Nithin Coca నితిన్

Asia-focused (🇯🇵🇲🇾🇮🇩 & #Tibet) global #journalist covering #environment, #energy #sustainability #HumanRights & supply chains. DM for Signal 🔑

Location: Usually #Japan, sometimes California or #Indonesia. searchable via tootfinder.ch

Website: https://www.nithincoca.com
Asia Undercovered: https://undercovered.asia
DM/Contact: https://www.nithincoca.com/
Verified Journalist: Nithin Coca నితిన్ (npub14ct…km94)">https://www.verifiedjournalist.org/people/Nithin Coca నితిన్ (npub14ct…km94)

Public Key

npub14ctakkz4q88p745t0nrrkg9w8kfaq08s6wuajtk0vm3t2vzc3ntqpekm94

NIP-05 Address

ncoca_at_social.coop@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs2u97mtp2srnsl269he33myzhrmy7s8ncd8wwe9m8kdc44xpvge4sprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntppsy0y

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub14ctakkz4q88p745t0nrrkg9w8kfaq08s6wuajtk0vm3t2vzc3ntqpekm94

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Last Notes

2026-06-11 13:46:05 UTC

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I just want to be able to access everything on my phone on my laptop as well. Line is the single app that's causing me issues with this.

2026-06-11 04:08:24 UTC

#Line informed last November that its #Chrome app would stop working in February. It's now June and I'm using it - the only way to access Line on #Linux. It's probably a massive security risk. Any ideas how else to use Line on Linux?

2026-05-05 06:55:47 UTC

For >50% of the western expats I meet in #Japan, I can't figure out why they are here.

2026-05-04 05:01:45 UTC

Just got invited to a webinar entitled "76 Years of Indonesia-China Relations: Advancing Cooperation"
Of course, #Indonesia and #China have only re-established diplomatic relations 36 years ago. I guess they'll just ignore that 23 year gap?

2026-04-30 00:16:48 UTC

Really shocking. Comes a few days after #Zambia signed a cooperation agreement with #China and some are wondering if PRC pressure led to this happening.
It was a big effort to bring this conference (which was in #Taiwan last year) to #Africa, and I feel for organizers who had to cancel at the last minute.
Sad state for #humanrights right now all around the world.
https://www.404media.co/rightscon-human-rights-conference-suddenly-postponed/

2026-04-29 09:06:37 UTC

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1 of 2 ended up flaking as expected - without even telling my by email.
But the ones who didn't were with a disabled persons NGO and were absolutely lovely people. I felt like they might be more tech savvy due to needing to rely on technology much more due to their communities needs.

2026-04-29 01:51:16 UTC

Have two interviews scheduled with people in the #Philippines today. For both, I sent #Jitsi links.
I have a strong feeling that one, or both, will either have no-shows or last minute emails about how they can't use #Jitsi or requests for my non-existent #whatsapp.

2026-04-28 07:17:21 UTC

Just out: For Sierra Magazine I explore a worrying trend that hasn't gotten much attention - the expansion of #coal gasification in #China, the #US (supported by a new #Trump loan), and #Indonesia three of the world's largest coal producing countries, with worrying long-term #climate, #Health, and #environmental impacts
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/coal-gasification-attempts-comeback

2026-04-27 02:48:59 UTC

Interesting for my job posting - the first week I got bombarded with applications from so many countries, but just a few from Indonesians.
The last week, it's been only #Indonesia applicants coming in.

2026-04-27 02:29:34 UTC

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nice, very well done! Will def use this

2026-04-24 03:04:40 UTC

One website I use to receive payments recently shifted to a terrible #AI tool for customer service.
I asked it to process a payout. It failed, so I asked customer service to do it. After a few days, they did, and I withdrew the amount.
4 days later, the AI processed my payout...20 times. So now I have 20X the original amount, which I've already been paid form, in my "wallet."
As it's not my fault, I decided to just leave it there and wait until they figure it out.
2 weeks later, and it's still there.

2026-04-23 06:17:56 UTC

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A clear war crimes (the latest of many) https://cpj.org/2026/04/cpj-calls-for-immediate-rescue-of-lebanese-journalist-amal-khalil-trapped-under-rubble-in-southern-lebanon/

2026-04-23 06:17:06 UTC

Read this and...it's ruined my day. Full of anger, sadness, and frustration. #Israel #Journalism #murder #Lebanon
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/22/lebanon-accuses-israel-of-blocking-attempt-to-rescue-journalist-after-bomb-strike

2026-04-23 01:31:08 UTC

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Saw this from one NGO I want to interview on workers rights. This is insane! Do they want to intentionally put workers at risk???
https://social-coop-media.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/media_attachments/files/116/451/432/875/595/504/original/47cfc8bf9aacff23.png

2026-04-20 04:38:44 UTC

Talked to a friend I've not spoken to in a while, and it seems he's been sucked into the #China disinformation sphere and fully sees it as the world's only hope.
While I get it somewhat - the search for a "savoir" when everyone else - #Europe #US #India, etc, seems to be going to shit - I honestly don't have the willpower to deal with this anymore. The final straw may have been when he glowed about an leftist author who has been pushing #Uyghur #genocide denial messaging.

2026-04-19 04:14:32 UTC

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Wrote about that program years ago - so long ago it's no longer up on their website, only on the @npub1umd…wfr7 https://web.archive.org/web/20180727012627/https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/12815/facebook-india-net-neutrality/

2026-04-19 04:12:05 UTC

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So much respect for you as a #meta-free Filipino. It's easy to not use their products in Japan - no one uses FB or WA here, but I still use #LINE.
Also can't believe a government-run hospital only uses FB, how can that be legal???

2026-04-17 04:50:44 UTC

Geez, this #Philippines #labor union really only has a #Facebook page and a #Whatsapp account, no website, no email, nothing else. That's it.
So, they've made it impossible for me to access or communicate directly with them.

2026-04-14 00:27:45 UTC

Has no one noticed that clear parallels that #Hungary's election has with #Malaysia's #2018 one?
- Public outcry after massive corruption scandal.
- Overcoming blatant gerrymandering.
- Opposition led by former leader of ruling party (Mahathir & Anwar/Magyar)
- Euphoric public.
With a supermajority in Parliament, we won't see a backdoor agreement bring Fidesz back to power, but will be curious to see how Tisza rules. I worry Magyar will be like Mahathir in other ways - over-controlling and compromising.

2026-04-13 02:57:45 UTC

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you should!

2026-04-13 02:08:28 UTC

Most of the #Indians who applied for my #journalism job neglected to put any language skills on their resume.
Something that others mostly don't do - including other South Asians.
Why is this? Is it a tacit way of saying that they are really only able to work in English?

2026-04-12 09:44:58 UTC

Posted my #job listing a week ago.
- Within 24 hours, got 50+ applications, more than >50% from just one country, along with more than 80 LinkedIn friend requests, unsolicited messages.
- The next few day, got a bunch of AI-written cover letters, including several with the same exact line.
The last three days - zero applications from that country, zero AI applications.

2026-04-10 04:33:19 UTC

I was feeling iffy on my #creditunion after they did the bait and switch with a "high-interest" savings account (rapidly dropped the interest rate after a few months). Also found the non-stop life insurance promo letters annoying.
But them charging me a $50 fee for not closing a CD account within a tiny window, and refusing to waive the fee despite me being just a few days late, was the last straw.
Strangely, they don't seem to mind me leaving (to another credit union, of course).

2026-04-09 10:34:04 UTC

Over 100 applications for my part-time #journalist assistant job. I'm amazed how many people will apply using acronyms that only people from that country would know.
I know what it means that someone is "fluent in BM" but have no what "graduated from GW" "technical AEO" "studied at SPPU" or "wrote stories on ATP/WTA" means.

2026-04-09 02:09:35 UTC

One of my favorite things about #Japan is that they rarely, almost never, add unnecessary raw #onions to things like salads or sandwiches.

2026-04-08 00:18:39 UTC

I think the next time I post a #job, I'll add a note saying - "all applications that arrive in the next 48 hours will be immediately deleted."
That should get rid of most of the #AI #AIslop.

2026-04-07 04:38:49 UTC

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well, it does make it easy to filter out, it not a good format all all for a journalism-focused position. Also noticed that several have the exact same line in it, too...

2026-04-07 02:18:06 UTC

#Hiring for a #journalism assistant and got way too many applications. Too many cover letters have the same exact format, with bullet points summaries in the middle.
Is this how #AI writes cover letters?

2026-04-06 23:42:41 UTC

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Woke up to 40+ applications, which I guess says something about the journalism market these days...

2026-04-06 13:07:03 UTC

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Other things not to do
- End your cover letter with a "message me on/here's my #Whatsapp"
- Spell my name wrong (something that only applicants from North #India seem to do, amazingly enough.)

2026-04-06 13:02:07 UTC

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As many people are asking, this is the job - it's not #tech focused, but journalism focused - https://nithincoca.com/journalism-publicist.html

2026-04-06 08:09:18 UTC

I'm #hiring again and I really do wish people would look me up more before they applied. I'm not going to be impressed with your #google workplace skills, or your use of #canva, or any #socialmedia app.
If one, just one applicant, mentioned their open source or #selfhosting skills, that would be a ticket to an immediate interview.

2026-03-31 10:25:44 UTC

Watched a #Chinese film about an Ivorian living in #Guangzhou, and, as it had an African director, might show an interesting perspective about a migrant community not often visible in the media.
It was...disappointing. When the main character interacts with Chinese, they're absurdly nice. Her life in #China is easy - lovely apartment in a quiet neighborhood, a good job, lots of friends.
But it was, when about halfway through, when she pushes back on another African complaining about a really minor incident (getting annoyed at a Chinese man panhandling at a black hair salon) with a "we're in their country, we need to be quiet and integrate," I stopped watching.

2026-03-12 03:55:32 UTC

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I want to quit but it would impact my career and networking too much. Wish there was a viable alternative

2026-03-12 02:32:42 UTC

#LinkedIn - the last bigtech platform I still have an account on - it getting worse and worse with ads and promoted posts. Every month I need to update my #ublock custom filters.

2026-03-11 04:26:45 UTC

Curious why they included #China on this list of regulators to target #keepandroidopen
Do they not know that #Google #Play is blocked there, and that Chinese users rely on local apps stores and #Apple, which happily complies with any #CCP takedown order)
keepandroidopen.org

2026-03-11 01:01:01 UTC

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same, but occasionally I'm forced too, and spoofing usually works. Only rarely do I need to try with Chromium

2026-03-11 00:19:12 UTC

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oh I know, but hopefully enough annoying messages and they'll at least start to think about it.

2026-03-11 00:18:30 UTC

Wow, #BlueBottle #Coffee is now #Chinese-owned. I used to live near its tiny initial coffee stall in SF (and even then thought it was overrated).
The coffee chain that stole its idea from a #Kyoto cafe, sold out #Nestle, is now being sold to #LuckinCoffee.
https://www.semafor.com/article/03/04/2026/chinas-luckin-coffee-acquires-blue-bottle

2026-03-10 06:23:23 UTC

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I've found, to my annoyance, that they often work if you spoof Firefox as being Chrome.

2026-03-10 06:22:43 UTC

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I just went ahead and told them to stop using #Microsoft products.

2026-03-10 06:17:33 UTC

This is a new one. Got a #press release, tried to download the attached #report, and got this message.
"Unsupported #PDF viewer" I assume means every PDF viewer available on #Linux.
This is after, earlier today, getting a press release that required a #Google account to access...
#Microsoft #microslop #DRM #bigtech
https://social-coop-media.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/media_attachments/files/116/203/402/494/640/286/original/92db950946bbb022.png

2026-03-10 01:00:29 UTC

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It's really a big misconception how widely English is spoke in India. In certain parts of certain cities, yes. But 80% of the population is in the countryside and won't find much English spoken there.
Even if 10% speaks English, that's 100 million + so a lot, but still just a minority.

2026-03-07 12:26:12 UTC

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It must be - on that platform, there are something like 15 comments about this initiative and none that mention - hey, shouldn't it be available in the language spoken by 85% of the residents of this city?
The worrying thing is that the RSS and those on the right are most definitely communicating in local languages.

2026-03-07 11:23:55 UTC

Found this cool-sounding initiative to make a major #Indian city more #representative, #safer, #livable, etc, through a public engagement platform.
But the manifesto, platform, social media, etc, are all just in one language - #English.
So...who does this really represent?

2026-03-05 12:43:58 UTC

How often you hear right-wingers in the #west conflate or equate #Islam with #Communism is quite jarring when you're a journalist who first started covering politics in #Indonesia.

2026-03-03 01:58:32 UTC

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might give it a try myself - Meet.Coop was using BBB and I like it a lot better than Jitsi.

2026-03-02 06:59:01 UTC

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Will next time!

2026-03-02 06:58:09 UTC

Someone I asked to do a call via #Jitsi liked it so much, they started using it instead of #zoom.
It is possible to reach some people!

2026-02-28 06:00:25 UTC

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Perhaps even four, if you include Turkey?

2026-02-27 06:04:53 UTC

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Hopefully it's just this! I joined a call a few days ago and found the button. Only today, couldn't find it. I'll look harder next time.

2026-02-27 01:28:12 UTC

So is #Zoom requiring you to use their app to join calls now? For the first time today, didn't get the option to join via a browser when trying to join a call. If so, how lame.

2026-02-26 00:53:33 UTC

It was only a matter of time: transnational repression to support #China overseas business interests, this time in #Australia.
https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/australia-hungrypanda-delivery-riders-allege-threats-from-chinese-police-over-planned-protests-incl-co-comment/

2026-02-25 06:17:44 UTC

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What's a good alternative? Mother Jones?

2026-02-24 08:26:01 UTC

Saw an outlet refer to a region as the "Malay Archipelago"
Outside of Academia, does anyone actually use that term for the region anymore?
#Indonesia #Malaysia #Philippines #SEAsia #SoutheastAsia

2026-02-20 02:58:32 UTC

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What makes it more sad or disappointing is that most of my clients are non-profits/NGOs.
That they, of all orgs, can't quit #bigtech really says something about the state of technology these days.

2026-02-20 02:15:19 UTC

One of the biggest reasons now that I think I may stay as a freelancer and not job hunt is that I don't want to be forced to use some "productivity" suite like #google #docs or #microsoft #office365 or #teams everyday.
Having to use one of those now for a short-term project with a client and its so annoying and very, very unproductive.
Also wonder - how come I can setup flexible, self-hosted secure systems for my own data, but a org with 30+ staff and multiple ops people can't?

2026-02-19 02:16:05 UTC

All these people who claim they can't afford to pay for a privacy-minded alternative to #Google or #Microsoft all don't have #Amazon or #Netflix subscriptions, right?

2026-02-18 07:47:34 UTC

Just saw an article refer to a village as being located in "#Indonesia’s Eastern Borneo province."
Strangely, later the article mentions "South Sulawesi" and not Southern Celebes...

2026-02-18 06:06:35 UTC

Another milestone - just had my first article published in a #SouthAsian language.
Not #Hindu, not #Telugu, but #Benglali (or #Bangla), on investigative reporting in #Asia
https://gijn.org/bn/stories/%e0%a6%85%e0%a6%ac%e0%a7%88%e0%a6%a7-%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b2%e0%a7%81-%e0%a6%89%e0%a6%a4%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a4%e0%a7%8b%e0%a6%b2%e0%a6%a8-%e0%a6%86%e0%a6%b0-%e0%a6%a4%e0%a6%b2%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%af/

2026-02-18 01:05:17 UTC

Happy #Tibetan New Year - Losar Tashi Delek!
Despite it often falling on the same day as #Chinese, #Korean, and other lunar new years, it's actually a different calendar and not always aligned.
https://social-coop-media.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/media_attachments/files/116/088/943/076/796/342/original/2fa7f793bea4cc1c.png

2026-02-17 02:08:53 UTC

I'm in something like 13 different #Slack communities, mostly for various #journalist groups.
Lots of discussion in many about ICE.
Discussions about leaving slack due its ties to #Salesforce, who are supporting ICE?
Nothing.

2026-02-16 12:39:35 UTC

Read an analysis that claimed that Chinese solar is "unfairly criticized" that then went on to make no mention of any of the many #humanrights concerns linked to solar production, such as #Uyghur forced labor in #Xinjiang.
How is the solution to "unfair" criticism to put out biased de-facto promotion?

2026-02-12 02:56:20 UTC

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it's really the core problem - privacy is only for the well-off.

2026-02-12 02:19:05 UTC

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great guide for Google and big tech alternatives - https://www.privacyguides.org/

2026-02-12 00:54:40 UTC

What's actually supporting #Palestine more - holding a sign at a rally, or actually quitting using platforms that enable their oppression?
It's not safe to be an activist, journalist, or, often, a minority and use #bigtech platforms
https://theintercept.com/2026/02/10/google-ice-subpoena-student-journalist/

2026-02-11 00:02:16 UTC

RE: https://mstdn.social/@globalvoices/116049009777708678
Pay attention to how many so-called #China experts have said nothing about Lai's unjust sentencing - or the many others in #HongKong who have been jailed just for expressing their political rights.
Too many of them stay silent for a variety of reasons - visits, or partnerships, or perhaps, I wonder, funding. We need to call them out more.
#note1542…rmu5

2026-02-08 09:27:02 UTC

My feed, both here and at #Bluesky, is much more about the #Thailand election than the #Japan #election today, despite living here now for nearly 3 years...

2026-02-05 03:02:45 UTC

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Besides Ghost, is there really any other alternative worth considering?

2026-02-05 03:01:48 UTC

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since you have a Pixel, you should really consider switching to GrapheneOS. Super easy to install and works really well, can run sandboxed Google Play if you need it.

2026-02-04 07:02:09 UTC

Another reason to not use #Google - they'll readily share your data with the government and give you minimal opportunities to respond. It's not worth it.
https://newrepublic.com/post/206088/homeland-security-67-year-old-us-citizen-criticized-email
#bigtech #degoogle #techgiants #Gmail

2026-02-01 02:11:21 UTC

Reached out to a thinktank that does good #China research while in #SEAsia for a meeting, and was surprised when they never responded.
Saw yesterday them post about a meeting with the #Chinese embassy, and now wondering - is that why?
#TootsSEA #SoutheastAsia

2026-01-28 02:22:52 UTC

So now that Meet.Coop isn't working (they shut down the @npub1yq9…z5wx instance and don't seem to be able to bring it back) wondering if anyone knows of another #privacy or #cooperative alternative for video conferences.
#Jitsi is fine and what I'm using now, but I would prefer something with a few more features and customizations.

2026-01-28 02:16:45 UTC

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Unfortunately it doesn't seem like this is going to fixed. Such a shame as I really preferred Meet.Coop/BBB to Jitsi and liked having my own rooms.

2026-01-26 07:02:17 UTC

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true, but I expect better from a tech privacy expert...

2026-01-26 07:00:25 UTC

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Not at all what I said. Rather than saying its the "worst" - a value judgement - explain how it's bad, what impacts that has, etc.
I've covered privacy concerns of US tech platforms extensively as a journalist, & avoid using any of their products.

2026-01-26 00:09:17 UTC

Saw on #LinkedIn a European tech expert claiming that the #US is "by far the worst in the world in terms of privacy violations"
I honestly feel like #Asia doesn't exist to a lot of Europeans. Do they really not know how bad privacy and data laws are in many countries here? Have they not heard of the #GreatFirewall or how #Chinese users have basically zero data privacy?
Lots to critique in the US and of big tech, but that's not the way to do it.

2026-01-21 09:43:21 UTC

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Yeah, it's always Sydney/Melbourne time. But why is it up to me to figure out what they mean by "Australia" time?

2026-01-19 12:22:26 UTC

Some Australians sometimes do this strange thing where they say a call is at XX o'clock "Australia" time.
But Australia has multiple time zones...

2026-01-19 12:19:09 UTC

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Having the same problem myself - can't login and Socialcoop.meet.coop doesn't work.

2026-01-14 05:48:38 UTC

My favorite #udon place in #Saitama has, apparently, closed and become just another #ramen place.
I feel like this is an metaphor for something...
#Japan

2026-01-11 02:28:15 UTC

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wonderful, thank you! Doesn't seem like I can login, and socialcoop.meet.coop doesn't seem to work.

2026-01-10 12:53:47 UTC

I've always felt this was, at least, partly true. Can be extrapolated to also be a reason why #China dominated cleantech too - something that most #climate & #environment groups don't want to acknowledge.
https://thediplomat.com/2026/01/why-chinas-exploitative-labor-system-gives-it-a-strategic-edge/

2026-01-10 07:53:15 UTC

This trip, got to try #Manado food a few times and, it's officially up there with #Sunda & #Padang as my favorite regional #Indonesia cuisines.
Need to go visit and try it in North #Sulawesi and see if its as #spicy as claimed.

2026-01-08 01:30:59 UTC

#socialcoop So our Meet.Coop instance has been down for 3+ weeks, and from what I see on https://forum.meet.coop/t/meet-coop-update-october-2025/1739/47, it's not clear when it will work, if ever.
Wondering what this means for our collective membership there?

2026-01-05 10:03:21 UTC

Wonder why this #Indonesia #fire, which I only just read about, didn't get nearly as much attention as the one that happened in #Switzerland a week later.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/397993/manado-retirement-home-fire-kills-16-victims-identification-ongoing

2026-01-05 04:36:06 UTC

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thank you, good to know! Used the Jitsi server for another call and it worked well, but like having my own room.

2026-01-04 08:19:22 UTC

I ordered a vegetable curry - which the day before, I had confirmed had no meat.
But today's staff decided to do me a favor and add chicken to it. Yay. Thanks...
#Indonesia #Vegetarian #Travel

2026-01-02 06:16:52 UTC

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looks like the German server is down - https://de.meet.coop/

2026-01-02 06:09:29 UTC

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Dang, you are right, its different in Malay than Indonesian. This is what happens when I spend 3 weeks in Malaysia before Indonesia, get my languages mixed up.

2026-01-02 06:01:08 UTC

"Kak", "Bu", "Mbk", so far not a single #grab or #gojek driver has properly identified my name as male in #Indonesia 😅
#Indonesian has gender-neutral pronouns, , why not gender-neutral honorifics?

2026-01-01 00:48:47 UTC

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I'm using it via Social.coop - can't connect at all to socialcoop.meet.coop

2025-12-31 07:01:21 UTC

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Most of the big international hits in the past few years have been South Indian, including 4 of the top 5 films in #India last year

2025-12-31 06:31:20 UTC

I should learn some #Malay songs.
Just so that the next time someone in #Indonesia sings a #Hindi song because they think I'll like that, I can sing my favorite "#Indonesian" song in return 😜

2025-12-31 06:21:32 UTC

It seems that the #Telugu & #SouthIndian film wave hasn't reached #Indonesia?
When people refuse to accept me as an American, the Indian films/stars/songs they reference and I assume I know are always some #Bollywood ones I've never seen.

2025-12-31 04:27:12 UTC

Meet.Coop seems to be down for me, for more than a day.
anyone at @npub1yq9…z5wx have any idea what's going on?

2025-12-28 04:56:10 UTC

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I wonder why did the Scroll editors decide to add the word "dialects" to the headline (not in the original @npub1qt7…dgeq piece).
#Tulu, #Bodo, and #Kashmiri are languages, not dialects & the article itself, correctly, never calls them dialects.

2025-12-28 04:03:58 UTC

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would be happy to, especially if I could via CoMaps, where I'm regularly adding new businesses to OSM.

2025-12-27 09:27:00 UTC

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I do, but there's also a tiny bit of "what did you expect" in there.

2025-12-27 08:36:41 UTC

Everytime someone asks me to "please leave a #Google review" at this guesthouse/restaurant/etc, when I say "Sorry, I don't have a Google account" they seem so flabbergasted that they don't know how to respond.