Techrights logo

IRC: #techbytes @ Techrights IRC Network: Thursday, September 25, 2025

(ℹ) Join us now at the IRC channel | ䷉ Find the plain text version at this address (HTTP) or in Gemini (how to use Gemini) with a full GemText version.

schestowitz[TR2]"They are trying to kick out the founder of Ruby on Rails because he is based.Sep 25 03:04
schestowitz[TR2]I’ve read @dhhSep 25 03:04
schestowitz[TR2] posts and they are pretty moderate. Not even sure he’s conservative at all, just common sense!"Sep 25 03:04
schestowitz[TR2]"Drew DeVault (known for being anti-Lunduke, anti-Stallman, and pro-Child Pornography), has now set his sights on Omarchy Linux (DHH) and the Ladybird web browser (Kling) — calling them both “fascist”.Sep 25 03:07
schestowitz[TR2]Pro-Antifa, pro-Trans activists within Open Source are voicing agreement with DeVault’s attack.Sep 25 03:07
schestowitz[TR2]“And in a moment of poetic irony, a few days ago Kling spoke in solidarity with DHH over his “persecution” for “banal, mainstream positions” on Twitter just a few days ago, in response to DHH’s tweet signal-boosting another notable reactionary tech fascist, Bryan Lunduke.Sep 25 03:07
schestowitz[TR2]So, to sum it up, Kling wears his mask a bit better than DHH, but as far as I’m concerned it seems clear that both projects are run by fascists. If it walks like a fascist and quacks like a fascist… then why is Cloudflare giving them hundreds of thousands of dollars?”"Sep 25 03:07
schestowitz[TR2]"A group of Lefist Activists are pushing for the Ruby on Rails project to remove the project’s founder (@dhhSep 25 03:08
schestowitz[TR2]) because they claim he “holds racist and transphobic views” and “other traits undesirable”.Sep 25 03:08
schestowitz[TR2]This group, which compares themselves to the French resistance during WWII, is also demanding the adoption of a “modern Code of Conduct”."Sep 25 03:08
schestowitz[TR2]https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5xzvem0Sep 25 03:54
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5xzvem0 )Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]"and not produce anything useful or creativeSep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]15 minutes ago by AnonymousSep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]| no reactions | ReplySep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]Post ID: @cd+1k5xzvem0Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2] +1 Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]@ab yep, build office buildings in 1ndia, no H1B needed,just offshore.Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]Trump needs to deal with this next. High additional tax on US Corporations for offshoring.Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]2 hours ago by AnonymousSep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]| 1 reaction (+1/-0) | ReplySep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]Post ID: @c0+1k5xzvem0Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2] +3 Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]@OP It unlikely that tightwads like Alvind and Krabanaugh will cough up even a measly $100 per H1B visa.Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]But Trump has the right idea- if you get 10 new 1HB visas, you gotta pay a cool million (10 X $100000) dollars to the US government for the privilege. And for some substandard Indian IT junkies, not top talent. Who needs that ? not Alvind or Krabanaugh for sure.....Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]Now since tech companies like IBM, Microsoft, Google, Oracle,Meta have been abusing the H1B visa system so much, get 1000 H1B visas and you're gonna pay a trillion dollars. Another nice way to bring down the US deficit. And by the way since all these companies were taking advantage of abusing the US visa system for many years, let them pay from their huge profits. Great idea to get companies to pay for the services of taxpaying AmeSep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]ricans that they refuse to hire, because they want cheap unqualified Indians. I'm sure Trump and company will have more tricks up their sleeves in the coming weeks.Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]The moral - Be careful what you wish for...you might just get it.Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]3 hours ago by AnonymousSep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]| 3 reactions (+3/-0) | ReplySep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]Post ID: @bw+1k5xzvem0Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2] +6 Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]@a5Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]I have three thoughts, two serious and one funny:Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]1) The H1B abuse really started 15 years ago, which coincided with the Indians being the vast majority of H1Bs (they are 25% of L1s). They flooded the system. Who is responsible? You need 2 to tango, top American corporations working either directly or indirectly via SIs and/or outsourcing companies to get this done. Sometimes more than 1 relationship removed to make it more complex to detect.Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]2) American companies used to care about employee training, not the fake one we are having at IBM, but real continuous learning, working with universities, colleges to prepare solid plans to create American jobs etc. Unfortunately, they have facade "employee growth programs and plans" now, just for PR, marketing and to attract some people, or compliance only ("we are an organization that cares").Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]If American businesses wanted to look for solutions to provide job opportunities for their fellow Americans, it would happen. It's actually easy. Now, and this is where some of you may get mad, but I will say it anyone... During the pandemic and the tech bo-m, some people acting like prima donnas and they behaved entitles ("you are so lucky to have me"). Please don't get mad, but it's true. Some people did and gave corporations an Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]excuse. That behavior doesn't help right now, because it keeps the excuse alive.Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]AND here comes my #3 and funny thought: Sure, IBM will spend $100K to bring new H1Bs, I'm sure AK still has some family, friends and neighbors to bring over!Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]9 hours ago by AnonymousSep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]| 6 reactions (+6/-0) | ReplySep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]Post ID: @am+1k5xzvem0Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2] 0 Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]Cohn says he likes it: @mv+1k5hre60vSep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]"Sep 25 03:54
schestowitz[TR2]https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5ys7mrcSep 25 03:57
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5ys7mrc )Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]"Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]NEXT MOVE? US OPT tax push coincides with 25% outsourcing penalty on US companiesSep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]US OPT tax push coincides with 25% outsourcing penalty on US companiesSep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]The Trump administration immigration policies in 2025 are set to make study visas tougher for international students and introduce new tax rules that impact the Optional Practical Training program.Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]US lawmakers have proposed taxing international students’ earnings from the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. Foreign students in the US working for American firms under the OPT program are currently exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes.Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-us-immigration-reforms-put-opt-tax-burden-on-foreign-students-25-tax-on-us-companies-for-outsourcing-jobs-3984525/Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]Also:Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]Is the Hire Act stuck in congress?Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]Does anyone know more?Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]"Sep 25 03:57
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-www.financialexpress.com | US prepares to tax international students and foreign firms through the HIRE Act - Investing Abroad News | The Financial ExpressSep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]"I haven't seen anything recent new in the US media, but this one (opinion article, from my perspective way off):Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/week-in-insights-hire-act-would-make-it-pricy-to-be-competitiveSep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]Week in Insights: HIRE Act Would Make It Pricy to Be CompetitiveSep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]Sept. 21, 2025, 10:02 AM EDTSep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]Congress wants to tax outsourcing of services—but practically speaking, it may end up taxing the cost of staying competitive. That’s the core flaw with the Halting International Relocation of Employment Act, or HIRE Act, a proposal to levy a 25% excise tax on payments made by US companies to foreign entities that provide services to US consumers.Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]The bill aims to discourage offshoring, fund retraining, and encourage companies to hire domestically. But it’s functionally a service-sector tariff dressed in Apollo Creed shorts. Without an immediate source of fully trained domestic workers, the tax would drive up information technology costs, set back modernization efforts, and hurt corporate balance sheets.Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]The legislation also denies tax deductions for outsourcing payments. The message is clear: US companies relying on foreign services must be ready to pay for the privilege.Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]The immediate effect would be higher costs of doing business in the digital economy, rather than job creation. Companies would need to hike prices, cut budgets (including labor costs), or delay investment in new developments.Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]Under the HIRE Act, inflationary pressures likely would hit small and midsized firms first and hardest, as they’re the least likely to have domestic hiring capacity to replace offshore talent. A small software development company that outsources programming to India probably wouldn’t be able to hire a half dozen domestic developers, but they also may be in no position to pass a 25% cost increase on to their customers. That’s Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]a recipe for disaster.Sep 25 03:57
schestowitz[TR2]Protecting workers is a noble endeavor, but domestic training must precede any attempt to penalize global hiring. Otherwise, you’re not reshoring jobs—you’re just taxing an inescapable economic reality."Sep 25 03:57
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-news.bloombergtax.com | Week in Insights: HIRE Act Would Make It Pricy to Be CompetitiveSep 25 03:57
*x-amarsh04 has quit (Quit: Konversation terminated!)Sep 25 04:17
*x-amarsh04 (~amarsh04@9rtnvxtj54g72.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 04:25
*x-amarsh04 has quit (Quit: Konversation terminated!)Sep 25 04:32
*x-amarsh04 (~amarsh04@9rtnvxtj54g72.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 04:33
*x-amarsh04 has quit (Quit: Konversation terminated!)Sep 25 04:40
*x-amarsh04 (~amarsh04@9rtnvxtj54g72.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 04:40
schestowitz[TR2]https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/2025-09/msg00005.htmlSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]"Hi everyone,Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]> would a few people here be able to spare 1/2 hour to an hour at theSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  next office hours meeting to join in, ?Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]Just some info about this: "office hours" are casual meetups onSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]Mission:Libre's Jitsi instance atSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]https://meet.missionlibre.org/OfficeHours.Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]The times are usually advertised on my fedi account,Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]@missionlibre@social.missionlibre.org. I usually schedule them forSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]6-7pm UTC on a weekday, but I'm flexible.Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]They're intended mostly for adults, but younger people are welcomeSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]too.Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]Some updates about Mission:Libre:Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]=============================Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]What I've been working onSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]-------------------------Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* I recently published Issue 0 of Libre!, Mission:Libre'sSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  magazine. It's available here:Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  https://missionlibre.org/libre-issue-0-september-2025.Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* October's Libre! issue is in the works.  Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  In that issue, I give introductions to mass surveillance, onlineSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  privacy and encryption, talk about how to advocate for your ownSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  right to use free software, tour free software for artists, guideSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  readers through rock and pop drum beats with LMMS, give 30 days ofSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  mini-tutorials for Python, and show readers how to write a toy RSASep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  implementation. It's going to be huge!Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* I'm available to help teenagers in small groups andSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  one-to-one. There's more info on what I can do for them here:Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  https://missionlibre.org/happy-to-help.Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* I've been reaching out to youth organisations outside technology andSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  preparing to pitch articles to publications read by teens. This willSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  take some time to bear fruit, but I've found some really goodSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  opportunities to pursue.Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* I'm working on a new website explaining free software to youngerSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  teenagers. (This was meant to be ready in September, but I've had toSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  push it out until October)Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* I'm planning a series of youth roundtables for November. This willSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  be part online celebration, part opportunity for them to share whatSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  they want Mission:Libre's future to be like. Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]How you can help:Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]----------------Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* If you already have Reddit, Hacker News and/or Facebook accounts,Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  please please post about Mission:Libre there. I don't have accounts on anySep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  of those, and for obvious reasons you can't just make one forSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  self-promotion.Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* If you're associated with a youth organisation that might be able toSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  help me spread the word about free software and Mission:Libre,Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  please message me for a copy of the pamphlet I've made especiallySep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  for you. It briefly explains what free software is, what it has toSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  offer teens, what Mission:Libre is and why I can't do this withoutSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  your help. Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]* Please consider donating to Mission:Libre atSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  https://missionlibre.org/support-missionlibre. Mission:Libre'sSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  annual budget is less than €50,000. Anything you can give will go aSep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]  long way.Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]Thank you for being so enthusiastic about Mission:Libre!Sep 25 04:41
schestowitz[TR2]- Carmen"Sep 25 04:41
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-Failed to connect to lists.gnu.org port 443 after 10001 ms: Timeout was reached ( status 0 @ https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/2025-09/msg00005.html )Sep 25 04:41
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-meet.missionlibre.org | Jitsi MeetSep 25 04:41
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-missionlibre.org | Libre! Issue 0, September 2025 | Mission:LibreSep 25 04:41
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-missionlibre.org | Happy to help! | Mission:LibreSep 25 04:42
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-missionlibre.org | Support Mission:Libre | Mission:LibreSep 25 04:42
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytesSep 25 06:57
schestowitz[TR2]https://x.com/LundukeJournal/status/1971050140493586730Sep 25 07:09
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-x.com | NO TITLESep 25 07:09
schestowitz[TR2]"“The era of politicizing open source software is over.”Sep 25 07:09
schestowitz[TR2]The Political Activists of Open Source have pushed it too far."\Sep 25 07:09
schestowitz[TR2]"I regret not speaking up in defense of @BrantlyMilleganSep 25 07:09
schestowitz[TR2] of @ensdomainsSep 25 07:09
schestowitz[TR2] when the witch hunt came for him. I won't make that mistake again. I stand behind @dhhSep 25 07:09
schestowitz[TR2]. He's a great man and a great member of the community. The era of politicizing open source software is over. JUST BUILD"Sep 25 07:09
*GNUmoon2 has quit (connection closed)Sep 25 07:52
*GNUmoon2 (~GNUmoon@zuw9x8unhv5i6.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 07:52
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 08:42
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytesSep 25 08:46
*GNUmoon2 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s)Sep 25 08:50
*GNUmoon2 (~GNUmoon@vs9cya85s7ibu.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 08:52
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 09:00
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytesSep 25 09:05
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 09:54
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytesSep 25 10:09
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 10:27
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytesSep 25 10:40
*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 11:08
*psydroid3 (~psydroid@36imbvshpgubk.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 11:40
schestowitz[TR2]https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5jg0marSep 25 13:09
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5jg0mar )Sep 25 13:09
schestowitz[TR2]""Sep 25 13:09
schestowitz[TR2]i see you are speaking englishSep 25 13:09
schestowitz[TR2]was your own language too barbaricSep 25 13:09
schestowitz[TR2]would you like a banana/"Sep 25 13:09
schestowitz[TR2]https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5kkyyghSep 25 13:10
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5kkyygh )Sep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]"Sep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]calling it a system is a bit of a stretch, cheersSep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]8 hours ago by AnonymousSep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]| no reactions | ReplySep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]Post ID: @yq+1k5kkyyghSep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2] 0 Sep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]i suspect they will go back to IndiaSep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]and make that country greatSep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]and today i just won the lotterySep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]isn't life full of unexplained miraclesSep 25 13:10
schestowitz[TR2]https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5ynnp5qSep 25 13:12
-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5ynnp5q )Sep 25 13:12
schestowitz[TR2]"Sep 25 13:14
schestowitz[TR2]Back in the day (decades ago), there was indeed a revolving door. Employees who were RA'd often came back the next day as contractors. The rates they charged as contractors were often greater than their pre-RA employment salaries, even when accounting for the loss of employee benefits.Sep 25 13:14
schestowitz[TR2]In those days, critical employees were often RA'd before management figured out how critical they were to the business. I imagine that's still the case today. The difference between "yesterday" and "today" is IBM's overall size and working room. IBM used to have lots of divisions and lines of business, and therefore lots of opportunities to employ both employees and contractors. IBM is a much smaller company now because of the ongoSep 25 13:14
schestowitz[TR2]ing downsizing actions, so there just aren't as many opportunities. Also, the constant downsizing has resulted in legions of former employees throughout all relevant industries around the world, warning everybody about what's been happening.Sep 25 13:14
schestowitz[TR2]When it comes to hiring or even rehiring, IBM is now in a much different position than in the past. The company once declared as "surplus" not only employees but entire lines of business, before disposing of both. Now they need both new opportunities for lines of business, and new employees. They are having great difficulty finding either.Sep 25 13:14
schestowitz[TR2]"Sep 25 13:14
schestowitz[TR2]wrote to regulator todaySep 25 16:08
schestowitz[TR2]What I sent to them today I plan to _publish_ in the future. It's not time wasted.Sep 25 16:08
schestowitz[TR2]> Looks strong 💪  doesn't mean that they will do anythingSep 25 16:09
schestowitz[TR2]I prefer for them NOT to reply.Sep 25 16:09
schestowitz[TR2]It's about giving them opportunity to respond first.Sep 25 16:09
schestowitz[TR2]Mentions Anti-SLAPP Coalition:Sep 25 16:12
schestowitz[TR2]I prefer for them NOT to reply.Red Hot Cyber, The cybersecurity newsSep 25 20:26
schestowitz[TR2]Red Hot CybSep 25 20:26
schestowitz[TR2]sSep 25 20:28
*rianne (~rianne@qiysgnj2chdjg.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 20:41
*asusbox (~rianne@qiysgnj2chdjg.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 20:41
*psydroid3 has quit (Quit: KVIrc 5.2.6 Quasar http://www.kvirc.net/)Sep 25 22:07
*lightbringer has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s)Sep 25 23:44
*MinceR` (~lb@iyhwsi75rjzuq.irc) has joined #techbytesSep 25 23:47
*MinceR` is now known as lightbringerSep 25 23:59

Generated by irclog2html.py 2.6 | ䷉ find the plain text version at this address (HTTP) or in Gemini (how to use Gemini) with a full GemText version.