The amount of suffering in the lower incomes, when you can’t just “pay out of pocket”, the impacts are huge. So, that 830 phone call, the importance and consequence: it really is a horrible experience.

Wealthy people might say, “it’s not that bad”. It’s easy to dismiss the effect of knowing you’ll sort something out in three or four weeks if your health isn’t great. For a simple thing this is fine, but what then if you need multiple appointments, is that now three months or six or 12? And what if it’s Bowel Cancer? (Not me, but friends) or pneumonia or a complex condition?

I'm not going to talk about Bluesky anymore for a bit, but I know folks are coming back here after hanging out there for a while, and I want to encourage Fedi users not to gloat, not to be jerks about it.

And if you're just (re)joining us on Fedi, like all affinity groups, you're going to run into enthusiasts who are gloating, but I promise most of us are just happy you're here and want to help make this place awesome for you. <3

My comments are littered with folks asking "why is it a problem if your blocklist is public on Bluesky?"

I'm glad you asked.

"Who you block" is a reasonable indicator of your personal alignments. If you block TERFs, you're likely trans-friendly, if not trans yourself. If you block white supremacists, you're likely in support of multiculturalism.

If you block government entities, well, you know how this goes.

Do I trust Bluesky to handle that information with care? Hell no.

So often my ideas are convoluted, tangential, my writing a draft, an incomplete idea. A classic symptom of ADHD, they are projected into the world not always fully formed or thought out. I relish the challenge of turning incomplete thoughts into potentially understandable fully formed ideas

I’m discovering my neurodiversity, & enjoy language & communication. Writing stretches my mind. I know a sliver of German & as I write, with German & English being so contrasting in grammar rules, I find joy in the potential flexibility English affords

#ASD #Autism #Adhd #Writing

I’m glad we are having a nuanced discussion on the pro’s and con’s of this technology. Especially while there is a correlation of our planet warming and certain insects no longer existing in numbers they once did

That is a very regal looking cat. Wow

Amazing goalkeeper save by Hearts’ Craig Gordon. Finger tip, full stretch, last millisecond to reach it. Great stuff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/videos/c5y5xqw06y6o

Right to repair
From: @iFixit
https://mastodon.social/@iFixit/115881176706138985

Come on Fulham!

Here's my take on the #enshittification of internet technology over the 2010s, based on the word @pluralistic coined. I've added "developer enshittification" to the mix (see: React). https://cybercultural.com/p/enshittification/

However, I do end on a note of optimism: the decentralized web as represented by the fediverse, Mastodon and potentially Bluesky. "It's a new world for those who have chosen to leave the Enshittocene behind them. Won't you join us?"

User: Hi! I'd like a wake up call.

Hotel front desk: The entire modern web infrastructure you rely on is held together by a handful of volunteer run opensource projects, and if one lead maintainer decides to delete their repository today, the global economy would stall by noon.

Only one month until we all in Britain celebrate six years since we Brexited. Can't believe things have been so good since we broke our chains and threw off the oppressive yoke of our evil European overlords. Smooth sailin'! I actually love being poor and watching society collapse. It's brilliant and exactly what we all voted for. No more doctors! No more teachers! No more healthcare! I actually hate being able to afford food and am glad to be living through an unprecedented mental health crisis that the government who was supposed to save us has now decried as laziness. Hooray! Hooray for everything! I'd do another Brexit if I could. Is there any way we could make things even *more* shit? Perhaps allocate the remaining community resources to pay racists to spend all day kicking us in the genitals in between painting roundabouts. Let's do a double Brexit. Just keep on Brexitin' until no buildings are left standing and everything is on fire. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🫡

I believe in community and I believe the virtues that value and diligence with money matter, that helping the commons matters. This might not win me anything but be smart with your spend and support those who support those ideals. Happy 26 everyone!

One of the best journalists in recent history has a new and scary scoop: The feds are pouring HUGE amounts of cash into big banks, apparently to avoid a new (and predictable) meltdown.

Once again, Wall Street makes reckless bets, and gets rewarded for failure.

https://www.dcreport.org/2025/12/29/ny-fed-unlimited-cash-infusions-bank-crisis/

Forget the dangers of AI, we are being replaced by cats!!! 🙀

Married for 15 years, we've spiced up our sex life by writing erotic fiction to each other. Discovered we're both far more depraved than either previously realised. Highly recommended.

Ah good to know!

ⓥ Christmas dinner 🎄✨😋
Spaghetti Squash with walnut topping, Herb Marinaded Eggplant, steaming Pasta with Broccoli rabe - all prepared by chefPaul (https://www.instagram.com/chefpauldibari?igsh=bGRyaHcwYmprdTVp - he’s new there, pls give him a follow if you do IG, he’s my bro-in-law)

#plantBased #ChristmasDinner