“As detailed by researchers at Radware, NoName has effectively gamified DDoS attacks, recruiting hacktivists via its Telegram channel and offering to pay people who agree to install a piece of software called DDoSia. That program allows NoName to commandeer the host computers and their Internet connections in coordinated DDoS campaigns, and DDoSia users with the most attacks can win cash prizes.”
The story goes extremely deep on Stark Industries, a UK company serving as a global proxy for Russian attacks, not to mention global criminal enterprises. Totally fascinating.
Man, the Open Collective Foundation dissolution emails continue to be the worst and most needlessly hostile vibes. Pulling the rug out from under hundreds of great tiny vulnerable projects while speaking to them like a power-tripping schoolteacher is really something.
@ericshead I recognize that there's considerable variation in communication styles and preferences, but specifically when you've just done a bunch of damage, it feels so wild to me to not a.) apologize and b.) approach the people you've messed with with as much genuine care as possible, along every axis.
And to be clear, I'm not after, like, insincere small talk, but real care backed by demonstrated and extraordinary effort at repair.
The contention that using high-filtration masks to prevent transmission of respiratory disease is “unscientific” and “lacking evidence” when we have reams of aerosol and transmission studies is a display of either unawareness/scientific illiteracy (super fixable! non-shameful!) or of an intentional disregard of the evidence for emotional or ideological reasons (common but troubling).
What we lack is consistent evidence of large-scale effects across communities, which is understandable even given all the evidence that high-filtration masks work very well, because the variables are nightmarishly complex. That gap has given motivated reasoners license to demand that everyone else accept their rejection of a solid and deep body of evidence for mask efficacy.
I don’t think it’s beyond the bounds of civility to sharply disagree with that whole maneuver.
@kissane I get so mad at how bad faith the claim that masks are ineffective is. It is one of those claims that should disqualify people from commenting further on any science involving large systems.
Summoning summer to the coastal gloom zone by cranking Florence and all her various Machines, making iced coffee while wearing a sweater and heated gloves
I got the giant puppy one of those toys you put frozen food in and they’re supposed to be entertaining for awhile but the giant puppy is VERY FOCUSED and got it all out, gave himself an ice cream headache, and spent the next five minutes growling mightily at god
Every box of beans I order from Backporch Roasters comes with a handwritten note that reads “I hope this coffee finds you well” and I receive this wish with a sincere belief in its earnestness because instead of an email they sent me my favorite coffee beans and I will hear nothing against them
@bittersweetdb I really don’t post all that much there, but I have this last day or two! (I only use the web interface but they’ve been changing things quite quickly across the board.)
@bittersweetdb I wanted to get back to this and note that a funny thing happened socially with bsky and fedi, which is that most of my closest friends who are online are here, but not posting much, and then the vast majority (maybe 90%) of my friendly acquaintances and former colleagues went to bsky, many after bouncing off fedi. So if I'm going to grumble about something with shared context to anyone besides my group chats, it's bsky or nowhere.
I'm spending most of my time in the research and writing deeps rn, but UGH, speaking with people working with so much attention, thought, and care on the big — and small but meaningful — complexities of building and maintaining spaces for humans to be together is just…healing in the mode of a hyperbaric chamber.
US folks, we have an e. coli recall on organic walnuts sold in bulk bins or repackaged in-store (plastic clamshells, etc.)—recs are to throw them out and wash containers and contacted surfaces: