Links I’d share in private #18

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 (instead of in all of my private group chats 🤣).

Navigating Uncertain Times

It’s a smaller newsletter this week, as my mood has been down for the last week and a half… I wonder why 🙁 The political landscape feels like it’s shifting beneath our feet. Each news alert about the American cabinet nominations sends ripples of concern through communities, sparking conversations about what lies ahead. As someone raising a teenager, I find myself having increasingly complex discussions about democracy, tolerance, and social change.

The rise of right-wing populism isn’t just an American phenomenon anymore—its echoes are resonating across borders. Here in Canada, we’re watching our own political dynamics evolve, with Pierre Poilièvre potentially reshaping our leadership landscape in the coming year. I’m having shivers down my spine just thinking about it…These changes have forced me to confront questions I never thought I’d face: How do we maintain hope while acknowledging valid concerns? How do we explain these shifts to the next generation without overwhelming them?

Yet even in challenging times, I find strength in action. While anxiety about the future is natural, I’m channelling that energy into positive engagement. I’m having thoughtful conversations with my daughter about civic responsibility and the importance of standing up for our values. I’m connecting with community members who share similar concerns and working to make a difference at the local level. The path forward may seem uncertain, but history has shown that periods of darkness often precede remarkable positive change. I remain committed to being part of that change—not just worrying about what might come, but actively working to shape a future that reflects our shared values of inclusivity and respect.

We may be navigating through shadows, but we’re not walking alone. And sometimes, it’s in the darkest moments that we find our strongest light.

Now on with the Links I’d share in private part!

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Keywords: This week’s Links I’d share in private touches on various topics, including: Digital privacy, tech burnout Career transitions, Online security, Anti-fascism resources, Surveillance protection, Interactive entertainment, Historical archives, Black & white photography, Self-improvement, Retirement planning, European tech alternatives, AI impact, Digital well-being.

TO READ

• How To Know When It’s Time To Go: here’s the story of a person who explains when they knew it was time to leave their job for retirement, but I would argue that it is a wonderful story that applies to any situation in your life. Learn to know when it is time to let go, and move on.
• Surveillance Self-Defense – Tips, Tools and How-tos for Safer Online Communications: after last week’s elections in the USA, people have valid reasons to worry about their rights and privacy. The EFF organization wrote a very thorough article on how to secure your online communications in the next few days/weeks, to protect your family, friends and yourself from the possible retaliation from the far-right extremists now in power.
• 40 ways to fight the Far Right: Activism organization AntiHate.ca has made helpful materials to help educate people on how to fight the far right and promote antifascism in Canada. A very useful ebook offered online by the Internet Archive. The next few years will be dark: you want to hold up against all the white supremacists and alt-right/far right extremist and political groups while building your community. This guide gives you good legal advices and tips on how to survive in a fascist time.
• ‘Tech quit me’: Bay Area tech workers throw conference for the layoffs age: the article covers a recent event in San Francisco where tech workers organized a conference discussing the impact of layoffs and AI on their industry. The event also provided a forum for workers to express concerns about job instability and shifts in the tech landscape due to advancements in AI and cost-cutting measures by tech companies. If I am asked what I think of tech as a work field, I wouldn’t be able to recommend it to newcomers.
• The Twelve Foundations for a Good Life: an interesting article with tons of references to read if you’re interested in how to improve your life. 12 areas to focus for amelioration, 12 areas that can make your life better. Worth a read!

TO SEE

• Hiroshima Archive: a virtual repertoire of testimonies about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, where you see a 3D representation of the city, and have stories from survivors posted at the location of their memories. Very poignant.
• YouTube TV: nice little website where you can stream different thematic video channels, all curated/selected videos coming from YouTube. SO far, 39 channels exist, like Travel, Sports, Documentaries, Food, etc, and it feels like watching TV. If you are watching a YouTube video that you like its content, you have all the information to access the creator’s channel and subscribe if you want.
• Horror Movies Locations: interactive Google Maps listing of all the locations where horror movies were made in the world, with their live locations and photos of it.
• Happy Capybara!

TO FOLLOW

• Monochrome Awards – International Black & White Photography contest: a yearly contest of pictures in black & white, classified by categories. Very beautiful photos!

• Montreal-based artist, Raku Inoue, created artworks with flowers. So beautiful!

TO HEAR

• This playlist on Spotify is FIRE🔥!

• Another interesting playlist on Mixcloud, with tons of beats

RECIPES

• Creamy coconut margaritas!

WEB & TECH

• LinkStack: your own self-hosted alternative to LinkTree, LinkStack is a highly customizable link sharing platform with an intuitive, easy to use user interface.
• European alternatives for digital products: the website helps users find European-based alternatives for digital services and products, including cloud services, SaaS tools, and other tech resources. This site supports choosing European companies to encourage data protection, GDPR compliance, and local economic support.
• How to leave a tech job: reading this reminded me of my own hesitation to leave my developer job after almost 25 years of coding. I still have some after-effects/PTSD from my years of working in different tech companies, and it will take time before I heal from those, but it was reassuring to read another account from someone who also left their tech job, and how they coped on a daily basis. The article offers insights on planning a smooth exit from a tech position, providing tips on evaluating personal reasons for leaving, aligning next steps with career goals, and ensuring a positive handover. It also emphasizes leaving professionally and maintaining relationships for future networking opportunities.