●● IRC: #techbytes @ Techrights IRC Network: Thursday, September 25, 2025 ●●
● Sep 25
[03:04]	schestowitz[TR2]	"They are trying to kick out the founder of Ruby on Rails because he is based.
[03:04]	schestowitz[TR2]	Ive read @dhh
[03:04]	schestowitz[TR2]	 posts and they are pretty moderate. Not even sure hes conservative at all, just common sense!"
[03:07]	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.
[03:07]	schestowitz[TR2]	Pro-Antifa, pro-Trans activists within Open Source are voicing agreement with DeVaults attack.
[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 DHHs tweet signal-boosting another notable reactionary tech fascist, Bryan Lunduke.
[03:07]	schestowitz[TR2]	So, to sum it up, Kling wears his mask a bit better than DHH, but as far as Im 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?"
[03:08]	schestowitz[TR2]	"A group of Lefist Activists are pushing for the Ruby on Rails project to remove the projects founder (@dhh
[03:08]	schestowitz[TR2]	) because they claim he holds racist and transphobic views and other traits undesirable.
[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."
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5xzvem0
[03:54]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5xzvem0 )
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	"and not produce anything useful or creative
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	15 minutes ago by Anonymous
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	| no reactions | Reply
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	Post ID: @cd+1k5xzvem0
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	 +1 
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	@ab yep, build office buildings in 1ndia, no H1B needed,just offshore.
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	Trump needs to deal with this next. High additional tax on US Corporations for offshoring.
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	2 hours ago by Anonymous
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	| 1 reaction (+1/-0) | Reply
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	Post ID: @c0+1k5xzvem0
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	 +3 
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	@OP It unlikely that tightwads like Alvind and Krabanaugh will cough up even a measly $100 per H1B visa.
[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.....
[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 Ame
[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.
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	The moral - Be careful what you wish for...you might just get it.
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	3 hours ago by Anonymous
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	| 3 reactions (+3/-0) | Reply
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	Post ID: @bw+1k5xzvem0
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	 +6 
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	@a5
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	I have three thoughts, two serious and one funny:
[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.
[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").
[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 
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	excuse. That behavior doesn't help right now, because it keeps the excuse alive.
[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!
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	9 hours ago by Anonymous
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	| 6 reactions (+6/-0) | Reply
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	Post ID: @am+1k5xzvem0
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	 0 
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	Cohn says he likes it: @mv+1k5hre60v
[03:54]	schestowitz[TR2]	"
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5ys7mrc
[03:57]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5ys7mrc )
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	"
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	NEXT MOVE? US OPT tax push coincides with 25% outsourcing penalty on US companies
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	US OPT tax push coincides with 25% outsourcing penalty on US companies
[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.
[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.
[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/
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	Also:
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	Is the Hire Act stuck in congress?
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	Does anyone know more?
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	"
[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 Express
[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):
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/week-in-insights-hire-act-would-make-it-pricy-to-be-competitive
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	Week in Insights: HIRE Act Would Make It Pricy to Be Competitive
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	Sept. 21, 2025, 10:02 AM EDT
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	Congress wants to tax outsourcing of servicesbut practically speaking, it may end up taxing the cost of staying competitive. Thats 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.
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	The bill aims to discourage offshoring, fund retraining, and encourage companies to hire domestically. But its 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.
[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.
[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.
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	Under the HIRE Act, inflationary pressures likely would hit small and midsized firms first and hardest, as theyre the least likely to have domestic hiring capacity to replace offshore talent. A small software development company that outsources programming to India probably wouldnt 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. Thats 
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	a recipe for disaster.
[03:57]	schestowitz[TR2]	Protecting workers is a noble endeavor, but domestic training must precede any attempt to penalize global hiring. Otherwise, youre not reshoring jobsyoure just taxing an inescapable economic reality."
[03:57]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-news.bloombergtax.com | Week in Insights: HIRE Act Would Make It Pricy to Be Competitive
● Sep 25
[04:17]		*x-amarsh04 has quit (Quit: Konversation terminated!)
[04:25]		*x-amarsh04 (~amarsh04@9rtnvxtj54g72.irc) has joined #techbytes
[04:32]		*x-amarsh04 has quit (Quit: Konversation terminated!)
[04:33]		*x-amarsh04 (~amarsh04@9rtnvxtj54g72.irc) has joined #techbytes
[04:40]		*x-amarsh04 has quit (Quit: Konversation terminated!)
[04:40]		*x-amarsh04 (~amarsh04@9rtnvxtj54g72.irc) has joined #techbytes
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/2025-09/msg00005.html
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	"Hi everyone,
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	> would a few people here be able to spare 1/2 hour to an hour at the
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  next office hours meeting to join in, ?
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	Just some info about this: "office hours" are casual meetups on
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	Mission:Libre's Jitsi instance at
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://meet.missionlibre.org/OfficeHours.
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	The times are usually advertised on my fedi account,
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	@missionlibre@social.missionlibre.org. I usually schedule them for
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	6-7pm UTC on a weekday, but I'm flexible.
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	They're intended mostly for adults, but younger people are welcome
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	too.
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	Some updates about Mission:Libre:
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	=============================
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	What I've been working on
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	-------------------------
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* I recently published Issue 0 of Libre!, Mission:Libre's
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  magazine. It's available here:
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  https://missionlibre.org/libre-issue-0-september-2025.
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* October's Libre! issue is in the works.  
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  In that issue, I give introductions to mass surveillance, online
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  privacy and encryption, talk about how to advocate for your own
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  right to use free software, tour free software for artists, guide
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  readers through rock and pop drum beats with LMMS, give 30 days of
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  mini-tutorials for Python, and show readers how to write a toy RSA
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  implementation. It's going to be huge!
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* I'm available to help teenagers in small groups and
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  one-to-one. There's more info on what I can do for them here:
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  https://missionlibre.org/happy-to-help.
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* I've been reaching out to youth organisations outside technology and
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  preparing to pitch articles to publications read by teens. This will
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  take some time to bear fruit, but I've found some really good
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  opportunities to pursue.
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* I'm working on a new website explaining free software to younger
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  teenagers. (This was meant to be ready in September, but I've had to
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  push it out until October)
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* I'm planning a series of youth roundtables for November. This will
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  be part online celebration, part opportunity for them to share what
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  they want Mission:Libre's future to be like. 
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	How you can help:
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	----------------
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* If you already have Reddit, Hacker News and/or Facebook accounts,
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  please please post about Mission:Libre there. I don't have accounts on any
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  of those, and for obvious reasons you can't just make one for
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  self-promotion.
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* If you're associated with a youth organisation that might be able to
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  help me spread the word about free software and Mission:Libre,
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  please message me for a copy of the pamphlet I've made especially
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  for you. It briefly explains what free software is, what it has to
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  offer teens, what Mission:Libre is and why I can't do this without
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  your help. 
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	* Please consider donating to Mission:Libre at
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  https://missionlibre.org/support-missionlibre. Mission:Libre's
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  annual budget is less than 50,000. Anything you can give will go a
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	  long way.
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	Thank you for being so enthusiastic about Mission:Libre!
[04:41]	schestowitz[TR2]	- Carmen"
[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 )
[04:41]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-meet.missionlibre.org | Jitsi Meet
[04:41]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-missionlibre.org | Libre! Issue 0, September 2025 | Mission:Libre
[04:42]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-missionlibre.org | Happy to help! | Mission:Libre
[04:42]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-missionlibre.org | Support Mission:Libre | Mission:Libre
● Sep 25
[06:57]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytes
● Sep 25
[07:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://x.com/LundukeJournal/status/1971050140493586730
[07:09]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-x.com | NO TITLE
[07:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	"The era of politicizing open source software is over.
[07:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	The Political Activists of Open Source have pushed it too far."\
[07:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	"I regret not speaking up in defense of @BrantlyMillegan
[07:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	 of @ensdomains
[07:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	 when the witch hunt came for him. I won't make that mistake again. I stand behind @dhh
[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"
[07:52]		*GNUmoon2 has quit (connection closed)
[07:52]		*GNUmoon2 (~GNUmoon@zuw9x8unhv5i6.irc) has joined #techbytes
● Sep 25
[08:42]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytes
[08:46]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytes
[08:50]		*GNUmoon2 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s)
[08:52]		*GNUmoon2 (~GNUmoon@vs9cya85s7ibu.irc) has joined #techbytes
● Sep 25
[09:00]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytes
[09:05]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytes
[09:54]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytes
● Sep 25
[10:09]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytes
[10:27]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytes
[10:40]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytes
● Sep 25
[11:08]		*psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytes
[11:40]		*psydroid3 (~psydroid@36imbvshpgubk.irc) has joined #techbytes
● Sep 25
[13:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5jg0mar
[13:09]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5jg0mar )
[13:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	""
[13:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	i see you are speaking english
[13:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	was your own language too barbaric
[13:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	would you like a banana/"
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5kkyygh
[13:10]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5kkyygh )
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	"
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	calling it a system is a bit of a stretch, cheers
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	8 hours ago by Anonymous
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	| no reactions | Reply
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	Post ID: @yq+1k5kkyygh
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	 0 
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	i suspect they will go back to India
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	and make that country great
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	and today i just won the lottery
[13:10]	schestowitz[TR2]	isn't life full of unexplained miracles
[13:12]	schestowitz[TR2]	https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5ynnp5q
[13:12]		-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1k5ynnp5q )
[13:14]	schestowitz[TR2]	"
[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.
[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 ongo
[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.
[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.
[13:14]	schestowitz[TR2]	"
● Sep 25
[16:08]	schestowitz[TR2]	wrote to regulator today
[16:08]	schestowitz[TR2]	What I sent to them today I plan to _publish_ in the future. It's not time wasted.
[16:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	> Looks strong   doesn't mean that they will do anything
[16:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	I prefer for them NOT to reply.
[16:09]	schestowitz[TR2]	It's about giving them opportunity to respond first.
[16:12]	schestowitz[TR2]	Mentions Anti-SLAPP Coalition:
● Sep 25
[20:26]	schestowitz[TR2]	I prefer for them NOT to reply.Red Hot Cyber, The cybersecurity news
[20:26]	schestowitz[TR2]	Red Hot Cyb
[20:28]	schestowitz[TR2]	s
[20:41]		*rianne (~rianne@qiysgnj2chdjg.irc) has joined #techbytes
[20:41]		*asusbox (~rianne@qiysgnj2chdjg.irc) has joined #techbytes
● Sep 25
[22:07]		*psydroid3 has quit (Quit: KVIrc 5.2.6 Quasar http://www.kvirc.net/)
● Sep 25
[23:44]		*lightbringer has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s)
[23:47]		*MinceR` (~lb@iyhwsi75rjzuq.irc) has joined #techbytes
[23:59]		*MinceR` is now known as lightbringer