Nostr notes by My camera shoots fascists

I just went to your site and read this whole series. I'd ...

2026-03-18T00:51:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…dsx7
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I just went to your site and read this whole series. I'd missed some of the Avian Intelligence series and reading them all in series is hilarious in a lolsob kinda way since they are so on-point! Thanks! Love this!

lol I see someone else said almost the exact same thing. Running ...

2026-03-15T18:05:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…h8wf
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lol I see someone else said almost the exact same thing. Running a trillion-dollar company is too confusing for us little people, I guess. We'll probably get the answer soon enough.

It seems that if a company implements some new technologies that ...

2026-03-15T16:40:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…stn4
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It seems that if a company implements some new technologies that dramatically increase its productivity and efficiency, the thing to do is expand your product line, expand your market, lower your prices to be more competitive, and so on. 🤔

I know an advertising platform has different market logic than a car manufacturer, but still. All these companies' words and actions aren't really lining up.

So I see "Bill" over on the wall. When I get up from the ...

2026-03-14T19:09:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…ddgg
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So I see "Bill" over on the wall. When I get up from the porch seat to go get some worms, he bolts away. I go get some food and walk back over there and I can't figure out why he's being so skittish until he comes up close and turns out it's… A different lizard!

This one is much lighter, a little thinner and has an original intact tail. It has tamed up extremely fast though! Already lets me stroke his chin a little bit.

I was doing my little whistle while I was feeding it in order to whistle train it and I guess Bill heard that and popped out from his hiding place at the other end of the wall.

He got fed too and now they are both facing each other about 30 feet apart. There is plenty of room for both, so I hope they don't start fighting.

#Lizard #LizardReport #BillTheLizard

#BillTheLizard looks like he shed his skin recently. His right ...

2026-03-13T21:33:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…5lys
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#BillTheLizard looks like he shed his skin recently. His right eye still has some old flaky scales hanging around the edge of it. I think that's why I thought it may be a different lizard because he looked a little darker but I think it's just because he has new scales and decided to hang out in a new spot. Up close, that's clearly Bill.

#LizardReport #Lizard

Bill the lizard showed back up on the wall today. Just went over ...

2026-03-13T21:03:24Z

Bill the lizard showed back up on the wall today. Just went over and fed him. I'm surprised he's being so scarce. Before it cooled off last fall and he went in hibernation, he would routinely come into the house all the way into the kitchen demanding to be fed in the morning. He does totally remember me though.

I just realized something that may indicate a problem: when all the lizards are out, I spend more time in any given day talking to them than I do to humans.

#LizardReport #BillTheLizard

It's also not even about ads, really. It's about the ...

2026-03-09T15:57:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…zfx9
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It's also not even about ads, really. It's about the trackers associated with them. Fill your site full of ads, I don't care. But you don't get to track me.

La Indita has great Mexican/indigenous food, a nice outdoor ...

2026-03-05T03:07:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…hq8x
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La Indita has great Mexican/indigenous food, a nice outdoor dining area and great politics. For Ethiopian food, I like Café Desta.

If you like indie theaters, The Loft theater is great.

Nature and hiking? All the mountains that rise up around Tucson have a great trails. If you're unfamiliar with Sonoran Desert ecology and want to learn, Sonoran Desert Museum is a great way to spend a day.

Westbound is a nice little outdoor bar over at The Annex.

Looks like you're into cycling, so there are mountain bike trails all over at the edge of town as well as the loop trail which goes all the way around the city.

Rocks And Ropes is a pretty cool climbing gym. Maybe not quite up to the standards of some of the really massive big city ones, but nice vibe and I like it. And then there's an unlimited supply of actual rock climbing of Mount Lemmon.

IDK, what are you looking for?

And a framed picture and studio lighting.

2026-02-26T03:33:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…pypl
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And a framed picture and studio lighting.

I can set up a tent and my camp stove in the time it took to ...

2026-02-26T02:12:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…a6tu
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I can set up a tent and my camp stove in the time it took to watch that. And my tent won't collapse in and kill me the first time it rains.

I mean building a literal "man cave" is kind of funny, but painful to the extent that I'm sure a lot of people would not get the joke.

Yeah, that's me, tail end. I've heard that term before. ...

2026-02-21T04:02:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…hsgx
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Yeah, that's me, tail end. I've heard that term before. We are a pretty small cohort. I most notice it in terms of dating: boomers are too old and their kids are too young and there are very few of us in the middle.

The other nice bolt I caught a couple days ago, right near the ...

2026-02-11T06:16:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…gnut
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The other nice bolt I caught a couple days ago, right near the new #BorderWall in San Rafael Valley, Arizona.

#LandscapePhotography #StormChasing #lightning

Earlier in the day, 180° from the OP lightning bolt above, is ...

2026-02-10T06:22:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…e3nt
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Earlier in the day, 180° from the OP lightning bolt above, is this tree and a gap in the new border wall. I've been to this silly tree three times now trying to get the right shot of it. It's hard because most of the day the sun is straight behind it/overhead. By the time the light is better, the sun is setting behind the ridge.

Anyway, tree and stupid #BorderWall San Rafael Valley, Arizona.

#LandscapePhotography #border #immigration

On my #BorderWall photo trip in the San Rafael valley two days ...

2026-02-10T04:52:59Z

On my #BorderWall photo trip in the San Rafael valley two days ago, I got a couple bonus lightning bolt shots. This is the best of them.

#Border #immigration #StormChasing #lightning #LandscapePhotography

So... in these lawsuits against corporate social media companies, ...

2026-02-10T02:41:18Z

So... in these lawsuits against corporate social media companies, one of the points of contention is infinite scroll. If you're a commercial platform selling ads, you're incentivized to tweak your algorithm to show viewers (incl. teenagers/kids) whatever keeps them engaged and scrolling so as to generate as many ad impre$$ions as possible. Infinite scroll = infinite profits.

But with noncommercial social networks, there is no profit, no incentive and no algorithm. And, unless you follow thousands of people who post a lot, it's possible to get "caught up."

I'm curious if there are any fedi legal eagles paying attention to the arguments that are likely to come up and what any verdicts against Meta or TikTok could mean for noncommercial, non-algorithmically-amplified networks like Mastodon.

If the plaintiffs prevail, it's hard to imagine a judge and regulators being savvy enough to make the distinction.

My #SuperbOwl contribution. This burrow owl near Salton Sea is ...

2026-02-08T21:31:49Z

My #SuperbOwl contribution. This burrow owl near Salton Sea is not amused.

I shot this years ago, one of dozens. It's still my favorite of the set.

#superbOwls

After reading this, I still can't tell if this whole thing ...

2026-02-08T06:05:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…7r7y
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After reading this, I still can't tell if this whole thing was a send up. If it was earnest, oof, I feel embarrassed for them. Like, uh, Bezos is not gonna fuck you or give you any of his money you dumb little simp.

*lolsob* we live in the stupidest timeline and were all gonna die.

The new border wall in San Rafael Valley, Arizona. No one I talk ...

2026-02-08T05:16:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…n0jm
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The new border wall in San Rafael Valley, Arizona. No one I talk to seems to know that it is being built again. I guess it's just not newsworthy at this point?

30 feet above the ground, with 6 feet of concrete underground. Each of the posts, called "bollards", are filled with concrete. All of this new 27 miles of wall is painted black because Trump thinks it will get hot and therefore be unclimbable.

Fact check: most people get through the wall by cutting it with a cheap cordless grinder and those who climb over do so at night. This administration is beyond stupid.

#Border #Immigration #BorderWall #FuckTheWall

Went back to the San Rafael Valley in Arizona today, where they ...

2026-02-08T05:08:29Z

Went back to the San Rafael Valley in Arizona today, where they are building 27 miles of new border wall for no good fucking reason. I think I got a few of the shots I wanted, plus bonus thunderstorms in the afternoon. Have to process the shots from my DSLR, but here's a phone snap rainbow at sunset.

#Border #BorderWall #FuckTheWall #NoBorders

Sometimes their shopping bags have a stencil built into the ...

2026-02-05T04:18:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…fn9p
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Sometimes their shopping bags have a stencil built into the bottom, some flat sticks stapled to the inside to keep the bag upright and a can of upside down survey marking paint. Like I said, who knows what kind of things they carry around. 🤷‍♂️

You know, sometimes houseless people walk down the streets ...

2026-02-05T04:06:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…catv
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You know, sometimes houseless people walk down the streets wearing so many layers of clothes that you can barely see the person underneath. Sometimes they carry large bags, talking to themselves, maybe pushing shopping carts full of who knows what. They sometimes do this at night and everyone just ignores them. It's almost like they're… invisible. Like reverse ninjas, hiding in plain sight.

So, a cabal of ultra-rich, politically connected men in and out ...

2026-02-03T04:00:57Z

So, a cabal of ultra-rich, politically connected men in and out of various governments, who all seem to have secret personal, political and financial connections with a child sex trafficker, are all discussed in a massive tranche of documents...and MAGA isn't flipping the fuck out and demanding the documents be released? Does anything say "Deep State" more than the Epstein Files?

Someone pleeeeze make this make sense? My head hurts.

RE: https://kolektiva.social/@LeftistLawyer/115962793533759069 ...

2026-01-30T03:00:03Z

RE: https://kolektiva.social/@LeftistLawyer/115962793533759069

Welp, there's the address to send dildos to. Glad they made it so easy.

quoting
note1e4f…vnnu

In Colorado, #ICE #brownshirts are leaving these cards in vehicles of people they’ve detained.

During Vietnam, American soldiers would often mark the bodies of Vietnamese they’d killed with the Ace of Spades

@npub1nf4…nqe4 Here's a little something I wrote a few ...

2026-01-18T03:58:32Z

John Carlos Baez (npub1nf4…nqe4)

Here's a little something I wrote a few years ago about going to count beavers on the San Pedro River in the U.S. and Mexico. Pretty much echoes the linked article except for the fire part.
https://www.mikaljakubal.com/portfolios/beaver-counting/

I might apply to be one of them if you had deserts. 🌵😎 ...

2026-01-16T17:38:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…2fnh
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I might apply to be one of them if you had deserts. 🌵😎 Still hoping Canada will annex the U.S. West Coast.

We're not sending our best people.

2026-01-16T17:08:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…0q2n
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We're not sending our best people.

Oh, win some lose some. But that's a much longer discussion ...

2026-01-12T19:38:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…tg85
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Oh, win some lose some. But that's a much longer discussion and even if something "worked" at one point in time is no reason to try to repeat it.

My main point of despair, having lived through the Reagan/Bush era, FFS, is that what we're seeing now feels way, way worse yet the general response feels way less energetic.

I got to thinking (always a bad idea) about what we did when ...

2026-01-12T08:04:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…3h37
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I got to thinking (always a bad idea) about what we did when confronting the timber industry in the 1980s in the PNW over ancient forest logging.

We engaged in a vast, creative range of protest methods. One of which was regular civil disobedience at corporate and agency headquarters. I used a bike lock around my neck to lock down the HQ of Willamette Industries in Portland in early 1986. Small groups of us also occupied Forest Service and other timber company offices. We set up a tent in the Region 6 Regional Forester's office in Portland. We always made sure friendly reporters knew in advance. We didn't have the internet, but we were still able to go "viral."

We know the companies doing business with ICE. We know where the offices of MAGA politicians are. They are perfect protest locations. It only takes a small group of people to pull off that sort of pressure campaign.

I tried to keep upbeat about it, but this weekend's small, ...

2026-01-12T06:32:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…ge8j
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I tried to keep upbeat about it, but this weekend's small, tepid Bay Area protests left me feeling like I need to rethink everything and pivot my life toward a rapid exit from the U.S., while it's still possible.

I like nothing better than a good fight, but I'm also not willing to be a martyr for a doomed cause that few others are willing to lift a finger for.

So, yeah, what are you going to do if Trump invades Greenland tomorrow?

What are you going to do if the U.S. invades Greenland tomorrow? ...

2026-01-12T06:21:45Z

What are you going to do if the U.S. invades Greenland tomorrow?

Literally, what are you going to do?

What do they have to do to get people to finally say "enough" and take to the streets and never leave? Or is that just never going to happen this time around?

Please prove me wrong here, but if the events of the last couple weeks weren't enough to justify sustained, mass protests everywhere, I'm not very hopeful we'll get it together before it's too late.

"Billionaires including Peter Thiel, the tech venture ...

2025-12-29T03:10:46Z

"Billionaires including Peter Thiel, the tech venture capitalist, and Larry Page, a co-founder of Google, are considering cutting or reducing their ties to California by the end of the year because of a proposed ballot measure that could tax the state’s wealthiest residents, according to five people familiar with their thinking."

Bye! You won't be missed. Don't have a nice trip. Hope we never see you again, you ungrateful, entitled, whiny little pieces of shit.

I'm guessing that most Californians, hearing billionaires whine like this, will be more than happy to call their bluff at the ballot box.

https://www.joemygod.com/2025/12/oligarchs-may-flee-ca-over-proposed-1-wealth-tax/

In my early 60s I now want eco-sustainable luxury ...

2025-11-20T05:06:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…cvfw
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In my early 60s I now want eco-sustainable luxury anarcho-communism for all, even if I usually look kinda normie on the outside. I was pretty radical in my 20s, but in a much more all-over-the-place way.

So, you're saying "AI" is the new "BS"? ...

2025-10-22T15:22:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…6rh9
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So, you're saying "AI" is the new "BS"?

"No way, man! I call AI!"
"You're so full of AI."
"Lose me with that AI."
"I'm so sick of your AI."
"Don't AI me, bro."

That all works for me.

I'm guessing the first frog-suit guy had no idea the image of ...

2025-10-15T01:58:48Z

I'm guessing the first frog-suit guy had no idea the image of him standing there in front of the cops would become so viral and emblematic of resistance.

Also, massive respect 🫡

Went on a storm chase north from Tucson yesterday. A very big ...

2025-10-14T19:42:45Z

Went on a storm chase north from Tucson yesterday. A very big cell was moving directly toward Picacho Peak. Calculating our respective speeds, I figured I had enough time to intercept it when it crossed the peak/I-10 area. I was right and was in a perfect position, with a clear view of the peak and sun breaks lighting up the foreground.

By the time the storm moved into the frame, though, there was a wall of water between me and the peak. A minute after this shot, it hit me.

The original is wider and mostly gray blur. I cranked up some of the editing tools in Lightroom to make the bolts pop a bit more and cropped it way in just to have something to show for the day. Win some lose some. This is possibly the last monsoon-season chase opportunity of the season, but there is lightning here even in the winter sometimes.

#StormChasing #LandscapePhotography #Lightning #PicachoPeak

I think there's a lot more to this phenomenon than a quick ...

2025-10-13T14:35:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…5rq6
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I think there's a lot more to this phenomenon than a quick quip. The fact that a good post can have an extended shelf life in a context that rarely produces flashy virality is a function of both the technological infrastructure and the much more human and real social norms here.

This is one of those things that I meant a couple days ago when I said to newcomers that a lot of the good parts of Mastodon/fediverse take some time to notice and appreciate.

On the fediverse, posts rarely go viral. But at times, they will ...

2025-10-13T14:27:32Z

On the fediverse, posts rarely go viral. But at times, they will go "fungal", like mycelium quietly working its way through the substrate, popping up again like mushrooms every few months to make another quick round before going dormant again.

#LizardReport Bill showed up on time this morning and got his ...

2025-10-10T17:57:00Z

#LizardReport
Bill showed up on time this morning and got his breakfast. I might be off storm chasing later but if not and if it doesn't rain, I may go see if I can try feeding the whiptail in the backyard. I miss my cute iguana buddy. I'm still hoping that cat just scared it off into another yard and didn't actually kill it.

Bill let me take some close-ups of him. The second photo is a detail of his flank scales.

This is the best description yet. But, ya know, at least not ...

2025-10-10T16:09:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…9gne
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This is the best description yet.

But, ya know, at least not Trump. So there's that.

Let me get this straight. So, a Wi-Fi router projects a Wi-Fi ...

2025-09-26T02:35:06Z

Let me get this straight. So, a Wi-Fi router projects a Wi-Fi signal irrespective of whether there is any data associated with it, or whether it's connected to the Internet, or whether it is traceable in any way, right? So someone could get a cheap used Wi-Fi router on craigslist, plug it in, name the network something like, I dunno, "Fuck ICE Immigrants welcome" and broadcast it across the neighborhood. Right?

Or, maybe, run a network cable up to a cheap cantenna on the roof and aim the signal at a particular government building or public space.

Asking for a friend. I have no idea why someone might want to do this.

This one of Delicate Arch in Arches National Park came out okay ...

2025-09-17T19:11:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…y0a7
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This one of Delicate Arch in Arches National Park came out okay too.

Still not quite what I'm looking for, but okay for the first time there. This was the third of three storms to come through that day.

#LandscapePhotography #ArchesNationalPark #StormChasing

I got a few bolts with Delicate Arch, but not really what I want. ...

2025-09-17T03:29:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…qegf
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I got a few bolts with Delicate Arch, but not really what I want. I think this is the best one, but I'll go over the others and see what I can do with them. This one, for example, has two nice elements, the arch and bolt, that don't really work together. They're just both sort of in the frame. Guess I gotta go back 🤷‍♂️

Finally going through the shots from my Arches trip. This is from ...

2025-09-17T03:27:59Z

Finally going through the shots from my Arches trip. This is from a nearby arch were I took cover as storms passed overhead. (Not safe! Caves aren't safe! I know! But neither is being anywhere on a ridgetop in a thunderstorm, so I might as well stay dry before getting zapped.)

#StormChasing #lightning #ArchesNationalPark #LandscapePhotography

Got one shot of yesterday's storm over Grand Junction. ...

2025-09-10T17:06:13Z

In reply to nevent1q…kvpp
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Got one shot of yesterday's storm over Grand Junction.

#StormChasing #lightning #LandscapePhotography

These storms have been training right over the spot and across ...

2025-09-09T23:30:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…v9mm
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These storms have been training right over the spot and across the valley all afternoon.

#StormChasing #LandscapePhotography

Well, this just happened. The blue circle is my location. Note ...

2025-09-09T22:29:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…xv8s
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Well, this just happened. The blue circle is my location. Note the lightning strike icon. Freaking cloooose! ⚡️And loud!
I have two cameras set up under a picnic shelter, but I'm hiding in the truck!

#StormChasing #Lightning #LandscapePhotography

I got a few bolts that afternoon. Here's the first one ...

2025-09-09T00:20:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…05dc
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I got a few bolts that afternoon. Here's the first one I've done a quick edit on. It's a horizontal panorama, so you might have to click to see the whole thing.

#StormChasing #LandscapePhotography

I struck out a storm chasing at Grand Canyon in the last two ...

2025-09-07T00:10:39Z

I struck out a storm chasing at Grand Canyon in the last two days. 50% chance of thunderstorms never materialized. But I'm getting this consolation prize farther up in the canyon country.

I have one camera set up doing a time lapse and the other set up with the lightning trigger catching the bolts coming from this big cloud. (Ooo! Two more!) I only wish there were some sun breaks to light up the towers in the valley in the foreground because it's quite striking. It's hard to tell in this very flat light. It might still happen because the massive storm to the northwest is fizzling now, so maybe it will let some sun breaks through.

If anyone's curious, the lightning trigger is set up on my 24 mm tilt-shift (which I love for landscapes) and the time lapse is on my 17 mm to 35 mm zoom, set at 28.

#StormChasing #LandscapePhotography #CanyonCountry

Had to look up Mullerian mimicry. I knew about Batesian mimicry; ...

2025-09-04T13:05:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…cg8r
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Had to look up Mullerian mimicry. I knew about Batesian mimicry; related but different.

I wasn't aware that this existed. This probably explains why ...

2025-09-02T15:40:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…hpnw
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I wasn't aware that this existed. This probably explains why about 90% of women's primary profile pictures on dating sites look so similar.

Professional photographers: how do you price your prints for ...

2025-08-16T22:12:02Z

Professional photographers: how do you price your prints for sale? I'm trying to decide how I should price mine.

This has been one of the biggest barriers to getting my print sales online. It's seriously anxiety producing 😳😵‍💫

I'm also interested in the thoughts of people who buy "fine art" photo prints.

Comments and boosts appreciated!

#photography

I'll add a few thoughts in comments below.

Edit to add: my site with some examples (but not showing many of the best ones I plan to start with for sale) is here: https://mikaljakubal.com

What if "the cloud" — other people's computers — ...

2025-08-08T02:29:44Z

What if "the cloud" — other people's computers — were our computers collectively, as a public utility of sorts. And why self hosting millions of personal "clouds" is not the answer.

"But through the process, I realized how privileged I am to have the skills required for digital sovereignty. I realized how unattainable, unsustainable, and unrealistic self-hosting is as a mass solution to the problems we face. I realized that self-reliance isn't freedom — it's the luxury of retreating from a system that others can't escape."

"Imagine a world where your library card includes 100GB of encrypted file storage, photo-sharing and document collaboration tools, and media streaming services — all for free. Your data is encrypted end-to-end, but is shareable to anyone on any other service through standardized protocols."

https://www.drewlyton.com/story/the-future-is-not-self-hosted/

Edit: here's what's going on: ...

2025-08-06T01:50:17Z

Edit: here's what's going on: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antherophagus_ochraceus?wprov=sfti1
Thanks to U.S. Elaine (npub1jf2…rwtg) for the link.

Anyone know what is going on here? This bumblebee has some sort of creature grabbing onto its proboscis. It looks like a small beetle, but it is hard to tell. The bumblebee was thrashing around furiously trying to remove it, to no avail.

#entomology #BugsAreWeird #Bumblebee

I got one good one at least. I think this is the only decent ...

2025-08-01T00:26:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…zkug
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I got one good one at least. I think this is the only decent lightning bolt shot I got.

#StormChasing #Lightning #CraterLake #Oregon

Set up on this one, hoping it'll drop some big bolts near the ...

2025-07-31T20:39:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…z4kh
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Set up on this one, hoping it'll drop some big bolts near the lake. Unfortunately another big cell behind me is starting to spit rain, so I might get booted out of here soon.

Update! As I was writing that, a big bolt triggered both cameras, but I was looking at my phone typing so I didn't see it so I didn't see it 😂⚡️

#StormChasing #CraterLake

Crater Lake National Park. No lightning storms but still pretty. ...

2025-07-31T03:51:37Z

Crater Lake National Park.
No lightning storms but still pretty. Chance of more thunder tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes.

Yeah, I couldn't remember the date. That was from the big ...

2025-07-30T05:24:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…uelv
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Yeah, I couldn't remember the date. That was from the big earthquake in Alaska, right? I've seen pictures of what Crescent City looked like after that. I kinda wish I had been up there tonight. I would've gone out to the point above the harbor (waaay above the waterline) to photograph whatever happened. Would be hard at night, but there are lights.

Had I left on time this evening, I'd have been near Crescent ...

2025-07-30T04:07:01Z

Had I left on time this evening, I'd have been near Crescent City, CA about midnight, the time the tsunami is supposed to hit. Virtually the entire U.S. and Canadian west coast is expecting waves under 1' high. Except Crescent City, which is expecting waves 2.0'-4.8' high.

Something about the bathymetry of the seabed must direct tsunami waves right at Crescent City. Happened in the 2011 tsunami too. And it's happened previously. Tsunami bait.

For the record, the NOAA tsunami warning center maps and alerts are really awkward to navigate. They really need to fix that shit.

First time having boba tea today. It's not unpleasant, but ...

2025-07-28T04:33:41Z

First time having boba tea today. It's not unpleasant, but quite strange. You have to like the texture of snot wads in your mouth, though snot wads that happen to taste good.

My guess is that #JohnStewart already has something in the works. ...

2025-07-22T23:29:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…3ute
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My guess is that #JohnStewart already has something in the works. If that's the case, his #CBSGoFuckYourself move was brilliant. Either they fire him and he goes out with a bang and starts something new, or they chicken out and he resigns and starts something new anyway. Total boss move either way.

#IsJohnStewartFiredYet #CBSGoFuckYourself I just thought these ...

2025-07-22T20:40:49Z

#IsJohnStewartFiredYet

#CBSGoFuckYourself

I just thought these hashtags should be a thing, for no reason in particular.

One more reason to accelerate the de-Google-ification of my life. ...

2025-07-17T04:49:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…eykr
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One more reason to accelerate the de-Google-ification of my life.

But, FFS, every time you reply to someone with a Gmail address who hasn't turned this shit off, you're basically letting this creepy company ingest your email. And so damn many people use Gmail that it's pretty hard to say, "sorry, I can't respond to you until you switch to something else."

I fucking hate this.

I remember some months ago, people were warning that it took ...

2025-07-05T04:59:21Z

I remember some months ago, people were warning that it took Hitler less than two months to go from an elected position to dictator. I'm sure Trump is jealous that it took him longer, but here we are.

I seriously doubt most Americans, even progressive ones, realize the unfettered power he and his fashy billionaire buddies now have and what they are likely to do with it.

What will you tolerate? What won't you tolerate happening to yourself or others? Where is your "red line" after which you'll give up security and comfort to fight? And how will you fight? What are you willing to do?

Somewhat random art pricing question here. For most of the photos ...

2025-07-05T04:11:38Z

Somewhat random art pricing question here.

For most of the photos I hope to soon have online for sale, I'm concentrating on higher-end "fine art" prints, but I know a lot of outdoor-adventure dirtbagger types will want a more affordable version of this particular image (made famous by the movie DamNation), so I had some 24" x 30" posters made of it. Now I have to figure out how to price them.

I'm having trouble finding prices for posters (vs "prints" on archival-grade paper). Suggestions? Or can anyone point me to photographers who sell poster versions of their work?

#photography

Apropos of nothing in particular, I've been thinking about my ...

2025-07-04T20:46:46Z

Apropos of nothing in particular, I've been thinking about my visit some years back to the Dutch Resistance Museum — Verzetsmuseum — in Amsterdam. The museum re-creates scenes of daily life under Nazi occupation and continually asks visitors to think about what we would do in a given situation: "adjust, collaborate, or resist?"

For every American, this is the exact same question we are now facing every single day.

Adjust, collaborate, or resist. What does that look like for you? At what cost to your safety will you resist? At what cost to your sense of self-worth and morality will you simply adjust and pretend nothing is happening? What is your personal "red line"?

Oh, man, we thought it was bad, then. I mean, it WAS bad then, ...

2025-07-03T02:19:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…y4w9
_________________________

Oh, man, we thought it was bad, then. I mean, it WAS bad then, but the '80s got nothin' on the 2020s.

Oh, I see. I'm a little slow today.

2025-06-20T03:30:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…tgyd
_________________________

Oh, I see. I'm a little slow today.

But then they would all leave! 🤔 Well, then. I hope they ...

2025-06-20T01:42:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…p020
_________________________

But then they would all leave!

🤔

Well, then. I hope they don't let the door on their private jets hit them in the ass on their way out.

#EatTheRich

Wonderful. My credit union just merged with another one and now ...

2025-06-19T23:25:55Z

Wonderful. My credit union just merged with another one and now I'm unable to get my online statements because doing so requires allowing 3rd party cookies.

According the The Markup (npub1svp…js2d) 's Blacklight tool https://themarkup.org/blacklight the site uses browser fingerprinting and session recording and I'm like "um, no".

I'll send them the screenshots and let them know that I'll need to be mailed paper copies from now on, or I'll ask for paper copies when I go in to make deposits.

Why are they like this?

The way I explain the fediverse is to compare it to virtually any ...

2025-06-18T18:53:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…hpkq
_________________________

The way I explain the fediverse is to compare it to virtually any non-prepackaged social relationship.

Want to try a worker-owned business? A communal household? Co-housing community? Nonmonogamy or other non-traditional romance or relationship forms? CSA or other direct farm-to-consumer food production? Any organization or group that runs by consensus?

Virtually all of my lefty friends have some experience with one or more of these things, so they understand that any time you step outside of the frictionless, pre-made capitalist box to create the life you want, it will be more difficult and often awkward, time consuming and confusing. And probably require a bunch of meetings. But maybe worth it in the end.

That's how I explain the fediverse. Because it's been built by and for users and not fashy billionaires, it requires more direct participation, more tolerance for all the rough edges, longer to make changes and improvements. They usually get that, even if they ultimately decide, "nah."

I look forward to part 2. In the meantime, I have two comments ...

2025-06-18T18:37:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…jl3a
_________________________

I look forward to part 2. In the meantime, I have two comments that someone might find useful.

First is that I was part of the November 2022 fuck Elon migration. That was before ExTwitter locked down their API, so someone had written a little bot that would search your follows there for anyone who had a fediverse handle in their profile (the odd double-@ format, I'm guessing). You could download that as a .CSV and upload it to Mastodon and have an instant large group of familiar people to follow.

Very different than starting from scratch or trying to guess what someone's handle might be and finding them here, even if you know they are in fact here.

I think that's huge for many people because unless you join a very active location-based or interest-based server, it'll feel really lonely for quite a while.

Have the Democrats — or IDK anyone at all — promised a ...

2025-06-11T04:12:38Z

Have the Democrats — or IDK anyone at all — promised a Nuremburg-style tribunal and prosecution of any military or administrative (ICE, HSI, etc.) individual who commits human rights or other violations during this current administration? Basically announcing before-the-fact consequences once it is possible to impose them?

Maybe it's just me, but I think this would be a very good propaganda move.

Tell the military and ICE personnel that they will be held personally accountable for what they do and that "following orders" will not be a defense.

Look, man, who knows what happened in 1848? We gotta look into ...

2025-06-08T03:03:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…uxxq
_________________________

Look, man, who knows what happened in 1848? We gotta look into this. Might've been a mistake!

Totally. She'd be just asking questions, you know?

2025-06-08T03:02:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…6wrm
_________________________

Totally. She'd be just asking questions, you know?

New tactic unlocked! Using ceramic plates like frisbees!

2025-06-08T02:54:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…3nqk
_________________________

New tactic unlocked! Using ceramic plates like frisbees!

Whenever I am at protests, whether large mass actions of the last ...

2025-06-06T05:30:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…682v
_________________________

Whenever I am at protests, whether large mass actions of the last few months, or smaller, issue-related protests I've been to in the last few years, I get this distinct sense that everything we knew from the '80s and '90s has been collectively forgotten or discarded.

From my point of view, as someone who engaged in a lot of activism pre-Internet, I feel like I have this giant foundational toolbox, a whole other toolbox of digital tools, and then the force multiplier potential of the Internet.

Back in the '80s, we knew how to "go viral" and get our photos or headlines "above the fold" routinely. Damn, what we could have done back then with smart phones, live streaming and social media!

I have a bunch of thoughts on what happened, but that's for another time.

Other things we used to do back before smart phones (and that ...

2025-06-06T05:18:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…v8vn
_________________________

Other things we used to do back before smart phones (and that would still be perfectly functional) is print up thousands of quarter sheet flyers with a suggested action plan and mass distribute them amongst the crowd.

In Hong Kong in 2019, it was generally understood that you should leave AirDrop (on iPhones) open to receiving messages from anyone. This was one of many ways that plans were rapidly shared amongst groups of protesters. I still have a bunch of screenshots of these, though some are in Cantonese and I can't read them.

Apropos of nothing and no upcoming events that you should definitely not try to disrupt. I absolutely recommend passively listening to the speakers and cheering on command and definitely do not block any streets or take any spontaneous independent action.

Sometimes all it takes to get thousands of people to quit ...

2025-06-06T05:13:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…g9hp
_________________________

Sometimes all it takes to get thousands of people to quit standing around and start marching is five people with bang-buckets or other cheap noisemakers, loud voices and lots of enthusiasm.

Apropos of nothing in particular and not at all referencing any recent past or upcoming events.

In major cities here on the West Coast, particularly Seattle, ...

2025-06-06T05:10:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…w725
_________________________

In major cities here on the West Coast, particularly Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Oakland (I'm not sure about Los Angeles, but I bet it's the case there too), a key threshold for showing a movement's power was whether you had enough people overall, and enough determined people, to block the interstate. Or, in the Bay Area, one of the major bridges.

Other times, knowing that large spontaneous, breakaway marches were likely to happen, smaller affinity groups had independent actions planned to coincide with them or make use of the cover provided by a giant crowd.

Again, apropos of nothing in particular.

I have been to a lot of protests, big and small, since my first ...

2025-06-06T05:05:54Z

I have been to a lot of protests, big and small, since my first one in 1984. One very common scenario was that some liberal or far lefty group would call for a mass demonstration at a certain spot, like the courthouse.

Once a critical mass of people showed up, there would be a small group of rabble-rousers, often the local anarchist group (all 12 of us), who would start banging on buckets or yelling with a megaphone something along the lines of "March! March! March!"

If we were successful, the crowd would gradually start moving toward the street, leaving the line of official speakers talking to the dwindling crowd. In Seattle during the protests against the first Iraq war, these spontaneous marches would go for hours and hours, moving through neighborhoods, losing people as they went, but adding more who came out to join.

Apropos of nothing in particular.

At this point, I think these Big National Day of Protest(tm) ...

2025-05-26T19:56:43Z

At this point, I think these Big National Day of Protest(tm) events are nearly pointless. They really need tactical evolution and to become more disruptive. Combine them with small affinity group blockades, sit-ins, etc. Shut down a port or a freeway or mass-occupy federal buildings or sit in at collaborationist Democratic politicians' offices... anything but a repeat of the same thing with this month's stick-on label.

I'm very well aware of the many values of large, inclusive mass demonstrations. But if that is all you ever do, the movement will be a scheduled spectacle and never challenge power or be able to make change in any real way.

Archive version https://archive.is/FE9VM What a fawning, puffball ...

2025-05-19T16:19:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…e8fd
_________________________

Archive version
https://archive.is/FE9VM

What a fawning, puffball piece, like the author was trying to get a date or something. (The gushing opening about Seattle weather and Graber's name… FFS).

The curated specialty feeds that apparently already exist sound kind of interesting, but everything else is purely aspirational. She makes it sound like there are in fact functioning Instagram and TikTok style apps built on the protocol. Is this actually the case, does anyone know?

Crass Penis Envy with some of the first punk I ever heard. That ...

2025-05-18T04:14:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…hv7g
_________________________

Crass Penis Envy with some of the first punk I ever heard. That was around 1984 after they had broken up. With a little bit of review, I could probably almost still remember every word on the album.

It's Lizard Wednesday! I just made that up. Because lizard. ...

2025-05-15T05:11:20Z

It's Lizard Wednesday! I just made that up. Because lizard. This Western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) was so certain that I couldn't see it that I was able to get my hand within about an inch. Could've easily grabbed it. So well camouflaged.

#Lizard #herps

Feeld is the buggiest dating app with the most fake profiles and ...

2025-05-13T02:50:36Z

Feeld is the buggiest dating app with the most fake profiles and the worst ROI time-wise change my mind.

This is serious. You know they're gonna try to push this in ...

2025-05-10T22:03:05Z

In reply to nevent1q…0t9j
_________________________

This is serious. You know they're gonna try to push this in other circuits.

"Careless People" author Sarah Wynn-Williams has been ...

2025-05-07T05:43:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…ckww
_________________________

"Careless People" author Sarah Wynn-Williams has been legally prohibited (at least temporarily) from promoting her book after Meta/Facebook brought the case before an arbitrator. The book is still available, but she is prevented from personally promoting it until Meta's case against her is resolved.

So, I'll go ahead and promote it and I recommend everyone else do so as well — and read it, of course! If you had one shred of doubt about Facebook being irredeemably evil, this will cure you of it.

It's available on Bookshop.org. I recommend the audiobook, a gripping, relentless listen, which Wynn-Williams reads herself.

https://bookshop.org/p/books/careless-people-a-cautionary-tale-of-power-greed-and-lost-idealism/22213433?ean=9781250391230&next=t

Listening to Sarah Wynn-Williams' "Careless People" ...

2025-05-06T16:00:24Z

Listening to Sarah Wynn-Williams' "Careless People" on my flight into SFO. Passing over Facebook's HQ and I'm wishing I could open the window and personally spit down on Mark Zuckerberg from here.

From the air, Facebook's walled garden compound architecturally reflects the way the platform ingests and contains its prey, er, users, and defends itself from any outside influence.

If Wynn-Williams' description is even half-accurate, the headquarters also reflects the walled-in insularity of the leadership from the rest of the world and from the consequences of their company's actions.

The whole lot of them are monsters.

#Facebook #CarelessPeople

Oh, it's not about swaying anybody. It's about: if ...

2025-05-02T16:24:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…pltw
_________________________

Oh, it's not about swaying anybody. It's about: if you're gonna promote fascist bullshit you're gonna get push back.

At first glance, I read that as "they did the meth." ...

2025-05-02T16:23:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…0q54
_________________________

At first glance, I read that as "they did the meth."

Which, also works.

Man, I think I need to stay off the internet, or mute everything ...

2025-05-02T16:18:30Z

Man, I think I need to stay off the internet, or mute everything but cat videos. The news makes me a little too choppy and stabby. Over the next few days I'm going to have to deal with Trumper relatives that I haven't seen since I was a child. I really hope they are wise enough to keep their mouth shut about their support for Orange Julius or there will be some very awkward moments.

The 4', steel, spike-tipped bong. He need to take a few big ...

2025-05-02T16:13:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…fu97
_________________________

The 4', steel, spike-tipped bong. He need to take a few big hits.

The pettiness is jaw dropping.

2025-05-01T15:05:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…xur2
_________________________

The pettiness is jaw dropping.

New #tariff proposal: instead of children having fewer dolls, how ...

2025-04-30T20:34:18Z

New #tariff proposal: instead of children having fewer dolls, how about billionaires have fewer heads.

Also, how hard is it to qualify for federal designation as a ...

2025-04-30T17:21:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…883u
_________________________

Also, how hard is it to qualify for federal designation as a religion? Let's start thousands of religions and demand we get funded. Like, each school district start a religion and then fund their local public school with it.
But, yeah, at least Church of Satan and the Flying Spaghetti Monster folks should jump on this asap.

So my question is how do we make Starlink as toxic a brand as ...

2025-04-30T15:08:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…pdgq
_________________________

So my question is how do we make Starlink as toxic a brand as Tesla? Hit this chump from every angle. Do gamers have any ethical sensibility that could be tapped into?

Spend a few minutes walking on any rail line. The amount of dirt ...

2025-04-30T14:30:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…wjdg
_________________________

Spend a few minutes walking on any rail line. The amount of dirt and grime covering everything makes this idea ridiculous on the face of it. Any maintenance will require shutting down the rail line. This just screams "solar roads" scam. It's especially stupid when most rail lines have a wide clear right of way to either side that could be used if people really insist on putting solar panels along rail lines. FFS

That's what plants with purple-tinged flowers are called in ...

2025-04-30T13:56:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…47ae
_________________________

That's what plants with purple-tinged flowers are called in the cannabis breeding world. There's even a variety called Purpz.

Make Arizona Canada and I'm in! Even SoCal would work. Maybe ...

2025-04-29T20:18:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…s53t
_________________________

Make Arizona Canada and I'm in! Even SoCal would work. Maybe I'll have to beg you to let me in, then I can snowbird by crewing a sailboat around the U.S. to Baja California every winter or something.

I'm back at my Northern California place for the next few ...

2025-04-29T03:49:53Z

I'm back at my Northern California place for the next few months, so no first-hand accounts from the border or stories of hand taming wild lizards for a little while. Hopefully the revolution will start and I can go take photos of it. Barring that, maybe a fiery death comet? I'd settle for a fiery death comet right now.