Martin Ruskov @mapto@qoto.org

The U.S. attack on Venezuela included a hacking attack that shut down Caracas’s power grid.

Troops don’t have to physically attack power plants any more to destroy them.

https://theconversation.com/hacking-the-grid-how-digital-sabotage-turns-infrastructure-into-a-weapon-272874

With Iran still largely under an internet blackout, eyewitness testimony is key for understanding how angry demonstrations over economic hardship exploded into the biggest anti-government protests since 1979. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/22/world/society/iran-too-dangerous-hospital/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #society #iran #alikhamenei

Two months without screens after a concussion brought better sleep, a longer attention span and a sense of mental quiet to a public health researcher.

The experience reminded her that genuine restoration comes from reducing mental demands—not just the illusion of rest.

https://theconversation.com/why-unwinding-with-screens-may-be-making-us-more-stressed-heres-what-to-try-instead-272887

Behind the Numbers: Who Moderates the Social Web? #openSocialWeb #fediverse

https://about.iftas.org/2026/01/21/behind-the-numbers-who-moderates-the-social-web/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into THE FEDIVERSE VS. CORPORATE SOCIAL MEDIA @the-fediverse-vs-corporate-social-media-mobileatom

What Carney said about NATO & trade was hugely important, but it’s what he said about truth that’s even more so. His choice of Vaclav Havel was not accidental. His concept of ‘living in truth’ is an essential guide to this moment open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

Central thesis: “In a world where established platforms are turning from the promised rescue of digital journalism to its danger, journalism should consider being active in the fediverse.”

Reading about #Nvidia CEO crying about people not liking #AI, though it was a good time to recover this historic piece of art from the Copyright wars of the start of the century. Cc'ing @pluralistic

Original at https://www.flickr.com/photos/akma/9208227/

The EPA says it will stop estimating the value of health benefits of reducing air pollution until it is “confident enough” in its models. But uncertainty doesn’t make an estimate useless.

This is like ignoring weather forecasts because they might not be perfect 🙄https://theconversation.com/what-air-pollution-does-to-the-human-body-273456

AI can crunch data. It can’t replace scientists.

Real discovery still depends on human judgment, creativity and collaboration. https://theconversation.com/ai-cannot-automate-science-a-philosopher-explains-the-uniquely-human-aspects-of-doing-research-272477

Iran’s regime keeps closing universities. History shows why: Campuses are where dissent turns into protest movements. https://theconversation.com/irans-universities-have-long-been-a-battleground-where-protests-happen-and-students-fight-for-the-future-273742

#MAGA #Trump #GOP #Republicans

Based also on what Bruce Schneier recently wrote about AI security, there's no real way to secure against these kind of attacks without restricting LLMs to the point of making them much less useful.

https://www.promptarmor.com/resources/claude-cowork-exfiltrates-files

EU lawmakers are poised to halt approval of trade deals with the U.S. over Donald Trump’s vow to impose tariffs on countries that supported Greenland in the face of American threats. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/01/18/economy/eu-us-trade-deal-trump-greenland/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #us #donaldtrump #greenland #eu #europe #tariffs #trade #denmark

Saint Thecla, a second-century woman, survived being burned at the stake, faced lions and killer seals in an arena, and became an early example of women preaching and baptizing. https://theconversation.com/thecla-the-beast-fighter-the-saint-who-faced-down-lions-and-killer-seals-is-one-of-many-leading-ladies-in-early-christian-texts-270346

Beef cattle production accounts for 3.7% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Experts in cow burps and meat processing say the industry can become more sustainable by experimenting with virtual fencing, feed additives to reduce methane and using every part of the animal. https://theconversation.com/colorado-ranchers-and-consumers-can-team-up-to-make-beef-supply-chains-more-sustainable-272582