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salty-tang · 12 days ago

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For the Record 1: Freshman Orientation (multi-chapter series)

Congressman!Bucky Barnes x Congresswoman!Reader (mostly canon compliant)

Summary: Bucky Barnes has a metal arm. You have a post-metahuman era housing bill and a reputation for not suffering fools in committee. And it was always about the work—until it wasn’t. Now he’s disappearing between votes with bruises he won’t explain, and you’re rewriting amendments with one eye on the chamber doors. Trust looks like passing notes under the table. Care looks like covering for his absence without asking questions. And whatever this is? It lives somewhere between silence and strategy - folded into briefing packets, stitched into a hoodie you never gave back, and hovering just under the words you never say out loud. There’s a vote coming. And he’s trying to make it back in time - for the record, and for you.

⁕⁕⁕

a canon compliant congressman bucky x congresswoman reader fic set somewhere between tfatws and thunderbolts, chronicling congressman barnes' first term as a representative.

Warnings/ tags: Slow Burn, Political Drama, Light Angst with a happy ending, Mutual Pining, Bucky Doesn't Think He Deserves Good Things, Hurt/Comfort But Make It Legislative, Secret Missions with Legislative Consequences, The Interns Have Theories, Canon-Typical Violence, Congressman Bucky Barnes, Congresswoman Reader, author is not american and barely gets american politics, no use of y/n, this is the plot heavy long form fic

Word count: 3.2k

A/N: giving the 10k horny fic the slow burn treatment, enjoy!

ps: AO3 is my main platform for this work, tumblr is just getting the reupload

For the Record masterpost || AO3 || congressman bucky masterpost

The Capitol breathes today – columns rising like relics, ceilings etched with gilded flourishes meant to awe, not comfort. The floor beneath your shoes is marble, cool and echoing, humming faintly with the footsteps of generations past. Velvet ropes redirect foot traffic in elegant loops, and staffers in borrowed suits loiter beside towering doorways, murmuring names they’ve rehearsed for weeks. The scent of old paper, wood polish, and burnt espresso hangs in the air, as familiar as ambition. Orientation week unfurls all around you – ceremonial handshakes, taut smiles, alliances brokered in glances, and the faint clink of coffee cups over promises no one really intends to keep.

The morning light falls like benediction through the rotunda’s arched windows – gold-fringed, solemn, almost theatrical. It strikes the filigree and brass with a precision that feels deliberate, casting the whole chamber in a soft, reverent glow. Statues stand vigil in the corners, their shadows sharp against the polished stone, and every surface gleams with the silent expectation that history will be made here. And if you’re clever, cautious, and lucky enough, it might just allow you to make your mark.

This is your second term in the House. You’ve been re-elected with wider margins and now you come armed with sharper instincts. The chaos of the start of a new term does not overwhelm in the way it once did, and you move through it with the grace of someone who has already learned the steps of this dance.

Nostalgia washes over you as you reflect on your last term – on how you walked into these same marbled halls two years ago, all steel posture and borrowed confidence, gripping a speech you rewrote five times the night before. Back then, everything felt sharp and immediate, where every handshake could make or break a bill. Every glare meant war, while a smile was loyalty to the ends of the earth.

You know better now – some battles are worth losing, some silence speaks louder. And power, the real kind, doesn’t always announce itself. It waits, watches, and moves only when it’s ready. Still, you keep your heels sharp and your replies sharper, as you circulate with ease, collecting updates, issuing tight-lipped congratulations, assessing the new players the way a seasoned poker player scans a fresh table. Most are predictable – party loyalists, legacy sons, a smattering of first-gen firebrands with bright eyes and tired smiles.

A ripple of attention shifts the room – James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes has arrived, fashionably late in the way that suggests he really didn’t mean to be. He’s in the right uniform – navy suit, crisp lines, and polished shoes that probably pinched the moment he put them on – but his posture betrays him. His broad shoulders are too taut, and his eyes dart around like they’re tracking exits, like he’s bracing for a firefight instead of small talk.

And make no mistake, something is coming for him. It’s just not a bullet or a punch to the gut, it’s sharks in silk ties and toothy smiles who circle newcomers like him every term.

You watch as he’s shepherded along by a lanky, salt-and-pepper staffer who’s doing his best to translate DC niceties into whatever language it is Bucky speaks. There’s something almost painful about how out of place he looks, and for the briefest second, you feel the flicker of something dangerously close to sympathy. You snuff it out immediately.

It’s clear that the uniform of civility doesn’t fit him. It chafes. And deep down, you can’t help but think, what the hell is a war hero, an Avenger, a liability, doing here, of all places?

What’s he trying to fix?

Or worse – what does he think he’s owed?

⁕

“That’s Mike Castillo,” Derek Chang mutters from beside you, breaking you out of your ruminations, his voice pitched low enough not to carry.

Your Chief of Staff since the beginning – ridiculously competent, permanently unimpressed – Derek has been at your side since the moment you decided to upgrade idealism for elected office.

He falls into step with you effortlessly, having already signed you in at the welcome desk and handed you the orientation packet you’ve been expecting. You flip it open as he continues, eyes skimming over committee placements and seating charts while Derek offers that kind of quiet, precise intel that never makes it into official briefings.

“Castillo’s the Comms Director. Smart. Ex-Senate. Got out just before the guy he worked for was indicted. Been cleaning up after Barnes since the campaign trail.” A pause. “Poor man looks like he’s aged ten years.”

You hum, half-listening, half-watching, as Mike steers Bucky away from an eager gaggle of press with all the practiced calm of a man defusing a live grenade.

Buried between a line about ethics reform and a tentative travel docket, you clock a header you weren’t expecting:

Pending Delegation Travel: Southeast Asia (Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore – Final Roster TBC)

You nudge the line with your thumb.

“That trip still happening?”

Derek shrugs. “Committee's trying to shove it through before midterms eat the calendar. They want a mix of senior oversight and fresh blood. Don’t look at me like that.”

You arch a brow.

“You count as both.”

You let the remark hang. Southeast Asia is interesting enough – the humid heat, the food, the way their press brings a different type of chaos – that you consider putting yourself forward as a delegate. But then your mind clicks forward, fast and practical. All the travel memos, staff rotations, diplomatic briefings, the calendar for markup week that Derek barely just managed to wrangle under control…

You sigh and file it for monitoring at the back of your mind, as you turn your attention to more immediate things.

The seating chart at the Subcommittee on Post-Blip Housing and Urban Recovery pairs you and Bucky together. You actually snort. You can see the party Whip’s fingerprints all over this arrangement – he’s one of those overzealous optimists who still believe that bipartisanship can be manufactured through “harmless” proximity.

Still, you can appreciate the optics. Bucky might not have any policy experience (in housing or otherwise), but post-Blip reconstruction practically begs for a face like his – reformed, recognisable, and deeply symbolic.

⁕

The air in the committee room is faintly stale – too many old reports, too little fresh sunlight – and it carries the smell of paper, varnish, and the distant ghost of bureaucracy. Walnut panels line the walls in solemn rows, their sheen dulled by decades of anxious fingertips and heavy-handed debate. Framed district maps hang between portraits of past committee chairs, faces captured mid-command, their legacies more present in precedent than memory.

You’re already settled when he slides into the chair beside you – again, just barely on time. You give him a minute to get his bearings. He pulls out a pen, a blank notepad, and very little else. He’s got no annotated packets, no staff-prepared folders, not even a working knowledge of committee procedure if his uncertain expression is anything to go by.

The committee leader calls the meeting to order and launches into what may be the driest opening monologue ever made. He's been drawing out the same overwrought metaphor about “rebuilding the foundations of civic life” for at least eight uninterrupted minutes.

You lean in, barely. Your eyes don’t move from the front of the room.

“I hope you’re not planning to grandstand every hearing with shield metaphors.”

Bucky turns, just slightly, surprised the remark is for him. Then he deadpans, “was thinking more about roof metaphors. Housing committee, am I right?”

Your lips twitch – barely. You’ve heard he has a dry sense of humour. It’s oddly satisfying to find the reports were not exaggerated.

That assessment takes a nosedive when the committee leader opens the floor for speeches, and names Bucky to kick it off. Several backs straighten – the other Representatives are eager to hear what he has to say.

He blinks once, twice, thrice, and you just know he’s not ready at all.

You watch him clamber onto the raised dais and begin speaking – sparingly, politely. There’s a tightness to his posture, like he’s bracing for impact. It’s years of managing your every micro-expression that the neutral smile plastered on your face does not slip into a grimace.

You’ve seen worse, freshmen reps freeze under the pressure all the time, but watching him fumble through vague platitudes about rebuilding and second chances, feels like watching someone bleed out slowly under a spotlight. The worst part is that you don’t even think he’s trying to be performative – he means every word.

And meaning, you know all too well, doesn’t pass legislation.

He catches himself before he meanders into the realm of war stories, which you are sure is something that he will never be able to recover from if he did, but he’s already lost the thread. He sounds nice, he does not stutter, but nothing in his speech lands. It does not offer a number, a draft, a measurable target, just directionless conviction.

You’re a student of the system; you’ve memorized its rules, its blind spots, its loopholes, like the zealot you are. Not because they’re fair, or that you blindly believe in it, but because they were at least supposed to be there. You clawed your way up through hearings, amendments, hostile rooms, convinced that if you played the game well enough, you could rewrite the rules from the inside.

And he’s not rewriting the rules. He doesn’t even seem to know them.

He’s not someone the system failed, he’s what the system built and then discarded. A soldier in a suit, now expected to navigate markup procedures with the same instincts that got him through ambushes. He speaks with weight, yes, but it’s the kind forged in blood, not policy. And weight without grounding is just gravity – dragging everything down with it.

If this is about his atonement – informed by some misplaced belief that redemption wears a suit and a tie and carries a voting record – you give it six months, tops.

Capitol Hill doesn’t run on conscience; it runs on optics, on compromise padded in committee notes, on favours owed and favours banked. If he’s looking for redemption, he’s picked the wrong altar. This isn’t a temple, it’s a place where the wheels are built to turn for eternity. And it functions best when it forgets the people it has failed.

If he doesn’t already realize that, he will be forced to. Much sooner than he thinks.

⁕

Bucky Barnes knows he’s no political wunderkind. He hears the words that come out of his mouth – halting, barely scripted, a shade too awkward – and wonders sardonically how everyone in the room is keeping a straight face. Maybe no one wants to be the first to laugh at a man who used to kill for a living.

He’s not new to being watched, but this, this is a different kind of scrutiny. No one’s bracing for a flash of metal and a body count, they’re waiting for him to trip over parliamentary procedure or misquote a housing statute. A reminder for them – however accidentally – that the Winter Soldier is now expected to politic.

He wants to prove that he can bleed something good out from a system that once used him as a weapon, praised him like a saviour, and then dropped him like a threat the second he stopped being convenient.

He remembers what Sam told him, once, “the only power I have is that I believe we can do better.”

Some days, Bucky tries to believe it too. Most days, he’s not sure he can.

But he still suits up and sits through roll call. Listens, votes, and waits for the other shoe to drop, for someone to say what they’re all thinking; that maybe this whole thing – the office, the oath, the second chance – was a mistake.

Because it wouldn’t be the first time they handed him a new identity just to wait for him to ruin it himself.

⁕⁕⁕

It’s half an hour into the fourth working session of the subcommittee when you notice that Bucky is a no-show. You glance at the empty seat with his nameplate, then at the door again. You tap your pen against your legal pad. Then you flip through your binder, wondering – not for the first time – why you even care.

It happens again the next day. He’s not on the call sheet for a hearing that he’s supposed to be co-chairing. You glance at the chair across from you, neatly set up, untouched. A niggling thought at the back of your head that suggests that maybe he’s not even in the city.

You push it aside and focus on the agenda. You’re not his handler.

But it’s at the seventh subcommittee meeting, just before the session on Section 17 amendments – that the low simmer of irritation finally boils over into full-fledged suspicion. You fire off an email to his office, short and sharp.

You barely have the chance to close your inbox when the auto-reply lands neatly at the top of the pile.

Congressman Barnes is currently on district travel and will return by the end of the week. Please contact Communications Director Mike Castillo for urgent matters.

You blink as you check the time. It’s 10:37 am EST.

One of your aides literally just ran into him at the specialty coffee shop four blocks away – black double shot Americano, no sugar, hood up. Not exactly district travel attire.

You lean back in your chair, brow furrowed. The whole thing stinks of a coverup. Even your interns know what a genuine travel memo looks like, and this is so far from it that it’s laughable. What this is, is a pre-cleared alibi for an absence someone doesn’t want logged. You’ve seen this kind of manoeuvre before – from career politicians who lie for a living, not from war heroes trying to rebrand as reformed public servants.

But maybe that’s the trick.

He says he’s changed. He says he’s here to do better. And yet, there he goes, vanishing behind fake calendar entries like it’s his second nature.

The work continues in his absence. You hold your tongue.

But you don’t forget.

⁕⁕⁕

A few days later, you’re leaving the Rayburn House cafeteria, takeaway salad in hand, when you pass your internal mailbox and pause. A single sheet of paper has been slipped in there. There’s no envelope, no cover letter, no outer markings. Just A4 folded neatly with all the edges aligned with an almost compulsive precision, and creased like it had lived in someone’s back pocket for hours.

You stand there in the mailroom, staring at it longer than you mean to.

On the margins, the sender has signed off with a small dash and a single letter.

- B

It’s a briefing schedule – your subcommittee calendar. A few time blocks are misaligned with the one that had been previously circulated by his staff, and you clock the change immediately. “Priority conflict” is highlighted in red ink beside a rescheduled oversight hearing with nary an explanation or justification.

You don’t ask. Not yet.

But the next time he walks into the committee meeting room – slightly winded, blazer slung haphazardly over one arm, hair damp at the temples, and (only) thirty minutes late – you don’t even pretend to soften your stare.

He takes his seat beside you, flipping his nameplate back into place like this is supposed to be just another Tuesday, like he hasn’t just insulted your intelligence.

You tilt your head and shift your folder towards him ever so slightly, so that he can see what is clipped to the top with a bright red paper clip – your copy of his alternate schedule.

He doesn’t look at you and certainly doesn’t acknowledge it. But you catch the right corner of his mouth lifting, just barely. Not a smile, not yet.

You catch it, note it, and say nothing.

Let him have his secrets.

You have time.

The session ends as scheduled. You gather your notes, deliberately slow. The room empties around you in the usual shuffle of chairs and half-finished conversations, but he lingers, an elbow intruding just slightly at the edge of your space, like he’s waiting for the right opening.

You glance up, arching a brow, poised for… something. An apology, maybe. An explanation, definitely. Something dry, something deflective, something that admits – if only by omission – that he knows he’s botching this and that you’re noticing.

Bucky just sits there for a breath too long, saying nothing. And then, someone from across the room calls his name and he rises without hesitation.

His fingers skim the edges of your stationery as he turns away.

It could’ve been an accident.

It wasn’t.

⁕⁕⁕

Two weeks later, Bucky makes it back to a Chambers vote with minutes to spare.

The House chamber is alive with tension beneath its polished quiet, the floor a low thrum of footsteps, murmured whip counts, and the rustle of starched fabric and unread memos. Overhead, the lights are too bright and too cold, flattening every face into civility, but he barely notices all of that.

His temple’s still tender from the mission – a drop interception gone sideways – and his tie’s digging into a fresh bruise beneath his collarbone. He didn’t have the energy or time to fix either.

He just focuses on the fact that his seat is beside yours. Of course it is.

You don’t look at him, not directly. Without missing a beat, you draw a slim folder from your pile of papers, and without a word, slide it across the polished table at him.

It’s a briefing packet – tabs, highlights, headings in your tidy, efficient hand. It’s not the packet his office prepared; it’s a twin of your own. And it’s for him.

He doesn’t look at you. But you see the way his shoulders drop a fraction. The way he lets his hand rest on the folder for a beat too long.

His ribs ache and his head is pounding. But for the first time all week, something in him unwinds.

Because you notice – and never ask for anything in return.

He marks the vote and slides the folder into his briefcase. He doesn’t thank you, and he knows you wouldn’t want him to.

But he will.

Somehow, he will.

⁕

Later, in your office, you toss a pen onto your desk with more force than you actually intended to. Regardless, the clack against the wood is sharp and satisfying.

“Remind me why we’re propping up someone who thinks ‘markup’ is a kind of wound?” you ask, not looking up from your amendments.

Derek doesn’t even spare a glance away from his tablet. “You’re the one who said we need allies.”

You grimace. You did say that. Maybe not out loud.

And Bucky Barnes, for all his earnest, inconveniently principled faults, might be the only one here who actually means the things he says.

Which makes him useful. And just that bit dangerous enough to worry you.

⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕

A/N: ive forgotten how tumblr formatting works, please bear with me!

-START- || AO3 || 2. Cover Stories >>

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rideboomindia · 11 months ago

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What strategies can RideBoom implement to ensure the safety and security of its platform?

RideBoom has implemented several strategies to ensure the safety and security of its platform:

Rigorous Driver Screening: RideBoom conducts thorough background checks and driving history verifications on all its drivers to ensure they meet strict safety standards. This includes screening for criminal records and driving violations. The company has deactivated over 40,000 drivers who did not meet their safety criteria [2].

Continuous Driver Monitoring: RideBoom monitors its drivers' records and behaviors to identify potential safety concerns. This allows the company to quickly address any issues and maintain the integrity of its driver pool [2].

In-App Safety Features: RideBoom's mobile app includes various safety features, such as sharing trip details with friends or family, an emergency button to contact emergency services, and prompts to verify the driver's identity and license plate number [1][2].

Integration with Emergency Services: RideBoom has integrated its platform with RapidSOS, a technology that provides emergency dispatchers with critical information like the rider's location and vehicle details, enabling a faster and more effective emergency response [2].

Transparent Pricing and Policies: RideBoom's pricing model is transparent, with upfront fare estimates and no hidden costs, allowing customers to make informed decisions about their rides. The company also clearly communicates its safety policies and procedures to both drivers and passengers [1].

24/7 Customer Support: RideBoom offers round-the-clock customer support to address any inquiries, concerns, or feedback promptly, ensuring a smooth and satisfactory experience for all customers [1].

Expansion of Electric Vehicle Fleet: By incorporating electric vehicles into its offerings, RideBoom is promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly transportation options, which can contribute to overall safety and security [3].

Multi-Modal Transportation Integration: RideBoom's integration of various transportation modes, such as ride-sharing and public transit, provides customers with more flexibility and options, enhancing the overall safety and convenience of their journeys [3].

#rideboom app #delhi rideboom #ola cabs #rideboom #biketaxi #rideboom taxi app #uber #ola #uber taxi #RideBoom india #ride share

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strategichannah · 10 months ago

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Beyond Social Media: A Guide to the Full Scope of Effective Strategies

Think marketing is just social media? Think again. Explore the full marketing tree and learn how to reach your audience with strategies that go beyond the digital world.

Beyond Social Media: A Guide to the Full Scope of Effective Strategies Written by: that Hannah Jones Time To Read: 9 minutes marketing is more than just social media “you can create a thriving, vibrant business even if you decide to skip social media altogether.” When most people think about marketing today, their minds immediately jump to social media. It’s where trends go viral, where…

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britsyankswheels24 · 2 days ago

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🚘 Riley Coupe Concept (Rover Group, 1990s) — one of the most mysterious and overlooked concept cars in British automotive history.

🕰️ Developed in the mid-1990s while Rover Group (then owned by BMW) was exploring the revival of historic marques like Riley, Wolseley, and Triumph, this concept was a bold attempt to breathe new life into the prestigious Riley name — known for its elegance and sporting character from the 1930s to 1950s.

🎨 A sleek two-door executive coupe with retro flair and sporting ambition: a long hood, sloping roofline, upright grille, wooden trim, analog dials, and leather everywhere. The design was clearly inspired by the Riley RM Series and possibly influenced by the Rover R8 Coupe and BMW E36.

⚙️ Rumored to be based on the Rover 800 platform (or its R17 revision), the Riley Coupe remained a styling exercise within the Rover Design Studio, likely under the direction of Gerry McGovern or Peter Stevens.

❌ It never reached production. As BMW shifted focus toward the MINI revival, projects like Riley were quietly shelved. A shame — Riley could’ve been Britain’s answer to Alfa Romeo or even Audi.

📷 Today, the only known images of the Riley Coupe concept live in the archives of the British Motor Museum or in the private portfolios of designers who worked at Rover in the 1990s. A true ghost of an alternate automotive future.

💡 Rover seriously considered a multi-brand strategy, positioning Riley as a more dynamic, premium counterpart to Rover — a kind of British take on sporty refinement. Sadly, the funding just wasn’t there.

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dertaglichedan · 3 months ago

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Tesla Takedown Revolutionaries Prepare Mobilization Nationwide

Far-left revolutionaries behind the "Tesla Takedown" color revolution operation have identified dozens of Tesla targets nationwide and are preparing to mobilize far-left agitators aligned with the Democratic Party to those locations as soon as Saturday, in what the rogue group—reportedly funded by Soros-linked organizations like Indivisible—calls a "Global Day of Action."

The Tesla Takedown website links to The Action Network—an online platform used by shady far-left NGOs to organize and fundraise—which shows that groups like Troublemakers and the Disruption Project are leading tomorrow's efforts to "tank Tesla's stock" and destroy shareholder value.

Tesla Takedown claims on its website that its movement is "peaceful" and "oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property." Yet, there has been a series of domestic terrorism attacks on Tesla vehicles, service locations, and charging networks in recent weeks as the party of radicals and their corporate media allies push dangerous and toxic rhetoric to energize activists. This is nothing more than a rudderless party nurturing hate, violence, and destruction.

Here's our latest reporting on the Democratic Party's planned color revolution against Tesla by using their network of rogue NGOs:

Rogue Soros-Funded NGO Plots Multi-City Assault On Tesla As Domestic Terrorism Escalates

Tesla Takedown Organizers Plan Color Revolution To "Kill" Brand & "Death Spiral" For Investors

"Tread Carefully": Pam Bondi Issues Warning To Unhinged Rep. Jasmine Crockett Over Musk "Takedown"

Dems are using the same color revolution playbook with NGOs that was seen during the BLM riots in 2020. The party is resorting to violence as DOGE slashed NGO funding by neutering USAID and handing it over to the State Department.

All of this chaos comes as the Democratic Party's polling numbers have imploded to record lows as their strategy becomes attacking an American company with some of its supporters firebombing private property.

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justinspoliticalcorner · 3 months ago

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Christopher Wiggins at The Advocate:

Republican lawmakers and conservative groups in Washington, D.C., are ramping up their attacks on transgender rights with a "Detrans Awareness Day," a slate of events on Capitol Hill set for Wednesday. The events, framed as a platform for people who identified as trans previously but who have detransitioned, are part of a growing strategy by the GOP to justify bans on gender-affirming care and push harmful narratives about transgender lives. For what evidence does exist, detransitioning is extremely rare. Among those speaking at Detrans Awareness Day are Laura Becker, Soren Aldaco, and Chloe Cole, figures frequently used by anti-trans activists to push restrictive policies. Cole, in particular, has testified in multiple GOP-led hearings advocating for the elimination of gender-affirming care for minors and has become a favorite speaker among far-right groups. “I’m going to New York today and then D.C. on March 12 for Detrans Awareness Day!” Becker posted on X (formerly Twitter). “This week will be huge—Capitol Hill, the White House, and so much more.” Another detransitioner, Maia Poet, wrote, “Officially landed in DC for detrans awareness day!!!!!!” According to The Handbasket, multiple GOP-sponsored events are being held alongside the Genspect conference. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas is hosting a press conference at 3 p.m. EDT at the Longworth House Office Building, featuring Cole and Jared Ross, a figure known for making inflammatory claims about trans people on far-right media platforms. Crenshaw’s office confirmed that his event is separate from a roundtable discussion hosted by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s department, which will reportedly feature only detransitioners and conservative medical professionals. The Handbasket reports that McMahon’s department has ordered staff to telework for the day. Staff at the Department of Education were told to vacate the building by 6 p.m. on Tuesday for unspecified security reasons, MSNBC reports. Moms for Liberty, The Heritage Foundation, Independent Women’s Forum, and other anti-LGBTQ+ groups are co-hosting a separate multi-panel event, according to The Handbasket. The event includes discussions on “medical harm,” legal challenges to gender-affirming care, and the role of “social contagion” in gender identity—terms frequently weaponized by anti-trans activists to fuel fear and misinformation.

[...] In a few weeks, LGBTQ+ advocates will celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31. The internationally recognized day uplifts transgender lives, highlights ongoing discrimination, and calls for greater rights and inclusion. Last year, then-President Joe Biden issued a proclamation reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transgender rights and urging Congress to pass the Equality Act. “No one should have to be brave just to be themselves,” Biden said in his 2024 statement.

Right-wing anti-trans extremists are holding “Detrans Awareness Day” events, featuring the likes of political detransitioners such as Chloe Cole and Maia Abbruzzese (“Maia Poet”), along with other anti-trans voices such as Dan Crenshaw and Linda McMahon. The Chloe Cole-type political detransitioners are a minority of the detrans folks, but a very vocal one.

#Detransitioners #Political Detransitioners #Detransition #LGBTQ+#Transgender #Anti Trans Extremism #Detrans Awareness Day #Soren Aldaco #Chloe Cole #Laura Becker #Maia Poet #Maia Abbruzzese #Dan Crenshaw #Genspect #Linda McMahon #US Department of Education #Gender Affirming Healthcare #Social Contagion Myth

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usafphantom2 · 4 months ago

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Introducing F-21: The Latest 4th Generation Fighter Plane from Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin F-21

Taking its game forward, Lockheed Martin has proposed an improved version of the popular F-16 at Aero India 2019 called the F-21 and claims it will be the most advanced, 4th generation Fighter Aircraft in the world.

Lockheed Martin had earlier offered its F-16 has claimed that the F-21 will be specifically configured for the Indian Air Force and will strengthen India’s path to an advanced airpower future.

An option for new production, the F-21 will have a slew of the latest state of the art technological advancements and improvements that include a new radar system, stealth detection capabilities, and electronics design that add a lot of value to the already iconic aircraft.

F-21 will be based on a proven platform, with a new branding

TATA-Lockheed Martin F-21

“The F-21 is different, inside and out,” said Vivek Lall, vice president of Strategy and Business Development for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

Lockheed Martin has long said it plans to shift its F-16 production lines to India in cooperation with Tata. It has gone so far as to suggest it could establish an F-16 production line in the country regardless of whether it wins the MRCA deal or not.

For years, Lockheed Martin has been lobbying India for MMRCA contract in excess of 100 fighter jets. India traditionally bought its defence technology from and Russia, but recently, it has been buying American military technology, including the P-8 Poseidon and AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.

Now that there is a difficult competition between Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Swedish Gripen, French Rafale, European Eurofighter Typhoon, and Russian MiG-35. Lockheed Martin had to increase the stakes.

F-21 will be nimble, carry decent ordnance, and have lower costs to maintain

Weapon Systems of Lockheed Martin F-21

The F-21 will incorporate an upgraded mission computer, a state of the art avionics and includes multi-function displays. With a Central, Pedestal Display will help improve the crew’s situational awareness through Real-Time processing of the flight data.

In addition, the F-21 will also come with an upgradable display generator, a link-16 data link, HF/UHH/VHF multiple frequency radio communication support as well as IFF (identification friend or foe) enhancements.

The three original computers will be replaced with a single modular mission computer which provides far higher computing power to the avionics and weapons systems in addition to providing accurate targeting, air to air strike performances and information capabilities.

According to Lockheed Martin, the F-21 will be capable of providing affordable and scalable advanced combat capabilities through its Active Electronically Scanned Array radar. The Central Pedestal Display also provides a high-resolution display with colour maps, zoom functionality and Night vision systems, thereby helping to keep the aircraft in an enhanced state of Battle Awareness.

The Aircraft will also be capable of integration with the FLIR laser system and navigation as well as reconnaissance pods. The F-21 is also upgraded with state of the art threat warning systems, jammers, electronic countermeasure equipment pods and chaff and infrared flare dispensers to take care of complex and varied battlefield situations.

What will be the future of F-21?

As of now, the F-21 is just a concept. The F-21 will be tailor-made to meet the requirements of the Indian Airforce and will be a 4.5+ generation fighter if the company wins the estimated $18-billion order for the 115 planes.

Officially known as the “Fighting Falcon” commonly known as the Viper by pilots and crew, The F-16 is one of the most renowned and battle-tested supersonic fighter aircraft in the world. This single engine, multirole aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin (formerly General Dynamics), was developed originally for the United States Air Force and is now regarded as the most successful all-weather multirole fighter aircraft.

Entering into production almost four decades back in 1976, more than 4500 F-16 aircraft have been built and although no more bought by the United States Air Force, improved versions are being built for various export customers.

@defenseaviation.com

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exnori · 11 months ago

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About Exnori

Hello, I am Exnori.com, a premier cryptocurrency exchange dedicated to revolutionizing the way you trade digital assets. I am here to offer a secure, efficient, and user-friendly platform that caters to both beginners and seasoned traders alike. Let me take you through the various aspects of my services and why I am the go-to choice for cryptocurrency trading.

Mission and Vision

At my core, my mission is to create a transparent, secure, and seamless trading environment. I strive to empower my users with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the volatile world of cryptocurrencies confidently. My vision is to become a cornerstone of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, where traders can thrive and reach their financial goals.

Robust Security Protocols

Security is my utmost priority. I employ state-of-the-art encryption techniques, robust multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring to protect your assets and personal information. My security infrastructure is designed to be resilient against cyber threats, ensuring that your investments are safe with me.

User-Centric Design

I am designed with the user in mind. My platform boasts a clean, intuitive interface that simplifies the trading process. Whether you are accessing me via desktop or mobile, you will find a consistent and user-friendly experience that makes trading easy and accessible, no matter where you are.

Extensive Cryptocurrency Selection

I offer a vast selection of cryptocurrencies for trading. From established giants like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple to promising new altcoins, my diverse range of assets ensures that you can find the right opportunities to diversify your portfolio and maximize your trading potential.

Competitive and Transparent Fee Structure

I believe in providing value to my users. My fee structure is transparent and competitive, allowing you to understand exactly what you are paying for each transaction. By keeping fees low, I help you maximize your returns and make the most out of your trading activities.

Comprehensive Educational Resources

Knowledge is power, especially in the dynamic world of cryptocurrency. I offer a wealth of educational resources, including in-depth articles, video tutorials, and live webinars. These resources are tailored to help you understand market trends, develop effective trading strategies, and make informed decisions.

Advanced Trading Tools

For the more experienced traders, I provide a suite of advanced trading tools. These include detailed charting capabilities, technical indicators, and algorithmic trading support through my API. Whether you are a day trader or a long-term investor, my tools are designed to enhance your trading strategy and performance.

Community and Customer Support

I pride myself on fostering a vibrant community of traders. My platform encourages interaction and the exchange of ideas among users, creating a collaborative environment. Additionally, my customer support team is available 24/7 to assist you with any issues or questions you may have, ensuring a smooth and supportive trading experience.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

The cryptocurrency market is constantly evolving, and so am I. I am committed to continuous innovation and regularly update my platform with new features and improvements. This dedication to staying ahead of the curve ensures that I can provide you with the best tools and technologies for successful trading.

Conclusion

Choosing Exnori.com means partnering with a platform that is dedicated to your success. With my robust security measures, user-centric design, extensive asset selection, competitive fees, and unwavering support, I am here to help you achieve your trading goals. Join me at Exnori.com and experience the future of cryptocurrency trading.

By joining Exnori.com, you are becoming part of a dynamic and forward-thinking community. Let's trade smarter, safer, and more effectively together. Welcome to Exnori.com, where your trading journey begins!

#finance #investing #marketing #founder

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boredtechnologist · 11 months ago

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Ah, the glorious history of SHMUPs (shoot 'em ups)! Buckle up as we take a nostalgic trip through the evolution of this exhilarating genre.

Early Beginnings

The SHMUP genre's roots can be traced back to the late 1970s and early 1980s. The concept was simple yet addictive: control a spaceship or character and shoot waves of enemies while dodging their attacks.

Space Invaders (1978) by Taito was a groundbreaking title that laid the foundation. Its straightforward gameplay—defending the Earth from descending alien invaders—captivated players and became a cultural phenomenon. The success of "Space Invaders" sparked a wave of similar games and established the basic mechanics of SHMUPs.

Galaxian (1979) by Namco took the formula further by introducing more dynamic enemy patterns and colorful graphics. This was followed by Galaga (1981), which added new features like enemy formations and the ability to rescue captured fighters, enhancing both strategy and excitement.

The Golden Age

The early 1980s saw a surge of creativity and innovation in SHMUPs. Games became more complex, with varied enemy behaviors, power-ups, and improved graphics.

Xevious (1982) by Namco introduced a scrolling background and multi-layered gameplay, with enemies attacking from both the air and ground. This was a significant step towards the more complex SHMUPs of later years.

Gradius (1985) by Konami was another landmark title. It introduced the "power-up bar" system, where players could collect power-ups and choose their upgrades strategically. The game's intricate level design and memorable boss battles set a new standard for the genre.

R-Type (1987) by Irem pushed the envelope with its detailed graphics, unique power-up system, and iconic "force" orb that added a layer of tactical depth. Its challenging gameplay and creative enemy designs made it a classic.

The 16-bit Era

The late 1980s and early 1990s were a golden era for SHMUPs, with the arrival of 16-bit consoles like the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). These platforms allowed for more sophisticated graphics and sound, leading to some of the most beloved titles in the genre.

Thunder Force IV (1992) by Technosoft was a standout, featuring stunning visuals, a dynamic soundtrack, and fast-paced gameplay. Its multiple weapon systems and large, sprawling levels were a treat for SHMUP fans.

Axelay (1992) by Konami showcased the SNES's graphical capabilities with its Mode 7 effects, offering both vertical and horizontal scrolling levels. The game's innovative weapon system and detailed graphics made it a standout.

The Bullet Hell Revolution

The mid-90s brought a subgenre of SHMUPs known as "bullet hell" or "danmaku," characterized by overwhelming enemy fire patterns that required precise dodging and memorization.

DonPachi (1995) and DoDonPachi (1997) by Cave were pioneers of this style. They emphasized intricate bullet patterns, high difficulty, and scoring systems that rewarded skillful play. These games pushed players to their limits and became cult classics.

Modern SHMUPs: Nostalgia and Innovation

While SHMUPs have become more niche in the mainstream gaming market, they continue to thrive in arcades and among dedicated fans. Modern titles often blend retro aesthetics with contemporary design sensibilities.

Ikaruga (2001) by Treasure is a prime example. Its unique polarity-switching mechanic, where players can absorb bullets of the same color as their ship, added a strategic layer to the traditional SHMUP gameplay. The game's striking visuals and challenging gameplay earned it widespread acclaim.

Mushihimesama (2004) and other titles by Cave continue to push the boundaries of the bullet hell genre, with increasingly complex patterns and high production values.

The Indie Revival: A New Generation

In recent years, the indie game scene has embraced SHMUPs, bringing fresh ideas and styles to the genre. Games like Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony (2011) combine classic SHMUP mechanics with modern graphics and storytelling.

The accessibility of modern development tools has allowed small teams and solo developers to create innovative SHMUPs, ensuring that the genre remains vibrant and diverse.

A Timeless Genre

The history of SHMUPs is a testament to the genre's enduring appeal. From the simple yet addictive gameplay of "Space Invaders" to the intricate bullet patterns of "DoDonPachi," SHMUPs have continually evolved, challenging and delighting players for decades. The genre's focus on skill, reflexes, and high scores ensures it will always have a place in the hearts of gamers, both old and new.

#SHMUPs #Shoot 'em ups #Space Invaders #Galaxian #Xevious #Gradius #R-Type #Thunder Force IV #Axelay #bullet hell #danmaku #DonPachi #DoDonPachi #Ikaruga #Mushihimesama #Legend of the Lost Colony #Retro #Gaming #Pixel Crisis

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mariacallous · 9 months ago

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September was a busy month for Russian influence operations—and for those tasked with disrupting them. News coverage of a series of U.S. government actions revealed Russia was using fake domains and personas, front media outlets, real media outlets acting as covert agents, and social media influencers to distort public conversation around the globe.

The spate of announcements by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. State Department, as well as a public hearing featuring Big Tech leadership held by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, underlines the extent to which Russia remains focused on interfering in U.S. political discourse and undermining confidence in U.S. elections. This is not particularly surprising on its own, as covert influence operations are as old as politics. What the unsealed indictments from the Justice Department, the report by the State Department, and the committee hearing emphasize is that bots and trolls on social media are only part of the picture—and that no single platform or government agency can successfully tackle foreign influence on its own.

As researchers of adversarial abuse of the internet, we have tracked social media influence operations for years. One of us, Renée, was tapped by the Senate Select Committee in 2017 to examine data sets detailing the activity of the Internet Research Agency—the infamous troll farm in St. Petersburg—on Facebook, Google, and Twitter, now known as X. The trolls, who masqueraded as Americans ranging from Black Lives Matter activists to Texas secessionists, had taken the United States by surprise. But that campaign, which featured fake personas slinking into the online communities of ordinary Americans, was only part of Russia’s effort to manipulate U.S. political discourse. The committee subsequently requested an analysis of the social media activities of the GRU—Russian military intelligence—which had concurrently run a decidedly different set of tactics, including hack and leak operations that shifted media coverage in the run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Russian operatives also reportedly hacked into U.S. voter databases and voting machine vendors but did not go so far as to change actual votes.

Social media is an attractive tool for covert propagandists, who can quickly create fake accounts, tailor content for target audiences, and insert virtual interlopers into real online communities. There is little repercussion for getting caught. However, two presidential election cycles after the Russian Internet Agency first masqueraded as Americans on social media platforms, it is important to emphasize that running inauthentic covert networks on social media has always been only one part of a broader strategy—and sometimes, it has actually been the least effective part. Adversaries also use a range of other tools, from spear phishing campaigns to cyberattacks to other media channels for propaganda. In response to these full-spectrum campaigns, vigilance and response by U.S. tech platforms are necessary. But alone, that will not be enough. Multi-stakeholder action is required.

The first set of announcements by the Justice Department on Sept. 4 featured two distinct strategies. The first announcement, a seizure of 32 internet domains used by a Russia-linked operation known in the research community as “Doppelganger,” reiterates the interconnected nature of social media influence operations, which often create fake social media accounts and external websites whose content they share. Doppelganger got its name from its modus operandi: spoofs of existing media outlets. The actors behind it, Russian companies Social Design Agency and Structura, created fake news outlets that mirror real media properties (such as a website that looked like the Washington Post) and purported offshoots of real entities (such as the nonexistent CNN California). The websites host the content and steal logos, branding, and sometimes even the names of journalists from real outlets. The operation shares fake content from these domains on social media, often using redirect links so that when unwitting users click on a link, it redirects to a spoofed website. Users might not realize they are on a fake media property, and social media companies have to expend resources to continually search for redirect links that take little effort to generate. Indeed, Meta’s 2024 Q1 Adversarial Threat Report noted that the company’s teams are engaged in daily efforts to thwart Doppelganger activities. Some other social media companies and researchers use these signals, which Meta shares publicly, as leads for their own investigations.

The domains seized by the Justice Department are just a portion of the overall number of pages that Doppelganger has run. Most are garbage sites that get little traction, and most of the accounts linking to them have few followers. These efforts nonetheless require vigilance to ensure that they don’t manage to eventually grow an audience. And so, the platforms play whack-a-mole. Meta publishes lists of domains in threat-sharing reports, though not all social media companies act in response; some, like Telegram, take an avowedly hands-off approach to dealing with state propagandists, purportedly to avoid limiting political speech. X, which used to be among the most proactive and transparent in its dealings with state trolls, has not only significantly backed off curtailing inauthentic accounts, but also removed transparency labels denoting overt Russian propaganda accounts. In turn, recent leaks from Doppelganger show the Social Design Agency claiming that X is the “the only mass platform that could currently be utilized in the U.S.” At the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Sept. 18, Sen. Mark Warner called out several platforms (including X, TikTok, Telegram, and Discord) that “pride themselves of giving the proverbial middle finger to governments all around the world.” These differences in moderation policies and enforcement mean that propagandists can prioritize those platforms that do not have the desire or resources to disrupt their activities.

However, dealing with a committed adversary necessitates more than playing whack-a-mole with fake accounts and redirect links on social media. The Justice Department’s domain seizure was able to target the core of the operation: the fake websites themselves. This is not a question of true versus false content, but demonstrable fraud against existing media companies, and partisans across the aisle support disrupting these operations. Multi-stakeholder action can create far more impactful setbacks for Doppelganger, such as Google blocking Doppelganger domains from appearing on Google News, and government and hosting infrastructure forcing Doppelganger operatives to begin website development from scratch. Press coverage should also be careful not to exaggerate the impact of Russia’s efforts, since, as Thomas Rid recently described, the “biggest boost the Doppelganger campaigners got was from the West’s own anxious coverage of the project.”

A second set of announcements in September by the Justice Department and State Department highlighted a distinct strategy: the use of illicit finance to fund media properties and popular influencers spreading content deemed useful to Russia. An indictment unsealed by the Justice Department alleged that two employees from RT—an overt Russian state-affiliated media entity with foreign-facing outlets around the world—secretly funneled nearly $10 million into a Tennessee-based content company. The company acted as a front to recruit prominent right-wing American influencers to make videos and post them on social media. Two of the RT employees allegedly edited, posted, and “directed the posting” of hundreds of these videos.

Much of the content from the Tennessee company focused on divisive issues, like Russia’s war in Ukraine, and evergreen topics like illegal immigration and free speech. The influencers restated common right-wing opinions; the operators were not trying to make their procured talent introduce entirely new ideas, it seemed, but rather keep Russia’s preferred topics of conversation visibly present within social media discourse while nudging them just a bit further toward sensational extremes. In one example from the indictment, one of the RT employees asked an influencer to make a video speculating about whether an Islamic State-claimed massacre in Moscow might really have been perpetrated by Ukraine. The right-wing influencers themselves, who received sizeable sums of money and accrued millions of views on YouTube and other platforms, appear to have been unwitting and have not been charged with any wrongdoing.

This strategy of surreptitiously funding useful voices, which hearkens back to Soviet techniques to manipulate Western debates during the Cold War, leverages social media’s power players: authentic influencers with established audiences and a knack for engagement. Influence operations that create fake personas face two challenges: plausibility and resonance. Fake accounts pretending to be Americans periodically reveal themselves by botching slang or talking about irrelevant topics. They have a hard time growing a following. The influencers, by contrast, know what works, and they frequently get boosted by even more popular influencers aligned with their ideas. Musk, who has more than 190 million followers on X, reportedly engaged with content from the front media company at least 60 times.

Social media companies are not well suited to identify these more obscured forms of manipulation. The beneficiaries of Russian funding were real influencers, and their social media accounts do not violate platform authenticity policies. They are expressing opinions held by real Americans, even if they are Russia-aligned. Assuming the coordination of funding and topics did not take place on social media, the platforms likely lack insight into offline information that intelligence agencies or other entities collect. The violations are primarily external, as well—mainly the alleged conspiracy to commit money laundering and the alleged violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Here, too, a multi-stakeholder response is necessary: Open-source investigators, journalists, and the U.S. intelligence community can contribute by uncovering this illicit behavior, and the U.S. government can work with international partners to expose, and, where appropriate, impose sanctions and other legal remedies to deter future operations.

The degree to which these activities happen beyond social media—and beyond the awareness of the platform companies—was driven home in a Sept. 13 speech by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He highlighted other front media entities allegedly operated by RT, including some with a more global focus, such as African Stream and Berlin-based Red. According to the State Department, RT also operates online fundraising efforts for the Russian military and coordinates directly with the Russian government to interfere in elections, including the Moldovan presidential election later this month. These activities go far beyond the typical remit of overt state media, and likely explain why Meta and YouTube—neither of which had previously banned RT after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—responded to the news by banning the outlet and all of its subsidiary channels.

Our argument is not that the steps taken by social media companies to combat influence operations are unimportant or that the platforms cannot do better. When social media companies fail to combat influence operations, manipulators can grow their followings. Social media companies can and should continue to build integrity teams to tackle these abuses. But fake social media accounts are only one tool in a modern propagandist’s toolbox. Ensuring that U.S. public discourse is authentic—whether or not people like the specifics of what’s being said—is a challenge that requires many hands to fix.

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