• The channel experienced a sustained spam flood from throw-away numeric-suffix accounts, prompting operators to test and compare IRC anti-spam modes: +m (moderated, voice required), +q $~a (block unregistered users), and +r (registered-nicks-only).  
• Operators noted that +r alone does not stop external PRIVMSG spam because IRC allows messages to a channel without actually joining it—a legacy behavior from 1985-era BITNET Relay documented at http://web.inter.nl.net/users/fred/relay/relhis.html.  
• Discussion concluded that combining +r (registered users only) with +n (no external messages) is the minimal effective defense, but strict modes risk deterring legitimate newcomers and creating an “echo chamber” unless newcomers are manually voiced after a waiting period.  
• A Reddit post about a successful SMS-intercept attack on Reddit admins was cited as evidence that SMS-based 2FA is insecure; operators recommended token-based 2FA instead, while nmz787 noted using Signal for encrypted SMS as a partial counter-measure.  
• fenn shared “9 Places for Nerds to Hang Out in San Francisco” (The Bold Italic) and highlighted Counter Culture Labs in the East Bay as an active DIYbio venue for biohackers.