New server means a new #introduction
Hi, I am a design executive in Europe who started as a backend developer in Missouri.
My life has taken many turns, but I’ve always benefited from the advantage of being a white cishet male who is stereotyped as credible. Hopefully, I leave this planet more equitable than I found it.
I strive to apply critical analysis to everything yet also find solidarity with everyone.
While I value “strong opinions, weakly held”, I do indulge in strongly-held opinions on a few issues. I’ll thread them here so you can make an informed decision on whether to follow or block me:
Things that outraged Phylis Schlafly about the 1977 International Women's Year state conferences:
- "sexual conduct among consenting adults in private" should not be illegal
- "Federally-funded, comprehensive, day- care programs that meet Federal standards"
- "schools shall purchase non-sexist texts and curricular materials"
and, my favorite:
- "reduce the legal work week from 40 to 35 hours"
https://www.phyllisschlafly.com/wp-content/uploads/1977/08/PSCA_PSR_11_01_197708-Section-2.pdf
It's time for the annual reminder that lying is a lame form of humor. Constructing a believable but false narrative might make you feel creative and clever and smarter than all the April fools, you just come across as an asshole to most of us.
“When drivers fail to yield for pedestrians, it’s not because they can’t see them, it’s because they don’t care.” Kudos to @VisionZeroYVR for this brilliant intervention. https://momentummag.com/vision-zero-campaign-bricks-vancouver/ #TheWarOnCars
@gsuberland open-source is all about making sure the irritated people can find the cause of their irritation and tell people about it instead of just raising a middle finger in the general direction of Redmond and drinking.
Ever wondered about UK place names? My new web app lets you search place names (starting with 'south', ending with 'burgh', containing 'sea' etc) and plot them on a map - and then share those maps with friends.
Have a look at https://placenames.rtwilson.com/, or try one of the examples, like this map of different suffixes: https://placenames.rtwilson.com/#W3sidGV4dCI6ImJ1cmdoIiwiY29sb3IiOiIjZTMxYTFjIiwiY2hlY2tlZCI6dHJ1ZSwibWF0Y2hUeXBlIjoiZW5kc3dpdGgifSx7InRleHQiOiJoYW1wdG9uIiwiY29sb3IiOiIjMWY3OGI0IiwiY2hlY2tlZCI6dHJ1ZSwibWF0Y2hUeXBlIjoiZW5kc3dpdGgifSx7InRleHQiOiJiYWNoIiwiY29sb3IiOiIjMzNhMDJjIiwiY2hlY2tlZCI6dHJ1ZSwibWF0Y2hUeXBlIjoiZW5kc3dpdGgifV0=
I am the struggling-with-the-language immigrant they’re worried about, and like the idea of civic integration courses. https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/03/expats-should-do-a-course-in-becoming-an-amsterdammer/
A small one for tourists, too, please.
@Edent in my naive, optimistic youth (last century) I sent a letter to the Library of Congress suggesting they offer this to citizens.
American [enemy of the day] being, as with all things, dependent upon whether you’re team blue or team red.
Let’s start a new conspiracy theory that Ring cameras are a [enemy of the day] plot to enable realtime targeting intelligence. https://ipvm.com/reports/russia-hacked-hikvision
I try to stay out of the “trans women in sports” debate, because I don’t care much about competitive sports and recognize it’s a complicated subject I have no insight into.
But … darts? Really? We’re worried about sex purity in darts? https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/03/trans-row-divides-dutch-womens-darts-two-players-quit-team/
@rra This is what OPML was created to do!
If you're experimenting in this area, you might want to visit the (well-intentioned but terribly designed) old FOAF standard.
@theotherbrook I love that you connect the faith of tech hypes and your own wishful thinking on social issues. It seems so much harder to smell our own bullshit on the latter. Kudos for refining your sense of doubt!
(These days I have untested *faith* that we could save the American republic through multiparty democracy such as advocated by Unite America.)
@w7voa thanks for sharing your experience. (I do not share your professional need to use social media but nonetheless struggle to decide which post-Twitter network is worth my attention.)
“Being fully aware that we have no control over how the Universe works or what the future holds…”
We've found a new home for ubuntu.social! 🎉
Canonical is stepping in and will facilitate hosting, keeping the instance exactly where it is – no migration needed.
If you've been thinking about tidying up your personal data, now's the perfect opportunity before the database transition. Here's to moving forward together!
@theotherbrook I feel like I'm always a part of some cults. I can only strive to be aware of them and choose which to remain in.
@alex if you liked the German cow, you might appreciate the even-more-bauhaus Dutch breed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_the_Netherlands#/media/File:Nederlands_verkeersbord_J28.svg
At this point, it’s boring to observe there exists a West Coast techno-utopian culture bubble where people think advanced AI is the biggest threat we should worry about, the treatment for hatred is more free speech, meritocracy will address inequity, etc.
It’s strange to have left it and observe from outside. I actually have some nostalgia, and sometimes roll my eyes with a subtle pang of yearning for the comforting embrace of that myopia.
At this point, it’s boring to observe there exists a West Coast techno-utopian culture bubble where people think advanced AI is the biggest threat we should worry about, the treatment for hatred is more free speech, meritocracy will address inequity, etc.
It’s strange to have left it and observe from outside. I actually have some nostalgia, and sometimes roll my eyes with a subtle pang of yearning for the comforting embrace of that myopia.
Good news, Google has a dataset (for training AI) that labels "race ethnicity" for pictures of skin. I'm sure this won't be misused. https://blog.research.google/2024/03/scin-new-resource-for-representative.html
@OVnieuwsInfo we need to bring this to the Netherlands https://nationaltoday.com/transit-driver-appreciation-day/