🏙️ We are supporting the creation of the Democratic Tech Fund! 🪙
Yesterday, we gathered at the @internetarchiveeurope to shape a new consortium made to distribute funding for value-aligned projects 🌱
The next key moment will be a general assembly at #DWebCamp!
Is free software only available for rich countries? #Techrights
https://techrights.org/n/2026/02/20/GNU_Linux_Adoption_is_Higher_in_Richer_Countries.shtml
Very tongue-in-cheek question, but it shows a gap that needs addressed. Are projects like One Laptop Per Child locking people into non-free solutions? (Not saying intentionally)
The Windows monopoly trapped a lot of people ignorant of alternatives in all countries.
What to do when a Li-ion #battery smells of fruit?
Run away. Throw it away. Duck and cover.
Lithium fire is no fun!
Single-use vapes should be banned, but while they aren't, I'll clean them up and put them to use.
Just the smells make it really confusing :S
The battery doesn't look bloated. Regardless, it is quarantined outside, in a concrete tiles area.
Reform have suspended Adam Mitula, who was working as Matt Goodwin's campaign manager in the Gorton by-election.
This comes two days after Mitula was revealed to have posted anti-black racism, claims that most trans people are paedophiles, Holocaust revision, and comments about how he "would never touch a Jewish woman".
Goodwin meanwhile has been called out by racist commentator Connor Tomlinson, over trying to distance himself in public but support white nationalists like him in private.
I find the text-only experience of the gemini web refreshing and nostalgic (using internet since the 80s). Here's a getting started guide. https://techrights.org/o/2021/04/28/joining-gemini-space/
"I tried building my startup entirely on European infrastructure. Here's the stack I landed on, what was harder than expected, and what you still can't avoid."
https://www.coinerella.com/made-in-eu-it-was-harder-than-i-thought/
We need more stories like this being shared in the open. You can criticise some parts of the decisions here, but that's not the point. Someone tried and shared. That's the point.
(reminder, Linux users make up 20% of Fedi and 2% of the real world, never forget how poorly we represent humanity in general)
Wikimedia and the new knowledge loop – report from a Wikimedia CH roundtable - https://diff.wikimedia.org/2026/02/20/wikimedia-and-the-new-knowledge-loop-report-from-a-wikimedia-ch-roundtable-2/ "The future threat is not that #AI uses #Wikipedia, but that Wikipedia becomes invisible to humans."
A preventable virus, a paralyzed child, and zero regrets - https://boingboing.net/2026/02/19/a-preventable-virus-a-paralyzed-child-and-zero-regrets.html "A South Carolina mother has no regrets about denying her child the measles vaccine, even though her lucky-to-be-alive son has suffered measles encephalitis and will have trouble walking." she's a monster #antivaxxers
Now — still!— in the Twin Cities, there are thousands of people who are living in hiding, terrified (justifiably so) of an authoritarian secret police kidnapping them off the street because of the way they look.
For these people, full-on fascism is already here. Still.
MPR shares their voices:
I KNOW somebody in this community can win this money.
“Fulu’s latest bounty is for Ring’s video doorbell cameras, meant to encourage hackers and tinkerers to disable software features that require the devices to send data to Amazon. The reward is a potential payout of $10,000 or more.” https://www.wired.com/story/a-10k-bounty-awaits-anyone-who-can-hack-ring-cameras-to-stop-sharing-data-with-amazon/
Germany's leader wants to end anonymity online, demonstrating ignorance of both technology and the manifestly good reasons for anonymity (e.g. person with views govt doesn't like, whistle-blowers, etc.).
He, like so many before him, wants you to get a license to speak.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/germanys-merz-calls-real-names-211340863.html
#ShlaerMellor, #FunctionPointAnalysis, #punk, #environmentalist, #unionAdvocate, #anarchosocialist
"with a big old lie and a flag and a pie and a mom and a bible most folks are just liable to buy any line, any place, any time" - Frank Zappa