Mike, First of His Name @mike@chinwag.org

Hi, new Chinwag arrivals! Been a while since I refreshed the pinned welcome post, so here we go!

First, welcome! Second, Chinwag is more of a community than a service. We're pretty chill and open, but the happiness of our current regular users is more important than future growth.

Our admins are moderately left-leaning by Australian standards, so if you're an American you'll probably think we're godless communists bent on destroying society. Just fair warning.

Please post pics of your cats.

Hi #Chinwag - please consider yourselves informed that @dolldolldoll is now your official "backup admin" if a hit-by-a-bus situation should occur - follow her main at @dolldolldoll if you want!

I've known Ivy for close to two decades now, we've co-sysadmined things previously and I vouch that you can trust her as you trust me.

Ivy will have access to all the backend systems and accounts, not to run things on a daily basis, but to ensure continuity of service if I can't.

#mastoadmin

Hey, I just wanted to say a quick #welcome to the recent Chinwag arrivals!

Chinwag's reason for existing is to provide communication tools for people, which is something I've always been interested in. I kind of target #Australian users, but welcome anyone from anywhere.

Please read our rules: https://social.chinwag.org/about/more

And our privacy policy: https://social.chinwag.org/terms

There's a basic guide to using Chinwag Social here: https://chinwag.im/social/

If you have any questions or concerns hit me up!

I don't know if it's weirder that I went to the Pirate Bay looking for Enid Blyton ebooks, or that I found them.

Time for a grim and dark reboot of The Famous Five, IMHO. Bring it the fuck on.

I used my phone as a phone today, felt weird.

"Facebook, Inc. doesn't care about your fundraiser or political protest.

It couldn't care less about your art exhibition.

What it cares about is your personal data, which it harvests in unimaginable quantities."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-21/when-facebook-banned-news-australia-we-saw-role-it-plays/13175698

"... gather at the clubhouse for a deluxe BBQ lunch and presentation on how they have successfully been able to maintain high standards of performance and productivity whilst combating the persistent obstacles posed by this new norm."

Please shoot me in the head if I ever say something like this sounds interesting.

Just got an invitation from one of our suppliers to play golf and listen to sales presentation about "working remotely to empower "business as usual" and I have concluded once and for all that I am not management material and I'd like to stay in the server room, thanks.

Oh well I guess that just solves every problem then.

First test run in the press went pretty well. I feel I have a technique down now.

For this batch I used just the fruit from one branch of the apple tree that collapsed under the weight of the fruit a while back, but was just hanging on by enough that the fruit was still growing. I can cut it all back now without wasting anything.

We're a few weeks away from the ideal harvesting time I think, but I got a bit over 2 litres of fresh juice from my efforts!

#gardening

Well, it's a start!

Getting semi-serious about cider this year. Those apples are really in for it this time.

Sun came out, measured 55 watts off it already, so theoretically half its output being delivered with some indirect morning sun. Looks like a winner! Will measure again when the sun is right overhead.

On the bright side, even in shade like this on a murky day it's putting out about 5 watts, so it's looking pretty promising for when the sun actually hits it.