RE: https://mastodon.social/@JenMsft/116306515557926926

For those wondering why this has always been a point of contention for us internally is because under specific circumstances it can lead to a privacy leak.

Apps in low-ish IL or have capability enforcement need to assert that they need to know user information like username or email address. We want to do our best to protect that info. On consumer devices this is especially critical to protect so if your profile path is firstlast87 there's a good chance that's your email and all you need is to guess the dozen or so common domains and now your email is leaked.

That's why we obscure the profile folder path in cases that don't require 20 years of back compat (enterprise join scenarios).

It was never a perfect solution because balancing user privacy and practical usability for a billion odd users is...complicated...but it did act as a useful speedbump.

We're in yet another oil shock. It will produce yet another inflation crisis. Another recession is likely.

It's a great time to remember that actually...the future is electric!

We need to invest in Canadian security, stability, and energy independence.

Renewable energy is the cheapest, safest and most resilient way to power our economy.

Nobody ever invaded a country for its wind or sunlight.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-canada-must-remember-that-the-future-is-electricity-not-fossil-fuels/

#cdnpoli #NDP #renewableenergy

Whoa, that escalated quickly. This just got sent out by the press folks at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC says it has decided that all foreign-made consumer-grade Internet routers are henceforth prohibited from receiving FCC authorization and are therefore prohibited from being imported for use or sale in the United States.

"Update Follows Determination by Executive Branch Agencies that Consumer-Grade Routers Produced in Foreign Countries Threaten National Security

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2026—Today, the Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries. Routers are the boxes in every home that connect computers, phones, and smart devices to the internet. This followed a determination by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise that such routers “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.”

"The Executive Branch determination noted that foreign-produced routers (1) introduce “a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense” and (2) pose “a severe cybersecurity risk that could be leveraged to immediately and severely disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure and directly harm U.S. persons.”

"This action does not affect any previously-purchased consumer-grade routers. Consumers can continue to use any router they have already lawfully purchased or acquired."

"Producers of consumer-grade routers that receive Conditional Approval from DoW or DHS can continue to receive FCC equipment authorizations. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit applications to [email protected]."

Not sure how many consumer-grade routers will be left for sale if it really is a ban on approvals for any foreign-made consumer routers like they said, and not just a bunch of already restricted Chinese makers like Huawei and ZTE.

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers

FCC's "covered list" of "thou shalt not entities": https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist

This is an important read about commitment and identity with respect to the work you do. Although not everyone will have underlying illnesses the fallout can be as severe.

Looking back at my academic career I see many parallels in the "costs" mentioned:

- sold my twenties to institutes/labs
- traveled too much
- gave too much of myself away (for free)
- strain on mental health

https://kennethreitz.org/essays/2026-03-18-open_source_gave_me_everything_until_i_had_nothing_left_to_give

#academicchatter #academia