#daily monitor editor

[mariacallous]

��Video has come out from Bucks County, Pennsylvania showing a ballot counter destroying ballots for Donald Trump and keeping Kamala Harris's ballots for counting,” an account called “Dan from Ohio” wrote in the comment section of the far-right website Gateway Pundit. “Why hasn't this man been arrested?”

But Dan is not from Ohio, and the video he mentioned is fake. He is in fact one of hundreds of inauthentic accounts posting in the unmoderated spaces of right-wing news site comment sections as part of a Russian disinformation campaign. These accounts were discovered by researchers at media watchdog NewsGuard, who shared their findings with WIRED.

“NewsGuard identified 194 users that all target the same articles, push the same pro-Russian talking points and disinformation narratives, while masquerading as disgruntled Western citizens,” the report states. The researchers found these fake accounts posting comments in four pro-Trump US publications: the Gateway Pundit, the New York Post, Breitbart, and Fox News. They were also posting similar comments in the Daily Mail, a UK tabloid, and French website Le Figaro.

“FOX News Digital’s comment sections are monitored continuously in real time by the outside company OpenWeb which services multiple media organizations,” a spokesperson for the company tells WIRED. “Comments made by fake personas and professional trolls are removed as soon as issues are brought to our attention by both OpenWeb and the additional internal oversight mechanisms we have in place.”

Breitbart replied to WIRED's request for comment in Russian: "Пожалуйста, скажите Newsguard, чтобы они пошли на хуй." In English, this means "please tell Newsguard to go fuck themselves."

The Gateway Pundit and the New York Post did not respond to a request for comment from WIRED.

“The actors behind this campaign appear to be exploiting a particularly vulnerable part of the media landscape,” McKenzie Sadeghi, the AI and foreign influence editor at NewsGuard, tells WIRED. “Comment sections designed to foster reader engagement lack robust security measures, allowing bad actors to post freely, change identities, and create the illusion of genuine grassroots campaigns rather than orchestrated propaganda.”

The disinformation narratives being pushed by these accounts are linked to Storm-1516, according to Newsguard. Storm-1516 is a Russian disinformation campaign with a history of posting fake videos to push Kremlin talking points to the West that was also connected to the release of deepfake video falsely claiming to show a whistlelbower making allegations of sexual assault against vice presidential candidate and Minnesota governor Tim Walz. (WIRED first reported that the Walz video was part of a campaign by Storm-1516. A day later, the US government confirmed WIRED’s reporting.)

Links to the video were posted by multiple accounts with names like “Disobedient Truth” and “Private Patriot” in the comment section of outlets like Breitbart and the Gateway Pundit.

“More bad news for the Dems: Breaking: Tim Walz's former student, Matthew Metro, drops a shocking allegation- claims Walz s*xually assaulted him in 1997 while Walz was his teacher at Mankato West High School,” the comments read.

The links posted in the comments came hours before the video was shared on social media platforms like X, where it racked up millions of views.

After the Bucks County video went viral, researchers quickly traced it back to Storm 1516. US intelligence agencies then confirmed Russia was behind the fake video.

Russian influence operations have, in the past, made use of comment sections to boost their narratives, including during their campaign to disrupt the 2016 elections. This is the first time this tactic has been reported as part of Russia’s efforts to disrupt the 2024 presidential election.

“Replying in threads is a tactic that can have an impact with very little investment,” Darren Linvill, codirector at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, tells WIRED. “By inserting disinformation into an unrelated conversation it might be seen, even if the account being used has no followers and was just created yesterday. It also doesn't matter if the account you are using is caught and shut down because you haven't lost an investment, you can just create another account five minutes later.”

The fake comments, Newsguard found, are also then used in reports from Russian state-backed media outlets to bolster claims about how Western audiences are responding to a particular incident.

After the Trump assassination attempt in July, Tsargrad TV published an article titled “Biden's Trace in Trump's Assassination Attempt. Americans Agree with the Kremlin's Version: ‘Russians Are Right.’” The article outlined how Americans believe that the Biden administration played a part in the shooting, citing “comments to articles in Western media” as evidence.

NewsGuard’s researchers identified 104 articles in Russian state media that cited comments from Western news outlets as evidence to back up their claims between January and August of this year.

“This tactic allows bad actors to reduce the risk of detection and embed propaganda in a subtle, seemingly organic way, blending it into the casual commentary of supposed everyday Western readers,” Sadeghi said. “The repetition of the same claim across multiple formats and contexts can create a sense of familiarity that may lend the narratives an appearance of credibility.”

The network of accounts has also been used to seed other narratives, including one earlier this month where dozens of comments in the New York Post and Breitbart claimed, without evidence, that Ukrainian president Volodmyr Zelensky had used Western military aid to purchase a car that once belonged to Adolf Hitler.

That claim has been spread by the network of inauthentic websites controlled by former Florida cop John Dougan, who now lives in Moscow and runs a network of pro-Kremlin websites. Dougan’s network of websites have previously shared disinformation narratives from Storm-1516.

[fancoloredglasses]

[RERUN] Crisis on Infinite Earths, issue 11: “Aftershock” (Same great universe, now 80% smaller!)

[All images are owned by DC Comics, please don’t sue me]

PREVIOUSLY ON…

A being known as the Anti-Monitor has destroyed all but 5 of the universes in existence) with a single survivor on Earth-6 (Lady Quark) and Earth-Prime (Superboy) along for the ride)

Unfortunately, the process was unstable, meaning that time has merged (meaning mammoths and futuristic aliens are among modern skyscrapers) in the areas where the Earths are merged (which are called “Warp Zones”)

The Anti-Monitor’s last three attempts to destroy the multiverse have been thwarted (at the cost of many lives, including Supergirl and Earth-1’s Flash)

The Anti-Monitor’s fourth attempt brought the battle to the Dawn of Time, where the Anti-Monitor attempted to destroy the multiverse before it began, but his efforts were thwarted by the Spectre.

…or were they? As the pair fought for control, reality shattered around them and the assembled heroes!

Now, on with our story! If you would like to read this issue, it (along with the rest of the series) has been collected in graphic novel form and is available (or can be ordered) at your favorite comic shop, bookstore, or online retailer…or on Read Comic Online.

[WARNING: Things are gonna get a bit weirder and more confusing than they’ve been to this point (and that’s saying something!) Furthermore, the jokes could be a bit thin here. I’m not certain if you’ll call that a bad thing or not]

We open on Clark Kent (Kal-L) as he wakes up from a bizarre dream. His wife Lois obviously let him sleep in…and redecorated? He heads to his “day job” as managing editor of the Daily Star. He enters his office and is about to get to work…

…when Perry White barges in and demands to know who’s in his office. That’s when Kal-L noticed Perry’s name on the office door. In barges Clark Kent (Superman) who apologizes to Perry and introduces his “Uncle Clark” before escorting Kal-L from the building.

On the top of the Daily Planet, they guess that somehow after the Spectre’s fight with the Anti-Monitor, they both were transported to Earth-1. They fly to the warp zone in New York…

…only it’s not there. What’s more, no one remembers there ever being anything weird in the area (though they do remember Supergirl’s death).

They then fly to Central City, where the Flash (who is still considered “missing”, as no one was present for his sacrifice) stored his cosmic treadmill…

…only to see the twin cities of Central City (home to Earth-1′s Flash) and Keystone City (home to Earth-2′s Flash) Sure enough, Jay Garrick (Earth-2′s Flash) and his wife Joan greet the pair. Joan doesn’t remember what happened, but Jay does. They fetch Kid Flash and start the cosmic treadmill and break through the dimensional barrier

…to a void; Earth-2 isn’t there! What’s more, Kal-L feels the void calling to him, like he belongs there…though the Flash doesn’t feel the same call!

They return before Kal-L can run to the void, and everyone reaches the same conclusion: there is only one universe now, but obviously elements of the old realities are different from the new reality…and some elements never existed!

While the four contact as many heroes as they can find to discuss the ramifications, we switch to deep space. Rip Hunter’s time sphere (carrying Hunter, Adam Strange, Captain Comet, Dolphin, Atomic Knight, and Animal Man) encounter Brainiac’s ship adrift.

They board to investigate and discover the corpse (if a robot can have a corpse) of Brainiac.

Back on Earth, many of the heroes have gathered at Titan’s Tower, where they’re all checking each others’ math to make sure everyone has put two and two together. Huntress and Earth-2′s Robin explain that they, like Kal-L, don’t exist in this “new Earth”. Superboy-Prime is shocked when he finds out his Earth never existed either (that’s what happens when your universe was written in just so it could become a victim. Just ask Lady Quark)

Suddenly, Harbinger appears (having somehow regained her powers due to the new reality) and confirms this fact, and explains that some elements of each individual earths’ histories no longer existed (though reality seems to have conformed around Earth-1 primarily. I guess DC would have lost a lot of readers if it conformed around Earth-X), meaning only the modern versions of the “duplicate” heroes (like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) are part of this new reality, while heroes that share a name, but not a past (like Flash, Green Lantern, and Atom) exist alongside their younger counterparts. 

Kal-L flips out at this news, as it means that he will never see his wife Lois again.

As Kal-L flies off in a streak of self-pity, we switch to the Spirit Realm, where the Spectre lies unconscious, severely weakened by his battle with the Anti-Monitor (I’m sure this will be important later)

Back on Earth, the heroes continue to compare notes. It seems the villains don’t remember the multiverse (since they weren’t at the Dawn of Time), but it seems that Power Girl (Kal-L’s cousin) is remembered. No one is sure how that works.

Suddenly, the weather turns ugly, just as it did when a universe was about to–

Uh-oh…

Earth has been pulled into the Anti-Matter universe!

…dedulcnoc eb oT

[darkmaga-returns]

“If technocracy wins this battle and they implement it on a global basis, it will again take hundreds of years before the concept of freedom and liberty will resurface again. It will take a very long time; it won’t just come snapping back, it will not be a fade. Once they get control over the economic mechanism, they will virtually have control over life itself. They will make people of the world dance like puppets on a string.” ⁃ Patrick Wood, TN Editor.

This is a very important question. I think about it daily as the meteoric rise of scientism creates a new materialistic priest class, in whom you must put your faith and devotion.

What is Technocracy?

A scientific dictatorship, enabled by full-scale surveillance, in which an elite class of scientists and engineers manages every facet of life. Technocrats are “persons who exercise power by virtue of their technical knowledge.”

Technocracy is the Brave New World in Aldous Huxley’s 1932 novel, which was more a “I just got out of a meeting and here’s how it’s going down,” memo rather than a cautionary tale.

In this presentation about COVID-19, Dr. Lee Merritt, influenced by  Patrick Wood’s writings on technocracy, shared the etymology:

Techn = skillKrat = kratos (divine personification of power)

She summed up technocracy:  Data gathered on everybody in the world and fed to un-elected officials, who are smarter than everybody, and will use the information to create amazing solutions. It boils down to “power via differential knowledge,” meaning if you have knowledge that only a select few have, you can lord it over the majority of people.

The Internet and Total Surveillance

Once the possibility of a total surveillance state materialized with the inception of the Internet, technocracy became the crown jewel in the Cabal’s totalitarian New World Order agenda.

The timeline is speeding up. Their dreams of ruling the world are veering toward a terrifying reality with artificial intelligence, propaganda in everybody’s pocket, and a bazillion data points on every man, woman, and child on Earth.

Patrick Wood, the OG of technocracy research, said once we reach a scientific dictatorship society … “liberty will be a historic curiosity.”

In order to achieve this goal, the technocrats developed mass surveillance, which has only been possible in the modern age with the Internet. This is their time to act.

Smart meters on houses monitor how much energy you consume.

Credit card transactions track consumer behavior and move people away from hard currency.

Social media fills out the dossier with beliefs, names of friends and family, images, and much more.

The Affordable Care Act digitizes your medical history.

Smart gadgets—Fitbit, Oura Ring, etc.—pass all of your vital stats to central repositories.

Smartphones track where you are, what you’re doing (they can listen in), and what information you’re consuming and entertainment you are consuming.

The Internet of Things (IoT) adds more daily data. What’s in your fridge? What do you watch on TV? And even more nefarious, there are credible reports detailing how they can watch us through our TVs.

Facial recognition software and cameras monitor every square inch of public space.

Virtual assistants like Alexa monitor your every word and train people to be useless (“please machine, turn on that light … I cannot do it myself”).

Public school jams cultural Marxism down the throat of every child, while Common Core collects 400 pieces of data on every child, which is on their record for life.

[ridenwithbiden]

THE DAILY BEAST

"I didn’t want to write this column, I really didn’t.

Since Thursday night I have vacillated between borderline obsession (monitoring every tweet, reading every story, phone-banking donors, reporters, and insiders) and trying to ignore the democratic world that has abruptly and rapidly come crumbling down around us.

But I was always taught that in life you cannot solve a problem you are unwilling to admit.

The major question commanding the conversation is both naive and disingenuous: How did we–the Democratic party–at a time when there is already a crisis of confidence and trust in basic democratic institutions, both affirm that skepticism for the world to see and, potentially, cost ourselves the election all in 90 minutes?

To answer this honestly, a lot of people have a lot to own up to. So first, let’s make our way into the collective confessional booth and have a chat.

First there is the “they” who concealed the truth about the president’s apparent condition. That “they” is comprised of a long and distinguished list, starting with the first family, top White House and Biden campaign staff, and likely a notable list of Democratic senators, Congress members and Cabinet officials.

They’ve been doing it for months, if not well over a year. And don’t kid yourselves, there is a lot of anger from the rank and file over it.

Second, there is the “they” who gaslit us and enabled the situation. That “they” would be the fourth estate, who I’d like to take a minute to congratulate for confirming Trump’s infamous 2016 “fake news” mantra. It’s possible the American public, whose faith in the news was already at an-all time low, will never fully recover from this. So for all of the “reporters” who appear to have found the light switch in the last few days: too little, too late. No one will ever believe that the mainstream media didn’t know this story was there. They will believe that they made a conscious decision not to report it.

Jill Abramson, former executive editor of The New York Times, embodied the issue herself in a head-spinning statement that at first blush appeared to be taking both the White House and the media to task for a massive cover-up and failure to do their jobs respectively, but in doing so outed herself and her former colleagues as complicit when she said the quiet part out loud to Semafor: “I worry that too many journalists didn’t try to get the story because they did not want to be accused of helping elect Trump. I get that…”

“I get that?” Really? You do? Well, do you get why the American public doesn’t trust the news, and believes they’re partisan? Do you get that, too?

Breaking News Alert: The media’s job is not to put its thumb on the scale—no matter their personal politics or that of their editorial boards.

Compounding the problem, ever since Thursday night’s slow-motion car crash, “they”—in this case, the Biden campaign and its inner circle—have committed a series of missteps that could best be described as professional malpractice. They believed the jaw-dropping revelations around the debate could be dismissed as “one bad night” compared to “Obama/Romney 2012” and papered over with a few scripted appearances with the aid of a teleprompter. No press questions would be answered, no unfriendly media allowed.

And then the Bidens departed for Camp David.

Within hours, a story in the New York Times painted the picture of the first family clinging to the East Wing and blaming White House staff for the debate catastrophe.

The article went further, saying that—in light of the staff’s poor performance—the family would be taking on more of an active role. Everything would be fine because the grandkids were going to start volunteering on the campaign. The president, it stated, is leaning on Hunter Biden for advice, leaving many Americans to question the president's judgment as much as they had been questioning his mental acuity.

Monday, straight from the department of horrific timing, Jill Biden, appearing to do her best Claire Underwood impression, graced the cover of Vogue, leaving top Democratic donors and operatives nationwide wide-eyed, mouths fully agape.

And amidst the greatest crisis to face the party in modern political history, the party elders have been all but absent. Neither Bill Clinton nor Barack Obama appear to be taking a leading role in ushering their successor to his come-to-Jesus moment, nor are they serving as the public face of his defense, their support muted and confined to social media.

With the Bidens dug in and the party’s institutional forces appearing to apprehensively tow the line, the only thing that could change the dynamic was numbers.

And then… polling started to trickle in.

CBS was the first significant survey out of the gate: 72 percent of Americans no longer believe the president has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president. A New Hampshire one put Trump up 2—a 12 point swing since December. Harvard/Harris put Trump up nationwide by 6 points—results that were mirrored by CNN. Leaked internal Democratic polling put Biden behind in all seven battleground states.

Suddenly elected Democrats—who were split between publicly falling in line and privately fuming—have begun to openly call for the president to leave the ticket.

So now what? Where do we go? Identify the solution. Or in this case choose between two less than ideal, realistic options.

After days of fantasy football-like jockeying, yelling out good-on-paper names that are largely unknown, untested and unvetted nationally–some of whom are not the least bit interested (Michelle Obama), others who could turn the next four months into a referendum on the state of San Francisco (Gavin Newsom)—let’s let a dose of reality set in.

Campaign finance laws don’t allow for Biden/Harris funds to be transferred to a brand new set of knighted candidates. While another duo could arguably energize the donor class, no one in their right mind would flush $240 million down the drain and start from scratch. That, this week’s polling boomlet putting Kamala as the party’s best shot to contend with Trump, and the already complicated politics of attempting to side-step the nation’s first-ever Black female VP, put to bed the question of who the party’s nominee—if it is not Joe Biden—would be.

The only realistic paths forward are either 1.) President Biden remains the nominee, and in turn—absent a seismic governmental or political event in his favor (which could happen)—Trump likely wins in November;

Or 2.) Historically unpopular Kamala Harris takes the party’s reins. In the latter scenario Harris could choose Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her VP, putting the crucial swing state back squarely in play, hope that the historic nature of her candidacy energizes the backbone of the party, and give it a shot.

Neither is far from a sure thing. But we have reached the fork in the proverbial road.

And our deadline is not the convention. Thanks to an inconvenient quirk in Ohio’s election law, presidential tickets must be certified by Aug. 7, meaning the Democratic party has 35 days to make a choice.

Knowing the existential threat that a second Trump presidency would present compounds the recklessness and culpability of everyone involved. And there isn’t another minute to waste.

Tick. Tock."

The Daily Beast

[starseneyes]

Did you like the confession of feelings from 5.08? From Tim and Lucy?

Hey, Anon! Thanks for the message. This is a tricky one.

I tend not to post my negative thoughts much on here. Partly because I understand that so much of a show comes together because of many parties contributing to an overall whole. Showrunners. Writers. Actors. Producers. Networks. Editors. Directors. Directors of Photography. And the list goes on.

There are things that bug me sometimes about any number of areas, but I tend to keep it to myself. It doesn't seem productive to point something out on an episode that's "in the can" and mentioning it does nothing but come off as whining.

So, I'll answer this honestly because you asked directly—I liked it, but didn't love it, simply because I was confused in the middle, and that pulled me out of the moment.

I have a very hard time being "in the moment" with any television show. Let me explain why:

My mother's a hair and makeup artist in the industry. When I was a kid, I was very badly bullied by classmates, teachers, and even guidance counselors. I was slapped, kicked, tripped, punched, threatened, and had my belongings hidden, manure put in my backpack, and zero support at the school level.

My Mom's answer? She would write me a sick note and take me on set. Most of the directors were super nice, and would invite me to sit behind them at the monitors so I could watch everything.

Sometimes I helped at Craft Service. Sometimes I simply sat and watched scenes. Sometimes I was an extra. I even acted a bit way back in the day. Many of the folks would talk to me, tell me about what they did and why.

At night, my mother left her scripts out for me to collate. Sometimes, we'd get dailies or advanced copies of the episodes and I'd get to sit down and see how they compared to the script. Then compare that to the as-aired editions. I was always fascinated by the changes that came down.

I wrote my first script at 13, an episode of Star Trek: Voyager. I was complimented for the dialogue being spot-on, and to this day the biggest compliments I get are on dialogue and character. For whatever reason, that's always come easy.

I grew up in a very strange way as a set kid who also fell in love with how it all worked. I was a Film Minor in college and had a lot of fun getting blood advice from my mother (drop of blue), and I loved editing.

On top of that, one of my first jobs as a kid was doing voice replacement for Anime. And I spent about 20 years as a contract player with Studio Center doing commercials, books on tape, on-hold messages, and whatnot.

All that to say—lots of stuff stands out to me that most people don't care about a lick. I get excited by camera movements and continuity. I marvel at what we can do with drones vs having to hire a helicopter. I think about the lighting and how to motivate directionality depending on the scene.

Lucy and Tim's conversation (wow, I finally found my way back to the plot) is very them.

I've seen the shows where people have big, over-reaching confessions of their love for one another. And it fit. those. characters.

Tim and Lucy have a history of running from their feelings. For Lucy, she thought that Tim rejected her when he encouraged her to go to UC School. For Tim, he thinks that he's her greatest mistake—an almost that never should have been.

So this whole episode, Tim has been trying to encourage Lucy as a friend. He's not looking for anything. He truly is doing what he can for her, because he doesn't think she wants more. He thinks "she wants me to be her friend" and he's going to do it to his utmost.

Lucy's not even thinking about breaking up with Chris until Tim says she deserves someone who's worth the effort. That gets her brain going. Then Tim points out that Chris loves her, and she admits she doesn't love him.

"He's just not—"

You. You. We all know it's YOU. And as she's now reeling, because even if she didn't say it aloud, she thought it. "He's just not you."

And what do you do with that type of realization? That you're comparing this other guy you're actively dating to the guy beside you. So, Lucy Chen finishes out her shift, gets changed, and sets out to talk to Tim about the whole thing.

She goes into that conversation with the motivation that she wants to talk about them. But Tim's still in friend-mode, so he doesn't see the signals.

That's why it burst out of her. And I don't mind that. I don't mind it at all.

But Tim not acknowledging the change of conversational direction has always bothered me. Especially when it looks like they cut a line from him that very well may have been, "If we do this."

We skipped straight to, "No, you're right." And the first time through, I was super confused, I'll admit. The lack of acknowledgement from Tim just threw me.

There are probably a lot of people out there who weren't bothered at all. But watching Tim's body language indicate a line that was cut really confused me, and then his lack of acknowledgement of the change of direction puzzled me.

Again, you asked my thoughts directly, so I'm giving them openly. But I can hear a bunch of people rolling their eyes at me. Yes, I know I'm odd and what bothers me in a scene is odd.

Because, I don't have beef that Lucy blurted out what was really going on between them because she got impassioned by Tim's assertions about her fear and answered unthinkingly.

I think that's completely in character, especially considering her entire motivation in this scene was to feel that out with Tim. And Tim's surprise and trying to process is in-character, too, but I really missed that conversational transition the first time through. And it still stands out to me on every re-watch.

I know some people wanted a big, emotional love confession... but that's not Tim and Lucy. Neither of them is big about making speeches.

Tim talks often in two or three word sentences (see "Unless it is"). Lucy speaks rapidly, sometimes, but not in an overly elloquent fashion littered with metaphors and emotional revelations. They both tend to be fairly to-the-point in how they communicate.

If we were to get something flowery and flowy from Lucy, I'd expect it in her wedding vows, when she's had time to sit and compose something. She'll attack it like she does her UC work—thoroughly.

And Tim will find ways to show Lucy how he feels. He's more of a show guy, remember? Words aren't his forté, and if they suddenly were, it would be out of character.

Lucy speaks Tim. So, she'll know by his actions how much he loves and cherishes her.

And much as Lucy uses her words, I'd expect more pet-names and short bursts of affection (like telling him he'd do great on his first day) combined with the pranking and awkward photos that have been prevalent throughout their relationship, no matter the phase.

So, did I like the confession? Yes. It was very in-character. Did I love it? No. I had a bit of a hangup, but that's just me. I bet nobody else even noticed, or if they did, they didn't care.

I'm not here to criticize the Writers. I know the care that goes into crafting these characters and their relationships. The hours spent working together to break story, drafts, network notes, and so on. There are so many layers before we even get on-set to start shooting the darn thing.

I think a grand confession from either of them would have felt forced, heavy-handed, wildly out-of-character, and out of the character of the show as a whole. It wouldn't make sense to compromise the integrity of The Rookie for the sake of Chenford.

I do hope that answers your question (and makes a modicum of sense). It's entirely just my opinion! Everyone's mileage may vary, and that's part of what makes fandom fun. Thanks for the message!!

[bookpublisher1]

Resources and Tools for Writers

Resources and Tools for Writers: A Comprehensive Guide

Writing is a beautiful and often challenging endeavor, where words become art, stories take shape, and ideas find their voice. To support the creative journey, writers have access to a vast array of resources and tools that can enhance their craft, streamline their work, and expand their knowledge. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the diverse resources and tools available to writers, from writing software and reference materials to writing communities and self-publishing platforms.

Writing Software and Tools

1. Word Processing Software: Word processors like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Scrivener are essential tools for drafting and editing your work. They offer features for formatting, spell-checking, and document organization.

2. Grammar and Editing Tools: Online grammar checkers like Grammarly and ProWritingAid help writers identify and correct grammatical errors, punctuation issues, and style inconsistencies.

3. Mind Mapping and Outlining Tools: Software like MindMeister, Scrapple, and Workflowy can help writers brainstorm, outline their work, and visualize the structure of their projects.

4. Note-Taking Apps: Apps like Evernote and OneNote are perfect for jotting down ideas, collecting research, and organizing notes on the go.

5. Writing Prompts: Websites and apps like Writing Prompts, Reedsy, and The Write Practice provide daily writing prompts and creative exercises to stimulate your imagination.

6. Writing and Word Count Tracking Tools: Tools like NaNoWriMo's word count tracker and online timers like TomatoTimer help writers set goals and monitor their progress.

7. Reference and Research Tools: Tools such as Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote are useful for managing references, citations, and research materials.

8. Thesaurus and Dictionaries: Online thesauruses like Thesaurus.com and dictionary resources like Merriam-Webster are invaluable for finding synonyms, antonyms, and definitions.

9. Readability Checkers: Tools like Hemingway Editor and Readable.io assess the readability of your writing, helping you create content that's easy to understand.

10. Screenwriting Software: If you're a screenwriter, software like Final Draft or Celtx can assist you in formatting scripts to industry standards.

Reference Materials

1. Style Guides: Manuals like The Chicago Manual of Style, The Associated Press Stylebook, and The Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook provide guidelines for formatting and citation.

2. Writing Guides: Books like "On Writing" by Stephen King, "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott, and "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White offer invaluable writing advice and wisdom.

3. Dictionaries and Thesauruses: Traditional print dictionaries and thesauruses are still valuable reference materials, especially for writers who prefer the tactile experience of flipping through pages.

4. Writer's Market Guides: The "Writer's Market" series provides information on publishers, literary agents, and markets for various genres.

5. Grammar and Style Books: Resources like "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Lynne Truss and "The Elements of Eloquence" by Mark Forsyth offer in-depth exploration of grammar and style.

6. Online Blogs and Articles: Numerous writing blogs and websites, such as Writer's Digest, The Creative Penn, and The Write Life, provide articles, tips, and inspiration for writers.

Writing Communities and Workshops

1. Writing Groups: Local and online writing groups, such as Meetup, Goodreads, and Facebook writing groups, writer’s circle provide a space to share your work, receive feedback, and connect with fellow writers.

2. Writing Workshops: Many organizations and universities offer writing workshops and courses, both in-person and online. They often provide structured learning and feedback opportunities.

3. Critique Partners: Building relationships with critique partners is a valuable way to get constructive feedback on your work. Websites like Critique Circle and Scribophile can help you find critique partners.

4. Author Forums: Websites like Absolute Write Water Cooler and KBoards (for indie authors) are popular author forums where writers can ask questions, share experiences, and seek advice.

5. Writing Conferences: Attending writing conferences and book fairs can help you network with industry professionals, learn from experts, and gain insights into the publishing world.

Publishing Platforms and Self-Publishing Tools

1. Traditional Publishers: If you're pursuing traditional publishing, resources like the Writer's Market guide and QueryTracker can help you find literary agents and publishers. Confused if to go or not for traditional publishing here are 5 Reasons Why Traditionally Published Books Sell Better Than Self-Published Books

2. Self-Publishing Platforms: If you're considering self-publishing, platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and Smashwords provide tools and guidelines for self-publishing your work.

3. Book Cover Design Tools: Software like Canva and Adobe Spark can assist with designing eye-catching book covers.

4. Formatting and Layout Services: For professionally formatted books, services like Vellum and Brave Healers Production can help you create professional interior layouts.

5. Book Marketing Tools: Social media networks are essential for book marketing and promotion.

6. Email Marketing Services: Services like Mailchimp and ConvertKit are valuable for building and maintaining a mailing list for your author newsletter.

Income and Rights Management

1. Royalty Tracking Software: Tools like BookTrakr and AuthorEarnings provide insights into book sales, royalties, and income tracking.

2. Copyright and Contracts Resources: Authors should familiarize themselves with copyright law and have legal resources for contract reviews if working with publishers.

Author Platforms and Websites

1. Author Websites: Creating a professional author website is a must. Platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace offer user-friendly website builders.

2. Blogging Platforms: Blogging can help you connect with readers and showcase your writing. WordPress and Blogger are popular blogging platforms.

3. Social Media: Building a presence on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook can help you engage with your audience and promote your work.

Financial and Business Tools

1. Tax Resources: As an author, you may need to navigate complex tax matters. Tax software or the services of an accountant or tax professional can be invaluable.

2. Business Tools: Software for bookkeeping, invoicing, and project management can help authors manage their finances and business affairs effectively.

Online Writing Tools

1. Online Writing Platforms: Online platforms like Medium, Wattpad, and Vocal.Media provide opportunities to publish and share your writing with a broad online audience.

2. Collaborative Writing Tools: Tools like Google Docs and Scrivener support collaborative writing projects by enabling real-time editing and sharing.  Don’t miss the 5 FREE Writing Tools Authors Must Try In 2023

Conclusion

The journey of a writer is a continuous exploration of creativity and self-discovery. The resources and tools available to writers today are as diverse as the voices and stories they bring to life. This comprehensive guide should serve as a valuable reference for writers looking to enhance their craft, navigate the publishing world, and connect with their audience. Whether you're just starting your writing journey or have been on it for years, these resources and tools are here to support your passion and help you turn your ideas into art.

[ingek73]

The allegations against Daily Mail’s parent company Associated Newspapers

Legal claims alleging illegal behaviour have been brought by Doreen Lawrence, Elton John, David Furnish, Prince Harry, Liz Hurley, Sadie Frost and Simon Hughes

Jim Waterson, Haroon Siddique, Ben Quinn and Lisa O'Carroll

Mon 27 Mar 2023 20.34 BST

Seven prominent individuals have brought legal claims alleging widespread illegal behaviour by individuals working for the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday between 1993 and 2018.

The Mail’s parent company strongly denies all the allegations and is seeking to stop the cases going to trial, arguing the individuals have waited too long to start legal proceedings and are relying on material provided by the Mail on a confidential basis to the Leveson inquiry into the British media industry.

On Monday night, a spokesperson for Associated Newspapers said that while “Mail’s admiration for [Doreen] Lawrence remains undimmed, we are profoundly saddened that she has been persuaded to bring this case”.

They added: “The Mail remains hugely proud of its pivotal role in campaigning for justice for Stephen Lawrence. Its famous ‘Murderers’ front page triggered the Macpherson report.”

They also highlighted how one of the private investigators cited by Lawrence has since provided a sworn statement that he did not carry out any illegal work for the Mail or Mail on Sunday.

Although the seven individuals’ cases are being dealt with collectively, each claim makes distinct allegations of illegal behaviour at Associated Newspapers, the parent company of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday – which are strenuously denied by the publisher.

This is what they allege.

Doreen Lawrence

Doreen Lawrence leaves the high court. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters

Doreen Lawrence’s allegations are particularly damning for the Daily Mail. The mother of murdered schoolboy Stephen Lawrence, whose racially motivated killing shocked Britain, had long been seen as an ally of the Daily Mail and its former editor Paul Dacre.

She now alleges that while the paper was publicly campaigning to bring her son’s killers to justice – culminating in the newspaper’s famous front page accusing a group of men of being murderers – the Mail was also relying on private investigators to dig dirt on her.

Lawrence alleges journalists instructed private investigators to conduct illegal interception of her voicemail messages, tapping of her landline, “blagging” of personal records, the monitoring of her bank accounts and phone bills, covert electronic surveillance and corrupt payments to serving Metropolitan police officers working on the murder investigations.

Lawrence says she was targeted from “at least as early as 1993 (the year of Stephen’s murder) until 2007”.

She identifies four “unlawful articles”. The authors and date of each article have been redacted but there is a short description of each story, in addition to the information that one particular journalist wrote or co-wrote all four items.

The first article relates to the public inquiry into Stephen’s murder and “privileged information concerning the Lawrence family’s consideration of a second private prosecution and an action for damages against the murder suspects”. It is alleged this article was the result of the journalist who wrote it paying the private investigator for unlawfully obtained information.

The second article concerned the Lawrence family’s negligence action against the Metropolitan police and, it is claimed, included “confidential details about negotiations and settlement terms”.

The third article contained “sensitive and confidential” information about the murder investigation, including the decision not to bring charges against the suspects and communications with the Lawrence family about this. The particulars claim that – around the time this article was published – Associated paid a private investigator amounts of £1,777.50 and £600 for “confid enquiries” which “it is to be inferred were or included requests in relation to the claimant, and resulted and was exploited or published in the third unlawful article”.

The fourth article related to allegations behind details pertaining to the decision to bring new charges against the murder suspects, and the Met’s communications on this matter with the Lawrence family.

Lawrence alleges that none of the articles in question would have been published without “the direct misuse or exploitation of the information unlawfully or illegally obtained”. Her claim also says that the acts identified “represent only a fraction of the entirety of the separate unlawful acts committed in relation to her and her associates”.

As a result of the alleged acts, Lawrence is said to have “suffered considerable distress and harm, as well as the loss of her dignity or standing and her personal autonomy”.

The submissions state: “The claimant [Lawrence] feels anger, shock and upset, upon learning that the Daily Mail and targeted her through the unlawful acts and exploited her and her son’s murder through the unlawful articles, all of which was deliberately concealed from her both at the time and subsequently.

“Most of all, however, she feels a deep sense of betrayal. She finds it hard to believe the level of duplicity and manipulation that was clearly at play, knowing now as she does that the Daily Mail’s outward support for her fight to bring Stephen’s killers to justice was hollow, and worse, entirely false.

“The claimant now sees that the Daily Mail’s true interests were about self-promotion and using her and her son’s murder as a means to generate ‘exclusive’ headlines, sell newspapers and to profit. The claimant cannot think of any act or conduct lower than stealing and exploiting information from a mother who buried her son for this reason. She feels used and violated, and like she has been taken for a fool.”

Prince Harry

Prince Harry leaving the court. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters

Prince Harry alleges that illegally obtained material was used by the Mail’s publishers for a number of articles on his personal life, including details of his relationship and feelings towards ex-girlfriends including Chelsy Davy, Natalie Pinkham and Cressida Bonas. He also alleges the Mail’s parent company obtained details of discussions with his brother Prince William about how to deal with the release of deathbed images of their mother, Princess Diana.

Harry has alleged that the unlawful activity used to obtain these stories meant “he was largely deprived of important aspects of his teenage years”. He said friends were lost or cut off as a result and everyone became a “suspect”. He adds the stories were written in a manner that led him to believe those close to him were the source of the information being provided to the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, rather than the alleged use of illegal reporting tactics.

He also claims that the publication of information relating to his private travel plans “caused a significant security risk” and amount to a “major betrayal” of the promises made by the media to improve its conduct after the death of his mother in 1997.

Harry says the Mail characterises itself to the British people as a “beacon of truth and integrity” but instead the company “widely and habitually carried out or commissioned illegal or unlawful information gathering activities” to report on some of the most intimate moments in his life, including relationships with three former girlfriends.

One man was allegedly paid “several hundred thousand pounds” to target celebrities, royals and other high-profile individuals including victims of violent crime.

Another company, he says, “was regularly used by journalists at the Sun and the News of the World to carry out unlawful searches for example in relation to the victims of the 7/7 terrorist bombings in London”.

Harry claims he and other members of the royal family – along with a string of celebrities – were targeted with a subsequent “cover-up”, and alleged repeated “false denials” by senior Mail executives at the Leveson inquiry into newspaper practices.

Harry said he “will refer to the unequivocal and categorical nature” of denials through the years “as well as the aggressive manner in which they were advanced”.

Revelations that Harry had been chosen to be godfather to the son of his former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke were also the result of unlawful activities by the Mail on Sunday, he alleges, as were numerous articles about his longstanding girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, who he dated on and off between 2004 and 2010.

These “unlawful acts” included phone hacking, phone tapping, the obtaining of confidential information through deception otherwise known as “blagging”, and the use of private investigators to commit these acts.

He also alleges “burglary to order” to obtain private information.

A two-page redacted document puts 14 articles published by the Mail on Sunday at the centre of his claims.

Elton John and David Furnish

David Furnish is seen near to the Royal Courts of Justice. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The pair allege a copy of their first child’s birth certificate was unlawfully obtained by Mail group reporters before it was even seen by the couple, who claim “priceless moments of privacy” were degraded.

When the birth certificate was used as the basis for an article, the singer and his partner, a producer, say that they were “heartbroken by the derogatory headline that Associated [Newspapers] attached to it”.

The couple go on in their claims against the publisher that the headline was “clearly calculated to profit and generate public sensation about an event that they had so carefully guarded to keep precious”.

Their claim adds: “They are also mortified to consider all their conversations, some of which were very personal indeed, were tapped, taped, packaged and consumed as a commercial product for journalists and unknown others to pick over, regardless of whether or not they were published.”

“The hurt remains the same, knowing that their lives have been treated as a commodity and their precious, priceless moments of privacy degraded in this way”.

Liz Hurley

Elizabeth Hurley in 2022. Photograph: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock

Hurley alleges that a landline she used when she stayed at the home of Elton John and David Furnish was tapped, including when she stayed there immediately after the birth of her son in April 2002.

Hurley also claims that landline tapping and phone hacking was used to obtain information for a Mail on Sunday article about the fact that she had wanted a baby with her former husband, Arun Nayar, but only if they got married first.

A private investigator is alleged to have targeted both Hurley and Hugh Grant, her former boyfriend and still close friend and business partner, on behalf of the Mail on Sunday.

This included hacking their phones, tapping their landline phones, placing a sticky window mini-microphone on the exterior of her home window, bugging Grant’s car and undertaking other “blags”.

She was “particularly appalled” by Associated Newspapers’ targeting of her during her pregnancy and following the birth of her baby and recalls a feeling of vulnerability at that time in her life and the sense that, despite precautions taken, she was unable to protect her son.

“It left her sickened to see the snatched closeup picture of her baby’s face published by Associated when he was four months old with the new understanding that this intrusion was the exploitation of unlawful cts, deliberately directed at her with that intention,” her submission read.

Her claim goes on to add: “She now understands how very real the feeling of being trapped and surrounded on all sides by unknown enemies truly was.

Sadie Frost

Sadie Frost leaves the high court. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters

Sadie Frost alleges she was targeted from at least as early as 2000 until at least as late 2010, when her relationship with actor Jude Law was regularly front page news. Her claim identifies 10 allegedly unlawful articles, written by five Daily Mail or Mail on Sunday journalists who are said to have regularly commissioned private investigators for stories.

With respect to an article about Frost and Jude Law’s divorce proceedings and financial arrangements, the claim says “Associated paid £2837.50 for ‘confid enquiries’ to JJ Services, which was for unlawfully obtained information and which it is to be inferred were or included requests in relation to the Claimant, and resulted or was exploited or published” in the article in question.

Unlawful acts allegedly carried out against Frost include phone hacking, landline tapping her home phones and other blags, through which information was obtained such as private communications, financial details and travel arrangements. Law’s landline was also allegedly tapped, including when he was having a conversation with a male member of his family to discuss the details of his divorce settlement with Frost, garnering information which was then used in a story.

Other articles which her claim relates to variously concerned her relationship with the supermodel Kate Moss, the welfare of her son and her health and wellbeing.

Simon Hughes

Simon Hughes in 2006. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

Simon Hughes alleges that, after he was outed in the Sun for being gay in January 2006, a private investigator began to look into his private life for information which might be of interest to the Mail on Sunday.

The former Lib Dem MP says that the investigator believed he was in a relationship with another man who Hughes refers to as “HJK” and the private investigator targeted him “including by phone hacking his voicemail messages and those of the people he was in contact with, ‘pinging’ [the triangulation of location through the use of mobile phone data], and the blagging of his bank records and phone records [subscriber information, itemised bills and voicemail PINs] relating to the claimant and those he was in contact with and other private information”.

Information allegedly unlawfully or illegally obtained included the identity and address of HJK, which was then passed on to the Mail on Sunday. The submissions allege that the Mail on Sunday then wanted a photograph of HJK (and Hughes) so the investigator then telephoned HJK on his mobile number which was unlawfully obtained, “and through means of deception managed to blag his home address and then ‘pinged’ HJK’s phone to confirm that this was correct”. The particulars of the claim say no article was published by the Mail on Sunday because a bigger story took priority.

[aressida]

Australia News: 24.3.24.

1.) "The Australian dream of owning your own home - Albanese style. Coming to a city near you."

2.) "Media Shame File: Journalists show their economic illiteracy daily when it comes to immigration, but even so it's worrying that the political editor of The Age doesn't seem to understand how unemployment can fall during record-high population growth."

I'd say they were fully aware of what they were doing.

3.) QLD HOMESCHOOLING CRACKDOWN ->

https://youtu.be/TudVFaYc36A

Make a submission: https://qldparlcomm.snapforms.com.au/form/eetsc---education-general-provisions-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2024.

It is highly likely that other governments will enact similar harsh laws if they succeed in Queensland. Do not let them.

Also "Our main points of concern:

we do not want to be restricted to using the Australian Curriculum.

reporting to EVERY area in the plan and PROVING educational progress is too much and not even required in schools.

determining if home education is in the best interest of the child is a parental right, this power doesn't belong with the Education department."

Parents should have the freedom to decide how best to educate their children because education is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

4.) NDIS - What is myplace?

"Just a heads up for all you MyPlace people. There are already trade marked companies in Australia using that name.

Be warned you may be in danger of copyright infringement and court action.

I'm telling you this because I care that you don't get sued, and also because you really should not use someone else's business name. Be original rather than just copying someone else.

The MyPlace brand in Australia is to do with Government, Monitoring, Professional Sports Sponsorship, Public Education and The NDIS. Do you really want your name involved with that?

I wouldn't.

@roobsaussieflyers."

5.) Australia Immigration ->

"Record immigration is causing a housing crisis that’s now a human catastrophe

The more serious governance issue is Labor federal government lying last year saying it would reduce immigration

One Nation exposed the Lib-Lab Uniparty “big Australia”

People want immigration cuts." - Senator Roberts uncensored - Telegram.

6.) "Getting a COVID jab is safer than taking aspirin."

"Currently appears on the University of Melbourne website.

“The risk of rare side effects from COVID-19 vaccines like AstraZeneca are greatly exaggerated as they are far safer than many medicines people are taking every day.” "

- @PeoplePowerAus.

[abra-ka-dammit]

well i HAD just finished writing a post about bojji's morning update but then the editor crashed so fuck me i guess

in short(er), hes stable, weaning off IV fluids, less bacteria in his chest fluid and less chest fluid overall, mostly seeming to be fluid produced due to irritation from the area having been exposed to acidic gastric juices for a while, which is a sign his hole is sealing up.

they think one chest tube will be able to come out soon. once hes able to be off the IV and only producing a very low amount of fluid we can switch to home care with daily maintenance visits for chest fluid sucking and blood tests. at that point i will have to be feeding him through the tube thats going from his nose to his stomach for a couple weeks at least to ensure the wound can completely heal before anything is going down his throat again and im gonna have to monitor him hard so he doesnt fuck with his new body mods or try to eat/drink anything and its gonna be rough but it will be worth it to let him come back where he knows he belongs. hes so close. hes fighting so hard to come home to me, as fast as he possibly can.

keep fighting, bojji cat. you're almost there.

[commiemartyrshighschool]

Probably the part of my job I'm the worst at is letting people know that my editor has published the article I wrote. It's a pain in the ass not least because I don't know our publishing schedule since it is made up on the fly nor do I have the ability to anticipate when my boss is going to delay an article to the next week.

I've seen some journalists talk about how its vital to send that stuff and I do feel guilty about it but like, what do print reporters for a daily do? What did they do before online editions? Were reporters spending hours mailing clippings to everybody they quoted?

How did people in television or radio handle that? How many VHSs and cassette tapes were they supposed to go through?

I know it increases engagement, people will be hyped to share their name being in print, but it's a big task when I'm dealing with 12 different people a week who may not have any PR flacks monitoring for them.

I unno, anybody else in the profession have a thought?

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

"AS A "STAR WARS" MOVIE, "ATTACK OF THE CLONES" WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE INDEPENDENT MOVIES EVER MADE."

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on even more films stills of “STAR WARS: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” (2002), American epic space opera film and the second installment of the Prequel Trilogy directed & co-written by George Lucas. Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century Fox.

Cinematography: David Tattersall

Visual FX: Industrial Light & Magic

AOTC/TRIVIA FACT: Cast and crew could view instantaneous results live on set.

"Using a digital camera meant that a live feed of the high-definition footage was available to view in the moment from large plasma screen televisions on the set. Whereas in the past, directors hunched over tiny video monitors with black-and-white screens, George Lucas and the crew of Attack of the Clones enjoyed a large, detailed view of their work. This allowed everyone from hair and makeup artists to set dressers to make adjustments in the moment and contribute ideas.

The benefits extended beyond the immediate set as well, as tapes of high-definition footage were copied and transferred to the editorial department where assistant editors could load, input, and begin cutting footage within hours of the cameras rolling. Within the same day, Lucas and team could review the day’s scenes and determine the success of a shot. A typical film production had to wait at least a full day for lab processing of film dailies. No more sleepless nights for the cinematographer, and no more second-guessing about whether to strike a set out of fear that the day’s footage was unusable. As a Star Wars movie, Attack of the Clones was one of the most expensive independent movies ever made, but these advancements allowed Lucasfilm to run the production as efficiently as possible."

-- STAR WARS, ""Clones" at 20 -- 4 Ways "STAR WARS: Attack of the Clones" Helped Change Filmmaking," by Lucas Seastrom, May 10, 2022

Sources: www.starwars.com/news/clones-at-20-4-ways-star-wars-attack-of-the-clones-helped-change-filmmaking.

[hydralisk98]

LibreVastServitor computing stack designs 1/?

Just a quick reminder here, this is a customized computing stack manifestation game where I simply write what I desire and then let the wider universe manifest it for me whatever way that means, including personal efforts of mine. Boils down from customizing and adapting research material into a actionable series of items to manifest.

Ashur dream specifications

(mid-tower personal workstation computer)

2+ 2560x1440p monitors (one vertical, one or more horizontal)

Intel Core i5-4690 @ 3.5 GHz with its 4-cores (hoping forward to upgrade the RISC-V + OpenPOWER like processor for something decent with ~12-cores & much more open design) central processor unit

32GB of RAM

Some recent mid-range AMD GPU

64 GB Linux swap partition (mostly for virtual machines and RAMdisk partitions)

4TB+ SSD storage

Bluray burner

Floppy drive

Cassette / datasette drive

Themed GRUB bootloader

S6 init system

Arch-like package manager and software ecosystem

Customized alternative Linux kernel between Linux Libre & Zen kernel ( XanMod + Liquorix )

ZealOS, Parade, OpenBSD, OpenIndiana...

CLADO, DIS, Venera, Perseus, Maskoch, Synod, Monad, Valenz, Constans?

KDE Plasma with Liquid shell as desktop environment, complete with custom ricing, dot files & all the KDE desktop environment utilities;

Bash + Fish, Tmux, Astro-Neo-Vim with LSP, Emacs, LibreOffice Suite, Calligra, Bottles, Wine, WineTricks, QGIS, Firefox, LibreWolf, Dolphin, Konsole, Inkscape, Karbon, OpenStreetMap, GPlates, GProjector, Itch, Steam, GOG Galaxy, Lutris, Cyberpunk 2077, Ken Silverman's, FreeBASIC, Common Lisp, Godot + Qodot, VLC, MPV, .ogg / .ogv media player, musical tracker, 'Landchad.net', Brasero, K3B, FloppyFormatter, LibreCAD, AutoCAD, Blender, Kate, Qt, Nim, MUSL, C compiler, assembly monitor, HxD debugger, Rust, Swift, Kotlin, F#, C#, GNU make, NASM, Sweet Home 3D, some digital audio workstation software, Audacious, FFMPEG, Wayland, Morevna OpenToonz, some HTTP(S) web server suite, MongoDB, Hexo, Netlify CMS, RSS feed reader + generator, Pomodoro, Calendar, timely Tracker, Notion-like service, Tape, Gollum, some level editors, FreeCiv, The Sims 2, SimCity 4, Quake 1, Doom 1 & Doom 2, Markdown / Argdown, Konqueror, some WYSISYG rich media editor, some Raycaster engine, Daggerfall Unity, Portal 2, Source (1 & 2) Engine modding, some VirtualTableTop software, some remote desktop control software like VNC, OpenSSH, some distributed share storage software, Trenchbroom, StableDiffusionXL, ChatGPT open source alternative, DAO, Krita, GIMP, G'MIC & its plugins, PaintDotNet, CataclysmDDA, CataclysmBDA, Evennia, Python 3, Firefox for KDE (Developer Edition), Perl, PHP, MariaDB, lighttpd, Apache, Nginx, Themix Oomox GTK+ theme editor, Falkon, ...

Custom shell scripts, interactive REPL programming languages, some GUI programs, command aliases and dot file configurations;

?

Venera (computation "deque" project)

Original components:

RISC-V + OpenPOWER = LibreVast (tribble word-based open hardware architecture designed for daily use & tinkering developer purposes)

Tropix + OGAS = Nucleus (optimized distributed processing micro-kernel, like 'Inferno' & 'Plan9')

RedSeaFS + Parade = CLADOgram (direct-access rich media agentive filesystem & file server suite)

KDE + POSIX-compilant CDE = VUE (lightweight desktop environment with profound customization options)

CommonLisp w/ CLOS + Nim = Pan-Lisp (both low-level and high-level REPL programming language)

Existing components:

Fish, Tmux, Vim, Konsole, Flatpak, Git

KDE Plasma w/ Liquid shell alternative

Konqueror, LibreWolf

GIMP w/ G'MIC & Krita w/ G'MIC

Hexo (flat blog self-hosting web server), MariaDB, "Landchad.net" stuff

QEMU, Wine, Wine-tricks, Proton, Bottles, Lutris

Trenchbroom, Godot w/ Qodot

Kate, KDevelop, Okteta, Mousepad, Notepadqq

[...]

[beardedmrbean]

Turkey said on Wednesday that it summoned the German ambassador to protest a police operation against Turkish journalists operating in Germany. 

Some early media reports spoke of the journalists' "arrest," although a statement from police and prosecutors later on Wednesday suggested they were briefly detained during a search operation and then released, but at no point were formally under arrest. 

Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the detention of Frankfurt bureau representatives of Sabah newspaper by the German police today without justification is an act of harrassment and intimidation against the Turkish media." 

German officials did not name the individuals, saying only that they were men aged 46 and 51. 

Turkish media — including the affected publication, the German-language arm of the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper group — reported that it was two senior reporters at the publication, Ismail Erel, Sabah's most senior German journalist, and Cemil Albay, editor-in-chief of Sabah Europe.

The ages and names appear to match. 

The arrests follow soon after Turkey's presidential election first round on Sunday and in the run-up to the runoff vote in which incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be the favorite, based on first round results. The foreign ministry in Ankara also said the timing of the incident so soon after the vote raised the question of whether it was a "deliberate act." 

What did German officials say of the raid? 

The public prosecutor's office in Darmstadt and south Hesse's police issued a joint statement on Wednesday saying that two private apartments had been searched as part of a preliminary investigation. 

The information that police made public also seemed to corroborate media reports that Sabah's publishing of information about a supposed supporter of Erdogan opponent Fethullah Gulen living in Germany was the cause of the police interest, possibly violating German privacy laws. 

"In the context of a preliminary investigation by the Darmstadt prosecutor's office on suspicion of the spreading of personal data in a way that could endanger the individual, police forces searched the private residences of two journalists, aged 46 and 51, on Wednesday morning in Mörfelden-Walldorf," the statement said. 

"During the operation investigators seized electronic data storage devices among other potential pieces of evidence. At the conclusion of the criminal police activities the two men were released again." 

Police and prosecutors said that to protect the ongoing investigations they were not able to provide any further details at that point. 

The European Center for Press and Media Freedom, a nonprofit based in Leipzig, shared an early English-language Turkish report on the issue on Wednesday and said that it "condemns the detention and will monitor the case." 

"Press freedom must be upheld, we demand justice and transparancy," it said. 

Reporting on alleged Gulen supporter the underlying reason? 

The limited information from police appeared to corroborate media reports suggesting police interest was the result of the newspaper's recent coverage about a man residing in Germany who is alleged to have ties to Fethullah Gulen. The front page of Sabah Avrupa (Sabah Europe) recently carried an image of the man's private family residence in Germany. German laws on privacy protection in the media are comparatively strict.

Turkey often complains about people it deems terrorists or otherwise criminal, often either allies of Gulen or Kurdish activists, being able to live in Europe or North America. The country's recent obstruction of Finland's now-completed and Sweden's ongoing bids to join NATO were justified on this basis. 

Germany is home to Turkey's largest diaspora community. The roughly 1.5 million still-eligible postal voters in Germany were an important component in Erdogan's first round success, with a far higher proportion supporting the incumbent from Germany than the roughly 49% of votes Erdogan claimed overall.

[mariacallous]

The times of largesse towards Hungary’s media regarded as close to the ruling Fidesz party appear to be over, as print newspapers and niche publications close, staff numbers are cut, and costs rationalised in the face of a mounting economic crisis.

“We are witnessing a trend of serious cost-cutting in the Fidesz-close media since the elections in April,” Daniel Szalay, editor-in-chief of Hungary’s media-specialising news site Media1, tells BIRN.

Examples abound. Print editions of historical newspapers, like Magyar Hirlap or Figyelo, were scrapped from July, while staff at regional dailies, like Delmagyar or Zalai Hirlap, once important propaganda tools of the government, have been reduced to a minimum.

Elsewhere, Pesti TV, an aggressively right-wing television station intended for young viewers, was also closed during the summer. And even the prime minister’s personal favourite – and the country’s only – sports daily, Nemzeti Sport, had to be bailed out by the state with 3 billion forints (7.5 million euros) during the autumn, while FourFourTwo, a sports magazine run by Orban’s favourite journalist Gyorgy Szolossy, simply went out of business.

While the pillars of government propaganda remain solid, the country’s dire economic situation no longer permits the funding of non-essential media, experts say. “The state is in trouble,” Szalay says, “which means that even companies close to the government need to tighten their belts.”

But that does not mean Fidesz is prepared to give up its tight control of the media, rather it is changing tack. “The election in April 2022 proved that a massive campaign via social media is powerful enough, there is no need to fund dozens of media outlets for years,” Agnes Urban, a media researcher from Mertek Media Monitor, tells BIRN.

Urban refers to the right-wing propaganda outlet Megafon, which aggressively disseminated pro-government messaging on social media, mostly Facebook and YouTube, to great effect during the campaign for April’s parliamentary election, which Fidesz won by a landslide.

Megafon was established in 2020 to train influencers who could help disseminate government propaganda and to strengthen the voice of those displaying “national sentiments” on social media. However, it quickly became one of the main public communications tools for the government, spending over 1 billion forints (2.5 millions euros) on Facebook advertising alone.

Although Istvan Kovacs, founder of Megafon and strategic director of the government-supportive Center for Fundamental Rights, has denied that Megafon ever received any taxpayer money, the independent news service Telex.hu revealed it is indirectly funded by the Cabinet Office led by Antal Rogan – dubbed the government’s Propaganda Ministry – which channels the money via a civic foundation.

“Investing 2-3 billion forints in businesses like Megafon is perfectly enough to win elections,” Urban claims.

She forecasts that print newspapers of all stripes will continue to go out of business as part of a global trend, but Fidesz will maintain its funding of TV and radio outlets and social media advertising. “But the government evidently lacks the money to finance non-essential ‘friendly businesses’,” she adds.

[bitcoinversus]

Command #3: Ping (Windows OS)

#Ping Command #3 Overview: Purpose: Tests #network connectivity between devices Function: Sends ICMP echo requests and awaits replies Key Metrics: Round-trip time, packet loss percentage Advanced Use: Continuous monitoring with ping -t

BitcoinVersus.Tech Editor’s Note: We volunteer daily to ensure the credibility of the information on this platform is Verifiably True.If you would like to support to help further secure the integrity of our research initiatives, please donate here The ping command is a fundamental network utility used to test the reachability of a host on an IP network. By sending Internet Control Message…

[zerogpt5th]

The Essential Guide to Word Counting: Tools and Techniques for Writers

In the world of writing, whether you’re crafting a novel, a blog post, or a professional email, understanding the concept of word count is essential. Knowing how to count words can help you adhere to guidelines, improve clarity, and enhance reader engagement. This article explores the importance of word counting, discusses how to count words in various contexts, and highlights effective tools for counting text online.

Why Word Count Matters

1. Meeting Guidelines: Different types of writing often have specific word count requirements. For instance, a novel may have a target word count that can affect its publishing potential. Genres typically vary, with literary fiction ranging from 70,000 to 100,000 words, while young adult novels often fall between 50,000 and 80,000 words. By understanding the Novel Word Count expectations, you can better position your manuscript for success.

2. Clarity and Conciseness: Effective communication relies on clarity. Being aware of your word count can help you avoid unnecessary verbosity. A concise piece of writing is more likely to hold the reader's attention and convey your message effectively. When you aim to count text online, you're not just tallying numbers; you're refining your writing.

3. SEO Optimization: For those involved in digital marketing, understanding word count can also impact search engine optimization (SEO). Many search engines prefer articles of a certain length, often between 1,000 and 2,000 words, as they are typically seen as more comprehensive. Knowing how to count words accurately can help you create content that ranks better in search results.

4. Audience Engagement: Different audiences have different preferences for content length. Shorter articles may be suitable for casual readers, while longer, in-depth pieces might attract those looking for comprehensive information. By counting your words, you can tailor your writing to meet audience expectations effectively.

How to Count Words

Counting words can be done in various ways, each with its advantages:

1. Manual Counting: For very short texts, you might choose to count words manually. However, this method can be tedious and impractical for longer documents.

2. Using Word Processing Software: Most word processors, such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs, come equipped with built-in word count tools. These applications provide real-time updates on the number of words as you write, making it easy to monitor your text length.

3. Online Word Counters: Several online tools are available for counting words in text quickly. Websites like ZeroGPT offer user-friendly interfaces where you can paste your text and get an instant word count. This is particularly useful if you're working with text copied from various sources or platforms.

Tools for Counting Words Online

1. Online Word Counter Tools: These tools are incredibly useful for writers looking to count words without any hassle. You can simply paste your text into the tool, and it will provide you with the total word count instantly. Many of these tools also display additional information, such as the number of characters and paragraphs.

2. Mobile Apps: For those who prefer writing on mobile devices, various apps are designed to count words efficiently. These applications can be handy for on-the-go writers who need to keep track of their word counts while traveling or working remotely.

3. Browser Extensions: If you frequently write in text boxes or online editors, consider using a browser extension that counts words automatically. These extensions can display real-time word counts as you type, ensuring that you stay within your desired limits.

Practical Applications of Word Counting

1. Novel Writing: For authors, tracking the number of words is crucial during the writing process. Many writers set daily or weekly word count goals to maintain momentum and ensure they finish their manuscripts. Understanding how to count words accurately can help writers stay motivated and accountable.

2. Academic Writing: Students and researchers often face strict word count requirements for essays and papers. Knowing how to count words effectively can help ensure compliance with these guidelines, allowing for smoother submission processes.

3. Blogging and Content Creation: Bloggers must balance engaging content with SEO requirements. By counting words, you can create posts that are both informative and optimized for search engines, increasing your chances of reaching a broader audience.

4. Professional Communication: In business writing, brevity is key. Knowing how to count words can help you craft concise emails, reports, and presentations that respect your readers’ time and attention.

Count My Word: Making Word Counting Effortless

For anyone asking, "How do I Count my Word?", the answer lies in leveraging the right tools. Utilizing online word counters can simplify the process, allowing you to focus on crafting your message rather than worrying about the length.

Many writers often ask about counting specific segments of text. Most online word counters provide detailed statistics, allowing you to count words in selected paragraphs or sections, giving you control over the content you want to analyze.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding word count is essential for writers in all fields. Whether you're penning a novel, drafting an academic paper, or creating engaging online content, knowing how to count words can significantly improve your writing. With various tools available to count words online, including dedicated websites and software, it has never been easier to track your text length.

For a reliable and efficient solution to counting words, check out ZeroGPT. By utilizing these tools, you can enhance your writing, adhere to guidelines, and engage your audience more effectively. Embrace the power of word counting and watch your writing flourish!