Fire-type Starter Cards Telling Adorable Mini-stories: A Collection

Fire-type starter cards telling adorable mini-stories: a collection

Potential Virus Risk on AO3 Comments

Hey everyone. So, I wanted to make a post about something I've seen in AO3 comments recently and I wanted to let y'all know so you can be careful.

Today, on two separate fics of mine, I got comments from guests with different names that had what looks like a key smash followed by a weird link. They looked like this:

Now, it is possible that these are legit comments and these links lead to nothing bad. But, in my experience, this looks like a classic phishing scam or a link to a virus. Honestly, I never open links I see online unless I know for sure I can trust the source. And even then I'm a bit hesitant, since I know that accounts can be hacked. I actually deleted the first email and comment immediately and didn't really think about it again. However, after getting another comment that was almost identical but from a guest with a different name, it makes me think that this might be something bad.

So, if you see these kinds of comments, unless you know exactly who sent it, I'd recommend just deleting them and not clicking on the links. Honestly, even if you know who sent it, I'd still be careful just in case they got hacked. If someone wanted to send you a legit link, they would probably do it with some kind of comment beforehand saying what the link actually leads to. This seems to me like they're trying to prey off curiosity and it can lead to some nasty stuff. Since I know some AO3 writers and readers follow me, I thought I'd post about it here. Similarly, if you see a comment like this on someone's fic, maybe don't click on it either. Again, I can't guarantee this is anything bad, since I definitely did not click on the links, but it's better to be safe than sorry. If y'all could reblog this to spread the word, I'd appreciate it.

Anyway, be careful out there guys! I got burned a few too many times as a kid, so I'm extra careful with links and things now, ha.

EDIT: Apparently, these links are indeed malicious. I checked them in an online link checker, and it detected one malicious source from the link in the second message, but 12 malicious sources in the link from the first message. So, it's pretty clearly a virus or phishing scam. Please be aware!

Ok y’all, I need you to drop links for free binder services. It’s November which means that parents won’t think it’s odd for their children to request that they not inspect packages. They’ll simply assume it’s a present for whatever holiday they observe. So please do your part by dropping links in the reblogs and trying to get this seen by those who need it

edit: k, so I mean this in nicest way possible. Liking isn’t going to help anyone. This isn’t just for me, other people need these links. If you if you can’t/don’t have the energy to find and post links to ACTIVE donations. Please at least reblog so someone who follows you can. Please and thank you <3

Fanfiction Authors: HEADS UP

(Non-authors, please RB to signal boost to your author friends!)

An astute reader informed me this morning that one of my fics (Children of the Future Age) had been pirated and was being sold as a novel on Amazon:

(And they weren't even creative with their cover design. If you're going to pirate something that I spent a full year of my life writing, at least give me a pretty screenshot to brag about later. Seriously.)

I promptly filed a DMCA complaint to have it removed, but I checked out the company that put it up -- Plush Books -- and it looks like A LOT of their books are pirated fic. They are by no means the only ones doing this, either -- the fact that """publishers""" can download stories from AO3 in ebook format and then reupload them to Amazon in just a few clicks makes fic piracy a common problem. There are a whole host of reasons why letting this continue is bad -- including actual legal risk to fanfiction archives -- but basically:

IF YOU ARE A FANFIC AUTHOR WITH LONG AND/OR POPULAR WORKS, PLEASE CHECK AMAZON TO SEE IF YOUR STORIES HAVE BEEN PIRATED.

You can search for your fics by title, or by text from the description (which is often just copied wholesale from AO3 as well). If you find that someone has stolen your work and is selling it as their own, you can lodge a DMCA complaint (Amazon.com/USA site; other countries have different systems). If you haven't done this before, it's easy! Here's a tutorial:

HOW TO FILE A COPYRIGHT COMPLAINT FOR STOLEN WORK ON AMAZON.COM:

First, go to this form. You'll need to be signed into your Amazon account.

Select the radio buttons/dropdown options (shown below) to indicate that you are the legal Rights Owner, you have a copyright concern, and it is about a pirated product.

Enter the name of your story in the Name of Brand field.

In the Link to the Copyrighted Work box, enter a link to the story on AO3 or whatever site your work is posted on.

In the Additional Information box, explain that you are the author of the work and it is being sold without your permission. That's all you really need. If you want, you can include additional information that might be helpful in establishing the validity of your claim, but you don't have to go into great detail. You can simply write something like this:

I am the author of this work, which is being sold by [publisher] without my permission. I originally published this story in [date/year] on [name of site], and have provided a link to the original above. On request, I can provide documentation proving that I am the owner of the account that originally posted this story.

In the ASIN/ISBN-10 field, copy and paste the ID number from the pirated copy's URL. You'll find this ten-digit number in the Amazon URL after the word "product," as in the screenshot below. (If the URL extends beyond this number, you can ignore everything from the question mark on.) Once this number has been added, Amazon will pull the product information automatically and add it to the complaint form, so you can check the listing title and make sure it's correct.

Finally, add your contact information to the relevant fields, check the "I have read and accept the statements" box, and then click Submit. You should receive an email confirmation that Amazon has received the form.

Please share this information with your writer friends, keep an eye out for/report pirated works, and help us keep fanfiction free and legally protected!

NOTE: All of the above also applies to Amazon products featuring stolen artwork, etc., so fan artists should check too!

Hey y'all,

We are seeing an increasing number of house fires this year, and almost all of them are in older homes which haven't had the electricity updated, or in mobile homes. Regardless of the type of home you live in, there are precautions you can take to prevent losing everything.

I just got back from a house fire that killed three pets, last week a child was severely injured, and also last week a single mom of 4 lost all of her children's clothes, toys, and furniture.

Please take the time to check your home for fire hazards.

Replace furnace filters on time. Check them regularly.

Check the batteries on your smoke detectors. If you do not have a smoke detector, contact your local American Red Cross office and set up a FREE install.

If you have pre-1980 wiring in your home, make sure it isn't overloaded by electronics. Unplug things you don't use regularly.

All heaters need space. Keep pets, kids, and flammable items at least 3 feet away from heating equipment (including paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, rugs, etc.).

Never leave a fire unattended. This includes fireplaces, outdoor grills, outdoor fire pits, and candles.

I know I did this when I lived in a slum, but please don't ever use a stove or an oven to heat your home. It also increases the chances of injury to yourself, your pets, and your children.

And I know this sucks, but don't leave a portable space heater on when you leave the house OR when you sleep. Waking up to a fire lowers your chance of survival.

Do not go near downed power lines.

If your power goes out, try to use flashlights instead of candles. If you have to use candles, use smaller ones like tealights with a 2-hour flame and keep them a minimum of 2 feet away from anything that can catch fire, especially blankets and curtains.

If you use candles, blow them out when you leave a room.

If there is an electrical storm, unplug sensitive electronics.

Please get a carbon monoxide detector. CO is virtually undetectable until you're already poisoned. It can kill you in your sleep by depriving the body of oxygen. It is more likely to affect pets, children, and people who are lying down first because it sits lower in the air.

If you are renting from a slumlord: chances are higher that if a house fire occurs, they will blame you. Photograph the interior of your home once each winter to prove that you didnt overload outlets or keep the couch too close to a heater if a fire occurs, and provide this informstion ONLY tontyebfire department and your lawyer. Make sure you are doing what you can control to keep you and your family safe. Contact your local fire department for info regarding tenant rights during and after a fire in your county.

GET RENTERS INSURANCE. It is cheap, especially compared to the cost of everything you love in your home. Mine is $120 per year for $40k in coverage. The average that I've seen is $55-$150 per year. Shop around for the best rate in your area, it is 100% worth it. After getting the insurance, document the serial numbers of every major electronic in your home. Gaming consoles, TV, blenders, laptops, and even your phone. There is no guarantee your phone will make it outside with you during a fire.

Please keep yourself and your family safe this winter.

If a house fire does occur, even if you have a place to stay while recovering, please call your local Red Cross. You may be eligible for financial assistance, medical and spiritual care, and mental health care. A Disaster Action Team member will contact you and get your case opened and get you started on your recovery, likely with financial assistance, and a case worker will follow up shortly after.

We can also help replace medical equipment, prescriptions, disability aids (including glasses, compression socks, and wheelchairs), and overnight necessities like toothpaste and deodorant.

If you or someone you know has suffered a disaster like a home fire, please contact the Red Cross.

(800) 773-2767