#Vulnerabilities

[astrogirlythings]

Inner child.

[lizardho]

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about some of the people I interact with. I have a coworker who I am pretty sure is a MAGA type, and she is also a lovely woman who is dreadfully overworked and so good at connecting to patients when they call. I can see the conflict on her face when she talks to me, a gigantic tranny dork who speaks Spanish and affirms the LGBT community, but can also talk to her about her cows and knows about guns and stuff. I can see the fear in the eyes of my former Young Men’s leader when he misgenders me and realizes that I’m not an ideology but a person he has known for a long time. I can see the way my extended family stop and stutter over political discussions when they realize they are talking about me. And I don’t know why but lately it’s just made me think about my neighbor as a kid.

When we moved to Arizona, we moved next door to a lovely retired couple - John and Lucy. John was a veteran of WWII, he had an M.D. and a Ph.D. in radiology, and he LOVED us to pieces. His wife, Lucy, was a sharp and gifted woman - well spoken, very observant, and VERY clever. I just know that she used that cleverness as a mom to great effect, because with my and my siblings she always managed to find a way to send us home with candy and treats for a week despite my dad’s protests. We loved them, growing up, and even though they have long-since passed away I love them still, and I love what I learned from them.

John was, as stated, a WWII veteran. He was enlisted as a rifleman, and later as a front line medic, starting at Point Du Hoc and moving inwards to France and towards the Rhine. He let me do a report on him in 6th grade where he shared war stories with me he had kept to himself his whole life - he said it was out of respect for his friends who didn’t get to come home and tell their stories.

He said he told me because he knew I could respect the memories of his friends.

He showed me his collection of medals, and which he’d kept hidden away in a sock in his attic because he’d feel an immense grief any time he saw them. He had wanted to be a doctor his whole life, prior to being drafted he was studying medicine and had taken the Hippocratic oath to Do No Harm. He saw his medals as a reminder that he had Done Harm.

After telling me his stories he was able to convince himself that while he had Done Harm, it was only because his only other alternative was, to him, cowardice. He chose to be brave even if it meant acting against his Oath because he felt that if he didn’t do it someone else would have to go in his place and he would be responsible for the harm that befell them. I don’t think that’s true, but for him it was and that was something no being on earth could have ever dissuaded him from believing.

He shared wild stories - melee combat on the beach, clearing artillery bunkers, receiving a Purple Heart for being injured in hand-to-hand combat with a Wehrmacht rifleman he said he felt pity for because they were the same age and he had to imagine the man he was fighting had been drafted just like him.

He shared how he was awarded a Silver Star for charging a machine gun nest, but shared that he was most proud of not killing anyone in the process. He threw a grenade with the pin still in it and when the machine gunners jumped to avoid being blown up they were killed by someone else so he didn’t have to do it. He took the machine gun and shot the other machine gun in that French field to pieces so he didn’t have to kill the people operating it. He said they were giving out Silver Stars like candy but I knew he was being modest.

He told me about being redesignated as a medic, about how he crawled for about 500 yards on his belly to rescue an injured tank driver, then threw him over his back and crawled the same 500 yards back (1000 yards total) to treat his injuries. He said he met the man in an Army hospital in England after his spine was broken by a high explosive panzer shell was fired through a hollowed out French farmhouse and landed about 20 feet away from him.

He told me about all the people he helped and saved as a medic, he told me about his work in radiology and research after the war. He showed me a hallway that was quite literally wallpapered with academic honors he’d earned as a researcher. He told me about how his first Fourth of July back was a horror show for him because fireworks and German artillery make very similar sounds. He told me about how he woke up in a cold sweat well over half a century later hearing the screams of German artillery men being burned alive with flamethrowers, or hearing his own voice apologizing to the young German soldier he stabbed in the heart at Point Du Hoc.

He told me that when he was asked to present at a medical conference in Germany 25 years after the war ended that he was so scared he couldn’t step off the plane, and that his wife had to hold his hand and lead/pull him with her. He said he was not scared because he was worried about being triggered, but because he knew that someone somewhere outside of that plane had the course of their life irreparably altered by his military service. That to someone out there he was the cause of immense suffering and harm. That some unwitting waiter could be the son of the Nazi Officer he stabbed in the heart with a 12-inch hunting knife. That some woman asking questions in the audience would be the daughter or widow of a man he sent to judgement with a .30-06. He was scared that they would hate him.

He knew what the Nazi’s had done, he knew better than anyone I’d ever met. He’d watched the documentaries, he’s seen the PoWs returning from camps, he’d seen the civilians massacred and tortured by their regime, but he also knew that among the monsters were people like him - idealistic 20-somethings who only wanted to make the world better and were ripped away from that life by the Nazi war machine. And he spent his whole life mourning the loss of innocence and peace that was forced on so many people by such a corrupt power.

To be honest I don’t know if I could do that, but he could. He told me he could still feel the dead and lost with him, both when he slept and when he woke. He told me he thought he’d go to his grave never having told a word of this to anyone. That the stories of him and his friends and allies would disappear silently with him and those like him. That he had wanted that until he realized that he didn’t have to sell out to share the stories - that he could give the stories away for free to someone who would love the people in them, and not just the content of them. He didn’t want his stories to be used as Patriotic Pornography by some TV network or magazine. He wanted the people he knew to be respected, he wanted their memories to be honored and loved, and he entrusted me, a 12-year-old “boy” to do that.

He told me for years afterwards that after telling me these stories that he slept better than he ever had. That by sharing the stories with someone who could hear Him over the din of victory and glory and honor and revisionistic history. Someone who could see the man in the story and not just see the plot of a battle being won. He wanted to be human, and he wanted the people he saw die to be human too - everyone, not just the people on his side. He wanted someone to see and to know the anguish of having to look someone in the eye as heartblood muddies the ground beneath them and hope that they understand that this was not an act of love or hatred but an act of desperation. To hope that you had just taken out One Of The Bad Ones instead of a medical student or a poet who had been drafted. He wanted me to see how hard he had worked since then to build a world without scarcity, to build a world of peace. He wanted me to know SO badly that the cost of violence, any violence, even necessary violence, is always ALWAYS paid by both parties involved.

I think about the rise of the new right wing - the new Nazi movement’s traction in politics, and I feel sad and scared - the world that Johnathan J Yobaggy, my neighbor, my friend, and my hero, worked SO hard to build is being done away with by people who do not understand the cost of the path they are entering. I can see brief moments of recognition in the eyes of some of the people I mentioned - The former young men’s president who immediately regrets misgendering me and hen he makes eye contact with me and sees Me staring back at him and not a faceless “ideology.” I can hear it in the voice of my uncle who quietly comes up to me to apologize for some homophobic comment he made absentmindedly. I can see it in the eyes of racists and sexists being interviewed on TV when they realize that they didn’t vote for a concept, they voted for a real thing. And honestly, I have mixed emotions about it. Because while I understand frustration with the status quo, the importance of basic human needs like affordable good and rent, and I know the fear that comes with feeling powerless, I also can’t help but grieve the endless wheel of history bringing us back to this God Damned Fucking Place again. I hope we can avoid this fate, not just for our sake but for the sake of everyone who has ever tried to make the world safer. For everyone who has ever tried to make up for human nature, for everyone who has ever placed themselves on the offering plate to protect others from the cruelty they know lies just under the surface of mankind’s tenuous grip on progress. I want SO badly for there to be a solution to this, for the people who idolize the Nazi party and the impact of fascism to see that the price of this path is paid in more than just blood but in soul. That they’re allowing themselves to be devoured too. I want for the centrists and the fence sitters and the idealists who want to “change it from the inside” to see how dangerous our politics have become. I want them to see that they’re losing the things that make them great in exchange for a security blanket that’s now become far far far too small to ever work for them again.

Safety found in the past is already gone, and safety found in the future is only as real as a daydream. That any ideology that promises that by “joining us now we’ll make things rough so we can make things safe in a decade” is a promise made by those who will not have to fight the battles they send you to.

I don’t know if America was ever really great, but as long as John was alive it felt great to me. There is no ideology that can replace a neighbor. No tax plan that can replace a friend. No grocery bill that can replace community and connection. No amount of budget cuts that can replace kindness. No amount of suffering from people I hate that will ever make more love. I don’t know how to make America great, but I know how to make my America great and it is not by selling out integrity and compassion and community and fucking humanity to make eggs and gas cheaper. It is by seeing and hearing the people around me. I’m not Mormon anymore, but I still know the value of mourning with those that mourn and comforting those that stand in need of comfort. I’m not Christian anymore but I still have Eyes That Can See and Ears That Can Hear. I want to make this all stop but I can’t stop the collective power of tens of millions of people so instead I listen to my MAGA coworker tell me about how sick her kid was last week. I make jokes with my Young Men’s leader. I hug my uncle. I let them see me fully, as a human and not an ideology. As a woman and not the concept of gender. As a whole person and not someone who can be easily summarized or boiled down into something short and quippy. And I let them know I can see them fully too, and I can see all their humanity as easily as they can see mine. I just have to hope that this works - that enough people can See and Hear the people in their lives who matter to them to bring them out of their personal world of forms and into the real world.

I am probably, honestly, just spiraling a little bit. I took my ADHD meds today and in addition to helping me focus they make me a little anxious so I doubt things are as bad right now as they seem. But just in case there’s any truth to the way things seem to be going, remember, and I mean this seriously: Be kinder to each other, be gayer, and read more Terry Pratchett.

And for the love of god day hello to your neighbor.

[evidently-endless]

i think we should remind musicians they can absolutely make up little stories for their songs btw. it doesn’t have to be about them at all. you can invent a guy and put him in situations to music. time honoured tradition in fact.

[deeprelationship]

emotional intimacy 💘

Emotional intimacy is the cornerstone of a thriving relationship, fostering a deep connection that goes beyond physical attraction. It involves sharing your innermost thoughts, feelings, and vulnerabilities with your partner, creating a safe space for open communication and trust. In our latest video, we explore practical strategies to enhance emotional intimacy, from active listening techniques to meaningful conversations that strengthen your bond. Discover how nurturing this vital aspect of your relationship can lead to greater understanding, increased affection, and a lasting partnership 💎🤩

[goodoldbandit]

Secure Code, Secure Future: Uniting Dev and Security.

Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo. skm.stayingalive.in Secure your code and protect your future by integrating security into every phase of development. Join the discussion on #DevSecOps and IT security. This post explains how to merge security into every phase of software creation. It shows why adding security to the development lifecycle helps build stronger applications and…

[bestwebdeveloperpenrith]

The Importance of WordPress Updates: Protecting Your Business from Cyber Threats

As a business owner, having a website is crucial for establishing an online presence and reaching out to potential customers. However, with the increasing number of cyber attacks, website security has become a top priority. WordPress, being one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS), is a frequent target for hackers. In this article, we will discuss the importance of WordPress updates, especially from a cybersecurity perspective, and why it's crucial to protect your business interests.

Why Hackers Target WordPress Websites

WordPress is a popular CMS, powering over 40% of the world's websites. Its widespread adoption makes it an attractive target for hackers. Moreover, the open-source nature of WordPress means that vulnerabilities can be easily discovered and exploited. When a security hole is found in WordPress, it quickly spreads to malicious actors, who then attempt to attack websites with known vulnerabilities. This is why keeping WordPress up to date is crucial in preventing cyber attacks.

The Risks of Outdated WordPress

Failing to update WordPress can lead to serious consequences, including:

Data breaches: Outdated WordPress versions can leave your website vulnerable to data breaches, compromising sensitive information and putting your customers at risk.

Malware infections: Hackers can inject malware into your website, leading to blacklisting by search engines and damaging your online reputation.

Financial losses: A hacked website can result in financial losses, either through stolen customer data or by disrupting your online business operations.

The Importance of WordPress Updates

Updating WordPress is essential in preventing cyber attacks. New releases of WordPress often include security patches and fixes for known vulnerabilities. By keeping your WordPress version up to date, you significantly reduce the risk of your website being compromised. Additionally, updating WordPress ensures that your website continues to function smoothly, without breaking due to compatibility issues with themes and plugins.

Amity IT's WordPress Updates Service

At Amity IT, we understand the importance of keeping your WordPress website up to date. Our WordPress Updates service is designed to ensure that your website remains secure and functions optimally. Our team of experts will perform regular updates on a schedule that suits your business needs, whether it's monthly or quarterly. Our service includes:

Updates of WordPress core

Updates of plugins compatible with the latest version of WordPress

Rollback of updates if functionality is compromised

By choosing Amity IT's WordPress Updates service, you can rest assured that your website is protected from cyber threats. Our team is based in Penrith and serves the Western Sydney area, providing local support and expertise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, keeping your WordPress website up to date is crucial in protecting your business from cyber threats. By understanding the risks associated with outdated WordPress and the importance of updates, you can take proactive steps to secure your online presence. Amity IT's WordPress Updates service is designed to provide you with peace of mind, knowing that your website is secure and functioning optimally. Visit our WordPress Updates page today to learn more about our service and how we can help protect your business interests: https://www.amityit.com.au/services/websites/wordpress-updates.

[glitter-stained]

Random goon: Hey boss, were you the one to pick that name as an alias? And why this one?

Red Hood : I used to have another name, before... A long time ago. But that person is dead now. I get to choose for myself now, they can't take that from me. I won't let them.

Goon: Huh.

***

Random Goon: Say boss, why do you never take off your shirt in front of us?

Red Hood: Well uh, I actually have that really fucked scar on my chest and I'm not comfortable with...

Random Goon: Don't worry boss, we get it, you don't have to explain yourself to us.

***

Red Hood, high on some toxin: God, I wish my family...

Random Goon (on boss-sitting duty): why not try reaching out to them?

Red Hood: They would never accept me as I am now... They wouldn't agree with my so-called "life choices". Besides, they don't miss me, they miss the person they think I used to be... I wasn't even a man when I last saw them.

Random Goon: Damn boss, that sucks.

***

And then the goons throw the Red Hood a party on trans visibility day and Jason is so confused he straight up cries.

[cybersecuritycue]

Russian RomCom Hackers Exploit Firefox and Windows Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

Background on RomCom Threat Actor For those unfamiliar, RomCom is a Russia-aligned threat actor known for conducting sophisticated cybercrime and espionage operations since at least 2022. This group, also referred to as Storm-0978, Tropical Scorpius, and others, has built a reputation for exploiting vulnerabilities in widely used software to deploy malware and backdoors, including the notorious…

[avandelay20]

Under the bloc’s approach, there are four broad risk levels: (1) Minimal risk (e.g., email spam filters) will face no regulatory oversight; (2) limited risk, which includes customer service chatbots, will have a light-touch regulatory oversight; (3) high risk — AI for healthcare recommendations is one example — will face heavy regulatory oversight; and (4) unacceptable risk applications — the focus of this month’s compliance requirements — will be prohibited entirely.

Some of the unacceptable activities include:

AI used for social scoring (e.g., building risk profiles based on a person’s behavior).

AI that manipulates a person’s decisions subliminally or deceptively.

AI that exploits vulnerabilities like age, disability, or socioeconomic status.

AI that attempts to predict people committing crimes based on their appearance.

AI that uses biometrics to infer a person’s characteristics, like their sexual orientation.

AI that collects “real time” biometric data in public places for the purposes of law enforcement.

AI that tries to infer people’s emotions at work or school.

AI that creates — or expands — facial recognition databases by scraping images online or from security cameras.

Companies that are found to be using any of the above AI applications in the EU will be subject to fines, regardless of where they are headquartered. They could be on the hook for up to €35 million (~$36 million), or 7% of their annual revenue from the prior fiscal year, whichever is greater.

[astorkes]

what if act2 but nobody gets better, they get worse instead🌚

[thoughtsthatstayedwithme]

[attritionorg]

Who Reads Mega-advisories? No one! (Almost)

Vulnerability disclosure analysts are long familiar with so-called “mega advisories”, ones that typically come from vendors and often for products that ship appliances using hundreds of libraries or products with an entire operating system included. Such advisories can literally represent over 500 vulnerabilities in one shot. I’ll try to make this a bit fun! Disclaimer: I am going to use one…

[thief-of-eggs]

“who’s the top??” “who’s the bottom?” “blank is such a bottom-“ “so and so is taller so they’re the top-“ listen guys. it’s whichever one has a harder time being vulnerable. that’s the bottom

[assorted-aesthetics]

im unironically obsessed w the Dylan/Gretchen stuff. u love ur husband but ur whole marriage u've been waiting for him to get his shit together and u have 3 kids and ur exhausted all the time and he's another thing u have to Manage but it's just bc he's excitable and this aspect of ur relationship - that he's not a good partner to u and u have to Manage him - creates a separation. and it's not like he's not trying or like u don't love him ur just not very in love. u can't even remember the last time u were. then one day strange people come to ur house and ask u to meet ur husband's work self. the one that has dedicated his literal entire life to supporting your family. ur uncomfortable but you go. and there is ur husband but for the first time in years he's just focused on u. he thinks ur so cool and so beautiful. he's so excited about the fact that you have kids together. he gets worried about the idea that his outside self might not be a good partner to you. he's Certain that his outside self must be happy even if you can't see it bc he's so happy to be around u. he asks if he can hug u.