Just as a reminder, this is basically a stimulus/bailout for the weapons industrial complex.

Egypt takes that money and cycles it back into the US economy by buying tanks munitions and other weapons.

Arm manufacturers lobby the bajeezes for this stuff. I think a lot of stuff Egypt is being forced to buy is incredibly outdated technology and won’t be helpful in modern combat (though don’t quote me on that). I’m only saying this because this program has been going on for decades and I remember reading a story a while back of how they were buying old tech.

by boxes I just mean, linux computers for those who just use a browser to go on the internet. Those users, they don’t have to adopt the Linux philosophy.

But for people who are actively coming to linux, I wish they would come with an appreciation for the ethos of FOSS.

I’m flattered you think I have something of value to say, but what I’ve learned in life is that you can’t convince people of anything unless they want to be convinced. And ego plays a big role in that.

If you go and even imply to someone, “you’re using computers wrong,” or “there is a better way,” depending on their relationship with you, their ego will kick in: what is this guy talking about, I’ve been using computers for x years and I have it do everything I want it to. Just nod along

I don’t want usage adoption; I want philosophical adoption which will lead to usage adoption.

I want users to appreciate that they own their software. I want them to realize the importance of being able to inspect and use your software as you see fit (within reason).

I want people to realize the dangers of walled gardens, and opaque black boxes that are doing who knows what.

I hope that makes sense; I get confused and worried when people just push adoption. I’d rather people migrate because they believe in FOSS, and then setup linux boxes for their non-tech family members as a means of protecting them.

I have a lot to say on this…but the words just aren’t coming out right now. I guess I need to get in the right frame of mind.

What clues are there in they syncwire listing that made you think that it’s made from tinsel wire. I’m just asking for future use.

So try talking to the dealer.

It helps if you live in an urban area with lots of options, but many manufacturers would simply say no. I found a few who were willing to help

An Audi dealer said they can’t disconnect the stuff, but there is an airplane mode you can use. I didn’t trust that.

But I found a Honda dealer and a Nissan dealer who were willing to help. They both gave me detailed descriptions on what they were oging to do, what featuers I would lose, etc etc.

If this is about the Macklemore incident, he started off by saying that he isn’t a victim and neither is Ed (apparently his friend for a long time). The victims are the Palestinian people.

As to why make statements on “controversial stuff?” How else can you be an agent of change? What’s the alternative, to see mass slaughter going on funded by your taxes and stay quiet?

If this is about some other incident, then I don’t know, but I think you’ve misread the Macklemore case (if it is about that)

I mean you’re constantly warning against windscribe, and that could very well be justified, but you have yet to explain it.

I’ve asked you several times, and all you’re saying is that windscribe is bad. And providing resources that don’t really point to it.

So going back to that map: it doesn’t show anything shady or supsicious on Windscribe’s part except for that relationship with Control D. What am I missing there?

Yeah I am familiar with tech lore’s site (it looks a lot worse now to be honest), that’s how I became aware of Windscribe as an option.

But again, if you go through their categories Windscribe comes off as pretty good and comparable to Mullvad.

What am I missing from techlore’s site that says you shouldn’t use Windscribe?

If you have personal anecdotes, please feel free to share, I would appreciate that feedback.

Your latter point is something I’ve been considering for a while; VPN really won’t protect me if a 3 letter agency is after me.

It is merely an attempt to obscure myself from ISP and it’s tracking.

So even though I’m not fully sold on Windscribe, that’s why I’m kind of leaning towards it.

What’s Henessay? An online search and the top hits aren’t what I think you’re referring to.

I’ll give that link a shot. I installed Obtanium for the first time, and tried adding their installation link (maybe not that one, I don’t remember what I tried adding), but I couldn’t get it to wokr.

But maaaan, their android client looks so amateurish. I mean it’s fine as long as it works, but as an ad for your company…this isn’t it.

So someoone else provided that link; and maybe I’m reading it wrong but Windscribe is just linked to a copmany called Control D.

They seem to encrypt DNS filtering and stuff (haven’t looked into it), but that is a good thing right?

What am I missing with this link and why are so many people linking it

I tried adding their client via Obtanium, it didn’t work.

But man, that client looks so outdated. It looks like a kid’s idea of a website.

Is it the fact that they put out (a somewhat tasteless) AI ad?

In the grand scheme of things and with everything else going on, that seems pretty tame.

In defense of Graphene for the first point:

Graphene has a pin scrambler, so the numbers are in a different position everytime you have to enter them.

It isn’t hard at all to get used to it, and it circumvents the pattern recognition bit.

Fingerprint unlock…that’s a different discussion especially with biometrics not being protected under the law, but for first unlock you always have to enter in a pin

Quickly looking at my phone, you can enter in a passphrase (though personally I think that’s too cumbersome). There’s also a swipe option, I THINK that might be pattern, but I’m not sure. I can’t test it, because it means deleting the already in place measures, and I don’t wnat to do that at the moment.

I don’t know enough about other points to comment on it.

Can you expand on that? That’s a really interesting conclusion and I’d be interested in hearing how that would work.

Personally I use that setup and am quite disappointed to hear that using wifi calling isn’t the best idea.

May I should just have wifi calling off the entire time, but I would appreciate an explanation so I can plan on how to tailor my phone usage next.

Thanks

Even if you’re using a VPN?

I have a question about methods 1 & 2: do you know if having your phone in wifi calling mode with airplane mode on, prevents that form of tracking?

I’m going to go on a rant here, but I was disappointed in the launch of the Pi 5 and even more frustrated at the lack of pushback by the tech community.

I’m forgetting the details now, but it launched much later than it was supposed to (they used covid as an excuse, but I’m not sure). That’s not the issue; the issue is that it was only slightly more powerful than the Pi 4.

Given that the Pi 5 was launched 4 years later, it should have been more powerful. But considering it wasn’t, it meant they were using cheaper silicon.

But the real kicker is that I think it had a $10 (like a 25%) price hike.

So more expensive for marginally better power…screw that.

That along with the locked down nature of arm, I was done with the company. Especially considering the strides x86 has made in low power applications.

It just sucks can’t afford anything right now.