Old Fucking Punk @lwriemen@librem.one

We here in "the West" have A LOT to learn from cooperators in other parts of the world. I think we would probably do well to focus a little less on Mondragon, and a little (or a lot) more on #cooperatives like Cecosesola in Venezuela & SEWA in India. Why don't we hear more about this amazing co-op story in the US?

https://www.equaltimes.org/by-workers-for-workers-in-india

TIL there's a technical name for why ideas happen in the shower: the "default mode network" is a pattern of brain activity, measurable using fMRI, that happens when we're unfocussed. When the brain goes into idle mode (reduced activity), this part of the brain actually becomes *more* active. What does the default mode network do? Research is ongoing, but part of it definitely seems to be making connections, which is associated with curiosity and creativity.

More here: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/08/the-science-of-why-you-have-great-ideas-in-the-shower

My book on facial recognition technology comes out on September 19! Over the last two years, I tracked down the tech's early pioneers, found the people fighting against its worst impulses, and dove into the history of Clearview AI, the start-up that first drew me into the topic with a radical person-finding app that giants in the field, including Google and Facebook, had deemed taboo. It feels real now because there's a release date and a preorder button: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691288/your-face-belongs-to-us-by-kashmir-hill/

WSJ discovers that Phoenix police are not especially interested in First Amendment rights: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/06/media/wsj-reporter-chase-arrest/index.html

Two thirds of health care organizations in a study said they'd been attacked with ransomware.

This activity isn't just robbery It's assault on people's health, and if some die, outright murder.

https://assets.sophos.com/X24WTUEQ/at/4wxp262kpf84t3bxf32wrctm/sophos-state-of-ransomware-healthcare-2022-wp.pdf

The auto industry needs to up its security testing in a big way as it transitions to web and API to interact with vehicles.

Wow.

"Fully remote lock, unlock, engine start, engine stop, precision locate, flash headlights, and honk vehicles using only the VIN number
Fully remote account takeover and PII disclosure via VIN number (name, phone number, email address, physical address)
Ability to lock users out of remotely managing their vehicle, change ownership
For Kia’s specifically, we could remotely access the 360-view camera and view live images from the car"

https://samcurry.net/web-hackers-vs-the-auto-industry/

Classic NY Times analysis in this "Wave of Job-Switching Has Employers on a Training Treadmill" story: It tangentially notes that the switching is highest in low-pay jobs where workers are going to higher-paying gigs. But no one directly states the obvious, that treating workers better would keep more of them around. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/03/business/economy/job-turnover-productivity.html

Reminder that journalists who would never consider working for the Murdoch family's Fox "News" -- because they have too much integrity to participate in its relentless poisoning of our civic life -- continue to pour their work into Elon Musk's Twitter.

Half of #glaciers will be gone by #2100 even under Paris 1.5C accord, study finds | Glaciers | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/05/half-planets-glaciers-gone-2100-even-under-paris-15c-accord-data-finds

#Environment #GlobalWarming #ClimateChange #ParisAgreement

Well, this is surprising and terrific.

The Biden administration nominated Gigi Sohn for FCC (she's the architect of net neutrality regulations), but that nomination stalled out in the face of lobby efforts, and it seemed like she was hung out to dry.

Guess they didn't lose interest after all. Hope this time she gets full support to get approved.

https://www.techdirt.com/2023/01/03/gigi-sohns-fcc-future-looking-brighter-as-biden-plans-renomination/

#FCC #TechPolicy #Telecom

Streaming middleman Roku, which wants to replace the cable box in people's homes, is amenable to having an extremist right-wing channel as part of its offering. https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/roku-has-allowed-hundreds-thousands-installations-channel-dedicated-qanon

#extremism #streaming

New research shows that #farmland #bird populations bounce back when farms devote 10% of their land to #nature-friendly measures 🐦 👨‍🌾 💚

Article: https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/farmland-bird-populations-bounce-back-when-farms-devote-10-of-their-land-to-nature-friendly-measures/

Research paper:
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14338

grocery store chains: we set record profits this year

retail chains: we've never made so much money

energy companies: we just posted our best quarter on record

news article: who is to blame for inflation? you peasants wanting wages, probably

"A ransomware attack on the Guardian has hobbled the London-based news-organization’s basic operations, shutting down everything from its office wifi to the tills in the staff canteen. The company’s offices will remain closed until at least Jan 23"

https://www.semafor.com/article/01/03/2023/cyberattack-shutters-the-guardians-office-for-a-month