I apologize that I have not posted on here in awhile. I have been frustrated with the mobile apps, both the regular one and IceCubes, because, among other things, they are so slow and cumbersome that search doesn't really work.

I still don't know if that is specific to being on a small server like #Qoto, though. There doesn't seem to be anywhere to get that information.

It was a minor shock to me when Threads came out how heavily the userbase chanted for a good desktop interface. My usage patterns are the exact opposite-- sitting down at a PC is a brief weekend luxury competing for other usages of time, but my phone is always with me through every wait and break. Threads prioritizing a frictionless phone app was a huge deal for me.

And of course, with their momentum there came the familiar surges of hope that this would finally be the shift in network effects we need to replace Xitter for good.

But as I renewed my self-appointed role of nagging my favorite Xitter accounts to cross-post, I realized I've been a hypocrite. If it's so easy to cross-post for the benefit of non-Nazi sites, shouldn't I practice the same in cross-posting some of my posts from Threads back to Masotodon? So I'm going to backfill some selected posts and see how that goes.

Curious about the status on #qoto of the new opt-in full-text #search option to allow full-text search of posts. I've heard people chattering about it on other servers, but perhaps this Is this already enabled by default on qoto? Or will it be coming in the future?

I've been very impressed with the functionality of the instance and moderation decisions so far, so I'm sure the mods are on it (or already did it), but I couldn't find definitive info either way through some searching and the info page. Thanks! @freemo

To #boost, or not to #boost, that is the #question. At what point does #boosting become too much?
#AskFedi #Mastodon #Fediverse #AskMastodon #QOTO #Toot #Toots #Ettiquette

@kuridala They already exist on the #QOTO instance.

@rm4 Thank you for the information. On my particular interface I cannot see an Explore tab. When I have the advanced interface on, I see a set of #trending #hashtags appear on the bottom of the screen; however, these have not changed in a while. Maybe I need to ask someone on my particular instance?

#QOTO #AskFedi #AskMastodon #Fediverse

@freemo

Dear Dr. Freemo: I understand the personal block, which everyone can do, we cannot because we represent a larger structure. I was not actually addressing directly your specific circumstances with the account holder user in question, I was really addressing people who utilize account blocking to attempt to put a chill on freedom of speech & freedom of the press.

If we block an account we are going against our basic principles of freedom of speech, we often are asked did you block or mute us. We just feel that people on social media platforms need to allow unfavorable negative speech that is not unlawful and illegal in nature. If I personally do not agree with you and I have a personal social media account, I still will not block you. I am arguing the point that you are operating solely as a private individual and not The QOTO org Administrator/moderator.

Sincerely, Monica Andrews, Editor-in-chief, #FreePeoplesFreePress News on #qoto

Scientists Discover a Genetic Variant That Seems to Limit HIV Infection

HEALTH

Source: Science Alert

11 August 2023

By CLARE WATSON

A tiny fraction of people are naturally resistant to HIV infections, and scientists want to understand why.

Now an international team of researchers has discovered a new genetic variant in people of African ancestries that appears to restrict HIV replication after an infection sets in.

Though more research is needed to confirm their findings, the discovery is a huge step forward for HIV research, which has long neglected African populations.

"The findings may explain why certain people in these populations have a lower viral load, which slows down the virus from replicating and transmitting," says pathologist and study author Simon Mallal from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.

The discovery, from a combined analysis of nearly 3,900 individuals, could also pave the way to developing new antiviral drugs as previously identified genetic variants have done in the past.

Today HIV affects around 39 million people worldwide, though it's clear the virus doesn't affect everybody in the same way. But aside from genetic flukes in one gene called CCR5, the other known genetic variants thought to confer some resistance to HIV have not always stood up to scrutiny when scientists tried to replicate results.

What's more, genetic studies have mainly been conducted in Caucasian populations of European descent, while most infections occur in Africa, overwhelmingly affecting people of African ancestry.

Researchers have more recently begun studying African populations. In 2021 genetic variants were uncovered in Botswana that appear to either make people more susceptible to HIV infections or drive disease progression.

In this new study of African people living with HIV-1 – the most common type of the virus – researchers found the opposite: a collection of 16 genetic variants that seems to limit HIV replication.

The variants clustered around a gene on chromosome 1 called CHD1L. One particular genetic substitution topped the list of variants associated with low levels of the virus at the most chronic period of infection.

That's good news because this level, known as a set-point viral load, is an indicator of transmission risk and the likelihood of disease progression in chronic HIV infections.

"By studying a large sample of people of African ancestry, we've been able to identify a new genetic variant that only exists in this population and which is linked to lower HIV viral loads," says Paul McLaren, a research scientist at the Canadian National Microbiology Laboratory for HIV genetics.

McLaren and colleagues estimate between 4 and 13 percent of people of African ancestries carry the top-ranking variant in CHD1L.

Although researchers don't yet know how CHD1L controls viral load, they're keen to find out because it could lead to new treatment options.

"Every time we discover something new about HIV control, we learn something new about the virus and something new about the cell," says University of Cambridge virologist Harriet Groom.

Investigating a little further, the researchers found that HIV replication ramped up if CHD1L was switched off in macrophages, a well-known reservoir of HIV-1. Yet there was no effect in T-cells, another type of immune cell, in which HIV usually replicates.

Despite the promising discovery, researchers are well aware that genetic resistance to HIV most likely involves a complex interaction between two or more genetic variants, rather than one exceptional quirk.

It also remains unclear just how much genetics contributes to the variability in HIV infections.

Systemic and social factors, such as racial inequities and access to treatment, also impact which groups are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV, how quickly HIV progresses to AIDS, or whether the virus is controlled at levels below what can be transmitted to other people.

#hiv #microbiology #virology #sciencenews #QOTO #stem #FreePressWithoutBorders

https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-a-genetic-variant-that-seems-to-limit-hiv-infection

I am in the process of migrating the #QOTO nextcloud server from our smaller mysql database to our beast of a postgresql database. This should save us some money since I can retire the mysql database and should significantly improve performance. The nextcloud will be down intermittently while I upgrade but should be back up in the next 30 minutes or so.

@khird

Well I think I finally got to the bottom of why the #QOTO matrix server has been slow in the past. Now that i have good stats on resources I can better address it... Should have matrix running much smoother soon.

@trinsec

@lowqualityfacts

I was able to decipher exactly what "meow" really means: Meow is exactly 2 specific separate words that have been merged together.

Answer: 1. Me is the cat's own self identity.

Answer: 2. Ow is a threat to any person who will not immediately obey the cat's demands.

#cats #caturday #codebreaking. #QOTO

Sincerely, Katherine Tate, Managing Editor, #FreePeoplesfreepress News

ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio

Commercial Interests Petition FCC for High Power Allocation on Shortwave Spectrum

07/18/2023

[Updated 7/18/2023]

7/11/2023

The ad hoc group “Shortwave Modernization Coalition” petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow data communications on multiple bands within the HF 2 – 25 MHz range with up to 20 KW, including in bands immediately adjacent to spectrum allocated to the Amateur Radio Service. This group appears to represent high-speed stock trading interests.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is treating the petition as a subject of concern for its members and the greater Amateur Radio Service. ARRL Laboratory staff are studying the matter from a technical standpoint, including analysis of transmitted signals potentially interfering with Amateur Radio communications on Amateur Radio spectrum. The results from this expert review are being finalized and will inform ARRL’s filed comments on the matter.

The FCC has assigned the petition RM-11953. Comments are due by July 31, 2023, and reply comments by August 15. While the petitioners exclude the amateur bands, high power operations on immediately adjacent bands are proposed.

A copy of the petition is at: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1042840187330/1 (PDF).

Photo Gallery
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is preparing to file comments, responding to a petition made by the ad hoc group “Shortwave Modernization Coalition" to FCC.

#amateurradio #ARRL #Ham #QOTO #News

https://www.arrl.org/news/commercial-interests-petition-fcc-for-high-power-allocation-on-shortwave-spectrum#:~:text=%5BUpdated%207%2F18%2F2023%5D&text=The%20ad%20hoc%20group%20%E2%80%9CShortwave,to%20the%20Amateur%20Radio%20Service.

@freemo I believe that we need to have a national conversation on restoring U.S.A. economic power; the dog fight between business and labor is non productive. We again need to become innovative, we possess everything we need to succeed, we seem to lack the will to recapture our success after World War II. My opinion is both parties had dropped the ball, let other countries become more technologically savvy than the U.S.. We are now starting to pay for our failure to economically uplift the average citizen. Without the will of the people to be willing to endure hardships and prevail we are a hollow nation of words!

#economics #unions #philosophy. #QOTO #news

Sincerely, Katherine Tate, Managing Editor, #FreePeoplesFreePress News

@freemo Yes but, how will we accomplish this if we cannot build a proper political consensus, we need businesses and labor to work in unison or our country will probably deteriorate into a third world economy. Extreme unregulated capitalism can drag down and eventually destroy our nations similar to that of communism. Major point that I emphasize, is that American Citizens have had it too easy, we have lost our survival skills, we will soon find ourselves creating an underclass of people who no longer have the work ethic. Because the politicians failed to mind the store and big business in the end ultimately sabotaged our economy.

#economics #unions #QOTO #news

Sincerely, Katherine Tate, Managing Editor, #FreePeoplesFreePress News

@freemo Half of what you say is true in a perfect non corrupt world, labor unions sprung into life because businesses in general had a stranglehold on local and state political apparatuses. Labor union organizers had been run out of local municipalities in droves and there had been a lot of blood shed on both sides. We cannot rewrite history to deny what had occurred in violent attempts by businesses to destroy the right workers to engage in peaceful collective bargaining, which in itself is capitalism nor should we attempt to rewrite history and deny that the holocaust ever happened! There are no guarantees that businesses will voluntarily honor anti-trust laws if labor unions cease to exist.

#economics #unions #QOTO #news

Sincerely, Katherine Tate, Managing Editor, #FreePeoplesFreePress News

@trinsec @freemo @jimvernon

I agree with you trinsec, human beings will not want machines running the world and we are already over taxing our natural resources now. Even if robots build other robots and travel through space and bring back major natural resources to replenish our own drying planet earth’s resources, this is still going to lead to massive unemployment, people around the world will experience massive unemployment whether they are blue collar or white collar workers.

#economics #unions #QOTO #news

Sincerely, Katherine Tate, Managing Editor, #FreePeoplesFreePress News

@freemo

Do not confuse anti-trust laws that are designed to deter monopolies with statutory worker protection laws, they are much distant from each other in functions and intentions; ant-trust laws protect general consumers who are both rich and poor. Statutory worker protection laws mostly are geared to protect blue collar workers and lower level white collar workers.

#economics #unions #QOTO. #news

Sincerely, Katherine Tate, Managing Editor, #FreePeoplesFreePress News

@freemo

Anti-trust laws really do not protect workers from being exploited by big and small business establishments. Unions came into existence largely due to the failure of local, state, federal government elected and appointed officials to reign in business in general. Anti-trust laws are designed to protect the consumer from unfair market pricing due to monopolies that control the price of goods and services. Reduces rigging of market prices and promotes free trade within a capital system.

Big business continues to hammer away at anti-trust laws, this is not going to stop with the total elimination of labor unions. This is only going to get much worse if unions no longer exist.

Big business will continue to financially exploit workers whether we enforce anti-trust laws or not. Labor union collective bargaining came into existence because big and small businesses work men, women, and children long hours, would not provide basic health and safety on job sites.

Neither businesses nor labor unions are justified in being involved in misconduct; we cannot and should not over rationalize that either businesses or labor unions are the proximate cause of past, present, and future economic failures. Because, say for the sake of argument that businesses and labor unions completely and fully worked together in harmony, U.S.A. still would suffer from natural economic financial crises due to an imbalance in supply and demand of goods and services, which is cycle in nature.

#economics #antitrust #QOTO #news

Sincerely, Katherine Tate, Managing Editor, #FreePeoplesfreepress News

@freemo

There has always been the danger of unions creating their own massive power structures beyond organized crime. Unions are still needed due to failure by United States Federal Authorities to reign in big business. If we get rid of unions, collective bargaining creases to exist and big business grows even more stronger. U.S. elected politicians have already weakened anti-trust laws, so if we weaken or totally eliminate unions big business will continue lobbying efforts to do away with anti-trust laws and labor unions. There is no easy answer to this problem, U.S. history proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that big business cannot be trusted. U.S. history also proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that organized crime has in the past infiltrated labor unions.

So there has always been dishonestly within U.S. private business on both sides of the equation.

#economics #unions #QOTO #news

Sincerely, Katherine Tate, Managing Editor, #FreePeoplesFreePress News

How To Become A Journalist: Steps, Skills And Career Data

Source: FORBES ADVISOR

By Cecilia Seiter,  Brenna Swanston

How can I be perfect in journalism?

...Expert communication skills are critical for success in journalism. Sharp writing abilities are also key to success in the journalism field. A strong grasp on storytelling skills is especially important, whether you're reporting for print, online, TV or radio organizations....

Breaking news: No matter where you are in your career path, it’s possible to become a journalist.

Journalists play a vital role in keeping the public informed, analyzing current events and telling important stories on local, national and global levels. Keep reading to discover how to become a journalist and the skills you’ll need in this fast-paced, ever-evolving career.

What is a Journalist?

Role and Responsibilities
Journalists investigate and report stories for newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television and online news outlets. Most of the time, journalists work for a specific news organization. Some work as independent freelancers and contribute to multiple outlets at a time.

Journalists’ responsibilities vary depending on their employer. Generally, journalists are responsible for pitching story ideas or following through on an editor’s assignment. They’re also required to find and interview story sources. These interviews may inform an article or be recorded for a television, radio or web show broadcast.

Beyond interviewing sources and telling stories, some journalists are involved in story editing, presentation and broadcast. This is especially true for multimedia, TV and radio journalists. These journalists typically edit their own clips and create media packages for broadcast.

How to Become a Journalist
In most cases, becoming a journalist requires a formal education and plenty of on-the-job training. A journalism degree isn’t necessarily required, but it can help with building critical writing and interviewing skills and securing industry relationships early on.

Earn a Degree

Journalists usually earn a bachelor’s in journalism or a related field such as communications or English. Some go on to obtain a master’s in journalism or in a field concentration like broadcast or investigative reporting, but this isn’t required to gain a foothold in the field.

Gain Experience
Most colleges and universities offer opportunities for students to gain valuable journalism experience. As a college student, you might get involved in your student newspaper, radio station, TV station or magazine. You could also seek out internships at local papers and broadcast stations.

If you’re interested in entering a particular field of journalism, such as sports or the arts, make sure to attend and report on as many related events as possible. Doing so can help you develop a robust portfolio of clips to demonstrate your interest and skills in a specific niche.

#Journalism #news #stem #QOTO

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/become-a-journalist/#:~:text=Expert%20communication%20skills%20are%20critical,online%2C%20TV%20or%20radio%20organizations.

Websites hosted from the #QOTO 's gitlab, specifically the SSL certs, are back up. If you have an expired cert you may need to delete the cert and request a new one though your project's page settings. Let me know if anyone needs help.