Bob K Mertz :distressedUS:

Coaster Enthusiast, Pinball Competitor, Data Center Technician, Podcast host...... Not a member of the red or blue parties.

WV/NoVA
:distressedUS:

got salt?

I try to tag all political posts with appropriate tags (uspol for us politics) and content warn when something is potentially extra upsetting.

Pronouns: he/him
I talk about coasters here: https://opencoaster.net/@RagingWolfBob
I'm on this podcast: https://sidefriction.com
Timeline (no boosts): Bob K Mertz :distressedUS: (npub1rv3…2ml4)">https://justmytoots.com/Bob K Mertz :distressedUS: (npub1rv3…2ml4)

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Last Notes

2026-09-08 22:02:41 CEST

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Dibs on dot.slash

2026-09-08 20:00:37 CEST

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Seeing stuff like this makes me wonder if I need to mute @npub1s6e…n008 from my timeline for a few days

2026-08-22 19:09:18 CEST

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I actually do agree for that reason as well as the whole time travel thing. Just making an exaggerated point that I didn't see technology and law enforcement converging in the way that it has. They were bound to converge but I would have never believed enough tech and stupidity would exist that any human would demand to give computers guns yet here we are.

2026-08-22 18:58:50 CEST

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It's insane how 20 years ago I saw the attitude that would lead to the dystopian literature and films but not the technology and then came the ebooks and Siri/Echo devices that connected all the technology dots for 1984.
But the terminator? No way that could ever happen... Right?
Right?
*sigh*

2026-08-22 00:10:20 CEST

RE: https://flipboard.com/@futurism/futurism-1lupih3cz/-/a-UpU7F7eHTF-fBK3jeXLEIA%3Aa%3A1737388686-%2F0
If there is one thing I am proud of Americans over it's this. I hope this wakes more people up to the rest of the surveillance state that has been unfolding right under everyone's nose.
#DeFlock
#note1606…73ms

2026-08-20 17:55:14 CEST

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Yup... It's almost like that warning Jesus gave that "they will come in my name" was a warning about a politician or something.
What I hate most of all is that there are still some good churches that haven't lost their way but they are hard to find and get caught in the crossfire.

2026-08-20 17:42:42 CEST

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Hah... Some of the worst kids I knew I knew from church. The "pastor's kid" thing is very real.
It's been quite a while since I've been in a church as well... Grew up in church and continued in various churches through my twenties and very early thirties but had a very different view on things after my teens. After the last church let me volunteer for tech work (which I loved doing) and then later sought to pay a "Christian" company to do much of the same stuff I was doing that was kind of the end of me going to any church.
Really... The "christian" label has been a recurring theme through my whole life... And I don't think I need to explain how it fits into this dumpster fire of a white house we have.

2026-08-20 17:21:29 CEST

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I learned that in my teens. Watched too many people get abused as a result and, worse, watched friends turn against friends because they had the nerve to suggest a Christian did a bad thing.
By time Christian Mingle came I knew enough to laugh my ass off at those ads.
Most of my life has been frustration of devils in christian clothing.

2026-08-20 17:14:31 CEST

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Didn't mean to come across as defending Demon Hunter but put yourself in my shoes... It's not like I have many opportunities to say Fuck Tooth and Nail 😂

2026-08-20 17:11:08 CEST

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It's absolutely cringe.
I think the thing for me that really bugs me about Tooth and Nail is that they present themselves as "good Christians" and then once an artist signs it becomes a whole different thing and they are stuck. Like, everyone knows how record companies act but this one goes in acting like they are different. Tooth and Nail even put out a documentary many years ago when negative press was growing in order to paint that picture all over again and even now they are still fucking over artists with the "we are good Christians" routine. My favorite band Icon for Hire dropped the F bomb on their first independent release after Tooth and Nail and I loved every moment of it.
But I digress again... my response is more of my frustration with Tooth and Nail and this fake christian world we are living in.

2026-08-20 16:37:38 CEST

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In the 90s Christian music was a force but then bad people got involved and the whole alternative Christian music scene rightfully died. One label that continues to operate with terrible methods is Tooth and Nail to the point where they abuse their artists and demand they do things their way.
Demon Hunter is on Solid State which is a Tooth and Nail label.
I never was a huge Demon Hunter fan so I can't speak much about them but Tooth and Nail was the former label to many of my favorite bands and I can tell you there is a better than decent chance this isn't something the band wants to be involved in but are being forced by their label. Could be wrong but history speaks volumes about that shitty label.

2026-08-19 21:38:28 CEST

Yet another place ICE is showing up... Domestic flights.
Anyone who still thinks Trump wants to make America great has not been paying attention. We are looking more like a third world country the way our government is both passively and actively killing people.
https://www.techdirt.com/2026/08/19/ice-opportunism-expands-to-passengers-on-domestic-flights/
#USPol #ICE #Fascism

2026-08-07 16:51:07 CEST

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If someone selected "Mute for home" on an account for reasons and then wanted to undo that action what menu would he look in to undo that action?
Asking for a friend 😉

2026-08-07 16:30:41 CEST

Damnit @npub1s6e…n008 and @npub12as…yvvc 😂
This is the last thing I see scrolling my timeline before having to force close Fedilab
@npub14kx…urew I'm using the latest version on F-Droid, 3.43.0
https://files.techhub.social/media_attachments/files/117/054/704/254/896/176/original/0de56eaf5536e685.png

2026-06-28 04:02:45 CEST

I think the thing with fascism in the privacy products is we are looking at it from a perspective of law and they are looking at it from a world where laws don't exist.
The Mullvad Co-CEO can come out and say whatever he wants from a legal perspective because the world fascists are building is a world where they would never be held accountable.
It's a gamble that their narcissism tells them they can't lose.
#Mullvad #Proton #Brave #Fascism #VPN

2026-06-04 17:57:52 CEST

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It's like they built a colander that won't even hold spaghetti

2026-05-18 21:42:54 CEST

Oh shit.... I hope no one is seriously injured or killed... Brace yourself for a political shit show.
#SanDiego #Shooting #IslamicCenter
https://files.techhub.social/media_attachments/files/116/597/284/804/823/414/original/f86b07da07084902.png

2026-03-03 00:32:40 CET

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Sorry I didn't get a notification on your post (I assume because I blocked Graphene) until someone brought it to my attention but in the case of the article I read you would think that the modem would power down when you turned off the phone... That was the concern that was raised in the article.
My concern here is that Motorola could (at the request of the Trump administration, for example) add some hardware to the device with the intent of surveillance that doesn't reveal it's self to the OS.
Unfortunately all I got from them was a torrent of posts (that they now deleted) about Murena harassing them and what seemed to be attacking me for using a Fairphone. I'm genuinely concerned that they attacked me on something I didn't even bring up in order to distract away from the concerns that I (and others) had.
@npub1rtf…46fe [@greenpete](https://sunny.garden/@greenpete )

2026-03-02 21:38:59 CET

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Where did I attack you? Someone else mentioned Fairphone and I said that you previously said you wouldn't support them.... Then you turned the hose on me complaining about Murena. I didn't even bring it up at all. And yes, I said you were being obsessive and that's apparently when you realized I was right and deleted all of your posts.
All I mentioned was my concern about *Motorola* potentially hiding a hardware device in the phone that the OS is unaware of.... Next thing I know you're yelling at me for using a Fairphone.
[@greenpete](https://sunny.garden/@greenpete ) @npub1rtf…46fe

2026-03-02 21:25:15 CET

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Oh, my bad... You deleted your entire tirade so that others wouldn't see it
https://techhub.social/@bobkmertz/116160942164557367
[@greenpete](https://sunny.garden/@greenpete ) @npub1rtf…46fe

2026-03-02 21:23:52 CET

@npub1kwa…e0nj
Did you really just delete and repost this to get rid of my replies?
[@greenpete](https://sunny.garden/@greenpete ) @npub1rtf…46fe

2026-03-02 19:33:55 CET

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I'm waiting for the version that supports RAID

2026-03-02 19:15:13 CET

@npub1kwa…e0nj
It's not hardware that interacts with software that concerns me. I'm talking about hardware with it's own firmware that is capable of capturing data and sending it without the OS even being aware. I wish I could remember the model or find the article but a year or so ago I read that an android phone model was found to be communicating with networks even while the phone was powered off.
To be clear, it's not that I don't trust you. I just have a hard time trusting huge corporations who have no opposition to the current US administration especially when they are part of a specific industry that heavily tries to dictate what you can and can't do on your phone.
I'm not trying to downplay how huge of a deal this is and it is exciting but I an concerned as well and I think it's important to make that fear known.
[@greenpete](https://sunny.garden/@greenpete ) @npub1rtf…46fe

2026-02-04 03:30:33 CET

@npub1jwy…dm35
You should probably give proper credit
https://bitbang.social/@NanoRaptor/116006383821986649

2026-01-26 23:19:51 CET

RE: https://kolektiva.social/@LeftistLawyer/115962793533759069
There are no fucking words
#USPol #ICE #CBP
#note1e4f…vnnu

2026-01-19 06:48:46 CET

In light of Renee Good and the things MAGA are saying about her death it's important to remember that Anne Frank "died of typhus."
Denying responsibility is the modus operandi of authoritarians.
#USPol #abolishICE #AnneFrank #ReneeGood

2026-01-13 08:27:12 CET

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Please realize the view from the inside as well. It's easy to just command Americans to contain the president but Americans are ALREADY being killed. The things you are afraid of are ALREADY here. You talk about working inside our system while ignoring that our system has been hijacked. You're scared of what might happen while we are scared of what IS happening.
I get that the world is upset. You have every right to be. The problem is posts like this are literally attacking people who are already at their breaking point. Many of the people you are saying are responsible are hanging by a thread.
@npub1pr0…l3qf

2025-11-12 15:07:29 CET

Not only is the government shutdown about to end without healthcare for much of America, it's also taking shots at CBD/Hemp which has been an effective tool for helping many in pain and with other conditions.
https://penncapital-star.com/2025/11/11/repub/hemp-growers-retailers-targeted-in-section-of-government-shutdown-legislation/
#USpol #Hemp #CBD

2025-11-05 03:55:34 CET

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And one other video (also from reddit but this one is being used in coverage from WDRB)
#UPS2976 #SDF #planecrash #aviation
https://files.techhub.social/media_attachments/files/115/494/835/567/560/091/original/79b4f1c55770cc69.mp4

2025-11-05 03:42:19 CET

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Another video of crash (found on reddit but this video has been playing on WAVE-TV as well).
#UPS2976 #SDF #planecrash #aviation
https://files.techhub.social/media_attachments/files/115/494/783/479/371/491/original/7104064cf5d4395c.mp4

2025-11-05 01:39:22 CET

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There is video as well
#UPS2976 #SDF #planecrash #aviation
https://files.techhub.social/media_attachments/files/115/494/300/003/829/258/original/f5ded0d3017a1f13.mp4

2025-11-05 00:45:15 CET

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UPS is only mentioning the crew of 3 on board
https://about.ups.com/us/en/newsroom/statements/ups-statement-on-aircraft-accident.html
@npub1d26…72uz

2025-09-23 19:38:48 CEST

Jimmy Kimmel will not return to Nexstar and Sinclair stations tonight
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/nexstar-sinclair-abc-affiliates-jimmy-kimmel-live/3641913/
#JimmyKimmel #sinclair #nexstar #censorship

2025-09-13 01:04:23 CEST

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I honestly didn't know that mastodon supported timed mute natively now.
Not sure I followed your second part. Are you saying it's possible for Fedilab to support a time domain mute but you'd need to sync with mastodon if they begin supporting it later?
@npub1sr4…tunh

2025-09-12 23:50:34 CEST

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One thing I love about @npub14kx…urew is the powerful timed mute options they have but doing a quick look at options in the app I don't see the domain as being an option (but I could be missing it)

2025-09-11 06:00:58 CEST

Listen, a man died. He may not have been a great man and there's absolutely no reason you have to mourn his loss. I'm not.
But we are the ones defending the sanctity of life. It's really hard to speak a message of treating people with dignity whether that be immigrants, those of various races, and those of differing religions and yet cheer for the death of a man.
This has been a night that lots of toots are turning my stomach.
#USpol #CharlieKirk

2025-08-09 16:46:14 CEST

With AOL killing Dial Up Internet I was curious what still exists. I've found that there is over an estimated 160,000 people still using dial up in the US as their only connection (there are others using dial up as a fallback)
https://data.census.gov/table?q=internet+subscription
Earthlink quietly shut off dial up access in early 2024 (best I can tell).
Incredibly Juno and NetZero both still offer 10 free hours of dial up a month (and unlimited subscriptions).
#dialup #internet #aol #EarthLink #netzero

2025-08-08 18:20:22 CEST

Another inhumane ICE raid.
https://www.wtae.com/article/emilianos-allegheny-butler-county-federal-agents/65626219
#USpol #ICE #Pittsburgh #Butler

2025-07-06 13:36:00 CEST

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This is the first I've heard of Dachau and just skimming the Wikipedia page is absolutely frightening at how similar it is to this facility the GOP has set up... Combine that with Congress not being allowed access and it's not hard to see how close we are to repeating history in a frightening way.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachau_concentration_camp
#Dachau #alligatoralcatraz #USpol
@npub1c8j…xcuu

2025-07-05 03:55:21 CEST

Listening to the pops and bangs outside.... We are either under attack or my neighbors bought some really big mortars.
Sadly either one is a distinct possibility...
#july4th #USpol

2025-06-08 06:40:05 CEST

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I have put the L4, R4, L5 and R5 buttons on my Steam Deck to use in various cases (I also personally like using them instead of X and Y) and I'm not even a frequent gamer.
#8BitDo #Nightreign

2025-06-07 04:11:15 CEST

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I guess it's #Caturday somewhere now so I give you Cocoa when she was younger
https://files.techhub.social/media_attachments/files/114/639/652/392/068/432/original/4c881b1ea0f7e1cf.mp4

2025-03-27 23:29:11 CET

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Interesting. I had thought that Play Services was absent in Graphene. My Fairphone 4 came with eOS installed and they had a decent concept but it was a complete mess when it came to some Android apps and they had no interest in offering any information or support. Are paid and subscription apps supported as well? Is root access possible on Graphene?
The sandbox thing is cool. I've always kind of wanted virtualization so I could run an "insecure OS" in a container that I launched only when needed... Sandbox is probably next best.
@npub1kfs…02tm @npub15fz…4x5n

2025-03-27 22:11:13 CET

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"Where they find their apps" is exactly the problem with mobile in general. I really want to use something like @npub1kwa…e0nj but it's hard for a lot of people to not have access to Play or the App store because functions of their daily life rely on apps only designed to work on Android and iOS. Banking and navigation are the biggest problems for me but others have propriety networks being used by their employer. The biggest problem is there aren't any real stepping stones... Those focused on security just say your only choice is to change your entire life overnight which I can appreciate their reasoning but it does nothing to effect change in the wider public and keeps security and privacy a niche and actively scares people away from it.
Linux is a difficult switch but many/most propriety things have web that function well on a computer browser but (intentionally) run like complete shit on a mobile browser.
@npub15fz…4x5n

2025-02-01 20:11:50 CET

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No, they didn't. They said it could have been but that it's impossible to state it as a fact because they can't see into Elon's head.
I think it probably was but agree that it can't be stated as a fact and it's worrisome that people on the far left are starting to distort what a fact is based on emotion.
@npub10na…gr99

2024-11-23 01:37:55 CET

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The most frustrating thing to me is the news sites say it's because no one wants to pay for news but the reality is they don't provide a fair option for us to pay them. If I want to read about something in a small town 5 states away I'm not about to get an annual subscription to read just 1 or 2 articles. I suspect if all of these outlets worked together to provide reciprocal memberships/subscriptions we would see a lot more people subscribing. If subscribing to my local paper would give me access to local papers across the nation I would absolutely subscribe.
And to anyone that points out that some papers provide an option to pay per article I hear you but most don't and considering the logistics of breaking out my credit card every time I want to read an article is just not practical. Perhaps a service that you pay into a bank and then all news sites accept payment from that bank?

2024-09-11 04:13:49 CEST

He literally could not say that Ukraine winning the war is in the best interest of the US...... Avoided that question with the most obvious dodges possible.
#presidentialdebate #uspol

2024-09-11 03:32:34 CEST

They are eating our dogs!!!!!!!!!
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
#presidentialdebate #USpol

2024-09-11 03:19:11 CEST

Execution after birth? You mean like mass shootings? WTH is this guy on?
#presidentialdebate #uspol