Just dropped a video on the buy now pay later scheme, what it really is, why it feels so easy, and how it can quietly stack up into a mess if you’re not watching it closely. Watch it here: If you’ve ever used BNPL, did it help you stay on budget, or did it nudge you into buying more than you planned? #BNPL #BuyNowPayLater #PersonalFinance #Debt #ConsumerRights #DigitalFreedom

Starmer is under pressure to scrap Digital ID, and honestly, the pushback makes sense. These schemes always start with "just for X", then quietly expand into everything. Convenience on the surface, control underneath. Watch: What would make you trust a Digital ID rollout, if anything? #DigitalID #Privacy #SelfSovereignty #CivilLiberties #Surveillance #UKPolitics #Freedom #Decentralisation

Good night, all. I'll be back tomorrow with more posts, videos, and chat. Follow along here: Nostr:

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beitmenotyou

Be It Me Not You documents real systems as they break, change, and stabilise, so others can learn without pretending the process is clean.

Mastodon: https://social.beitmenotyou.online/users/beitmenotyou Bluesky:

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Michael J Burgess (@beitmenotyou.online)

Be It Me Not You documents real systems as they break, change, and stabilise, so others can learn without pretending the process is clean. https:/...

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#Nostr #Mastodon #Bluesky #Matrix #DigitalFreedom #Privacy #SelfHosting #Decentralisation #SelfSovereignty

China stimulus chat is back, and the big question is always the same: does it actually hit real demand, or does it just keep the pipes flowing for banks, property, and exports? China's central Bank has been signalling more support in 2026 (think rate cuts and RRR cuts), plus more "clean-up" style measures across the financial system. That can move markets fast, but the follow-through matters way more than the headline. Video: #China #Stimulus #PBOC #Macro #Economy #Markets #Investing #Bitcoin #Crypto

The "gold vs Bitcoin" debate always gets framed like you have to pick a team. The more interesting question is: why do people rotate between them, and what changes when fear goes up, and trust goes down? The Truth About The Gold-Bitcoin Rotation Gold is old-school self-custody. Bitcoin is programmable self-custody. Both are reactions to the same problem: money you do not fully control. What are you rotating into right now, and why? #Bitcoin #Gold #SoundMoney #SelfCustody #Privacy #Decentralisation #FinancialSovereignty #Crypto

"Bill Gates PANICS" is obviously a spicy headline, but the underlying question is real: how much should governments trust Windows 11, its update pipeline, and the wider Microsoft ecosystem? This video digs into the pushback and the growing scrutiny: With Windows 10 support ending, many people feel pushed into "upgrade or risk it" territory, and that's where the trust conversation gets messy. If you're thinking about your next move: what matters more to you, compatibility, control, or privacy? #Windows11 #CyberSecurity #Privacy #DigitalSovereignty #Security #TechPolicy #SelfHosting #Linux #OpenSource

I didn't get Gridfinity… then I tried it. This Switch and Click video. The whole "modular base + bins" idea is weirdly satisfying once you see it in action, and it feels like the organising system you can actually evolve instead of starting from scratch every month. If you've tried Gridfinity, what was your "ohhh, right" moment? #Gridfinity #Organisation #DeskSetup #3DPrinting #DIY #Workshop #Tools #Homelab #Minimalism

If you're looking for fresh homelab inspiration for 2026, Sonoran Tech just dropped a solid video: "9 Selfhost Ideas for 2026". It's the kind of list that's great for sparking that "oh yeah, I could run that" moment, whether you're on a Pi, a mini PC, or a scrappy old laptop. Watch it here: What are you self-hosting this year, and what's next on your list? #selfhosting #homelab #opensource #privacy #digitalsovereignty #decentralisation #linux #docker #raspberrypi

If the UK’s digital ID is “only” meant to prove right to work (which is usually framed as 16+), why are there reports about issuing it to newborns alongside the NHS red book? That’s not a minor tweak, it’s scope creep. It also lines up with the wider push to make kids more “trackable” across systems, long before they can consent. If you want a digital ID scheme, be honest about what you want it to become: a default identifier for accessing services, enforcing policy, and linking records across the state. People can debate that on its merits. What we should not accept is the slow backdoor rollout while being told “it’s just for jobs” or “it’s just for migration”. Transparency first. Opt in, not default. Data minimisation. Proper oversight. Real consequences for misuse. Otherwise this is just another step towards normalising surveillance as admin. #DigitalID #Privacy #UK #CivilLiberties #Freedom #SelfSovereignty #DigitalRights

Nostr New ActivityPub instance is live 👋 https://social.beitmenotyou.online/ It’s a small, personal instance running on a Raspberry Pi, so sign-ups are intentionally limited to selected folks (people here) plus people you recommend who genuinely fit the vibe. Joining requires admin approval and it’s 16+ only. #ActivityPub #Fediverse #SelfHosting #RaspberryPi #DigitalFreedom #Privacy #Decentralisation