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● 03.20.23

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● Links 20/03/2023: Tails 5.11 and EasyOS 5.1.1

Posted in News Roundup at 11:54 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

GNU/Linux

=> ↺ Linux Around The World: USA – Mississippi

• We cover user groups that are running in the US state of Mississippi. This article forms part of our Linux Around The World series.

Audiocasts/Shows

=> ↺ LHS Episode #500: 500th Episode Spectacular

• Hello and welcome to the 500th episode of Linux in the Ham Shack. In this episode, the hosts cut loose and let it all hang out.

=> ↺ GNU World Order 504

• plasma-wallpapers , and the rest of plasma-workspace ( ksmserver ,

• ksplashqml , plasma-apply-colorscheme , plasma-apply-cursortheme ,

• plasma-apply-desktoptheme , plasma-apply-lookandfeel , **plasma-apply-

• wallpaperimage** , plasma-interactiveconsole , plasma-shutdown ,

• plasma_session , plasma_waitforname , plasmashell ,

• plasmawindowed , startkwayland , startplasma-wayland ,

• startplasma-x11 , systemmonitor , xembedsniproxy ) from the

• Slackware kde package set.

• shasum -a256=ef7ba21087cf774b6d50ef80d19bceb240a68ebb59b000cd48463f586734a593

Applications

=> ↺ The Best Spreadsheet Software for Linux

• As more people switch to Linux as their operating system, it’s important to find alternatives to Microsoft Excel. Although Excel is popular for spreadsheets, there are other programs available for Linux that offer similar or better functionality. This article explores some top alternatives to Microsoft Excel on Linux that can enhance your spreadsheet experience.

=> ↺ Michael Ablassmeier: small standalone sshds in go

• Been looking into some existant sshd implementations in go. Most of the projects on github seem to use the standard x/crypto/ssh lib.

• During testing, i just wanted to see which banner these kind of ssh servers provide, using the simple command: [...]

=> ↺ Show Live Scores in Ubuntu Panel for NBA, EPL, or Other Sports Teams

• For sports fans who want to keep a watchful eye on live scores for favorite teams, here’s an indicator applet for Ubuntu, Fedora, and other Linux with GNOME.

=> ↺ Machine Learning in Linux: Stable Diffusion web UI

• Machine learning is about learning some properties of a data set and then testing those properties against another data set. A common practice in machine learning is to evaluate an algorithm by splitting a data set into two. We call one of those sets the training set, on which we learn some properties; we call the other set the testing set, on which we test the learned properties.

• Stable Diffusion is a deep learning text-to-image diffusion model capable of generating photo-realistic images given any text input. In seconds you can create stunning artwork. Stable Diffusion uses a kind of diffusion model, called a latent diffusion model.

Instructionals/Technical

=> ↺ Install Single Node Openstack using Devstack on Ubuntu 22.04

• OpenStack is a free and open-source software platform that provides a cloud computing infrastructure. It provides a set of services for building and managing cloud environments, including compute, storage, networking, and identity management.

=> ↺ Linux TAR vs TAR.GZ Files: Key Differences

• If you’ve ever had to manage files on a Linux system, you’ve likely encountered TAR and TAR.GZ files. Both formats are used for archiving and compressing files but differ in key aspects. This article will explore the differences between TAR and TAR.GZ files and help you understand when to use each format.

=> ↺ httpx Library in Python: How to get started

• HTTPX is a modern, high-performance, asynchronous HTTP client library for Python 3.6+ that provides sync and async APIs. It aims to provide a simple, intuitive, and Pythonic way to make HTTP requests while still being versatile enough to support complex use cases.

=> ↺ How to Display Last Updated Date in GeneratePress Theme

• GeneratePress is a popular, lightweight, and customizable WordPress theme that has gained popularity for its performance and flexibility. One feature that many website owners appreciate is the ability to display both the original post date and the last updated date on their blog posts.

=> ↺ Everything You Need to Know About UFW Logs

• UFW firewall comes pre-installed in Ubuntu and as the name suggests UFW logs can offer inside-out information on how your firewall deals with incoming and outgoing requests.

=> ↺ Install Single Node Openstack using Devstack on Ubuntu 22.04

• OpenStack is a free and open-source software platform that provides a cloud computing infrastructure. It provides a set of services for building and managing cloud environments, including compute, storage, networking, and identity management.

=> ↺ How To Install Smartctl on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

• In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Smartctl on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

=> ↺ nftables basic configuration

• Introduction Nftables is a firewall and packet filtering system that replaces iptables in Linux. It provides a clean and organized way to manage your network security and traffic filtering. Nftables was introduced in Linux Kernel 3.13 and has been included in all major Linux distributions since then.

=> ↺ Configuring nftables

• Introduction The world of networking and firewalls is constantly changing and evolving, with new tools and technologies being developed every day. One such tool that has recently gained popularity is nftables, a powerful, yet flexible firewall management system.

=> ↺ The mangle table

• Introduction The mangle table is a unique and practical piece of furniture that has been around for centuries. It’s a table with a built-in wringer, and it was once a common household item used to wring out clothes and linens.

=> ↺ The NAT table

• Have you ever wondered how internet service providers (ISPs) manage to connect multiple devices to the internet using just one public IP address? The answer lies in a concept called Network Address Translation (NAT).

=> ↺ Configuring iptables

• What is iptables? iptables is a powerful firewall tool for Linux, it is the firewall that is pre-installed in most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, CentOS, and Fedora.

=> ↺ How To Install CPU-X on Ubuntu 20.04 | 22.04 LTS

• In this guide, we will show you how to install CPU-X on Ubuntu systems. CPU-X is a free and open-source utility for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems that displays information about the system’s CPU and other hardware components. It is a free software that collects information about CPU, motherboard and more.

=> ↺ Open-Source Backup Made Easy with Deja Dup: A Step-by-Step Tutorial in Ubuntu

• Introduction Data loss can occur for various reasons, such as hardware failure, software bugs, malware attacks, or human error. To prevent data loss and ensure the safety of your essentials, it is crucial to have a reliable backup system in place.

=> ↺ Securing Your Website Using .htaccess: Best Practices

• .htaccess is a powerful configuration file used by web servers such as Apache to control and customize their behavior. While it can be used for a variety of purposes, one of the most important is securing your website.

=> ↺ Using .htaccess to block IP addresses and prevent unwanted visitors

• One of the most important aspects of website security is preventing unwanted visitors from accessing your site.

=> ↺ How to Install SmartCTL on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

• Smartctl is a command-line utility that is part of the smartmontools package. It is a powerful tool that enables you to monitor and manage the Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) system built into most modern hard and solid-state drives.

=> ↺ How to Install WHOIS on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

• Whois is a widely used tool that allows users to query domain registration information, such as the registrar, contact information, and registration and expiration dates. It benefits administrators, developers, and security researchers who must gather details about domain ownership and network resources.

=> ↺ Becoming a Linux Power User: Tips, Tricks, and Productivity Hacks

• In this tutorial, we will explore a range of tips, tricks, and productivity hacks that can help you become a Linux power user. Also, We will cover various topics such as file and directory management, package management, process management, system monitoring, shell scripting, and more.

=> ↺ How To Install QOwnNotes on Ubuntu 20.04 | 22.04 LTS

• In this guide, we will show you how to install and configure QOwnNotes on Ubuntu systems. QOwnNotes is a free open source (GPL) plain-text notepad. The program has support for markdown, and includes a to-do list manager that works on FreeBSD, Linux, MacOS and Windows. It can optionally work together with the notes application of ownCloud or Nextcloud.

=> ↺ Deploying a Multi-Node Kubernetes Cluster on Linux

• Introduction Kubernetes is a powerful container orchestration platform that enables developers to manage and deploy containerized applications at scale. In order to take full advantage of Kubernetes’ capabilities, you can deploy a multi-node cluster on Linux. A multi-node cluster allows you to distribute your applications across multiple nodes, ensuring high availability and scalability.

=> ↺ How to Install Krita on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

• Krita is a powerful, open-source digital painting application that has rapidly gained popularity among artists, illustrators, and graphic designers worldwide. Developed by the Krita Foundation, this feature-rich software is designed to cater to the needs of creative professionals and enthusiasts alike.

=> ↺ How to Install a Non-Snap/.deb Version of Firefox on Ubuntu 22.04

• Having issues with Snap based Firefox? Then read the mentioned steps to ditch the Snap version of Firefox for the classic/regular Firefox on your Ubuntu 22.04 system.

Games

=> ↺ Best Steam Deck Games Released in the Past Week with Planet Cube: Edge – 2023-03-19 Edition

• Between 2023-03-12 and 2023-03-19 there were 82 new games validated for the Steam Deck. We use numerous criteria such as popularity, ratings, and more to establish this Best Steam Deck Games list every week.

=> ↺ Steam Client for Slackware updated to 1.0.0.76

• A few weeks ago, Valve’s official Linux binaries for its steamclient got an update.

Distributions and Operating Systems

=> ↺ The Best Linux Distributions for Beginners in 2023

• Traditionally, Linux was a reserve for developers, system administrators, and Enterprise users for hosting websites and other applications. There was a time when Linux posed a great deal of complexity to beginners and simply discouraged them from embracing it.

• Over time, the vibrant Open source community has made enormous efforts in bringing Linux closer to ordinary Windows and Mac users by making it more user-friendly and easy to use.

=> ↺ Global IP TV Panel bumped to 2023MK3

• Forum member ETP created this PET. Easy 5.0 has the “MK1″ release, but ETP has recently released “MK3″, see forum post:

• https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=689

• I have bumped to the latest PET, which will be in Easy 5.1.1. Release of which is imminent.

=> ↺ EasyOS Kirkstone-series 5.1.1 released

• Version 5.1 was released only a couple of days ago:

• https://bkhome.org/news/202303/easyos-kirkstone-series-version-51-released.html

• A couple of little bug-fixes, a PET package version bump, and improvements to AppImage Installer, see release notes:

• https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/kirkstone/2023/5.1.1/release-notes.htm

Slackware Family

=> ↺ Wine 8.4 packages for Slackware

• The Wine developers released version 8.4 last week. There’s lots of bugfixes of course, but the announcement also mentions that the work has started on a Wayland graphics driver.

Debian Family

=> ↺ Tails 5.11 Amnesic Incognito Live System Switches to ZRam and Linux Kernel 6.1 LTS

• In Tails 5.11, the devs added the ZRam (formerly compcache) Linux kernel module for extending your computer’s physical memory to allow running apps and sessions for longer periods of time without the system hanging or freezing. ZRam creates a compressed block device in RAM with on-the-fly disk compression.

• On the same note, the Linux kernel was bumped in this release from the now deprecated Linux 6.0 series to the long-term supported Linux kernel 6.1 LTS. This automatically translates to better hardware support and new features.

Devices/Embedded

=> ↺ Texas Instruments unveils AM62A, AM68A and AM69A Arm Cortex Vision processors and devkits

• The $299 SK-AM69 Starter Kit/Evaluation Module (EVM) can be used to evaluate the AM69A AI vision processor with two 22-pin Raspberry Pi CSI connectors and two 40-pin MIPI CSI-2 expansion connectors for up to 12 cameras.

• All AM62A, AM68A, and AM68A SoCs support Linux application development, standard development tools such as Code Composer Studio (CCS), as well as the upcoming (Q2 2023) Edge AI Studio free web-based open-source tool to develop and test AI models quickly and easily using user-created models and TI’s optimized models. Supported frameworks include TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX, TVM, and others.

Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications

=> ↺ Ubuntu Touch OTA-25 Arrives on March 24th as the Last One Based on Ubuntu 16.04

• The wait is almost over as Ubuntu Touch OTA-25 appears to be the last update based on the Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) operating system series. UBports worked very hard in the past year to rebase Ubuntu Touch on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa), which will be released to the general public in the coming months starting with the OTA-26 update.

• Meanwhile, Ubuntu Touch users will have another software update on their hands that brings emblem counters for the Dialer and Messaging apps, persistent notifications when the urgency status is set to critical and other improvements to notifications, as well as on-screen keyboard vibration optimization on Volla Phone devices.

=> ↺ Android appeal case: NCLAT reserves verdict, likely to issue final judgement by March 31 – The Hindu BusinessLine

=> ↺ Qualcomm Removes Licensing Fees for aptX and aptX HD Encoders on Android

=> ↺ Top 9 ways To Easily Fix ‘Android Phone Keeps Turning Off’

=> ↺ Android vs iPhone: Which one is more reliable? Here’s the answer

=> ↺ FiiO M15S Lossless Music Player launched in China with Android 10 & Snapdragon 660

=> ↺ Android 14 could finally separate the ringtone and notification volumes

Free, Libre, and Open Source Software

=> ↺ Lightwork

• A speedpainting inspired by Devin Townsend’s 2022 music album. I’ll go to his concert tomorrow in Toulouse! Lightwork Tour. I listen to his music since 2000. I can’t wait!

=> ↺ LibreArts Weekly recap — 19 March 2023

• Week highlights: DreamWorks Animation releases source code of MoonRay renderer, new beta and final releases of Siril, HDRView, MFEKglif, QGIS, major changes coming to FreeCAD.

• CmykStudent is proposing to start working on real non-destructive editing in GIMP this summer within the GSoC program. Here is their proposal. All projects ideas for GSoC and generally for internships are here.

• Meanwhile, mr.fantastic continues hacking on the on-canvas alignment feature when moving layers.

Luis Villa: Writing elsewhere; the pain of moving platformsI’ve been doing a lot of writing elsewhere of late. Some links:I’ve written a fair amount in the past year for the Tidelift blog, most recently on the EU’s Cyber Resiliency Act and what it might mean for open source. I wrote last week at opensource.com; the latest in a now multi-year series on board candidates in elections for the Open Source Initiative.I have a newsletter on the intersection of open and machine learning at openml.fyi. It is fun!I’ve moved to the fediverse for most of my social media—I’m social.coop/@luis_in_brief (and you can subscribe to this blog via the fediverse at @lu.is/@admin).I don’t love (mostly) leaving Twitter; as I’ve said a few times, the exposure to different people there helped make me a better person. But one of my primary political concerns is the rise of fascism in the US, and that absolutely includes Elon and the people who enable him. I can’t quit cold-turkey; unfortunately, too many things I care about (or need to follow for work) haven’t left. But I can at least sleep well.

Web Browsers/Web Servers

=> ↺ twenty-five years of curl

• Time flies when you are having fun. Today is curl’s 25th birthday. The curl project started out very humbly as a small renamed URL transfer tool that almost nobody knew about for the first few years.

=> ↺ Fossified: curl 25 years

• Over in our podcast Fossified, we did an entire episode dedicated to curl’s 25th birthday. Enjoy!

Content Management Systems (CMS)

=> ↺ Create accessible websites with Drupal

• As the world becomes increasingly digital, it’s more important than ever to ensure that websites are accessible to everyone. Accessibility is about designing websites that can be used by people with disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairments, as well as those who rely on assistive technology like screen readers. In this article, I’ll explore recommendations for creating accessible websites with Drupal, a popular open source content management system.

Education

=> ↺ European Innovation & Technical Capabilities

• Over the past few years I’ve been writing a lot about innovation, and specifically, the lack thereof in Europe. I also touch on how we’ve outsourced a ton of operational capabilities, leaving us relatively helpless.

• By now this is such a huge amount of words, audio and video that it is in dire need of a summary, if only to see if it makes any kind of sense taken together.

GNU Projects

=> ↺ Amin Bandali: LibrePlanet 2023: What’s new in Jami

• Today I gave a talk atLibrePlanet 2023 on what’s new in and about Jami since myJami and how it empowers users talk for LibrePlanet 2021.

=> ↺ a2ps @ Savannah: a2ps 4.15.2 released [stable]

Programming/Development

=> ↺ Develop on Kubernetes with open source tools

• Over the last five years, a massive shift in how applications get deployed has occurred. It’s gone from self-hosted infrastructure to the world of the cloud and Kubernetes clusters. This change in deployment practices brought a lot of new things to the world of developers, including containers, cloud provider configuration, container orchestration, and more. There’s been a shift away from coding monoliths towards cloud-native applications consisting of multiple microservices.

• While application deployment has advanced, the workflows and tooling for development have largely remained stagnant. They didn’t adapt completely or feel “native” to this brave new world of cloud-native applications. This can mean an unpleasant developer experience, involving a massive loss in developer productivity.

• But there’s a better way. What if you could seamlessly integrate Kubernetes and unlimited cloud resources with your favorite local development tools?

Python

=> ↺ Why Python Replaced Perl

• Both Perl and Python are powerful scripting languages that are used extensively in software development, system administration, and data analysis. Here are some key differences between the two languages: In recent years, Python has become the preferred language for many tasks, particularly in the areas of data science, machine learning, and web development.

Java

=> ↺ Common Mistakes When Using Optional in Java

• Optional in Java is a container object that is used to represent the presence or absence of a value. It is a powerful tool that can help to avoid null pointer exceptions and make code more robust.

=> ↺ How to Use Efficiently Generics in Java

• In Java, generics provide a way to specify a type parameter for a class, method, or interface. A type parameter is a placeholder for a type that is specified at runtime, allowing code to be written that works with a variety of different types.

=> ↺ What are the Benefits of the Diamond Operator in Java

• The diamond operator in Java, also known as the empty angle bracket (<>) syntax, was introduced in Java 7 and provides several benefits: Overall, the diamond operator in Java provides a cleaner, safer, and more efficient way to work with generic types, improving the readability and maintainability of code.

=> ↺ Why should You Use Method References in Java

• In Java, a method reference is a shorthand notation for referring to a method as a lambda expression. Method references provide a way to pass a reference to a method without actually invoking the method, which can be useful in functional programming contexts where methods are treated as first-class objects.

=> ↺ How to Create Custom Annotations in Java

• In Java, annotations are a form of metadata that provide additional information about program elements such as classes, methods, fields, and parameters.

Standards/Consortia

=> ↺ UTF-8’s creation

• “UTF-8 was designed, in front of my eyes, on a placemat in a New Jersey diner one night in September or so 1992.”  Also why Windows had poor UTF-8 support for so long.

Leftovers

=> ↺ Missing Dr. Strangelove

• Bosley Crowther, chief film critic for the New York Times, didn’t quite know what to make of Dr. Strangelove at the time of its release in January 1964. Stanley Kubrick’s dark antiwar satire was “beyond any question the most shattering sick joke I’ve ever come across,” he wrote. But if the film had its hilarious moments, Crowther found its overall effect distinctly unnerving. What exactly was Kubrick’s point? “When virtually everybody turns up stupid or insane — or, what is worse, psychopathic — I want to know what this picture proves.”

• We may find it odd for an influential critic to expect a movie to “prove” anything. Kubrick’s aim was manifestly not to prove, but to subvert and discomfit.

Science

=> ↺ Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe?

Education

=> ↺ Minnesota Becomes 4th State to Provide Free Meals to All Kids at Public Schools

Hardware

=> ↺ Chinese Customs Busts Man Smuggling 84 SSDs in a Scooter

• Customs agents in China report they have caught a man attempting to hide drives inside of an electric scooter.

=> ↺ xTool D1 Pro 20W Review – Mandala Art with a 20W laser engraver and cutter

• Hey Karl here. I am going to be sharing my experience with the xTool D1 Pro 20W. It is a 20W laser cutter/engraver with a 340x390mm working area. It has been heavily reviewed and I will comment on a few points I have not seen spoken about. I join a lot of Facebook groups for these reviews to get real-world feedback and ideas to write about.

=> ↺ A Look At Zweikanalton Stereo Audio And Comparison With NICAM

• With how we take stereo sound for granted, there was a very long period where broadcast audio and television with accompanying audio track were in mono. Over the decades, multiple standards were developed that provide a way to transmit and receive two mono tracks, as a proper stereo transmission. In a recent video, [Matt] over at [Matt’s Tech Barn] takes a look at the German Zweikanalton (also known as A2 Stereo) standard, and compares it with the NICAM standard that was used elsewhere in the world.

=> ↺ The $50 Pen Plotter

• [Arca] sets out to build himself a low-cost pen plotter that doesn’t require access to a 3D printer. The plotter uses a coreXY arrangement, powered by 28BYJ-48 stepper motors, which he overdrives with +12 VDC to increase the torque. Pen up and down control is done using a stepper motor salvaged from a DVD reader. The frame is constructed using PVC electrical conduit and associated fittings, and [Arca] uses the hot glue gun quite liberally. Steppers were driven by A4988 modules with heatsinks, and motion control is provided by GRBL running on an Arduino UNO.

=> ↺ Why are they called du Pont connectors?

• You know those tiny header connectors that computers use to attach power buttons and speakers to motherboards? I’ve always known them as du Pont connectors. I never really thought why, though I assumed it was for the same reason they’re called Molex connectors.

Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

=> ↺ Rethinking ‘Back to Normal’ in the Pandemicine

• I really, really want Left organizations to rethink “back to normal” in the pandemicine.

• I can’t tell you how demoralizing it is to see announcements of meetings or other events that I might want to go to, but for which I  see no information about Covid precautions.  Is it virtual? or hybrid?  Will people be wearing respirators?  What’s the ventilation like in that indoor venue?  Are we living on separate planets?

=> ↺ Egg freezing and storage remains shockingly analog—and ripe for disruption

• Technology for in vitro fertilization has existed since the 1970s, but it wasn’t until 2014 that the American Society of Reproductive Medicine said it no longer viewed egg freezing as an experimental technology.

=> ↺ Paralysis Outbreak in Europe Tied to ‘Stomach Botox’ Procedures

• A cautionary tale.

=> ↺ Ozempic Is a Weight-Loss Sensation, But These Foods Give The Same Effect

• The right food may be all you need.

=> ↺ What if Kids Are Sad and Stressed Because Their Parents Are?

• To heal our children, we need to heal ourselves.

=> ↺ Wyoming becomes first state with explicit ban on abortion pills

• Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has signed into law the nation’s first explicit ban on abortion pills since they became the predominant choice for abortion in the U.S. in recent years.

Security

=> ↺ Surveying Software Supply Chain Security

• Chainguard, the co-creator of Sigstore, has conducted a survey to better understand if and how software supply best practices are utilized by the industry. We take a look at the findings.

• With the title, SLSA++ A Survey of Software Supply Chain Security, it was actually run by a consortium comprising Chainguard, the Eclipse Foundation, the Rust Foundation and the OpenSSF. Suffice to say that these resounding names put some weight behind it.

=> ↺ 10 Cyber threats for Healthcare Systems

• Protection against cyber threats is crucial for healthcare services because they handle sensitive patient information and rely on computer systems to support critical operations. Cyberattacks on healthcare organizations can result in the compromise of patient data, disruption of services, and even the potential harm of patients.

=> ↺ FBI arrests alleged owner of popular hacking forum BreachForums

• The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a New York man on Wednesday on suspicion of running BreachForums, the popular internet forum that has become a favorite among hackers to share their exploits on the regular internet.

=> ↺ Owner of site that hosted Optus, Medibank data arrested

• Conor Brian Fitzpatrick was arrested on Wednesday [15 March], according to a report published by Bloomberg.

Privacy/Surveillance

=> ↺ Putin administration tells employees to scrap their iPhones by April — Meduza

• The Putin administration has instructed members of its domestic policy bloc to stop using iPhones by the end of the month, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported on Monday, citing multiple sources who were at the meeting where the announcement was made.

Defence/Aggression

=> ↺ Iraq Daily Roundup: Seven Killed

• Five more were wounded.

=> ↺ Iran’s Foreign Minister Says He Has Agreed To Meet Saudi Counterpart

• Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on March 19 that he had agreed to meet his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Adel Al-Jubeir, proposing three locations during a news conference.

=> ↺ Russia’s FSB Raids Moscow Bar After Owners Held Fund-Raising Event For Ukrainian Group

• Officers from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) raided two Moscow bars, temporarily detaining dozens of workers and customers, after its owners last year allegedly held a fund-raising event for a Ukrainian group.

=> ↺ Serbian President Says ICC Arrest Warrant For Putin Will Prolong The War

• Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has criticized an international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court will prolong the war in Ukraine.

=> ↺ Defiant Putin visits occupied Mariupol, symbol of Ukrainian resistance

• Vladimir Putin has made a surprise visit to Russian-occupied Mariupol, his first visit to territory captured by his forces in the year-long conflict.

=> ↺ North Korea: Latest missile simulated nuclear counterattack

• The North’s leader Kim Jong Un instructed his military to hold more drills to sharpen the war readiness of his nuclear forces in the face of “aggression” by his enemies, state media reported.

=> ↺ BBC tells employees to delete TikTok from work phones: report

• “We are currently reviewing the TikTok concerns and will provide further updates based on the government and National Cyber Security Centre guidelines.”

=> ↺ BBC advises staff against using Tiktok on work devices unless for ‘editorial and marketing’

• The BBC said staff should have a “justified business reason” to install Tiktok on work phones.

=> ↺ The enduring lessons of the Iraq War

• The US-led overthrow of the government of Saddam Hussein in Iraq marked the beginning of a series of events that reshaped the strategic environment of the Middle East.

=> ↺ Finland may join Nato before Sweden, Niinistö says

• “We’ll walk hand in hand as long as it’s up to us,” the Finnish President told Swedish broadcaster SVT.

=> ↺ North Korea leader Kim, with daughter in tow, leads drills ‘simulating nuclear counter-attack’

• The drills were the fourth show of force from Pyongyang in a week.

=> ↺ To combat food shortages, North Korea deploys the military

• South Korea is trying to use food shortages as leverage to coax Pyongyang back to dialogue.

=> ↺ Nuclear-powered submarines and Australia’s non-proliferation obligations

• The issue of nuclear non-proliferation is back in the headlines, thanks to details announced last week about Australia’s acquisition of nuclear submarines under the AUKUS pact.

=> ↺ Jim Gordon, Drummer for Eric Clapton — And Convicted Murderer — Dies at 77

• Jim Gordon, drummer for Eric Clapton and George Harrison, convicted of murdering his mother in 1983, has died at 77. Jim Gordon, a top drummer for Eric Clapton’s Derek and the Dominos, George Harrison, and many others, has died at 77.

=> ↺ UNICEF report: children in central Sahel Region in urgent need of humanitarian aid

• The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Friday issued a report about the well-being of children in the central Sahel Region. The report claims that 10 million children in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, and an additional 4 million are in danger as a result of the conflict spreading to nearby nations.

=> ↺ Manhattan DA reassures staff of their safety after Trump protest call

• Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg reassured staff in a memo Saturday that efforts to intimidate them or threaten the rule of law will not be tolerated.

=> ↺ Pavlov’s Press Corps: Trump Once Again Got Journalists to Willingly Serve as His Incitement Mules

• Trump has once again expertly played journalists to get them to serve as data mules disseminating his tweet inciting violence in response to his expected indictment in New York.

=> ↺ Just for Perspective: Investigations Take Longer When Presidents Don’t Wiretap Themselves

• It has now taken longer to hold Trump accountable than it took to get Richard Nixon to resign after the Watergate break-in. Even assuming those were comparable timelines, a number of things distinguish the January 6 investigation from the far less complex Watergate one, starting with the fact that, unlike Nixon, Trump is not known to have wiretapped himself.

=> ↺ Revisiting the Flood report on the anniversary of the Iraq War

• Today marks the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

=> ↺ Policy lessons from the Iraq War for those who wish to forget

• A retired US Marine Corps officer who served in Iraq reflects on what went wrong, what went right, and what today’s leaders can learn.

=> ↺ Putin the Pariah: War crimes arrest warrant deepens Russia’s isolation

• The ICC decision to indict Putin for war crimes is a highly consequential step that will deepen Russia’s international isolation while weakening Putin’s personal position both at home and abroad, writes Anders Åslund.

=> ↺ ‘No other option’: Russia’s unequal economic marriage with China

• Russia has found itself in an unequal relationship with China since intensifying its pivot toward Beijing after the assault on Ukraine.

=> ↺ Iranian Strategic Patience: Israel and the Soft Wars

• Unfortunately, by tracking the pattern of strategies of many countries based on exaggerated interest in human rights, women’s and democracy issues in Iran (such as the case of the death of the Iranian girl Mahsa Amini), it is no longer possible to ignore the extent of the political, security and cultural exploitation…

=> ↺ ICC’s Arrest Warrant Limits Putin’s External Visits

• The first simple interpretation of the warrant issued by International Criminal Court is that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be arrested in 123 member states around the world. These members are now legally bound to arrest, detain and hand him over to the court.

=> ↺ The Minsk Deception and the Planned War in Donbas

• There is a historically possible world in which the Minsk Agreement never needed to be made. In 2014, a US supported coup removed the democratically elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, with his eastern base, and replaced him with a West leaning president who was handpicked by the US.

=> ↺ Iraq 20 Years: The Uses and Abuses of National Intelligence Estimates

• A New York Times Magazine article in July 2020 focused on then Secretary of State Powell and his U.N. speech of Feb. 5, 2003 and the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) upon which it is largely based.

=> ↺ 20 Years After the Invasion of Iraq, Will the Media’s Complicity Be Flushed Down the Memory Hole?

• “All wars are fought twice, the first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory.” — Viet Thanh Nguyen As mainstream U.S. media outlets pause to remember the US invasion of Iraq, it’s clear that there’s a lot they hope we’ll forget – first and foremost, the media’s own active complicity in whipping up public support…

=> ↺ Iraq War II – 20 Years Later

• Well it seems like only yesterday, though it was half a lifetime ago. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and their men and women, especially the neoconservatives, knowingly and deliberately lied this country into starting an aggressive war against Iraq – a war they pretended was a “preemptive” attack against a nation…

=> ↺ Life on the Chukchi Sea coast A film shot in Chukotka offers a glimpse of one of Russia’s Arctic Indigenous cultures — Meduza

• In the summer of 2020, a Russian film crew went to Russia’s autonomous Chukotka region, the north-easternmost part of the Russian Federation, to film the daily lives of the region’s inhabitants. Most of the resulting short film was shot in the villages of Inchoun and Uelen, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, where the majority of inhabitants are indigenous Chukchi, and nearly everyone lives on the spoils of subsistence marine hunting. The film’s title, Piblokto, refers to a culture-specific condition — sometimes called Arctic hysteria — which may occur in societies in the Far North. Those afflicted are said to perform dangerous, cruel, or apparently senseless acts. To outside observers, the behavior may resemble that of a shaman during a ritual trance. The term Piblokto does not exist in the Chukchi language, and it appears to have been invented by researchers. Indigenous people do not consider the condition a disease. Here, Meduza shares some clips and stills from Piblokto.

=> ↺ ‘We forced these lowlifes to give in’ Evgeny Prigozhin flouts local ban on Wagner funerals and threatens the mayor responsible — Meduza

• According to estimates from U.S. officials, Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has lost more than 30,000 fighters since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Hundreds of those men have been buried in a cemetery in the small village of Bakinskaya, not far from the official Wagner Group chapel. This weekend, though, an attempt by Wagner’s founder, Evgeny Prigozhin, to hold a funeral ceremony at that graveyard was met with pushback from local officials, who cited public opinion among village residents. Not to be deterred, Prigozhin escalated the situation, threatening to prosecute village authorities, while Wagner fighters promised violence. Here’s what we know about Prigozhin’s latest refusal to take no for an answer.

=> ↺ The Intricacies Of Starting A Rocket Engine

• Rockets are conceptually rather simple: you put the pointy bit upwards and make sure that the bit that will go flamey points downwards before starting the engine(s). Yet how to start each rocket engine type in a way that’s both safe and effective? Unlike in the Wile E. Coyote cartoons, real-life rocket engines do not have a fuse you light up before dashing off to a safe distance. Rather they use increasingly more complicated methods, which depend on the engine type and fuels used. In a recent article written by [Trevor Sesnic] with accompanying video featuring everyone’s favorite Everyday Astronaut [Tim Dodd], we’re taken through the intricacies of how flamey ends are made.

=> ↺ Taiwan Separatists Lose Key Ally, Honduras Recognizes China—Just 12 Small Countries Remain

• Honduras’ leftist President Xiomara Castro announced her government will recognize China. Now only 12 UN member states have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan separatists. They have a combined population of less than 39 million, or 0.49% of the planet.

=> ↺ 20 Years After Illegal US Invasion of Iraq, Its Architects Are Still Cashing In

=> ↺ Trump Wants More Violence. That’s Fine With Kevin McCarthy.

• Donald Trump is a liar. So there is no reason to believe he’s going to be “arrested” Tuesday, as he claimed in a Truth Social post on Saturday morning. There has been reporting that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is close to indicting Trump, presumably on charges related to the hush money he paid porn star Stormy Daniels (we don’t know that for certain), possibly as early as this week. But we don’t know that for sure either.1

=> ↺ Spent Matters: The AUKUS Nuclear Waste Problem

• When Australia – vassal be thy name – assumed responsibilities for not only throwing money at both US and British shipbuilders, lending up territory and naval facilities for war like a gambling drunk, and essentially asking its officials to commit seppuku for the Imperium, another task was given.  While the ditzy and dunderheaded wonders in Canberra would be acquiring submarines with nuclear propulsion technology, there would be that rather problematic issue of what to do with the waste.  “Yes,” said the obliging Australians, “we will deal with it.”

• The Australian Defence Department has published a fact sheet on the matter, which, as all such fact sheets go, fudges the facts and sports a degree of misplaced optimism.  It promises a “sophisticated security and safety architecture” around the nuclear-powered submarine program, “building on our 70-year unblemished track record of operating nuclear facilities and conducting nuclear science activities.”

=> ↺ In the 70s the USAF and RAF Were Both Tired, But RAF Pilots Were Better Off

• The 1970s were a disastrous decade for the USAF. Having failed to defeat North Vietnam, there were serious issues that persisted. In his 2022 book And I Lived To Tell The Tales: The Life of a Fighter Pilot, retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel Ed Cobleigh, who flew the F-4 in Vietnam, said: “By the mid-1970s, USAF F-4 Phantoms were tired, many were worn out. Years of combat missions in Vietnam coupled with intensive training missions in the US all had taken their toll. At Nellis, we flew the newest F-4Es in the fleet but even there the aircraft were often unavailable awaiting repairs or spare parts. As the SEA [South East Asia] conflict wound down the constant protests against that sorry-ass war and against the US military in general also affected our USAF personnel. Morale, particularly among the enlisted troops, measured lower than whale poop. Spare parts were hard to come by. Trained maintainers left the service in droves for greener and less controversial pastures. It was not uncommon to plan for a flight of four F-4s at 0600 and find out after the pre-mission briefing there were only enough serviceable aircraft for a flight of two, or a flight of none. At least we got briefing practice.” (pp. 124-125). In contrast, Colonel Cobleigh noted that when he trained pilots in the Imperial Iranian Air Force, then a staunch ally, “[it] was like being in a brand-new air force. The jets were pristine, right from the factory, and well-maintained by enthusiastic troops. Everything on the air base was shiny new, no expense had been spared.” (Ibid.)

• Like the USAF, the RAF went through hard times in the 70s, and Cobleigh knew all about it as an exchange pilot flying the Jaguar. He observed: “In the mid-1970s, the Royal Air Force experienced serious decline. The force’s point air defense interceptor, the English Electric Lightning, was obsolete as were its missiles. The most modern aircraft the RAF deployed, the F-4K Phantom, was wearing out and anyway wasn’t really up to the challenge.” (p. 190) So both the USAF and RAF were using worn out F-4s, so they had that in common. The new Jaguar had serious deficiencies at first, but eventually became a pretty good airplane. “Once the aerial refueling glitches were solved, RAF Jaguars deployed across the Atlantic, and clear across the US, to participate in Operation Red Flag at Nellis AFB. There they gained a reputation for expert low flying. During one full-scale exercise, [RAF pilot] Chris McCairns called, and was credited with, an air-to-air kill on a USAF F-15 Eagle, which pleased him to no end.” (p. 197) He concluded “What success the Jaguar achieved was due in large part to the dedication and professionalism of its RAF pilots.” (Ibid.)

=> ↺ Why China’s Actions Toward Ukraine and Russia Could Shape the Course of Future Geopolitics

• Days before the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2023, U.S. officialsclaimed that China was considering providing Russia with lethal weaponry to support its military campaign. China denied the accusations, and on the anniversary of the invasion instead put forth its 12-point peace plan to end the conflict. These events followed after tensions between Beijing and Washington flared during the Chinese spy balloon scandal that began in early February 2023.

• Since the war’s inception, the U.S. has cautioned China not to support Russia. Following reports that Russia had asked China for military assistance in March 2022, Washington warned that countries providing “material, economic, financial [or] rhetorical” support to Russia would face “consequences.” The Biden administration also confronted China in January 2023 with “evidence that [suggested] some Chinese state-owned companies may be providing assistance” to the Russian military.

=> ↺ International Criminal Court: Sauce for the Goose …

• “Well, I think it’s justified,” US president Joe Biden said of news that the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian president Vladimir Putin and “children’s rights commissioner” Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova over their actions in Ukraine. “[The ICC’s jurisdiction is] not recognized internationally by us, either. But I think it makes a very strong point.”

• Here’s the thing about the ICC’s jurisdiction: It extends to crimes committed in countries which recognize that jurisdiction, even when the alleged criminals aren’t from those countries.

=> ↺ We Need to Talk About Gun Manufacturers

=> ↺ Fascists Are Attempting to Win Followers by Rebranding as Antiwar

=> ↺ KGB of Belarus reports the death of a foreign national during an ‘anti-terrorism’ operation in Grodno — Meduza

• In Grodno, Belarus, employees of the country’s state security service (which uses the acronym KGB) shot and killed a foreign national. The person in question allegedly put up armed resistance to KGB officers, “using automatic weapons and detonating grenades.”

=> ↺ ‘No one showed him the empty pits’ Putin visits Mariupol for the first time since Russia destroyed and then annexed the city — Meduza

• Late at night on March 18–19, Russian president Vladimir Putin paid an unplanned visit to Mariupol. The city was almost completely destroyed during a two-and-a-half-month siege by Russian troops in spring 2022, and was annexed by Russia in fall 2022. Russian state news networks ran approving video footage of Putin’s visit, including a meeting with residents of one of the city’s restored neighborhoods. Independent media outlets confirmed the trip and published the reactions of a few of the city’s other residents, who were less than thrilled with Putin’s drop-in visit.

=> ↺ Zelensky’s office on Putin’s visit to Mariupol: ‘The criminal is always drawn to the scene of the crime’ — Meduza

• Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, commented on Russian president Vladimir Putin’s visit to the annexed city of Mariupol:

=> ↺ Latvian ‘Red Fox’ sniper wounded in Ukraine

• A volunteer sniper from Latvia, nicknamed Red Fox, has been injured on the front in Ukraine, according to the aid association’s ‘SOS palīdzība Ukrainas armijai’ entry on social media on Sunday.

=> ↺ Higher cancer rates found in military pilots, ground crews

• A Pentagon study has found high rates of cancer among military pilots and, for the first time, shows that ground crews who fuel, maintain and launch those aircraft are also getting sick. The data had long been sought by retired military aviators who have raised alarms for years about the number of those they knew who had cancer.

Environment

=> ↺ Free Trade or Just Green Trade?

=> ↺ The Questionable Economic Calculus Behind the Willow Project

Energy/Transportation

=> ↺ Greens seek ‘bare minimum’ on carbon emissions scheme

• The Greens say they are asking the federal government for the “bare minimum” when it comes to cutting carbon emissions.

=> ↺ Call for climate officers to help farmers cut emissions

• Farmers managing the effects of climate change must be considered in the upcoming federal budget, says an independent MP pushing for agricultural assistance.  As the lower house debates the government’s changes to the safeguard mechanism, independent crossbencher Helen Haines proposed her plan for a network of 200 agricultural extension officers.

Wildlife/Nature

=> ↺ Alliance for the Wild Rockies Scores Court Win for Grizzly Bears

• Of all remaining “unoccupied” grizzly bear habitat in the lower 48 States, the enormous Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness has the best potential for grizzly bear recovery. The Alliance for the Wild Rockies is thrilled and grateful to announce that a federal court in Montana recently ruled in our favor and has forced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take action to restore grizzlies to this area after 22 long years of stalling.

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a Record of Decision in 2000 that committed the agency to establish a Bitterroot Grizzly Recovery Area, form a committee to recommend land use management standards for the bears, implement an information campaign to prepare the public for the presence of grizzly bears in the area, and release a minimum of 25 grizzly bears into the Recovery Area over a period of five years as an “experimental non-essential population.” 

Finance

Axios ☛ Warren calls for investigation into the Fed amid banking turmoilSen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called for an independent investigation into the Federal Reserve and the banking regulatory system during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday.Why it matters: The banking sector is poised to head into a third week of existential questions and whipsaw volatility, despite official efforts to stabilize markets and reassure depositors, Axios’ Pete Gannon writes.The fates of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse remain up in the air.State of play: “I’m calling for an independent investigation of the Fed and the whole regulatory system here. The fed doesn’t just get to do its own investigation,” Warren told the program.

=> ↺ The Regulatory Breakdown Behind the Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank

• For more than a year, the Fed knew that the bank was headed toward a crisis. Why didn’t it intervene sooner?

=> ↺ Yanis Varoufakis in Geneva:Blowing the Cloud Capitalism

• “First time in history we all contribute to accumulation of a cloud capitalism, which became the production of a behavioral modification.” Yanis Varoufakis, Geneva, February 2023 His Excellency Yanis Varoufakis is a world renewed academic economist and politician, former finance minister of Greece, who was trying to renegotiate national depth within EU.

=> ↺ UBS agrees to buy Credit Suisse for more than $3bn to calm global markets

• UBS agreed to buy rival Swiss bank Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.23 billion) in stock and agreed to assume up to 5 billion francs ($5.4 billion) in losses, in a shotgun merger engineered by Swiss authorities to avoid more market-shaking turmoil in global banking.

=> ↺ Banking giant UBS is acquiring troubled rival Credit Suisse

• Banking giant UBS is acquiring smaller rival Credit Suisse in an effort to avoid further market-shaking turmoil in global banking, Swiss President Alain Berset announced.

=> ↺ RBA faces rate clash: Should they stay or should they go up?

• The Reserve Bank faces a clash of priorities over coming weeks: deal with banking turmoil in Europe and America, or drive down inflation?

=> ↺ Aussie bank funding costs tipped to rise on global turmoil

• After a tumultuous period in global banking, local experts say the most direct impact for Australian lenders could be more expensive funding.

=> ↺ Finland may subsidise interest rates for thousands of first-time home buyers

• The state subsidises 70 percent of interest rate costs exceeding 3.8 percent on ASP loans.

=> ↺ Railway strike halts train services on Monday – VR reimburses tickets bought during strike

• The Finnish Railways Union (RAU) has announced that it will hold a strike from Monday, March 20th, which will affect all train services indefinitely. The strike by train drivers is in response to ongoing collective agreement negotiations, which have yet to be resolved. As a result, VR, the Finnish state railway company, will cancel all long-distance and commuter trains during the strike period. However, VR has also made clear that it will refund passengers who have purchased tickets for the duration of the strike.

=> ↺ Rail shutdown stopping trains on Monday

• Finnish state railways VR says it will refund customers affected by the strike action.

=> ↺ RBA says Australian banks strong despite global turmoil

• The comment by Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor for financial markets Christopher Kent comes in the wake of UBS Group’s takeover of troubled rival Credit Suisse.

=> ↺ Investors Greet Emergency Credit Suisse Deal Warily

• Swiss regulators announced that UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank, would take over the troubled Credit Suisse.

=> ↺ Federal Reserve and Global Central Banks Act to Shore Up Dollar Access

• America’s central bank and its counterparts around the world are rushing to cushion markets against the impact of bank problems.

=> ↺ UBS Agrees to Buy Rival Credit Suisse to Shore Up Global Market

• In a deal brokered by the Swiss government, Switzerland’s largest bank will buy its smaller rival for about $3.2 billion.

=> ↺ Pension protests pile pressure on Macron ahead of crucial vote for France

• French President Emanuel Macron faces a critical test on Monday when the National Assembly is due to examine no-confidence motions filed after his government bypassed parliament on Thursday to push through a deeply unpopular pension reform, sparking days of unrest.

=> ↺ New York Community Bank announces purchase of failed Signature Bank

• Signature Bank was the second bank to fail in this recent banking crisis, just 48 hours after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

=> ↺ Midsize banks want unlimited FDIC insurance for 2 years

• A coalition of midsize U.S. banks is calling on the government to insure all deposits for the next two years, in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank’s emergency rescue that insured all of the firm’s deposits regardless of size.

=> ↺ Global central banks announce joint action to combat crisis

• The world’s leading central banks jointly announced new action to try to keep U.S. dollars flowing easily through the global banking system, returning to a strategy used extensively in past crises.

=> ↺ Credit Suisse bought out by UBS as banking fears claim big victim

• UBS has struck a deal to purchase troubled Credit Suisse for $2 billion, as a maelstrom of higher interest rates and bank solvency fears continue to batter global markets.

=> ↺ New York Community Bancorp to take over failed Signature Bank

• New York Community Bancorp is taking over the failed Signature Bank, which was seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) a week ago.

=> ↺ The Next Bomb to Go Off in the Banking Crisis Will Be Derivatives

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen finds herself in a very dubious position. Under the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation of 2010, the U.S. Treasury Secretary was given increased powers to oversee financial stability in the U.S. banking system. This increase in power came in response to the 2008 financial crisis – the worst financial collapse since the Great Depression. The legislation made the Treasury Secretary the Chair of the newly created Financial Stability Oversight Council (F-SOC), whose meetings include the heads of all of the federal agencies that supervise banks and trading on Wall Street. The legislation also required the Treasury Secretary’s authorization before the Federal Reserve could create any more of those $29 trillion emergency bailout programs for the mega banks – which had tethered themselves to casino trading on Wall Street since the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999.

• Yesterday, after the Swiss banking behemoth Credit Suisse had traded at an all-time low of less than two bucks; blown out its credit default swaps to unprecedented levels; and tanked the Dow Jones Industrial Average by more than 700 points intraday, Bloomberg News ran this headline at 12:54 p.m. – “US Treasury Reviewing US Banks’ Exposure to Credit Suisse.” By “exposure,” the Treasury really means how many billions of dollars of underwater derivatives are U.S. banks on the hook for as a counterparty to Credit Suisse. The Treasury also has to worry about U.S. banks’ exposure to Credit Suisse’s other major counterparties that U.S. banks do business with, even if the banks are not direct counterparties to Credit Suisse itself.

=> ↺ How Can Inflation be Out of Control with 3.6 Percent Wage Growth?

• We have been getting conflicting data on inflation in recent days. The February consumer price index was not great, showing a one-month rise of 0.4 percent in the overall index and 0.5 percent in the core. Combined with the last couple of months’ data, it indicates a modest acceleration over the rates seen in the fall.

• By contrast, the Producer Price Index came in somewhat better than expected, with the overall finished goods index declining 0.1 percent, driven by drops in food and energy prices. The core index rose a modest 0.2 percent. Most of the indices at earlier stages of production also showed a good picture. For example, the intermediate index for processed goods fell 0.4 percent in February and is now up just 2.1 percent over the last year.

=> ↺ What’s to be Done With Lawyers?

• Wow, “Former High-Profile Lawyer Is Charged With Embezzling More than $18 Million”! Who would have predicted a high-profile lawyer would behave so unethically? Turns out pretty much anyone, according to opinion polls that consistently rank lawyers near the bottom among professionals. A recent Gallup poll was celebrated in an article the title of which is classic damning with faint praise: “Good News! People Think Lawyers Have an Average Amount of Integrity Now.” In fact, only half the people polled thought that, but half is actually a significant improvement over earlier polls. 

• The headline about Tom Girardi, one of the attorneys who represented Erin Brockovich, being indicted on charges that he stole from clients reminded me of a joke about lawyers from the first season of  the television series “Frasier.”

=> ↺ The venture-backed rocket industry is finally coming back to Earth

• Venture-backed rocket makers recently spent an anxious weekend waiting on the outcome of Silicon Valley Bank’s failure, but their latest troubles have no connection to with the lender’s collapse.

=> ↺ On recharge

• It’s been over 6 years since I started working at Meta (then known as Facebook). Not going to comment here about all the controversies surrounding our products, but as an employee, I have been lucky enough to work on interesting teams that, yes, don’t do anything that give me cause to be sleepless at night.

• One perk we have (that is no big deal to friends in Europe, but is a big deal in the US) is being able to take 30 calendar days of recharge leave (think of it as a short sabbatical) after each 5 years of employment (together with the 21 work days of PTO a year, this roughly brings us in line with what Europeans get courtesy of employment laws.

• [...]

• … and then the layoffs began. After the first round I rushed to apply for my recharge, since… unlike more established benefits like parental leave, this likely won’t be cashed out in case the employee gets laid off. I’ll be back just in time to see if my position gets eliminated in the second round! (That is looking very unlikely, but you never know).

=> ↺ Scottish independence at crossroads in testy SNP leader race

• The race to lead the Scottish National Party has cracked open fissures over political strategy, social issues and the legacy of departing leader Nicola Sturgeon. Sturgeon announced her resignation in February after eight years as party leader and first minster of Scotland’s semi-autonomous government.

AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

=> ↺ Deathly silence from Perrottet and Minns to Sydney’s burials crisis as state election looms

• As the NSW election looms, both major parties have buried a big problem, burials. Both Labor’s Chris Minns and Premier Dominic Perrottet have no answer to Sydney’s burial crisis. The city’s public cemeteries expect to run out of space in the next five years. The former boss of the government’s new cemetery manager speaks out in a scathing critique of the lack of accountability and leadership in Sydney’s $5 billion cemetery sector. Callum Foote reports.

• “Having had more than 20 years of experience in managing public cemeteries, I can only describe my four months experience as the CEO of OneCrown as highly unusual, if not bizarre, unprofessional, and an immensely frustrating experience” says Robert Pitt, former CEO of NSW’s public cemetery manager OneCrown.

=> ↺ Information Commissioner aiding and abetting the enemy

• In a David and Goliath battle in the Federal Court today, Rex Patrick takes on Information Commissioner, Angelene Falk to challenge to the lengthy delays that plague freedom of information (FOI) requests being reviewed by her. Rex Patrick gives us the inside word as he enters the courtroom.

• Delay is the enemy of FOI, and right now our Information Commissioner is aiding and abetting that enemy.

=> ↺ LTV’s De Facto: MEPs Ušakovs and Ameriks face graft accusations

• Memebr of the European Parliament and former long-standing Rīga mayor Nils Ušakovs (Harmony) announced in mid-March that he has the status of a suspect in a new case. Latvian Television’s De Facto has found that Ušakovs and his colleague in Brussels, Andris Ameriks (Honor to Serve Rīga) are both accused of requesting bribes, the broadcast reported on March 19.

=> ↺ WATCH: Decentralized Communication – #SolutionsWatch

• As the internet clampdown begins, people are finally beginning to wake up to the need to find alternative communication platforms. But if the masses are just herded from one centralized platform to another, has anything really changed at all?

=> ↺ Digital Literacy: Can the Republic ‘Survive an Algorithm?’

• Much of the debate about combating online misinformation and extremism revolves around government regulations and changes made by social media platforms

Censorship/Free Speech

=> ↺ Over 200 detained after İstanbul Newroz celebrations

• The police surrounded and detained groups of people who were chanting slogans while leaving the event area after the celebrations ended.

Civil Rights/Policing

=> ↺ Advocates Call for Regulatory Change After Blocking Deportation of Woman in Coma

=> ↺ Saudi Arabia bets on cinema: A smokescreen for human rights violations?

• FRANCE 24 brings you a special full-length report on how the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia is investing in home-grown cinema. Making films in stunning Saudi locations is also a way of attracting foreign tourists to the country. Young people are now rushing to see films at multiplex cinemas and women make up a large proportion of the audience – a sign of the country’s liberalisation.

=> ↺ Gov’t plan to curb overseas lawyers in national security cases ‘not blanket ban,’ says deputy justice minister

• Hong Kong’s proposal to amend the law so that the chief executive can decide whether to allow overseas barristers to participate in national security cases does not amount to a blanket ban, the city’s deputy secretary for justice said on Sunday.

=> ↺ 9th Circuit upholds secret US monitoring of foreign airline reservations

• In a case we’ve been following closely, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that orders requiring the Sabre computerized reservation system to provide real-time reports to the FBI on any reservations made in or through Sabre associated with specific individuals can continue to be kept secret, at least as long as warrants for these individuals’ arrest remain outstanding, which could be indefinitely.

• The wanted individuals aren’t US citizens and aren’t believed to be in the US. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) already receives complete mirror copies 72 hours in advance of all international airline reservations (Passenger Name  Records) for flights to, from, or via the US. CBP has a well-established system of TECS alerts — which don’t even require a warrant — that it can use to generate a message to the FBI or other law enforcement agencies whenever planned travel to or from the US by a person of interest is detected.

• This is a much simpler process than going to court to get an order directing Sabre to maintain a lookout and report to the FBI on planned travel by a suspect.

=> ↺ A Comprehensive Report on Incarceration and Women Outlines the Gender Disparities

• The Prison Policy Initiative looks at a fast-growing group in the incarceration system and the challenges they are more likely to face.

Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

=> ↺ Routing protocol implementation evaluation in fat-trees

• Guest Post: How Sibyl establishes measures for comparing routing protocol implementations.

Monopolies

Copyrights

=> ↺ Filmmakers Want Owner of Defunct VPN Arrested in Piracy Case

• Last year, a group of independent filmmakers obtained a multi-million default judgment against VPN service LiquidVPN, which stood accused of facilitating piracy. Since the owner of the now-defunct service has paid nothing, the movie companies are calling for his arrest. Meanwhile, a waste company has been added to the dispute.

=> ↺ KOL407 | Fair Use Discussion with James Cox (2016)

• Kinsella on Liberty Podcast: Episode 407.

• This is a short conversation I had with James Cox about copyright and fair use back in 2016 (Feb. 26). We also talk about the safe harbor in the DMCA and the §230 safe harbor in the CDA.

Gemini* and Gopher

Personal

=> ↺ 🔤SpellBinding: GINPRSY Wordo: VIRES

=> ↺ Moving the MacGuffin

• I feel that this text could be easily misread as if it’s OK for the DM to be yanking around the maguffin post-hoc or, and this would be worse: that the writers of the book actually intends for such moving target shenanigans.

• Gemini (Primer) links can be opened using Gemini software. It’s like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter. Share in other sites/networks: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. Permalink  Send this to a friend

=> Techrights

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