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mrak

@[email protected]

Planetary geophysicist at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP). https://mrak.solarsystem.social

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@mrak@solarsystem.social avatar mrak , to random

Just declined another review request for a journal that publishes closed-access content. It is very easy to say no. Just forward this letter to the editor:

https://signatories.planetary-research.org/no-reviews-for-closed-access-journals

@mrak@solarsystem.social avatar mrak , to random

If you have been using the Android OpenWeather app because you don't like adds and tracking, you will be surprised that the latest update has an extremely obtrusive AI chat assistant.

Screenshot of the new AI chat assistant for the android OpenWeather app.
ALT
mrak OP ,
@mrak@solarsystem.social avatar

I asked it if it could tell me their privacy policy, and it said it didn't know it.

I asked if I could turn it off: It said it was only used for "documentation" and there is no info.

I asked it what the weather was like, and it asked me to specify where (even though it has location permissions enabled).

Alter I specified the city, it told me it was 269.71 Kelvin, which is approximately -3.4 C!

Since it is easier to look at the graph than type a question, what is the point?

mrak OP ,
@mrak@solarsystem.social avatar

Could someone recommend a good Android weather app to replace this crap? All I want is something that respects your privacy, doesn't have AI or ads, shows temperature and precipitation as line graphs, and allows you to save a few favorite locations.

@techlore@social.lol avatar techlore , to random

What's the one service you can't find a private alternative for?

mrak ,
@mrak@solarsystem.social avatar

@techlore videoconferencing that allows you to record the meeting.

@techlore@social.lol avatar techlore , to random

X (formerly Twitter) confirms it has suspended Indian accounts per government requests against protestors.

• Digital censorship continues to threaten free speech
• X blocked over 8,000 accounts
• No transparency about what specific content was removed

If only there was a federated protocol to prevent this situation from happening...what do we think, Mastodon?

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-suspends-indian-accounts-government/747611/

mrak ,
@mrak@solarsystem.social avatar

@techlore What would mastodon do?

@mrak@solarsystem.social avatar mrak , to random

Attention US researchers who want to move to France!

will be opening positions for those who are affected by the Trump chaos, ranging from postdocs to senior positions. More info can be found here:

https://carrieres.cnrs.fr/actualites/international-researchers-jointhecnrs/