Technology Critical Luddite
European from Scotland
Background: CS, Security, & Computing Education

Current Goals: Using the power of thinking really hard to manifest myself into a happy solarpunk alternate reality without all of (*waves at everything*)

I do not give consent for my posts to be used to train SALAMI models.

Photos: https://unsplash.com/@lonmcgregor
Website: One day I will finally get around to finishing it
Blog: https://lonm.vivaldi.net
bits and bytes: https://github.com/LonMcGregor

Last Notes

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I wonder why only one of the "locks" is labelled. What happens if you use the other lock? Why would you put two near identical and important interaction points next to each other with only a tiny text label to differentiate them?

2026-01-14 18:20:40 UTC

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She needs to conjure up a magic firewall. preferably made of hellfire

2025-12-29 14:29:28 UTC

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I can't read the linked article. Will it use something like GNU Taler - be fully open source, transparent, interoperable, and buyer-private? Or will development and maintenance be outsourced to a private company with everything funnelled through a closed source app.

2025-12-09 18:21:16 UTC

Today I discovered that the only way to get an immediate tax refund from HMRC in the UK is to go through an "open banking" service that gives a random third party company the right to see all your account details, including transaction histories.
Apparently this is better for people than a couple of text boxes to grab an account no and sort code.
The other option is a cheque, which can take up to a month to deliver.
And this is the government that wants us to trust it to build a Digital ID system.
#Privacy #Security #UKPol

2025-12-03 17:31:03 UTC

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I'm loving this mini series. The need for cash investment in education vs compromising on tech is a very real problem.
I've had a thought - Familiars are meant to form a special bond with a magic user to help guide them along their own unique path. If they all have the same familiar then, even if it did work, that would really hurt their culture overall. It would become too homogeneous.

2025-11-17 21:37:20 UTC

A nearby pond had its old flat concrete spillway upgraded into a proper stream with fish accessible pools, and replanted green borders. I love to see this kind of rewilding work, it makes green spaces nicer to be in, and it's good for wildlife too.
#environment #Scotland
https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/115/567/182/857/426/603/original/19fe889dbb63dc1f.jpg

2025-11-02 12:23:07 UTC

November and finally the last of the apples have come off the trees. A pretty good harvest this year. And this is only what's left after all that we've been eating since August. Should keep us through to spring just fine.
#Autumn #food
https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/115/480/070/016/431/264/original/1312b0ef66b8a845.jpg

2025-08-26 13:24:22 UTC

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Graphene have done a lot of work to try and get compatibility working right. But only for pixel devices (if I'm remembering right). So everyone else doesn't benefit from that.

2025-08-26 12:24:46 UTC

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Non-google build is great at letting you use the apps you _choose_... until you realise that the apps that you _need_ won't work because of failed device attestation. Banks are particularly bad for this, not allowing for rooted devices, and a planned EU Identity wallet also won't support those OSes.
damned if you root, damned if you don't

2025-06-09 19:01:06 UTC

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I would go further - All blockchain cryptocurrencies are obsolete given proposals for digital cash systems like GNU Taler use blinded signatures which are more resource efficient to deploy and use.
But these digital cash systems are designed to interface with the existing economy and make it difficult to avoid tax, so of course, they're not going to get the same level of hype from those who finance the cryptocurrency industry.

2025-06-02 19:39:51 UTC

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Reading about your process is really fascinating.
Merci pour avoir pris le temps d'ecrire ce post.

2025-05-26 12:06:10 UTC

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While I would certainly like it if rail was nationally owned, squabbling over the specifics is kind of missing the point. Looking at places like Japan, they prove that its possible to run a reasonable rail service that is more privatised. And Switzerland shows it is possible to do the same with more public services.
I think there are some key things to consider:
- Pricing. The scottish gov. is moving to make all fares off-peak. This may differ route to route, but after the hit to passenger numbers from covid and an increase in remote working, it no longer makes sense to run peak fare pricing when there is an excess of supply in spaces. This would be an easy way to bring prices down for commuters and encourage more people to travel by rail.
- Accessibility. Near where I live in Fife an old railway branch has been reconnected, and there are moves to reopen an old station which has been closed. Open up connections so rail is easy to get to. Induced demand is worth taking advantage of.
- Upgrades - As electricity becomes cheaper from more green energy it will not make sense to keep running diesel engines. The network needs 100% electrified. This, and new engines, is going to cost a lot. But in the long term it could bring prices down.

2025-05-16 16:56:00 UTC

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It could still use as many additional signatures as possible. The next stage is the signatures need to be verified, and if any get rejected, it could fall under 1M. So as big a buffer as possible is needed.

2025-01-02 19:26:26 UTC

Found an icicle stalagmite in the garden today. No idea how this would have formed. Its pretty cool.
#winter #photography
https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/113/760/394/725/188/158/original/97a0c969a7b94a48.jpg

2024-09-29 18:40:55 UTC

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Thanks for this insight into your process, I'm looking forward to the final few chapters (and whatever projects come next)

2024-09-25 15:32:53 UTC

Scotland's east coast hasn't had great veg growing weather this year, but the potatoes did very well.
#Gardening
https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/113/198/908/508/907/971/original/443fa7275effa84e.jpg
https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/113/198/908/575/673/221/original/854e08b26d4a501c.jpg

2024-08-18 10:21:05 UTC

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I have always been confused why it is never treated like propaganda. If a government puts out a message campaign, that's overreach and trying to control the population. But then it's normalised for private companies to do the same thing, every day, in a much more prolific fashion, and that's totally fine. Makes no sense to me.