One is never truly boring or unfunny,

But rather understood by themself alone,

Where some may never get their humor,

But they shall sparkle on as the queer dear they are.

Also: Dresscodes overrated, embrace the all-black get-up.

You deserve all the wonderful days for being an amazing sweetheart. Very very sweet post.

Let me look through my growing library-called-a-room:

It might be considered a “safe,” or “of course it is,” pick, but “Love Me For Who I Am,” would be my answer. It is a series that helped me understand myself a lot, and I credit it for helping me understand the complicated feelings I had inside when searching for who I really was and how to engage with the world around me. On the heels of that, “Is Love The Answer?” is a one-shot that is a phenomenal read exploring the spectrum of Aromanticism. Imagine that recommendation coming from me cough bio cough, but seriously, those two reads I think can safely be called cornerstones of my reading journey. I have read many amazing series(SAO:Progressive the LN(not the fake other ones), Drugstore In Another World, When Will Ayumu Make His Move? and otherwise), but those two really helped lay out in print what I could not put into words, and showed that there was an answer.

All of the ones I mentioned I would recommend, but those first two would be my genuine answers to your question.

Aside from specifically the GMS suite, which you can compile AOSP without, Google has contributed much of its own into the AOSP. I will concede that I do not know how much is GMS and how much is not, but even something as basic as push notifications requires Google or a workaround that has been made(MicroG) which effectively intercepts the calls.

They can restrict access to the current form of the Source as they are the Arbiters of who can obtain the Source. When I went to try to get the most recent AOSP some time ago, one of the requirements was agreeing to Google. All projects that stem out of the AOSP agreed to the terms Google laid out for the access to the AOSP. It is only “open source,” insofar as Google allowing one to access it. It is akin to a park that is free to access, so long as you pay the toll booth at the authorized road to get there.

Ah yes, the doting motherly bitty.

Accurate.

It is unfortunate the AOSP had to go down the road it has, but well, Google sent a message with the removal of “Don’t be evil.”

That FuriPhone seems promising for those wanting to stay in the Smartphone Rat Race, I would not recommend any other player in the market currently other than possibly PinePhone(though another commenter flagged it as obsolete now).

I think I had heard of furilabs before but had thought the project had idled, did not know it was an in-stock option, appreciate the heads up so I can direct people!

You might have confused it with their partnership with Murena/E-Foundation(which is also a Custom ROM group). Very unfortunate though, indeed.

While Fairphone likes to pretend to be “different,” to iPhone and Android in their marketing, they are just another Android phone manufacturer and proudly show off Google, the Play Store, etc. in their advertising material. Jolla is only in the European market so is not an option for the Americans, to my remembrance.

For those who can, leaving the smartphone rat race entirely.

For those who cannot, Linux Phones need more good players in the scene(most are European, rip the American Market), but the fundamentals are there. There are options, but the only one that is Global far as I know that is not utter garbage(seems to be received positively) is Pine64’s Pinephone(which they charge an absurd amount for so-called “remote areas,” above shipper-priced dues when it comes to).

Custom ROMs, such as CalyxOS, are based on AOSP. Per their own website(which lambasts Google and highlights Samsung for some reason):

“Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is the core backbone for all Android phones that manufacturers such as Samsung build upon. Maintained by Google, AOSP receives contributions from developers around the world.”

By using a Custom ROM, and from developers contributing to the AOSP, they are supporting Google, agreeing to Google, and helping Google further their ends. Yes, your experience may differ from stockdroid, but if you think you are away from Google, Calyx admits in that one line that despite their platitudes, they are still beholden to Google. If Google restricts access to AOSP, which they can as they are who grants access in the first place, congrats, it becomes the high waters or a dead project.

Then the follow up will be: “I’m altering the deal again! Pray I do not keep altering it!”

Android is a bad joke that is only “open,” insofar as Google allows/has failed to prevent. The AOSP effectively is Google, to access the source you have to bind yourself to, you guessed it, Google. All Android phones require you to agree to Google’s terms regardless of if you sign up for an account or ever link one to your device. OEMs, even ones out of the Mainstream, lie in bed with Google and speak it as a positive that they maintain compliance to Google’s demands.

That said, the power-grab, while unsurprising and not unprecedented, makes the veneer of openness and the practical greater access control afforded to users compared to iOS underground at best, which is problematic. Android at least does have greater freedom compared to iOS, with very practical utilities that rely on the ability for indies to come into the scene and do so. But to kneecap the ones that keep their ecosystem afloat, Google is playing quite an interesting game.

The best solution is to leave Google and Apple entirely, but that is easier said than done for most.

Close enough to midnight snack for me, I kind of borked my sleep a bit but hopefully soon to crash. Eventful week it has been.

Ah yes, HOAs. “We represent the best interests of how we feel toda–OI WHAT YOU DOIN’ CUTTIN’ YOUR SHRUB?!”

“Firmly grasp it.”

“Pregananant.”

This reminded me of an old classic.

We all have to find our way–Who you are is you, and that is what makes you special.

Sounds like a license revocation waiting to happen.

And as the other comment said, you may want to find someone else who, you know, actually cares. As you deserve to have someone who does, nobody should be without the proper channels they need.

Waiting can certainly be grinding,

And it can feel neverending,

It is snowing on Mt. Fuji.

On a serious note, hopefully what you are waiting for gets to you sooner rather than later! You deserve the best, so get some lovely rest. Good things come to those who can ride it out!