Introduction
This is my #introduction to the Fediverse. My name is Levi, I am a #nerd.
I spend most of my time trying to find ways to improve life through the application of technology. I am an avid #SelfHosting advocate and have a fairly extensive #homelab setup.
More recently, I have been exploring ways to reduce my reliance on #BigTech and to embrace more #decentralized tools.
If you want to follow the professional side of these endeavors, check out Nerd Butler where I continue to evolve tools and techniques for people and businesses to do more with their technology and wrestle back control of the tools and services that affect our lives every day.
I spend most of my time trying to find ways to improve life through the application of technology. I am an avid #SelfHosting advocate and have a fairly extensive #homelab setup.
More recently, I have been exploring ways to reduce my reliance on #BigTech and to embrace more #decentralized tools.
If you want to follow the professional side of these endeavors, check out Nerd Butler where I continue to evolve tools and techniques for people and businesses to do more with their technology and wrestle back control of the tools and services that affect our lives every day.
Blueberry likes this.
Unsurprisingly, #LinkedIn is the last large #social media platform I am engaging with. Still plenty of value there for me. It makes me think that the #toxicsocial nature of platforms occurs when they get too large with no specific purpose or context. A large community can work if there is agreement on social norms. The norms of LinkedIn are close to the norms of a corporate workplace. It keeps guardrails on interactions in a way that purely "social" platforms can't replicate.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
In the latest Vergecast, they joked about The Verge mastodon instance and that somebody will just do it
I guess, I am that software developer with a vengeance: https://theverge.space
#TheVerge #mastodon
I guess, I am that software developer with a vengeance: https://theverge.space
#TheVerge #mastodon
This entry was edited (2 weeks ago)
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On related note, https://glitch.com is *awesome* for ActivityPub/Mastodon hacking /cc @anildash
Glitch: The friendly community where everyone builds the web
Simple, powerful, free tools to create and use millions of apps.glitch.com
This entry was edited (2 weeks ago)
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
ok so i just wanna say: Buster Keaton would have RULED TikTok.
- silent comedy meant to be accompanied by music
- clever use of editing and backgrounds (see fig. 1)
- dangerous stunts people would totally try to copy
thanks for coming to my TED talk 🐘
- silent comedy meant to be accompanied by music
- clever use of editing and backgrounds (see fig. 1)
- dangerous stunts people would totally try to copy
thanks for coming to my TED talk 🐘
Levi Sauerbrei likes this.
wobweger :verified: reshared this.
my high school history teacher once showed us a bunch of buster keaton films and for the first 30 seconds we were like "this is gonna be so dusty and lame" and by the end we were rolling in the aisles
@prehensile my introduction to him was the National Film Board of canada classic, The Railrodder. i seem to remember it being his only colour film? it has sound, but he never speaks.
@prehensile Silent comedy in general holds up better than anyone expects, but Keaton in particular is timeless. I think it’s to do with his laser focus on the visual gag.
Chaplin was great too, but his sensibility was more Victorian so his work tended to tilt towards melodrama, which as a genre declined in popularity 100 years ago and never really came back again.
Keaton feels more modern because he doesn’t care about the plot. It’s just there to provide scaffolding for him to construct gags around. You don’t feel him straining to make you cry the way you can with Chaplin; he just presents you with these exquisite little puzzle boxes and dares you to figure out how he built them.
Chaplin was great too, but his sensibility was more Victorian so his work tended to tilt towards melodrama, which as a genre declined in popularity 100 years ago and never really came back again.
Keaton feels more modern because he doesn’t care about the plot. It’s just there to provide scaffolding for him to construct gags around. You don’t feel him straining to make you cry the way you can with Chaplin; he just presents you with these exquisite little puzzle boxes and dares you to figure out how he built them.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
There are three main timelines on here:
🏠 Home - Posts from people you follow, plus posts featuring hashtags you follow
👥 Local - Public posts from people on your server
🌎 Federated - Public posts from people on any server
On the official Mastodon app, Local is known as "Community" and can be accessed by clicking the magnifying glass 🔍 and scrolling across to the Community tab.
There are no algorithms hiding or moving stuff. You see all the posts for each feed in chronological order.
🏠 Home - Posts from people you follow, plus posts featuring hashtags you follow
👥 Local - Public posts from people on your server
🌎 Federated - Public posts from people on any server
On the official Mastodon app, Local is known as "Community" and can be accessed by clicking the magnifying glass 🔍 and scrolling across to the Community tab.
There are no algorithms hiding or moving stuff. You see all the posts for each feed in chronological order.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
I think of the timelines as Friends, Neighbors, and Neighbors’ Friends respectively (home, local, federated).
Friends’ Neighbors come through when friends boost them.
Friends’ Neighbors come through when friends boost them.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
First edition of the Building the Open Home newsletter for 2023 has landed! 💌
https://building.open-home.io/open-home-approval-factor/
https://building.open-home.io/open-home-approval-factor/
Open Home Approval Factor
Happy 2023! 🥂 It's a new year, it has only just started and the contributors are busy. It's going to be a great year for the Open Home. We're working on Matter, Voice, and a revamp of the Home Assistant UI.Paulus Schoutsen (Building the Open Home)
Levi Sauerbrei likes this.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
I have not read one of your newsletters before, but the "Home Approval Factor" section is exceptional. Thank you for that and for continuing to work on building an inclusive community. It is rare to see any kind of organization bring public attention to anything that doesn't paint it in the shiniest possible terms. Planning to use your newsletter as an example when I am talking with people about online communities.
balloob likes this.
Thanks so much for this. The old WAF term always felt anachronistic in how dismissive it felt. It is a good change if a bit overdue and I'm glad to see my favorite OSS project pushing it!
Levi Sauerbrei likes this.
Whether you care about open source home automation or not, you should read the section of this newsletter entitled "Home Approval Factor" What a great job of addressing sometimes thorny issues in an online community. Done here with understanding and grace. Big props to @Home Assistant
I have not read one of your newsletters before, but the "Home Approval Factor" section is exceptional. Thank you for that and for continuing to work on building an inclusive community. It is rare to see any kind of organization bring public attention to anything that doesn't paint it in the shiniest possible terms. Planning to use your newsletter as an example when I am talking with people about online communities.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Happy users make us proud of the work the #Nextcloud community does every day!
“Best open source software I ever worked with”
“This product is a MUST for anybody who cares about data security and data sovereignty”
Favorite on Capterra, thank you! 😍
https://www.capterra.com/p/161572/Nextcloud/reviews/
“Best open source software I ever worked with”
“This product is a MUST for anybody who cares about data security and data sovereignty”
Favorite on Capterra, thank you! 😍
https://www.capterra.com/p/161572/Nextcloud/reviews/
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Git, grub, porn, and stub
For ev'ry vice there is a hub
For ev'ry vice there is a hub
2 people like this
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i couldn't figure out how to load the image from a url but this is the webpage and it is better because there is more contextual information https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/hogarth-gin-lane-t01799
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
During his 50-year career drawing Peanuts, Charles Schulz avoided strips that touched on political issues. He made a notable exception when it came to book banning with a series that started on October 23, 1972, more than 50 years ago. You can read all 15 strips through this link. Enjoy!
https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1972/10/23
#LoveForTexas #DefeatTedCruz
https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1972/10/23
#LoveForTexas #DefeatTedCruz
4 people reshared this
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Another in the series of "I bet you didn't know Nichelle Nichols did this!" In the late 1970s, Nichelle worked with NASA on minority recruitment for the space program. The first astronaut class after NASA put out the film below included people who would go on to become the first African-American and first American woman in space! 
🚀
#NASA #MLKDay2023 #RIPNichelleNichols #StarTrek
Watch "Nichelle Nichols - NASA Recruitment Film (1977)" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Lca9_EDMcX0
🚀#NASA #MLKDay2023 #RIPNichelleNichols #StarTrek
Watch "Nichelle Nichols - NASA Recruitment Film (1977)" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Lca9_EDMcX0
Nichelle Nichols - NASA Recruitment Film (1977)
Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) want you to work on the Space Shuttle Enterprise in this government produced film from 1977.Feel free to Like/Comment/Sub...YouTube
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
My latest newsletter: Maine's Bangor Daily News prints a heavily-edited version of #MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Here's what they left out: https://www.readtpa.com/p/mlk-i-have-a-dream-speech-edit?sd=pf
Here's what they left out: https://www.readtpa.com/p/mlk-i-have-a-dream-speech-edit?sd=pf
Newspaper Prints Heavily-Edited, Sanitized Version of MLK's "I Have a Dream" Speech
And you wonder why so many people believe the speech's key takeaway is that we should all just judge people by "the content of their character," rather than address the specific concerns laid out.Parker Molloy (The Present Age)
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Jeff Jarvis reshared this.
Additionally...
Here's what that paper ran on the day of King's speech...
https://www.readtpa.com/p/mlk-i-have-a-dream-speech-edit
Here's what that paper ran on the day of King's speech...
https://www.readtpa.com/p/mlk-i-have-a-dream-speech-edit
Newspaper Prints Heavily-Edited, Sanitized Version of MLK's "I Have a Dream" Speech
And you wonder why so many people believe the speech's key takeaway is that we should all just judge people by "the content of their character," rather than address the specific concerns laid out.Parker Molloy (The Present Age)
William Shotts reshared this.
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I think it's pretty amusing how so many schools are blocking TikTok and AI sites and such from their own networks, as if the students didn't have wireless data plans on their own phones.
This entry was edited (2 weeks ago)
2 people reshared this
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Numbers don’t lie
Levi Sauerbrei likes this.
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A few observations re: the "building an audience v building a community" debate, esp as regards writers/artists/creators who are Twitter escapees: attempting to build an audience in this age of profound advertising fatigue is almost useless. Build community. Don't get hung up on overnight success, which is both rare and temporary. Instead, stick with the people who stick with you. It takes years with an s! But it's worth it.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
In early 2023, #Mozilla will stand up and test a publicly accessible instance in the #Fediverse at Mozilla.Social.
More info here: https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/mozilla-launch-fediverse-instance-social-media-alternative/
More info here: https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/mozilla-launch-fediverse-instance-social-media-alternative/
Mozilla to explore healthy social media alternative
In early 2023, Mozilla will stand up and test a publicly accessible instance in the Fediverse at Mozilla.Social.Steve Teixeira (The Mozilla Blog)
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
me, rekt, standing in the smoking ruins of the point i was trying to make as i slowly shrink and transform into a corncob: “deep lesson in this”
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Why are ethics questions always like:
"is it ethical to steal bread to feed your starving family?"
And not:
"is it ethical to sell bread when families are starving?"
"is it ethical to steal bread to feed your starving family?"
And not:
"is it ethical to sell bread when families are starving?"
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
I agree with most of this list (10 best #sci-fi books of all time). But let's debate a bit. I am baffled as to why Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (aka the #Bladerunner book) is always included to the exclusion of #Neuromancer or Snow Crash.
I find Phillip K. Dick's books to be slow and overly symbolic. But I'd love to hear from others what I am missing. #science-fiction
https://www.werd.com/best-science-fiction-books/
I find Phillip K. Dick's books to be slow and overly symbolic. But I'd love to hear from others what I am missing. #science-fiction
https://www.werd.com/best-science-fiction-books/
The 10 Best Science Fiction Books of All Time | WERD
Science fiction has always enchanted and delighted me. Since the day I was first sucked into the “sword and science” adventures of John Carter (by E.R.https://www.werd.com/author/andrewpeloquin/#author (WERD. Gear, Gadgets & Gift Ideas for Men)
This entry was edited (3 weeks ago)
Lorraine Lee likes this.
Looking at this site, I feel like I'm staring into the eyes of a snake. I am fascinated, terrified, and drawn to it all at the same time. I know I shouldn't sign up. For many, many reasons. I also know that by next weekend, I am gonna push that button. #chatgpt #replika #AI
https://replika.com/
https://replika.com/
Replika
Always here to listen and talk. Always on your side. Join the millions growing with their AI friends now!replika.com
Levi Sauerbrei reshared this.
Oh wow. I know there have been a ton of debates and discussion about quote tweet functionality and whether it's good or bad (I'm on the "I think it would be good" side), @hildabast has put together a VERY detailed review of all research on the topic. Her take based on that: it is not a major vector of abuse, as some claim. https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2023/01/12/quote-tweeting-over-30-studies-dispel-some-myths/
Quote Tweeting: Over 30 Studies Dispel Some Myths - Absolutely Maybe
The first myth to dispense with: That there’s almost no research on quote tweets! I added to this misconception with my December…Hilda Bastian (Absolutely Maybe)
4 people reshared this
![That final point – offering the reward of additional engagement – isn’t just about some people who want to “perform to the gallery” and/or get people riled up. Positive feedback might encourage quite a few people to keep going in the direction of more feedback.
Twitter released a fragment of data that addresses this question [32]. When they tested a prompt to people to add a quote before retweeting, they found that: “This change introduced some friction, and gave people an extra moment to consider why and what they were adding to the conversation.” The overall number of retweets and QTs decreased by 20%, with a small shift towards QTs within that (a 26% increase in QTs and a 23% decrease in retweets).](https://media.mastodon.lol/media_attachments/files/109/683/954/471/114/289/original/16aa8bfa2a7813a4.png "That final point – offering the reward of additional engagement – isn’t just about some people who want to “perform to the gallery” and/or get people riled up. Positive feedback might encourage quite a few people to keep going in the direction of more feedback.
Twitter released a fragment of data that addresses this question [32]. When they tested a prompt to people to add a quote before retweeting, they found that: “This change introduced some friction, and gave people an extra moment to consider why and what they were adding to the conversation.” The overall number of retweets and QTs decreased by 20%, with a small shift towards QTs within that (a 26% increase in QTs and a 23% decrease in retweets).")
This is useful context, and I personally agree that I would like QTs to be available.
But I've come to understand that the *framing* of this question is different on Mastodon than elsewhere - less "Should everyone be allowed to QT everything?", more "People should have control over *who* can QT them".
It's traditionally been viewed as entirely about tech and society. Here, it's about *consent*. IMO, that's a healthy take on the idea...
But I've come to understand that the *framing* of this question is different on Mastodon than elsewhere - less "Should everyone be allowed to QT everything?", more "People should have control over *who* can QT them".
It's traditionally been viewed as entirely about tech and society. Here, it's about *consent*. IMO, that's a healthy take on the idea...
Chris Trottier
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