Nostr notes by TProphet

I mean, it's normal until it's not. Stay safe out there.

2026-05-17T05:27:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…gplc
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I mean, it's normal until it's not. Stay safe out there.

There is no freedom of the press when it's controlled by the ...

2025-12-22T21:08:49Z

There is no freedom of the press when it's controlled by the government.

"Every journalist at CBS News now knows that if you spend months working on a segment that makes the Trump administration look bad, it might get killed at the last second by someone who’s never worked in television news and who reports directly to a billionaire with business before the administration."

https://www.readtpa.com/p/the-kill-switch

This thread is in memory of ...

2025-09-22T01:19:49Z

This thread is in memory of [@hack_all_things](https://bird.makeup/users/hack_all_things ) DEF CON (npub1dqd…8xy4) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cG-JL0LHYw was one of the best talks I have ever seen at DEF CON.

I think far too many people are being critical of ...

2025-08-31T23:41:08Z

I think far too many people are being critical of DEF CON (npub1dqd…8xy4) for doing events outside of the US. The reality is, DEF CON is impossible to access for far too many people outside of the US because of US visa restrictions. This has always been a problem, but it has become a much bigger one lately.

For starters, the US has one of the world's most expensive visas. It now costs $424 per person (since the addition of the new "Visa Integrity Fee"). Additionally, the US requires in-person interviews to issue a visa, and these take place at a US embassy or consulate. Unless you live in your country's capital, you'll have travel expenses on top of it.

Then, of course, there are the delays for interviews. These can take months or even years. It was starting to get better, but the federal government laid off a large number of people who process visas, immediately resulting in extended delays. If you want to speak at DEF CON, and you're a foreigner, it's highly questionable whether you'll get a visa in time.

Finally, there is "extreme vetting" which is taking even more time. Suppose you're selected for "additional visa processing." What triggers this? The criteria are a secret, but there is a strong correlation with things like being a known hacker traveling to DEF CON.

Additionally, the US is denying visas for what they perceive as political speech (or expected political speech) that opposes the Party. This isn't unique in the world; other authoritarian countries like China also do this, which made it difficult for DEF CON to operate there.

DEF CON isn't unique in facing these challenges. The United States is closing the door to foreigners, limiting international collaboration, and limiting political speech. The only question is how to respond. Hosting DEF CON events in other locales, which guarantee research freedom and welcome international collaboration, is an entirely reasonable response. #defcon

That makes sense, spouse ordered tea :)

2025-05-05T06:42:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…0en8
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That makes sense, spouse ordered tea :)

I have no clue what to do with this ...

2025-05-05T06:35:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…0txa
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I have no clue what to do with this

Nbd just having a McShrimp and some sort of anime themed chicken ...

2025-05-05T06:33:34Z

Nbd just having a McShrimp and some sort of anime themed chicken sandwich with some edamame and corn. Maybe McDonald's would not be in as much trouble if they sold this stuff in North America

What's laid bare here is that the US government isn't ...

2025-03-15T17:51:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…hdy0
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What's laid bare here is that the US government isn't controlled by the American people, and doesn't work in our interests. It's controlled by approximately 1,000 rich families, and works pretty much exclusively in their interests. Historically, when societies are this far gone, it ends in stuff like the French Revolution.

The US has a history of invading other countries unprovoked, ...

2025-03-12T21:43:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…n0dm
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The US has a history of invading other countries unprovoked, using flimsy pretenses as an excuse. Exhibit A: Iraq.

We have viewed you as our closest friend and ally for a century. ...

2025-03-12T18:53:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…y5dg
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We have viewed you as our closest friend and ally for a century. We thought of you as brothers and sisters. We answered the call, again and again, for any support you needed from us. Most of Canadians visit the USA so much that we've seen more of the US than we have the rest of Canada.

American products have been taken off our shelves. Canadians are cancelling travel plans to the US. Photo after photo has been shared on social media of empty flights from Canada to the USA.

This isn't a joke to us. We're not overreacting. We don't think he's just saying this shit to cause chaos or negotiate a deal. We wholeheartedly believe that our closest ally and friend is about to bring violence across our border, economically destroy us, and eliminate our way of life.

The main driver for Canada's creation in 1867 was SPECIFICALLY to not be part of America, and to end America's very public threats and plans to annex our territory.

We're angry. We're really, really fucking angry. Open your eyes to what's happening because we're tired of trying to make you understand why and asking you why it seems like none of you care. **

I still hope that there is time to repair this. I still believe that this is the result of one man's plan to burn it all down. But time is running out, and fast.

In Trump's own words, "The only thing that makes sense is ...

2025-03-12T18:53:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…lgs3
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In Trump's own words, "The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.

Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever — And Canada will be a big part of that. The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, “O Canada,” will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!"

March 11th, 2025 PT. II - Peter Navarro, a Senior Advisor for Trump is interviewed by MSNBC. When asked about the tariffs he responds with "Just tamp it down, please, over there, ok? They're throwing down the hockey gloves. Stop that rhetoric...we're not going to tolerate anything but them stopping killing Americans", insinuating that this situation was caused by Canadians killing Americans.

March 11th, 2025 PT III - Trump again publicly muses that Canada, Greenland, and the US should be one country, and questions the validity of the Canadian and American border.

To my American friends, I know most of you are amazing and generous people. You didn't ask for this, and I understand that. I hold no ill will towards you, whatsoever. But I must stress, with as much seriousness as I can, the amount of damage this has done.

Feb 24th, 2025 - Trump publicly remarks that whoever signed the ...

2025-03-12T18:51:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…p3uk
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Feb 24th, 2025 - Trump publicly remarks that whoever signed the USMCA agreement is an idiot. He was the one that signed it.

March 4th, 5th, and 6th 2025 - Tariffs come into effect. Canada retaliates with it's own tariffs. Tariffs are again postponed until April 1st after a huge market backlash.

March 4th, 2025 - In an address to a joint session of congress, Trump states that the US will own Greenland 'one way or the other'.

March 5th, 2025 - US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick told Canadian finance minister Dominic LeBlanc that Trump "had come to realize that the relationship between the United States and Canada was governed by a slew of agreements and treaties that were easy to abandon."

March 7th, 2025 - Unconfirmed Memorandum and maps leaked on twitter reveal Trump is allegedly planning to annex the entirety of the great lakes and Southern Ontario, home to 13,491,332 Canadians. This amounts to 35.25% of Canada's total population and includes its largest city, Toronto. This region accounts for 38% of the Canadian economy, and its loss would make Canada's independence functionally impossible.

March 8th, 2025 - Canada's foreign minister warns European allies that their government considers Canada to be under existential threat.

March 9th, 2025 - Mark Carney, the new Canadian Prime Minister, in his acceptance speech, states that Trump is seeking to destroy Canada, and its way of life.

March 11, 2025 - President Trump threatens to “permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada” if Canada does not drop a 250% to 390% tariff on U.S. dairy products, which he doesn’t state only kicks in after a certain quantity of tariff-free U.S. dairy enters Canada, a quantity that was originally negotiated and agreed to by Trump during the USMCA in 2018.

Dec 10th, 2024 - Trump posts that the majority of Canadians ...

2025-03-12T18:51:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…vja6
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Dec 10th, 2024 - Trump posts that the majority of Canadians support annexation, despite public polling that only 13% of Canadians would consider the idea.

Dec 18th, 2024 - Trump again falsely states that the majority of Canadians support annexation and that one of his lapdogs, Wayne Gretzky, should have a leadership role in that new scenario.
Jan 7th, 2025 - At a press conference, Trump says that he would use economic force to destroy the Canadian economy to annex it.

Jan 14, 2025 - Trump again claims that most Canadians want to be American, despite new polls showing only 10% of us are open to the idea.

Jan 20th, 2025 - During his inaugural address, Trump says that the U.S. will 'expand its territory' during his second term.

Jan 23rd, 2025 - At the World Economic Forum, Trump says that Canada can avoid tariffs and economic collapse if it joins the US. He says this in front of representatives from most countries in the world.

Jan 24th, 2025 - Trump states publicly that Canada 'will' become a state

Jan 31st, 2025 - Trump announces a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports to begin the next day.

Feb 2nd, 2025 - Trump refers to Canada as its 'Cherished 51st state' and that it should join the US to avoid tariffs.

Feb 3rd, 2025 - A one month delay is agreed upon. Trump, in a conversation with Trudeau states that he doesn't think existing border treaties with Canada are valid, and need to be revised.

Feb 7th, 2025 - In a closed door meeting with his cabinet, Prime Minister Trudeau is recorded, without his knowledge, telling everyone that he believes very strongly that Trump is serious and that he stated his reason for annexation as Canadian resources.

Feb 9th, 2025 - In a Super Bowl pre-game interview, Trump says that he's serious about his threats, calling it a 'viable consideration for expanding US territory'

Feb 10th, 2025 - Trump announces an additional 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada to come into effect March 12th.

A Canadian friend's perspective on US behavior since the ...

2025-03-12T18:49:59Z

A Canadian friend's perspective on US behavior since the Trump regime was installed:

---cut here---

One thing I've learned over the past few weeks, and it's been a bit of a sobering lesson, is that a lot of Americans I know don't actually know what's going on between the US and Canada right now, and just how seriously Canadians are taking this. So, against my better judgement, here's a timeline to explain why we're here, and why we're angry.

Nov 30th, 2018 - The United States, Canada and Mexico finalize a trade agreement. Trump personally negotiates the terms and signs the document, celebrating it as 'the greatest trade agreement in history". (This is important.)

Nov 29th, 2024 - In a face to face meeting, Trump threatens the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, that he will be imposing 25% tariffs and that if Canada wants to avoid that, it should join the US as a state.

Nov 30th, 2024 - Trump publicly calls our Prime Minister 'Governor Trudeau' and instructs his staff to only address him as Governor going forward. He again suggests Canada should join the USA.
Dec 3rd, 2024 - Trump remarks that he would split Canada into two states once annexed.

One of the most important things that I learned when living in ...

2024-11-10T22:18:33Z

One of the most important things that I learned when living in Beijing is that propaganda works, and whoever controls information controls the narrative: https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/trust-mainstream-media-2024-election-20241110.html?id=bpjtJ3uwA0BYL&utm_source=social&utm_campaign=gift_link&utm_medium=referral#loaded

One party states aren't necessarily bad places to live. Take ...

2024-11-08T21:30:22Z

One party states aren't necessarily bad places to live. Take Singapore for example. The fundamental bargain in Singapore is that you don't have political freedom, and you don't (really) get to challenge the government's power. However, in return, they aren't corrupt (anti-corruption laws are the strongest in the world) and they deliver the goods (healthcare, education, infrastructure etc.). There is considerable economic freedom, so most people in Singapore have a fair shot at building a middle class life. Just enough freedom of speech is allowed to keep the government honest.

The flip side is the narco-state of Venezuela. This used to be one of the richest countries in the Western Hemisphere. They have more oil than Saudi Arabia. These days, there is no political freedom. There is zero freedom of speech, or of the press. The government there works for itself, and all it really effectively delivers is repression. A handful of people are rich - Maduro and his cronies. Everyone else has nothing, and the population is fleeing en masse.

Which of these two examples do you think the United States is more likely to become under a Republican one party state?

For those of you who want to live outside the US as a result of ...

2024-11-07T17:25:10Z

For those of you who want to live outside the US as a result of the election, the best time to start planning was last year, and the second best time is now. I have lived in 4 countries on 3 continents. If I can be helpful, feel free to reach out.

One caution, though: Other countries aren't a utopia. They have their own problems too. They will expect you to integrate, which can be complicated. You may not be able to maintain the standard of living you're used to in the US. Taking a vacation to Europe is very different than living there.

The current administration is still in power through January 6th, ...

2024-11-07T17:20:54Z

The current administration is still in power through January 6th, so if you need anything from the federal government in the next 4 years (like your passport renewed) it would be a good idea to do this right now. You know how the next administration will operate. It's just going to be constant chaos and government shutdowns for 4 years, interspersed with 4chan level trolling at a public policy level.

I have a carefully curated YouTube feed, but if you watch a video ...

2024-10-29T01:08:12Z

I have a carefully curated YouTube feed, but if you watch a video without authentication, this is the kind of stuff people in my area see:

Posted without comment ...

2024-10-11T04:28:55Z

Posted without comment

The more you know 🌈 ...

2024-09-24T16:45:53Z

The more you know 🌈

When you hear all of the veiled "DEI" grumbling from ...

2024-09-03T19:51:26Z

When you hear all of the veiled "DEI" grumbling from conservatives, this is what they want job ads to look like (spotted on a job board in The Philippines):

Over the years I have dreamed a lot, and then done a lot of stuff ...

2024-08-12T03:27:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…93et
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Over the years I have dreamed a lot, and then done a lot of stuff DEF CON (npub1dqd…8xy4). And not by myself, ever, and I want to be clear on that. There's a whole lot of infrastructure that works so well it's easy to take it for granted, but creating this amazing space is a ton of hard work for multiple dedicated teams that work all year to create the DEF CON we just enjoyed. So I'd like to express my profound appreciation for all of this. Every crazy idea I have takes a lot of people to pull off, and wouldn't be possible without this community. We stand on the shoulders of giants and a lot of love built this place. So to my DEF CON family, my deepest love and appreciation. Places where you can bring a dream and build it are so rare. Never lose that.

We have come back every year since then with an official contest. ...

2024-08-12T03:18:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…um2w
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We have come back every year since then with an official contest. This year, we had to pivot the TeleChallenge (npub145v…23qe) in the late stages of development due to unanticipated circumstances. However, we had an idea for something else--why not create one of the easiest contests at DEF CON (npub1dqd…8xy4) - something kids could play? We pitched the #HackerCoolingContraption as a backup plan and somehow, Nikita (npub15l7…45fw) talked the convention center into letting us put a POOL on the ROOF. I swear I am not making this up. We had yet another crazy idea, and DEF CON gave us space to try it out. Our winner this year was an 11 year old, who was at his first DEF CON. His contraption was absolutely ingenious and we interacted with hundreds of hackers, who submitted dozens of entries, of which 16 were judged.

The first @npub145v…23qe started as the Telephreak BBS ...

2024-08-12T03:10:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…vrd3
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The first TeleChallenge (npub145v…23qe) started as the Telephreak BBS Challenge. I built a puzzle that strung together a challenge on a floppy disk with an actual phone based BBS (super old-school, the one I ran in high school and still full of messages and warez from back then) that could only be reached by dialing a local room extension at the Alexis Park. Getting the extension required a live social engineering challenge.

You could get a floppy disk from me if you were under 25 and it was your first DEF CON (npub1dqd…8xy4). I just made the game and did it, with the help of Paul Rixon (npub1t88…6nxq) who donated space in his room. I wasn't even thinking of it as a contest. More for fun, a way to see if anyone could solve it, and a way to meet smart people we could invite to the Telephreak party.

Grifter noticed. He made the case with Jeff Moss (npub12ts…x422) that a young couple who came to their first DEF CON and spent it solving an epic puzzle should get a black badge. They did, and they also got a coveted Telephreak party invitation.

DEF CON is the kind of place where if you show up with an idea ...

2024-08-12T02:59:36Z

DEF CON is the kind of place where if you show up with an idea and you're willing to put in the work, they make a space and let you try it out. That's how we started Queercon (npub18x0…x32y). We were kicking the idea around the Alexis Park pool, and DJ Keith Myers said if we found a space he would play. So I asked Jeff Moss (npub12ts…x422) if DEF CON (npub1dqd…8xy4) would give us a space. He gave us a room, the Goons made that space safe (which was very much needed back then) and the rest is history. We dreamed it, and DEF CON created a space for us to do it, sometimes profoundly changing the lives of the thousands of people it continues to touch (and for which I take absolutely no credit; I'm only a founder emeritus these days).