Phil Betts

Art, code, society, foliage. PhD'd in Management (booooo) and movies? (yaaaaaay!) Probably the world's most pre-eminent Fox Searchlight Pictures scholar, 1994–2009. Real Little Miss Sunshiners (#Sunbeams) get it. Bisexual icon. Highly suggestible.

Location: Sydney/Gadigal land

Public Key

npub1chans9j9lefjpxx0mm3nk6q2n2mg4d94pcep7qnzqy63rsx964uq8uxl7r

NIP-05 Address

philbetts_at_mastodon.social@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsvt7eczezlu5eqnr8aacemdq9f4d52kj6suvslqf3qzdg3crza27qprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmnt5q004m

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

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npub1chans9j9lefjpxx0mm3nk6q2n2mg4d94pcep7qnzqy63rsx964uq8uxl7r

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Last Notes

2026-04-07 09:27:10 UTC

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I kinda would have assumed from weaving grasses...

2026-04-05 11:47:22 UTC

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feel like this should come with a NSFW warning. 🐤🐝

2026-03-05 21:44:38 UTC

Learnt some sort of lesson and this morning DIDN'T walk into work in 88% humidity.

2026-03-01 21:44:08 UTC

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"Stop hitting yourself" as international policy.

2026-03-01 21:41:46 UTC

"The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have said they are ready to take steps to defend their interests in the region after the “indiscriminate and disproportionate” missile attacks by Iran."
I get it. I get why. I'm not sure I would do any different in this situation. But it's so disgustingly galling to use this language. I hope they're deeply, deeply ashamed. Petty vassal thugs of a tyrant.

2026-01-18 22:36:10 UTC

At the opening of the #SydneyFishMarket for breakfast. The food options are great and many surprisingly average priced. It's a nice building with a cool design, EXCEPT all the seating is north facing on the balcony, and it appears there will be no covering or shade for 3/4 of the year, which is *totally* detached from reality.
I just read it was Danish architects and I'm like ohhhhhh... that explains it.
I like it, but I'm not sure I $800 million like it.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/918/473/348/674/733/original/6cb36e08024c2d97.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/918/473/369/107/230/original/e850cbea6c136184.jpg

2025-11-20 04:12:04 UTC

I had this missed call before with zero context. I have MANY more questions than answers.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/580/065/809/729/047/original/1c79a49b82af9572.png

2025-11-11 19:56:34 UTC

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To be clear I sit on the "the guy is a creep" side, just not sure whether that should be a criminal issue. Plus, once again, the inconsistencies of copyright application.

2025-11-11 19:54:19 UTC

RE: https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/115532690665880259
Interesting case that makes you go "hmmmm, where do I sit on this one?"
Also interesting to note Hollywood treated this as a joke when Seth Farlane sang "We Saw Your Boobs," at the Oscars of all places (though people criticised it there too.)
#note1nwu…8268

2025-11-05 20:34:10 UTC

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""Billionaires like Bill Ackman and Ronald Lauder have poured millions of dollars into this race because they say that we pose an existential threat," Mamdani said at an Oct. 13 rally. "And I am here to admit something. They are right. We are an existential threat to billionaires who think their money can buy our democracy.”"
More of this. Democrats doing the great and usually wildly exaggerated stuff Republicans accuse them of.

2025-10-30 21:38:57 UTC

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not all heroes wear capes, but you should consider it on account of your heroic efforts and because capes are dashing!
*Edit* Like Robert Redford's smile.

2025-10-14 10:29:00 UTC

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I would also think Mastodon would have a significant overrepresentation of Guardian readers. Damn nerds. (I strongly support this bug fix.)

2025-10-06 20:07:46 UTC

Every now and then a site will say "you have an adblocker, ads support our site, please disable it", and then I think it's not an ad blocker per se, it's a tracking blocker.
If they were serving up ads based on the content, as they have since advertising was invented, that would be one situation.
But they're not.
They're trying to serve up ads based on me, and there's a whole bunch of problems with that.

2025-09-09 09:20:35 UTC

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it's where you "do your business" .

2025-07-29 17:28:53 UTC

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Yes. Very weird. And spot on ActionAid UK: "However, we are appalled to see Palestinian statehood dangled like a bargaining chip to get the Israeli government to cease its genocidal assault on Gaza. A Palestinian state is not a threat to frighten the Israeli government into action after 21 months of relentless war and destruction, it is an unconditional and inalienable right to self-determination."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/jul/29/uk-politics-latest-news-cabinet-keir-starmer-nigel-farage-online-safety-act?page=with%3Ablock-6888fba08f0805ff5de4ff58#block-6888fba08f0805ff5de4ff58

2025-07-29 17:11:34 UTC

I absolutely, 110% do not understand what the British position is on Palestine, following Starmer's announcement. It's the most nonsensical pretzel logic I think I've ever encountered from a government. "We're threatening to support a two-state solution, unless you commit to working towards a two-state solution, in which case we won't."
Is it supposed to be "it can be on your terms or not, but it WILL happen"?
It's still pretty fucked, and very morally bankrupt.

2025-06-27 10:56:44 UTC

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I often think it must be so demoralising to be in the UK right now, because you can't at least blame the shitty state of everything as the nominally overt "bad guys" being in power. There's no better alternative waiting in the wings. This IS the alternative. No light in the foreseeable future (from conventional politics). 🫤

2025-06-19 05:44:50 UTC

Poor people can't be given money because they won't have an incentive to work, but pharmaceutical companies must be given lots of money or they won't have an incentive to work.

2025-06-11 10:41:37 UTC

Want to have a bath but it's maybe too cold for a bath. Also I'm maybe too tired to do anything in a bath. (Baths take 1-2 hours and usually involve reading or watching a movie with the laptop perched on top of the dunny.) Conundrums. 🛀

2025-06-08 22:22:39 UTC

#SilentSunday
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/650/070/708/867/729/original/b3205f8620c5d590.jpg

2025-06-05 01:41:39 UTC

🤔
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/628/205/012/127/134/original/395f2f2fffce7330.jpg

2025-05-27 12:38:37 UTC

Evil, evil fucks.
"In one social media post, Yaqeen wrote: “I try to bring a bit of joy to the other children so that they can forget the war.”
On Friday night, she was killed after a series of heavy Israeli airstrikes hit the house where she lived with her family, in Al-Baraka area of Deir al-Bala, in central Gaza. Her body, torn apart by the bombing, was recovered from beneath the rubble."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/26/gazas-youngest-influencer-aged-11-among-children-killed-by-israeli-strikes

2025-05-18 10:12:06 UTC

My stepmother continues to have the creepiest and most unsettling fucking house ornaments I've encountered in my life. They've followed them through an intercity relocation. Like, there have been multiple rounds of Boomer downsizing, and these monstrosities have somehow survived each cull. They're here with Intent.
The koala one is with me in the guest room where I'm staying, and I literally drape a large jumper over it so I don't have to look at it. 😬
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/528/262/426/794/031/original/e38f71b09f4f976c.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/528/263/316/766/105/original/a13aa6df10052f86.jpg

2025-05-07 08:57:34 UTC

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ooh, apparently most trees start with a taproot but don't continue with them, so maybe it's not an issue at all! I've learned something this day 😄

2025-05-07 08:52:46 UTC

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decades is impressive! I'm not sure if a tap root affects age - it's more about stability in extreme weather as I understand it. But if they're reasonably dense and in a relatively calm/protected area probably all good!

2025-05-06 22:49:04 UTC

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is there an issue with stability for trees that grow from cloned branches? My understanding is a cloned branch will never grow a tap root, so it will have a much shallower root system (hence why almost all cloned trees are grafted).

2025-05-03 05:24:57 UTC

Forest Lodge Public School, are you OK?
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/442/250/024/386/629/original/8c1a8a4eef4aa05c.jpg

2025-04-14 03:46:15 UTC

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such legends. I remember reading one of them (I think David) saying "we like each other, but I wouldn't describe us as friends outside the show." I found that hilarious, since their identities are so entwined!

2025-04-01 11:26:47 UTC

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I cannot read this in German, but this man looks like the theoretical lovechild of Giles and Spike from Buffy.

2025-03-30 10:36:54 UTC

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if the ones you get don't work, check out Bell Labs glue traps. They're the most effective ones I've used for dealing with the plague small German cockroaches. I've tried two other brands and they do almost nothing, but the Bell Labs ones are powerfully sticky. Just cut them up into strips and lay them across entry points.

2025-03-27 11:17:28 UTC

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I enjoyed this perspective, thanks!

2025-03-11 09:42:09 UTC

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hard agree. Ukraine doesn't necessarily have to retake territory inch by inch, but survive long enough to break the Russian will and force a retreat. It's Vietnam, Afghanistan - lots of circumstances where that could happen. We already had Prigozhin nearly accidentally topple Putin.
If Russia collapses back home, defeat will be sudden and complete. Putin can't maintain this forever.
It's about who's forced to surrender first?

2025-02-28 04:07:05 UTC

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yeah, I think the essence is there but "anti-Semites" seem to be anyone Zionists disagree with.

2025-02-20 09:55:22 UTC

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absolutele banger though.

2025-02-16 12:16:38 UTC

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eternally relevant.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/013/512/260/485/203/original/78c71239f95feaa2.jpg

2025-01-23 23:56:38 UTC

I like it when academic roles sound like cursed D&D objects. Like, we have a Chair of Inflammation.

2025-01-15 07:55:12 UTC

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ahaha had already hit the daily transfer limit moving it across to a bonus saver account. 😂

2025-01-15 07:43:08 UTC

Awww, easy come, easy go. I'm moving from the end of one fixed-term contract to another. Today they accidentally paid out severance pay, long service leave and annual leave in one lump sum (I've been here for 7 years.) Unfortunately Payroll received late notice of the contract extension, so tomorrow they're going to claw it back. 😭

2025-01-15 01:44:48 UTC

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I love watching them paddle furiously as they try to swim about, like a little dude riding an eight wheel bike in the lowest gear.

2024-12-30 07:54:04 UTC

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good luck! Take some dreich photos along the way! ☺️

2024-12-23 08:53:08 UTC

The time has come. After about 9 years of increasing gravity, over Christmas I'm going to weedwhacker my hair off. We've had some times. We've Gandalf the Grey'd. I was a pretty little pony. But I'm looking forward to a cool and streamlined Australian summer. If you feel like it, you can throw in a few Charlies (or whoever's on your money) to the Cancer Council?
P.S. if it's still around it will return in about 10 years for Gandalf the White.
https://www.doitforcancer.com.au/fundraisers/philbetts/now-i-will-need-to-develop-a-personality
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/701/270/042/628/143/original/b3f6047e6fa0b4bc.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/701/275/673/578/277/original/2166b56699b13e98.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/701/276/260/894/745/original/d5a60cba7f140cd2.jpg

2024-12-18 01:34:47 UTC

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this is gorgeous. :)

2024-11-22 23:43:59 UTC

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this is a gorgeous piece of writing. 😊

2024-11-19 07:01:08 UTC

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congratulations! 🍾 🥳 Though seems odd finding out before your parents do. 😂

2024-11-10 04:47:38 UTC

Google/Bing and their respective skins would improve developer experience 12% if they just ignored W3Schools results.

2024-10-25 01:16:40 UTC

Yaaaaargh, I be commitin' computer piracy. ☠️🦜 #BirdsOfMastodon
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/365/413/558/633/357/original/678da911af159fb9.jpg

2024-10-21 02:21:38 UTC

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that massive switch in 2010 coincides with the release of the data-* attribute in the HTML standard, and the corresponding JS, so I maintain that it was indeed a poor choice that not only reinforced existing ambiguity, but was probably the lead contributor to it! 😄

2024-10-21 01:35:14 UTC

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fascinating. Wiki lists two words, dictionary.com has an entry for "data set" with "dataset" as a variant, but no direct entry for "dataset". But that's a compelling chart. I wonder what the stats literature has used as the norm for the past few decades, and if it's different from computer science?

2024-10-21 00:39:44 UTC

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one word seems to be a primarily Google thing, with newer uses following its lead.

2024-10-21 00:36:36 UTC

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is it one word though? On a superficial search "data set" as two words is definitely more common, though "dataset" is sometimes listed as a variant. Whether going for consistency, or the more widely spread, two words would have been better. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_set

2024-10-20 06:30:34 UTC

Javascript is a miraculous hot inconsistent mess (like the English language) #373:
The capitalisation of element.dataset vs element.classList

2024-10-19 06:11:36 UTC

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used to holiday there as a kid. Fond memories. Mixed memories about the John Williamson song "Yamba."

2024-10-15 12:27:03 UTC

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the original Tears for Fears version is a very upbeat sound with devastating lyrics. I find it fascinating that they're doing the Gary Jules cover (though it IS much more suited to acoustic, and is more widely known these days.)

2024-09-14 09:25:10 UTC

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https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/135/181/266/521/436/original/7e34c7b0e7950811.png

2024-09-12 12:00:01 UTC

Copenhagen, Denmark. In the shadow of three embassies... #sketch #drawing
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/124/460/021/469/386/original/8fd9652218b83996.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/124/461/181/141/233/original/dcaede005fb5a592.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/124/461/980/027/813/original/9d67c05b9c6d82e6.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/124/463/067/236/784/original/1190882e69f93146.jpg

2024-09-05 14:19:32 UTC

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they're all gorgeous, but the dinghy pic in particular is 😮!

2024-08-28 07:58:37 UTC

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I'm guessing the charitable interpretation would be the brand, decision governance and merge ability, but... Uhhh... yours also works.

2024-08-27 23:57:32 UTC

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yeah, they've made it increasingly hard. Feb 2023 was a real cutover date.

2024-08-21 17:48:19 UTC

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seems a fairly monumentally bad bet for Google to go all in on this. And an even worse business model if they plan on anything close to $240 for a subscription, when they're selling, at best, "novelties" and "mild usefulness you could get from searching."
I just bought a Pixel 8 Pro (and am posting from it now.) I would not have gone with Google if I thought they were trying to shove Gemini down my throat in every corner. Yikes.

2024-08-21 09:12:00 UTC

This is such a gangster photo (c/o The Courier Mail)
"Merle Thornton AM, who famously chained herself to a Brisbane bar in protest against the ban on women drinking in public bars, has died aged 93...
In 1965, Dr Thornton and her friend Rosalie Bogner chained their ankles to a bar at the Regatta Hotel in Toowong, after a bartender refused to serve them."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-21/merle-thornton-dies-aged-93/104252220
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/999/229/642/499/825/original/74b27dc09b81e749.jpg

2024-08-19 03:38:28 UTC

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n3rd

2024-08-17 23:57:45 UTC

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Honourable 4th mention goes to legendary Australian actor Richard Roxborough as the dodgy South African-accented bad guy. Having come straight off Moulin Rouge (one of my favourite movies ever), where he played The Duke, to this, was just... whiplash!
These elements make me love the film (also helped by being a teenage boy when it came out.) But overall, an incredibly silly movie 😋 (and doesn't even have enough women to even begin to fail the Bechdel test, as you say!)

2024-08-17 23:55:15 UTC

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I adore three things about Mission Impossible: 2:
1. The soundtrack - Limp Bizkit's 'Take a Look Around' is sublime
2. The sheer and utter ludicrousness of taking a quick helicopter ride from downtown Sydney to the red desert outback. These things are... not close!
3. One of my favourite shots/stunts in *cinema*, the incredibly John Woo slow motion gun kick from the sand, jump, twist, connect, shoot, all in the air. PERFECTION! 😭 1/2

2024-08-14 22:16:58 UTC

Can I tell you something dumb? Whenever I see the phrase or hashtag "Fuck Cancer" I'm like "HELL YEAH!" And then part of me instinctively can't help but have a cognitive double reaction, and think "no other star sign has this." I would be very willing to rename us.
And crabs too. No other star sign is an STI. Canceron? Lamest sounding Battlestar Galactica planet.
Our symbol is a sideways "69" though, so that can stay.
✨🦀♋

2024-08-10 07:17:51 UTC

So I've coached an Olympic athlete. And sure, technically the coaching was in semiotics in a first-year media tutorial, but it still counts. Raygun, Australia's Olympic breaking icon, is a total legend! We also taught together when she continued on to do her PhD (and she finished wellllllll before I did.) Go Rachael, you absolute hero! 🦘 💃 💚 💛 #raygun #olympics
https://www.mamamia.com.au/raygun-breaking-olympics/

2024-08-06 02:11:41 UTC

I, like everyone, tend to binge shows, particularly on rewatches. I'm tempted however to start alternating viewings with their contemporaries. E.g. instead of just binging Buffy (and Angel) sequentially, alternate Buffy, Sopranos, and maybe a West Wing. I wonder if that would add to the enjoyment?

2024-08-03 00:08:10 UTC

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this is so gross! I'm seeing the backlash at work too. If you can't be bothered to write it yourself, I can't be bothered to read it.

2024-05-23 13:19:17 UTC

Felt cute. Won't delete.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/490/596/529/660/638/original/e4b4e7d8264f2535.jpg

2022-12-31 15:26:00 UTC

What the fuck is this spherical cuboid the boy is about to brain his friend with in the artist's rendition of the new Sydney Fish Market?
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/109/608/970/684/141/167/original/9631ece1158ea30a.jpeg