Google is starting to retreat on its "developer government ID verification" plan, thank goodness. But the devil will be in the detail, and Google's positioning that wanting to install software on your own device makes you a "power user" is concerning. The notion that you need to be an "experienced user" to use @F-Droid, for instance, is nonsense. But still: keeping up the pressure appears to be working. A little.
Android Developers Blog
Android developer verification: Early access starts now as we continue to build with your feedback
News and insights on the Android platform, developer tools, and events.
People in the UK who have had a batch of good quality, individual (not sheet) stickers printed recently: who did you use, please?
I prefer to trim my beard during the summer, when the UK is on daylight shaving time.
Decision made: I am going to FOSDEM. How exciting. I will hopefully see some of you there :)
Come and join us this Wednesday evening! It is a small, friendly group, and while the chat tends to be mostly about tech and related stuff, you don't have to be A Very Linuxy Person to enjoy it. It "officially" starts at 19:30, but I tend to be there earlier.
SCLUG
 Questions? Join the Signal group! #Reading #LUG #Linux
> A 17-year-old girl who says she was exposed to horrific images and videos including porn, a shooting and a beheading on a smartphones during the school day has joined a legal action against the education secretary ... in an attempt to get smartphones banned in schools in England. Interestingly, the video which she says impacted her the most (which sounds horrible) was not shown to her in school. So the scope of the ban she is seeking is unclear. Second, the core issue seems to be other children showing their phones or sending messages non-consensually, which isn't an angle I've seen before, and in some cases is probably a criminal offence in its own right.
the Guardian
Girl, 17, joins lawsuit against UK government after seeing horrific phone videos at school
Flossie McShea from Devon says she saw a shooting, a beheading and porn and that other students β€˜show you their screen without invitation’
All the advice: do not downgrade Debian. It is not supported. Neil, with backups: How bad can it be? New blogpost: "Downgrading Debian from testing to stable (trixie)"
Downgrading Debian from testing to stable (trixie)
I have some machines running Debian testing. However, it looks questionable whether I would get through Cyber Essentials running testing (or sid/un...
 #Debian #Linux #FOSS #DontTryThisAtHome
A current UK public appointment application says that they > particularly encourage applications from talented people of all backgrounds to ensure the Board reflects our diverse society. But then it also says > The roles are unremunerated. Travel and subsistence expenses are also not normally reimbursed for members of the Board apart from in exceptional circumstances and only with the prior agreement of the Chair. So that is "diverse background" in the sense of "wealthy enough to work for free and pay your own expenses".