Old Fucking Punk @lwriemen@librem.one

Current Affairs Magazine Demonstrates #Paywalls Are Not Necessary for Publications to Thrive - https://blog.archive.org/2025/03/04/current-affairs-magazine-demonstrates-paywalls-are-not-necessary-for-publications-to-thrive/ "the publication relies on traffic from social media to attract new readers."

OPINION: The precipitous drop in religiosity among young women today shows just one more way Gen Z women continue to defy historical norms.
https://religionnews.com/2025/03/07/the-real-gen-z-religion-story-is-about-women/

Quick thread on ANOTHER bill the GOP is bringing to the floor this week. Specifically, to repeal the DeFi Broker Rule that the IRS issued under the last administration. The ONLY reason to support this bill is to facilitate tax evasion and money laundering.

Request: Looking to connect with people who are thinking about the future of software, specifically in the areas of:

- Diversification of large/core software development efforts beyond US/EU funding
- Post non-profit organizational frameworks (e.g co-op networks)
- Alternative funding paths (In wider context of the world at large)
- Responding to increasingly locked down operating systems

Very interested in talking to folks (esp. in Canada) who are taking or want to take action in these areas.

Are you doing something cool with GTK or the GNOME application development platform? Do you want to talk about it in front of the GNOME community? Then you have until March 16 to submit a talk proposal for GUADEC 2025!

https://events.gnome.org/event/259/

#gnome #GUADEC #GUADEC2025

Dear journalists,

When someone gives you chapter and verse about the way government officials have abused their rights, and the government refuses to comment, "citing privacy concerns" -- you are publishing an obvious lie.

That quote is stenography, not journalism.

https://thetrek.co/a-german-thru-hiker-has-been-detained-deported-and-banned-from-the-us-without-a-hearing-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

On NRT: Fixing school lunches - https://norightturn.blogspot.com/2025/03/fixing-school-lunches.html

Jamie Raskin is encouraging people to file Federal Privacy Act requests on their personal DOGE data. Fillable forms here:

https://jamieraskin.com/doge-privacy-act-requests/

#uspol

You may not know that it was funded by Trump supporters and is run by people who have no problem helping right-wing extremists spread and monetize their bile.

If you're thinking of starting a newsletter, by the way, there are many fine alternatives including Ghost (what I use), Buttondown, Beehiv, WordPress Medium and more.

And please ask your friends who use Substack to look at the alternatives as well.
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Please stop calling newsletters "Substacks" --

The vast majority of blogs are created using WordPress software. No one calls their blog a "WordPress" for the very good reason that there are other ways to create and publish blogs.

So if you've been gaslighted into calling someone's newsletter their "Substack' just because they use that platform, please stop. You're just doing PR for a company that manifestly doesn't deserve it.

Why is that?
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The pressure campaign has gotten both Massachusetts Senators to commit to voting "no" on the Republican continuing resolution.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/tally-3

MA residents - please call to thank them and let them know that they are doing the right thing.

Folks in other U.S. states (especially if you have a Democratic Senator) - lean on your Senators too!
https://5calls.org/issue/cr-continuing-resolution-doge-musk/

In the face of the US' abuse of power, the world needs to change. Immediately. Here's a starting point: https://www.cs.ru.nl/~jhh/open-letter-big-tech.html

#DigitalDecolonisation #DigitalSovereignty #ShunTheUS

New Mozilla TOS diff. This is what they just removed:

* Does Firefox sell your personal data?

> Nope. Never have, never will. And we protect you from many of the advertisers who do. Firefox products are designed to protect your privacy. That’s a promise.

The purpose of the new TOS appears to be to enable them to do this - such as for their advertising and AI sidelines.

https://github.com/mozilla/bedrock/commit/d459addab846d8144b61939b7f4310eb80c5470e

Her education was, to be blunt, a complete travesty. She will get a weird look when we are talking about things, and make sure about things that apparently were NOT in the Urban Appalachian educational system she was in.

Things like:

Antarctica existing.

Hey, are you an #REI member? It's time to vote!

REI has been up to some shady shit recently, taking actions that are against worker health, unions, environmental protections, and human rights.

If you're a member, now is the time to vote! A vote against the candidates for Board of Directors will help send a message that members are fed up.

More info here: https://www.ourrei.com/2025-rei-board-elections

DuckDuckGo has started including "AI-Assisted Answers" in response to searches. Any good alternatives for search?

This is a direct affront to the memory of Dr. Anita Kurmann by @CityOfBoston and intentionally puts lives at risk.
With city government failing at its most basic task, public safety, cycle lane users must take it upon ourselves to keep us safe. This means non-violent direct action. There are lots of possibilities. Reply or DM if interested in co-creating actions to combat Boston’s intentional disregard for physical safety.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/07/metro/boston-bike-lanes/

There are a lot of VPN options out there. Here's how you can find the one that fits your needs: https://ssd.eff.org/module/choosing-vpn-thats-right-you.

Massachusetts pals! We’ll be at the Pulp Lit Bazaar (brought to you by Copper Dog Books and Sepulcher Press) at Die With Your Boots On! Mark your calendars!

According to the very serious and intelligent people at the Atlantic Council, if you question the Empire's current narratives or policies, you are a tool of the Kremlin, QED. If you've ever been accused of "spreading Russian disinformation" for pointing out obvious failings in US foreign policy, this is why. If, like me, you've ever been harangued for posting a link to a factual article from one of the listed outlets, this is why.
https://orinocotribune.com/jerusalem-post-targets-mintpress-after-expose-on-israeli-spies-in-us-media/