Julian Smith

architecture, design, father, geek, OCD, motorhead, sarcasm, sci-fi

[The Shift Journal @TheShiftJournal]

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@barnfinds I had one back in 1988, my first basic motorised transport. Not exactly an eye catcher or racer, but it symbolised my (then) independence as a teenager.

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@sacapsa @NCARB Are we only catering for the Pr Arch crowd or is there anything in the pipeline for the other categories as well?

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@TaniaVanZy2228 Don't do leftover rice, it grows a type of mould that cannot be tested, smelled or seen with the naked eye - ingesting it can result in death. Rather throw that out and make some fresh rice with the meal.

[Steve Kirsch @stkirsch]

Please repost this.

17 year old girl dies unexpectedly. Cause of death after 11 week investigation: UNKNOWN.

Just 40 hours after Gardasil vaccine.

[The Shift Journal @TheShiftJournal]

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

[Barney Simon @BarneySimon]

#NeverForget

[The Driven Man @Thedrivenman]

Do you agree?

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@KanikaBK what's with the bird theme and Dorsey companies?

[Gina @ginnydmm]

YOUR IDENTITY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER — DON'T LET YOUR SILENCE BE MISTAKEN FOR CONSENT!

The Department of Home Affairs has officially opened public comment on a massive overhaul of South Africa’s civic infrastructure: the draft Identification Regulations, 2026 (Government Gazette No. 54610).

Under the new "Home Affairs @ home" strategy, the state is introducing a smartphone-based "Digital Identity Credential" housed inside a new app called MyMzansi. This digital ID will carry the exact same legal weight as your physical Smart ID card.

While phasing out paperwork and cutting down administrative delays sounds like a win for convenience, the actual legal mechanics hidden within the draft text raise major questions about privacy, asset security, and digital exclusion.

If we don't speak out before the 6 June 2026 deadline, these rules will become law as they stand.

Here is what is actually on the table:

👉 Real-Time Corporate Data Loops: The state will record "Verified Relationships" between you and private entities like banks and telcos. If you update your address or phone number at your bank, it will synchronise across the state population register automatically in near real-time—permanently blurring the line between public civic data and private corporate infrastructure.

👉 The Stolen Phone Lockdown: Your digital ID is cryptographically "bound" to a single smartphone. In a country with high rates of mobile theft, losing your phone means your legal identity token is instantly frozen or revoked. The regulations are currently silent on a secure, remote path to restore your access, raising the threat of immediate financial and administrative paralysis.

👉 The 10-Year Physical Queue Trap: Your digital ID expires every 5 years. While remote renewal via a facial scan in the app is permitted, the draft rules state that if you go 10 consecutive years without a physical, in-person touchpoint at a Home Affairs branch or partner bank, your credential completely lapses. You will be forced to line up in person from scratch to re-prove your identity.

👉 Algorithmic Profiling (The 30-Day Rule): You will be legally required to report routine life updates (moving house, changing an email) within 30 days. If you fail to do so, the state will algorithmically drop your internal "Identity Assurance Level." A lowered score could mean sudden, frustrating transaction rejections when you try to use high-security online services.

👉 Foundations for Function Creep: Centralising dynamic biometric registries and cross-entity tracking pipelines creates a technical foundation that critics warn could easily be weaponised into an authoritarian behavioural tracking system, or act as a centralised economic kill-switch over your accounts.

🗣️ YOUR VOICE IS A LEGAL FORCE
Public participation is not a mere tick-box exercise—it is a binding constitutional right under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA). Every choice and comment submitted through the Dear South Africa portal forms a recognised legal submission delivered directly to the Chief Director: Legal Services, Adv A M Malakate.

We’ve cut through the legalese and structured the official questionnaire into clear, direct focal points so you can have your say in less than a minute.

👇 Click the link below to cast your vote and submit your formal comment now!
🔗 https://t.co/ZbAhiZ4WUt

Spread the word! Once you’ve participated, share this post to your local community groups, family chats, and colleagues. Our digital future must be shaped by active citizens, not unchecked bureaucracy.

[J.K. Lunden @Jklunden]

🚨 BREAKING: France’s Digital ID System Hacked—Sensitive Data of 19 Million Citizens Now Sold on the Dark Web

France’s centralized digital identity platform, operated by France Titres (formerly ANTS), suffered a major breach on April 15, 2026.

Hackers stole records affecting roughly one-third of the French population and started auctioning them on dark web forums.

The exposed database contains:

• Full names

• Email addresses and phone numbers

• Dates and places of birth

• Postal addresses

• Unique government account IDs

This information gives criminals powerful tools for identity theft, phishing campaigns, synthetic identities, and large-scale financial fraud.

The system manages passports, national ID cards, driver’s licenses, residency permits, and vehicle registrations.

Officials confirmed no biometric photos or uploaded documents were taken, but the core personal data is now circulating.

Hackers operating under aliases like “breach3d” and “ExtaseHunters” posted the massive dump soon after the intrusion.

French authorities acknowledged the security incident and are notifying affected individuals, though the sheer scale makes rapid alerts challenging.

France has seen multiple major government data breaches recently, including student records via ÉduConnect, bank account details, and medical information.

Centralized systems handling vast amounts of linked personal data create high-value targets that attract persistent attackers.

Action steps if you’re in France or have connections there:

• Closely monitor all financial and government accounts

• Strengthen 2FA on every service

• Stay alert for phishing attempts impersonating official agencies

• Consider credit monitoring or freezes where available

French authorities detained a 15-year-old suspect on April 25 in connection with the breach.

The teenager is believed to have operated under the alias “breach3d” and offered between 12 and 18 million records for sale on hacking forums.

Prosecutors in Paris have opened a formal investigation into the minor on computer crime charges.

The full story is still unfolding as more details emerge about how the breach occurred and the exact scope of the exposure.

This incident highlights the profound dangers of centralized digital ID systems.

When governments consolidate citizens’ most sensitive personal information into single, internet-connected databases, they create massive single points of failure.

One successful hack can expose millions instantly, turning everyday personal details into weapons for widespread fraud and surveillance.

As nations push for broader digital ID adoption, this breach serves as a stark reminder that convenience and control come at the steep price of heightened vulnerability for entire populations.

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@elonmusk Space X I has a better ring to it.

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@elonmusk That is probably my most favourite movie quote of all time. To think Rutger Hauer came up with that, a remarkable and undervalued actor, may he rest in peace.

[Gina @ginnydmm]

***Warning: Theft***

***Don't camp at Cape Columbine Nature Reserve***

“Last night we stayed at one of the most beautiful camp sites in Paternoster. But while we were sleeping in the rooftop tent some arseholes broke into the bakkie and cleaned us out.

Literally robbed us blind while we slept above them. 2 macbooks, dji drone, gymbal and mics, flexible solar panel, brand new Gentech inverter, British passport, my whole bag of clothes, Lisa's bag of toiletries, makeup and her suitcase.

We searched the area and recovered our @cadacsa gas geyser.

We spend our money supporting these campspots and supporting local businesses in the area, and yet even though Vredenburg Police Station told us this is a regular occurrence, Cape Columbine Nature Reserve don't warn people of the dangers and don't have adequate security on site.

This is a warning to our fellow travelers. Be aware and know the facts before camping here. Now we're off to buy toothbrushes and a jacket.”

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@SayEntrepreneur Do
Not
Want

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@DarkEsq @MusafirNafar Quite correct, but for those from Retardanistan...

[Astradhari | अस्त्रधारी @TeeJaySeatlholo]

Introducing PoliceData ZA 🇿🇦

Free, open crime statistics dashboard for South Africa — built because SAPS publishes data as PDFs that nobody can actually use.

CrimeStatsSA charges for this.

Ours is free.

https://t.co/MSDwcvaIFA

[Julian Smith @julianvsmith]

@mikefutia Nano

[Barney Simon @BarneySimon]

BLIKSEM!
Nersa has confirmed Eskom's massive price increases for 2026, with an almost triple-inflation tariff hike kicking in from 1 April.