Wellington on a good day.

I’m so glad we’ve got a weekly recap of nostr coming out. @Nomishka View quoted note →

The last couple days we had an intense storm in Wellington with Tropical Storm level winds and now the sun has come out and I’m enjoying this granola along with a flight of coffee.

I like Claude code a lot but think of its big limitations is the way it only works with Claude sonnet 3.7. I’m really enjoying all the emerging agentic coding explosion. View quoted note →

Did Trump ask Canadians to write in his name when they vote today?! https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114415618596069518

Bluesky’s added user verification in a way that’s not entirely bad. Different entities can become verifiers. So if you run a company you can verify your own employees. Bluesky PBC also will run a verifier. I think this isn’t a terrible solution to preventing impersonation.

Bluesky

A New Form of Verification on Bluesky - Bluesky

We’re introducing a new layer of verification — a user-friendly, easily recognizable badge. Additionally, independent organizations can verify ...

I’m not sure how many people follow TechDirt.com but they’re a long standing low budget tech publication which has been very influential in the movement for an open web and protocols over platforms. Their editor’s essay, Protocols, Not Platforms: A Technological Approach to Free Speech, laid out the arguments for what become both Nostr and ATprotocol.

Knight First Amendment Institute

Protocols, Not Platforms: A Technological Approach to Free Speech

Anyway, i just like to remember the folks who got us here. They accept bitcoin donations:

Techdirt

How To Support Techdirt

We’re so grateful that so many of you have supported Techdirt over the years, and we’ve set up many different ways to let you do so. So...

View quoted note →

This is a great manifesto! View quoted note →

Police are creating AI bots to participate in protest movements in order to entrap activists. The idea of infiltrating activist groups. At least this AI won’t end up going so deep under cover to the point where they have kids with the activists they’re targeting!

the Guardian

Police spy ‘bragged’ about fathering a child with activist, inquiry hears

Bob Lambert told two managers of his secret Scotland Yard unit but they decided to do nothing

View quoted note →

@🟠 isolabellart I’m moving up the hill so you’ll be getting new angles on the same pier.

Watching the OpenAI livestream launch of o3/o4-mini it’s like a case study in 4 autistic guys nervously trying to present something. https://openai.com/live/

OpenAI released new models a couple days ago, 4.1, 4.1 mini, and 4.1 nano. I just got around to trying them today and found out they’ve released other new models, o3, o3-mini, and o4-mini. What’s more interesting than that, is they’ve got a c ompetitor to Claude Code, an agent cli for building apps called codex.

GitHub

GitHub - openai/codex: Lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal

Lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal - openai/codex

Samsung has released a vacuum cleaner with built in screen that lets you do texting and phone calls while vacuuming! This is worse than the LED screens on fridges. Who on earth needs to make phone calls WHILE vacuuming!? Don’t you already have your phone in your pocket, and you know, vacuums make a lot of noise, so you’d want to STOP vacuuming in order talk on the phone.

The Verge

Samsung’s latest stick vac can alert you to calls and text messages

Can I call you back after the rinse cycle?

OpenAI is considering launching a social media app / platform. This feels like something we should pay attention to, but also where Nostr could compete using open models and our protocol.

The Verge

OpenAI is building a social network

ChatGPT versus X?

When you build a system that allows central control and censorship then the state will use those affordances if they feel the need. Bluesky’s blocked some Turkish accounts by order of the Turkish government. The user DID keys are still active but their associated domain name / user names are not and the identities at blocked by bluesky’s moderation system that Turkish users can’t opt out of.

Bluesky Social

Bluesky

To escape this censorship you need to both use a Bluesky client that doesn’t opt in to the company’s obligatory moderation and also some relay and appviews which refuse to comply with Turkish censorship orders.

Interesting someone finally made an ATprotocol client that doesn’t include the required base moderation provided by Bluesky inc.

deer.social

## A Plan for Defending Democracy: Building a Strategic, Cross-Party Coalition We urgently need a concrete plan—a grand coalition—to defend democracy. If we truly mean #NeverAgain, the moment to act decisively is now. Democracy, basic freedoms, and human dignity itself are under threat. Trump’s administration openly defies the Supreme Court, imposes extreme tariffs (up to 143% on China!), and now even threatens prison camps for political dissenters. To me, this isn’t just politics—it’s a terrifying erosion of civil liberties, constitutional norms, and the rights we once assumed were untouchable. But outrage alone isn’t enough. We need a practical, targeted strategy that can truly stop this authoritarian slide. ### My Proposal: A Cross-Party Centrist Coalition in the U.S. House Given how narrowly divided the House of Representatives currently is, I believe a small number of moderate Republicans from agriculture-heavy, purple or swing districts—especially in states with "top-two" primary systems like California and Washington—could join with centrist Democrats to flip the balance of power. The goal isn’t a traditional partisan victory. Instead, it’s to create a powerful legislative firewall that can: - Uphold and enforce Supreme Court rulings against an administration inclined to ignore them. - End economically catastrophic tariffs that devastate American farmers and workers. - Block authoritarian measures, like prison camps for political dissidents. ### How This Coalition Could Work Practically: 1. **Moderate Republicans take a stand**: They commit publicly to oppose unconstitutional actions, reject extreme tariffs, and protect civil liberties, even if it means breaking from party leadership. 2. **Strategic Electoral Guarantees**: - Democrats, especially in California and Washington’s top-two primary districts, would strategically "stand down," pledging not to run strong Democratic challengers against these Republicans. - Progressive activists would temporarily focus their resources elsewhere, understanding that preserving democracy must come first. - Centrist Democratic donors and influential grassroots groups would promise robust funding, political defense, and organizational support for these moderate Republicans, ensuring their survival against inevitable MAGA-backed primary challengers. 3. **Electing a Coalition-Friendly Speaker**: The coalition could elect a moderate, compromise Speaker—someone from either party who firmly commits to: - Protecting constitutional norms and enforcing judicial rulings. - Ending catastrophic trade wars and protecting U.S. agriculture. - Stopping authoritarian actions, including any plans for political imprisonment of dissenters. 4. **Allowing Independence for Progressives**: This arrangement does not silence progressive voices or policies. Progressives would still freely critique and push for their agenda. But, crucially, on foundational issues—civil rights, human dignity, rule of law, economic sanity—the entire coalition would stand united. ### Why Would Moderate Republicans Take This Risk? The threat from Trump and the MAGA wing will be fierce. Moderate Republicans will face harsh political backlash. That’s exactly why the coalition must pledge, explicitly and publicly, powerful electoral support and funding. These Republicans must know they’ll not stand alone. A true coalition demands solidarity and strong defense for its courageous members. ### Why This Unconventional Coalition Matters Right Now: This strategy is not politics-as-usual. It’s bold and challenging. But with democracy itself on the line, ideological purity tests must be set aside. Coalition-building is the most pragmatic choice in extraordinary times. I urge all who value democracy—progressives, centrists, moderates, libertarians, independents—to come together. Protect our courts, preserve the rule of law, safeguard livelihoods, and stand firm against authoritarianism. The stakes are too high to let partisan differences keep us divided. ### If #NeverAgain Means Anything, We Must Act Boldly: Let’s move beyond partisan comfort zones. Let’s support principled Republicans who bravely oppose authoritarianism. By uniting now, creatively and courageously, we can prevent tyranny before it fully takes hold. This coalition is how we protect each other. This is how we ensure freedom survives. The moment is here—let’s act.

Did you know you can buy a keyboard made in the US? It looks really nice. The thing is to build a keyboard in the US means it costs $3600!

Norbauer & Co.

the Seneca

the Seneca a keyboard dream from the future Learn about buying from $3600 682 custom parts. Built with two human hands. The Seneca is my middle fin...