Lifting Up And Dumbing Down Part 42

Lifting Up and Dumbing Down Part 42

“Looking good, Harry,” you low as you tower over the man who had first nudged you into your incredible metamorphosis. He panted and huffed as he pushed the bar up again and again in rigid form. “I can’t ... believe I’m doing this,” he grunted. The agent’s arms trembled as he puffed out several short breaths, struggling to reach that top. “Image is an important part of any business deal, Harry. To negotiate from a position of strength, one must be a pillar of strength,” Hank said as he looked on calmly from the side. Then he looked over at you. “By the way, I like the new design. The gym logo looks good on you.” You grin, bouncing your pecs, which causes the golden bicep and upper arm that is the gym’s logo to “flex” over your chest. “Your gym is the best! How could I not agree to be your top model?” Hank cleared his throat. “While I appreciate the flattery, I believe you have some more ... pressing matters to deal with.” He pointed down to where a beet-faced Harry was struggling to maintain his position as his arms locked in place. Your eyes widened and you quickly dove in to intercede. “I got you, Harry.” “It’s I’ve,” Harry grunted as you began to lift the bar ever so slightly for him. “No, I’m pretty sure your name is Harry,” you reply with a completely straight face. “Unless you’ve been lyin’ to me?” “God, you’re such a dumbass,” Harry swore as the bar finally landed above its resting point and dropped into place. “Well, uh, yeah,” you say, still not getting it. “It’s good to be a dumbass, cause that’s what a muscleman is, and it’s good to be a muscleman, so it’s good to be a dumbass. Just a big, buff, ... burly, ... brawny....” you slur off as that familiar pleasure and emptiness strike at your brain again. Hank frowned, then called your name. “Why don’t you go prep the weight machines for your group session tonight?” “Huhuhuh. Sure thing, Coach,” you low, then turn and lumber away. “A good muscleman obeys.” Hank watched carefully as you made your way through the gym’s patrons towards the Staff Only closet. He watched as you withdrew the weight machine control key and various cleaning supplies, along with a set of stanchions to cordon off the machines that were to be used that night. Content that you were thoroughly diverted, he rounded on Harry and glared. “You don’t ever insult my musclemen, especially not my new ones. You’re damn lucky he didn’t listen to the Loud and Proud track, or you would be little more than a smear I have to clean up off the floor.” He snatched Harry’s workout shirt in one mammoth fist and yanked the man to eye level. “I’m the one in charge here. I’m the alpha. You are the gum on the bottom of my shoe. I allow you to stay, but I can take away everything from you just as quickly, then cast you aside. I could make you fatter than the Stay Puff marshmallow man, more timid than a wild rabbit, and more sensitive than a butterfly. See how well you broker deals, after that.” Harry gulped. “Clearly, you need more training. Perhaps walking a mile in their shoes will help you to have a little more patience for them in the future.” “Um, that’s all right, Sir. I-I’ve learned my lesson. I promise. Scout’s honor.” Harry chuckled nervously as he watched the predatory sneer pull across Hank’s face. “Good. That means it’s time for a new one. Conditioning time, Harry.” Harry’s eyes widened, then he gasped and his body went limp. “Ready to receive,” he uttered in a dull monotone. Hank lowered the man back to the floor. “Report to sound room C. You have a new persona to incorporate.” “Yes, Sir. I understand.” Harry turned smartly and marched straight for the STAFF ONLY door near the shake bar. Meanwhile, Hank raised his digital watch and tapped a few buttons on its screen. When an affirming tweet sounded in his ears, he smirked, then turned to look back at your well-toned deltoids and carved lats stretching the fabric on your shirt. “I can’t wait to make you bigger,” he purred.

That is an incredible story. I’d love to learn more.

Hazel Scott playing two pianos at the same damn time with ease

Lifting Up and Dumbing Down Part 43

“So, you see, kids, bodybuilding isn’t just a game. Just like any other job, it takes hard work, dedication, discipline, and endurance. It’s helped my career as a professional model immensely, but it’s not always the easiest job to manage. If you have the will and the networking, you can and will go far in the industry. Otherwise, well, there are always other options available. In fact, my good friend Duff is about to explain one of those alternate paths now. Let’s give him a big round of applause, shall we?” You smile as you watch Duff walk out onto the stage. You were quite pleased with yourself over that little speech, and you hadn’t even cursed once. Hank would be so proud. You give your friend a clap on the shoulder and whisper a quick, “go get ‘em,” before leaving the stage. You smile as you eye the toned, muscular shape of your lil’bro, Charlie. He stood rigidly at perfect attention in his military fatigues and sandy shirt. A pair of specially crafted tactical glasses obscured what you were certain would be absolutely unseeing eyes. You chuckle to yourself. “Come on, soldier. Let’s get you something to drink.” Charlie followed without question as you strode over to the drinks table and pulled out two bottles of Gatorade. You had one of the bottles to him. “Bottoms up.” “Sir, yes, Sir,” Charlie mumbled as he snapped the cap open and gulped the contents of the bottle in one go. You soon follow suit. “That ROTC program’s done you good,” you comment. “I will start instructing at the start of next year. It is good to instruct others, good to train the next generation of soldiers,” Charlie replied. “It is what my commanding officer commanded me.” “What about the recruiting office?” “I will train for another year first, as instructed. I must be prepared. I must become a perfect soldier.” You smile broadly. One more year helping your little bro get big. That had to be one of the best presents you could ask for. “And we’ll help you reach that goal,” you say. “With you all the way, lil’bro.” “Thank you, Sir,” he says. You sigh and roll your eyes in resignation. He never could tell the difference in trance. You were the same way, sometimes with Harry. Some days, it was almost like you could see a piece of Hank in him. And that piece just ... demanded your attention, made you want to flex and grow and flex and lift and flex and ... and.... You blink blearily at the strange tapping on your shoulder. Slowly, Duff’s grin came into view and you scowled. “I went into trance again, didn’t I?” “Yup,” Duff smirked. “You’re doing that a lot, lately.” “I can’t help it,” you protest weakly, even as you raise an arm and flex your rippling bicep. “It feels so good.” “How’s Charlie coming along?” “Lil’bro’s doing okay. He says he’s still got a year, before he tries joining, so we’ve got time to bulk him up right.” Duff grinned. “Good.” “How’re things at the new gym?” “Busy. Business is booming. Seeing all those men pumping up like that, it is good to build their muscles.” “They will Lift things up and put them down,” you low. Both of your watches beep and your cellphones go off simultaneously. At that moment, the both of you stand rigidly, as if you were struck by twin bolts of lightning. “Time to report to coach,” you drone. “Time to lift,” Duff continues. “Time to train,” you both low together as you swagger side by side in that perfectly synchronized pace, almost like a march. “Time to obey.”

Military Daze Part 1

I’m telling you, man, there’s something going on in this place. It’s just not normal! Everyone looks and acts like everybody else, and it’s really starting to freak me out. I feel like I’m being watched wherever I go. And since it’s summer, that gives my COs even more time to breathe down my neck. My TAC officer keeps appearing in just about every hiding spot I try. It’s like they’ve got a tracker or something on me. They’ve been running me ragged with those exercises, and my back is killing me from all the cleaning assignments. On the plus side, who knew I could actually piss them off enough to get them to pull out the old tooth brush trick? On the down side, who knew cleaning would be so ****ing hard with just a toothbrush? It’s like my head barely hits the pillow and I’m suddenly waking up bright and early to morning taps reveille. It’s worth it, though. I won’t let them break me. I won’t let them mold me into a perfect cadet. I won’t let them play with me, like some doll. I’m ... I’m not a doll. I’m not. I’m Ken. I’m ... I’m just Ken. Just--. Shit Shoot. TAC officer just walked in. Abe, whatever you do, don’t stop sending me emails. Remind me who I am. ... Please. I’m Kendall Rogers. Prankster, fun-lover, rebel. I’m Kendall Rogers. I am not a doll. I am Kendall Rogers. I am Kendall Rogers. I am Kendoll Rogers. Kendoll Ken doll Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

You sigh as you look up from the journal you’ve compiled. That had been the last email you’d received from your friend, but showing it to anyone else would have been a pointless endeavor. It would be put down as a prank Kendall was pulling to get out of trouble and try to diminish the academy’s reputation. After the last incident, most of the adults had given up on him. You knew him better than most, though. He actually sounded scared, and Kendall never allowed himself to show fear, even if he felt it. For him to open up like this, to actually admit he was getting “freak[ed] ... out,” something had to be wrong. ... It had to. Ken wouldn’t pull a stunt like that with you. He wouldn’t. ... Would he? You groan as you close the book’s cover and plop your arms on the desk to hold your forehead in your hands. You and the others tried your best to keep his memory alive, but without Kendall around, it just ... wasn’t fun anymore. You missed Ken. You all did. The others wanted their leader back. They were almost listless without their fearless commander pushing onward into the next adventure, heedless of the dangers, dauntless to the end. You? You just wanted your friend back. Unfortunately, you had the sneaking suspicion that may never happen. That last letter had been sent a month ago. You hadn’t received a reply since, but you honored his request to keep writing, all the same. You sighed again as the summer sun filtered through the window overhead to bathe you in its warmth. “Damn it, Kendall, what happened to you?” you mutter. And then the doorbell rang.

Scammer Red Flags and Things to Look for/Check Against

You’ve probably read my last post by now. Someone tried to scam me out of my identity or money earlier this morning. It’s a plague the internet is facing more and more. As I said before, I’m sick of it, and I’m sure you all are, too. For those of you who are new to the freelancer field or are just new to online job searching in general, here are some tips and red flags to note and use as you deal with digital interviews, so you can keep your identity and your money safe.

1. Has the scammer asked you to use a different platform than the job site or freelance hiring service? While this is not always an immediate indicator of a scammer, it is something that should put your guard up. Most of these sites prefer you to keep with them, so they can monitor your interactions and ensure everything is on the up-and-up. There are many companies that prefer to cut out the middle man, once they find a good candidate, so this isn’t always going to mean the person is a scammer, but you do still need to be cautious. Be especially wary, if they ask you to use Google Hangouts. This platform has no means of reporting scam artists or suspicious messages/conversation threads that I have been able to locate, so it’s an ideal place for scammers to try to herd their potential victims. Try to get them to come to you on the platform where you were initially contacted or a place where you will be able to flag and report them quickly, should it become apparent they are trying to scam you. 2. Have they given you information on the company they represent yet?

If they haven’t, make sure to ask about this, before giving them anything. You need those details to ensure this person really is the representative he or she claims to be. Ask for location, name, how long they’ve been in business, etc. These are details you can use to make sure you find the right company and see how reputable it is as an organization. It will also allow you the opportunity to call the company, once you’ve confirmed it’s legitimate, to check your HR representative or hiring manager is a real employee. 3. Have you checked up on that company? Most companies have their own websites and contact information, and are registered on multiple job searching websites and government websites, since all businesses need to register with the US Government and State Government, when they are established, for tax purposes. Check for these things at websites like the Better Business Bureau and the Secretary of State website for whichever state and town the scammer provided. These sites are designed to help you search for these companies to ensure they are legal and legitimate. Assuming your scammer provides one, you can also review their website for any discrepancies or red flags, like if the address is legitimate, where the phone number leads, if real photos are included from the physical location, whether the site is professionally done or a shoddy slap-together job, and if information written on the web pages contradicts itself. 4. Have you checked to ensure this person is part of the company’s staff (Call the company up, check LinkedIn, etc.)? 5. Have you made sure the company is registered in the state or country the scammer has mentioned? There are many professional sites designed to show these licences and certifications, so you can know whether a company is properly registered. Refer to question three’s answer for examples. 6. Have you checked how long the company has been established? 7. Is the grammar, spelling, etc. degrading over time as you interact? If so, it’s likely this person isn’t a legitimate HR representative, and you’ve pulled them off the script they’re following. No respectable American company employs someone who can’t communicate effectively and in proper English as part of their job recruitment department. 8. Is the scammer not willing to give you basic information, like company location? If so, then he or she is probably a scammer. 9. You’ve only been on for a few minutes, asking easy questions (like location), and they’re already brushing you off, claiming they have other interviews waiting, and they will get back to you with the information. You are supposed to be in an official interview. No hiring manager books multiple interviews at the same time, unless they have staff that are trained and can handle each case individually, before sending the results back up to him/her, so he/she can focus specifically on you. And questions, like specific location, are simple to answer for any experienced HR manager. 10. Is the email account associated with the company they claim to represent? Most scammers use a burn email, an account with random digits, numbers, or names that have nothing to do with the business they claim to represent. This is a big red flag, since most HR people have an email that’s associated with their company or can give you enough information to double check their credentials independently. 11. If they try to get your personal information, like address, phone number, bank info., etc. before answering your basic questions to check the legitimacy of their claims. NEVER give them ANY of these, until you have verified that they are legitimate. If they haven’t to your satisfaction, push back on getting the info you need, before you give yours. It helps, if you explain someone has tried to scam you before. This will make the HR agent more reasonable and understanding, if it’s legitimate. If it’s not, then the comment might throw the scammer off balance as he or she tries to assure you they aren’t another scammer. 12. Is the scammer offering you a larger-than-average salary? This is another tactic many would-be-scammers use to draw you in. While not always a definite giveaway, it is something that should raise your wariness and make you look for the other red flags in this post. 13. If you’ve called the scammer out on their behavior and they pull the pathetic card (AKA an appeal to emotion and empathy to try to justify their position, rather than answer the questions). In my case, the scammer used family ties, claiming to be an upstanding grandfather with five kids and ten grandchildren. That had nothing to do with the company or my questions about the company he claimed to represent. Don’t be fooled by this tactic, and DON’T FEEL GUILTY! This is your IDENTITY on the line. Keep those shields up. Even if you lose a potential job, it’s better in the long run to be cautious and safe, then to get scammed out of your hard-earned money or worse. 14. In the end, if you still haven’t budged, the scammer will try to make it seem like you’ve lost out on a big opportunity. In my case, after 13 happened, the scammer said since I wasn’t comfortable with the interview and felt like it wasn’t legitimate, he would remove all my information from their systems. The thing is, there WAS NO INFORMATION for him to have on file, other than my name and the email I used to contact him. Scammers will use the guilt from 13 and combine it with your greed or desperation for a good paying job to try to get you to reconsider. Don’t let them manipulate you like this.

If you’ve verified you have a scammer, contact the proper authorities. There are a variety of websites you can report to. You can also talk to your local police to get information on how best to handle the situation and who to report the incident to. Most job hiring sites have ways to catch these kinds of people, eventually, but they often require flaggers to notify them, before they know to act. That’s why we have law enforcement and various sites to report and warn about these people. Stay safe, fellow freelancers and net-goers. I hope these tips help you all. ~Omnitf

I Don’t Know

I don’t know if I’ve done the right thing. I don’t know if I’ve misspoken. I don’t know if I’ve hurt or annoyed you. All I do know is I am anxious and worried to have done these things, despite our no longer being involved. I think I still have feelings. I don’t know if they’ll ever truly fade away. I don’t know.... Do you feel the same?