Nate

https://social.trom.tf/profile/nate

Just a random internet user. Sometimes I write blog posts or work on projects I might share here. Was previously [email protected] but it ran into a few issues and has been having some downtime lately so I might hang out here for a while.

I'm also on Nostr, searching [email protected] should pull up my account in a Nostr client or Activity Pub server. Although bridges can be a bit janky sometimes, hence the second profile.

Bridged Nostr, RSS, & More: [nate.mecca1.net/pages/follow/](https://nate.mecca1.net/pages/follow/ )
Nostr: [email protected]

Public Key

npub190q7c7wrt53trsxtcdswa27tqa5tmzzn0cdcxdpkx55ge2p89r7s2yf9lj

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqszhs0v08p46g43cr9uxc8w409sw69a3pfhuxurxsmr22yv4qnj3lgprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntqyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvfgz57y

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

nos.lol

nostr.mom

Author Public Key

npub190q7c7wrt53trsxtcdswa27tqa5tmzzn0cdcxdpkx55ge2p89r7s2yf9lj

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Last Notes

2026-02-05 15:30:39 GMT

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Maybe I misunderstood and/or misremembered the study? It's been a bit since I read through it. My understanding was that when they swapped who was doing what, one group had practice and one did not, which is what I was getting at - unless of course I'm just misunderstanding how it worked.

2026-02-04 15:17:49 GMT

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IIRC, that was at the end of three months when they swapped out who was doing what (been a bit since I went through it). Practice makes perfect - you take somebody who's been working on their car for three months, and somebody who outsourced it to a mechanic for three months, and even doing the same task I'd assume the former would have much more activity in their neural tracts than somebody doing it for the first time. The brain (at least mine anyway - maybe that's why I'm so lazy) doesn't like doing things it doesn't have to. If somebody's been practicing a skill, and somebody's been outsourcing a task, I can't imagine any other outcome to be expected. That was sort of what I was getting at, though it probably wasn't worded the best.

2026-02-03 14:34:17 GMT

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A bit of a pet peeve, but that study rubs me the wrong way. Not the results, but that we had to have a study to confirm the results.
It'd be like having a study where one group fixes their car for three months, and a control group pays a mechanic to fix their car instead. Of course the people fixing their car are going to be more mechanically proficient in the end, and if you measure brain activity, fixing a car will show more brain activity than sitting in the waiting room of a garage.
/end rant

2026-02-02 23:03:37 GMT

Got a company phone today. Unfortunately, it's an Apple phone.
[youtube]cU1UkIIzSSs[/youtube]
#[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=Android]Android[/url]

2026-02-02 00:50:36 GMT

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Cool. Never used btrfs or zram before, but they definitely look handy.

2026-02-01 21:43:59 GMT

[url=https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2026-02-01_old-laptop/]https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2026-02-01_old-laptop/[/url]
A new blog post about daily driving an (almost comically) outdated laptop.
#[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=blog]blog[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=linux]linux[/url]
[attachment type='link' url='https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2026-02-01_old-laptop/' title='The RAM wars: mini penguin to the rescue']Originally, I was drafting this in September, planning on dedicating it to Windows 10 Home becoming EOL. I also figured I’d share a meme that contained …[/attachment]

2026-01-31 21:54:43 GMT

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Holos is looking really promising on the ActivityPub side of things, getting about as close to controlling your own identity as you can get on ActivityPub.
Otherwise, though, I don't think it's a Mastodon specific issue, ActivityPub doesn't make for portable or self owned identities (at least without a lot of hoops like you need to jump through like on Holos). IMO keys (AT/Nostr) beat out instances, not that either option is perfect though.

2025-12-25 00:17:54 GMT

Merry Holidays, Happy Christmas, and pour one out for 'ol Saint Nick who threw hands with an Arianism heretic.
Wishing you all a great Christmas my fellow internet strangers.

2025-12-24 03:49:55 GMT

@[url=https://masto.es/users/FediTree]FediTree[/url] What's my feditree look like?

2025-12-15 16:02:10 GMT

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[url=https://primal.net/e/nevent1qqsrj54de9l4vluw7ff7e880qyy0dkrx5cfu23fgxqzk76un528kenspftxkp]https://primal.net/e/nevent1qqsrj54de9l4vluw7ff7e880qyy0dkrx5cfu23fgxqzk76un528kenspftxkp[/url]
This was the DMCA prompted my mini crash out. There was something of a campaign to get bridges taken down, and the DMCA referenced standard federation. It was seperate from the 'yeet a bunch of automated DMCA alerts to random gateways' (lol, which could also probably get me going on a rant, but just a different rant about different things).

2025-12-15 15:52:28 GMT

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Unless I'm misunderstanding something (fairly likely), theoretically, bridges could do the exact same, right?
Bob (Mastodon.Social) wants to see content from Alice (Tchncs.de). Mastodon.social dereferences a copy of Alice's profile/post & the replies/likes to said posts, creates a local copy that it serves to Bob, then deletes the local copy until another request is made.
Bob (Mostr Bridge) wants to see content from Alice (Tchncs.de). The Mostr bridge dereferences a copy of Alice's profile/post & the replies/likes to said posts, creates a local copy that it serves to Bob, then deletes the local copy until another request is made.

2025-12-15 15:35:30 GMT

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Bridges are a bit different than scraping content or listening into a conversation. A bridge that bridges Activity Pub to AT/Nostr acts like any other ActivityPub instance, requesting a copy of the bridged user's profile in the same way another ActivityPub native server would. Same with Friendica (that I'm using right now to reply), it requested a copy of your post over Activity Pub, despite being native to DFRN (although, unlike Bridgy Fed/Mostr, Freindica bridges internally via plugin instead of using a dedicated standalone bridge). I'd argue that using a protocol designed for federation, on a server that defaults to federating with any instance not proactively blocked, is rather explicit permission to federate.
However, since it's just federating normally, it's easy to stop. If you block the bridges (at the user level or instance wide) they won't federate, just like any other Activity Pub instance. While I think bridges are important for the ecosystem, the beauty of something that's not centralized is that you can choose exactly what you do and don't want to interact with.

2025-12-09 03:47:54 GMT

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Oops, thanks. I'd usually run my posts through Grammarly, but I've just been relying on spell check for some of my writing lately that doesn't catch that sort of stuff. Probably should get back in the habit it that.

2025-12-08 02:03:59 GMT

[url=https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-12-07_microblog-protocols-update/]https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-12-07_microblog-protocols-update/[/url]
New blog post, a bit of an addendum to my older microblogging protocols comparison post(s) until I do an updated version at some point. It mostly just goes over a handful of big events and shifts I've personally noticed since my last post in the summer of 2024.
#[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=activitypub]activitypub[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=fediverse]fediverse[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=nostr]nostr[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=at]at[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=bluesky]bluesky[/url]
[attachment type='link' url='https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-12-07_microblog-protocols-update/' title='This is Fine: an Interim Microblogging Protocols Update']As is customary on my microblogging posts, let’s get us started with an original meme. Also, if you’d like to read my previous Microblogging …[/attachment]

2025-11-25 17:28:56 GMT

@[url=https://mastodon.social/ap/users/115588590742214453]Holos Social[/url] @[url=https://toot.fedilab.app/users/apps]Fedilab Apps[/url]
Hi, I was going to be writing a blog post mentioning Holos, and was hoping I could bug you guys with a couple questions. First, are there any plans to/consideration of adding support for custom domains? E.g. I setup a Holos server, but a buddy who registers on my server could use a separate custom domain they own for their handle?
Also, I noticed that the source code link on holos.social 404s. Is that intentional (e.g. relocation, I'm sure things are sort of in flux with it being new), or is there a working link to the repo?
Anyway, project looks cool. Thanks!

2025-11-24 21:18:00 GMT

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As a longtime F Droid user some of their decisions did kinda get me scratching my head a bit (especially singing software with their own keys, kinda made things inconvenient). I stopped using F Droid when they labeled the Bible as NSFW (which amounted to a soft ban, they're not accepting new 'NSFW' apps and considering removing existing ones IIRC); no point in hanging around in (digital) spaces I (then felt I was) not welcome in. Props for them for reversing it, and best of luck to the project, but by the time they reversed it I'd already migrated to other platforms (Accressent, Obtanium, Zappstore). At this point I gain nothing by re-installing the store or it's forks (minus using Obtanium for an app or two in the F Droid repos).
At 08:00 though, and maybe I just misunderstood you or you misspoke, but last I checked if saying something along the lines of "I think you made a bad decision, and I also think you're being hypocritical for only going after the Bible and not the Quran" is fascist than the word has officially lost all meaning. I remember checking the gitlab issue thread every so often and, for a highly charged topic, things were a lot more civil than they had any right to be. Not to mention that the ven diagram of "app store labels" and "non democratic authoritarian top down governments" are two non overlapping circles.

2025-11-22 16:56:56 GMT

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Same deal here in the US - the Naval Research Agency developed Tor, the State Dept. provides a big chunk of the projects funding, and the FBI fearmongers about it.

2025-11-16 22:10:09 GMT

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I didn't know it was possible to say absolutely nothing in 860 words, but Firefox proves me wrong yet again.

2025-08-24 21:35:41 GMT

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I saw a breakdown a while back, I think the water use is pretty negligible.
[url=https://andymasley.substack.com/i/162196004/water]https://andymasley.substack.com/i/162196004/water[/url]

2025-06-22 00:05:34 GMT

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Thanks, I think I maybe mention somewhere that could can use tor+i2p if you setup the right proxy config (unless I didn't and only thought I did and am expecting people to just read my mind lol). But never had a setup like that myself so can't personally say any more than that I've heard that others have done it.

2025-06-18 09:09:27 GMT

[url=https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-06-18_standard-server-alternatives/]https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-06-18_standard-server-alternatives/[/url]
Made a #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=blog]blog[/url] post about different non standard ways to host a website or content. Touches on:
* #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=I2P]I2P[/url]
* #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=Tor]Tor[/url]
* #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=ipfs]ipfs[/url]
* Decentralized Domains
+ the microblogging protocols
[attachment type='link' url='https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-06-18_standard-server-alternatives/' title='NFTs and Dark Web Shenanagins']A based design that makes a web that’s true
ICANNs and NATs embrace shall be no more
Behind a Pi or in the cloud for you
We use that tool be I2P or Tor …[/attachment]

2025-05-19 20:51:31 GMT

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You're welcome to use mine

2025-04-14 00:57:44 GMT

[url=https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-04-13_vibe-coding-chronicles/]https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-04-13_vibe-coding-chronicles/[/url]
Short blog post about my experience vibe coding.
#[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=blog]blog[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=blogpost]blogpost[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=vibecoding]vibecoding[/url]

2025-04-08 10:46:32 GMT

Gave #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=vibecoding]vibecoding[/url] a try. I'm surprised at how easy it is, even if the end result is a little rough around the edges.
[url=https://njump.me/nevent1qqsdwqfa2ygmqjv46t7f3p4wjt2f5a4xsnsqfd07zf0dvhfqcwv8r4cpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43z7q3qjy90jpcdl447ae3lp4924s65khdpvnttkg7fepmvmafycusyueksxpqqqqqqz9g86h3]https://njump.me/nevent1qqsdwqfa2ygmqjv46t7f3p4wjt2f5a4xsnsqfd07zf0dvhfqcwv8r4cpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43z7q3qjy90jpcdl447ae3lp4924s65khdpvnttkg7fepmvmafycusyueksxpqqqqqqz9g86h3[/url]
Made a static html Discord/irc style #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=nostr]nostr[/url] client. Seems to work decent unless you're in vertical mode on mobile.

2025-04-02 10:18:03 GMT

[url=https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-04-02_retro-gaming/]https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2025-04-02_retro-gaming/[/url]
New blog post - a combination of how I got into emulation, that I pre-ordered the Retroid Flip 2, and some other notes about different handhelds and controllers I looked into before settling on the purchase.
#[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=blog]blog[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=gaming]gaming[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=retroid]retroid[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=emulation]emulation[/url]

2024-12-30 11:46:21 GMT

[b]Year end wrap up blog post[/b]
[url=https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2024-12-30_2024-retrospective/]https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2024-12-30_2024-retrospective/[/url]
[attachment type='link' url='https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2024-12-30_2024-retrospective/' title='2024 Writing Retrospective' publisher_name='nate.mecca1.net' publisher_url='https://nate.mecca1.net']Another wild and wacky year is wrapping up, and with it the customary year end wrap up/retrospective. This year I posted a total of 11 posts1, two being …[/attachment]

2024-12-29 12:29:10 GMT

So a thing happened and I'm kinda flabbergasted. So there appears to be a campaign to shut down the Mostr (Nostr <> ActivityPub bridge). Dunno how big it is, but apparently at least one DMCA complaint has been filed. This is all on account of the bridge duplicating posts and profiles on ActivityPub.
For those unaware, THIS IS LITERALLY HOW ACTIVITY PUB IS BUILT TO WORK. Every Activity Pub server duplicates content. Without it there'd be no seeing posts from anybody on servers other than their home server. It's literally the thing that makes the protocol work. If being on a protocol that specifically is designed to duplicate content isn't permission enough to duplicate content then the Fediverse goes poof. Zilch. Zero. Nada.
Convince Cloudflare, or worse - convince a judge - that a protocol designed around federating content isn't permission to federate content and that's that for #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=ActivityPub]ActivityPub[/url]. I'd personally prefer to see both protocols do well; please, if anybody reads this, learn how things work before trying to break things for working as intended.
#[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=Nostr]Nostr[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=mostr]mostr[/url]

2024-11-12 11:27:50 GMT

Made a blog post about some photo effects/filters and also created a page on my site dedicated to some of my favorites photos.
Blog post:
[url=https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2024-11-12_photo-filter-fun/]https://nate.mecca1.net/posts/2024-11-12_photo-filter-fun/[/url]
Favorite photos page:
[url=https://nate.mecca1.net/pages/photos/]https://nate.mecca1.net/pages/photos/[/url]
#[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=blog]blog[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=blogpost]blogpost[/url] #[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=photography]photography[/url]

2024-11-11 03:33:26 GMT

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"Every Web Browser Sucks, There's No Good Choice"
Truer words have never been spoken

2024-11-03 12:58:10 GMT

#[url=https://social.trom.tf/search?tag=fedibookfair]fedibookfair[/url]
I've been working on a novel. I've never actually written fiction before so no gauruntee of quality, but it's also free to read & distributed. It's mostly scifi(ish) with some fantasy elements as well.
[url=https://untitlednovel.dns7.top/contents/]https://untitlednovel.dns7.top/contents/[/url]
I've got an ActivityPub account I put updates on @[url=https://mastodon.social/users/untitlednovel]Untitled Novel[/url] but the website also has RSS & other protocols I share new updates on. Web version is ad free and tracker free minus Cloudflare.
[attachment type='link' url='https://untitlednovel.dns7.top/contents/' title='Finished Chapters' publisher_name='untitlednovel.dns7.top' publisher_url='https://untitlednovel.dns7.top']Act 1 0: Prologue
1: Failed Initialization
2: Blank Slate
3: Chilean Pit Stop
4: The Fourth Variable
5: Domum
6: Most Normal Floridian
7: Introductions
8: Battle of Sodium and Transistors
9: An Invitation
10: Trouble at the gate
11: Attendance
12: To…[/attachment]

2024-11-02 10:39:36 GMT

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I definitely agree on the lockable bootloader issue being a bit overblown. If you're to a point where malware is modifying your boot partition you've already got a mountain of problems regardless.
Although one quick thing I thought I'd point out I didn't see mentioned, e/os is sometimes slow to get security updates out. Obviously it's infinitely faster than no updates if you're on hardware no longer manufacturer supported, and everything has it's pros and cons, but figured it was worth bringing up.

2024-10-26 22:30:36 GMT

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Endless Sky on PC is a very fun game and I've played it a lot. I've also played some Xonotic and that's fun too.
Anuto TD, SuperTuxKart, SolitarCG and Tripeaks are also fun on Android.