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Is anybody following me only here any more?
(Unlike nearly everything I post, this is intentionally only being posted to LiveJournal.)
A few days ago, I posted my analysis of the new LJ Terms of Service, over on Dreamwidth as usual. Those of you only reading me here didn't see it, because (as I found out the hard way) crossposting from DW to LJ is now blocked until and unless you *accept* ( Read more... ) -
Signal Boost: Affordable Housing at Assembly Square
Mainly for Somerville residents -- the developer of an enormous new apartment complex at Assembly Square is trying to skeeve out of some of the mandatory affordable housing: they're seeking a waiver to cut 37 affordable units out of the plan. IMO, the city shouldn't allow this; if you agree, it's time to go write to the Planning Board about it. ( Read more... ) -
A Study of the Battleground
When I dubbed my current politics posts with the tag "wartime thoughts", that was not originally intended as a general statement about the political arena. I've wound up using it more generally, but it was originally planned (before the gush of events distracted me) to be a series of posts on a specific topic, to make a specific point: we are ( Read more... ) -
Adtech
Here's an interesting article about "adtech" -- those automated algorithms that companies like Google and Facebook use to spy on you and serve up advertisements that they think you will respond to. The major upshots are:
- Adtech is at best wildly ineffective, and at worst actively damaging, for brands that are trying to advertise.
- The core precepts ( Read more... )
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A good summary of the state of Russiagate
If you're not already following Yonaton Zunger, you might want to consider doing so -- his Medium blog has been one of the more consistently interesting ones out there.
Particularly interesting is his post yesterday, From Russia With Oil, which provides a nicely clear summary of what is currently known about the Trump/Russia connection, spelling ( Read more... ) -
Signal boost: Confide probably should *not* be trusted
Since I know that a lot of my friends are security-conscious, and might be using it, I call your attention to this article in Ars Technica about the messaging service Confide.
The implication I'm getting (based on these reports, and what Confide itself is saying) is that Confide isn't secure -- and that isn't a matter of bugs, it's that the ( Read more... ) -
The Third Way: Beyond Fun and Authenticity
I just came across this marvelous essay on the SCA fun/authenticity false dichotomy, and a different way of looking at it. It was written some years ago, but is still worthwhile reading for any SCAdian. (It's from Tibicen, who some of you might remember from days of yore.)
I totally agree with the philosophy here: while I'm pretty indisciplined ( Read more... ) -
Donaeld et al -- showing that Twitter can be a force for good (or at least, funny)
It occurs to me that not everyone has yet come across the Twitter feed of Donaeld the Unready and associated accounts. There is a growing collection of these, all interlinked from different viewpoints, and they are particularly perfect for the SCAdian -- of-the-moment political satire, all framed in terms of Anglo-Saxon England. I think my current ( Read more... ) -
And sometimes the spam is just *weird*
I just got an email that looks, for all the world, like an attempt to make a hotel reservation. The English is fairly atrocious, and it appears to be bcc:'ed to me, but damned if I can figure out what the scam is here -- there are no links, no requests for me to send anything except a confirmation and the cost to put up 10 people in mid-May.
Mind ( Read more... ) -
Picking at the ball of twine is always dangerous
What I set out to do: add "Unsubscribe" links to the bottom of all emails sent from Querki, so we properly comply with CAN-SPAM requirements.
What I find myself doing: implementing not just Guest Mode (the long-long-desired ability to use a Querki invitation without having to become a member), but today implementing Shareable Links (because Guest ( Read more... )