Yes, that’s part of the ecosystem. :)

I attribute Java’s uptake to a large amount of marketing and support, which led to a massive ecosystem. Even a mediocre language like this one can find success when propped up like that.

and potentially to watch US citizens as well

Anyone who thinks this is not being used on US citizens is incredibly naïve.

At least one of the named routers (RT-AC3100) is supported by OpenWRT, which generally has a better security track record than stock firmware.

If I wanted to do this, I think I would start by getting to know the IT staff. This would:

• Help me to understand the challenges they face in getting their work done: what’s problematic for them, what’s helpful, what skills they already have, etc. This would eventually guide me in how to approach suggesting changes with minimal friction.
• Make me a familiar person to them, and allow opportunities to build trust in my skills, knowledge, and judgment. If this is established before I ever suggest a change, it could avoid some of the doubt and resistance that would surely come if a stranger walked up and pushed for changes. I want to be a friend, not a foe.
• Potentially identify an ally within IT: Someone who might already want to make the switch (perhaps because they’re tired of Microsoft’s BS) or at least agree that it would make sense. An ally on the inside would not only make it easier to get others to seriously consider the change, but also potentially help gather information about how MS Office is currently being used so that I could prepare equivalent LibreOffice workflows for users who need them.

I suggest taking your time, and saving Linux for later so that it doesn’t create more friction against moving to LibreOffice.

The normalisation of constant surveillance makes me want to vomit.

Yep. A bunch of them.

GP’s complaint must have been about Signal.

In the past 5 years of using Matrix, I have received exactly 2 direct spam messages, and seen maybe 5-10 in public rooms. (There have been none in my private chats, of course.) If you’re seeing much more, I guess it must depend on how you use it and what rooms you join.

Matrix is slowly getting there.

I don’t have any reason to think this is particular to Rust. The MIT license is popular because it’s permissive, simple, and well-known. Developers often choose it when they want to maximize a project’s reach.

The technologies mentioned in the article:

lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking (AEB), and blind-spot detection

AI-powered traffic systems

On-demand breathalyzers, smartphone saliva tests, and eye-tracking sensors

The Realtek RTL8125B on my year-old motherboard has been doing fine with Linux’s r8169 driver.

I’ve only used it at 1gbit/second, though; I haven’t tested its 2.5gbit mode.

Intel is probably still the gold standard.

I guess you’re not familiar with the i225-v and its variants. Intel burned their reputation for good NICs with that fiasco.

If you use wooden cutting boards / blocks, rub mineral oil into them every once in a while. This will reduce the water they absorb and make them less likely to warp or split.

“While AT&T and Verizon only provide notice of surveillance of phone lines paid for by the Senate, T-Mobile has informed my staff that it will provide notice for Senators’ campaign or personal lines flagged as such by the [Senate Sergeant at Arms],” Wyden wrote. “Three other carriers — Google Fi Wireless, U.S. Mobile, and Cape — have policies of notifying all customers about government demands whenever they are allowed to do so. The latter two companies adopted these policies after outreach from my office.”

You might be surprised how many informed geeks will defend mass surveillance until their last breath, if it’s built with or adjacent to a technology that they feel connected to in some way.

I think most of them mean well, but unrealistic idealism and naïveté are definitely in play.

In order to retain our rights to private communications, we have to win every time.

In order to take them away, they only have to win once.

They will keep trying.

Stay vigilant.

GNU Taler requires exchanges in order to function, and hasn’t had any so far. What exchange now exists for use in Switzerland? Is it Taler Operations AG?

It depends on wire transfers to move money into and out of a Taler wallet. Wire transfer fees are typically around 30 USD. That’s not practical for most people’s needs, even if covering batches of transactions. Are there plans to support a less expensive means of funds transfer?

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/03/analyzing-kosas-constitutional-problems-depth

When the fuck will you people get it??

This is the wrong way to get people to care what you have to say.