It's opening night! I would love to see some friends in the audience. This is the most technically ambitious production I've been in, and the most demanding for me personally. It's looking and sounding amazing and I can't wait to share it with our first […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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

Newsflash! I've been added to the lineup for TID Talks tonight 8pm at Good Times Comedy Club. I look very serious about this one but I assure you it will be very silly. #Ōtautahi #Christchurch #NZ #comedy

Come watch me get a bucket put on my head probably. #Ōtautahi #Christchurch #NZ #Comedy #MusicalComedy #GameShow

And so the enshittification of ChatGPT begins. CMOs are now looking for ways to game those large language model algorithms. After all, millions of people are now turning to ChatGPT for advice and uncritically accepting what it says as true. So if […] [Original post on gts.sadauskas.id.au]

I'm at Lake Hāwea this week helping teach a field trip for our Masters level Conservation Biology course at #LincolnUniversityNZ. The surprise find so far has been the lizard team's discovery of redback spiders on the university's Mount Grand high country station. These are Australian venomous […]

I should probably share this link for the play I'm in until 19 April! https://www.riccartonplayers.co.nz/book-tickets #theatre #actor #Ōtautahi #christchurch

I was raised in a family of cults called Revival Centres that started in Melbourne and spread around the world. Notorious splinter group Geelong Revival Centre has triggered a state Parliamentary inquiry into cults. I'm interested to see how this goes and hope I can contribute […]

This is tonight! I'm the MC. As usual, I have done a terrible job promoting it in advance. It will be hilarious as always so why not come? https://events.humanitix.com/tid-talks-ideas-not-worth-spreading-772x6ere #Ōtautahi #christchurch #comedy

Sometimes I don't think! I was at a rainbow vegetarian dinner. We were asked to say our name and our favourite vegetable. I said “I don't have a favourite vegetable but one that's grown on me recently is eggplant.” Once the unexpected laughter had subsided, I indignantly went on to explain why.

Life has been insane these past few weeks, so I often haven't been available for JP appointments. Nevertheless, this evening I saw my 2,000th client since becoming a JP! And last week, I administered my 4,500th document. #JusticeOfThePeace

In an age of increasing authoritarianism, oligarchy, and nationalism, what organisations are best placed to fight back – with the strategy and resources to make a difference globally? How can we help? This is an open question. Please boost.

And is decentralised tech the solution to authoritarian oligarchy, or is it a distraction? Decentralised tech includes the open social web, but also any free open source software and infrastructure that brings power back to the people instead of the Googles, Microsofts, and Metas of this world.

There's too much good stuff on and I can't possibly go to all of it but I haven't figured that out yet.

I had every intention of today being my long-awaited highly productive day. I got up early, did some exercises, and was rearing to go. Then poor Nana had a fall first thing in the morning, we took a trip in the ambulance, and I've been in the hospital for 12 hours and counting 🥲

Legends! https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/tauranga-school-mates-become-google-street-view-stars/RHAPWYY2SBAOXI5U6G7K5L233E/

It's sad to read about the state of our health system. https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360560383/lack-support-sees-50-breast-cancer-survivors-shun-post-cancer-treatment

Walks like corruption, smells like corruption, quacks like corruption. Meta agrees to pay Trump $25m for suspending accounts over Capitol riots https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/29/meta-trump-settlement-25-million?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

'Meta censors mention of open source software that runs Meta' https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/facebook-flags-linux-topics-as-cybersecurity-threats-posts-and-users-being-blocked

Something like #googlephotos would be a perfect use case for #activitypub, allowing you to share photos with your friends without you or them requiring an account with the same provider. Now if only the powers that be would regulate such a requirement into existence for #bigtech.

If anyone wants to see where I've got my info, here's the FYI.org.nz entry for my OIA request: https://fyi.org.nz/request/23870-rationale-for-funding-google-microsoft-software-for-public-schools-in-new-zealand#incoming-91607 The response from the Min of Ed is damning […]

You shouldn't have to reset your whole social graph just because the government shuts down your favorite platform or a megalomaniacal billionaire destroys it. With A New Social, we're trying to make sure that never has to happen again. https://mastodon.social/@quillmatiq/113669014254670609

One of my more ridiculous unconscious beliefs is that if I bring a reusable shopping bag into a store, and it's printed with the logo of one of their direct competitors, the workers in that store are going to be mad at me. It's ok to bring a hardware store bag into a grocery store, since they […]

The problem with widely advertising yourself as an advocate for the rainbow community is you get the occasional religious nutter emailing you their bile.

I'm in this tonight! https://events.humanitix.com/song-sale-tautahi-jpbu2gwa #Ōtautahi #christchurch #comedy

Is there a Facebook alternative atm? Friendica / Diaspora? Or are there newer alternatives in development atm, preferably open-source & decentralized/federated? Because I'm ready to quit facebook altogether.

As a teen, I started writing a weird Pentecostal allegory modern fantasy trilogy called Cloud Kingdoms. I never wrote more than a few chapters of the first book, but you'll be pleased to know I composed the musical theme for the inevitable film adaptation of the second book.

Here's to an exceptional 2025

Well I managed to have a Christmas-free Christmas for the second year in a row. Bliss! This time it involved working through some major life changes and going on a pleasant hike.

These medications aren't banned for anybody but trans youth. In fact, they're considered so safe they're allowed for purely psychosocial benefits in cis kids with early puberty.

"Have you ever wondered what people used to name their dogs back in medieval times? "Lucky for us, there was this book written back in the 15th century that included over 1,000 names that were considered to be suitable for dogs," Lexi says. After reading the entire book, she shared some of […]

The folks at Metaname are so nice! I saw several people around here talking about their services and moving to them. I currently use the giant US company Namecheap, partially because I have one of those silly new gTLDs. But Metaname's pricing page said you could ask if they can support other […]

Today for the first time I went to (essentially) a funeral for someone who is alive but terminally ill. Such a beautiful way to celebrate his achievements and thank him for his huge contributions over many years. Lots of laughter and clapping, a few tears, and finishing up with a standing ovation.

Lounging on my couch this morning, I pulled up my work calendar and discovered I was due in an hour to give a presentation that I had forgotten all about. Panic! Suffice it to say, one of the faster showers and presentation preparations of my life ensued.

Congratulations your Mastodon Wrapped 2024 has dropped: toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot toot […]

I just spent a very long time filling in this survey about my #cult experiences. If you were in a cult, you might like to too. https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/salford/health-wellbeing-former-members

I'm writing my own submission to this and have to stop for a break every 20 minutes because the harm they are doing by even opening this up to the public is SO obvious and I know they know because we outlined exactly this harm in the briefing Reti received when he became Minister. Fuck.

Goodness me, so now Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky are all interoperable through Bridgy Fed for users who opt in. This will make heads spin!

@mosseri just announced that #threads users can finally follow fediverse accounts. Which means you can now reach 200M people from your Mastodon account without ever using Threads yourself. True decentralization happens on the fediverse!

The other worry about the Marsden thing is that researchers interested in mis-, disinformation, conspiracy theories and the like are now more likely to look for external, private funding. Frankly, a lot of those funders want certain results, or don't want you to talk about certain examples

At #Decult2024, @jlalich.bsky.social advocated forcefully "that the term #cult has a strong foundation in the social sciences." It shouldn't be controversial. We should call a spade a spade. This was eye-opening. I often feel guilty of sensationalising my upbringing by using "the cult word". 1/4

Incredible blow-by-blow coverage from @greater-otautahi.bsky.social of the council's high-density housing decisions today (and excellent alt text)! Make sure you give them a follow! Because they're on Bluesky, you'll need to follow @bsky.brid.gy if you want them to see your replies, boosts, or […]

And away we go! Christchurch Plan Change 14 session has now begun. The mayor is underling the importance of the decision.

We’re back in the chamber! The session is due to restart at 3pm. The remaining alternatives to discuss are the Deans Ave stockyards site (increasing to 11 storeys and mixed-use zoning) and expansion of the CCZ walking catchment.

It's ridiculous how many HR and enrolment forms only give you the choice of study/work visa, permanent resident visa, and citizen. These people don't understand the basics of #NZ #immigration! Once you've lived here for two years on a resident visa, you're basically guaranteed permanent residency.

Also, many immigrants on a non-permanent resident visa probably don't realise they're still “permanent residents” under the Electoral Act 1993 and therefore eligible to vote! System racism in action. #NZPol

I can tell it's going to be a busy week on the JP front. Being bombarded with texts first thing on a Monday morning! Sadly not going to be a busy week on the acting front. I very nearly got offered a super exciting featured extra role in a feature film, but it wasn't to be. You win some and […]

Realising that these tombstones are written for specific young people is the straw that has broken my back this week. The NHS - and all those pushing to restrict access to this vital care - have so much to answer for. We will fight tooth and nail to protect our tamariki in Aotearoa.