Nate Bartram

🛜 Founder, editor, agent of chaos @thenewoil.
🎥 Digital Content Producer @privacyguides
📣 Board member @effaustin.
🎙️ Former cohost @sr

❗All opinions are my own.
❌ Boosts =/= an endorsement of the person or their other posts.

#Privacy and #MentalHealth advocate. Casual #gamer. #Scifi nerd. #TrueCrime fan. Musician. Audio engineer. Qubes user. Praise Jibbers Crabst. #nobot

When elephants wage war, it is the grass that suffers.

Public Key

npub1fr42pfm687vvpmua760xsk3ce4gmsk577avjerw30nmqwjzyungql0z0al

NIP-05 Address

nateb@mastodon-thenewoil-org.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsy364q5aarlxxqa7wld8ngtguv65dct200wkfv3hgheas8fpzwf5qpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dshul69g

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1fr42pfm687vvpmua760xsk3ce4gmsk577avjerw30nmqwjzyungql0z0al

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Last Notes

2026-04-12 17:57:19 UTC

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@nprofile…ntm0 @nprofile…k2mn I almost laughed the way she said "I like to win."
"What keeps you motivated?" "Well winning is pretty freakin sweet." Yeah, touche. Can't argue with that. 😂

2026-04-12 01:44:35 UTC

I'm so excited to share this with you all! It was such a great day and a highlight of my career as a privacy educator/advocate 😁
#nevent1q…u9re

2026-04-09 00:47:36 UTC

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@nprofile…le0y Tbh I mostly post these episodes (when I do) for solidarity and visibility. I don't like that social media is largely treated as a "highlight reel." I have bad days still, even despite how good everything is overall. My hope is that at least one person will see these kind of posts and think "oh, it's not just me" and maybe find some comfort in knowing they're not alone.

2026-04-08 20:38:02 UTC

Days like today I understand why van Gogh ate yellow paint to try to feel happy.* Depression sucks, and kind of makes my agnostic self lean away from religion cause like, what kind of intelligent or loving design would go "what if your brain just fucking HATES you with the passion of a thousand suns for no reason sometimes?"
*That story is not true, but I get it all the same.

2026-04-08 20:31:58 UTC

Oh god please don't let @nprofile…wmhr enshittify. They're one of the few good ones left.
https://www.theverge.com/news/908401/propublica-union-strike-negotiations-ai-layoffs

2026-04-08 14:17:58 UTC

I really appreciate that Microsoft is leading the effort to get people to switch to Mac & Linux.
https://www.404media.co/microsoft-abruptly-terminates-veracrypt-account-halting-windows-updates/

2026-04-04 17:32:14 UTC

Well if it isn't the inevitable outcome we all warned against: scope creep.
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/04/03/207238/colorados-new-speed-camera-system-makes-waze-nearly-useless

2026-04-03 18:20:40 UTC

You'd think that by now we'd learn not to trust things called "Incognito Mode" but here we are I guess.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/04/perplexitys-incognito-mode-is-a-sham-lawsuit-says/

2026-04-01 12:18:20 UTC

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@nprofile…le0y jfc. That's the kind of garbage I'd expect to see on Odysee or Rumble, not YouTube. Gross.

2026-03-27 02:09:10 UTC

I have the coolest job. Thank you to everyone who supports @nprofile…k2mn and makes it possible.

2026-03-26 21:26:37 UTC

I just got to interview an absolute privacy rockstar who told me that I ask good questions. I'm so honored and over the moon. Can't wait to share this one with y'all.

2026-03-23 03:40:48 UTC

This will definitely not get used for Surveillance Pricing, and we should completely take them at their word when they say they won't do that. No need to require it by law. Scout's honor.
https://slashdot.org/story/26/03/22/2346224/walmart-announces-digital-price-labels-for-every-store-in-the-us-by-the-end-of-2026

2026-03-12 13:13:48 UTC

The fact that @nprofile…560n has tags on their blog (such as "news") and easily allows you to filter by tag, but won't offer specific RSS feeds for various tags is wild.
I'd like to follow their blog for updates - like new features and sales - but tbh I don't care at all about all the SaaS/devops/marketing shit.

2026-03-04 23:56:41 UTC

Every expert ever: "This is a really fucking bad idea for so many reasons."
Politicians: "This is the best idea we've ever had. This is gonna fix everything."
https://reason.com/2026/03/04/computer-scientists-caution-against-internet-age-verification-mandates/

2026-03-04 17:19:08 UTC

I'll be guesting on the Hide & Speak podcast this weekend, for those who want to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB3x3YkAjhY

2026-03-03 23:53:29 UTC

I whole-heartedly agree. LibreOffice's UI may not be the prettiest, but at least everything is where I expect it to be and I don't have to waste 10 minutes finding a feature I use once a month.
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/03/03/1951222/libreoffice-says-its-ui-is-way-better-than-microsoft-offices

2026-03-03 21:35:24 UTC

Is the UK okay?
https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/tno-mastodon/media_attachments/files/116/167/388/415/338/017/original/6b082f36d9c4eee0.png

2026-02-26 18:44:10 UTC

Thank god I don't eat Burger King anyways.
https://slashdot.org/story/26/02/26/163233/burger-king-will-use-ai-to-check-if-employees-say-please-and-thank-you

2026-02-25 11:44:34 UTC

One of Trump's arguments for attacking Iran is that they killed protestors.
Boy, that would be really bad if a country did that, wouldn't it?

2026-02-25 00:50:16 UTC

"Other browsers force AI features on users. Firefox gives you a choice."
*After years of forcing AI on users who have been screaming at you to knock it the fuck off.
https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/how-to-use-ai-controls/

2026-02-24 20:53:16 UTC

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@nprofile…0hde Doesn't bother me. Just amuses me lol

2026-02-24 20:41:32 UTC

Notifications: @nprofile…0hde boosted your post.
Me: Guess I'm going viral again.

2026-02-24 20:23:43 UTC

YouTube recently changed Studio to show comments by "most relevant" instead of "newest" by default and I cannot sigh hard hard enough. Newest IS most relevant. I want to see the newest comments.
There is no way to change this setting at this time.
Not everything needs to be algorithmic. This is enshittifying the creator experience.

2026-02-21 14:15:09 UTC

I'm crying laughing
https://youtu.be/ROFblZ_-9q4
#Ring #Amazon #SearchParty #Wyze #privacy #dystopia

2026-02-09 00:00:31 UTC

These age verification social media laws are gonna age like milk. Mark my words.

2026-02-05 02:55:53 UTC

Every country's current Epstein scandal just proves that protecting the children never mattered in the first place.

2026-01-07 14:08:30 UTC

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@nprofile…w4ds @nprofile…4fan Yes but only out of those 4 options. I'm asking why a generic rainbow flag wasn't included as a 5th option.

2026-01-07 03:48:32 UTC

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@nprofile…4fan Hey this is super awesome and I really appreciate all the hard work! I don't want to sound ungrateful but just curious about the Pride backgrounds: why no general rainbow pride flag? It seems the ones you picked are gay, lesbian, trans, and bi, but no general "pride" one. Was there a reason for that?

2025-12-17 17:25:02 UTC

I have no mouth and I must scream.

2025-12-08 17:29:31 UTC

Test post to see if I broke things worse or not.

2025-12-03 04:14:13 UTC

My entire adult life I learned to type with em-dashes and now I just realized that everything I write looks AI as fuck because of it 😭

2025-11-22 03:05:07 UTC

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@nprofile…06an 🫡 Excited to be part of the team.

2025-11-09 00:21:17 UTC

Home is where the Jellyfin server is plugged in.

2025-08-11 00:54:12 UTC

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@nprofile…0p0d But you do mean the ability to play audio in any room in your house? Presumably the same source?
I guess "$100/room" might be a tall order in an easy "homepod mini" sort of fashion.

2025-07-20 16:12:55 UTC

is there a version of that website "let me google that for you" but it's literally any other search engine? I'd even accept DDG.

2025-07-04 01:05:23 UTC

“To use the Net, you had to understand Unix, and the current users had no interest in making it easier. In fact, there was a definite element of not wanting to make it easier, of actually wanting to keep the riffraff out.”
Imagine if the gatekeepers got their way. Now look at the current comments about how we don't want normies on Mastodon or how Windows users deserve to be hacked.
Fuck gatekeepers.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/a-history-of-the-internet-part-2-the-high-tech-gold-rush-begins/

2025-06-29 03:06:30 UTC

That whole "would you still love me if I was a worm" meme is about to get a lot of mileage in the upcoming Dune franchise.

2025-06-12 03:18:50 UTC

I'll stop being a fucking prick about Telegram when people stop being stupid.
https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/telegram-the-fsb-and-the-man-in-the-middle

2025-06-05 02:03:48 UTC

Story time: I used to know a state-level politician back in my home state. Family member by marriage.
They were fucking HATED because every time legislation was in session, everyone else was just there to drink and rub elbows and they'd stay up late in the hotel ACTUALLY READING the bill and then show up with questions. Total party pooper.
The bar in politics is below the floor.
https://mastodon.social/@VeroniqueB99/114621983516927087

2025-05-26 14:31:01 UTC

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@nprofile…naem Her taste in men is a bit more questionable though.

2025-05-26 02:43:42 UTC

I think my Bluetooth headphones are dying. I'm open to suggestions. Not PineBuds.

2025-05-25 23:38:33 UTC

On a whim, my wife has decided to rewatch Airplane! and now I'm just hearing random fits of laughter every few mins from the other room.
This is why I said yes.

2025-05-07 22:09:41 UTC

What could possibly go wrong? I guess just YOLO'ing with the lives of your citizens is more efficient.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/07/openai-and-the-fda-are-reportedly-discussing-ai-for-drug-evaluations/

2025-04-23 02:21:40 UTC

If capitalism works because "whoever makes the best product wins," why do companies repeatedly have to resort to - at best - dishonest tactics to rig the game in their favor? Shouldn't everyone be seeking out these apps on their own because they're so great? Why would Google waste the money to force them on people who just can't wait to use them?
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/04/22/0953209/google-pays-samsung-enormous-sums-for-gemini-ai-app-installs

2025-04-22 23:42:54 UTC

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@nprofile…npxa Something something Unauthorized Bread.

2025-04-18 02:53:29 UTC

Weird how they have no problem aggressively assaulting our privacy, but get absolutely fucking offended when their data is used in ways they don't like.
https://www.theverge.com/news/649834/meta-redactions-apple-google-snap-angry-ftc-antitrust-trial

2025-04-01 18:31:59 UTC

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@nprofile…2q03 I choose not to believe in objective facts and reality, so I agree that E2EE must be outlawed. After all, if something is illegal, everyone stops doing it. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear.

2025-03-22 00:39:10 UTC

Today I saw a big ol' lifted super duty pickup truck - the kind you ABSOLUTELY expect to have stickers like "Trump 2024" and "Fueled by liberal tears" and other such dumb shit. Instead it had a single sticker: "The only minorities ruining this country are billionaires."
Was not expecting that, but fuck yeah, rock on, buddy.

2025-03-17 03:51:11 UTC

There appears to be some sort of issue with my PeerTube instance (apertatube.net). I strongly suspect the issue is on my hosting provider's end (1984). I've contacted them and will do my best to have the situation resolved as quickly as possible. Sorry for any inconvenience.

2025-03-15 17:59:04 UTC

Mildly annoyed that the official Monero wallet doesn't display your balance in USD unless you try to sell/transfer it.

2025-03-14 17:38:30 UTC

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@nprofile…npxa I don't know why but this literally made me laugh out loud.

2025-03-13 00:09:19 UTC

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@nprofile…npxa Given that keeping this thing running at all feels very above my skill level, I also wish they'd add more moderation tools so I didn't have to become a dev.

2025-03-11 13:35:30 UTC

Hey @nprofile…npxa, I met a #Veilid fan last night in the wild. Thought you'd appreciate knowing :)
https://mastodon.thenewoil.org/system/media_attachments/files/114/144/056/408/542/571/original/99c398113ce9baee.jpeg

2025-03-06 04:38:09 UTC

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@nprofile…npxa Is it over over? I've heard good things, been meaning to check it out.

2025-02-21 22:20:23 UTC

So... I updated TNO's Umami and now it stopped working. Anyone got any guesses? I have no idea where to even begin. I followed the directions.
Christ I hate Docker. "It just works," says everyone. "Just run the commands," they say...
https://github.com/umami-software/umami
TNO's instance, if it helps: https://stats.thenewoil.org/share/jnR7d6tGklwToSOJ/thenewoil.org

2025-02-16 01:24:28 UTC

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@nprofile…0p0d Hold the phone, why the fuck are you subsiding US?! We're so fucking adamant about our "independence" and shit, we refuse to hook up to a larger regional power grid, which is exactly why our grid collapsed in the first place (because we had nowhere to draw power from in the 2021 storm). What the actual hypocritical fuck?
I'm telling everyone I know about this. That's fucking bullshit. We need to reap what we sow.

2025-02-15 23:34:36 UTC

Finally had the time to sit down and tinker and can confirm that one of my studio monitors is fried. On the one hand, I'm incredibly annoyed at the shitty Texas power grid for frying it (yes, I had a surge protector in the chain). On the other hand, there are better brands, it had a good run, I got it on sale, I don't do a lot of music mixing these days, and I wouldn't mind downsizing to a physically smaller set.
RIP, good buddy.

2025-02-12 03:33:48 UTC

Me, opening my browser to check the news: "alright, let's see what fresh hell awaits me now."

2025-01-19 17:38:03 UTC

I think I've asked this before but what's the best software to rip DVDs? Preferably on Windows. Willing to pay a one-time fee if it's reasonable.

2025-01-19 05:17:50 UTC

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@nprofile…npxa This might be the first thing you and I disagree on, sir. While I agree TikTok does have legitimate concerns, I fear for the slippery slope precedent this sets.

2024-12-13 04:19:50 UTC

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@nprofile…0p0d "Sometimes, Amazon suggests a product I already have."
Jesus. That was brutal and amazing. I'm sharing this with everyone I know.

2024-12-07 16:59:24 UTC

Can anyone recommend a quality but inexpensive office chair? I'm thinking the $100 off-the-shelf guy at Staples is probably not gonna cut it long-term, but I'm also not looking to drop $1000 on the top-of-the-line. Something in the $200-300 range would be ideal.

2024-12-07 16:58:01 UTC

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@nprofile…npxa lmao no, I don't do that shit. As a veteran myself, I hate that shit. To me it feels cheap. I remember so many times standing in line at the airport for Starbucks and someone behind me going "thank you for your service!" and just feeling like "you know, Starbucks is only $5. If you really wanna show some appreciation, you could buy me one. Words are cheap, you're just trying to feel better about yourself." Maybe that's a selfish take, but it always felt hollow to me.

2024-12-07 16:41:19 UTC

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@nprofile…npxa I had no idea you were a veteran. Neat!

2024-12-03 03:18:15 UTC

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@nprofile…sxdw I've got a bridge that cross-posts there but I'm not putting in any direct effort. I'm told the bridge is bi-directional so I should see any replies pop up here, so I can build a presence there without devoting any more effort than usual.

2024-12-03 02:19:16 UTC

Bluesky will enshittify. I don't know when, I don't know how, but I'd be surprised if it takes more than 2 years. Five tops.
Mark my words.

2024-11-29 00:01:07 UTC

Me: "I mean, you could like, shop literally anywhere else. The manufacturer 90% of the time, Target, Staples, Best Buy, eBay, even Walmart, literally hundreds of options."
Everyone else: "Nah, I'll just keep subjecting myself to this shitshow."
https://youtu.be/nQpxAvjD_30

2024-11-04 11:29:08 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 He doxed a reporter? Jesus Christ. Fuck that guy. I hope there's a Hell so he can burn in it.

2024-10-15 02:36:47 UTC

"Free speech absolutist"
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/musks-x-blocked-links-to-jd-vance-dossier-after-hearing-from-trump-campaign/

2024-09-29 02:52:49 UTC

A comprehensive study of acoustic properties at various locations and volumes at 4:00 AM
#CatsPhdDissertation
#HashTagGames

2024-09-18 01:57:08 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 This is some deep sarcasm from the dawn of time. It took me a minute. Well done, bravo.

2024-08-19 23:21:10 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Jesus Christ. That scares me.

2024-08-06 00:28:56 UTC

Genuine question that just dawned on me: is today's anti-monopoly verdict against Google the nail in the coffin for Firefox? I mean, Mozilla makes 80% of their revenue from Google in exchange for making it the default search engine, but now that arrangement is illegal.

2024-08-04 00:22:51 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 I've been running for over a month and I'm still over 10 minutes away from my best time. "Progress over perfection" a wise woman once told me. Proud of you for doing the thing.

2024-07-14 01:16:19 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Hmm, tempting pitch. Maybe next paycheck.

2024-07-14 01:15:24 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Always wanted to try that but worried it'd be too much for me. Milk stouts are usually about as bitter as I can take.

2024-07-12 23:50:29 UTC

Reminder to stop posting shit on Twitter because it often requires a login to view your content.
If the site you're trying to direct me to is login-walled, I just assume you don't actually want me to see it.

2024-06-22 18:58:53 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Surely worth it. You lived a good life, right?

2024-06-22 18:57:28 UTC

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@npub188q…3jlx Oof. I'm sorry man. I wish I could say what worked for me and pass that info along, but sadly I don't recall doing anything specific. It just sort of resolved itself after a while and a few updates.

2024-06-22 18:56:15 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 omg that looks so good. This instantly made me hungry.

2024-06-16 04:25:21 UTC

#Silo is an AMAZING show and if you like #SciFi even a little, you owe it to yourself to watch it. I'm gonna be pissed when I finish the season.

2024-06-15 22:25:10 UTC

You know I've had an unhealthy level of caffeine when even I go "I think I need to rest and drink water." Is caffeine overdose a thing? I might've found it.

2024-06-14 15:50:32 UTC

It blows my mind that we've reached a point where ads are so obnoxious that even the "they have to make money somehow" apologists have started using adblockers and the corporate response has been to do server-side advertising.
"Am I being too aggressive with ads? No, its the free market and consumers who are wrong!"

2024-06-11 00:33:03 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 but the free market! /s

2024-06-09 13:57:23 UTC

If you ever comment on a TNO Mastodon post and think "why is Nate ignoring me?" it's probably because either a) you don't follow me so I don't see your notifications, or b) you said some dumb, gatekeepy, and/or "anti-woke" shit in the comments and I simply decided "I have better things to spend my mental energy on" so I indefinitely muted you.
Just FYI.

2024-06-05 00:11:07 UTC

Heads up: never buy anything from BleepingComputer. They will spam you at least twice a day and they don't respect opt-outs.
God bless SimpleLogin.

2024-06-04 02:50:42 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 that show has been in my list since it came out and I still haven't watched it

2024-05-29 00:58:50 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 I have to assume that's sarcasm?

2024-05-25 00:46:17 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 That's odd. I've never had issues with Chewy.

2024-05-23 00:27:47 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Would you recommend? I've been considering watching it for a while.

2024-05-22 02:09:56 UTC

I just learned and confirmed that MySudo is censoring profanity in messages. I have reason to believe it's not them, but actually their carrier (Twilio).
What the actual fuck?

2024-05-21 02:36:47 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Damn you're making me hungry

2024-05-17 15:48:47 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 I shot up like 50k views overnight. Blew me away when I was half-asleep still sipping my coffee and I saw that lol

2024-05-17 11:58:19 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Hacker News go "brrrr"
https://mastodon.thenewoil.org/system/media_attachments/files/112/456/305/684/580/751/original/a24752359ccb8090.png

2024-05-01 02:30:23 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Surely nothing can be worth this hell.

2024-04-20 13:17:19 UTC

#Mac users, would any of you please be willing to test and confirm if you can set #MullvadBrowser as your default browser where links open automatically? Trying to update the MB listing on the site now that it's been out for quite some time and is not longer really "new and untested."
#privacy #apple #mullvad

2024-04-18 00:57:44 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 Also the human is smart enough to sit down, hold on, and stay inside. I've seen dogs slide around like crazy. smh

2024-03-14 18:00:33 UTC

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@npub1wjw…ue5t I'd like to request multi-account support, please.

2024-01-31 13:20:34 UTC

Tbh I really enjoy being a pain in the ass when people send me links from mainstream social media that I can't open. "Sorry, can't see that Instagram post, it requires an account." "Sorry, can't see that Reddit post, it says I need to download the app." When was the last time you had to log in to read a Mastodon post? I feel like it over time it will help them realize how shit these platforms are. Or they'll stop sending me links. Either works.

2024-01-01 21:04:04 UTC

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@npub1aka…zzz2 @npub1f3y…pv2l Damn, never seen the full lyrics before. It gets kinda dark and tongue-in-cheek toward the end there.