A new kind of WordPress post for me. A big picture with a punchy caption and a teasing title.
People and blogs involved with and about the IndieWeb community, the fediverse, and/or the open web in general.
The word is starting to spread about WordLand. And the product is holding up pretty well. There are some issues in Safari with the toolbar that pops up over selection. I see people pasting in URLs that makes me think it's not working for them. Don Park started using it. I did...
Ben Werdmuller
• Ben Werdmuller
How Terrorgram Collective Influencers Groomed a Killer
[A.C. Thompson, ProPublica and FRONTLINE, James Bandler, ProPublica, and Lukáš Diko, Investigative Center of Jan Kuciak]
A tragic story of a teenager recruited by a network of extremists, who ultimately murdered multiple people before taking his own life. It...
ArtLung
• Joe Crawford
For there’s no blue Monday in your Sunday clothes
Ben Werdmuller
• Ben Werdmuller
The 2025 journalist’s digital security checklist
[Davis Erin Anderson and Dr. Martin Shelton at the Freedom of the Press Foundation]
These security tips are designed for journalists but are good ideas for everyone (and particularly activists or anyone working in a sensitive field):
"In tumultuous times, we believe in being prepared, not scared. Sound digital security practice often involves forming and relying on good habits. Building these reflexes now will help keep you better protected. This is why we’ve distilled advice our trainers have shared with thousands of journalists over the years into the actionable, concrete steps below."
The Freedom of the Press Foundation does great work, and this guide is no exception.
[Link]
I love how people declare that Trump doesn't represent us. But the truth is as long as our representatives don't impeach and remove him, he absolutely does represent us. There aren't two definitions of represent.
In Praise of Links
Ben Werdmuller
• Ben Werdmuller
Feedback loops
[Joe Woods]
This is good, actionable advice:
"As an engineering leader, you should be constantly working to reduce the amount of time it takes to complete one cycle of a feedback loop.
What do I mean by feedback loop? This is anything where you do work, and...
Ben Werdmuller
• Ben Werdmuller
Fediverse House
If you're in Austin, visiting Fediverse House at 412 Congress Ave today and tomorrow is what you need to be doing.
You don’t need a SXSW ticket - just show up and meet some of the key people building and thinking about the most important thing happening on the web right now.
Unfortunately, I’m preparing for a team summit in New York this week, so I’m unable to attend. The good news for me (and you, if you’re also not able to make it there) is that I hear the conversations are going to make it to the Dot Social podcast. I can’t wait to hear them.
The very last message in the DG is, now, 25 years later, basically the design of the network I'm building -- with WordLand as the frontend and WordPress as the backend. The issue is the same. When people post only to get attention, forget about anything useful getting done t...
“This isn’t a time for competition. It is a time for cooperation.” — Evan Prodromou in a panel on different platforms at Fediverse House
I did a restoration of discuss.userland.com, the discussion group for scripting.com between 1998 and 2001. I think now finally it works. If you find anything interesting in the archive, send me a link. A lot of the early blogs started from discussions there, heated at times. But a lot of good stuff came from it.
Just a few minutes in to arriving at Fediverse House and already it was super valuable. There is really nothing like meeting people face to face. It’s an exciting time for the open web and you can feel it in hearing what people are working on and thinking about.
A question came up about the RSS feeds that WordLand maintains, so I wrote it up on the support site. Net-net: Unless you're developing a component of the textcasting vision, you should probably use the WordPress-maintained feed for your site.
Fucking Republicans and Medicare
I am hereby changing the name of "Republicans" to "Fucking Republicans" because that's what they do and what we're going to do to them. Today's issue is Medicare, which hits home to me, a person who planned for health care and depends on Medicare.
I need my Medicare. It's my...
Krugman's paywall
I'm not a paid subscriber to anything on Substack. But I do read a few of their newsletters when they come out, including Paul Krugman's. Almost always must-read stuff.
But he also writes on the "other side of the paywall." When he announced it, he said he doesn't need the ...
Sessioning
Brighton is blessed with plenty of traditional Irish music sessions. You need some kind of almanac to keep track of when they’re on. Some are on once a month. Some are twice a month. Some are every two weeks (which isn’t the same as twice a month, depending on the month).
Sometimes when the stars align just right, you get a whole week of sessions in a row. That’s what happened last week with sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I enjoyed playing my mandolin in each of them. There was even a private party on Saturday night where a bunch of us played tunes for an hour and a half.
There’s nothing quite like playing music with other people. It’s good for the soul.
Checked in at Fox On the Downs. Sunday roast — with Jessica
Checked in at Fox On the Downs. Sunday roast — with Jessica
Chris Aldrich
• Chris Aldrich
🗓️ The Level Up
The Level Up is an indie improv showcase. Join us as we watch amazing New York indie improv talents gain XP on the Magnet stage, unlock new achievements, and reach new milestones. Or do comedy.
Come support Michael as he dons his hosting-duties cap for three exciting indie teams:
- Halalrious
- Incognito
- Thorn and Petal Stick
I’ll be playing in with Michael and the rest of the Level Up!
Looking forward to it! And to seeing you there!! (Yes, you. Come on out!!!)
Saturday March 8th, 2025 @ 10:30pm
Magnet Theater
254 West 29th St (btwn 7th and 8th Ave.)
New York City, NY 10001
Tickets $10: https://magnettheater.com/show/59432/
