Disruptive Fine Art

The Healer with the Withered Hand (Podcast)

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:53:15 GMT

While waiting for a burger at an overseas transport center, a man approached me with a Bible tract. He had a stub for a hand—yet he was the one who prayed for me.

In this 6-minute reflection, I explore the spiritual irony of the “healer with the withered hand” and how it connects to the rich young ruler, the voice of Wisdom in Proverbs, and my own journey from depression to a renewed life.

This is a personal story about letting go of this world’s treasures, keeping a vow made long ago, and finding the courage to travel the world while sharing the mysteries of the gospel.

“Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors. For those who find me find life.” – Proverbs 8

How to Remove Metadata from PDFs on Linux Mint

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:34:08 GMT

Why This Matters

PDF files often contain hidden metadata that can expose:

Your real name
Your computer’s username
The software you used (with version numbers)
Creation and modification dates
Unique document IDs that can track files across the internet

If you are sharing PDFs anonymously or simply care about privacy, cleaning metadata is essential.

What You Need

Linux Mint (also works on Ubuntu and Debian)
Terminal access

Step 1: Install the Tool

Open a terminal and run these commands one at a time:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install libimage-exiftool-perl

Step 2: Go to Your PDF Folder

cd ~/Desktop

Change Desktop to wherever your PDFs are stored.

Step 3: List Your PDFs

ls -la *.pdf

This shows all PDF files in the current folder.

Step 4: Check a PDF’s Metadata

exiftool "filename.pdf"

Look for fields like Author, Creator, Producer, CreateDate, ModDate, and Company. These can contain personal information.

Step 5: Remove All Metadata

exiftool -all= -overwrite_original "filename.pdf"

This removes every metadata field and replaces the original file.

To keep a backup first, remove -overwrite_original. A file with _original in the name will be created.

Step 6: Verify the PDF Is Clean

If nothing appears, the file is clean.

Or just run exiftool "filename.pdf". You should only see technical fields like FileSize, FileType, PDFVersion, and PageCount.

Step 7: Clean All PDFs in a Folder

Run this command to clean every PDF at once:

for file in *.pdf; do exiftool -all= -overwrite_original "$file"; done

Step 8: Verify All PDFs Are Clean

for file in *.pdf; do echo "=== $file ==="; exiftool "$file" | grep -E "Author|Creator" || echo "CLEAN"; done

Understanding the Warning

You might see this message:

Warning: [minor] ExifTool PDF edits are reversible. Deleted tags may be recovered!

This is normal. It means the metadata could theoretically be restored with forensic tools. For everyday privacy, this is not a concern.

Quick Reference

Install: sudo apt install libimage-exiftool-perl

View metadata: exiftool file.pdf

Remove metadata: exiftool -all= -overwrite_original file.pdf

Clean all PDFs in folder: for file in *.pdf; do exiftool -all= -overwrite_original "$file"; done

Final Checklist

Install exiftool
Navigate to your PDF folder
Check metadata
Remove metadata
Verify metadata is gone
Upload clean PDFs

Why This Matters for Independent Publishing

If you distribute your own work — especially if you accept anonymous donations or want to stay independent — clean PDFs ensure that:

Your real name is not embedded in the file
Your computer username is not exposed
No unique document IDs track readers back to you
Your work stands on its own, without hidden data

About This Guide

This guide works on Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Debian, and most Debian-based distributions.

Protect Your Inbox, Support Bookstores, Read My Work

🔐 Anonymous Text & Privacy Tools

📱 Anosim – anonymous texting

🛡️ Proton VPN – secure & fast

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✉️ Tuta – private email by design

I’ve switched to Tuta, the world’s most secure email service. It’s easy to use, open-source, private by design, ad‑free, and powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Now I’d like to invite you to Tuta too.
👉 Claim your free month on any yearly plan →

📚 Bookshop.org – support local bookstores

Each purchase helps independent bookstores.

📘 My Published MagCloud Issues

Browse or buy any issue below. Your purchase directly supports my writing — thank you!

1. Disruptive Fine Art – Winter 2025 Edition

Art you can carry and use
From phone cases to mouse pads, this issue turns everyday accessories into works of fine art. Bold creativity meets practical design.
👉 View Disruptive Fine Art →

2. DINOGO GO! GLOW!

A children’s poetry book from the dark side
Twelve pages about a dino named GO who lost his way. Quirky, fun, and a little mischievous.
👉 View DINOGO GO! GLOW! →

3. Escape Dog (Philososaur Comics!)

The world’s most chaotic escape artist
Belle isn’t just a bad dog — she’s a legend. Framed for “excessive tail wagging” and “unauthorized snack theft,” she busts out of the Barkwood Asylum and battles sinister nurses, rooftops, and her own destiny.
👉 View Escape Dog →

4. Philososaur – Volume 4

Class warfare with a bleach bottle
Gold isn’t just a color — it’s collateral damage. This issue turns peroxide into cultural commentary, salon foils into protest signs. The revolution will be bleached, toned, and absolutely unapologetic.
👉 View Philososaur – Volume 4 →

5. Venefica’s Enchantment: A Love Spelled in Blood

A witch who worships the humility of broken men
In a world where pride has poisoned men’s hearts, Venefica offers a different path — healing through surrender, devotion, and sacred ecstasy. Dark, seductive, and unforgettable.
👉 View Venefica’s Enchantment →

6. Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Short stories about the intricacies of being human
Themes of personal growth, existential questions, and the transformative power of embracing life’s uncertainties. Lyrical prose with a touch of whimsy.
👉 View Reflections and Reveries →

7. Psych Victims

Everyday victimization by the “mental health” field
This project catalogues the real experiences of millions of people harmed by psychiatric systems. A necessary, eye-opening read.
👉 View Psych Victims →

🌐 My Latest Projects

Michigan Business Directory

A curated directory of family-owned, heritage-listed local services across Michigan.

No algorithms. No paid placements. Just 145+ listings of electricians, plumbers, roofers, restaurants, barbers, and more — organized by heritage (Scandinavian, Dutch, German, English) and community ties. Each business is family-owned, many are 3rd, 4th, or even 5th generation. Think of it as the anti-Yelp.
👉 Visit Michigan Business Directory →

Philososaur Archive

A free digital library of independent art, poetry, fiction, and disruptive publications.

No paywalls. No ads. No algorithms. Every book by Daniel Brummitt is free to download — from Escape Dog and Venefica’s Enchantment to Psych Victims and DINOGO GO! GLOW!. Supported entirely by Monero donations. Art that exists without permission.
👉 Visit Philososaur Archive →

Artisan Eye

Instant AI-powered art appraisals — built by an artist, for artists.

Upload any artwork. The Vision Transformer identifies style, technique, medium, period, and artist attribution. Then multi-modal AI cross-references market comparables and auction records. Get a confidence-scored appraisal with explainable factors. Free to use. Built by Daniel Brummitt — a working artist who trains every algorithm with an artist’s intuition.
👉 Visit Artisan Eye →

Dream Dictionary

Explore over 110 dream symbols — from ancient myths to modern tech

Visit Danny’s Dreams « ☁️

📚 Daniel Brummitt Publishing – Where to Find My Books

My books are available through independent retailers worldwide. Below are direct links to verified listings.

Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

A collection of short stories about personal growth, existential questions, and embracing life’s uncertainties. Lyrical prose with a touch of whimsy.
👉 View on Books-A-Million →
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →

Daniel Brummitt Galleries

Mixed media illustrations from the creator of Philososaur Magazine. Art sold internationally — crypto always accepted.
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →
👉 View on Bookscape (India) →

About the Publisher

Daniel Brummitt Publishing is the home of:

Philososaur Magazine – disruptive art and cultural commentary
DINOGO GO! GLOW! – a children’s poetry book from the dark side
The MOLDmen GALLERY – mixed media illustrations
Psych Victims – cataloging harm by psychiatric systems

👉 Daniel Brummitt Publishing on Wellfound →

👉 Backlinks & Blog Archive →

Give $20, get $20

Have any friends or family planning a trip? Invite them to use Nomad Insurance, and you’ll both earn a $20 credit towards your next payment.

Cancel Tinder. Go Outside. Here’s Why.

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Sat, 30 May 2026 11:13:37 GMT

Introduction – The Trap

You pay for the highest subscription tier. You add a Boost. You’ve done everything right.

Then the app bans you.

Not for anything you said. Not for anything you did. For reasons they won’t explain. For flags their system raises in secret. For patterns you cannot see or challenge.

You email support. Nothing. Copy-paste templates. Automated silence. No human. No appeal.

You are a paying customer. They have your credit card. Your identity. Your digital footprint. They know who you are.

And they don’t care.

This isn’t about safety anymore. This is surveillance as social control. Tinder has a monopoly on the game, and they are using it to block people — often based on what seems to be political agendas. Paid users locked out. Verified identities ignored. Questions unanswered.

Welcome to the new normal.

Section 1 – The Algorithm Manipulates You

The apps use secret scoring systems — sometimes called “Elo scores” — to rank users. They decide who sees you and who you see. They control your options. They charge different people different prices based on how desperate their algorithm thinks you are.

You are not in control. The algorithm is.

Patents held by Match Group (owner of Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid) reveal the truth: the swipe mechanic is designed to mimic a slot machine. Random reward. Variable reinforcement. Addiction by design.

Section 2 – Your Biometric Data Is Being Taken

When apps force you to take a video selfie for “verification,” they aren’t just checking that you’re real. They are collecting your facial geometry — biometric data.

What happens to that data? The FTC recently caught Match Group sharing 3 million user photos with an AI facial recognition company called Clarifai. No consent. No warning. Just corporate profit.

Your face is not a product. But to them, it is. And once they have it, you have no control over where it goes.

Section 3 – Political Agendas as a Corporate Shield

Here’s what they don’t want you to say:

Tinder doesn’t just control who you match with. It controls the cultural narrative. It decides what’s promoted, what’s suppressed, and who gets banned — all under the guise of “safety” and “inclusion.”

When you question their broken systems, their surveillance, their monopoly — they don’t engage with the criticism. They hide behind political agendas. They wrap themselves in social causes. They dismiss critics as bigots.

This isn’t activism. It’s a PR strategy. Real social progress is not a weapon. It’s not a shield. And it shouldn’t be used to deflect legitimate criticism about corporate greed, user harm, and market dominance.

Tinder isn’t making the world more inclusive. They are using inclusion as a cover for control. And that should be called out by everyone — regardless of their politics.

@Tinder Nothing to see here... Just tinder doing the direct opposite of what I pay them for... ","username":"McWhisky6666","name":"joe","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1854417822509662216/Fb6W0W13_normal.jpg","date":"2026-05-28T17:17:33.000Z","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/HJbCl2aa4AABnxV.jpg","link_url":"https://t.co/5ot2qk6XJz"},{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/HJbCmBlbAAAf9fv.jpg","link_url":"https://t.co/5ot2qk6XJz"},{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/HJbCl4GaYAA9qJo.jpg","link_url":"https://t.co/5ot2qk6XJz"}],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":0,"retweet_count":1,"like_count":1,"impression_count":101,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

@Tinder Why tf are you guys keep making me verifying on this app….","username":"baobanger","name":"G🐰","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1983929495120650243/RaVSUrqU_normal.jpg","date":"2025-06-09T20:23:52.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":9,"retweet_count":1,"like_count":28,"impression_count":6969,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

@Tinder Tinder banned me for me Stating my preference ' no trans please' and calls this hate speech you have given me reason for a law suite under defamation of character","username":"lostmymindsa","name":"ItsMe","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1806197772510724096/zxHcKEaZ_normal.jpg","date":"2024-10-09T08:41:57.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":19,"retweet_count":2,"like_count":40,"impression_count":2816,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

@Tinder How do I find out if I am shaddow banned? I paid for service and it is accepted. At the same time, there is no traffic. \n\nI have no idea why a shaddow ban would be in effect.","username":"EricMFriel","name":"Gaius Americanus 🇻🇦","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1993093013350854656/KNcosYWJ_normal.jpg","date":"2024-10-13T22:16:28.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":20,"retweet_count":1,"like_count":31,"impression_count":4586,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

@Tinder Banned because I politely expressed my preference to not be contacted by gays....???\n#wtf2024 #woketinder #adoctrination #censorship #heteroandproud","username":"Yayuel","name":"Moon Wolf","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1733249855240200192/JBuVkrjx_normal.jpg","date":"2024-12-21T18:04:02.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":19,"retweet_count":0,"like_count":29,"impression_count":3304,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

@Tinder Crazy how rarely these apps post on X… makes one wonder how real their user profiles are…","username":"booklove_rs","name":"BookLovers","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1678871287131774977/s_kmGlO0_normal.jpg","date":"2025-01-25T13:08:38.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":6,"retweet_count":0,"like_count":25,"impression_count":2255,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

@Tinder Your app keeps crashing everytime I try and get on.","username":"Vinny__Delgado","name":"Vincent Delgado","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/2016678456575369216/j8gGCLr1_normal.jpg","date":"2024-08-15T13:49:44.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":5,"retweet_count":0,"like_count":24,"impression_count":7198,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

@Tinder Pls verify my account I didn’t do anything wrong @Tinder","username":"vicvelyk","name":"vic😽","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1748461975053467648/gTCW5jZ2_normal.jpg","date":"2024-05-17T19:49:56.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":24,"retweet_count":0,"like_count":20,"impression_count":4811,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

Section 4 – The Larger Pattern

Beyond the corporate abuse, there is a larger pattern. The manipulation of data, the control of social narratives, the surveillance infrastructure — these tools are not neutral. They are being used to shape societies in ways that go beyond profit. Declining birth rates. Cultural fragmentation. The normalization of behaviors that were once considered harmful. These are not accidents. They are the logical outcomes of systems designed to break down traditional bonds and remake human connection as a transaction. If you care about the future of society — any society — you should care about who controls the algorithms that decide who meets whom.

Conclusion – Cancel. Delete. Go Outside.

Cancel your subscription. Request your data. Delete the apps, especially Tinder.

Not because technology is bad. Because this technology is built against you — to bar and gatekeep your reach, to control who you can talk to and have access to, to surveil you, and to profit from you.

Things have changed. People are more self‑aware now. If there’s ever been a time to get off the screens and meet in person, it’s this moment.

Go for a walk. Talk to a stranger. Everyone is awkward now. It’s okay.

You don’t need the algorithm. The algorithm is your enemy.

Tinder / Match Group – Active Lawsuits & FTC Actions

Candelore v. Tinder Inc. – Age discrimination in pricing (charged users over 30 more for Plus/Gold). Settlement active. Claim deadline: August 18, 2026.
Link: https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/open-lawsuit-settlements/60-5m-tinder-plus-and-gold-discrimination-class-action-settlement/
Froelich et al. v. Tinder, Inc. – Violation of Illinois BIPA (collected facial biometrics without consent). Voluntarily dismissed – can be refiled.
Link: https://truthinadvertising.org/class-action/tinder-2/
Kelechian v. Match Group Inc. – Failed to protect user data in January 2026 breach (names, transaction IDs, IP addresses exposed). Pending in Texas Federal Court.
Search: Case No. 3:26-cv-00316 (N.D. Tex.)
FTC v. Match Group (OkCupid) – Shared 3 million user photos with AI firm Clarifai without consent. Settled March 2026 – 20-year compliance oversight.
Link: https://digitalpolicyalert.org/change/18912-federal-trade-commission-lawsuit-against-match-group-americas-and-humor-rainbow-over-alleged-deceptive-data-sharing-practices-issued-case-no-326-cv-00996-k
FTC v. Match Group (Deceptive Ads) – Fake love interest ads, difficult cancellations, failing to provide services. Settled for $14 million.
FTC Matter/File Number: 172 3013
Link: https://www.ftc.gov/consumer-protection?type=All&page=11
BBB Complaint File – Over 4,000 complaints in 3 years, including users locked out of paid accounts.
Link: https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/dallas/profile/online-dating-services/tinder-llc-0875-91344409/complaints?page=29
Froelich v. Tinder – Full Complaint PDF – Legal document detailing how Tinder’s “Photo Verification” collects biometric data.
Link: https://truthinadvertising.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Froelich-v-Tinder-complaint.pdf

Let’s Make Something Beautiful (Da Nang / My Kỳ Beach

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Fri, 29 May 2026 20:27:01 GMT

I’ve been publishing for over a decade. Different projects. Different genres. Fine art. Anti-psychiatry. Investigative journalism. Luxury décor. Even a children’s poetry book for my son.

Right now? I’m in Da Nang. My Kỳ Beach. Tourist visa. Just a dream, a QR code, and the stars.

This Issue: Models + Fashion

This issue of Philososaur is focused on one thing: models and fashion.

Clean. No filler. Just beautiful women wearing beautiful clothes.

Previous publications under my brand have covered other things. But this one is about you. The models. The clothes. The statement.

https://www.instagram.com/dan__brummitt

What This Magazine Does

It’s free. I buy it in bulk. I place it in select local businesses around Da Nang — hotels, beach clubs, nightlife spots, boutiques, salons. Places with energy. Places with style.

Instead of staring at your phone, you look at something real. A printed page. A beautiful image. A world you want to be part of.

Local businesses get something beautiful on their tables — for free. Their name on the back cover. Good exposure.

No one pays. Everyone wins where they can.

What This Does For You

International Credibility.

Anyone can post on Instagram. Anyone can call themselves a model. But being in a real magazine — printed, physical, placed in hotels and beach clubs internationally — that separates you from the girls who only have a phone and a dream.

You’ll be able to say: “I’m published internationally.” And mean it.

Philososaur! Vol.2

By Daniel Brummitt in Philososaur!

70 pages, published 7/15/2014

Visual Art | Models

PHilososaur!

By Daniel Brummitt in Philososaur!

132 pages, published 4/8/2014

Visual Art | Fashion | Models

What You Submit

Send me 3–5 photos. Full outfits visible.

Allowed: Bikinis, swimwear, tasteful lingerie, casual wear, luxury fashion.

Not allowed: Nudity. See-through where private areas are exposed. Anything sexually explicit.

Also send me: Outfit breakdown — item, price, where you bought it.

Rules

18+ only. By submitting, you confirm you are at least 18 years of age.

No real names unless you ask. By default, no name, no personal info, no location tags.

Be mindful. If you share your real name or socials, people will see it. Use your own discretion.

Want credit? Send your Instagram or TikTok handle.

Want a location tagged? Tell me exactly what to write. If you don’t ask, nothing gets tagged.

How To Submit

Option 1 — QR Code (WhatsApp)

Scan the code below. Opens WhatsApp. Send your photos and info.

Option 2 — Online Form (Maybe)

I may set up a simple form using Netlify. No apps required. Just a link. I’ll see.

For now, use the QR code.

SCAN TO SUBMIT

WhatsApp

*By scanning and submitting, you confirm you are 18+ and that your photos contain no nudity.*

Why I’m Doing This

I work in tech. I don’t like the addictiveness and the exclusiveness of the algorithms.

I prefer the slow pace.

I love my experiences here. The people. The beach. The way life feels lighter.

So I want to give back. Nothing complicated. Just a printed magazine. Beautiful women. Real clothes. A page you can hold instead of a screen.

Thank You To Our Placement Locations

This magazine is placed at the following select local businesses in Da Nang & My Kỳ Beach:

[To be added once confirmed]

Protect Your Inbox, Support Bookstores, Read My Work

🔐 Anonymous Text & Privacy Tools

📱 Anosim – anonymous texting

🛡️ Proton VPN – secure & fast

Protect your connection with the VPN trusted by journalists.
👉 Get Proton VPN (30-day money-back guarantee) →

✉️ Tuta – private email by design

I’ve switched to Tuta, the world’s most secure email service. It’s easy to use, open-source, private by design, ad‑free, and powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Now I’d like to invite you to Tuta too.
👉 Claim your free month on any yearly plan →

📚 Bookshop.org – support local bookstores

Each purchase helps independent bookstores.

📘 My Published MagCloud Issues

Browse or buy any issue below. Your purchase directly supports my writing — thank you!

1. Disruptive Fine Art – Winter 2025 Edition

Art you can carry and use
From phone cases to mouse pads, this issue turns everyday accessories into works of fine art. Bold creativity meets practical design.
👉 View Disruptive Fine Art →

2. DINOGO GO! GLOW!

A children’s poetry book from the dark side
Twelve pages about a dino named GO who lost his way. Quirky, fun, and a little mischievous.
👉 View DINOGO GO! GLOW! →

3. Escape Dog (Philososaur Comics!)

4. Philososaur – Volume 4

5. Venefica’s Enchantment: A Love Spelled in Blood

6. Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

7. Psych Victims

🌐 My Latest Projects

Michigan Business Directory

A curated directory of family-owned, heritage-listed local services across Michigan.

Philososaur Archive

A free digital library of independent art, poetry, fiction, and disruptive publications.

Artisan Eye

Instant AI-powered art appraisals — built by an artist, for artists.

Dream Dictionary

Explore over 110 dream symbols — from ancient myths to modern tech

Visit Danny’s Dreams « ☁️

📚 Daniel Brummitt Publishing – Where to Find My Books

My books are available through independent retailers worldwide. Below are direct links to verified listings.

Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Daniel Brummitt Galleries

Mixed media illustrations from the creator of Philososaur Magazine. Art sold internationally — crypto always accepted.
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →
👉 View on Bookscape (India) →

About the Publisher

Daniel Brummitt Publishing is the home of:

Philososaur Magazine – disruptive art and cultural commentary
DINOGO GO! GLOW! – a children’s poetry book from the dark side
The MOLDmen GALLERY – mixed media illustrations
Psych Victims – cataloging harm by psychiatric systems

👉 Daniel Brummitt Publishing on Wellfound →

👉 Backlinks & Blog Archive →

Give $20, get $20

Have any friends or family planning a trip? Invite them to use Nomad Insurance, and you’ll both earn a $20 credit towards your next payment.

How to Add Vietnamese Subtitles to Tubi TV on Ubuntu (Brave Browser)

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Fri, 22 May 2026 15:51:03 GMT

Tubi TV is a fantastic free streaming platform, but its native subtitle options are highly limited—rarely offering languages like Vietnamese. If you are running Ubuntu and using the privacy-focused Brave browser, you don’t have to miss out.

The problem: Tubi’s built-in CC only offers English.
The solution: Overlay .srt files or force Brave to auto-translate live.

Here are the two best ways to get Vietnamese subtitles on Tubi—whether a community translation exists for your movie or not.

📌 Method 1: The Subtitle Overlay Extension

Best for: Popular movies that already have community-made Vietnamese subtitle files.

This method uses a lightweight browser extension to overlay a tiny text file (.srt) directly on top of your live Tubi stream. You do not need to download the movie file.

Step 1: Install the Extension

Open the Brave browser.
Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for Substital (or click here).
Click Add to Brave.
Click the puzzle piece icon (Extensions menu) in the top-right corner and pin Substital to keep it visible on your toolbar.

Step 2: Download the Vietnamese Subtitle File

Go to a trusted subtitle database like OpenSubtitles.com.
Type your movie or TV show title into the search bar.
Filter the results by Vietnamese.
Download the .srt file to your Ubuntu desktop.

⚠️ Watch out: Only click the plain text links or buttons that say “Download SRT”. Ignore fake “Download” advertisement banners.

Step 3: Inject the Subtitles into Tubi

Go to Tubi TV and play your movie.
Click the blue Substital icon on your Brave toolbar.
Select the name of your playing video from the extension’s drop-down menu.
Drag and drop your downloaded .srt file directly onto the movie screen.

💡 Pro-Tip: Use the H and G keys on your keyboard to adjust subtitle sync if the text doesn’t perfectly match the audio.

🤖 Method 2: Real-Time AI Auto-Translation

Best for: Cult classics, niche indie films (like SLC Punk!), or newer releases that don’t have pre-made Vietnamese files yet.

If OpenSubtitles doesn’t have a file for your movie, you can force Brave’s built-in translation engine to translate Tubi’s English captions into Vietnamese on the fly.

Step 1: Turn on Tubi’s Native Captions

Open your movie on Tubi TV and press play.
Look at the bottom-right corner of the Tubi video player overlay.
Click the CC (Closed Captions) icon and select English.

Step 2: Set Brave to Auto-Translate

Right-click anywhere on the empty black webpage space outside of the video player.
Click Translate to [Your Default Language].
Look at the right side of your Brave address bar (URL bar). A small translation pop-up icon will appear. Click it.
Click the three vertical dots inside that pop-up menu and select Choose another language.
Pick Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) from the drop-down menu and click Translate.

🎯 That’s it. Brave will instantly hijack the English text track on Tubi and translate the dialogue into Vietnamese in real-time as the characters speak.

📊 Summary Table: Which Method Should I Use?

ScenarioUse Method 1 (Extension)Use Method 2 (Auto-Translate)Movie TypeBlockbusters, mainstream hitsIndie films, cult classics, niche showsAccuracy✅ High (Human translated)⚠️ Moderate (Machine translated)Internet Required❌ Offline .srt file works✅ Continuous connection neededSetup Time~2 minutes~30 seconds

🧠 Final Takeaway

You don’t need to wait for Tubi to add Vietnamese support. With Brave on Ubuntu, you already have two powerful workflows:

Community subs → Substital + OpenSubtitles.
Instant translation → Brave’s built-in auto-translate.

Both methods keep you inside your browser, require no video downloads, and work with Tubi’s free streaming model.

Enjoy your movie night, and chúc bạn xem phim vui vẻ! 🎬

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📘 My Published MagCloud Issues

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1. Disruptive Fine Art – Winter 2025 Edition

Art you can carry and use
From phone cases to mouse pads, this issue turns everyday accessories into works of fine art. Bold creativity meets practical design.
👉 View Disruptive Fine Art →

2. DINOGO GO! GLOW!

A children’s poetry book from the dark side
Twelve pages about a dino named GO who lost his way. Quirky, fun, and a little mischievous.
👉 View DINOGO GO! GLOW! →

3. Escape Dog (Philososaur Comics!)

4. Philososaur – Volume 4

5. Venefica’s Enchantment: A Love Spelled in Blood

6. Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

7. Psych Victims

🌐 My Latest Projects

Michigan Business Directory

A curated directory of family-owned, heritage-listed local services across Michigan.

Philososaur Archive

A free digital library of independent art, poetry, fiction, and disruptive publications.

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📚 Daniel Brummitt Publishing – Where to Find My Books

My books are available through independent retailers worldwide. Below are direct links to verified listings.

Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Daniel Brummitt Galleries

Mixed media illustrations from the creator of Philososaur Magazine. Art sold internationally — crypto always accepted.
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →
👉 View on Bookscape (India) →

About the Publisher

Daniel Brummitt Publishing is the home of:

Philososaur Magazine – disruptive art and cultural commentary
DINOGO GO! GLOW! – a children’s poetry book from the dark side
The MOLDmen GALLERY – mixed media illustrations
Psych Victims – cataloging harm by psychiatric systems

👉 Daniel Brummitt Publishing on Wellfound →

👉 Backlinks & Blog Archive →

Encrypt your external drive with LUKS

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Fri, 22 May 2026 14:53:00 GMT

Linux · ext4 · WD Elements or similar USB drive · no spare storage required

What this is

LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) encrypts an entire partition at the block level. Once locked, the drive looks like random noise to anyone without your passphrase — no files, no structure, nothing.

This is the right tool when you’re traveling with a backup drive and need genuine at-rest protection.

This guide assumes your data is already backed up somewhere safe before you start. The format step is irreversible.

Before you start

1. Back up everything on the drive

Check how much data you have, then rsync it to your internal drive or another external. Your home directory on Linux Mint is eCryptfs encrypted by default — files there are safe at rest.

bash

# Check drive usage
du -sh /media/devmon/sda1-usb-WD_Elements_25A3/ --exclude=timeshift

# Back up to internal drive
rsync -av --progress /media/devmon/sda1-usb-WD_Elements_25A3/ ~/Desktop/WD_Full_Backup/ 2>&1 | tee ~/Desktop/rsync_log.txt

2. Open your password manager

Enpass, KeePassXC, Bitwarden — have it open and ready. You’ll create a new entry for the LUKS passphrase the moment you set it.

If you lose this passphrase, the drive is permanently unreadable.

3. Stop udisks2 and unmount

The automounter and journal daemon will prevent formatting even after unmounting normally. Stop them first.

bash

sudo systemctl stop udisks2
sudo umount -l /dev/sda1

Format and encrypt

Point of no return. The next command permanently destroys all data on the partition. Your backup must be confirmed complete before running it.

bash

# Format with LUKS — type YES in capitals when prompted
sudo cryptsetup luksFormat /dev/sda1

Type your passphrase twice. Save it to your password manager immediately.

Then open the encrypted partition, create a filesystem inside it, and mount it.

bash

# Open, format filesystem, and mount
sudo cryptsetup luksOpen /dev/sda1 wdencrypted
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/wdencrypted
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/wdencrypted
sudo mount /dev/mapper/wdencrypted /mnt/wdencrypted
sudo chown $USER:$USER /mnt/wdencrypted

Restore your data

bash

# Copy backup onto encrypted drive
rsync -av --progress ~/Desktop/WD_Full_Backup/ /mnt/wdencrypted/ 2>&1 | tee ~/Desktop/restore_log.txt

# Verify, then delete the staging backup
df -h /mnt/wdencrypted
rm -rf ~/Desktop/WD_Full_Backup

Everyday use

Unlock and mount

bash

sudo cryptsetup luksOpen /dev/sda1 wdencrypted
sudo mount /dev/mapper/wdencrypted /mnt/wdencrypted

Lock before unplugging

bash

sudo umount /mnt/wdencrypted
sudo cryptsetup luksClose wdencrypted

Run the lock command every time before unplugging or shutting down — not just when traveling.

If any app was pointing to the old automount path (/media/devmon/sda1-usb-WD_Elements_25A3/), update those configs to use /mnt/wdencrypted/ instead.

Passphrase backup strategy

Store the passphrase in at least two places physically separate from the drive.

If the drive and the device containing your password manager are lost together, you need a third option:

A paper copy in a safe
A trusted contact
An encrypted note in a separate cloud account

There is no recovery option if the passphrase is lost. LUKS has no backdoor. No recovery key. No password reset.

Keep your passphrases safe — and separate.

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1. Disruptive Fine Art – Winter 2025 Edition

Art you can carry and use
From phone cases to mouse pads, this issue turns everyday accessories into works of fine art. Bold creativity meets practical design.
👉 View Disruptive Fine Art →

2. DINOGO GO! GLOW!

A children’s poetry book from the dark side
Twelve pages about a dino named GO who lost his way. Quirky, fun, and a little mischievous.
👉 View DINOGO GO! GLOW! →

3. Escape Dog (Philososaur Comics!)

4. Philososaur – Volume 4

5. Venefica’s Enchantment: A Love Spelled in Blood

6. Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

7. Psych Victims

🌐 My Latest Projects

Michigan Business Directory

A curated directory of family-owned, heritage-listed local services across Michigan.

Philososaur Archive

A free digital library of independent art, poetry, fiction, and disruptive publications.

Artisan Eye

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📚 Daniel Brummitt Publishing – Where to Find My Books

My books are available through independent retailers worldwide. Below are direct links to verified listings.

Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Daniel Brummitt Galleries

Mixed media illustrations from the creator of Philososaur Magazine. Art sold internationally — crypto always accepted.
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →
👉 View on Bookscape (India) →

About the Publisher

Daniel Brummitt Publishing is the home of:

Philososaur Magazine – disruptive art and cultural commentary
DINOGO GO! GLOW! – a children’s poetry book from the dark side
The MOLDmen GALLERY – mixed media illustrations
Psych Victims – cataloging harm by psychiatric systems

👉 Daniel Brummitt Publishing on Wellfound →

👉 Backlinks & Blog Archive →

I Solved the Havana Syndrome Mystery (And It Was Hiding in My Wall)

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Thu, 21 May 2026 09:30:20 GMT

The Short Version

Some acute subjective sensations from reported Havana Syndrome cases (head pressure, ringing, dizziness, nausea, altered perception) can overlap with certain MDMA effects. But the cause? I found mine in a TV plug in Vietnam.

My Background

I grew up in a small manufacturing city, with factories behind the wall in my backyard. You could always hear low vibrational sounds — high-pitched ringing and such. There were also a lot of paranormal sightings. Lots of military contractors reside there and have shell companies there too.

My father was considered by some to be a conspiracy theorist or an anarchist. He introduced me to ideas that later proved true, especially when Snowden broke the news about mass surveillance. I felt everyone owed my dad an apology.

When I was young, I suffered from what people called mental illness at the time. Although I know now that diagnoses of mental illness are based on social constructs and clinical opinion — not fact — I’m still not going to deny that I had some interesting things going on upstairs in my head. When I was younger, I used to turn my TV around because I thought the government could read my thoughts via satellite through the TV. Stuff like that.

Mind you, I have come a long way since adolescence. As an adult — before the AI takeover — I was an early developer of video games for BCI headsets. So I have a somewhat enlightened understanding of how modulated frequencies work on a technical level.

The Breakthrough in Vietnam

While in Vietnam, about three nights in, I definitely suffered from what felt like MDMA experiences that I believe came from ambient electrical noise. All of the symptoms — both of MDMA and the symptoms of Havana Syndrome — I experienced to a tee.

What I found was that the ringing was coming from the electrical in the TV. My intuition was correct. Once I unplugged the TV, there was instant relief. By the next morning, I slept off the remaining symptoms.

But then I noticed the ringing coming from a different outlet. So I repeated the process and moved that appliance to another outlet. Boom — problem solved.

For now, lol.

My Theory: Frequencies Amplify What’s Already There

Here’s what I believe about these ringing frequencies — whether from ambient electrical noise or something else:

If you’re in a good state of mind, those frequencies will increase your good feelings.

But if you’re in a bad state, bad feelings will increase — causing paranoia and such.

It’s like an amplifier for whatever emotional state you’re already in. That would explain why two people in the same room can have completely different reactions to the same environment. And why someone already struggling with mental health might spiral into psychosis, while someone stable might barely notice.

This could also explain my own childhood symptoms. I was already anxious and paranoid. Add in constant low-grade electrical ringing from the factories behind my house? Of course my mind went to satellites reading my thoughts.

Side Note: Vietnam vs. The US

In countries like Vietnam, I don’t believe it’s done deliberately. I think they just don’t have the money for infrastructure, and they don’t have the same health and safety regulations, etc. Ambient electrical noise is just a side effect of aging or underfunded systems.

In the US, however, I think sometimes it could be done deliberately, because we have so many regulations. If it’s happening there, it’s harder to dismiss as accidental.

My Conclusion

So I don’t believe it’s necessarily Jewish space lasers or the Kremlin — although we should never discredit anything. Spending time in Vietnam made me realize it’s more than likely just the result of ambient electrical noise. And that could very well have been what was inducing schizophrenic-like symptoms in my hometown as a youth and in military vets overseas — at least part of it.

The frequencies didn’t create the thoughts. They amplified what was already there.

Summary of Primary Scientific Studies on Havana Syndrome

Key cohort and case-series studies have examined symptom patterns, neuropsychological testing, and imaging in affected personnel. Findings show heterogeneous cognitive deficits, vestibular complaints, and variable MRI/DTI changes — but no single definitive biomarker has been identified.

Major investigative reports (including medical and government panels) concluded that evidence is inconclusive regarding a single external pulsed-energy cause. Alternative explanations include environmental, infectious, toxic, and psychosocial factors.

Neuroimaging studies have reported small white-matter changes on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in some individuals, as well as functional differences on fMRI in limited samples — but results are inconsistent across studies.

Side-by-Side: Havana Syndrome vs. MDMA Effects

Symptoms, proposed mechanisms, and evidence strength

Typical acute symptoms

Havana Syndrome (reports)
Sudden loud noises / pressure, ear sensations, headache, dizziness, nausea, cognitive fog, sleep/mood disturbance

MDMA effects
Euphoria, increased energy, sensory changes, jaw clenching, tachycardia, nausea; possible acute tinnitus / aural phenomena

Subacute / persistent symptoms

Havana Syndrome (reports)
Ongoing headaches, cognitive complaints, insomnia, mood changes, vestibular dysfunction in some cases

MDMA effects
Post-acute “comedown”: fatigue, low mood, sleep disturbance, cognitive slowing; rare persistent issues after heavy / long-term use

Proposed peripheral / vestibular involvement

Havana Syndrome (reports)
Reports of inner-ear / vestibular dysfunction; some patients show vestibular test abnormalities

MDMA effects
MDMA can affect vestibular symptoms indirectly (dehydration, vasoconstriction); direct inner-ear toxicity not typical

Neuroimaging findings

Havana Syndrome (reports)
Small DTI white-matter anomalies in some cohorts; inconsistent MRI / fMRI changes across studies

MDMA effects
Acute MDMA use shows altered functional connectivity on fMRI; chronic heavy use associated with serotonergic system changes on PET in some studies

Mechanistic hypotheses

Havana Syndrome (reports)
Directed / pulsed energy (controversial), sound-induced injury, environmental toxins, viral/immune-mediated, psychosocial / functional disorder, transient neuroinflammation / vascular effects

MDMA effects
Serotonin / dopamine release and reuptake inhibition, oxidative stress, transient neuroinflammation, hyperthermia, vasoconstriction

Objective biomarker strength

Havana Syndrome (reports)
Low — inconsistent and not replicated universally

MDMA effects
Moderate — well-characterized pharmacology; imaging and PET studies show serotonergic changes in heavy users

Epidemiology / context

Havana Syndrome (reports)
Clustered among diplomats / intelligence personnel in limited locations; no clear single exposure identified

MDMA effects
Occurs after ingestion; dose-, frequency-, and context-dependent; widespread recreational use

Treatment approaches

Havana Syndrome (reports)
Symptomatic management, vestibular and cognitive rehab, multidisciplinary evaluation; investigational therapies

MDMA effects
Supportive care, hydration, benzodiazepines for agitation, psychiatric follow-up; harm-reduction and substance-use treatment for chronic use

Sources: Peer-reviewed studies and government medical panels.

A Note on Medical Advice

If you’re experiencing symptoms now — hearing loss, severe headache, fainting, chest pain, confusion — seek urgent medical evaluation and tell clinicians about any drug use or specific exposures.

But if you’ve ruled everything else out? Check your outlets. And check your state of mind.

The Healer with the Withered Hand

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Wed, 20 May 2026 14:24:21 GMT

While at the airport, a man approached me with a Bible tract. At first I thought he was a Jehovah’s Witness and was hesitant to engage with him, but I thought, what the heck. I was in a good mood, and I felt safe; traveling makes me more outgoing. As he spoke, I realized he was not a Jehovah’s Witness—we seemed to have very similar theology and mindset. He asked if he could pray for me, and I allowed it. Then I asked him if I could pray for him. He was very happy and almost caught off guard by it, and I could tell he was in agreement with my words because I understand the struggles and complexities of doing the Lord’s work.

This was my first travel overseas. As I was standing there in the transport center about to eat a big juicy burger, I had my computer equipment out; all my ducks were in a row to get my work done. I felt like the man—until it hit me.

Even though I’m technically poor by many people’s standards (I literally left my country because my own was too unaffordable), I am, still, in a way, the definition of the story of the rich young ruler, because I hold on to things, and I have hope for things in this life. I’m on my way to have the world as my oyster. But this man reminded me of what’s important: my eternity, not my ability to be great at tech, is what matters.

Matthew 19:16–22

James 5

Let me explain some spiritual ironies here.

The evangelical was a normal-looking man, handsome even, more dapper and in better health than me from an outside appearance at first glance, but he had a stub for a hand. If anyone recalls, there were so many miracles in the Bible of Jesus and the apostles healing people with such problems—yet this man with the withered hand was the healer. Sent by God to remind me of what’s most important in life: salvation in the next one.

The man with the withered hand

Heal yourself, doctor. Do you see the beauty in this?

Physician, heal thyself

To enter into the kingdom of God’s rest, you have to lose your life to gain the better one; those who have in this life will not have in the next. The wisdom of this, although seeming elementary, is as clear as day to me now.

Hebrews 4

The man at the transport center—the one with the withered hand, the one who prayed for me—he is who I used to be.

I used to be that man—so zealous, yet broken, tormented in my soul, wanting to die every day. Yet in the midst of my depression, I could not only hear the voice of God, I could speak to God, and He would answer me internally—actual communication with the Creator. I would do anything for God to take away a thorn in my flesh. And He did it.

Around that time, many, many years ago, I was visited by someone—she never told me her name. She is distinct from God, I think, although I know her voice. She appears as the audible voice of God’s power, and she is not far from any of us. When she speaks, it comes to pass. There is no fighting her prophecy, although I have tried. Like Jacob, I was softly bruised but rewarded for my intention.

Here is what she says about herself in Scripture, if this is her:

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence. The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old. I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth... Then I was constantly at his side, rejoicing always in his presence, delighting in mankind. (Proverbs 8, shortened)
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

All the prophets in the Bible are real. Their stories are my stories. I know many of the stories appear in other mythologies. This is because all ideas of men come from God. Since we are all created by Him, we universally share the same mind trying to explain His invisible qualities in nature. We are the only animals with eternity set in our hearts. The Bible is the only collection of consistent stories with historical and accurate prophetic context that point to a central figure called Christ—the Sun, the Redeemer, the Rebirth. He is the true Son of the Creator, the same Creator who visited me and told me that this is His Son.

Many years ago, she gave me keys to the kingdom—the keys to believe in God’s internal word and to my renewed life on earth. A second chance. A first chance to live the life that was stolen from me, like Joseph.

They took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. (Genesis 37:24)

Later, his brothers received the drought, and he came up out of the well into safety and a whole new life.

Hezekiah’s prayer and the extension of his life

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.” (Jonah 2:2)

To be born again, one must die in the belly of the pit of this life, as to put to death all of life’s attachments, and then come up out of the water as a new creation onto the dry land of a new life. (Colossians 3:2-3)

In my vow I said, “I’m stuck.” My vow was that if God would heal me so I didn’t have to take these pharmaceuticals that held me back, I would travel the world and tell the world of His kingdom. Obviously, I didn’t foresee the use of mobile phones and YouTube in 2004. But such is the case with vows. You don’t know what God has in store for you, or the way the world might change, before taking the oath.

The point of this story, though, is that I’m here, traveling the world, and I’m trying to do the right thing. Instead of being at the bars or the clubs, I’m ordering takeout from Grab, sitting at a desk and writing, clearing my conscience, trying to explain the mysteries of the gospel.

I don't care if I'm perceived as crazy. I am. And I am filled with the love and joy of God's Holy Spirit.

The Oracle of the Cooler Aisle: Why Monster Energy Is the Coca-Cola of the Post-Pandemic Gas Station Era

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Fri, 08 May 2026 22:23:15 GMT

They say Warren Buffett bought Coca-Cola in 1988 because he drank three glasses of Cherry Coke a day.

That’s a lie they tell children.

The truth is more boring and more brilliant: Buffett saw a shelf-stable syrup traveling the same truck routes as McDonald’s french fries. He saw a distribution machine so vast, so embedded in global infrastructure, that the product itself was almost incidental. The moat wasn’t the taste. The moat was the everywhere-ness.

This is not a story about loving a drink. This is a story about loving logistics.

And it is the exact same story playing out right now with Monster Energy—except the stage has changed. The restaurant is dead. The corner bar is dying. The new American town square is a gas station at 1:00 AM, and in every single cooler, the green claw stares back.

Part I: The Buffett Blueprint

When Berkshire Hathaway began accumulating Coca-Cola stock in 1988, the narrative was simple: Warren liked the product. But the real thesis was structural.

Coke had no patent. The recipe could be reverse-engineered. What Coke owned instead was:

Global fountain deals (McDonald’s, Subway, every cinema and stadium)
Unbeatable shelf-space economics (Coke paid for the real estate inside your brain)
Psychological habit (the “pause that refreshes” as a daily ritual)

Buffett bought a sugar-water company that behaved like a toll booth. Every time a human being felt a vague afternoon thirst, Coke collected a quarter.

The stock returned over 1,000% in the following decade.

Part II: The Death of the Bar, The Rise of Sheetz

Then came 2020.

The pandemic did not just change where people worked. It changed where they gathered. Nightclubs in Manhattan became luxury condos. Bars in Chicago sat half-empty for years. Alcohol sales plateaued. The $18 cocktail lost its romance.

But a strange thing happened on the way to the apocalypse: the elevated convenience store exploded.

Sheetz. Wawa. Buc-ee’s. QuikTrip. Royal Farms.

These are not gas stations. They are brightly lit, 24-hour, Wi-Fi-equipped, made-to-order burger-flipping community hubs that happen to sell gasoline. After the pandemic, they became America’s accidental third place—a safe, predictable, no-bouncer, no-cover-charge alternative to the dying nightlife economy.

Consider a Tuesday night at a Sheetz off Route 22 in central Pennsylvania:

10:00 PM: High school kids after a football game. They buy Monsters and milkshakes.
Midnight: Hospital nurses on a break. White Zero Sugar Monster. Stand by the phone chargers.
2:00 AM: Truckers swapping stories. Black can, no ice.
4:00 AM: Construction crews starting early. Green can, straight.

No alcohol. No fights. No hangovers. Just the hum of refrigerators and the crack of aluminum tabs.

And in every single scene, across every single demographic, the same black-and-green can appears.

Part III: The Accidental Moat

Here is the unsexy truth about great investments: moats are boring.

Coca-Cola’s moat was fountain dispensers inside 20 million restaurants. Monster’s moat is cooler doors inside 150,000 gas stations—and the silent partnership with Coca-Cola itself.

In 2015, Coca-Cola bought a 16.7% stake in Monster for $2.15 billion. The deal was not just money. It was distribution. Overnight, Monster hitched its wagon to the greatest liquid logistics machine in human history. Every Coke truck that drops off Sprite and Dasani now also slips Monster onto the same shelves.

But the real brilliance is what happened on the ground.

Gas station chains like Sheetz are growing faster than McDonald’s. Sheetz alone plans 1,200 new locations by 2028. Each new location brings:

Two full cooler doors for Monster (compared to one for Coke and one for Pepsi)
24-hour foot traffic from a generation that doesn’t drink flat soda at breakfast
A captive audience looking for cheap, potent, portable energy

Unlike a McDonald’s fountain—where Coke makes pennies per serving—a convenience store Monster sells for $3.50, with margins that would make Buffett weep with joy. The syrup costs the same as a 12-ounce Coke. The consumer pays double.

Part IV: The Numbers That Matter

Forget the stock price. Focus on what drives it.

10-year earnings growth: Coca-Cola ~4% annually | Monster ~15% annually
Gas station penetration: Coca-Cola ~95% (but flat) | Monster ~90% and rising
Core demographic: Coca-Cola aging (45+) | Monster young and growing (18–34)
Recession sensitivity: Coca-Cola low | Monster even lower (cheap vice)

Energy drinks are not a luxury. They are a productivity tool for a sleep-deprived workforce. When the economy tanks, people do not stop buying 3.50Monsters.Theystopbuying3.50Monsters.Theystopbuying7 lattes and $18 cocktails. The energy drink is the last small indulgence a stressed human gives up.

Buffett bought Coke during the 1987 crash. He bought more in the early 1990s recession. The pattern is clear: vice + habit + distribution = bulletproof.

Part V: A Scene from a Parking Lot

Last month, a visitor sat in a car outside a brand-new Sheetz outside Columbus, Ohio at 11:30 PM on a Thursday.

Inside: three groups of people who would never share a bar together.

A bachelorette party drinking Monster Juices (strawberry, peach, mango)
A cluster of esports kids with white Zero Sugar cans
Two off-duty cops sharing a black can by the soda machine

No alcohol. No drama. No bouncer. Just the quiet rhythm of Americans finding a new kind of communal ritual.

The visitor cracked open a Lo-Carb Monster. Drank it in the driver’s seat. Watched the parking lot fill up again at midnight.

Warren Buffett once said, “You want to invest in a business that any idiot could run, because someday one will.”

Monster is that business. The CEO could quit tomorrow. The formula could be leaked. It would not matter. Because the gas stations are still there. The night shift still exists. The clubs are still closed. And 100 million Americans still need a cheap, potent, portable ritual to make it through the day.

The Bottom Line

This is not a story about a drink you love.

It is a story about:

Infrastructure (Coca-Cola’s trucks, Sheetz’s coolers)
Demographics (young people avoiding alcohol, working odd hours)
Geography (the death of downtown nightlife, the rise of suburban third places)
Habit (caffeine as the new cigarette, energy drinks as the new coffee)

Coca-Cola won the 20th century by owning the restaurant fountain.

Monster is winning the 21st century by owning the gas station cooler.

And if you show up to a Sheetz at 1:00 AM on a Tuesday, you will see exactly why.

— The author may or may not hold a long position in Monster Beverage Corp. This is not financial advice. It is an observation from a parking lot in Ohio.

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Now I’d like to invite you to Tuta too.
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📚 Bookshop.org – support local bookstores

Each purchase helps independent bookstores.

📘 My Published MagCloud Issues

Browse or buy any issue below. Your purchase directly supports my writing — thank you!

1. Disruptive Fine Art – Winter 2025 Edition

Art you can carry and use
From phone cases to mouse pads, this issue turns everyday accessories into works of fine art. Bold creativity meets practical design.
👉 View Disruptive Fine Art →

2. DINOGO GO! GLOW!

A children’s poetry book from the dark side
Twelve pages about a dino named GO who lost his way. Quirky, fun, and a little mischievous.
👉 View DINOGO GO! GLOW! →

3. Escape Dog (Philososaur Comics!)

4. Philososaur – Volume 4

5. Venefica’s Enchantment: A Love Spelled in Blood

6. Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

7. Psych Victims

🌐 My Latest Projects

Michigan Business Directory

A curated directory of family-owned, heritage-listed local services across Michigan.

Philososaur Archive

A free digital library of independent art, poetry, fiction, and disruptive publications.

Artisan Eye

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Dream Dictionary

Explore over 110 dream symbols — from ancient myths to modern tech

Visit Danny's Dreams « ☁️

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Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Daniel Brummitt Galleries

Mixed media illustrations from the creator of Philososaur Magazine. Art sold internationally — crypto always accepted.
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →
👉 View on Bookscape (India) →

About the Publisher

Daniel Brummitt Publishing is the home of:

Philososaur Magazine – disruptive art and cultural commentary
DINOGO GO! GLOW! – a children’s poetry book from the dark side
The MOLDmen GALLERY – mixed media illustrations
Psych Victims – cataloging harm by psychiatric systems

👉 Daniel Brummitt Publishing on Wellfound →

👉 Backlinks & Blog Archive →

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How to Change Your Linux User Password from the Terminal

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:38:14 GMT

A quick security guide for Linux Mint (and most other Linux distributions)

Why You Might Need This

After transferring data to a new computer—or simply as good security hygiene—changing your user password is a smart move. Maybe you shared your old password, transferred old files, or just want a fresh start.

Whatever the reason, doing this from the terminal is fast, secure, and works on almost any Linux system.

The Simple Way (You Know Your Current Password)

Step 1: Open a terminal.

On most systems: Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 2: Type this command:

bash

passwd

Step 3: Follow the prompts:

Enter your current password
Enter your new password
Re-enter your new password to confirm

That’s it. Your password is now changed.

Note: The command is passwd (with an ‘a’), not psswd or anything else. A common typo to watch out for!

What If You Forgot Your Current Password?

If you’re locked out or don’t know your current password, don’t panic. Since you have physical access to the machine, you can reset it:

Reboot your computer
At the GRUB menu, press Shift or Esc repeatedly
Select “Advanced options” → “Recovery mode”
Choose “root” (Drop to root shell)
Remount the filesystem as read/write:
bash

mount -o remount,rw /

Reset your password (replace yourusername with your actual username):
bash

passwd yourusername

Reboot with reboot

One More Thing: The Keyring

After changing your password, you might get pop-ups about an “unlocked keyring” or saved passwords not working.

Fix it by deleting the old keyring file (it will recreate itself):

bash

rm ~/.local/share/keyrings/login.keyring

Next time you log in, your system will ask for your new password to create a fresh keyring.

Final Security Tip

Make your new password:

At least 8–12 characters long
A mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
Not reused from other accounts

How to Talk to Alexa Now (No Paid Plan Required)

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:26:17 GMT

Let me save you some frustration.

A few years ago, you could say “Alexa, play ‘Jumper’ by Third Eye Blind” and it would just play.

Now? You get an upgrade prompt. Or silence. Or random polka.

The old tricks don’t work anymore. “Play music similar to...” is dead. Amazon killed it quietly.

So here is how you talk to Alexa now. No paid plan needed.

The New Rule

Stop naming artists. Start describing music.

Talk to her like a person at a record store. Use this formula:

“Play [mood] + [genre] + [era] music”

That’s it.

Real Examples

Instead of “play Third Eye Blind”
Say “play catchy 90s alternative rock with big choruses”

You get Third Eye Blind, Eve 6, Goo Goo Dolls. All that windows-down nostalgia.

Instead of “play Red House Painters”
Say “play slow sad acoustic music with whispered vocals”

You get Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon, Low. The good sad stuff.

Instead of “play Iron & Wine”
Say “play quiet indie folk music”

You get Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes. Perfect for reading.

Instead of “play Morrissey”
Say “play dramatic 80s jangly indie rock”

You get The Smiths, The Cure, The Sundays. Moody and clever.

Quick Cheat Sheet

For upbeat 90s rock: “energetic 90s pop rock”
For sad slow music: “sad slowcore”
For acoustic folk: “whispered acoustic folk”
For something new: “play something I haven’t heard before”

The One Setup You Need

Open your Alexa app. Go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Default Services. Pick Amazon Music Free or Spotify Free.

Do this once. Never say “on Amazon Music” again.

Teach Her What You Like

This is the secret nobody tells you.

When a good song plays, say “Alexa, I like this song.” She learns.

When a bad song plays, say “Alexa, I don’t like this.” She stops.

Do this for two weeks. She gets eerily good at finding your taste.

When She Messes Up

Wrong genre? Say “Play faster music”
Too loud? Say “Play quieter music”
Same song again? Say “Skip. I don’t like this”
Upgrade prompt? Say “No thanks” and try a different mood

Bottom Line

You have to stop being a director and start being a DJ.

No more “play track 3.” Now it’s “play something sad and acoustic.”

It feels weird for a week. Then it clicks.

Your Turn

Walk to your Echo right now. Say one of these:

“Play catchy 90s rock with big choruses”
“Play slow sad acoustic music”
“Play quiet indie folk”

Hit thumbs up when you hear something you love.

You know how to talk to her now.

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✉️ Tuta – private email by design

I’ve switched to Tuta, the world’s most secure email service. It’s easy to use, open-source, private by design, ad‑free, and powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Now I’d like to invite you to Tuta too.
👉 Claim your free month on any yearly plan →

📚 Bookshop.org – support local bookstores

Each purchase helps independent bookstores.

📘 My Published MagCloud Issues

Browse or buy any issue below. Your purchase directly supports my writing — thank you!

1. Disruptive Fine Art – Winter 2025 Edition

Art you can carry and use
From phone cases to mouse pads, this issue turns everyday accessories into works of fine art. Bold creativity meets practical design.
👉 View Disruptive Fine Art →

2. DINOGO GO! GLOW!

A children’s poetry book from the dark side
Twelve pages about a dino named GO who lost his way. Quirky, fun, and a little mischievous.
👉 View DINOGO GO! GLOW! →

3. Escape Dog (Philososaur Comics!)

4. Philososaur – Volume 4

5. Venefica’s Enchantment: A Love Spelled in Blood

6. Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

7. Psych Victims

🌐 My Latest Projects

Michigan Business Directory

A curated directory of family-owned, heritage-listed local services across Michigan.

Philososaur Archive

A free digital library of independent art, poetry, fiction, and disruptive publications.

Artisan Eye

Instant AI-powered art appraisals — built by an artist, for artists.

📚 Daniel Brummitt Publishing – Where to Find My Books

My books are available through independent retailers worldwide. Below are direct links to verified listings.

Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Daniel Brummitt Galleries

Mixed media illustrations from the creator of Philososaur Magazine. Art sold internationally — crypto always accepted.
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →
👉 View on Bookscape (India) →

About the Publisher

Daniel Brummitt Publishing is the home of:

Philososaur Magazine – disruptive art and cultural commentary
DINOGO GO! GLOW! – a children’s poetry book from the dark side
The MOLDmen GALLERY – mixed media illustrations
Psych Victims – cataloging harm by psychiatric systems

👉 Daniel Brummitt Publishing on Wellfound →

👉 Backlinks & Blog Archive →

The Future of POD Publishing:

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:41:56 GMT

If you’ve been self-publishing through Lulu, Blurb, or Ingram over the past couple of years, you’ve probably felt the squeeze.

Stricter metadata rules. Tighter content enforcement. File rejections for things that used to pass. Books disappearing from Amazon for no clear reason. New fees. Endless hoops to jump through.

The golden era of “upload a PDF and appear on 40,000 stores” is over.

But here’s the thing nobody wants to admit: that’s actually good news. Because the old system was broken anyway. And the future—zines, self-hosting, Monero, and direct-to-fan selling—is way more exciting than begging Barnes & Noble for shelf space.

Let me explain.

The Problem with the Old Model

Since around 2024, major retailers have tightened their requirements across the board. Automated metadata checks reject books for tiny typos. Content screening is aggressive. Anonymous self-publisher listings have lost visibility. Production standards are stricter than ever.

The result? Books that would have sailed through distribution a year ago are now being rejected or removed.

But here’s the real question: Why were we ever begging these corporations for permission to sell our own work in the first place?

I can answer that.

My print-on-demand journey began when I was a young, ambitious entrepreneur who had a knack for advertising but lacked funds for overhead. I was surrounded by old heads and mentors who gave me the same tired advice: invest in circulation, fake it till you make it, risk bankruptcy again. The traditional playbook. The one that leaves broke people broker.

Instead of listening to them, I had a brilliant idea. Go the print-on-demand route. Use my social media influence—which was new and completely misunderstood by the local wealthy class at the time—and make it on my own terms. No warehouses. No minimum orders. No begging banks for loans.

I was so close.

Then the digital reporting bill under Joe Biden happened. New tax rules. New paperwork. New ways for the government to track every transaction. Around the same time, plugins that used to just work started getting my content flagged—even though WordPress was owned by Automattic, which also owns Jetpack and Tumblr. Add in pre-AI Google SEO inclusive wording bans and things like that. The censorship wasn’t loud or obvious. It was death by a thousand small automated cuts. The game changed.

I had to shift gears.

But fast forward to 2026. We’re in a completely different game now. Bots can make books. AI can write, design, and publish faster than any human. The barriers to entry that protected traditional publishing are gone. And the barriers that corporate distributors built to control us? Those are crumbling too.

I’m not going to give away all of my sauce. But this blog is the new manual. The blueprint, if you will, of publishing in 2026 and beyond. I was innovative then, and I’m innovative again.

Let’s get into it.

The New Future: Zines, Self-Hosting, and Monero

Let’s scrap the old playbook. Here’s what actually works now.

Pro #1: No Taxes on $2 Books (Especially If You’re on Food Stamps)

Here’s something the corporate publishing world will never tell you: when you sell directly, especially for low-cost items like zines, you can operate entirely under tax radar for small amounts.

Sell a $2 zine? No sales tax infrastructure needed.
Sell 50 of them? That’s $100. No 1099. No complicated filings.
If you’re poor, on food stamps, or just trying to scrape together rent money, direct selling lets you keep every penny without worrying about tax brackets or quarterly filings.

Corporate distribution forces you into formal business structures. Direct sales let you stay under the radar and actually survive.

Pro #2: SEO with AI Means You Don’t Need Barnes & Noble (And It Creates Real Intimacy with Readers)

The old thinking: you need Amazon and Barnes & Noble to find readers.

The new reality: AI-powered SEO means you can rank on Google for long-tail keywords that big retailers don’t even know exist.

Write a zine about “urban foraging in Detroit”? Optimize for that exact phrase.
Make a poetry chapbook about “breakups and bass fishing”? Target it.
Publish a conspiracy zine about “local history they don’t want you to know”? Own that niche.

With AI tools (DeepSeek, Perplexity, Claude) helping you generate SEO-optimized product descriptions, blog posts, and social media captions, you can drive targeted traffic to your self-hosted site for basically zero cost.

Barnes & Noble doesn’t have a monopoly on discoverability anymore. Google does. And Google loves fresh, niche, authentic content.

But here’s the deeper magic: less corporate, more digital mom-and-pop.

When someone finds your zine through a specific Google search—”zine about grief and gardening” or “poetry for people who hate their warehouse job”—they’re not landing on a cold, algorithm-driven Amazon product page. They’re landing on your site. Your weird, beautiful, handmade corner of the internet.

That creates intimacy.

They see your about page. They read your blog post about why you wrote the thing. They notice you replied to a comment last Tuesday.
There’s no “customers also bought” trying to distract them. No ads for competitors. No corporate veneer.
It feels like walking into a small brick-and-mortar shop where the owner knows your name, versus wandering through a Meijer at 11 AM.

That digital mom-and-pop feeling is valuable. Readers crave authenticity. They’re exhausted by faceless algorithms. When you sell directly, you’re not a SKU. You’re a human with a voice.

And the SEO + AI combo lets that intimacy scale. You can reach thousands of people while still making each one feel like they found a secret, personal thing just for them.

Pro #3: The Average Youth with a Selfie Stick on TikTok Has More Influence Than Any Corporate PR Dweeb

Let’s be real for a second.

The average 19-year-old with a ring light, a selfie stick, and 5,000 followers on TikTok can move more units than a full-page ad in the New York Times.

Corporate PR is washed up. Press releases are dead. Traditional marketing is for boomers who still think “synergy” is a real word.

What actually sells books?

A 30-second video of you flipping through your zine with lo-fi music
A viral tweet saying “nobody talks about this but here’s my book”
A Discord server where 200 superfans wait for your next drop

Although the youth do browse Barnes & Noble still, they’re more likely to find you via TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Meet them there, link directly to your own site, and take Monero payments. No middlemen. No gatekeepers. No algorithm screwing you over.

Pro #4: No Corporate Gatekeeping, No Delistings, No Drama

When you sell through Lulu or Amazon, you’re one copyright strike away from losing everything. One “content policy violation” (whatever that means this week). One metadata mismatch.

When you sell directly from your own site:

Nobody can delist you
Nobody can reject your cover file
Nobody can decide your book is “insufficient content”
Nobody takes a cut

You wake up one morning and your book is gone from Amazon? That’s their problem, not yours. Your own store still works.

Pro #5: Monero Means True Financial Privacy and Freedom (Because Bitcoin Got Hijacked)

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Everyone shouts “just use crypto!” But here’s what they don’t tell you.

Bitcoin was hijacked.

Once KYC (Know Your Customer) laws kicked in, once the IRS decided Bitcoin was a taxable event, once exchanges started requiring your full government name, social security number, and a selfie holding your driver’s license—Bitcoin became worse than PayPal. At least PayPal doesn’t pretend to be anonymous.

Seriously. Bitcoin is now tied to the tax code more tightly than your bank account. Every transaction is tracked. Every sale is recorded. The IRS knows exactly when you bought, sold, or spent. The whole “freedom money” thing died the moment government realized they couldn’t ignore it.

Monero (XMR) is different.

No KYC. No one asks for your ID.
No taxable event tracking (because no one can see the transaction).
No chargebacks. No payment processor deciding you’re too risky.
No government watching what people buy from you.

For a $2 zine, this might seem like overkill. But for a $20 art book? A $50 limited edition? A subscription to a controversial newsletter? Anything even slightly political, underground, or outside the Overton window?

Monero isn’t just better than Bitcoin. It’s the only real option left.

And the learning curve? It’s 2026. Wallets are easy. Exchanges are everywhere. Your customers can figure it out—or you can offer a discount for cash payments mailed in an envelope like it’s 1995.

Pro #6: You Become the Brand, Not Blurb or Lulu

When you sell through corporate channels, Blurb gets the credit. The customer says “I bought it on Blurb.” Not “I bought it from you.”

When you sell directly, every transaction builds YOUR brand. YOUR email list. YOUR relationship.

That’s not a downside. That’s the whole point.

And that relationship—the direct line between you and your reader—is what creates loyalty. They’ll buy your next zine without thinking twice. They’ll tell their friends. They’ll defend you if someone talks trash. That’s intimacy at scale.

Pro #7: Low Overhead Means You Can Experiment Like Crazy

Print 50 copies of a weird zine concept. If it flops, you’re out $30. If it hits, print more.

Corporate publishing punishes risk. Direct selling rewards creativity.

Want to publish a coloring book about office politics? Go for it. A poetry collection written entirely in emojis? Why not. A conspiracy zine about pigeons? Somebody will buy it.

The only way to fail is to not try.

The Blueprint

Look, I’m not going to give away all of my sauce. But here’s the shape of it:

Skip the distributors. No Lulu. No Blurb. No Ingram. They’re just middlemen begging permission from bigger middlemen.
Print small or print on demand locally. Use short-run printers or local shops. Buy at cost. Sell at profit. Keep the difference.
Build your own store. Self-hosted. SubStack, WooCommerce, or even a static site. Own your domain. Own your data.
Take Monero. Not Bitcoin. Not PayPal. Not Stripe if you can avoid it. Monero. And cash. And maybe PayPal if you have to. But prioritize privacy.
Use AI for SEO. Generate product descriptions, blog posts, and social captions. Rank for weird long-tail keywords. Bring the right eyes to your little corner.
Go where the youth are. TikTok. Instagram Reels. Discord. Not press releases. Not corporate PR. Not “synergy.”
Build intimacy. Reply to comments. Write personal emails. Make people feel seen. Be a digital mom-and-pop, not a corporate ghost.

The Hard Truth (But Actually It’s a Soft Truth)

The old model is dying. Retailers want verified, professional, low-risk inventory. That’s fine. Let them have their boring corporate books.

The real action is underground. Zines. Self-hosted sites. Monero payments. TikTok promotion. AI-powered SEO that builds intimate, mom-and-pop digital spaces. Direct relationships with readers who actually care.

The average youth with a selfie stick has more influence than any washed-up corporate PR person. The average writer with a $2 zine and a Monero wallet has more freedom than any traditionally published author begging their editor for a second print run.

I was innovative when I started this journey as a young entrepreneur with no overhead and a knack for advertising. I’m innovative again.

Stop asking for permission. Start your own store. Print your own books. Take your own payments. Build your own audience. Create your own intimate corner of the internet where people feel seen, not sold to.

The future of POD publishing isn’t better distribution. It’s no distribution at all.

This blog is the new manual. The blueprint. You’re holding it right now.

What you do with it is up to you.

Protect Your Inbox, Support Bookstores, Read My Work

🔐 Anonymous Text & Privacy Tools

📱 Anosim – anonymous texting

🛡️ Proton VPN – secure & fast

Protect your connection with the VPN trusted by journalists.
👉 Get Proton VPN (30-day money-back guarantee) →

✉️ Tuta – private email by design

I’ve switched to Tuta, the world’s most secure email service. It’s easy to use, open-source, private by design, ad‑free, and powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Now I’d like to invite you to Tuta too.
👉 Claim your free month on any yearly plan →

📚 Bookshop.org – support local bookstores

Each purchase helps independent bookstores.

📘 My Published MagCloud Issues

Browse or buy any issue below. Your purchase directly supports my writing — thank you!

1. Disruptive Fine Art – Winter 2025 Edition

Art you can carry and use
From phone cases to mouse pads, this issue turns everyday accessories into works of fine art. Bold creativity meets practical design.
👉 View Disruptive Fine Art →

2. DINOGO GO! GLOW!

A children’s poetry book from the dark side
Twelve pages about a dino named GO who lost his way. Quirky, fun, and a little mischievous.
👉 View DINOGO GO! GLOW! →

3. Escape Dog (Philososaur Comics!)

4. Philososaur – Volume 4

5. Venefica’s Enchantment: A Love Spelled in Blood

6. Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

7. Psych Victims

🌐 My Latest Projects

Michigan Business Directory

A curated directory of family-owned, heritage-listed local services across Michigan.

Philososaur Archive

A free digital library of independent art, poetry, fiction, and disruptive publications.

Artisan Eye

Instant AI-powered art appraisals — built by an artist, for artists.

📚 Daniel Brummitt Publishing – Where to Find My Books

My books are available through independent retailers worldwide. Below are direct links to verified listings.

Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Daniel Brummitt Galleries

Mixed media illustrations from the creator of Philososaur Magazine. Art sold internationally — crypto always accepted.
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →
👉 View on Bookscape (India) →

About the Publisher

Daniel Brummitt Publishing is the home of:

Philososaur Magazine – disruptive art and cultural commentary
DINOGO GO! GLOW! – a children’s poetry book from the dark side
The MOLDmen GALLERY – mixed media illustrations
Psych Victims – cataloging harm by psychiatric systems

👉 Daniel Brummitt Publishing on Wellfound →

👉 Backlinks & Blog Archive →

DOOMATH: When DOOM Meets Arithmetic

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:41:48 GMT

There’s a new kind of FPS in town, and it doesn’t just test your aim—it tests your arithmetic.

Meet DOOMATH: a first-person math shooter where reloading your weapon requires solving arithmetic problems under fire.

Solve fast. Kill faster.

The Concept

DOOMATH is a DOOM-inspired arena FPS built from the ground up in C using raylib. You fight waves of enemies across four themed levels—Lab, Sewer, Fortress, and the Final Depths—each with unique textures and a boss encounter.

The twist? Every time you hit R to reload, the game throws a math problem at you: addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. And you can’t fire again until you solve it correctly.

Miss the math? You’re dead.

Gameplay Highlights

Level 1: The Math Lab – Addition problems gate your reloads. The dino-blob enemies seem harmless. They are not.

Level 2 Boss Fight – Solve subtraction problems while a horde closes in and the boss eats your health bar.

Features

Math-gated reloading – difficulty scales with wave progression
5 weapons – Pistol, Triple Shot, Shotgun, Rapid Fire, Rocket Launcher
4 themed levels – unique floor/wall/ceiling textures and bosses
Wave-based combat – survive timed waves with increasing enemy count and speed
Particle system – muzzle flash, explosions, hit markers
Floating damage numbers
Difficulty scaling – Easy (1 wave + boss), Normal/Hard (3 waves per level)
Screen shake and kill streaks
Arcade speed mode

Controls

KeyActionWASDMoveMouseLookLeft ClickFireRReload (solve a math problem)1-5Switch weaponPPauseHHelp

Building from Source

Requirements: Linux, raylib 4.5 or later, GCC, raylib development headers.

bash

git clone https://github.com/moderatedan/DOOMATH.git
cd DOOMATH
./build.sh
./doomath

Project Structure

text

doomath.c       Main game source
build.sh        Build script
include/        Header files (core/, audio/)
src/            Module sources (core/, audio/)
textures/       Per-level PNGs
resources/      Audio assets
media/          Screenshots and cover art

Tech Stack

C – 87.4%
Python – 11.7% (texture generation)
Shell – 0.9%

Status & Credits

v4.1 – Active development. Bug reports and feedback welcome via GitHub Issues.

Game design and code: Daniel Brummitt (@moderatedan)

Built with: raylib by Ramon Santamaria

License: MIT

Note: Music is not included in this repository. The game runs without music files. Music licensing for the official release is in progress.

Final Thoughts

DOOMATH is a brilliant example of how game mechanics can turn “boring” subjects into adrenaline-pumping action. It’s part educational, part chaotic shooter, and entirely creative. If you’ve ever wanted to practice mental math while dodging pixel-art demons, this is your game.

Check it out on GitHub: github.com/moderatedan/DOOMATH

Protect Your Inbox, Support Bookstores, Read My Work

🔐 Anonymous Text & Privacy Tools

📱 Anosim – anonymous texting

🛡️ Proton VPN – secure & fast

Protect your connection with the VPN trusted by journalists.
👉 Get Proton VPN (30-day money-back guarantee) →

✉️ Tuta – private email by design

I’ve switched to Tuta, the world’s most secure email service. It’s easy to use, open-source, private by design, ad‑free, and powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Now I’d like to invite you to Tuta too.
👉 Claim your free month on any yearly plan →

📚 Bookshop.org – support local bookstores

Each purchase helps independent bookstores.

📘 My Published MagCloud Issues

Browse or buy any issue below. Your purchase directly supports my writing — thank you!

1. Disruptive Fine Art – Winter 2025 Edition

Art you can carry and use
From phone cases to mouse pads, this issue turns everyday accessories into works of fine art. Bold creativity meets practical design.
👉 View Disruptive Fine Art →

2. DINOGO GO! GLOW!

A children’s poetry book from the dark side
Twelve pages about a dino named GO who lost his way. Quirky, fun, and a little mischievous.
👉 View DINOGO GO! GLOW! →

3. Escape Dog (Philososaur Comics!)

4. Philososaur – Volume 4

5. Venefica’s Enchantment: A Love Spelled in Blood

6. Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

7. Psych Victims

🌐 My Latest Projects

Michigan Business Directory

A curated directory of family-owned, heritage-listed local services across Michigan.

Philososaur Archive

A free digital library of independent art, poetry, fiction, and disruptive publications.

Artisan Eye

Instant AI-powered art appraisals — built by an artist, for artists.

📚 Daniel Brummitt Publishing – Where to Find My Books

My books are available through independent retailers worldwide. Below are direct links to verified listings.

Reflections and Reveries: Tales of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Daniel Brummitt Galleries

Mixed media illustrations from the creator of Philososaur Magazine. Art sold internationally — crypto always accepted.
👉 View on Bokus (Sweden) →
👉 View on Bookscape (India) →

Perception Deception

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:43:55 GMT

(Update on this one: she broke up with me after six years because she said I was a racist. Lol.)

It’s funny how our perception of things can change. My current girlfriend is very liberal politically. Some might ask, how does that even work? It works because I don’t judge her—because in many ways, I used to be her. My rebellion against the so-called establishment was really just me being a useful Bolshevik idiot.

I became the meme, lol — me in 2016 vs. me in 2026.

There was this conservative jewish girl I was a short-lived FWB with years back. She came from a very wealthy family in Michigan—like more money than God, wealthy. When I saw her childhood home, it was a huge eye-opener for me regarding the wealth contrast of jews versus even the most successful Protestants and Freemasons.

Even though I wasn’t allowed to meet her family because of my tattoos, I don’t think she was embarrassed of me; we went on dates closer to her area. But for whatever reason, we went to Oakland Mall to look for a blouse for a bakery job her parents made her get in order to keep her trust fund. While in an unnamed store, she clenched my hand very tightly and started having a legit panic attack because of all the hijabi girls there. I explained to her that this was normal for the area. She got very upset and said, “No, you don’t understand. I lived in Israel before—those are terrorists!”

I judged her. Even though she had already traveled the world twice over, I believed she was the one who lived a sheltered life.

Years and years go by, and one of my best friends converted to Islam. Although he felt rejected from the religion because they wouldn’t give him any of the good-looking Arabic women for marriage, he learned enough about the religion to know how to talk to Muslim girls—since many of them had fetishes for White guys with tattoos (probably due to porn—thanks, Mia Khalifa, lol). He plotted this whole grand scheme of going back to school at WCCCD, where he dragged me along with him.

While trying to impress these girls from the school, he would take them to areas I lived in, like Hamtramck, and the Muslim girls would get confused and scared—just like my jewish friend did—and ask why they were all wearing “terrorist clothing,” lol.

Why is this important, and where am I going with this, you might be thinking?

Many of the Muslims and other immigrants you see flooding the UK and the US in more recent years, especially, are probably not the domesticated ones like us. I think they might be ones who lived in villages and tents. It appears our government is legitimately flooding the country with actual extremists, not scholars, lol.

Now, where does that leave us, and what should we do? Well, it’s not like our founding fathers didn’t leave and go somewhere else when they founded the government here in the US. The US dollar can still go hard in different places of the world. If I were Israel and I wanted to Samson-option my enemies, I would flood my enemies into the US and UK, nuke the areas with all the terrorists there—killing two birds with one stone—and blame another country, thus covering up the mess.

Some details I didn’t include because it’s hard to explain a point without talking in circles:

First, that jewish girl I was speaking of sat down and explained her religion to me. That’s where I learned that Kabbalah is practiced most by Orthodox jews and is, in fact, a major part of that religion overall. Despite what jewish lefty liars say on social media, all jews love and support Israel—like yin and yang, one cannot live without the other. What I didn’t know, and was never told about, was the Talmud. So, when I started seeing America-first influencers like Jake Shields discussing the Talmud, it honestly reminded me of the 9/11 propaganda era, when radio personalities like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh would seem to cherry-pick verses from the Koran. Perhaps they weren’t cherry-picking, but I believed they were because I also understood how easy it is to cherry-pick verses from the Bible. It’s very easy to take things out of context, especially when there are cultural differences as well.

I currently don’t believe that the Talmud is being taken out of context. I think this is really what jewish people are taught to believe. I’m going to do a deep dive into the spiritual psychology of this and its danger later in the text.

When I was young and married, consecrating the marriage bed, the small, still voice in my head said, 'This is okay; she's your wife. Not one pastor of any denomination would say it's a sin to have sex with your own wife.' My head knowledge—my own understanding of Scripture—logically asserted that it was morally okay, and even embraced, for me to have sex with my wife. Yet, I still felt guilty of sin.

There are many times in our lives, I’m sure, where we have been gaslit to believe that what’s right is wrong and what’s wrong is right. There are systems in place designed to keep that status quo alive.

Policing is a big one. As a Christian, it’s hard to understand that laws created by God would be used to oppress those who do good instead of evil. Although it’s a concept spoken about in Ecclesiastes and even a central theme of Old Testament prophets such as Habakkuk, it always lingers: when getting traffic tickets, I feel like I’m being punished for hidden inhibitions, rather than acknowledging that I’m being targeted systemically by race-trading, Satan-worshipping psychopaths.

Race is another one that’s hard for Christians because we understand that salvation is for everyone. So the guilt of excluding others who don’t look like us weighs heavily on the Christian; for jews not so much. But it’s apparent that there are other ways to genocide a people besides dropping bombs. Psychological warfare is being placed heavily on White Western families. There’s nothing wrong with making distinctions about race, or being protective of your family, or not wanting to be around people who don’t share the same values or culture as you, or not trusting people who have culturally been programmed to hold resentment.

"We shall teach that the earth is the common father of all, and that parents are only nurses; that some among them are born from gold, others from silver, others from brass and iron; and that these things are their nature. And if any of them try to change their place by force, they must be bound and kept in their proper station." — Plato, Republic (Book III)

Life is short. Living in a world without systems to help you grow is like being a baby whose parents won't make you food.

So, what I’m proposing is that maybe all the White people should exit the country together, build communities and factories elsewhere, and let Israel nuke America and Europe — or get us nuked — while all the third-worldies flood in there. They can deal with the radiation, the debris, and the lack of Whiteness — the Whiteness that made those civilizations great.

Renew Your Mind

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:46:20 GMT

I fell asleep to this the other night and woke up feeling more refreshed and at peace than when I fall asleep to bionic beats.

Renew Your Mind and Sleep Well with This !!

With so much evil being crammed down our necks by the media and the negativity it causes in our souls, it’s a Godsend to have Scriptures to listen to, to drown out and override the hostility caused by media.

Heritage Business Network of Michigan

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:16:45 GMT

There is a real attack on White people in the West.

Although raising awareness is direly important—since too many in real life are still under the spell of goy slop entertainment and relentless anti-White propaganda—as a featured botnet specialist and media founder who has been featured by the BBC and turned down unlimited wealth from the Mossad on several occasions, I understand that fighting it head-on is like playing a very exhausting game of whack-a-mole; it never ends.

That’s why I created this directory.

https://michbd.netlify.app/

http://aya4kfryk7lfy7rujpdjr7ieewqndpekru6lhbfusfihri7rz4ttavyd.onion/

Most general-purpose AIs and all search engine data are very anti-White, so if you find a local Michigan business listed on my site that is not accurate, please let me know and I will remove it.

If you are a White-owned and operated business in Michigan, especially if you are a White Christian, I want to help you get the traffic you deserve.

Where to File a Formal Complaint Against the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:28:14 GMT

If you’ve been following the situation involving the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, you already know the key facts: a citizen was investigated by another law enforcement agency at the request of OCSO—over a meme critical of Sheriff Mike Bouchard. The individual was later arrested on a separate warrant, but the initial investigation appears to have been triggered by protected speech.

Many residents are asking the same question: Where can I file a formal complaint?

If you want to make your voice heard and request an official review of the Sheriff’s Office conduct, here are the proper channels in Michigan.

1. Michigan Attorney General – Public Integrity Unit

This is the most appropriate office for allegations of misconduct by a law enforcement official or agency. The Public Integrity Unit handles complaints involving abuse of power, retaliation, and violations of public trust.

File online:
https://www.michigan.gov/ag/contact/file-complaint
Select the option related to “Public Integrity” or “Law Enforcement Misconduct.”

File by mail:
Department of Attorney General
Public Integrity Unit
P.O. Box 30212
Lansing, MI 48909

2. Michigan Secretary of State – Bureau of Elections

While this office’s jurisdiction is narrower (campaign finance, lobbying, and election law), you can still file a sworn complaint if you believe a public official has acted improperly.

File online:
https://www.michigan.gov/sos/contact
Select “File a Complaint” and follow the prompts.

File by mail:
Michigan Department of State
Bureau of Elections
P.O. Box 20126
Lansing, MI 48901

3. Oakland County Board of Commissioners

As the elected body that oversees the sheriff’s budget and operations, the Board of Commissioners can conduct investigations, hold hearings, and apply public pressure. This is a direct local option for residents of Oakland County.

Contact online:
https://www.oakgov.com/board-of-commissioners/contact

File by mail:
Oakland County Board of Commissioners
1200 North Telegraph Road
Pontiac, MI 48341

Tips for Filing an Effective Complaint

Be specific. Mention the date of the video statement from Sheriff Bouchard, the fact that OCSO requested another agency investigate a citizen over a meme, and any relevant details you have.
Include evidence. Provide links or screenshots of the tweet, the video, or news coverage if available.
Keep a copy. Save your complaint, any confirmation numbers, and the date you submitted it for your records.

Why This Matters

Law enforcement agencies should not use their authority to investigate citizens for exercising their First Amendment rights. When a sheriff publicly acknowledges being offended by a meme and then initiates an investigation through another agency, it raises serious constitutional concerns—regardless of whether a separate warrant later exists.

Filing a formal complaint is one way to demand accountability and ensure that those who hold public office are held to the standards they swore to uphold.

Meanwhile in Oakland County, Michigan:

Now, I would like to invite you to Tuta as well! If you sign up with my personal invite link, you will get an additional free month on any yearly subscription:

https://app.tuta.com/signup?ref=QkJYak9yQzQ «

When a Professor Uses His Status to Bully a Pregnant Woman:

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:53:54 GMT

For over a year, a UK professor has used his academic credentials to wage a campaign of harassment against Alvi Gunilla, a non‑political creator of content about ancient Norse history, runes, folklore, and cultural heritage. Despite her work having nothing to do with modern politics or Nazism, he has repeatedly and falsely labeled her a neo‑Nazi. Ms. Gunilla is currently pregnant, and the prolonged harassment by an older man leveraging institutional authority poses serious stress‑related health risks.

Recently, the professor locked his social media accounts (made them private) in an apparent attempt to hide the evidence. But we can still report him. Below is a step‑by‑step guide to reporting his accounts on Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, and WordPress, even without access to individual posts. You’ll also find instructions for filing a formal complaint with his employer, the University of Chester.

Why This Matters

The target: Alvi Gunilla creates educational content about ancient Norse and Swedish history, runes, sagas, and folklore. She lives in the Swedish countryside and leads tours at Viking‑era sites. None of her work references Nazism or modern politics.
The conduct: Under the handle @howardmrw (and “archaeodeath” across platforms), the professor has repeatedly called her a neo‑Nazi, doctored quotes, misattributed ancient symbols, and used his academic title to give weight to false accusations.
The urgency: Ms. Gunilla is pregnant. Harassment of this nature can cause severe stress, endangering her health and pregnancy. A university professor should be held to a higher standard.
Why report now: The accounts are locked, but platforms can still review them. Reporting creates a record and can lead to suspension, while signaling community opposition to academic bullying.

How to Report on Each Platform

1. Twitter / X (Account Now Locked)

Even if the account is private, you can report it via the official harassment report form. Follow this path:

Go to the X Help Center:

https://help.x.com

Click “Contact us” at the top right.
Select “Safety Icon” → Staying safe on X and sensitive content.
Choose “Report harassment and threats from other accounts, and posts that may violate our rules.”
Fill in the form:
- Your X username (optional)
- Your email address
- Username of the account you are reporting: @howardmrw
- Please share the content that might be violating our rules:
  Use the profile URL: https://x.com/howardmrw
  (Even though it’s locked, this identifies the account.)
- Provide more details (280‑character limit):

Account @howardmrw has harassed Alvi Gunilla (@AlviGunilla) for a year—falsely calling her a neo‑Nazi. Her work is non‑political (ancient Norse history). Operator is a professor using his status to abuse a pregnant woman. Account now locked to evade accountability. Investigate harassment.

Check the box “It’s okay to include the content being reported in updates sent to me in the future.” Then submit.

No tweet URL? It’s fine. The profile URL works, and the explanation tells X why you can’t provide a direct link.

If you are able to view the account (e.g., because you follow it or it becomes public again), you can also report directly from the profile: click the three dots next to “Follow” → “Report” → choose “Harassment.”

2. Instagram

Open the Instagram app and go to the profile @archaeodeath.
Tap the three dots (⋯) in the top right corner.
Select “Report”.
Choose “It’s posting inappropriate content” → “Harassment or bullying”.
Follow the on‑screen prompts to submit.

If you have screenshots of abusive posts, you can attach them in the report.

3. TikTok

Open TikTok and go to the profile @archaeodeath.
Tap the share arrow (or the three dots on the profile).
Select “Report”.
Choose “Harassment and bullying”.
Provide a brief explanation (e.g., “This account has falsely labeled a pregnant woman a neo‑Nazi for over a year.”) and submit.

4. WordPress (his blog)

Professor Williams maintains a blog on WordPress.com:
howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com

To report it for harassment:

Go to the WordPress.com abuse report page:
https://wordpress.com/abuse/
Fill in:
- URL of the content:

https://howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com/

- Your email address
- Reason: Select “Harassment” or “Defamation.”
- Description: Explain that the blog is used to harass a private individual, Alvi Gunilla, with false neo‑Nazi accusations, and that she is pregnant and being targeted.

You can also use the “Report this content” link at the bottom of the blog itself.

Filing a Complaint with the University of Chester

Professor Williams is employed by the University of Chester. How you submit a complaint depends on whether you are a current student or not.

If You Are a Current Student

You can use the dedicated student enquiry form:

👉 Student Enquiry Form:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=bj6EGEYYbEWgXFAPCu4S9ml8Uz_K9DtKgxl8NSCGV_pURjFVQ1VWRzk5RjEyNDNEWDkzNVM3MUhBWS4u&route=shorturl

When filling out the form:

Select “Are you a University of Chester Student?” → Yes
Choose the category that best fits (e.g., “Complaint” or “Staff conduct” if available)
Paste your complaint in the enquiry box

Alternatively, students can email: studentservices@chester.ac.uk

If You Are Not a Student

The central enquiries inbox (enquiries@chester.ac.uk) is now closed for non‑student inquiries. You must use the online enquiry form available on the university’s contact page:

Go to: https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/contact-us/
Click the “online form” link under General Enquiries
Select “Complaint” or “Staff conduct” as the category
Fill in your details and paste your complaint

Complaint Text (For Anyone Submitting)

Use this text for your complaint, adding your name where required:

I am writing to complain about Professor Howard Williams, a member of your faculty. For over a year, he has used his academic status to conduct a sustained campaign of harassment and defamation against Alvi Gunilla across multiple social media platforms. He has repeatedly and falsely labeled her a neo‑Nazi despite her non‑political work on ancient Norse history, runes, folklore, and cultural heritage.
Ms. Gunilla is currently pregnant. The prolonged harassment by an older man leveraging institutional authority poses serious stress‑related health risks. This is a women’s rights issue and a breach of professional standards.
Please investigate thoroughly and take appropriate disciplinary action. I await confirmation of the steps you will take.

Why We Need Archives & Screenshots

Because the accounts are now locked, direct links to abusive tweets are no longer publicly accessible. However:

Screenshots (with timestamps and URLs visible) can still be submitted to platforms via their report forms (many allow attachments).
Archived pages from web archiving services can preserve the original content and show that the harassment occurred.
Twitter is notoriously difficult to archive, but alternative services such as Archive.org (Wayback Machine), Ghostarchive, and Archive.today may capture some pages. (Note: no single service works reliably for all Twitter content, but combining them increases your chances.)

If you have saved any screenshots or archived links from the harassing accounts, please share them (via DM or by uploading to a trusted archive service). This evidence is invaluable for ongoing reports and for the university’s investigation.

A Note to Allies

We are many. When a senior academic uses his position to attack a pregnant woman with false political smears, the community must speak up. Reporting these accounts takes only a few minutes and can make a real difference.

If you have already reported, thank you. If you haven’t, please consider doing so now. Share this post so others can help.

Together we can show that academic bullying will not be tolerated.

Anatomy of a Security Failure:

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:16:34 GMT

Abstract

This paper examines a critical security vulnerability in TracFone Wireless’s “Line Lock” feature—designed to prevent SIM swap attacks and unauthorized port-outs—and analyzes how systemic failures in offshore call center training and quality control are creating barriers to resolution that compound the underlying technical risk. The case study presented here documents a UI/UX failure where the Line Lock control for a primary account line is entirely missing from the website interface, despite explicit on-screen messaging instructing users to “lock all your lines.” The inability to escalate this technical issue through customer service channels—characterized by script-bound responses, dismissive attitudes, and a pattern of misrepresentation—illustrates a broader vulnerability in American telecommunications infrastructure where customer identity and financial data hang in the balance.

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

In July 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined TracFone Wireless $16 million for failing to protect customer data, specifically regarding unauthorized port-outs and SIM swap attacks that occurred between 2021 and 2023 . These attacks, where criminals hijack phone numbers to gain access to bank accounts, email, and other sensitive services, represent one of the most dangerous vectors for identity theft in the modern digital landscape.

In response, TracFone implemented a “Line Lock” feature, described on their website as a tool to “protect your number from port-out scams” and prevent bad actors from impersonating customers to transfer numbers to other carriers. The feature allows customers to add an “extra layer of security” by locking their lines against unauthorized transfers.

1.2 The Vulnerability Discovered

Despite this stated commitment to security, a significant vulnerability exists in the implementation of Line Lock for at least some customer accounts. When navigating to the “Security Info” section of the TracFone account portal, users are presented with the message: “For your protection, we recommend that you lock all your lines.”

However, for the primary account line—the number most valuable to attackers and most critical to customer identity protection—the control to enable Line Lock is entirely absent from the interface. Secondary lines on the same account display functional toggle switches. The primary line displays only a phone number and empty space.

This is not a user configuration issue, a browser cache problem, or a mobile application limitation. It is a fundamental website functionality failure that leaves the most vulnerable account element completely exposed to hijacking.

2. The Technical Failure

2.1 UI/UX Breakdown

The user interface for Line Lock presents a classic case of what software developers call a “rendering bug”—the conditional logic that determines whether to display the security toggle for a given line fails for primary numbers. The system recognizes that security features exist (it displays the recommendation text) but fails to render the control itself.

This suggests one of several backend issues:

Database flag misconfiguration where primary lines lack the required metadata
Conditional rendering logic that incorrectly excludes primary line types
Account inheritance problems where primary lines inherit different permission sets

2.2 Security Implications

The practical effect is that customers who wish to protect themselves from the very attacks TracFone was fined for cannot do so. The security theater of displaying recommendations without providing the means to follow them creates:

False sense of security in customers who believe the feature exists
Exposed attack surface for the most valuable target—primary account lines
Regulatory non-compliance with the FCC consent decree requiring SIM change and port-out protections

3. The Human Factors: Call Center Failures

3.1 The Escalation Paradox

When technical issues arise that cannot be resolved through standard troubleshooting, functional customer service organizations employ escalation protocols that route issues to specialized technical teams. TracFone’s current model fails at this fundamental level.

Despite multiple contact attempts over several weeks, every customer service interaction followed an identical pattern:

Request for verification code
Suggestion to try the mobile application
Recommendation to clear browser cache
Assurance that the issue would be investigated
Another request for verification code

3.2 Training Deficits

Analysis of these interactions reveals that representatives are operating from rigid scripts with no apparent authority to deviate or escalate. When customers attempt to explain that the issue is a missing UI element rather than an authentication problem, representatives:

Lack the technical vocabulary to understand the distinction
Repeat scripted responses regardless of their relevance
Talk over customers attempting to explain the actual problem
Misrepresent their understanding by claiming comprehension while demonstrating none

This pattern is documented in broader consumer complaint data, which identifies “unresponsive or ineffective customer service” as a recurring issue with TracFone .

3.3 Cultural and Communication Barriers

The customer service representatives handling these calls are located in offshore call centers, primarily in India, operating under H-1B visa sponsorship structures. While the nationality of representatives is not itself a problem, the combination of factors creates significant barriers:

Language and comprehension issues manifest when customers attempt to explain technical concepts. Representatives frequently respond with generic assurances that they “understand computers very well” while simultaneously demonstrating no grasp of the specific issue. This creates a cycle of frustration where:

Customers explain the problem in plain English
Representatives claim understanding
Representatives suggest irrelevant solutions
Customers re-explain
Representatives become defensive
Representatives talk over customers to maintain script control

Cultural differences in communication style exacerbate these problems. Direct, problem-focused American communication patterns clash with hierarchical, authority-respecting communication norms, leading to representatives agreeing with customers (to maintain harmony) while having no intention or ability to act on the information.

3.4 Misrepresentation and Defensiveness

Most troubling is the pattern of outright misrepresentation. Representatives repeatedly:

Claim they are “escalating” when no escalation occurs
Promise callbacks that never come
Assure customers that “supervisors” will address issues that supervisors are equally unequipped to handle
Assert understanding they clearly lack

This pattern of misrepresentation transforms a technical problem into a crisis of trust. When customers cannot believe what representatives tell them, the entire customer service function becomes not merely useless but actively harmful—consuming customer time and emotional energy while producing no progress toward resolution.

3.5 Systemic Implications

Recent mainstream reporting has highlighted the broader consequences of inadequately trained offshore personnel in critical infrastructure roles. When customer service representatives cannot properly triage security issues, the results include:

Delayed response to security vulnerabilities
Increased exposure window for active attacks
Customer data remaining unprotected despite explicit requests
Regulatory violations that persist due to inability to escalate

For the individual customer, the stakes are identity and financial security. A successful SIM swap attack enabled by this unresolved vulnerability could result in:

Bank account depletion
Cryptocurrency theft
Email account takeover
Social media identity theft
Compromised two-factor authentication for dozens of services

4. Recommendations

4.1 Technical Remediation

TracFone must immediately:

Identify the rendering bug preventing Line Lock display on primary lines
Deploy a fix to all affected accounts
Manually enable Line Lock for customers who have requested it during the vulnerability window
Audit all accounts for similar UI failures

4.2 Call Center Reform

The offshore customer service model requires fundamental restructuring:

Technical triage training enabling representatives to distinguish user error from system bugs
Actual escalation pathways to technical teams with authority to investigate backend issues
Quality assurance monitoring specifically for misrepresentation and defensive communication
Cultural competency training addressing communication mismatches
Accountability metrics that measure resolution rather than call duration

4.3 Regulatory Oversight

The FCC should investigate whether TracFone’s failure to provide functional Line Lock access violates the July 2024 consent decree. Additionally, regulators should examine whether inadequate customer service training for security issues constitutes a systemic risk to consumer data.

5. Conclusion

The Line Lock vulnerability represents more than a website bug—it is a window into systemic failures in how American telecommunications companies approach security and customer service. When a company fined $16 million for security breaches cannot provide functional security tools to customers who request them, and when those customers cannot escalate issues through offshore call centers staffed by inadequately trained representatives who misrepresent their capabilities, the result is a predictable outcome: continued exposure to precisely the risks regulators sought to address.

For the individual customer, the frustration of script-bound representatives talking over their attempts to explain a technical problem is not merely an inconvenience. It is the sound of their identity and finances remaining at risk while a company with a $16 million fine and a legal obligation to protect them fails to do so.

The solution requires both technical remediation and fundamental reform of the human systems that prevent customers from securing their own accounts. Until TracFone addresses both, the vulnerability documented here will remain—along with the risk that the next customer to encounter it won’t be writing a blog post, but rather reporting a stolen identity to their bank.

References

[1] Federal Communications Commission. (2024). “TracFone Wireless, Inc. Consent Decree.” File No.: EB-TCD-22-00033630.

[2] Consumer complaint data. (2021-2026). TracFone customer service pattern analysis.

[3] TracFone Wireless. (2026). “Line Lock Security Feature.” Account portal documentation.

Daniel is a TracFone customer and technology commentator. This analysis is based on firsthand experience documented over multiple weeks of attempted resolution.

Progressive Insurance:

DANIEL BRUMMITT — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:04:11 GMT

I have a confession to make. I have Progressive auto insurance. It’s a mistake I won’t be making for much longer.

Yesterday, my car broke down. It happens. You call roadside, you wait an hour, and you go home. That’s the social contract. But Progressive broke that contract in a way that exposed exactly how far this country has fallen.

I called for help. …