Betazed
therealbetazed.bsky.social
Betazed
@therealbetazed.bsky.social
IT professional, computer enthusiast, sci-fi and fantasy aficionado, music lover, metalhead.
I often have to remind myself of this exchange from Lord of the Rings along with Gandalf's advice to Frodo that we have to decide what we do with the time that is given to us.
Goodnight friends ♥️ Our hearts are with all of us at HHS who receive bad news tomorrow. And all those at health departments across the country who received bad news this week. Call us cheesy, but Lord of the Rings is on our minds.
March 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
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Please read, especially if you are thinking of travelling to America for WorldCon
Been following this today, and I definitely won't go to a US convention now.

ICE thinks helping your host do chores in return for free accommodation = work needing a work visa. Doing panels, drinking in bars to network isn't paid either. More trouble than it's worth.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Dad of detained US tourist urges care on visa requirements
Becky Burke, 28, has spent 10 days in a facility in Washington State and is desperate to come home.
www.bbc.com
March 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
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Its the State of the Union tonight? Well that should be short no?

It’s shit. The State of the Union is shit.
March 5, 2025 at 1:09 AM
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Starry Owl ⭐
March 2, 2025 at 4:37 PM
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“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bring your energy, your excitement, and your passion into the world - because enthusiasm is contagious. 🧡

#enthusiasm #kindness #positivity

Picture by Katie Abey
March 3, 2025 at 7:55 AM
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March 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
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Seriously, creative folks: Don't be afraid to let people know your stuff is out there for them, or worry that "now is not the time for that." People are stressed and freaked out and looking for the things that will give them a moment of rest and joy. It is EXACTLY the time for what we do. Tell them.
February 13, 2025 at 6:23 PM
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Don’t just say DEI as if it’s a bad word. Spell it out.

Say diversity, which is the lifeblood of American society & culture & innovation.

Say equity, which a just society should pursue.

Say inclusion, because decent people believe in increasing belonging, not isolating people who are different.
February 9, 2025 at 2:10 PM
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SCOOP: A US Treasury threat intelligence analysis has designated DOGE staff an ‘insider threat'. An internal email reviewed by WIRED calls DOGE staff's access to federal payments systems “the single biggest insider threat risk the Bureau of the Fiscal Service has ever faced.”
A US Treasury Threat Intelligence Analysis Designates DOGE Staff as ‘Insider Threat’
An internal email reviewed by WIRED calls DOGE staff's access to federal payments systems “the single biggest insider threat risk the Bureau of the Fiscal Service has ever faced.”
wrd.cm
February 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
See also this Mastodon thread by Brian Krebs of Krebs on Security: mastodon.sdf.org/@briankrebs@...
A teen DOGE staffer recently given access to government systems worked at a startup known for hiring convicted hackers. Someone using a Telegram handle associated with him also solicited a cyberattack-for-hire service in 2022. All raising questions about his vetting. www.wired.com/story/edward...
DOGE Teen Owns ‘Tesla.Sexy LLC’ and Worked at Startup That Has Hired Convicted Hackers
Experts question whether Edward Coristine, a DOGE staffer who has gone by “Big Balls” online, would pass the background check typically required for access to sensitive US government systems.
www.wired.com
February 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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I'd like to be buoyed by this news, but Elon's group has been at work at this for a week now. Any damage is already done.
February 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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There is nothing illegal about naming inexperienced people currently accessing sensitive government data at the behest of Elon Musk.

They are:
Akash Bobba
Edward Coristine
Luke Farritor
Gautier Cole Killian
Gavin Kliger
Ethan Shaotran

This is a major security breach.

SPREAD
February 4, 2025 at 12:26 AM
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This is the dumbest and darkest timeline. #StarTrek
February 2, 2025 at 5:58 PM
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This is what the government did with 120K+ Japanese Americans in 1942.

I know. I was there in those camps.
January 31, 2025 at 7:11 PM
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Well said @steveshives.bsky.social

Thank you for making this video. This is a conversation that needs to be had.

#StarTrek

youtu.be/9S-cPUeDv5M?...
Your Fandom, Your Problem
YouTube video by Steve Shives
youtu.be
January 31, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Well we can't have that, can we?
January 29, 2025 at 7:53 PM
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I’m Canadian so I respect that I’m steps removed from all this, but if you’re a US elected official, coming on here to post, “AND he’s also done THIS horrible thing!”

…if your post does not then CONTINUE with, “and I’m doing THIS about it,” then just fuck off.
January 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
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Good news for folks who want to support local booksellers

www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/b...
Indie Bookstores Will Soon Be Able to Sell E-Books (Gift Article)
Bookshop, a site that lets independent, bricks-and-mortar bookshops sell their books online, is launching an app that will allow the sales of e-books, too.
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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fucking GOOD

❤️ you Chicago
Border czar Tom Homan is on CNN complaining that Chicago is “very well educated” and people “know their rights” too well for ICE to be able to enforce mass deportations. Good work, neighbors.
January 28, 2025 at 7:43 PM
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A federal court has declared that warrantless searches of US person’s communications collected for national security purposes is unconstitutional. Now it’s our job to make sure Congress knows that when they renew this law in a little over a year.
VICTORY! Federal Court (Finally) Rules Backdoor Searches of 702 Data Unconstitutional
In a landmark ruling, a federal district court held that backdoor searches of databases full of Americans’ private communications collected under Section 702 ordinarily require a warrant. Congress sho...
www.eff.org
January 23, 2025 at 10:08 PM
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ICE is planning immigration raids starting Tuesday. Please amplify.
January 19, 2025 at 6:42 PM
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Oh, I'm absolutely not ashamed of any of my crushes anywhere along the gender spectrum at any point in my life. Even now I'm very much "I'm straight but let's not pretend Tim Henson isn't pretty as fuck"
December 25, 2024 at 2:05 AM
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Saw someone upbraiding someone else for having a hobby while the world is on fire, and, my friends:

1. The world is ever on fire, this is today's conflagration;

2. If you don't find time for rest and joy the fire will consume you;

3. Don't let people shame you for being an entire human.
December 17, 2024 at 3:21 PM
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An experiment. Can you like this post if (and only if) you play and buy video games.

Some people over on Twitter/X seem to think it's only game developers here.

(reposts welcome to spread the word)
December 4, 2024 at 2:32 PM
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Americans voted for low prices and deportations. Who's gonna tell them that labor shortages drive inflation?
November 25, 2024 at 8:22 PM