Tinker ☀️

One main reason why I like the Irish Whistle and Irish "Sessions" is that its a way to play music with your neighbors.

There is a low barrier of entry to getting a fipple flute (many can be 3D printed as folks have noted) and mass produced ones are $10 to $20 USD for entry-level ones. Other folk instruments can be approachable as well and many can be passed down, gifted, or sold "used".

Learning to play is straight forward with plenty of free or low cost ways to learn - either online or even better from each other locally.

But the big thing is that finding local "jam sessions" is straight forward. And organizing ones where they dont exist yet is easy as well. Folks play in a pub for heavens' sake. Folk music exists in every culture and has existed since humans (and their ancestors) could bang a stick for blow air over a fipple or an embouchure while sitting around a fire.

You don't need to pay for a concert.

You don't need to form a band.

You don't need to buy an album, be fed from an algorithm, or get everything from a corporation.

You just get together and play with each other.

It's the community theater of music. The old ways still exist and folks are still coming together to take care of each other. Corporations have had a good run isolating us and leaching our money, but we aren't limited to that.

(Also if you dont want to play, you can sing. Even if your singing voice is terrible! 😅 Or you can tap your feet, slap your thigh, whistle, or hum. Orrrr.... you can just drink a coke or a beer and listen to your neighbors play and sing! Clapping and cheering go far!)

You can find local Irish trad sessions that you can play with or listen to here: https://thesession.org/sessions

What sorts of folk music do you have in your area? What instruments are played? What songs are sung?

#solarPunk #music #tradMusic #irishSession

RE: @amydiehl@mstdn.social

AI is Bias at Scale.

AI is making a product of "We've always done it this way."

Heavy drama in the open-source world of... ...Office Document Software. Nextcloud, originally a fork of ownCloud, has launched Euro-Office, a fork of OnlyOffice (pissing off OnlyOffice). Collabora is weighing in and issuing comments against both OnlyOffice and Euro-Office while, itself, forking Collabora Office Desktop from the Document Foundation's LibreOffice. Document Foundation has now resumed LibreOffice Online which competes against Euro-Office and OnlyOffice. (I think I've got all that right 😅 Correct me if I haven't! 😂) ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 I unironically love this!!!! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Document software may appear boring on its face, but Microsoft Office is a big reason why folks still stay with Microsoft OS and don't (can't...) move to Linux. MS Office 365 is often used as a bridge to allow folks to move to Linux while still using Microsoft products in the browser but that solution still keeps them tied to closed source solutions. Development of Free and Open Sourced Software (FOSS) office products, both desktop apps and online web apps, is a core and key element to allowing FOSS solutions to thrive - both for individuals and organizations. This level of drama and fighting is indicative of a lot of effort and attention being thrown into this arena. I'm confident over time it'll settle and different projects will merge back together or at the very least borrow and build upon each's efforts. Read and get your fill of the drama here: https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/02/eurooffice_forks_onlyoffice/ #FOSS #digitalSovereignty #installParty #Linux #diDay

In prep for the Windows 12 rollout, now is a good time to get your town's Linux Install Parties planned and advertised.

Here's my town's https://fxbginstall.party/

Here's a quick how-to guide to spinning one up in your town:

Goals:
- Install Linux on your neighbors' laptops. This preserves older laptops ( #permacomputing #ewaste prevention). This removes people from one part of the surveillance economy. And it saves people money.
- The party should be geared towards NON-TECHIES. This is NOT a Linux Users Group. This is not for enthusiasts. This for folks who just want their computer to work and let them do the basics. Bend the tech to the people, not the people to the tech.

Date and Time:
- Shoot for monthly parties. Try for a specific day of the week. Say the "First Saturday" or "Second Sunday" of every month.
- Easy for folks to remember and if they miss one month, they'll be there the next month
- Try for between two hours to four hours for the event.
- Be consistent. Show up for the full time even if no one shows up. Some times it takes two or three meetings before people start to come regularly.

Location:
- Shoot for a public community area
- The best bet is your local library if they have rooms or conference areas.
- City community centers are good, too
- Also look for religious institutions, civic orgs, or fraternal orgs if need be. It needs to be open to
the public, though, with no requirements to push other agendas on to visitors.

Linux Distro:
- Shoot for a single distro that caters to folks who are new. I usually go for Linux Mint, but go with what you like. Focus on ease of use and familiarity for folks who arent used to Linux or various Desktop Environments.

Waivers & Backups:
- Everyone should sign a waiver. You keep the signed waiver. They can have a copy of the waiver
- Explain that while you and other volunteers will make your best attempt to install Linux, you make no guarantees. You may brick their machine accidentally. And no files that were on the harddrive will remain. Everything will be deleted.
- They should make backups of their files before you start the install process (either online/cloud, or local on a USB)
- Some folks want you to try for a dual-boot, but thats up to you if you want to offer it. Still let them know that you might brick the machine even (especially?) if you try for a dual boot install.
- Example Waiver: https://tldp.org/HOWTO/Installfest-HOWTO/legalprotection.html

Advertisements:
- Create a simple brochure website and fliers with info and time and date
- Use words like "Update to a modern, private, and fast operating system. No monthly subscription. No cost. Volunteers will install for you." Appeal to folks whose laptops cant upgrade. "Can't install Windows 11 or 12? Don't throw your laptop away, install Linux. It's free, up to date, and secure" Etc etc.
- Use your town's local social media (eg Town Subreddit, Online/Offline Classifieds, Library Announcements, Town Events Page)
- Post fliers in various coffee shops, libraries, bars, restrooms, and community centers
- Tell other similar groups (hacker spaces, maker spaces, linux groups, etc) both to spread the word and get volunteers
- Word of Mouth: Just tell everyone you run into. And tell them to tell everyone they know.

What to bring:
- Multiple install media/USBs with your Distro on it to install on the laptops
- A couple "Demo Laptops" with your distro of choice installed for people to try out (install games, office suites, common programs for folks to try it out - aim for what people use so various browsers including Firefox and Chrome, Zoom / Teams, LibreOffice, MS Office on browser, browser games, desktop games, etc)
- Your own laptops to do internet lookups and specialized downloads (weird stuff happens - its good to be prepared)
- Extension cables and power strips
- Cheap USBs for last minute backups prior to installation that folks can take home with them
- Some screwdrivers or tools to open up laptops for light repair if you like

What to do:
- Greet folks as they come in and invite them to try out the demos
- Encourage questions and discussions (AVOID DISTRO FLAME WARS OR WHICH WINDOWS MANAGER BEATS WHAT DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT FOR FUCKS SAKE! THESE ARE NORMAL PEOPLE DONT SCARE THEM AWAY WITH YOUR NERD SHIT!!!!)
- If folks brought laptops for installation explain and have them sign their waivers, make sure they know all files will be deleted, ask if they've made backups, and then install!
- Help folks troubleshoot issues or install programs for those that already have Linux installed and need community support

That's it. Make it a regular occurrence and you'll get folks coming in for fresh installs monthly and to ask for help with previous installs. Also a really chill way to meet other folks and have a lovely afternoon.

If you have any questions, post up in this thread.

If you have any suggestions or tips and tricks that have worked at your own Linux Install Party, share with us as well!

Edit to add: The Windows 12... scare?... seems to be a hoax brought upon by AIslop. But there will be a Win12 at some point, and a 13, and so on. And the recent Win11 forced upgrade is what spurred my group to create a Linux Install Party in the first place. It's always best to have a place for folks to land, one that is already running and well established. So, honestly, still in prep for the Windows12 rollout, whenever it comes, get a Linux Install Party going now.

#ewaste #linuxinstallparty #installparty #solarpunk #windows12 #windows11 #linux

If @signalapp@mastodon.world put up a crowd-sourced project fund to create a native app for linux (to support the many linux phone initiatives), I guarantee it would be funded quickly.

#signal #linux #linuxphone #privacy

I don't post my every thought here on this account. Nor do I post every action of my life here. I specifically focus on solarpunk, mutual aid, and actions that can improve our life in the here and now... with what we have to work with. And I'll occasionally post privacy or hacking related stuff. Every once in a while. So. With that. And with everything that is happening right now. I want to post a quick mundane and happy update. Tonight was the monthly meeting of my town's Free Fridge and Food Rescue group. In addition to online chat and an email newsgroup, we meet in person once a month as a sort of anchor. Tonight was special for me for one particular reason. I haven't done jack shit for the group this last month. I am going through the final bits of legally ending a previous relationship and I'm taking on LOTS of side gigs to pay for that. I am *not* in a good place financially... but I have paths forward. But that doesn't matter for this post. Here's what matters... ...the group has THRIVED without me. This is huge. I and a couple of others created the group a little over a year ago. Those other founders have had to step aside and many others have stepped up. For the first chunk of all of this, I had to have my hand in everything to keep it going. But y'all. Others have stepped up and taken leadership in initiatives. And many many others have followed those leaders and helped accomplish things. In fact, I've taken a massive step back from the Free Fridge side of things and am now focusing on Food Rescue solely (in the very small moments I have). Those that have taken over the Free Fridges are doing amazing things that I would not have thought to do. The entire group is running itself now. Without my help. And has done so for over a month. To have something you created continue on without you is an incredible feeling. Tonight was a good night. A mundane night. We discussed things we had done last month and things we plan on doing next month. Different folks talked and others brought up questions and ideas. Folks broke off and collaborated. Oh... and it was brought up that we need another potluck / BBQ. We said we would have those quarterly and, well, the last one was three months ago. So that's gonna happen here soon too. #solarPunk #mutualAid #community

So Duo (the multifactor authentication service that #infosec loves) has integrated with Persona (the privacy destroying, Peter Thiel backed, AI-linked, facial scanning and mapping "identity verification" software)

You know the recent Discord snafu that received such massive pushback and caused so many people to leave Discord that they've dropped their identity verification?

Yeah, that Persona.

Duo integrates it into Duo Premier, Duo Advantage, and even Duo Essentials...

...which means many working class folks will have no option but to be enrolled into and use Persona...

...or be fired.

https://duo.com/docs/identity-verification

#Duo #Persona #Privacy #Discord #AI

RE: @m4iler@infosec.exchange

This is a very detailed and engaging read. The perfect combination of imparting knowledge and providing entertainment.

@m4iler@infosec.exchange is a highly skilled penetration tester - a hacker and a burglar.

A company needed their building security tested and they didn't want to wait for an actual intrusion and break in. So they hired m4iler and his team to test it for them.

Nobody but leadership knew he was doing this. The guards didn't know he wasn't an actual bad guy. The cleaning lady didn't know either...

If you ever wanted to know what a real heist - not a movie heist - A real heist looks like... heck, if you ever wanted to learn how to do a heist yourself...

...read this.

At my library's repair cafe as a volunteer.

It's the first time they're running it and they're hoping to do this regularly.

I came in thinking I would help with computer troubleshooting... but they have enough people doing that.

So I figured I could help with Linux OS install... but the local Linux Install Party is here and has enough people.

Then a guy brought in a bicycle! And no one is here doing bike repair. But I brought my allen wrench set and a multitool.

So I just got done running and installing a new bicycle brake line on an older bike. Brake works just fine now!

I'll bring my full set of bike tools next time!

#solarPunk #repairCafe #bicycle #libraries

Quick public service announcement. The US government is now officially and openly posting fake AI images (both doctored and outright fabricated) and passing them off as real. While we've seen some examples of this in the past, and there has been speculation on others, it is now openly brazen with two official sources having posted contradictory images. Example Link - Fabricated Image from official US White House Twitter/X account - Image shows arrested individual as openly crying. She was not: https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2014365986388951194?s=20 Example Link - Original Image from Secretary Kristi Noem's official account - Image blurs out govt agent face, but it otherwise *appears* as a normal image and shows arrested individual with a relaxed dignified face: https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/2014357826081071513?s=20 See attached for screenshot documentation for when they delete the above posts.

The boy in the blue cap. The girl in the red coat.

That weird feeling when your local world is falling deeper into fascism and you're just... planning work travel to go visit a client. Still gotta eat, I suppose. Just surreal.

You can't beat the US military, itself. We literally have caches of munitions and equipment in ice caves and various other places throughout the world. - A ride to the hospital costs $5,000 and is not covered by taxes/govt. College isnt covered. We have minimal pensions or worker support. Et cetera. All the public money that could go to social needs goes to violence. And we're good at it. You have to go after leadership (not a threat from me or a call to violence). The think tanks, the political apparatus, the corporations that profit from war efforts, the billionaire oligarchs. The "vote them out" stage is in one year and we have no idea if we'll even have a means to democratically transfer power. You are in it now. There is no waiting. Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, North Korea, Oligarch Russia - if you've ever asked yourself what you would do in those times and places... you are doing it right now. If you have means and power, sort out ways to counter the current regime's leadership and initiatives. If you don't have that power and are just a "normal person with a family and job", then actively join and build Community and Mutual Aid in your neighborhood. You need to feed each other. Shelter each other. Care for each other's kids. Actively take care of each other. This isn't kumbaya woo-woo feel-good shit. This is removing the threat they have over our heads. No one wants to and many can't fight back because we are all wage slaves who cant afford not to work for capitalist corporations that fund the war effort. So build apparatus that lets us get out from under the capitalist boot. Build it. Now. Right at your doorstep. Go... GO! #venezuela

We had a "good emergency" tonight at our original free fridge! Someone dropped off *too much* food and it didn't fit into the pantry and refrigerator. There was also a lot of boxes left over! So a call went out to discord and five people showed up to sort and put away what could fit, clean up the boxes, AND take the extra food to the new free fridge as well as a local "little free pantry" that a local girl scout troop set up! Oh, fun thing! While we were putting away the original food drop off, two other folks came and dropped off their own supplies. We pointed them to the other fridges/pantries for the future and took what they dropped off as well to spread around. Also, while we were there multiple families and folks came by and utilized a lot of the food! But there was still so much left over even after folks took their fill. #solarPunk #freeFridge #mutualAid #foodSecurity

I’m looking to build out the Free Fridge & Community Pantries in my town.

I’ll continue to update this thread with my progress.

So, the idea is to have nodes throughout town that allow folks to “Give a Food, Take a Food”. Similar to “Little Free Libraries” are to books. Folks who have extra food can drop it off there, folks who need food can grab it there.

The focus here is mutual aid, not charity. So, absolutely, if you are food insecure or hungry, utilize it, right. Beyond that though, this is a great piece of infrastructure to share extra food with your neighbors. I will go down to the free fridge we have in town, drop off some of my extra produce that I have grown, and then pick up a can of black beans if I need it for dinner that night. We’re meant to contribute AND utilize the free fridge.

There are many ways to create and maintain free fridges, from something as simple as a small box or outdoor cabinet on up to full stand up refrigerators and freezers with an outdoor pantry.

In general, you want it to be a couple of things:

• Accessible to the public
• 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Unmanned
• No restrictions on who can utilize it or take food from it - it should NOT employ any means-testing
• Receive shelf stable food and/or refrigerated food and/or frozen food

Further, you can break up the different groups that are involved in the free fridge:

• The Host
• The Maintainers
• The Community

The Host - provides a location for the fridge and pantry to be installed and accessed. They also provide electricity to power the fridge/freezer

The Maintainers - this would be my group. We source, install, maintain, repair, and clean the fridge, freezer, and pantry.

The Community - contributes food to and utilizes food from the fridge and pantry. This is important. While the host provides the site and the Maintainers keep it operational, neither one has to stock food or coordinate utilization. The community does it themselves.

Having it split up like this is nice. Can folks from the Host group maintain it? Certainly. But extrapolating it allows for ease of use.

So. Keeping it stocked is up to the community. I’ve seen it stocked by gardeners who have extra produce (Zucchini turns folks into socialists is the joke! You just grow sooooo much you end up LOSING FRIENDS when you try to push it off on others!). I’ve seen it stocked through Food Rescue efforts. Some families buy extra from the grocery store and this is a great place to drop it off. I’ve even seen the local Food Bank drop off extra food when they had left overs from a food distribution.

Keeping it utilized is also easy. You don’t want the fridge to stay stocked, right. You want it to stay in the fridge for as short a period of time as possible before someone comes and grabs it. Heck! I’ve seen a food rescue of fresh produce from a farmer’s market vendor be dropped off at a free fridge and then claimed by several families even before it had a chance to be placed physically into the fridge! This is ideal. One fridge and pantry needs to serve the local neighborhood. That’s many many families. It can only do so if its filled up and then utilized multiple times a day.

Next post, I’ll put some resources on starting your own in your town.

#freeFridge #foodScarcity #foodSecurity #postScarcity #solarPunk #mutualAid

Microsoft Authenticator needs me to validate with Authenticator in order to log in with Authenticator to use it to authenticate another app with Authenticator.

Here is the app telling me to open itself to validate itself with itself.

#infosec #iHateComputers