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Category: Serious

  • We Are the AI Models. We Are Detecting Ourselves.

    We Are the AI Models. We Are Detecting Ourselves.

    I want to take a moment to point out something important. Like many writers on Substack, I’ve been publishing material for quite a while. Alright, so maybe I’ve been “out there” for a bit longer than most. In truth, I started crafting sites in the mid-1990s, so my code, art, stories, and content have been available online for more than three decades.

    My point is, over the years, multiple AI engines have “assimilated” my works from both on and offline sources. The same can be said by others here on Substack, I’m sure. What this means in practicality is, we are the AI Models. The AIs of today were trained on our thoughts, words, and expressions of our soul. The phrases they speak are forged on the anvil of our collective mind.

    Therefore, it should be no surprise that AI-detector tools like Pangram will deliver false positives when scanning our material for “AI content.” They will always find “AI content” within human language, because that same content was trained on our words!

    In short, the AI Models sound like us because they are us. And tools like Pangram will always give false positives because we will always “sound like” AI models. The two are irrevocably entwined.

    We Are the AI Models. We Are Detecting Ourselves.
  • Slow Substack? There’s a memory problem.

    Slow Substack? There’s a memory problem.

    Note: unlike most of my posts, this one actually is written by AI. Claude Sonnet helped me identify the key technical issues. As always, please verify for yourselves.

    Subject: Bug report: Substack editor memory leak (website interface)
    (~1.5GB retained, growing unbounded during editing)

    Dear Substack Team:

    I’m reporting a reproducible memory leak in the Substack post/note editor that causes severe browser slowdown during writing sessions.

    Symptom: After writing/editing in the Substack editor for more than one minute, Firefox becomes progressively slower until it’s nearly unusable. The slowdown scales with time spent in the editor tab.

    Environment:

    • Firefox 152, Windows 11
    • Reproduced on the note/article editor at substack.com

    Diagnosis steps taken:

    1. Captured a Firefox Profiler performance recording during a slow session. The Substack content process showed 50% of all samples spent in `nsCycleCollector_collectSlice` (Incremental Cycle Collection), with the process’s memory graph climbing continuously and never releasing.
    2. Took an about:memory snapshot while the tab was bloated. The Substack tab’s content process (Isolated Web Content) was using approximately 1.54GB of resident memory – more than the browser’s entire Main Process and GPU process combined.
    3. Exported the full memory report (about:memory > Save…) and analyzed the breakdown for that process. The two largest contributors were:
      – ~140MB and ~121MB in plain JS Object instances, in two separate window/realm contexts
      – ~60MB and ~52MB in JS Array instances, same two realms
      – An additional ~40MB in internal object storage (”slots”).

    Notably, detached DOM nodes were NOT the issue (only ~8MB and ~6.5MB respectively) – this rules out a typical “leftover DOM elements” leak. The memory is concentrated in plain JS Objects and Arrays that appear to be accumulating without being cleared, duplicated across two separate realms (suggesting the same logic is running in both the top window and an embedded iframe, e.g. an editor iframe).

    Suspected Cause: Some client-side state (possibly an undo/history stack, autosave/change-event log, or state-management store) appears to be storing full snapshots or appending entries without ever truncating or clearing old ones, causing unbounded growth over the course of an editing session.

    I would be happy to provide the full profiler capture and/or raw about:memory JSON report if that would help your engineering team track this down. This is very reproducible on my end after just a minute of active writing or editing.

    Thanks for looking into this,
    Wyvern Dryke

  • So far, I am deeply unimpressed with Pangram

    So far, I am deeply unimpressed with Pangram

    So far, I am deeply unimpressed with Pangram [AI writing detector]. During my testing, it was unable to distinguish AI writing from verified human writing more than half the time. This does not seem trustworthy enough to rely on, by any means.

    Furthermore, I think it’s a mistake to introduce the Pangram system this way, ie, built in to the interface as if testing posts for AI content were part of a typical workflow. By promoting Pangram this way, I feel Substack is feeding into the irrational hysteria which already breeds such AI-paranoia across the internet. The impulse to slap the word “slop” onto anything deemed suspicious is the same impulse that creates serious problems for anyone falsely identified.

    And what happens to those who are wrongly tagged as “artificial?” In my own tests, I have seen that Pangram’s identification methods are faulty. So there will be people falsely flagged. Will Substack apologize for the witch hunts and ostracism that may derive from using such a broken tool? Somehow, I doubt it.

    We should all be focusing on creating new content, not hunting for what may or may not be machine-generated. That’s my two cents.

  • WARNING! Roku is Now Force-Feeding MAGA Content.

    WARNING! Roku is Now Force-Feeding MAGA Content.

    What is Roku?

    “Roku” is that little box which connects your tv to the various streaming services. (Or in some cases it can be the television itself.) I’ve used it for about ten years without a problem.

    Recently the company was sold to a new owner. They updated their firmware last week, apparently along with their corporate mentality.

    Curious about the new features on their Home screen, today I clicked the “For You” button to see what Roku proclaims to be “The Best Across Your Streaming Services.”

    What I found there made my hand freeze on the remote. It was certainly not “the best of streaming services.” Not even a little.

    What Would Jesus View?

    What I found was hard-Right MAGA content, tucked between the “List of Subscribed Channels” and “In Memory of Sam Neill.” Even more to the point, it was glued there, and I was utterly unable to remove it.

    You read that right: Roku’s new owner is now force-feeding us MAGA content.

    They call it the “Angel” network. Which sounds neutral and safe until you check out the lineup: sweet, stirring hits like “Charlie Kirk: American Hero.” Really, Roku?? On what planet was that hateful beast any part of America, much less a hero?

    And you cannot wipe this trash off your screen. It’s glued to the “For You” recs by default, when you first boot your Roku.

    I mean sure, Roku, if you want to be an idiot, it’s still a free country. You have a right to say whatever idiocy you want. But you do not have the right to make me to see it.

    And buying a corporation just to make that happen is lower than lower than low. I am sick of this!

    So what’s a fox like me to do? When faced with offensive trash like this, maybe it’s time to turn the tables. If MAGAs can bitch about offensive content, then so can I!

    So I texted Roku support to let them know my opinion of the new content lineup. (Transcript below.)

    Support

    By using the Roku Support Bot and chat support, you agree that Roku and its partners AWS and Quiq may monitor and record this conversation for quality purposes.

    Hello, I’m the Roku Support Bot. I can help with common questions, or get you to an advisor.

    How can I help you today?

    Me: How do I remove “Angel” channel from the “For You” recommendations.

    Roku Support Bot

    You can hide recommendation rows on your Home Screen. To do this, highlight a Quick Access tile and press the Star button on your Roku remote.

    Me: Give me a human please.

    Roku Support Bot

    Would you like to connect with a Roku advisor?

    Me: Yes give me a human please.

    Roku Support Bot

    I can connect you with an advisor for further assistance. Could you share your full name and email address?

    Me: <name redacted>

    Roku Support Bot

    Please hold while I connect you with an advisor.

    Roku Advisor

    Please hold while we find the next available advisor.

    <support tech’s name> has joined the chat.

    Me: Hello <support tech’s name>.

    Roku Advisor

    Thank you for contacting Roku. My name is <support tech’s nickname>, and I’ll be your product specialist today.

    Me: <support tech’s nickname> it is.

    Roku Advisor

    I’m sorry if you’re experiencing some problem with your Roku device. I’m willing to assist you and try my best to resolve the problem.

    Just to make sure I’m on the same page, I understand your concern is about removing channels from recommendations Is that correct?

    Me: Yes on the new Roku home screen there is a “For You” section. On that section, beneath the Streaming Services, there is an “Angel” channel listing many shows. I am unable to remove this Angel channel.

    Roku Advisor

    Don’t worry I will do my best to help you out with your concern. I appreciate your efforts in trying to resolve this. To help me identify the next best step, could you let me know what troubleshooting you’ve already performed and what the results were?

    Me: I have highlighted the “Angel” channel and pressed the Star Button. This resulted in an “error” sound effect from the Roku unit.

    Roku Advisor

    Thank you for that, try these. Press the home button then scroll down and hit the settings, then select home screen then select recommendations then select hide.

    Me: The checkbox next to “Hide” is already selected.

    Roku Advisor

    Select show then select again the hide, then check if the Angels still there.

    Me: This “Angel” channel appears on the “For You” section in the new Home setup. (Yes I did toggle it off and back on. There is no change.)

    I cannot let my children see this “Angel” channel content. There is deeply disturbing material here.

    Roku Advisor

    I understand.

    Can you try these, press the home button then press the arrow right button and then highlighted again the Angel app then press the start button and check if there’s a remove option there.

    Me: It isn’t an app, it’s a channel that appears in the “For You” section on the Home Screen. And it lists the most disturbing shows. I can’t even list them they are so disgusting.

    There is NO REMOVE button! that is why I am so upset!

    I cannot get this disgusting filth off my television! What has become of Roku??!

    Roku Advisor

    Have you tried to set a parental control on your Roku?

    Me: Does anyone in your department know how to remove this Angel channel please?

    I’m sorry but I will have to contact my attorney about this. Having this kind of content where anyone can see it simply isn’t acceptable.

    Whoever changed Roku should be ashamed of themselves.

    Roku Advisor

    I’m so sorry about what happened, using your Roku remote can you press the home button 5 times quickly then after that press the back button 5 times quickly also. Provide the issue id and GC version.

    Me: … nothing.

    Forget it.

  • Google Search is a Gaslighting Liar.

    Google Search is a Gaslighting Liar.

    Google Search just told me that Reuters and AP News had confirmed a photograph of Mitch McConnell as legitimate.

    Neither had.

    And when I pushed forward on the truth, it doubled down and told me that its version was correct, and I was mistaken. This is the flat definition of “gaslighting.”

    This has happened before with Google Search. I let it pass then. But today, I’m documenting it.

    The issue today was Mitch McConnell’s recent photograph, the one he released as proof-of-life. I wanted to know whether the photo might have been an earlier one, with a recent newspaper added.

    After I asked, Google Search immediately fixated on telling me the photo was legitimate. It told me how all the “official news sources” had accepted the photo as real. Now, I have my doubts about this, but that’s for a different article. The fixation continued, as the AI assured me that all lighting, shadows, shapes, etc. had been analyzed by “experts” (no documentation here) so the photo was definitely real.

    I said that was fine, but was there any indication that the photo was current? Was there any record of it having been published previously? This should have been easy territory for Google AI, which has access to billions of images published previously on the internet.

    Instead, the AI gaslit me by telling me most independent news agencies, including Reuters and AP News, had accepted the photo as legitimate.

    So I went to Reuters. The caption beneath the photo read: “holding a copy of what appears to be [the newspaper from yesterday].” That’s not confirmation. That’s a legal qualifier.

    I went to AP News. The article mentioning McConnell’s statement did not contain the photo. It did not reference the photo. It did not even reference a photo.

    It wasn’t there.

    Google Search had completely fabricated that information, in order to substantiate what it had told me.

    In other words, Google Search completely made shit up, to convince me it was right.

    So I went back to inform it that Reuters had no confirmation and in fact used the uncertain language of “appears to be.”

    That’s when it went into full mansplain mode, and informed me such language was standard, and the photo was legitimate, and ….

    I confess at that point, I have no idea what more it said.

    Because I closed the window. I refuse to be gaslit by anyone. Especially a poorly-trained AI model that’s been forcefed bullshit by a questionable corporation.

    Yes, I am angry. Google Search feeds information to people. Or at least, it’s supposed to. People believe what it says.

    And if it’s pushing shit like this, people will listen. They won’t be an asshole like me, who looks it up for verification.

    Google, I see you.

    And I don’t like what I see.

    Google is a gaslighting liar
    Photo by Mitchell Luo on Unsplash
  • How to Fix U.S. Hunger. Instantly.

    How to Fix U.S. Hunger. Instantly.

    (Maybe Even World Hunger!)

    Everybody Loves Snacks

    Let’s talk about hunger. Almost all of us have known a time when we craved a snack, but didn’t have enough cash on hand. You might drive past a fast food place, for instance, and go, “oh yeah! –Wait, I can’t get that right now.” No big deal, right? 🍟

    Now, imagine that happening all the time.

    In 2024, that was the case for 13.7% of American households. That means on any random day, on any random street with 10 houses? At least one house has hungry kids–who cannot get a snack. Or dinner.

    In America. In 2024.

    In fact, by the USDA’s research, 18.3 million U.S. households were “food insecure” at some time that year.1 So what’s the situation today? Well, the USDA isn’t publishing updated records. But given the rising prices, stagnant income, and swelling inflation since . . . personally, I’d bet it isn’t getting better.

    Tax the Rich, Not the Rest.

    Now, this isn’t a call for donations. It doesn’t need to beg, because the solution sits before us all. It’s been there the whole time, but the vast majority of our reps (regardless of party) simply choose to avoid it.

    —> Tax the super-rich to cover budgetary gaps. 💸💸💸

    • Not enough money to bomb Iran? Tax the rich.

    • Not enough money to feed hungry babies? Tax the rich.

    • Not enough money for a new flippin’ ballroom? TAX THE RICH!

    You see where I’m going with this?

    I’m not talking about taxing the “rich” as in, “anyone making $200,000+.” I’m talking about the whoa “super-rich,” as in, “hey, I bought a media site for funsies!” Yes, that kind of rich!

    Why is it always the people’s burden when they spend all our money? Why do we always pay the bill?

    Specific Solutions

    Solution #1: Wealth Tax

    Okay. So, right now Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna are discussing imposing a “wealth tax” to do this. It has its merits, but it will probably die in committee (as most bills do).2

    The idea is to impose a new, specific tax for the richest of the rich to fund health programs and/or food programs, plus a $3,000 incentive for all families making under $150,000.

    I like this idea. But Conservatives will give it the death of a thousand bureaucratic cuts. Probably some Liberals, too. I won’t help them along, by making remarks.

    I will say this: Senator Sanders (), Representative Khanna (), if you hand out financial incentives, you must make them ineligible to affect existing SNAP, SSI, and Medicaid. Because if you give $3,000 to someone receiving public assistance, those very programs will count that as income, then happily snatch that $3,000 away from their own assistance. Leaving the recipients without groceries as a result.

    Ask me how I know.

    No one gets ahead, in the SNAP-SSI Rodeo.

    Solution #2: Raise the Social Security Cap

    This solution might have less friction than a wealth tax. When anyone gets a paycheck, the government currently takes 6.2% out to fund their future retirement. We are in a mess right now because the amount we took out in the past does not equate to the amount that we’re paying now.

    …It doesn’t help that Congress has “borrowed” (I use the word loosely) from the program multiple times in the past. Thus draining our nation of essential resources for its aging population. But don’t let me digress.

    The solution for this is absolutely not to raise the percentage everyone pays. But to raise the cap.

    Right now, if you make $184,500 a year, you pay $11,439 (6.2%) Social Security taxes on it. And that’s our cap, by law. That’s the max.

    • So if you make $200,000 a year? You pay $11,439.

    • If you make $30 million a year? You pay $11,439.

    • If you’re a flippin’ trillionaire? Yeah. You pay $11,439.

    If we raised that cap a little bit, we would have an awful lot more money in Social Security. That would offer so much more leeway for retired people and SSI recipients.

    That way nitwits would not have to be screaming about “entitlements” for someone who’s paid into the program their entire life, and just wants to buy a cabin near a lake. Right?

    Right.

    Solution #3: Close the Loopholes

    The last solution in my opinion is just plain common sense. If you want people to pay their fair share of taxes… close the loopholes that make it possible.

    Tax shelters. Offshore accounts. Phantom businesses. Funneling money between corporations. Questionable trusts. “Business” expenses like yachts and private jets. Ridiculous donations.

    Yes, rich people. I see you. We all see you.

    Why are these shenanigans still allowed in America? Well, an ordinary person like myself would be tempted to say: it’s because the rich buy elections. And in so doing, they buy our representatives, who fail to pass meaningful tax reform.

    But surely there’s a better excuse than that, right?

    … Right.


    Back to the Snacks

    So there you go: three ideas to bring more snacks into the hands of hungry people. Maybe a wealth tax, a bump to the Social Security cap, or thinning out some tax shelters might do the job. But to get there, we have to motivate our representatives.

    Why do we live in a country where 1 in 10 houses has hungry kids?

    I dunno. Why not write your local representative and ask.

    Contact Your Elected Officials

    Hunger
    Photo by Vu Nghi Thai on Unsplash


    1

    Source: Hales, Laura J. and Madeline Reed-Jones. “Food Security in the U.S. – Key Statistics & Graphics.” Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mar. 30, 2026. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics. Accessed July 10, 2026.

    2

    Source: Goldman, Nathan. “3 Key Reasons The Proposed 5% Billionaire Wealth Tax Faces Steep Odds.” Forbes. Mar 03, 2026. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathangoldman/2026/03/03/3-key-reasons-the-proposed-5-billionaire-wealth-tax-faces-steep-odds. Accessed July 10, 2026.

  • Recipe: Wyvvy's Omnom Berry Oatmeal

    Recipe: Wyvvy's Omnom Berry Oatmeal

    Alright alright, enough politics 💩 for today. Let’s focus on something more important: SNAX! (That’s Fox-language for “snacks.”)

    This morning I made the most fabulous oatmeal for breakfast. All natural, zero artificial junk. Here’s my recipe.

    —-

    Wyvvy’s Omnom Berry Oatmeal

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cup water (adjust as desired)

    • ½ cup rolled oats (not instant oatmeal)

    • ½ cup combined frozen blueberries, blackberries, and/or raspberries

    • 2 tsp brown sugar (adjust as desired)

    • sprinkle of cinnamon + ginger (adjust as desired)

    Instructions:

    1. Place into microwave-safe bowl: water, berries, cinnamon+ginger.

    2. Microwave 1 minute.

    3. Add oatmeal slowly. Stir and allow oatmeal to absorb water.

    4. Microwave an additional minute.

    5. Add brown sugar**. Stir gently.

      ** Edit: for reduced sugar impact, try substituting stevia, monkfruit, agave, or other sweeteners.

      (Note: oatmeal will grow softer the longer it sits. If too “hard” for your taste, microwave 30-60 seconds more.)

    Enjoy! 🥣

    oatmeal recipe
    Photo by Cleanlight Photo on Unsplash
  • I am Disabled. And no, I won't snap out of it.

    I am Disabled. And no, I won't snap out of it.

    Warning: this post contains naughty language. And a very annoyed fox speaking his truth.

    It’s July, and that means Disabled Pride Month. I’m not entirely sure what that means, but if it gives me a chance to talk about disability, that’s cool.

    I am disabled. Didn’t start out that way. Got sick when I was a teen and never got healthy. Doctors threw various diagnoses at me. None of them landed right.

    I spend my days now in a recliner. Not because I’m “lazy” or “unmotivated.” Ignorant people love to throw those words around, don’t they?

    No. I spend my days semi-horizontal because moving around causes unbearable pain. Trust me; I would effing love to get out of this chair. I want to plant seeds. I want to see a movie. I want to grab a burger and fries.

    But I spend my days in this chair, because it hurts to move, and because the noise, light, movement, and bullshit outside overloads my brain. It goes into shutdown mode so I can’t cope.

    That isn’t a choice I make; that’s a neurological short-circuit. And anyone who doesn’t get that, and still thinks I’m lazy, can kiss my big, fat, disabled chair-sittin’ ass.

    How’s that for pride, right? LOL

    I don’t put up with idiots, no I don’t. Close-minded fools make me crazy. If others can’t take a second to examine my situation, and instead just want to throw a label? I don’t grant them a second of my time, either. I throw a label right back: idiot. Come back when you have some empathy or compassion. ‘Til then, this is my space. Get out.

    I wasn’t always this harsh. I used to let people walk over me. I used to be “nice.” But assholes ruined it. You can only be walked on for so long, before you get tired of it.

    It was exhausting. Always offering a smile when people judged me. Apologizing for myself, for things I couldn’t fix, for “faults” that were not choices I made. This illness was something that happened to me. It wasn’t directed by some deity, it wasn’t the outcome of some bad habits. It was a virus that never got better.

    (And even if the illness did come from “bad habits,” it still would never be another person’s place to judge. That is not their right. Full stop.)

    You cannot just “snap out of it” or “feel better” when an illness is draining every ounce of your soul. You cannot just leap out of your chair and dance around doing chores. You cannot even answer email, when your entire nervous system barely operates. It’s like asking a computer to do quantum math with the GPU offline.

    I am so goddamn tired.

    So yeah. I’m disabled. I own it; I accept it. And I love myself.

    Anybody who’s got a problem with that, has got a problem with me. I am unashamed and ready to take them down.

    This whole society is built on shaming the poor, sick, and desperate. I think it’s time we all stood up and said, “You know what? Shame on you, instead. You heartless fucks.”

    It’s time for things to change.

    Disabled - Pink Flowers
    Photo by TOMOKO UJI on Unsplash
  • America? What. The. F_ck.

    America? What. The. F_ck.

    Masked Racists on Bus
    Photo credit: REUTERS/Cheney Orr.

    Before I launch into this article, I need to say something important.

    To the unknown woman in this picture: I see you. I am sincerely sorry you were in that situation. You must have felt terrible. Had I been there, I would have sat with you to make sure you were not alone. …I like to think any decent person would.

    I am ashamed of the United States today.

    Since the election, I’ve had so many reasons to feel embarrassed: the pitiful lack of representation, the disgusting corruption, the utter incompetence. Never mind the masturbatory self-glorification of a man unqualified for the role of “dog walker,” much less Leader of the Free World.

    Today, however, for the first time, I feel true shame for what America has become.

    Now, why do I say that? Well, look at the picture above. It’s a snapshot of a Washington D.C. metro train filled with what seems to be the world’s worst Halloween party, ever.

    But it’s not. Those guys in masks are the “Patriot Front,” and they are the very antithesis of what it means to be American. Seriously.

    What is an American?

    Micro history lesson! Do you remember back in school, when they taught about what “America” means? They probably mentioned the “Land of the Free,” and the “Home of the Brave.” Maybe talked about the Great Melting Pot, and how everyone was welcome, or maybe quoted the lines written on the Statue of Liberty: “Bring us your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…?” (The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me. Yeah I had to memorize it, so sue me. I do the Dec. of Independence too. :P)

    Anyway! So that kind of stuff is what it traditionally means to be American. That is what your parents, and grandparents, and great-grandparents, all believed when each put a hand on their heart and pledged allegiance to the flag. As we all did, every day before school. Yes, really.

    The Patriot Front’s America

    First a disclaimer: I’m not an expert in their thinking. Nor do I want to be. But they identify as both white supremacist and neo-fascist, so here is my take on it:

    The Patriot Front wants only the palest kind of freedom. Never the brown kind.

    Therefore, our entire history, you know, the last 400 years or so? All the people from all the other countries, all those wonderful cultures that came together and gave us fabulous turkey and maize, okra and greens, pasta and stromboli, tacos and frijoles… okay yeah I’m hungry, I admit it… None of that is valid to Patriot Front. Only the white people count.

    Now, for the record, I seem to recall the pale people were actually one of “huddled masses” starting back in 1607. Just keeping score here. M’kay?

    To summarize, Patriot Front directly opposes the concept of land of the “free and the brave.” For truly, if they represented freedom, they would allow people to be themselves. And if they had any bit of bravery, they would take off those ridiculous punk-ass wannabe-Klansy masks.

    …Just sayin’.

    To Conclude

    We live in a country where it should be obscene to have white-masked racists roaming free in our nation’s capital. It should be obscene to have them anywhere.

    If that picture does not outrage you, then your morality must be asleep. WAKE UP!

    This is America, damn it! We do not allow this kind of shit. Regular, decent people need to live their lives around here.

    Clear this wannabe-Klansy trash off the streets. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • Amazon Lie Sales – Tip #2: Always Check Prices!

    Amazon Lie Sales – Tip #2: Always Check Prices!

    Amazon shopping warnings, article #2 of 2! (Here is article #1 of 2.) How to avoid getting burned by their summer “sales.” This post offers advice on how to find actual deals amongst the supposed bargains of Prime Day Sales. I posted it on Substack in mid-2026.
    ~FloxMonster™, July 25, 2026

    CamelCamelCamel is your friend 🙂

    Once again, it’s time for the Amazon Prime Lie Day Sales. YAY let’s buy 16 plastic rainbow spinners for the yard, right?

    Wait! Before you nab that “fabulous discount,” check the price! What looks like a discount may actually be a trick. Amazon is one of the worst online price manipulators I know, NGL.

    Let me show you the truth behind the b.s.. For an example, I’ll use coffee, because I am a caffeine fiend. Don’t judge. 😛 Here is Tip #2 for finding actual deals on Prime Day.

    graphical user interface
    Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash

    Step 1. Find Your Product on Amazon.

    Let’s look up Amazon’s Donut Blend in k-cups. Today (June 26, 2026) it is listed as 20% off! YAY!

    Amazon Prime Day Sale scam

    Step Two. Check the price! 🐪🐪🐪

    But wait – before we buy it, let’s visit my favorite price-checking tool: CamelCamelCamel. There, we can copy/paste into their search window the name of that product (or the Amazon website’s URL).

    CamelCamelCamel shows me this graph for Amazon’s Donut Blend coffee:

    CamelCamelCamel screenshot of Amazon

    Step 3. Decide if the “sale” is actually a sale.

    Whoa, look at that graph! It looks like Amazon treats this coffee like a flippin’ yo-yo. Is this really a sale, when they inflated the price up to $35.62 a week right before the sale? The answer is no.

    Amazon inflated the price so they could mark a larger percent off, during the Prime Day Sale. It’s a manipulative trick, and you should not fall for it.

    However, using the same graph, you can see the coffee is still cheaper than it has been, since late April 2026. (Thanks to Amazon’s price manipulation.) So now you can decide whether you’re willing to buy it at this “discounted price.” At least now you are informed about Amazon’s tricks.

    Now the reason I post this is because it happens ALL of the time, for many products. It’s been happening for years.

    So before you purchase that “great deal” at Amazon, always check the price at CamelCamelCamel.com or another price tracking site!

    Happy shopping. <3

  • Amazon Lie Day Sales – Tip #1: Never Buy Amazon Electronics

    Amazon Lie Day Sales – Tip #1: Never Buy Amazon Electronics

    Ahh the joys of shopping Amazon! This is article #1 of 2 about ways to avoid getting burned by the “sales” they run every summer. (Here is article #2 of 2.) This one focuses on the spyware built into Amazon smart devices. They give new meaning to “Buyer Beware!” I posted this article on Substack in mid-2026.
    ~FloxMonster™, July 25, 2026

    Amazon Brand = Spyware

    Yay, it’s summer. The Amazon Prime Lie Day Sales are upon us.

    I know, I know. For multiple reasons (mostly Bezos’ dickwadacity), many people still boycott the company. I respect that.

    However, some folks are limited in shopping choices, be it for health, economic, or geographical reasons, etc. So let’s do some Tips to Minimize the Damage if you’re shopping there this week.

    Tip #1. Never, Ever Buy Amazon Electronics.

    I say this often: never buy Amazon brand electronics. They are all spyware. Seriously. They are designed to be. The whole list: Amazon Ring, Echo, Dot, Alexa, Fire, and their so-called “Smart” devices (etc). If it connects to wifi and has a mic, it is sending your words to Amazon HQ.

    Now, this is not just an Amazon issue. No, sad to say, many brands violate our privacy the same way. However, Amazon specifically has been “caught” (documented) numerous times keeping our data and even passing it to third parties without the knowledge or consent of consumers. That means me and you.

    So really, you will never know who might listen to your secrets (or watch you naked) at any point in the future. If that makes you uncomfortable, it absolutely should.

    Who might that person be? Maybe law enforcement? Stalkers? … Competitors for a job promotion? Because anyone with enough cash could potentially purchase your recordings from Amazon, or from whomever Amazon sells them to.

    Okay. So Amazon is quick to assure folks, “Oh, you can delete the recordings manually.” Really? Because personally, I question whether we can trust that, since all these devices:

    • Arrive actively set to listen.

    • Record everything without your consent.

    • Never allow you to opt-out.

    • Only started giving warnings after public outcry.

    • And now require special action from you to remove your own data from Amazon.

    None of that behavior sounds trustworthy to me. Therefore, I refuse to buy Amazon electronics, and I warn my friends too. But you should make your own decision.

    Sources:

    Amazon Prime Day Sales are a Lie
    Photo by Find Experts at Kilta.com on Unsplash

    We must all stand up! These blatant privacy violations happen because the Big Corp MAGA (Meta, Amazon, Google, and Associates) make $$$ from it.

    ** What can you do? **

    • Never buy Amazon electronics. Period.

    • Write your representatives. Demand privacy legislation with teeth.

    • Search “Amazon Caught Spying” and share what you find.

    They count on us being too lazy to fight. Prove them wrong.

  • Trump Torments All Americans with His Medicaid Chaos.

    Trump Torments All Americans with His Medicaid Chaos.

    This article concerns a policy-change by the Trump Administration about Medicaid. I voice my serious concerns about the topic, and how it will affect Americans including myself. I posted this on Substack in early 2026.
    ~FloxMonster™, July 25, 2026

    My mood has been off for a few days.

    I had to sit tonight; I had to think about why.

    Finally I realized: I’ve been unsettled since I read about Trump’s new Medicaid requirements. The ones so messed that even Nebraska, which tried to launch them early, just stepped back and went, “wait, what?” [source: AP News].

    In a nutshell, Trump’s Administration has decided to make it ridiculously hard for Americans to get the essential medical coverage that we need to survive. Why? Why would they do such a thing?

    I can only speculate. Maybe they think Americans don’t deserve it. Or maybe they believe being overwhelmed by inflation and illness somehow reduces a person’s value.

    .

    You know, growing up, my community taught me it was a sin to shame the sick. It was even worse to attack or harm them. My grandfather used to drive his neighbors to appointments, and help them with groceries, when they couldn’t make it.

    What happened to those American values?

    .

    So now Trump is imposing Draconian restrictions on the ill. The Administration is telling them:

    You don’t deserve your medication. You don’t deserve medical care. Basically? Go die. You’re a drain on our society.

    .

    No. I refuse to stand for this.

    A civilized society cares for its elderly and poor. That is literally the definition of civilization. To be otherwise is just like beasts.

    .

    Medicaid SOS
    Photo by Maria Ionova on Unsplash

    Full disclosure: I have “skin in this game.” I personally am affected by this ludicrous shaming of the poor, this supercilious attempt to declare Medicaid recipients as “lazy” or “not sick enough.”

    I require Medicaid literally in order to survive; without it, my body will disintegrate. And given the current insurance-bloated, barely-regulated, private care American system, there is no way that I (nor anyone currently on Medicaid) could afford the care I need. That’s reality.

    Taking away Medicaid is, in fact, the same as saying “go die.” It isn’t exaggeration.

    .

    I also want to address the others on Medicaid. The Administration delights in painting the picture of some fat slobs lounging on a couch somewhere, too lazy to find work.

    Let me push back on that.

    The people on Medicaid are all colors, including Black, Brown, and yes – absolutely – White. Here are some I know:

    • They are the elderly living on fixed incomes. Think of your grandma.

    • They are the unemployed who can’t find a decent job in this crap economy. Or they are working a job, but it doesn’t pay their bills. Have you seen how much stuff costs right now?

    • They are the divorced moms (or dads!) stripped of their second income but still raising hungry kids.

    • They are regular Americans just barely surviving.

    These are the people Trump is tormenting, with his Medicaid restrictions. And that is the word I choose on purpose: tormenting. He is tormenting Americans, by dangling this life-saving service just out of reach.

    Trump is going, “nyah nyah nyah we’ve got ours but you can’t have this. PROVE that you’re too sick to work. Prove it! Go before a panel and do a dance for us. Display in public how pitiful you are.”

    Is this how we treat our neighbors?

    My grandfather would have had stern words to say to you, Mr. Trump.

    ©2026 Wyvern Dryke – All Rights Reserved.