Colin Childs🍁
@phoul.bsky.social
Anonymity & Privacy advocate // Free Software developer // Sysadmin & Network ops // Knitting // Chess // Mahjong
Chronic Illness / ND
aka "Opprimereu"
https://links.insecure-complexity.ca/
Winnipeg, MB 🇨🇦
Chronic Illness / ND
aka "Opprimereu"
https://links.insecure-complexity.ca/
Winnipeg, MB 🇨🇦
Pinned
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
"aes-js and pyaes provide a default IV in their AES-CTR API"
*screams*
https://blog.trailofbits.com/2026/02/18/carelessness-versus-craftsmanship-in-cryptography/
*screams*
https://blog.trailofbits.com/2026/02/18/carelessness-versus-craftsmanship-in-cryptography/
Carelessness versus craftsmanship in cryptography
Two popular AES libraries (aes-js and pyaes) provide dangerous default IVs that lead to key/IV reuse vulnerabilities affecting thousands of projects. One maintainer dismissed the issue, while strongSwan’s maintainer exemplified proper security response by comprehensively fixing the vulnerability in their VPN management tool.
blog.trailofbits.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:33 PM
"aes-js and pyaes provide a default IV in their AES-CTR API"
*screams*
https://blog.trailofbits.com/2026/02/18/carelessness-versus-craftsmanship-in-cryptography/
*screams*
https://blog.trailofbits.com/2026/02/18/carelessness-versus-craftsmanship-in-cryptography/
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
And yet we all have to pretend that it's reasonable for people to be stupid goombas for some reason. We're never allowed to punish anyone for their hypocrisy and if you bring this up, then YOU are the crazy hysterical one.
February 18, 2026 at 8:42 PM
And yet we all have to pretend that it's reasonable for people to be stupid goombas for some reason. We're never allowed to punish anyone for their hypocrisy and if you bring this up, then YOU are the crazy hysterical one.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
I'm so sick of our world working this way.
The spokesperson gives a canned response they don't believe, told to them by a higher up that also doesn't believe it. The interviewer obviously also doesn't believe it but can only push it so far. No one reading it will believe it either.
The spokesperson gives a canned response they don't believe, told to them by a higher up that also doesn't believe it. The interviewer obviously also doesn't believe it but can only push it so far. No one reading it will believe it either.
February 18, 2026 at 8:42 PM
I'm so sick of our world working this way.
The spokesperson gives a canned response they don't believe, told to them by a higher up that also doesn't believe it. The interviewer obviously also doesn't believe it but can only push it so far. No one reading it will believe it either.
The spokesperson gives a canned response they don't believe, told to them by a higher up that also doesn't believe it. The interviewer obviously also doesn't believe it but can only push it so far. No one reading it will believe it either.
Holy fuck, enough of this.
If you're in Arizona, contact your lawmakers.
Allowing shitty regions to dictate the law for the entire Internet is going to ruin the one thing we still (kinda) have left.
Fight this.
If you're in Arizona, contact your lawmakers.
Allowing shitty regions to dictate the law for the entire Internet is going to ruin the one thing we still (kinda) have left.
Fight this.
February 18, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Holy fuck, enough of this.
If you're in Arizona, contact your lawmakers.
Allowing shitty regions to dictate the law for the entire Internet is going to ruin the one thing we still (kinda) have left.
Fight this.
If you're in Arizona, contact your lawmakers.
Allowing shitty regions to dictate the law for the entire Internet is going to ruin the one thing we still (kinda) have left.
Fight this.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
Discworld QOTD, from Mort
"‘You’re dead,’ he said.
Keli waited. She couldn’t think of any suitable reply. ‘I’m not’ lacked a certain style, while ‘Is it serious?’ seemed somehow too frivolous."
"‘You’re dead,’ he said.
Keli waited. She couldn’t think of any suitable reply. ‘I’m not’ lacked a certain style, while ‘Is it serious?’ seemed somehow too frivolous."
Discworld QOTD, from Hogfather
February 18, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Mort
"‘You’re dead,’ he said.
Keli waited. She couldn’t think of any suitable reply. ‘I’m not’ lacked a certain style, while ‘Is it serious?’ seemed somehow too frivolous."
"‘You’re dead,’ he said.
Keli waited. She couldn’t think of any suitable reply. ‘I’m not’ lacked a certain style, while ‘Is it serious?’ seemed somehow too frivolous."
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
I just did the dumbest thing of my entire career to prove a much more serious point.
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
February 18, 2026 at 4:37 PM
I just did the dumbest thing of my entire career to prove a much more serious point.
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
That's still murder, dudes. You don't have to kill them with missiles to murder them.
A second government official... questioned why, after months of attacks in the region, search and rescue assets weren’t pre-positioned closer to the Eastern Pacific.
“SOUTHCOM doesn’t want these people alive,” that official said.
“SOUTHCOM doesn’t want these people alive,” that official said.
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Sent a Rescue Plane for Boat Strike Survivors. It Took 45 Hours to Arrive.
In seas that could kill a person within an hour, it took nearly two days for a rescue plane to arrive.
New from @airwars.bsky.social and @theintercept.com
theintercept.com/2026/02/17/b...
In seas that could kill a person within an hour, it took nearly two days for a rescue plane to arrive.
New from @airwars.bsky.social and @theintercept.com
theintercept.com/2026/02/17/b...
February 17, 2026 at 5:26 PM
That's still murder, dudes. You don't have to kill them with missiles to murder them.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
“The CSAM and unfettered racism on Twitter aren’t dealbreakers for me because the audience is bigger”
This is a good example of why I find Bluesky exhausting and not worth cross posting. You could write a piece that carefully lays out the evidence, and the first (and 2nd-4th) replies are Big Mad that you didn't just write the piece they wanted. X has its problems — many, many problems — but ...
Well look at that.
If only the media had reported realistically about the economy in 2024, would we even be in this position?
But bothsides, amirite?
If only the media had reported realistically about the economy in 2024, would we even be in this position?
But bothsides, amirite?
February 18, 2026 at 7:48 PM
“The CSAM and unfettered racism on Twitter aren’t dealbreakers for me because the audience is bigger”
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
Countries that do not embrace a.i. may retain the terrible ability to read and process new information without a monthly subscription.
February 18, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Countries that do not embrace a.i. may retain the terrible ability to read and process new information without a monthly subscription.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
If you only follow 46 accounts on a site that doesn’t use an algorithm that’s a skill issue tbh.
Follow more accounts, learn more.
Follow more accounts, learn more.
I learn more on X.
February 18, 2026 at 7:23 PM
If you only follow 46 accounts on a site that doesn’t use an algorithm that’s a skill issue tbh.
Follow more accounts, learn more.
Follow more accounts, learn more.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
hey! fellow hosers! if you are looking for a canadian sticker company to order from, i've been using jukebox and they're SUCH NICE QUALITY! and their packaging is bright rainbow!
also they gave me a referral code idk man just feels like something i should put out there just in case you never know
also they gave me a referral code idk man just feels like something i should put out there just in case you never know
Online Printing Services | Premium Custom Printing by Jukebox
Premium online printing services for business cards, custom stickers, labels, packaging, and more. Exceptional quality, fast turnaround, and free shipping on qualifying orders.
refer.jukeboxprint.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:22 PM
hey! fellow hosers! if you are looking for a canadian sticker company to order from, i've been using jukebox and they're SUCH NICE QUALITY! and their packaging is bright rainbow!
also they gave me a referral code idk man just feels like something i should put out there just in case you never know
also they gave me a referral code idk man just feels like something i should put out there just in case you never know
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
People with disabilities face barriers everyday, and when we inevitably have had enough of this shit, we need our right to protest protected, not a by-law that tramples on peoples’ Charter rights and positions people with disabilities as some group that needs protection from protest.
February 17, 2026 at 6:31 PM
People with disabilities face barriers everyday, and when we inevitably have had enough of this shit, we need our right to protest protected, not a by-law that tramples on peoples’ Charter rights and positions people with disabilities as some group that needs protection from protest.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
I went to a rally this morning at city hall to protect our right to protest. City hall is 900 metres from my home. I had to take a taxi there because our sidewalks are impassable in winter in our so called “human rights city.” I tried to roll home but got stuck several times and had to ask for help.
February 17, 2026 at 6:31 PM
I went to a rally this morning at city hall to protect our right to protest. City hall is 900 metres from my home. I had to take a taxi there because our sidewalks are impassable in winter in our so called “human rights city.” I tried to roll home but got stuck several times and had to ask for help.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
If city council is so interested in creating safety for people with disabilities, clear the sidewalks in the winter, fix the bus system, fix Transit Plus, and help create more accessible and affordable housing. That’s what will actually keep us safe. Not some shitty by-law that bans protests.
February 17, 2026 at 6:31 PM
If city council is so interested in creating safety for people with disabilities, clear the sidewalks in the winter, fix the bus system, fix Transit Plus, and help create more accessible and affordable housing. That’s what will actually keep us safe. Not some shitty by-law that bans protests.
I kinda hope there is a Caves of Qud switch 2 release with full handheld resolution on the S2, once more important bugs are squashed.
I *think* it currently is using s1 resolution, and looking at the switch version beside steam deck is very noticable difference in sharpness.
I *think* it currently is using s1 resolution, and looking at the switch version beside steam deck is very noticable difference in sharpness.
February 18, 2026 at 9:17 AM
I kinda hope there is a Caves of Qud switch 2 release with full handheld resolution on the S2, once more important bugs are squashed.
I *think* it currently is using s1 resolution, and looking at the switch version beside steam deck is very noticable difference in sharpness.
I *think* it currently is using s1 resolution, and looking at the switch version beside steam deck is very noticable difference in sharpness.
Fish seems like a bit of a dick.
February 18, 2026 at 4:01 AM
Fish seems like a bit of a dick.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
They raided the jailed children to steal their letters.
The problem, in federal officials' minds, wasn't confining children in prison-camp conditions; it was that the children could tell the public about it.
The problem, in federal officials' minds, wasn't confining children in prison-camp conditions; it was that the children could tell the public about it.
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 8:01 PM
They raided the jailed children to steal their letters.
The problem, in federal officials' minds, wasn't confining children in prison-camp conditions; it was that the children could tell the public about it.
The problem, in federal officials' minds, wasn't confining children in prison-camp conditions; it was that the children could tell the public about it.
Ongoing thread.
At city hall this morning. They won’t let me take pictures inside today. So this is the rally before I walked in.
February 18, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Ongoing thread.
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
i think lots of people underestimate how badly these “AI” companies want people to be unable to afford computers. they view personal computing as a roadblock to their desire for complete end-to-end centralization. the fact that their tech is putting hardware out of reach is not just a happy accident
WD and Seagate confirm: Hard drives for 2026 sold out
WD and Seagate confirm: Hard drives for 2026 sold out
Hyperscalers are tearing hard drives out of the hands of manufacturers. Prices are therefore also rising for SSDs.
www.heise.de
February 17, 2026 at 5:49 PM
i think lots of people underestimate how badly these “AI” companies want people to be unable to afford computers. they view personal computing as a roadblock to their desire for complete end-to-end centralization. the fact that their tech is putting hardware out of reach is not just a happy accident
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
Reposted by Colin Childs🍁
Love that AI, a thing we hate and don’t want, steals everything, ruins everything, shittifies everything. Drinks our water, plagiarizes our art, pisses all over our information fidelity, drives kids to suicide, serves the right-wing, and fucks up our devices and services. Good job, techbros!
“.. ‘many system vendors will go bankrupt or exit product lines due to a lack of memory. Mobile phone production will be reduced by 200-250 million units, and PC and TV production will be significantly reduced.’ Yikes.”
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
February 17, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Love that AI, a thing we hate and don’t want, steals everything, ruins everything, shittifies everything. Drinks our water, plagiarizes our art, pisses all over our information fidelity, drives kids to suicide, serves the right-wing, and fucks up our devices and services. Good job, techbros!
When did the pronoun labeler disappear? :/
February 17, 2026 at 8:51 AM
When did the pronoun labeler disappear? :/
If I started doing chill streams occasionally (low / no talking, calm games like RuneScape or Caves of Qud or Mahjong), would anyone be interested in that?
Thinking relaxing tunes, chill games and chatting; though not sure if that's entirely too boring.
Thinking relaxing tunes, chill games and chatting; though not sure if that's entirely too boring.
February 17, 2026 at 8:49 AM
If I started doing chill streams occasionally (low / no talking, calm games like RuneScape or Caves of Qud or Mahjong), would anyone be interested in that?
Thinking relaxing tunes, chill games and chatting; though not sure if that's entirely too boring.
Thinking relaxing tunes, chill games and chatting; though not sure if that's entirely too boring.