CIA notes Secret Club: Lady Gaga

 Secret Club: Lady Gaga

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So Lady Gaga, right? The same Lady Gaga who once showed up to an awards show inside a giant egg, like some kind of avant-garde omelet. She’s got this beauty brand, Haus Labs, and now she’s teaming up with Klarna—the bank that turns "I can’t afford this" into "I can’t afford this, but slightly later." Together, they’ve opened The Studio in L.A.

It’s meant to be a space for “creativity and self-expression,” which could mean anything from making groundbreaking art to filming yet another “Get Ready With Me” video where someone talks about their trauma while applying concealer. But Gaga’s into it. She and Klarna picked two creators—Biddy and Tavaris 'Vari' Jefferson—to kick things off. Each gets ten grand and mentorship, which, in corporate-speak, means "Here’s some cash, now please be interesting online."

Gaga says she’s always cared about young artists, which is very Mother Monster of her. As for how they picked the creators, she gives one of those "we value kindness and brave self-expression" answers, which probably translates to "They have good engagement rates and won’t start Twitter feuds."

The Studio itself? It’s aggressively aesthetic. Reflective sculpture? Yes. Pink sofa? Naturally. Artsy lighting? Duh. There’s a kitchen, because why not, a bathroom that probably has better lighting than your entire apartment, and a lounge for people to pretend they’re brainstorming instead of scrolling TikTok.

Gaga’s personal favorite? The mirrored canopy, because nothing says self-reflection like literally staring at yourself.

And now, for the fine print.

Appendix: The Mentorship Details

• Duration: Six months. Just long enough to make a difference, but not long enough to deal with an existential crisis.
• Mentors: A mix of industry professionals, social media strategists, and probably at least one person who says "Disruptive" way too often.
• Sessions: Biweekly meetings covering content strategy, branding, and the fine art of looking effortlessly cool while promoting a product.
• Perks: Networking opportunities, access to industry events, and one-on-one guidance on turning "having an aesthetic" into "making actual money."
• Expectations: Create original work at The Studio, be a walking Haus Labs advertisement, and—most importantly—tag Klarna in every post.

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How to Sign Up:

Well, you’ve got two options, like when you choose your favorite coffee shop, but with far less caffeine.

1. Visit The Studio’s Official Website: Yes, there’s an official website because, of course, there is. It’s not just a "I saw it on Instagram" thing. Navigate to the “Sign Up” section and fill in the application form. You’ll be asked to share some of your “work,” which, in influencer terms, is code for "Link to your most popular TikTok/Instagram/YouTube that makes you look amazing."

2. Social Media Submission: If filling out forms isn’t your thing, and you prefer a more modern approach, post a video of your work (not a random clip of your cat) on Instagram or TikTok, tagging both @HausLabs and @Klarna, using the hashtag #TheStudioByKlarna. Don’t forget the extra points for lighting and flair—those mirrors aren’t going to reflect themselves.

3. Wait for the Call: If you’re one of the lucky chosen few, you’ll get an email (or possibly a phone call, but let’s be real, it’ll probably be an email) inviting you to join The Studio. Don’t worry—Gaga’s got her eye on you… in a non-creepy way, of course.

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So, get to it. Create, tag, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be the next person getting a pink sofa and a $10K grant to influence the world—or at least your followers.

Wheel-Trans Service in Disarray

 Wheel-Trans Service in Disarray

Wheel-Trans service remains in a state of partial dysfunction. The system suffered a major breakdown on Wednesday, continued malfunctioning throughout Thursday, and persists into Friday. Since service schedules are printed in advance, they are proceeding with pre-existing trips as planned. If you booked a ride and require no changes, your journey will likely proceed. However, new bookings, confirmations, or modifications are entirely impossible.

Ironically, on the very day that Wheel-Trans collapsed due to an unspecified computer failure—whether caused by hacking, extortion, system failure, or a mere glitch—I had been warning about the dangers of conducting Ontario’s elections entirely via computer, without any human oversight or backup. The staff I spoke to laughed, unwavering in their confidence, seemingly incapable of recalling the many catastrophic failures that have cost Ontarians billions. It’s akin to someone being struck by a drunk driver, suffering only a broken leg, and then dismissing drunk driving as a serious issue—until the day their own child becomes a victim.

Everywhere, February is both yoke and liberation, a month adrift between purpose and pretense. Yet in its contradictions, in its grand unfolding, there remains one constant: humanity—ever striving, ever dreaming, ever caught between the weight of the past and the promise of what is yet to come.

—Ed Scholz, 2025 Pop Culture Blog

 your perception that Bonnie Crombie, the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, appears less prominent in media coverage. However, recent activities indicate her active engagement in the political arena. In the past week, Crombie has held multiple press conferences addressing critical issues:

• Healthcare Initiatives: On February 12, 2025, she outlined a comprehensive plan to combat "hallway healthcare," emphasizing investments in healthcare workers and infrastructure.

  ontarioliberal.ca

• Economic Policies: On February 11, 2025, Crombie unveiled strategies aimed at reducing youth unemployment and restoring affordable homeownership, targeting economic challenges faced by younger Ontarians.

  ontarioliberal.ca

These events have been covered by various media outlets, including video reports available online. For instance, a press conference focusing on healthcare was published four days ago.

youtube.com

Despite these efforts, it's possible that media coverage has not been as extensive or prominent as anticipated, leading to the perception of her being "invisible." Media focus can vary due to numerous factors, including competing news events and editorial decisions.

For more detailed information on Bonnie Crombie's recent activities and policy announcements, you may visit the official Ontario Liberal Party website.

ontarioliberal.ca

Additionally, to gain direct insight into her recent statements and policy positions, you might find the following video informative:

Liberals closing the gap in latest polling numbers | CTV National News a...

 

Year	Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Events	World Events	Notable Artists
1995	First VS show at the Plaza Hotel in NY.	O.J. Simpson not guilty.	Models: Steph. Seym., Ver. Web. Photo: Russ. Jam.
1996	Show gains traction.	Dolly the sheep cloned.	Models: Tyra Ban., Kar. Muld. Photo: Herb Rit.
1997	Naomi Campbell walks.	Hong Kong returns to China.	Models: Nao. Camp., Hel. Chris. Art Dir: Edw. Raze.
1998	Fantasy Bra introduced.	Google founded.	Models: Tyra Ban., Hei. Kl. Photo: Mario Testin.
1999	First online broadcast.	Y2K fears.	Models: Hei. Klum, Lae. Cas. Creat. Dir: Ed Raze.
2000	Gisele wears $15M bra.	Sydney Olympics.	Models: Gis. Bünd., Dan. Pešto.
2001	First televised show.	9/11 attacks.	Models: Gis. Bünd., Adr. Lim. Photo: Mario Testin.
2002	Angel Wings introduced.	Euro introduced.	Models: Kar. Kurk., Hei. Kl. Art Dir: Tod. Thoma.
2003	Show moves to CBS.	Space Shuttle Columbia.	Models: Ale. Ambr., Kar. Kurkov.
2004	“Angels Across America”.	Facebook launched.	Models: Tyra Ban., Adr. Lim.
2005	Fantasy Bra $12.5M.	YouTube launched.	Models: Nao. Camp., Sel. Eban. Creat. Dir: Tod. Thoma.
2006	Justin Timberlake performs.	Twitter launched.	Models: Iza. Goul., Mir. Ker. Photo: Pat. Demarchelie.
2007	VS PINK debuts.	iPhone introduced.	Models: Mir. Kerr, Ros. Hunt.-Whit.
2008	Adriana Lima's $5M bra.	Obama elected.	Models: Dou. Kroes, Beh. Prin. Art Dir: Sop. Neophitou-Apostolo.
2009	“Runway Angels”.	Michael Jackson passes.	Models: Cha. Iman, Mar. Mill.
2010	Katy Perry performs.	WikiLeaks documents.	Models: Can. Swan., Eri. Heath.
2011	Miranda Kerr's bra.	Bin Laden killed.	Models: Lil. Aldr., Lin. Ellings.
2012	Rihanna & Bruno Mars.	Curiosity Rover on Mars.	Models: Joa. Smal., Bar. Palv. Photo: Mario Sorrent.
2013	Taylor Swift performs.	Mandela passes.	Models: Can. Swan. (Bra), Beh. Prin.
2014	Show in London.	MH370 disappears.	Models: Kar. Klos., Jos. Skriv.
2015	Kendall & Gigi.	Paris attacks.	Models: Tay. Hil., Ste. Maxwel.
2016	Show in Paris.	Brexit.	Models: Ken. Jen., Bel. Had. Photo: Ranki.
2017	Show in Shanghai.	#MeToo.	Models: Min. Xi, Liu We.
2018	Ratings decline.	Royal Wedding.	Models: Win. Har., Bar. Palv.
2019	Show canceled.	COVID-19.	Creat. Dir: Mon. Mitr.
2020	No show.	BLM protests.	N/A
2021	VS rebrands.	Taliban in Afghanistan.	Models: Pal. Els., Val. Sampai.
2022	New vision.	Queen Elizabeth II passes.	Photo: Ine. & Vinood.
2023	“World Tour”.	ChatGPT.	Models: Adu. Ake., Hai. Bie. Fash. Dir: Rau. Martine.

How does my Psychology background fit at the CIA?

Humans of CIA

Unveiling the Dual-Natured Pain Scale: A Compass for Chronic Warriors and Acute Encounters Abstract Pain, a relentless foe, comes in two flavors: the fleeting sting and the persistent siege. This paper unveils a groundbreaking Dual-Natured Pain Scale, a battle plan that standardizes discomfort across both timeframes. By decoding the impact of both momentary jabs and long-term bombardments, we offer a unified language for clinicians and warriors (patients) to navigate the battlefield of pain. This scale, a versatile weapon, also distinguishes sharp, dull, and throbbing attacks, allowing for targeted pain management strategies and a clearer path to victory. Introduction Pain, the ever-present adversary, wears many disguises. It can be a swift ambush (acute pain) or a relentless siege (chronic pain). Both inflict damage, not just physical, but also mental. Studies, like those by Eccleston and Crombez (2001), reveal how pain, especially the chronic variety, can wreak havoc on our minds, leading to anxiety and depression. This paper introduces a revolutionary weapon: the Dual-Natured Pain Scale. This scale integrates both timeframes (instant and continuous), providing a comprehensive map of the pain landscape, crucial for effective pain management. Methods The Dual-Natured Pain Scale, a 10-point war chest, treats both immediate and ongoing pain as equally important allies in understanding the enemy. It analyzes the material and mental impact of pain while categorizing its types (sharp, dull, throbbing) across all levels. The Dual-Natured Pain Scale: Decoding the Enemy's Tactics Level 1 – Minor Skirmish Material Impact: A mere annoyance, easily dismissed. Mental Aspect: A mild poke, no mental strain. Pain Description: Sharp: A fleeting pinprick. Dull: A faint ache, like a distant echo. Throbbing: A gentle pulse, barely noticeable. Level 10 – Total Lockdown Material Impact: Complete incapacitation, rendering you a prisoner of pain. Mental Aspect: Pain consumes all thought, leaving only a desperate struggle to survive. Pain Description: Sharp: Torturous spikes, unrelenting and agonizing. Dull: A crushing force, immobilizing and suffocating. Throbbing: Blinding waves that drown out everything else. Discussion Research, like Gatchel et al. (2007), reveals that both acute and chronic pain can be mental bullies, disrupting our well-being. Sharp, instant pain triggers the fight-or-flight response, while chronic, dull pain can lead to chronic mental battles like depression. A pain scale that understands both types and durations empowers us to develop more effective strategies to defeat this enemy. Imagine warriors (patients) using this scale to track their progress, charting the enemy's movements over time. Treede et al. (2015) highlight the vast army of chronic pain sufferers – 20% globally. This scale, a valuable weapon in their arsenal, empowers them to fight back. Conclusion The Dual-Natured Pain Scale seeks to bridge the gap between the lightning strikes of acute pain and the relentless siege of chronic pain. By standardizing the language of pain across timeframes, it empowers both warriors and clinicians to wage a more effective war. Future studies will test its effectiveness in the field, but one thing is certain: this scale is a beacon of hope, offering a clearer path to victory over the enemy – pain. References

 Google Analytics with your Blogger blog! It's a powerful tool to understand your audience. Here's a breakdown of how to set it up for free:

1. Create a Google Analytics Account (if you don't have one)

• Go to the Google Analytics website: https://analytics.google.com/
• Click "Start for free" or "Sign in" if you already have a Google account.
• Follow the prompts to create an account and set up your first property (which will be your blog).

2. Get Your Google Analytics Tracking ID

• Once you've created your account and property, you'll need your Tracking ID. This is a code that starts with "G-" and is unique to your blog.  
• Here's how to find it:
  • In your Google Analytics account, click "Admin" (it's usually at the bottom left).  
  • Under "Property", select "Data Streams".  
  • Click on your Blogger site's data stream.  
  • Copy the "Measurement ID" (it looks like G-XXXXXXXX).  

3. Add the Tracking ID to Your Blogger Blog

• Now, go to your Blogger dashboard.
• Click "Settings" in the left-hand menu.  
• Under "Basic", find the "Google Analytics Measurement ID" field.  
• Paste your Tracking ID (the "G-" code) into that field.  
• Click "Save".

Important Notes:

• Theme: Make sure you're using a Blogger theme that supports Google Analytics. Most modern themes do, but older ones might not.
• Data Delay: It can take up to 24 hours for data to start showing up in your Google Analytics reports.  
• GA4: Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics. The steps above are for setting up GA4, which is recommended.  

That's it! You've now connected Google Analytics to your Blogger blog. You can log in to your Google Analytics account to see all sorts of data about your visitors, like:

• How many people are visiting your blog
• Where they're coming from (search engines, social media, etc.)  
• What pages they're looking at
• How long they're staying on your blog

 A Modest Rebuke to the Astonishingly Misinformed Mr. Mason

It is with the gravest concern for the state of factual discourse that I take up my quill to address the bewildering pronouncement of one Mr. Dave Mason, who, in a dazzling display of Olympian ignorance, has declared that Sir Elton John has never so much as set foot in a domicile beyond the verdant shores of England. One must marvel at the confidence with which Mr. Mason has flung himself into the chasm of public error, as though the abyss itself would catch him and whisper, "Fear not, for truth is what you feel it to be."

Were his assertion no more than the misstep of a common buffoon, a slip of the tongue from an inebriated reveler, or the delusion of a man who believes his dreams to be history, one might let it pass with a chuckle and an affectionate shake of the head. But no, Mr. Mason has proclaimed his folly with the zeal of a medieval inquisitor, armed not with facts but with the cudgel of obstinacy, beating against the gates of reason with all the force of a damp sponge.

Let us, then, conduct a brief and charitable education for Mr. Mason, lest his error be mistaken for wisdom by the unwary. First, we must call forth the evidence—documents, deeds, and declarations—each a damning indictment against his thesis. Lo! In the sunlit grandeur of Mont Boron, in Nice, stands Elton John's French villa, a monument to taste and refinement, defying with its very bricks the absurd notion that he has never possessed a dwelling beyond England’s hedgerows. Perhaps Mr. Mason believes this villa to be a mirage, conjured by Mediterranean heat, but alas! It is listed among the great singer’s residences, an indelible blemish upon the parchment of his fable.

Should we take pity on Mr. Mason and assume he merely overlooked France? We cannot. For then we must escort him to the shores of North America, where upon the vibrant avenues of Atlanta, Georgia, Sir Elton reclines in his penthouse, overlooking a city that would, by Mr. Mason’s reckoning, exist only in the fevered imagination of cartographers. There he has dwelled for years, amidst his vast collection of photographs, each one perhaps whispering to him, "Dave Mason knows not what he speaks."

And let us not forget the stately majesty of Toronto, where Elton John once graced The Bridle Path with his presence, his home a testament to luxury in a country that, if we are to trust Mr. Mason’s narrative, exists solely as a figment of collective delusion. Perhaps he believes Canada to be but a northern extension of Essex, and the people therein to be Englishmen who have tragically lost their way in the snow.

Indeed, if we are to follow Mr. Mason’s logic, one might propose that Elton John is in fact a being of spectral quality, bound forever to the green fields of England, incapable of materializing elsewhere save as an apparition. One might imagine that when he performs in Las Vegas, he must slip between realms, a wraith appearing only under the limelight before dissolving into mist, his corporeal form tethered to some oak-lined estate in Berkshire.

One is left to wonder, then, why the noble Mr. Mason insists upon his preposterous claim. Is it a jest? A test of our collective patience? A declaration of war against the very concept of geography? Or is he, like the flat-earthers of old, simply a man too enchanted with his own fictions to let reality intrude? Whatever the case, we must urge the man, with the utmost compassion, to lay down his sword of error and embrace the warm, illuminating glow of evidence.

For while we may forgive a man for misplacing his spectacles, or even, in times of great distress, for misplacing his trousers, we cannot so easily excuse the misplacement of truth itself.

​

Everywhere, February is both yoke and liberation, a month that drifts between purpose and pretense. But even in its contradictions, in its great unfolding story, there is a constant: humanity, ever striving, ever dreaming, ever caught between the past and the promise of what is yet to come. -Ed Scholz, 2025 Pop Culture Blog

 

Instagram's achievement system, which incentivized content creation, has recently experienced disruptions. Many users have reported the sudden disappearance of the "Achievements" tab from their professional dashboards, leaving them puzzled about its absence (Reddit, 2025).

As of now, Instagram has not provided an official explanation for this change. It is possible that the platform is reevaluating or updating its features, leading to temporary or permanent removal of certain elements. Instagram has a history of modifying or discontinuing creator-focused programs. Recently, the platform ended a program that allowed creators to earn money from ads placed between content on their profiles (Business Insider, 2025).

For those seeking solutions, some users have attempted troubleshooting steps, such as updating the app or reinstalling it, though these methods have yielded mixed results. Additionally, online discussions and tutorials, like the one available on YouTube, offer guidance on addressing this issue (YouTube, 2025).

Social media platforms constantly evolve, with features appearing and disappearing as companies adapt to changing dynamics. To stay informed, users should monitor official Instagram announcements and reputable news sources.

Sources:

• Reddit: Instagram Achievements Suddenly Disappeared
• Business Insider: Instagram Ends Creator Ad Program
• YouTube: How to Fix Instagram Achievements Issue

 Instagram's achievement system, designed to incentivize content creation, has recently experienced disruptions.any users have reported the sudden disappearance of the "Achievements" tab from their professional dashboards, leaving them puzzled about its absence.citeturn0search0 s of now, Instagram has not provided an official explanation for this change.t's possible that the platform is reevaluating or updating its features, leading to temporary or permanent removal of certain elements.otably, Instagram has a history of modifying or discontinuing creator-focused programs.or instance, the platform recently ended a program that allowed creators to earn money from ads placed between content on their profiles.citeturn0news10 or those seeking solutions, some users have attempted troubleshooting steps, such as updating the app or reinstalling it, though these methods have yielded mixed results.dditionally, online discussions and tutorials, like the one available on YouTube, offer guidance on addressing this issue.citeturn0search1 n the ever-evolving landscape of social media platforms, features come and go as companies strive to enhance user experience and adapt to changing dynamics.t's advisable to stay updated through official Instagram channels or trusted news outlets for the latest information on such developments. navlistInstagram Ends Creator Ad Revenue Programturn0news10