Mastodawn

“I wanted the blue checkmark on LinkedIn. The one that says “this person is real.” In a sea of fake recruiters, bot accounts, and AI-generated headshots, it seemed like a smart thing to do.

So I tapped “verify.” I scanned my passport. I took a selfie. Three minutes later — done. Badge acquired. I felt a tiny dopamine hit of legitimacy.

Then I did what apparently nobody does. I went and read the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not LinkedIn’s. The other company’s”

https://thelocalstack.eu/posts/linkedin-identity-verification-privacy/

Andy Kotlarz Feb 18

Now watching the 1988 classic movie, Mississippi Burning with Gene Hackman.

Andy Kotlarz Feb 16

Ada Palmer Feb 16

Two decades after a small Duke breast cancer vaccine trial, every participant is still alive — a rare outcome for metastatic disease. When researchers looked closer, they found the women’s immune systems still carried “memory” cells that recognised the cancer. Science Daily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260128075345.htm
#ShareGoodNewsToo

A 20-year-old cancer vaccine may hold the key to long-term survival

Two decades after a breast cancer vaccine trial, every participant is still alive—an astonishing result for metastatic disease. Scientists found their immune systems retained long-lasting memory cells primed to recognize cancer. By enhancing a key immune signal called CD27, researchers dramatically improved tumor elimination in lab studies. The findings suggest cancer vaccines may have been missing a crucial ingredient all along.

ScienceDaily

Andy Kotlarz Feb 15

Show thread

Negative12DollarBill Feb 15

@ana Setting a "deleted = 1" column in the database

Show thread

Andy Kotlarz Feb 15

@SpencerWolfe
Here's what I do - I buy second-hand ex-corporate lease models from computer repair shops. It means the models are the pro versions of the cheap versions. Means better build and higher spec - they last longer and are more reliable. And about the same cost as the cheapo version. Because they are ex-lease means that anything that would fail has already done so, and has been repaired. Currently got an HP ProBook - very satisfied. Was about $500 USD. Installed Ubuntu.

Show thread

Andy Kotlarz Feb 14

@weirdestate
OK - now this is the thing that bothered me about daleks - right from watching the first series of Doctor Who in 1963 - was that with all their advanced technology the daleks couldn't come up with a better design for a hand - a tool for manipulating objects - than a sink plunger . . .

Show thread

Andy Kotlarz Feb 14

@politico @defense-politico
OK, Mr. Ambassador, which hat are you wearing now?

Andy Kotlarz Feb 14

@NilaJones @Teri_Kanefield
Actually, No. Xenophobia is a survival trait - it helped people to survive in an anarchic and lawless world. However, this xenophobia is covered by layers of civilization in most people living in a secure society. But it is nearer the surface in SOME humans, particularly those with low self-esteem, or living in precarious circumstances, and is easily evoked by unscrupulous leaders.

Andy Kotlarz Feb 14

Show thread

Teri Kanefield Feb 14

I could see he was curious, but I knew he had no interest in lengthy history lessons, so I said, “I can do it in 15 minutes. I can give you a 15-minute history lesson that will explain ICE and our current politics.”

“Can I use a timer?” he asked.

I said certainly.

I prepared the lesson, and my nephew started the timer.

For what I told him, click here: https://terikanefield.com/let-my-people-in/

Let My People In: The Story of Immigration in the U.S. - Teri Kanefield

My sixteen-year-old Chilean nephew was curious about what’s going on with ICE. In Chile, the word “conservative” is associated with capitalism, and the word “liberal” is associated with communism. He observed that Donald Trump says he’s a capitalist but doesn’t act like one. I told him things are different here and labels have different meanings because […]

Teri Kanefield

Show thread

Andy Kotlarz Feb 14

@politico
And the GOP?
They will be consigned to the dustbin of history, and will be in good company - with Hitler's nazis, Mussolini, Stalin, and, of course, Vladimir Putin.