EricLawton

RickiTarr , 3 months ago to random

I talk to people from the UK pretty regularly, I watch a lot of BBC programming, I read a lot of books by authors from the UK, but sometimes they will suddenly use a word I've never heard in my life, and I'm beginning to think they are pranking us, and every other person from the UK is in on the joke, and just validates whatever the other person says!

EricLawton , 3 months ago

@RolloTreadway

When I first took my wife to Lancashire (Bolton, pronounced Bouɂn; ɂ = glottal stop), I had to translate my nana's Lanky to Canadian, though she mostly understood my parents.

@RickiTarr

pluralistic , 3 months ago to random

Bruce Schneier coined the term "feudal security" to describe Big Tech's offer: "move into my fortress - lock yourself into my technology - and I will keep you safe from all the marauders roaming the land":

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/05/battery-vampire/#drained

--

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/13/hey-look-over-there/#lets-you-and-he-fight

1/

EricLawton , 3 months ago

@pluralistic

Isn't this the promise of nation-states?

"It's a tried-and-true bullying tactic: convince your victim that only you can keep them safe so they surrender their agency to you, so the victim comes under your power and can't escape your cruelty and exploitation."

wdlindsy , 4 months ago to random

Mark Jacobs on the (puerile — my word) boredom of New York Times reporters faced with a Trump-Biden rematch:

"The most important reason that this year’s election is no rerun is that Trump’s dictator talk has gotten progressively worse. It’s clear that this November’s election will be a referendum on democracy vs. fascism. It will be an election to decide whether it’s our last fair election."

#Biden #Trump #NewYorkTimes #MediaFail #EntertainmentJournalism
/1

https://www.stopthepresses.news/p/some-journalists-seem-bored-by-the

EricLawton , 4 months ago

@wdlindsy

Even worse: if you're a journalist and you find this election entertaining.

FediTips , 4 months ago to random

You might have noticed some people publish much longer posts than the usual 500 character limit. There are three ways this is possible:

-The server owner has customised their Mastodon server's software to change the character limit

-The server owner has installed a pre-customised version of Mastodon such as Glitch or Hometown

-The server isn't running on Mastodon software at all, but something totally different such as Friendica, WordPress etc

More info:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/why-do-some-people-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse-have-bigger-character-limits

EricLawton , 4 months ago

@Z_Zed_Zed

I do (write a blog). I tried federating it, in the hopes that WordPress would do what it does on my site and truncate with a link.

But no. So now I don't even follow myself but toot a short form with a link, by hand.

Sigh.

@FediTips

EricLawton , 4 months ago

@FediTips

I haven't seen any. I'll look closer.

@Z_Zed_Zed

EricLawton , 4 months ago

@FediTips.

Not a business account, so no plug-ins.

"On the plug-in for independently hosted sites (or wordpress.com sites with business/commerce plans), you can choose how much of your posts are shown on Mastodon"

So that's why I don't see an option. 😥

Thanks anyway.

wordpress.com
@Z_Zed_Zed

futurebird , 4 months ago (edited 1 month ago) to random

Normally the ants I spot in #CPBBD videos are fairly common species, but this video had a real treat.

Rare ant alert! The ants on the Psudobombax sp. are Cephalotes sp. (often called 'turtle ants' for their broad heads) possibly Cephalotes atratus? They have hard exoskeletons. They are arboreal & known for their ability to jump from a tree branch then & glide back to the trunk without hitting the ground. A magnificent ant on an excellent plant!

https://youtu.be/QQWdT5TrEzw?list=TLPQMTcwMjIwMjQgKP_ZQpmceg&t=643

EricLawton , 4 months ago

@futurebird

You make this guy seem like a man of limited ambitions.

"‘Total immersive obsession’: meet the man on a mission to record every bird in Ireland "

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/18/sean-ronayne-mission-record-every-bird-species-ireland-irish-wildlife-sounds-birdsong

breadandcircuses , 5 months ago to random

[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

EricLawton , 5 months ago

@breadandcircuses

Congratulations, youngster!