The story you are about to see has been told before. A lot. And now we are going to tell it again. But different. This time we're bringing Mastodon in for the fun. Sign-ups open on November 10th. Check out secretsanta.nz for more information

It's been a hot minute. What have I missed folks?

Top tip, if you're going to organise a Zoom meeting make sure to include them in the calender invite. I'm going to blame it on thesis brain.

Weatherwise, the Midwest is terrifying - one minute it's sunny, nek minit a thunderstorm out of nowhere. Photo 1 is the view outside the apartment, and Photo 2 is the other side of the apartment 20 metres away (you can still see the blue skies).

I've been away from home for nearly a year and I still appreciate the monthly welfare check texts from Spotlight. Who wouldn't appreciate a 30% sale storewide, in this economy!?!

The abstract deadline for the 2025 Annual Conference is slowly hurtling towards us!

St. Louis ⚜️

Oddly specific question, what is the "current" paradigm in sociolinguistics research? Interested to hear your thoughts especially those outside the Anglo/North American perspective.

I just got back to Champaign-Urbana and I couldn't believe my luck I saw a "lightning bug" (firefly). What a treat!

I've made it to St Louis! What are some must do's for a day trip in the city centre?

I'm pleasantly surprised by the number of cowboy hats at Denver International Airport 🤠

I've made it to 舊金山 ('Old Gold Mountain') en route to my desto for the long weekend. A much needed change of scenery as I work on the final write up of my thesis.

Happy Midpoint of the Half Century folks! We're now closer to 2050 than we are to 2000.

I had one of two missions while in Chicago and I failed one miserably. It's been over 11 months since I've had a meat pie, and the one pie shop wasn't open when it was meant to be. Pure sadness as I take the 'L' to the airport.

Back briefly in Chicago and so far two people have asked me for directions. Either the busses need better signage, or I'm starting to look like a local.

Experimentology is out today!!! A group of us wrote a free online textbook for experimental methods, available at experimentology.io - the idea was to integrate open science into all aspects of the experimental workflow from planning to design, analysis, and writing.

Just hit another milestone as I prepare to head home, one final trip to Costco as I let my membership lapse. I'm gonna miss the reasonably priced hotdog combo and single slice of pizza.

Do we have any AvGeeks on here? Does anyone know why the daily flights ANZ3/ANZ5 route LAX-AKL are only less than one hour apart? This also goes for the ANZ4/ANZ5 AKL-LAX (only 35 minutes apart). I'm curious. Did this have something to do with the old AKL-LAX-LHR route?

This has been my attempt to be artistic. Not bad considering my colourblindness. The derpy penguin feels like a physical manifestation of me. Credit to the Pottery Place for making the ornaments for me to paint.

Here's my attempt to link recent events back home and monitoring speech and offensive language online on X (Twitter). We've still go a long way to go before we can use AI and language models to support the needs of our most vulnerable communities.

What are some must do activities in Central Illinois/Chicago before I leave!?

I can't believe my time I'm Champaign-Urbana is nearly coming to an end. This time last year I was at the pre-departure orientation and awards ceremony, fast forward to today and it's now my turn to offer my advice to the incoming cohort. Just over a month before I go home!

This is a long shot, but are there any folks based outside of Tāmaki Makaurau who'd like to play rugby at the Purchas Cup in September? We're trying to gauge interest for a Baa-baas 🐑🏉 team.

Some good news from back home. I'm hoping that folks are going to get the support they need without all the barriers I've had to face. thespinoff.co.nz/society/25-0...

This heat wave is truly something. The aircon is struggling to keep up with how hot it's getting in the apartment.

This feels like a major life milestone making it to Sidney, IL.

Mānawatia a Matariki e te whānau ✨⭐✨

Ka kite, New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings. I've enjoyed working with you.

Severe thunderstorm rolling through Champaign County just turned day into night ⛈️

I'm trying to find the research article, and no-where does it actually cite the original article in the IJMC. I dug a bit deeper and it looks like they possible rehashed media release from 2023. www.fastcompany.com/91332251/why...

I'm staying up late to watch my mate play in rugby 11s tournament in Phuket. The wonders of a YouTube livestream.

I think I'm losing the plot. I totally thought today was Thursday, and apparently it's already Friday 😅

Paper reviews complete. Inbox cleared. Time to get back to tippy-tappying on my thesis ... or ... should I go for a wee walk to the library to return a soon-to-be overdue book to properly complete my to-do list?

The annual conference of the Australian Linguistic Society will be held at the Gold Coast 🌞 campus of Griffith University from 2-5 December 2025. Conference abstracts close 22 June (extended); acceptances notified 1 August. als.asn.au/Conference/2...

The 2025 Annual Conference of the Linguistic Society of New Zealand will be hosted by Massey University at the Massey Wellington campus on November 27-28. Abstract deadline: 1st August 2025 Notification: 29th August

Just got off the planning call for this *online* event with @karenhao.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social hosted by @datasociety.bsky.social and moderated by @tamigraph.bsky.social -- and SOO EXCITED! This one is going to be amazing. datasociety.net/events/chall...

69 days ✈️🥝!

With everything going on right now, this is the linguistic affirmation I needed to see!

My targeted ads just showed me a subscription box for 'authentic' meat pies. How much? US$175 (~NZ$300) for 10 pies and 4 sausage rolls!?!? I might be homesick, but I'm not THAT homesick.

It's been just over a year since I wrote this piece on the Cantonese experience of language maintenance and shift in Aotearoa New Zealand and why some of us heritage speakers are committed to the revitalisation of our language. sidneygjwong.substack.com/p/language-m...

Do you or your family have close links to Cantonese in Aotearoa New Zealand? Help support the language maintenance and shift in the New Zealand Chinese community project by completing the survey. English: tinyurl.com/canto-eng Traditional Chinese: tinyurl.com/canto-tra

It was 33°C (91°F) around midday and now we're on tornado watch with the potential for baseball-sized hail. Here we go again, Champaign.

In other news, back home in New Zealand. www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3606...

Te Mana Whakaatu (Classification Office) report: Content that Crosses the Line: Conversations with young people about extremely harmful content online www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/resources/re...

Not Google Photos thinking photos of us burning joss paper during ancestral worship as a "camping trip". Tell me more how AI and LLM lack cultural awareness.

It's day three since the better half had gone home, and I can already tell it's going to be a really long three months.

My high school geography teacher just received some #Choice posters for the classroom. It'd be like I never left!

Just sent the better half off as he heads home to New Zealand while I wind up my time here in Champaign-Urbana over the next three months. This will be the longest stretch we've been a part since we got together over five years ago. I'll put on a brave face and try not to be sad.

In other news, my ex is trying to reconnect with me ... through LinkedIn.