#( dash games - virginia )

[vyrulent]

AT   THE   MOMENT,     YOU   WANT…

to be free

you've been trying to leave for so long. something is keeping you there, like being chained, or locked in. in the moment, you feel trapped. your heart desires to feel freedom, and this could be physical or mental, or even both. physically. you may be truly trapped, confined in a situation that seems to have no end, or even trapped in your own emotions. you desire to let go, to feel free once again and at peace. there are ways to free yourself, all hope isn't lost.

tagged by: @spirit-x-ing

[fatexbound]

Wanted poster bounty creator.

WANTED: Ryuji, dead or alive. REASON: Murdered a whole family. LAST SEEN: 9/18/1863 in West Virginia. NATIONAL PRIORITY: 15 DANGER LEVEL: Medium BOUNTY: $20,000

"M-Murdered?! You're effin' nuts! With what, my shotgun-- oh. SHIT, THAT AIN'T RIGHT--!"

Tagged by: @ahogedetective

Tagging: uh, whoever loves Ryuji, I guess--

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Moon Base Alpha by Stuart Gibbs

Like his fellow lunarnauts—otherwise known as Moonies—living on Moon Base Alpha, twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is famous the world over for being one of the first humans to live on the moon.

And he’s bored out of his mind. Kids aren’t allowed on the lunar surface, meaning they’re trapped inside the tiny moon base with next to nothing to occupy their time—and the only other kid Dash’s age spends all his time hooked into virtual reality games.

Then Moon Base Alpha’s top scientist turns up dead. Dash senses there’s foul play afoot, but no one believes him. Everyone agrees Dr. Holtz went onto the lunar surface without his helmet properly affixed, simple as that. But Dr. Holtz was on the verge of an important new discovery, Dash finds out, and it’s a secret that could change everything for the Moonies—a secret someone just might kill to keep...

Adventurers Wanted by M. L. Forman

Do you have the courage, the wits, and the skill to claim a dragon's hoard? If so, apply within …

The sign is small, tucked into the corner of Mr. Clutter's bookshop window: "Adventurers Wanted. Apply Within." No one but fifteen-year-old Alex Taylor even seems to notice it is there. And for Alex, who has wished for a change in his life, it is an irresistible invitation.

Upon entering Mr. Clutter's shop, Alex is swept away on an incredible adventure to a faraway land filled with heroic warriors, mysterious elves, and hard-working dwarves.

Alex becomes the eigth man in a band of adventurers seeking the lair of Slathbog the Red - an evil dragon with a legendary treasure. Along the way, Alex and his new friends must battle dangerous trolls and bandits, face undead wraiths, and seek the wisdom of the Oracle in her White Tower.

Alex's adventure takes him to distant and exotic lands where he learns about courage, integrity, honor, and, most importantly, friendship.

Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

Will anyone take on Jake Semple?

Jake Semple is notorious. Rumor has it he burned down his old school and got kicked out of every school in his home state.

Only one place will take him now, and that's a home school run by the Applewhites, a chaotic and hilarious family of artists. The only one who doesn't fit the Applewhite mold is E.D.—a smart, sensible girl who immediately clashes with the unruly Jake.

Jake thinks surviving this one will be a breeze . . . but is he really as tough or as bad as he seems?

The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt

It is the dead of night.

Sixteen-year-old Tiuri must spend hours locked in a chapel in silent contemplation if he is to be knighted the next day.

But, as he waits by the light of a flickering candle, he hears a knock at the door and a voice desperately asking for help.

A secret letter must be delivered to King Unauwen across the Great Mountains - a letter upon which the fate of the entire kingdom depends. Tiuri has a vital role to play, one that might cost him his knighthood.

Tiuri's journey will take him through dark, menacing forests, across treacherous rivers, to sinister castles and strange cities. He will encounter evil enemies who would kill to get the letter, but also the best of friends in the most unexpected places.

He must trust no one.

He must keep his true identity secret.

Above all, he must never reveal what is in the letter...

Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen

Marly and her family share many adventures when they move from the city to a farmhouse on Maple Hill. Her father is recovering from being a prisoner-of-war. The small town and the varied happenings and activities of country life help them to recover from past unhappiness, and bond more closely as a family.

13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison

Tanya has a secret. She can see fairies.

But not the fairies we imagine. These fairies cast spells on her, rousing her from her sleep and propelling her out of bed. Disturbed by her daughter’s behaviour, Tanya’s mother sends her away to live with her grandmother at Elvesden Manor, a secluded countryside mansion on the outskirts of town.

Then an old photograph leads Tanya to an unsolved mystery. Fifty years ago a girl vanished in the woods, a girl Tanya’s grandmother will not speak of. Tanya is determined to find the truth, but as she unearths more secrets she finds herself dangerously close to following in the missing girl’s footsteps . . .

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

This same slice of history is seen through the eyes of the spirited, 7-year-old Ojibwa girl Omakayas, or Little Frog, so named because her first step was a hop. The sole survivor of a smallpox epidemic on Spirit Island, Omakayas, then only a baby girl, was rescued by a fearless woman named Tallow and welcomed into an Ojibwa family on Lake Superior's Madeline Island, the Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker. We follow Omakayas and her adopted family through a cycle of four seasons in 1847, including the winter, when a historically documented outbreak of smallpox overtook the island.

Poison by Bridget Zinn

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

The Chanters of Tremaris by Kate Constable

Calwyn has never been beyond the high ice-wall that guards the sisters of Antaris from the world of Tremaris. She knows only the rounds of her life as a novice ice priestess, tending her bees, singing her ice chantments, and dreaming.

But then Calwyn befriends Darrow, a mysterious Outlander who appears inside the Wall and warns of an approaching danger. To help Darrow, to see the world, and perhaps to save it, Calwyn will leave the safety of the Wall for a journey with a man she barely knows—and an adventure as beautiful and dangerous as the music of chantment itself.

Ingo by Helen Dunmore

Sapphire's father mysteriously vanishes into the waves off the Cornwall coast where her family has always lived. She misses him terribly, and she longs to hear his spellbinding tales about the Mer, who live in the underwater kingdom of Ingo. Perhaps that is why she imagines herself being pulled like a magnet toward the sea. But when her brother, Conor, starts disappearing for hours on end, Sapphy starts to believe she might not be the only one who hears the call of the ocean.

[redistrictgirl]

Fight Song

I’m about to tell you a story. Take yourself, if you will, to a pivotal presidential election we’re all familiar with.

Woah, Trump just won North Carolina.

It’s just after 11:00 PM on the East Coast, and while the state was certainly close, Democrats were definitely favored in the Tar Heel State. But depending on how the rest of the night unfolds, we could have our first woman president, and she’s certainly the favorite. Besides, the next governor of NC will still be a Democrat - hardly a shock.

Oh, Ohio was called a while back, and by a weirdly convincing margin for the billionaire. But Virginia held for Democrats! What could possibly go wrong for them?

Things start going wrong for Democrats.

Liberal dreams of blue Iowa and Georgia are dashed. Arizona is close but it seems Republicans still have it. Okay, Minnesota and New Hampshire are on the board late in the game. That wasn’t anything anyone was counting on. Oh hey, a solid win for Dems in Nevada, maybe this race isn’t over.

Where is Michigan?

It looks like the election is going to come down to the four northern Rust Belt States and New Hampshire.

Here’s where things take a turn from this very familiar scenario.

Minnesota and New Hampshire are called first, both turning blue. Michigan is next, but it also refuses to budge from last cycle. Then comes Arizona - it stays as red as the polls said, though.

So it all comes down to Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Trump loses the Keystone State sometime Wednesday morning. Wisconsin is going to a recount. We’re in for a long three months.

But on Saturday, you get a notification on your phone.

“Kamala Harris projected to become the 47th president of the United States.”

This is what my model predicts will happen if undecideds break the exact same way they did in 2016. In short, Ms. Harris can now survive a Hillary Clinton-sized disappointment on Election Night.

Full forecast to come on Sunday as usual.

[etoilesombre]

sad captains make bad choices chapter two PLEASE I need it like I need breathing

For the WIP game. I was just WAITING for someone to ask about this one because I'm so excited to post the second chapter. Should be done over the weekend! First chapter here for context. Flint is so sad and pining (and also drunk and bad at people) that when he and Silver are staying at an inn together on a war mission and things get flirty, instead of making a move on Silver he goes out to an 18th century gay bar and has really intense group sex with randos. Was this an excuse for free use porn that then got out of control? Why yes, yes it was. Anyway Silver walks in, Flint sends him away, everything is horribly awkward, and Flint shuts down and is a bastard about it (see: bad at people.) In this, the second chapter, they... talk. Uh. Etc.

I had a hard time picking an excerpt for this one but here goes, the first bit of their conversation.

“Captain, this has to fucking stop,” Silver said at last, their third day back on the island.  They were on the cliffs, sweaty and panting between bouts. Flint had only spoken to comment on Silver’s form. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, hoping it might be true. That hope was immediately dashed.  “We need to talk about what happened in Virginia,” Silver said.  “We absolutely do not,” Flint replied, putting as much cold warning into his voice as he could muster. “I told you, it was a mistake. Leave it alone.” But Silver was not nearly as inclined to be cowed into silence as he had once been. “I tried to leave it alone,” he insisted. “And you’ve barely fucking spoken to me. It is obvious that you harbor some– some anger or resentment toward me over the matter, and I just—” “I don’t,” Flint interrupted, flatly.  “Then I don’t understand–” “Have you considered that it is not for you to understand?” Flint snapped, backed into a corner. “That perhaps you do not have a right to every goddamn piece of my life just because…” Flint trailed off, seeing the darkening of Silver’s expression and realizing the hypocrisy he would perceive in the words.  “You know what I think?” Silver’s tone was light, almost conversational, but it carried a bitter, dangerous undercurrent. “I think you’re just plain fucking embarassed. And I think you’re taking it out on me, because you can’t stand that I witnessed something that makes you as human as everyone else.”  Flint bridled at the accusation, at how simple, how petty it sounded when Silver said it. He wasn’t… it wasn’t just… He reached for a counter argument, and slowly deflated as the truth of it sank in past his defensiveness.  “And you know what?” Silver continued, apparently not finished but only hitting his stride. “That’s a bit fucking insulting, Captain. Considering that I’ve been coming up here every day and utterly humiliating myself in front of you. Considering that you were the only one who I—” He stopped abruptly, and Flint heard what he couldn’t say. The only one Silver had let near him, when he awoke after losing his leg, the only one other than the doctor allowed to witness the particular degradations of his suffering. “I meant it, when I said I didn’t think pride was an issue between us. That’s the only way this partnership works.” For a brief moment Silver sounded hurt, but found his way quickly back to outrage. “And I tried to be your fucking friend, as insane of a proposition as that may be. I did not judge you for your relationship with Thomas Hamilton, any more than I have ever judged any man on our crew for the same.” He glared at Flint, eyes blazing. “And if you’re going to be a bastard to me just because you assume I must be horrified by seeing what you like in bed, then fuck you.” 

[lcviathans]

( harris dickinson . genderfluid . he/they ) — blasting lotion by deftones down main street we’ve spotted jack "bunny" armstrong sporting a poorly - trimmed mullet and even shittier tattoos, bruises at every joint; an old thrifted t - shirt cropped too far up; and the rattiest pair of jorts ever seen by mankind. the twenty eight year old oracle who’s been in town for two weeks often can be seen stealing parts for their decrepit motorcycle, smoking outside of the only bar in town with a blood - stained mouth and a crooked grin, climbing out of someone else's window too early in the morning, giving himself a new prone - to - infection tattoo, shoving the bloodiest burger anyone's ever seen inside of their mouth, or working as a bartender at the old haunt. people say they display uninhibited and volatile traits, but we rather trust their vibes: the gleam of a knife's sharp edge in the deep, dark night - illusion shattered when the blade is lifted beneath bleeding nose; a pair of headphones that are all wires, all peeling leather - the music is nothing but static; boot print pressed against the chest like a blooming flower, skin angry and red; the stench of hand - rolled tobacco that clings in between fingers and lips; and a wallet's family portrait mirroring crumbled smiles and watery eyes, gut - wrenching guilt every time it's pried open. also, we’ve heard they love hot showers ! aren’t they fascinating ?

content warning for mentions of... incarceration, childhood illness, drugs, gunshots, wounds.

profile.

full name — eoghan llewellyn. jack armstrong.

nickname(s) — exclusively bunny ( alternatively; bunz, if only to incite anger ).

place of birth — duck, west virginia.

date of birth & age — may 13th, 1996. twenty8.

gender / pronouns — genderqueer, he/they.

orientation — bisexual, with homoerotic tendencies.

occupation — bartender at the old haunt; professional hustler; amateur drug dealer.

astrology — taurus sun, aries moon, gemini rising.

kind of being — oracle.

abilities — precognition, divination, telekinesis, spirit talkng and dream walking.

residence — a shitty, abandoned trailer, shoddy from years of neglect; the curtains have cigarette - burns and cockroaches have long - claimed the shower floor.

interests — chain - smoking outside the employee's door at the old haunt. hot showers, the kind that turn your skin red and mottled. silver rings and steel toe boots. winning a bet; winning in general. competition and worthwhile prizes. the smell of smoke, and fresh - settled ashes. nighttime. a good time. whatever he can get his hands on; mind - numbing highs and the taste of sour beer. alley cats and feral strays. stealing the last fry, the last pie slice, the last or first or maybe both kiss; always having the last laugh.

aversions — religion, but sometimes not; hard to pray to a god one no longer believes in. one that's barely there. personal questions, and getting too close. the authorities. arguments, sometimes - but never fights. tending to their own wounds; sometimes it's better to let it rot. dogs. country music, unless it fucks - then sometimes. pleather; give them the real shit. nostalgia; it's always a trap. being wrong. being right.

quirks — keeps bottlecaps in a clear vase like they're trinkets. is constantly moving around, restless. dine and dashes frequently. spins a silver band that adorns their left ring finger. eats food that's fallen on the floor. hogs the bedsheets. loves to be warm but never dresses for it. frequent ghoster. hustles others for money, especially when it comes to bar games. acts like he has the biggest mouth, when his past is a mystery.

most played — lotion by deftones.

notable features — a mess of a mullet, typically bleached. a nose once - pointed, now crooked from one - too - many punches. skin littered in tattoos, both self - done and professional.

general disposition — body at odds with itself, limbs so gangly they're only odd angles; a walking crime scene, with dead eyes to match.

character study — jesse pinkman ( breaking bad ) & mickey milkovich ( shameless ).

background.

incarceration; born in the appalachian mountains, in a tiny bumfuck town with few residents - bunny knew the stain their family held on the town before they could form a coherent sentence. it was evident in the way they looked at them, at their mother; a madwoman by all means, grieving a husband sentenced for life without parole. the llewellyns weren't welcome, not his mother nor his sister nor him.

childhood illness mention; as the years progressed, their mother worsened. his sister fell sick, like she'd fallen asleep but couldn't wake. their family was cursed - with what, he didn't know. didn't care to know - at eight years old, he knew he couldn't stay. didn't want to. so he left - took what little belongings he had, and followed the only road out. nobody searches for the child nobody wants.

the rest of his childhood is a blur of makeshift campsites and worn - down towns, odd jobs for spare change and farmer - tan sunburns. he grows like a summer weed, tall and spiraling and surprisingly strong for their scrawny form. there's a different name every town, a new identity chosen with every person he meets. he survives through labor jobs and work nobody else wants to do.

appalachia haunts him. he can hear the mountains in his mind, see his sister in his dreams. hear their mother crying. they never truly leave him - even thousands of miles away. alive, yet haunting. other voices speak to him too, spectral forms barely comprehensible to his visible eye, like looking at a physical smudge. visions come to him during his sleep. in his dreams - he can go anywhere; walk anywhere. he begins to understand why his mother went mad.

he joins a traveling carnival for a brief stint during their teenage years; their powers become useful only this once. the boy psychic, the all - seeing armstrong. the dreamwalker, the metaphysical medium. he tells people of their deceased loved ones, of their upcoming futures. it's a hit, unsurprisingly; even if he has to make things up on occasion - it's not a switch they can turn on and off, but nobody needs to know.

drugs mention; eventually, the act grows old; as jack - no, bunny - ages, the boyish charm wears off. the voices are getting louder and he wants them to stop. the carnival is an easy gateway to bigger, better things; to casual drug runs and selling to rebellious teenagers in their own podunk towns, to robberies at lone - road gas stations. going home still isn't an option; it's been so long - is it even home, still? was it ever home? bunny barely remembers his name.

gunshots, wound mention; during a stint gone wrong and a rogue crewmate, bunny made the run for it. ran and ran; pushing through branch and fog and - boom. portum, in all it's glory. the sirens and gunshots behind them fizzling into nothing, the only remnant of the woods behind them the bleeding wound in their side.

details.

incredibly evasive; doesn't answer questions of their past, but is brutally straightforward otherwise. what you know of bunny is what you get; they don't sugarcoat things, or act in kindness. their opinions are black and white, all warped perceptions and no grey area.

emotional and, at times, volatile. feels deeply, deeper than he'd like to - than he'd like to portray. fights are commonplace, especially without rhyme or reason. sometimes bunny thinks they just like to bruise.

not the most intelligent person, but has street smarts and common sense. is practical. doesn't know jack shit about pop culture, and doesn't understand references to it.

has a deep appalachian accent that hasn't gone despite having not been in the mountains since young childhood. stronger with his emotions.

doesn't like to acknowledge the fact that they're an oracle; doesn't want to dig into their family history, or dissect their mother's behaviors that make - startlingly more sense the older they age. only really has a handle on talking to those beyond the veil ( the ones without a ghostly form, the ones forgotten ) and dream - walking. everything else happens at a whim.

drugs, smoking; the first thing bunny did when they entered portum was smoke half their pack of cigarettes, snort a line, and go to the bar. someone had to patch them up in the bathroom because they didn't realize they were injured. but it's been smooth sailing since; they're in cahoots with a local witch to help them continue their... dealing.

isn't all stood - up hairs and unbridled anger. can be giddy, or amused; sometimes even excited. is softhearted when it comes to animals - particularly cats. is scared of dogs, but would never admit it.

got a shitty old motorcycle out of the junkyard and repaired it himself; drives it around town - you'll always hear him coming before you see him. is constantly stealing parts for it because it keeps breaking down on them.

is kind of living like a king if their empire was of dirt. took over a rundown, abandoned trailer as their own and lives in squalor with a sick sense of glee about it. it's practically luxury living to them. is churning ideas in their head on how to use their life in portum to their advantage.

prefers not to sleep alone and loves affection but is, well, emotionally stunted. sleeps around easily but is quick to ghost when they feel like it's becoming something serious - something real. knows how to pull away before it hurts.

can be dry and sarcastic and a little biting, except for their bouts of unpredictability. sometimes just... loses it for a bit. loses the plot. seems to get a genuine thrill out of violence, like it's a release.

reliable, to a degree. if they say they'll be there - then they'll be there. doesn't make promises often - but he never goes back on his word.

[bellstrom]

Full Name: Benny Modig Hellström

Age & Birthday: 34 / January 30th, 1990

Occupation: Baker at Everything Goes

Preferred Pronouns & Gender: He/him & cis-male

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Birthplace: Suffolk, Virginia

Length of time in Briar Ridge: 7 years

Neighborhood: Downtown

🖋 Played & Penned by: Bill Skarsgård / Syd

Welcome to Briar Ridge … BENNY HELLSTRÖM! ... He is best known for [ his height, as he tends to tower over most at 6'4'' ] and [ that he carries a deep secret that haunts him every day, preventing himself from experiencing true peace ]. What is really important to know about them is [ that he moved to Briar Ridge seven years ago to reunite with family and has been here ever since ]. PINTEREST

Abuse, Death, Murder, Blood, Illness, Drugs TW

Benny grew up on a humble farm in Suffolk, Virginia, with his younger sister, mother, and father. It wasn't very lively, as they only had a handful of animals, their crops barren and land unkempt. His younger years were spent walking to and from their large piece of land, trudging through unpaved roads just to get to town. His entire life was on that farm, and he never thought about anything beyond the forest that surrounded them.

The only version of his father that Benny knew was the distant drunk who couldn't bear to spend any real time with his own family. Hank Parker was always off doing his own thing, known to never be without a beer in his hand, mumbling things to himself whenever he thought no one was around. Benny learned very quickly to steer clear of his father and to never bother him. He was always a better father when he wasn't in the room.

In the summer of 1999, Benny discovered he had more family— most importantly, cousins. Learning this marked a pivotal shift within him, the void inside him filling the more he was around them. They played games on the farm, hiding in spaces Benny never thought he'd be playing in. It was the first time he felt happy in their home of a wasteland. What he failed to realize, however, was the absolute torment his father had stirred within him.

The Parker brothers' relationship could be described as a one-sided rivalry, which greatly influenced Hank's life. It seemed as though every decision he made was in response to his younger brother's accomplishments, even starting a family. Despite not seeing each other in over two decades, Hank was riddled with the fact that his younger brother was doing better than him. His kids had clothes on them that seemed to have been bought within the year, and it reawakened a sense of competitiveness he kept buried for a long time.

When the Parkers left, Hank changed. The awful aura around him seemed to turn up a notch, and the next four years were hell on earth for everyone. Ulla, however, had a plan. Benny is still haunted by his mother's promise, but he always believed in her, even if her promise was as ominous as "taking care of it." Unfortunately, her idea of "taking care of it" involved poisoning his food, but she didn't consider the correct dosage, and Hank woke up in a fit of rage. His zombie of a father tore through the living room to get to her, and Benny had to take matters into his own hands.

Blacking out was a new experience for Benny, happening for the first time at the age of 16. He remembers waking up, kneeling over his father's lifeless body, covered in blood. The first thing that came to mind was not the people around him or how scared his younger sister and mother might've been, but that his best friend was supposed to come over that night— they had planned a sleepover. In a fit of panic, Benny started to spiral until his mother gave him some money, a backpack, and an order. "You leave and never come back. I'll take care of it now, and I'm so sorry you had to do that. I'll find you when everything's done."

Benny dashed out of the house, encountering Gabe outside, who was completely oblivious to the monumental shift about to unfold in their lives. Their bond resulted in a commitment to stick together, and within a few days, they found themselves in Chicago, where they remained for the next decade.

In Chicago, Benny made a living by working in various kitchens. He began at the bottom, cleaning bathrooms and floors, and eventually progressed to washing dishes and clearing tables. It wasn't until one of the head chefs took Benny under their wing and taught him how to cook—a skill that transformed everything for him. Benny learned quickly and proficiently enough to get behind a stove, and he began to make a decent living for himself. Life started to feel stable until his mother/younger sister managed to find him.

After learning that his mother was ill, Benny decided it was time to reunite with his family. Despite the bittersweet and extremely painful decision, he had to leave Chicago behind, even if he didn't want to. He had to make it home to see her. After doing his best to tie up loose ends, Benny made his way to Briar Ridge, where he learned his younger sister and mother were staying.

Over the next seven years, Benny does his best to make Briar Ridge his home. However, the longer he stays, the more he realizes how hard it is to bear the weight of what he did while being around the ones he loves. In Chicago, he had left everything behind, and it was easier then. Now, he has to face them all, unsure if anyone knows the truth.

Born in Suffolk, Virginia, 1990

The Parkers visit for the first time, and Benny learns he has cousins, 1999

Benny's mother fulfills her promise and drugs her husband, but the attempt was futile, and Benny had to take matters into his own hands, 2006 (Benny flees Virginia)

Benny finds residence in Chicago for the next 11 years and leaves in 2017 after getting back in touch with his younger sister.

Seven years later, Benny is now residing in Downtown.

*character inspiration: Sirius Black (Harry Potter), Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead), Steven Hyde (That 70s Show), Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop), Patrick Verona (10 Things I Hate About You)

[duochromium]

i think i am going to explode into blood

so i’ve been playing geometry dash for about eight years (since 2.0 released) and i’ve never really fallen out of it. huge gamer most of the time 4.2k hours on it on steam and probably 10k if mobile counted etc etc

yesterday i leave my house to go on vacation for a week. you fuckers are not gonna guess what 7-year-anticipated update decides to be dropped the fucking day i get to virginia.

but wait there’s more. i also really, really love ultrakill. extremely fun fast-paced retro fps i’m sure you’re all familiar with it and i’m actually pretty good at it. p-ranked everything i could, got decent at the fancy tech, played a lot of cybergrind. got like 150 hours on it before i honestly just ran out of shit to do, love the game and have been patiently waiting for the next update

And you guys are never gonna fucking guess what game ALSO is having a major update release today. The second day of my vacation and I am away from my computer for the next week.

I AM GOING TO EXPLODE!!!!!

[aheathen-conceivably]

❄️ and ⚡️ for the weather game, please!

Oh hello! Thank you for these my dear 😊

❄️ Snow - Who is your coldest / most stoic character and how do they express themselves (if at all)?

Gotta give this one to both Virginia and Adelia. They look so incredibly alike, which I first found quite ironic as they seemed like juxtaposed characters (where Rosella was meant to be Adelia’s “heir”). However, the more I thought about it the more I realized that Virginia has Adelia’s ability to internalize and act in a very calculated, and some would say, cold manner.

Adelia faced immense tragedies which caused her to become laser focused on self-preservation and giving her only surviving child a good life. She purposefully hardened herself not only to the world, but to any internal weaknesses that could stand in the way of this. Her self expression came in the form of love only for her immediate family, as she viewed them as the only people she truly had in this life.

Virginia, on the other hand, is actually an immensely emphatic character. Her coldness is primarily due to all of pain she sees in the world, all of which she has observed and taken onto her own shoulders. She does not allow herself much warmth or expression, as it feels terrifyingly like losing control and letting emotion (that she associates with pain) take over. Just like Adelia, she internalizes this; however, she has transformed it into a mission to do good in the world. It’s in those acts of service that her warmth comes alive; but to others (even her close family), she often presents as someone who does not have time for petty issues or silly emotional trifles.

⚡️Lightning - Have you ever spontaneously added something to your story that you wouldn't have added normally? If so, what made you do it?

I answered this one here and have also ranted enough on your dash with question no. 1 so I’m going to resist giving you another 😜

I’ve still got a few more to answer tonight but if you’ve got more weather asks feel free to send! 😚

[vyrulent]

LEGAL NAME:  virginia ann dare

NICKNAME[S]:  a. grander viii ; ginny

DATE OF BIRTH:  august 18, 1587

SEX:  female

PLACE OF BIRTH:  roanoke, Virginia

CURRENTLY LIVING:  roamer; has homes in Russia, Germany, England, America, and South America

SPOKEN LANGUAGES:  english, multiple native American languages ( more prominent in Algonquin ), French, German, Russian, Italian, some middle eastern languages and Asian languages but not as fluent as the others as she was less prominent in those areas and with those specific leaders

EDUCATION: none

HAIR COLOR:  red

EYE COLOR:  bright ass blue -- the book calls them bluer than the caribbean waters

HEIGHT:   5'10

:FAMILY INFORMATION:

SIBLING[S]: only child, BUT she's shares a sire with Abraham Lincoln

PARENT[S]: Ananias and Eleanor Dare ( biological ); Henry Sturges ( sire/husband )

CHILDREN:  none

PET[S]: she has an ocelot and desperately wants a black panther

:RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION:

SEXUAL ORIENTATION:  bisexual

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: married to Henry Sturges, estranged for centuries

Tagged by: @sovereignreigned

[softguarnere]

Miscellaneous Tag Game

Thank you for the tag @ronald-speirs 💕 Came at the perfect time, because I also needed a distraction

Favorite place in the world you’ve visited?

Absolutely loved going to Virginia as a kid, and I think all my best memories were made there

Something you’re proud of yourself for?

Finally taking the leap and submitting poetry to journals recently 😬 No matter the outcome, I'm proud of myself for trying

Favorite books?

PJO, TCON, THG. Also the book "The Kingdom of Matthias" is so freakin' wild, everyone should definitely read that at some point, because it totally proves the whole "people have always been people" thing.

Something that makes your heart happy when thinking about it?

My dogs!

Favorite thing about your culture?

That we're still here 💪Also I love the way the language works

When did you join the HBO War fandom? What was the first show you watched?

I watched BOB in high school, but I didn't join the fandom until about a year and a half ago

Have you read any of Easy Company’s books? If so, which ones were your favorite?

Heck yeah I have! Fierce Valor is definitely one of my favorites - so well written and really does a fantastic job of inspecting Speirs from all sides and giving him a fair depiction (which, as a historian, I love)

Favorite HBO War character and your favorite moment with them?

Guarnere (everybody act surprised). Idk, I think the moment in the back of the truck when Dick tells him that he's not actually a Quaker, lol, his laugh always cracks me up

Do you make content for any fandoms, if so; what sort of content?

I write fics! Mainly for BOB, but I've written for a few others recently

Favorite actor/actress and your favorite film of theirs?

Probably Ralph Macchio, just because I feel like my mom and I are always watching something that has him in it. My Cousin Vinny is definitely my favorite, and not a day goes by that I don't quote it as a form of communication

Favorite quote/s that you wish to share with others?

Laugh at me if you want, but the "You're going to have to be the bravest you've ever been!" line from Bluey has been getting me through it lately ("it" being scary senior year stuff and also an upcoming doctor appointment).

Random fact your mutuals/followers don’t know about you?

According to a color analysis thingy, I am a true/cool summer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Do with that information what you will

If you’re a writer, do you need a beta reader (say yes so I can be your beta reader 🤭)?

I've never had a beta reader before, but if anyone ever wants to be, then hell yeah, come be my beta reader! (And I am also willing to read for anyone else!)

Three things that make you smile?

When the weather is good, when someone tells me that something made them think of me, and when I find little notes hidden in books that my late grandmother left me

Any nicknames you like?

Dove actually is my nickname hehe

List some people you love to see around on tumblr!

How do I tag the entire HBOWar fandom? Everyone plz consider yourselves tagged, because I genuinely love seeing all of y'all on my dash

What would you do during a zombie apocalypse?

Probably just stay in my house lol. Ummm, idk, if it came down to it, I would use my bow and arrows against the zombies and hope that it would work

Favorite movie?

The Outsiders will forever be so special to me🥺🫶🏽

Do you like horror movies?

No, because I love being able to sleep at night

Tagging: (but no pressure!) @mads-nixon @almost-a-class-act @dcyllom

[esteemed-excellency]

I compiled a list of all the Exceptional Stories I played, to be updated with every new one I play or buy, the stars are for my favourites:

A Trade in Souls - Spirifier ending

The Gift ⭐️ Sided with the Princess

The Court of Cats - The Prince-Bishop and the Viscountess remained together, the Ophidian Gentleman sent the fingerkings' regards

Lost in Reflections - Smashed the mirror to allow July to regain her sanity and freedom [in dreams: stole the contract for the sixth city and destroyed it]

Cut with Moonlight - Meridian House continues to operate

The Last Dog Society - The Sunken Admiral had his revenge killing the Sequencer and the Shamble-Man

Discernment

The Art of Murder - [played both endings, killing the snuffer was the most in character option but I liked her character]

The Waltz that Moved the World ⭐️ Danced the Waltzing Duke to his death and took his secret

The Frequently Deceased

Five Minutes to Midday

The Calendar Code - Discovered truth about the Dutchess and returned the papyrus to her

Where You and I Must Go

Our Lady of Pyres

The Persona Engine - Destroyed the Machine

The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street - Uncovered The Lily's secret and entered Hell

The Century Exhibition - entrusted the Wind of Ages to Hell, and kept its location from the Empress' regiment

The Season of Skies - the Gracious Widow will continue the Polymath's work, hoping for London to see the stars again

The Marriage of Feducci ⭐️ The marriage fell through

HOJOTOHO!

Trial and Error

The Stone Guest ⭐️ Filmed with stage magic and The Grand Hunt

The Sinking Synod

Lamentation Lock - Left with the Listless Pugilist, the Ascetic Housebreaker and the Hollow-Eyed Turncoat

Written in the Glim - The Entomological Astrologer continues her activities

For All the Saints Who From Their Labour Rest ⭐️ The Intrepid Deacon became an agent of the Brass Embassy

The Magician's Dream - The Haunted Magician keeps working for the Glass

Cricket, Anyone? ⭐️ Gave the Broken Word to Hell, the Game must go on

Noises from Upstairs - Saved the Dashing Debunker from moonlight

Tauroktonos

The Garden Embassy

The Brass Grail - The Dowager helped against Virginia and the Bishop regained his lover

Say it With Flowers ⭐️ Met with the Brooding Captain and the Lady in Lilac to mess with the Princess' plan, the messengers are safe.

Por Una Cabeza ⭐️ Doña Villar won the bet and kept her soul, her villa went to the urchins. Hiram kept the secret.

Go Tell the King of Cats - The Turbulent Tabby refused the King's gift and chose to spend his last days in comfort, surrounded by kittens, imparting what wisdom he could.

The Dilettante's Debut

The Icarian Cup ⭐️ Saved the Zeefarer and won the race, the Zeefarer and the Explorer parted in friendship

Caveat Emptor ⭐️ Preserved the original parasitic sigil and its copy on the deed

The Fair Unknown ⭐️ Won the tournament with the Red-Handed Queen's favour and claimed the boon

The Thing That Came in From the Fog - The Grandmaster exploded in Mr Fires' office

Reunion - The Prince remained in London, forsaking the royal family

The Tempest - The Tempestuous Urchin learned to let go of her anger, and she remains with Silvvy

A Crown of Thorns - Accepted and destroyed the Belligerant Prince's honey batch, helped with the Thorned Manservant's campaign

Adornment - Escaped Mr Stones' mines thanks to the Superstitious Smuggler's sacrifice. goddammit mr stones

Mistress of the Skies - The Collective moved to Parabola

A Stretch in the Sky

Totentanz ⭐️ Danced the true Totentanz and preserved its instruments

The Queen of the Elephants - Helped the Hopeless Vagrant against Queen Mary, set the elephant free / Killed the Hopeless Vagrant, sacrificed the elephant, queen mary ended up perpetually chased by the RHQ through her nightmares

Codename: Sugarplum ⭐️ Mr Stones kept the curio, and the Bazaarine Correspondent went West/died/remained in London. Hiram has the dog the dog

Dernier Cri

Inheritance

The Exile's Chalice

A Devil's Due - Helped Verity recover the Lyrical Soul

SALON SCANDAL! - The Foreign Office declined to comment (and the Monster had wings)

Stolen Stanzas

The Hollow Triptych - Freed the Conjunction of Absence

A Bright Future - Brokered a compromise between Mr Fires and the Futurist

The Deadly Dapperlings

The Mudlark's Lament ⭐️ Befriended the Precocious Tosher and helped the Drownie

Flame, Lead, Clay, Glass - Both the Engineer and the Correspondent survived and will probably get together again in the future, the Correction was dealt with

The Stolen Song - The final verses of the Enigmatic Drownie's song convinced the Accused Contralto not to join her in the zee

The Bloody Wallpaper ⭐️ Payed the debt to the Fingerkings, shouted at the Manager

The Path of Blood and Smoke

The Children of the Glow - Chose to not reveal the truth about the Luminous Miss Sparks and her glowing paint

The Stripes of Wrath - Left the tiger to die in peace

The Green King - The Green King died, though Lady Jane bound herself to him

A Newt by Any Other Name ⭐️ Sacrificed The Lure, left The Newt in the vault, and kept the diamond newt

The Tale of Old Fritz ⭐️ The Doomed Diver returned home safe

Slobgollion

The Sunken River - The Zubmariner and the Heart returned to London, safe from the Admiralty

Déjà Vu

The Laws of the Game

Arcana - Drank the Cider and freed the Sacristan

A Nest in the Eaves

Death and Tax Evasion

Aces High

[maytheoddshq]

The food and drink carts scattered around the ballroom offer a wide variety of delicacies for ball attendees, but each has a special menu with exclusive 133rd Hunger Games confections and concoctions!

Metropolis Mixology

The Panhattan - by M

- 2 oz. whiskey of choice - 1 oz. sweet vermouth - 1 dash of orange bitters - Stir, pour, then top off the glass with pineapple juice - Garnish with a pineapple slice or a cherry, as preferred.

Riptide Raspberry - by Rainy

A blue-raspberry flavored gelatin shot with layers of whipped cream and vanilla ice cream, topped with white candy woven candy and silver lusterdust. What better way to say go team?

The Hurricane - by Kaye

Despite its rainy-day appearance, this cocktail packs a cotton candy sweet taste with a punch of vodka. Beware the Category 5 hangover that might follow!

The Bodega Cat - by Kaye

This blood-red cocktail is a bourbon-cherry concoction as sophisticated as a pampered feline and with a burn to rival the razor sharp cat scratch of an alley cat. 

Do Tributes Dream of Electric Mutts? - by Lena

The sun sets over the city, and the moon drenches the skyline in silver glow. Tucked throughout, tributes slumber, or yearn for sleep. And what do they dream of? Find out for yourself with this very special tonic. Careful, though... A few sips, and you'll find yourself unable to keep your own eyes open much longer. Sweet dreams.

Cosmopolitician - by Greta

Crush pomegranates like you would rebel hopes and let them lie at the bottom of this decadent and classy drink that mixes vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice. Features a glittery sugar rim for this glittering city and a lime wedge.

End of the Whirled - by Greta

Layer a shot of absynthe with purple glitter liqueur for this beautiful and dangerously insidious cocktail that you know is going to hit you, but boy are you going to enjoy it while it lasts.

World's Flair - by Greta

Embrace the sweetness of the pre-Dark Days world with the spicy kick of knowing what's to come by mixing equal parts coconut rum, midori, and blue curacao with two parts lemonade, shaken over ice and then strained into a martini glass lined with dashes of Old Bay and a hot chili sea salt rim. A lemon slice adds a solar flare to the world that once was.

Capitol Crumbs Bakery

Sweet and Tart Catcake - by Virginia

This cupcake looks sweet and sugary from the outside, but just like the bodega cats prowling the Arena's streets, it has a sharp, tart center of blackberry cream — though it doesn't look like much, it packs a punch! The chocolates are also infused with blackberry.

The Murder Muffin - by Rainy

a tabbylike marbled muffin of chocolate and vanilla, topped with chocolate spots, a dust of cinnimon sugar, and a swiping of chocolate clawsting.

Ball Brownies - by Lena

Mahlon's special, still made with essence of ether (for as long as supplies last). So what if the price is doubled from last ball? You want the thing or not?

May the Odds be Ever In Your Flavor

City Lights Burger - by Virginia

This burger is made to look like a city night, in all its glowing glory. Patties can be made of beef or beans, but either way, they'll still come out bright blue — as will all the toppings.

The Freezer Burn - by Rainy

Inspired by the greens that entice so many tributes in the food court, pick a healthy and bright tasting salad! topped with a hard-boiled egg and fresh green tomatoes. So good it’s worth freezing for.

Victory Sundae - by Kaye

Feel as triumphant as a Victor while dining on this rich chocolate ganache poised on a soft bed of edible gold flakes, with caramel-chocolate ice cream, gold cookie crumble, and a healthy topping of whipped cream and delicate chocolate wafers on top.

The Bloodslide - by Greta

This update on a classic Cup of Dirt features crushed sour gummy people six feet under a layer of Black Forest ice cream (dark chocolate with cherry swirls), a layer of chocolate cookie crumbles, a layer of chocolate pudding, a thin layer of raspberry syrup (or, for the more alcoholically minded, raspberry liqueur), and chocolate shavings. The dish is then topped with a scoop of raspberry ripple ice cream, dark chocolate ice cream, chocolate covered marshmallows, and spun chocolate in a shape reminiscent of the Cornucopia. 

[nursc]

_________  ⋆˚ ★ dash game edit!

REPOST & LIST 6 SONGS THAT INSPIRE YOU TO WRITE YOUR MUSE

quotes, martha gellhorn, zelda fitzgerald, marilynne robinson, e.e. cummings, anais nin, virginia woolf,

[thattechygirl]

About Me

Fandoms (and Ships)

Disney

Phinbella (Phineas x Isabella)

Ferbnessa (Ferb x Vanessa)

Starco (Star x Marco)

TomStar (Tom x Star)

Dipcifica (Dipper x Pacifica)

Pixar

Violet Parr x Tony Rydinger

Luberto (Luca x Alberto)

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Stucky (Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes)

Harry Potter

Harry x Ginny

Ronmione (Ron x Hermione)

Luna x Neville

WolfStar (Sirius x Remus)

Miraculous Ladybug

Adrienette (Adrien x Marinette)

DJWiFi (Nino x Alya)

Lukanette (Luka x Marinette)

NathMarc (Nathaniel x Marc)

JuleRose (Juleka x Rose)

Lukagami (Luka x Kagami)

CheeseCake (Plagg x Tikki)

Marigami (Marinette x Kagami)

My Little Pony

AppleDash (Applejack x Rainbow Dash)

SoarinDash (Soarin x Rainbow Dash)

CheesePie (Cheese Sandwich x Pinkie Pie)

Fluttercord (Fluttershy x Discord)

Flashlight (Flash Century x Twilight Sparkle)

Starburst (Starlight Glimmer x Sunburst)

StarTrix (Starlight Glimmer x Trixie Lulamoon)

RariPie (Rarity x Pinkie Pie)

Octav3 (Octavia Melody x DJ Pon-3/Vinyl Scratch)

LyraBon (Lyra Heartstrings x Bon Bon/Sweetie Drops)

Sonic the Hedgehog

SonAmy (Sonic x Amy)

Sonadow (Sonic x Shadow)

Knuxouge (Knuckles x Rouge)

TailsCream (Tails x Cream)

Silvaze (Silver x Blaze)

ShadAmy (Shadow x Amy)

SonShadAmy (Sonic x Shadow x Amy)

BlazeAmy (Blaze x Amy)

SilvazeAmy (Silver x Blaze x Amy)

Tangle x Whisper

Vanilla x Vector

Super Mario Bros

Mario x Peach

Luigi x Daisy

FNAF

JereMike (Jeremy Fitzgerald x Michael Afton)

Glamrock Fronnie (Glamrock Freddy x Glamrock Bonnie)

Roxica (Roxanne Wolf x Glamrock Chica)

DSAF

DaveSport (Dave Miller x Jack Kennedy)

Polyphone (Harry Fitzgerald x Jake Wilson x Roger Jones)

Matthew Virginia x Oscar Lewinsky

Peterline (Peter Kennedy x Caroline Kennedy)

Doki Doki Literature Club

Doki Doki Squad (Monika x Sayori x Natsuki x Yuri)

Natsuri (Natsuki x Yuri)

Sayosuki (Sayori x Natsuki)

Hello Neighbor

Hamilton: An American Musical

Lams (John Laurens x Alexander Hamilton)

Mullette (Hercules Mulligan x Lafayette)

JeffMads (Thomas Jefferson x James Madison)

Phildosia (Philip Hamilton x Theodosia Burr Jr.)

Hamliza (Alexander Hamilton x Eliza Hamilton)

Elams (Eliza Hamilton x John Laurens x Alexander Hamilton)

SIX the Musical

Sanders Sides

Prinxiety (Roman x Virgil)

Logicality (Logan x Patton)

Dukeceit (Remus x Janus)

Remile (Remy x Emile) (Yes, I know that's technically not Sanders Sides)

Animal Crossing

Stardew Valley

Sebastian x Abigail

Haley x Alex

Elliot x Leah

My Farmer x Shane (Yes, I am counting that, lol)

Spyro the Dragon

Dan and Phil/The Phandom

Hobbies

Reading

Writing

Drawing

Listening to music

Playing video games

Watching movies

Watching YouTube

[fahrni]

Saturday Morning Coffee

Good morning from Charlottesville, Virginia! ☕️

I got my first React Native PR submitted and I’ve received some good feedback.

On the whole it’s fine. I still find the syntax extremely strange but I’ll figure it out.

I still very much prefer Swift and Xcode to TypeScript and VSCode. 😃

Barack Obama

Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order.

Thank you President Biden for serving your country. ❤️

Robert Reich

Let me add my words of gratitude to Joe Biden for doing something Donald Trump is incapable of doing — putting his country over ego, ambition, and pride.

Biden bowed out with grace and dignity.

Yes, yes he did. Now let’s all get behind Kamala Harris, make her the 47th President of this great nation, and save Democracy.

David Gilmour • Mediaite

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow flipped the question that has long chased Democrats of presidential candidate age and capability on Republicans Sunday night after President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run for re-election, calling out former President Donald Trump as now the “old man in the race.”

It’s time for the media to ask the Orange Man to withdrawal from the run for President because of his age and his lack of mental capacity to properly do the job.

Luke Deniston

This is the story of a process that died, and the tale of what we went through to track down the killer and bring it to justice. More accurately, it was a process that kept dying, but that hurts the analogy I’m trying to go for here so just bear with me.

I worked with Luke at Agrian. He’s super smart and kind and I love this story. Luke, if you read this, I hope you wrote that entire story yourself? It’s awesome.

Jess Weatherbed • The Verge

Despite Apple’s claims that most consumers will only consider purchasing vehicles that support CarPlay, Rivian says it still doesn’t have any plans to adopt the iPhone mirroring system. Talking to The Verge EIC Nilay Patel in today’s episode of Decoder, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe likened Rivian adopting CarPlay to Apple choosing to use Microsoft’s Windows operating systems instead of developing its own in-house iOS and macOS alternatives.

I like this take and comparison. Apple has a desire to be the primary control center for the car and that seems wrong. They also want the car company to make sure Apple is called out as the provider of the in car system by not changing things like fonts on the in dash system. That would mean the cars branding wouldn’t match the companies. That’s not good.

Wouldn’t it be cool to work on an embedded in dash system? I think it would.

The Futon Critic

“HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET” ARRIVES ON PEACOCK AUG. 19

YES! I loved me some Homocide: Life on the Streets and I’m glad it’ll be available for streaming. Too bad I don’t have a Peacock subscription. Might have to convince the boss we need it for a while? 🤔

M.G. Siegler • Spyglass

Apple Should Buy HBO

I like this idea, especially if Apple would commit to funding HBO original content so we may get the next Sopranos, The Wire, or Game of Thrones.

Isabel van Brugen • Newsweek

Valentina Bondarenko, a top Russian economist, has died at the age of 82 after falling out of her apartment window in Moscow, Russian state-run media reported on Tuesday.

It’s so strange how many folks fall out of windows in Russia. It’s a downright epidemic.

I suspect if Orange Man wins the Presidency we’ll see this strange affliction migrate to America.

Jowi Morales • Tom’s Hardware

Windows 3.1 saves the day during CrowdStrike outage — Southwest Airlines scrapes by with archaic OS

I find this extremely difficult to believe. I actually liked Windows 3.1 and it’s the OS Visio was originally written on, so it’s pretty near and dear to my heart. Thing is, it’s a 16-bit OS, but it was quite capable. I’d love to know more about this setup and how in the world do they keep it secure? The network support in Windows 3.1 was mediocre at best. Did it even support HTTP? I don’t have the slightest clue.

Gil Duran • The New Republic

Where J.D. Vance Gets His Weird, Terrifying Techno-Authoritarian Ideas

I’ve never heard of Curtis Yarvin but he sounds like a real piece of work. This dudes thoughts are as bad as Nazi Germany’s “useless eaters” program. Pathetic and disgusting.

He’s the one that needs to go away with thinking like that. 🤬

Elizabeth Lopatto • The Verge

The moral bankruptcy of Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz

All the billionaire bros in the Silicon Valley need to get their act together. They’re ready to throw democracy away so they can become richer? How much money do you need? The answer must be all of it!

Again. Pathetic and selfish to allow an entire nation to be destroyed because you want to make a buck. Don’t be surprised if someone shows up at your place looking to beat your ass. No, that’s not a threat, but I can imagine someone feeling that strongly about it. I mean, hell, someone has already tried to take out the Orange Man. I don’t suspect it’ll be the last.

Stu Sjouwerman • KnowBe4

TLDR: KnowBe4 needed a software engineer for our internal IT AI team. We posted the job, received resumes, conducted interviews, performed background checks, verified references, and hired the person. We sent them their Mac workstation, and the moment it was received, it immediately started to load malware.

This story is fascinating. At WillowTree we’ve had a couple candidates try to get through by hiring someone to do the technical parts of the test for them. They’ve been caught and I’m not aware of any getting through. I suspect in our case they just wanted a job they didn’t have the skill for. In the end they’d have failed and been let go so I’m not sure why they went through the trouble.

Steven Vaughan-Nichols • ZDNet

Several European countries are betting on open-source software for their technology. In the United States, eh, not so much. In the latest news from across the Atlantic, Switzerland has taken a major step forward with its “Federal Law on the Use of Electronic Means for the Fulfillment of Governmental Tasks” (EMBAG). This groundbreaking legislation mandates using open-source software (OSS) in the public sector.

Here’s the thing about this. If someone finds an exploit in Linux they’re gonna leverage it until they’re caught. Something like the CrowdStrike disaster could happen just as easily in open source software. Companies just don’t have to pay to use it, don’t have to contribute their changes back to the community, or support the maintainers of the software.

It’s a good deal for corporations.