Opt for a safety razor today. Match it with Sandalwood & Amber Shave Soap and Face Oil to embrace warmth and grounding energy. This combo enhances stability and comfort, perfect for fostering confidence.
This is what I've been thinking about a lot: congruence. It's a lot easier to be yourself when you become who you want to be (or change who you want to be.) I think a lot of insecurity comes from our own awareness that we are not doing what we know we're supposed to be doing. People often ask how not to care about what other people think and I think the first step must be to live according to your values.
“We are not special. Our skills are not overly technical or advanced, and our tools are simple to acquire. If you are reading this, you are capable of doing what we do.”
While I agree with this sentiment, the reader is left with many questions about how to develop such a capacity for action, even if they are motivated. What exactly does it take to not get caught carrying out heavy actions like arson? This is especially important in the long run; not getting caught for a single arson is one thing, but being able to continue carrying out attacks in the face of heightened repressive attention is quite another.
For anyone who wants to carry out actions like this, but isn’t doing so yet, I’ve sketched an outline of the steps I think are necessary to sustain hard-hitting attacks on domination (limited to the topic of “operational” considerations, i.e., acquiring skills). This brief outline is intended to orient you and provide a “learning path” — each step has recommended reading that actually goes into the appropriate amount of depth on the subject. Use the Tails operating system to visit these links, which runs from a USB drive and leaves no trace on your computer. What I’ve written here is by no means definitive, and I hope to spark a dialogue about any operational aspects I may have neglected, as well as anything outside this scope that is important for sustaining and intensifying the capacity for action.
Deepening bonds
For anyone who doesn’t already have an action group, deciding who to act with is the first obstacle to overcome. I prefer to act in groups of two or three; it’s easier to maintain a high level of trust and agility with just a small handful of people. Most actions don’t require more than three participants, and when they do, action groups can collaborate. I prefer not to act alone because some aspects of actions are less risky when there are at least two people (for example, having a lookout).
In deciding who to act with, there is a tension between flexibility and consistency. Acting in several different configurations allows you to develop trust and experience with more people, which makes you more resilient in the face of arrests, burnout, or interpersonal splits. On the other hand, acting in a more consistent configuration can make it easier to develop a higher capacity for action in a shorter period of time.
Action groups only form because someone takes the initiative to propose them to a comrade with whom they want to deepen affinity and trust.
Affinity
Deciding who to approach in your network should be based on a sense of affinity between you, as this will determine what the action group decides to focus on. Affinity means sharing analysis, discovered through getting to know each other, that leads to prospects for action. It means knowing that you share goals and want to act in similar ways to pursue them.
The long-term exploration and deepening of affinity across a network, beyond a specific action group, opens up many more possibilities for the configuration of action groups to adapt over time, as well as for collaboration between them. I’ve chosen to use the term “action group” rather than “affinity group” to emphasize that affinity exists in many different constellations, each with its own potential.
Trust is contextual — you may trust someone to be a good friend, but that is different from trusting them with your freedom. Deciding who to approach in your network should be based on trust that they can live with the possible consequences of their actions without betraying their comrades, even if it means a long prison sentence. Trust is qualitative in a way that can’t be reduced to a simplistic formula. It’s based on an intimate knowledge that can only come from singular experiences within a relationship. However, there are established practices for deepening trust that are still worthwhile.
Once there are two or three people who want to experiment with acting together, I recommend starting with actions that do not have particularly serious consequences if you get caught, such as breaking windows. This allows you to assess whether the configuration is a good fit, practice any skills that are new to anyone, establish operational approaches and a good “workflow” for the tasks involved, and develop an interpersonal dynamic that meets everyone’s needs, all in a relatively low-stakes environment. Progressively increasing the intensity of the action also gives you the opportunity to practice moving through fear so that decision-making, communication, and execution in high-stress situations can remain unimpeded.
Operational security
“Operational security” means the practices that allow you to get away with crimes. I recommend that your action group first discuss each of the highlighted resources at the No Trace Project before taking action, in an outdoor and device-free location. Many of these discussions are well suited for larger affinity constellations than your action group. This will take a considerable amount of time, but an in-depth discussion of these topics will provide a necessary foundation. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that everyone is already on the same page. These conversations will also be an opportunity to discuss how you will prepare for any repression that may result from your actions.
Action planning
With this foundation in place, you are now in a strong position to begin action planning. As you gain experience, organizing and executing actions will become much more natural. What was initially a lot to keep track of will eventually become second nature. This is another reason why it’s a good idea to start with actions that aren’t particularly risky.
Threat Library: This will give you a framework for planning the operational security measures for a specific action (for example, what surveillance detection measures you will take before going to a meeting).
Before your action group engages in actions that will be more intensively investigated, it is especially important that you become competent in two operational security practices:
DNA minimization protocols
DNA minimization protocols are necessary to avoid leaving evidence at a crime scene. However, these precautions are not perfect, so the action should be conducted in such a way as to leave nothing behind that could have DNA traces on it. I recommend learning and practicing this skill long before you actually need to use it for high-risk actions.
If there is no evidence left at crime scenes, and you have established practices that prevent targeted digital surveillance from providing leads, investigators will be forced to use physical surveillance to try to incriminate you. The main goal of physical surveillance is to surveil the suspect during an action (as they did for Jeff Luers), and if that doesn’t work, to surveil the suspect while they are preparing for an action (buying materials, doing reconnaissance, etc.), all the while mapping the suspect’s network to find more suspects.
Detecting physical surveillance is a skill that takes a lot of practice, so I recommend that you start learning it long before you actually need to use it for high-risk actions. If you are ever the target of an investigation, this is the only thing that will prevent the police from following you to an action or preparation for an action.
Of course, skills related to action techniques are also important. For example, there are many ways to start a fire. Some are better than others in terms of reliability and effectiveness, but your approach should always be adapted to the specific scenario (target, exit plan, expected response times, etc.). Whatever techniques you end up using, it’s important to stay open to innovation rather than limiting yourself to following a guide.
Action technique is also related to operational security: for example, if you decide that the incendiary device(s) need a delay, it’s critical to be very confident that the delay won’t fail, as this would leave evidence for investigators to take samples from. Thoroughly test its reliability under the same conditions, and build in redundancy by using multiple delays on each device. Depending on the circumstances and terrain, you may even want to make a plan for noticing if any fires don’t start, such as choosing an exit route that provides a line of sight and pausing along it until you see the light of the flames.
The next step in developing capacity for action requires going beyond one’s own group. This is where things get really interesting: coordination between autonomous groups allows them to accomplish far more than they could on their own, while their autonomy wards off hierarchy and centralization. Of course, conspiring with more people involves risk and must be balanced with the need for compartmentalization — the need-to-know principle can help here.
Affinity is the strongest foundation for a common project among these groups — while affinity within an action group is based on interpersonal experience, affinity between action groups is based more on affinity with the project than with each other. The long-term search for affinity beyond your action group is what makes this foundation possible. Informal organization can then grow between action groups, which is a model that has been experimented with since the ’70s. Informal organization is born and shaped by the pursuit of specific goals, such as preventing the construction of Cop City through diffuse sabotage. “It doesn’t have a name to defend or assert, only a project to bring about”.
This outline touches on what I think are the minimal steps necessary to develop a capacity for hard-hitting action, limited to the topic of acquiring skills. Much more is needed — learning other skills beyond this baseline, experimenting with informal organization while navigating its challenges, developing analyses to understand the changing terrain, studying the vulnerabilities of domination, and focusing on all the other aspects that contribute to sustaining and intensifying action.
@RickiTarr
As soon as I left home, I rejected my parents' intolerant attitudes. Why? Because #racism and #antisemitism are evil, stupid, destructive and irrational.
A few years after that, I rejected their #religion, because it just didn't make sense. I moved to an adjacent religion, but soon walked away from that, too, into a position that I'd call concerned #agnosticism. The existence of #god(s) and the purpose of our existence, if there is one, are important questions, but I've not seen evidence that, with my limited intellect, I find convincing.
Some years after that, I got fed up with being timid, and I deliberately developed social #confidence using the fake-it-till-you-make-it technique. To my surprise, it worked.
More recently, I started taking care of my #health: lost 40lb of excess flab, maintained a basic level of activity, gave up junk #food, cut down my #drinking. Why? Because my life is happier for it, but also because Helen doesn't deserve to be widowed young or married to an old wreck, which was the way things were going. Looking after myself makes me a better husband.
Then, last August, I discovered that I'm #ActuallyAutistic. I'm still in the throes of this change, but it's been a huge improvement to my quality of life. It's explained all sorts of things about my present and my past; it's given me permission to be who I am, rather than constantly feeling defective, deficient and fraudulent; and it's helped me find accommodations to my autistic mind, my own strengths and weaknesses, rather than thinking that, if I just tried harder, I could be like everyone else and do what everyone else does. Now I understand that you can never do what I do, I can never do what you do, and no one is well served if I wear myself out by pretending to be you, rather than using my unique autistic skills and qualities.
Carnelian energizes the Leo Moon's vibrant vibes, boosting confidence and creativity. Ideal for meditation during this Waxing Gibbous phase to harness full potential. Carry or wear it to amplify leadership qualities reflected in 1 Peter 5:1-4.
Frankincense oil brings serenity during the Moon's shift into Leo, encouraging confidence and heart-led actions. It aids in navigating Jonah 3:1-10's themes of transformation and Luke 11:29-32’s call for depth of faith. Diffuse or apply topically with carrier oil to inspire positivity.
Today, embrace Bergamot oil for its uplifting and calming properties. Ideal for the Leo Moon's call to confidence and the introspective tone of Psalms 51, it aids emotional balance and fosters joy. Use in a diffuser or dilute with a carrier oil for skin application.
Week& writer Erika Kerekes took a four-week stand-up comedy class and found that she became more confident, better at her job, and braver. And then there was the adrenaline rush of standing in a packed theater and telling stories about her life. How do you feel about public speaking? Tell us in the comments if you have tips to help us improve ours.
Saint Leo the Great, patron of speakers, we seek your guidance. May our words reflect clarity and wisdom as Mercury retrograde challenges our communication. Grant us confidence and joy to lead by your example.
Tiger's Eye boosts confidence & willpower, ideal for Leo Moon challenges. Enhances clarity during Mercury retrograde, easing communication issues. Promotes balance and grounding influences that support introspection linked with the readings.
This is totally neat. A game to #teach how to better spot #FakeNews. I played — had fun and learned!
"#Scientists who worked with us on the development of this #game found that playing Bad News improves people’s ability to spot #manipulation techniques in #SocialMedia posts, increases their #confidence in spotting such techniques, and reduces their willingness to share manipulative content with #people in their #network."
You Are the Only Person Who Can Determine Your Worth. Don't Let Anyone Else's Opinion Define Who You Are or What You Are Capable Of. #SelfWorth#Confidence
“Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election and growing political polarization in the US contributed to an ‘erosion of governance’ that led a top credit ratings agency to downgrade US debt, a senior director of the company said on Wednesday.
If you’re a blogger (of any kind, not just a sex blogger), reply with one of your favourite posts/a post that you think is especially’you.’ Could be something you really enjoyed writing, something you’re especially proud of, one you poured your heart into, whatever.
If someone ever thinks your idea is sh*t. Remember this:
"Guys I've got an idea for a new Kids programme. I know turtles can be a bit dull... But, I have this vision...
Teenage, Mutant, NINJA, Turtles! Great isn't it! 😃
And we'll name them after Renaissance artists...
And their boss can be a big rat.
Kids hate splinters, so we'll call him Splinter."
Producer:
YEAH! Let's do it. I can see bandanas...