Notices by Beardy Star Stuff (dennyhenke@social.coop)

"We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. But so did the divine right of kings." - Ursula K. Le Guin

Excellent post by Ploum: "Small low-tech manifesto"

My initial take-away: Even as a somewhat "advanced" user, my relationship to my computing technology precarious. He writes:

"Thanks to the complexity, constant change and the imposition of a strict “intellectual property” regime, users have been transformed into consumers. "

#Computing #FOSS #Apple #Linux #LowTech

https://ploum.net/2025-05-16-manifeste-lowtech.html

I love everything about this.

"Post Apocalyptic Computing

In a world increasingly dominated by planned obsolescence and disposable technology, the idea of a general-purpose computing machine designed to last a century feels both radical and necessary. Drawing inspiration from Sci-Fi, retro computing, and a deep frustration with modern constraints, we can imagine a machine that prioritizes repairability, self-containment, and the ability to modify and replicate itself."

https://thomashunter.name/posts/2025-03-23-post-apocalyptic-computing

Are Apple Enthusiasts Miserable?

It's been on my mind to write about Apple enthusiast user culture for the past couple weeks and this morning the title of the current Rebound podcast got my attention: General Misery About Life and Technology. I write this post as a former Apple enthusiast, a 30+ year user of Apple computers and devices. When I bought my first Mac in 1992 I just needed a computer to write my masters thesis. It was just...

#Apple #Linux #OpenSource #FOSS

https://beardystarstuff.net/posts/2025-05-04.html

@WarnerCrocker @NatashaMH @mathewi @Daojoan The person in the photos is reading the paper upside down. Sorry, I had to say it once I noticed it.

Apple to Linux Journal - Two months, enjoying the journey!

It's been over two months since my first install of Linux Mint on my old 2012 Mac Mini, now dubbed LinuxMini. I've got quite a few posts covering various apps and aspects of the migration but thought I'd write up a two month status report.
My initial plan was for Linux to be an experiment and eventual migration while my initial main goal was just to begin the process of migrating away...

#Apple #Linux #FOSS

https://beardystarstuff.net/posts/2025-05-01.html

@WarnerCrocker Glad to hear that Apple's obedience to fascism is paying off for them. And glad that I've rid myself of my dependence on iCloud. I'll never purchase Apple hardware again nor will I invest another penny in their App or media ecosystem.

For all their lofty statements about ideals, at the end of the day, of course it's profit they serve. All else is marketing.

#Apple #Linux

@WarnerCrocker As a US citizen I'm boycotting, to the extent that is possible, US companies, especially big tech, that are going along with fascism. I'd like to get out of all of their services completely in the next year. Hoping that all of this brings about an entirely new, more balanced global order, with the US and corporations based here, deeply demoted.

Apple, big tech, lock-in and the corporate colonization of life experience

"Over the past few weeks, months really, as I've been considering the state of the world and the US (as many have) I've found myself increasingly of the mind that it was time, probably past time, to more specifically redefine my use of computing technology. I've written about the most recent kick in the ass that finally got me moving and that was Apple's ..."

#Apple #Enshittification #Computing

https://beardystarstuff.net/posts/2025-02-26.html

Worth a watch given the current moment in the US.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5EDKRGkgLsI

"The larger solutions to our common woes, if they ever arrive, will be something new. Something we haven’t tried yet. I feel very confident they won’t take the form of another march or involve everyone finally agreeing to be the same kind of communist/anarchist/whatever. Shawn Fain, chief of the United Auto Workers Union, has called for a General Strike in 2028, and that so far is the only clear plan I’ve heard anyone make that feels like it has a ghost of a chance."

https://shatterzone.substack.com/p/we-failed-to-stop-the-rise-of-fascism

Liberals in the US rightly criticize MAGA folk as being delusional in regards to the truth of Trump. But when I see those same liberals praising Biden while ignoring his ongoing support of genocide in Gaza I feel the deepest disgust. History will remember Biden for his role in genocide.

"Respect the process".

Uh huh.

#Gaza #Genocide #WarCrimes #Israel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y_QQW0igcs

@WarnerCrocker I'm glad you opened that door. I usually don't go there with folks because I'm not sure they're interested! Agreed with you completely! Too many years ago I majored in anthropology and sociology and around 1990 discovered Murray Bookchin's Social Ecology. In particular his book "The Ecology of Freedom" which goes deep into the origin of human hierarchies, the earliest, most basic forms of domination, which he proposed were the foundation of our social ecological problems.

@WarnerCrocker It actually fits very well with the title of your blog post in that he suggested the earliest forms of human hierarchies were based in age and the emergence of shamanism which he proposed was a kind of defense used by the oldest in a tribe during times of scarcity. Simply stated, accumulated knowledge used as leverage, expressed as power over others. From there a myriad forms of social power-over other develop and become institutional systems from religion to nation states.

@WarnerCrocker Great post Warner. I would only add that the whole process, the whole system is a farce long ago corrupted by capitalism. In fact, though few have the stomach for it any honest reckoning, the truth is to be found in the historical foundations and design. Generations since have just gone along for the ride. We've only ever attempted to paper over the deep problems. Not just the mess of electoral politics and legislation, but the foundational violence of genocide and slavery.

How the rich talk about us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmBdADq00xc

Federico is rediscovering the joy of using the iPad: https://beardystarstuff.net/posts/2024-12-19.html

@WarnerCrocker As of January his newsletter goes paid only, I won't pay for it. No doubt, all the big-name pundits will and we'll have to listen to them go on and on about it. Yuck.

I love the iPad because it's durable. A foldable form factor just seems to add a possible breakpoint. Benefit is it fits in a pocket or, if larger, a huge screen can be folded to fit a backpack? But, realistically, who's going to buy that given the weight? Seems like a very niche product.

@WarnerCrocker Yeah, I had the exact same thing in the same spot that you highlighted in your post. I ended up rewinding it and it worked without changing settings.

"This is not who we are."

Let's get this out of the way right off: what we have right now is exactly who we are and who we've been since the first days of Europeans setting foot on the Americas. From day one we subjugated a population of people that lived here first.

Stop and consider that, don't move past it. Don't pretend that it's ancient history that is not relevant. Don't pretend there is an expiration date for land theft and genocide..."

https://beardystarstuff.net/posts/2024-11-13.html