The key wasn’t in the lounge area. Where the hell could it
be? Carlos was getting frustrated as he opened drawers only to find drug paraphernalia.
He was getting frustrated with himself and he coughed, trying to suppress
another fit of sobbing. Carlos sniffed.
This was fine. It would be fine. He could just head to the
attic and find a nice corner. Maybe the other drifters wouldn’t bother him…
No, that was stupid and he knew it. Any sign of weakness
shown to complete strangers and he was opening himself up to getting assaulted and
mugged – even if he didn’t have anything on him. As much as he thought he
deserved it… some part of him knew that he’d regret it in the future. Either
that, or it was scared. Yeah, sounded about right… too scared to face
consequences.
A fleeting thought went through Carlos’ head and, following
it, he patted at his pockets. He realized that below the lump the underwear
made in his pocket he felt something hard. Carlos scoffed, unhappy with the
discovery, and reached in to pull out the key. It was in his pocket the whole
damn time. He must’ve looked like a pathetic idiot with how he’d been looking for it.
Carlos groaned and scrubbed at his face hard with his hands.
Keep it together… just keep it together until he could find safety in his… the workshop. He’d deal with everything
tomorrow. He left the room and went down the spiral staircase. He realized that
Neighborhood Watch was looking at him, but he kept his head down and willed for
them not to talk to him or ask him anything.
As of July 4th 2018, the Internet as we know it might be dead for good.
The European Parliament is passing a new Copyright Directive. Article 13 #CensorshipMachine will impose widespread censorship of all the content we share online. Art, fanfiction, parodies, remixes, mashups, memes, etc.. Anything that you do not hold the rights over will be taken down.
Article 13 would force all online platforms to police and prevent the uploading of copyrighted content, or make people seek the correct licenses to post that content. Internet platforms hosting large amounts of user-uploaded content must monitor user behaviour and filter their contributions to identify and prevent copyright infringement.
Such filters will be mandatory for platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Tumblr, Reddit and Instagram, but also much smaller websites.
Last Tuesday (19th June 2018) a group of more than 70 people who have played important roles in building the internet and developing it (Tim Berners-Lee, Vincent Cerf,
Jimmy Wales, Mitchell Baker…) into what it is today addressed an open letter to the members of the European Parliament:
“As creators ourselves, we share the concern that there should be a fair distribution of revenues from the online use of copyright works, that benefits creators, publishers, and platforms alike.
But Article 13 is not the right way to achieve this. By requiring Internet platforms to perform automatic filtering all of the content that their users upload, Article 13 takes an unprecedented step towards the transformation of the Internet from an open platform for sharing and innovation, into a tool for the automated surveillance and control of its users. […] The damage that this may do to the free and open Internet as we know it is hard to predict, but in our opinions could be substantial.”
Carlos jumped in shock and he stared incredulously at the masked man. “Dude, what the f@$*??“ he asked. “I don’t know who Kate Spade is!” Who the hell – who let this maniac into the bar?? “And I don’t know who would even want to walk a day in Peewee Herman’s shoes.”
Carlos swallowed and scoot his chair away, turning toward the other man defensively. He tried to relax – he couldn’t freak out.
“Look, uh, I’m sorry you’ve had a sh*t day yourself,” he said as carefully as he could. “Uh, but I don’t think property-damage is the answer. I mean, heh… what could a poor little glass have done?” Has someone called the police? He hoped so.
Wade was far more used to that sort of reaction than he probably should be. The screams, the choice words. Neither of those ever really fazed him. So he continued with his finger still held tight to the trigger. Scouting for a target. And at last, he found one. Swiftly knocking the frame from the wall and shattering the glass portrait with a single bullet.
"Was. She kicked the bucket an’ did the slow dance with death, Buzz Killington. Don’t tell me it’s too soon, neither. Been about a week since you first got hit with that truth bomb. Lazy hackin’ writer.“
As the poor guy tried scooting away, Wade slowed the chair to a halt by using his foot as a barricade. Returning the sap’s attempted retreat with a scowl prominent enough to be seen from beneath his mask.
“Nuh-uh, Nells. I don’t like back talk after being swindled out of a hefty 70 grand. So what’s say you line up a few shots to look like Russell Brand, and I’ll Jackson Pollock my own No. 5 outta glass instead of your epidermis.”
‘Writer’? Was Kate Spade a book character? Carlos had no
idea – none at all. “Uh… um… okay.”
Carlos froze in place when he realized his chair wasn’t
going anywhere. He stayed facing the man however, not wanting to let any action
he made go unnoticed. While looking Carlos got an eyeful of just how visually dangerous he appeared to be – the weapons,
the athletic build, the mystery pouches… definitely not a costume. This guy,
whatever he did, was clearly not just some Mandalorian Merc cosplayer, like
Carlos initially thought. God, if only it was a Mandalorian…
“I, uh… shots as in… drinking? Or did you want to continue
with your, um… target practice? B-because, uh… well, I- I’ll help with either.
Whatever you need.” So long as a bullet didn’t hit him. Also, who used people’s names as verbs? He had no idea what the man meant!
Carlos hoped he didn’t have to actually mix drinks – A: he didn’t work here, and B: he was atrocious with
anything to do with anything edible. Chemistry degree or not, he couldn’t prepare
food or drink for the life of him!
Open up a bottle and pour it into a glass though, he could do.
“Well, you have to stay because I’m staying here,” Carlos said, rolling his eyes. “C’mon, it’ll be fun – there’s loads of activities here – I’m sure you’ll find something to like!”
“I’ll be nice, it’s not like I don’t have manners, Carlos,” The girl grumbled as she lugged her suitcase behind her. “I wasn’t raised in a barn.”
“Really? It’s hard to tell with all the griping you’ve been doing since you got here,” Carlos told her smartly. He closed the door behind her. “Go ahead and leave the suitcase by the door.”
I mean, we got filtered water, the camp ain’t that shitty.
*Carlos just looks at him. He grabs the bags and thanks the clerk* Let’s go. You still have that funnel?
*max patted the front of his pocket* yeah.
Awesome. So, we need to think of a quick-release system, because the reaction will be almost instant. I say… put a paper or a stick at the bottom of the funnel, then load the neck with the Mentos. We position it over the bottle and remove the paper so they all drop almost immediately one after another.
That won’t be hard.
Alright. *he offers Max the bag of candy* Here – I need to get my keys.
