Notices by Shaula Evans (shaulaevans@zirk.us)

The absolute abyss of difference between telling people to buy themselves a life jacket and rolling up your sleeves to built life boats.

I had the foolihardiness to ask a tech question on Mastodon last night (what was I thinking???) that devolved into a side quest. I am going to even more foolhardily try again:

With Android rolling out updates that wedge Gemini into everything, what do I need to do to remove/disable/nuke from outer space all aspects of Gemini as much as possible? (Without changing phones / getting a second phone / installing a new OS).

#Gemini #Android #Privacy #Security

Fedi Meta Question:

I know that there are significant numbers of people in the Fediverse who appreciate CWs on posts about food. Do you like CWs on posts about tea / non-food drinks as well?

I'm happy to do it if it helps people. I haven't come across discussions about this before so I'm asking.

#Tea #FediEtiquette #FediMeta #MastodonMeta #AskFedi #ContentWarnings

@gocu54 In my experience, people build relationships anywhere that people gather, online or offline.

*Okay, but hopefully not LinkedIn. lol

Two people whom I adore are in an amazing relationship together.

They met on Mastodon. When I boosted a post by one of them, and the other one saw it.

Boosting on Fedi: It's more powerful than you think!™

I have watched my life burn to the ground and started again from scratch many, many times.

I believe in second acts and second chances.

I want to say this clearly for anyone who needs to hear it: it is possible to survive radical, unexpected and unwanted life changes, to start again, and to build a new life that is worth living.

I have a question for people who have been through really hard times. Not a bad day or a bad week, but extended periods of grinding, crushing hardship. (If you know, you know.)

My question is: what did other people do to support you that helped? Especially long distance friends (cf pandemic).

So many people I care about are struggling and deeply suffering. I want to find ways to be a better friend.

#AskFedi #Polycrisis

@skinnylatte I found So Ji-seob's portrayal of Nam Gi-joon soldiering on despite being so weary of it all to be highly relatable. 😂

I am positively presdisposed towards people who are brilliant, caring, compassionate, practical, grounded, creative, passionate and who pursue excellence.

So yeah, I'm really happy being in the Fediverse.

@ladyteruki No electricity ever!

This is the kind that I have, you may find more options closer to home.

There are also cooling mats sold for human use but hey, I'm the size of large dog apparently so why not? lol

https://www.thegreenpetshop.com/products/cool-pet-pad?variant=40298699653218

A funny thing about being a screenwriter / script doctor and doing writing teaching and coaching for a long time:

When I watch shows, "teachable moments" really jump out at me -- good examples of a particular writing technique done well.

I used to keep a running list. I don't have as much call for it these days but they still really pop for me when I'm watching.

I am literally chilling right now on my Green Pet cooling mat for large dogs.

It takes no electricity, it is pressure activated, it lasts four hours and resets after 15 minutes.

If you live in a climate where you might get sick or die from the heat in a power outage, I recommend pet cooling mats!

@steter @ai6yr @rustoleumlove I saw this in isolation on my timeline and it is one of the greatest out-of-context posts I have ever read.

An article was just boosted into my timeline suggesting that users really ought to step up to defend a corporate social media platform's reputation and... wow. That's sure a take.

If the bilionaire's club wants me to do publicity for their multinational coporations, they can offer me full market rates to do it.

*And I'll still say no.

There are great, caring, open, big-hearted men in the Fediverse. (Some of you are even cis or cis-ish and straight or straight-ish!)

Thank you for being dynamic living reminders that there are good men, too, and that the best ones are truly great.

It looks like I am on the hunt for a new Mastodon instance!

Please let me know if you are on a server that you recommend that fits these criteria:
- hosted in Europe;
- stable;
- well moderated by a team;
- blocks Bluesky / Threads / etc.;
- no petty blocking wars;
- small or medium sized, not large.

Don't need special interest or regional focus. Don't need pushback on my criteria.

Any recs? Thank you.

#FediMeta #AskFedi

If consent matters to you, you have to be genuinely prepared to take no for an answer. And to respond graciously, so that person feels safe to say no the next time, too.

New word of the day: Opacarophile - someone who finds beauty and joy in sunsets and the subtle transitions in nature.

Please donate to your local food bank if you can.

Please make sure people you know have enough to eat.

It's one of many quiet, non-valorized, invisible ways you can literally save lives.

A system is what it does.

A system is what it does.

A system is what it does.