Nostr notes by Alex Howard

Today, I learned that Mastodon is @npub1rkn…cdxd’s favorite ...

2026-08-03T15:47:36Z

Today, I learned that Mastodon is Tim Berners-Lee (npub1rkn…cdxd)’s favorite replacement for Twitter, while reading his memoir, “This is for Everyone.”

This seemed worth sharing here. :)

https://w3c.social/@timbl/115243018205563211

Elon Musk destroyed public records when he deleted the @18F ...

2025-02-04T02:49:29Z

Elon Musk destroyed public records when he deleted the @18F Twitter account, but staff still at work at GSA — for now.
https://18f.gsa.gov/about/

Contrary to what Musk’s tweet implied, leading to false headlines, the Direct File service is also still operational. USDS built it with Treasury. (18F was barely involved.) Secretary Bessent said Direct File would keep working this season. https://civic-texts.ghost.io/direct-file-shows-how-civic-tech-can-work-for-good-2/

The IRS’ direct file service opened for 25 states today. It’s ...

2025-01-28T02:36:00Z

The IRS’ direct file service opened for 25 states today. It’s a historic example of how civic technology can work for good. https://civic-texts.ghost.io/direct-file-shows-how-civic-tech-can-work-for-good-2/

that sounds wonderful on so many different levels. Enjoy! I adore ...

2024-12-21T18:29:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…qenn
_________________________

that sounds wonderful on so many different levels. Enjoy!

I adore garlicky lamb and tzatziki. We always roasted ours with rosemary & stuffed it with garlic, & served with a fruit chutney or plumb combo, so that yogurty dill sauce was a revelation to me as a young adult.

I hope you have fun making it. I❤️fresh dill, cukes, & lemon.

Homemade soup 🥣 weather. 🥶 I boiled the remainder of a ...

2024-12-21T17:17:35Z

Homemade soup 🥣 weather. 🥶
I boiled the remainder of a chicken I’d roasted with lemon & tarragon, added wild mushrooms & carrots, & left it to simmer.
I must strain herbs & bones & add salt before serving to others, but this broth is a good start.

What are you cooking today?

This newsletter by @npub1k9g…8ylh is one of the best digests of ...

2024-12-18T14:08:17Z

This newsletter by Clive Thompson (npub1k9g…8ylh) is one of the best digests of weird and wonderful things I’ve read in ages: https://buttondown.com/clivethompson/archive/linkfest-28-neolithic-octopuses-weeping-trees-and/ Recommended.

Please don’t mistake the message for the medium, or a platform ...

2024-12-15T20:08:12Z

Please don’t mistake the message for the medium, or a platform for the media. :)
📚Book :: chapter
📰Newspaper :: article
📖Magazine :: article
⚡️Telegraph :: telegram
📻Radio :: show
🎥Theater :: movie
📺TV :: series
⌨️Blog :: post
🎙️Podcast :: episode
💻Substack :: post
🕹️Console :: game

21st century journalism enables us to be informed about ourselves ...

2024-12-03T23:39:05Z

21st century journalism enables us to be informed about ourselves & our communities through news applications, data, & narratives. ProPublica (npub1qmg…s6k5) just launched a formaldehyde risk map:
https://projects.propublica.org/formaldehyde-cancer-risk-map/search/

Between 1920 and 2020, the average human life span doubled ...

2024-11-15T13:55:27Z

Between 1920 and 2020, the average human life span doubled because of the development & widespread use of vaccines, germ theory, & antibiotics.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/magazine/global-life-span.html
But life expectancy is declining in the USA: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/03/25/1164819944/live-free-and-die-the-sad-state-of-u-s-life-expectancy If vaccine use drops further, it will get worse.

After discovering it was targeted by a disinformation campaign, ...

2024-11-14T17:55:23Z

After discovering it was targeted by a disinformation campaign, REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES flagged accounts responsible. X did not remove posts. Now, RSF is suing X in France “for its complicity in disseminating false information, misrepresentation and identity theft.” https://rsf.org/en/rsf-presses-criminal-charges-against-x-formerly-twitter-its-participation-identity-theft-and

I am not a trade unionist, but I know attacks on labor erode ...

2024-10-29T20:57:38Z

I am not a trade unionist, but I know attacks on labor erode democracy.
I am not gay or transgender, but I love all my neighbors, friends, & family. Hate has no home here.
I am not a minority, but I know racism & bigotry lead to discrimination & violence.
I am not a Jew, Muslim, or atheist, but I know where attacks on the basis of religion always end.
I am an American. I know that means I must speak up now for the rights of ALL of us to breathe free, lest we lose our hard-won freedom & liberty.

TGIF. What was the best thing that happened to you this week? I ...

2024-10-25T22:48:46Z

TGIF. What was the best thing that happened to you this week? I encourage you to brag.

Just as requiring driver's licenses reduced preventable ...

2024-09-27T12:34:53Z

Just as requiring driver's licenses reduced preventable deaths in motor vehicles, gun licensing laws will reduce preventable gun violence. https://civic-texts.ghost.io/why-regulating-guns-like-cars-in-america-would-save-more-kids-and-politicians-2/

What does 21st century infrastructure look like in your ...

2024-09-25T18:16:52Z

What does 21st century infrastructure look like in your community? https://civic-texts.ghost.io/what-does-21st-century-infrastructure-look-like-in-your-community/ Please send photos from your streets, cities, & byways.

New: How the Congressional Hackathon has helped the House work ...

2024-09-23T19:19:26Z

New: How the Congressional Hackathon has helped the House work better, for the People it serves https://civic-texts.ghost.io/how-the-congressional-hackathon-helped-the-house-work-better-for-the-people/ #OpenGov #CivicTech #PublicInterestTech

All of the children in my daughter’s school were virtual today, ...

2024-09-20T21:31:53Z

All of the children in my daughter’s school were virtual today, after a teenager made a shooting threat on social media yesterday. She’s safe, & the teen was arrested, but the experience catalyzed a bit of writing about how regulating guns like cars across the United States would save more kids.
https://civic-texts.ghost.io/why-regulating-guns-like-cars-in-america-would-save-more-kids-and-politicians-2/

I was saddened to learn that @npub1k65…pc0u passed away last ...

2024-08-29T19:07:44Z

I was saddened to learn that Steve Silberman (npub1k65…pc0u) passed away last night from his husband, who shared the news on Bluesky.

Steve was a true mensch: kind, funny, generous, passionate in righteous fury & compassionate.

He helped countless people understand neurodiversity, spoke truth to power, & shared joy in good music, great food, & clever humor.

I’m grateful to have known him online, in life. We will hold him in the light tonight, in death. RIP.

The White House should stop ignoring Musk’s behavior & ...

2024-08-13T13:42:30Z

The White House should stop ignoring Musk’s behavior & insulate agencies against risk, starting with shifting unique agency activity off of X. https://civic-texts.ghost.io/if-x-and-musk-are-not-politically-neutral-democracies-need-to-act-to-mitigate-the-growing-risks/
No American should have to use a private platform to read official statements or interact with our elected representatives or appointed officials.

One of the best parts of starting (yet) again on Mastodon is that ...

2024-08-13T00:57:00Z

One of the best parts of starting (yet) again on Mastodon is that I’ve had to earn and keep the interest of every single person here.
(Earning & keeping the trust of a community is much harder, but I still believe that tends to prove out over time based upon how accurate, honest, & fair someone is.)

🗳️🇺🇸💪 USGSA (finally) posted a status update on ...

2024-08-08T18:26:17Z

🗳️🇺🇸💪 USGSA (finally) posted a status update on Vote.gov today, in a blog post: https://www.gsa.gov/blog/2024/08/07/votegov-makes-it-easier-for-voters-to-find-trustworthy-official-voting-information

As I told the @npub1dt0…vl75 , Elon Musk’s political advocacy ...

2024-08-08T01:11:27Z

As I told the The Washington Post :press: (npub1dt0…vl75) , Elon Musk’s political advocacy has erased any trust in the platform’s neutrality & spotlights which accounts get restricted, suspended, supported, or promoted. Neutrality has left the building. Institutions must adapt, faster.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/08/07/musk-x-harris-bias/