ndiscussion
Joined 10 years ago
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Recent submissions
Comment · 5 years ago
That's probably a good point, I'm using GrapheneOS which is not identifiable to Google/Apple and can't be singled out for updates.
Comment · 5 years ago
Is that really true? Couldn't Google forcibly turn off the code-signing requirement on an individual's phone?
They've been known to reset passwords remotely in the past: https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/30/11330892/fbi-google-andro...
Comment · 5 years ago
It looks like they are, but there might be a minor issue in verifying the content: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/10476
But despite best efforts by the community to verify builds, Google and Apple can be forced to upload a malicious app to a particular user, meaning they aren't using the same app at all.
Comment · 5 years ago
I disagree that these are on the same level - compiling something yourself, or having something compiled by ie the Arch Linux maintainers requires a number of people to comply.
The app store is a single point of failure with huge reach.
Comment · 5 years ago
If you use the Signal app from the app stores, and communicate with the server, you are using 100% closed source software.
They could easily add a backdoor in the client despite the fact that it's "open source", because no one builds it from source.
Comment · 5 years ago
Lavabit was never compromised, I'm saying that Signal may have been compromised by the feds, instead of choosing to shut down. Feds may have learned their lesson and not provided an option this time.
Comment · 5 years ago
It's been like this for a while, and the project owner's attitude is pretty negative overall. I do use signal daily, but I believe it's likely compromised ala lavabit.
Comment · 5 years ago
Looks great! I'm very happy with ST3 on Linux, it's my favorite editor by far.
I didn't know v4 was coming out soon, but I'll probably upgrade just to stay on the bleeding edge and to support independent development.
Comment · 5 years ago
Thirding Code Complete (another top-level recommended it). I read that book very early on, and I credit it with my current ability to write clean code.
Another good one is The Pragmatic Programmer.
Lastly, this wiki is a gold mine of wisdom from hardened devs: http://wiki.c2.com/?StartingPoints
I really recommend you read lots and lots of those pages.
Comment · 5 years ago
This is a survey of people who joined MENSA. I would posit that most normal, healthy, high-IQ folks never bother, and there's a selection bias at play.
Comment · 5 years ago
Reddit is owned by Advanced Publications, a media company.
Facebook and Google are sucking all the profits from old media - Reddit is their hedge against that. Of course they don't complain.
Comment · 5 years ago
My point is that these things can be morally ambiguous depending on the society you talk to. There are many places on earth that don't allow gay marriage to this day (or anything gay at all).
One of the main problems with democracy is that it incentives politicians to buy voters, rather than use principled judgment. Everything becomes "politicking" to the lowest common denominator, because they have the most votes, and are most influenced by emotion.
Every system has it's flaws, and ultimately, I believe the problem is the people, not the government. If people were more principled, they wouldn't be susceptible to this emotional rhetoric. Monarchies are not inherently unjust, although many of them have been.
One additional problem with democracy, at least in the US, is that it sells out to the highest bidder. The masses are easily manipulated with TV and other propaganda, and they are the ones who elect the winner. It's like an oligarchy - the politicans are beholden to big money.
But people blame the politicans, not the oligarchs. They vote out "bad" politicians, only for new puppets to take their place, protecting the true masters (business interests, wall street, etc).
In a true oligarchy, people eventually go for blood. It's a joke to think that the riots on Jan 6th would do anything - kill the puppets, and the puppeteer brings in a new prop.
If you find this topic interesting I highly recommend Plato's Republic available free: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1497
Comment · 5 years ago
You generally have to be 18 to move to another city.
Comment · 5 years ago
Glad to hear you live in a country like that, I wish I could say the same. But these are core difficulties with the United States that aren't going away any time soon.
The nation is very divided and there's no hope of overthrowing first-past-the-post here.
And when the nation doesn't agree on things, allowing the majority to rule can be terrifying.
Comment · 5 years ago
https://www.pewforum.org/fact-sheet/changing-attitudes-on-ga...
Look at this chart. The majority should not always control the few.
edit: never thought I'd see anti-gay-marriage on HN but here we are.