I remember when paying for an internet connection meant you got an email account, a ~user style web space, and access to a local-ish Usenet server. And when a static IP for your broadband connection was $4/month and they didn't care what you served from it as long as it didn't hurt the network or get them in legal trouble.
Somewhere along the way we got tricked into core services like email and hosting simple pages being either additional (and high!) costs or vehicles for ad-oriented surveillance. And it's been so complete a shift that people who aren't even that much younger than me just accept this as the natural order of things.
In light of the Internet Archive losing its appeal to hachette, I just wanted to point out some websites you should avoid:
* https://annas-archive.li/
* https://downmagaz.net/
* https://ebook-hunter.org/
* https://forcoder.net/
* https://freemagazines.top/
* https://liber3.eth.limo/
If you were to download books from these websites, you might cut into hachette's more than three billion dollars of annual revenue. So make sure to avoid those websites and the following:
* https://libgen.is/
* https://oceanofpdf.com/
* https://pdfroom.com/
* https://pdfstop.com/
* https://pdfdrive.to/
* https://pdfmagazines.club/
* https://sci-hub.se/
* https://singlelogin.re/
* ... or any of the other sites listed at https://rentry.co/megathread-books
Today I saw a beautiful thing happen that tech made possible: a woman came in to the imaging center and presented paperwork which was actually for the medical office around the corner at the back of the building. She spoke only Spanish and none of us knew how to adequately explain this in Spanish.
The woman checking me in dropped everything and opened her phone translation app which speaks the message you type into another language. She was able not only to help direct the patient to the correct location, but also told her what floor she needed, and that she would personally call the doctor and let them know that she was on her way.
The local CVS locks up deodorant and toothpaste so they can’t be shoplifted. That’s always made me uncomfortable, but it’s been hard to express why.
My partner just summed up my feelings beautifully with the line, “I believe things should belong to people who need them.”
I don’t think people shoplift deodorant and toothpaste unless they need them.
I love this line and wanted to make a note of it so I don’t forget.
I looked out my window just now and next door's cat, Lady Oblong the Destroyer is performing her duties as Chief Judger of the Peasants Next Door (us) with magnificent aplomb.
She's an unbeaten champion in her chosen profession. If only she could sniff disapprovingly, her life would be complete.
Artist for Closetspace and A Wish for Wings
Creative Text Writer for MTG: Universes Beyond
Writer for Sea of Legends
One enchilada short of a Mexican Platter