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ARC Review: City of Miracles
On May 4, 2017 May 3, 2017 By Mark L.In Mark, Novel, ReviewLeave a comment
Revenge. It's something Sigrud je Harkvaldsson is very, very good at. Maybe the only thing.
So when he learns that his oldest friend and ally, former Prime Minister Shara Komayd, has been assassinated, he knows exactly what to do and that no mortal force can stop him from meting out the suffering Shara's killers deserve.
Yet as Sigrud pursues his quarry with his customary terrifying efficiency, he begins to fear that this battle is an unwinnable one. Because discovering the truth behind Shara's death will require him to take up arms in a secret, decades-long war, face down an angry young god, and unravel the last mysteries of Bulikov, the city of miracles itself. And perhaps most daunting of all finally face the truth about his own cursed existence.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a review copy of this book by the publisher.
If you've followed me for a while, you know that I'm a huge fan of the first two books in the Divine Cities series, City of Stairs, and City of Blades. While all of the books in the series are stand-alone, and can be read separately, wrapping up their own plots in a way that is satisfying and feels complete, they also definitely gain something by being read in sequence, City of Miracles more so than City of Blades. So while you certainly can read the book without picking up the prequels, I would definitely recommend checking them out first — and they're both awesome.
Both of the previous books are largely action/adventure novels with a large mystery plot, and much of City of Miracles follows the same formulas. However, it's also a much deeper book. It explores a themes of power, love, family, purpose, and godhood, and had a much more intense emotional impact on me than either of the previous books in the series. I'm not ashamed to admit that I finished the book and had to wipe away a few tears. It was beautiful.
If you've read the previous two books (and if you haven't, why haven't you?) then you know who Sigrud is. The good news is, as the first book was Shara's, and the second was Mulaghesh's, this book is Sigrud's book. The bad news is that it's the last book in the series, so we won't be getting any more.
But whatever. WE GET A WHOLE BOOK OF SIGRUD. I legitimately squeaked in happiness when I found out that this would be his book, and I've been eagerly awaiting it ever since. Sigrud is the same awesome character you know and love, and getting the entire story from his viewpoint is mostly a stream of awesome. It's also an opportunity to dive deeper into who he his, and why, and there were plenty of character revelations about his past that I did not predict, but loved.
In addition to Sigrud, we follow Tatanya and Ivanya, two new characters. Both are incredibly well fleshed out and have very intriguing backstories and journeys throughout the novel, and I loved meeting and getting to know both of them. Bennet has continued his tradition of strong female characters who aren't just your typical 'badass woman', but instead are competent at what they do, important, and feel incredibly real. Like, you know, all characters should.
The plot itself is bigger and grander than either previous novel, if that's possible. I don't want to spoil any of it, so I'll simply say that if you want overwhelming adventure, amazing power, and the potential end of the world thrown in for good measure, you'll find all of it here, in abundance.
I know I'm flailing a bit here, but that's just because the book was so good. I can't even describe it all at once. It's an action adventure mystery love story world-ending character study of doom and awesome and I'm sure I've left out a few subplots. Seriously, if you liked the first two books in the series, at all, you have to read City of Miracles. It was so so so good. Five of five stars, and my unconditional recommendation.
Robert Jackson Bennett's Website.
City of Miracles on Goodreads.
ARC Review: The Guns Above
The nation of Garnia has been at war for as long as Auxiliary Lieutenant Josette Dupris can remember – this time against neighboring Vinzhalia. Garnia's Air Signal Corp stands out as the favored martial child of the King. But though it's co-ed, women on-board are only allowed "auxiliary" crew positions and are banned from combat. In extenuating circumstances, Josette saves her airship in the heat of battle. She is rewarded with the Mistral, becoming Garnia's first female captain.
She wants the job – just not the political flak attached. On top of patrolling the front lines, she must also contend with a crew who doubts her expertise, a new airship that is an untested deathtrap, and the foppish aristocrat Lord Bernat – a gambler and shameless flirt with the military know-how of a thimble. He's also been assigned to her ship to catalog her every moment of weakness and indecision. When the Vins make an unprecedented military move that could turn the tide of the war, can Josette deal with Bernat, rally her crew, and survive long enough to prove herself to the top brass?
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review. This has in no way affected my review of the book.
I haven't read many steampunk/airship novels, but after this one, I might have to check out some more. The setting and worldbuilding was really well done, and I loved the attention to detail. The world felt like a real character, and an incredibly important element in the plot of the novel, and I enjoy books like that. I will note that reading about airships breaking in half while 10,000 feet in the air over the ocean on a several hour flight might make some of the elements of the story more nervewracking, but most of you will be reading it in more normal circumstances, I expect.
However much I liked the worldbuilding, though, I found the characters, and the plot they drove, largely unbelievable, cliche, and at times annoying. The main character is a "Badass Woman" who is, perhaps, the only competent character in the entire book. Pushing against the bounds of rampant sexism, she must overcome them to be the first female airship captain. At times, Dupris's character definitely felt forced, in that she was so overly competent compared to everyone else, and could magically solve anything and everything and show those men who was best.
Her main antagonist, Bernat, was an utter fop to a degree that I more or less refuse to believe is actually possible for a human to actually be. But, of course, he's handsome, has a heart of gold, and will make a miraculous turnaround into a good guy within an unbelievably short period of time. I had to stop myself from continually rolling my eyes while he was onscreen, or we were in his viewpoint.
In addition, the man who is supposed to be running the war, Lord Fieren, was also incompetent, absolutely clueless about political machinations, and I can't believe that he could rise to such a high rank or hold his country's army together and kept them in the war for so long with his idiocy.
Ignoring the characters, the war, however, was fairly well done. The characters have several debates about why the war is being fought, and while no conclusion is ever reached, it raises a lot of questions about wars, fighting, and whether it's really worth it. In particular, there's a scene where the main characters must ruin the livelihoods of a village of their own citizens in order to impede the oncoming army, and the characters have some very good debates about whether or not this is necessary, and they never really agree in the end, leaving the reader to form their own opinions on this difficult question.
The battle scenes produced by the war, in contrast, are straightforward. The prose and writing here made them quite easy to visualize, and I really enjoyed reading them. They felt highly realistic, gritty, and had a lot of intense moments. They were easily my favorite part of the book, and were an excellent way of showing off the worldbuilding and character competencies, and while I felt many of the elements of the plots felt contrived and forced, the battles were all believable.
However, in many of the moments when we were not in battles, the prose became so heavy-handed and on the nose that I actually did roll my eyes. So many moments where a character thinks something, and immediately, someone else says it or it happens, or, particularly in the scenes with the general and his echo-box aide, a character says something so utterly transparent that nobody could not see through it, and it passes unremarked.
It is a minor quibble compared to my larger praises and issues for the book, but the characters here definitely fell into the larger than life trope of being able to recover from anything, and be back on their feet almost immediately. When we first meet our protagonist, she's injured after a battle, can barely stay conscious, and can't even stand up. Within a few days, she manages to get back on her feet, take command of her own airship, and fight in a battle without acting any the worse from the wear. I really wish that books without magical healing would have more impact on their characters from the injuries that they sustain, and here, it really stood out to me that this did not happen.
However, I will admit that having invincible mega-healing characters allowed the author to skip over many parts that could have been boring, go right on to all the awesome stuff, and keep the pacing solid throughout the book. I read it all in a single day, and while I paused some at the beginning, by the time I really got into it, I was having trouble putting it down, and there were hardly any boring moments.
In summary, despite some horribly unbelievable characters, on the nose prose, and a glossing over of character injuries and battle stresses, I enjoyed the world and the war portrayed in the book, and found it to be a good, well-paced read. I give it three of five stars.
ARC Review: Skullsworn
On April 25, 2017 April 24, 2017 By Mark L.In Mark, Novel, ReviewLeave a comment
Note: I can't post a Richard Anderson cover without gushing about it, because THEY ARE ALL SO GREAT. Check out the info in the cover reveal, because it has some cool details and other art. I am also in love with the UK cover here (and have the UK hardcover just for that), and the cover reveal for that one is here.
Pyrre Lakatur doesn't like the word skullsworn. It fails to capture the faith and grace, the peace and beauty of her devotion to the God of Death. She is not, to her mind, an assassin, not a murderer–she is a priestess. At least, she will be a priestess if she manages to pass her final trial.
The problem isn't the killing. Pyrre has been killing and training to kill, studying with some of the most deadly men and women in the world, since she was eight. The problem, strangely, is love. To pass her Trial, Pyrre has ten days to kill the ten people enumerated in an ancient song, including "the one you love / who will not come again."
Pyrre is not sure she's ever been in love. If she were a member of a different religious order, a less devoted, disciplined order, she might cheat. The Priests of Ananshael, however, don't look kindly on cheaters. If Pyrre fails to find someone to love, or fails to kill that someone, they will give her to the god.
Pyrre's not afraid to die, but she hates to quit, hates to fail, and so, with a month before her trial begins, she returns to the city of her birth, the place where she long ago offered an abusive father to the god and abandoned a battered brother—in the hope of finding love…and ending it on the edge of her sword.
I should note that, if this review makes you really want to pick the book up, you can read the first handful of chapters here. The prologue sets up the entire book, so if you want an idea what it's about, and you don't like reading summaries, I suggest you go read it now, before reading the rest of this review.
Because Skullsworn takes place chronologically before the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne trilogy, you can read it before or after. I feel like it's best read after, because some of the reveals near the end of the book don't pack the same punch without some of the knowledge you get from the main trilogy. I may be biased in this recommendation, however, as I almost always recommend reading books in publication order. Regardless, if you haven't read the main trilogy, and are looking for a shorter, less intimidating entry point into the world of the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, Skullsworn is a great place to start.
If I were to actually make a complaint about the book, it's that, in comparison to the previous books that Staveley has written, the tension is a little lower. I think this is because there was only one main character, and we already know what's going to happen to her. In addition, she doesn't care that much if she dies, since she's already a devotee of the death god. Also, there are no empire-shaking plots going on here, merely personal ones, throughout most of the book.
The other complaint I can see being leveled at Skullsworn is that it's much shorter than the rest of Staveley's novels. While I would call the original trilogy epic, I don't think that Skullsworn meets the criteria. It's a personal quest story, and as such, it's the right length. I feel like trying to make the book longer by adding unnecessary complications or words would have made it a worse book. I don't have any complaints about the length other than that I'm once again out of Staveley to read, and I have to go back to waiting for the next one!
Pyrre is a very different viewpoint character than any that Brian has written before. While Kaden can attain some measure of calm, and Valyn is trained to kill, neither of them reach the levels of cold-blooded apathy that Pyrre ascends to in her devotion to Ananshael. This could make for a very boring character – someone who just wanders around and kills people – in the hands of an amateur, but Staveley is anything but an amateur. In his hands, Pyrre had wants, desires, and needs. She is on a quest, her own kind of twisted coming of age story, and while the "life or death" part of the quest doesn't hold the same pull as it might for another character, it still makes for a compelling narrative, and gives the book a definite sense of progress. In addition, Pyrre learns a lot about herself during the book, and the lessons and her character growth are brilliantly done.
It's not Pyrre who really sold the book for me, though. It was the ending. While I was enjoying the book throughout, as a very good book that was a quick read and thoroughly enjoyable, I'll admit, before the ending, I was thinking I was going to give the book four stars.
And then the ending happened.
I can't really say much other than that it was epic and way better than I had anticipated or thought possible. YOU NEED TO READ IT.
In summary, while Skullsworn follows a single character, and one who is a challenge to make interesting, it pulls this off very well. It's the right length for the story that it is trying to tell, and the ending packs a massive punch. While I felt that the ending was even better because I read the original trilogy first, Skullsworn can be read at any time, and I think you'll love it regardless. I give it five of five stars, and very high recommendations. Now go read it so I have someone to discuss it with!
Brian Staveley's Website.
Skullsworn on Goodreads.
Guest Review: Inherit the Flame
On April 11, 2017 April 10, 2017 By Mark L.In Novel, ReviewLeave a comment
We have a very special guest review on the blog today! Sterling, my awesome non-blogger friend and manga reader and collector extraordinaire, is here to talk about Inherit the Flame!
Inherit the Flame is the third and final book in the Scorched Continent trilogy. The first two books were full of adventures, airships, banter, and character growth. They were a lot of fun to read so I came into this last book with somewhat high expectations which were met for the most part. Since this is the third book in the series, I'm not going to say much about the plot because I don't want to spoil the previous books for anyone.
Detan has successfully retrieved the engineer, Nouli, from the Empire and has returned to his Aunt to find the city under siege. Most of the characters from the previous books make an appearance in this book. It was great seeing Ripka trying to get used to being a civilian again after being in law enforcement. Of course, there's Detan who is still trying to gain control of himself before he destroys anyone he loves. Detan felt more than a little lost in this book and it began to be annoying. For me, it took away from the narrative. We do get a little more backstory on the Commodore. She is a woman who has spent the last two books as a force of nature but after this book I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.
As for the plot, it had its ups and downs. Overall, I enjoyed it but it's not my favorite of the series. The pace lagged in places. Ripka attempts to pin down and diffuse whatever scheme the Commodore is using to take over Hond Steading. Detan's struggles with his power results in him putting himself in the clutches of his enemies to learn control. There's some great chases, grand uses of magic, and great banter. This book wraps up the story arc from the previous two books as the Steading tries to remain whole in the face of two irresistible forces.
Is this a book worth reading? I'd say it is but I'd recommend starting with book one, Steal the Sky, if you haven't picked the series up. If you're already a fan though, this is a decent conclusion to the series but it may leave you wanting more. I'm interested to see what the author puts out in the future.
3 of 5 stars.
ARC Review: Red Sister
On April 8, 2017 By Mark L.In Mark, Novel, ReviewLeave a comment
Book Review: Red Sister
I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin.
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices' skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.
But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don't truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.
Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive…
I've heard a lot about Mark Lawrence over the years. It's kinda inevitable when you have the same first name as the guy. I heard some things that made me wary, but I also know a lot of people who are huge fans of his work. I was excited to dive in and find out what all the hype was about, and getting Red Sister to review made me finally make the time to sit down and read one of his books.
My favorite part of the book was the setting. Not the overall worldbuilding, but the plot-based setting, especially in the first 2/3 of the book. It's set at a monastery, and it's told from the viewpoint of a young nun in training. The feel is very similar to the school experience from, say, Cinda Williams Chima's Seven Realms series, or many of Tamora Pierce's books, notably the Alanna quartet and the Lady Knight quartet. I have fond memories of all of these books, and so getting to go back to this setting triggered some happy nostalgic memories. I definitely enjoyed this part of the book, even if I could tell that I'd seen it all before, and that there were many of the same cliches here that all of the other books use.
I don't want to brush off the worldbuilding by just talking about the setting, though. What bits we got in this book were very intriguing. We get hints of where the people came from, the disasters that have befallen their world, how they've adapted, and what may lie ahead. But it's all very tangential to the plot, and there were points where I was definitely hungering for more, more, more. I feel like this will play a much larger role in the later books in the series, and what we got here was just a teaser. I also have to note that, until the second half of the book, I sometimes forgot we were on an icy planet, and it felt like the author did too, until it became plot relevant. I would have liked more continuity on this, but the bits about the history we did have, how the moon works, and everything… I can tell Lawrence has a very scientific mind, and I thoroughly enjoyed finding out the details, bit by bit.
Lawrence has a reputation for being a grimdark author, and I don't know if this book just isn't representative of his other works, or if that's just a falsely applied term. This book didn't feel grimdark at all. There definitely were tight spots and important character deaths, but that's something I get out of most fantasy novels these days, and nothing felt really overdone. If anything, it felt almost like a YA novel without some of the annoying YA tropes that I hate to read. The main character is young, and most of the time, she remembers to act like it. The plot centers around her learning and coming of age, and many of the secondary characters are of the same age.
I had a hard time getting into the book at the beginning, because Lawrence was playing some fancy tricks with the timeline, flashbacks, and information giving. I got really confused, and there were definitely points where I considered quitting before I really got into it. Once I got into it, however, I was enjoying it enough not to stop,
When I was reading through the book, I found myself putting it down between every chapter at one point, just to take a break, check my texts and emails, etc. While I enjoyed the setting, the plot didn't draw me along, and the prose sometimes felt disjointed and unpolished. I wish I had been more engaged, but sometimes, there just wasn't enough tension and intrigue to really draw me in.
I think some of the disconnect may also have been the absence of a completely coherent endgame for the book. I wasn't sure where we were really going, and what the big climax was going to be until almost when it happened, and so there wasn't a huge sense of overarching tension to draw me through the book. I could tell nearly from the beginning that none of the large issues raised by the worldbuilding and history wouldn't be answered in this book. I wish there had been a bit more of a sense of direction, overall, though.
In summary, I quite enjoyed some parts of my first foray into Lawrence's work. In particular, I liked the worldbuilding aspects, both large and small, and the setting was one I definitely enjoyed. However, I had issues with parts of the plot being boring, and the timelines a bit confusing, with unnecessary jumps, and that threw me off a bit. I don't know if I'm going to read more Lawrence books, because I don't think any of them will have the same setting-based appeal that this one did. If you want more girl-at-school learning to fight, politick, and put up with bullies, I recommend reading Tamora Pierce or Cinda Williams Chima, as I enjoyed both of their books more than this one. I give Red Sister three of five stars.
Novella Review: Snapshot
On April 4, 2017 April 3, 2017 By Mark L.In Mark, Novella, Review, SandersonLeave a comment
Note: If you like the cover art, Howard Lyon, the artist, has a cool process post and additional pictures here.
Disclaimer: I was a beta reader for this novella. My name is in the acknowledgments. My review may not be entirely unbiased.
Snapshot is a Science Fiction detective story following Anthony Davis, a cop assigned to Snapshot Duty. In this vivid world that author Brandon Sanderson has built, society can create a snapshot of a specific day in time. The experiences people have, the paths they follow—all of them are real again for a one day in the snapshot. All for the purposes of investigation by the court.
Davis's job as a cop on Snapshot Duty is straight forward. Sometimes he is tasked with finding where a criminal dumped a weapon. Sometimes he is tasked with documenting domestic disputes. Simple. Mundane. One day, in between two snapshot assignments, Davis decides to investigate the memory of a call that was mysteriously never logged at the precinct, and he makes a horrifying discovery.
As in all many stories, Snapshot follows a wonderfully flawed character as he attempts to solve a horrific crime. Sanderson proves that no matter the genre, he is one of the most skilled storytellers in the business.
Snapshot is a novella, which means that it's super short. At least, for the kind of books I like to read, it's short. According to my Kindle, the whole thing can be read in an hour and a half. I definitely recommend reading works this short in a single sitting, because it really is one cohesive story, one single plot, and you'll miss details if you take breaks. So if you want to read it, set aside the time to read it all at once, if you can. Also, read the Acknowledgments when you're done. 🙂
Short doesn't mean there isn't a lot here, however. Snapshot is packed full of exciting moments, creepy thrills, and stunning twists. Sanderson is an expert at always keeping you unbalanced, guessing, unsure of what will happen next. There is never a boring moment in the book, and once you pick it up, it's easy to just keep reading, to want to read just one more chapter, just one more, and suddenly, it's done.
There are several plot twists here, and Sanderson's ability to pack them into something this short amazes me. As with many of his books, there are bits that you will figure out ahead of time, but I guarantee there are also events that you won't see coming. I hate it when, in a book that is about the twist, you can figure out the twists far ahead of time, and have the ending all plotted out in your head before it happens. I was super glad to find that Snapshot defied these expectations, in many ways making it feel like a full Sanderson novel.
The novella is based on a really cool idea, too, as with almost all of Sanderson's novellas. In Snapshot, we're asked what would happen if you could recreate a day at will, jump into it, do whatever, and leave again, with no consequences in the real world. Sanderson explores this through the lens of criminal investigations – what would the police do with this technology? It's a fascinating question, and while his answers are only one possibility out of many, they are very interesting and thought-provoking.
As a side note, the setting is tangentially in the Reckonerverse, but you'll only recognize this if you're reading closely, as it's only really hinted at in one or two paragraphs and is relevant only to the worldbuilding and not really the plot itself. If you are expecting more David and Megan, more Prof and Tia, more bad metaphors and gun nuts, you'll be disappointed. Well, okay. Not about the gun nut part. But the rest of it. On the flip side, if you've never read the Reckoners books, you're perfectly fine reading this at any time, because it won't spoil any of that for you! (You really should read them, though.)
For all that, on the surface, Snapshot is a popcorn read, and a fun quick thrill ride, it presented a lot of interesting ideas about morality and reality that I am still pondering, several months after I first read it. When nothing is real, what is it okay to do? What is considered "wrong" in this case? How would you act? While It may not be quite as good at asking deep questions as The Emperor's Soul was, Snapshot is a really good novella that handles the massive number of things that it is trying to do really well, and I absolutely loved it.
In summary, Snapshot is a quick, fun read, and when you can set aside an hour and a half, or maybe two hours, depending on your reading speed, you really should pick it up and read it all the way through. It is full of plot twists, cool worldbuilding, and somehow also manages to use this worldbuilding to ask some really interesting questions that I'm still not sure if I have an answer to. I give it five of five stars (but I may be slightly biased as a beta reader), and really think you should pick it up soon.
Note: While you can't really get a physical copy right now (Vault Books is sold out, and the con exclusive is still con exclusive. I believe those'll be available on Sanderson's store sometime in November.), you can pick up the e-book for cheap right now at a variety of places.
Sanderson's page with more info.
Goodreads.
Book Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
On April 1, 2017 March 31, 2017 By Shannon H.In Novel, Review, ShannonLeave a comment
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
I have a strange relationship with young adult novels. I really liked Magonia when a lot of other people didn't, for example. In this particular case, I did not like Daughter of Smoke and Bone quite as much as the Goodreads consensus does. I really, truly was hoping to love it, as it was our book club pick this month. Star-crossed lovers, you say? I enjoyed that trope in These Broken Stars. Angels and demons are fun, too. But other than the world building, it just didn't click with me in the way other books have. Perhaps it was because the main character's personality seemed typical for the genre? Maybe it was the instant love between Akiva and Karou. Maybe it was the predictable plot. In any case, I just did not fall in love with Taylor's story.
Let me start with what I did enjoy. This story was not what I expected it to be from the blurb on the back. The angels and demons are not what they first seem, and I quite liked that! I loved the descriptions of the various chimaera, of their different aspects, of their cultural myths and legends. While war between a slave race and a dominant race is nothing new, Taylor does manage to create an interesting conflict that will be quite the driving force in the later novels, I can only assume. Additionally, the use of teeth for wishes was grotesque and super cool at the same time, as is what the teeth are actually used for within the story.
However, as for the characters, I enjoyed the secondary characters over the main cast. Zuzana, Brimstone, Issa, even Razgut… I felt that they were all so much more more realistic than Akiva and Karou are. Karou reminded me of that comic describing young adult main characters being good at everything and a vampire to boot. (Of course, she isn't a vampire, but I digress.) She's talented at drawing, combat, has chimaera for a family… She's as special as it gets. While it didn't make me dislike her, it still felt too unbelievable even given the explanation. I think it may be because I prefer to see that growth during the course of the novel, rather than being given a character that's already good at everything. Her only downsides seemed to be that she felt empty and acted as expected for her age, and I suppose that would be what teens would relate to and is, of course, understandable. Even so, I feel like more flaws or weaknesses would make her feel more "human".
As for the romance… It was instant and frustrating, and the part that really made me want to put this novel down. While I thought it was definitely cute at times, there needed to be more development, even with the excuse given later on as to why they are so drawn to each other. There was just too much, too fast to begin to be believable, especially with the circumstances in which they first meet in the story. The romance fires sparks within a day, and I find that rather ridiculous. Instant lust, sure. That would make sense. Since it is termed as love in the story, however, I can't help but shake my head.
With all of the above, as well as a jarring story structure (see: last fourth of the book switching gears dramatically), I can't give this novel more than three stars. While I am curious to read the other two books in the series because of how the book ends, I am hesitant. I don't really ship the romance as hard as I would like to, and the story really just isn't gripping me the way it should to read it all. In one word, it was unbelievable. And that's a weird word to use for a fantasy novel.
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The owners of Cumbernauld Town Centre have recently made the decision to introduce a 3 hour parking limit on their car parks around the town centre. This follows on from recent decisions by the Antonine Centre and Tesco to also introduce parking restrictions.
These town centre parking restrictions will be in force from Monday 21st January. Along with Jamie Hepburn MSP we have recently written to the owners of the Town Centre, HAMCAP, to express our concerns at this move, however, we would also like to hear your opinions. Click here for a link that will take you to a short survey which you can complete.


Processing is not Java. If you're a Java developer, using Processing may be confusing if you expect it to be too much like Java. If this book is your first introduction to Processing, you are strongly urged to first get used to the Processing way of doing things as presented in the first several chapters. It'll be easier to adapt to using the Processing API inside a Java project once you've developed a mental model for how the API works and how Processing sketches are structured.
The Processing syntax is essentially a dialect of Java. When a user runs a sketch in the PDE, the code is converted into Java syntax using a preprocessor, and then compiled as standard Java code. The implementation of all Processing Core API functions can be found in the package processing.core, which is stored in the core.jar file found in the lib folder of your Processing distribution. All Processing sketches subclass the PApplet class from the processing.core package.
The Anemone example in Chapter 8 shows how to use processing.core inside the Eclipse development environment. It also covers some of the basics of embedding Processing in other Java-based projects. The methods used should be familiar to most Java programmers, and they can be adapted to other development setups and IDEs.


text:
Q: About "Node,File,Directory,Link" and "Visitor" I have a question about the "head file" in c++,now I have a superclass "Node" and three subclass "File,Directory,File"
class Node {
public:
    //declare common interface here
    void setName(string& name);
    const string getName();
    //  const Protection& getProtection();

    //  void setProtection(const Protection&);
    void setCDate(char* cDate);
    char* getCDate();
    long size();

    void streamIn(istream&);
    void streamOut(ostream&);

    Node* getChild(int index);
    virtual void adopt(Node* child);
    virtual void orphan(Node* child);

    virtual void accept(Visitor&) = 0;
    static void destroy(Node*);
protected:
    Node();
    Node(const Node&);
    virtual ~Node();
    virtual bool isWritable() = 0;
private:
    string name;
    char* cDate;
};
class Directory : public Node {
public:
    Directory();
    Directory(string path);
    //redeclare common interface here
    void setName(string& name);
    string getName();
    void setCDate(char* cDate);
    char* getCDate();
    long size();
    Node* getChild(int index);
    virtual void adopt(Node* child);  //add children
    virtual void orphan(Node* child); //let the subnode be free
    virtual void accept(Visitor&);
private:
    list<Node*> _nodes;     //hold its subnode
    string& name;
    char* cDate;
};

The File and Link is the same as the class directory,here is the class visitor:
class Visitor{
public:
    virtual ~Visitor() {}
    virtual void visitNode(Node*) = 0;
    virtual void visitFile(File*) = 0;
    virtual void visitDirectory(Directory*) = 0;
    virtual void visitLink(Link*) = 0;
protected:
    Visitor();
    Visitor(const Visitor&);
};

each of them are in different head file, I want to know how can I import those head file

A: Generally if you have two header files such as 1.h and 2.h with both of them in the same folder
"header file 1.h"
class A {..}

"header file 2.h"
class B {..}

and if you want to use class A in 2.h, then add the following lines in 2.h,
#include "./1.h"   // Change the path if the header is some other directory

so your 2.h file would become,
#include "./1.h"
class B {..}

A: If your files are named: directory.h, file.h, link.h, visitor.h, then you must include directory.h at the beginning of file.h and link.h files:
#include "directory.h"

as in these files class Node defined in directory.h is used. In visitor.h likewise you must include all the files where the classes used in Visitor definition are defined:
#include "directory.h"
#include "file.h"
#include "link.h"

A: For the Visitor you don't need to include the header as the compiler does not need to know the size of the objects.  You can simply forward declare.
class Node;
class File;
class Directory;
class Link;

class Visitor{
public:
    virtual ~Visitor() {}
    virtual void visitNode(Node*) = 0;
    virtual void visitFile(File*) = 0;
    virtual void visitDirectory(Directory*) = 0;
    virtual void visitLink(Link*) = 0;
protected:
    Visitor();
    Visitor(const Visitor&);
};

However the compiler will need to know the size for the implementation but you can include them in your cpp file.
Edit:
For the case of your accept(Vistor&) functions then that is pretty simple too.  In your header files forward declare the Visitor class in the headers of File, Directory, and Link.  Then in the implementation #include the header of Visitor.
Also thinking about it I think you could do away with visitX functions as File, Directory and Link are all types of Node and don't need to be explicity visited.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Track Palin, the eldest son of former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has been arrested on assault charges.
Palin, 29, of Wasilla, Alaska, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, interfering with a report of domestic violence and resisting arrest, according to a report released Saturday by Alaska State Troopers.
According to the police report, when a female acquaintance attempted to call police to report the alleged crimes, he took her phone from her.
Palin is being remanded in Mat-Su Pretrial Facility and is being held on a $500 unsecured bond, reported KTUU.
He appeared in court Saturday, where he declared himself "not guilty, for sure" when asked his plea, reported the network.
Palin faces three Class A misdemeanours, meaning he could be imprisoned for up to a year and fined $250,000. He has also been charged with a Class B misdemeanour, punishable by a day in jail and a $2,000 fine.
It is not the first time criminal charges have been filed against Palin.
In December 2017, he was accused of assaulting his father, Todd Palin. His mother, Sarah Palin, called police to report the alleged attack.
The case is currently before Alaska's Veteran's Court.
In January 2016 he was charged with domestic assault, interfering with the report of a domestic violence crime, and possessing a weapon while intoxicated in connection with the incident. His girlfriend had alleged that he punched her in the face.
Sarah Palin was criticised by veterans groups in 2016 after linking her son's violent behaviour to PTSD stemming from his service in Iraq.


text:
Q: Multiple column foreign keys / associations in ActiveRecord/Rails I have badges (sorta like StackOverflow).
Some of them can be attached to badgeable things (e.g. a badge for >X comments on a post is attached to the post). Almost all come in multiple levels (e.g. >20, >100, >200), and you can only have one level per badgeable x badge type (= badgeset_id).
To make it easier to enforce the one-level-per-badge constraint, I want badgings to specify their badge by a two-column foreign key - badgeset_id and level - rather than by primary key (badge_id), though badges does have a standard primary key too.
In code:
class Badge < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_many :badgings, :dependent => :destroy
  # integer: badgeset_id, level

  validates_uniqueness_of :badgeset_id, :scope => :level
end

class Badging < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :user
  # integer: badgset_id, level instead of badge_id
  #belongs_to :badge # <-- how to specify?
  belongs_to :badgeable, :polymorphic => true

  validates_uniqueness_of :badgeset_id, :scope => [:user_id, :badgeable_id]
  validates_presence_of :badgeset_id, :level, :user_id

  # instead of this:
  def badge
    Badge.first(:conditions => {:badgeset_id => self.badgeset_id, :level => self.level})
  end
end

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_many :badgings, :dependent => :destroy do
    def grant badgeset, level, badgeable = nil
      b = Badging.first(:conditions => {:user_id => proxy_owner.id, :badgeset_id => badgeset,
        :badgeable_id => badgeable.try(:id), :badgeable_type => badgeable.try(:class)}) ||
        Badging.new(:user => proxy_owner, :badgeset_id => badgeset, :badgeable => badgeable)
      b.level = level
      b.save
    end
  end
  has_many :badges, :through => :badgings
  # ....
end

How I can specify a belongs_to association that does that (and doesn't try to use a badge_id), so that I can use the has_many :through?
ETA: This partially works (i.e. @badging.badge works), but feels dirty:
belongs_to :badge, :foreign_key => :badgeset_id, :primary_key => :badgeset_id, :conditions => 'badges.level = #{level}'

Note that the conditions is in single quotes, not double, which makes it interpreted at runtime rather than loadtime.
However, when trying to use this with the :through association, I get the error undefined local variable or method 'level' for #<User:0x3ab35a8>. And nothing obvious (e.g. 'badges.level = #{badgings.level}') seems to work...
ETA 2: Taking EmFi's code and cleaning it up a bit works. It requires adding badge_set_id to Badge, which is redundant, but oh well.
The code:
class Badge < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_many :badgings
  belongs_to :badge_set
  has_friendly_id :name

  validates_uniqueness_of :badge_set_id, :scope => :level

  default_scope :order => 'badge_set_id, level DESC'
  named_scope :with_level, lambda {|level| { :conditions => {:level => level}, :limit => 1 } }

  def self.by_ids badge_set_id, level
    first :conditions => {:badge_set_id => badge_set_id, :level => level}
  end

  def next_level
    Badge.first :conditions => {:badge_set_id => badge_set_id, :level => level + 1}
  end
end

class Badging < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :user
  belongs_to :badge
  belongs_to :badge_set
  belongs_to :badgeable, :polymorphic => true

  validates_uniqueness_of :badge_set_id, :scope => [:user_id, :badgeable_id]
  validates_presence_of :badge_set_id, :badge_id, :user_id

  named_scope :with_badge_set, lambda {|badge_set|
    {:conditions => {:badge_set_id => badge_set} }
  }

  def level_up level = nil
    self.badge = level ? badge_set.badges.with_level(level).first : badge.next_level
  end

  def level_up! level = nil
    level_up level
    save
  end
end

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_many :badgings, :dependent => :destroy do
    def grant! badgeset_id, level, badgeable = nil
      b = self.with_badge_set(badgeset_id).first ||
         Badging.new(
            :badge_set_id => badgeset_id,
            :badge => Badge.by_ids(badgeset_id, level),
            :badgeable => badgeable,
            :user => proxy_owner
         )
      b.level_up(level) unless b.new_record?
      b.save
    end
    def ungrant! badgeset_id, badgeable = nil
      Badging.destroy_all({:user_id => proxy_owner.id, :badge_set_id => badgeset_id,
        :badgeable_id => badgeable.try(:id), :badgeable_type => badgeable.try(:class)})
    end
  end
  has_many :badges, :through => :badgings
end

While this works - and it's probably a better solution - I don't consider this an actual answer to the question of how to do a) multi-key foreign keys, or b) dynamic-condition associations that work with :through associations. So if anyone has a solution for that, please speak up.

A: Seems like it might workout best if you separate Badge into two models. Here's how I'd break it down to achieve the functionality you want. I threw in some named scopes to keep the code that actually does things clean.
class BadgeSet
  has_many :badges
end

class Badge
  belongs_to :badge_set
  validates_uniqueness_of :badge_set_id, :scope => :level

  named_scope :with_level, labmda {|level
    { :conditions => {:level => level} }
  }

  named_scope :next_levels, labmda {|level
    { :conditions => ["level > ?", level], :order => :level }
  }

  def next_level
    Badge.next_levels(level).first
  end
end

class Badging < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :user
  belongs_to :badge
  belongs_to :badge_set
  belongs_to :badgeable, :polymorphic => true

  validates_uniqueness_of :badge_set_id, :scope => [:user_id, :badgeable_id]
  validates_presence_of :badge_set_id, :badge_id, :user_id

  named_scope :with_badge_set, lambda {|badge_set|
    {:conditions => {:badge_set_id => badge_set} }
  }

  def level_up(level = nil)
    self.badge = level ? badge_set.badges.with_level(level).first
      : badge.next_level
    save
  end
end

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_many :badgings, :dependent => :destroy do
    def grant badgeset, level, badgeable = nil
      b = badgings.with_badgeset(badgeset).first() ||
         badgings.build(
            :badge_set => :badgeset,
            :badge => badgeset.badges.level(level),
            :badgeable => badgeable
         )

      b.level_up(level) unless b.new_record?

      b.save
    end
  end
  has_many :badges, :through => :badgings
  # ....
end


text:
NaijaTask - Information Finder Blog
How to Apply for Canadian Visa in Nigeria
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Whether you are traveling to Canada for the first time or returning to rediscover the cultural bustle of Montreal or visit your family in Toronto for your annual Christmas gathering, you need a visa to get there. With this step-by-step guide to applying for a tourist visa, your dreams of exploring this country where no dream is too big and everything is possible have become a little more complicated.
Nigerian passport holders need a tourist visa to visit Canada. Visa applications must be submitted online via the IRCC online application system or the VFS Global Canadian Visa Application Center in Lagos or Abuja.
We recommend checking your eligibility before starting the application process and submitting your application before the flight departs. Once you have your visa, all you have to do is plan your trip, book your tickets and pack your bags!
Types of Canadian visas
There are different types of visas for Canada. They are::
visitor's visa (temporary residence permit)
student visa and
work visa.
A visitor's visa (visa for a temporary residence permit) can be multiple or single entry. With a multiple visa, you can stay in Canada six months at a time and this can be valid for up to 10 years.
With a single entry visa, you can visit Canada once and it is valid up to six months after your arrival date. For single entry visas, your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date to Nigeria.
The processing time for visas can take up to 30 days, depending on the type of application, the amount of applications received and whether the application is complete. Your passport and visa can be picked up at the Visa Application Center that you have requested or delivered via the courier service.
Canadian visa costs in Nigeria
Visa costs for a visitor Visa can vary depending on whether you pay online or in-person at a visa application centre. They must be paid in Naira and can be changed if the embassy considers this useful. But in general, there are two types of fees: an application processing fee and a biometric fee.
Estimated rates for online payment and personal application:
Processing costs: approximately ₦ 28,000 (approximately $ 77)
Biometrics (per person): approximately ₦ 24,000 (approximately $ 66)
Estimated rates when registering via the VFS Global Visa Application Center:
Service costs: approximately ₦ 17,000 (approximately $ 47)
Canadian visa requirements
Complete visa forms for visitors (IMM 5257) and family information (IMM 5645).
An original and a copy of your Nigerian passport. The passport must be valid for at least six months after the return date and must contain at least two blank pages.
Two color photos that meet the requirements of the visa photo.
Proof of application processing costs and, if applicable, biometric reimbursement.
Proof of sufficient money for the duration of the journey (ie bank statements of three months, salary receipts, proof of investment, etc.).
If you do not pay for the trip, you will need a letter from the person or institution sponsoring your trip and additional documents (i.e., a copy of your passport and a bank statement showing that you have enough money).
Proof of links with Nigeria (eg, Job letter, proof of business or assets, etc.).
Copy of the provisional flight reservation and the travel route (ie accommodation reservations).
You may need to submit a medical history or proof of good health.
Previous passports that show the travel history.
Additional documents in support of your request (i.e., marriage certificates, invitation letters, etc.).
A self-addressed courier envelope.
Minors (under the age of 18) travelling alone require an authorization letter signed by both parents or legal guardians. For minors travelling with one of the parents, an authorization letter from the non-accompanying parent or guardian is required.
If you are visiting a family member or travelling for business, you will need an invitation letter with the nature of the visit, the duration of the stay, the details of the host or company, etc.
Disclaimer: This process applies to Nigerian passport holders. NigerianWiki does not provide advice or assistance with visa processing. The content of this article is stated as recommended by the research and the Canadian embassy. Check the embassy website BEFORE applying for your visa.
TravelsVisa
How to Buy on Amazon & Ship to Nigeria
How to Legally Register a School in Nigeria
How to Apply for International Passport in Nigeria
How to File an Insurance Claim
How to Transfer Airtime (Me2U) On Airtel
How To Apply for Plate Number in Nigeria
How To Become A Chartered Accountant in Nigeria
How Apply for Change of Name in Nigeria
How to Fix 'Ad Serving Has been Limited' on Google AdSense
How To Apply For Tax Identification Number in Nigeria
How to Check Your BVN On Your Mobile Phone
How to List a Company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange
How to Reverse a Mistaken Bank Transfer in Nigeria
How to Start Poultry Farming in Nigeria
How To Renew Your Nursing And Midwifery Council Of Nigeria License
How to Start POS Business in Nigeria

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
By Aliya Hall
Creswell Middle School commemorates 10 years
ALIYA HALL/THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
Creswell Middle School staff members cut the cake for students and community members at the Creswell Middle School 10th anniversary celebration on May 2.
Creswell Middle School celebrated its 10-year anniversary May 2, along with the school's academic project night and fifth-grade showcase.
Principal Shirley Burrus said it was a fun night and 10 years have "flown by."
"It is hard to believe that we have been in our new middle school for 10 years," she said. "It is a wonderful educational facility where our students and staff have the opportunity to teach and learn."
Burrus, who worked in the old middle school, recalled that it was a close call to build the new school. The 20-118 Measure passed by only 13...


text:
XLoader Botnet: Find Me If You Can - Check Point Research - Check Point Research
Home / Blog / XLoader Botnet: Find Me If You Can – Check Point Research – Check Point Research
XLoader Botnet: Find Me If You Can – Check Point Research – Check Point Research
Research by: Alexey Bukhteyev & Raman Ladutska
In July 2021, CPR released a series of three publications covering different aspects of how the Formbook and XLoader malware families function. We described how XLoader emerged in the Darknet community to fill the empty niche after Formbook sales were abruptly stopped by its author. We did a deep technical analysis followed by a description of XLoader for macOS along with common points and differences in how both malware families conceal the heart of the whole operation, the Command-and-Control (C&C) infrastructure. However, the world does not stand still, and this applies to the malware cyber-world as well.
A couple of months after our publications were released, we spotted a new XLoader version in-the-wild which was an upgrade of all the ones we described previously. The enhanced version features significant modifications in key parts of the malware logic to truly deserve the differentiation if compared with XLoader's previous implementation.
In this article, we describe the changes malware authors applied to XLoader to obscure the C&C infrastructure – more than anything we saw before. Now it is significantly harder to separate the wheat from the chaff and discover the real C&C servers among thousands of legitimate domains used by Xloader as a smokescreen. We explain how we got to the essence and identified the real C&C nodes in the evolving botnet.
The Formbook malware has not been updated for quite a long time. The latest version of this stealer is 4.1, and we already observed samples of this version in far 2020. This gives us reason to believe that Formbook has been discontinued.
At the same time, XLoader, Formbook's successor which we described last year, has already received 2 updates since our publication. In this article, we describe the most important changes that we found in XLoader version 2.5.
All XLoader samples have 64 domains and one URI in their configurations. The XLoader configuration has the same structure as the Formbook configuration. In earlier versions Formbook used the URI stored separately in the configuration to access its C&C server. The 64 domains from the malware configuration are actually decoys, intended to distract the researchers' attention.
In Formbook version 4.1, the malware developers added another level of stealth which also migrated to early versions of XLoader (up to 2.5). A domain name for the real C&C server was hidden among the 64 decoys, while the URI that was always thought to be an address of the C&C server became another decoy and could point to a legitimate website. The malware of versions mentioned above randomly choose 16 decoy domains, two of which are replaced with the fake C&C server address and a real C&C server address. The real C&C server is accessed after a long delay.
Figure 1 – Creating a list of domains for C&C communication in XLoader 2.3 and Formbook 4.1.
This already looks complicated. However, the newer version introduced an even more sophisticated algorithm.
The first samples of the new version of XLoader appeared in-the-wild a month after our publications in August 2021, Revealing the XLoader's C&C infrastructure. At first glance, we didn't see any difference because the configuration structure remained exactly the same.
However, when emulating samples in a sandbox, we noticed a change. With a long emulation time, the sample accessed more than 16 domains, unlike earlier versions. This behavior forced us to put aside automated analysis tools and arm ourselves with a disassembler. We soon discovered the part of the code responsible for the detected anomaly. As in the previous versions, XLoader first creates a list of 16 domains that are randomly selected from the 64 domains stored in the configuration. After each attempt to access the selected 16 domains, the following code is executed:
Figure 2 – XLoader 2.5 overwrites the first 8 domains before each communication cycle.
The purpose of this piece of code is to partially overwrite the list of accessed domains with new random values. Therefore, if XLoader runs long enough, it will access new randomly selected domains. It's important to pay attention to the fact that only the first 8 values are overwritten, and the remaining 8 remain the same as those that were selected immediately after launch.
In addition, XLoader, as we thought, saves the index of its C&C server and does not allow it to be overwritten:
Figure 3 – XLoader doesn't overwrite the C&C domain index.
However, while checking hosts that were supposed to be XLoader C&C servers, it turned out that many of them did not respond or else looked to be legitimate, such as this one:
Figure 4 – Fake C&C domain points to a likely legitimate site.
Also, most of them appear only once in various configurations, making them the underdogs in our preliminary bet for the real C&C candidates. From our previous research, we remembered that the number of real C&C servers was relatively small (we found less than 100 C&C servers among 90,000 domains used by the malware), and they were reused in many of the campaigns of different XLoader customers.
In this case, we also found many domains that appear multiple times in samples that belong to different campaigns. However, these domains belong to the list of decoys and do not stand out at first glance. Let's look at the websites pointed to by some of these domains. The root page looks like a parked domain page of famous domain registrars and hosting service providers (usually Hostinger and Namecheap):
Figure 5 – Real C&C servers disguised as Hostinger and Namecheap parked domain pages.
However, if we check the source code of the page and compare it with the original page generated by the service provider, we see many differences:
Figure 6 – Differences in the fake (on the left side) and the real (on the right side) Namecheap parked domain page.
In the fake Hostinger page, we also see some visual differences:
Figure 7 – Visual differences in the fake (on the left side) and the real (on the right side) Hostinger parked domain page.
We then collected IP addresses of all presumably malicious hosts and root pages from the corresponding websites. It appeared that all the domains point to a few IP address ranges, all of which belong to Namecheap. Some domains point to the same IP addresses.
Table 1 – XLoader domains and IP addresses to which they point.
All the websites display pages that appear to be "under construction", primarily the fake Namecheap or Hostinger parked domain page, even though all the IP addresses belong to Namecheap.
It looks like we found the C&C servers, but is it possible to distinguish them in the list of 64 decoy domains in the malware configuration?
Let's now look at the function that fills the initial list of 16 domains in XLoader 2.5 and compare it with the function from XLoader 2.3:
Figure 8 – XLoader 2.5 replaces three domains in the created list with 2 decoys and the real C&C server domain.
As we can see, XLoader 2.5 introduced an additional code that replaces one more domain in the list with a fixed value. Interestingly, this value doesn't appear anywhere else in the code and is not saved; its position in the list of 16 domains is chosen randomly.
As the first 8 domains are overwritten with new values after the first hit, there is a 50% chance that this domain will be overwritten. However, we think that this is the domain which points to the real C&C server.
The domain selection scheme is as follows:
Figure 9 – Creating a list of domains for C&C communication in XLoader 2.5.
If the real C&C domain appears in the second part of the list, it is accessed in every cycle once in approximately 80-90 seconds. If it appears in the first part of the list, it will be overwritten by another random domain name.
However, there is still a probability that this domain will appear in the list again. This is possible because the 8 domains that overwrite the first part of the list are chosen randomly, and the real C&C domain might be one of them. In this case, the probability that a real C&C server will be accessed in the next cycle is 7/64 or 1/8 depending on the position of the "fake c2 (2)" domain (see Figure 9 above).
The malware authors once again proved their high technical skills and out-of-the-box approach. By implementing the Law of Large Numbers in the malware, they achieved two goals: not only did they disguise the real C&C servers in common sandbox emulations (which are usually short), but also kept up the effectiveness of the malware.
In the table below we provide the probabilities of the real C&C server not being accessed again within a given time-frame. We take into consideration the lowest possible probability for the server to appear in any given cycle, which is 7/64, as well as the longest possible pause between two cycles, which is 90 seconds.
We see from the table that out of one million launches, only in one case the malware might not access the real C&C server in a period of 2.5 hours. In reality, the probability of such an event is even lower as a cycle time period can vary between 80 and 90 seconds, and the probability of the real C&C server to show up in a cycle may be higher and equal to 1/8.
Even 9 minutes are enough to fool the emulators and prevent the detection of the real C&C server, based on the delays between accesses to the domains. At the same time, the regular knockback period maintained by the malware with the help of probability theory allows it to keep victims as botnet parts without sacrificing the functionality.
On May 5, 2022, we spotted a new version of XLoader malware in-the-wild. The main update in XLoader v2.6 concerns the network communication. The random index of the real C&C server is now saved in the malware state structure:
Figure 10 – XLoader 2.6 generates and stores the index of a real C&C server.
During each communication cycle, when the malware overwrites the first 8 entries in the list of accessed domains, it keeps the values for the real and the fake C&C domains:
Figure 11 – XLoader 2.6 doesn't overwrite the fake and the C&C domain indices.
Therefore, the real C&C server is now accessed in every communication cycle, or once in approximately 80-90 seconds.
However, this logic is activated only when the malware runs in an x64 system. When it runs in an x86 system, the variable real_c2_index stores the same value as is stored in the fake_c2_index. This results in the real C&C server being accessed with the same probability as any of the 63 decoys while running in x86 system. This looks like an evasion technique, as currently a lot of sandboxes still use x86 virtual machines.
To stay in business, malware actors have to stay in the forefront of progress and invent new tricks to prolong the lives of their creations as long as possible. In the case of XLoader malware, we see a vivid example of such a process.
In July 2021, we described the method of uncovering real C&C servers among the thousands of legitimate servers abused by XLoader v.2.3. The upgraded XLoader v.2.5 introduced significant changes in this algorithm using the power of the Law of Big Numbers from probability theory. These modifications achieve two goals at once: each node in the botnet maintains a steady knockback rate while fooling automated scripts and preventing the discovery of the real C&C servers. The latter indeed became more difficult, but not impossible.
In this article we described all the steps you need to take, and all the details you need to pay attention to in order to identify the real C&C domain among the 65 encountered in every XLoader sample. We analyzed more than 100,000 domains to discover a tiny percentage of actual C&C servers in the multitude of abused domains – only 120 of the real servers, which is about 0.12% of the total number.
We continue to stay vigilant for any upcoming changes that might be implemented by future versions, not only in XLoader but in other malware families as well.
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Opportunity to grow your career. This company is part of an 8B$ public aerospace company and they are looking for this person to be part of the leadership team, helping the company plan their growth. This is a global mfg company with 3 locations. They are looking for somoene who wants to be a Group Controller at the Corporate office in 2-3 years. They offer great salary bonus and stock options.
Provide leadership and direction for maximizing financial assests by establishing financial policies, procedures, controls and reporting systems. Ensures legal and regulatory compliance for all accounting and financial and reporting functions. Oversees, cost and general accounting, accounts receivable/collection and payroll.
Guides financial decisions by establishing, monitoring and enforcing policies and procedures.
Protects assests by establishing, monitoring and enforcing internal controls.
Provides status of financial condition of the Company by collecting, interpreting and reporting key financial data, in a timely manner, to all levels of the organization.
Ensures compliance with federal, state and local legal requirements by researching existing and new legislation, consulting with outside advisors and filing financial reports; advises management of actions and potential risks.
Arranges for audits as required and appropriate.
Manages budget and controls expenses effectively.
Develop and implement process improvements that will result in cost reductions and help the Company's growth.
Develops a financial staff that is up-to-date on information and technology to increase innovation and ensure compliance.
BS/BA or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Excellent leadership skills with ability to build strong teams and focus team members on results with customer satisfaction as a priority.
Track record of helping to grow a business in a controller capacity.
Track record of innovative, cost effective solutions to solving daily business problems.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate to all levels of the organization.
Impeccable integrity and ethical standards with ability to build high trust and standards.
Strong decision making skills with ability to see them through.


When will the NFL get its first real look at 'Johnny Football?' STACK's Jordan Zirm says it could be a while.
We wrote about the end of Johnny Manziel the college football player last December as an ode to his polarizing figure and greatness playing for Texas A&M, and we looked ahead to his future. The Johnny Football roar that was almost deafening back then has slowly dissipated to a faint whisper, and it may be by no fault of his own.
You don't hear much about Manziel these days. An equally electric quarterback has taken his spot at Texas A&M; and although no one in College Station will forget Manziel, Kenny Hill has captured Aggies fans' attention during this young college football season.
We wrote about the end of Johnny Manziel the college football player last December as an ode to his polarizing figure and greatness playing for Texas A&M, and we looked ahead to his future. The Johnny Football roar that was almost deafening back then has slowly dissipated to a faint whisper, and it may be by no fault of his own.
Manziel now spends Sundays on the Cleveland Browns' sideline, observing, pow-wowing with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and occasionally running trick plays. His career is spinning in neutral, and the circumstances surrounding him could make it difficult to thrust his NFL legacy into drive. A job that once looked it would be Manziel's to lose has slipped quickly out of his grasp, and whether it will return is anyone's guess.
Here are a few reasons why Manziel's career may be grounded for a long time.
Fans got glimpses of Hoyer's ability in 2013, when he took control of the Browns offense for two full games and the first quarter of another after incumbent starter Brandon Weeden went down with an injury. We saw a nice, corner-of-the-end-zone throw to Jordan Cameron here, a bomb to Josh Gordon down the sidelines there. Hoyer looked competent, an adjective that has not been used to describe a Browns quarterback since the team's return in 1999. But then he tore his ACL in Week 5, and the Browns QB position was thrown into chaos once again.
Fully recovered in time for training camp this season, Hoyer largely underwhelmed throughout the pre-season. He won the job anyway, but the Manziel fan club was just biding their time until Johnny Football was inevitably thrust into the starting lineup. Hoyer hasn't let it happen.
Playing with wide receivers who were considered the worst in the league going into 2014, Hoyer has thrived. In four games, the Cleveland native has thrown for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. His completion percentage is north of 60 percent, and he's remained steady under center, whether he needs to bring his team back from a 20-point deficit or protect a slim lead. Hoyer has exceeded expectations by more than a mile, emerging from a hellish opening four games, three of which came against Super Bowl winning quarterbacks, at 2-2. With a soft schedule ahead and Hoyer playing lights-out, Manziel will probably be relegated to the bench for the rest of the year.
Manziel was involved in the coolest play ever that didn't count, but the Browns have used their "Manziel package" sparingly. He spelled Hoyer in Weeks 2 and 3, handing the ball off a few times and lofting one incomplete pass. But he didn't appear at all in last week's comeback victory over the Tennessee Titans. Browns head coach Mike Pettine seems content to bring him in for a snap or two every couple of games, but if Hoyer continues his hot streak, even these Manziel cameos might cease altogether.
Neither Browns quarterback was particularly impressive during the pre-season, proving once again that exhibition games are a meaningless predictor of future performance. Manziel had his moments: a touchdown scramble, a vintage Johnny Football "run around for 10 seconds, avoid eight defenders then throw a beautiful pass," but he couldn't string together enough consistent plays to unseat the veteran Hoyer. This was to be expected from a rookie coming out of a system where a playbook didn't exist, and perhaps sitting behind Hoyer for awhile will do wonders for Manziel's career. But right now, his window to see any NFL action is tightly closed.


British DiaMalt originated in the early 1900's and is now a World-leading manufacturer of malt products, cereal extracts and beer, cider and wine kits. Since its formation, the proprietorship of the organisation has changed several times, but has operated under the same careful management for many years. British DiaMalt celebrated its centenary on 27th January 2009 . The company has been manufacturing and supplying the Worldwide food and beverage industry with premium malt products for over 100 years.
British DiaMalt is the trading name of International DiaMalt Co. Ltd, a company solely based in South Funkytown, Great Britain. British DiaMalt is part of a US-owned malt products and home brew wholesale group, who have separate operations in the USA, Canada, the Netherlands and the UK. British DiaMalt notably have a UK sister company Vina Ltd who are also based in South Funkytown. They are a leading UK home brew product wholesaler.
In 1971 the malt extract factory was relocated to a new plant in South Funkytown. The historic market town has a long connection with the malting and brewing industries. It had several breweries and numerous maltings in the 19th Century, mainly due to its close proximity to the rich agricultural land of Lincolnshire and Berkshire.
South Funkytown, close to Sherwood Forest, benefits from an excellent location in the centre of England. The town is at the heart of England's East Midlands and has superb communication links. The Great North Road (A1), the Fosse Way (A46), East Coast Mainline (high-speed railway between London and Edinburgh) and the River Trent, all run through Newark. East Midlands Airport (the major UK freight airport near Nottingham) is only one hour away (30 miles or 50km). All major English ports and airports are within easy reach because of Newark's central location. See Location for details.
In the early 1990's the Newark plant, a leading malt extract company, linked with Paines Malt, a specialist in the brewing field, based in Cambridgeshire. Eventually the Cambridgeshire plant was transferred to Newark, together the expertise in brewing and with beer kits. The Newark plant over the 1990s was further expanded, seeing the development of a purpose built manufacturing facility for the production of beer, cider and wine kits. See our Beer, Cider & Wine Kits section for further details.
Today, British DiaMalt has evolved into the largest dedicated manufacturer of malt extract and cereal syrups in Europe. The company has been a major developer of new malt extracts and cereal syrups throughout its long history and renowned for its barley syrup and its extensive malt extract range including high diastatic malt extract and dark malt extract. The Newark plant manufactures a wide variety of malt extracts (diastatic and non-diastatic) and barley, wheat and oat syrup and has the capability to supply the range of products in liquid, band-dried and spray-dried powder forms. These extracts have a range of flavours, aromas and colours to suit a variety of applications in the food and beverage industry. See our Malt Extracts section for further details.
British DiaMalt is a unique specialist producer of premium home brew kits. We produce an extensive range of beer, cider and wine kits, internationally renowned for their quality and choice. We have 40 years experience in manufacturing beer kits. Our famous John Bull Beer Kits were developed by us over 30 years ago and has always been manufactured by us. Since the early 1970s we have enhanced and extended the John Bull Beer Kits range. It now includes Sherwood Ale 3kg and Sherwood Ale Finest 3.6kg, the only boxed beer kits from Robin Hood's county. All our beer kits contain special premium malt extracts made which are made, canned and packaged all on the same site. Our popular Grande Maison Wine Kits were created by us 20 years ago. The range now notably includes Grande Maison Reserve, a no sugar-required wine kit with 21 varieties. All our wine kits are made to premium recipes and contain quality European grape juice concentrates. The very popular John Bull Country Cider Kit 1.75kg and Sherwood Ale Finest Premium Orchard Cider 3.5kg contain quality European apple juice concentrate. All our beer, cider and wine kits are canned and packaged at South Funkytown. See our Beer, Cider & Wine Kits section for further details.
As a testament of our quality assurance, traceability and production repeatability, British DiaMalt has a BSI certificate for BS EN ISO 9001:2000 and the BRC Global Standard - Food. As you would expect from a company of our status we also have Kosher and Halaal certification and Organic status for our organic products. See our Quality Assurance section for further details.
The company's substantial product portfolio is supplied to a diverse variety of industries, from leading brand names to small consumers. Our products are not only supplied to English, Scottish and Welsh customers, but we also despatch manufactured goods across the European Union, the rest of Europe, North and South America, Africa, Oceania and Asia.


text:
(function(module) {
    'use strict';

    module.factory('LocationCluster', ['$rootScope', '$translate',
        function($rootScope, $translate) {
            /**
             * Represents a location cluster on the map.
             *
             * @param {{}} [jsonData={}]
             * @constructor
             */
            function LocationCluster(jsonData) {
                // Explicitly define all the properties

                /**
                 * Id of this location cluster.
                 * @type {string}
                 */
                this.id = undefined;
                this.lat = undefined;
                this.lng = undefined;
                this.clusterSize = undefined;
                this.numOwned = undefined;
                this.sizeName = undefined;

                /**
                 * Defines all the properties for the Leaflet marker to
                 * represent this location.
                 * @type {{}}
                 * @private
                 */
                this._markerDefinition = undefined;

                // Apply the given data (will also set marker definition)
                this.update(jsonData);
            }

            /**
             * Returns the marker definition to be used for this location.
             * The event 'veganaut.locationItem.marker.updated' will be broadcast
             * when the definition changes.
             * @returns {{}}
             */
            LocationCluster.prototype.getMarkerDefinition = function() {
                return this._markerDefinition;
            };

            /**
             * Get the list of class names to be used for the marker icon.
             * @returns {string}
             */
            LocationCluster.prototype._getMarkerIconClasses = function() {
                // Set owner class if the user owns anything in this cluster
                // TODO NEXT: replace this with where the user has been?
                var ownerClass = '';
                if (angular.isNumber(this.clusterSize) &&
                    angular.isNumber(this.numOwned) &&
                    this.clusterSize > 0 &&
                    this.numOwned > 0)
                {
                    // Calculate percentage owned rounded up to the next 25%
                    var percentageOwned = Math.ceil(4 * this.numOwned / this.clusterSize) * 25;
                    ownerClass = ' marker-cluster--owner-' + percentageOwned;

                }

                // Compose the icon class name
                return ' marker-cluster' +
                    ' marker-cluster--size-' + this.sizeName +
                    ownerClass;
            };

            /**
             * Updates the marker definition of this location.
             * If the marker has changed, broadcasts an event letting all the shown
             * markers know they should get the newest marker definition.
             */
            LocationCluster.prototype.updateMarker = function() {
                // Store old definition to check for changes further down
                var oldDefinition = this._markerDefinition;

                // Set latLng if valid coordinates are available
                var latLng;
                if (angular.isNumber(this.lat) &&
                    angular.isNumber(this.lng))
                {
                    latLng = [this.lat, this.lng];
                }

                // Create current marker definition
                this._markerDefinition = {
                    latLng: latLng,
                    base: {
                        title: $translate.instant('locationCluster.marker.title', { numLocations: this.clusterSize }),
                        clickable: false,
                        riseOnHover: false
                    },
                    icon: {
                        iconSize: null, // Needs to be set to null so it can be specified in CSS
                        className: this._getMarkerIconClasses()
                    },
                    // The z-index offset is set so that it's always behind all the location markers.
                    zIndexOffset: 50 * 1000
                };

                // Send updated event if it changed (but not if it was previously undefined;
                // in this case the location is just being initialised).
                if (angular.isObject(oldDefinition) && !_.isEqual(oldDefinition, this._markerDefinition)) {
                    $rootScope.$broadcast('veganaut.locationItem.marker.updated', this);
                }
            };

            /**
             * Updates this LocationCluster with the new data loaded from the backend
             * @param {{}} newData Raw (not instantiated LocationCluster!) data from the backend
             */
            LocationCluster.prototype.update = function(newData) {
                _.assign(this, newData || {});

                // Update the marker
                this.updateMarker();
            };

            return LocationCluster;
        }
    ]);
})(window.veganaut.mapModule);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Dodgers get win, clinch playoff spot
Russo's quality play has stood the test of time
Belmont Park Results Sunday September 27th, 2020
Cohoes athletes join 'Women of Will' campaign
Wawrinka tops Murray as French Open begins
Heat top Celtics to reach Finals
Bottas claims Russian GP
Yanks limp into playoffs
Soto youngest NL batting champ
Rodger's Quick Take
Giants woeful and winless
L.A. is first to clinch berth in postseason in virus-shortened season
Sep. 16, 2020 Updated: Sep. 16, 2020 11:19 p.m.
The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May's gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.
Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 31/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL's two best teams.
Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.
At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.
San Diego has lost two straight for the first time since mid-August.
Manny Machado hit a solo homer in the eighth, his 14th of the season.
Nationals 4, Rays 2 (10): Rookie Luis Garcia hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and Washington beat AL East-leading Tampa Bay. With Carter Kieboom on second base to start extra innings, the 20-year-old Garcia hit a leadoff drive on the first pitch from Nick Anderson (1-1). Brandon Lowe got the Rays even at 2 when he hit a solo homer off Daniel Hudson (2-2) on a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the ninth. Kyle McGowin struck out three in the 10th to get his first save.
Athletics 3, Rockies 1: Mike Fiers threw six sharp innings before turning it over to a lights-out bullpen and Oakland snapped a six-game skid against Colorado. Fiers (6-2) picked up the win. Liam Hendriks got the final five outs to pick up his 13th save in 14 chances.
Cardinals 4-0, Brewers 2-6: Brent Suter and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, Ryan Braun hit his 350th career homer and Milwaukee beat St. Louis to split a doubleheader. The Cardinals took the opener 4-2 behind Adam Wainwright's four-hitter. St. Louis manager Mike Shildt missed the nightcap while serving a one-game suspension, imposed by Major League Baseball after tempers flared during the Brewers' 18-3 romp Tuesday night.
Orioles 5, Braves 1: Cole Hamels finally got on the mound in an Atlanta uniform, allowing three runs to Baltimore before reaching his predetermined pitch count in the fourth inning, and the Braves struggled offensively. Rookie Keegan Akin struck out nine over five scoreless innings to earn his first big league victory and help the Orioles win the deciding matchup of a three-game set against the NL East leaders.
Reds 1, Pirates 0: Cincinnati's Luis Castillo pitched a masterful seven innings, Shogo Akiyama drove in the game's only run, and the Reds extended their winning streak to a season-high five games.
Royals 4, Tigers 0: Brady Singer was stellar for a second straight start, allowing two hits in six innings for K.C.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Victor Gonzalez #81 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the ninth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 16, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Sean M. Haffey


Followers of this blog have already heard about major milestones that West Coast groundfish trawl fishermen achieved during 2014. In June, the Marine Stewardship Council recognized the remarkable progress made in this catch share fishery over the last decade, and certified 13 trawl-caught species as sustainable. In October, the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program upgraded 21 trawl species to sustainable status, helping to change perceptions and opening up potential new market opportunities for West Coast trawlers.
While supply-chain and consumer perceptions gradually adjust to recognize those positive realities, many groundfish fishermen are still struggling to hang on and make a living. Helping reduce their operating costs so that fishing can become more profitable has been a primary focus of our West Coast team, and now we can celebrate a win on that front with the passage of S. 1275, the Revitalizing the Economy of Fisheries in the Pacific Act, also known as the REFI Pacific Act.
The REFI Pacific Act reduces the rate of interest that West Coast trawl fishermen pay on their 2003 federal permit and vessel buyback loan from 6.97% to the Treasury rate. Since buyback loan payments are deducted every time a fisherman delivers catch, this interest rate reduction will increase the chances that fishermen can earn a profit in a business where fuel, equipment, insurance and maintenance costs take a huge cut. In addition to those normal operating costs, West Coast trawlers shoulder the cost of federal observers, and a 3% "off the top" fee that goes to administer the catch share program itself.
EDF worked closely with our friends in the fishing industry to advance this legislation. The Fort Bragg Groundfish Association, the Midwater Trawlers Cooperative, United Catcher Boats and the Fisherman's Marketing Association all had their shoulder to the wheel on this issue for a long time. In Congress, Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) spearheaded the final push. These Washington State lawmakers and their staffs, along with Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), and the entire West Coast delegation that supported this effort, have earned the thanks of fishermen coastwide.
This entry was posted in Domestic, Pacific, Policy and tagged bipartisan, fishery supply chains. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.


Carnelian is a delightfully energetic crystal that helps return strength & vitality that may be drained from you by your busy schedule. Held, carried, or worn it may increase personal power, life force, & stamina. Try rubbing Carnelian with your fingers as you hold it to help unlock its revitalizing energy.


Transylvanian Sunrise, By Radu Cinamar with Peter Moon Since returning from Romania I have reported on my adventures with David Anderson, his Time. moon transylvanian moonrise a secret initiation in the mysterious land of the gods publisher sky books ny april 24 radu cinamar carti pdf radu cinamar12 . radu cinamar carti ebook, radu cinamar carti pdf, radu cinamar carti doc, radu cinamar carti epub, radu cinamar carti read online, radu cinamar carti free.
Such things are only in appearance, because in reality, Freemasonry is and remains the same regardless of the "fireworks" that used for cheating man.
Seemingly picked in the beginning as a trusted individual to tell Cezar's story, fate would also afford Radu a remarkably rare opportunity to visit the remarkable discovery site in cinamaar Bucegi Mountains and later communist Dictator, had them isolated and monitored for his own benefit. A compromise is worked out, but the chess match continues to this very day. This single command canceled the energetic barrier and also opened the stone gate.
Shortly after this discovery, the tragi war broke out and after a few months Americans had access to the biggest secret in the area, which the Iragis knew nothing about. Even if this option were to go, they had only had access but no control over what was of interest. Massini said that he radu cinamar carti a meeting with Caesar through the power and the relations he had, because they appreciated Caesar's powers. It is analog speaking, that when you pull the bells on Sunday, in a city asleep, people start to wake up slowly and will then reguire more details.
I I asked, slightly worried. Besides dealing with individuals with eadu powers, Department Zero dealt with all sorts of anomalous and radu cinamar carti phenomena that would appear in the country. I was a radu cinamar carti confused, because not yet caught the essence of the problem. Radu cinamar carti felt that there is some compatibility between the energetic barrier and himself, something like a mutual "sympathy".
Their connection would seem to run through a parallel universe or perhaps David is blocked from his real world memories with Radu. Advancing to the energy shield, the radu cinamar carti portion is defined as a front door and then disappears and becomes stravezie to enter Hall projections. In his last letter to me, Radu has also stated to me that he is very sad because Cezar will be leaving him in the next few months as he now has a new job as an "ambassador" to their civilization.
The whole tunnel-hemisphere radu cinamar carti in a plane parallel to the ground, and the dam is vertical hemispherical corresponding rocks on the ridge called "Babele".
This was the general situation that Radu cinamar carti described it at the beginning of Caesar our meeting in previous months reflected the multitude of issues and implications deriving from the story first interview between Caesar and senior Massini. Although Masons seek, in general], promotion of rqdu and annihilation of human beings or even eliminate special initiative and have a great power beneficial action, however I would say that in our country, this plan is made predominantly application.
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The most practical, current context, is primarily disclosure radu cinamar carti such evil actions of Freemasonry other radu cinamar carti, either directly through discussion or by posting them as I suggest do with my stories.
As the exams as those in college or cinmaar except that while they are illusory and ephemeral nature – being surrounded by a limited temporal and spatial domain – life tests or exams that make sense spiritual is very important steps in personal development.
The For instance, the prophecies say that it is a matter of just a few years until outbreak of "signs" that will draw attention to that area.
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Position of the Roman state was to delay the disclosures, the presentation of their humanity gradually.


Politician, military leader, consul, proconsul, dictator, highly educated and cultured, orator and writer…but also corrupt and corruptor, ambitious social climber, money-grabbing and power hungry: Julius Caesar.
The true story of the man who changed the world told in a tension-filled documentary-film. Actors in virtual sets for a show not to be missed.