y.st./source/pages/en/weblog/2016/01-January/30.xhtml

<?php
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$xhtml = array(
	'title' => 'Disaster relief first responders',
	'body' => <<<END
<p>
	A couple people on Twitter were trying riled up in a frenzy about <a href="https://opalrwf4mzmlfmag.onion/">wowaname</a>, who had apparently banned them from her channel.
	It all seemed well and good, seeing as wowaname does have a tendency to actively try to piss people off.
	However, they started attacking her claiming that she is not a woman and that she is having an identity crisis.
	Being transgendered is <strong>*not*</strong> the same thing as having an identity crisis.
	In an identity crisis, one cannot figure out who they are, and is having to search.
	On the other hand, transgendered people know who they are, society just tries to define these peopel differently than they define themselves.
	If they want to fight with wowaname, that is one thing.
	She brings it on herself.
	However, it is not okay to attack the transgendered community in the process with such claims.
</p>
<p>
	Between several things that have been happening, I think that I have decided to try setting up an $a[IRC] server again.
	I will probably use the the <a href="apt:ngircd">$a[ngIRCd]</a> package that I like and that I can get working without issues, then use a non-packaged services package that I would rather not use, but which would fulfill my obligation to keep channels somewhat under the control of the channel owners.
</p>
<p>
	Later during the day, my mother and I pretended to be victims for a group of disaster relief first responders.
	We ran through an earthquake/tsunami scenario, after which, the first response team went over what they did right and what they did wrong.
	After that, we did it again, this time with improvements.
	The first response team said that anyone could join their team, but mentioned an icky part.
	They require a copy of your photo $a[ID] and Social Security card.
	They have no business having that.
	They are asking for volunteers.
	They have no right to demand that volunteers submit to identity verification.
	My mother asked thought that I might be interested, but when she asked and I declined, she knew exactly why without me having said anything.
	She was frustrated that I was concerned with giving out identifying documents.
	She claims that I am causing myself to miss out on things this way, but she does not seem to understand.
	I think that next time that she makes such a comment, I will provide an example that might get my point across.
	If she had to smear dog feces all on her face to join the team, she no doubt would want to join.
	I am the same way with identification documents.
	I am the same way with non-vegan food.
	And I am the same way with nonfree software and music.
	Yes, I am cutting myself off from things, but I am cutting myself off from things that I do not want in the first place.
	She cuts herself off from music and foods that she does not like as well.
</p>
<p>
	Tomorrow, my mother and I might be going to some sort of trivia challenge at a bowling ally, though I do not know the details of it.
	It seems that we will not be headed to Springfield tomorrow though, whether we attend the trivia challenge or not.
</p>
<p>
	Wowaname built a script for WeeChat a while back called <a href="https://opalrwf4mzmlfmag.onion/files/software/embellish.py">embellish.py</a>.
	This script is used to add fun colors and border characters to your text when typing on $a[IRC].
	Many people on <a href="ircs://kitsune6uv4dtdve.onion:6697/%23Volatile">#Volatile</a>.
	I finally started using it myself now.
	Wowaname even added a new feature for me: a channel whitelist.
	Previously, people have been using the script mostly everywhere, the blacklisting channels run by people that are bothered by it.
	The new whitelist allows me to use it only on the Volatile network though.
	I can have off be the default state of the script, and have it turned on only on channels that I know that people will not mind it on in.
</p>
<p>
	My <a href="/a/canary.txt">canary</a> still sings the tune of freedom and transparency.
</p>
END
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