#java vulnerabilities

[yumesei]

Okay but imagine Johnny coming back from a bad mission or whatever, and when I try to cheer him up he has a small breakdown abt everything that's piling up including the small insecurity he has where he think I'll end up getting tired of waiting for him and find someone else. So i just let him cry in my chest and do my best to soothe him???

[bi-force-1]

As much as I'd like to have a job right now, glad I'm dodging having to deal with this outage Cloudstrike caused.

[some-programming-pearls]

Explain about security vulnerabilities in microservices

Security loopholes in microservices expose sensitive data or allow unauthorized access, posing a threat to the overall system security. Solution: Implement authentication and authorization mechanisms for secure access to microservices. Regularly conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments. Terminology: Authentication: The process of verifying the identity of a user, system, or…

[danjconn]

Will be chatting at @ljcjug webinar tonight from 18:00 GMT! Know Your Threat and Model it! Why it's important for developers to know and help with it (it's not just because of legislation), but also what ways we can make this more productive for you! Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ljc-know-your-threat-and-model-it-tickets-559609937387 #java #jug #londonJUG #threatmodelling #cybersecurity #threats #vulnerabilities​ https://www.instagram.com/p/CpSG2STqWsy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[devsnews]

Apache Commons Text is a library of text-related components for Java applications. It provides a variety of algorithms and utilities for manipulating strings, such as splitting and joining, searching and replacing, and formatting. It also provides support for internationalization, including language detection and support for Unicode character sets. Unfortunately, there is a new vulnerability in Apache Commons Text 1.10 that you can read more about in this article.

[orbitbrain]

Developers Warned of Critical Remote Code Execution Flaw in Quarkus Java Framework

Developers Warned of Critical Remote Code Execution Flaw in Quarkus Java Framework

Home › Vulnerabilities Developers Warned of Critical Remote Code Execution Flaw in Quarkus Java Framework By Ionut Arghire on November 30, 2022 Tweet Developers have been warned that the popular Quarkus framework is affected by a critical vulnerability that could lead to remote code execution. Available since 2019, Quarkus is an open source Kubernetes-native Java framework designed for GraalVM…

[manusuchus]

World Tomistoma Day 2023

Although I find the concept of a "World Day of" generally stupid, I believe that on the matter of endangered species, it can be a very meaningful speaker.

Tomsen, a female T. schlegelii at BioParc Fuengirola (Spain)

Today, August 5th, an initiative of the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) together with the "Tomistoma Task Force" is trying to draw attention to this poorly known and misunderstood species.

For those of you who don't know this animal, Tomistoma schlegelii, commonly known as Malayan false gharial is a longirostrine crocodilian that inhabits forested freshwater lakes, slow-moving rivers and swamps of Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra and possibly Java, feeding on diverse prey (From invertebrates to monkeys, small deer, birds and reptiles, with fish constituting the bulk of its diet), and although it is not a particularly aggressive species, there are several records of attacks on humans, with at least one fatal confirmed.

Tomistoma schlegelii devouring a female proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Inspired by Galdikas et al. 1985 (Illustration made in 2022)

 It is characterized by a long narrow snout which blends gradually with the base of the head/skull. Two rows of very small, barely distinct post-occipital scutes. Nuchal scales continuous with dorsal scutes and are almost indistinguishable. They are generally brown in color, with dark bands, including blotches and bands on snout and jaws.

But what makes this species really interesting are two particularities : Its enormous size and its ínteresting taxonomic affinities:

a) Size: It is not uncommon for Tomistoma males to reach lengths of 4 m today, but skeletal remains (Mainly skulls) indicate that we could be (Although improbably) in the presence of one of the candidates for the largest crocodylian species in the world . 

In their 2008 study, R. & N. Whitaker noted that the longest skulls in the world belonged to Tomistoma (One at Munich Museum at 81.5 cm; another at the AMNH at 76.5 cm ...) with the British Museum specimen taking the lead with an incredible 84 cm (Leaving all other species behind).

However, observations made on Tomistomas in captivity at the Samut Prakarn Crocodile Farm (Bangkok) and on some wild specimens, determined that the HL:TL ratio was 1:6.4 for the species; and therefore, the British Museum specimen would have measured about 5.38 m in life, certainly a giant but far from the monstrous sizes of some salties (Crocodylus porosus). 

The British Museum specimen. George Craig © (In the second photo, you can compare the size with C. porosus and G. gangeticus large specimens)

b) Uncertain affinities: Tomistoma is the last survivor of an old lineage that originated about 40-50 mya ago. This has made many authors wonder: where does this species fit in the evolutionary tree of crocodylia? And well... it's complicated.

T. schlegelii has long been considered to be a member of the Crocodylidae ( Brochu 2003). Much of the analysis has focussed on skeletal attributes, often constrained that way to allow comparison with fossil material, but there is supporting evidence from soft anatomy as well (Frey et al. (1989) , Endo et al.(2002)...) 

But now begins the tricky part : Molecular analyses place Tomistoma as a Gavialid.

( White and Densmore 2001; Janke et al. 2005;McAliley et al. 2006, Roos et al. 2007; Man et al. 2011...) Although some of these studies have been criticized for their methodology, it is clear that it cannot be ignored that they all reach the same conclusion.

 Likewise, there are important discrepancies about the times and periods in which both families appear/diverge, so the debate is not yet definitely closed.

Tomistoma are considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, nonetheless, it remains possible that T. schlegelii may qualify as Endangered in the future due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, particularly Malaysia, so this day is still important to spread the word about the species.

I have only been able to enjoy these animals live once, at the BioParc in Fuengirola, Málaga (Spain) where they keep a trio of three adult specimens: Two females (Montse and Tomsen) and a huge male (René, affectionately nicknamed "Pinocho"). This Zoo is the only one in Spain that houses Tomistomas and has achieved the titanic task of their reproduction in captivity.

René, the huge male at BioParc Fuengirola. Video by me.

[ralfmaximus]

To pull off the heist, an unknown threat actor exploited a previously unknown vulnerability that allowed it to use this interface to upload and execute a malicious Java application. The actor then drained various hot wallets of about 56 BTC, worth roughly $1.5 million. General Bytes patched the vulnerability 15 hours after learning of it, but due to the way cryptocurrencies work, the losses were unrecoverable.

Your near-daily reminder that cryptocurrency is dangerously vulnerable to silly exploits. That 'crypto' is only as strong as its weakest end points, in this case somebody's proprietary ATM software running Java. Wow.

[sqlinjection]

Command (shell) injection example

examples speak louder than explanations!

e.g., a web-based CGI program allows users to change their passwords -> this program has a command to rebuild some password records by running the make command in the /var/yp directory:

system("cd /var/yp && make &> /dev/null");

unlike the previous examples, the command is hardcoded, so an attacker cannot control the argument passed to system(). seems safe, right? nuh-uh :)

key vulnerabilities:

program does not specify an absolute path for make, and does not scrub any environment variables prior to invoking the command

->

attacker can modify their $PATH to point to a malicious version of make, therefore their malicious version of make is executed instead of the intended /usr/bin/make

setuid root runs with root privileges, even if a regular user runs it. so, malicious version of make now runs with root privileges

btw, using Java at this point is more safe

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cd /var/yp && make");

and here is why:

Runtime.exec does NOT try to invoke the shell at any point: it tries to split the string into an array of words, then executes the first word in the array with the rest of the words as parameters

therefore, it does not go through chaining commands using “&”, “&&”, “|”, “||”, etc, redirecting input and output and any mischief would simply end up as a parameter being passed to the first command, and likely causing a syntax error, or being thrown out as an invalid parameter

[guzsdaily]

Good Code is Boring

Daily Blogs 358 - Oct 28th, 12.024

Something I started to notice and think about, is how much most good code is kinda boring.

Clever Code

Go (or "Golang" for SEO friendliness) is my third or fourth programming language that I learned, and it is somewhat a new paradigm for me.

My first language was Java, famous for its Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) paradigms and features. I learned it for game development, which is somewhat okay with Java, and to be honest, I hardly remember how it was. However, I learned from others how much OOP can get out of control and be a nightmare with inheritance inside inheritance inside inheritance.

And then I learned JavaScript after some years... fucking god. But being honest, in the start JS was a blast, and I still think it is a good language... for the browser. If you start to go outside from the standard vanilla JavaScript, things start to be clever. In an engineering view, the ecosystem is really powerful, things such as JSX and all the frameworks that use it, the compilers for Vue and Svelte, and the whole bundling, and splitting, and transpiling of Rollup, ESBuild, Vite and using TypeScript, to compile a language to another, that will have a build process, all of this, for an interpreted language... it is a marvel of engineering, but it is just too much.

Finally, I learned Rust... which I kinda like it. I didn't really make a big project with it, just a small CLI for manipulating markdown, which was nice and when I found a good solution for converting Markdown AST to NPF it was a big hit of dopamine because it was really elegant. However, nowadays, I do feel like it is having the same problems of JavaScript. Macros are a good feature, but end up being the go-to solution when you simply can't make the code "look pretty"; or having to use a library to anything a little more complex; or having to deal with lifetimes. And if you want to do anything a little more complex "the Rust way", you will easily do head to head with a wall of skill-issues. I still love it and its complexity, and for things like compiler and transpilers it feels like a good shot.

Going Go

This year I started to learn Go (or "Golang" for SEO friendliness), and it has being kinda awesome.

Go is kinda like Python in its learning curve, and it is somewhat like C but without all the needing of handling memory and needing to create complex data structured from scratch. And I have never really loved it, but never really hated it, since it is mostly just boring and simple.

There are no macros or magic syntax. No pattern matching on types, since you can just use a switch statement. You don't have to worry a lot about packages, since the standard library will cover you up to 80% of features. If you need a package, you don't need to worry about a centralized registry to upload and the security vulnerability of a single failure point, all packages are just Git repositories that you import and that's it. And no file management, since it just uses the file system for packages and imports.

And it feels like Go pretty much made all the obvious decisions that make sense, and you mostly never question or care about them, because they don't annoy you. The syntax doesn't get into your way. And in the end you just end up comparing to other languages' features, saying to yourself "man... we could save some lines here" knowing damn well it's not worth it. It's boring.

You write code, make your feature be completed in some hours, and compile it with go build. And run the binary, and it's fast.

Going Simple

And writing Go kinda opened a new passion in programming for me.

Coming from JavaScript and Rust really made me be costumed with complexity, and going now to Go really is making me value simplicity and having the less moving parts are possible.

I am becoming more aware from installing dependencies, checking to see their dependencies, to be sure that I'm not putting 100 projects under my own. And when I need something more complex but specific, just copy-and-paste it and put the proper license and notice of it, no need to install a whole project. All other necessities I just write my own version, since most of the time it can be simpler, a learning opportunity, and a better solution for your specific problem. With Go I just need go build to build my project, and when I need JavaScript, I just fucking write it and that's it, no TypeScript (JSDoc covers 99% of the use cases for TS), just write JS for the browser, check if what you're using is supported by modern browsers, and serve them as-is.

Doing this is really opening some opportunities to learn how to implement solutions, instead of just using libraries or cumbersome language features to implement it, since I mostly read from source-code of said libraries and implement the concept myself. Not only this, but this is really making me appreciate more standards and tooling, both from languages and from ecosystem (such as web standards), since I can just follow them and have things work easily with the outside world.

The evolution

And I kinda already feel like this is making me a better developer overhaul. I knew that with an interesting experiment I made.

One of my first actual projects was, of course, a to-do app. I wrote it in Vue using Nuxt, and it was great not-gonna-lie, Nuxt and Vue are awesome frameworks and still one of my favorites, but damn well it was overkill for a to-do app. Looking back... more than 30k lines of code for this app is just too much.

And that's what I thought around the start of this year, which is why I made an experiment, creating a to-do app in just one HTML file, using AlpineJS and PicoCSS.

The file ended up having just 350 files.

Today's artists & creative things Music: Torna a casa - by Måneskin

© 2024 Gustavo "Guz" L. de Mello. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

[yumesei]

I've thought about it and came to the conclusion that Johnny is a switch but dom leaning. In a way where he'd be okay with subbing but only with someone he truly loves

[maulikaliku]

Introducing Herman the DKA D52! He's very precious to me :')

D52, or PNKA D52 Class is a tender engine 2-8-2 built by KRUPP in 1951. D52 is officially the first locomotives Indonesia brought after indenpendence.

After arrived, D52 are immediately sent to any depot that needs new engine. Herman sent to Banjar, West Java.

Herman was a prideful engine. He's always relaxed, but surprisingly still get their work done.???? He can speaks Sundanese and Indonesian. I think he knows some Javanese words?

In 1953, He gets into an accident by DI/TII, a rebel party. The rails that Herman will go through got sabotaged, making him and a coach behind him derailed to the right side. Drawing him a scar.

His scar gets bigger in 1955. He fell really hard from Cirahong bridge.

In 1987, he was put in Banjar shed, waiting for the museum to take him and a C11. Sadly C1149 doesnt make it.

In 2016, Herman and D1410 are taken from museum. They went to PWS for restoration. D1410 gets it first and now pulling Jaladara train, leaving D52099.

Some funfacts idk:

• D52 has the hottest steam pressure, even hotter than the biggest mallet here, DD52. Because of that, D52 are vulnerable to explode. There is a case of D52084's boiler explodes.

• Instead of having typical German hooters, D52 use 5 chime whistle, its like American's or Japan's..??

• Herman's actual number is D52080. There was no reason yet why they changed it ??

• Despite 100 built, only 1 preserved (Im also mad. How the fuck.)

• The last position he had at TMII is very uncomfortable. Some of his wheels were almost broke.

[linasofia]

Business & Pleasure

Part 8

Summary: At an unexpected lunch with colleagues, you struggle to keep your secret intact as new possible suspicions over your relationship with the boss arise.

Relationship: Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!Reader (Modern AU)

Words: 2,5K

Warnings: 18+

A/N: This is part 8 of this fic. You can read all the previous parts here.

The last day of the week arrives and with the weekend at our doorstep, Friday feelings seem to be sparkling in everyone's blood. Despite the early hour, people gather in the coffee lounge area to enjoy a cup of java together with one of Bombur’s highly desired bagels. What from the beginning were only two standard choices, have expanded to a small buffet with everything from cream cheese bagels with prosciutto and avocado to fully vegan alternatives. The man insists on delivering them in person, with a little help from one or two of his employees. I have noticed that he often stays a bit longer than required and talks to mainly Thorin or Balin when he’s here. Breakfast on Fridays is one of the most appreciated recurring events that take place at the office, as part of the company’s vision in creating an overall inclusive working environment. And today everybody appears to be at the office; the lounge is packed with laughing colleagues, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air. Someone has lit a few candles, the many spotlights in the ceiling are slightly dimmed, and soft lounge music seeps from the hidden speakers. I try to mingle, as usual, and manage to talk with both the head of HR as well as a few of the newest members in our sales organization.

I have looked forward to this day ever since Thorin left, and even though it was far from one of his longest trips, it was enough for me to miss him incredibly. My strong feelings scare me a little; falling head over heels for my boss was not something I planned, and yet here I am, excitedly waiting for his arrival. I feel vulnerable in a way I have not felt in a very long time, and even if we try to take things slow, my treacherous heart has already whispered things I do not dare to say out loud.

Eventually, people return to their meetings, computers, and phone calls, the constant sound of voices dies, and just as I place my mug in the washing machine, I hear Kili’s voice behind me.

”I just spoke with Fili. He and Thorin had a change in plans and rebooked their flights. They should be here around lunch. Fili said he has interesting news about a future marketing collaboration and I’m dying to hear them.” Kili swallows the remains of his coffee and frowns, then he lowers his voice and casts a glance around us. The lounge is thankfully empty. ”I tried to get him to talk about Michele but he avoided that topic. Maybe Thorin was around, I don’t know.”

”Their last meeting was canceled on short notice.” I reply, but instantly realize that I’ve said too much. I bite my lip and mentally slap myself; sometimes my brain needs to filter my thoughts better before my mouth speaks.

”Yeah, I guess so. How did you know?” Kili looks at me with a curious expression in his hazel eyes. As the younger of the two brothers, and now subordinate to Fili, I have understood that he’s used to not being told everything, but there is no judgment in his eyes.

”Oh, well… Thorin filled me in on some details before they left.” I lie and hope he doesn’t ask further questions. And he told me last night when he called to say goodnight.

”Right. Anyway, if you’re not busy during lunch, you’re welcome to return that meal today at Bombur’s. I heard he’s making meatloaf and that’s too good to miss.”

”How can you think of lunch now? We just had bagels!” I welcome the change in subject and Kili throws me a grin.

”I burn my calories fast, you know.” He gives me an exaggerated wink, and even if I prefer not to know, he makes his point very clear.

***

A few hours later, I watch Kili use his fork to stab the oversized meatloaf, and his joy over Bombur’s skills can be read all over his face. I have to agree, Bombur never seems to fail in the kitchen, and as part of the mysterious circle that centers around Thorin and includes a strange mix of people from Erebor Corporation, Kili receives special treatment every time. He has just started to explain one of his most recent projects when excited voices raise by the door. I turn around, only to see Bombur making his way over to the entrance, catching the well-known, blond man who just entered the restaurant, in a friendly hug. Kili waves enthusiastically and finally his brother sees him. With a broad grin he approaches our table, holds up a thumb to Bombur who loudly asks if the newcomer wants lunch, and then, after a graceful bow, he takes the seat next to me.

”I thought I would find you here.”

Kili points with his knife to the meatloaf almost covered in gravy and grins. ”You know it!” He takes another mouth full. ”How was the trip?”

”Good, rewarding, and as expected, I guess, in that sense.” Fili starts to explain how their work will elucidate a special matter from a marketing point of view, but Kili is impatient and lifts his hand to silence him.

”You never answered me how Michele is doing.” Kili looks innocently at his older brother, who glances sideways at me.

”Kili, I—”

”She knows, I told her.”

”You really can’t help yourself, can you?” Fili sighs and looks annoyed, but starts laughing when Kili tilts his head like a regretful puppy. ”Michele is fine, just busy or I would have taken her out for lunch instead of looking for your sorry ass.” He turns to me. ”Please excuse me, my brother is a bad influence on my language.”

”It’s fine, I think I know him well enough to safely say I agree with you.”

”Hey!” Kili tries to look offended.

Like a peacemaker, Bombur arrives with a plate of steaming meatloaf, and when Fili exclaims his love for the chef, he gets a not-so-gentle pat on the shoulder in return.

Then the humble restaurant owner excuses himself and disappears back to his pots and pans.

”So..?” Kili lowers his voice. ”Any news?”

Fili, obviously keen to torture his nosy brother, takes a large piece of food, chews slowly and hums approvingly at its taste, then nods. He’s right, the food is—as always at Bombur’s—delicious. I can’t help but think how young Kili appears to be when he’s impatiently looking at his brother. It’s like catching a rare glimpse of their youth, when Fili most certainly had to stop Kili from unwrapping all Christmas gifts the second they were discovered under the tree.

”Thorin knows.” Fili finally reveals.

”What?” Kili almost chokes on his beloved lunch. ”Did Balin tell him after all?”

”No, I did.” Fili looks calmly at his brother, who stares back at him.

”You did?”

”Yeah.” Fili shudders. ”I thought it was best if he heard it from me. It was not an easy decision to tell him, but he took it surprisingly well. I was certain he was going to lecture me at first, but it was as if he thought of something and changed his approach as we spoke.”

”Wow!”

Fili looks pensively at Kili. ”It was not like him. And to be honest, I don’t really recognize him at all. He was so… reasonable during the whole trip. It’s not the Thorin I know.”

”Are you sure he’s well? I mean, people who are sick sometimes start to value new things in life.”

”You’re an idiot sometimes, Kili.” Fili shakes his head. ”Thorin is fine. Have you ever seen anyone in better shape, at his age I mean.”

”At his age?” Kili grins. ”I’ll tell him you said that!”

”Still, there is nothing wrong with him. But something has changed and it’s definitely for the better.”

The smallest heat spreads over my cheekbones, and I pray the brothers will not notice. I don’t know if I—or more precisely, what Thorin and I do—have affected him in any way, but the logical part of my brain tells me it can’t be a coincidence. I have noticed a small change in Thorin as well, but I thought it was my imagination playing tricks on me, since I know we’re seeing each other. I poke at my food; eating just became harder. When Kili suddenly speaks my name, I meet his gaze and quickly understand that I missed his question.

”Sorry, what did you say?” I put on a confident smile.

”I said, what do you think? You work close to him. Have you noticed anything… unusual?” He gives me his most conspiratorial smile and even if it makes me nervous, I can’t stifle my laugh.

”No, not really. His personal life doesn’t concern me.” I’m such a bad liar.

”Who said anything about his personal life?” Fili raises an eyebrow, and he resembles Thorin so much when he turns to gaze at me. ”But you have an interesting point.” Damn, I did it again!

I don’t believe in angels, but when Fili’s phone starts ringing and saves me from making the situation even worse, I send thanks to whoever is watching over me. The way his eyes shine as he sees the name of the caller says it all. In a hushed voice he answers, promises to come by her desk after lunch and ends the call with a happy smile that reaches his eyes.

”You’re in deep trouble, brother. You should see yourself right now.”

”Falling in love is not so bad Kili, you should try it sometimes.”

”And miss all the fun? No thanks!”

”Grow up little brother. One day, when you’re old enough, you’ll understand that keeping a woman takes a lot more effort than getting under her skirt once.”

Kili makes a face, lets out his most carefree laugh and turns his attention to the remains of what used to be a magnificent meatloaf. We don’t return to the discussion about Thorin, and I’m almost relieved when we say goodbye to Bombur and head back to the office. A detour to the coffee lounge is mandatory after lunch and Fili immediately occupies both taps on the machine with his cups. One for him and one for the green-eyed woman who clearly has stolen his heart.

Familiar footsteps approach the lounge, and it takes a great deal of willpower not to spin around too quickly when Thorin’s rumbling voice fills the area. As always, he is in full control of his expression when he greets our trio, but a hint of a smile appears on his lips when he sees Fili grabbing the two filled cups. One with milk and one black coffee. Then Thorin turns to me.

”I want a word with you, can you make it now?” I blink and nod. Did he just invite me to his office in front of both of his nephews? After what we talked about during lunch, I would have preferred if Thorin could tread more lightly. But Kili doesn’t seem to react to his words, he only asks Thorin a polite question about the trip. Fili excuses himself, fully focused on carrying coffee to his beloved, and I have to remind my spinning brain that a short briefing with Thorin now makes perfect sense, and not only for our aching bodies.

I follow Thorin to his office, admiring his broad shoulders and back in that impeccable navy suit he wears today. His hair is a little longer at his neck. He was frustrated before he left, for he had forgotten to book an appointment and his barber couldn’t make room for him, but I assured him that it looks good when it’s longer as well. I love touching his hair, and even if I don’t think he will let it grow longer, I enjoy the feeling under my hands. The jacket covers most of his behind, but I know how well those trousers suit him and I can see the shape of his strong thighs as he walks.

He doesn’t look back, he just pushes the handle down and walks inside, leaving it to me to close the door to his office. The moment the door is shut, he pulls me close. His lips crash against mine, and his kiss is hungry, demanding and rough. I whimper against his lips as he presses me tightly against him as if he wants to hinder me from escaping from his grip. The way his hands eagerly explore my lower back and find their way under my top is enough to send pulsating heat to my core. I kiss him back, pouring all my need and longing into the kiss, hoping he can sense what I feel in this moment of reunion. This is what I want and need, him, here and now. But he breaks the kiss too soon for my liking. He rests his forehead against mine and softly pants my name.

”Please tell me that you will sleep at my place tonight.”

”If you want me to.”

His hands grip my waist under the smooth fabric of my top. ”What do you think?” he murmurs huskily and his alluring smile before he kisses me again is a lovely dark promise of a long night.

Suddenly he releases me with an apologetic look in his beautiful azure eyes, and pulls his hand through his hair in a frustrated gesture I know by heart. Then he adjusts his jacket. ”I have to meet Dwalin now and discuss the legal aspects of the issue you two worked out. Believe me, I would much rather have prefered to pin you against the wall.”

”I guess you’ll have to keep that thought...” I tease.

”Until later then,” Thorin replies and I tuck my top back in place.

”Maybe you should get a large mirror in here, so I can check how I look before I leave, and don’t have to rely on you.”

”I can see many benefits with that type of installation.” Thorin smiles slyly. I gently smack him on his upper arm, and he chuckles darkly.

”You’re an animal! But honestly, we can’t keep meeting for sex in your office. People will eventually notice.”

”I know I am, but you like it, don’t you?” He pulls me close again, hovering his lips over mine. ”Or is the bright fire in your eyes only a facade?” His lips brush against mine, teasing me. Then the bastard withdraws with a grin. ”I’ll see you tonight.”

I feel like I’m burning inside as I leave his office, with him a few steps behind. He walks over to the elevator, which will take him to the building’s most secret place—the surveillance room—and I return to my tea, which I forgot the same second Thorin entered the lounge. The abandoned tiny bag, shaped like a pyramid and filled with green tea and chamomile flowers, still rests on the counter.

As I sink back into my leather chair, I let out a delighted sigh. Thorin’s hands still burn under my top, and the memory of his kisses will keep my spirit up for the rest of the afternoon. He’s back.

💙 If you like my writing, please consider spreading the love and reblogging.💙

Taglist and others who might be interested: @lathalea @legolasbadass @laurfilijames @i-did-not-mean-to @enchantzz @fizzyxcustard @middleearthpixie @xxbyimm @bitter-sweet-farmgirl @kibleedibleedoo @mariannetora @haly-reads @sunnysidesidra @rachel1959 @knittastically @jaskierthelover @quiall321 @medusas-hairband @fulltimecrazy @s0ftd3m0n @emrfangirl @glimmering-darling-dolly @lilith15000 @clumsy-wonderland @chaikittie @theawkwardbutterfly @legolaslovely

Let me know if you want to be added or removed.

[alln64games]

Body Harvest

PAL release: 30th September 1998

NA release: 20th October 1998

JP release: N/A

Developer: DMA Design

Publisher: Gremlin (PAL), Midway (NA)

N64 Magazine Score: 91%

Body Harvest was originally going to be a large collaboration between DMA Design and Nintendo, but Nintendo ended up pulling out, leaving DMA to work it all out on their own. Despite this, DMA turned out something impressive in size and scope.

This game was the birth of the current open world modern-day open world games – many people associate it with GTA 3 on PS2, but many aspects of that can be found in Body Harvest. Of course, both were made by DMA Design (now known as Rockstar North), but it’s amazing how much of what they did started on the N64.

Alien bugs keep harvesting humans and, as humanity are on their last legs, the hero Adam and his assistants (a woman in a skimpy outfit and a robot) are sent back in time to stop multiple invasions to save humanity.

Roaming out of your time ship, the game feels like a 3rd person shooter – the controls are pretty good for the time, with a big help from autoaim. However, before you encounter your first enemies, you’ll come across a car, that you can hop in.

The vehicles are very odd to control by today’s standards, but you can get used to them. There are a massive amount of vehicles in the game – and not just cars, but tanks, planes, boats, helicopters and more. Some have their own weapons and special abilities, while all essentially act as armour for you – you don’t lose your health while in a vehicle, becoming vulnerable once they blow up.

The vehicles aren’t just for getting to places, ether, they’re all part of the “puzzle” of each area. The open world isn’t just a backdrop for the game, but is integral to the design of the game. You’ll encounter many roadblock and will need to figure out how to get past. It’s something that I feel a lot of open world games lack and you’re constantly thinking about how to get about the landscape.

The first area itself is impressive in size and scope, and that’s just one of the maps. There are four main areas – Greece 1916, Java 1941, America 1966, Siberia 1991 – that have unique looks and vehicles, all with its own puzzle to figure out. There’s also a final mission that takes place on the alien comet, but it’s a more straightforward combat mission.

I did find some parts of Java and America a bit too difficult to navigate, and sometimes a harvest will happen in an inconvenient location – as humans are eaten by the large harvester bugs (one of many different types of bug aliens), a bar will go up and losing too many humans will result in failure -and every so often a mutant will be created to hunt you down.

The difficulty of the game is very unfair, especially due to how the game saves. Each location has 3 or 4 alien processors and you can only save at beacons placed after these have been destroyed. This means that there can be a very long time between saves and messing up a fight can cost you hours of time.

On top of that, the game unfortunately has technical issues. Vehicles can sometimes get stuck, and some are required for progressing. Making a wrong turn when exploring can also lead you to a place where you can’t return, meaning you have to reset. These issues make it a pain to play the original version of it, so I highly encourage playing in a way that utilises save states.

While it certainly shows its age, Body Harvest is a phenomenal game. It’s simple, yet expansive at the same time, and the open world is designed around the gameplay. This game gets overlooked a lot, yet it was definitely an important step in the evolution of video games.

I also do wonder how different Rockstar would have been if Nintendo properly supported this project – would GTA3 had become a GameCube exclusive?

Body Harvest is magnificent. In many ways, it’s the ultimate 3D shoot-’em-up: packed-to-bursting with aliens, peppered with explosions, awash with blood and innards and rollicking good fun. Get it in.

- Tim Weaver, N64 Magazine #22

Remake or remaster?

Body Harvest is perfect for a remake. there are four amazing levels to recreate in higher detail, sort out the issues with saving, add some bonus challenges (perhaps let people return to previous levels to explore fully), better driving mechanics. The game’s world is wonderful, it just needs updating.

Official ways to get the game.

There is no official way to get Body Harvest

[roseliejack123]

From 'Write Once, Run Anywhere' to Strong Security: The Java Advantage

Java, a programming language and technology ecosystem, has solidified its place in the digital world as a versatile and powerful tool. With its "Write Once, Run Anywhere" capability and an extensive array of features, Java has been instrumental in diverse domains, from mobile app development to building enterprise-level systems. This blog explores the strengths of Java, including its portability, robustness, vast ecosystem, and the thriving community that supports it. We will also discuss the value of structured training and the role of ACTE Technologies in nurturing your Java skills. By the end of this journey, you'll have a deep appreciation for the enduring excellence of Java and its role in the ever-evolving tech industry.

The Power and Versatility of Java:

1. Portability and Cross-Platform Compatibility:

Java's claim to fame, "Write Once, Run Anywhere," is not just a marketing slogan. It's a fundamental principle of Java that sets it apart. This feature is made possible by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which allows Java code to run on any platform that has a compatible JVM. This portability has been a game-changer, especially in a world where a diverse range of devices and operating systems coexist. Whether it's Windows, macOS, or Linux, Java applications run seamlessly, eliminating compatibility issues and reducing development time and effort.

2. Robust and Secure:

Java's architecture prioritizes robustness and security. It employs strong type checking, automatic memory management (garbage collection), and comprehensive exception handling. These features make Java code less prone to common programming errors and vulnerabilities. For businesses and organizations where system reliability and data security are critical, Java's robustness and built-in security mechanisms make it a go-to choice. Critical systems, such as banking applications, rely on Java to ensure the highest level of protection against errors and threats.

3. Vast Ecosystem:

The Java ecosystem is vast and varied. It includes an extensive library of classes, frameworks, and tools that cater to a wide range of application development needs. Some of the notable components of this ecosystem include:

Java Standard Library: Java's standard library provides a wealth of pre-built classes and utilities for common programming tasks, simplifying development.

Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB): For enterprise-level applications, EJB offers a framework for building scalable, distributed, and transactional components.

JavaServer Pages (JSP) and Servlets: These technologies enable the development of dynamic web applications, making Java a popular choice for web development.

Spring Framework: Spring is a comprehensive framework for building enterprise-level applications, offering features like dependency injection, aspect-oriented programming, and more.

Android Development: Java serves as the primary language for developing Android mobile applications, further expanding its reach.

4. Community and Support:

Java's success is not only due to its technical prowess but also its thriving community of developers, enthusiasts, and experts. This community-driven approach ensures that Java remains relevant, up-to-date, and aligned with industry best practices. Developers can find a wealth of resources, forums, and collaborative environments where they can learn, share knowledge, and solve challenges. The community's collective wisdom and problem-solving spirit have contributed to the continuous evolution of Java.

Java's enduring excellence is a testament to its portability, robustness, vast ecosystem, and strong community support. If you're looking to harness the potential of Java and embark on a journey of learning and mastery, consider exploring the Java training programs offered by ACTE Technologies. With dedication and the right resources, you can leverage Java's capabilities and contribute to the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Java has stood the test of time, offering unparalleled portability, robustness, a rich ecosystem, and a vibrant community. Whether you're building enterprise-level applications or dynamic web services, Java remains a reliable choice. ACTE Technologies' structured training can help you unlock the full potential of Java, enabling you to thrive in the dynamic tech industry.

[bahoreal]

"learn to code" as advice is such bullshit. i have learned and used four and a half different coding languages through my career (html/css, java, python+sql, c++) and when i say used i mean I've built things in every one but the things that i actually used these languages for??? these earn zero money (with the caveat of until you have seniority in, e.g. front end web dev) what people really mean when they say learn coding is "learn to code. go into investment banking or finance startups." coding does not inherently have money in it. my absolute favourite part of coding? my peak enjoyment? was when i was developing for a visual coding language (you put it together like a flowchart, so say youre using a temperature sensor and you want it to log the temperature once every four hours, you can put the blocks together to make it do that. i was writing the code behind the blocks for new sensors) and i was earning £24k a year and that wasn't even part of my main role. it was an extra voluntary thing i was doing (i was working as a research assistant in biosensors - sort of - at a university, and was developing the visual code for students who didnt want to learn c++) like. i want people to learn to code, i want people to know how their electrical equipment works and how coding works, but dont believe the myth that there is inherently money in coding. the valuable things, the things people are passionate about are still vulnerable to the passion tax (if you want to do it you dont have to be paid for it). skills arent where the money is, money is where the money is.