Sorry for the late newsletter today, we’re still a little sleepy. To ease you into this afternoon, I have an interview with the guy who coined the term “smutstep,” and has become a sensation among a very specific section of dark romance BookTok — as well as a lot of haters. I thought he had some interesting things to say about the content creation game and not taking yourself too seriously while respecting your own craft and audience. Enjoy.

The Creator of ‘Smutstep’ Wants You to ‘Let Your Freak Flag Fly’

Last week, a video came across my feed of a man saying horny lines over a dubstep beat. “On your knees,” he snarled. As the beat dropped, he growled, “Mmm, now look at me.”

“Instagram reels just showed me a guy who makes 'smutstep' for the booktok crowd and it is the funniest thing I have ever watched,” the person reposting the video on X wrote. The replies are predictably harsh: “I think this is actually the worst thing I have ever heard.” “Who the FUCK is demanding this 😭” 

People demanding this is why it exists. DARQ DAGR, whose real name is James, is a dubstep musician and voice artist who’s been working in the voice acting world for years. But smutstep is what’s made his work go viral, in large part thanks to the people who hate it so much. Smutstep emerged as a reaction to BookTok, a subculture within TikTok built by book lovers and their various followings. Within BookTok, the romantasy book genre thrives, with series like The Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) gaining massive readerships for their blend of elven high fantasy and dragon-based erotica. The romantasy genre is not a quaint fandom. It’s a billion-dollar industry.

Like so many online communities devoted to things a little horny and misunderstood, the wider world tends to scrutinize and discredit romance readers, especially when Fae fucking is involved. James, who wants people to know he does read the books too, saw a way into two niches that could compliment each other.

“I think what I like about the whole culture — the BookTok culture and dubstep culture — it's just letting your freak flag fly in a way,” he told me in a call. “It’s accepting and embracing what you're into within a safe and healthy space. I think that's a really beautiful thing.” 

Read the rest of this story here.

MORE FROM 404

Sentry mode? The “security protocols” on a Tesla stopped a Homeland Security Investigations agent from placing a tracking device on it, according to a warrant reviewed by 404 Media. On Halloween of 2025, an HSI Special Agent filed a more than 60 page application to place a tracking device on the Tesla of a suspected drug trafficker in Milwaukee. Agents had been watching alleged drug dealer Sam Stair — a local landlord they believed was using his rental properties as the front for a drug trafficking operation — for months when they asked a judge to let them install a tracker on his car. According to the warrant application, Stair went everywhere in a white Tesla and the agents wanted to see where it was when they couldn’t keep eyes on it.

FROM AROUND THE WEB

Ghosting much... SpaceX will testify before the New York City Council this week about AI safety risks. This is after Elon and co ditched a hearing on Oct. 5.  

“Hmmmmmm.” This is from last month but I hadn’t seen it until this morning when the creator Rajeev Basu emailed me: a plushie data center that hums with a recording of a real data center in Virginia. “Squeeze Bezzy’s torso and the sound bursts out. It’s a screeching few seconds of a recording taken by a neighbor of a data center in Virginia. The tag on the Bezzy plushie reads, ‘Hug me for ear-piercing forever hum,’” Wired reported. 

Things are going fine. Following the announcement last week from SecDef Hegseth that the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad would be livestreamed, experts are issuing warnings and guidelines to caregivers of children on how to cope with kids seeing that material or hearing about it in general. Cool stuff. 

So extra. But I do love a slow mo bee video. From Ars Technica: “Scientists have now determined that the stinger is able to continue pumping venom into its unfortunate victim even after the bee flies away, thanks to a unique double-piston pump-like mechanism, according to a new paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.” 

Flipping the bird? Can someone tell me what the hell is going on with this Kelly Clarkson internet feud over a toy bird? Or something? Actually nevermind, I refuse to read or learn anything else about this situation. We're already getting execuslop out of it.

Green continues to have a moment in interior design, but Sherwin-Williams is taking a lighter approach for 2027. The paint company, alongside HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, has named Celery its 2027 Color of the Year: a soft, herbal green with subtle yellow undertones that feels fresh without being overly vibrant.

Photography courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

Unlike the deeper, moodier greens that have dominated interiors in recent years, Celery (SW 6421) leans into a more understated interpretation of nature-inspired color. Its muted yellow-green character brings warmth to a space while maintaining an airy quality, making it an approachable option for those looking to introduce color without overwhelming a room.

Photography courtesy of HGTV by Sherwin-Williams

“Celery was chosen as the 2027 Color of the Year because it reflects today’s priorities: wellness, balance, and connection,” says Ashley Banbury, color marketing manager at Sherwin-Williams. “Homeowners and designers are increasingly prioritizing wellness at home, seeking soothing environments that support mental health and overall well-being.”

Photography courtesy of HGTV by Sherwin-Williams

Selected by the Sherwin-Williams Trendsight Team, Celery is part of the company’s 2027 Colormix Trend Forecast, Rewild. The broader forecast reflects a growing interest in interiors that feel comfortable and lived-in rather than meticulously styled, with colors that draw from the natural world without relying on obvious botanical references.

Photography courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

That balance between soothing and energizing is central to Celery’s appeal. The shade has enough yellow to keep it from feeling cool or subdued, while its muted green base offers a softer alternative to more saturated hues. It’s a combination that lends itself to contemporary and transitional interiors as well as spaces with a more traditional aesthetic.

Photography courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

To complement Celery, Sherwin-Williams has developed a palette that moves between earthy neutrals, deeper greens, and more expressive accents. White Flour and Woven Wicker provide a neutral foundation, while Artichoke, Cocoon, and Georgian Bay introduce greater depth and contrast.

For a bolder combination, Kirsch Red and Plum Brown bring warmth and richness, while Potentially Purple and Cosmos offer softer, more unexpected pairings. The palette also includes Minwax Pickled Oak—the wood stain brand’s own 2027 Color of the Year—extending the nature-inspired approach to wood finishes.

Photography courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

“[Celery] shines as part of a thoughtfully curated palette of rich, grounding hues designed to layer depth and dimension,” Banbury explains.

Rather than making a dramatic statement, Sherwin-Williams’ 2027 selection suggests that even a relatively quiet shade can noticeably shift the atmosphere.

Photography courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

Celery is available as SW 4621 through Sherwin-Williams stores and as HGSW6421 through HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams at Lowe’s.

Editorial Transparency: This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools, which may have been used for research, outlining, editing, or copy refinement. Reporting, fact-checking, and editorial decisions were made by the Design Milk editorial team.

This article was produced in collaboration with Court Watch, an independent outlet that unearths overlooked court records. Subscribe to them here.

The “security protocols” on a Tesla stopped a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent from placing a tracking device on it, according to a warrant reviewed by 404 Media.

On Halloween of 2025, an HSI Special Agent filed a more than 60 page application to place a tracking device on the Tesla of a suspected drug trafficker in Milwaukee. Agents had been watching alleged drug dealer Sam Stair — a local landlord they believed was using his rental properties as the front for a drug trafficking operation — for months when they asked a judge to let them install a tracker on his car. According to the warrant application, Stair went everywhere in a white Tesla and the agents wanted to see where it was when they couldn’t keep eyes on it.

“Case agents believed that Stair is using the Tesla to assist with drug trafficking and traveling to locations associated with the DTO [drug trafficking organization] and DTO members,” the application said. “Case agents are still attempting to identify other locations used by the DTO, other members of the DTO, and the source of supply for narcotics and believe that the court order would be beneficial for the investigation.”

A judge issued the warrant the same day the application was filed, but agents never got the tracking device on the car. “Search warrant not executed due to security protocols active on Tesla,” the agent said in a court filing about the warrant.

The court documents don’t elaborate on the specific “security protocols” that stopped them from placing a tracking device on the car, but the Tesla may have been in “Sentry Mode.” Teslas have eight external cameras that provide a 360 degree view of the car’s surroundings. This makes the car’s self-driving features possible but also allows owners to keep track of what’s going on around the car.

If a stranger approaches a Tesla while it’s in Sentry Mode, the car will flash its lights, sound an alarm, and start recording through its exterior cameras. The car’s dashboard activates and lets people outside know that Sentry Mode is active and that they’re being recorded. When the cameras start rolling, the car pings the owner via the Tesla phone app and they can watch what’s happening around their car remotely. If they’ve installed a USB drive in the car they can even save the footage.

The setback didn’t matter for the long-term investigation. A task force arrested Stair and 17 other people in May on drug trafficking charges. Stair pleaded not guilty and was released from jail on bond while he awaits trial. 

An AI company now lets cops take a photo and nearly instantly figure out what specific home it was taken in, using only clues in the photo itself, and is clearly pulling data from sites like Zillow and Airbnb. 

The tool, called Raven, shows the increasing power of AI capabilities available to local law enforcement agencies. 404 Media previously reported that both the Los Angeles Police Department and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) have bought access to Raven, which was previously called GeoSpy. Now, Raven, made by a company called Graylark Technologies, has added features that let cops analyze the interior of homes.

In a post on LinkedIn earlier this month, Graylark CEO Daniel Heinen wrote the company was introducing “the ability to geolocate interior images across millions of short-term rental units worldwide.” An accompanying demo video shows someone taking a photo from X of a washer/dryer unit inside a building. They upload it to Raven, select “Find Property: Interior and exterior property geolocation,” and then choose a region to search.

After a couple of seconds, the map interface zooms in on an area in Charlotte, North Carolina. On the right hand side, the screen displays a list of results. The top one reads, “Renovated! Walk Uptown/located in 2 Hot Spots!”

That result directly quotes the language on a specific Airbnb listing in Charlotte, and the photos in the Airbnb listing show the same property.

Later in the video, the Raven user takes a photo of a bathroom from social media. They upload it to Raven, and the tool points to an area of Montecito, California. The top result says, “Montecito Miramar Beach House on the Sand.” 404 Media found that result directly quotes a listing on the short term rental site Vrbo.

In other words, from a single photo, Raven appears to be able to quickly find the specific home it was taken in, without using location data or other metadata attached to the image. In the demonstrations the videos were from social media, but in practice they could be from anywhere a law enforcement officer has obtained them.

This is also not a reverse image search: a reverse image search would take an image then find an identical one posted somewhere else on the internet. What Raven is doing, instead, is identifying unique characteristics in the photo, then finding what are likely other photos from the same property on sites like Airbnb, even if those photos are not exactly the same, or even if time has passed between them being taken.

In another post, Heinen wrote, “For investigators working trafficking and exploitation cases, that connection can turn an unidentified room into a location lead they can verify and pursue.”

Raven is not limited to short term rentals, according to other demo videos. In a third example posted last year, Raven traces a photo of an interior room to a specific address in San Francisco. The interface returns other interior photos of the property; 404 Media found these are exactly the same photos as those posted on Zillow, indicating that Raven is at least pulling data from Zillow in some form. 

Another video posted last week shows Raven identifying a particular hotel, too.

In another video, a part of the interface says, “City-specific property AI to determine an address.” That phrase implies the property search isn’t necessarily worldwide, but dependent on an AI model built specifically for that city. When 404 Media reported earlier this year that at least two law enforcement agencies have bought access to Raven, emails showed the MDSO had access to a custom model specifically trained for Miami-Dade County.

“In 2026, we’re investing heavily in interior geolocation across U.S. hotels, short-term rentals, houses, and apartments,” Heinen adds in the post.

Graylark trained Raven on millions of images from around the world. When the tool first launched, it was focused on identifying distinct geographical markers like architecture and soil. Now Raven extends that same idea into buildings. 

In an interview with the tech publication Indicator last year, Heinen discussed some of how the building interior searching capability came to be. “I’ll be honest, we didn't train it to do that,” he said. “That was kind of an ‘Oh shit’ moment for us. GeoSpy 1.0 couldn't do that. As we trained GeoSpy 2.0, we were just kind of red teaming and testing it out and I think I had a picture of my girlfriend just taking a selfie in the bathroom. I was curious what it would say and I dropped it in there and it put a pin on San Francisco. I was like, ‘Well hold on, wait a minute. That doesn't make any sense. It’s just a picture in a bathroom.’ And then I went over to Zillow and I just started screenshotting images and nine out of 10 of them it would get the right city.”

“We have huge datasets that we train the models on and these are geotagged images from all over. Usually, we would assume that the images are all outdoor images. I'm assuming some of those images would probably have some indoors, whether it's people at a party or just taking pictures of food on their counter. The models must have learned some details that relate to different locations,” he continued.

Airbnb told 404 Media in email “Protecting our community's privacy is important to us — that’s why location metadata is excluded from listing photos, hosts are given the option to show only an approximate location of their listing, and a home’s address is shared with a guest only after a reservation is confirmed. We also have technical safeguards in place to try to limit automated data collection from our site.” Airbnb stressed it has no relationship with Graylark, that its terms of service prohibit scraping, and that the company is reviewing this case.

Zillow told 404 Media that scraping data is against its terms of use, and when necessary it pursues legal avenues.

Vrbo did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

It is unclear if the examples shown in the marketing videos are truly representative of Raven’s speed or capabilities. While law enforcement agencies have paid for access to Raven, it hasn’t always impressed. Joseph R. Peguero Rivera, from MDSO’s Public Affairs Office, previously told 404 Media “To date, use of GeoSpy has been limited and largely exploratory. While it has been reviewed in a small number of cases, it has not resulted in any significant investigative breakthroughs or arrests. No case outcomes were driven solely or primarily by information generated by the tool.” 

404 Media first covered Raven in January 2025. At the time, the tool was available to essentially anyone, and some people in the company’s Discord server asked for help stalking women. A day after 404 Media contacted Graylark for comment, the company restricted access to the tool to only government agencies and enterprise users.

In a September X post, Heinen said Alexandr Wang, now head of AI at Meta, was an angel investor in Graylark. Wang did not respond to a request for comment.

In a LinkedIn post earlier this year, Heinen showed Raven being used against a video of people vandalizing a Flock camera.

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I feel like if you said this on twitter someone wearing a shirt that reads INTERNET would come into your house and take an ax to your router.

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The president is actually doing the same thing in the third to last panel.