In a recent panel discussion hosted by Chris Pace, Recorded Future's technology advocate, two members of the Insikt Group (that's Swedish for "insight" — but say the "k") and an industry expert held a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the cybersecurity landscape today. The topics included the dark web, the rising trend of ransomware as a service, the causes and effects of cryptocurrency's use as a medium of exchange among threat actors, and the impacts of the internet of things.
Representing the Insikt Group, Recorded Future's veteran team of threat researchers, was Allan Liska, a senior security architect with over 15 years of industry experience at organizations like Symantec, iSight, and FireEye; and Andrei Barysevich, who currently specializes in the threat analysis of cybercriminal communities and oversees proactive intelligence operations, and who previously worked as an e-commerce fraud researcher and private consultant for the FBI's Cyber Crime Unit. Also present was Juan Andrés Guerrero-Saade, an industry expert who previously worked for the Global Research and Analysis (GReAT) team at Kaspersky Lab.
The discussion began with a focus on the dark web, a topic that remains somewhat ill defined and mysterious to many, perhaps by its very nature (the Recorded Future blog has looked more closely at it before). When asked to define the dark web, Andrei Barysevich gave a simple answer: any digital space where threat actors congregate to trade illegal information, goods, or services. Although many of these communities are now only accessible through Tor browsers, Barysevich made clear that some have existed for at least 20 years, well before Tor was introduced. Considered as another way of describing the digital criminal underground, the dark web has existed just about as long as the web has.
Trends on the dark web change quickly, however, and one of the hottest trends lately has been the sale of ransomware — malicious software that seeks to hold a computer system hostage until a fee is paid. Particularly in the last year or so, the sale of ransomware as a service has grown to represent an outsize share of the commodities offered in dark web spaces. Allan Liska explained that threat actors will build the software, maintain its infrastructure, and then make money by selling it as a service, meaning that for a price, they will deliver the ransomware on behalf of the customer, in many cases taking a cut of whatever profits are made. For the right price, Liska says, sellers will give you the complete package, even providing email lists of victims and making the software executable for buyers.
The panelists attribute the recent focus on ransomware as a service to two factors: tougher security, and the rise of cryptocurrencies.
First, writing good ransomware has become more difficult. Many prospective targets have better cybersecurity and are generally less gullible, making successful ransomware attacks fewer and further between. The bar has been raised on how effective an attack has to be in order to be successful. Because that means fewer threat actors are able to offer good ransomware, it makes more sense for those who can to mitigate financial risk by selling their craft rather than keeping it for themselves.
The question of payment points to the second reason ransomware has exploded in popularity, according to Juan Andrés Guerrero-Saade. Ransomware has existed for decades, but in its early iterations, it was often as primitive and unreliable as demands like, "Mail us money to this address in Panama," says Guerrero-Saade. Further, whatever money that was made had to be laundered, requiring the involvement of more traditional channels of organized crime, and ultimately had to end up in banks and other reputable financial institutions. That meant more people involved, lower profits, and greater risk.
Benefits like these are rooted in the technology of cryptocurrency, which by its nature is secure, doesn't require the backing of a financial institution like a bank, and doesn't need laundering. But the main reason that cryptocurrency has driven the rise of ransomware, Barysevich says, is because users have centralized around Bitcoin in particular.
This might have come as a surprise to many working in the threat intelligence industry just a few years ago. Three years ago, the general consensus among criminals seemed to be that Bitcoin was volatile and its price would inevitably collapse. Using it was hard, too. But in 2015, the vast majority of criminals using digital currencies switched from ones like E-gold, WebMoney, or Liberty Reserve to Bitcoin. No more exchange rates or conversions — just one secure way to get paid. "It's a unified cryptocurrency which enables a lot of different operations in the dark web," says Barysevich.
Lately, however, Bitcoin has grown unwieldy. Its blockchain technology means that each successive exchange adds to the ledger, slowing down transfer speeds, and its exploding popularity coupled with limited availability has made it too expensive to use for many day-to-day purchases.
Following the chatter among cybercriminals at the ground level, many in the security industry speculated that a more secure cryptocurrency like Monero would soon surpass Bitcoin in popularity. Instead, it's been Litecoin, which is faster and cheaper than Bitcoin, but otherwise mostly uses the same technology and is no safer to use.
Barysevich says the reason for this is that big sellers ultimately have the most power in dictating which currency will see the most use, and Litecoin already had an established infrastructure worldwide — just about all the places that bought or sold Bitcoin also traded in Litecoin, something that's not the case for most other cryptocurrencies.
So cryptocurrencies, in one form or another, seem to be here to stay. But their peculiarities — like why they're secure and how they're generated — not only facilitate cybercrimes, but create incentive to commit them in the form of cryptomining.
The limitations around fiat currency were that you have materials being used to print something that is in short supply, so possessing that physically was equivalent to the proof of work of saying, 'I won this currency, I have this piece of paper.' The equivalent for cryptocurrency is to say that a certain amount of cryptographic operations have been undertaken by a person that yields this piece of currency that you happen to possess or have access to.
In short, cryptocurrency is generated by computers performing calculations and generating secure hashes that are noted on a single digital ledger representing a chain of these operations — that's the basic concept of a blockchain. This unbreakable chain of information both creates value and provides a record of transaction. Because computers are performing these operations, there is a real-world cost associated with "minting" new bitcoins, in terms of computing power. As these operations become increasingly complex, the limiting factor in profits becomes the cost of electricity required to power computers fast enough to perform these operations in a reasonable span of time.
Nevertheless, the panelists found that most customers weren't terribly concerned about cryptocurrency miners hijacking their networks — the electric bills just haven't been high enough yet, maybe. According to Barysevich, the real profits are still to be made with ransomware, especially as the prices of cryptocurrencies have deflated after last year's spike, and he predicts that ransomware will come back soon as the dominant threat.
Whether it's using hijacked machines to mine cryptocurrency or getting into a network through compromised machines and planting malware, each panelist agreed that the sprawling hinterlands of the so-called internet of things represents a significant and growing threat to security.
The growing number of unsecured devices that every business and individual now owns "serves as a foothold for all kinds of interesting attacks," he goes on to say, from simpler ones like more effective botnets and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, up to much more serious advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks.
And threat actors are capitalizing on these possibilities. According to Barysevich, Recorded Future has found "at least 50 different vendors who sell plug-and-play access to DDoS capabilities." When these attacks are targeted and not just random, they can be quite profitable.
Guerrero-Saade advises each organization to take inventory. "If the question is, how do we leverage threat intelligence to better protect ourselves, there's nothing … that makes up for how well you know what it is you're meant to be protecting." Many organizations may have perfectly patched desktops running Windows, but then have an office filled with personal smartphones and unsecured devices running on the same network, opening the door to potential threats.
If you're interested in seeing the full dark web panel discussion, download the free webinar recording.
With the expansion of digital and technology applications to modern business, the security risk to organizations in a globalized world has become larger.


Heating & Cooling in Cartersville, GA │ Weaver Heating and Air, Inc.
Proudly Serving communities in Northwest Georgia for over 45 Years!
Welcome to Weaver Heating and Air, Inc.
For over 45 years, Weaver Heating and Air, Inc. has excelled at AC and furnace repair, replacement & installation. We have served hundreds of residential and commercial customers throughout Northwest Georgia and surrounding cities including Rome, Dalton, Kennesaw, Woodstock, and Canton. With four decades of experience, we genuinely care about our customers, know what they like and provide exactly that.
Round the Clock Service – our customers love knowing that they can call us at any time of the day or night. Our technicians answer the phones after hours so you can always get ahold of us when you need us.
Technicians You Can Trust – besides being trained and experienced, all of our technicians are also drug free and background checked. Our customers like the peace of mind of knowing who they let into their homes.
Upfront Flat Rate Pricing – no one likes to receive a surprise bill for services. We always provide the price up front before any work is done so you know what the cost will be.
Great Customer Service – whenever you call Weaver, you will speak to a real person, even after hours, who will be friendly and helpful. No impersonal answering services will do for our customers.
Money-Saving Maintenance Plan – many of our customers enjoy the money they save with our maintenance plan. Regular maintenance also means fewer breakdowns and lower utility bills. Ask us about becoming a maintenance customer.
Weaver Heating and Air, Inc. started as a two-man operation repairing and installing air conditioners in North Bartow County. That was 40 years ago, and since then, our hometown operation has excelled at AC and furnace repair, replacement & installation. If you've been looking for a dependable and friendly heating and cooling company in the Northwest Georgia area, give Weaver a try. We can help with residential and commercial furnace, AC and heat pump repairs and installations, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air filters, UV lamps, carbon monoxide detectors, programmable thermostats, duct and dryer vent cleaning, and more. We've been pleasing customers for four decades and we don't plan to stop anytime soon. Call us and give us a chance to make you a happy Weaver customer. If you need heating and cooling help, leave it to Weaver!
Contact Weaver Heating and Air, Inc. today at 770-387-1570 for more information. If you need emergency HVAC service, call out 24 Hour Hotline at 770-387-1570. We are proud to offer financing through Wells Fargo.
"I highly recommended Weaver Heating & Air. Bobby and Benny were very courteous and professional. They showed me the pipe that caused some of the problem with the old ac. They extended the drain line so it didn't drip close to the house. That is something they didn't have to do. Rudy Weaver stopped by my house and thanked me for my business.
We service Amana, Lennox, Trane, York, Carrier and Goodman.


On December 17, the Illinois Department of Health announced that an investigation was underway into an outbreak of Salmonella, serotype I4,,12:i:-. Many of the Illinois cases had eaten alfalfa sprouts at various Jimmy John's restaurants in the Illinois counties of: Adams, Champaign, Cook, DuPage, Kankakee, Macon, McHenry, McLean, Peoria, and Will counties. The sprouts were suspected to be the cause of the illnesses. On December 21, Jimmy John Liautaud, the owner of the franchised restaurant chain, requested that all franchisees remove sprouts from the menu as a "precautionary" measure. On December 23, the Centers for Disease Control revealed that outbreak cases had been detected in other states and that the outbreak was linked with eating alfalfa sprouts while at a nationwide sandwich chain. On December 26, preliminary results of the investigation indicated a link to eating Tiny Greens' Alfalfa Sprouts at Jimmy John's restaurant outlets. The FDA subsequently advised consumers and restaurants to avoid Tiny Greens Brand Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts produced by Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Illinois. The Spicy Sprouts contained alfalfa, radish and clover sprouts. On January 14, 2011, it was revealed that the FDA had isolated Salmonella serotype I4,,12:i:- from a water runoff sample collected from Tiny Greens Organic Farm; the Salmonella isolated was indistinguishable from the outbreak strain. The several FDA inspections of the sprout growing facility revealed factors that likely led to contamination of the sprouts.


There's no denying the value of trade shows and event marketing; even in the digital age, human interaction plays a vital role in the sales process. With all the planning and effort that goes into each trade show, it's important to maximize every dollar and minute spent. If you're not paying attention to these details, you could be losing money at your trade show.
The planning for trade shows should begin 12 months in advance. Once you choose the right trade show to fit your needs, it's time to set a budget.
It's critical to do this 12 months in advance so you can assess pre-show marketing preparations, post-show services like booth shipping, and all your advertising and marketing efforts leading up to the event.
When you have about 9 months to go, it'll be time to design your booth and marketing materials, as well as enter in the planning stage for freebies and giveaways – everybody loves a good swag pack.
About 6 months before the show, you'll want to consider your staffing needs, travel logistics, and confirm all your dates i.e. delivery dates and travel arrangements.
If you have enough details about your trade show at the three month mark, this is a great time to start preparing your staff, schedule meetings with the press and vendors, and reserve meeting rooms to invite potential leads to discuss your products.
The type of display you select is crucial. This will make all the difference in the amount of traffic you see on the day of the show.
You've got custom exhibits that tend to be larger than a simple booth but also tend to draw attention from all across the trade show floor.
You've also got modular exhibits that are lightweight and easy to transport. They're also easy to reconfigure and tailor to each show.
Do you plan to attend more than three trade shows per year?
If the answer is yes, then you'll want to invest in your own display.
If, however, you only see one or two big trade shows in your future, renting will allow you to present a fresh, new look at every show.
You want the anticipation for your trade show booth to begin long before the day of the show. Marketing in advance allows attendees to plan which booths they'll be excited to see.
Social media is the perfect place to start the party. You'll draw in all those like-minded individuals that you'd like to meet and greet the day of the show.
You can also use social media to promote any webinars, tutorials, giveaways, or announcements you'd like to share.
What's it all for if, on the day of the show, you lack an engaging staff that will draw passersby into the booth?
Not only do you want to have the right staff, you want to make sure each of those team players has a designated role.
Efficiency, high-quality interactions, and an ability to react quickly is the name of the game. Efficiency enters the scene when everyone has a designated role.
Someone should be in charge of technology. Another staffer should be the cheerleader giving away those swag packs. Meanwhile, your finest salesperson can be on the floor hyping up each and every product.
When everyone has a designated role, there's no guesswork and you'll be able to watch your booth run like a well-oiled machine.
If you followed the 12-month rule, you're golden. With your budget set, your marketing materials designed, your booth staffed, it's time to make sure everything arrives at its destination in one piece.
If you've rented your display, you'll be off the hook for transport. But, there's still all those marketing materials, swag packs, electronics, and paperwork to usher to the scene in one piece.
So, what's handier than a concise checklist? Feel free to use this trade show packing list to ensure nothing gets left behind.
During trade shows, companies are excited to collect new leads and promote their business. There are endless apps for this, and even badge scanners to import that data right into the system.
So, when you return to business as usual, it's so important to send out your follow-up correspondence with a personal touch. Try to annotate specific details about each visitor you interact with. This will make for a really special follow-up that'll pique even more interest in your company.
With the right planning and execution, you can reap the benefits that come with trade shows and event marketing. To learn more about making your next trade show a success, contact Structure Exhibits at 888.633.4162.


Melissa Coleman, the creator of the popular design and lifestyle blog The Faux Martha, shares her refreshingly simple approach to cooking that delivers beautiful and satisfying meals using familiar ingredients and minimal kitchen tools. The Minimalist Kitchen includes 100 wholesome recipes that use Melissa's efficient cooking techniques, and the results are anything but ordinary. You'll find Biscuits with Bourbon-Blueberry Quick Jam, Pesto Garden Pasta with an easy homemade pesto, Humble Chuck Roast that's simple to prepare and so versatile, Roasted Autumn Sweet Potato Salad, Stovetop Mac and Cheese, and Two-Bowl Carrot Cupcakes.
While The Minimalist Kitchen helps tackle one of the home's biggest problem areas --the kitchen--this book goes beyond the basics of clearing out and cleaning up, it also gives readers practical tips to maintain this simplified way of life. Melissa shows you how to shop, stock your pantry, meal plan without losing your mind, and most importantly, that delicious food doesn't take tons of ingredients or gadgets to prepare. This streamlined way of cooking is a breath of fresh air in modern lives where clutter and distraction can so easily take over.
Melissa Coleman, creator of The Faux Martha, shares her refreshingly simple approach to cooking.
The Minimalist Kitchen: 100 Wholesome Recipes, Essential Tools, and Efficient Techniques is a cookbook, but more importantly, it's a framework for creating a minimalist kitchen, a kitchen pared down to the essentials so you can create more. This framework will touch everything in your kitchen from your ingredients, tools, pantry, to your cooking techniques, meal planning, and shopping habits. Once the framework is in place, you can make 100+ wholesome, mix and match recipes. You'll find Blueberry-Orange Breakfast Rolls, Banana-Coconut Baked Oatmeal, White Wine Spring Pasta, BBQ Black Bean and Quick Slaw Tacos, Crispy Pizza with Caramelized Onions, Chickpea Tikka Masala, Stovetop Mac and Cheese, and Two-Bowl Carrot Cupcakes.
It's true what they say--less is more. But this is also true--achieving simplicity is difficult. How do you know what to keep and what to get rid of? This comprehensive guide will hold your hand through the process and make dinnertime (and the kitchen) feel doable again. For best results, read this cookbook like a novel, from the beginning. Chapter 1: The Minimalist Kitchen sets the stage for how to make and use the recipes in Chapters 2-8: Breakfast, Main Dishes, Burgers Wraps & Sandwiches, Soups & Salads, Sides, Drinks, Dessert. Melissa's recipes are the practical application of the minimalist kitchen--using a pared down kitchen to its full potential. You'll find them to be vegetable forward and simple without compromising flavor. They're intentionally designed to fit the rhythm of the week and labeled weekday, weekend, and make ahead accordingly. Weekday recipes are quick and efficient, while weekend recipes are slower and celebratory. Some recipes have make ahead components to increase efficiency and break up prep times. You'll find ingredient lists ranging from 3 to 20 ingredients. But don't be scared by the longer list, as most of the ingredients are sitting in your well-stocked pantry. Look for Melissa's minimalist tips offering recipe-specific advice, a seasonal produce guide, and a handy metric equivalents chart to take the stress out of cooking.


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70-74 Weston Road, Stoke-on-Trent, England
Swifty's
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69 Weston Road, Meir ST3 6AB England
0.1 miles from Taste of India
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Sefton Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 5LW England
Gladstone Pottery Museum
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26 Uttoxeter Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 1PQ England
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8 Pall Mall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1ER England
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Trentham Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4AZ England
Longton Parish Church
Longton, Stoke-on-Trent England
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1 Piccadilly, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1DB England
Caverswall Road Station Caverswall Road Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent ST11 9BG England
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62 Piccadilly, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 1HX England
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1 miles from Taste of India
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
'Salinger' documentary opens more of the book on the late J.D. Salinger
March 10, 2021 September 22, 2013 by Brian Milinsky
A photo of a pensive J. D. Salinger
Jerome David Salinger had one novel published in his lifetime. It was titled "The Catcher in the Rye" (just in case you were one of the rare few never exposed to it) and it has sold over 65 million copies since being published in 1951. It continues to sell over 250,000 copies annually and since the release of Shane Salerno's documentary about the book's author, it has leapt from 125th to 76th on the USA Today list of best-selling books.
Salingeris a lengthy, very detailed documentary that sometimes wanders too far afield in its attempt to create visceral visual images of J.D. Salinger. It challenges the notion that he was a recluse to avoid people by claiming that he was very carefully gaining greater publicity by pretending to be reclusive while making carefully planned public appearances.
Author Joyce Maynard in 1973, after her relationship with J.D. Salinger had ended
Put together by the director over a protracted period; and somehow they kept the project secret for five years. That there was a painstaking, incredibly deep level of research involved is obvious. One cannot ignore the photographs of the author never seen before in public, or the recollections of people who knew the man. Among the luminaries interviewed for and appearing in Salinger are Salinger's former girlfriend and author Joyce Maynard, Martin Sheen, E. L. Doctorow, John Cusack, Robert Towne, Philip Seymour Hoffman and many, many more.
The film tells the story of how Salinger came to write, how his time in the U.S. Army during World War II was indelibly etched into his psyche, and about how Oona O'Neill broke his heart when she dumped him to marry the much older Charlie Chaplain. Unfortunately there is little in the film about how his relationship with O'Neill may have been the locus for Salinger's own predilection for pursuing women much younger than he.
Much is made of the obsession that so many have with Salinger's seminal work. Mark David Chapman was captured after he murdered John Lennon with his personal copy of "The Catcher in The Rye" in his possession, a note he wrote to its protagonist "Holden Caulfield" inside of it. John Hinckley Jr. and Robert David Bardo also cited the book as an influence on their heinous crimes (Hinckley of course tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan while Bardo murdered Rebecca Schaeffer). The film also explores Salinger's obsession with being published in "The New Yorker", a feat he wasn't able to achieve until after his service in World War II.
J. D. Salinger and three close friends from their shared military service during WWII
There are other authors who published only one novel that was a gigantic success, Harper Lee immediately comes to mind. But there is no other author who put out only one novel that was read so widely by teens, that spoke so well to their angst and that appears to be timeless. This is a solid documentary and anyone other than a paid researcher into the life of J.D. Salinger will come away from the auditorium knowing more about the man than they did when they sat down.
Categories FilmsTags Brian Milinsky, J.D. Salinger, John Cusack, Joyce Maynard, Martin Sheen, Oona O'Neill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Catcher In The Rye Post navigation
'Anna Nicole' is a Lifetime channel movie that's better than expected
Rich getting richer faster, so says 'Inequality for All'


As a parent of two children under ten I was delighted to see two new opportunities for children in Honiton covered in the Midweek Herald this week. The ice rink sounds great and best of luck to the Harris family at Turks Head Lodge. I just hope the prices are affordable for all families in town.
As a candidate in the local elections and an ex-businesswoman myself, it is so important that we support our local businesses. I know some people in town are concerned about business rates being too high and shops struggling – if I'm elected on May 5th, I will look into this and find out more, and see how we can do more to help local businesses.
The other opportunity now open to all is the Allhallows Museum which is not charging an entry fee in 2011. We might now take the opportunity to visit with our children, having been put off before by the charges. Happy to leave a donation or buy a little something in the shop as we do when we visit the Thelma Hulbert Gallery and their fantastic children's activity sessions. It would be nice to see school holiday activities returning in the library too if possible.


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Brock Purdy's ballsy throw to George Kittle inspired confidence in 49ers QB
Tom Dierberger
Shanahan names Purdy throw that inspired confidence in 49ers QB originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Brock Purdy passed his first NFL test with flying colors in the 49ers' 33-17 win over the Miami Dolphins, but there was one play that stood out above the rest to coach Kyle Shanahan.
On a crucial third-and-10 from the 49ers' 35-yard line late in the second quarter, Purdy threw a dart to tight end George Kittle across the middle of the field. Kittle caught it for a 16-yard gain. Purdy was flattened by Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips.
First down.
The 49ers went on to score their second touchdown of the day on that drive, a 3-yard pass from Purdy to Christian McCaffrey seven seconds before halftime.
In NFL insider Peter King's weekly "Football Morning in America" column for NBC Sports, he pegged that throw as Purdy's best play of the game. Shanahan agreed.
"I did, too," Shanahan told King after the game. "Especially with what they were doing to us. They were coming after Brock and doing a good job of taking our quick throws away. This was a huge job of Brock signaling something to change the route [for Kittle]."
Purdy threw the pass in 1.72 seconds. Per NFL Next Gen stats, that was just the sixth completion all season of at least 10 yards that a quarterback completed in 1.72 seconds or less.
Purdy displayed a trait that many young quarterbacks struggle to find in the NFL -- decisiveness.
"What impressed me about Brock in [training camp] is he was always willing to let it rip," Shanahan told King. "He's decisive. He started for years [at Iowa State] at a high level. You got to have some balls to play quarterback in this league, and he does. We think we'll have a chance with him."
Purdy's 49ers teammates agree with Shanahan's sentiment. Purdy isn't lacking any, uh, boldness. Shanahan used the word "balls," and Kittle dropped "cajones" when describing Purdy's afternoon at Levi's Stadium.
RELATED: How PFF graded 49ers rookie Purdy in first test vs. Dolphins
"With not knowing that he's ever coming in, when he got in, you could tell he was ready for the moment and very vocal," receiver Deebo Samuel said to reporters after the game. "There were times that he messed up, and it takes nuts to call the time out without Kyle calling it, you know what I'm saying?"
One throw doesn't tell the entire story of Purdy's first extended NFL test, but it's a perfect representation of the unexpected confidence and swagger in the quarterback selected with the final pick of the 2022 draft.
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast


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House Party is back on Steam, developer providing 'censor removal patch' (Updated)
By James Davenport published 2 August 17
After complaints over 'pornographic' content, an edited version of the Early Access game is on sale again.
Update: Developer Bobby Ricci responded to my question over exactly what was censored in the new Steam version of House Party, stating the following over email:
"The only thing that was changed, was that a censor bar was added to the sex scenes. The censor bar was actually in the game already, but it was a player setting. Now, it is forced on during the few sex scenes in the game."
So there you have it. The sex scenes are still there, just layered over with those iconic black bars. The 'censor removal patch' just removes them.
Original story: Late last week House Party was removed from Steam amid complaints over 'pornographic' content. On sale for a month in Early Access, it depicted fully simulated sex scenes with uncanny physics-boobed women, enabling the player character to whip their dick out at will (and put it on a charcoal barbecue, for instance). But now House Party is back, albeit in an altered state. The changes are hinted at in a recent blog by the developers at Eek! Games:
"I'm happy to say that the entire story of the game is 100% in tact [sic], and there have been no changes made to the content of the game. The issue was specifically with the portrayal of sex acts."
Whether that means the simulated sex is completely out or not, I'm not certain. I've reached out for clarification, and will update as necessary. The release of a "censor removal patch", also detailed in the blog, seems to imply they're out or toned down somehow, but stating no changes were made to the content of the game confuses the message. I'm just hoping I can still put the penis on the barbecue. Either way, people can buy the game on Steam again and, as the drill has been for decades, make the eerie people nude by downloading a zipped folder from a sketchy hyperlink.
James Davenport
James is stuck in an endless loop, playing the Dark Souls games on repeat until Elden Ring and Silksong set him free. He's a truffle pig for indie horror and weird FPS games too, seeking out games that actively hurt to play. Otherwise he's wandering Austin, identifying mushrooms and doodling grackles.


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Home»Three Bracket-Busting Teams To Watch This March Madness
Three Bracket-Busting Teams To Watch This March Madness
Odds Shark Staff | Wed, Mar 14 2018, 4:00pm
Updated: Tue, Jul 6 2021, 3:13pm
We hear the same generic terms thrown around every year during the NCAAB tournament. With little to no context, terms like "Cinderella" and "bracket-buster" don't amount to much. But, where would we be in sports without clichés?
With that in mind, here are three teams that will likely bust a few brackets. To qualify, these teams need to fill the lower seeds in the bracket, anywhere from the ninth to 16th seed. They must be outside a major conference. And they must be relatively little known to the general public.
I don't necessarily endorse any of these teams making long runs during March Madness but I do believe they are plenty capable of winning at least one game. Just enough to completely screw you in the office pool.
Loyola-Chicago Ramblers
Loyola-Chicago happily took the mantle of best team in the Missouri Valley Conference with the departure of Wichita State. The Ramblers have proved to be the cream of the crop thanks to their elite defensive ability. The team sits in the top 20 in the nation in points allowed, rebounds allowed and effective field-goal percentage by opponents. Many may question these numbers based on the competition, but Loyola-Chicago beat Florida in its non-conference schedule – holding the Gators to just 59 points and 36.9 percent shooting.
Discipline is also a huge benefit for the Ramblers with the team posting a 57.7 effective field-goal percentage (eighth in the nation) and just 14.0 fouls per game (third). As obvious as it sounds, once the tournament comes around, not shooting yourself in the foot is of vital importance. And no matter the situation this season, Loyola-Chicago keeps its cool and plays smart basketball.
The Ramblers are not going to stretch the floor, which is a concern given how important the deep ball has become in college basketball. However, as long as Peter Moser's team continues to defend the perimeter well and take smart shots, then they should be able to overcome their inability to hit the three-pointer.
First-Round Matchup: vs Miami Hurricanes
Mike Daum is probably the best player that your friend who watches college basketball has told you about. The junior is averaging 23.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while shooting over 42 percent from beyond the arc. And if you want to question if he is good enough to do that against elite teams, Daum tallied 21 points and 11 rebounds against Kansas and 31 points with six rebounds vs Wichita State.
Now, aside from its one dominant player – something that can carry a team during the NCAA Tournament – South Dakota State has one of the safest teams in the nation with the ball. The Jackrabbits are first in the country in turnovers per possession, fourth in turnovers per offensive play and cough the ball up just 10 times per game.
Could South Dakota be better defensively? Yes. But no team in the country is better at forcing a shootout without the crippling mistakes that typically befall a high-octane offense.
First-Round Matchup: vs Ohio State Buckeyes
UNC Greensboro Spartans
The Southern champions have a lot going for them entering the tournament, including being one of the best 3-and-D teams in the country. UNC Greensboro ranks inside the top 30 in the nation in three-pointers attempted and made per game – this is largely thanks to the duo of Francis Alonso and Marvin Smith. Neither of the upperclassmen is an elite three-point shooter but their confidence to shoot from range means opponents need to play close to their man.
Even more impressive is a defense that allows 63.3 points (sixth nationally), 20.9 field goals made (third) and 51.1 field goals attempted (fifth) per game. Since the beginning of February, UNC Greensboro has held opponents to 59.8 points per game and a 39.1 field-goal percentage thanks to its methodical style of play.
The offense isn't especially deep past Alonso and Smith with no other player on the team averaging 9.0 ppg, but the Spartans' meticulous, slowed-down rate of play is a big reason for this. Continuing this style of play against more potent offenses than the Spartans are used to facing in the Southern Conference won't be easy but UNC Greensboro has all the skills and pieces to be Virginia-lite during the tournament.
First-Round Matchup: vs Gonzaga Bulldogs
NCAAB News
Seminoles Hoping To Avoid 10th Loss In 11 Meetings With Blue Devils On Tuesday
Odds Shark StaffTue, Jan 18, 6:36am
Indiana Seeks First Road Win Of The Season In Nebraska
No. 1 Ranked Baylor Looks To Start New Win Streak
College Basketball Player Of The Year Odds: Davis Takes The Top Spot
March Madness Odds: Gonzaga Still The Favorite For 2022 Tournament
UCLA Looks To Continue Strong Home Play vs Oregon
Cavaliers Look To Continue Recent Success vs Hokies
Jayhawks Look To Rebound In Big 12 Game vs Cyclones
Duke Hopes To Start A New Win Streak Over Miami
Xavier Hopes to End Recent Road Woes at Butler
Iowa Eyes Fifth Straight Win Over Wisconsin
Read More NCAAB News


Top blues artists perform during the weekend, Friday through Sunday. Rustic camping is available.
The artists and performers scheduled to appear at the 2018 festival include Heather Gillis, Davy Knowles, Eric Gales, Thornetta Davis, Tas Cru, Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps, Toronzo Cannon, Victor Wainwright and the Train, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Racky Thomas' Travelin' Medicine Show Band, Vanessa Collier, Zac Harmon, Anthony Geraci, and the Cash Box Kings.


Brick walls can be treated in various ways. Felt plaster, scratch coat, smooth plaster smoothed with burlap bag, and slurry plaster are the preferred methods. Here you can read more about this.
The mortar layer is spread as thick as possible with the help of a steel plank or a screed plank. The surface is processed with the help of a moist brush, with diagonal movements. After processing, the surface is smoothed out and covered in a thin layer of mortar with the help of a brush.
The surface is plastered by the rotating movements of a felt brush. A felt brush is a brush covered in felt, hence its name. The finished surface becomes even after the treatment, as flaws are filled with mortar. As little of the brick surface as possible should be covered in mortar.
The surface is processed with the help of a burlap bag, hence the name. The finished surface becomes even after the treatment, as flaws are filled with mortar. Most of the brick surface isn't covered in mortar.
The mortar is applied to the blank wall and finally scraped with a steel brush or a brick trowel. The surface is abraded with a moist brick. This brick needs to be moistened quite frequently. In this processes the surface and the eventual protrusions will be smoothed off with the abrasive brick. The finished surface becomes even after the treatment, as flaws are filled with mortar.


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How to write good dialogue in your novel
Is your dialogue pushing your novel forward or making the reader feel like they're eavesdropping on a mundane conversation at the bus stop? Here's how to ensure your dialogue pops.
What good dialogue isn't
Good dialogue is the icing on the cake of a well-structured novel. Bad dialogue will mar a well-structured narrative and bury a story that is barely hanging in there. Before we look at what makes great dialogue, let's look at what dialogue isn't:
WHAT DIALOGUE IS NOT
It's not everyday conversation – much of that is boring and has no place in a novel.
It's not a narrative – that tells us what's happening in a story. Dialogue should show us how characters respond to those events.
It's not a tool to set up the next character's lines – that's a waste of words on the page. Every line should have a purpose, whoever's speaking it. Every line should tell us something about the character – who they are, how they're feeling and what they want.
It's not a backstory-delivery mechanism that the characters are already familiar with – that's maid-and-butler dialogue and a misfire.
It's not a monologue – that's best left for viewpoint characters mulling things over in their own time, unless your intention is to show one person being bored rigid by another. If only one person's doing all the talking, ask yourself why the other person on the page is still in the room.
3 components of effective dialogue
'Dialogue should be the character in action,' says John Yorke in his must-read Into the Woods (p. 151). Yorke's talking about the art of screenwriting but the advice is just as pertinent for novelists. I recommend you read it even if you have no intention of writing for the screen because it's a masterclass in storytelling, whatever the medium.
When we stop thinking about dialogue as words spoken – as conversations – and instead frame it in terms of characters, we create something that's fit for a novel.
What does your dialogue tell readers about who your characters are, how they're feeling, and what their motivations are?
Character voice: How characters speak tells us about who they are, what makes them tick – their fears, frustrations, hopes and dreams, identity, preferences. Perhaps their speech is abrupt, rude, measured, polite, sweary or seductive. When we change the way a character speaks, we change their voice. And that means we change them.
Character mood: How characters speak tells us how they're feeling. Dialogue that conveys emotions allows us into their heads, even if they're not the viewpoint character.
Character intent: How characters speak tells us what they want to do. Perhaps they're asking questions for the purpose of discovery and understanding whodunit (doctors, lawyers, PIs and police officers regularly use dialogue in novels to this end), but dialogue can express a multitude of motivations. Ask yourself what your character wants every time they open their mouth.
Unreliable dialogue
What a character expresses through dialogue need not match their true voice, mood or intent. Unreliable dialogue is powerful precisely because it jars the reader by masking the truth (which the characters themselves may even have buried).
Imagine this scenario: John has been kidnapped by Jane. They met in a club where she spiked his drink. He started to feel unwell and she offered him a ride to the Tube station. He never made it. He's been held captive for several days, during which time he's been physically abused and deprived of food. He's frightened out of his wits, and weak to boot.
The dialogue between John and Jane could go as follows: John raves and rants, telling Jane her behaviour is monstrous, that Jane's going to pay for her actions and that he's going straight to the police as soon as he's escaped. Jane responds in fury, telling John he deserves it all and how there's no way he'll ever escape.
Or the dialogue could be unreliable. John might be polite, sycophantic even, as he thanks her for the water she provided, compliments her on her appearance, or asks her about her life. Through that speech, we are shown his desperation. It's about keeping her on side and calm in order to save himself.
And Jane's verbal response might be chipper, seductive even. Through that dialogue, we are shown her psychosis.
The result is a sinister verbal exchange that allows us to explore the inner workings of the characters' minds without it being forced down our throats via an all-to-obvious narrative that's centred around the viewpoint character.
Breaking free of viewpoint limitations
Most novelists opt to hold third- or first-person narrative viewpoints. That means the story in a chapter plays out through one person's perspective.
When authors drop viewpoint, readers end up playing a game of narrative table tennis in which they bounce from one character's head to another. We know who everyone is (voice), what everyone's feeling (mood), and what everyone wants (intention) all of the time. Readers become disengaged because they don't have time to immerse themselves in any one character's experience.
Good dialogue allows writers and readers to break free without head-hopping. Through dialogue, readers can intuit the voice, mood and intention of multiple characters, yet the singular narrative viewpoint remains true throughout. That keeps the reader engaged and the writing taut.
Purposeful dialogue in action
Here's an excerpt from Lee Child's Never Go Back (pp. 457–8). I chose it because I've also seen the movie, which allowed me to compare my experience of the screen dialogue (and the advice Yorke gives) with the novel's, and because there are no action beats, only two speech tags and no narrative. It's just dialogue between a teenage girl and Jack Reacher.
Note on what reader already knows: Following a lawsuit filed by Candice Dayton, Jack Reacher believes that the teenager in the scene, who's running for her life, may be his daughter. He also cased out the diner and the staff the evening before, so the servers' faces are familiar.
'Am I in trouble?'
Reacher said, 'No you're not in trouble. We're just checking a couple of things. What's your mom's name?'
'Is she in trouble?'
'No one's in trouble. Not on your street, anyway. This is about the other guy.'
'Does he know my mom? Oh my God, is it us you're watching? You're waiting for him to come see my mom?'
'One step at a time,' Reacher said. 'What's your mom's name? And, yes, I know about the Colt Python.'
'My mom's name is Candice Dayton.'
'In that case I would like to meet her.'
'Why? Is she a suspect?'
'No, this would be personal.'
'How could it be?'
'I'm the guy they're looking for. They think I know your mother.'
'You?'
'Yes, me.'
'You don't know my mother.'
'They think face to face I might recognize her, or she might recognize me.'
'She wouldn't. And you wouldn't.'
'It's hard to say for sure, without actually trying it.'
'Trust me.'
'I would like to.'
'Mister, I can tell you quite categorically you don't know my mom and she doesn't know you.'
'Because you never saw me before? We're talking a number of years here, maybe back before you were born.'
'How well are you supposed to have known her?'
'Well enough that we might recognize each other.'
'Then you didn't know her.'
'What do you mean?'
'Why do you think I always eat in here?'
'Because you like it?'
'Because I get it for free. Because my mom works here. She's right over there. She's the blonde. You walked past her two times already and you didn't bat an eye. And neither did she. You two never knew each other.'
Viewpoint: Reacher is the viewpoint character. However, through the dialogue, readers are able to access information about him and the teenager.
Voice: Both characters speak in a no-nonsense fashion. Reacher might think he holds the balance of power, given his job and age, but the girl's streetwise tone suggests she thinks otherwise; they're equals.
Mood: Reacher is calm (we'd expect nothing more) and measured, but there is emotional engagement; he seems keen not to give too much away (probably in respect of the fact that he's talking to a child, perhaps his daughter). As for the girl, she's almost disinterested. I imagine her stuffing fries into her mouth, as focused on her food as she is on the conversation ... until she thinks her mother might be in trouble. Child doesn't tell us, but I can see her in my mind's eye, mouth full, looking at him, just a twitch of alarm registering in her expression. There's almost a sense of the traditional mother/daughter relationship reversed; this is a kid who's used to looking after herself. There's movement in this dialogue; the speech is infused with its own action beats.
Intent: Reacher wants to find out who the mother is. This exchange is all about building trust with the girl in order to achieve that. The girl needs someone she can turn to because bad people are watching her and her mother. She wants to know how Reacher might know Candice; Reacher wants to keep the possible sexual encounter and his resulting paternity to himself. The girl's not stupid and picks up on his vague inference to a sexual encounter. As the conversation and the chapter close, Reacher and the readers discover that Candice and our protagonist have never met, and that the girl can't be his daughter.
This is characters in action, expressed through speech. Child makes every line count towards the chapter denouement. If he was tempted to introduce narrative and action beats that ensured we'd get it, it doesn't show. In fact, they would have been interruptions and slowed the pace. Instead, he trusts us to do the work because the dialogue gives us everything we need.
Here's an excerpt from The Poison Artist by Jonathan Moore (pp. 244–5). I chose this because of the contrast between Kennon and Emmeline's speech.
Note on what reader already knows: There's another man in the room with torture devices attached to him; he's twitching. Caleb is the viewpoint character, but he's handcuffed and out of play. Nevertheless, we have access to two more characters' voices, moods and intentions through the dialogue.
"Don't move," Kennon said.
 This time, his voice wasn't much more than a whisper.
 [...]
 "Inspector, you'll hit somebody," Emmeline said.
 "You look sick, Inspector," Emmeline said. "I could get you something to drink. A glass of water, maybe? Something a little stronger?"
 Kennon fired again and Emmeline didn't even flinch.
 The bullet missed her by ten feet, punching a hole in the back of the building.
 "Stop—"
 "You should be more careful what you touch," Emmeline said. "Some things can go right through the skin."
Viewpoint: Even though Emmeline isn't the viewpoint character, we get to access her transgressor headspace through the dialogue, and the result is powerful and sinister.
Voice: Kennon doesn't say much, but what he does say is what we'd expect from a trained inspector, though it's offered quietly. Emmeline, however, is pathologically measured. We're left in no doubt that she's dangerous.
Mood: We sense Kennon's fear and desperation through his truncated, whispered speech. There's almost exhaustion in play. Emmeline, in contrast, is seductive (offering him a drink as if she were hosting a dinner party). Given the torture in evidence, her dialogue is obscene.
Intent: Kennon is trying to save himself, Caleb and the twitching man, but he's playing by the rule of law, warning Emmeline that he will fire his gun. Emmeline wants to finish her game, and her desire to play is evident in her speech. Of course, this may be unreliable; it could be masking a deep-seated fear that she'll be harmed or killed.
This, too, is characters in action, expressed through speech. Moore draws us deep into the transgressor's mind – even though she's not the viewpoint character. Her dialogue, juxtaposed with Kennon's exhausted near-silence, generates a powerful scene that oozes with sickly tension.
Here's a third example from Harlan Coben's Run Away (pp. 68–9):
Note on what reader already knows: Simon and Ingrid are married. They hold Aaron – a corrupt and possessive addict who's been murdered – responsible for their daughter's breakdown.
"The murder," Simon said. "It was gruesome."
Ingrid wore a long thin coat. She dug her hands into her pockets. "Go on."
"Aaron was mutilated."
"Do you really need the details?" he asked.
"According to Hester's source, the killer slit Aaron's throat, though she said that's a tame way of putting it. The knife went deep into his neck. Almost took off his head. They sliced off three fingers. They also cut off ..."
"Pre- or post-mortem?" Ingrid asked in her physician tone.
"The amputations. Was he still alive for them?"
"I don't know," Simon said. "Does it matter?"
Viewpoint: Simon is the viewpoint character but through Ingrid's speech we learn how she uses her professional mindset to manage stressful situations.
Voice: Simon's voice is emotional and verbose; Ingrid's is precise and clinical.
Mood: Simon's disgust and distress are evident. You can almost feel the words falling out of his mouth. Ingrid's speech exudes clinical detachment. She's in doctor mode.
Intent: Simon wants to unload. Ingrid wants to understand.
Again, through speech we see the characters in action. The contrasting voices and moods show us Simon and Ingrid's different intentions. There's no need for more than a peppering of supporting narrative.
Make your characters' speech count. Use it to show who the character is (voice), how they feel (mood) and what they want (intention).
Play with unreliable dialogue if it will enhance our understanding of characters' emotions and motivations. Those deliberate juxtapositions will deepen our engagement.
Realistic everyday speech, while authentic, is dull, invasive and will disengage your reader. Remove it!
Free dialogue enrichment tool
To help you think about your characters' voices, moods and intentions, and how these will enrich your dialogue, download this tool. It's a fillable PDF with ready-made examples and space for you to record your own decisions.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PDF
More dialogue resources
8 problems with dialogue and how to solve them
Addressing others in dialogue: How to use vocatives
How to complement dialogue with action beats
How to convey accents in dialogue
How to punctuate dialogue in a novel
How to use apostrophes
How to use speech tags in fiction
Into the Woods by John Yorke (Penguin, 2013)
Never Go Back by Lee Child (Bantam, 2014)
Run Away by Harlan Coben (Century, 2019)
The Poison Artist by Jonathan Moore (Orion, 2014)
She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and an Associate Member of the Crime Writers' Association (CWA).
Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn.
Maria D'Marco link
I tend to assume a character's persona, then speak their dialogue aloud. This might prompt me to use words like 'dame' or 'feral' or 'whyn't'.
The last there is where something said (often in the south of the US) is crushed down to the bare necessity: why didn't=whydint=whyn't. My favorite is 7-eleven (a convenience store, which may or may not still exist)= sebleb.
Love this post -- thanks again, as always, Louise for sharing and shaking the 'webs loose.
Cheers, Maria! That's a great tip for checking whether the *sound* of the voice works once they've ensured the intention/purpose is evident!


Most scientists are explorers at heart and get excited most about discovery. This scientific inquiry or exploring can take many forms, but almost always starts with a question, and then proceeds with testing a logical answer to the question in a way that someone else can understand, repeat for themselves, and judge. The formal name for this is the Scientific Method.
2e Students know DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material of living organisms and is located in the chromosomes of each cell.
5a. Students know plants and animals have levels of organization for structure and function, including cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and the whole organism.
7d. Students construct scale models, maps, and appropriately labeled diagrams to communicate scientific knowledge (e.g., motion of Earth's plates and cell structure).
3c. Students know atoms and molecules form solids by building up repeating patterns, such as the crystal structure of NaCl or long-chain polymers.
6c. Students know that living organisms have many different kinds of molecules, including small ones, such as water and salt, and very large ones, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and DNA.
Four large containers to place separate color zoobs in.
One name card for each team.
discard bags or boxes, one per team.
tape or other markers for start line and team areas.
This is a relay race in which each team must work together to collate information from different members and then assemble a structure.
The object of the game is to be the first team to construct the structure and get it to the centrally located table.
Class is divided into teams of 4-6 people each. The teams are located in taped areas equidistant (about 25 feet) from a central table on which are placed the plastic parts and instructions needed to complete the game. It is recommended that the teams be situated so that spying is kept to a minimum.
Each team is issued Card One, the relay sequence, and given 5-10 minutes to discuss it as a team. Team should assign individuals to specific tasks at this time. The team is allowed to keep this card (and only this card) to refer to during the entire contest.
Student One races to the central table at the sound of bell or whistle and reads Card Two, the code for the colored parts. He memorizes this code, discards the card into the bag and then races back to the team and tells them (only after he has crossed into their taped area).
Student Two, once he's been told the code, tags Student One and races to the table to read Card Three, the parts list, memorizes this, discards card and races back to the team to tell them the decoded list: "We need x number of blues, etc".
Student Three, once she has been told the parts list, tags Student Two and races to the table to collect the parts and brings back to the team.
Student Four tags Student Three and races to the table to read Card Four, discards the card once memorized and races back to the team with the information on how to assemble the first of two subunits.
Student Five tags Student Four and races to the table to read Card Five, discards the card once memorized, and races back to the team with information on how to assemble the second subunit. Meanwhile, the team has been putting the individual parts together for the first subunit.
Student Six tags Student Five and races to the table to read Card Six, the final structure assembly instructions, memorizes, discards card and races back to the team. Meanwhile, the team has been putting the individual parts together for the second subunit.
The team assembles the final structure, and, with everyone touching the structure at all times, races back to the table in a group to place the structure and end the game.
Only one team member can be up at the table at a time, all information from the recipe cards must be memorized (no note-taking) and team members can only talk to each other if they are in their box together (no calling out to someone at the table or vice versa).
The final structure made by the teams should be a double helix. There is no other shape possible if the instructions are followed. The helix doesn't take shape until the final, twisting step (see attached illustrations).
This is very similar to the solution process that Watson and Crick, with their sheet metal model, went through in 1953. The backbone of a double helix of sugar-phosphate molecules was the only shape possible that could join the base pairs of nucleotides together in the already proven complementary sequence.
This game combines short running and teamwork to a simple construction problem and is good for letting off steam while learning some principles of biological information systems.
More team members can be added to the team if each person has a specific job. For example a student could be in charge of team coordination, or in charge of assembly only, etc.
When teams have completed their model, they raise hands for a judge's review rather than run up to the table with the model. The judge reviews the model and approves or rejects it as complete. If complete, they are issued information describing the components of DNA, and using this information label the basic parts of their model, and then take it up to the table as a group.