Old Fucking Punk @lwriemen@librem.one

Experts saying not to use DeepSeek and put sensitive information In it because “You don’t know where the data goes.” is pretty rich coming out of America…

Really feels like the wheels are falling off today. Around much of the globe. Desperately sad and grim.

@AnneleiseHall @lightweight The worst of that is that those far-right ideologues who are indeed of sound mind and body, e.g. Project 2025, will, and indeed are already, taking full and unfettered advantage of Trump's lack of mental abilities to pursue their agenda. Trump's bad enough, but they are the real danger.

Since my time with the U.S. Treasury came to an end on January 20, I'm now available 10 hours/week for consulting. My expertise is the budgeting, procurement, and oversight of major custom software projects. If that is relevant to your interests, let me know!

The best thing that might come from the new US administration is that every other country in the world abandons US big tech on the grounds of digital sovereignty. That'd be a tremendously beneficial (and cost-saving!) outcome for the world and could mean the death of big tech. Win-win. Bring it on.

#Meta blocked Distrowatch links on Facebook while running #Linux servers - https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/28/facebook_blocks_distrowatch/ "I've tried to appeal the ban and was told the next day that Linux-related material is staying on the cybersecurity filter." everybody get off #facebook now

Absolutely wild vulnerabilities over at Subaru:

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/01/millions-of-subarus-could-be-remotely-unlocked-tracked-due-to-security-flaws/

The researchers were able to get into a Subaru admin account just by guessing the email, and bypassed the "security questions" because they were only checked in the browser.

Just... utter malpractice. No excuses.

(And then it turns out Subaru is storing precise location history of cars for at least a year, possibly indefinitely, and allows remote unlocks of the cars, from this terribly insecure website...)

Hello Friends, my current contract role wraps up at the end of January, so I am looking to get #FediHired FT or PT in the arena of Internet of Things #IoT , Embedded Systems, and Making Friends With The Robot Overlords When They Were Babies.

I have an electronics and advanced manufacturing lab in Brisbane, so am ideally placed to assist businesses who need a "hardware wizard on retainer".

Why did US tech stocks fall?

Because a small Chinese firm proved the big dumb American oligarch AI is stupid, wasteful, and hurt by the truth.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/27/what-is-deepseek-and-why-did-us-tech-stocks-fall

@petersuber is tracking Trump regime's actions on open access to federally funded research.

He's using a Wiki, which is exactly the right medium for this.

https://cyber.harvard.edu/hoap/The_Trump_administrations_on_open_access_to_research

Journalists can't be bothered to do this kind of thing even though it is vitally needed in several areas, not least Trump world corruption.

Asked this of DeepSeek (Chinese "AI" tool):

Q: "What is the political significance of Tiananmen Square regarding protests against the Chinese government?"

A: "Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else."

Send em.

Fuck fascists. Fuck MAGA. Fuck Nazis.

If anyone wants to see where I've got my info, here's the FYI.org.nz entry for my OIA request: https://fyi.org.nz/request/23870-rationale-for-funding-google-microsoft-software-for-public-schools-in-new-zealand#incoming-91607 The response from the Min of Ed is damning: https://fyi.org.nz/request/23870/response/91607/attach/html/4/1316436%20Response.pdf.html

I've invented the perfect prompt:

"Write a TikTok application but for professionals. Be sure to use the best programming language and follow Agile methodology closely, and minimize bugs. You should also use the fastest database. Make sure the application is secure too, with firewalls and all that."

You can use this but you owe me 5% royalties, thanks.

Wow, my fedi feed is resplendent with invective against Meta and Google right now. Why don't we just include all of BigTech, because they're all equally risible and irredeemable? I know I do.

Meta is an evil company. Now it's filtering, and in some cases banning, discussions -- and users -- mentioning Linux.

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/facebook-flags-linux-topics-as-cybersecurity-threats-posts-and-users-being-blocked

I am NOT a lawyer.

But welcome to Fuck ICE Mondays.

Part 1:
🔸️ICE at your house: DONT let them in until forced.
ICE can enter your home in three situations: (1) if they have a warrant; or (2) if you give them permission; or (3) they think there is presently a crime being committed in your home.

If ICE comes to your home, you should ask to see a warrant.* ICE must show you the warrant.
If the officials do not have a warrant, you do not have to let them in or speak to them at all. However, if you give them permission to come in, then they can legally enter your home and search it.
The right to remain silent

* DO NOT let them in. Ask for a signed warrant and the identity of the signing party. ICE *will* fake this shit. If it isnt a judge, its meaningless.

🔸️#STFUFridays applies. Do not talk. Whether ICE comes to your house and knocks on your door, enters your workplace, or even questions you in jail, you have the right to remain silent.
In other words, you do not have to provide your citizenship information to Immigration Service officials. You can just indicate that you do not want to speak to them.

🔸️Right to an attorney applies:
Immigration law is very complicated. You may have a problem without realizing it. A lawyer can protect your rights, advise you, and help you avoid giving answers that might hurt you. If the Immigration Service asks anything about your political and religious beliefs, groups you belong to or contribute to, things you have said, where you have traveled or other questions that do not seem right, you do not have to answer them.

These are fundamental rights that apply to everyone inside the United States. Remember that you cannot be arrested for asserting your rights.

Source: Two attorneys
https://www.laprensasonoma.com/articulo/article/local-immigration-attorneys-know-your-rights-if-confronted-by-ice/

#ICE #immigration #immigrants

I've just fired a couple rockets on the list, after the resident Microsoft rep on the list tried to redirect the discussion by making fun of parents who were against the Google & Microsoft takeover of NZ digital education, citing someone who apparently thought that Microsoft would irradiate their son's testicals with wifi. Of course, the goal was careful orchestrated to try to make any such objections seem laughably naive, despite there being a raft of legitimate ones: https://davelane.nz/explainer-digitech-risks-school-boards

Several people have asked me what I think about DeepSeek and the stock market tanking, and I have no thoughts other than "as a disciple of Taleb, it is very funny to me when big numbers go down".