On Cognitive Alignment
On Cognitive Alignment
by Laurence Chen There was once a time when a client asked me to add a rate limit to an HTTP API. I quickly identified three similar options, all of which could apply rate...lambdaisland.com
in case anyone wants to try out a privacy-respecting, community-empowered map app! so excited for this! - midwest.social
Sharing from midwest.social, not OP
Also see CoMaps community post
Does anyone know of good single-use virtual credit cards. Specifically for online purchases like flights or hotels where you can limit the card to one time use or a max limit?
cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/28567151
A few cards that I read about.RBC virtual card, seems to do what I need. But it's available for business use only.
Robinhood Gold Card, only in the states.
Wise, not sure if exact limits are available.
Context: I recently purchased a hotel stay where a merchant charged my card for the advertised price on their website, the amount was then refunded. Then another merchant charged my card a higher amount (a few hundred) all in a few seconds of the original transaction.
Edit: I found Wise provides limits on their virtual cards. I have yet to test how this works and if the transaction is declined for Insufficient funds, does anyone have experience with this?
Introducing Virtual Credit Cards
Experience a new level of security, convenience and control for business: Virtual Credit Cards. At no additional cost, create 'single-use' virtual credit cards to pay suppliers or give to employees through an RBC Commercial credit card program.www.rbcroyalbank.com
Payment Solutions for Online Data Security | Get Started For Free
Easily create virtual cards. Select single use or merchant locked cards. Set spend limits. Close & pause cards. We are committed to your online data security...www.privacy.com
the two I heard about are mysudo.com and privacy.com. I think both are US only. Are they both based in the US? It didnt say on the privacy.com about us page
edit:
yes, they are both based in the US.
any non-US based options that offer services to the US?
Login to your credit card portal and check if they have it. I noticed mine has it as a free service now.
Edit: free service with my my cc account not straight up free to everyone with no cc.
Sir Keir Starmer could be ousted as PM within months, two senior Labour MPs tell Sky News
Sir Keir Starmer could be ousted as PM within months, two senior Labour MPs tell Sky News
A member of the government and a prominent MP said Sir Keir Starmer could be ousted unless Labour has a strong showing in May's elections.Sky News
MPs vote to proscribe Palestine Action as terrorist group
MPs vote to proscribe Palestine Action as terrorist group
The ban means supporting the group could potentially carry a maximum sentence of 14 years.Michael Sheils McNamee (BBC News)
BBC staff: we're forced to do pro-Israel PR
More than a hundred BBC employees have written a letter to the director general, Tim Davie, complaining that the Corporation has become a mouthpiece for Israel. It was also signed by 300 other journalists and media professionals: one of them was yours truly. The BBC employees, as you would expect, are all anonymous, because otherwise they would face grave consequences to their careers.
The letter says:
We’re writing to express our concerns over opaque editorial decisions and censorship at the BBC on the reporting of Israel/Palestine. We believe the refusal to broadcast the documentary ‘Gaza: Medics Under Fire’ is just one in a long line of agenda driven decisions. It demonstrates, once again, that the BBC is not reporting “without fear or favour” when it comes to Israel.
It goes on to note that the decision not to broadcast the investigation was taken by BBC management despite the content being signed off in accordance with BBC guidelines and editorial policy, which it says “Appears to be a political decision”, adding that the BBC response shows the organisation “is crippled by the fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government.”
BBC staff: we're forced to do pro-Israel PR
A devastating letter signed by over 100 BBC journalists underlines one of the great scandals of our ageOwen Jones (BattleLines with Owen Jones)
According to Pornhub data (yes seriously!) Linux market share in 2024 increased more than 40% relative to 5.1% of all users.
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You don't have to be logged in because you've got a digital fingerprint.
I would hazard a guess that they're using google analytics to collect this data, and google is creepy and knows everything. Maybe they got you to tell them your age at some point, or they can use the vast amount of other data they have to estimate it with probably-super-creepy accuracy.
What is a Digital Fingerprint? - Just Understanding Data
Digital fingerprinting is a hot topic in online security right now. Learn about what it is, why it's used and what you can do about it here!Just Understanding Data
Pornhub is lowkey a very skilled tech company. Delivering a quality video platform on the scale they do is incredibly difficult.
Also obligatory: Year of the Linux Desktop! 🎉
Lmao in hindsight I probably didn't read the graph correctly. Apparently more people want on desktop. I was looking at the dovosoon by country.
Still, are people watching porn in cafes? Or worse, are they masturbating in public? Hmm...
I think smartphones definitely win when it comes to convenience, accessibility, and ease of use. Even at home I use my phone a whole dang lot for general chill purposes, even though I have bigger and better screens to use.
I can't comment on porn because I genuinely never watch porn of any sort (yes, I'm serious), but I have watched and enjoyed YouTube and Netflix et al on my phone, even at home. I usually prefer a bigger screen but sometimes the portability wins out.
Under video game consoles, it lists 0.1% for "Other (3DS/PS Vita)". Unless PornHub offers 3D porn that works on the 3DS (do they?!), I refuse to believe even 0.01% would use the 3DS browser in this capacity.
(On the other hand, that's 0.1% of video game consoles, and I can't imagine too many people use their consoles for porn in the first place... Basically I'd love to see absolute numbers for this)
Guys, we're losing big to mobile devices. Although I'm glad Australia is still going strong at 12% desktop computer.
postmarketOS // real Linux distribution for phones
Aiming for a 10 year life-cycle for smartphonespostmarketOS
Tablet pornography must be nice.
That seems like someone who made a plan, and then lived out their best evening.
I imagine those tablet Pornhub users probably prepared themselves a nice mixed drink, set out some snacks, and got all cozy in a bathrobe first.
Tablet pornhub sounds like some kind of intentional self care.
Why? Did you get stuck in a washing machine yourself at some point?
On a more serious note, I remember reading an article once about this phenomenon. About how it's not some widespread latent sex fantasy to fuck step-siblings. Rather it's an odd reflection of how algorithms poison the content in this attention economy. The more unusual the content is (without being outright objectionable), then the more attention it gets for being so unusual. That starts a wave of new creations from content creators to jump on the bandwagon for the popularity of the content that seems to be getting traction. Then pretty soon anyone not catering to this "demand" is an outlier and loses out, so eventually this theme of content floods the entire ecosystem.
to the brave coomers keeping bsd alive
\
Y'all need a spanking.
We don't even look at porn on our computer anymore- we look at it on our phone?
HR: IT detected that you watch porn at work.
Employee: I’m not, it’s all SFW videos
HR: OK, no problem then.
I'm somewhat proud my generation is actively seeking out parody porn. Those videos tend to be higher budget and more sex positive (less gonzo misogyny).
Edit: well, should caveat that by saying relatively less misogynist
Those gen y and x ages are whack
Also, I hate zoomers and their vertical videos too
... is it possible that these uneducated plebeians just put "fetish" in the search?
(jk)
Is that supposed to be they watch videos in vertical...or they get off on watching vertical videos?
"Oh yeah, tilt that camera. Tilt it harder. There we go. Oh yeah! It's standing straight up."
Vertical video is better for content focused on a single standing performer, because it allows as much of the screen resolution as possible to show the body. Horizontal is better for a performer lying down or any traditional horizontal sex acts, for the same reason.
I'm probably reading a little too far into this, but IMO Gen Z is much less interested in "simulations" of intercourse and is more interested in something "real", i.e someone doing a dance. Intercourse feels like a fantasy, like you're supposed to imagine that you're the one having intercourse, it's that fantasy which is appealing. Something like dancing or dirty talking is more honest about what it is, since a video of someone dancing or talking is essentially the same experience as if they were actually there in front of you. I believe that because Gen Z is more digitally native than older generations, they see digital content not as a substitute or fantasy for a real thing, but rather as a real thing in itself, and the nature of the content they consume reflects that. Another example of this is the shift from real-life streamers who fake personalities but pretend that they are presenting their real selves, to vtubers - who implicitly acknowledge that they are playing a fictional character for their stream as symbolized by their avatars. The human streamers are a fantasy substitute for a real human friend, but with a vtuber the content does not pretend to be different than what it actually is - a pretend character putting on a show for your enjoyment. By acknowledging its artificiality and integrating it into the content itself, it shifts from being something "fake" and "simulated" to being something "real". To me it's the exact same dynamic manifesting in a different area.
Now of course, I do understand that vertical content also simply means you don't need to rotate your phone, and that Gen Z is almost exclusively using the Internet on the phone vs. the desktop as older generations will. But this too is essentially a reflection of the feeling that digital content is not an artificial recreation confined to a specific display area (a TV or computer) but rather perpetually available (your phone), as would be appropriate for something which has taken on the status of being real rather than fake. The two forces reinforce each other, imo.
Boomers = 1950-1964
Gen X = 1965-1979
Gen Y = 1980-1994
Gen Z = 1995-2009
Gen α = 2010-2025
So ages
18-29
30-44
45-59
60+
Parola filtrata: nsfw
Or, and hear me out, what if they actually have good engineers and know how to sanitise their analytics? And at the risk of sounding crazy, what if the reason that the Linux share is rising is because it’s genuinely becoming more popular?
Crazy talk, right?
User agent logging is often done by running javascript locally on a machine, so the vpn would just pass the javascript to the local machine on which it would be run, so the data wouldn't be effected that way.
Sometimes TLS fingerprinting is done to try to identify bots and not sure if bots would be included. They probably would be included because if they were blocked, then the javascript catching user would never be run on their machine, although I'm unsure of whether such bots would run useragent fingerprinting javascriot yo try to blend in or block it to avoid unneeded processing.
So, Linux doesn't have a general icon and ChromeOS's icon isn't used, what could be an ideal icon/logo for the Linux Kernel, I wonder?
WhatsApp recently pulled support for some older iOS versions and devices, a lot of ppl threw them away and got Androids instead(as they should), I wonder if that's related to iOS's decrease.
Android devices dominate in a lot of countries, especially Asian countries, where our growth in those regions in the last few years has boosted Android’s user base.
I think the decrease is mostly due to this.
the age of linux is cumming upon os.
ok this is really bad , ill see myself out....
And there's a kernel of truth in there and by that I don't mean the kernel of an apple.
Back when I used Windows I used PatchMyPC and made it add a daily task.
It updated most of my programs.
You as a user help propagate that content while you have it open.
I'm sure that's a legal grey area that hasn't been explored largely but I would think you would have to actually host the content or have it on your device locally.
A single instance is not federated by itself. It requires multiple instances to be considered a federation.
Just a little nitpick.
Parola filtrata: nsfw
Yes but the question was for a federated alternative. lemmynsfw is not a federation by itself. It's only a part of a larger federation.
You would need multiple nsfw lemmy instances which can then become their own federation. Or a separate federation software on top of ActivityPub.
I am very suspicious of the -26% Apple marketshare. It makes me feel like there's more to this than it seems at first. There's no way 26% of Apple users stopped using Apple devices within a year.
Edit: maybe it could be caused by a large user base increase that shifted the demographics, but this fast? And the PornHub bans across US states started only this year for the most part if I'm not mistaken, so it shouldn't affect this data?
Which data source would be more repräsentative and reliable ?
Do you guys realize how much 40% actually is in a single year? That's crazy. Don't just look at the 5.1%.
I'm sure it's heavily influenced by the Steam Deck, it being a great device for porn and all, but still.
If they're anything like me, it's the old laptop that you'd install Linux on as an experiment.
And maybe that laptop was only ah... Semi-retired at the time.
PipeWire workshop 2025: Updates on video transport, Rust efforts, TSN networking, and Bluetooth support
PipeWire workshop 2025: Updates on video transport, Rust efforts, TSN networking, and Bluetooth support
With PipeWire evolving at a rapid pace, the agenda for the 2025 workshop featured several key discussion topics. Here's a look at what was covered.Collabora | Open Source Consulting
This is such a wonderful project. I am so grateful that it exists.
Thank-you everyone. Truly.
I'm back again with another question: Wine/Proton
A few days ago I asked about taking the big leap, but I use my PC for work in the arts (voice over, music, digital art, etc).
I've been playing around with Bitwig to replace Cubase and ideally Adobe Audition. It's... a learning curve but I'm willing to make it work if I can get everything about my PC lined up with Linux.
I then discovered Wine and Proton. So, they're basically bridges that allow you to use some Windows programs in Linux? I read they can use vst files with a bit of work, and people have had some success with Cubase, though Adobe is still right out but I'd love to get away from Adobe anyway. Also games??
Is there a difference between Wine and Proton or are they basically just different programs that do the same thing? The big leap might be more feasible than I thought if they do what I think they do.
Edit: This seems like it could suit most of my needs. I need to do more research into it but you guys answered my questions. Appreciate you all taking the time, thanks!
Wine and proton are the same valve takes wine and adds some tweaks to it to work beter for games. Wine can work in a pinch but I wouldn't rely on it for your workflow as wine could always be playing catch up when your software updates versions.
Wine/Proton is a translation layer that translates windows system calls Linux system calls. So if wine/proton doesn't have a feature windows has for your knew version then it will break. That's okay for games but for something you need for work that can be a deal breaker. If you can switching to something Linux native will benefit you in the long run.
Wine can work in a pinch but I wouldn't rely on it
In this case I would say the other way round. Proton works in a container, so getting to the sound interface for example might be harder than just using Wine
Side note: yabridge may be of help for VSTs
Also, another DAWci recommend is Reaper
GitHub - robbert-vdh/yabridge: A modern and transparent way to use Windows VST2, VST3 and CLAP plugins on Linux
A modern and transparent way to use Windows VST2, VST3 and CLAP plugins on Linux - robbert-vdh/yabridgeGitHub
Comments on Reddit seem to suggest that UI problems with NeuralDSP plugins seems to be solved with some onstallation of DirectX libraries (? Not sure about the technical details) :
was able to fix it just yesterday after seeing someone suggest this:install WineGUI
use it to install DirectX 9/10/11 and DirectX 12 packages
This instantly fixed the GUI not being responsive, tested with the new Nolly X
As a side note, a couple of things that might be handy for you:
Bottles is a GUI for running Wine things that might make it a bit easier to navigate. It's helped me out a few times.
Also there's an AppDB on the Wine site where you can search for specific software to find out how well it runs/tweaks that people have used etc.
ALSO yeah games are in a pretty good place on Linux nowadays. I have a Steam Deck and it runs a surprising amount of stuff, even things that aren't listed as being compatible. I think the main source of trouble is the online AntiCheat stuff, that's not always compatible with Linux (although sometimes those work too, I think it just depends on the game.) There's also protondb for checking which games work in Linux.
Hopefully some of that is helpful!
usebottles (@usebottles@mastodon.online)
81 Posts, 14 Following, 830 Followers · Run Windows software on Linux with Bottles.Mastodon
Proton is built on top of Wine in order to make sure games specifically work well.
You can check protondb.com/ before buying a game (with Steam or otherwise) to insure it works as expected. A lot will work with 0 tinkering but some might next extra command line parameters.
You might get the same result with Wine directly but Proton it doing everything it can to "hide" away those (hopefully small) challenges away from the final user, a gamer (like me) who wants to just sit down and play.
So... the heuristic is basically :
- games? Proton
- not games but Windows applications that somehow do not have a better open-source equivalent running on Linux? Wine
Edit: for the anecdote I wrote this reply on my SteamDeck, the gaming console by Valve coming with Steam, and Proton, and running Linux to... just play BUT I also use it to work while traveling. So yes, works like a charm!
Wine is designed for apps, but can be used for gaming.
So, they're basically bridges that allow you to use some Windows programs in Linux?
They are like really Bad cocaine. Sure, it may work, but if you want to give up that much time, might as well learn an alternative because the next version will need a new workaround.
I read they can use vst files with a bit of work
That's an emulator.
Is there a difference between Wine and Proton
Proton-ge is a fork of proton is a fork of wine, which only exists because Wine isnt made for gaming specifically and proton can't include a bunch of stuff because of legal reasons which enhance gaming further.
Philadelphia Municipal Workers Strike Before July 4 Celebrations
Philadelphia Municipal Workers Strike Before July 4 Celebrations
Nine thousand blue-collar workers who make Philadelphia run went on strike July 1. After sacrificing through the pandemic and years of bruising inflation, they say they’re on strike so they can afford to live in the city they serve.Labor Notes
Philadelphia Municipal Workers Strike Before July 4 Celebrations
Philadelphia Municipal Workers Strike Before July 4 Celebrations
Nine thousand blue-collar workers who make Philadelphia run went on strike July 1. After sacrificing through the pandemic and years of bruising inflation, they say they’re on strike so they can afford to live in the city they serve.Labor Notes
Wayback: A Wayland replacement for the whole X11 server
Wayback gives X11 desktops a fighting chance in a Wayland world
: Minimalist glue code offers surprising lifeline for stubborn display setupsLiam Proven (The Register)
As the Linux world increasingly moves towards adopting Wayland in place of X11, there is a serious risk that a third of a century's worth of FOSS desktops and windowing environments would get dropped and left behind. Wayback could prevent that happening, and retain the diversity of choice in GUIs while modernizing the tools upon which they run.
Why do I feel like narrowing down the options would not be that bad? The whole world of Linux is, IMO, in dire need of consolidation behind tried and tested, universally accepted technologies instead of endless number of choices for specific tastes. That is at least the case if Linux aims for desktops (like it now very much should and could with all the Win 11 mess).
There really can’t be half a dozen or more alternatives for any particular task. Two desktop environments for example has to be enough for 99% of users, same with package management systems etc. Otherwise the newbie user will only get scared and confused, or not be able to easily find support relevant to their ”version” of Linux.
Man, we really need to make "The ~~Church~~ Cathedral and the Bazaar" required reading.
You clearly have missed the entire point of Linux, which is the freedom to do with your machine as you like. The endless number of choices for specific tastes is the result of people having the choice to write their own thing.
When consolidation happens, when people say "make my choice for me, I can't make decisions" we end up with super constrained setups like MacOS, Windows 11 and stupid Gnome the way it is now; no choice, do it our way or not at all.
And the answer is still freedom. It's obvious in the plugins and addons for gnome that get it to do basic customizing you find in, say xfce as a toggle in the settings. You find it in the myriad of softwares written for windows and mac that let the user do what they want to do.
And I will likely not be the first to point out to you Linux doesn't "aim for desktops", linux isn't an organization the way ms and apple are. And it likely never will be.
Newbies will be scared and confused no matter what's in front of them.
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Not to correct you but, if people try to search based on your recommendation, it is “The Cathedral and the Bazaar”.
Why do I feel like narrowing down the options would not be that bad?
Perhaps because you miss Microsoft or Apple? In a rather misdirected way?
Half the point is there are multiple ways to do things - and mind, Windows is like that too (you can get to some settings though the new Control Panel, the old Control Panel, the Regedit, the Powershell...). Just about the only thing in Windows you are forced only one vision of is the desktop itself, but as soon as you double-click an icon, all bets are off.
Also if what you want is getting behind "tried and tested, universally accepted technologies"... that's what sysvinit, ALSA, X11 and automake / build-essentials; no need for systemd, Pulseaudio, Wayland and Snaps. Pulseaudio was basically a stillborn deformed baby whereas I've never seen ALSA fail since 2002 (to the point even today I have to "fix" Flatpak not having audio on Pipewire unless Pulseaudio sits behind it by just seating both of them behind ALSA). I don't even have to begin on Wayland, it started as just vaporware; Systemd is largely an attempt to microsoft-ize Linux system management; and Snaps make me want to snap.
As for newbies... others have addressed the point but honestly, if someone gets scared and whiny at the "choose your starter" screen of the game, they're not gonna last any in a Pokémon game nor would I want them around whining about things they couldn't even be bothered to be here for.
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I am trying to understand the difference between Wayback and running Xwayland in Cage.
I’m Wayback, will I still be able to run Wayland applications? Or am I literally just running an Xserver that uses Wayland for the DDX layer?
Cage is designed around running a single maximized application. Wayback is meant to run an entire x11 desktop environment.
Not sure about the second part.
Forked-off Xlibre tells Wayland display protocol to DEI in a fire
Updated: Project to modernize the X.org X11 server seems to actively court controversyLiam Proven (The Register)
[5:48] 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' – The Full Film They Didn't Want You To See - Zeteo
WATCH NOW: 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' – The Full Film They Didn't Want You To See
Exclusive: The powerful film the BBC refused to air is out now, released globally by Zeteo. It documents Israel's destruction of Gaza's hospitals and the killing of Palestinian doctors.Team Zeteo (Zeteo)
US Approves $510 Million Arms Deal for Israel
US Approves $510 Million Arms Deal for Israel
The deal is for more than 7,000 JDAM kits, which turn bombs into precision-guided weapons.scheerpost.com
Announcing CoMaps! Navigate with Privacy - Discover more of your journey!
Exciting News!
We're thrilled to announce the release of CoMaps to Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and F-Droid!
CoMaps Highlights
· Offline Search and Route: Plan and navigate your trips without internet
· Saves battery: Efficient design that does not drain your battery
· Privacy-respecting: no identify people, no tracking, no data collection
· Free and No Ads: completely free, your journey is smooth
What makes CoMaps special?
CoMaps is a community-driven open-source navigation app
· Open & Transparent: All decisions are made in public, with full transparency.
· Community Empowerment: You have a voice in how the app evolves.
· Free & Not-for-Profit: Our focus is on creating value for the community, not generating profit.
Download CoMaps Today
- Google Play Store: play.google.com/store/apps/det…
- Apple App Store: apps.apple.com/app/comaps/id67…
- F-Droid: f-droid.org/packages/app.comap…
Powered by the community
CoMaps - Navigate with Privacy - Apps on Google Play
Easy map navigation - Discover more of your journey - Powered by the communityplay.google.com
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feat: Add the Public Transport data and functionality
### What problem would this feature help solve? The current Transport map doesn't contain every Mode of transit.Codeberg.org
Organic Maps Offline Hike Bike
• Detailed offline maps with places that don't exist on other maps • Cycling routes, hiking trails, and walking paths • Contour lines, elevation profiles, peaks, and slopes • Turn-by-turn walking, cycling, and car navigation with voice guidance • Fa…App Store
Organic Maps Forked Over Governance Concerns: CoMaps is Born
An Organic Maps fork has emerged due to broken trust.Sourav Rudra (It's FOSS News)
Export locations from OM, open kmz file with comaps, done.
Thank you, it seems really nice.
Edit: I'm on a camping trip and I was mad because the app wasn't able to find my next stop. Turns out that I downloaded the wrong map because I suck at local geography.
OsmAnd seems to do this.
They predict traffic patterns based on random UUID. I don't know how it works but it seems to be default on.
feat: Traffic data
### What problem would this feature help solve? There is currently no traffic data in the map download, making travel time estimates inaccurate when there is traffic, which makes it not possible to rely on the app for arrival time.Codeberg.org
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That sounds like an issue with the underlying OpenStreetMap data that is used by Organic Maps (and CoMaps, and OsmAnd, and others). Map quality depends on where you are in the world and who is contributing to the maps there. If data is incomplete around you, you could contribute to it (but easier said than done, I know).
I can't say why the route would be hours longer than Google maps, but I've noticed OsmAnd~ tends to overestimate drive time for me (I think it overestimates delay from traffic lights). Or it could just be that calculating routes on your phone doesn't always give results as good as calculating routes on Google's servers.
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.OpenStreetMap
Holy crap, this map is awesome. They have the grills, picnic tables, even all the ski lifts on the ski hill.
Don't care if the graphics look like they came from the 90s. I love the details
Blast Claimed by Daesh Kills Four in Northwest Pakistan - Other Media news - Tasnim News Agency
Blast Claimed by Daesh Kills Four in Northwest Pakistan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An explosion in northwest Pakistan killed at least four local government officials and police Wednesday, an officer said, in an attack claimed by a branch of the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group.Tasnim News Agency
Russian strike on Poltava: hit caused fire in TCR and on house territory, there are dead and wounded
And now let me spread a little bit of my favourite Russian misinformation.
This is how Ukrainian people react to "enemy" hitting the building of (and possibly killing several of) the brave TCC/TCR heroes helping people to enlist against the invading orcs who want to massacre us all.
US contractors say their colleagues are firing live ammo as Palestinians seek food in Gaza
AP spoke to the two contractors for UG Solutions, an American outfit subcontracted to hire security personnel for the distribution sites. They said bullets, stun grenades and pepper spray were used at nearly every distribution, even if there was no threat.
In one video, what appear to be heavily armed American security contractors at one of the sites in Gaza discuss how to disperse Palestinians nearby. One is heard saying he has arranged for a “show of force” by Israeli tanks.
“I don’t want this to be too aggressive,” he adds, “because this is calming down.” At that moment, bursts of gunfire erupt close by, at least 15 shots. “Whoo! Whoo!” one contractor yelps. “I think you hit one,” one says. Then comes a shout: “Hell, yeah, boy!”
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Disputed Supreme Court chamber confirms Polish presidential election result
The chamber of Poland’s Supreme Court tasked with overseeing elections – but whose legitimacy is rejected by the Polish government and European courts – has passed a resolution validating the result of last month’s presidential vote in Poland, which was won by conservative opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki.
The decision was widely expected but has been mired in controversy over allegations of the miscounting of votes as well as questions over the status of the chamber itself, which was created by the former ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party that supported Nawrocki’s presidential candidacy.
In its decision, the chamber of extraordinary oversight and public affairs noted that, while it had confirmed 21 cases of irregularities during the election, “the identified violations did not affect the result”, in the words of judge Maria Szczepaniec.
The Supreme Court’s decision now paves the way for Nawrocki to be sworn into office in August, when he will replace outgoing President Andrzej Duda, whose second and final term is ending.
Poland’s presidential election run-off took place on 1 June. Nawrocki, the candidate supported by the national-conservative PiS, won 50.9% of the vote, defeating Rafał Trzaskowski – deputy leader of the centrist Civic Platform (PO), Poland’s main ruling party – who received 49.1%.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court had 30 days to consider complaints filed regarding the election (of which there were over 53,000 in total) and to confirm the validity of the result. As it met today to discuss the issue, supporters and opponents of Nawrocki gathered outside the court.
Some figures associated with the ruling coalition have suggested that, regardless of what happened today, next month’s swearing-in ceremony should not go forward due to question marks over vote-counting and the legality of the oversight chamber.
However, last week, the speaker of parliament, Szymon Hołownia, whose role it is to call the assembly at which the new president will be sworn in, said that, despite doubts over the chamber’s legality, he would accept its decision and swear in Nawrocki if the election was declared valid.
The oversight chamber was established under the former government that was led by PiS, which is now Poland’s main opposition party.
The chamber has been deemed illegitimate by both Polish and European courts due to being staffed entirely by judges nominated by the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) after it was also overhauled by PiS in a manner that rendered it no longer independent of political influence.
The current government – a broad coalition ranging from left to centre-right that replaced PiS in office in December 2023 – also regards the chamber as unlawful and has tried to remove its power to validate the presidential election result. That effort was vetoed by PiS-aligned President Duda.
Last week, a group of 28 Supreme Court judges from other chambers jointly signed a letter declaring that the oversight chamber is illegitimate and therefore cannot issue a valid ruling. Even two judges from the chamber itself have questioned its legitimacy (and they today issued opinions dissenting from the main resolution).
On Monday, Adam Bodnar, the justice minister and prosecutor general, made a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court to transfer the decision on the validity of the election to another, legal, chamber. However, that request was denied.
Today, when Bodnar appeared before the oversight chamber, Szczepaniec pointed out that, after the 2023 parliamentary elections at which the current government came to power – and when Bodnar was himself elected to the Senate – he had not protested against the same chamber validating those results.
PiS has argued that the ruling coalition is only now disputing the legitimacy of the chamber because its candidate lost the presidential election. When Tusk’s coalition won the 2023 elections – as well as local and European elections in 2024 – it did not mount such protests, they note.
Speaking before the chamber today, Bodnar also accused it of dismissing almost 50,000 complaints about the presidential election without properly considering them.
As a result, “we still do not know what the election result is”, said Bodnar’s deputy, Jacek Bilewicz.
He emphasised that they were not “trying to reverse the election result, but we are of the opinion that the Supreme Court did not take all actions [necessary] to bring us close to [knowing] the actual result”.
In response, Szczepaniec noted that the complaints to which Bodnar was referring – which were based on templates shared by members of the ruling coalition, who had encouraged Poles to file protests – were “identical in content and do not concern the protesting party’s own specific and real interest”.
“The Supreme Court, after reviewing each protest, observes that the number of protests filed does not increase the weight of the single allegations included in them,” said Szczepaniec. “In such a case, the effect of scale is irrelevant.”
The oversight chamber’s decision to confirm the validity of the election was supported by the head of the National Electoral Commission (PKW), Sylwester Marciniak, who was appointed when PiS was in power.
Speaking before the chamber, Marciniak noted the PKW “did not find any violations of electoral law that could have influenced the voting results and the election outcome”, reports news website Wirtualna Polska.
Azerbaijan jails Sputnik executives amid escalating tensions with Russia
Azeri APA agency reported earlier that two employees of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) were among seven people detained after the raid on the offices of Sputnik Azerbaijan, owned by Rossiya Segodnya, which is in turn owned and operated by the Russian government.
Sputnik, Ruptly, and other affiliates of Rossiya Segodnya are widely regarded as tools for spreading the Kremlin's propaganda outside of Russia.
US THAAD missile system activated in Saudi Arabia
US THAAD missile system activated in Saudi Arabia
TEHRAN, Jul. 03 (MNA) – Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense has announced the activation of the first group of American THAAD missile defense systems in the country.Mehr News Agency
Israel Slaughters Dozens in Attack on Popular Gaza Cafe as Trump Claims a Ceasefire Deal is Moving Forward
cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/32615401
Abdel Qader Sabbah, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, and Jeremy Scahill
Jun 30, 2025The outdoor cafe became a scene of carnage: all broken concrete and shredded wood, bodies strewn on the ground, plastic chairs torn apart, and blood soaked on the floor. A large crater in the ground in the cafe showed the missile impact. At al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, fresh corpses in body bags were lined up outside."
Israel Slaughters Dozens in Attack on Popular Gaza Cafe as Trump Claims a Ceasefire Deal is Moving Forward
Abdel Qader Sabbah, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, and Jeremy Scahill
Jun 30, 2025The outdoor cafe became a scene of carnage: all broken concrete and shredded wood, bodies strewn on the ground, plastic chairs torn apart, and blood soaked on the floor. A large crater in the ground in the cafe showed the missile impact. At al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, fresh corpses in body bags were lined up outside."
Israel Slaughters Dozens in Attack on Popular Gaza Cafe as Trump Claims a Ceasefire Deal is Moving Forward
Israel is intensifying its mass-killing operations in Gaza as Netanyahu plans White House visit. Hamas says no real progress on a dealAbdel Qader Sabbah (Drop Site News)
US Intel assessments on Russia and 2016 election could be politically motivated — CIA
US Intel assessments on Russia and 2016 election could be politically motivated — CIA
According to the report, the review identified "multiple procedural anomalies" that undermined the credibility of the ICATASS
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The CIA report (PDF): web.archive.org/web/2025070301…
The thing is, it’s been known for at least 1½ years that the CIA "Cooked The Intelligence" To Hide That Russia Favored Clinton, Not Trump In 2016.
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A bit misleding:
- there is no doubt Russia tried to influence US elections in 2016
- the uncertainty is about whether Trump actively cooperated with them - which he didn't have to - and very likely didn't.
Inflation slowdown, prospects of key rate reduction: statements by Central Bank chief
Inflation slowdown, prospects of key rate reduction: statements by Central Bank chief
The Bank of Russia sees that inflation is slowing down faster than expectedTASS
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Not sure if it's just the Tass being Tass - but somehow her statements are totally missing the debt crisis.
Total corporate debt has reached RUB 86.2 trillion (about US$1.1 trillion), up 65% compared to the start of the full-scale war. Nearly half of this debt is owed by Russia’s 78 largest companies. One in six of them spends over a third of profits on interest payments, while 8% of the total debt is owed by companies that cannot even cover their loan servicing costs.
msn, bloomberg archived, themoscowtimes
Even though she claims inflation is falling (to 3-4% nonetheless) The Bank of Russia interest rate is still breathtaking 20% tradingeconomics
Russia's Hidden War Debt Creates a Looming Credit Crisis
Moscow has been quietly pursuing a two-pronged strategy to finance its escalating war costs.Ben Aris for bne IntelliNews (The Moscow Times)
Kiev loses over 1,235 troops in all frontline areas in past day — Russia’s top brass
Kiev loses over 1,235 troops in all frontline areas in past day — Russia’s top brass
Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 450 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reportedTASS
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Key Ukrainian Allies Are Shifting Focus to Other Priorities
Key Ukrainian Allies Are Shifting Focus to Other Priorities
Some of Ukraine’s allies are shifting their focus elsewhere just as the war-battered nation struggles with a fresh volley of missile and drone attacks in its fourth summer of Russia’s full-scale invasion.Andrea Palasciano (Bloomberg)
Depending on the context, this may or may not be a false dichotomy.
If considering the act of voting in an election in a country with a two party system, each with a different shade of neoliberalism, then there are two choices realistically, and picking the lesser evil is a decent moral choice.
If considering other countries or primaries where there are more than two options polling above 2%, then it'd be a false dichotomy.
I mean, even this kind of argument doesn't really work in reality. We already live in "hell on earth", and via electorialism usually two choices are given: the progressive "nothing ever happens" option (so your socdems, democrats, you'll be lucky to get a good policy or two but no real change to the status quo) or "literally hitler" option, maybe some parties that stand in the middle of the spectrum if the country is "advanced" enough.
In other words, via electorialism you can either preserve the hell on earth or make it worse, and the process of voting legitimizes this status quo as it's what "people have decided" rather than who the ruling class cast as candidates, who had the most money and media influence for campaigning.
It's important to see electorialism for what it truly is.
Neolibs are the ones who pushed Harris to capture the conservative vote.
We’re finally starting the age of the progressives.
Just vote blue no matter who1.
- Some, restrictions, . ↩︎
Court Concedes DNC Had the Right to Rig Primaries Against Sanders
The court affirmed that the DNC and Debbie Wasserman Schultz held a palpable bias in favor Hillary Clinton.Michael Sainato (Observer)
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