my choice as proof of a sophisticated palate; Oban is in a drinking polycule with Baileyās and Jose Cuervo.
That video of Alex Hirsch reading S&P notes for Gravity Falls conveys a few things to me:
1) the U.S. entertainment industry (especially animation) is run by older conservative types who make up offensive terms and get really mad about them.
2) the people who run Disney would be the first to fall in line with a fascist regime.
3) most of the media we consume is tailor-made and watered-down to appeal to the tastes of older, deeply religious conservative audiences.
4) conservatism, not the left, is and always has been the biggest voice of censorship in American culture.
J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5, was before that a producer and writer for a number of cartoons in the late ā80s/early ā90s (The Real Ghostbusters and the original She-Ra, most notably). After a few years of dealing with the censors and their obsession with finding Satanism (or at least looking for Satanism to further political agendas) he wrote an article about the whole corrupt and bullshit system.
And published it in Penthouse, to force those same censors to buy a skin mag. The editor there asked, why Penthouse?
That one is from his autobiography, Becoming Superman. See also:
(As he goes on to say, heās never worked in animation againāheās effectively been blacklisted by the cartoon industry.)
One of his episodes of RGB, āThe Halloween Door,ā is fucking ELOQUENT about this shit.
āYou forgot the first rule of fanatics! When you become obsessed with the enemy, you *become* the enemy!ā
After months of silly overwork, I finally got to see my stylist! I feel so much better now that my hair is both multicolored and a more manageable length. š
Imagine the frustration of trying to do maintenance on your robot gf only to find out her wiring diagrams, code, and repair manual are considered confidential and proprietary and only factory certified technicians are allowed or able to work on her. Now imagine working tirelessly to build a wiring diagram, reverse engineer her code, and documenting troubleshooting and maintenance procedures
Been going through my pile of opportunities for something to be my next project.
I think it is time:
But the question is, do I build them by themselves or do I make these two as accompaning armies?
I absolutely love the sister/BT vibe and together they would look baller. But this is a lot of black armour to paint for someone who loathes painting black armour š
Itās theorized that the Red Templars are a Black Templars successor.
Their armor is (unsurprisingly), red; and their chapter insignia, fittingly enough, is a fleur-de-lis.
Those Black Templars of yours would look pretty darn sharp painted up in crimson; and standing next to their allies, the Order Of The Bloody Roseā¦ š
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