Common saying

think it’s fair to say that I cover many topics these days. “In relative terms,” I wrote last week, “pages that mention the SLAPPs are a drop in the ocean, maybe 100 out of 3,700 or less than 3%.”

If one also counts links from Daily Links, then it’s probably even lower than 3%.

Nothing would please me more than being able to focus 100% to the key topics, not the thugs who try to prevent me from covering them.

“If you can’t identify what makes your story unique and interesting, chances are nobody else will either.” gatech.edu

never blocked roads. I never participated in those sorts of actions. I did urge for boycotts, but I did not risk an arrest for it. My “weapon” is the pen. That is both legal and safe (for the most part).

The way I campaign (a sense of purpose for campaigners) is simple: I explain what I see. Sometimes I call for actions.

However, effective communication is key. I try to improve this. In my 40s, I still have a long way to go and to improve. I hope to still do it (even better) in my 70s.

The world needs more “pen warriors”. Even the writings alone can compel companies to change their behaviour.

Expect further abuse

his week we’re taking things “up a notch” and telling the story of how, two years ago, retaliation attempts (after I wrote about corruption and hate crimes) came to target our webhost. The series’ part so far:

There will be dozens more. Later I’ll cover swatting attempts as well (another series).

“Please make sure that each mention of crazy Matt [Garrett] connects him with Restricted Boot,” a reader has said. “For many it will be the first Techrights post which they read and it is thus essential to keep the connection visible. So that they understand WHY he is a problem And WHY Microsoft is keeping him alive.”

“Restricted Boot” being opposed is what started this whole mess.

That has aged well (the reasoning)

OUR years ago I made up my mind about leaving a 12-year employer because the managers had collectively broken a camel’s back with a “last straw” – the suggestion we should all get a “smart” phone and another rather major issue (fake address for the company, which I confronted the CEO about, only a day later).

It all added up and soon after I quit the CEO also left, along with several others. It was chaotic. I was trying to locate the post where I envisioned this outcome (me leaving to do better things). It took me about 4 minutes to find it because right after I had published it (July 2022) I immediately published about 7 more posts to hide it from colleagues. I didn’t want them to know I’d be leaving, as they might inform management in advance.

To reproduce some sentences: “Over the past few years I thought about part timing, as I’ve worked full time for nearly a decade already (maybe a full decade this summer) and I’ve been at the same employer for 11.5 years (milestone coming soon, some time this summer, August 12 being the exact date if I recall correctly).”

“I still wish to more extensively focus on freedom-fighting activism in the digital realm. It’s a lot more important, not from a “legacy” point of view; it’s just a lot more satisfying and personally rewarding than working for clients. It’s a community effort rather than a corporate objective.”

“This post isn’t a “Why I Left Sirius” post (or “Leaving the Job To Do Techrights Full Time”); I still need a job, I need to save money, and my wife does too. I’m not resigning. But I might have more free time.”

“But we both made a decision earlier this year; whatever the outcome, we need to focus on our sites, notably Tux Machines (just turned 18) and Techrights (turning 16 this year). Those sites are important for many reasons, to a lot of people. These people want to emancipate themselves from proprietary shackles, not working for proprietary software companies (or with proprietary tools) all day long.”

“Meanwhile, my workload associated with personal projects has increased to the point where I can hardly travel (too many activities require physical access inside the home). We still need to renovate the sites (upgrading things in the process), I want to sleep better, I need to become more active in and around IRC, and I wish to produce more articles and videos. I used to aim for a dozen a day, but when working full time it’s just too difficult to maintain that as a daily pace (as opposed to occasional “bursts” or “marathons”).”

“When I started writing in the non-personal sites, third-party sites, and this site (and in various other sites) I was still a student. Then, I was partly employed. Over the past decade it has been full time work, so a lot of potential (e.g. to write) was not fulfilled. I left social control media almost 5 months ago, freeing up a lot of time. The next stage might be reducing the number of hours per week that I work. Maybe a long overdue change. Maybe not even that… the decision is not purely mine.”

It’s under attack

his year it seems incredibly obvious that democracy is under attack in the UK. It’s attacked by corrupt foreigners who fund racists for the purpose of dismantling the system. MElon tries to capture the media/voice (x.com) and other “bros” capture political parties.

At the same time the EPO approves for itself to become like a monarchy and it’s hard to see Cheeto in the US leaving in White House without violence (like in 2021). He already meddles to interfere with midterm elections.

We all need to do something to combat this trajectory.

The thing we wish to do all the time, not death threats

oday I resumed the EPO series, at long last. This is the first part since July. It is guaranteed to have a positive impact, a push in favour of European democracy, not dictatorship.

I’ve meanwhile noticed that since last Sunday (gemini.)techrights.org has served close to half a million requests, but I am sure (without checking) most of these are bots.

Tomorrow we’ll keep busy publishing more than today (we stay home more). Rianne and I plan to go feed animals at the park (squirrels too, not only birds) near the stadium. We are trying to digest the news about the Manchester City court battles. Some of that resembles things we’ve long studied.

Time to resume

t’s time.

The EPO series will resume today. Since summer I’ve published 36 parts and they have had a positive impact. They expose corruption. They help people pursue justice.

Part 37 will come out later today.

Previous Parts: