#Stirling Software

[tagnoob]

Usenet Newsgroups Part II - What is on that CD and Why Your Hard Drive isn't a Database

I left off last week sharing the fact that I discovered some Usenet Newsgroup archives on CD-ROM in a box in the garage, which kicked off a reverie about Usenet and the good old days. My plan for the next post is to actually explore the story arc of Usenet Newsgroups and where they stand today.  But this middle post… because you always put your weakest point in the middle of your presentation I…

[snowcodes]

This is a top song for me today while I code. The tone and rhythm just have me tip tap typing away at such a good pace!

Share a song you're obsessed with while you code! I'd love to see what you're all listening to

[the-sleepy-archivist]

Software of the Week: Stirling PDF

Details:

Purpose: Locally hosted web application that allows you to perform various operations on PDF files (manipulation, conversion, etc.)

OS Supported: Windows, Mac, Linux (anything that can run Docker containers)

Installer Size: ~245 MB-~953 MB depending on the version

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Languages Supported: 38 languages supported

License: Free and open source

Download Link: https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF

Over the last year or so I've been trying to replace online services in my life with offline alternatives for a two reasons.

Privacy. I don't have to worry what a bunch of strangers are doing with the files/information I give them. I try to give people as little data as possible; even if I trust the company providing the service in its current state, there is always the chance it will be sold to others I do NOT trust, and by then it's too late; my data is already out there and I don't have a say over what the new owners do with it

Availability: I don't want to depend on third-party service to always be up and running. The service could be having issues, or worse, the entire service could disappear from the internet (looking at all the YouTube to MP3 websites that Google keeps taking offline).I don't want to have to keep hunting down and vetting new services if my preferred one is down for some reason

The privacy aspect especially comes into play when I need to manipulate PDFs; rotating or removing pages, signing documents, converting from PDFs to Word or vice versa, etc.. Often the PDF is sensitive, and even if it isn't, someone could probably infer a bunch of information about you (or someone at your IP) over time based on what you upload.

Enter Stirling PDF, a self-hosted app that has functionality for just about every PDF manipulation you can imagine.

I'm serious. There are 46 different functions listed in the documentation, ranging from common (merging PDFs) to esoteric (redacting/blacking out specific words or phrases within PDFs). If you need to manipulate a PDF, Stirling PDF probably has you covered.

If this intrigues you, I encourage you to spin up an instance of Stirling PDF on your own system. I've linked their GitHub repo above, but if you happen to own a Synology or UGREEN NAS, Marius Bogdan Lixandru (AKA MariusHosting) has written a fantastic guide to getting started here (and also his website is just a nerdy delight all around).

[richdadpoor]

How NightOwl for Mac Added a Botnet

In the early days of macOS Mojave in 2018, Apple hadn’t offered users a way to automatically switch to dark and light mode at different times of the day. As usual, there were third-party developers eager to pick up the slack. One of the more well-regarded night mode apps to fix this issue was NightOwl, first released in the middle of 2018, a small app with a simple utility that could run in the…

[lboogie1906]

Lecrae Devaughn Moore (October 9, 1979) known as Lecrae, is a Christian rapper, singer, songwriter, record and film producer, record executive, actor, and entrepreneur. He is the president, co-owner, and co-founder of the independent record label Reach Records, was the co-founder and president of the now-defunct non-profit organization ReachLife Ministries, is an investor and co-owner of the audio production software MXD, and is a co-founder of the film production studio 3 Strand Films. He has released ten studio albums and three mixtapes as a solo artist and has released three studio albums, a remix album, one EP, and numerous singles as the leader of the hip-hop group 116 Clique. He produced much of his material along with other early Reach Records releases. He has stated that his music is just hip-hop, though it reflects his Christian faith.

He has contributed op-ed articles to Billboard dealing with race relations in the US, including the 2014 Ferguson unrest, the 2015 Charleston church shooting, and the 2016 shootings of Alton Stirling, Philando Castile, and five Dallas police officers. He has called for understanding and empathy across racial divides and willingness to listen to the oppressed and pointed out the need for spiritual healing through Jesus Christ. He did a talk about racial reconciliation at Yale University, titled “Knowledge through Narrative: Bridging the Racial Divide in America”. He spoke on hip-hop culture at a Nashville TEDx conference, decrying the misogyny and violence rampant in much of hip-hop’s lyrics but advocating for hip-hop to be used as an agent for social change. At the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards, he performed an original composition addressing racial injustice in the US, referencing the shooting of Philando Castile.

He is a graduate of the University of North Texas. Canada Christian College bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Music to him on March 14, 2016, making him the youngest recipient of the college.

He is married to Darragh Moore and they have three children. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #kappaalphapsi

[joinersstirling]

Joiners Bridge of Allan

Bridge of Allan, a picturesque town located just outside Stirling, is known for its beautiful architecture and a strong sense of community. The town’s historical significance and scenic charm have made it a desirable place to live, and as a result, there has been consistent demand for high-quality craftsmanship, particularly in trades like joinery. Joiners in Bridge of Allan have established themselves as skilled professionals who are essential in both the construction of new homes and the preservation of older, historical properties. Joinery in this region isn’t just about construction; it is a craft that combines tradition, precision, and artistic expertise.

The Role of Joiners in Bridge of Allan

Joiners are highly skilled tradespeople who work with wood to create structures, fittings, and furniture. Their work is integral in both residential and commercial buildings, covering everything from doors and windows to staircases and cabinetry. In a town like Bridge of Allan, where there is a mixture of Victorian-era buildings, modern homes, and commercial establishments, joiners play a vital role in maintaining the town’s character while adapting to modern needs.

Whether it’s a new build requiring intricate woodwork or the restoration of an older property that demands attention to detail, joiners in Bridge of Allan bring their craftsmanship to bear on a wide variety of projects. The local environment, with its historic buildings, lends itself to bespoke joinery services, which are essential when working within conservation guidelines.

Traditional Joinery in Bridge of Allan

One of the most respected aspects of joinery in Bridge of Allan is the emphasis on traditional methods. Many joiners in the area pride themselves on using techniques passed down through generations. These methods include hand-cutting joints, shaping timber with planes, and using classic mortise and tenon techniques to ensure that each piece is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Traditional joinery often comes into play during the renovation of the Victorian and Edwardian buildings that are common in Bridge of Allan. Homeowners and businesses alike seek out skilled joiners who are able to maintain the historical integrity of their properties, whether it’s repairing sash windows or creating custom mouldings to match the original designs.

In addition, many joiners in the area work with timber sourced from Scotland, which not only supports the local economy but also maintains a connection to the region’s natural resources. Oak, pine, and Douglas fir are frequently used materials, each offering unique characteristics that can enhance the beauty of a space while providing durability.

Modern Joinery in Bridge of Allan

While there is a deep respect for tradition, joiners in Bridge of Allan are also well-versed in modern techniques and technologies. As the construction industry has evolved, so too has the work of joiners. Many firms and independent craftsmen in the area now combine the best of traditional woodworking with cutting-edge tools and design software to deliver high-quality finishes that meet contemporary standards.

For example, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines are now widely used in joinery workshops to achieve precise cuts and shapes that would be difficult to replicate by hand. This ensures that joiners can offer both speed and accuracy in their projects, whether it’s crafting a custom kitchen or fitting out a modern office space.

Modern joinery in Bridge of Allan is also focused on sustainability. With growing awareness of environmental issues, many local joiners are taking steps to ensure their work is as eco-friendly as possible. This might involve using sustainable timber sources, reducing waste in the workshop, or choosing finishes that are less harmful to the environment. Many customers are now seeking out joiners who can offer environmentally conscious options for their projects.

Bespoke Joinery Services

A key aspect of joinery in Bridge of Allan is the emphasis on bespoke services. The nature of joinery means that much of the work is custom-made, tailored to the specific needs and tastes of the client. This bespoke approach allows joiners to showcase their creativity and craftsmanship, whether they are designing custom furniture or creating unique architectural details for a property.

Bespoke joinery is especially valued in a town like Bridge of Allan, where homes often have unique architectural features that require custom solutions. For example, a Victorian home might need a staircase designed to fit within a particular space or custom-built shelving that complements the character of the house. In such cases, joiners work closely with clients to understand their vision and deliver a product that enhances the home’s aesthetic.

Many local joiners also offer bespoke furniture-making services, creating one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect the personality and style of the homeowner. From hand-carved tables to intricately designed wardrobes, bespoke joinery allows for a level of personalisation that mass-produced furniture simply cannot offer.

The Importance of Joiners in Heritage and Restoration Projects

Bridge of Allan has a rich architectural history, and joiners are often called upon to contribute to heritage and restoration projects. These projects require a deep understanding of traditional building techniques, materials, and historical context. Skilled joiners in the area are adept at working on listed buildings, ensuring that any repairs or alterations comply with conservation regulations while preserving the historical significance of the property.

For example, sash window restoration is a common project for joiners in the area, as these windows are a hallmark of Victorian and Georgian architecture. Restoring or replicating these windows requires precision and an understanding of the historical design, which is why many homeowners and developers turn to local joiners who specialise in this type of work.

Conclusion

Joiners in Bridge of Allan are essential to the town’s building and restoration landscape. Whether preserving the historical charm of Victorian and Edwardian homes or creating modern, sustainable woodwork for new builds, these craftsmen combine tradition, skill, and innovation in their work. As demand continues for both bespoke and restoration services, joiners in Bridge of Allan are likely to remain an integral part of the town’s architectural identity for years to come. Their commitment to quality and craftsmanship ensures that they are not only preserving the past but also shaping the future of this charming town.

[scottishgames]

Ping Creates Revealed as Sponsor for Scottish Games Week 2023

Ping Creates, a Stirling-based design studio specialising in digital services for clients in games and beyond, has joined Scottish Games Week 2023 as an official sponsor. From publishing games to providing a range of for-hire services, Ping Creates is proud to be part of the Scottish games scene and delighted to be sponsoring events across the week.  Creative Licence Software development is a…

[nyarisu]

Hiii! 3, 4, 25, and 29 for the music asks thing pretty please?

- Hochrot✨

Woooo hello there, dear @hoch-rot , thank you for the ask<3

3. a song outside of your usual genre: if we consider metal my usual genre, let's pick a Vocaloid song! ⊂((・▽・))⊃ Tho it's not exactly fair, you can make songs of any genre using the software, it's really up to you but I already decided so we'll go with Teratoma. That's a tumor. And the song is from its POV. Everyone on the comments section warns against searcing images so I'll pass the message along: don't do it.

4. a song that reminds you of your favorite season: I think Autumn is my favourite season? I already regret my first answer because I don't really have a song that trully reminds me of a seazon but 97% of the songs from my Halloween playlist are Vocaloid songs T_T (I already typed all that answer for no 3, no way I'm changing it). I don't know, let's say The Sea Witch from the game Wadanohara and the Great Blue Sea. Not exactly Autumn but witch, Halloween... it's the same general area (and dear lord if this isn't my ultimate witch song, I love it!)

25. the song currently stuck in your head OR the song you are listening to right now: miraculously, I have no song stuck in my head rn but the last couple days I've been partial to Snow Waltz by Lindsey Stirling. And it's not even the song as much as the video, it's so nicely filmed<3

29. your favorite album closer: I reblogged that post after reading like 5 questions and I knew I would regret some of them. This is one of them. The order of the songs on an album is something I still don't understand, so I can't fully appreciate. And how do I even interpret this? It's a song I consider the best choice to end an album with or a favourite song it also happens to be a closer? The first one is definitely more difficult I tried really hard to answer this please appreciate it TT_TT I realised I don't know enough about music to decide this so I went for the next best thing: lyrics. Concept album! Scene Nine: Finally Free, the last song from the album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory by Dream Theater. This album has spoilers so don't listen out of order XD (also the ending of the song, man! the ending! gives me chills just thinking about the it)

And after answering this I realised that I do have songs that remind me of seasons but I totally forgot there are like 3 of them and all by Rammstein XD

[introvertedfox]

Tag Game! 

Thank you for the tag @ashubii! 💕

Nickname: Kate, although only a few people call me that sometimes.

Zodiac: Gemini. But I’m pretty sure I’m the least Gemini person on the planet. I was suppose to have been born a Taurus (I was born a couple of weeks later than I should) and every time I read horoscope stuff (which isn’t that often) I always identify more with what comes up for Taurus.

Height: 1,65m (5'5")

Last movie I saw: Spider-Man Homecoming. My best friend and I have been doing a mcu movie marathon recently (since I’ve never saw them all before).

Last thing I googled: A picture of Cruella’s car, I’ve watched the movie recently and I kinda want to draw her car now.

Favorite Musician(s): I have a huge list of them, but my top ones are: Queen, Imagine Dragons, OneRepublic and Lindsey Stirling.

Song stuck in my head: This changes daily, currently is Run by OneRepublic.

Other blogs: Besides this one, the other only related to Sims I have is the ccfinds one: https://ccfinds101.tumblr.com/ I also have my old one that I just keep for the old story posts: https://katestorys101.tumblr.com/ Not related to Sims, I have my arts & crafts one where I post my drawings and sculptures: https://catarinaf101.tumblr.com/ And I have one more just to reblog stuff I like: https://darkintrovertedfox.tumblr.com/ (this one has currently been taken by a tall dark haired dude with horns)

Blogs following: 227! Believe it or not, this number was way bigger a couple months ago, but I did a bit of a spring cleaning. I’ve been trying not to follow a lot of accounts in all of my social media in an attempt to try to spend less time on my phone. Let’s just say is a work in progress.

Amount of sleep: 8 hours, more or less. I wish this was true everyday, but my sleep schedule has been all over the place.

Lucky Number: 7 and 23.

What am I wearing: A tank top and black leggings, is my outfit pretty much everyday. (You can tell I don’t leave the house much)

Dream Job: When I was a kid the answer was pretty much straight forward, I was going to be a vet. And I had this dream up until I was 18. Then my life did a 180º turn and now I’m a software developer and I don’t know anything any more xD Although I think my dream job would still be working with animals in some way. Or I would love to do something art related, like design video games or animation, that would be cool too.

Dream Trip: Italy or Japan. (If only I was brave enough to go on a plane though)

Oceanside or mountainside? Mountainside always! I live in Portugal were we're almost all surrounded by beaches and as much as I like to see the ocean, I prefer going on a hike at the mountains.

Describe yourself as (an) aesthetic thing(s): I have no idea lol I tried a few quizzes online and I got answer going from Cottagecore to Dark, but I never got the same answer twice xD I guess I’m a mix of aesthetics, I think that’s it.

Random fact: I own a bunch of birds, like 20 budgies and 7 cockatiels, more or less. Every corner of my yard and house has an cage with birds. (no kidding xD) and I named almost all of them. I also like to let them breed every year. It’s so fun to see the little birds come from such tiny things and then starting to gain their colours. It’s so cool! (I could ramble about this for hours, can’t you tell?)

Tagging: @rextreks, @kissalopa, @nikatyler, @seawhims, @buttercupdoodles, @evansims and everyone who wants to do this. :) (Feel free to ignore if you have already done this)

[tagnoob]

Usenet Newsgroups Part I - I find some Usenet Archives on CD-ROM

I am once again skirting a bit on the edge of the telephone related subjects as well as taking a bit of a divergence from, what had been for a few posts, something of a tale about my career.  But some of it takes place in parallel with my time at Global Village and it is telephone related in that the internet was dial-up for most of us back then. I am also divert a bit because I am still…

[tinkerd]

Interview with www.achuka.co.uk

See Original post here: https://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/meet-an-illustrator-14-david-litchfield/

Meet An Illustrator 14 – David Litchfield APRIL 17, 2021 BY ACHUKA  self-portrait © David Litchfield

ACHUKA is thrilled to have David Litchfield as the 14th guest on Meet An Illustrator, an informal weekend feature introduced this year.. Do visit the backpages  to read the responses from previous guests.

The Bear And The Piano, David’s debut picture book, was published just 5 years ago, but he is already established as one of the UK’s leading illustrators and picture book creators. That debut title won Waterstones Illustrated Book Prize in 2016. Much more recently he has come to attention as the cover illustrator for David Almond’s Bone Music:

The Bear And The Piano became a trilogy with publication in 2019 of The Bear, The Piano, The Dog And The Fiddle and, this year, with the third title The Bear, The Piano And The Little Bear’s Concert.

A particular favourite of ACHUKA’s is Lights On Cotton Rock:

His 2021 publishing year kicked off with illustrations for A Shelter for Sadness by Anne Booth

and the paperback edition of Rainbow Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls is published this coming week:

Next month (May 2021) we can look forward to Pip And Egg written by Alex Latimer:

and, as we hear below, there is lot lots more to come.

As a child, what were the first illustrations you remember being pleased with?

I think that it was a drawing of a panda. It was in primary school and we all had to draw one. We then put them all on the wall and I remember feeling a bit arrogant and quietly smug that my panda was definitely one of the best ones on that wall.

Who/what inspired you when you were young?

Again at primary school our teacher sat us all down and read us Where The Wild Things Are. I remember being absolutely blown away by Maurice Sendak‘s drawings and characters and totally felt transported away from the reading mat in that classroom to that dreamy monster island. Mr Sendak and Albert Uderzo were absolutely the two biggest influences on making me want to draw every day.

Who inspires you today?

Still mainly Sendak and Uderzo. But I love finding out about new illustrators. There are an infinite amount of styles and techniques and approaches to drawing and I love being surprised by how different people create a spread or tell their stories. My current 2 favourites are Sydney Smith and Frances Ives. They both have such a free and natural style. They are amazing.

Did you study art/illustration?

I actually studied Graphic Design at Camberwell College of Art. Graphic Design felt like the most sensible career choice in the art world. I loved the course and I met some great people there. But I was really shocked at how little drawing was involved. I think more than anything that course showed me how much I really loved to draw and that I just wasn’t a Graphic Designer.

What is your favourite artist tool/product?

It sounds obvious but a pencil and a sketchbook. My absolute favourite part of a project is when it’s just me, a pencil and a sketchbook and I am just letting the idea develop by scribbling and experimenting and making a mess.

Where do you buy your art supplies?

I have two favourite shops here in Bedford. One is called the Arc which sells all kinds of incredible arts supplies and exotic paints and brushes etc. I also like Coleman’s which is obviously more of a standard stationary shop. But I don’t know, I like their pens. I spend far too much money on pens.

What software/apps do you use?

I only really use Photoshop. I tried to get my head around Illustrator but I’m just not that technically minded to be honest. I have had a play with Pro Create but my kids keep stealing my iPad so I have not had enough time to learn it yet.

What was your first commission?

My first commission happened when I was 13 years old and I drew a poster for a local comic shop. They paid me in comics. My first proper paid commission was with The Beano comic. I think that it was in  2013 or so when the editor Michael Stirling found my drawings online. For a few weeks I drew the illustrations that accompanied a poetry section in the comic. It was amazing to be drawing for a comic I had been in love with for most of my life. I will forever be grateful to that team for giving me that opportunity.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am just finishing drawing a pretty epic book written by Gregory Maguire. After that I’m so happy to be working on another ‘Earth’ book with Stacy McAnulty. I love drawing these books, and I learn so much about our planet too. After that I’m starting a beautiful book with the writer Nell Cross Beckerman which is going to be a total stunner. Towards the end of the year I’m creating artwork for my next author/illustrator book too.

Which is all very exciting. I always feel like I’m being very vague when I don’t give too much info but I’m never sure how much I’m actually allowed to say. What I can tell you is that my author/illustrator book is going to be a Christmas story set in Victorian times.

Twitter or Instagram? Instagram I think. I love Twitter but Instagram just feels a lot friendlier. Also as an illustrator it is a great, visual medium to share work on. I have also found so many new great artists from this site.

Coffee or tea?  

I love coffee. But I have had to cut back a lot. I was getting the jitters because I drank it so much. Now I just have two cups a day. And only in the mornings.

Cat or dog?  

Oh my goodness Dog. Dog every time. I always had dogs growing up. They were my best friends. We got a dog last summer. I was adamant that my two boys should have a dog growing up. My wife wasn’t that convinced I don’t think but now that we have one she loves her as much as we do.

Grape or grain? 

Hmmm, both good, but I would have to say grape.

Sunrise or sunset? 

Sunset. I don’t know if it’s a getting older thing but I love sitting in my garden as the sun starts to go down. It’s like a magic time of the day where everything is winding down and becoming peaceful.

What do you listen to when you are working?  

Mainly loud rock music.  But I’ve also started to listen to a fair few podcasts. My favourite ones at the moment are ‘Pod Save America‘- helps me get my head around American politics, which I can sometimes find quite baffling from time to time- and The Force Center – which is a massively geeky Star Wars podcast which has none of the snark and negativity of other fandom type discussions. I recommend it if you are a Star Wars nerd like me.

Where can we follow you on social media? I’m on twitter: @dc_litchfield Instagram: @david_c_litchfield

I also have a blog at:

tinkerd.tumblr.com

and a Facebook page at

facebook.com/davidlitchfieldillustration

-but to be honest I do keep forgetting to update that one.

[eldritch-elrics]

tagged by @lady-in-the-lair for another tag meme! there have been so many of these going around lately haha but thanks for all of them :D

rules: answer 30 questions and tag however many blogs you want!

name: finn

gender: i could just say a label but that would be boring. instead i think i will pick a character to represent my gender. how about xiao xingchen

star sign: hotly contested. i like to say i’m an aquarius

height: 5’7 i believe

time: about 1:30 am

birthday: tomorrow!!!!!!

favorite bands: hmmm pvris, all time low, eve, rise against, a bunch of welsh-language rock groups from a weird phase i had a couple years ago

favorite solo artists: lindsey stirling, lemon demon, porter robinson, probably some others? can i say video game music composers. actually no this list would be wayyy too long if i put all my favorite game osts

last movie: ice age 5: collision course. i swear i am done with ice age now

last show: just watched the new jujutsu kaisen! i’m super excited for the next episode; i really love that part in the manga

when did I create this blog: i think 2015

what I post: stuff i find cool, stuff that makes me laugh, interesting artwork, and a whole lotta mdzs

last thing i googled: traditional chinese wedding practices. you’ll never guess why!

other blogs: i have way too many random sideblogs from past interests but i’ll note my kirby blog @vs-stardream and my magnus archives blog @distortedspiral

do I get asks: not really! not unless i’ve recently reblogged an ask meme

why I chose my url: i like the elric brothers from fullmetal alchemist and i like eldritch horror and i like the part in fmab where pride invades al’s armor and it gets filled with eyes and i thought the alliteration was fun!

following: 909, most of them inactive

followers: 440!

instruments: uhhhh i can manipulate midi pretty well in some music software!

what I am wearing: kirby tshirt AND kirby socks :) (i had a kirby-related virtual event earlier today so i dressed accordingly)

dream job(s): i think it would be pretty cool to be a writer on a video game

dream trip: i don’t usually love traveling but a dream would be to meet up with some online friends at a convention!

favorite foods: steamed artichokes, matcha-flavored chocolate, onion-flavored sun chips, dried okra?

nationality: american + british (i live in america though)

favorite song: i really have no idea! but for the sake of naming a song here, here’s zero two from kirby 64

last book I read: if manga counts, chainsaw man. before that... if plato’s symposium counts as a book, then i guess that?? that was for school

top 3 fictional universes: this is really hard! i’m going to go with the worlds of star trek, adventure time, and hollow knight.

tagging: i’ve done so many of these lately i don’t want to annoy all the people i usually tag but i AM currently talking with @kirbytardos while i do this and they expressed interest so... here you go!

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

December 16, 2020

Heather Cox Richardson

The reality that Joe Biden is about to become president and Kamala Harris is about to become vice president is sinking in across Washington, and today gave us some indications of what that’s going to mean.

Stories about what exactly happened in the Trump administration are coming out, and they are not pretty. Politics trumped everything for members of the administration, even our lives.

Today Representative James Clyburn (D-SC), who chairs the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, revealed documents from senior appointees in the Trump administration overriding the work of the career officials in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those documents show that the political appointees at the Department of Health and Human Services called for dealing with the coronavirus crisis by pursuing a strategy of “herd immunity,” deliberately spreading the coronavirus to try to infect as many people as possible, with the theory that this approach would minimize the dangers of the pandemic. While doing so, they downplayed what they were doing, tried to hide the dangers of the virus, and blamed the career scientists who objected to this strategy for the rising death rates.

Although the White House has tried to distance itself from senior Health and Human Services Adviser Paul Alexander, last summer he was widely perceived to speak for his boss Michael Caputo, the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs whom Trump had appointed, and for the White House itself. Alexander, a part-time university professor from Canada, defended Trump against scientists, accusing CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat of lying when she provided accurate public information about the worsening pandemic. When she suggested everyone should wear a mask, he claimed: “her aim is to embarrass the President.” Alexander attacked Anthony Fauci for his attempts to protect Americans. “He just won’t stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” wrote Alexander on July 3, 2020 (yes, I counted the exclamation points); “does he think he is the President???”

Alexander advocated spreading the infection to younger Americans: “So the bottom line is if it is more infectiouness [sic] now, the issue is who cares? If it is causing more cases in young, my word is who cares…as long as we make sensible decisions, and protect the elderely [sic] and nursing homes, we must go on with life….who cares if we test more and get more positive tests.”

Alexander wrote to Caputo: “There is no other way, we need to establish herd, and it only comes about allowing the non-high risk groups expose themselves to the virus.  PERIOD.” On the same day, he wrote: “Infants, kids, teens, young people, young adults, middle aged with no conditions etc. have zero to little risk….so we use them to develop herd…we want them infected…”

On July 24, he wrote to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and Caputo: “it may be that it will be best if we open up and flood the zone and let the kids and young folk get infected” as a strategy to get “natural immunity…natural exposure,” an argument that illuminates Trump’s insistence this summer that schools and colleges must open.

But the idea that young people are safe from the virus is wrong. Today, an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that while Americans older than 65 have borne the brunt of the coronavirus, young adults are suffering terribly. From March through July, there were almost 12,000 more deaths than expected among adults from 25 to 44. Young Black and Hispanic Americans make up not just a disproportionate number of that group of victims; they are a majority. Those extraordinary death rates have continued. Younger adults are indeed endangered by the coronavirus; the idea it is harmless to them “has simply not been borne out by emerging data,” doctors Jeremy Samuel Faust, Harlan M. Krumholz, and Rochelle P. Walensky—Biden’s pick to run the CDC-- wrote in the New York Times today.  

Another report today showcases two former CDC political appointees who are now speaking out to call attention to the silencing of career scientists at the agency. Kyle McGowan, a former chief of staff at the CDC, and his deputy Amanda Campbell watched as political appointees in Washington ignored scientists, censored doctors’ messages to the public, and cut the agency’s budget. “It was… like a hand grasping something, and it slowly closes, closes, closes, closes until you realize that, middle of the summer, it has a complete grasp on everything at the CDC,” McGowan told New York Times reporter Noah Weiland. “Every time that the science clashed with the messaging, messaging won.”

Politifact, the Pulitzer Prize winning fact-checking website from the Poynter Institute, named the downplaying and denial of the seriousness of coronavirus its “Lie of the Year.”

Today it became clear the administration dropped the ball in other important ways. We have more information now about the extensive computer hack that appears to have been conducted by operatives from the Russian government. It’s bad. Hackers placed malware on commercial network management software upgrades to gain access to government computers, along with those of major U.S. companies, as far back as last March. They have been able to root around in our secrets for months. Hackers accessed the Treasury and Commerce Departments, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and parts of the Pentagon, among other targets. The intrusion was discovered on December 8, when the cybersecurity company FireEye realized it had been hacked and alerted the FBI.

Today the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), issued a joint statement acknowledging “a significant and ongoing cybersecurity campaign” and indicated they are not sure yet what has been hit. “This is a developing situation, and while we continue to work to understand the full extent of this campaign, we know this compromise has affected networks within the federal government.” It is clear the U.S. has been hit hard: Trump’s National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien has cut short an overseas trip to come home and deal with the crisis.

In the New York Times, Thomas P. Bossert, Trump’s former Homeland Security Adviser said, “the magnitude of this national security breach is hard to overstate.” He insisted the U.S. must call out Russia for this attack (assuming it is confirmed that that country is, indeed, behind the attack). “Trump must make it clear to Vladimir Putin that these actions are unacceptable. The U.S. military and intelligence community must be placed on increased alert; all elements of national power must be placed on the table.”

“President Trump is on the verge of leaving behind a federal government, and perhaps a large number of major industries, compromised by the Russian government. He must use whatever leverage he can muster to protect the United States and severely punish the Russians.”

The New York Times called this breach “among the greatest intelligence failures of modern times.” Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called it “stunning.” “Today’s classified briefing on Russia’s cyberattack left me deeply alarmed, in fact downright scared. Americans deserve to know what’s going on,” he tweeted. Blumenthal also recognized the severity of the coronavirus early: he tweeted on February 25: “This morning’s classified coronavirus briefing should have been made fully open to the American people—they would be as appalled & astonished as I am by the inadequacy of preparedness & prevention.”

And yet, there are signs that the country is reorienting itself away from Trump and modern-day Republicanism.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, previously a staunch Trump supporter, has released an advertisement urging people to wear masks and admitting he was wrong not to wear one at the White House. It seems likely he is eyeing a future presidential run, and clearly is calculating that it is wise these days to distance himself from Trump’s anti-mask politics.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has refused to advance a coronavirus relief bill since the House passed one last May, seven months ago, is now trying to make a deal that includes direct payments to Americans hurt by the pandemic. He explained to Republicans today that Republican senate candidates Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who are running against Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia, are “getting hammered” because the people want the bill and the Senate is holding it up.

Finally, Bloomberg last night ran a story by journalist Craig Stirling highlighting the work of economists David Hope of the London School of Economics and Julian Limberg of King’s College London, who examined the concept of “supply side economics,” or the “trickle down theory.” This is the economic theory popularized in the 1980s saying it’s best for the economy not to support wages at the bottom of the economy—the demand side—but rather to free up capital at the top—the supply side—because wealthy entrepreneurs will create new jobs and the resulting economic growth will help everyone. This idea has been behind the Republicans’ forty-year commitment to tax cuts for the wealthy.

In their study of 18 countries over 50 years, Hope and Limberg concluded that this theory was wrong. Tax cuts do not, they prove, trickle down. They do little to promote growth or create jobs. Instead, they mostly just help the people who get the tax cuts.

—-

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

2011-2015 tumblr dash music be like:

arctic monkeys

the neighbourhood

halsey

florence and the machine

some random emo band singing a dumb made up song for their twitter followers- usually about whiskey and writing songs

some random emo band singing their normal songs in ridiculous accentuated accents

any band or musical artist’s bonus tracks or unreleased b side tracks or whatever that always BLEW UP

any other emo band/artist tracks and also emo band lyrics in letterman jacket font pasted over a moody backgroud

and then the LOOK AT MY ENORMOUS PENIS song post that had like 10,000 supernatural gifs on it

idek songs from adventure time or spongebob and other disney channel/cartoon network/nickelodeon shows

oh god i just remembered the NIGHTBLOGGING SONG done to some nights by FUN

under the booty

100% N word by gangsta rap.

fall out boy flooding your dash when they finally came back after their 4 year hiatus in 2013.

the 50 cent and thomas the tank engine mashup of in da club and the thomas the tank engine theme music

10 million sibelius or garageband music software orchestra covers of popular songs like harder, faster, stronger by daft punk and get lucky by pharrell and daft punk, for example

lyndsey stirling and pentatonix covers music videos

10 million song mashup posts- some of which are still going around- like the bubblegum bitch by marina and the diamonds and i write sins not tragedies by p!atd mashup post

gregorian monks covering songs like the boulevard of broken dreams by green day and my immortal by evanescence. these posts still appear on my dash from time to time, but very infrequently.

what makes you haha, obviously.

feel free to add more if you think of some.

[constantwritingblock]

Stolen Worlds 2

Queen of Thieves: Takes place just after the MC breaks up with Nikolai.

Avengers: Takes place during The Winter Soldier, but with additional characters.

Unknown!Nick Fury x reader, (previous) Nikolai Stirling x reader, platonic!Natasha Romanoff x reader, (eventual) Steve Rogers x reader.

Also just a statement, for any other languages spoken in this piece it will be done in bold and in English so that you are aware characters are speaking a different language. I find this easier than finding a bad translation.

After finding out of her meeting with Captain Rogers, Y/N is given the opportunity to keep herself in the loop better. Question is, will she take it and risk her game to be outplayed or will she refuse. Does she also realise that the people she left behind are still looking for her too?

Chapter Two

Time had gone by quicker than expected. She was finally more out in the field, so to speak. Keeping an eye on the trio that Fury had also trusted to destroy Hydra. Her job was to ensure that they got the right information and were taking whatever action they deemed appropriate. Currently, subtly, overseeing Sam calling Sitwell was a breeze though she couldn’t really keep all her attention on them, she still had show up within S.H.I.E.L.D. and also the Hydra base that stored The Winter Soldier. Though when she caught sight of them on the rooftop near S.H.I.E.L.D.’s building, she had to send an emergency distraction so no one else would see them, especially Rumlow.

Jolting the system into error, she used that as a diversion before slipping out to spy on Romanoff and Rogers. It was obvious they were interrogating Sitwell, though she was surprised to see Captain America hold him up over the god knows how long drop. A sigh of relief escaped her as he put the man down, he was still a valuable asset after all, pinning the blame on someone was certainly valuable, but then Agent Romanoff kicked him off the roof! Of course she did, I guess violence is needed… oh wait here he comes again…

It appeared that they got what they needed out of Sitwell, he knew the most about Arnim Zola and the system he had produced. She was glad that they caught on her info, though she was irritated that they didn’t know who she was. It wasn’t necessarily part of the agreement for her to be unknown but it would have been ideal so they didn’t accidentally kill her. Rushing back inside, Y/N slowed her pace down when she was closer to her desk. Smiling politely at her co-workers, she’d never really call them that, they were her enemies.

Clasping her fingers together she pushed them in front of her. The stretch did some good as she went back to typing away on the computer, a quicker rate than the others. Someone from higher up came at that point, shouting orders to fix what Y/N had broken, simply tapping away on the keyboard brought her back to fixing everything quickly, especially if Rogers and Romanoff had found Zola, anything technological on her end needed to be right. The team leader in this sense had reached her desk. “Agent Z, system tells me you fixed it. Well done. The Director wants to see you.” Nodding her head patiently, she stood up and followed him through to Pierce’s office. Now to finish off Sitwell...

At his holler to enter, she meekly opened the door, peeping her head through. “Sir?” He gave her a very warm smile, which was unlike him, it normally was quite distant but today something had changed his mood. “Ah, Agent Z, good work on fixing the issue we just had, heard how you just came in from break and fixed it instantly. I need more people like you… Oh, do you also have the progress report on the Soldier?”

Gesturing to the computer in the room, he gave her full permission to use it, she logged in and the holographic screen came into view as he read the contents. “It seems that you’re the only person who can handle my deadlines here…”

Y/N just shrugged her shoulders, “It’s just part of how I work, sir.” The last thing she needed was for him to get suspicious of her quick action. Flickering her gaze around the room, his attention to her was precise. Pierce looked at her questioningly, “Something wrong Agent?”

This was it. This was her moment to get in his good graces and have more control over everything. “I just heard about Captain America and Agent Romanoff splitting from S.H.I.E.L.D. and…”

The man sat back in his large office chair. “You have nothing to worry about there. It was a minor thing and you are a precious member of Hydra. So, if anything is not to your satisfaction, then don’t hesitate to inform me.” Dismissing her wariness he assured her that he liked to keep valuable assets alive where possible.

So that’s his game to keep me roped in. “No, it’s not the worry of having a target on my back, it’s just that, I took a smoke break on the roof to get away from the chaos of fixing other nimbicile’s mistakes and… I must be paranoid to you…” Chuckling nervously, she casually reached a hand up to the back of her neck to scratch awkwardly.

Though it was all in success as Pierce appeared to have believed her act. He didn’t say anything, just leant forward as a sign for her to continue. “I saw… Captain America, with a red-headed woman, they had Sitwell and were chatting. I heard about a possible mole within here, but from the way they were speaking… it just seemed off to me.”

Pierce cocked a brow at Y/N’s words. Shit I’m losing him. “I don’t mean to sound like a snitch or anything to you sir, but i just found it peculiar.” Rolling the chair backwards, he stood up and stalked his way over to the petite woman. Lifting her head to gaze into his eyes he spoke. “It’s not snitching, it’s being honest about someone going against Hydra. Don’t stress, you did the right thing.” He paged for his assistant to get Rumlow into the office.

Well so far, so good…

—

Sitting crossed legged on the couch as she chomped down on some Chinese takeout she kept her focus on Fury as he paced the room. “Fucking hell, just burn a hole in my carpet already why don’t you?” Stopping in his tracks he turned to her. “You bumped into Rogers didn’t you? You may need to keep doing that for a bit.”

What now? Is he being serious? That’s a dumb question Y/N of course he is. “Right and how do I do that without Rumlow or Pierce finding out and thinking I’m a mole?” Walking to her, he sat down next to her. “Listen kid, you’re smart enough to do this and due to the nature of things if they get too messy for you… I’m taking off the violence ban, trust your instincts or your shifts as you call ‘em.” Letting out a groan Y/N really wanted to slap Fury for this. He knew well enough she’d end up going back to that lifestyle.

“I really wish you hadn’t come to me for all of this… I don’t want this…” Muttering into her food, she took another bite as he gave her an incredulous look. “Go back to your criminal lifestyle then. Like to see how you persuade your way outta that one.” She knew he had her caught. Fuck sake…

—

Steve had been going to that coffee shop on the regular since meeting that woman. She was a right beauty for him, barely any woman caught his attention nowadays, but there was something about the way she held herself that had him hooked and he couldn’t resist talking to her. Of course he just stayed from afar in hopes of her walking in. The last thing he needed was Hydra tracking his movements and getting innocents in trouble. It appeared to be another bust of a morning, she hadn’t shown up again. Maybe she only came here once… I should’ve gotten her number, I must look like a stalker.

He felt like one too. It was getting too much and if he couldn’t see her again before things blew up then he guessed that was all he could do. Steve didn’t understand the change for him, but if he could pinpoint it, finding out Peggy Carter was still alive and her telling him to move on made him feel less guilty and more excited to talk to this woman. Just as he was about to leave he caught sight of a burgundy backpack.

Opening up her laptop once again she began running software in the background to triangulate where Captain America could be. If she were to do this, she needed to keep running into him after all. While doing so, she set up some random research essay from her university days. If I get interrupted at least they can see my cover story…

It wasn’t long before the man of the hour came about. He noticed her immediately, ordering himself a coffee before joining her at her table. “Hey, good to see you again.” His melodic voice filled her ears. “Hey, yourself, Steve right?”

Playing up with his game, she didn’t want to show her interest in him. Though he may be Captain America, she was debriefed enough by Maria Hill to know he was a gentleman but also due to his upbringing something felt wrong about sleeping with him or doing anything further while she was under an alias. She didn’t like lying, but how could she even bring up the fact that she was his insider. Hey Captain Rogers, I’m Agent Z, I am the one you can trust in bringing Hydra down. Yeah, it wouldn’t exactly go well.

—

Struggling to keep himself in check, Nikolai was growing worried to say the least, he understood their argument and breakup was partly his fault for his wish to be perfect but also realised that Y/N couldn’t say the words he thought she would always say after the last time. His reaction wasn’t the best of course, but maybe if he did say them once more, they wouldn’t have ended as badly. He, being a professional had kept his cool, but it was so hard.

He missed her, his thoughts were only of her, craving to see her smile, hear her laugh once again. He had no idea who had taken her but he could see the look on Remy’s face to know that he was feeling just as guilty that he hadn’t grasped a tighter hold on her quicker.

Zoe was doing her best in tracking Y/N, everyone had been ringing her constantly, her phone was still on but no response as of yet. It must mean that whoever had kidnapped her wasn’t after the Poppy as a whole, but were they after him? Knowing she was his one weakness could be a factor as to why, so why hasn’t anyone rung for ransom or even to blackmail them?

Barely anyone had spoken to each other in the weeks since she had gone missing. Vivienne was less flirtatious with the rest as normal. Remy just kept to himself, more shut off. Zoe was non-stop on her phone or laptop or computer searching for Y/N. Jett had barely left his room and when he did he’d be covered in paint, no doubt trying to fill in the emptiness of art that Y/N brought to the team and Leon… well, Leon would disappear in the night, reappearing at the crack of dawn, shattered, heading straight to bed. They were using all their resources to finding her but nothing came back to them, no sightings or word of her from the Underbelly, nothing.

Sitting at his desk, Elizabeth sensed her master was filled with unease doing her best to comfort him as he flicked through his phone at the pictures Y/N was adamant on taking of the two of them. God, he missed her. He wished the fight never happened. He should’ve fought for her more, perhaps promised her to at least try to remove the perfectionist in him, even if it was empty.

Nikolai regretted very few things in his life but letting Y/N go was one of them, especially if he knew he’d never see her again. Snapping his attention towards the knocking that sounded on his door, he opened it to see Remy. “Zoe has something!”

Rushing to the lounge he sat down waiting for Zoe to finish typing on her laptop. “Okay, so I found her. Coffee shop in Washington DC. It appears whoever has taken her is nowhere to be seen, but I do see her with some blond guy, it’s the second time they’ve seen each other and she’s happy.” That instantly breaks Nikolai’s heart, he didn’t want to hear that but was glad she was alright at least.

“Looks like we are going there. I want to know what happened, it doesn’t seem like her to quit without saying anything.”

—

Reading the message on her phone, Y/N couldn’t believe that Fury had caught wind of this so quickly. Right okay, so Pierce is planning on bringing officials into this with no choice. Time for phase three. Switching her phone off, she paced herself over to the dark basement of S.H.I.E.L.D.. She couldn’t believe the balls Pierce had to hide the Winter Soldier in plain sight. This would be her first meeting with him, just not alone, unfortunately. Rumlow was going to be there, for her own protection of course, as Pierce stated, there’d be times where he’d lose control of himself and he wouldn’t dare think about his guilt if something bad happened to her.

Entering the thoroughly guarded trap she found herself face to face with the man himself. His distinct blue eyes caught her attention, he was stunning, but the expression on his face made her feel guilty. He’s only a toy to them. There’s a real man in there. What made her stomach churn more was the fact that she knew exactly who the man behind the Winter Soldier was. Bucky Barnes. Captain America’s best friend from the 40s. Stepping closer she noticed how he flinched when Rumlow followed her. Only a glance over her shoulder told him to stay put as she stepped even closer.

“Agent Z,” one of the ‘doctors’ greeted her, “he understands English and speaks it but is refusing to comply. We understand you know a variety of languages and was wondering if you could get him to talk. None of us know anymore than English.”

Y/N took another glance at Rumlow, he nodded. Turning back to the Soldier, she began. “Soldat, do you know where you are?” The man merely looked at her when a guard decided to punish him for his silence, electrocuting him. “Stop that, continue that and he won’t comply. I will not use any violence on him while speaking to him.”

This shocked everyone in the room, but they listened nonetheless from fear of what Rumlow would do to them as punishment for one and two, what Pierce would do if caught wind of them disobeying her. Everyone that worked for Hydra within S.H.I.E.L.D. knew that he treated her like a daughter, something that Y/N found creepy. Once the guard backed off she spoke once more.

“Sorry about that. I wish you no harm. I am unarmed and just want to help you.” He furrowed his brows. “Help me in what way?” He was confused to say the least but at she was just happy that he replied to her, even if it was in Russian. Smiling brightly at him she chatted away. “Let’s just say unlike these people around us, I am more of a friend. I want to help you escape and find your life again, but you have to trust me. I know it’s asking a lot but if you comp- no, cooperate with me I can tell you more as these people won’t be around as much when I see you.”

—

Bucky didn’t know if it was the innocent look in her eyes or just the way she spoke that calmed him. She was the first person he didn’t want to hurt. He wanted to protect her and if she was telling him the truth then perhaps he could get out of this hell.