So it turns out the windows 11 ‘shut down’ button no longer shuts down the computer entirely. I know this because task manager snitched on the runtime. So I shut it down and turn the main switch off and guess what happened on the next boot. American Megatrends. How the hell does windows 11 even manage to fuck up shutting down
Apparently it fucked with my bios settings? Now I can’t even run my emulator.
This shit was NOT set to off before. This OS is a virus that fucks with your system. And not in a good way.
I have a suggestion
For anyone who has any modern Windows PC: This has actually been broken since Windows 7! Maybe 8, I don’t remember, I just remember being the exact same level of horrified as OP when I finally noticed an 'up time’ of like three hundred some odd hours on my old PC despite it having been shut off regularly. Anyway.
The usual culprit of Windows not “fully” shutting down is “Fast Start Up” being turned on (which was and is “on” by default, because it does help a slow computer or a computer with a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) start up faster). Anyone with a modern Windows PC running an SSD as your boot drive should turn this off. The computer not fully shutting down can lead to weird compounded errors. So please follow along!
Type “power options” into your search bar and click the result, should look like this:
Which should open this:
Now we’re going to back up to “Power Options” by clicking that in the upper bar or hitting “Cancel” on the bottom right. Now you should be here:
On the left hit “Choose what the power buttons do”. Now you should be here:
Ignore the power button thing, but if your “Turn on fast startup (recommended)” is still on then turn it off! If yours is also greyed out make sure to hit that little blue thing with the shield near the top that says “Change settings that are currently unavailable” and then turn it off. Remember to hit “Save changes”. Now your computer should fully shut off!
If you don’t know how to check your “up time” to even know if this is a problem for you the easiest way to check is in the task manager. In the “performance” tab under your CPU at the bottom it will have an “Up time” like this:
(No comment on the SVM mode randomly disabling itself, it may or may not be related to this. I’ve never made use of and therefore never paid attention to mine and a lot of people aren’t going to have it because that’s AMD and while it’s been more popular lately Intel is still really big out there. AMDs known to be quirky though (I say this as an AMD user) so who even knows what happened there.)
I know the post became memeing on windows but this can cause actual issues on modern hardware so figured I’d hijack in case it helps someone out. (It’s something I have forgotten to check in the PCs I’ve helped friends make recently so I’m now having a “wuh oh” moment wondering if quirks one of them has been exhibiting is related to this.)
Windows 11 suddenly disabled the trackpad and keyboard of my Laptop. Never happened before, turns out it was caused by Quick start, but not the quick-start you set in the bios, but the Quick start hiding behind this:
Why the fuck is this setting so hidden? Quick start doesn’t even make the computer boot up any faster, at least not in any noticeable way, and it’s notorious for causing a bunch of stupid problems.
He looked confused. Said I should try a bit every day
I said “not when, how?” I asked what exercises I should do
He suggested half a dozen options that had all been explicitly banned by other doctors. I’m not allowed to run. I’m not allowed to bike. I’m not allowed to use my rowing machine or my punching bag.
I walk my dog whenever I have the energy and when it doesn’t hurt too much
What else can I do?
He told me I should exercise more
And then he changed the subject.
Next time a doctor tells me that, I’m asking “how?”
the first thing I did in my journey out of bed was kind of an accidental win. I bought a weighted blanket when I didn’t even have a gp because my other one left the area just before the pandemic hit, and didn’t give me any suggestions where to go when I was struggling a lot with brain fog; so I was without support or painkillers for a year.
it’s pale pink and fluffy. lighter than the one the company recommended for my age and size, and it’s still very heavy for me. the way all of the beads pull in such an unwieldy fashion can make it difficult to pull onto the bed. I could only handle half an hour at a time at the beginning.
but slowly, completely by accident, it actually helped. especially my core muscles and thighs from turning over in bed. I was just feeling anxious. I had no room in my head for thoughts of exercise. but I actually put on a scant bit of muscle. it was crazy
the second bit of exercise I started doing was to get out of bed and sit in a chair by the window instead of laying in bed.
the third, wearing clothes. showering a little more often. putting two braids in my hair instead of one.
then doing laundry
then learning to cook again, because brain fog had robbed me of most of what I knew.
and of course cooking meant more and better food, which gave me more energy and helped my body get a bit stronger
in there were stretches. I had no room in my head for videos or books so I did the three I could still remember from back when I saw a good physio years ago. I could only do three repeats at first, not even the five that was a recommended set.
all of that helped me get strong enough to make it to sit through a two day course at the pain clinic, and thankfully they weren’t like OP’s doctor, they were adamant that pacing is vital to any improvement if you have chronic pain. pushing too far too fast is the enemy. low and slow. persistence. is key
it was crazy to sit in that chair with my blanket and a pillow to hold onto so I could lean on it, and prop myself up, because a lot of what they said I’d kind of worked out. but they were scientists and doctors who had all experienced chronic pain and so they had the terminology and were able to piece it together
and most of all they vindicated my own course that I’d stepped on by accident.
and finally when my new gp asked me every month whether I’d thought about taking some walks I was able to say ‘I believe I’ll get there, but not yet. and the pain climic agree with me.’
and I did get there. I don’t walk as much as she would like but honestly I don’t think she’ll ever be happy lmao
the thing most doctors, even many chronic illness specialists and chronic pain specialists fail to account for is that the activity you’re already doing is important (vital, even, because personal maintenance and living life is very important!) and it’s already exercise and strain and very energy consumptive. it counts! and also they greatly underestimate the incredible value of seriously seriously small, tiny, incremental steps that can actually account for massive improvement over time for the chronically ill—if we’re allowed to pace ourselves properly, for, like…ever and not just a certain period of time
I don’t know your pain, I don’t know your body. but I recommend that you sit down and think about—or perhaps actually just take note over the course of your days and weeks, what activity you’re already doing. maybe at first you’ll only notice when something makes you hurt, but take note of it. because that matters*. and you can build off of that. slowly slowly slowly.
you’re a persistence predator. we walk slower, we do everything slower; and many of us will never get to a place where the average physio will approve of our condition.
but fuck them. we can build muscle; I’ve seen it. we can gain small amounts of improvement without undoing all of the good work we put in. but we have to be patient, and persistent, and we have to be cautious and we have to be brave
*I do feel the need to add that I also learned how to arrange my day so that some activities hurt less. and I learned over the course of a year —and really i’m still learning—to see my days in fifteen minute to half hour increments because I have to consider PEM as well. stretches have to happen if I sit in the chair too long. especially if I’m on my computer. a very short walk is best if I’ve been out and sitting at tables because that puts so much strain on my back. it takes spoons and it’s really tempting to think it’s too much but I generally find the pain the next day if I don’t takes more spoons than if I do. most activities at home are done in fifteen minute on thirty minute off shifts. when I say slow I mean slow
that’s not always possible. I don’t have kids, and just sent the cat I was living with to another home with someone who could bend without crying all the time. I have time and space to set that pace and not everyone can. life can be complicated.
but
you can exercise. you just need to vastly vastly change what the word exercise movement activity mean for you.
anyway I hope that helps
big pain day today so I’m feeling very bitey esp about doctors
you’re a persistence predator.
@this-is-ableism Not ableism, but I think it could be useful for people on your blog as well as here!
As for my followers and anyone who sees this, I hope this helps. When Doctors don’t give real solutions to pain/mobility issues/chronic illness symptoms because they brush it off as a “weight problem”, carefully finding what you can do to strengthen your body and lessen pain can be vital.
As more and more people are being forced to switch to Windows 11, Microsoft’s most AI-malware-ridden OS yet, I’ve been putting together articles and links for how to undo the damage and save your battery, your RAM, your disk space, your privacy, and your sanity from this bullshit.
FIRST:
The easiest way to get rid of the majority of the bullshit that Windows is forcing on us, as of October 2025, is this one-stop-one-click debloat solution from a modern day hero:
It’s very easy, even if you’re not tech savvy or get scared of pop up windows saying “ARE YOU SURE?” Yes, you are sure, I promise. This program takes maybe two minutes and will save you SO MUCH pain, time, and money (and exploitation).
Now that you’ve done that, here’s the cleanup, to catch the little shit that the debloat might have missed (most of this will already be done by debloat, but hey, it’s good to double check).
Even just reading about some of these features makes me angry. Fucking Copilot and “Discover” AI scrapers are in Notepad. NOTEPAD. And then there’s this uncanny valley garbage:
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No uncanny valley video calls for me, thanks! (Also, what else is it doing while it scans your face and listens to your calls? What else, microsoft? Because there was a lot of memory being assigned to this program for a simple “smooths your skin” add on).
Hey everyone are you ready for yet another round of AI BULLSHIT well I’ve got a doozy for you: YouTube has decided to automatically “upscale low-quality videos” with AI, fundamentally altering your viewing experience as a consumer and hobbling your freedom as a creator.
How to opt out as a creator:
Go to YouTube Studio, click on Settings, then click on Channel
Click on Advanced Settings
Uncheck “Let YouTube enhance visual quality”
Uncheck “Let YouTube enhance audio quality”
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How to opt out as a viewer:
Click on Settings
Go to Quality
Make sure the AI-enhanced option (dubbed ‘Super Resolution’) has been switched to “original resolution”
Why this matters:
Aside from adding an incredible amount of energy burn to content without the creator’s knowledge, a lot of content was made to be viewed at their original resolution for a reason. No one wants to watch Marble Hornets on 'Super Resolution’. A number of creators have noticed this already happening to YouTube Shorts, where AI-upscaling has led to inaccuracies in technical demonstrations and odd visual distortions.
By hobbling a creator’s ability to control what their final product looks like, creators cannot rely on the platform to present their work as intended. It should be an outrage, frankly, to anyone who relies on YouTube to share their work or enjoy the works of others.
Love how tumblr has its own folk stories. Yeah the God of Arepo we’ve all heard the story and we all still cry about it. Yeah that one about the woman locked up for centuries finally getting free. That one about the witch who would marry anyone who could get her house key from her cat and it’s revealed she IS the cat after the narrator befriends the cat.
Might I add:
The defeat of the wizard who made people choose how they’d be to be executed
The woman who raised the changeling alongside her biological child
The human who died of radiation poisoning after repairing the spaceship
The adventures of a space roomba
Cinderella finding Araura (and falling in love)
I don’t know a snappy description but the my nemesis cynthia story certainly lives in my head
hilariously, these are almost all in my fic tag. so, a compiled list from the notes (and some extras):
not to vague anyone but switching from spotify to youtube music is not raging against the machine <3
I saw the “youtube music is raging against the machine” post again so instead of ripping someone’s throat out with my teeth here is Arthur’s Official Media Privacy For Dummies Post <3
My credentials are that I have 700 songs I didn’t pay for on a refurbished ipod from 2007 and it’s AWESOME. (PS backmarket.com for refurbished tech they have lots of old ipods if you’re into that. But also phones and laptops and shit for cheap.)
First off. Reddit.com/r/piracy forever and ever. Go through their masterpost they have literally anything you could ever want. You will never pay for media of any sort again. The people of reddit are smarter than me.
If you currently use Spotify and wish to stop, here is where I would start:
1. Bandcamp!! If you want to financially support your favorite artists it’s Bandcamp.
Plug your playlists into merch table they will do the hard work for you here <3
A handy youtube clone that’s good for streaming or downloading music and videos.
And finally, this isn’t piracy advice but you don’t need daily curated playlists and you definitely don’t need yearly listening stats. Listen to the bands your friends listen to. Keep a list of songs people recommend to you. Try to find a local radio show or a college radio channel. Go to local shows. Be curious about genres and new bands. Put effort into curating and owning your music library, it’s worth it.
btw while people continue to fight the system don’t forget about Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt), a charity that buys and forgives medical debt. on average a donation of $10 will forgive $1,000 of medical debt.
I’m fairly confident that this is now the one original post I’ve made that has gotten the most notes, and I honestly couldn’t be happier. the more attention we give this, the higher the chances that someone will see this and donate. medical debt is both one of the most crushing things a person can deal with and one of the stupidest things humanity has invented. and if you live in the US, I have no doubt that you’ve had to deal with medical debt in your life, either for yourself or a loved one. even a small donation can do so much good, and now is the time of year when we are encouraged to think of others.
i think a lot of ppl assume food pantries are for if you’re completely destitute and have no food in your house at all.
just so you know if you forego certain foods because you can’t afford them or you can’t “justify” spending the money, you might be able to get that food at a pantry.
i was living in a super wealthy area once where the only grocery store within a 40 minute drive was all fancy upcharged local organic and i literally pretty much stopped eating fresh produce because i couldn’t afford it. i went months without eating a carrot or greens or anything that didn’t come from a can. sometimes i got frozen veggies.
so sure, i was eating. i wasn’t starving. i was getting nutrition. but it was nuts that as an animal on earth where plants grow in abundance, i didn’t get to eat any of them fresh. people deserve fresh produce!
one day i was lamenting it and my friend was like, “oh yeah i get all of my produce every week at the food pantry.”
i was surprised bc she made the same paycheck as me and i wouldn’t have thought of either of us as someone who ‘qualified’ for food assistance. i went to the food pantry and found out because the median income in our town was so high, i did qualify. more than that, they asked for no proof of income, it was more of a 'if you think you need help, we don’t make you prove it,’ situation.
for like 8 months i got all of my produce (and eggs!) there every week. and yes if i had made sacrifices elsewhere in my life i probably could have afforded some produce at the local grocery store. i could have, i don’t know, skipped seeing the one movie i saw at a move theater once every couple of months and spent the $8 on spinach one time instead of the ticket and had spinach once every couple of months.
but the point is the food pantry had more than enough to go around. if i hadn’t taken some of their produce, it would have gone bad. the resource was available to me, and there was no reason for me to crawl on my hands and knees to qualify for it.
resources like food assistance are not available everywhere and they can be very limited and hard to come by. they won’t be given out just for fun to anyone. if you ask for assistance and are offered assistance in reply, you need to believe that the assistance is available for you.
if a food assistance program doesn’t have resources to help you, it’ll say so. there is no harm in asking! you will be told 'yes’ or 'no.’ but you won’t know until you ask.
stop convincing yourself that you don’t deserve assistance, that everyone else needs it more than you, that you’re taking it from someone else, that you should have nothing at all in order to deserve anything.
you deserve to not only eat but to eat well. if there’s assistance for you to access better foods than what you have, understand how fortunate you are, and stop denying yourself that resource!
accessing food assistance at pantries is also a great way to help yr community, because you can spread the word and help normalize receiving food assistance in yr community. you can even become a volunteer and be part of the team providing to you and others (i did that and it rocked)!
my point is, yes, there is always someone who needs something 'more’ than others. i have been completely destitute and it sucks. but when i went to the food pantry never once did i think, 'nobody better be here if they have more than me.’ i was grateful that we all had support.
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