@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

ChrisFerguson

@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social

My enthusiasm knows no bounds. I can't help but share what I am excited about with others.

Topics that interest me: #Games #Nintendo #Tech #3DPrinting #ElectricVehicles #Electrification #Solar #HomeAutomation #Scripting #RaspberryPi #Python #Maker #Streaming #YouTube

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arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

11 months after launch, Googleโ€™s Pixel Watch still has no path to repair

With no official repair program and no parts, broken Pixel Watches are just e-waste.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/09/11-months-after-launch-googles-pixel-watch-still-has-no-path-to-repair/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica
I'd really prefer an e-ink watch to gain popularity... I wonder if it'd be more repairable too...

briankrebs, to random

We're all just a bunch of frogs sitting in a pot as it gently warms on the stove, too stupid or lazy or comfortable to jump out just yet. But soon to be part of the stew.

In this "enshittified" world, we don't actually own any of the things we buy. The vendor either sells all customer data up front, or what's sold is offered mainly on a subscription basis, even as they're reselling that data. Any terms, prices or promises can be changed on a dime, and your only "choice" is "okay" or not to use the thing.

This fairly describes your privacy expectations for commercial services in the USA. We are long overdue for a Privacy Bill of Rights that says quite simply, if you sell it and it actively collects and transmits data, you have to up front offer consumers the option to turn all it off. Full stop. And then respect that decision in perpetuity.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@briankrebs Please share the offline purchasable software...

gbhnews, (edited ) to fediverse
@gbhnews@mastodon.social avatar

๐ŸŒž Good morning ! This is GBH News bringing you the world from . It's 68F at Logan Airport and visibility is 5 miles.

Google will track many users' browsing history to target ads, in a move worrying advocates.

A judge granted a new trial to a man who was found guilty of murder in 1993 after new DNA evidence called the conviction into question.

volcano Kilauea, one of the world's most active, erupted nearly two months of quiet.

cold remedy:

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@gbhnews Take the day off! There should be coverage for this sort of thing!

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@gbhnews Rest. Depending on severity, over the counter medications based on symptoms. Maybe a covid test.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@gbhnews @TheConversationUS

qlp, to Nintendo
@qlp@linh.social avatar

I just picked up a Nintendo DS Lite, since I have not been able to locate my original Nintendo DS, and noticed that there is a PCB in the cover that slots into the Game Boy Advance game slot.

I don't recall a slot cover for the original Nintendo DS and wonder if the PCB is doing any kind of signal termination or if it's to protect the connector.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@qlp
It's just for protection. It wasn't on the original DS, and isn't required.

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

Googleโ€™s widely opposed ad platform, the โ€œPrivacy Sandbox,โ€ launches in Chrome

Chrome now directly tracks users, generates a "topic" list it shares with advertisers.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/09/googles-widely-opposed-ad-platform-the-privacy-sandbox-launches-in-chrome/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica
Please switch to Firefox, people.

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

Senate confirms Biden FCC nominee, finally giving Democrats a 3-2 majority

Anna Gomez confirmation means "FCC can act swiftly to restore net neutrality."

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/09/senate-confirms-biden-fcc-nominee-finally-giving-democrats-a-3-2-majority/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica FINALLY. It should have been Gigi Sohn, but I'll take it.

jeffjarvis, to random
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social avatar

Some personal news: I'm moving on from CUNY's Newmark J-school, officially retiring (but not really) at the end of the term. I am proud of so much accomplished there, which I recount with much thanks here: https://medium.com/whither-news/moving-on-4eecb1c76ce3

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@jeffjarvis In my opinion, you've certainly left your mark both on the field of journalism, but also on the future of journalism through people who you helped teach....and from the people who found you from reading your books and listening to podcasts you've been on! Enjoy your unofficial retirement. I look forward to what you do with your "spare" time.

TechConnectify, to random
@TechConnectify@mas.to avatar

Buying laundry detergent is so frustrating. It keeps moving around the store based on where the moon is.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@TechConnectify I buy generic, so I don't really have this problem! ๐Ÿ˜‰

briankrebs, to random

Has anyone here done a poll recently on how many people scroll up their timelines vs. down? i.e. how many start from oldest first, and vice-versa? I'm a top down guy myself, apparently.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@briankrebs I set my apps to remember where I stopped, so I scroll up from where I last left off.

For the places where I always start at the top, I scroll a bit down to see the "latest" then try to find where I was last before scrolling up.

christianselig, to random
@christianselig@mastodon.social avatar

donโ€™t talk to me or my sons ever again

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@christianselig How do you find the lifetime of these devices are? Are we talking a battery to rely on for decades if used only in emergencies? (Also, do you mind if I ask why you own three?)

EposVox, to random
@EposVox@glitch.lgbt avatar

โ€œThe perfect pizza doesnโ€™t exi-โ€

image/jpeg

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@EposVox
Got a recipe? I got a ton of tomatoes growing thag I can make a sauce with too, so I'm looking to do something with them!

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

FCC says โ€œtoo badโ€ to ISPs complaining that listing every fee is too hard

Comcast and other ISPs asked FCC to ditch listing-every-fee rule. FCC says "no."

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/08/fcc-says-too-bad-to-isps-complaining-that-listing-every-fee-is-too-hard/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

Sports leagues ask US for โ€œinstantaneousโ€ DMCA takedowns and website blocking

UFC, NBA, NFL want bigger crackdown on pirated streams of live sports.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/08/sports-leagues-ask-us-for-instantaneous-dmca-takedowns-and-website-blocking/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica With cable cutting and online streaming and more and more alternative forms of entertainment competing for people's time and eyeballs, it's no wonder these organizations want to force more people to watch their ads as much as they can. They're dying and trying to extract as much wealth as possible before moving on.

heyfluxay, to Nintendo
@heyfluxay@retro.pizza avatar

Are there any active bots that publish tweets from of America here on Mastodon?

The one I was following went down months ago looks like.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@heyfluxay It doesn't post their tweets, but @GoNintendo is great for Nintendo related news.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@LastContinue @heyfluxay @GoNintendo I created the bot (with the site owner's permission), so I know it "blasts" haha.

It's a side effect of the fact that their stories are posted to their RSS feed once every 20 minutes or so. They often post a bunch of stories within that 20 min time frame, which means when it's time to get the new stories...there's a bunch to post! Sorry if it floods a bit.

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

CenturyLink left 86-year-old woman with no Internet service for a month

After three canceled appointments, service restored one day after Ars emailed ISP.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/08/centurylink-left-86-year-old-woman-with-no-internet-service-for-a-month/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

Unlimited Dropbox plan is going away because of crypto miners and resellers

Some users behaving badly have taken "as much space as you need" too literally.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/08/unlimited-dropbox-plan-is-going-away-because-of-crypto-miners-and-resellers/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica
As much as I understand not wanting to give crypto miners, or any user really, an obscene amount of space, don't sell unlimited if you don't mean unlimited... (and don't sell unlimited if your business model can't afford it!)

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

Judge tears apart Republican lawsuit alleging bias in Gmail spam filter

Gmail isn't a common carrier and is protected by Section 230, judge rules.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/08/judge-tears-apart-republican-lawsuit-alleging-bias-in-gmail-spam-filter/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica Thank goodness common sense is displayed here.

gbhnews, (edited ) to random
@gbhnews@mastodon.social avatar

And now for the daily poll:

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@gbhnews
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie and Carrot Cake are new standouts.

pixelfed, to random
@pixelfed@mastodon.social avatar

Pixelfed Autospam has eliminated over 18K spam posts on pixelfed.social with an accuracy of 95%

The next step is to move beyond local and public only posts to non-public posts, remote posts and metadata like image alt text

We are sampling 5% of remote and non-public posts on pixelfed.social and logging detections (without taking action) for the next two weeks, the results will be made public later.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@pixelfed
5% feels like a pretty large false positive rate. What's being done to ensure the last 5% aren't needlessly labeled as spam?

rbreich, to random
@rbreich@masto.ai avatar

Watch this. The conservative former Arkansas governor says not only is Trump "morally disqualified" but also "he may be disqualified under the 14th Amendment from being president again as a result of the insurrection."

video/mp4

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@rbreich
Hearing the crowd react is terrifying. Mob rule. Bullies all.

briankrebs, (edited ) to random

Okay, this is ridiculous. The NYT is recommending Cascade somehow as the best dishwasher detergent. The last two people who serviced our (now 15-year-old) beloved and very quiet Miele dishwasher said don't ever put that crap in your machine.

We used the exact same pods recommended by NYT and it made our dishwasher stink and it didn't get things clean.

My wife ended up making a homemade version that uses mostly natural stuff plus a pinch of something like Oxyclean. Best detergent ever used, and that's all we use now.

In case anyone is interested, here's the recipe:

DIY Dishwasher Detergent
YIELD: 4 1/2 CUPS / 2.2 LB (ENOUGH FOR 36 LOADS OF DISHES)

1 cup / 225 g super washing soda (sodium carbonate)
1 cup / 225 g powdered oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate)
1/4 cup / 62 g table salt (sodium chloride)
50 drops lemon essential oil
12 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

Washing soda and oxygen bleach are skin sensitizing. I recommend wearing nitrile gloves while you prepare this DIY and washing your hands afterward.

Mix dry ingredients. Add washing soda, powdered oxygen bleach, and table salt into a large, non-metallic mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.

Add essential oils and stir until everything is thoroughly combined.

The essential oils will accumulate in small clusters at first. Keep
stirring to break them apart.
Transfer the detergent powder into an airtight glass jar or storing
container. Store sealed in a dry place, protected from moisture.
Use about 2 tablespoons per load.

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@briankrebs
I think you'd like the @TechConnectify video on dishwashing detergent. I started using way less and it's helped so much!

https://youtu.be/_rBO8neWw04?si=CSxnID6eQVGuBCem

apps, (edited ) to random
@apps@toot.fedilab.app avatar

Would you like a feature that allows you to automatically flag media as sensitive for an instance?

ChrisFerguson,
@ChrisFerguson@mastodon.social avatar

@apps Would it detect that the media was sensitive? or just mark ALL media as sensitive?

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