Excavations at the village of Sayburç in southeast Turkey have revealed one of the earliest known human narratives in 11,000-year-old stone carvings. Essentially, the narrative can be seen as an ancient comic strip or graphic novel panel carved on a stone bench. #Archaeology 1/
Wishing everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas. The wonderful Sarah Millican started #JoinIn for everyone who is alone or finds today difficult. So if today is hard for you for whatever reason, use the hashtag and find people to chat to.
Merry Christmas to all. Around 8pm last night, Governor Greg Abbott had 50 migrants dropped off at the Naval Observatory in DC in sub-freezing temperatures. I ask you all to consider sending a Christmas Day donation to the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, which found shelter for these people, and has been organizing for months to provide aid to the migrants being trafficked by red-state governors. GoFundme here: https://gofund.me/7e47d5df
I don't normally get many (any) presents for Christmas, which is fine. I don't need anything. And I would rather my family spend money doing things together. But a friend sent me this and it is so wonderful. I can't wait to build it. It is something I thought was neat, but probably never would have bought for myself.
@isaacs @dalias @paulomalley Here is the thing about “outrage” either you care about the angry people or you don’t. I don’t care if white supremacists are going off about me- I’d never pull back beyond muting them to take away the temptation to react. (and report if I think they are likely to target others) But, if people I care about are mad I have work to do. I’ve caused harm or a misunderstanding. Understand the issue, join the conversation.
New project idea: tear open a spare transit card and fit the RFID contents into a toy train, like this one that Vancouver's transit agency is selling.
Southern New Hampshire doesn't have snow like it did a few years ago at this time, as it shows in this photo covering these crabapples...It certainly is super cold though! It was 13 degrees this morning. I wish for warmth for all. #snow #cold #winter #joinin #Xmas #christmas #photo #photography #crabapple #NH #newhampshire #NewEngland #peace #warmth #happiness #tranquility #harmony #zen
Fedfree is live! https://fedfree.org/
Fedfree is a website aimed at teaching people how to run their own servers, of various kinds, on libre operating systems e.g. Linux and BSD. It aims to do this, using libre software exclusively, teaching people about the importance of libre software and hardware as it pertains to freedom; the right to use, study, adapt, share. The right to read. Universal access to knowledge… education. Education is the goal.
One tutorial so far, but more are coming.
The term "Merry Christmas" is actually a corruption of the name Murray Crimmins, a London bus driver from the 1920s who had a habit of tipping his cap and saying his name to every passenger who boarded his bus.
His son, also Murray Crimmins, continued the practice through the mid 1950s, but he died childless, and the origins of the tradition were largely forgotten.
The James Webb Space Telescope was launched last Christmas Day.
In the year since then, it has captured — in stunning detail — stars, planets and galaxies that were previously unobservable.
https://t.co/u7eCnM1InT
Really useful legal guide from the folks at the EFF for people running fediverse servers:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/12/user-generated-content-and-fediverse-legal-primer
(disclosure: I advised them on this work a bit)
A consciousness somehow associated with matter.
Posting about culture, philosophy, politics, AI Art Tools, NaNoWriMo, Software Development occasionally, the relationship of consciousness to matter.
Degrees in Philosophy and Computer Science, once had a US TS/SCI(redacted) clearance, radical-for-the-US politics, ex-Libertarian, zen-buddhist-pantheist-atheist.
Google employee, but I do not speak for Google in any way.
If your profile tells me nothing about you, it's less likely I'll follow you (back).
Header: abstract smoky patterns
pfp: Adorable weird piglet / delirium cultist... thing. In a hoodie.