lobster @Lobster@qoto.org

https://epicenter.works/en/content/eu-digital-identity-reform-the-good-bad-ugly-in-the-eidas-regulation

This thing is very disturbing.

1) Even if a "concession" is made, details are subject to change later.

2) I don't think anything stops them mandating it in practice, if they twist the language, or opt not to enforce parts of it.

3) It already looks very open to abuse.

4) It looks a lot like "age verification" is being snuck in through the backdoor.

5) Surveillance concerns.

There are also the other problems, such as it obviously being terrible for security with the QWACs.

#eidas

It’s not the technology. It’s who we use it.

#originoflife #informationtheory #ComplexSystems #CollectiveBehavior #evolutionarydynamics #biogels #informationtheory #philosophy #philosophyofscience #philosophyofmaths #qotojournal #biology #evolution #economy #incomedistribution #anthropology #culturalevolution #archeology#originoflife #informationtheory #ComplexSystems #CollectiveBehavior #evolutionarydynamics #biogels #informationtheory #philosophy #philosophyofscience #philosophyofmaths #qotojournal #biology #evolution #economy #incomedistribution #anthropology #culturalevolution #archeology #networkscience #complexnetworks

https://wjbeaver.wixsite.com/mysite/post/what-is-data

What is Data?

"JP Morgan Chase notified the Treasury Department of more than $1 billion in transactions related to human trafficking by Jeffrey Epstein dating back 16 years"

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/01/report-jpmorgan-flagged-over-1b-in-epstein-transactions-to-treasury.html

The rich have the most to lose if cultures get serious about mitigating #ClimateChange

" the rich will be able to avoid the #ClimateCrisis for longer than the rest of us. When the weather becomes intolerable in one country, they can more easily move to another. Or they can retreat into climate-controlled private spaces"
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/11/super-rich-pollution-earth-climate-crisis

Thanks for the lovely messages and emails yesterday. Mum finally got admitted - gotta say, staff in the Hutt Hospital are a national treasure, as are the St John’s folks making endless cups of tea and small talk.

Mum got admitted, and they are intervening to make her comfortable, as per her wishes precisely. She is a tough nuggety old chook and bloody proud of it!

Keep it Simple

#art #mastoart #originalart #watercolor #bonsai #japan

As the week draws to a close, here's a story about the practice of "dusking" — mindful observation of the transition from day to night, meant to help us reconnect to nature, appreciate the subtlety of twilight, and enjoy stillness.

https://flip.it/3Oipzv

#Mindfulness #Meditation #MentalHealth #DigitalDetox

Expelled Nashville Democrat Justin Jones of the #TennesseeThree wins back state House seat

#Politics #BlackMastodon

https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-three-election-lawmakers-expelled-1ae19a1bd5f042624568e94b30c8fc1b

Ooh, just checked the new(?) #Peertube search – https://joinpeertube.org/browse-content. It's surprisingly fast and has a nice UI. Searching for "CiviCRM" (no hashtag needed) it brought up 69 videos, 2 channels and 4 playlists, in under a second.

I'm posting this here because I don't have the character limit needed to post it on my main account, so bear with me.

-------

Something I just thought of.

For a number of years, I received treatment for low testosterone. When I was born, I had a hernia surgery that damaged my right testicle and stunted its growth. When I was twelve, they removed it because they worried that it showed signs of becoming potentially cancerous. It wasn’t a big deal. I got a prosthetic and now I have one flesh testicle and one robot testicle. I’m a cyborg.

Flash forward to my mid-thirties when I asked my doctor if my noticeably soft and high voice could be due to a lack of testosterone from my single testicle. He said it wasn’t likely but possible and ran some blood tests and discovered that my testosterone was almost totally bottomed out, possibly due to my testicular situation, and also from my obesity. So they started me on testosterone treatments. First, it was androgen gel that I rubbed on my chest and was warned to keep far from my wife, who would be affected detrimentally if she touched it. That I wasn’t comfortable with for long, so we switched to testosterone injections. I did that for years, and it made a difference. I felt my energy change, my mental health improved and, oddly, I felt more “masculine” whatever that means in my life. I’ve never been particularly masculine in the traditional sense, despite my size and general appearance.

What I’m getting at, is that low testosterone was affecting my mental health, and taking supplemental testosterone improved that mental health, as well as my self-image because I felt more confident in my gender. I felt more masculine, which was great because I’m a man.

No one ever once questioned my use of T for my mental health and self-image. It was just never a thing. The doctor figured out that this would help me, so they gave it to me because that’s a doctor’s job. To treat the health of their patients. I’m a cis man so I pretty much get what I want without much fuss. That’s a privilege I have and other people don’t. Because society is fucked in the head.

So my question is why the hell is it anyone’s business? If someone started questioning my use of Testosterone to treat my mental and physical health, I’d tell them to fuck off and mind their own business. It’s got nothing to do with anyone beyond my family and my doctor. Again, that's my privilege.

It boggles my mind that people receiving gender-affirming care are being denied that treatment because of how they identify. Hormonal treatment to help with mental and physical health, just like me. Treatment that helps align my body with my idea of what my body should feel and perform like. And most importantly, it’s NO ONE’S FUCKING BUSINESS. It’s absurd and offensive that trans people can’t follow their doctor’s recommendation and treat their health/identity concerns without being scrutinized, bullied, and even denied that care. Children who desperately need this care are being denied it and it’s leading to their death in many cases.

The way we treat trans people is horrifying. It’s truly offensive. Things need to change and quickly. We’re losing babies because we’re allowing politicians and zealots and bullies to dictate the health decisions of children instead of doctors. That’s one of the most demented things I’ve seen happen in our culture in my lifetime. These are people trying to live their lives and treat their health in the best way they know how. More importantly, in the best way their DOCTORS know how. It’s no one’s fucking business.

Tangentially, I could make a very similar post about abortion.

I have an idea! Let's not get involved in other people's medical decisions! Can we do that please?

Stop thinking of Twitter, TikTok, IG, (et al) as social media sites.

They are **Content Refineries.**

Like processed food manufacturers they take user content & extract the most addicting/engaging content. Brains eat it up but in an unhealthy “devour the whole bag of chips” way.

They make hyper-processed social media junk food.

Mastodon is more like a potluck. We're all bringing dishes. It's a mess. Kids are running all over. But we are, at least, real people sharing real things.

Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge explores founder’s slavery links https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/20/fitzwilliam-museum-cambridge-explores-founders-slavery-links

#History #BritishHistory #BlackHistory #HumanTrafficking #Slavery #CambridgeUniversity #Museum #Fitzwilliam

I’m so excited! I made Victorian-inspired pockets attached to a waistband (w velcro). Women’s pockets in the 1800s could accommodate everything from gin flasks, telescopes, to botanical maps and sewing accessories‼️

I made my pockets comically large to make a point, so, it fits everything I need - my phone, charging cable, wallet, comb, hand sanitizer, a tiny notebook, and my e-reader. If this sticks, it will be a game changer 👜🚫

#SilentSunday

#Fishing #Lake #Sunday #Hobby #Landscape #landscapephotography #Ireland #Summer #WaterSports