slow.fyi is a handy little microsite that you can insert into a message when you don’t want the recipient to feel pressured to quickly respond. Perfect for commenting via email on personal blog posts!
#Junited2024 https://slow.fyi/
This Recall thing is a prime example of how bad we are at understanding when something is a systemic problem.
It doesn't matter if *you* disable it. It doesn't matter if *you* install Linux. It doesn't matter if *you* set your computer on fire and move to a Luddite commune.
If you have *ever* sent sensitive data, no matter how securely, to another person who now has this shit enabled, and they find your data and look at it, your data is compromised, and there's nothing you can do about it.
*fixes ties and brushes pants*
*clears throat*
You want a software engineer. I know it (lol). But fr, if you know of a place looking for a fullstack dev, swing them https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacky-alcin%C3%A9-6a9ab730a/ (or e-mail me at jackyalcine@fastmail.com)
#LookingForWork #GetFediHired
You don't owe anyone a follow (this includes me). Not even people you've been mutuals for a while. Not even people you know on real life. Not even people whose profile you check often.
Sometimes they just post too much. Or post stuff you don't want pop up on your list (but want to check on your terms). Or they start (re-)posting hate (you don't owe them a call out; especially not if you don't think it will go well). Sometimes they are lovely folks but just bore you with their favorite sports.
Y'know how there's a pattern of behavior where someone says something is bad about the tech industry or community or OSS software or something, and then every single nerd within a 50 square mile radius says *WELL ACKTUALLY*??
I just realized that if, like, even 10% of them just... Sat down and spent some energy fixing the problem instead of insulting someone for experiencing it, we would've solved all those issues by now
If you’re ever thinking about posting “any updates on this?” in a GitHub issue that hasn’t seen any activity in years: there aren’t any updates on this.
I've been using the Chromium browser for certain websites, and that's about to end.
Google's greed-fueled moves -- this time to disable vital extensions that provide better privacy and security -- are unacceptable to me.
The stakes here are quite high. If Google succeeds what it's attempting to do -- forcing us to use only Google-approved privacy and security choices -- we're in trouble.
Firefox looks like the best way forward at this point.
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This is a graph of Discord’s algorithmically inferred gender (extracted from “request your data” json; axes are probability and days) for a user whose display name is “Tiffany”, whose bio is “she/her”, whose pfp is a drawing of a girl and whose profile theme color is pink.
Algorithmically inferred gender is worse than useless. Presumably the issue is that she talks about programming, and all the deliberate “I am explicitly telling you I am a girl” signaling in the world can’t convince a computer. I sometimes watch a livecoding streamer whose youtube stats claim his audience is 99% male even though you can see fem-coded chat participants regularly. Algorithms like this are deleting the women
Basically if you’re losing sleep over the fact you don’t like a Q* or you think there are too many groups represented on a flag then I’d like to congratulate you on your comfortable life and suggest you put the energy you have for arguing against representation into something more useful.
If it doesn’t hurt anyone beyond making you personally uncomfortable that is decidedly a YOU problem.
*I am aware of the “queer was used as a slur against me and thus it’s painful for me to see” but your discomfort can be healed through reclamation of language and community support, rather than force others to be uncomfortable and disincluded because you don’t like the way they refer to themself. I am not aware of any valid arguments on why we should not add black, brown, trans, intersex and whatever future styleguide updates come to the progress flag.
"'Queer' not as being about who you're having sex with (that can be a dimension of it); but 'queer' as being about the self that is at odds with everything around it and that has to invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live."
bell hooks
I still think corporations have Pride Month backwards: this isn't a month to make money off me, this is a month to give me discounts for doing the public service of being this gay!
I should be able to walk into any Target and get 30% off by kissing another girl or showing the cute bandaid from where I did my HRT shot! I should get free coffee at starbucks for walking in with carabiners and a fanny pack! I should be able to demand any random driver pull over and become a free uber by waving a rainbow flag so I can go spread my gayness across the city! Strangers should just hand me a twenty because I'm slouching bisexually in public!?!
#RainbowCapitalism #Queer #PrideMonth #Pride
The other day at work, in an online meeting, a fuckhead said the phrase “Well, it’s probably because she’s a woman and she doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about”, referring to an external contractor.
I’m not out, but I stopped the meeting and said “You don’t get to talk like that in front of me. Now, I have to call HR.”
There was laughter. To which I replied sternly, “It is not funny. Do better.”
There was no laughter then.
I don’t put up with that shit. Misogyny, any kind of trans- or queer- based phobia, racism. None. That’s how you ally - you speak up. You challenge the notion that these fuckers are in a safe place. You DO have power to create change. Be the voice for the voiceless.
Afterwards, two of the other attendees reached out to me to thank for my courage to stand up to one of the “cool kids”. I don’t need thanks, I need people to be better.
BE BETTER.
I got let go from my current role. To say I saw it coming would be half true, but I was not expecting to be out in the blinds this soon. Open to a lot right now, more info at https://jacky.wtf/work. (https://jacky.wtf/2024/5/20Fw)
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'“The union” is an organization you build with your coworkers, not a service you receive. Say it again. And again. And again.'
#Union
Things that should burn more calories than they do:
-Writing an email to someone you hate but have to work with
-Being on the phone with insurance companies
-Family gatherings
-Cleaning your bathroom
-Ennui
-Trying to explain yourself
Feel free to add more.
If you want to know where tech companies are with AI safety, know Microsoft Recall won’t record screenshots of DRM’d movies..
..but will record screenshots of your financial records and WhatsApp messages, as corporate interests were prioritised over user safety.
And it’s enabled by default.
The more I think about it, the major problems in tech and in society in general is that all the investment is going to solve problems that white affluent men have
Burnout in the FOSS community is real, and I'm glad that it's something that is being talked about more in blogs and conferences. There is a different flavor of burnout and emotional toll when you are sacrificing for a cause you believe in (especially in FOSS where people are often working for free or at below market rate). Working for a cause you believe in brings the highest highs when things are going well, but the lowest lows when they go badly.
#FOSS #burnout
Do Not Reply cards and other mechanisms used to explicitly outline what interactions are unwelcome to a post are called “boundaries”.
Boundaries are good. They are good for bother the setter and the receiver. It is loving to tell someone what is not welcome, and loving to have them respected.
If you are upset that someone is stating a boundary, it is likely that you are not familiar with boundaries and I’d like to tell you that you too deserve to both set them and have them respected.
Want to succeed as a new developer? I wrote a book about that! Topics include:
- When the best code is no code
- What to do in the first month of your job
- The pitfalls of working alone
Buy it for $17 (ebook or softcover) now through May 31:
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4842-6074-6
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The Open Manifesto 2024 is our asks of the next government. Supported by signing up as an individual or organisation and show your commitment to UK open source.
Read, sign, and share The Open Manifesto. https://openuk.uk/openmanifesto/
#openuk #opensource #OpenManifesto #ukeleciton
Things I teach my kids:
• “No” is a complete sentence.
• If you’re not having a good time you can leave.
• Never make yourself smaller just to make other people more comfortable.
• It’s okay not to be okay.
• Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.
• Other people’s opinions of you are none of your business.
• Speak as kindly to yourself as you would speak to others.
• Be your own greatest cheerleader, always.
It’s never too late to learn these things.
#SelfCare
Jamie Tanna
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