Links I’d share in private #13

Greetings readers, and welcome to another edition of Links I’d share in private, a (bi-)weekly blog post about all the things and content I come across the Internet during my intense web binging, worthy of being shared to you all. It is available for free to anyone accessing my website, but please feel free follow me on my social medias’ presences to stay up-to-date with my writings and witty commentary on anything the world throws to our faces! See my sidebar for a link to all my social medias accounts.

This writing is made possible by those of you who pay to subscribe – thank you! – through my Buy me a coffee account, and you all make it possible to survive in this crazy economy. Really, THANK YOU! And if you haven’t subscribed yet, a minimal 2$ per month can help me a lot. It will help me feed fancy food to my cats! My cats thank you in advance for their worship…humm, the attention you are giving them with your money. Real whores those cats, I swear! 😹

Now on with the show!

This week, I’ve enjoyed the sunny and fresh weather a lot, working outside on my terrasse as much as I can, sipping mojitos with the fresh mint growing in my garden. There is nothing more that I love than growing your own food, making it possible to save money and not give it away to billionnaire supermarket/food chain’s owners. What can I say, the punk in me loves to find ways to rebel against our capitalist economy 😉

Otherwise, my month of August was very prolific with writings: I wrote a little about anxiety in my life (in french), and how I came to use it as a strong force in my life; I wrote about my goals in life for the next 5 years (in french); I shared some cats pictures; and I wrote about the updates in my life during this summer 2024. Overall, a very productive month! Let’s hope I keep up with the writings and inspiration.

The end of summer will be busy, as the Hackfest and Polar conventions are coming soon (10-11-12 October), and I have tons of text to write for our social medias presences. But at least I’m having fun creating tons of images inspired from this year’s edition name: 16 bits. Tons of bits and pixels art and inspo! Weeeeeeeeeeee 🙂

Keywords to this week’s blog post: Feminism relevance & women’s liberation; Online culture curators; Anti-upgrade culture; Ancient Egyptian medical history; Millennial midlife crisis; Economic instability; Penis-filler trends; Cat literature; Philosophy’s value; Self-compassion; AI tech bubble concerns; UI design control; Inclusivity in tech; Typography archives; Architectural design; CSS tricks; OSINT tools; Frontend devaluation.

TO READ

• Feminism is Over, But I’m Still Here: A little US-centric, but still very valid. “it seems that feminism is more politically necessary than it has been at any point in my life: gender and its contradictions have become the animating anxiety of the American right, and a want to reaffirm gender’s hierarchy—with men at the top, and women at the bottom—has provoked widespread degradation, danger, and violence for women nationwide. It also seems that this is a reality that few intellectuals or activists in my own milieu have been willing to name. […] What does it mean for me to still be a feminist in 2024? That is, what does it mean to invest my intellect and hopefulness in the political project of women’s liberation at a moment when the rest of my world seems to have largely abandoned it?”
• The New Generation of Online Culture Curators: In a digital world dominated by algorithms and AI, the need for human curators has never been greater. These online curators, often influencers or content creators, help us navigate the overwhelming flood of online content by offering personalized, informed recommendations. Unlike traditional influencers, these curators act more like museum curators, organizing and contextualizing content to create meaningful experiences. As the internet becomes more chaotic, these guides (*cough cough* like me 😛 *cough cough*) offer a slower, more thoughtful way to engage with content, filling the void left by traditional media critics.
• Opting out of Upgrade culture: a nice little blog post on how we don’t need to always upgrade to bigger/larger/expensive, and can content ourselves with the minimal stuff
• En Français – Les Égyptiens tentaient-ils de traiter le cancer, il y a 4000 ans? : Ma période d’histoire favorite a un bel article chez Pieuvre, où il est question d’histoire et de technologie médicale à l’époque des Anciens Égyptiens.
• Welcome to the Millennial Midlife Crisis: I’d say I’m in a Midlife crisis since I am 35, but yes… this article is ‘spot on’ on the general malaise my generation of friends are experiencing these last few years. It’s sad! The article also reflects on how the midlife crisis differs from the stereotypical one often portrayed in media. It argues that millennials’ midlife crises stem from a lack of financial stability and career prospects rather than a desire for excitement or change. It also highlights the challenges millennials face, like student loan debt, a competitive job market, and rising housing costs, which prevent them from achieving traditional milestones like homeownership and secure retirement.
• Your LOL-Sad story – Inside the Penis-Filler Boom: An article on the chirurgical-esthetical procedure men endures to have a bigger-better dick 🍆The article discusses the rising popularity of penile girth enhancement procedures: both gay and straight people seek these procedures to boost their confidence and improve the appearance of their penis. The demand for this treatment has surged, with some men spending tens of thousands of dollars for multiple sessions. It also touches on the cultural and psychological aspects driving this trend, such as body image issues and the desire for an impressive appearance both in and out of the bedroom.
• Want your cat to read? The Meow Library has a nice selection of literature available for them 😹
• The Most Valuable Thing I Learned Studying Philosophy: it explores the nature and purpose of philosophy, describing it as the pursuit of understanding fundamental truths about existence, knowledge, values, and reason. It emphasizes that philosophy encourages deep questioning and critical thinking, which can lead to a more reflective and meaningful life. The piece also touches on how philosophy intersects with daily living, offering tools for navigating complex moral and ethical dilemmas.
• My Midlife Superpower – Personal Perspective: How learning about self-compassion changed everything for me: Self-compassion makes it easier to cope with life’s curveballs and to make peace with your own imperfection. “The wisdom that comes from maturity and experience allows for a kinder and more balanced stance toward oneself that recognizes the shared nature of human suffering, just as the ability to relate to life difficulties and to personal imperfection with compassion enhances life satisfaction and acceptance.”
• This is the beginning of the end of the generative AI boom: Nvidia is shedding value, OpenAI is sputtering, dubious generative AI ads are flooding the market, and signs point to a deflating tech bubble. The great degeneration begins. Another article sharing my doom & gloom over the obsession of AI by our current Tech overlords, pushing us through our throats the usage of the imperfect technology.

TO SEE

• YouTube video of the week: Big Oil v the World 1 – Denial the video explores the shocking revelations of how the fossil fuel industry, particularly Exxon, was aware of the devastating impacts of climate change as early as the 1970s. Despite clear warnings from their own scientists, the industry chose to deliberately mislead the public, casting doubt on the science of climate change to protect their profits. As we face unprecedented climate chaos in the 2020s, this series uncovers the long-standing deception and its dire consequences that are now unfolding across the globe.

• If you’re in search of good movie / tv shows recommandations, the website A good movie to watch will become your reference for your next binge watch!

TO FOLLOW

• A nice little ‘feel good’ YouTube channel recommendation this week: Living the Skye Life. Follow a couple, Willie and Sarah, as they vlog on their daily life on the Scottish island of Skye in Scotland. I love it for their artsy vibe, their adventures with their two dogs, and their friendly tone.

RECIPES

• This recipe is fucking yummy! Two-Colour Cream of Roasted Bell Pepper Soup Just mix all the ingredients of the two potages together in ONE recipe, add mushrooms and lentils, and it is a perfect summer soup!
• Omnomnom, Chickpea Stir-Fry!

TO HEAR

• Nice little music project I discovered on Bandcamp: the group Spiro, with their album Kaleidophonica. The description on their page reads as follow: Bands often claim to be unique, but Spiro really do defy easy categorisation. They are an acoustic instrumental quartet, playing violin, mandolin, accordion and guitar (which is occasionally replaced by cello), and though they do make use of traditional themes, they are most certainly not a folk band.

DESIGN

• The accidental tyranny of user interfaces: The article critiques the current state of user interface (UI) design, arguing that an overemphasis on making UIs easy, intuitive, and efficient has led to a subtle form of control over users. This “soft tyranny” restricts user freedom by dumbing down complex computing possibilities into overly simplistic and restrictive designs. By using examples like YouTube, WhatsApp, and modern elevator systems, it illustrates how current UIs limit user interaction and choice compared to earlier versions, effectively conditioning users to accept limitations in exchange for convenience. It also advocates for more transparent, flexible, and user-respecting designs that treat users as capable adults rather than passive consumers.
• Another article on web design / technology and inclusivity – Building the World for Everyone: The article talks about advocacy for a more inclusive and equitable approach to technology development. It highlights the importance of creating digital systems that serve all people, not just the majority. The piece discusses the challenges of addressing systemic biases and the need to rethink how we design, deploy, and maintain technology, and in this case in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand. It emphasizes the necessity of embedding values like human rights and indigenous rights into digital systems.
• Interesting Typography project: the India Street Lettering photo project
• For anyone interested in typography used in Canadian design: the Canadian Typography Archives The Canadian Typography Archives is dedicated to documenting and preserving typographic history – from every corner and community across Canada. It is a digital archive that includes artifacts (projects), articles, correspondence, processes, oral histories and other materials in the form of images, first-person accounts, videos and audio recordings.
• Explore the Houses Of the World architecture and design: Houses Of is a project showcasing charismatic houses around the world. For now, concentrated in Europe, but it’s worth a bookmark to keep coming back in the future and see if they post more houses!
• If you’re in search of inspiration for book covers, Book Cover Archives got you!
• And another Graphic Design Archive for your inspiration!

CYBERSECURITY & INFOSEC

• Google Dorks for Bug Bounty: A list of Google Dorks for Bug Bounty, Web Application Security, and Pentesting
• Guide: OSINT gathering on the X platform (Twitter): This page discusses how changes to Twitter (now X) have impacted Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering. It covers the challenges faced by OSINT practitioners due to restricted access to data and API limitations. It also highlights alternative tools and methods to continue effective intelligence gathering on the platform, such as leveraging browser-based OSINT tools and focusing on metadata extraction, and emphasizes the importance of adaptability in OSINT practices given the evolving social media landscape.

WEB & TECH

• Neat little CSS Transition trick I learned this week! ‘Hacking’ the !important values by overriding it with the CSS transition is really hot 🥵
• Shapes in CSS? Fuck yeah!
• My god! The RAM memory needed for this feat to happen…! 🫨 Firefox Power User Keeps 7,400+ Browser Tabs Open for 2 Years
• Another take over the devaluation of my now ex-field of work: The quiet, pervasive devaluation of frontend Ohhhhhh how I could ramble for HOURS on the degradation of my old work specialization…I am really sad about it, seeing as the job market has shifted towards a more ‘generalist’ approach in web development, offering mostly full stack roles on the job market for the last year. In many ways, CSS has greater impact than any other language on a user’s experience, which often directly influences success. Why, then, is its role so belittled?