Entropy, a decentralized crypto custodian that raised a $25M seed led by a16z in June 2022, is shutting down after "several pivots, and two rounds of layoffs" (Zack Abrams/The Block)
https://www.theblock.co/post/386942/entro…
Like all the rest of the nerds, I did a bit of tech support on family computers.
They're all popping up windows from scam virus scanners lying that subscriptions need to be renewed or machines are unprotected. People don't know how to remove these things. Luckily they also don't really know how to pay the subscription.
Their phones are updating on them. Changing where buttons used to be. Removing options. Forcing people to register to use they things they have been doing for years.
They don't know how to register.
Things pop up asking for passwords and they have no idea who is asking or which password to use.
I tell them that I don't really understand why they keep using Windows now it is so shitty and awful. They say they don't know how to use anything else. The fact they don't really know how to use windows either doesn't seem to register.
The tech corporations have given up completely on being user friendly. They are all deliberately user hostile and exploitative now.
Corporate tech is terrible. The industry is failing it's users, abusing them. People don't even know there is any other way. They are just giving up on achieving their tasks until someone can fix the pop-ups and subscription boxes and passwords and 2fa for them.
Tech sucks now. Sucks hard.
#tech #christmasTechSupport
I don't think I'm ever going to enjoy gifts.
I can get why people would give them to children. After all, children don't have their own budget. However, I'm talking about occasional gifts, not a new toy every second week, because "we must outcompete the other grandparents". But to adults?
Once I've heard that you should gift people with what they won't buy themselves. Well, that's won't work for me. I'm a minimalist. If I don't need something, I don't want to have it. Unnecessary junk is only emotional burden to me.
I can get why you'd enjoy something handmade. But something people bought? If I need something, I can buy it myself, when I need it. And I definitely don't need people to prove to me that they never cared to learn who I am, and just buy whatever they like or whatever is "fashionable"; which usually means exactly the opposite of what I'd prefer (i.e. something minimalistic). Or even worse, I don't need people manipulating me through gifts.
Sweets? Besides my diabetes, I don't really enjoy expensive shit that people generally buy because it's what's advertised. For the money they waste on it, I'd buy three times as much sweets I'd actually enjoy.
Gift cards? Oh yes, "you aren't supposed to give money, so let's just give the equivalent of money that's actually worth less than money". Actual money? And here we reach the true nonsense; we exchange the same amount of money, so it's just pointless gesture. Unless one of us gives less money…
What I'd really like, as a gift? Maybe that people would finally bother accepting me as who I am. The absolute minimum of caring that I hate consumerism, and not fueling it "for me".
#AntiCapitalism #minimalism #ActuallyAutistic
Apparently Timothy Doyle, a well known Marvel artist has been making some Anti-ICE art using The Punisher, Wolverine and Ghost Rider.
(h/t to https://bsky.app/profile/roterote.bsky.social)
I never thought I’d see Waterworld on a list of «best of…» films. I mean, it’s a cheesy, fun movie — but good? Hm; maybe not. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/27/youre-gonna-need-a-bigger-b…
Historic #LickObservatory closes to public following significant wind damage: https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/12/historic-lick-observatory-closes-to-public-following-significant-wind-damage/ - early on Thursday, Dec. 25, severe winds gusting up to 183 km/h tore loose half of the shutter on the 140-year old 36-inch Great Refractor dome; no one was injured.
He creates a 3D-printed Lamborghini in his garden for just $20,000 and turns down a substantial offer: "it's the best feeling in the world" https://www.italpassion.fr/en/lamborghini/<…
Not linking to it, but why do news outlets keep amplifying “AI” propaganda from companies making chatbots without at the very least some basic vetting?
(No, statistical algorithms on calculators don’t have feelings. Never have, never will.)
FWIW, when people go on about “sportsball”, to me that sounds snotty and condescending and, well, a bit rude: “I ostentatiously don’t care about a thing you do and wish it didn’t exist.”
Not saying you’re not within your rights to feel that and say that. I have exactly those feelings about certain forms of music and religion and politics.
Just be aware that sometimes it doesn’t land well.
#LifeOnline
Highly recommend not to identify yourself with any technology.
Doesn’t matter if it’s AI, bicycles, cars, video games, old computers, photography or Hi-Fi equipment.
If someone says something bad about it (doesn’t matter if true or not) and you feel personally attacked—take a step back and think long and hard about your feelings.
Can you be “into” something? Yes, of course. But don’t lose yourself.