Only the headline asserts “built-in backdoors”, the actual link… not so much.

A reasonable reading of the proposal, assuming it came into effect, is that ISPs, banks, telcos etc would be asked to retain certain records for a number of months or years in a harmonised way. Law enforcement agencies would be required to ask for it in the exact same way they ask for records right now and all the rules concerning GDPR etc would still apply.

Open source tech has zero to do with it, it’s a matter of policy.

Data retention != mass surveilance. Data retention != built-in backdoors. Even the link summary spells out exactly what the purpose of the proposal is (criminal proceedings) and the intended objective (data retention standards).

What I’d wonder is why it’s such massive expensive for Duolingo to hire 2 or 3 people to cover a language anyway. Presumably most of the work is contractual - hire somebody competent to produce a course, get somebody to say the lines, refine the course based on feed back and that’s mostly it.

Stole it? I think adopted is more apt. And curry isn’t one thing and varies from region to region in India. But Britain loved it so much that there is an Indian (or Pakistani) restaurant practically everywhere. And while Indian / Pakistani chefs have invented new dishes (e.g. chicken chasni is the best goddamned curry ever), I wouldn’t call it cultural appropriation.

British people love curries and other spicy things. For most people curries, biriyanis are going to be in the rotation. Even “traditional” British food will usually have things like black pepper, nutmeg, mace, ginger, cumin, cloves, mustard, bay leaves, juniper berries in it. More recently cumin, paprika, tumeric, coriander, curry powder might be thrown into dishes.

Actually what would happen is dem support would crash even more because the GOP playbook works. AOC will be branded a socialist, a communist, ready to sell out, to take people’s property etc. Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, the electorate will believe it. If the dems want to win they need to lose the haughtiness and a projecting an air of superiority that they know what’s right for people and appeal to blue collar workers again. i.e. messaging needs to change. That might make people more receptive to left wing / progressive views. They also need to read the GOP playbook and create some divisive issues for the right to deal with. But expecting people to accept/embrace/own socialism is a joke. It won’t happen. Think smart.

Harris lost. That’s the point. If the dems want to win they need to learn from their mistakes, not give even more wedges to the right to scare away voters.

Sorry to say but it would be a bow wrapped gift to the GOP. It’s very easy to brand her a socialist and on top of that she’s a woman.

I was advised by the nurse that as long as we’re within 24 hours of a major hospital (family and me) they can pump us full of antibodies and we should be fine. And also not to pet dogs, cats, monkeys etc.

All 3 of the diseases i was vaccinated for regularly kill people and can cause severe harm even if someone survives. As I am not an idiot I would prefer to avoid that if at all possible. I opted not to get Hep B, Rabies, Dengue fever vaccinations based on a risk profile and where I was traveling but I could and would have gotten shots for those too if the risk profile were higher.

I also vaccinate my kids for the same reasons.

I got 3 vaccinations today for a trip to Asia for Hep A, Typhoid and Tetanus. Two jabs in one arm and one in the other. Because while getting vaccinated isn’t pleasant (sore arms and mild flu like symptoms) I would rather that than to the horrible, potentially life threatening illnesses they prevent.

Probably only works for dumb bots and I’m guessing the big ones are resilient to this sort of thing.

Judging from recent stories the big threat is bots scraping for AIs and I wonder if there is a way to poison content so any AI ingesting it becomes dumber. e.g. text which is nonsensical or filled with counter information, trap phrases that reveal any AIs that ingested it, garbage pictures that purport to show something they don’t etc.

Worth bearing in mind that EV sales increased something like 24% in Europe from last year, so Tesla (lack of) sales have to be adjusted for that. Even if the number of cars they sold had remained static it would still be troubling.

Just another antisocial, fantasist incel loser who gravitated towards extremism. This asshole can now enjoy prison for the rest of his life.

From “Blackadder Goes Forth”

Melchett: Now, I’ve compiled a list of those with security clearance, have you got it Darling?

Darling: Yes sir.

Melchett: Read it please.

Darling: It’s top security sir, I think that’s all the Captain needs to know.

Melchett: Nonsense! Let’s hear the list in full!

Darling: Very well sir. “List of personnel cleared for mission Gainsborough, as dictated by General C. H. Melchett: You and me, Darling, obviously. Field Marshal Haig, Field Marshal Haig’s wife, all Field Marshal Haig’s wife’s friends, their families, their families’ servants, their families’ servants’ tennis partners, and some chap I bumped into the mess the other day called Bernard.”

Melchett: So, it’s maximum security, is that clear?

Blackadder: Quite so sir, only myself and the rest of the English speaking world is to know.

So people most familiar with a system have an affinity to it? Colour me shocked. I expect Windows users would want to return to Windows for their own reasons.

Let’s hope no rumors swirl that JD killed the pope with a contact poison

Fairphone don’t sell replacement mainboards, presumably to stop people building phones from parts but they look very serviceable in other respects.

I used to visit once or twice a year. I don’t have any plans any time soon to go back.

When you “buy” software, you’re buying a license that grants you permission to use it subject to the terms & conditions. The stealing as the law would see it is from using software without purchasing a license or using it in violation of the license.

It even extends to digital content people “buy” on Steam, or Google Play, or Amazon including books, music, and videos. You didn’t buy that content, even if you think you did. You bought a license to it which is why occasionally Amazon or whoever will just scrub the content from your account without your consent. That’s also why in some countries you pay VAT on e-books even though you don’t pay VAT on real books - because you actually bought a software license which is liable to VAT.

So the best advice is don’t buy digital media from online services. For games and software it is unavoidable but recognize you don’t legally own squat although most console games on disc or cartridge can still be sold second hand. But even that is being eroded. Nintendo apparently are planning to sell “physical” games in stores but you open it up and there is a redemption code inside. Sony and Microsoft have both tried to get away from physical media too.