Posts by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
(DIR) Post #B1aB7qht2TPaRJO59k by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-24T18:57:27Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
I started this poll because the new American Revolution documentary by Ken Burns led me to also view the Civil War documentary (the OG Ken Burns) again.That documentary always reminds me of how weird my home state of Maryland is. Are we south? Are we north?Most learn the term “Civl War”, but some southerners still say “The War of Northern Aggression”, but I think Marylanders are the only ones who ever called it “the War between the States” (which is the term I was taught).
(DIR) Post #B1aDEKWxGfbUa8UaI4 by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-24T19:20:20Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@richlitt Hey, put a content warning when you post something Skeletor-related.I avoid looking at Skeletor or thinking about Skeletor because it makes me want to do the Skeletor laugh, and while I do a passable imitation, it always makes me throat hurt for the next 24 hours.Please, don't tempt me to do it!🤣 I literally am leaning my shoulder on chin right now to keep myself from doing it RIGHT NOW, & there isn't even anyone home to enjoy it!cc: @skeletor
(DIR) Post #B1aLHXrKy3RyQF4OdU by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-24T20:16:27Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Did you know that #Abbott caused the deaths of seven diabetics this year?Some of Abbott's continuous glucose monitors (ironically named the #FreeStyle #Libre 3 Plus) incorrectly reported low blood sugar — a grave & dangerous error for insulin-dependent #diabetes. I fortunately wasn't injured, but Abbott's refusal to allow public examination the technical details of their devices is tantamount to a cover-up.More here: https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2025/dec/23/seven-abbott-freestyle-libre-cgm-patients-dead/#OpenSource #FreeSoftware #FOSS #SoftwareFreedom
(DIR) Post #B1clYs2kACM94LFNfU by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-26T00:48:06Z
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@babe This happens every year at this time. I think we have to admit that IRC must be left behind with the Internet that left port 25 open on every server to let anyone who'd like to send email, and where 'rsh' was the default.🪦 IRCCc: @rysiek
(DIR) Post #B1cw4GbXtUqhlO8Qtc by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-26T02:26:17Z
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@init6Ok, but we have given up on http and SMTP in favor of authenticated versions and encrypted versions.We just have to consider if a more distributed system like XMPP is more resilient.Like I said, 33 years of Christmas IRC attacks have left me in this spot. Sorry I couldn't make it to 34 years. @babe @rysiek
(DIR) Post #B1ep6QCuqr9wlIcBma by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-26T06:06:15Z
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It really does amaze and disturb me how many in the #FOSS community seem to idolize people who resort to pettiness, name-calling, and outright cruelty against their political opponents.I realize that's the politics of our age, of course, I mean, I live in the USA.I guess what I need to admit to myself is that FOSS politics are not actually any better than the mainstream politics in the Zeitgeist.I wish we in FOSS could all find the better angels of our nature.
(DIR) Post #B1ep6SeHm4F0KlR4im by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-27T00:43:58Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
I'm not aware of anyone who was RMS' political ally who has been petty, called him names, was cruel to him, or attempted to cancel him.Speaking for myself, last email RMS sent to me was on 2021-08-21. Modulo his usual NSA text, the email simply said:“Please keep up the good work.” FWIW, I do *myself* remember RMS treating *me* cruelly often; I recently mentioned 2 of those publicly…https://fedi.copyleft.org/@bkuhn/115084901654229859https://fedi.copyleft.org/@bkuhn/114972796449373487…but I forgave him for his past cruelty to me long ago.
(DIR) Post #B1j9gPCOqxQVm7eIiW by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-29T01:11:22Z
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@kees I still *soo* don't get how a cable carrying a digital signal can be *flaky* and deliver a valid signal but wonky, I mean, I had this all the time with VGA (which I just switched away from a few weeks ago 😆), but that's because it's an analog signal.@neal pointed out that there is negotiation that happens and maybe the hardware drops into some degraded mode if the signal isn't what it would like? 🤷 Cc: @teotwaki @hsivonen
(DIR) Post #B1kkvOYJQjfLZkrwlU by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-29T21:10:25Z
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@crk5 Thanks for this. I trained for ≈2 years in ASL — thinking I might become a translator. In mid-1990s — when I thought that it was impossible to get a #FOSS job & I was planning a career that would never mandate use of a computer. (ASL interpreter is a good choice in that regard.)For years, I thanked people using ASL sign for thank-you, until a hearing person pointed out to me: in (as many deaf ppl call it) “hearing sign language”, ASL sign of thank-you often means ”🤬 you”.Cc: @starlily
(DIR) Post #B1kkvQaVrWc9t9ujTM by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-29T21:17:27Z
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@starlily My ASL teacher in the 1990s told us a story of one his clients asking him “do you also speak hearing sign language?” as they wanted translations for the various hand motions they saw hearing people doing all the time.He reported the client was quite surprised to learn random hand motions for hearing people had all this contextual meaning and that it differed so much from ASL.cf: how French Sign Language is closer to ASL than BSL is.Cc: @crk5
(DIR) Post #B1kkvRhHjpcrKS5efQ by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-29T21:19:35Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@starlily These days, my vocabulary has atrophied in ASL, so I basically only drop into ASL when I'm around hearing people and the situation makes it impossible for us to communicate (too far away, too loud an environment). I'm always suddenly reminded in that situation that hearing people don't actually know ASL, so even YES/NO, "it doesn't matter", "I need your help over here" and other basic signs are useless with most hearing people.Cc: @crk5
(DIR) Post #B1lftJvpKkxu3L1Fp2 by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-30T03:34:51Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
What are you up to the next two days?I ask because there are *three* opportunities to ask me & my #SFC colleagues (including @karen & @ossguy) *anything* in real-time *right here on the #Fediverse & #Mastodon: $ date -d "Tuesday 30 Dec 2025 10:00 EST"$ date -d "Tuesday 30 Dec 2025 20:00 EST"$ date -d "Wednesday 31 Dec 2025 13:00 EST"Hopefully one of those times is convenient in your timezone.Get your questions ready!https://sfconservancy.org/news/2025/dec/28/match-challenge-upped-to-251939/#FreeSoftware #OpenSource #SoftwareFreedom
(DIR) Post #B1nunHHk9DtXjglc4e by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-31T01:14:13Z
2 likes, 1 repeats
@b0rk Adding to @karen's answer:I have really tried to move on in #FreeSoftware culture (as much as I'm able) from the idea that computer users do something wrong by merely using proprietary software.Just using proprietary software is not an affront to software freedom. Marketing proprietary software, getting users trapped into monthly licensing agreements, etc. are the bad acts, & if someone gets trapped in a proprietary agreement, we should help them, not berate them!#SFC #OpenSource
(DIR) Post #B1odyQee9HU5uwAfqq by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2025-12-31T18:27:50Z
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@aral AFIAK, SFC have the only #FOSS conference in existence that criticizes sponsors for their bad behavior each day in the opening remarks.When was the last time #LinuxFoundation admitted publicly that their giant list of event sponsors are often bad actors? 2012, I think?Some companies won't sponsors SFC events b/c they don't want to be criticized like this. #SFC's integrity is not for sale; if you buy ☕∀ our attendees, you gotta live with public-stated list of grievances.cc: @karen
(DIR) Post #B26Jo2pU3LD1wabcmm by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2026-01-09T06:41:44Z
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Hey, weird Mastodon question to #AskFedi. If I post something "Followers only" and @-mention someone who *doesn't* follow me, do they get to see it? (What I am looking for *is* "my followers, plus anyone I explicitly @-mention), but not sure if that's what #Mastodon's "Followers only" does or not.(I realize this is a bit "hey would you net.search this for me" too, but I just worked an 18 hour day so give me a break. 😛 )
(DIR) Post #B26KfOwyXSl1tlYJjE by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2026-01-09T02:03:02Z
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@gnomonI'd love to know more about the #Vizio you have that keeps crashing. Please feel free to PM to tell me more.I'm very concerned about these older TVs ending up in landfills because the software stops working right.I hope to hear from you and thanks for any time you can spare on this!Cc: @mfenniak
(DIR) Post #B26KgcX3WjBMJO0gsa by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2026-01-09T04:18:43Z
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@gnomonI think you might not have realized who I was when you wrote that reply that linked to #SFC 🤣.No worries about that; I'm (hopefully) not a diva, but deep down my inner #FOSS diva said: “DYKWIA?!?!?” Seriously, I am really excited you know about our #Vizio case & it is part of your personal boycott of Vizio's products.&, since it's fundraising season, I hope you'll consider becoming a Sustainer: https://sfc.ngo/sustainer/
(DIR) Post #B26KgeKipYVLtiFrvs by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2026-01-09T04:20:52Z
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@gnomon Ah, ok, thanks. I appreciate it. So, did you mean to kinda-good-natured troll me there? It worked beautifully and was very enjoyable, even if it was non-intentional. 😆
(DIR) Post #B2PTOnjpiONnRenrBg by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2026-01-18T12:52:47Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cocoaphony, With widespread violations of #copyleft licenses, & industry's propensity for ancient versions of system software, & proliferation of 32-bit systems in long-term production, fixing the 2038-01-19 epoch bug'll make Y2K look like a picnic.In 1990s, I wore a t-shirt (now too tattered to photograph):Front: “Linux: Y2K compliant since 1970-01-0100:00:00Z …”Back: “… just don't ask me about 2038! 😬” Who's up to spend 2033-2037 binary patching old #Linux installs? 😩 Cc: @johnzajac
(DIR) Post #B2PUx5ySWLLrnpYppQ by bkuhn@fedi.copyleft.org
2026-01-18T13:07:36Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
My colleague @johns used to joke that there were so many “John Sullivan”s in #FOSS alone they could have a John-Sullivans-only working in FOSS panel and might even not be able to fit everyone on stage.I wonder if we extend that to the “John Sullivan”s of #Fediverse / #Mastodon, we could make it an entire convention.(cf: @John47 just followed me!)