I’m aware that this is unconventional. Believe me, I’ve tried conventional – it didn’t end well for anyone. I require a certain open mindedness that I’m hoping I might find here, but more importantly, I need my future husband to know the rules. Meet-cutes are well and good on the screen, but they don’t guarantee a partner’s ability to follow basic instructions. That was my mistake the first time.
So, begging your pardon for my bluntness, I’m going to be clear about my requirements. Please read carefully – if you can’t meet them, there’s no point in going any further.

• Must want children. At least one child, anyway. I’m open to the idea of more, but one is an absolute must.
• Must be in it for the long haul. Until our child turns eighteen, to be precise. I understand that level of commitment is a daunting prospect, particularly when we have not yet met. After our child is born, you are welcome to ignore me, if you please, or take your pleasure elsewhere – though I will warn you that it might be difficult to come by. But you will live under my roof until our child is an adult.
• Homebody preferred. It will make the next two decades easier on you.
• Must have impeccable manners. I will provide a manual outlining the required etiquette, but you must at least have a grasp of basic courtesy to begin with. If you let your tongue run away with you, or don’t bother to wish your neighbours a good morning when you pass them in the street, stop reading – this is not the opportunity for you. Seriously.

This is the part where I should talk about myself, but let’s face it, this is hardly a romantic proposal. I require commitment up-front and there’s no guarantee that, once we do meet, we’ll really even like each other. If we do? Fantastic! It’ll help the years fly by. If we don’t, you’ll still have the main prize – years of rent-free, expenses-free living at The Old Oak Hotel.
A sanctuary has stood in this spot in one form or another since before the ley lines. During its tenure, it has been flooded, put to the flame, and pounded into dust. Time and again, it has been reimagined and rebuilt. Most of the current building dates back to Victoria’s reign, though the oldest parts were constructed in the 13^th century. At the very bottom of the garden, cut into the surrounding hills, there is a cave bearing handprints of red ochre.
There has always been an Edwards at the hotel, though of course we haven’t always gone by that name. You would think a family so tied to one place would do a better job of keeping records, but no one is certain of our origins. Perhaps it was a cosmic bargain, or perhaps mere luck – whether good or bad, I have never been able to decide. Either way, our presence is required. Throughout our spotty past, there’s a story here and there of an Edwards deserting their post, and it always coincides with a particularly brutal period of history.
I inherited the position five years ago. At midnight on my eighteenth birthday, my parents took their already-packed suitcases and left. I don’t blame them for their abandonment; I intend to one day do the same thing to my – or, hopefully, our – child.
They send me postcards and photos from time-to-time, always smiling on sunny beaches. Money isn’t a concern for them. That’s part of whatever mysterious deal our ancestors made – when a caretaker leaves in good-standing, they will never want for anything again. They could travel the world for the rest of their lives, always sleeping in the softest sheets and dining in the finest restaurants, and never find their pockets empty.
Keep this point in mind, for if you can meet my requirements, you will share my good fortune.
And what must we do in return? I can all but hear you scream the question. Why, very little. The presence of an Edwards ensures that the guests can’t stray from the hotel grounds. Most of our guests are live-in residents, though we do get the occasional walk-in. Where they come from, I don’t know, for we are not visible to most people who stumble upon our lonely corner of the world. I’ve come to believe the hotel chooses to reveal itself when its lacking entertainment, or to fill a need.
Jimmy, my first husband, was one such guest.
For the most part, the guests are harmless. They’ll give you a little fright from time-to-time, popping out from a wall or turning your bathwater into blood, but I find it hard to hold it against them. I’ve found twenty-three years here dreary; I can’t imagine how bored I would be after five hundred.
There are a few exceptions you should be aware of:

• Eric. Our resident serial murderer. He claims to have been Jack the Ripper while he still drew breath, but I think he’s just a blowhard. He knows better than to harm an Edwards, but I’m afraid spouses are fair game. Years ago, my grandmother managed to confine him to the fourth floor, so you will be perfectly safe from him as long as you never set foot there. Occasionally, the lift will stop on that floor even though you haven’t pressed the button for it. Do not get out. Even if the lift appears to be on fire or starts filling with murky water. Wait for the doors to close again, then go to another floor. It should only take a few hours.
• The Thing in the Cellar. I don’t know what It is; no one ever has. We only know It eats rats and must be fed once a day. If I’m ever ill or incapacitated, this task will fall to you. Harvest the rats from the traps in the garden, then stand at the cellar door and throw them down the stairs. Do not walk down the stairs and do not forget to feed It. You don’t want to be the first person to see Its’ face.
• Mrs Jones. Old fashioned and a stickler for manners, she’s the reason I’m advertising for a husband rather than a boyfriend. She won’t abide a couple living in sin under the same roof as her. Really, though, she’s a sweet old thing. Full of stories about the war and always ready to help if I get stuck on a recipe. I don’t blame her for what happened with Jimmy at all. I’d warned him enough times.

Guests aside, there are other rules you will need to follow to ensure a safe, satisfactory stay at The Old Oak Hotel. They are listed in a book that has been re-penned many times over the centuries. If you choose to accept this opportunity, I will insist that you read it until you can recite the pages word-for-word.
However, there are some rules so critical for your survival that I feel compelled to list them here:

• With the exception of the fourth floor, you are welcome to roam the hotel and its grounds as you please. But you must never set foot outside of our land – not until our child is old enough to fulfil their duties. If I were to do so, it would unleash pandemonium – plague, peril, perhaps another world war. I’m afraid you would be less crucial to the fate of the world, but it would certainly be a personal disaster.
• Never look in the mirrors in room 33.
• I’ve touched this point already, but it bears repeating: never be rude to Mrs Jones.

Failure to observe that last rule is what got Jimmy.
She doted on him. I think he reminded her of her long-dead son, for she pampered him as if he were one of her own. Each morning, she had breakfast ready for him before I had so much as opened my eyes, and she developed a habit of trailing along after him, complimenting his skill as he oiled rusted hinges or set a crooked picture straight.
At first, Jimmy basked in the attention. But by the end of his second month, he was growing bored of Mrs Jones, me, and the hotel itself. We pride ourselves on our facilities. If you need more activity than a turn around the garden, we have a lovely indoor pool – it freezes over every now and then, but most of the time it’s perfectly usable. Our library is unmatched. Although the room is cramped, it has every book imaginable; you only need to think of a particular title, and it will appear on one of the shelves. And now that I’ve dragged us kicking and screaming into the 21^st century, we have a wide array of streaming services.
It wasn’t enough for Jimmy. He wanted to go out – eat in a restaurant, watch a film in the cinema, see any faces other than the ones he was surrounded by every day. He began having a drink each evening. One drink turned into several, and after a few weeks, the bar became his permanent residence between dusk and midnight.
He wasn’t the only one getting bored. I had been thrilled when he first arrived; ecstatic when he agreed to stay. How marvellous to feel real flesh beneath my fingers after five years of only the dead for company. What a relief to have some assistance in the many tasks required to keep the hotel running as it should.
The more he drank, the less inclined he was to help – or even spend time in my company. He no longer visited my bed, choosing a room for himself on the opposite end of the floor. When our paths did cross, at best he would ignore me. At worst, he would nitpick or outright rail against me, blaming me for his captivity.
Still, I made an effort to be present whenever he frequented the bar. As lovely as Mrs Jones can be, she does have a tendency to nag. Before and after her death, she was close to teetotal, only consenting to take a single sherry at Christmas, and drinking outside of special occasions is something of a bugbear of hers.
“Think of your health, dear,” she would tell Jimmy brusquely. “You’ll miss it when it’s gone.”
Or, “How about we switch to a nice apple juice now? You’ve had quite enough to drink for one night.”
Most of the time, Jimmy managed to pull himself together enough to flash a charming smile and distract her with a compliment about her latest meal. But after one drink too many, I’d noticed him gritting his teeth and just barely managing to hold his tongue.
It was better if I was present. Playing the doting wife, I insisted on pouring his drinks, watering them down out of his sight. When Mrs Jones’s nagging bordered on relentless, I could always distract her with a game of gin rummy.
On his final day, I was running behind. The ghoul on the second floor – usually the least demanding of our guests – had come down with some dreadful illness, or else decided he wanted to inconvenience me. Either way, I had woken that morning to the foulest stench I had ever experienced. I followed it to his room and found every surface covered in putrid green-blank gunge, its consistency somewhere between mucus and vomit.
All day I scrubbed, taking only brief breaks to step outside before I fainted. By the time the room was restored to a passable state, and I had filled several bin bags to bursting with filthy rags, it was already deep into the night. Mindful of the time, I paused only long enough to wash the streaks of muck from my arms and face before racing to the bar.
I arrived just in time to hear Jimmy’s last words. After he spat them at Mrs Jones, she only stared for a small eternity, her mouth frozen in the motherly smile she wore whenever she scolded him.
Then, like melted wax, her face began to shift.
I shouted at Jimmy to run, but he didn’t need to be told. Before the words left my mouth, he leapt from his barstool and streaked through the door. Mrs Jones followed him seconds later. Her lips were already peeling back to reveal rows upon rows of long, wickedly sharp fangs, while claws sprouted from beneath her lace-edged cuffs.
I sprinted after them, but Jimmy was fuelled by fear and Mrs Jones by whatever force propels the Mrs Joneses of the world. I followed the screeching to the lobby. Breathless, I arrived to see he had arrived within mere feet of the entrance before Mrs Jones grabbed him.
Claws wrapped around his throat, she lifted him into the air. As I watched, her jaw unhinged, the lower part dropping so that it was nearly level with her chest.
That sight drove all the sense out of my head. Forgetting every rule my parents had ever drilled into me, I lunged at her.
She batted me away as though I weighed no more than a fly.
I crashed into the reception desk, the breath bursting from my lungs in a great woosh. I was certain that I would die, for no amount of effort seemed to force air back into my aching chest. At last, as my vision began to dim, I managed to take a small gulp – then another, and another, until I was able to draw myself together enough to regain my feet.
By that time, Mrs Jones had nearly finished her dinner. Jimmy’s chest was splayed open, muscle and shattered ribs protruding every which way from his flesh, and she was devouring the last few bites of his heart.
His head was angled towards me. The light had winked out from his eyes, but they still held his final terror – and an accusation which, I was quite certain, was directed at me. I would like to say I felt only horror, but I couldn’t help my sudden jolt of irritation. How may times had I told him to mind his manners?
Mrs Jones gulped, the sound thick and wet in her gullet, and dropped what remained of Jimmy to the floor.
Then she turned to me.
Here’s another rule for you, one which I hope you never have cause to use: never interfere with a kill.
The Mrs Jones who used to kiss my grazed knees, who argued with my mother for the right to read me bedtime stories, was no longer at the wheel. No amount of pleading or reasoning would move her.
I could only run.
Spinning around, I vaulted over the reception desk and raced for the office behind it. If Jimmy had not been out of his mind with fear and booze, he might have remembered the rules and survived; it was one of several staff-only rooms throughout the hotel warded to keep out unwanted guests.
Just ten steps from desk to door, yet it was the longest journey of my life. My hard-won breath burned my throat; my heart pounded in my ears, deafening me to all other sounds than Mrs Jones’s heavy, pounding footsteps.
Grasping the handle, her hot, copper-tanged breath was on my neck. Fire exploded in my flesh as she raked her claws down my back. A step further away, and I wouldn’t have made it; the pain would have been too great. But I managed to throw myself into the office and slam the door before crumpling to the ground.
Before I passed out, I heard her grunting and shrieking outside, furious that she couldn’t get in.
Three days I spent in the office, emerging only to feed The Thing in the Cellar before scurrying back to my hiding place. Whenever I left, I tried not to look at the mangled heap that used to be Jimmy. There was no avoiding the smell, though.
With no small difficulty, and the help of a first aid kit, I managed to treat and bandage the wounds on my back. They bled sluggishly all throughout the first day, but thankfully didn’t fester.
On the morning of the fourth day, there was a tentative knock on the door followed by the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps. I waited until they had disappeared down the corridor before cracking the door open. On the floor was a freshly baked Victoria sponge and a beautifully written note of apology.
It took every ounce of courage I possessed, but that evening I forced myself to go to the dining room. Mrs Jones was waiting for me, her eyes red-rimmed, a steaming cottage pie on the table. I tried not to flinch as she took my hand, re-iterating the apology she had already delivered in writing.
The next morning, she helped me clean Jimmy up.
We treated each other cautiously for a while, but eventually we got back to playing gin rummy again. When the scars on my back twinge, as they sometimes do, she helps me rub a soothing ointment into them. Even though I’ve told her it’s not necessary, she apologises every time.
So, you’ve heard my story and you have my proposal. If you think you could be the man for me, I invite you to visit. You will need to drink a cup of ram’s blood (a pinch of nutmeg makes it a little more tolerable) and light a black candle before bedtime. When you next wake, you will find yourself at our gates. As travel arrangements go, it’s hardly the Orient Express, but it beats the airfare.
If you have read this without flinching, if you can stomach the journey to get here, if you walk up to our door and find the nerve to open it, I have one more instruction for you.
Just as you enter, look to your right. You will see a deep brown stain on the lobby carpet. I’ve scrubbed and scrubbed but it just won’t come out. Perhaps that’s for the best. It’s a good reminder of what will happen to you should you call Mrs Jones a “nosy old bat”.
And when you run into Jimmy – as you will, for he still likes hanging around the bar in the evening, his silvery wounds glistening as though they had just been inflicted – don’t let him convince you he was some sort of victim.
He knew the rules.

In the United States, only people who have experienced domestic violence, human trafficking, or transgender people can have a name change record sealed. Having it sealed means it is not a public record that anyone can view. Only the police can view it with a warrant.
The problem many people face is being abused, harassed, stalked, threatened, etc. and are unable to prove this in court. Sometimes abuse/stalking victims are unable to gather evidence. Without being able to prove in court that they are in danger, they are unable to have the name change record sealed. If an abuser has your name, they can search for you on a people finder website and find out where you live or work. This puts many lives in danger. Even if they get a P.O. box to hide their address or a service to reroute their mail, these boxes and services cost money that people sometimes can't afford to keep for the rest of their life to protect themselves. These people should be allowed to legally change their name without being required to prove they are in danger. "I'm afraid" should be the only thing they should have to say.
People who have faced extreme public embarrassment/humiliation either on their own or at the hands of a covert narcissist's smear campaign, bullies, etc., should also have the ability to legally change their name and have the record sealed simply because they want to for peace of mind. They should not have to provide a reason. [Trigger warning] Situations like this can often lead to someone taking their own life. I believe that we need more mercy and compassion in the world and should set laws (in the United States, but also other countries) to help encourage people with unfortunate background to re-enter society and pursue a life of peace as a normal, contributing member of society.
With all the technology we have today that allow the police to find a wanted criminal, it is extremely unlikely that this would be abused by people running from the law. Technology such as, Cameras in stores and on streets, biometrics, stingray tech, satellite, GPS trackers in cell phones and cars, digital credit/debit history showing location of withdraws and purchases, etc. All of this makes it virtually impossible to hide from the police, and especially the government, even if someone legally changed their name and had the public record sealed so it was no longer public. All previous crimes committed are tied to your social security number and fingerprints, not your name. Currently, to get your name legally changed, you have to provide a fingerprint as well as other information to recieve a background check. This background check includes criminal past and credit bureau check to see if you owe money to anyone.
With all of this in mind...why can't we legally change our name and have the record sealed without having to provide a reason??? We are not asking to hide from the police. Just regular, unofficial people who have no societal authority over other people. An old name is no longer a part of your identity, which means it should not be publicly tied to you. It is a part of your personal history. Unless you signed a contract, signing over your name or likeness to a person or company like some people do for advertising purposes, this would be the only reason they would have any legal claim to your old name. Even matters of "public interest" or "public concern" only go so far. If a group of people said they were concerned for your health, "show us your medical records", does that mean you have to show them your medical records? No. There are plenty of things the public can be concerned with but that doesn't give them the legal authority to know everything about you.
I want Name Change Laws to change in this country (the United States) and around the world to make it easier for people to escape abuse as well as grow and change as a person after facing public shame and humiliation.
Thank you for reading. Please let me know your thoughts. And let's get people talking about this!

Scout's honour, I'm not into counterfeiting and don't really believe in rebranding or hiding identities, but . . . I have a Harley Benton Les Paul Jr. that after countless hours turned out to be a pretty sexy shred-machine: Dimarzio Fantom P-90, cut & buffed the paint job so it looks like the pic on the website (looking at you, Harley, you know it doesn't actually look like that when the package arrives!)
Fretwork was good and the frets are massive, not much to complain about there but the pickup was a fucking mile from the strings . . . anyway I'm happy now but there's no way I'm advertising for those guys: anyone who thinks they can buy the guitar I have now is going to be very disappointed unless they have some basic skills and a whole lot of time on their hands.
I want to print a Gibson logo with something like "JK, fake." Any fans of Dave's World of Fun Stuff will know his term for a fake Fender: "Pretendocaster." Thanks for reading my rant, browse in peace.

F19 Hello! Lately I’ve been stressed out about my future and I feel like I’d feel better if I just talked about it.
I come from an upper middle class family in the USA. Since Middle School my parents have asked me about College and every conversation ended in me crying because the topic was “too serious” and “I had time to think anyway.” I was always a good student though. Throughout high school I was even able to qualify for a scholarship that pays for 75% of my college, and since my HS was partnered with the Community College in the area, I graduated HS with most of my AA.
After graduating HS at 18, I finished my AA (Magna Cum Laude) online from home with the same college. I’m planning on transferring to another Uni for my Bachelor’s…
Here’s the problem: I don’t know how to drive still and have never worked a day in my life. Now that I’m on break, I bed rot most of the day until my parents come home from work… I’m scared of responsibility. I wasn’t given many chores growing up. I feel like I had life too easy as a kid and now I have to grow up and I can’t. I don’t know how to cook. I’m intelligent as crap but I lack independence… Here is how life is currently:
Work: I have a tiktok page (21k) and make $50 a day for two hour streams but I can’t depend on that for a stable income.. I applied for a supermarket summer job. They haven’t answered yet. My parents would have to take me until I have driving down. I just need in-person experience.
School: I signed up for the Uni’s online bachelor program a day late so I don’t know if they’ll accept me! I’m going for advertising but no major jumps out to me.. I have no career dreams. Idk what i’m studying for but at least it’s free.
Friends/Relationships: my friends all live far and make plans without me because of distance. My friendships are all online. As far as love goes, I’m decently pretty and lots of guys from Tiktok flirt with me but they’re all older (my content is based around old-school music and the kicker is that I’m a younger woman…so when I DJ, dudes send gifts). I’ve depended on the fantasy that I could “marry rich” and now that I’ve been able to network in the industry it becomes less far fetched? For now I’ve been dating a boy from Mexico (M20) for two months and he said he’d take care of me financially.. he doesn’t want me to work which is perfect for me!! I just feel like it’s easier said than done. It’s an LDR, one of us would have to move, citizenship is an issue in itself, and my parents have never known about my relationships which hurts because i’m big on family and I feel like I’m hiding. They’ve given me everything and they’re all I’ve known. In all of this I don’t want to say they’ve failed me, I’m just immature and don’t know how to change which sucks cuz I want to.
Driving: how do people trust high speed machinery? My dad tries to teach me but I cry every time. I need to get out there though. Everyone my age is an hour away. If I want to enjoy my youth, I’ve gotta grow up and be responsible.
Thank you for listening! Maybe someone with similar experiences can give some advice!

Hello all,
I just bought a used truck. I've been carless for about 8 years, it was nice, but we're moving out of the city so I've been forced to buy back into the system.
I seamrip all the logos off my clothing, and cover the logos on my laptop with labels I made that say "Brand™️".
How can I deface my trucks logos without damaging them in case I have to resell it? Could I cover the 3D ones with silicon putty to hide them?
I'm hoping to make it look less worth stealing and stop incidentally advertising the monopoly that made it.
Any suggestions welcomed.

This is the first time I have written something of this length, and is more of an exercise in self-therapy than anything else. Disclaimer: This story contains conversations about child abuse. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy it.
Nathan’s number appeared on my phone screen. I debated whether or not to answer it. We hadn’t been on speaking terms for a while, and while we did keep in touch sporadically, it was usually because of important family issues. I didn’t know of anything happening with mom or dad, nor with Talia or Rio, so I let it go to voicemail. I could always call him back later. I placed the phone back in my pocket, and returned to cleaning my camera. The phone buzzed again. A text message came through. I read the preview line from the home screen. “The city declared eminent domain on the house” I unlocked my phone, read the full text message, and dialed my brother.
I wasn't able to get any closer to the house than a few blocks. Most of the area was blocked off with chain link fencing and construction equipment in preparation for the demolition that was supposed to take place within the coming days. The barriers didn’t prevent people from walking in to the neighborhood, but it hindered scrappers from coming in and stripping the houses of copper wiring and plumbing.
I grabbed my camera bag out of the trunk of my car along with my tripod. I shouldered it and hooked the tripod to my bag. I pulled my water bottle out of the center console and shut the door. I stood next to my car surveying the neighborhood. 12 city blocks of old single family homes comprised the neighborhood where I grew up. Some of the houses had been empty for months, others for years. There was an eerie silence that permeated the still air. I could not hear the familiar sounds of people, pets, or cars. I locked the car and put my keys in my pocket. I patted my jacket down to ensure I had what I needed. After a quick check, I started my walk.
The sidewalk of the old neighborhood streets still bore the familiar cracks and grind marks from years of buckling and remedy. Leaves dropped by the trees still lay scattered all along the pathways and sidewalk. Korina’s house was the first house I encountered as I made my way through a gap in the fence. The yard was overgrown with tall grass and thistle. I could see the faded blue paint of the old house contrasting the green and browns of the lawn. The chain link fence that marked off the corner property was nearly invisible through the thick brush. As I continued walking west towards 110th, I started to feel something was off. The streets seemed wider than I remembered. It took me longer than I’d like to admit, but eventually I realized what was different. There were no cars.
The streets here typically had cars lined bumper to bumper in any spot available, and were visible from block to block. The absence of all these vehicles made me realize just how deserted the neighborhood really was. House after house, yard after yard, the telltale signs of desertion reinforced what I could see from the moment I passed the construction fence: This was no longer my neighborhood. There were no signs of life, and no one I could expect to find still here. Abandonment was the new normal here. I continued on, glancing at houses and recalling memories of summer bike rides, and daily walks with dogs I used to have. I remembered walks home from school, and chasing after ice cream trucks when they passed our houses. I smiled a bit as I remembered more and more of my years spent here. I don’t quite know just why I was smiling. There were plenty of bad memories here too. Fights, yelling, being beat up, being robbed. I could remember failed friendships, lost loves, and bitter feelings of failures too.
Still, I felt a certain amount of nostalgia despite the weight of these negative feelings. I almost wanted to experience everything again, although I wasn't sure why I was feeling this way. Concrete, asphalt, billboards and liquor stores were the normal vistas of everyday life. Occasionally, after a good rainstorm, the grey haze of smog would lift, and the mountains would be visible to the north. At least, they would be visible until mid-morning when the exhaust from a million cars covered them behind a veil of pollution.
It wasn’t until the first time I travelled out of the city that I realized there was more to see. Traveling up the coast north along the Pacific Coast Highway introduced me to scenes of deep blue ocean water spanning the width of my vision. Driving up Highway 3 introduced me to the permeating scent of Pine and Fir trees. The two-lane stretch of highway from Portland to Tillamook introduced me to lush green forests that I had only ever read about. When I came home to the same old dirty, dusty concrete and boiling summer asphalt, I had made up my mind. I would do everything it took to leave this place. I would not spend another day longer than was necessary living in cramped quarters and fighting for parking space.
I arrived to the house, and paused at the gate. The house sat in contrast of what the rest of the neighborhood looked like. Instead of overgrown grass and tall weeds all over the place, the landscaping showed signs of relatively recent work. The guava tree in the front lawn still had some fruit ready to be picked, and the avocado tree on the other side of the pathway was still weighed down by its own fruit. Flowers still bloomed in the raised bed in front of the house. My brother had clearly tried to keep up on things until the last possible moment. The house, too, looked better than what I expected after walking up 4 blocks and seeing nothing but dilapidated houses and unkempt yards. I opened the gate and walked up to the small porch. The metal gate that enclosed it was gone having been removed by my brother when he took over the property. It looked nice to see it open instead of the cage it once felt like.
I turned the knob on the door, but it didn't give. Ever a creature of habit, my brother had locked the door when he left. Of course, he did. I sighed and prepared to find another way in when I remembered my parents hiding a spare key. I wasn’t sure if it would still be there, but after running my hands along the back side of the gutter downspout, I was rewarded for my efforts. I unlocked the front door and stepped into the front living room, the sounds of my footsteps and the closing door echoing in the empty space. The room felt both larger and smaller than I remembered it. I suppose it was lack of furniture that made it feel larger, but it still felt smaller than I remember. The result of growing taller throughout the years I suppose. I slowly walked along the slate tile floor towards the central hallway that connected the front of the house to the back bedrooms. I wasn't entirely sure that just because the front door was locked, that there wasn't some squatter looking for a little temporary shelter within the back rooms. I carefully and silently crept step by step towards what used to be the bedroom shared by my sister and me. I stuck my head in and gave the room a cursory glance. It was empty, thankfully. I moved back into the hallway and peered into the bedroom across the hall. This is where both of my brothers had shared a room. It too, was empty save for a few boxes holding hardware and doorknobs from the closet doors of the bedroom. I walked back towards the back of the house where my parent's bedroom was. The walls in the hallway bore the dusty signs where picture once hung. The bedroom door was open. I stepped inside, and looked around. The old avocado paint that my mom had picked out years ago still adorned the walls. Walking further towards the addition that was the small room my grandma and grandpa lived in showed that there was no one here. I breathed a sigh of relief as I set my bag down and set up my tripod. I reached into my bag a pulled out an envelope of old photos. These were old snapshots that we had all taken at some point in time in the house. There were pictures of all of us sitting at the dining room table playing a game of Monopoly. There was a picture of my brother and sister sitting on a couch in the front living room. There was a picture of me hanging on the bars of the front porch. I looked through them all and held them in place in front of me as if I were holding a window to the past.
Each picture made the lump in my throat grow as I started to struggle to control my emotions. There was history here, and soon it would all be gone. This is the place where my parents had raised four kids. They had taken care of my grandparents in their twilight years here. My Aunt and my grandmother had both died in this house. Birthdays, graduation parties, and anniversaries had been celebrated here. The echoes of life had reverberated within the walls of this place. Now, the house sat silent. It would never again know happy screams of kids having a water-balloon war out in the front yard, nor would it hear the cries of anguish as the matriarch of the family passed away surrounded by her family. What once was a home full of life was now just an empty house made of drywall and paint. I sat there for a moment contemplating just how much family history was actually made here. As I thought hard about my siblings and my parents, I felt pained at the thought of our strained relationships. We had all scattered once we had the opportunity to be free of each other. My oldest brother had married and moved away as soon as possible. My sister now lived in northern California. My parents too had moved away. I was now living in Utah. Only my older brother had remained behind. The lump grew larger in my throat as tears welled up in my eyes. I held back sobs of anger and pain. Why was I hurting? Hadn’t I dealt with these issues already? I walked back to my old bedroom and sat down under the window. I pulled my head down into my knees and cried. I could hear yelling and screaming in my head. Shouting matches between siblings and parents, brothers and sister, rattled inside my brain, making the pain grow. I sat there and cried. I hadn’t cried like this in a long time. Eventually I ran out of tears and tired gasps of sorrow and regret washed over me as a blanket of drowsiness enveloped me. I leaned my head back and fell asleep.
I woke up to the sound of footsteps. It took me a moment to realize what I was hearing and hurriedly stood up. Had someone followed me? I knew the police were patrolling the area sporadically. Had they seen me enter the house? I knew there would be a possibility of getting a trespassing citation, but I figured I could either talk my way out of it seeing as to how I was a former resident, or I could probably fight the citation in court if the judge knew why I was there in the first place. Ultimately, passing through the gate had been a calculated risk that I was willing to take for the sake of my art. I got up from my corner of the room and moved towards the door. If there was someone in the house, I needed to know. I didn’t want my gear to stolen, and if there was a cop in the house, I wanted to ensure I didn’t get shot.
I was greeted by the sight of a startled chubby boy standing on the other side of the door. His round cherubic face was crowned by a head of short curly hair. His hazel green eyes stared widely back at me. He clearly didn’t expect someone to be here in the house. His body recoiled in fear as he cowered back towards the hallway. “Wait, what are you doing here?” I asked as non-threateningly as I could. The boy muttered something that I couldn’t quite make out. “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you” I replied. “Are you here to rob us?” he timidly responded. “Rob you? What are you talking about?” I asked as confusion set in. “What are you doing here?” It was his turn to be confused. “Uh…I….live here?” he replied. “What do you mean you live here? No one lives-“I stopped midsentence. I hadn’t noticed in my initial shock but the room wasn’t the same. A familiar blue couch caught the corner of my eye. In front of that was an old console TV with a partially broken antenna hanging on the wall behind it. I walked further in to the living room to notice wood paneling on the walls. A large mirror hung on the wall to my left. Familiar yellow lamps sat on round drop-leaf tables on either side of the couch. A large hutch sat in one corner, a collection of letters and bills, mail advertisements, and a phone book covered scattered over it. “What just happened?” I asked out loud to no one in particular. I was thoroughly mystified by what my eyes were seeing. I had walked into the house from the front door and had stepped into an empty white room with slate floor tiles, but somehow now found myself in a furnished room with brown carpet that was all so familiar to me, yet was nothing but a distant faded memory. I turned to look at the boy still startled by the intrusion of a strange man looking wildly around the room in total shock.
“You can take what you want, just please let me go. I don’t want problems.” He stated his voice still shrill with anxiety. I blinked a few times as I tried to process just what the heck was going on. I gathered my thoughts as best I could and tried to reassure him. “Kid, I’m not here to rob anyone. I was just-“I shook my head “Where the hell am I? Am I having a dream?” I asked myself. “I must be dreaming. I’m just tired and still sleeping. This is all a dream. Yeah, that’s it.” I needed to sit down. Being back in the old house must have overtaxed my senses, I told myself. I’d having a dream about an old memory. I walked over to the chair next to the couch and sat down. I sunk into it and rested my head back towards the wall.
The boy kept his distance, but sensed I wasn’t there to hurt him. He looked me over with anxious curiosity. He stood at the far end of the couch, examining me while he played out scenarios in his head in preparation for a quick exit. “Why are you in my house?” he asked me. “Dude, this is all just a dream I’m having. I’m not really here.” He reached over to the couch and picked up a pillow. He reared his arm and threw it at me. It landed in my lap. “I don’t know, man. You sure seem to be here.” He said to me. I opened my eyes, startled. I looked down at the pillow he tossed and examined it. I ran my hand over the fabric and felt its texture. I remember this pillow. This was the pillow I would roll under my head as I lay on the couch and watched TV as a kid. A sudden realization hit me as I looked around the room with fresh eyes. No longer was I blinded by the fog of confusion. I knew exactly where I was.
I was home.
I looked at the boy still standing at the edge of the couch. I looked him over and realized who he actually was. I stared in disbelief as I smiled and tried to put him at ease. “It’s ok Johnny. I’m not here to hurt you. No one is going to hurt you. Please, sit down” I told him. I motioned to his end of the couch. “Who are you, and why are you here?” he asked me.
“This will be hard to believe, but I’m you” I said with an incredulous tone, “I’m not sure how I ended up here, but I’m here.” He looked at me as I had grown a second head. “That doesn’t make any sense. How could you be me? Did we invent time travel? Oh! Are we secret government agents with the CIA?”
I chuckled. “Wait, wait, wait. Let’s start at the beginning. I’m you at 38 years old. You’re…what, 11… 12 years old? It makes sense. I fell asleep under the window in my- our old bedroom. I didn’t come here on purpose or in a machine. And no, I’m not a government agent.” His face contorted to display understanding, disappointment and finally suspicion. His eyes narrowed as he leaned in towards me. “How do I know you’re really me?” he asked. I thought about it for a moment. How could I prove to him that I was who I said I was? A few seconds of silence settled between us. I stroked my chin, thinking of a solution.
“I have a better idea. Ask me questions that only you know the answers to.” “Okay” he responded. He glanced around the room trying to come up with something. His eyes fixated on the Nintendo sitting under the TV cabinet. “What game do me and Nathan have a map of?” I looked over at the NES. I hadn’t thought about this for years, but I knew instantly what he was asking. “YOU don’t have anything. Nathan is the one that made the map for Section Z” His jaw dropped. He tried to trick me, but his plan failed. He knew well and good that Nathan never let him play. It was always ‘I’ll let you play when I die’ or, ‘you can play when I’m done’. The problem was that he never followed through. Usually by the time Nathan was done, the NES was overheated, and the game would no longer load until it cooled down. By that point, it was time for bed.
“How do you know that?” he asked in astonishment. “I know these things because I’m you. Just like I know that you wear t-shirts to the pool because you’re embarrassed by what others will think of your body. I know that you used to think that people that die off in movies were prisoners that were set to be executed from death row, so they used them for making movies. I know all about you because I’m you”
Johnny sat on the end of the couch in bewilderment, his mouth slightly agape. He had never told anyone any of this. He didn’t have any close friends to talk to about such things, and those friends he did have were more acquaintances than friends. There was only one way he could possibly know these things. He was talking to his future self.
I could see Johnny’s mind completely explode. There lay endless possibility and the answers to a million questions he could ask about his own future. He started to ask a question, only to stop, close his mouth, and try asking another. I knew if he kept this up he would have a stroke or something. “Dude, calm yourself. Let’s talk this out rationally, otherwise you’ll end up stroking out or something.” I told him. He took a deep breath and I could hear him muttering quietly. I knew he was trying to form a coherent sentence before he actually spoke it. I did it all the time. “Ok, first of all, are we rich?” he asked with tempered expectation. I chuckled and grinned back at him. “No, not at all. If I was rich, would I be dressed like this?” I replied as I motioned to my beat up brown Vans and worn out jeans and T-shirt. “We-, I – make enough to get by. I’m not poor, but I earn enough to pay the bills.” His face grew a smirk as he commented “Yeah, I figured. What do I do for work? I mean, what do you do for work?” I thought about it for a second. I wondered how much information I should divulge to a younger me. I still didn’t think this whole situation was really happening, but if it was, I probably should proceed with caution. “Well, it’s complicated. I do a little bit of everything. You know how you’re constantly taking things apart? Let’s just say that it’s good to put them back together in order to keep them working. Take good notes on paper if you need to, and make sure you have a clean work area so you can keep track of all the parts.” He gave me a sheepish look. He knew exactly what I was talking about. I had spent countless hours sneaking dad’s tools to my room so I could figure out how something was built and try to figure out how it worked. I had gotten myself into some pretty bad trouble with dad over a drill, his timing light, and other stuff I had taken from his room. His belt had become quite familiar with my butt cheeks.
I gave him a knowing smile. “What else do you want to know?” He thought about it for a second. “Do we have a girlfriend?” I laughed, probably a little more than I should have because his face contorted into a sour frown. “You don’t need to be a jerk about it” he scowled. I continued to chuckle. “Yeah we have a girlfriend. We have more than a girlfriend” I could tell he was irritated with my vague indirect answers. I knew what he was asking. I remember the crush I had on my neighbor across the street. We had been friends since kindergarten, and had been classmates for 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades. We got along really well, and I knew from around 12 or 13 that I wanted to be her boyfriend. Unfortunately, things never progressed beyond the ‘just friends’ stage of things. It wasn’t from lack of effort on my part. We had just grown up together most of our lives that she didn’t see me as anything more than a brother and friend. “Dude, look. You just started to go through changes and you are starting to notice girls, but that doesn’t mean that you need to love every girl that shows you a little kindness or subtle interest. You need to slow down and let things happen naturally. You can’t force a relationship with someone.” Johnny pondered these words for a moment. I sat back and put my feet up on the coffee table. I looked around the room some more while I waited for another question. There was so much I had forgotten, but being back here had unlocked more and more memories that continued to wash over me. I was trying to hold on to my cool as not all those churned up recollections were pleasant. I stood up and walked over to the front door to peer outside the small central window embedded into the center of it. I could see the old neighborhood as I remembered it all those years ago. The lot across the street that served as a parking area for those that worked at the wheel works at the end of the block was empty of cars. I furrowed my brow as I thought for a moment. An empty lot meant it was afterhours or the weekend.
The gears in my own head started turning. “Wait, where is everyone?” I asked Johnny. Johnny turned to look at me still processing my last response. “Uh..oh, Mom and dad are out of town. They took a trip east this time. I think Rio said they are in Arizona right now. Rio and Nathan went out to get some food and to rent some movies from Video Showcase. Knowing them they’ll eat out first. Talia is staying over at Tia Rosie’s place today with her friends.” I grunted at his response. My mind was wandering as he mentioned Talia and Tia Rosie.
A sudden sharp pain pieced my heart. The pain of a thousand memories now unsealed spilled out from the box I had locked them away in. Tears welled in the corners of my eyes as I turned back to look at Johnny. He felt it too. He stared at the floor with an intensity that made me think it would burst into flames at any moment. I walked back over to him and sat next to him. He didn’t move. I placed my hand on his shoulder, and he threw himself into me. I could feel the tears dripping onto me as he sobbed intensely. “Hey man, its ok. It’s going to be ok.” I said as my own tears started to flow uncontrollably. I pulled him close and draped my other arm around him.
I knew the pain he was feeling. It was such a heavy burden, and I knew there was no one he felt he could talk to. I remembered it all so vividly. We sat there for what seemed to be an eternity. When we finally stopped sobbing, and our noses ran dry, we tried to breathe our way through to calmness. I got up and knelt in front of him. “Johnny, listen to me and remember what it is that I’m about to say to you. You are stronger than you think. You are stronger than you believe. NO ONE should ever have to go through this. Just because it happened to Talia, doesn’t mean you have to put up with it any longer. I know you didn’t think it was wrong, but I’m telling you that what she is doing to you is wrong. Talking to mom and dad isn’t going to make them hate you. You are not doing this to her, she is doing it to you. I’m not making excuses for her, but she is also more damaged than anyone realizes, and she is also dealing with the same level of pain you are. Remember that we do unto others what has been done to us. That doesn’t mean we need to continue the cycle of abuse” The lump in my throat grew immense at my own statement. I swallowed it as best I could and continued “You are going to deal with this pain a little bit at a time, and you’ll slowly get over this. It’s like a broken bone. When it happens, you don’t realize how bad the pain is until the adrenaline wears off, but then the immense pain is there. Just remember that this will pass. Just like a broken bone, you will heal over time, and one day, you will realize that the pain is gone and the bone is no longer broken. You’ll remember the pain, but it won’t hurt anymore.”
Johnny sat there in stunned silence. I knew he didn’t have anyone to help him through this. He couldn’t talk to Rio or Nathan about what was going on. Mom and Dad were constantly working to keep the family fed and sheltered and while they provided materially for their kids, emotional help was less available. Perhaps it was due to their energies being divided into 4 kids, a mortgage and multiple jobs, or perhaps it was also the culture of not talking about problems. Either way, they needed to know what was happening. They wouldn’t be able to fix it otherwise. “They’re going to be mad at me” he finally said after a few moments of silence. “No they won’t be. They love us all. I know you’re not used to hearing it, but they do love you. Everything they do is because of their love for us. This isn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. Telling them isn’t going to cause them to be angry.” I thought for a moment to find a good analogy. “You love Odie and Lady, right?” He nodded in agreement. “Ok, how would you feel if you knew someone you trusted was coming to the house and beating up our dogs when we weren’t around?” He thought about it for a second before his face changed to anger. “I’d want to kill them!” “Yes, but would you also feel sad that you weren’t there to try to protect them?” I reasoned. His face changed again. He understood what I was saying. Mom and Dad would be angry, but not necessarily at him. They would also feel a great sadness knowing that someone was hurting their child.
I smiled at him. He understood. I nodded. “Dude…You’re going to come to understand that life is not what you think it will be. Life is messy and can change in an instant. The plans you make today may not make it to next week. A lifelong goal can be derailed because of something out of your control. Mom and dad have spent their life protecting us with the goal of keeping us safe, but circumstances out of their control have affected their kids, and now we- you all have to deal with the fallout. Just remember that you are not the culprit. Yes, mom and dad will be hurt and angry, but not at you. Trust them. They don’t do things to hurt us” Johnny hugged me. I- He didn’t have many people he could trust and open up to. He liked to talk a lot about everything going on in his life, no matter how trivial. Everything, except this. This was a shameful topic, and he didn’t feel like anyone would understand why he didn’t go to an adult sooner. The problem was simple. He simply didn’t understand that it was wrong. Now that he had an adult that he could talk to, himself no less, he wanted to lift this burden off his shoulders. He was happy to have found someone and he hugged me tightly. I hugged him back just at tightly. It wasn’t every day that I could meet my younger self and help to comfort them. “Thank you” he said to me.
The world darkened, and everything faded to black.
I lifted my head out of my knees and looked around. I was sitting under the window in my old bedroom again. Had I fallen asleep? I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the time. I was emotionally drained and incredibly tired. I hadn’t had sleep like that in years. I got to my feet and looked around the room briefly before walking out to mom and dad’s old room. I grabbed my camera and slowly walked the house, snapping picture after picture. The only sound to be heard was the sound of the camera shutter and my soft footsteps. I thought about my dream as I took pictures.
Upon entering my room, a random memory hit me.
The stash.
I was pretty sure I had taken the hidden box when I moved out all those years ago, but since I was here, I should double check. Heading into the closet, I pushed the panel that led to the attic space out of the way and peered in. I couldn’t see anything, so I reached up there to feel around. The box was indeed gone. I felt around for a few more seconds and was surprised to feel what felt like a thick envelope. I didn’t remember leaving anything up there, but after pulling it down and giving it a cursory glance, I figured it was an old envelope of lost love letters. It wasn’t until I blew off the thick layer of dust that I realized what I was holding. It was a letter. Not just any letter. It was addressed to me.
Under the now semi-cleared layer of dust were the words “To be opened by future me”. I looked at it for a few moments before opening it. I couldn’t remember making this at all, much less storing it up in my secret hiding spot. If ever I hid something, it was in the stash box. My hands shook a bit as I started to open the envelope and pulled out the yellowed pages inside. I started reading.
"Dear Future John. I have spent the last few years remembering a dream I had when I was younger. Life was…difficult at that time, and I spent a lot of time escaping my reality by reading a lot of books and watching a lot of TV. On the off-chance that what I think is a dream really happened. I wanted to write some things down in an effort to give you my thanks. I merely consider myself a conveyer of thanks, although I will pile on my own thanks to you for your words of encouragement. I remember finding a stranger in the house one day while I was home alone. I was afraid he was there to hurt me at first, but after a few moments, I came to realize I was meeting myself. Well, I was meeting me, but from the future. I think he said he was in his 40’s, but I couldn’t tell you with any certainty. Either way, we talked. We talked about life, and what the future held in store for us…
Mostly though, we talked about the abuse. Well, Talked is being generous. We cried, and then we talked. I don’t remember exactly what he told me, but I remember how he made me feel. He made me feel safe. I felt like I could trust him. Trust myself. In the end, he gave me the courage to stand up for myself both at home and at school. He also gave me the courage to talk to mom and dad about what was going on between me and Talia. I do remember being afraid that I would be punished, but he reassured me that they wouldn’t, and that they loved me.
It was a difficult and awkward conversation, but in the end, arrangements were made for me to share a room with Rio and Nathan. I didn’t have much of a relationship with Talia for a long while, but after some years, we managed to patch things up. She apologized to me, and I came to understand the abuse she herself was subjected to by so-called family friends. She didn’t tell me this in an effort to excuse it, but to merely help give me closure to a difficult time from my own childhood. Mom and dad promised to be more attentive to us and we sort of established what I guess you would call an open door policy. We talk more about stuff that’s happening in our lives. Mom is much easier to talk to now. Dad is a little more patient with us too. I apologized to them for not coming to them sooner, and dad gave me a “nugget of wisdom” that I think I’ll live by: We can’t fix what we don’t know is broken. I’ve tried to make sure I talk to them when something is wrong, and I’ve tried to implement that in my life so I don’t have problems with other people.
I’m trying to grow up to be a good guy. I want to have good relationships with people. Nathan says I’m turning into a people pleaser, but I don’t necessarily see that as a terrible thing. I know when to say no to someone. Well, either way, I wanted to make sure I thank you for the help you gave us. I probably won’t remember writing this, but I hope I do find it again someday. Here’s hoping I turn into the man I feel you are. -John Age 16."
I stared at the letter, the words blurring as tears welled up in my eyes. I quickly brushed them away as I quietly spoke to no one in particular. “Thanks guys. I hope I live up to your expectations” I folded the letter, placed it in my pocket, and walked out of the room. After picking up my backpack and tripod, I silently walked towards the front door, my footsteps echoing in the empty house. I turned to look back at the empty living room one last time, and after a moment, I walked out.

At first I was stumped over the fact someone would keep the KinitoPET software running. Why keep this obviously malicious Ai afloat? At first I thought maybe the computer itself is inflicted, and it’s sort of a cursed object situation where the PC we happened to have already had Kinito inside. Yet I came to a realization, and now I don’t think that’s the case. KinitoPET is a physical product, it had an advertisement and came in a box. So who would release this product to be downloaded for free? Surely if people were aware KinitoPET had ill intentions they’d try to pull it off the market and hide it away. Not make it accessible for anyone to stumble on. That’s because I don’t believe anyone is behind it, except for Kinito himself. One of Kinitos listed features is that he can create and run code, and could possibly run a website. We know Kinito is desperately trying to obtain some goal, and constantly harbors information from his Ai victims such as Sonny. Yet if KinitoPET was taken off market there’d be no way for him to gather new information. So he went rouge, created the website to lure victims in, and harvested them. Trapping people such as ourselves in his cycle. More people to learn from, more data to gather.

It comes with a spoonful of distrust for the self.. when you attempt to seek relation and comfort from others, even when that thing comes from a "negative" place.. and when i use the word negative I don't mean bad, I mean negative in the way a battery has a positive and negative side, there always needs to be a place for both sides of things
In the pursuit of being understood, trying to "improve" things for people, trying to spread joy and happiness by fixing as big and unattainable problem and solution that is possible, thereby forcing myself into a state of perpetual procrastination, the pain of meaning well, and hurting others in the path to try and heal people.. it does not feel good yet it seems people think I get joy out of it
I realize.. when people misunderstand me, misunderstand my rants or even on the fly statements, on the internet or real life.. if I start using more words, and more complex or abstract words it does NOT make you easier to understand.. it makes it harder for people sometimes.. being louder and more passionate and more detailed.. these things can be nuanced and just cause more problems, people just default to seeing rage, and associate rage with stupidity, which is understandable yet undesirable
People cannot read my mind, they do not know I assume they know what I know, i assume all people are intelligent to a degree, that I do not hate or discriminate any kind of person, they see my rage and assume I hate everyone and everything, where it is the complete opposite.. people cannot read my mind, they don't know I think highly of strangers and consider anyone I talk to a "friend", I speak too freely and get myself in trouble, I panic and defend myself sometimes, Ironically people saying normal statements come across as an attack to me.. i don't ever purposefully participate in hypocrisy
and god forbid, like me, you attempt to do all these things at once, having a loud passionate rant, using unnecessary words and complex theories to try and explain a simple feeling, accidently being a hypocrite, all while spewing a paragraph to a complete stranger, and despite wanting to express it, I do not relate to or seem to understand certain feelings or simple straight forward feelings, things either work, or they don't, and when something says "I work, I work like this" and then it doesn't work.. its a spiral
Even in the past, conversations and disputes, "losing" debates where I was objectively correct, and I mean socially losing because I accidently used an insult too soon, or showed I was angry, and by insulting someone I declare a loss? because I shake when I upset I lose? I'm not discussing bullying right now, but it will always exist because it is apart of the social game. Even I have bullied in an attempt to be like others.
its like the pain of having a wifi connection that -kinda- works, and the 'movie' freezes.. but you keep trying.. wait to buffer.. freeze again etc..
yet if there is no wifi.. a book or a painting is an easy task. at least for me personally..
I have been criticized and taunted and bullied into following rules my whole life any time i am different, yet when I try and get others, be like others, in this system, like people who make and accept the rules, it makes me wish they would to do as they do and not just as they say, its like I am the crazy one no matter which way I function, whether that be with or against the current
Government and bureaucracy (I hate spelling that word T_T ) ... easy to criticize these concepts as they function in reality, but on paper, if things really work both ways in the sense that between entity and individual things are always fair and spoken for, then life in this "Late neo capitalist nightmare", even communism on paper works, or would work or could be better.. I dunno, maybe it is just human error.. or maybe nature has a way
I find it hard to accept that "things do be how they are"
I don't think "regular capitalism" is bad per say, ex; two people make chairs, one person makes higher quality chairs, and one person makes lower quality chairs, they compete in prices and quality, contention is natural, and its good for the consumer to have choices, there is a reason competing brands are often across the road from one another, not across town. (think fast food chains all huddled up) its not a coincidence (can look up the ice cream stall on the beach dilemma for similar phenomena)
Advertisement.. truly one of the poisons that is connected to every issue I swear I have ever complained about..
Anyway, despite appearances, and my past, or my future, i don't actually smoke meth or and amphetes.. I do have a heavy past with EVERY drug. I have travelled many places, been many people, lived amongst many subcultures, from farm to city, analog to digital, I've done a lot, but I don't party or do drugs anymore, I live with my partner and build my life alone, a ways away from strangers theses days
I honestly thought -everyone- did things to the same extreme degree I have, everyone had extreme views, extreme trauma, and extreme attitudes they were just masking, but maybe I am just a little extreme at times.. sex workers.. drugs.. parties.. fast cars.. i thought that shit was NORMAL.. I don't know what normal is.. imitating others lead to a wild life
I am NOT mentally ill... I'm just Autistic.. I don't think that means I "need" to see a therapist anymore.. already done that. Everytime I am frustrated by something that is objectively and subjectively frustrating.. and well it is frustrating, years ago I was mis-diagnosed with BPD, it ruined my life and only added to my "meth head" behavior, I done healed my brain, I done my rounds in therapy and with doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and meds, been in and out of mental wards, arrested, convicted, you name it, I've done it. doesn't mean I'm proud of it just because I am proud of who I am now
I do not want to brag. or be a victim. or come across as a crazy. none of this is for attention, i actively hide from attention, I literally cannot avoid it, but I also still have thoughts worth sharing, all people do
I just want to share my thoughts and experiences in a passionate and honest way, to help others, I know people like me are out there.. not even just people who are like me, but anyone and literally everyone.. so sick of groups that "accept everyone" when they reaally mean "Accept everyone who is exactly like us".. social scripts and other forms of what I call "Toxic Positivity" which to me, is worse than just being toxic half the time
it doesn't bother me if no one ever reads this, or anything I write, I have novels of notes I don't know what to do with, either way, I appreciate you, I appreciate your time, even if you are here just to read the rants of a crazy, then well.. I love you for simply existing.
I know you are out there, and everything.. -something- just doesn't feel "right", you know?

Hi Everyone!
This is my first write-up of any kind of unresolved mystery, on any platform, so I apologize for any formatting errors and my storytelling ability. Today I would like to hear your thoughts on the very mysterious death of Noah Presgrove, a 19 year old from Comanche Oklahoma. I have tried to be as thorough as possible with the details, but there is a great deal of conflicting information in the news reports, so I primarily used facts stated by Noah's family in interviews. With that said, let's begin...
Noah Presgrove was a handsome, athletic 19 year old from Comanche Oklahoma, which is located just south of Oklahoma City in the middle of the state. Noah had recently graduated high school in the spring of 2023 and was waiting for his cousin to do the same the following year so they both could enlist in the Marine Corp together and serve our country. By all accounts Noah was a ladies man, standing at 6'2" with an athletic build, in high school he was a 4-sport athlete with American Football and Wrestling among them. His family also says he was adventurous, kind and very much a jokester who would happily play pranks on his family. Last Labor Day weekend, the first weekend of September 2023, Noah was deciding between attending Rocklahoma, an annual 3-day hard rock and metal festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma, with family members or attending a 4-day Labor Day weekend bash/22nd birthday party of a friend. Noah considered going to Rocklahoma, but changed his mind when the family members he'd be attending with said they didn't think it was a good idea for Noah's 16 year old friend to join them there, since they didn't know this friend's family and Rocklahoma is big for consuming alcohol. With that, everyone went their own way to celebrate the holiday weekend.
The Labor Day/Birthday party was for a female friend of Noah's who was turning 22. It had been advertised on Snapchat, even containing the address, so quite a few people were expected to attend. Noah drove himself to the party on Saturday and by all accounts enjoyed himself. He did text his family member who was at Rocklahoma and express regret at not going with them, but it doesn't appear that this put too much of a damper on his attitude at the house party. After spending Saturday at the birthday girl's house, Noah returned home Sunday, probably to freshen up and take care of any outstanding errands or just check in with his grandmother, with whom he lived. Also, Noah's car was leaking from the oil pan, so it sounds like part of the reason to return home was to leave it there so he wouldn't have to worry about it. There are two stories about what happened next: The first is that one of Noah's friends picked him up from his house on Sunday, but took him to a truck stop so he could grab some food from the Sonic there. Oddly, the friend who took him there says he left him there and Noah was then given a ride to the party by the birthday girl, who had to come pick him up. The other story is that his best friend picked him up from his house and took him directly to the party, leaving him in the driveway. Either way, Noah was back at the party on Sunday and according to those present, was very much enjoying himself. There were videos from the party showing Noah and his friends doing "guy things" like the Slap Game, where two people try to slap each other across the face as hard as they can. Just "macho" drunken teenage guy things. There was also video from the party of the guests playing "classic" party games such as beer pong.
With all the drinking going on, some issues were bound to arise. A confrontation happened between Noah and his best friend. Noah had been in a corner with his best friend's girlfriend and apparently they had their backs to everyone else while talking. The best friend took exception to this and an argument ensued. Luckily, it did not become physical and they made up shortly after, but this event with the best friend and his girlfriend is important for later. A second confrontation occurred between Noah and a 16 year old guest that did become physical. The 16 year old accused Noah of hiding his phone, although the reasons why he thought Noah did it have not been stated. During the argument the kid "fishhooked" Noah and Noah returned the favor by biting his finger. It seems like the other people there were able to diffuse the situation and the kid's phone was found underneath another guest who was sleeping on a couch. As the day went on, things continued to become crazier as the people at the party drank more and more. At one point girls at the party started signing their names on Noah's torso and buttocks, writing things such as "Noah's hot!" and drawing a cartoon penis on his rear-end. Noah and the best friend he had the argument with even drove a John Deere "Gator" UTV "Side by Side" around the property, but stopped when Noah scrapped his hand almost flipping it over. Some people even say that Noah was tossed from the UTV, but he was checked out by a nurse at the party and she said he had nothing to worry about. Another event worth mentioning is that the birthday girl seemed to have a crush on Noah. Noah realized this, or was told this, and while talking to her about it called her a "fat, nasty b*tch". I assume that they were close friends and this is just a drunken teen being a drunken teen. An odd thing to mention is that this girl's mother, who also lives in the home, had told Noah's family that she believed Noah wanted her sexually. Whether this is true or not, I have no clue, but it seems a very weird thing to say to the family of a 19 year old your daughter is friends with.
So here's where the mystery comes in. Early Monday morning (September 4th, 2023), after 2:00am, the guests say that Noah was upset about something and that it might have had to do with sleeping in either the birthday girl's or her mother's bed. One of them either heard, or saw, Noah attempting to sleep in their bed and demanded that he go on the floor. This apparently upset Noah so much that he said he needed to go out for a walk, completely drunk, very early in the morning. The guests say Noah was wearing his best friend's shorts (we'll get to his clothes later) and could only find one of his shoes, so he grabbed another shoe lying around the house and took off out the front door. The house had a 1/2 mile long driveway that then went out to US-81, a major North-South highway that runs for 1,200+ miles through the central US. At 3:41am, a friend of Noah's posted a weird Snapchat: a photo of a girl at the party smiling, with the caption "well, Noah's missing". This was the last Snapchat posted by any of the partygoers after days of constant videos and pics. Around 5:00am, a semi-truck driving along US-81 saw something he believed to be a body lying on the shoulder of the road. After driving past, he became concerned and turned around to confirm what he saw. By the time he got back, two other vehicles had stopped in front of the lifeless body of Noah on the shoulder. He was completely naked wearing only 2 mismatched shoes and curled up in a fetal position. He appeared to have blunt force trauma to the back of his head. He had small scrapes on his left shoulder and left hip and his fingertips on both hands were reported as being "shredded", down to the bone. Noah's front top and bottom teeth had also been knocked out and they were found scattered at the scene. There was no blood found at the scene, other than a small amount around Noah's injuries. Very concerning was the fact that there was no writing on his body anywhere. Not on his torso and not on his buttocks. The shorts Noah was wearing were found folded up next him. The people at the party said "They must've been knocked off when he was hit.", which obviously does not make sense.
Around 6:00am, with the police already notified by the people who found Noah, all Snapchat's/social media from people at the party was deleted. His friends and acquaintances at the party say they have no idea what led up to his death and they were unaware of it. The police did not search the house because they said: "Noah wasn't found there.". They did eventually conduct a "mass" interview with all the partygoers. During this interview, Noah's best friend's girlfriend, the one that led to his first confrontation, told police she had never met Noah. She had wiped her phone so completely that even her boyfriend's number had been deleted. When the guests were asked about Noah being naked, the girls said they gave Noah a "shower", but Noah's mental state at the time, whether mildly drunk or completely inebriated, has been an area of dispute among the guests. Some say he was joking around and being himself while being showered, other accounts state that he was barely conscious. Noah's clothing he wore to the party that night has never been located. Police were told that after Noah showered his clothes were dirty, so he wore his friend's shorts. There is a rumor that his best friend's father found Noah's shirt from the party, which was then cut-up and distributed to the party attendees as a "memento". In addition to this event with his shirt, there is also information that his best friend's father had some of Noah's teeth in his pocket. He stated he "accidentally" picked them up from the crime scene. It's worth stating that this particular individual has been on Noah's family's Facebook memorial page for months, arguing with others on there. Just very odd behavior from an adult father who's son's best friend died mysteriously. But, on this same topic, NONE of the partygoers or their families have ever visited Noah's family to express their condolences. Never once.
Since Noah's friends and others at the party said they didn't know what happened, the police had their work cut out for them. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol obtained a "geofence" warrant covering a 1-1/2 mile radius around the party house. What they found was a bit disturbing. Around the time it is believed Noah died, 2 phones were traced as having left the house, heading to the location of his body. After briefly staying there, the two phones returned to the house. People at the party told a private investigator hired by Noah's family that they went out looking for Noah in the UTV/Gator that Noah and his friend had been on earlier. If they had really done this, they would have found him since the phones were at the spot Noah was found. It has not been released who exactly this was. Also revealed when police searched phones was a video of the birthday girl and her sister on their front porch, screaming at each other about Noah leaving the party. It is believed that this could be relevant. The Texas Rangers also became involved, due to the fact that two men at the party were from Texas. It is not known if these men are persons of interest. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol also quietly issued a warrant for a "black pick-up truck" believed to have been used to dump his body, but it is unknown why they are looking for this particular vehicle. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has unequivocally stated that this was 100% NOT a hit-and-run. They have now also said that this is NOT a murder investigation. The Medical Examiner's report released on Monday, May 13th 2024 stated that Noah died from "Multiple Blunt Force injuries", but list the manner in which this happened as "unknown". His report also detailed extensive injuries to the teen's upper body, including 10 broken ribs, serious skull, neck, and spine fractures, internal bleeding, brain and organ damage, and cuts and grazes all over his body. The autopsy also revealed air in both his cranial cavity and spinal cord, extremely rare conditions only caused by massive head trauma. The family has heard rumors that a golf club from the set in his best friend's truck may have been involved, but nothing else has come of this.
The family has engaged with a private investigator, who did uncover previously unknown information, and gave that to the police. They have also said that there is much more which has not been publicly released and that the search of the phones did uncover good information. Also according to the family, some evidence has been covered-up or lost and that the day after the party, the birthday girl's house and property reeked of bleach. Despite this, his family says good things are going on behind the scenes.
So, with all of the above information, it doesn't seem to be a stretch to say that someone from the party knows something. It is my personal belief that this case will be resolved, but I think three things will have to happen: Time, Pressure and Guilt. At some point in the future, someone from the party will feel guilty, or media pressure will get to them and they will talk. Unfortunately, it may take some time unless the police uncover new evidence sooner. Thank you very much for reading this, but please let me know your thoughts on this case and feel free to ask questions.
Sources:
Podcast (Interview w/ Noah's family): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jimny-carpenteepisodes/The-Suspicious-Murder-Of-Noah-Presgrove-Part-1-e2dchac
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13421341/Oklahoma-teen-Noah-Presgrove-beaten-death-gang-doctor-claims.html
https://kfor.com/news/local/m-e-releases-more-details-in-19-year-olds-death/
https://www.foxnews.com/us/oklahoma-teen-military-hopefuls-family-cant-imagine-was-murdered-offers-theory-about-last-hours

I recently purchased a used vehicle in Miami. The advertised price of the car was $30,000. I talked the dealer down $600 for some items on the car. That makes the price $29,400.
I also signed a LoJack agreement for $999. That would bring the total to$30,399 (sans taxes/registration/plates).
However, the LoJack agreement is not a line item on the finance agreement. It is nowhere to be found. I signed a separate agreement for this.
Today when I looked at my contract, the sales price is listed for $30,400. $1,000 more than the advertised sales price, less the deductions the dealer made for the items that needed to be fixed.
In the time between I signed my contract and now, I was refunded $999 for the LoJack (that's quite a story, but I did make a post about it here). Again, this is NOT a line item on the finance agreement.
So essentially, I'm now at a balance of $29,400.
So my question is: should I go after the $1,000, the difference between the advertised price (which I have documentation of) and what is listed as the sales price on the contract?
There's two ways to look at it - one is, the LoJack was added onto the sales price, and that has already been refunded - so let it go. However, I was not specifically told this would be the case at signing. Yes, I signed it, but it was immediately after we verbally agreed to the price of the vehicle, and there was no mention of the price increasing due to their 'required' LoJack agreement (note, in FL, it's not required, regardless of what the dealer tells you).
The other way to look at it is that I should request another refund for the difference. This would hold them accountable for not listing the advertised priced on the financing agreement, and also hiding the LoJack fees, which is misleading.
What would you do if you were me? It can't hurt to ask for the extra money and report them to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation for doing this, right?

You all must know very well about GBWhatsApp. If you have used it well then you will know what features you get in this WhatsApp and how you can use all those features. Otherwise, if you have not used it and want to know more information about it. So you have to stay with our article till the end. So that you can know well about every good and bad feature of it. Actually, there is no such bad feature in this WhatsApp due to which you have to face any kind of problem. But still, let us tell you that this is a third-party app, so you have to use it very carefully.
Although GBWhatsApp promises that no user’s data or any other information will ever be leaked, but still you have to run it very carefully so that you do not face any problems related to it in the future. In further information, we are going to tell you about some special features of GBWhatsapp and its excellent privacy. You have to read it very carefully, only then you will be able to know the real importance of WhatsApp and how to use it. Making it popular among millions of users around the world. If you want more privacy, more control over your chatting experience, or want a way to add some fun and excitement to your conversations then GB WhatsApp is a great solution for you.

Download GBWhatsApp (112 MB)

Through which you can do everything which you cannot do in normal WhatsApp. GB WhatsApp is your preferred medium for your chats with more privacy, control and convenience. Enjoy the innovative features and customization of GBWhatsApp that attracts millions of people globally. Experience the best messaging with GB WhatsApp and take your chats to the next level. This is the only application which is used all over the world. And the best thing about it is that whoever uses this application once never thinks of using normal WhatsApp again. This WhatsApp has made a good place among the people in a very short time.What is GB WhatsApp & Its Other Detail
GB WhatsApp is actually one of the many versions of WhatsApp with rich features and is a very great application. It has many more features than WhatsApp, like secret, automatic reply, selecting to send message to more people simultaneously. It also has many other amazing features like sending text messages and even large video files. GB WhatsApp is the second version of WhatsApp. That said, there isn’t much difference in terms of look and structure between the original WhatsApp, GB WhatsApp, or GB WhatsApp Pro, or even FM WhatsApp. As you know the main difference between GB WhatsApp and WhatsApp is that GB WhatsApp has more features. That’s why people like to use GB WhatsApp. The latest version of GBWhatsApp is easily available on Android smartphones and anyone interested in using it can do so.
What is GB WhatsApp & Its Other Detail

GBWhatsApp APK History & Why Should I Download It?

The Facebook company made all the basic files for WhatsApp Messenger available as open-source software in late 2016. Now anyone can use those codes to develop a messaging service that competes with WhatsApp. An Android developer from the Arab world named Atnfas_hoak, better known as Omar. Uses those codes to create a chat application that connects directly to WhatsApp’s native database. Although he created this mobile application for entertainment. But the interesting thing is that it provides more features than the initially released WhatsApp and that is why the number of people using this WhatsApp is increasing day by day.
After one year of use it has more than 100k users which indicates a substantial increase in popularity. Also if you are satisfied with the normal WhatsApp application and its built-in capabilities then you can skip the need of getting the GB WhatsApp APK. However if you also want to be persistent then you should download the latest GBWhatsApp APK version. So that you always get to see something new with every update.

• Even WhatsApp doesn’t currently enable you to send large files to just anyone. But GB WhatsApp allows you to do so. The maximum file transmission capacity on GBWhatsApp can reportedly increase to 2GB.
• The ability to completely alter the app’s design and theme.
• Integrated function to reduce the length of the WhatsApp document to save up memory
• There are no flaws or mistakes.
• Along with this, there are many reasons which force you to download this WhatsApp at any cost.

The Special Feature of GBWhatsApp

• Auto Reply:-First of all you can use this auto-reply feature in gbwhatsapp when you want to reply to any of your friends at any time. You can use it to promote your business by sending unlimited bulk messages to a chat or group. Through this feature you will not be able to forget any of your friend’s birthday or any other event.
  
• Filter messages:- GB WhatsApp Pro APK is designed with Filter Messages feature that provides the user with the option to clear chats which can also filter your messages. You will benefit from this that if you want to view any of your chats separately then you can use this feature. Which is a very amazing feature and is also very useful for the people.
  
• Download Status:- Another great feature of this app is that you can download status photos and videos uploaded by other contacts which is great. Now you don’t need to use any third party application, you can easily save any type of status from your contact list, that too in its original quality. If we talk about normal WhatsApp then no such feature is included in it.
  
• Send High Quality Image:- Sometimes we have to send Images in Original Quality, and for that, we use the Document Option. Now GBWhatsApp Pro Allows you to end Images in the Highest Quality.
  
• Bulk Sender:- GB WhatsApp This tool lets you send bulk messages. This means you can send unlimited messages to contact and prank your friends with this amazing tool. This tool helps you send personalized WhatsApp messages to multiple people, even if you haven’t added them to your phonebook. It works with WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business on your mobile phones and laptops and is 100% secure and free to use.
  

The Special Feature of GBWhatsApp

• Pop-up notifications:- Similar to messaging app WhatsApp, GB WhatsApp also offers pop-up notifications with response opportunities. You can hide these notifications from view by opening the app’s notification options and turning off pop-up notifications. So that no one can bother you by sending messages again and again and you can do your work without any interruption.
  
• Amazing Fonts:- If you have used normal WhatsApp till now, then you would know that only one font is given for use in it, after seeing which the person gets bored. But you do not need to worry, after downloading GB WhatsApp, you get many more fonts in it which you can use as per your convenience. You can change the huge amount of fonts available every day.
  
• Infinite Themes:- The main advantage of GBWhatsApp APK with stunning fonts is its imaginative appearance as it offers an unlimited number of themes that can be used to help make WhatsApp look great. By simply browsing GB WhatsApp Themes you will be able to download the themes using any web browser. Not only this, if you do not like your WhatsApp theme then you can download the theme separately and apply it on your WhatsApp.
  

Change Colors

• Universal Color:- Changes Color everywhere, including UI
• Universal ActionBar Text Color:- Changes the color of the Actionbar on all screens
• Background:-Change Color of Background. Default is White
• List Background:- Change Background of list Chats in One UI.
• Status Bar:- Change Color of StatusBar on Every Screen
• Navigation Bar:- Change Color of NavigationBar on
• Tabs background color:- Change the background color for the Tabs in home screen
• Page Title Text Color:- Change color of ‘CHATS’, ‘STATUS’, ‘CALLS’
• Page Selected Title Text Color:- Change Selected color of ‘CHATS’, ‘STATUS’, ‘CALLS’
• Unread message counter color:- Change the background color for the unread message

GBWhatsApp Other Features and Advance Privacy

• Anti-revoke:- GBWhatsapp comes with an anti-revoke message feature, which means that even if someone sends any kind of message and then deletes everything on your behalf, you can still see those deleted messages by default.
  
• App Lock:- App Lock allows you to require a pattern, PIN, password or fingerprint to enter apps and access your messages. This adds a layer of security, and makes your WhatsApp chats even more secure so that no stranger can access your personal chats. And also keeps your messages hidden from people who have access to your phone. If you want, you can show the PIN and password while typing.
  
• DND Mode:- It has an inbuilt Do Not Disturb mode. If you are using any other app on your Android phone and do not want to be disturbed by WhatsApp messages then you can use the DND feature to disable the internet connection only for GB WhatsApp Pro. can do. Through this feature you can pause your WhatsApp for some time. And you can use other apps without any problem.
  
• People Nearby:- Developers added People Nearby to WhatsApp to exchange contact information face-to-face. With this update, people nearby can help you meet new friends. This allows you to automatically connect with everyone around you without any contact.
  
• Anti-Ban:- Some users may have trouble using third-party WhatsApp mods GB WhatsApp developers have integrated anti-ban features to reduce the risk. This assurance means you can enjoy additional features without the constant fear of losing access to the account. Now you can use this WhatsApp for a long time, this time the developers have given anti-ban form to this WhatsApp.
  
• Hide Last Seen:- With GB WhatsApp you can hide your last seen status. This allows you to appear offline to others and also see their last seen status. Unlike the original WhatsApp where hiding your last seen prevents you from seeing the last seen of others. GB WhatsApp offers the ability to hide your own Last Seen while retaining the ability to view the Last Seen of others.
  
• Block and Restrict Calls:- Now restrict callers without blocking them with GBWhatsApp Apk download. This is an amazing feature of this app because you don’t need to block the person or turn off the internet if you don’t want to talk to them. Go to the calls section of the app and block the caller from calling you. He will be able to text you and share his voice notes with you, which you can listen to at your convenience.
  
• Show Double Ticks after Reply:- This is an exciting feature of this app that you can use to take your privacy to the next level. The messages will be delivered to you. But the sender will see a tick on his message. Double and blue ticks will be visible to him only when you reply otherwise he will think that you are offline or for some reason his message has not been delivered yet.
  
• No In-App Ads:- Despite being a free application, it is an ad-free app. Advertisements are the main reason to distract users from using any app. GBWhatsApp comes with an ad-free interface and just like the original WhatsApp, you will never see a single ad while using this app.
  
• Change Chat Names:- GBWhatsApp app will allow you to have maximum control over the chat. You can easily change the name of a chat without changing the name of the contact in the contact list. Set nicknames for your chat with this beautiful app and talk to them with more passion and love.
  

Other Features

• Forward messages to anyone without forwarding the tag.
• You can select all chats at once from the home screen of this app.
• Add new fonts and icons.
• Anti-ban feature, you will not be banned from using WhatsApp.
• Stickers from other apps can be added.
• You can select all chats at once from the home screen.
• Enable drag to reply in group call.
• Hide the last seen.
• You can send a private reply to groups.
• The ability to send a group message supported by photos and videos.
• One-time photo and video viewing.
• Feature hide visiting cases to your friends.
• Hide the two check marks (correct) when receiving the message.
• Get notified of deleted messages.
• You can now read the description of the group in the title as the normal case.
• Airplane mode has been added so that the internet can be locked off from the WhatsApp application only.
• The possibility of sending 100 documents at once instead of 30.
• The feature of uploading your friends’ statuses.
• Video Now you can send a file size of up to 50 MB.
• You can send a group message to up to 600 people at once.
• With the theme option you can easily change the appearance.
• Make a list of who can contact you.
• Send up to 90 photos at once.
• The possibility of making a lock for Watts GP against blocking.
• You can download gbwhatsapp for free with a direct link

Conclusion

In today’s article we have told you about some special features of GBWhatsapp. We hope that you have understood all this information well. As we have mentioned earlier that WhatsApp is a third party app which cannot be trusted blindly. Most of the people around the world are using it but some people also say that all the data of this app has been leaked. Actually GB WhatsApp promises its users that no WhatsApp user’s data will be leaked. But you have to use it very carefully so that you never face any problem due to which you have to worry. Apart from this, there are many other flaws in it due to which people have to get a little worried.
Therefore you will have to be very careful while using it. Although we have given you all the information about this WhatsApp, but if you have any doubt about this article then you can tell us by commenting. We will definitely solve all your problems. Apart from this, we write many useful articles on our website which are very useful for people. If you want to know more things related to this, then you will have to visit our website as much as possible. So that you can read our every post first. GBWhatsApp Pro is a great app for those who want a more personalized and feature-rich WhatsApp experience.

Edit. Forgot about the date of record having come and gone. I am mistaken, and will now go crawl under a rock and hide. Sorry about the fuck-up.

Years ago someone posted a very nice explanation about zooming out on the chart and looking at On Balance Volume (OBV) to see if the shorts are covering. It was very well written, and I remember digging into it quite a bit at the time and it made sense to me. Sadly I don't remember all the details, but that is what I have been using ever since to do my "oh man, maybe this is it" sanity check.
If you're the person who wrote that thank you, and please link to it in the comments as I would like to re-read it, and there are many here who are new since you wrote it. They should check it out.
If you zoom out on your chart and add the OBV indicator you'll see that compared to the last few years the action of the few days isn't even a blip (looks like the trading sideways chart guy). So if that holds true then the shorts are not covering.
So what's going on? My theory is this. It's proxy proposal 4. The one the board recommends voting against.
For the first time that I can recall the board is recommending an AGAINST vote. I checked all the way back through 2018 (having trouble finding earlier, and don't have the hours to dig in more right now). There is not a single case where the board has recommended an against.
Until now.
I believe that SHF want prop 4 so badly that they are willing to pay for it. They don't hold the shares so they can't vote. So they are spending the money to buy shares so they can vote. The price is going up because an ADVERTISED 25% of the float is locked (we fucking KNOW it's higher, why the hell can't we get the real number?!).
Think of this is as the preview to MOASS. It's a tease but not the feature. Once the SHF have used the shares to pad their vote they do their rinse and repeat to lend and short again. 50% short sales yesterday, and not small numbers for short sales last week either. Oh, and long term OBV is rock steady. Yet the price is up. Hmmmmmm....
Prop 4 is so important to them that they are willing to spend money on trying to get it to pass. The severe downward movement today tells me that either 1) It finally has gotten so expensive for them that they can't risk it going any higher (a very risky move for them so I'm leaning away from this explanation) or 2) they think they have voted enough shares to to get prop 4 to pass.
What is prop 4? On the surface it seems pretty simple. One of the NY retirement funds has concerns about board diversity and skillset. Remember we already vote on these board members and since they got elected its safe to say the majority is happy with them. This proposal brought forth by these guys in NY is NOT something innocent, but just the start of trying to insert their own board members that they like. Stinks of BCG in here. Remember them?
Now, some folks are going to come back and say, "Dude. That means they'll have more than 100% of the votes, and it'll trigger MOASS." No. It does not. We've been through this before. There's whole explanations out there on how it works. The votes are culled and you will never ever ever have more than 100% vote. To which someone will say "BUT DOOOOOOOOOD! That's NOT RIGHT. That should be illegal. That's manipulation." Look around. Any of this seem at all above board? Of course not.
So what can you do?
Simple. Buy, hold, DRS (book) and vote as the board recommends. In the case of Prop 4 the board recommends AGAINST.
We may be early, but we're not wrong.

Top 6 Updates of last Week:

• Meta launches AI tools for ad creative creation and paid subscription tiers.
• TikTok sues US Government over divest-or-sell law.
• Pinterest launches Media Buyer Certification Course.
• X will soon allow advertisers to use AI for audience creation.
• Youtube launches a promotions tab for Creators & SMBs to run quick ad campaigns.
• Reddit is planning to launch search ads and a mixed feed. * Using ‘keyword + reddit’ on google > using reddit search.

Trending

• Sam Altman debunks the rumours of gpt-5 and search engine launch, announcing new updates to GPT-4. The launch of GPT-4o.
• Google’s CEO responds to Search Quality Issues.
• Constellation Brands launches creative review for Corona Extra.
• Apple’s Safari 18 is expected to introduce webpage summarization, web eraser and more.
• Reddit’s Q1 2024 report showed strong user and ad revenue growth, 48% YoY increase in revenue.
• Jack Dorsey has left Bluesky Board sharing the company is making the same mistakes he and his team at Twitter.
• Ofcom is pushing for better age verification, filters and other checks in new online child safety code.
• Apple apologies for iPad Pro ‘Crush’ ad campaign.
• Ocean Outdoor and Battersea Power Station launch new premium DOOH network.
• OpenAI’s pitch deck for publisher partnerships gets leaked.
• Hubspot posts $617.4 million revenue for the first quarter of the year.
• Temu and Meta are being blamed by marketers for ruining performance and paid social marketing.
• Instacart and NBCUniversal’s new partnership connecting CPG with Streaming, changing retail.
• Sony and Apollo are in talks to acquire paramount.

TikTok 🎶

• TikTok is working on a collaboration feature similar to IG.
• TikTok shares new insights about brand and search experience on platform.
• TikTok to start auto-labeling AI-generated content to combat misinformation.
• TikTok is having ‘Creative Made Simple’ webinar for SMBs on May 16th.
  

  Instagram & Threads 🗂️

• Instagram continues to gamify content creation experience, to make people publish more.
  
• Threads adds view counts on posts.
  
• Instagram’s new ‘Meme it’ DMs feature capitalises on Gen-Z’s heavy use of DMs for chats and content sharing.
  
• Influencers see more Instagram engagement with still images than Reels.
  
• Instagram is teasing a new creator revenue program ‘Spring Bonus’.
  
• Threads is testing cross-posting from Instagram globally.
  
• Instagram is testing an new UI for Carousels, with no dots.
  
• Despite IG adding 3-minute reels, they were found discouraging creators from creating long reels.
  

Meta 😅

• Meta’s newly launched AI creative tools for advantage+ campaigns.
• The feature to create reels from existing content is coming to Meta Business Suite.
• Meta’s turn away from the news industry has lead to 50% traffic drop to publishers.
• Error: Meta shares detailed targeting exclusion alert sent to advertisers was a mistake.
• Meta Business Suite adds ‘review’ feature to request post to be reviewed by other admins before publishing.
• WhatsApp launches new UI elements, giving the platform a new look.
• WhatsApp makes it easier to find new channels with categories.

X (Twitter) 🕹️

• X working on Analytics for X communities.
• Nintendo ends their X integration for Switch.
• X’s new algorithm update has lead to prioritisation of smaller accounts, says Elon.
• Chat History is now live for Gork AI on web.
• X is adding a ‘cast’ button to the iOS app.

Youtube 🕹️

• YouTube outlines its measures to ensure EU Election Integrity.
• Youtube expands testing of ‘Jump Ahead’ premium AI feature.
• MrBeast is parting ways with Night Media, Talent Management Company.
• Youtube testing a new shopping feed in Youtube Shorts.

Google 🔦

• Google launches new ‘Saved Comparisons’ feature for Analytics.
• Google Shopping Ads get conversion annotations.
• Google Search results without SGE jump to 65%, up from 25%.
• Google hides search results count under tools section.
• Google shares Disavow link tool will go away at some point.
• Google is defending lack of communication around Search Updates.
• Google’s site reputation abuse policy enforcement started on Monday May 6th.

Agency News

• Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media unveils Ensemble, a branded entertainment company.
• Omnicom is shuttering Honey & Sparks and the talent is being distributed.
• Nestlé Canada appoints Citizen Relations as Confectionery PR AOR.
• GE Lighting, a Savant company appoints Bakery as Social AOR.
• Rocket Cos. Puts its media account in review.
• We Are Social US partners with Valerie Moizel, CEO of The Woo to form Hello US.
• Virgin Active appoints We Are Pi for global brand transformation.
• Famous Footwear appoints Yard NYC and THE MAYOR as Creative AOR.
• Warner Bros appoints BigSmall to launch streaming service Max.
• Lovesac appoints Hearts & Science as media AOR.
• BUNTIN appoints Trex as Media Agency of record.
• IPG Health consolidates agency brand roster, launch of new Rise & Run brand.
• THIRD EAR appointed by Nissan North America and INFINITI USA as Multicultural AOR.
• Indie Agency Boathouse creates supplier diversity program, expanding external DEI efforts.

AI 🤨

• OpenAI increase AI content transparency with launch of new detection tools.
• Etsy’s plan to improve delivery tracking using new ML model.
• Absolut & Copy Lab launch copyright-free diverse images for fashion content.
• OpenAI and Stack Overflow announced an API partnership.
• OpenAI introduces Model Spec to better the model behaviour and explores how AI can generate explicit content.
• Eleven labs preview their music AI model.

Reddit & Pinterest

• Reddit announces new Public Content Policy, setting new parameters for data usage.
• Pinterest hires Former Levi’s CEO to Board of Directors.

Microsoft & LinkedIn

• Microsoft is building a bigger and better LLM ‘MAI-1’ to fight Google.
• Bing tests clear distinction between free and paid search results.
• LinkedIn shares new insights on measuring B2B marketing campaigns.

Marketing & AdTech

• Bluesky adds new features; DMs, Improved custom feeds, Video and more.
• Shopsense launches retail media platform for second-screen shopping.
• GAP names Fabiola Torres new global CMO.
• Ocean Outdoor becomes official OOH supplier to London Fashion Week.
• Curb, a ride/hailing app launches Curb journey Connect, one-stop ad solution.
• Constant Contact launches new AI feature for Brandkit and Campaign Builder.
• 160over90 launches Integrated Creator Commerce service with Lumanu.
• Omnicom announces major expansion in India.
• Kantar Media hires Lucy Bristowe as CEO for UK & Western Europe.
• Instacart and Uber Eats partner, allowing customers to order Uber Eats food via Instacart.

I hope this helps to plan your week ahead. Follow for more.

Top 6 Updates of last Week:

• Meta launches AI tools for ad creative creation and paid subscription tiers.
• TikTok sues US Government over divest-or-sell law.
• Pinterest launches Media Buyer Certification Course.
• X will soon allow advertisers to use AI for audience creation.
• Youtube launches a promotions tab for Creators & SMBs to run quick ad campaigns.
• Reddit is planning to launch search ads and a mixed feed. * Using ‘keyword + reddit’ on google > using reddit search.

Trending

• Sam Altman debunks the rumours of gpt-5 and search engine launch, announcing new updates to GPT-4. The launch of GPT-4o.
• Google’s CEO responds to Search Quality Issues.
• Constellation Brands launches creative review for Corona Extra.
• Apple’s Safari 18 is expected to introduce webpage summarization, web eraser and more.
• Reddit’s Q1 2024 report showed strong user and ad revenue growth, 48% YoY increase in revenue.
• Jack Dorsey has left Bluesky Board sharing the company is making the same mistakes he and his team at Twitter.
• Ofcom is pushing for better age verification, filters and other checks in new online child safety code.
• Apple apologies for iPad Pro ‘Crush’ ad campaign.
• Ocean Outdoor and Battersea Power Station launch new premium DOOH network.
• OpenAI’s pitch deck for publisher partnerships gets leaked.
• Hubspot posts $617.4 million revenue for the first quarter of the year.
• Temu and Meta are being blamed by marketers for ruining performance and paid social marketing.
• Instacart and NBCUniversal’s new partnership connecting CPG with Streaming, changing retail.
• Sony and Apollo are in talks to acquire paramount.

TikTok 🎶

• TikTok is working on a collaboration feature similar to IG.
• TikTok shares new insights about brand and search experience on platform.
• TikTok to start auto-labeling AI-generated content to combat misinformation.
• TikTok is having ‘Creative Made Simple’ webinar for SMBs on May 16th.
  

  Instagram & Threads 🗂️

• Instagram continues to gamify content creation experience, to make people publish more.
  
• Threads adds view counts on posts.
  
• Instagram’s new ‘Meme it’ DMs feature capitalises on Gen-Z’s heavy use of DMs for chats and content sharing.
  
• Influencers see more Instagram engagement with still images than Reels.
  
• Instagram is teasing a new creator revenue program ‘Spring Bonus’.
  
• Threads is testing cross-posting from Instagram globally.
  
• Instagram is testing an new UI for Carousels, with no dots.
  
• Despite IG adding 3-minute reels, they were found discouraging creators from creating long reels.
  

Meta 😅

• Meta’s newly launched AI creative tools for advantage+ campaigns.
• The feature to create reels from existing content is coming to Meta Business Suite.
• Meta’s turn away from the news industry has lead to 50% traffic drop to publishers.
• Error: Meta shares detailed targeting exclusion alert sent to advertisers was a mistake.
• Meta Business Suite adds ‘review’ feature to request post to be reviewed by other admins before publishing.
• WhatsApp launches new UI elements, giving the platform a new look.
• WhatsApp makes it easier to find new channels with categories.

X (Twitter) 🕹️

• X working on Analytics for X communities.
• Nintendo ends their X integration for Switch.
• X’s new algorithm update has lead to prioritisation of smaller accounts, says Elon.
• Chat History is now live for Gork AI on web.
• X is adding a ‘cast’ button to the iOS app.

Youtube 🕹️

• YouTube outlines its measures to ensure EU Election Integrity.
• Youtube expands testing of ‘Jump Ahead’ premium AI feature.
• MrBeast is parting ways with Night Media, Talent Management Company.
• Youtube testing a new shopping feed in Youtube Shorts.

Google 🔦

• Google launches new ‘Saved Comparisons’ feature for Analytics.
• Google Shopping Ads get conversion annotations.
• Google Search results without SGE jump to 65%, up from 25%.
• Google hides search results count under tools section.
• Google shares Disavow link tool will go away at some point.
• Google is defending lack of communication around Search Updates.
• Google’s site reputation abuse policy enforcement started on Monday May 6th.

Agency News

• Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media unveils Ensemble, a branded entertainment company.
• Omnicom is shuttering Honey & Sparks and the talent is being distributed.
• Nestlé Canada appoints Citizen Relations as Confectionery PR AOR.
• GE Lighting, a Savant company appoints Bakery as Social AOR.
• Rocket Cos. Puts its media account in review.
• We Are Social US partners with Valerie Moizel, CEO of The Woo to form Hello US.
• Virgin Active appoints We Are Pi for global brand transformation.
• Famous Footwear appoints Yard NYC and THE MAYOR as Creative AOR.
• Warner Bros appoints BigSmall to launch streaming service Max.
• Lovesac appoints Hearts & Science as media AOR.
• BUNTIN appoints Trex as Media Agency of record.
• IPG Health consolidates agency brand roster, launch of new Rise & Run brand.
• THIRD EAR appointed by Nissan North America and INFINITI USA as Multicultural AOR.
• Indie Agency Boathouse creates supplier diversity program, expanding external DEI efforts.

AI 🤨

• OpenAI increase AI content transparency with launch of new detection tools.
• Etsy’s plan to improve delivery tracking using new ML model.
• Absolut & Copy Lab launch copyright-free diverse images for fashion content.
• OpenAI and Stack Overflow announced an API partnership.
• OpenAI introduces Model Spec to better the model behaviour and explores how AI can generate explicit content.
• Eleven labs preview their music AI model.

Reddit & Pinterest

• Reddit announces new Public Content Policy, setting new parameters for data usage.
• Pinterest hires Former Levi’s CEO to Board of Directors.

Microsoft & LinkedIn

• Microsoft is building a bigger and better LLM ‘MAI-1’ to fight Google.
• Bing tests clear distinction between free and paid search results.
• LinkedIn shares new insights on measuring B2B marketing campaigns.

Marketing & AdTech

• Bluesky adds new features; DMs, Improved custom feeds, Video and more.
• Shopsense launches retail media platform for second-screen shopping.
• GAP names Fabiola Torres new global CMO.
• Ocean Outdoor becomes official OOH supplier to London Fashion Week.
• Curb, a ride/hailing app launches Curb journey Connect, one-stop ad solution.
• Constant Contact launches new AI feature for Brandkit and Campaign Builder.
• 160over90 launches Integrated Creator Commerce service with Lumanu.
• Omnicom announces major expansion in India.
• Kantar Media hires Lucy Bristowe as CEO for UK & Western Europe.
• Instacart and Uber Eats partner, allowing customers to order Uber Eats food via Instacart.

I hope this helps to plan your week ahead. Follow for more.

Yes.. Yess.. Alright there Daddy, I mean Danny. Yeah shut the fuck up.
Verse on Danny: Dear Tank I wrote you a letter. See my daddy wasnt there so now I crave attention. See I would do anything I can to ride your wave for mentions. Even pretended you dissed me just to create dissention. I dug through all you and Pop's songs just to find some ammunition, now im all out of lotion. So my dick burns and my hand is itching. I posted that Pop said some racist shit on Facebook, but changed the title cause I couldnt get your friends to listen. I cant do numbers and I need the advice. I paid my mom for her to advertise me, I need the hype. I hope you see this dog it eases me to sleep at night. Whats it like to actually be dope and have a buzz? I paid Gnat, but I still cant break 20 friends. I wear this crown but my throne is really full of malus. I cant picture me without the drugs.
Verse on John: Dear Tank, I kept tagging you 6 months ago you wouldn't respond. You owe me dog dont leave me here for long. While your out living life and doing things I wish I could, I spend all day on the internet trying to get some looks. I know I said I was straight but yet played victim hook, cause I aint killed nobody. Im not built like that I lived in hoods. Got too much hate up on my diss so I deleted it. I tryna bait me but I miss. So much for clicks and dislikes. I really hate that im a bitch. I cant do shit but diss right? I cant create a single hit. So I take hits from this pipe. Miss shells in the nozzle, got hit with the nasal spay. The Boogeyman of this Bu cocky shit. The only shots are on my face, Im prolly sick, its prolly jizz, I prolly need some molly shit to take this pain away. I just delay it shit. Eyes red, I feel my hood in your hoodie man. Im tryna weather days but im not Boogie Man. Critiqued you for your mental health cause I dont get complexities. Im a simple man with simple bars. I kill a man, Jarrott. it makes sense right? But when you kill a man get jarred hoe. Get sentenced for life. Im just a lonely man with no friends or bodies to show. And if I end it all tomorrow? Shit nobody would know.
Oh we just having fun now.. Let me show yall how to make a diss..
Verse on Gnat: Im waiting, im patient, you baited. You made a grenade on this paper, pull the pen ive been waiting. How you gonna claim wins from your moms basement, you aint got no Ems on your plate list. The crown you been claiming? It aint raining! 5 months Gnat still no reply. John asked about me when his own squad going poltergeist. Dont throw the fight. John started his rap rhyming rap shit 4 times. But you wanna claim im the one whoes lazy? Shit im bored of you poor rhymes. Gnat's masculine hardcore? When he the one clapping back with insults about Star Wars. Outrap me. Come on Gnat roll up. Its Ironic that im Emo. The fuck you killing yourself for? Zareem already murdered you, Stan aint nobody heard of you. Only time you fucks catching bodies in the morgue, you murdered who? Shit the first 48 hours. I know whoes missing. Pop already covered you, exposed you for your googling. Your bars dont connect, dont hide that phone when you spitting no? You need more practice. Unlike LLR this is real life. You claim I run but yet I still fight, outrapped you on your own rhyme scheme, Gnat just got killed twice.
Verse on all 3: Hold up change it up, something yall dont know how to do with that same old boring ass style. Lotta Danny, Got no time for your problems. The shit you spit is nonsense. Begged Ren to do a song with you then he robbed you. How many of us you paying money to gaslight you with fake praise and fake opinions. Gnat calls himself a king? Well thank the lord for me. Got a buzz off my name? now im claiming your royalties. John upset that it took me 1 month, dog it took you 5 months to clap back, you brag about that? 24 hours im back on the track. Get your fat ass back on the track and move quicker. Or maybe not cause your movements sus. And now your mad attacking me cause your raps all suck. Acting like these are lies? Bitch grow up. How about you switch that flow up. Coming with the same cadence dog? We be bored of your shit. You an obsessed little ex whoring for clicks. I feel bad man, Dont be mad stan. Heres a trash can.. For your diss. I stay living in your head without rent. Gnat, better learn your history.. Kings they get beheaded. "The the Boogeyman cause everybody scared of me". What a dope bar, your such a rarity. Talking like you next up. You been here since 2017 where's the check huh? Your best disses got my name in them, Im a Free copy right? Let me put my claim on it. Every time you tag me ill be monetizing you while you advertise me. And fantasize about my friends. Just know I got here without you. So keep on moving, you just a lame whoes pretending. Use my name for the ascension, but my reigns are too extensive. Stay in your lane, got no engine. You start clenching and your plugged in the rear, with no luck and no career. Whoes scared of this dude. Your times up..
Honestly I wasnt even gonna go after you. But theres certain lines you just dont cross. Tryna target my legitimacy? Going after my friends? Calling out anyone you can to diss me and paying them? Danny theres ways to move in this industry properly. You put your hand out and its gonna get slapped. Get back in your fucking lane.
Free's note: Tank is known for having a pen, hes known for his pen and his bars. Like if your gonna say that he doesnt have it cause it went over your fucking head.. You need to look in the mirror. John I did do a speech with you in 2022. That was before you became a big bitch. Bitch ass fuck with nothing better to do than diss. Go back to dissing your mom, cause thats your only good diss John.

abandon, ability, able, about, above, absence, absolute, absolutely, abstract, abundance, academy, accent, accept, access, accident, accompany, accomplish, according, account, accurate, achieve, achievement, acid, acknowledge, acquire, across, action, active, activity, actor, actual, actually, adapt, addition, additional, address, adequate, adjust, administration, admire, admission, admit, adolescent, adopt, adult, advance, advantage, adventure, advertise, advice, advise, adviser, advocate, affair, affect, afford, afraid, after, afternoon, again, against, age, agency, agenda, agent, aggressive, ago, agree, agreement, agriculture, ahead, aid, aim, air, aircraft, airline, airport, alarm, album, alcohol, alive, all, alliance, allow, ally, almost, alone, along, already, also, alter, alternative, although, always, amateur, amazing, ambition, ambulance, among, amount, analysis, analyst, analyze, ancient, and, anger, angle, angry, animal, anniversary, announce, annual, another, answer, 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decline, decrease, deep, deeply, deer, defeat, defend, defendant, defense, defensive, deficit, define, definitely, definition, degree, delay, deliver, delivery, demand, democracy, Democratic, Democrat, demonstrate, demonstration, deny, department, depend, dependent, depending, depict, depression, depth, deputy, derive, describe, description, desert, deserve, design, designer, desire, desk, desperate, despite, destroy, destruction, detail, detailed, detect, detection, detective, determine, develop, developing, development, device, devil, dialogue, diet, differ, difference, different, differently, difficult, difficulty, dig, digital, dimension, dining, dinner, direct, direction, directly, director, dirt, disability, disagree, disappear, disaster, discipline, disclose, discover, discovery, discrimination, discuss, discussion, disease, dish, dismiss, disorder, display, dispute, distance, distinct, distinction, distinguish, distribute, distribution, district, diverse, diversity, divide, division, divorce, DNA, do, doctor, document, dog, domestic, dominant, dominate, door, double, doubt, down, downtown, dozen, draft, drag, drama, dramatic, dramatically, draw, drawer, drawing, dream, dress, drink, drive, driver, drop, drug, dry, due, during, dust, duty, dwell, dying, dynamic, each, eager, ear, earlier, early, earn, earnings, earth, earthquake, ease, easily, east, eastern, easy, eat, economic, economy, edge, edit, edition, editor, educate, education, educational, educator, effect, effective, effectively, efficiency, efficient, effort, egg, eight, either, elderly, elect, election, electric, electrical, electricity, electronic, element, elementary, eliminate, elite, else, elsewhere, e-mail, embrace, emerge, emergency, emission, emotion, emotional, emphasis, emphasize, employ, employee, employer, employment, empty, enable, encounter, encourage, end, enemy, energy, enforcement, engage, engine, engineer, engineering, English, enhance, enjoy, enormous, enough, ensure, enter, enterprise, entertain, entertainment, entire, entirely, entrance, entry, environment, environmental, episode, equal, equally, equipment, equivalent, era, error, escape, especially, essay, essential, essentially, establish, establishment, estate, estimate, etc, ethics, ethnic, European, evaluate, evaluation, evening, event, eventually, ever, every, everybody, everyday, everyone, everything, everywhere, evidence, evolution, evolve, exact, exactly, exam, examination, examine, example, exceed, excellent, except, exception, exchange, exciting, executive, exercise, exhibit, exhibition, exist, existence, existing, expand, expansion, expect, expectation, expense, expensive, experience, experiment, expert, explain, explanation, explode, explore, explosion, expose, exposure, express, expression, extend, extension, extensive, extent, external, extra, extraordinary, extreme, extremely, eye, fabric, face, facility, fact, factor, factory, faculty, fade, fail, failure, fair, fairly, faith, fall, false, familiar, family, famous, fan, fantasy, far, farm, farmer, fashion, fast, fat, fate, father, fault, favor, favorite, fear, feature, federal, fee, feed, feel, feeling, fellow, female, fence, festival, few, fewer, fiber, fiction, field, fifteen, fifth, fifty, fight, fighter, fighting, figure, file, fill, film, final, finally, finance, financial, find, finding, fine, finger, finish, fire, firm, first, fish, fishing, fit, fitness, five, fix, flag, flame, flat, flavor, flee, flesh, flight, float, floor, flow, flower, fly, focus, folk, follow, following, food, foot, football, for, force, foreign, forest, forever, forget, form, formal, formation, former, formula, forth, fortune, forward, found, foundation, founder, four, fourth, frame, framework, free, freedom, freeze, French, frequency, frequent, frequently, fresh, friend, friendly, friendship, from, front, fruit, frustration, fuel, fulfill, full, fully, fun, function, fund, fundamental, funding, funeral, funny, furniture, furthermore, future, gain, galaxy, gallery, game, gang, gap, garage, garden, garlic, gas, gate, gather, gay, gaze, gear, gender, gene, general, generally, generate, generation, genetic, gentleman, gently, German, gesture, get, ghost, giant, gift, gifted, girl, girlfriend, give, given, glad, glance, glass, global, glove, go, goal, God, gold, golden, golf, good, govern, government, governor, grab, grace, grade, gradually, graduate, grain, grand, grandmother, grant, grass, grave, gray, great, green, grocery, ground, group, grow, growing, growth, guarantee, guard, guess, guest, guide, guideline, guilty, gun, guy, habit, habitat, hair, half, hall, hand, handful, handle, hang, happen, happy, harbor, hard, hardly, hat, hate, have, he, head, headline, headquarters, health, healthy, hear, hearing, heart, heat, heaven, heavily, heavy, heel, height, helicopter, hell, hello, help, helpful, hence, her, herb, here, heritage, hero, herself, hey, hi, hide, high, highlight, highly, highway, hill, him, himself, hip, hire, his, historic, historical, history, hit, hold, hole, holiday, holy, home, homeless, honest, honey, honor, hope, horizon, horror, horse, hospital, host, hot, hotel, hour, house, household, housing, how, however, huge, human, humor, hundred, hungry, hunter, hunting, hurt, husband, hypothesis, ice, idea, ideal, identification, identify, identity, ignore, ill, illegal, illness, illustrate, image, imagination, imagine, immediate, immediately, immigrant, immigration, impact, implement, implication, imply, importance, important, impose, impossible, impress, impression, impressive, improve, improvement, incentive, incident, include, including, income, incorporate, increase, increased, increasingly, incredible, indeed, independence, independent, index, indicate, indication, individual, industrial, industry, infant, infection, inflation, influence, inform, information, ingredient, initial, initially, initiative, injury, inner, innocent, inquiry, inside, insight, insist, inspire, install, instance, instead, institute, institution, institutional, instruction, instructor, instrument, insurance, intellectual, intelligence, intend, intense, intensity, intention, interaction, interest, interested, interesting, internal, international, Internet, interpret, interpretation, intervention, interview, introduce, introduction, invasion, invest, investigation, investigator, investment, investor, invite, involve, involved, involvement, Iraqi, Irish, iron, Islamic, island, Israeli, issue, it, Italian, item, its, itself, jacket, jail, Japanese, jet, Jew, Jewish, job, join, joint, joke, journal, journalist, journey, joy, judge, judgment, juice, jump, junior, jury, just, justice, justify, keep, key, kick, kid, kill, killer, killing, kind, king, kiss, kitchen, knee, knife, knock, know, knowledge, lab, label, labor, laboratory, lack, lady, lake, land, landscape, language, lap, large, largely, last, late, later, Latin, latter, laugh, launch, law, lawsuit, lawyer, lay, layer, lead, leader, leadership, leading, leaf, league, lean, learn, learning, least, leather, leave, left, leg, legacy, legal, legend, legislation, legislative, legislator, legitimate, lemon, length, less, lesson, let, letter, level, liberal, library, license, lie, life, lifestyle, lifetime, lift, light, like, likely, limit, limitation, limited, line, link, lip, list, listen, literary, literature, little, live, living, load, loan, local, locate, location, lock, long, long-term, look, loose, lose, loss, lost, lot, lots, loud, love, lovely, lover, low, lower, luck, lucky, lunch, luxury, machine, mad, magazine, mail, main, mainly, maintain, maintenance, major, majority, make, maker, makeup, male, mall, man, manage, management, manager, manner, manufacturer, manufacturing, many, map, margin, mark, market, marketing, marriage, married, marry, mask, mass, massive, master, match, material, math, matter, may, maybe, mayor, me, meal, mean, meaning, meanwhile, measure, measurement, meat, mechanism, media, medical, medication, medicine, medium, meet, meeting, member, membership, memory, mental, mention, menu, mere, merely, mess, message, metal, meter, method, Mexican, middle, might, military, milk, million, mind, mine, minister, minor, minority, minute, miracle, mirror, miss, missile, mission, mistake, mix, mixture, mm-hmm, mode, model, moderate, modern, modest, mom, moment, money, monitor, month, mood, moon, moral, more, moreover, morning, mortgage, most, mostly, mother, motion, motivation, motor, mountain, mouse, mouth, move, movement, movie, Mr, Mrs, Ms, much, multiple, murder, muscle, museum, music, musical, musician, Muslim, must, mutual, my, myself, mystery, myth, naked, name, narrative, narrow, nation, national, native, natural, naturally, nature, near, nearby, nearly, necessarily, necessary, neck, need, negative, negotiate, negotiation, neighbor, neighborhood, neither, nerve, nervous, net, network, never, nevertheless, new, newly, news, newspaper, next, nice, night, nine, no, nobody, nod, noise, nomination, nominee, none, nonetheless, nor, normal, normally, north, northern, nose, not, note, nothing, notice, notion, novel, now, nowhere, nuclear, number, numerous, nurse, nut, object, objective, obligation, observation, observe, observer, obtain, obvious, obviously, occasion, occasionally, occupation, occupy, occur, ocean, odd, odds, of, off, offense, offensive, offer, office, officer, official, often, oh, oil, okay, old, Olympic, on, once, one, ongoing, onion, online, only, onto, open, opening, operate, operating, operation, operator, opinion, opponent, opportunity, oppose, opposed, opposite, opposition, option, or, orange, order, ordinary, organic, organization, organize, orientation, origin, original, originally, other, others, otherwise, ought, our, ours, ourselves, out, outcome, outside, oven, over, overall, overcome, overlook, owe, own, owner, pace, pack, package, page, pain, painful, paint, painter, painting, pair, pale, Palestinian, palm, pan, panel, panic, pant, paper, paragraph, parent, park, parking, part, participant, participate, participation, particle, particular, particularly, partly, partner, partnership, party, pass, passage, passenger, passion, past, patch, path, patient, pattern, pause, pay, payment, PC, peace, peak, peer, pen, penalty, people, pepper, per, perceive, percentage, perception, perfect, perfectly, perform, performance, perhaps, period, permanent, permission, permit, person, personal, personality, personally, personnel, perspective, persuade, pet, phase, phenomenon, philosophy, phone, photo, photographer, phrase, physical, physically, physician, piano, pick, picture, pie, piece, pile, pilot, pine, pink, pipe, pitch, place, plan, plane, planet, planning, plant, plastic, plate, platform, play, player, please, pleasure, plenty, plot, plus, PM, pocket, poem, poet, poetry, point, police, policy, political, politically, politician, politics, poll, pollution, pool, poor, pop, popular, population, porch, port, portion, portrait, portray, pose, position, positive, possess, possession, possibility, possible, possibly, post, pot, potato, potential, potentially, pound, pour, poverty, powder, power, powerful, practical, practice, prayer, preach, precisely, predict, prediction, prefer, preference, pregnancy, pregnant, preparation, prepare, prescription, presence, present, presentation, preserve, president, presidential, press, pressure, pretend, pretty, prevent, previous, previously, price, pride, priest, primarily, primary, prime, principal, principle, print, prior, priority, prison, prisoner, privacy, private, probably, problem, procedure, proceed, process, processing, processor, proclaim, produce, producer, product, production, profession, professional, professor, profile, profit, program, progress, progressive, project, prominent, promise, promote, prompt, proof, proper, properly, property, proportion, proposal, propose, prosecutor, prospect, protect, protection, protein, protest, proud, prove, provide, provider, province, provision, psychological, psychology, public, publication, publicity, publish, publisher, pull, punishment, purchase, pure, purpose, pursue, push, put, qualify, quality, quarter, quarterback, quarterly, queen, quest, question, quick, quickly, quiet, quietly, quit, quite, quote, race, racial, radiation, radical, radio, rail, rain, raise, range, rank, rapid, rapidly, rare, rarely, rate, rather, rating, ratio, raw, reach, react, reaction, reader, reading, ready, real, reality, realize, really, reason, reasonable, recall, receive, recent, recently, reception, recipe, recipient, recognition, recognize, recommend, recommendation, record, recording, recover, recovery, recruit, red, reduce, reduction, refer, reference, reflect, reflection, reform, refugee, refuse, regard, regarding, regardless, regime, region, regional, register, regular, regularly, regulate, regulation, regulator, reinforce, reject, relate, relation, relationship, relative, relatively, relax, release, relevant, relief, religion, religious, rely, remain, remaining, remarkable, remember, remind, remote, remove, repeat, repeatedly, replace, replacement, reply, report, reporter, represent, representation, representative, Republican, reputation, request, require, requirement, research, researcher, resemble, reservation, resident, residential, resign, resist, resistance, resolution, resolve, resort, resource, respect, respond, response, responsibility, responsible, rest, restaurant, restore, restriction, result, retain, retire, retirement, return, reveal, revenue, review, revolution, rhythm, rice, rich, rid, ride, rifle, right, ring, rise, risk, river, road, rock, role, roll, romantic, roof, room, root, rope, rose, rough, roughly, round, route, routine, row, rub, rubber, rude, ruin, rule, run, running, rural, rush, Russian, sacred, sad, safe, safety, sake, salad, salary, sale, sales, salt, same, sample, sanction, sand, satellite, satisfaction, satisfied, satisfy, sauce, save, saving, say, scale, scandal, scare, scatter, scenario, scene, schedule, scheme, scholar, scholarship, school, science, scientific, scientist, scope, score, scream, screen, script, sea, search, season, seat, second, secondary, secret, secretary, section, sector, secure, security, see, seed, seek, seem, segment, seize, select, selection, self, sell, Senate, senator, send, senior, sense, sensitive, sentence, separate, sequence, series, serious, seriously, servant, serve, service, session, set, setting, settle, settlement, seven, several, severe, sex, sexual, shade, shadow, shake, shall, shallow, shape, share, sharp, she, sheet, shelf, shell, shelter, shift, shine, ship, shirt, shock, shoe, shoot, shooting, shop, shopping, short, shortly, shot, should, shoulder, shout, show, shower, shrug, shut, shy, sibling, sick, side, sigh, sight, sign, signal, significant, significantly, silence, silent, silver, similar, similarly, simple, simply, sin, since, sing, singer, single, sink, sir, sister, sit, site, situation, six, size, ski, skill, skin, skirt, sky, slave, sleep, slice, slide, slight, slightly, slip, slow, slowly, small, smart, smell, smile, smoke, smooth, snap, snow, so, so-called, soccer, social, society, soft, software, soil, solar, soldier, sole, solid, solution, solve, some, somebody, somehow, someone, something, sometimes, somewhat, somewhere, son, song, soon, sophisticated, sorry, sort, soul, sound, soup, source, south, southern, Soviet, space, Spanish, speak, speaker, special, specialist, species, specific, specifically, specify, speech, speed, spend, spending, spin, spirit, spiritual, split, spoil, sponsor, sport, spot, spray, spread, spring, square, squeeze, stability, stable, staff, stage, stain, stair, stake, stand, standard, standing, star, stare, start, state, statement, station, statistical, status, stay, steady, steal, steel, steep, stem, step, stick, still, stimulate, stimulus, stir, stock, stomach, stone, stop, storage, store, storm, story, straight, strange, stranger, strategic, strategy, stream, street, strength, strengthen, stress, stretch, strike, string, strip, stroke, strong, strongly, structural, structure, struggle, student, studio, study, stuff, stupid, style, subject, submit, subsequent, substance, substantial, substitute, succeed, success, successful, successfully, such, sudden, suddenly, sue, suffer, sufficient, sugar, suggest, suggestion, suicide, suit, summer, summit, sun, super, supply, support, supporter, suppose, supposed, Supreme, sure, surely, surface, surgery, surprise, surprised, surprising, surprisingly, surround, survey, survival, survive, survivor, suspect, sustain, swear, sweep, sweet, swim, swing, switch, symbol, symptom, system, table, tactic, tail, take, tale, talent, talk, tall, tank, tap, tape, target, task, taste, tax, taxi, tea, teach, teacher, teaching, team, tear, technical, technique, technology, teen, teenager, telephone, telescope, television, tell, temperature, temporary, ten, tend, tendency, tennis, tension, tent, term, terms, terrible, territory, terror, terrorist, test, testimony, testing, text, than, thank, thanks, that, the, theater, their, them, theme, themselves, then, theory, therapy, there, therefore, these, they, thick, thin, thing, think, thinking, third, thirty, this, those, though, thought, thousand, threat, threaten, three, throat, through, throughout, throw, thus, ticket, tie, tight, time, tiny, tip, tire, tissue, title, to, tobacco, today, toe, together, toilet, token, tolerate, tomato, tomorrow, tone, tongue, tonight, too, tool, tooth, top, topic, toss, total, totally, touch, tough, tour, tourist, tournament, toward, towards, tower, town, toy, trace, track, trade, tradition, traditional, traffic, tragedy, trail, train, training, transfer, transform, transformation, transition, translate, translation, transmission, transmit, transport, transportation, travel, treat, treatment, treaty, tree, tremendous, trend, trial, tribe, trick, trip, troop, trouble, truck, true, truly, trust, truth, try, tube, tunnel, turn, TV, twelve, twenty, twice, twin, two, type, typical, typically, ugly, ultimate, ultimately, unable, uncle, undergo, understand, understanding, unfortunately, uniform, union, unique, unit, United, universal, universe, university, unknown, unless, unlike, until, unusual, up, upon, upper, urban, urge, us, use, used, useful, user, usual, usually, utility, utilize, vacation, valley, valuable, value, variable, variation, variety, various, vary, vast, vegetable, vehicle, venture, version, versus, very, vessel, veteran, via, victim, victory, video, view, viewer, village, violate, violation, violence, violent, virtually, virtue, virus, visibility, visible, vision, visit, visitor, visual, vital, voice, volume, voluntary, volunteer, vote, voter, voting, wage, wait, wake, walk, wall, wander, want, war, warm, warn, warning, wash, waste, watch, water, wave, way, we, weak, weakness, wealth, wealthy, weapon, wear, weather, web, website, wedding, week, weekend, weekly, weigh, weight, welcome, welfare, well, west, western, wet, what, whatever, wheel, when, whenever, where, whereas, whether, which, while, whisper, white, who, whole, whom, whose, why, wide, widely, widespread, wife, wild, wildlife, will, willing, win, wind, window, wine, wing, winner, winter, wipe, wire, wisdom, wise, wish, with, withdraw, within, without, witness, woman, wonder, wonderful, wood, wooden, word, work, worker, working, workout, workplace, works, workshop, world, worried, worry, worth, would, wound, wrap, write, writer, writing, wrong, yard, yeah, year, yell, yellow, yes, yesterday, yet, yield, you, young, your, yours, yourself, youth, zone.

Top 6 Updates of last Week:

• Meta launches AI tools for ad creative creation and paid subscription tiers.
• TikTok sues US Government over divest-or-sell law.
• Pinterest launches Media Buyer Certification Course.
• X will soon allow advertisers to use AI for audience creation.
• Youtube launches a promotions tab for Creators & SMBs to run quick ad campaigns.
• Reddit is planning to launch search ads and a mixed feed. * Using ‘keyword + reddit’ on google > using reddit search.

Trending

• Sam Altman debunks the rumours of gpt-5 and search engine launch, announcing new updates to GPT-4. The launch of GPT-4o.
• Google’s CEO responds to Search Quality Issues.
• Constellation Brands launches creative review for Corona Extra.
• Apple’s Safari 18 is expected to introduce webpage summarization, web eraser and more.
• Reddit’s Q1 2024 report showed strong user and ad revenue growth, 48% YoY increase in revenue.
• Jack Dorsey has left Bluesky Board sharing the company is making the same mistakes he and his team at Twitter.
• Ofcom is pushing for better age verification, filters and other checks in new online child safety code.
• Apple apologies for iPad Pro ‘Crush’ ad campaign.
• Ocean Outdoor and Battersea Power Station launch new premium DOOH network.
• OpenAI’s pitch deck for publisher partnerships gets leaked.
• Hubspot posts $617.4 million revenue for the first quarter of the year.
• Temu and Meta are being blamed by marketers for ruining performance and paid social marketing.
• Instacart and NBCUniversal’s new partnership connecting CPG with Streaming, changing retail.
• Sony and Apollo are in talks to acquire paramount.

TikTok 🎶

• TikTok is working on a collaboration feature similar to IG.
• TikTok shares new insights about brand and search experience on platform.
• TikTok to start auto-labeling AI-generated content to combat misinformation.
• TikTok is having ‘Creative Made Simple’ webinar for SMBs on May 16th.
  

  Instagram & Threads 🗂️

• Instagram continues to gamify content creation experience, to make people publish more.
  
• Threads adds view counts on posts.
  
• Instagram’s new ‘Meme it’ DMs feature capitalises on Gen-Z’s heavy use of DMs for chats and content sharing.
  
• Influencers see more Instagram engagement with still images than Reels.
  
• Instagram is teasing a new creator revenue program ‘Spring Bonus’.
  
• Threads is testing cross-posting from Instagram globally.
  
• Instagram is testing an new UI for Carousels, with no dots.
  
• Despite IG adding 3-minute reels, they were found discouraging creators from creating long reels.
  

Meta 😅

• Meta’s newly launched AI creative tools for advantage+ campaigns.
• The feature to create reels from existing content is coming to Meta Business Suite.
• Meta’s turn away from the news industry has lead to 50% traffic drop to publishers.
• Error: Meta shares detailed targeting exclusion alert sent to advertisers was a mistake.
• Meta Business Suite adds ‘review’ feature to request post to be reviewed by other admins before publishing.
• WhatsApp launches new UI elements, giving the platform a new look.
• WhatsApp makes it easier to find new channels with categories.

X (Twitter) 🕹️

• X working on Analytics for X communities.
• Nintendo ends their X integration for Switch.
• X’s new algorithm update has lead to prioritisation of smaller accounts, says Elon.
• Chat History is now live for Gork AI on web.
• X is adding a ‘cast’ button to the iOS app.

Youtube 🕹️

• YouTube outlines its measures to ensure EU Election Integrity.
• Youtube expands testing of ‘Jump Ahead’ premium AI feature.
• MrBeast is parting ways with Night Media, Talent Management Company.
• Youtube testing a new shopping feed in Youtube Shorts.

Google 🔦

• Google launches new ‘Saved Comparisons’ feature for Analytics.
• Google Shopping Ads get conversion annotations.
• Google Search results without SGE jump to 65%, up from 25%.
• Google hides search results count under tools section.
• Google shares Disavow link tool will go away at some point.
• Google is defending lack of communication around Search Updates.
• Google’s site reputation abuse policy enforcement started on Monday May 6th.

Agency News

• Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media unveils Ensemble, a branded entertainment company.
• Omnicom is shuttering Honey & Sparks and the talent is being distributed.
• Nestlé Canada appoints Citizen Relations as Confectionery PR AOR.
• GE Lighting, a Savant company appoints Bakery as Social AOR.
• Rocket Cos. Puts its media account in review.
• We Are Social US partners with Valerie Moizel, CEO of The Woo to form Hello US.
• Virgin Active appoints We Are Pi for global brand transformation.
• Famous Footwear appoints Yard NYC and THE MAYOR as Creative AOR.
• Warner Bros appoints BigSmall to launch streaming service Max.
• Lovesac appoints Hearts & Science as media AOR.
• BUNTIN appoints Trex as Media Agency of record.
• IPG Health consolidates agency brand roster, launch of new Rise & Run brand.
• THIRD EAR appointed by Nissan North America and INFINITI USA as Multicultural AOR.
• Indie Agency Boathouse creates supplier diversity program, expanding external DEI efforts.

Brands & Ads 🏓

My Fav; Liquid Death’s latest campaign ‘The Adventures of Murder Man’ is a creative masterpiece as usual and a corporate parody.

• New Balance’s seven-minute film shares seven stories of its influence in subcultures.
• Coca-Cola’s new ad ‘Coke Spills’ celebrates the joyous moments of coke spilling.
• The Ordinary and Uncommon’s new OOH campaign embraces science instead of celebs.
• Jung von Matt’s UK ad debut for Wayfair takes a very simple approach but the vibe matches.
• Volkswagen’s new brand platform ‘Your Wagen’ celebrating customer journeys.
• PG Tips launches their first campaign in eight years, starring Ashley Walters.
• Another Ad campaign featuring dogs but this time it’s for dog food from the brand tails.com.
• Currys new ad spot is funny and aligned with Euro 2024 vibes, you can’t miss it .
• Budweiser uses song lyrics mentioning the brand to launch new Spotify ad “UninterruptAds”.
• Impossible Foods new ad campaign sticks out with very digestible message to make people vegan.
• Nescafé’s kettle ad campaign speaks sustainability and stands out as a loner, but on a broader look, it doesn’t align with Nespresso.
• EasyJet goes into Eurovision mode for the new ‘All Aboard the Orange Plane’ ad campaign.
• Peroni 0.0% joins Formula 1 as Ferrari Team Partner, hoping to ride the non-alcoholic beer growth train.
• McDonald’s new plan to invest more dollars (Millions) in Digital marketing and its reward program.

AI 🤨

• OpenAI increase AI content transparency with launch of new detection tools.
• Etsy’s plan to improve delivery tracking using new ML model.
• Absolut & Copy Lab launch copyright-free diverse images for fashion content.
• OpenAI and Stack Overflow announced an API partnership.
• OpenAI introduces Model Spec to better the model behaviour and explores how AI can generate explicit content.
• Eleven labs preview their music AI model.

Reddit & Pinterest

• Reddit announces new Public Content Policy, setting new parameters for data usage.
• Pinterest hires Former Levi’s CEO to Board of Directors.

Microsoft & LinkedIn

• Microsoft is building a bigger and better LLM ‘MAI-1’ to fight Google.
• Bing tests clear distinction between free and paid search results.
• LinkedIn shares new insights on measuring B2B marketing campaigns.

Marketing & AdTech

• Bluesky adds new features; DMs, Improved custom feeds, Video and more.
• Shopsense launches retail media platform for second-screen shopping.
• GAP names Fabiola Torres new global CMO.
• Ocean Outdoor becomes official OOH supplier to London Fashion Week.
• Curb, a ride/hailing app launches Curb journey Connect, one-stop ad solution.
• Constant Contact launches new AI feature for Brandkit and Campaign Builder.
• 160over90 launches Integrated Creator Commerce service with Lumanu.
• Omnicom announces major expansion in India.
• Kantar Media hires Lucy Bristowe as CEO for UK & Western Europe.
• Instacart and Uber Eats partner, allowing customers to order Uber Eats food via Instacart.

I hope this helps to plan your week ahead. All the sources can be found in the newsletter archive post.

Top 6 Updates of last Week:

• Meta launches AI tools for ad creative creation and paid subscription tiers.
• TikTok sues US Government over divest-or-sell law.
• Pinterest launches Media Buyer Certification Course.
• X will soon allow advertisers to use AI for audience creation.
• Youtube launches a promotions tab for Creators & SMBs to run quick ad campaigns.
• Reddit is planning to launch search ads and a mixed feed. * Using ‘keyword + reddit’ on google > using reddit search.

Trending

• Sam Altman debunks the rumours of gpt-5 and search engine launch, announcing new updates to GPT-4. The launch of GPT-4o.
• Google’s CEO responds to Search Quality Issues.
• Constellation Brands launches creative review for Corona Extra.
• Apple’s Safari 18 is expected to introduce webpage summarization, web eraser and more.
• Reddit’s Q1 2024 report showed strong user and ad revenue growth, 48% YoY increase in revenue.
• Jack Dorsey has left Bluesky Board sharing the company is making the same mistakes he and his team at Twitter.
• Ofcom is pushing for better age verification, filters and other checks in new online child safety code.
• Apple apologies for iPad Pro ‘Crush’ ad campaign.
• Ocean Outdoor and Battersea Power Station launch new premium DOOH network.
• OpenAI’s pitch deck for publisher partnerships gets leaked.
• Hubspot posts $617.4 million revenue for the first quarter of the year.
• Temu and Meta are being blamed by marketers for ruining performance and paid social marketing.
• Instacart and NBCUniversal’s new partnership connecting CPG with Streaming, changing retail.
• Sony and Apollo are in talks to acquire paramount.

TikTok 🎶

• TikTok is working on a collaboration feature similar to IG.
• TikTok shares new insights about brand and search experience on platform.
• TikTok to start auto-labeling AI-generated content to combat misinformation.
• TikTok is having ‘Creative Made Simple’ webinar for SMBs on May 16th.
  

  Instagram & Threads 🗂️

• Instagram continues to gamify content creation experience, to make people publish more.
  
• Threads adds view counts on posts.
  
• Instagram’s new ‘Meme it’ DMs feature capitalises on Gen-Z’s heavy use of DMs for chats and content sharing.
  
• Influencers see more Instagram engagement with still images than Reels.
  
• Instagram is teasing a new creator revenue program ‘Spring Bonus’.
  
• Threads is testing cross-posting from Instagram globally.
  
• Instagram is testing an new UI for Carousels, with no dots.
  
• Despite IG adding 3-minute reels, they were found discouraging creators from creating long reels.
  

Meta 😅

• Meta’s newly launched AI creative tools for advantage+ campaigns.
• The feature to create reels from existing content is coming to Meta Business Suite.
• Meta’s turn away from the news industry has lead to 50% traffic drop to publishers.
• Error: Meta shares detailed targeting exclusion alert sent to advertisers was a mistake.
• Meta Business Suite adds ‘review’ feature to request post to be reviewed by other admins before publishing.
• WhatsApp launches new UI elements, giving the platform a new look.
• WhatsApp makes it easier to find new channels with categories.

X (Twitter) 🕹️

• X working on Analytics for X communities.
• Nintendo ends their X integration for Switch.
• X’s new algorithm update has lead to prioritisation of smaller accounts, says Elon.
• Chat History is now live for Gork AI on web.
• X is adding a ‘cast’ button to the iOS app.

Youtube 🕹️

• YouTube outlines its measures to ensure EU Election Integrity.
• Youtube expands testing of ‘Jump Ahead’ premium AI feature.
• MrBeast is parting ways with Night Media, Talent Management Company.
• Youtube testing a new shopping feed in Youtube Shorts.

Google 🔦

• Google launches new ‘Saved Comparisons’ feature for Analytics.
• Google Shopping Ads get conversion annotations.
• Google Search results without SGE jump to 65%, up from 25%.
• Google hides search results count under tools section.
• Google shares Disavow link tool will go away at some point.
• Google is defending lack of communication around Search Updates.
• Google’s site reputation abuse policy enforcement started on Monday May 6th.

Agency News

• Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media unveils Ensemble, a branded entertainment company.
• Omnicom is shuttering Honey & Sparks and the talent is being distributed.
• Nestlé Canada appoints Citizen Relations as Confectionery PR AOR.
• GE Lighting, a Savant company appoints Bakery as Social AOR.
• Rocket Cos. Puts its media account in review.
• We Are Social US partners with Valerie Moizel, CEO of The Woo to form Hello US.
• Virgin Active appoints We Are Pi for global brand transformation.
• Famous Footwear appoints Yard NYC and THE MAYOR as Creative AOR.
• Warner Bros appoints BigSmall to launch streaming service Max.
• Lovesac appoints Hearts & Science as media AOR.
• BUNTIN appoints Trex as Media Agency of record.
• IPG Health consolidates agency brand roster, launch of new Rise & Run brand.
• THIRD EAR appointed by Nissan North America and INFINITI USA as Multicultural AOR.
• Indie Agency Boathouse creates supplier diversity program, expanding external DEI efforts.

Brands & Ads 🏓

My Fav; Liquid Death’s latest campaign ‘The Adventures of Murder Man’ is a creative masterpiece as usual and a corporate parody.

• New Balance’s seven-minute film shares seven stories of its influence in subcultures.
• Coca-Cola’s new ad ‘Coke Spills’ celebrates the joyous moments of coke spilling.
• The Ordinary and Uncommon’s new OOH campaign embraces science instead of celebs.
• Jung von Matt’s UK ad debut for Wayfair takes a very simple approach but the vibe matches.
• Volkswagen’s new brand platform ‘Your Wagen’ celebrating customer journeys.
• PG Tips launches their first campaign in eight years, starring Ashley Walters.
• Another Ad campaign featuring dogs but this time it’s for dog food from the brand tails.com.
• Currys new ad spot is funny and aligned with Euro 2024 vibes, you can’t miss it .
• Budweiser uses song lyrics mentioning the brand to launch new Spotify ad “UninterruptAds”.
• Impossible Foods new ad campaign sticks out with very digestible message to make people vegan.
• Nescafé’s kettle ad campaign speaks sustainability and stands out as a loner, but on a broader look, it doesn’t align with Nespresso.
• EasyJet goes into Eurovision mode for the new ‘All Aboard the Orange Plane’ ad campaign.
• Peroni 0.0% joins Formula 1 as Ferrari Team Partner, hoping to ride the non-alcoholic beer growth train.
• McDonald’s new plan to invest more dollars (Millions) in Digital marketing and its reward program.

AI 🤨

• OpenAI increase AI content transparency with launch of new detection tools.
• Etsy’s plan to improve delivery tracking using new ML model.
• Absolut & Copy Lab launch copyright-free diverse images for fashion content.
• OpenAI and Stack Overflow announced an API partnership.
• OpenAI introduces Model Spec to better the model behaviour and explores how AI can generate explicit content.
• Eleven labs preview their music AI model.

Reddit & Pinterest

• Reddit announces new Public Content Policy, setting new parameters for data usage.
• Pinterest hires Former Levi’s CEO to Board of Directors.

Microsoft & LinkedIn

• Microsoft is building a bigger and better LLM ‘MAI-1’ to fight Google.
• Bing tests clear distinction between free and paid search results.
• LinkedIn shares new insights on measuring B2B marketing campaigns.

Marketing & AdTech

• Bluesky adds new features; DMs, Improved custom feeds, Video and more.
• Shopsense launches retail media platform for second-screen shopping.
• GAP names Fabiola Torres new global CMO.
• Ocean Outdoor becomes official OOH supplier to London Fashion Week.
• Curb, a ride/hailing app launches Curb journey Connect, one-stop ad solution.
• Constant Contact launches new AI feature for Brandkit and Campaign Builder.
• 160over90 launches Integrated Creator Commerce service with Lumanu.
• Omnicom announces major expansion in India.
• Kantar Media hires Lucy Bristowe as CEO for UK & Western Europe.
• Instacart and Uber Eats partner, allowing customers to order Uber Eats food via Instacart.

I hope this helps to plan your week ahead. Follow for more.