birdcat

ive been using expandroid, but sadly it stoped working for the stuff i most need it for.

now i found texpandapp(.)com. its really nice cuz it works my browser and note taking app.

most home calling can be stopped via dns blocking i guess (?), but it still has those questionable permissions:

• view network connections 😒
• use fingerprint hardware 👌
• run foreground service with the type "dataSync" 🥱
• run at startup 👌 -ask to ignore battery optimizations👌
• have full network access 😳😳😳
• prevent phone from sleeping🤔
• Advertising ID Permission 🙄
• run foreground service 👌
• Google Play billing service 👌
• Play Install Referrer API 🤔

how bad is all of that? keylogger-level bad?

(cannot block all internet access, bad phone and the vpn slot is occupied)

edit: turns out split tunnelling with "block all connections without vpn" does the job, nice.

So I've read the linked policy and believe it or not, but turns out we literally cannot use Microsoft Services to conduct crimes against Humanity or do things that are illegal in +99% of all countries.

I'm usually not easily triggered, but why should I pay for a Corp that seems to view me as a malware and spam distributing pedophile terrorist bully that is involved in drug trade and human trafficking?

And who exactly is this aimed for? Which criminal on god's forsaken earth will read this and conclude, oh darn it, guess I need to stop my operations then?

Also, the Services Agreement etc. is full of language like "we might delete your account and Data for reason X, Y or Z or maybe for no reason at all lol", which is itself bullying and causes stress, cuz for example, it's still not clear whether we can use stuff like Cryptomator, Joplin or Duplicati (never had a Problem with it, but still, why not clarify that instead of "don't commit stuff that will land you in a Cell in Den Haag")

I know most of you use Linux, and this might be what finally pushes me to that step too. Never saw an Ad in MS, it's not bloated, and I trust Defender, BitLocker, Core Isolation, Secure Boot and the Memory and Folder Protection stuff, but don't need to be insulted like that. Just need to find an Office Writer with tracked Changes in Balloons, LanguageTool support and something like AHK.

Bonus Question. Has anyone a batch/torrent Download link for 1 TB of Public Domain Images? Doesn't matter what it is, Art, Space, Stock images, just something that is ok with the MS Guidelines. I might not use the storage anymore, but I'm sure gonna use it.

https://github.com/Julow/Unexpected-Keyboard

❤️

https://github.com/Helium314/HeliBoard

Text Tools Pro is a text-expanding power utility that facilitates the sending of custom messages with a trigger.

It will type out phrases like omw = on my way! the current date in any format, or even stuff like in2h = time from now in 2 hours, or simply lol = 🤣

In short, Text Tools Pro, developed by a Sri Lankan student, will significantly improve your typing experience on Android; use it.

PS: here is what you need to enter to get the in2h stuff:

key: in2h
value: {{time_in_two_hours}}
var name: time_in_two_hours
var type: date 
format: HH:mm
Offset: 7200

listening to lots of music lately and almost every second song is "remastered"; original is often not even available anymore.

and not one single time i can hear any kind of improvement. so what does it even mean, to remaster a song?

one of the worst cases, imo is atomic by blondie.

friggin classic

b-side abbba song?

and to add: iʼm not some kind of nostalgic puritan, plenty of songs get better after some remixing, covering and whatnot, like

The Clash - Rock The Casbah (12 inch Version)

But the remastered version?

dear god, if i wanted to listen to sting, i would listen to friggin sting.

Who would have though that our dear Jens Stoltenberg is a Putin apologist; quote:

“The background was that President Putin declared in the autumn of 2021, and actually sent a draft treaty that they wanted NATO to sign, to promise no more NATO enlargement. That was what he sent us. And was a pre-condition to not invade Ukraine. Of course, we didn't sign that.

The opposite happened. He wanted us to sign that promise, never to enlarge NATO. He wanted us to remove our military infrastructure in all Allies that have joined NATO since 1997, meaning half of NATO, all the Central and Eastern Europe, we should remove NATO from that part of our Alliance, introducing some kind of B, or second-class membership. We rejected that.

So, he went to war to prevent NATO, more NATO, close to his borders. He has got the exact opposite.”

Let's say I'm interested in all kinds of Technology, but literally in nothing that is being published by www.theverge.com.

Is there a way to block all posts with links to that site?

Preferably on Firefox, as I don't use an app.

I've heard that there is AI who can do image completion, but cannot find anything.

It would be cool if the hair was complete and would look like just more smoke or like a burning candle, if you know what I mean. The bigger upwards the better, but anything where its not cut off would be amazing 🙏

Would be nice, no?

Description

"The New Gurus" is a podcast series created by Helen Lewis for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. The podcast explores the rise of internet gurus in various fields, such as productivity hackers, dating coaches, crypto enthusiasts, and wellness influencers. Across eight episodes, Helen Lewis investigates the origins of these charismatic individuals, the power they wield, and the reasons behind people turning away from mainstream medicine, politics, and media to embrace their advice. The series aims to provide insight into the appeal and potential dangers of these internet gurus and what their popularity says about society.

Personal opinion

Helen Lewis seems like an absolute treasure. Just discovered her yesterday through another podcasts. Now I'm not exactly a fan of the BBC, but she strikes me as the personification of exactly what journalism should be and desperately needs to be. I don't mean any ill will towards her career, but I genuinely hope she considers branching out independently someday. If she does, I'll be among the first to support her as a paid subscriber.

Interviews in other podcasts

Embrace the void

Blocked and Reported

substack

The Bluestocking

It's the handle of a water kettle. Behind the circuit board is nothing. There is also no other circuit board in the kettle. Is the yellow thing the beeper? Thanks for any help 🙏