modem_down

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Why is he wearing gloves, in this sculpture?

Fair point. Alphabet may even have decided it was a cost-effective way to generate publicity for Google Earth, which has been out of the headlines for a decade or more.

modem_down @thebrainbin.org 1d ago

For a beautiful moment after reading the headline, I thought this must be an uplifting piece about European weather systems.

Then reality set in 🫠

modem_down @thebrainbin.org 1d ago

International coverage: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-accuses-russia-war-crime-after-video-shows-drone-hunting-market-vendor-2026-08-04/

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modem_down @thebrainbin.org 1d ago

It's still an instructive case:

It was foreseeable (and, probably, foreseen by many people at Google) that the tool would be used in harmful ways.
Google released it anyway

This is textbook negligence. Unjustified refusal to avoid a foreseeable harm.

That pattern of negligence is the AI boom in a nutshell.

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modem_down @thebrainbin.org 3d ago

What are your main issues with Matrix?

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modem_down @thebrainbin.org 3d ago

I feel the same way, but can you explain how a VPN would help achieve that in the face of Google’s proposed developer verification scheme?

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modem_down @thebrainbin.org 3d ago

How would that help you?

The article says, "unverified apps will only be easily installable in the sanctioned countries where verification doesn’t exist."

So even if you used a VPN to trick Google into thinking you live in a sanctioned country, you wouldn't be able to distribute apps to those countries without breaking sanctions.

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modem_down @thebrainbin.org 3d ago

For 20+ years. Fixed in 2019.

modem_down @thebrainbin.org 3d ago

it'd be like saying we should disarm Ukraine, 'cause then Russia doesn't have a reason to invade them

Putin's All-Russia People's Front's policies toward Ukraine have many similarities to Netanyahu's Likud party's policies toward Gaza. Both sets of policies are tragic, causing many innocent people's deaths.

Nevertheless, Ukraine and Gaza are different enough for one to reasonably reach different conclusions about how best peace can be achieved in each place:

Ukraine's weapons are protecting Ukraine against Russian attacks and invasion attempts. Therefore, it is in Ukraine's interests to have them. Hamas's weapons are not protecting Gaza against Israeli attacks or invasion. There is no obvious benefit from Hamas having them.
Servant of the People, and Ukraine, do recognise Russia, and have not seriously proposed eliminating it. Hamas does not officially recognise Israel, and has seriously proposed eliminating it.
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK, the USA, the EU, and the Organization of American States, all designate Hamas a terrorist organisation. This reduces the aid Gaza receives. They seem unlikely to reverse the designation unless Hamas disarms. None of them designate Servant of the People, or Ukraine, a terrorist organisation.

Those points lead me to believe Hamas should disarm.

I also believe countries giving aid to Israel should make it formally contingent on Israel withdrawing from Gaza and the West Bank, to pre-1967 borders, and recognising Palestinian statehood. However, it looks like the US is going to stop aid to Israel regardless.

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modem_down @thebrainbin.org 4d ago

Kdenlive is the top-ranked FOSS video editor on AlternativeTo.

I agree with that ranking, having also tried 5 or 6 of the other entries on the list.

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modem_down @thebrainbin.org 4d ago

Trust isn't really the point. Everyone knows Israel and Hamas don't trust each other. I'm more concerned with whether the violent conflict can be reduced, and a stable peace achieved.

Are Hamas's arms doing Gaza any favours? Not that I can see.

AFAICT, if Hamas disarmed:

Israel's only(?) excuse for mass military action in Gaza would disappear.
International support (already shaky) for Israeli military presence in Gaza would decrease.
One or more of Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States, or the European Union might end their designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, which could in turn increase the aid and other international support available to Gaza.

If you think I'm wrong, I'd be glad to know why.

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modem_down @thebrainbin.org 5d ago

Terrorism arises in defense to oppression.

Technical point: that isn't exhaustively true. Terrorism can be, and sometimes is, committed against vulnerable parties by more privileged ones.

modem_down @thebrainbin.org 5d ago

Progress report 1

I'm ruling out HMAC-SHA1, because:
- Plain vanilla HMAC-SHA1 uses a shared secret. I don't want the PC/server to have a copy of the credential. May also be susceptible to MITM/relay attacks.
- Rolling-code HMAC-SHA1 only partially solves those problems.
- Encrypted rolling code HMAC-SHA1 solves those problems, but I haven't found a reliable source for using it with LUKS.
If using systemd, pick FIDO2:
- Avoids flaws of HMAC-SHA1.
- Native support in systemd, so "future-proof".
- Wider support than OpenPGP. More HST vendors to choose from, including cheaper options than NitroKey or Yubikey: useful if each sysadmin (or colleague, or relative) needs an HST.
- Compatible with QubesOS.
Otherwise, OpenPGP:
- Like FIDO2, solves HMAC-SHA1 flaws.
- However:
  - smartcard-key-luks seems unmaintained on GitHub and on GitLab.
  - LUKS with OpenPGP isn't well-documented for non-Debian-based distros.
TBD: Clevis/Tang:
- Remote/network-based unlocking.

modem_down @thebrainbin.org 5d ago

Thank you for this! That thread is helpful in itself, and also links to other relevant resources - including by Lennart Poettering (controversial guy, but the canonical source on systemd).