Nostr notes by Phil Betts

I met Rachael at uni 20 years ago, and our lives went in parallel ...

2026-08-26T10:02:04Z

I met Rachael at uni 20 years ago, and our lives went in parallel for a bit (doing a PhD and teaching in the same department at Macquarie.) Nice, normal person. Very weird for her to have been the internet's main character. Hopefully this can close down that chapter! https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/25/entertainment/raygun-documentary-netflix-rachael-gunn-breakdance

leafy, fond and friendly 🌿

2026-07-15T08:04:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…7mrc
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leafy, fond and friendly
🌿

I feel like this is the first time I've seen "frondy" ...

2026-07-15T08:03:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…0qxw
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I feel like this is the first time I've seen "frondy" as an adjective and I like it very much.

O'Brien acknowledges he used AI for the map: " I used AI ...

2026-06-14T11:25:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…4kqn
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O'Brien acknowledges he used AI for the map: " I used AI to make this map—I hope it makes sense." He's an academic analyst that publishes a weekly update, so mapmaking is outside his wheelhouse. It's to illustrate his points rather than a high fidelity news source (whether that's useful is a different question.)

cough (literally rebuilding a RAID with a larger drive right ...

2026-05-11T12:52:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…ztsg
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*cough* (literally rebuilding a RAID with a larger drive right now. But THIS time I swear I'll do a cleanup!)

I kinda would have assumed from weaving grasses...

2026-04-07T09:27:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…fkp3
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I kinda would have assumed from weaving grasses...

feel like this should come with a NSFW warning. 🐤🐝

2026-04-05T11:47:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…6zrc
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feel like this should come with a NSFW warning. 🐤🐝

Learnt some sort of lesson and this morning DIDN'T walk into ...

2026-03-05T21:44:38Z

Learnt some sort of lesson and this morning DIDN'T walk into work in 88% humidity.

"Stop hitting yourself" as international policy.

2026-03-01T21:44:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…7q59
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"Stop hitting yourself" as international policy.

"The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have said they ...

2026-03-01T21:41:46Z

"The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have said they are ready to take steps to defend their interests in the region after the “indiscriminate and disproportionate” missile attacks by Iran."

I get it. I get why. I'm not sure I would do any different in this situation. But it's so disgustingly galling to use this language. I hope they're deeply, deeply ashamed. Petty vassal thugs of a tyrant.

At the opening of the #SydneyFishMarket for breakfast. The food ...

2026-01-18T22:36:10Z

At the opening of the #SydneyFishMarket for breakfast. The food options are great and many surprisingly average priced. It's a nice building with a cool design, EXCEPT all the seating is north facing on the balcony, and it appears there will be no covering or shade for 3/4 of the year, which is *totally* detached from reality.

I just read it was Danish architects and I'm like ohhhhhh... that explains it.

I like it, but I'm not sure I $800 million like it.

I had this missed call before with zero context. I have MANY more ...

2025-11-20T04:12:04Z

I had this missed call before with zero context. I have MANY more questions than answers.

To be clear I sit on the "the guy is a creep" side, just ...

2025-11-11T19:56:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…jnfp
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To be clear I sit on the "the guy is a creep" side, just not sure whether that should be a criminal issue. Plus, once again, the inconsistencies of copyright application.

RE: https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/115532690665880259 ...

2025-11-11T19:54:19Z

RE: https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/115532690665880259

Interesting case that makes you go "hmmmm, where do I sit on this one?"

Also interesting to note Hollywood treated this as a joke when Seth Farlane sang "We Saw Your Boobs," at the Oscars of all places (though people criticised it there too.)
nostr:note1nwutrldnmsg262djekzhr6dz4g6uzq4pwd2jy4zx2wjsnvpl0z8s7l8268

""Billionaires like Bill Ackman and Ronald Lauder have ...

2025-11-05T20:34:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…3tv7
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""Billionaires like Bill Ackman and Ronald Lauder have poured millions of dollars into this race because they say that we pose an existential threat," Mamdani said at an Oct. 13 rally. "And I am here to admit something. They are right. We are an existential threat to billionaires who think their money can buy our democracy.”"

More of this. Democrats doing the great and usually wildly exaggerated stuff Republicans accuse them of.

not all heroes wear capes, but you should consider it on account ...

2025-10-30T21:38:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…n8vy
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not all heroes wear capes, but you should consider it on account of your heroic efforts and because capes are dashing!

*Edit* Like Robert Redford's smile.

I would also think Mastodon would have a significant ...

2025-10-14T10:29:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…g5xt
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I would also think Mastodon would have a significant overrepresentation of Guardian readers. Damn nerds. (I strongly support this bug fix.)

Every now and then a site will say "you have an adblocker, ...

2025-10-06T20:07:46Z

Every now and then a site will say "you have an adblocker, ads support our site, please disable it", and then I think it's not an ad blocker per se, it's a tracking blocker.

If they were serving up ads based on the content, as they have since advertising was invented, that would be one situation.

But they're not.

They're trying to serve up ads based on me, and there's a whole bunch of problems with that.

it's where you "do your business" .

2025-09-09T09:20:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…mu8s
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it's where you "do your business" .

Yes. Very weird. And spot on ActionAid UK: "However, we are ...

2025-07-29T17:28:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…aydy
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Yes. Very weird. And spot on ActionAid UK: "However, we are appalled to see Palestinian statehood dangled like a bargaining chip to get the Israeli government to cease its genocidal assault on Gaza. A Palestinian state is not a threat to frighten the Israeli government into action after 21 months of relentless war and destruction, it is an unconditional and inalienable right to self-determination."

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/jul/29/uk-politics-latest-news-cabinet-keir-starmer-nigel-farage-online-safety-act?page=with%3Ablock-6888fba08f0805ff5de4ff58#block-6888fba08f0805ff5de4ff58

I absolutely, 110% do not understand what the British position is ...

2025-07-29T17:11:34Z

I absolutely, 110% do not understand what the British position is on Palestine, following Starmer's announcement. It's the most nonsensical pretzel logic I think I've ever encountered from a government. "We're threatening to support a two-state solution, unless you commit to working towards a two-state solution, in which case we won't."

Is it supposed to be "it can be on your terms or not, but it WILL happen"?

It's still pretty fucked, and very morally bankrupt.

I often think it must be so demoralising to be in the UK right ...

2025-06-27T10:56:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…lahe
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I often think it must be so demoralising to be in the UK right now, because you can't at least blame the shitty state of everything as the nominally overt "bad guys" being in power. There's no better alternative waiting in the wings. This IS the alternative. No light in the foreseeable future (from conventional politics). 🫤

Poor people can't be given money because they won't have ...

2025-06-19T05:44:50Z

Poor people can't be given money because they won't have an incentive to work, but pharmaceutical companies must be given lots of money or they won't have an incentive to work.

Want to have a bath but it's maybe too cold for a bath. Also ...

2025-06-11T10:41:37Z

Want to have a bath but it's maybe too cold for a bath. Also I'm maybe too tired to do anything in a bath. (Baths take 1-2 hours and usually involve reading or watching a movie with the laptop perched on top of the dunny.) Conundrums. 🛀

Nostr event nevent1qqst44zy9f6zczfycrpys90kxk0dsdrqrnxqlnk0y7wvccp9kwjr32szyrzlkwqkghl9xgycel0wxwmgp2dtdz45k58ry8czvgqn2ywqch2hsupgzuj

2025-06-08T22:22:39Z

#SilentSunday

Nostr event nevent1qqsd36qagw4uwcl8m796hfhvxj8lxjf6yrys927kz7k72c6cfdje8uszyrzlkwqkghl9xgycel0wxwmgp2dtdz45k58ry8czvgqn2ywqch2hsg4qj4a

2025-06-05T01:41:39Z

🤔

Evil, evil fucks. "In one social media post, Yaqeen wrote: ...

2025-05-27T12:38:37Z

Evil, evil fucks.

"In one social media post, Yaqeen wrote: “I try to bring a bit of joy to the other children so that they can forget the war.”

On Friday night, she was killed after a series of heavy Israeli airstrikes hit the house where she lived with her family, in Al-Baraka area of Deir al-Bala, in central Gaza. Her body, torn apart by the bombing, was recovered from beneath the rubble."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/26/gazas-youngest-influencer-aged-11-among-children-killed-by-israeli-strikes

My stepmother continues to have the creepiest and most unsettling ...

2025-05-18T10:12:06Z

My stepmother continues to have the creepiest and most unsettling fucking house ornaments I've encountered in my life. They've followed them through an intercity relocation. Like, there have been multiple rounds of Boomer downsizing, and these monstrosities have somehow survived each cull. They're here with Intent.

The koala one is with me in the guest room where I'm staying, and I literally drape a large jumper over it so I don't have to look at it. 😬

ooh, apparently most trees start with a taproot but don't ...

2025-05-07T08:57:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…lslg
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ooh, apparently most trees start with a taproot but don't continue with them, so maybe it's not an issue at all! I've learned something this day 😄

decades is impressive! I'm not sure if a tap root affects age ...

2025-05-07T08:52:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…hks0
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decades is impressive! I'm not sure if a tap root affects age - it's more about stability in extreme weather as I understand it. But if they're reasonably dense and in a relatively calm/protected area probably all good!

is there an issue with stability for trees that grow from cloned ...

2025-05-06T22:49:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…l9j8
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is there an issue with stability for trees that grow from cloned branches? My understanding is a cloned branch will never grow a tap root, so it will have a much shallower root system (hence why almost all cloned trees are grafted).

Forest Lodge Public School, are you OK? ...

2025-05-03T05:24:57Z

Forest Lodge Public School, are you OK?

such legends. I remember reading one of them (I think David) ...

2025-04-14T03:46:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…qf2s
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such legends. I remember reading one of them (I think David) saying "we like each other, but I wouldn't describe us as friends outside the show." I found that hilarious, since their identities are so entwined!

I cannot read this in German, but this man looks like the ...

2025-04-01T11:26:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…yvar
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I cannot read this in German, but this man looks like the theoretical lovechild of Giles and Spike from Buffy.

if the ones you get don't work, check out Bell Labs glue ...

2025-03-30T10:36:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…s28l
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if the ones you get don't work, check out Bell Labs glue traps. They're the most effective ones I've used for dealing with the plague small German cockroaches. I've tried two other brands and they do almost nothing, but the Bell Labs ones are powerfully sticky. Just cut them up into strips and lay them across entry points.

I enjoyed this perspective, thanks!

2025-03-27T11:17:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…e0dz
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I enjoyed this perspective, thanks!

hard agree. Ukraine doesn't necessarily have to retake ...

2025-03-11T09:42:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…gezm
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hard agree. Ukraine doesn't necessarily have to retake territory inch by inch, but survive long enough to break the Russian will and force a retreat. It's Vietnam, Afghanistan - lots of circumstances where that could happen. We already had Prigozhin nearly accidentally topple Putin.

If Russia collapses back home, defeat will be sudden and complete. Putin can't maintain this forever.

It's about who's forced to surrender first?

yeah, I think the essence is there but "anti-Semites" ...

2025-02-28T04:07:05Z

In reply to nevent1q…dadm
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yeah, I think the essence is there but "anti-Semites" seem to be anyone Zionists disagree with.

absolutele banger though.

2025-02-20T09:55:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…5g2c
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absolutele banger though.

eternally relevant. ...

2025-02-16T12:16:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…wmu3
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eternally relevant.

I like it when academic roles sound like cursed D&D objects. ...

2025-01-23T23:56:38Z

I like it when academic roles sound like cursed D&D objects. Like, we have a Chair of Inflammation.

ahaha had already hit the daily transfer limit moving it across ...

2025-01-15T07:55:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…4tzu
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ahaha had already hit the daily transfer limit moving it across to a bonus saver account. 😂

Awww, easy come, easy go. I'm moving from the end of one ...

2025-01-15T07:43:08Z

Awww, easy come, easy go. I'm moving from the end of one fixed-term contract to another. Today they accidentally paid out severance pay, long service leave and annual leave in one lump sum (I've been here for 7 years.) Unfortunately Payroll received late notice of the contract extension, so tomorrow they're going to claw it back. 😭

I love watching them paddle furiously as they try to swim about, ...

2025-01-15T01:44:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…gxaf
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I love watching them paddle furiously as they try to swim about, like a little dude riding an eight wheel bike in the lowest gear.

good luck! Take some dreich photos along the way! ☺️

2024-12-30T07:54:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…v79k
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good luck! Take some dreich photos along the way! ☺️

The time has come. After about 9 years of increasing gravity, ...

2024-12-23T08:53:08Z

The time has come. After about 9 years of increasing gravity, over Christmas I'm going to weedwhacker my hair off. We've had some times. We've Gandalf the Grey'd. I was a pretty little pony. But I'm looking forward to a cool and streamlined Australian summer. If you feel like it, you can throw in a few Charlies (or whoever's on your money) to the Cancer Council?

P.S. if it's still around it will return in about 10 years for Gandalf the White.

https://www.doitforcancer.com.au/fundraisers/philbetts/now-i-will-need-to-develop-a-personality

this is gorgeous. :)

2024-12-18T01:34:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…80gk
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this is gorgeous. :)

this is a gorgeous piece of writing. 😊

2024-11-22T23:43:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…pkqg
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this is a gorgeous piece of writing. 😊

congratulations! 🍾 🥳 Though seems odd finding out before ...

2024-11-19T07:01:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…0xy9
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congratulations! 🍾 🥳 Though seems odd finding out before your parents do. 😂

Google/Bing and their respective skins would improve developer ...

2024-11-10T04:47:38Z

Google/Bing and their respective skins would improve developer experience 12% if they just ignored W3Schools results.

Yaaaaargh, I be commitin' computer piracy. ☠️🦜 ...

2024-10-25T01:16:40Z

Yaaaaargh, I be commitin' computer piracy. ☠️🦜 #BirdsOfMastodon

that massive switch in 2010 coincides with the release of the ...

2024-10-21T02:21:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…uu08
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that massive switch in 2010 coincides with the release of the data-* attribute in the HTML standard, and the corresponding JS, so I maintain that it was indeed a poor choice that not only reinforced existing ambiguity, but was probably the lead contributor to it! 😄

fascinating. Wiki lists two words, dictionary.com has an entry ...

2024-10-21T01:35:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…u34e
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fascinating. Wiki lists two words, dictionary.com has an entry for "data set" with "dataset" as a variant, but no direct entry for "dataset". But that's a compelling chart. I wonder what the stats literature has used as the norm for the past few decades, and if it's different from computer science?

one word seems to be a primarily Google thing, with newer uses ...

2024-10-21T00:39:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…5wwx
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one word seems to be a primarily Google thing, with newer uses following its lead.

is it one word though? On a superficial search "data set" ...

2024-10-21T00:36:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…vxcy
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is it one word though? On a superficial search "data set" as two words is definitely more common, though "dataset" is sometimes listed as a variant. Whether going for consistency, or the more widely spread, two words would have been better. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_set

Javascript is a miraculous hot inconsistent mess (like the ...

2024-10-20T06:30:34Z

Javascript is a miraculous hot inconsistent mess (like the English language) #373:

The capitalisation of element.dataset vs element.classList

used to holiday there as a kid. Fond memories. Mixed memories ...

2024-10-19T06:11:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…7n6k
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used to holiday there as a kid. Fond memories. Mixed memories about the John Williamson song "Yamba."

the original Tears for Fears version is a very upbeat sound with ...

2024-10-15T12:27:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…ywl8
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the original Tears for Fears version is a very upbeat sound with devastating lyrics. I find it fascinating that they're doing the Gary Jules cover (though it IS much more suited to acoustic, and is more widely known these days.)

Nostr event nevent1qqs2x5xz534l855pmaejvq4zxxkscy9ggwcpgcz5mmf07mpj0ncvj4qzyrzlkwqkghl9xgycel0wxwmgp2dtdz45k58ry8czvgqn2ywqch2hsc7kkkt

2024-09-14T09:25:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…kf2w
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Copenhagen, Denmark. In the shadow of three embassies... #sketch ...

2024-09-12T12:00:01Z

Copenhagen, Denmark. In the shadow of three embassies... #sketch #drawing

they're all gorgeous, but the dinghy pic in particular is ...

2024-09-05T14:19:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…3s50
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they're all gorgeous, but the dinghy pic in particular is 😮!

I'm guessing the charitable interpretation would be the ...

2024-08-28T07:58:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…c4hq
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I'm guessing the charitable interpretation would be the brand, decision governance and merge ability, but... Uhhh... yours also works.

yeah, they've made it increasingly hard. Feb 2023 was a real ...

2024-08-27T23:57:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…le40
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yeah, they've made it increasingly hard. Feb 2023 was a real cutover date.

seems a fairly monumentally bad bet for Google to go all in on ...

2024-08-21T17:48:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…uvrg
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seems a fairly monumentally bad bet for Google to go all in on this. And an even worse business model if they plan on anything close to $240 for a subscription, when they're selling, at best, "novelties" and "mild usefulness you could get from searching."

I just bought a Pixel 8 Pro (and am posting from it now.) I would not have gone with Google if I thought they were trying to shove Gemini down my throat in every corner. Yikes.

This is such a gangster photo (c/o The Courier Mail) "Merle ...

2024-08-21T09:12:00Z

This is such a gangster photo (c/o The Courier Mail)

"Merle Thornton AM, who famously chained herself to a Brisbane bar in protest against the ban on women drinking in public bars, has died aged 93...

In 1965, Dr Thornton and her friend Rosalie Bogner chained their ankles to a bar at the Regatta Hotel in Toowong, after a bartender refused to serve them."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-21/merle-thornton-dies-aged-93/104252220

n3rd

2024-08-19T03:38:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…ukz5
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n3rd

Honourable 4th mention goes to legendary Australian actor Richard ...

2024-08-17T23:57:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…rn5q
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Honourable 4th mention goes to legendary Australian actor Richard Roxborough as the dodgy South African-accented bad guy. Having come straight off Moulin Rouge (one of my favourite movies ever), where he played The Duke, to this, was just... whiplash!

These elements make me love the film (also helped by being a teenage boy when it came out.) But overall, an incredibly silly movie 😋 (and doesn't even have enough women to even begin to fail the Bechdel test, as you say!)

I adore three things about Mission Impossible: 2: 1. The ...

2024-08-17T23:55:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…nsw9
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I adore three things about Mission Impossible: 2:

1. The soundtrack - Limp Bizkit's 'Take a Look Around' is sublime
2. The sheer and utter ludicrousness of taking a quick helicopter ride from downtown Sydney to the red desert outback. These things are... not close!
3. One of my favourite shots/stunts in *cinema*, the incredibly John Woo slow motion gun kick from the sand, jump, twist, connect, shoot, all in the air. PERFECTION! 😭 1/2

Can I tell you something dumb? Whenever I see the phrase or ...

2024-08-14T22:16:58Z

Can I tell you something dumb? Whenever I see the phrase or hashtag "Fuck Cancer" I'm like "HELL YEAH!" And then part of me instinctively can't help but have a cognitive double reaction, and think "no other star sign has this." I would be very willing to rename us.

And crabs too. No other star sign is an STI. Canceron? Lamest sounding Battlestar Galactica planet.

Our symbol is a sideways "69" though, so that can stay.

✨🦀♋

So I've coached an Olympic athlete. And sure, technically the ...

2024-08-10T07:17:51Z

So I've coached an Olympic athlete. And sure, technically the coaching was in semiotics in a first-year media tutorial, but it still counts. Raygun, Australia's Olympic breaking icon, is a total legend! We also taught together when she continued on to do her PhD (and she finished wellllllll before I did.) Go Rachael, you absolute hero! 🦘 💃 💚 💛 #raygun #olympics

https://www.mamamia.com.au/raygun-breaking-olympics/

I, like everyone, tend to binge shows, particularly on rewatches. ...

2024-08-06T02:11:41Z

I, like everyone, tend to binge shows, particularly on rewatches. I'm tempted however to start alternating viewings with their contemporaries. E.g. instead of just binging Buffy (and Angel) sequentially, alternate Buffy, Sopranos, and maybe a West Wing. I wonder if that would add to the enjoyment?

this is so gross! I'm seeing the backlash at work too. If you ...

2024-08-03T00:08:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…r9mc
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this is so gross! I'm seeing the backlash at work too. If you can't be bothered to write it yourself, I can't be bothered to read it.

Felt cute. Won't delete. ...

2024-05-23T13:19:17Z

Felt cute. Won't delete.

What the fuck is this spherical cuboid the boy is about to brain ...

2022-12-31T15:26:00Z

What the fuck is this spherical cuboid the boy is about to brain his friend with in the artist's rendition of the new Sydney Fish Market?