Some thoughts on the #Gemini protocol:

1. Gemini is to the web what reading a book is to watching TV. The former is focussed, simple, requires some effort, and may be more rewarding. The latter may be more compelling but also full of distractions and advertisements.

2. Gemini is just text and links, which HTML can easily do, but by removing features (like CSS, JavaScript, and inline media), Gemini guarantees that your experience will be simple, fast, and user-respecting. No complicated issues like browser fingerprinting, popups, tracking, XSS, etc.

3. Gemini might be a good fit for disseminating information in low-bandwidth long-range mesh networks like Meshtastic, which might become part of our apolcalyptic/dystopian future.

4. Gemini is a good format for scraping web content or generating content for displaying on devices like DIY smart mirrors, Raspberry Pi tablet screens, Smart watches, etc.

Curious? Try this link below which uses a web proxy to display some random feeds from Gemini sites.

Capcom Gemini Aggregator
https://proxy.vulpes.one/gemini/gemini.circumlunar.space/capcom/

"These all use some form of local radio signal. Some, such as Briar, may use short-range Bluetooth and Wifi, while others use radios such as LoRa that can reach several miles with low power. ... Every item on this list uses full end-to-end encryption" #offline #messenger #lora #meshnetwork

Roundup of Secure Messengers with Off-The-Grid Capabilities
https://changelog.complete.org/archives/10205-roundup-of-secure-messengers-with-off-the-grid-capabilities-distributed-mesh-messengers

Awesome talk about the ideas and possibilities behind the Beaker Browser, a peer-to-peer browser. #beakerbrowser #decentralizedweb #dweb

Imagine This: A Web Without Servers (2018)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ_WvfF3FN8

"On the Internet, your rate of learning is limited not by access to information, but by your ability to ignore distractions"

The Paradox of Abundance - David Perell
https://perell.com/note/the-paradox-of-abundance/

Bumper harvest of cherry tomatoes from my #aquaponics #diy

You may be in a quandry about deleting WhatsApp, because EVERYONE is on it. How quickly we forget that this was true of Mixit and BBM. We've moved before, we can move again, the businesses will follow. #deletewhatsapp #deletefacebook

Facebook really wants your data! The long term solution is decentalized/federated, like Matrix.

WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using the app
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/01/whatsapp-users-must-share-their-data-with-facebook-or-stop-using-the-app/

Contact tracing is so dangerous, it gives governments an irresistible tool for tracking, surveillance and control. The abuse of the tech has already begun.

Govt confirms that police can use TraceTogether data for criminal investigations
https://theindependent.sg/govt-confirms-that-police-can-use-tracetogether-data-for-criminal-investigations/

My fav gadget of 2020: the LCD writing tablet. Costs under R200. 2 year battery life. Doesn't sync with anything. Can only erase whole screen. Helps me focus distraction-free on today's tasks and jot down notes.

Using some simple scripts, I have automated the process of publishing microblogs to my static-generated website (which uses #Pelican). It makes use of the #IndieWeb standard #micropub format, so I can even share links and upload photos to my blog via the Indigenous app. Now you can too!

IndieWeb scripts for publishing using micropub to a static-site generator like Pelican.
https://github.com/tobykurien/micropub-to-markdown

Now watching 0xcon talks from last month. #infosec #southafrica

0xcon 2020 - YouTube
https://youtube.com/watch?v=UsXYRp-4uWk

Interesting new protocol: "Gemini is a new internet protocol which: Is heavier than gopher; Is lighter than the web; Will not replace either; Strives for maximum power to weight ratio; Takes user privacy very seriously"

Project Gemini FAQ
https://proxy.vulpes.one/gemini/gemini.circumlunar.space/docs/faq.gmi

Another epic Joburg sunset, taken yesterday afternoon. 😍

Tiny World is an amazing documentary with incredibly beautiful photography. Well worth watching. #tv #documentary

Tiny World — Official Trailer l Apple TV+ - YouTube
https://youtube.com/watch?v=oGNb4d6UdeU

Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram blogged this:

Consume Less. Create More. It’s More Fun.
https://telegra.ph/Consume-Less-Create-More-Its-More-Fun-12-04

Flowers in the yard

Raspberry Pi portable PC #diy

To be or not to be :-)

Beautiful Joburg sunset

The #gpcoronavirus #covid19 dashboard has been updated with a powerful hotspot analysis provided by @WitsUniversity which will hopefully assist @GautengProvince with the second surge.

Re: tweet https://twitter.com/Wits_News/status/1340979463824273410

Details: https://www.wits.ac.za/covid19/covid19-news/latest/ai-helps-to-identify-new-covid-19-hotspots-in-gauteng.html

Dashboard: https://gpcoronavirus.co.za