Posts by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
(DIR) Post #AXZefqGu1bBjqiffdo by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-07-11T04:52:32Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@wjmaggos A German proverb: 'Der Teufel scheisst immer auf den groessten Haufen' (The devil always shits on the biggest pile).
(DIR) Post #AXns6BQL4doyu69oH2 by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-07-18T01:29:06Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@vik As long as it's not yet another electron app :-D
(DIR) Post #AYVAhmSljLWSlnWV1M by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-08-07T22:50:07Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@rms @lightweightIn my books this type of behaviour requires an approach that beats the system with their own weapons. Alike the creation of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in approach. Thus building the case that religious harrasment is discriminating against atheists, gays, ...And then flood them (a DoS approach) ...
(DIR) Post #AZTj2t24207Ht3SKQq by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-09-06T03:48:00Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
It looks like recent models of cars from BMW, VW, Mercedes, Toyota, Tesla, Ford, Renault, Kia, Nissan and others (25 tested altogether) are #privacy nightmares on wheels.They collect heaps of data via their built-in sensors, send them home to the 'mother ship'. Some (like Nissan) don't even encrypt the data.Data scavenged includes deeply personal data, such as sexual activity, immigration status, race, facial expressions, weight, health, and even genetic information.https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/06/mozilla_vehicle_data_privacy/
(DIR) Post #AZVBkUaBHtrOfpxGfQ by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-09-06T20:53:56Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@agateauVery true, especially with the ubiquitous voice assistants creeping into all Big Tech devices and on by default: Cortana, Siri, Bixby, Google, etc.Plug your computer's incoming 'voice holes' (aka microphones)!#privacy
(DIR) Post #Aa94P22Ane1xh3mjBI by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-09-26T02:40:03Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@fsf That smells like an opportunity to overcome the Google Chrome dominance with Google's own weapons (alike the Flying Spaghetti Monster/Pastafarian movement):Make sure all free browsers include JPEG XL format support, and make sure the image format is used *a lot*.
(DIR) Post #Ab1AluTxTSwZ4b9ZoG by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-10-22T05:05:50Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@strypey If you have an alternative frontend (e.g. Kodi with the TVNZ+ addon) you don't need to log in or be tracked. But it still requires the Widevine codec to access DRM content.
(DIR) Post #Ab1Dh84xnHBVepsGnY by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-10-22T05:38:35Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey I recommend installing LibreELEC, and then the TVNZ+ addon. It should pull the dependencies with Widevine by itself, I believe. Sources are on GitHub repos, I believe (not Widevine, though, which is somehow extracted from Chrome or so.#drm #defectivebyfesign #kodi #widevine
(DIR) Post #AbMBhZnErU29T08LU8 by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-10-24T00:53:29Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
I'm always wondering why it is permissible that NZ banks (Kiwibank here) are using Google Tag Manager for user tracking and behavioural insights.Google shouldn't even know I'm using my bank's internal online banking.#privacy #onlinebanking #kiwibank
(DIR) Post #AbMhUXVcJGTRypX7zs by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-11-01T04:07:16Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@dragestil I think it would be a grand idea to see banks listed and rated in the 'Terms of Service; Didn't Read' (or something similar) for people to make informed decisions.https://tosdr.org/#privacy #onlinebanking
(DIR) Post #Ac0hzMZG4D9GyympjE by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-11-20T21:35:27Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@alejandrobdnThat looks like yet another net neutrality battle to fight out.#privacy #adtech #netneutrality #enshittification #surveillancecapitalism
(DIR) Post #AcmWsLvz91ZfgMBnVo by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-12-04T21:05:51Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Just unlinked my 'Team Red' membership for blood donations from my former employer. Back to the Team Red of the 'NZ Python User Group' (NZPUG).If you're eligible and haven't donated in a while: Please donate!This is the time of year when they're struggling to keep their stocks of this liquid life savor up.#blood #donation #NZPUG
(DIR) Post #Apd7ReYpc1yjuudPfc by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2024-12-09T03:48:10Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Argh, the son (10 yo) keeps pestering us about Messenger KIds for chatting with his friends. As much as I don't mind the application in itself, but it is in a way grooming them towards later consumption of Big Tech social media. Additionally, I hate that you have to have a full #Facebook account as a parent for parental control.Any suggestions?#privacy #SocialMedia #chat #ParentalControll #alternatives #MessengerKids
(DIR) Post #AuZDDpjuOIO4RTjLuK by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2025-05-27T02:45:10Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
I've listened to an (old replay of a) documentary on post-WW2 Germany's economic recovery this morning. It was an interesting listen. But there was one particular thing sticking out at the end of things that are quite timelessly valid still in these years.Certain things worked (even in a bi-partisan) approach between the forces of a social market economy and socialism:The people had nothing to lose. So they have tackled the problems in ways that may be considered risky (under today's interpretation).Translating it to today: I'd say many things just don't get done or tackled in earnest is due to Big Business and the establishment having too much to lose. The most (common) sensible solutions are cutting into the profit margins of Big Business. And they have leverage with politics. And so they don't get done!#philosophy #economy #ClimateChange #CostOfLiving #socialism #capitalism #politics
(DIR) Post #AvXPYvEXVv19g4CzJI by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2025-06-26T03:27:14Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
"deep level of language understanding" in #GenAI my arse!GenAI has a severe 'binding problem' and it shows particularly clearly in image generating systems.https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/image-generation-still-crazy-after#GenAI #LLM #FAIL #AI
(DIR) Post #AvXPYvxYoX1vvhGwU4 by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2025-06-26T04:06:01Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
It goes even beyond. Someone at my work has tried Claude ...
(DIR) Post #AwPY6pVcMBOTdjApYO by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2025-07-21T03:04:33Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
As an example on what can go wrong when you give LLMs agency in your actions:Replit ignores *explicit instructions* and drops production DB during change freeze leading to the loss of many records. The AI even acknowledges its wrongdoing. And this after the developer has made more things very explicit after a previous day's many 'lies' generated by the GenAI.https://xcancel.com/jasonlk/status/1946069562723897802#LLM #GenAI #FailAI
(DIR) Post #AzFwrh7H7B3daUuiQa by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2025-10-16T04:55:21Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Ugh. I think my backup recovery exercise of my (frozen) rye #sourdough starter is not succeeding. However, this is an old backup (more than 1y old). I still have a backup 1 month old from pre holiday.Keeping fingers crossed!What do others use as means for backup or longevity during longer absences?
(DIR) Post #B0mY5AV1JIFFWvJCVM by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2025-11-30T20:18:24Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
What a great week end. Been at camp with our zone's #scouts for the Aotearoa New Zealand Sandford (leadership) course for existing and upcoming (assistant) patrol leads. Learnt heaps myself as well.But now I'm knackered sleeping in the same scout hall with the other leaders and 30 hyped up kids for 2 nights.#ScoutingNZ
(DIR) Post #B39eGTk3eXAgvnOZ3A by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2026-02-09T19:32:19Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@lightweightBeen thinking the same. Instead of nationally sovereign energy strategies that will pay back big time in generations ti come, they're pushing us more deeply into dependence for offshore profit's sake.Let's make it an economic opportunity to 'escape forward' for NZ's and humanity's sake.The lobbyists' pockets must be deep, I reckon.#EnergyTransition #FossilFuels #LNG #NZPol