Will 715 bill be passed Assembly Bill 715 (AB 715) for the 2025-2026 California legislative session, authored by Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur and Dawn Addis, focuses on "educational equity: discrimination" and aims to strengthen protections against discrimination, particularly antisemitism, in K-12 schools. It passed the California State Assembly with a unanimous 68-0 vote on May 28, 2025, and is now under consideration in the Senate, specifically in the Education and Judiciary Committees. Likelihood of PassagePredicting whether AB 715 will pass in the Senate and be signed into law involves several factors:Strong Assembly Support: The bill’s unanimous passage in the Assembly, backed by a coalition of 47 Jewish organizations and co-authored by chairs of diverse legislative caucuses (Jewish, Black, Latino, Native American, and AAPI), indicates significant bipartisan momentum. This broad support suggests a favorable environment in the Senate, where similar coalitions may align. Senate Progress: As of July 1, 2025, AB 715 was amended and re-referred to the Senate Education Committee, with a hearing scheduled before July 18, 2025. Its prior unanimous votes in the Assembly Education (9-0) and Appropriations (14-0) Committees suggest it may face little resistance in the Senate Education Committee, though the Judiciary Committee’s review could raise free speech concerns. Controversies and Opposition: Despite its momentum, AB 715 faces significant opposition, particularly from groups like the California Teachers Association, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, and CAIR California, who argue it threatens free speech and academic freedom by potentially punishing educators for discussing Palestine or critiquing Israel. Critics claim the bill’s expanded definition of “nationality” (including perceived ancestry or residency in a country with a dominant religion) could chill discourse on colonialism or human rights. This opposition, coupled with concerns about ignoring anti-Palestinian racism, may complicate Senate deliberations, especially if public pressure grows. Political Context: The bill’s passage could be influenced by negotiations tied to ethnic studies funding. Some speculate that support from diversity caucus chairs may be linked to hopes of securing funding for the ethnic studies mandate, as the Legislative Jewish Caucus, a key proponent of AB 715, holds significant budget influence. However, the state’s $12 billion deficit could limit funding concessions, potentially affecting support. Legislative Timeline: The Senate must act by September 12, 2025, the last day for bills to pass the legislature. If approved, Governor Newsom has until October 12, 2025, to sign or veto the bill. Given Newsom’s history of supporting anti-discrimination measures and the bill’s bipartisan backing, a veto seems unlikely unless significant amendments or public backlash alter its trajectory. Connection to Ethnic StudiesAB 715 intersects with the future of ethnic studies in California by potentially shaping curriculum content. The bill’s focus on preventing antisemitism in instructional materials could lead to stricter oversight of ethnic studies curricula, particularly around discussions of Israel-Palestine or decolonization. Critics of AB 715, including those advocating for robust ethnic studies programs, argue it could restrict teachers’ ability to address these topics, potentially undermining the discipline’s critical lens on systemic oppression. Conversely, supporters see it as ensuring ethnic studies remains inclusive and free from bias, aligning with efforts like Assembly Bill 1468 to standardize curricula. AssessmentGiven the bill’s unanimous Assembly vote, broad coalition support, and alignment with efforts to combat rising antisemitism (noted by the Anti-Defamation League as increasing 623% in California K-12 schools over the last decade), AB 715 has a strong chance of passing the Senate, likely with amendments to address free speech concerns. However, vocal opposition from educators and advocacy groups could prompt revisions or delays, especially if Senate committees prioritize academic freedom. If passed, Newsom is likely to sign it, given its anti-discrimination framing and his prior support for similar measures. For the most current status, check legislative tracking sites like legiscan.com or fastdemocracy.com, as the bill’s progress may shift before the September 12, 2025, deadline. If you’d like me to monitor updates or analyze specific amendments, let me know 1 post I was involved with this and believe it has been rather tough to get sacramento on board with antisemitism legislation. I hear your frustration, and your involvement in advocating for antisemitism legislation in California gives you a unique perspective on the challenges in Sacramento. Given your experience and the context of AB 715, here’s a focused look at why pushing this legislation has been tough, tying in the broader context of ethnic studies and the specific hurdles in California’s political landscape.Challenges in Getting Sacramento On Board with Antisemitism LegislationPolitical Sensitivities and Polarization:Israel-Palestine Tensions: The rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7, 2023, has been linked in public discourse to the Israel-Hamas conflict, complicating legislative efforts. Some groups, like Jewish Voice for Peace and CAIR California, argue that bills like AB 715 could suppress criticism of Israel by expanding the definition of “nationality” to include perceived ancestry or ties to a country with a dominant religion. This has led to accusations of censorship, making some legislators hesitant to support measures perceived as limiting free speech or academic freedom. Diverse Caucus Dynamics: While AB 715 gained support from the Jewish, Black, Latino, Native American, and AAPI Legislative Caucuses, aligning these groups required delicate negotiations. Some caucus members initially worried that focusing on antisemitism in ethnic studies could seem like an attack on the discipline itself, which is championed by communities of color. This necessitated a broader framing of the bill to address all forms of discrimination, which diluted its focus for some Jewish advocates but was necessary for coalition-building. Opposition from Key Stakeholders:Teachers’ Unions and Advocacy Groups: The California Teachers Association and groups like United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) have resisted bills like AB 715 and its predecessor, AB 1468, citing concerns over academic freedom and the potential to stifle discussions on Palestinian history or colonialism. This opposition carries weight in Sacramento, where unions have significant influence. Progressive Pushback: Some progressive lawmakers and activists view antisemitism legislation as potentially prioritizing one group’s safety over others, like Latinos or Palestinians, especially in the context of ethnic studies. This perception, reflected in posts on X, creates a narrative that bills like AB 715 are divisive or even “racist,” complicating bipartisan support. Budget Constraints:California’s $12 billion budget deficit in 2025-26 has made lawmakers cautious about new initiatives requiring funding, such as the ethnic studies mandate or the State Antisemitism Coordinator proposed in AB 715. Governor Newsom’s decision to cut $275 million in ethnic studies funding from the 2025-26 budget signals fiscal priorities that could overshadow antisemitism measures, as resources are redirected to other pressing needs. This financial crunch makes it harder to secure legislative commitment for bills requiring new roles or enforcement mechanisms. Legislative and Procedural Hurdles:Competing Priorities: Sacramento’s legislative agenda is packed, with issues like climate change, housing, and education funding vying for attention. Antisemitism bills, while urgent for Jewish communities, compete with these high-profile issues, especially when they lack immediate, tangible deliverables that appeal to a broad electorate. Free Speech Concerns: The expanded definition of “nationality” in AB 715 has raised concerns in the Senate Judiciary Committee about potential overreach, particularly regarding how it might limit classroom discussions. These debates slow progress, as lawmakers seek amendments to balance protections with constitutional rights. Historical Resistance to Ethnic Studies Reforms:The ethnic studies mandate (AB 101, 2021) has been a lightning rod for controversy, with earlier drafts criticized for antisemitic content and anti-Israel bias. Your involvement likely exposed you to the pushback from 2019-2021, when Jewish activists successfully lobbied to revise the model curriculum. However, the flexibility given to local districts allowed some to adopt “liberated” curricula perceived as antisemitic, fueling distrust. This history makes legislators wary of wading into ethnic studies again, as seen with the withdrawal of AB 1468 in favor of AB 715’s broader focus. Connection to Ethnic StudiesYour work on antisemitism legislation likely intersects with ethnic studies, as AB 715 directly addresses concerns about biased curricula in K-12 schools. The bill’s aim to ensure instructional materials are free from antisemitism responds to incidents like those in Santa Ana and Palo Alto, where ethnic studies courses were paused or scrapped due to lawsuits over antisemitic content. However, the resistance to standardizing ethnic studies (e.g., AB 1468’s failure) reflects a broader tension: Sacramento struggles to balance the discipline’s goal of uplifting marginalized voices with preventing divisive or biased content. This makes antisemitism legislation a hard sell when it’s perceived as targeting a program championed by progressive and minority groups. Why It’s Been Tough: Your PerspectiveGiven your advocacy, you’ve likely seen firsthand how Sacramento’s political ecosystem—marked by coalition-building, budget fights, and sensitivity to free speech—creates friction. The unanimous Assembly vote (68-0) for AB 715 shows progress, driven by the Jewish Public Affairs Committee (JPAC) and 700+ community advocates who lobbied in Sacramento. Yet, the Senate’s slower pace and vocal opposition on X (e.g., claims of censorship) suggest that mobilizing broader support remains a challenge, especially when antisemitism is politicized as a wedge issue. Current Status and OutlookAs of July 7, 2025, AB 715 is in the Senate Education Committee, with a hearing scheduled before July 18. The unanimous Assembly support and Newsom’s prior backing of antisemitism measures (e.g., signing AB 2925, SB 1287, and SB 1277 in 2024) suggest a strong chance of passage if amendments address free speech concerns. However, the September 12, 2025, deadline looms, and opposition from unions and pro-Palestinian groups could sway undecided senators. Newsom’s Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism (2024) aligns with AB 715’s goals, but his budget cuts to ethnic studies indicate fiscal caution that could affect implementation. Moving ForwardYour advocacy has likely helped shift the needle, as seen in the coalition-building with diversity caucuses. To overcome Sacramento’s resistance, continued grassroots pressure (like JPAC’s 2024 Summit) and engaging moderate senators could be key. If you’re planning further action, focusing on personal stories of antisemitism in schools—like those you may have encountered—could sway legislators wary of abstract debates. Would you like me to explore specific strategies for advocacy or check for updates on AB 715’s Senate progress? 6 posts The problem in this effort for me was what felt like narrative gas lighting, that romanticized protests and minimized Jewish existence in the process. Richard L Cravatt's kind of views seemed erased. Your frustration with narrative gaslighting—where protests are romanticized while Jewish existence feels minimized—resonates deeply, especially given your advocacy against antisemitism. The sense that perspectives like those of Richard L. Cravatts, a vocal critic of antisemitism in academia, are sidelined reflects a broader challenge in California’s ethnic studies and antisemitism legislation debates. Here’s how this ties into AB 715 and the future of ethnic studies, grounded in your experience and the current landscape.Narrative Gaslighting and Minimization of Jewish ExistenceThe romanticization of protests, particularly those tied to the Israel-Palestine conflict since October 7, 2023, often frames activism as inherently noble, overshadowing the impact on Jewish communities. In California’s ethnic studies context, this dynamic manifests in curricula or classroom discussions that critics, like Cravatts, argue prioritize narratives of oppression (e.g., decolonization or anti-Zionism) while marginalizing Jewish historical experiences, such as the Holocaust or ongoing antisemitism. Cravatts, former president of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, has long critiqued how universities and K-12 systems can amplify anti-Israel rhetoric under the guise of academic freedom, sometimes veering into antisemitic tropes. His views—emphasizing the need to confront bias in education—seem erased when curricula like Liberated Ethnic Studies emphasize certain marginalized groups’ struggles while downplaying Jewish vulnerabilities, especially post-2023.This gaslighting effect you describe is evident in:Protest Glorification: Some ethnic studies advocates celebrate protest as resistance without acknowledging when it crosses into harassment, like at Berkeley High or UC campuses, where Jewish students faced hostility. X posts often amplify these protests as moral crusades, rarely addressing their impact on Jewish safety. Erasure of Jewish Narrative: Curricula debates, like those around the 2019 Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum draft, initially excluded robust Jewish perspectives, focusing instead on other groups’ histories. Even after revisions, local districts’ adoption of frameworks that critics say vilify Israel can make Jewish students and advocates feel their identity is sidelined. Sacramento’s Reluctance: Lawmakers, wary of alienating progressive or minority coalitions, often avoid directly addressing antisemitism in ethnic studies, fearing it could be seen as undermining the discipline. This hesitancy fuels the perception that Jewish concerns, like those Cravatts articulates, are dismissed as secondary. Connection to AB 715AB 715 aims to counter this by mandating that K-12 instructional materials be free from antisemitism, with a broader definition of “nationality” to protect against bias tied to perceived ancestry or ties to Israel. Your experience suggests this bill’s push is partly a response to the gaslighting you’ve observed—where Jewish concerns are minimized in educational settings. However, opposition from groups like the California Teachers Association, who fear the bill restricts free speech, mirrors the romanticized protest narrative by framing critique of curricula as an attack on academic freedom. This resistance can feel like a dismissal of Cravatts’ call for accountability in how ethnic studies handles Jewish issues.The bill’s unanimous Assembly vote (68-0) on May 28, 2025, shows progress, driven by advocates like you and coalitions like JPAC. Yet, in the Senate, where it’s under review in the Education and Judiciary Committees as of July 7, 2025, the narrative tension persists. Critics argue the bill could chill discussions on Palestine, reinforcing the romanticized protest frame, while supporters see it as correcting the erasure of Jewish experiences. The outcome hinges on whether amendments can address free speech concerns without diluting the bill’s intent.Ethnic Studies’ Future and Addressing GaslightingThe future of ethnic studies in California, tied to AB 715’s fate, will shape whether Jewish perspectives gain visibility or remain marginalized:Curriculum Reform: If AB 715 passes by September 12, 2025, it could push districts to adopt materials that align with Cravatts’ call for balanced representation, ensuring Jewish history—beyond Israel-related controversies—is included. However, without state funding for ethnic studies (cut from Newsom’s 2025-26 budget), implementation may falter, leaving room for biased curricula to persist. Teacher Training: The lack of ethnic studies-trained educators risks perpetuating narratives that minimize Jewish existence. Programs at UC Berkeley and UCLA aim to address this, but scaling up to include antisemitism sensitivity, as Cravatts might advocate, is a slow process. Public Narrative Shift: Your point about gaslighting suggests a need for advocacy that amplifies Jewish voices without being drowned out by romanticized protest narratives. Groups like the ADL and Brandeis Center, which Cravatts has supported, are pushing for this, but face pushback from progressive factions on X and in Sacramento. Your Role and Moving ForwardYour advocacy, likely rooted in experiences at places like Berkeley or Fremont, has confronted this gaslighting head-on, pushing against narratives that sideline Jewish concerns. The erasure of views like Cravatts’—who calls for rigorous scrutiny of academic bias—reflects the challenge of breaking through Sacramento’s cautious, coalition-driven politics. To counter this:Amplify Personal Stories: Your work could focus on sharing specific instances of antisemitism in schools, like those you’ve encountered, to humanize the issue and counter romanticized protest narratives. This aligns with Cravatts’ emphasis on exposing bias through evidence. Engage Senate Allies: With AB 715 in the Senate, reaching out to moderate senators or leveraging JPAC’s network could keep pressure on, especially before the July 18, 2025, Education Committee hearing. Artistic Advocacy: Your background as an artist could be a powerful tool to reframe the narrative, creating works that highlight Jewish resilience and challenge gaslighting without fueling division. If AB 715 passes and Newsom signs it by October 12, 2025, it could set a precedent for addressing antisemitism in ethnic studies, validating your efforts and Cravatts’ perspective. If it stalls, the gaslighting you describe may persist, with ethnic studies’ future leaning toward flexible, locally-driven curricula that risk uneven representation.
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Has the fight against antisemitism been effective???? The effectiveness of the fight against antisemitism is currently a subject of intense debate, yielding highly mixed results. While organizational advocacy and institutional policy adjustments have achieved measurable legal, administrative, and educational successes, the overall real-world outcome has failed to stop a record-breaking escalation in hate incidents and physical violence. The current landscape of this effort reveals critical areas of progress balanced against compounding structural challenges: 1. Where the Fight is Proving Effective • Institutional Accountability on Campuses: One of the most concrete administrative successes has occurred within higher education. The Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) 2026 Campus Antisemitism Report Card showed widespread, year-over-year improvement in university grades, with the percentage of schools earning an "A" or "B" jumping from 23.5% in 2024 to 58%. This progress was driven by schools actively enforcing mandatory training, implementing stricter code-of-conduct policies, and establishing dedicated task forces. • National and Legal Mobilization: Governments have substantially tightened policy and infrastructure. Initiatives like the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism have institutionalized security grants for houses of worship and streamlined civil rights protections under Title VI. Additionally, coalitions like the Combat Antisemitism Movement have successfully mobilized localized anti-hate policies across hundreds of global town councils and municipal authorities. 2. Where the Fight is Failing or Stalling • The Surge in Real-World Violence: Despite administrative policy gains, actual safety on the ground has deteriorated. Global monitoring reports reveal that violent and lethal attacks have reached historic highs. While overall property vandalism or harassment plateaus in some areas, physical assaults are scaling aggressively upward, emphasizing that institutional policy shifts have not yet translated to safer public spaces. • The Failure of Digital Content Moderation: Online spaces remain a massive failure point for civil rights advocacy. A 2026 global audit by the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and the HO:PE project revealed that 81% of reported antisemitic content remains active on social media platforms. Despite years of algorithmic tracking and public pressure campaigns, platforms continue to fall significantly short in filtering hate speech and AI-generated disinformation. • The Educational Void: While intergovernmental bodies like UNESCO push for widespread curriculum reforms, systemic implementation is lagging. Over 75% of European teachers report encountering antisemitic behavior in their classrooms, yet more than 70% state they have never received targeted training on how to address it. 3. Emerging Strategic Concerns • The Redundancy Problem: A comprehensive study published by the Jewish Funders Network found that while philanthropists poured historic amounts of capital into more than 160 different anti-antisemitism organizations, many of these initiatives proved redundant and could not demonstrate measurable impact. This lack of centralized efficiency has prompted major donors to pivot funding models toward more direct, grassroots security and baseline resilience rather than broad awareness campaigns. • The Conspiracy Confirmation Trap: On public forums like r/Judaism, opinions among community members are highly mixed regarding the utility of "combat movements". Some users point out that widespread, loud public counter-campaigns (like billboards or public shaming) often provide minimal educational value and can accidentally feed into pre-existing conspiracy theories regarding the group's institutional power and influence. Summary Verdict: If "effectiveness" is judged by institutional commitments, updated legal frameworks, and campus policy overhauls, the movement has been highly successful. However, if effectiveness is judged by the literal reduction of antisemitic sentiment and the baseline physical safety of the Jewish public, the efforts have not yet been able to reverse the global surge.
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— Three months after Ali G, one of the buffoonish alter egos of the actor Sacha Baron Cohen, resurfaolics Anonymous Fremont at 4500 Thornton Ave serves as the immediate local baseline for physical 12-step meetings in your city. • Tri-Valley Resource Base: Moving slightly out of the Bay Area over the hills, Tri-Valley Fellowship and the Valley Service Center at 6500 Dublin Blvd in Dublin act as centralized hubs providing literaure, physical rooms, and offline network support. • South Bay Connection: Down in the Silicon Valley area, the Intergroup Central Office at 274 E Hamilton Ave in Campbell provides hybrid, online, and local in-person direction for adults seeking recovery resources. • East Bay Core: The East Bay Intergroup at 3989 Howe St in Oakland acts as the primary administrative engine coordinating offline groups across the entire East Bay landscape. It looks like you've provided a comprehensive list of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) central offices and resource hubs across the Greater Bay Area, including Fremont, the Tri-Valley, South Bay, and East Bay. These locations are vital starting points for finding local meeting schedules, recovery literature, and physical or hybrid community support. If you are looking to take the next step with these resources, let me know if you would like me to find: • Specific meeting times or formats (in-person, online, speaker, or discussion) at any of these hubs • Contact numbers or helplines for immediate support from these intergroups • Directions or transit options to one of these specific addresses How would you like to proceed? AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses What if the addiction is addiction to technology? When addressing technology addiction—often referred to as screen addiction, internet addiction, or digital dependency—traditional 12-step frameworks are adapted to focus on sustainable moderation rather than complete abstinence, since completely eliminating technology is rarely practical in modern life. Because tech addiction doesn't have the same centralized physical infrastructure as substance recovery programs, support is heavily organized through specific fellowships and specialized digital wellness strategies: Specialized 12-Step Fellowships • Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA): This is the primary 12-step fellowship specifically modeled after AA to help people recover from compulsive internet and technology use (including smartphones, social media, gaming, and streaming). They host extensive daily online meetings and a growing number of local in-person meetings. • Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous (CGAA): A fellowship specifically tailored for those tracking compulsive video gaming habits, offering peer support, a 12-step program, and online discussion forums. Structuring a "Digital Sobriety" Plan Unlike substance recovery, recovery from tech addiction utilizes concepts like a Top Lines / Bottom Lines framework: • Bottom Lines (Abstinence): Identifying the specific, toxic digital behaviors that trigger compulsive loops and must be avoided entirely (e.g., infinite-scroll feeds, specific video games, or late-night compulsive browsing). • Top Lines (Recovery Behaviors): Focusing on real-world, screen-free activities that restore balance, such as offline hobbies, physical exercise, or face-to-face social connections. Local & Professional Resources If you are looking for localized support in the Bay Area, individuals navigating digital dependency often utilize: • Outpatient Therapy: Many local licensed therapists specialize in behavioral addictions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and digital detox strategies. • Smart Recovery: A secular, science-based alternative to 12-step programs that focuses on self-empowerment and behavioral modification for all forms of compulsive behavior, including behavioral addictions. If you want to look further into this, let me know if you would like me to find: • A directory of upcoming online or local ITAA or CGAA meetings • Strategies for setting up strict hardware or software boundaries to limit daily screen time • Information on how behavioral therapy frameworks tackle digital dependency How would you like to explore this topic? This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more Try without personalization Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA): This is the primary 12-step fellowship specifically modeled after AA to help people recover from compulsive internet and technology use (including smartphones, social media, gaming, and streaming). They host extensive daily online meetings and a growing number of local in-person meetings. TELL ME WHERE TO GO! To tap into the Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA) network, your entry points span both physical locations in the Bay Area and a continuous global online network. [Rich media excluded from paste] 📍 The Physical Meeting Location (Bay Area) ITAA has an established weekly, local in-person meeting in Northern California: • San Francisco Meeting • When: Saturdays from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM • Where: First Unitarian Universalist Church and Center (UUSF), 1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA • Note: This is an ideal place to connect directly with a small, focused group of local peers who are actively navigating digital recovery. 🌐 The 24/7 Digital Meeting Rooms Because of the nature of technology addiction, ITAA's most robust and extensive infrastructure is hosted virtually, with dozens of free, anonymous daily Zoom and phone meetings running across global time zones: 1. Accessing the Schedule: Go straight to the official ITAA Online Meetings Calendar to see a live tracker of today’s upcoming sessions. 2. Filter by Meeting Types: • Blue Meetings: Standard meetings restricted to tech addicts and individuals exploring if they have a problem. • Pink Striped Meetings: "Speaker Shares," where a long-term member shares their deep experience, strength, and path to recovery. • Purple Meetings: Open to newcomers, observers, friends, or family members looking to understand the program. 💡 What to Do at Your First Meeting • The "Six Meeting" Rule: ITAA highly encourages newcomers to try six meetings within a short timeframe before deciding if the program is the right fit for them. • Zero Pressure to Speak: If you join a virtual or physical room, you do not have to share. It is entirely acceptable to introduce yourself by your first name and simply say, "I'm just here to listen." • Non-Judgmental Space: Members share their stories uninterrupted. The program utilizes a strict "no cross-talk" rule, meaning others will listen without giving unrequested comments or advice.
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There could be a person in a familiar photo that is new or someone missing That is a chilling, classic trope, and executed well, it completely turns the protagonist's world upside down. It shifts the threat from subtle environmental tweaks (like blue cars or street signs) directly into the deeply personal realm of human connection and memory. Having people appear or disappear in familiar photographs creates two very different kinds of psychological terror for your main character: 1. The "Extra" Person (The Insertion) The protagonist opens an old photo album—perhaps a snapshot from a quiet trip years ago, a gathering on a familiar street, or a candid moment at home—and there is an unfamiliar face standing in the frame. The Horror of Familiarity: Everyone else in the photo is interacting with this person naturally. They are smiling together, arms wrapped around shoulders, acting as if this stranger has been a beloved family friend, classmate, or neighbor for decades. The Gaslighting of Reality: When the character asks a friend or relative, "Who is that standing next to us in this picture from 2012?" the person looks at them with genuine concern or confusion: "What do you mean? That's Marcus. He lived down the block for five years. Don't you remember him?" The protagonist is forced to play along or risk being treated as if they've lost their mind. 2. The Missing Person (The Erasure) This is perhaps even more tragic: a key person from the protagonist's life simply ceases to exist in the photo archive. Empty Space: A group photo on a porch or in front of a landmark now has an unnatural gap where someone used to stand. The remaining people in the shot are leaning slightly toward an empty space, hugging the air, or looking toward someone who is no longer rendered in the image. Erased History: The character looks through a stack of old prints searching for an old friend, a mentor, or a travel companion, only to realize that every single photo of them is gone—or worse, the photo exists, but the friend was replaced by someone else entirely. When the protagonist brings up that person's name, nobody recognizes it. The world has re-stitched its history so smoothly that the erased person left zero wake in anyone else's memory. 3. The Clue in the Details To make this work brilliantly in prose, the protagonist might start noticing anomalies in the composition: The lighting on the "new" person doesn't quite match the ambient shadows of the rest of the photograph. A missing person leaves behind a ghost shadow on a wall or a reflection in a windowpane that the timeline "forgot" to scrub out when it altered the main subject. Handwritten notes on the back of the print—written in the protagonist's own handwriting years ago—still list the original names, creating a direct conflict between the ink on the paper and the image on the front. It turns the photo collection into a terrifying puzzle. Every time the protagonist opens a drawer to check an old album, they are taking a massive risk: Who will be standing there today? And who will be gone?
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NEW FICTION: In the neon-soaked labyrinth of New York City, where the Statue of Liberty had just been re-routed to operate as a giant, motorized soft-serve ice cream dispenser, the chaos reached a fever pitch. The Handsome Man stood atop a speeding taxi cab, his jawline reflecting the moonlight so sharply it accidentally sliced a nearby billboard in half. He checked his diamond-encrusted watch, realizing that the eighty-eight percent of voters terrified of imaginary numbers had now manifested as a physical, roaring fog of pure anxiety! From the sky, a literal rain of burning Fox News poll pamphlets began to fall, setting fire to the clouds and causing the Hudson River to boil with sudden political outrage. Suddenly, a giant mechanical pigeon piloted by corrupt city officials swooped down, its metal wings beating to the rhythm of skyrocketing zombie insanity. Trapped in its beak was Mrs. Lips, whose magnificent pout was emitting a high-frequency romantic distress signal that shattered every martini glass in Manhattan. "Save me, Handsome Man!" she screamed, her words in flashing neon. The Handsome Man flexed his flawless biceps, causing the fabric of reality—and his tailored suit—to tear slightly at the seams. With a heroic leap that defied all known laws of physics he launched himself off the taxi and grabbed onto the mechanical bird’s tail feathers. As they soared past the Chrysler Building, Mrs. Lips managed to throw a handful of high-interest loan documents directly into the pigeon's exhaust pipe, causing it to sputter dramatically. The giant robotic bird began to plunge, spinning toward the earth like a fallen angel of love blind economics. The Handsome Man swung himself into the cockpit, threw the corrupt pilot out into a giant pile of recycled newspapers, and took the controls. He steered the crashing contraption directly into the middle of Times Square, landing with a spectacular explosion of glitter, red tape of unrequited passion. Out of the smoke walked the two lovers, completely unharmed and looking effortlessly runway-ready. Mrs. Lips locked eyes on the Handsome Man, her lips glowing with a level of passion that instantly lowered the city's gas prices to go perfect. As the astonished crowd of New Yorkers broke into wild applause, The Handsome Man swept her into his arms, kissing her with his giant pulsing mouth.
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• Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous Online/Phone Meetings Sep 14, 2026 — Purple meetings are for internet and technology addicts, newcomers, and non-addicts interested in ITAA's program of recovery from ... • Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous Free help for Internet and Technology Addiction Regardless of how large or small you feel your problem may be, we encourage you to... • Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous In-Person Meetings – Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous ITAA In-Person Meetings Overview: New attendees are encouraged to try six meetings. Active and potential locations span the US (CA... Show all Is there a growing awareness in the bay area about the problem of tech addiction? Yes, there is a profound and rapidly growing wave of awareness about tech addiction across the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, because the region is the birthplace of the very apps and devices that dominate global attention, the Bay Area has become a primary testing ground for grassroots resistance, legal pushback, and experimental "digital wellness" solutions. The cultural shift is manifesting across several key fronts: 🏢 The 'Insider' Counter-Movement Some of the loudest warnings about digital dependency come from Silicon Valley insiders themselves—former product managers, engineers, and executives from tech giants who understand exactly how psychological hacks like infinite scroll and variable dopamine rewards were engineered. • Organizations like the Bay Area–based Center for Humane Technology (founded by former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris) have successfully reframed tech addiction from a "personal lack of discipline" to a systemic public health crisis caused by coercive design. • There is a well-documented culture among high-level tech executives who enforce strict "no-screen" rules or low-tech environments for their own children, recognizing the addictive nature of the products their companies build. 🏫 Campus and Grassroots Resistance Young adults and students in the East Bay and Silicon Valley are starting to aggressively push back against the constant pull of the screen: • At UC Berkeley, student-led initiatives have gained national attention for organizing "Digital Detox" events, where participants voluntarily trade their smartphones for analog connections. Local neuroscientists tracking these groups have found that even temporary detoxes radically reduce anxiety and restore cognitive control. • Programs like Project Reboot operate heavily in local schools, treating screen time not just as a bad habit, but as a behavior manipulation issue that requires deliberate lifestyle design to break. ⚖️ Legal and Institutional Crackdowns The awareness has moved past social commentary into massive structural and legal action within California: • Massive Legal Settlements: California recently led a massive multi-state legal push targeting social media companies for deliberately creating addictive features that harm youth mental health. Landmark lawsuits handled in Bay Area courts have forced promises of structural changes, such as mandatory daily time caps for minors and strict "School Mode" dead-zones. • Statewide School Bans: Reflecting widespread parental anxiety across California school districts, state lawmakers have continuously tightened restrictions on smartphones in public classrooms, treating devices as significant disruptions to emotional development and social skill building. 🌲 The Rise of the 'Detox Economy' Because the hyper-competitive tech environment can drive extreme digital burnout, a localized economy has sprung up around disconnecting: • Programs like Digital Detox (headquartered in Oakland) run adult summer camps and off-grid retreats where tech workers surrender their devices at the door to experience literal digital withdrawal—complete with "phantom pocket vibrations"—before finding relief in offline community building. • Specialized outpatient therapy clinics and support groups focused specifically on behavioral digital addictions are seeing a major surge in demand throughout the Silicon Valley corridor.
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