Notices by Anthony Dean (dtgeek@mastodon.social)

Black Lightning co-creator Tony Isabella comes out as transgender
https://www.comicsbeat.com/isabella-trans/

New post: A list of my recommended Google alternatives (2025 edition), from Firefox (vs Chrome) to DuckDuckGo (vs Google Search).

https://www.diversetechgeek.com/recommended-google-alternatives-2025-edition/

#Google #tech

Google ditches DEI hiring goals | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/05/google-ditches-dei-hiring-goals/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

Between the TikTok antics, the state of Meta's apps/Twitter, corporate media trying to curry favor with Trump, the Trump administration itself, and the state of streaming services (stuff erased, etc.), it's clear owning your own online presence and media matters.

Creators should have their own website/blog, not just rely on social networks owned by billionaires. Having a spot to point to online that's yours is useful, and will be there regardless of what happens to the social network du jour.

New post: A look at Pixelfed, the federated photo-sharing social network that's picked up in attention (as an alternative to Instagram).

https://www.diversetechgeek.com/pixelfed-2025-edition/

#Pixelfed #Instagram #socialmedia

With tech's obsession with video (as it's more lucrative for ads), you'd think there would be more non-Chinese TikTok clones, especially with the advance notice. Instead, it's the usual apps (Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter) offered as options...

#tiktok

Wonder if Pixelfed can succeed with the general public/non-tech crowd where Mastodon hasn't as much?

Despite "pick a server" being a usability issue, gather new users are just signing up for Pixelfed's main server, thus making for a similar experience to Bluesky?

#Pixelfed

New post: With Meta rolling back its hate speech rules, I look at alternatives to Facebook, Instagram, and Threads

https://www.diversetechgeek.com/alternatives-facebook-instagram-threads/

#Meta #Facebook #Instagram #Threads

I shuttered my blog's Facebook page since it's useless for blog traffic (and I'm not paying to boost posts to a handful of visitors); shuttered Instagram for similar throttling, and scraping posts for AI; and Threads was useless from the get-go. But sure, "virtue signaling" for quitting.

Still have a personal Facebook account for family/online friends not elsewhere, but generally infrequently used.

Mark Zuckerberg Says Users Who Leave Meta 'Virtue Signaling' | Entrepreneur
https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/mark-zuckerberg-says-users-who-leave-meta-virtue-signaling/485363

'Win or Lose': Ex-Pixar Staffers Decry Trans Storyline Getting Cut
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/win-or-lose-pixar-staff-trans-storyline-1236093299/

#animation #LGBTQ

Don't suppose there's a chance he rage quits running WordPress in general? 🙂

WordPress CEO Rage Quits Community Slack After Court Injunction
https://www.404media.co/wordpress-wp-engine-preliminary-injunction/

#WordPress

Looks like The Verge's paywall has kicked off. A subscription will run $7 a month, or $50 a year.

Which brings me to my observation that when services/sites start charging, it's never at $1-$2, which would be an easier sell. Instead, it's rates veering near $10, which falls more under "I dunno..."

I know journalism isn't cheap. But adding on a new monthly cost per site/service running near what a streaming service charges isn't an easy sell?

In the Wake of a Sweeping Manga Ban, U.S. Readers Are Left Worrying Over the Industry's Future

https://screenrant.com/manga-ban-tennessee-censorship-industry-issue-op-ed/

#comics #manga

Bluesky now displays replies by 'hotness' | Mashable

https://mashable.com/article/blueksy-hot-replies

#bluesky

Elon Musk Reacts to Dana Carvey 'SNL' Impression, Says Show Is 'Dying'

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/elon-musk-reacts-dana-carvey-snl-impression-show-is-dying-1236205805/

Unlike in 2020, I get to endlessly scroll through *two* Twitter-like social networks on election night, Mastodon and Bluesky.

Zuckerberg: The AI Slop Will Continue Until Morale Improves
https://www.404media.co/zuckerberg-the-ai-slop-will-continue-until-morale-improves/

The current hurricane reminds me of what I noted when Trump was elected: what happens when there's an emergency? One that "blame Black people" racism won't solve? As I found out with the pandemic, basically a disaster...