Dave T-W @davoloid@qoto.org
- Location
- Mostly London
- Pronouns (plz)
- he/him
Just another worried little citizen of this modern-day Pompeii. Techie at UCL, working on Process Automation with MS Power Platform. Scatterbrain, interested in education, languages, Space and lots of disparate things. sorry.
Keeping my space toots at @astrodad as an experiment in self-moderation :)
*Background banner is a photo Yorkshire flag in blue and white, in front of a classic bell tent, in a field of similar tents at a festival.
Joined Oct 2022
Dave T-W
boosted
@LaF0rge Interesting read (I've only skimmed it so far) - but I think it downplays the subversive role played by UCL and Kent University who provided Internet access over x25 - allowing institutions who were obliged to buy x25 to tunnel TCP/IP over it and connect to the wider internet via leased lines from those institutions to the USA.
Kent went so far as to offer service to commercial research partners for a fee. (1986 perhaps?)
@steely_glint @LaF0rge Peter Kirstein, mentioned in there was great like that at negotiating and expanding access. A more recent history of that time (and early UK internet in 1973) is in his memoirs:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/computer-science/about/about-peter-kirstein
The left jumped on Assange's case but weren't aware or interested in these tensions. And at the same time have embraced the surveillance Googloligarchy.
https://cryptome.org/2014/08/google-wikileaks-note.htm
That for me is the disappointing part - whatever else has happened in the last decade or so, whatever happened on that couch in Sweden, that's the shot that Assange missed.
3/3
(way out of my swim lane here but these are narratives that I'm not seeing here much)
One element that stood out for me was the safety and security of individuals like Chelsea Manning, who were acting in good conscience.
From the above conversation:
"WikiLeaks reveals, but it is not primarily a tool of
revelation. There are many avenues on the internet for revelation. What does not exist is a social movement to that makes acting ethically by leaking a virtue. What does not exist is a comfortable way for everyone to leak safely and easily."
2/3
Thinking back to discussions from 15 or more years ago, when Assange was just becoming a celebrity and Wikileaks was being courted by news organisations, targeted by security services.
Even back to 2006, Others in the infosec / privacy sphere were highly concerned about how WL operated:
1) the concept of priveleged paid access to "spicy leaks" vs publicly available information
2) the intent of the anonymous leakers
3) transparency of the organisation, especially who was funding it and who was benefiting from the priveleged access
@ajlanes @davidallengreen Yes, good point. I was getting ahead of myself.
I still think it was that disjointed approach to various aspects of constitutionalism which allowed those systems of control and regulation to lose sight.
Dave T-W
boosted
Seven changes for a better constitution?
Some interesting proposals from some good people.
By me.
At Substack:
https://emptycity.substack.com/p/seven-changes-for-a-better-constitution
At my personal blog:
https://davidallengreen.com/2024/06/seven-changes-for-a-better-constitution-some-interesting-proposals-from-some-good-people/
@davidallengreen Are they talking generally about the UK constitution, or is this revisiting the idea of a single codified document? When huge changes to the civic fabric are made without consideration of an overall framework, more things break and can be corrupted. I'm thinking specifically of regional assemblies, changes to Lords, and obviously Brexit, which have made it even more complicated to think about a Constitution.
Gorgeous fun videos too Chapel Roan's "Casual":
https://youtu.be/AfSjnsYiY_A?si=hXhLRGJGmbTkq-nZ
Sabrina Carpenter's "Feather":
https://youtu.be/kLbn61Z4LDI
Playlist is chocka with Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter at the moment. https://youtu.be/io0UQ74sXfw
Accidentally crept in recently via other artists, as there's a musical heritage that goes back to the 80s and beyond. Feels like there two alternative versions spawned from the obviously huge artist of the moment. Not Walmart friendly and I prefer that.
Dave T-W
boosted
Parents: Kids are more depressed these days, i wonder why?
Kids: You destroyed the economy for us, the earth is literally dying, we are going to work until we die and on top of that the Nazis are back.
Parents: It's those pesky Necco Wafers
Dave T-W
boosted
As I keep having to emphasize: Farage is a fascist and a Quisling. (And Putin is also a fascist, the one pulling Farage's strings.)
https://mastodon.online/@Geri/112656130818703600
Dave T-W
boosted
RSS isn't dead—it's the secret weapon of info-savvy rebels.
Here's why RSS is more relevant than ever:
Everyone involved in education warned that this would be the outcome. Just another example of the carpetbagging.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/jun/22/flagship-free-school-that-cost-35m-closes-due-to-lack-of-pupils
Thoroughly enjoying this show from a few years back about the Feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. A host of the finest current actresses "of a certain age" chewing up the scenery and lots of digs at Hollywood's misogyny, then and now.
https://youtu.be/nZpANeIWWXI
Speaking of trust, would it be possible to
1) Something like Snopes, have an "unconfirmed / incorrect / confirmed" icon, and allow a candidate / constituency staffer to confirm via a form?
2) Subscribe to updates, or maybe RSS for the page (either site)
2/2
(and thanks to all the volunteers and supporters, you peeps are fabulous!)
Dave T-W
boosted
Wow my TL here is grim. Post more weird stuff. Say more things about your day. Show us the kitch you collect and help us geek with you about what you love.
This, too, is resistance, I promise.
Dave T-W
boosted
I moved to the UK in 2010. I lamented to a colleague that the most frustrating thing about being an immigrant was not being able to vote.
My friend put me straight. Commonwealth citizens legally resident in the UK (regardless of how long we've been here) are allowed to vote. You just have to register.
Are you Canadian? Australian? Indian? Nigerian? If you're allowed to live here, you're allowed to vote.
Today's your last day to register.
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
I'm sure most of you getting hyped for the upcoming #GEUK are familiar with your localcandidates and their current majority, and know how you would personally vote. But for those who are unsure, or for any friends/family, here's a handy website that shows which parties are targeting each seat and some significant local stats.
Dave T-W
boosted
it's a private account, because it's a younger member of the community (so we cannot boost the toot)
basically saying that the sort of tech community people that we get at hackathons are really helpful and on message
that tech can be both troublesome and rewarding
and that getting a bit of help from others and figuring out some of your own work arounds is a really satisfying, morale boosting experience
a great toot for those of us privileged to see it
it induces a smile!
- Location
- Mostly London
- Pronouns (plz)
- he/him
Just another worried little citizen of this modern-day Pompeii. Techie at UCL, working on Process Automation with MS Power Platform. Scatterbrain, interested in education, languages, Space and lots of disparate things. sorry.
Keeping my space toots at @astrodad as an experiment in self-moderation :)
*Background banner is a photo Yorkshire flag in blue and white, in front of a classic bell tent, in a field of similar tents at a festival.
Joined Oct 2022
