rodti @rodti@mas.to

It wasn't my fault I didn't know a better instance before joining, but being on an instance with bad moderation that federated with fash-enabling instances was toxic and stressful and bad, and it got more and more triggering over time. I would have just left masto if I couldn't have moved somewhere like my current instance that defeds from instances if the admins don't give a flying fuck about the safety of people like me.

I started off on one of the big instances and moved after a month because of how badly moderated it was. There was frequent racist sealioning, fascist and fash-sympathetic posting, constant ableism, and shaming of people who asked for financial help. It was an okay environment for people who aren't targeted by stuff like that and a very hostile environment for people who are.

Hey friends, I hope you're all doing as well as 2020 allows.

I'm afraid I have to ask for help. @goblins and I are in dire straits (dire gays?) and we need to put the begging bowl out again.

For those who don't know us well, we are a poor, disabled trans couple. Rune started a degree-level course back in September, in an attempt to improve our situation, and in the UK that means getting student loans to cover the cost of the course and for living expenses. Previously, we had been on benefits.

We knew that we were going to lose some of benefit income, but we didn't realise that it would be the vast majority of it. As of November, over £1000 per month has been cut, leaving us around £150 per month. The student loans (which will have to be paid back) should cover most of the shortfall, but we'd already had to spend a large chunk on books, equipment and travel.

The result is that, while we were able to cover everything for November, we have no money for living costs in December. We're trying to raise £1000 to cover what we've lost and are currently about a quarter of the way to that goal.

I know this is a tough time for a lot of people with the pandemic and an expensive time of year at the best of times, but if you could boost this toot and maybe donate what you can afford, we would really appreciate it.

You can also contact Rune for art commissions and I'm currently looking for freelance games journalism work. All of Rune's commission info is on their profile. We can be reached by DM.

Thanks for reading all this! xxx

tl;dr: Please help us keep a roof over our heads and food in our tummies this holiday season!

https://ko-fi.com/A231B07

HELLO EVERYONE! It's the 1st of December and to celebrate we've upgraded to Mastodon v3.3.0rc1 🙂

More details here: https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/releases/tag/v3.3.0rc1

HELLO EVERYONE! It's the 1st of December and to celebrate we've upgraded to Mastodon v3.3.0rc1 🙂

More details here: https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/releases/tag/v3.3.0rc1

To anyone struggling with CW use... let me help.

I promise if you CW posts, you really do get more engagement out here in the fediverse.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true. You too can respect the agency of others, AND expand your reach... all at the same time.

Go ahead, try it for a week.

knuckle tats: HAMS ALAD

We've not asked for donations since the first lockdowns earlier this year, as we know a lot of people will be in difficult circumstances, however we've still received several donations since then.

Thanks to everyone who's donated, it means a lot to us!

This instance is and always will be a free service, but anything that helps cover our costs is hugely appreciated. Stay well and stay safe folks! ❤️

We've not asked for donations since the first lockdowns earlier this year, as we know a lot of people will be in difficult circumstances, however we've still received several donations since then.

Thanks to everyone who's donated, it means a lot to us!

This instance is and always will be a free service, but anything that helps cover our costs is hugely appreciated. Stay well and stay safe folks! ❤️

I was shooting heroin and reading “The Fountainhead” in the front seat of my privately owned police cruiser when a call came in. I put a quarter in the radio to activate it. It was the chief.

“Bad news, detective. We got a situation.”

“What? Is the mayor trying to ban trans fats again?”

“Worse. Somebody just stole four hundred and forty-seven million dollars’ worth of bitcoins.”

The heroin needle practically fell out of my arm. “What kind of monster would do something like that? Bitcoins are the ultimate currency: virtual, anonymous, stateless. They represent true economic freedom, not subject to arbitrary manipulation by any government. Do we have any leads?”

“Not yet. But mark my words: we’re going to figure out who did this and we’re going to take them down … provided someone pays us a fair market rate to do so.”

“Easy, chief,” I said. “Any rate the market offers is, by definition, fair.”

He laughed. “That’s why you’re the best I got, Lisowski. Now you get out there and find those bitcoins.”

“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m on it.”

I put a quarter in the siren. Ten minutes later, I was on the scene. It was a normal office building, strangled on all sides by public sidewalks. I hopped over them and went inside.

“Home Depot™ Presents the Police!®” I said, flashing my badge and my gun and a small picture of Ron Paul. “Nobody move unless you want to!” They didn’t.

“Now, which one of you punks is going to pay me to investigate this crime?” No one spoke up.

“Come on,” I said. “Don’t you all understand that the protection of private property is the foundation of all personal liberty?”

It didn’t seem like they did.

“Seriously, guys. Without a strong economic motivator, I’m just going to stand here and not solve this case. Cash is fine, but I prefer being paid in gold bullion or autographed Penn Jillette posters.”

Nothing. These people were stonewalling me. It almost seemed like they didn’t care that a fortune in computer money invented to buy drugs was missing.

I figured I could wait them out. I lit several cigarettes indoors. A pregnant lady coughed, and I told her that secondhand smoke is a myth. Just then, a man in glasses made a break for it.

“Subway™ Eat Fresh and Freeze, Scumbag!®” I yelled.

Too late. He was already out the front door. I went after him.

“Stop right there!” I yelled as I ran. He was faster than me because I always try to avoid stepping on public sidewalks. Our country needs a private-sidewalk voucher system, but, thanks to the incestuous interplay between our corrupt federal government and the public-sidewalk lobby, it will never happen.

I was losing him. “Listen, I’ll pay you to stop!” I yelled. “What would you consider an appropriate price point for stopping? I’ll offer you a thirteenth of an ounce of gold and a gently worn ‘Bob Barr ‘08’ extra-large long-sleeved men’s T-shirt!”

He turned. In his hand was a revolver that the Constitution said he had every right to own. He fired at me and missed. I pulled my own gun, put a quarter in it, and fired back. The bullet lodged in a U.S.P.S. mailbox less than a foot from his head. I shot the mailbox again, on purpose.

“All right, all right!” the man yelled, throwing down his weapon. “I give up, cop! I confess: I took the bitcoins.”

“Why’d you do it?” I asked, as I slapped a pair of Oikos™ Greek Yogurt Presents Handcuffs® on the guy.

“Because I was afraid.”

“Afraid?”

“Afraid of an economic future free from the pernicious meddling of central bankers,” he said. “I’m a central banker.”

I wanted to coldcock the guy. Years ago, a central banker killed my partner. Instead, I shook my head.

“Let this be a message to all your central-banker friends out on the street,” I said. “No matter how many bitcoins you steal, you’ll never take away the dream of an open society based on the principles of personal and economic freedom.”

He nodded, because he knew I was right. Then he swiped his credit card to pay me for arresting him.

AAAAAAAAAHHH

I do not like the being conscious. I would like to return it and trade it for an unconscious please