I'm a bike commuter but it was nice, today, to go for a long ride with no destination in the plans. Just riding around and enjoying everything around me.
Remote
Chad McCullough
@cmccullough@polymaths.social
Bikes, Safe Streets, and Public Transport advocate | Bike Commuter | Socialist | Small Web advocate | Debian Linux and Unix user of 30+ years | Privacy and Security advocate | Vegan | Cars ruin everything | No AI | Old Punk Rock fan | ☭
#Linux #Emacs #FreeBSD #Privacy #Security #HTML #Bikes #BikeCommuting #PublicTransport #Socialism #Marxism
0 Followers
0 Following
50 Posts
Joined April 29, 2025
Signal:
cm1967.94
Linux:
Debian
BSD:
FreeBSD
Personal Site (in the works):
Replying to
@thepurpleoctopus@lgbtqia.space Sadly, I just found that Vivaldi is also actively posting on Twitter. I've reached out to them to ask why.
Hey, all! I've moved to a new instance and hope you'll all follow me over there. I'm going to delete this account in a week or so. I wasn't able to move my account and had to export/import my following list. If you got a follow request from me 5 or 6 days ago, that's me!
https://polymaths.social/@cmccullough/statuses/01KZ17JSGQZXNM332M5A0WW8TQ
Replying to
@subtl@aus.social @MisterSmith@mastodon.social Yeah, the Brave browser is a no-go for me because of the founder's personal feelings towards gay marriage. He helped fund a bill in California that would ban it. Also, the crypto and AI usage are a problem. There are other reasons, as well, and I'll have to spend some time looking up the articles on all of this.
Replying to
@retrimental@mastodon.social Gnome does seem to be a bit heavier than Plasma. Plasma is much more customizable than Gnome but both are what they are by design.
@kde@floss.social
Replying to
@darkuncle@infosec.exchange Nice! Thanks for sharing. I've been a Linux user for 30+ years, with my first distro being Slackware. I used FreeBSD on and off for a few years, but I think it might become my main OS. Things have really changed. I like what they are doing for the desktop and laptops.
@nixCraft@mastodon.social
Replying to
As a test, I decide to disable my ad blocker for one of my favorite Linux and Open Source news sites. Wow! Most of the page is covered in ads. I knew that there might be one or two but how can anyone visit a site like this without an ad blocker? I understand the site owner needs to pay the bills, but maybe put up a donation link or something instead of all the ads? This is all very off-putting.
#adblocker #ads
Folks, don't use the Brave web browser. I really don't want to go into all the reasons why you shouldn't use it because there are just so many reasons. Do a bit of research before making the move.
#bravebrowser #webbrowser
The shitty way that Torvalds made this statement about AI use in the Linux kernel is fucking infuriating. If you want those of us against AI to leave, then I'll leave. I've been moving closer and closer to BSD over the past few months and this statement is speeding up that process.
I've been running Linux for more than 30 years and dammit, now I'm fucking pissed! I fucking hate AI now more than ever. If you're okay with the terrible ethics of AI, then use it. Just stop telling me that I should be or I'll be left behind. Fucking leave me behind. I don't care!
#noai #fuckai
https://mastodon.social/@nixCraft/116929287711031596
Replying to
@AmbianceAsunder@infosec.exchange I didn't feel the need to explain because there are articles and blog posts all over the internet as to why it's a shit choice. And lots of posts here in the fediverse, too. First and foremost, the founder is a homophobic piece of shit. He spent a lot of money in support of making gay marriage illegal. Next, their use and support of cyrpto. Third, their use of AI. I really don't need to go any further. If folks are okay with all of this, then by all means, use the browser.
I've been running Linux for more than 30 years and I, of course, LOVE Open Source Software. What I'm sick of, however, is people in the Linux and Open Source community telling me to run Firefox instead of Vivaldi because Vivaldi isn't 100% Open Source. You know what Vivaldi and their team aren't? They aren't supporters of fascism by rejoining Twitter like Firefox just did.
So, please, shut up about Firefox.
This is a great thread started by @Tutanota@mastodon.social on what apps to use for privacy. Lots of good comments.
#privacy #security
https://mastodon.social/@Tutanota/116945549260653280
Replying to
Anyone running or part of a Friendica instance? If so, how do you like the experience? I've been reading up on the project and it looks interesting.
I've been running Linux since 1993 and to this day, I'm still learning. It's what I love so much about running Linux and FOSS. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be stuck running only a proprietary OS or apps.
I've also been running FreeBSD on and off for years, but that's about to change to running FreeBSD daily. Not replacing Linux, but running it along with Linux.
Sorry, just a simple appreciation post for FOSS, all the projects, and most importantly, all of the folks who devote their time to developing this wonderful software.
#foss #linux #freesoftware #bsd #freebsd
Replying to
@retrimental@mastodon.social I'm actually an Xfce user. BIG difference from Plasma. 😂
@kde@floss.social
Replying to
I did a search for Linux distributions that are not actively using AI and DuckDuckGo gave me only links to articles and Linux distributions that are using AI or are built for use with AI. Zero results for what I was asking for. Search is absolutely dead.
Replying to
@thejessiekirk@ohai.social True. I just don't have the energy. I went to college 40 years ago. 😂
No, I get what you're saying and that might be the best way. We have a local community college that should be somewhat affordable for a few classes.
Replying to
@BernieSanders@mastox.eu As long as Democrats and Republicans are running this country, we'll never see the change we need. They're more concerned about their corporate donors than the people who elect them to office.
Replying to
@David@setouchi.social They think this is what's going to make us look like the bad guys?
At this point, it's who has the shittier AI policy. Sure, there are a few Linux distributions that are staunchly anti-AI, and I appreciate them so much, but the kernel is tainted (Thanks, Torvalds). And in my research, I'm finding most BSDs are tainted, as well, with some form of AI crap. If the Debian project votes to go AI, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'll probably go with one of the Linux distributions that are staunchly anti-AI and doing everything they can to avoid it (I see you, @elementary@mastodon.social ❤️).
I fucking hate AI so much. It's ruined everything that I have loved about using Linux and Open Source software for the past 30+ years. And what's worse is that the people and/or projects using AI proudly announce that they are using it. I'm sick of all of it.
#noai #fuckai #ai
Replying to
Replying to
@theogrin@chaosfem.tw Exactly! The founder is a piece of shit for so many reasons. I don't care how good the tech is (and I'm not even sure it's all the good), if the founder is an asshole, I don't use the tech.
So, I've been wanting to learn a second language in an official way. I say official, because I can read and understand German but only because I used to work for a German-based company and my co-workers would always email me in German. I still struggle to speak it, though. I think I now want to learn Spanish, but in a more official way. I'm just not sure what the best "official" way is. Now that I'm almost 60 years old, I'm not sure I really want to take a college class on the subject. There must be another way, right?
#spanish #language
New Open Source journey, new learning opportunities.
I'm trying to look at the positives of moving on from Linux if it comes to that. And sadly, I think it might come to that.
I have such fond memories of Mandrake Linux.
Sorry, after getting all bent-out-of-shape from the shit comment that Torvalds made the other day, I'm now looking back on the joy that I found in Linux all those years ago, but also worrying about its future.
Linux was/is a huge part of my life for more than 30 years, but it might be time to move one and that makes me rather sad, if I'm being honest.
Well, shocker! I updated Firefox and look what got disabled:
Replying to
@ajb@fosstodon.org FreeBSD is caring about personal computing now. They have been working on the desktop and the laptop project is bringing good things to FreeBSD and to folks who want to use it as their daily OS.
@hankg
If you have ever successfully moved your GoToSocial profile (followers, following, etc.) to a Mastodon instance, I would love to know how you got it to work. I'm having to import my following list to my new Mastodon instance because nothing worked the way the docs said it should, and then just hope for the best that folks will follow me back.