@Sustainable2050@mastodon.energyAfter hanging around in Dutch parliament for 35 years (8 years as assistant and speech writer for VVD, 27 years as MP), far-right Wilders just blew up his first own coalition, because the other parties didn't sign up for his new list of anti-refugee/asylumseeker ideas.
@Techmeme@techhub.socialA former employee says fewer than 10,000 people use Ola Krutrim's LLM chatbot, which supports 10 Indian languages, and that over 60% of them are random testers (Swathi Moorthy/The Economic Times)
https://
@tiotasram@kolektiva.socialLong; central Massachusetts colonial history
Today on a whim I visited a site in Massachusetts marked as "Huguenot Fort Ruins" on OpenStreetMaps. I drove out with my 4-year-old through increasingly rural central Massachusetts forests & fields to end up on a narrow street near the top of a hill beside a small field. The neighboring houses had huge lawns, some with tractors.
Appropriately for this day and this moment in history, the history of the site turns out to be a microcosm of America. Across the field beyond a cross-shaped stone memorial stood an info board with a few diagrams and some text. The text of the main sign (including typos/misspellings) read:
"""
Town Is Formed
Early in the 1680's, interest began to generate to develop a town in the area west of Natick in the south central part of the Commonwealth that would be suitable for a settlement. A Mr. Hugh Campbell, a Scotch merchant of Boston petitioned the court for land for a colony. At about the same time, Joseph Dudley and William Stoughton also were desirous of obtaining land for a settlement. A claim was made for all lands west of the Blackstone River to the southern land of Massachusetts to a point northerly of the Springfield Road then running southwesterly until it joined the southern line of Massachusetts.
Associated with Dudley and Stoughton was Robert Thompson of London, England, Dr. Daniel Cox and John Blackwell, both of London and Thomas Freak of Hannington, Wiltshire, as proprietors. A stipulation in the acquisition of this land being that within four years thirty families and an orthodox minister settle in the area. An extension of this stipulation was granted at the end of the four years when no group large enough seemed to be willing to take up the opportunity.
In 1686, Robert Thompson met Gabriel Bernor and learned that he was seeking an area where his countrymen, who had fled their native France because of the Edict of Nantes, were desirous of a place to live. Their main concern was to settle in a place that would allow them freedom of worship. New Oxford, as it was the so-named, at that time included the larger part of Charlton, one-fourth of Auburn, one-fifth of Dudley and several square miles of the northeast portion of Southbridge as well as the easterly ares now known as Webster.
Joseph Dudley's assessment that the area was capable of a good settlement probably was based on the idea of the meadows already established along with the plains, ponds, brooks and rivers. Meadows were a necessity as they provided hay for animal feed and other uses by the settlers. The French River tributary books and streams provided a good source for fishing and hunting. There were open areas on the plains as customarily in November of each year, the Indians burnt over areas to keep them free of underwood and brush. It appeared then that this area was ready for settling.
The first seventy-five years of the settling of the Town of Oxford originally known as Manchaug, embraced three different cultures. The Indians were known to be here about 1656 when the Missionary, John Eliott and his partner Daniel Gookin visited in the praying towns. Thirty years later, in 1686, the Huguenots walked here from Boston under the guidance of their leader Isaac Bertrand DuTuffeau. The Huguenot's that arrived were not peasants, but were acknowledged to be the best Agriculturist, Wine Growers, Merchant's, and Manufacter's in France. There were 30 families consisting of 52 people. At the time of their first departure (10 years), due to Indian insurrection, there were 80 people in the group, and near their Meetinghouse/Church was a Cemetery that held 20 bodies. In 1699, 8 to 10 familie's made a second attempt to re-settle, failing after only four years, with the village being completely abandoned in 1704.
The English colonist made their way here in 1713 and established what has become a permanent settlement.
"""
All that was left of the fort was a crumbling stone wall that would have been the base of a higher wooden wall according to a picture of a model (I didn't think to get a shot of that myself). Only trees and brush remain where the multi-story main wooden building was.
This story has so many echoes in the present:
- The rich colonialists from Boston & London agree to settle the land, buying/taking land "rights" from the colonial British court that claimed jurisdiction without actually having control of the land. Whether the sponsors ever actually visited the land themselves I don't know. They surely profited somehow, whether from selling on the land rights later or collecting taxes/rent or whatever, by they needed poor laborers to actually do the work of developing the land (& driving out the original inhabitants, who had no say in the machinations of the Boston court).
- The land deal was on condition that there capital-holders who stood to profit would find settlers to actually do the work of colonizing. The British crown wanted more territory to be controlled in practice not just in theory, but they weren't going to be the ones to do the hard work.
- The capital-holders actually failed to find enough poor suckers to do their dirty work for 4 years, until the Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution in France, were desperate enough to accept their terms.
- Of course, the land was only so ripe for settlement because of careful tending over centuries by the natives who were eventually driven off, and whose land management practices are abandoned today. Given the mention of praying towns (& dates), this was after King Phillip's war, which resulted in at least some forced resettlement of native tribes around the area, but the descendants of those "Indians" mentioned in this sign are still around. For example, this is the site of one local band of Nipmuck, whose namesake lake is about 5 miles south of the fort site: #LandBack.
@spamless@mastodon.social17½ minutes of primal squatting tonight, catching up on the 1980 German novella "Ein fliehendes Pferd" by Martin Walser. I'll be leading a book discussion group for the Volkbildungswerk on it in three weeks. Sign up! https://www.vbw-ned.de/programm…
@shaun@mastodon.xyzHad a great, entirely unexpected experience with the State Troopers at a protest today in #Memphis. They showed up and parked nearby; we all figured they were itching for us to violate the new #Tennessee "PEACE Act" law (which restricts protests) so they could jam us up.
Then a MAGA came…
@cdarwin@c.imCongress has approved the first national school voucher plan,
which will help all but the wealthiest families pay for private school and other educational expenses.
The plan, passed on Thursday as part of Republicans’ all-encompassing domestic policy bill,
now heads to the desk of President Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.
Families who earn up to 300 percent of their area’s median income, equivalent to more than $300,000 in some parts of the country,
…
@Xavier@infosec.exchangeI'm attending No Kings's event, “One Million Rising: Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism” - sign up now to join me!
https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/8039
@cowboys@darktundra.xyzEx-Cowboys $100 million player could sign with cross-division rival https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/dallas-cowboys/news/ex-cowboys-100-million-player-could-sign-cross-division-rival/3a8c97…
@blakes7bot@mas.torpidity.netSeries B, Episode 05 - Pressure Point
BLAKE: I'd rather not try. But if I have to, I will not be alone. I've already contacted a Resistance leader.
[Wooded area near the Forbidden Zone]
VERON: No sign of them?
https://blake.torpidity.net/m/205/62 B7B6
@rasterweb@mastodon.socialI heard about a "Toy Library" which sounds cool! I mean, I run a Free Little Art Gallery and I always love a Little Free Library (of books), but get this...
"Cunillera runs it like a business. Families pay up to $65 per month, and there are scholarships."
Fuck That. It's not a "Library" it's a toy subscription service.
➡️
@tezoatlipoca@mas.to
@midtsveen@social.linux.pizzaYo @…, I'm #ActuallyAutistic!
@leftsidestory@mstdn.socialNatura Urbana VIII 🏡
城市自然 VIII 🏡
📷 Nikon FE
🎞️Ilford FP4 Plus, expired 1995
buy me ☕️ ?/请我喝杯☕️？
#filmphotography
@phpugmrn@phpc.socialWho's ready for Sylius? We're excited to announce our meetup on June 26th in Mannheim! Join us for an evening of Sylius, automation, and networking.
Sign up here: https://www.meetup.com/phpug-rhein-neckar/events/305478305/
@raiders@darktundra.xyzRaiders mailbag: Will team sign veteran wide receiver before camp? https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders/raiders-mailbag-will-team-sign-veteran-wide-receiver-before-camp-3379463/
@cdarwin@c.imAOC teamed up with Republicans to introduce a bill to
END congressional stock trading,
but she needs your support!
Stand with her and sign this petition today!
https://forms.oneswitchboard.com/ban-the…
@UP8@mastodon.socialPercheron Driven Cart Sponsored by Wegmans Supermarket in Ithaca Festival Parade
#photo #photography #ithaca
@jby@ecoevo.socialHow do I know May Day is gonna be big? I'm going to be able to join an event in Studio City
I'm attending May Day Strong's event, “May Day Strong: We are the Many” - sign up now to join me! https://www.
@ruari@velocipederider.comShould I break in? I mean I think this bicycle is being held against it's will and wants to taste the open road.
@metacurity@infosec.exchangeMicrosoft is now allowing developers to sign up for a private preview of what it calls the Windows Update orchestration platform, that will enable Windows Update to support any update for apps or drivers in the future.
https://www.theverge.com/news/675446/micro
@anildash@me.dmA couple of folks said I should replace the pop-over email signup form on my blog with a much more subtle inline signup form at the top of the page. So! If you'd like to reward the more user-friendly design with your patronage and support (it's free, I only ask for your attention), you can sign up to get my new posts in your inbox just by sharing your email address. I won't spam you or sell your email, and don't post too often.
@ellie@ellieayla.netBike Month is back, and that means it's time for Pedal Poll! We're counting usage of active transit (and adjacent) facilities along corridors in our cities next week.
If you have 2 hours to spare, sign up for a shift!
#pedalpollsondovelo #biketooter
@MAD_democracy@journa.hostAnn Telnaes resigned from the Washington Post after her cartoon was rejected by editors. She said, “I will not stop holding truth to power through my cartooning, because as they say, 'Democracy dies in darkness.'"
Join us May 29th at 8pm ET via Zoom for a conversation.
Sign up: #Cartoonist #Press #FreeSpeech
@NFL@darktundra.xyzNFL news roundup: Jaguars sign rookie RB Bhayshul Tuten https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-wednesday-june-25
@todbot@mastodon.social @leftsidestory@mstdn.social
@AimeeMaroux@mastodon.socialI'm not on #Reddit but for any #trans woman reading this I want to say: I (AFAB cis woman) know *exactly* what you feel like because this is the same as waiting for your first period as a girl, especially if you get it later than your friends. It's exciting, a sign of growing up and "becom…
@memeorandum@universeodon.comGood afternoon. Today's Media Trends, edited by Christine Wang and copy edited by Sheryl Miller, is 2,522 words, a 9½-minute read. Sign up. (Sara Fischer/Axios)
https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-media-trends-20f067c0-502a-11f0-9079-cb3e3eb54f52.html
http://www.memeorandum.com/250624/p137#a250624p137
@andres4ny@social.ridetrans.itSomehow we made this part of the Queensboro Bridge worse. This is a 3-4ft wide two-way bike lane. There's so much wrong with this, from the metal manhole cover taking up almost the entire width of the bike lane, to the MUTCD-violating usage of sharrows, to those shitty rumble strip/speed bump things THAT ARE LOOSE.
Wtaf! #bikeNYC
@…
@drbruced@aus.socialIf you are interested in technology, particularly from an Australian perspective, you should sign up for the Crux from @… at https://pivotnine.com/newsletter/
In addition t…
@UP8@mastodon.socialClassic Car in Ithaca Parade Festival's Famous Volvo Ballet
#photo #photography #ithaca #cars
@MAD_democracy@journa.hostTONIGHT: Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes discusses The Power of Editorial Cartoonists for Democracy!
Ann Telnaes resigned from WaPo when this cartoon was rejected.
She wrote, “...My job is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable. For the first time, my editor prevented me from doing that critical job.”
Sign up here: #FreePress #Democracy #Media
@paulwermer@sfba.socialHeadlines and images don't have to be distressing:
@PaulWermer@sfba.socialHeadlines and images don't have to be distressing:
@kurtsh@mastodon.social'...analysis from Gartner found the per-employee subscription model to be 2x-5x more expensive than the legacy model."
✅ UK unis sign up to £10M Oracle Java subscription framework • The Register
https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/13/jisc_java_oracle/
@karlauerbach@sfba.socialThose of you out there facing ICE/DHS - you may want to consider temporarily disabling face recognition login on your iPhone.
Here's from Apple:
Temporarily disable Face ID
You can temporarily prevent Face ID from unlocking your iPhone.
Press and hold the side button and either volume button for 2 seconds.
After the sliders appear, press the side button to immediately lock iPhone.
iPhone locks automatically if you don’t touch the screen for…
@grumpybozo@toad.socialThat’s an excellent move.
Let’s make it national.
Decades ago, my first wife was a librarian and met a lot of people. She was a friendly person. She befriended a guy who seemed to misunderstand friendship. We ended up having to refuse entry to CPS twice in the ensuing 3 weeks. Thankfully, they didn’t deem either anonymous report worth seeking a warrant.
@blakes7bot@mas.torpidity.netSeries A, Episode 04 - Time Squad
JENNA: To transport what?
VILA: Do we care?
JENNA: [Slight laugh] Getting nervous?
VILA: No, I've been nervous all along. I do not like the look of that thing.
BLAKE: Zen, have the sensors picked up any sign of life?
https://blake.torpidity.net/m/104/72
@newsie@darktundra.xyzDeveloper Builds Tool That Scrapes YouTube Comments, Uses AI to Predict Where Users Live https://www.404media.co/developer-builds-tool-that-scrapes-youtube-comments-uses-ai-to-predict-where-users-live/
@crell@phpc.socialOK, Americans. Where will you be this Saturday?
I know you'll be at a No Kings march, because that's where anyone who cares about this country needs to be. But which one? There is almost certainly one near you, if not several.
Find one, sign up, march, make noise. America does not go down without a fight.
https://www.no…
@lornajane@indieweb.socialReminder that this time tomorrow (noon London time, Wednesday 21st May), it's the digital OpenUK meetup. Our topic is "digital sovereignty" which seems ... timely - and we have two great speakers. Open to everyone, hope you can make it!
Details and sign up here: https://www.meetup.com/openuk/events/306642326
@Mediagazer@mstdn.socialA new wave of publishers sign up for ProRata's revenue share program, bringing the total number of publishers to 500, including The Boston Globe and Vox Media (Sara Guaglione/Digiday)
https://digiday.com/media/boston-globe-f…
@geant@mstdn.socialUpcoming GÉANT infoshare - Part 2 🚀
🔐 Quantum KMS Architectures and Services
This session will explore the key aspects of Key Management Systems (KMS) in enabling secure, scalable Quantum Key Distribution. Gain insights on architecture, standardisation, and integration—from both research and industry voices.
🔗 Sign up here: https://…
@EmilyMoranBarwick@mastodon.socialNothing I’m trying to write is "flowing"...it's all laborious.
I'm encouraged by "Your labor isn’t a sign of defeat" from @… wherein she quotes Verlyn Klinkenborg:
"if you accept that writing is hard work, And that’s what it feels like when you’re writing, Then everything is as it should be. Your labor is…
@Tupp_ed@mastodon.ieTell everyone you know in the Netherlands to hurry up and sign.
https://eliitin-some.fi/@miiamustang/114495332170190839
@sean@scoat.esWe are closing in on #Studioworks Beta launch (finally 😴; I’ve barely done anything but work on this (and under-sleep) all year).
During the month-long beta period, we’ll be letting Founding Members (people who sign up before the beta) use the product before paid subscriptions start—they also get lifetime discounts. We don’t intend to offer free trials after this.
If you’re interested i…
@MAD_democracy@journa.hostAnn Telnaes resigned from WaPo when this cartoon was rejected.
She wrote, “...My job is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable. For the first time, my editor prevented me from doing that critical job.”
Join us May 29th via Zoom for a conversation with her.
Sign up: tiny.cc/Telnaes
@NFL@darktundra.xyzNFL news roundup: Texans sign former first-round CB Damon Arnette https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-friday-june-20
@k8s_cncf_nbg@social.kontrollapparat.de🚀 Kubernetes Meetup in Nuremberg! 🇩🇪
Join us on June 2nd for an evening of tech talks, networking, and community fun at the next CNCF Meetup!
🎤 Speakers:
🔹 Sarah Julia Kriesch – Docker vs Podman and the Universe
🔹 Philip Laine – Spegel: A Stateless OCI Registry Mirror
📍 Location: Coworking-Space Nürnberg
🕕 18:00: Doors open for networking
🕡 18:30: Talks begin
🔗 Sign up here:
@raiders@darktundra.xyzRaiders sign veteran linebacker, schedule visit with corner https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders/raiders-sign-veteran-linebacker-schedule-visit-with-corner-3383894/
@Xavier@infosec.exchangeHi –I'm attending No Kings's event, “NO KINGS Call for Veterans and Military Families” - sign up now to join me!
#NoKings
https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/8005
@rose@linuxrocks.onlineVancouver BC is having its own No Kings rally right down by the US consulate on Pender. There is little space down there, so it's a pretty terrible spot for a gathering - ideally, the street would have been closed, particularly as bumping a vehicle up a curb and into the crowd would be simple - we had a deadly instance of that just last month.
Ironically, we do have a king here.
@midtsveen@social.linux.pizzaTikTok is absolute brain rot—a toxic, data-harvesting black hole designed to zombify your mind. This is my firm self-reminder never to sign up for that corporate cesspool.
I’d rather be on the Fediverse, where I control my data, engage in genuine conversations, and avoid the manipulative algorithms that TikTok weaponizes to steal your attention and sanity.
No thanks, TikTok. I’m choosing freedom over digital decay.
@Treppenwitz@sfba.socialYou should #protest this Saturday. If ever there was a time to do it, it's now. Do it while you still can!
Making a sign is kind of fun the first time, but honestly the protests are tedious. So just show up. Bring a book. Stay near the edges. But show up!
It really can makea difference:
@NFL@darktundra.xyzNFL news roundup: Jets sign 'Thiccer Kicker' Harrison Mevis, waive Anders Carlson https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-wednesday-june-18
@MAD_democracy@journa.host📣 Thu, Jul 17 @ 7 PM ET: Join our Good Local News Panel—4 outlets thriving in a hostile environment. Learn how strong local journalism drives civic engagement. 🎥 Virtual/anywhere.
Free! Sign up now: #Press #Journalism #LocalNews
@tiotasram@kolektiva.socialFor various reasons I'm probably not going to be at any Saturday protests for long, but I'm thinking about buying & dropping off some supplies to support them:
- Bottled water and/or electrolyte drinks.
- Slats, posterboard, markers, and stapler to let people who show up without a sign make their own.
Anyone else got good ideas or planning on doing supply runs?
#Protests #NoKings
@phpugmrn@phpc.socialSylius Community: Let's Connect! Join us on June 26th in Mannheim for an evening of networking, learning, and fun with fellow Sylius enthusiasts.
Sign up here: https://www.meetup.com/phpug-rhein-neckar/events/305478305/
@NathanALV@social.linux.pizzathis is an odd #camera , wouldn't it be better an older one that doesn't require an internet connection and sign up to a #termsofservice you don't agree with? #Odysee
@arXiv_mathPR_bot@mastoxiv.pageThis https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.04620 has been replaced.
initial toot: https://mastoxiv.page/@arXiv_mat…
@midtsveen@social.linux.pizzaI had a bad day and made a mistake, but I chose to do the right thing and move forward.
Proud bisexual, gender-fluid, autistic anarchist committed to building a world based on mutual aid, solidarity, and freedom for all.
If you believe in challenging power and creating change from the ground up, let’s connect and let’s grow this movement together.
Now, here I am, feeling stronger and ready for better days ahead.
@cdarwin@c.imIf you want to show solidarity with Los Angeles, the best thing to do is organize protests against ICE tonight/tomorrow in your own cities.
Search the web for ICE rapid response networks in your own city / state and sign up. Help your neighbors.
https://bsky.app/profile/chadloder.bsk
@UP8@mastodon.socialStore cat at Riverwood on the Ithaca Commons -- I sat down on a bench and found the cat behind the next bench, it ran off when I took out my camera and camped at the entrance to the store until I left
#photo #photography
@leftsidestory@mstdn.social
@jolly@social.linux.pizzaIt’s a bad sign if you are in a work meeting and the presenter opens up a .xlsx file and gives a 5 minute instruction on how to zoom in on a teams screen share while they wait on their file to load.
@MAD_democracy@journa.hostLocal news matters: hear editors from four thriving outlets share how they’re innovating coverage, building trust, and boosting civic engagement. 📰💡
Thu, Jul 17 @ 7 PM ET. Sign up: https://www.mobilize.us/mediademocracyproject/event/795861/
@leftsidestory@mstdn.social @NFL@darktundra.xyzPackers' Jordan Love can't wait to square off against Steelers' Aaron Rodgers 'on different sides' https://www.nfl.com/news/packers-jordan-love-can-t-wait-to-square-off-against-steelers-aaron-rod…
@leftsidestory@mstdn.socialUrban Discoveries III 🏙️
都市发现 III 🏙️
📷 Nikon FE
🎞️Ilford FP4 Plus, expired 1994
buy me ☕️ ?/请我喝杯☕️？
#filmphotography
@leftsidestory@mstdn.socialUrban Discoveries III 🏙️
都市发现 III 🏙️
📷 Nikon FE
🎞️Ilford FP4 Plus, expired 1994
buy me ☕️ ?/请我喝杯☕️？
#filmphotography
