Yeah the criminals will quickly find ways to avoid using services that scan client side is my main issue.

I’m technical enough that I can too if the time ever comes. I’m in the “nothing criminal to hide, but fuck you you’re not seeing my texts anyway” camp.

And who knows who will wield these tools at a later point

History is so, so full of examples of this being abused by what were originally well intentioned motives (Jews in The Netherlands rounded up because of census information etc.). I just do not trust any future government and neither should anyone else.

Agree.

“We must break with the totally erroneous perception that it is everyone’s civil liberty to communicate on encrypted messaging services.”

How in the name of fuck anyone thinks they can prevent encryption is beyond me. That ship sailed 30 years ago. People who want it will find a way.

Downvoting something you disagree with is not behaving badly. Banning people without knowing their motivation for a downvote is ridiculous.

Yes!!! Me too!!! I recorded it onto a VHS tape off the TV as a kid and I’m probably at a similar watch count to you. It’s my favourite movie of all time.

Aliens.

Still holds up in 4K nearly 40 years on. The drop ship, the mother alien, the armoured carrier, all incredible looking.

This is the context I came to the comments for. Thank you. I knew Mandy was a solid human.

If only they understood why they’re called hydrocarbons. Might explain all that water they leave behind in the air. Alas…

Haha. Sorry! I mean I really did enjoy it. But “must watch” is a high standard.

I faced similar with Aliens (my favourite movie of all time) with my 15 year old. I deliberately didn’t watch it for nearly 10 years to wait on the 4k release. Got gifted a Blu-ray player between my wife and eldest son for Christmas, had a big “Aliens night” when the disc arrived and she called it “mid” 😭

I appreciated the recommendation of something slightly obscure enough to watch it straight after your comment though for what it’s worth.

Thanks. Haven’t come across this one before. It’s on prime for anyone interested.

Will add this to the watchlist.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1352802/

Edit: Watched it just now as it’s short and the house is quiet. I wouldn’t have it on my must see list but it was enjoyable

It’s a good, thought provoking, question but “thriving” is subjective. One of my besties is not wealthy and doesn’t want to be but he’s living the life he wants and very happy doing it so I’d consider that thriving.

Hon hon hon

I more or less do the same for finding new communities but I do browse my feed by “scaled” first to try to engage posts early in Comms that I’m interested in, then move to all top twelve hours after.

What is that thing on the bonnet / hood?

Lawnchair supports it.

https://lawnchair.app/

And finally: I still have a flip-phone and have no other computing devices beyond the one desktop PC I’m writing

That is hardcore. I respect it. Even my 86 year old mother has a smartphone.

I am incredibly difficult to buy gifts for because I have everything I want, which is not much at all.

Looking forward to seeing them :)

Oh fantastic! Looking forward to those!