Nostr notes by David J. Atkinson

I think I still have my “Free John Sinclair!” button. Time ...

2026-02-12T01:48:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…xugc
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I think I still have my “Free John Sinclair!” button. Time for more “flower” power.

Me too. What do you think happened? It takes either other ...

2026-02-08T17:38:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…zdx0
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Me too. What do you think happened? It takes either other politicians or it takes voters to end a politician’s career. Did processes fail, or have people changed so much that they don’t care enough?

Well, go ahead and pop my bubble. 🙁

2026-02-06T20:42:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…cg0v
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Well, go ahead and pop my bubble. 🙁

I’ll add two orthopedists I’ve known to your list. Signed ...

2026-02-06T20:06:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…a0qt
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I’ll add two orthopedists I’ve known to your list. Signed baseballs, jerseys, photos, everywhere you look. I be much more interested if they decorated the waiting room with x-rays of famous sports injuries.

There is nothing like wearing a bespoke suit made from the best ...

2026-02-05T22:35:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…lmsm
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There is nothing like wearing a bespoke suit made from the best wools and/or silk. That is a quality thing. I have some memorable 25+ year old t-shirts that bring back good memories and are somewhat emotionally evocative. I like wearing denim jeans. Otherwise, I don’t think about clothes much at all. I hate clothes shopping. So, I do not associate clothing with my personal gender identity.

I shared this video with my adult children. Most people have seen ...

2026-02-05T22:21:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…m3an
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I shared this video with my adult children. Most people have seen phones like this in older movies or TV, but the sound is almost always dubbed in later. I realized they had never heard a phone ring! My youngest, 32, said, “you mean, without a speaker?” They were all incredulous when I told them there were actual bells inside.

Insightful

2026-02-01T19:25:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…ex25
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Insightful

I don’t want to dispute the powerful political point you are ...

2026-01-25T20:38:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…28s6
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I don’t want to dispute the powerful political point you are making…but are we sure the photo on the right is real? From all the videos I’ve seen, the victim was on the ground be wrestled by ICE agents when he was shot.

#Cyberpunk #artists are thwarting surveillance technology. This ...

2026-01-25T09:02:01Z

#Cyberpunk #artists are thwarting surveillance technology.

This is a mind opening video, but not a #DIY unless you are really crafty. Nothing here will stop a bullet, but it may stop automatic face recognition or at least #disrupt it. I would LOVE to see techies and artists and craftspeople collaborate to help keep us safer in the coming months and beyond.

Take a look. What do you think?

https://youtu.be/zOs_FvNl2K0?si=jUfCNlUoVB0Evg1b

The five minutes of videoing an ICE goon could easily become ...

2026-01-21T10:25:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…luwq
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The five minutes of videoing an ICE goon could easily become lifelong trauma. I have mad respect for the people who choose to get close and witness! Superheroes.

Talk. Write. Lead. Persuade. Vote. Volunteer. Civil disobedience. ...

2026-01-19T20:05:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…a3gw
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Talk. Write. Lead. Persuade. Vote. Volunteer. Civil disobedience. Change will not be without cost. It is also scary. That’s why we need group solidarity and support.

Enduring change comes from the outside. Insiders don’t want to ...

2026-01-19T20:01:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…8lkt
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Enduring change comes from the outside. Insiders don’t want to rock the boat. We are not in that boat.

Another thing about #space exploration is the very high ...

2026-01-19T19:59:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…96s3
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Another thing about #space exploration is the very high international collaboration and world wide interest. I once had a Nigerian cab driver in Boston who saw a #NASA sticker on my luggage. He proceeded to ask some really good questions that demonstrated authentic interest. There are too few things in life that can bring the people of planet Earth together . He said that I had a “noble job.” That was a key moment for me.

#Science and #society progress or fall together. We must stop the ...

2026-01-19T19:59:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…xdwn
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#Science and #society progress or fall together. We must stop the suppression of new ideas. That’s what they are trying to do.

That Wikipedia page is actually pretty dated. SHINE has had many ...

2026-01-19T17:20:05Z

In reply to nevent1q…yw4l
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That Wikipedia page is actually pretty dated. SHINE has had many different applications over the years.

Planes do have air filters, but they are not that great. CO2 ...

2026-01-19T17:03:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…7328
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Planes do have air filters, but they are not that great. CO2 measurements are a reflection of ventilation so at best they are only an indicator of exposure to airborne pathogens. COVID-19 virus particulates are extremely small and even a HEPA filter can’t catch them all. That’s why you need an N-95 or better mask. Anything less is just performative.

Everything Koch says is a lie. He is serious bad news for ...

2026-01-19T16:52:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…snce
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Everything Koch says is a lie. He is serious bad news for everyone except his puppets.

I understand exactly. In addition, considering government ...

2026-01-19T16:50:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…ygje
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I understand exactly. In addition, considering government officials in the news, they are not taking their Oaths of Office very seriously and that’s shameful.

Reporting bias (filtering out negative results) is a problem in ...

2026-01-19T16:47:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…lrdn
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Reporting bias (filtering out negative results) is a problem in virtually every scientific field, some more than others. Never believe what you see in popular press. Invariably the story is truncated and the writer emphasizes whatever “wow “ factor they’ve focused on. If you want the scientific truth, start with publications in reputable conference proceedings and journals. Negative results, or at least equivocal results, are more likely to be reported at conferences.

Very distressing to me, but I’ve never been a professor. I have ...

2026-01-19T16:36:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…l7pw
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Very distressing to me, but I’ve never been a professor. I have an idealist perspective of academia.

You are very welcome.

2026-01-19T16:34:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…my2f
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You are very welcome.

Superficiality is a problem for every subject area of thought, ...

2026-01-19T16:27:52Z

Superficiality is a problem for every subject area of thought, ...

2026-01-19T16:27:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…zwg2
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Superficiality is a problem for every subject area of thought, not just spirituality. It seems to me that everything today has to come in 15 to 30 second “hot takes.” TikTok is a prime exemplar. It drives me nuts. It remains true that becoming an expert takes about 10,000 hours. That’s years. The vast majority of people hate that idea. They have trouble sitting through a 2 hour movie.

Thanks. The original problem domain was monitoring and diagnosis ...

2026-01-19T16:27:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…ujnn
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Thanks. The original problem domain was monitoring and diagnosis of robot spacecraft in deep space, but we designed it as a more general inference engine tool. Here is a link to some intro information about it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHINE_Expert_System

Superficiality is a problem for every subject area of thought, ...

2026-01-18T20:33:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…zwg2
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Superficiality is a problem for every subject area of thought, not just spirituality. It seems to me that everything today has to come in 15 to 30 second “hot takes.” TikTok is a prime exemplar. It drives me nuts. It has been said that becoming an expert takes about 10,000 hours. That’s years of study, practice and deep thought. The vast majority of people cannot do it. They have trouble sitting through a 2 hour movie. I don’t expect anything different — that’s the way culture is today.

Vaporware is a constant problem, from my POV. I’d call that ...

2026-01-18T20:19:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…puqk
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Vaporware is a constant problem, from my POV. I’d call that business fraud. AI is no different than many other technologies or business models based on hype. Unfortunately, hype sometimes does pay off in the short term so it persists.

I’m familiar with use of #AI in the first three domains you ...

2026-01-18T19:57:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…eafd
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I’m familiar with use of #AI in the first three domains you mention. One of my own inventions was licensed by a big pharmaceutical company to automate a factory. In general, logistics and supply chain in nearly every industry are fertile areas as well. You don’t hear about those successful applications because the terminology for the tech used is typically more precise (e.g., “constraint satisfaction”) and thus harder to explain to non-experts. This is antithetical to hype.

I recently learned about a similar problem in health care ...

2026-01-18T19:47:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…eafd
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I recently learned about a similar problem in health care insurance billing. It has become so complicated and time consuming that (US) providers now use specialists who know what works, and that is not the same as what is correct. But you’d have to match improvements on the insurance side also because now they’ve accommodated to getting wrong answers. It’s a costly mess.

Yes. This is exactly what the real bank security people told me.

2026-01-18T19:42:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…acsw
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Yes. This is exactly what the real bank security people told me.

Great collection of topics. With respect to early errors that can ...

2026-01-18T19:41:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…8u9f
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Great collection of topics. With respect to early errors that can turn into high cost problems, it is not just about human errors of commission or omission. Algorithmic errors are another source. I’d label these as either design errors or (even earlier) requirements errors.

First, I’d get rid of every UI text entry field. Typing is extremely error prone. If you must have an human operator make a choice, use pull down selection menus. AI can be used to construct those, on the fly if necessary, to ensure correctness. I mean symbolic AI, not LLMs or generative garbage makers. We did this at JPL for the operation of the Deep Space Network (DSN). It basically eliminated command errors in pointing and equipment configuration.

Both phone, email, as well as text. More or less simultaneously, ...

2026-01-18T19:23:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…waz9
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Both phone, email, as well as text. More or less simultaneously, as you would expect from your bank. I was targeted.

Thank you for writing this post. It should spark a lot of thought ...

2026-01-18T11:18:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…nwdn
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Thank you for writing this post. It should spark a lot of thought and new ideas!

I am very familiar with the domain of vision because my eyes work reasonably well. The blind have missed out on that, but now they have a tool to describe an image —- to translate it into a domain they know. I am now wondering what other domains of experience are there where people are like the blind.

Can AI transform that information into something our senses can understand? It doesn’t have to be language. It could be sound, or touch, or something visual. The analogy I have in mind is with radio telescopes. This technology (many technologies) gives us the ability to see and understand the depths of the universe.

There are some domains where decision-making requires processing ...

2026-01-18T11:13:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…s6r4
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There are some domains where decision-making requires processing massive amounts of data and/or require decisions in fractions of a second. People cannot handle this work, they can’t even be in the loop. These are the problem domains most suited to AI-based automation. The value depends a lot on what the problem is that AI is solving. There is no question AI is delivering value well above its cost. That means it will be adopted more and more widely. No doubt in my mind.

Automated trading on various markets makes use of AI. I learned a ...

2026-01-18T11:05:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…v7pe
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Automated trading on various markets makes use of AI. I learned a bit about this when I had consulted for a major investment house on their AI tech. They told me 11% of all trades were automatic. It is very complicated to explain how it worked, but it was extremely alarming to me because there were no effective guardrails to prevent emergent escalation effects and market collapse. This was over 10 years ago so maybe it is safer, but I don’t think so.

Thank you for writing this post. It should spark a lot of thought ...

2026-01-18T10:59:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…nwdn
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Thank you for writing this post. It should spark a lot of thought and new ideas!

I am very familiar with the domain of vision because my eyes work reasonably well. The blind have missed out on that, but now they have a tool to describe an image —- to translate it into a domain they know. I am now wondering what other domains of experience are there where people are like the blind.

The analogy I have in mind is radio telescopes. This technology (many technologies) gives us the ability to see and understand the depths of the universe in ways that are otherwise impossible.

Can AI transform information from any other interesting domains into something our senses can process and we can understand? It doesn’t have to be language, but language is very powerful. It could be sound, or touch, or something visual. AI is our new telescope. What do we point it at?

Kindness to other people. Everybody needs to practice this and it ...

2026-01-18T10:32:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…zase
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Kindness to other people. Everybody needs to practice this and it is something AI will never understand.

We all need to prepare our wills. Some with more urgency it ...

2026-01-18T10:26:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…4e4q
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We all need to prepare our wills. Some with more urgency it seems. The Bishop said, “it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable."
✊🏼

I appreciate the sentiment. Thank you. I sure don’t feel ...

2026-01-18T01:01:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…r2pt
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I appreciate the sentiment. Thank you. I sure don’t feel special.

Personal #InfoSec heads up. This is my story of #identity theft. ...

2026-01-17T21:46:52Z

Personal #InfoSec heads up. This is my story of #identity theft. I hope it helps you avoid the hellish experience. In early December 2025, I fell for a very well-executed #phishing #fraud scam.

They pretended to be from security at my bank. They knew much more about me than I would ever expect. That was key to convincing me to stay on line, When I say “they” I’m talking about several individuals who role played (excellently) security, managers, customer representatives. I stretched out the conversation because something seemed off. I had no evidence. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but at one point I detected a slight hesitation or nervousness in one of their voices. I told them I needed a personal moment and put them on hold.

I called a guy at the bank who helps me with my retirement funds, told him the story and asked for help verifying what was going on. Within two minutes he said it was a hoax and he had real bank security on the phone with us. They wanted me to play along while they were online, looking for various clues and hoping to catch the bad guys in the act. It worked. The bad guys were in the process of transferring out everything in my accounts. It would have been a crushing DISASTER if I did not have the bank’s real security hoaxing the hoaxers! I lost nothing but time and personal esteem. The aftermath has been more painful.

It has been months since my complete identity information was stolen. I had to change every bank and credit account number, kill several email addresses I had used for decades, change all passwords, inform #SSA, #Medicare, Ibsurance companies… the whole package. I’m not done. I consider myself lucky, so far. It will never be over. I realize that protecting my identity is a constant battle.

I think it started when my info (OGE Form 450) was stolen when the #US government general administration office was hacked in 2008 (?) and virtually all employees’ financial disclosures were stolen. They gave us lifetime monitoring service which has been pretty good. It spotted and reported to me multiple breakins and data thefts over the years, including when my info was for sale on the “dark web”. I want to emphasize that I responded EVERY TIME. Nevertheless, my info from various thefts was obviously collated over time and now there is a good solid model of me for sale, complete with private information I thought I never disclosed.

This can easily happen to anyone, including you.

Everything I learned about personal infosec over the years — **advice I followed** — proved to be insufficient. I’m now looking into hardware passkeys, but that is not enough. I welcome professional #infosec and others to comment here. It is a teachable moment for all of us.

Thank you everyone for your attention and support of this post. ...

2026-01-17T08:45:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…lvrc
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Thank you everyone for your attention and support of this post. It’s more recognition than I ever anticipated. I am humbled that my memories can evoke this reaction in you. I hope that, whatever your conclusions , you share them with others.

Thank you everyone for your attention and support of this post. ...

2026-01-17T08:15:58Z

The story of the Phoenix is becoming real.

2026-01-17T08:09:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…pgms
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The story of the Phoenix is becoming real.

Whoa! Minnesotans starting to get tough on #ICE. This is all ...

2026-01-17T08:08:26Z

Whoa! Minnesotans starting to get tough on #ICE. This is all roots up protest, little or no organization or control. There doesn’t seem to be much if any organized resistance. Little or no training, people are just mad as hell.

Interesting to see that ICE abandoned some vehicles when they were under siege by protesters. Before the crowd had its way, some smart person searched and found #OpSec documents that ICE ought not have been carrying around. Watch the video at link for details.

I have little doubt that Trump will use these protests to ratchet up his rhetoric and the rules of engagement for ICE. Did you know that ICE spent more than 100x more USD$ on small arms, explosives and gas weapons since Trump was elected vs previous years?

I have a feeling tonight that the torch has been lit.

https://youtu.be/uHtUpbTxxTw?si=ovwr7DUf5IyUQvDl

And definitely no soup!

2026-01-16T17:17:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…z2jq
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And definitely no soup!

Seems that way from what I hear. How can administration be so out ...

2026-01-16T17:11:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…ey5c
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Seems that way from what I hear. How can administration be so out of touch with the values dear to higher education?

Thanks. He’s been gone for many years, but stories about him ...

2026-01-16T17:08:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…gfuf
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Thanks. He’s been gone for many years, but stories about him carry on. I’m pretty sure the nature of immortality is the impact we have on the lives of others.

I’ve been reading toots and articles that say Trump is asking ...

2026-01-16T17:05:08Z

I’ve been reading toots and articles that say Trump is asking people to investigate and report any “subversive “ behavior by their co-workers. It reminds me of when I had a routine FBI interview at NASA (c. 2016) and they asked me, “Do you know of any people or groups who want to overthrow the US govt?” I was feeling pretty surly that day and
I responded, “Do you mean other than the Republican Party?” It was the closest I’ve ever seen FBI agents come to smiling, much less laughing out loud. They had to look away from me and each other to hold it together. I think they must go to school to master that blank, stoic look the FBI agents are famous for.

During the McCarthy era, my dad — a University of Michigan ...

2026-01-16T17:05:01Z

During the McCarthy era, my dad — a University of Michigan professor — was asked by the FBI to name communists or other subversives at the University. He refused. He told us they came several times to his office to pressure him, even threatening him with being called before the Committee (a career-ending event everyone feared). He refused every time. The University administration backed him up. A decade later I overheard some faculty (partygoers at our house) talking about it with respect.

I never thought those days would come again.

Don’t be a snitch on friends and colleagues. Don’t cooperate. Keep your self respect and earn the esteem of others. Plus it is the right thing to do.

I believe that having Trump invoke the Insurrection Act, ...

2026-01-16T16:59:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…32zk
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I believe that having Trump invoke the Insurrection Act, justifiably or not, has always been part of the coup plan. It should not be a suprise to anyone. Soon will come the big test — will American soldiers shoot American civilians?

During the McCarthy era, my dad — a University of Michigan ...

2026-01-16T16:59:10Z

During the McCarthy era, my dad — a University of Michigan professor — was asked by the FBI to name communists or other subversives at the University. He refused. He told us they came several times to his office to pressure him, even threatening him with being called before the Committee (a career-ending event everyone feared). He refused every time. The University administration backed him up. A decade later I overheard some faculty (partygoers at our house) talking about the events with respect.

I never thought those days would come again.

Don’t be a snitch on friends and colleagues. Don’t cooperate. Keep your self respect and earn the esteem of others. Plus it is the right thing to do.

I’ve been reading toots and articles that say #Trump is asking ...

2026-01-16T16:47:39Z

I’ve been reading toots and articles that say #Trump is asking people to investigate and report any “subversive “ behavior by their co-workers. It reminds me of when I had a routine #FBI interview at NASA (c. 2016) and they asked me, “Do you know of any people or groups who want to overthrow the US govt?” I was feeling pretty surly that day and
I responded, “Do you mean other than the Republican Party?” It was the closest I’ve ever seen FBI agents come to smiling, much less laughing out loud. They had to look away from me and each other to hold it together. I think they must go to school to master that blank, stoic look the FBI agents are famous for.

OMG this is terrible. I didn’t think ICE could get even more ...

2026-01-16T16:31:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…yql7
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OMG this is terrible. I didn’t think ICE could get even more callous and depraved. A failure of my imagination — they are the worst

Here’s an idea for lowering tensions over Greenland: get rid of ...

2026-01-16T16:23:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…cvgy
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Here’s an idea for lowering tensions over Greenland: get rid of the crazy guy. This is our problem, not Denmark’s.

I believe that having Trump invoke the Insurrection Act, ...

2026-01-15T19:03:48Z

In college, I worked part time as an assistant librarian for a ...

2026-01-15T18:50:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…gupn
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In college, I worked part time as an assistant librarian for a special collection of protest literature from around the world. This was pre-internet so everything was mailed. The material that came in was astonishing, informative and sometimes grotesque (e.g., the white supremacy lit). It was extremely draining to see that literature every single day.

These are some of the categories of info I found. ...

2026-01-15T18:43:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…gupn
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These are some of the categories of info I found.

There are many good articles about staying safe during protests. ...

2026-01-15T18:38:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…yssh
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There are many good articles about staying safe during protests. I’ve collected them over the years like I collect recipes. I’m happy to share, but I think it is a subject that requires security for all concerned, more than I know how to provide. They are pdf format. Anybody out there have ideas on #infosec for #protests?

This should go nationwide.

2026-01-15T02:14:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…0ysh
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This should go nationwide.

Thanks. Understanding the concept of symbol reallly does unlock a ...

2026-01-15T02:13:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…0agx
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Thanks. Understanding the concept of symbol reallly does unlock a lot of reasoning.

OMG! I’ve ingested AI !

2026-01-15T02:04:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…fwuv
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OMG! I’ve ingested AI !

Yes, we USians see it the same way. But there is more (read to ...

2026-01-15T01:58:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…p7gh
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Yes, we USians see it the same way. But there is more (read to the end). The first problems are legality and power. Congress has the legal power to remove Trump from office. We tried that twice in his first term (the impeachments) but his party, Republicans, refused to vote to remove him. The only other legal method is for his cabinet officials to vote that he is incompetent to exercise his duties. It’s never been done. We are stuck because the Republicans in Congress, the Executive branch (political appointees ) and the Courts will lose personal and collective power (and the wealth power buys). They simply refuse to govern in good faith according to their oaths to the Constitution. An election can go against Trump, but the way things are going we may never have another free and open election. Donald is not even eligible for another term.

But Trump is not the real problem. He is a symptom, an easily manipulated figure head for a coalition of ultra-right wing groups that are pushing for establishment of a state religion (evangelical Christianity), patriarchy, nationalist white supremacy (aka Nazis), corporations (especially fossil fuel) and ultawealthy individuals. We can’t solve our mutual global problem by just getting rid of Trump.

The rest has to change as well.

Historically, there no examples where such power has been freely given up. That brings us to you-know- what. If that happens, we’re going to need all the help and friends we can get.

Good puzzle. ‘The proof is left as an exercise for the ...

2026-01-15T01:32:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…w0vx
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Good puzzle. ‘The proof is left as an exercise for the reader.”

Symbol. It means “stands for”. The trouble comes because are ...

2026-01-15T00:50:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…vd2j
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Symbol. It means “stands for”. The trouble comes because are reusing 1 and 0 together to mean something different. Somehow you need to convey that the symbol “represents” a concept, it is itself not the concept. The symbol alone carries no meaning except that which we agree to assign it.

More water #humor to twist your noggin. ...

2026-01-15T00:26:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…q9nd
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More water #humor to twist your noggin.

Yet, people believe what goes around comes around. 🤦

2026-01-14T21:00:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…zguv
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Yet, people believe what goes around comes around. 🤦

If I could stay in shape by reading books, I would be a ...

2026-01-14T20:56:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…ns94
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If I could stay in shape by reading books, I would be a superhero! We all could! Even if we can’t, you can get other superpowers by reading books.

Seems obvious. Like Magneto, for example? Is such power mediated ...

2026-01-14T20:41:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…v84r
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Seems obvious. Like Magneto, for example? Is such power mediated by a technological artifact (e.g., Ironman’s suit) or can you have super powers in your gym clothes?

There are certainly mixed opinions out there, even among experts. ...

2026-01-14T20:38:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…3d67
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There are certainly mixed opinions out there, even among experts. ICE are not given police powers, and only police can arrest you. They CAN detain you if they are investigating a crime. Frankly, I do not believe this dilemma will be resolved in court. Civil disobedience on a massive scale is required. That’s why it is important for individuals to spread the word about their encounters with ICE. There is some safety in groups.

I think you are right. But ICE will do what they’re gonna do. ...

2026-01-14T20:33:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…5zvy
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I think you are right. But ICE will do what they’re gonna do. Asserting rights doesn’t seem to persuade them.

An appealing argument, but it doesn’t hold …water. I assert ...

2026-01-14T20:29:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…mf9f
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An appealing argument, but it doesn’t hold …water. I
assert that to be considered “wet” an object has to actually absorb some water. There are many hydrophobic compounds that repel water. They remain total dry even if they touch water. As usual, it’s all in the details.

Good news. Best wishes for your Mom.

2026-01-14T20:23:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…mjt5
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Good news. Best wishes for your Mom.

Prisoners of war? But no, since the Red Cross cannot visit we ...

2026-01-14T20:12:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…awv0
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Prisoners of war? But no, since the Red Cross cannot visit we must assume they are hostages (in the best case). In the worst case, they will “examples.” No joke.

My kidney stone procedure (with lasers, not ultrasonic) went ...

2026-01-14T20:09:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…zrfq
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My kidney stone procedure (with lasers, not ultrasonic) went fine. Afterwards, not so fine. My stone was >14mm so no way would it fit through a 10mm passage without being broken up.

I’m not that old, but yes, in reprints.

2026-01-14T20:04:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…hq5z
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I’m not that old, but yes, in reprints.

Easier to believe he is super strong with the muscle cues. I get ...

2026-01-14T20:02:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…wnc4
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Easier to believe he is super strong with the muscle cues. I get it. Since that era, we have lots of strong superheroes and supervillains without the huge muscles (spanning genders).

You refer to the Charles Atlas muscle building ads?

2026-01-14T19:56:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…hq5z
_________________________

You refer to the Charles Atlas muscle building ads?

Just so. I would not refer to it as leaving — more like ...

2026-01-14T19:55:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…y4yj
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Just so. I would not refer to it as leaving — more like escaping. Insofar as we are able, we have to help each other whether we stay or go. I see that as an ethical duty.

You mean sheeple, not people?

2026-01-14T19:52:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…phgu
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You mean sheeple, not people?

It might beva tough call, legal-wise. Best to ask for your lawyer ...

2026-01-14T19:50:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…lkv5
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It might beva tough call, legal-wise. Best to ask for your lawyer before answering. Definitely no cooperation without a warrant. Ethically, I would personally slow-walk or refuse to answer. You never have to answer a police question . Oh, they’re not police? Then you still don’t have to answer. 4th Amendment still applies, I hope.

THINGS I CONTEMPLATE AT THE GYM: Why does #Superman have bulging ...

2026-01-14T19:41:49Z

THINGS I CONTEMPLATE AT THE GYM:
Why does #Superman have bulging muscles? His strength comes from being an alien from Krypton, not from working out.
#Why

Apparently, at least some USians can still leave for those or ...

2026-01-14T17:49:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…l42l
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Apparently, at least some USians can still leave for those or other countries. That won’t last.

I’m pretty sure it would be illegal to disclose any personally ...

2026-01-14T17:47:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…shlj
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I’m pretty sure it would be illegal to disclose any personally identifiable information about a patient without a court order. Hold firm!

Was there ever any doubt?

2026-01-14T17:44:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…d8sv
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Was there ever any doubt?

The #Trump administration is coming after #Jews in academia. ...

2026-01-14T17:41:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…lta0
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The #Trump administration is coming after #Jews in academia. Their claim about fighting antisemitism is a ruse. It was never just about immigrants. It’s about White Nationalism and the weird idea of racial purity. See it for what it is.

AOC, Crocket and a few others are 👍🏼👍🏼

2026-01-14T17:18:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…qmr7
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AOC, Crocket and a few others are 👍🏼👍🏼

Yes. They have no good reason. I don’t buy the “improve our ...

2026-01-14T17:17:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…3mwa
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Yes. They have no good reason. I don’t buy the “improve our product” excuse.

Luckily, it is relatively easy to simply block their DNS queries. A few brands are very persistent in trying to evade blocks so sometimes it feels like hand to hand combat.

In my house, Lutron devices are the worst offenders.

This is a threat to the local and state officials who are ...

2026-01-14T17:08:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…6306
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This is a threat to the local and state officials who are speaking out. It looks like ICE is worried about them taking actual action because the purpose is to actually obstruct ICE from illegal activities.

“…that if officials cross that line into obstruction, into criminal conspiracy against the United States or against ICE officers, then they will face justice.”

State governments must decide if the “good faith” premises of ...

2026-01-14T00:43:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…hskc
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State governments must decide if the “good faith” premises of federal cooperation are still valid. The answer is no, because #DOJ is off the rails.

I’m totally with you. Regarding the press, their use of ...

2026-01-14T00:37:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…ysy9
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I’m totally with you. Regarding the press, their use of language in this way is reckless with very, very few exceptions.

🎯

2026-01-14T00:12:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…yfpz
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🎯

Here are candidate alt names for “ICE Agents” that are more ...

2026-01-14T00:05:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…m82q
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Here are candidate alt names for “ICE Agents” that are more descriptive and less legitimizing.

mercenaries, thugs, hired muscle, mall cops, Smiths (see, “Matrix”), losers, misanthropes,

Add to the list!

I really love your “things I can do” section. It’s a great ...

2026-01-13T23:45:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…arxv
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I really love your “things I can do” section. It’s a great model for others in many areas. I’ll save it for the next time I’m stuck and frustrated with some project. Good luck!

Useful info. Thanks for sharing.

2026-01-13T18:01:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…scqj
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Useful info. Thanks for sharing.

That was pure delusion, way beyond wishful thinking. Ivanka has ...

2026-01-13T08:50:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…dyry
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That was pure delusion, way beyond wishful thinking. Ivanka has been a member of the Trump crime family for a long time. She is smarter than her brothers and stays out of the limelight.

Great quote. I’ll use it (plenty of opportunities, sadly).

2026-01-12T21:22:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…6fas
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Great quote. I’ll use it (plenty of opportunities, sadly).

True. Whatever lessons learned, plus or minus, we need that ...

2026-01-12T21:18:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…y92q
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True. Whatever lessons learned, plus or minus, we need that experience in the tool box.

Only a coder will understand your use of the word “scope” ...

2026-01-12T18:50:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…20l2
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Only a coder will understand your use of the word “scope” here. Ah, never mind. Most coders don’t understand scope anyway.

I agree, but the consequences part has yet to be demonstrated.

2026-01-12T18:47:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…s5zf
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I agree, but the consequences part has yet to be demonstrated.

It fits the pattern.

2026-01-12T18:45:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…zzu3
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It fits the pattern.

Wow, that’s even worse than I imagined and I usually imagine ...

2026-01-12T18:31:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…r6q4
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Wow, that’s even worse than I imagined and I usually imagine the worst.
— #ICE do not routinely wear bodycams for official use (probably for the obvious reasons)
— yet they use personal cameras to film their daily brutality.

I’d like to see an investigative report on how often ICE videos are shared on nationalist/racist web sites.