Every time I check the Belgium hashtag, it’s serious political news or sports … and my Bear Week posts. 😂 Plus my art experiences. I do what I can.

We made it to the Bear Market yesterday! They were showing film too from Bears on Screen, which was a nice surprise. Some great illustrations, prints, and graphic novels. One artist with Kratos make-up applied body paint to a bear wearing little black Speedos. We saw him walking around later in the evening like that in the cold. Market continues today until 1700 and tomorrow too, I think. I talked to a nice vendor selling beard oils and brushes. Thinking of going back for some mustache wax for my pathetic whiskers.

And today, the Bear Pride March started late. It was more sedate than I’m used to, but they changed the Manneken Pis into a cute little bear outfit.

#comics #belgium #bruxelles #brussels #bearweek

Some #BearWeek events and thoughts:

- I mean, we have to visit the Bear Market, right?!

- Bingo Fist - Bear Edition does sound fascinating …

- A History of Belgian Bears, hmmmm.

- Discovering Bear Studies, HMMMMMM.

- Bear Pride March: bien sûr!

- Bear Attack - Cave Party 😅

Website here: https://www.belgiumbearpride.be/

#belgium #bruxelles #brussels #bearweek

Apparently it’s #BearWeek here in #Brussels. We walked past Le Dolores in the gayborhood as reigning bears from Ireland, Czechia, and other countries were introduced to the crowd by drag queens.

#Bruxelles #Belgium

Crappy phone pic of the partial lunar eclipse. I thought we’d have to wait until after 9 PM Pacific to see anything but this was around 8:15. Texted folks at the party we just left to look for it, but they’re too low to see anything just yet.

#seattle #lunareclipse

Alternatives to the Algorithm

There are many reasons to seek alternatives to corporate social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram: guarding your mental health, refusing Al "features", keeping your personal information safe, stopping your data from being mined to track you and sell ads; the list goes on.

The Fediverse is made up of social networking platforms that are open, decentralized (meaning a billionaire can't just buy it and turn it into a cesspit), and free of an algorithm that actively encourages unhealthy behaviors. The Fediverse has an alternative to most of the major social platforms:

Instagram > Pixelfed
TikTok > Loops
X > Mastodon
Facebook > Friendica
YouTube > PeerTube
Twitch > OwnCast

And more. Research, experiment, find what fits you, your values, and how you want to spend your time online.

@mastodonmigration @FediTips

#Friendica #loops #owncast #Fediverse #pixelfed #Mastodon

I’m editing an artist toolkit that offers tips on marketing one’s self and work, including on social media. It was written in late 2024 and it’s astonishing how much things have changed since then. Of course, the usual platforms are the sole focus. Here’s my addition that I tried to make as non-technical as possible, ditching trigger terms like “surveillance capitalism” and “tech bros” that can interfere with clear messaging. 🧵

@mastodonmigration @FediTips

#Mastodon #Fediverse #Pixelfed #Loops #PeerTube #Owncast #Friendica

Thanks to Mastodon Migration for finding the links. The artist is @Ullilust and the specific comic strip I was looking for is here:

https://mastodon.social/@Ullilust/114138199183667985

There are lots of other great ones—give Ulli a follow!

@mastodonmigration @FediTips

#Mastodon #Fediverse

So the event was called “All In” by Curious Levity. It’s in the Base Camp 2 Studios space Downtown (the old Bergman Luggage). Keeping it vague to avoid spoilers, but the setting is a casino and they encourage you to dress in cocktail attire AND most importantly, to talk to people. The actors, strangers—ask questions, eavesdrop, play games. Each night is different based on who’s there and how they interact with the space and each other.

I’ll also save some of my thoughts until it’s over: the run’s until Sept. 5. A play session is about 2 hours, 15 minutes.

If you have any trouble hearing, it’s not a good environment for hearing clearly. And the ventilation isn’t the best if you’re COVID-cautious or heat up easily. It’s not a must-do, but I enjoyed it and want more of these events, so I hope they do well: https://www.curiouslevity.com/

cc @jonobie

#Seattle #ImmersiveExperience @seattle

On our way to an “immersive theatre experience.” I both love and dread these things. Will report back.

Were you aware of the surveillance hellscape that comes with renting an apartment these days? A co-worker said their new building asked for a DNA test of their pet … so they can identify poop left outside. AND that the building sent a photo of their friend who already lives there a 4K image of them leaving bread out on their balcony railing for the birds … taken by a drone. 🥸

Does anyone have a link to those comic strips of dinosaurs moving to Mastodon and why? It was beautifully drawn, written in plain language, and compelling.

cc: @mastodonmigration @FediTips

#Mastodon #OnHere

Walking our ballots over to the mail drop this evening was a perfect time to take neighborhood kitty attendance:

- Coco: refused to come out from behind his fence
- Nico: bad boy of the block came and said hi
- Fig (or Fig’s roommate): ignored us
- Carmella: showed us her tummy
- Licorice: absent
- Moonie (or Moonie’s neighbor): drooled all over us

#waelex #catsofmastodon #Cats

All these years, why did I think Gavin Newsom was gay?!

Things they don’t tell you about #Mastodon but should: choosing a server based on your interests, affinities, or identity really doesn’t matter. What matters and what you can’t learn anywhere except through trial and error is:

1) Is that server’s admin(s) responsive?

2) What interval do they apply updates? Which ones: just the security patches?

3) Have they set images/media to purge automatically?

I’ve moved twice and it was and wasn’t a pain. My second server was an art instance. But my images would get deleted after three months or so. Seriously? And after all that time writing alt text?The admin was initially responsive, but once I started asking about updates so we could access newer features, nothing. This kind of server/admin info should be easily available on directories.

#FediTips

We discussed Jimothy, quite seriously, in a leadership team meeting today. Our work plan now has a round-shaped spot just for him.

(For those who haven’t been blessed yet, Jimothy is a local celebrity: a raccoon with short spine syndrome.) More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimothy_(raccoon)

#Seattle #Jimothy #Raccoon

RE: https://masto.es/@Baltimore/116943172337797002

Helvetica is surprisingly thicc.

More opportunities for the U.S. to be taken down a notch, please. Especially on a global stage. Especially after our corrupt leaders talk to other corrupt leaders and get all weasely together. To be easily outclassed, thrashed and beaten handily. To sit with defeat and hopefully ponder humility and smallness. To stop clinging to the fantasy of greatest, biggest, best. And cry openly on TV.

#WorldCup #FIFAWorldCup

4. No One Can Pronounce My Name by #RakeshSatyal.

What a premise! Every night, Harit dresses up and pretends to be his dead sister, Swati, to console their blind mother. Then there’s Ranjana, who writes paranormal romance while worrying that her husband is cheating on her. They somehow become friends while the author explores the Indian immigrant experience in America.

I wanted more though: it’s one of those books where I wished the author focused more over here vs. over there. It kinda drags too, but we do get some great payoffs by the end. And I feel a great tenderness towards these characters and the way they find and support each other. Plus the cover!

#Bookstodon #Books @bookstodon

3. Every Body: An Honest and Open Look at Sex from Every Angle by #JuliaRothman and #ShainaFeinberg.

I love the cover. The authors set up a series of real life and virtual convos and surveys (mainly in NY and the east coast?) and collected what they heard here. Accompanied by great illustrations from a few artists I recognized. It was tamer than I’m used to—our alt-weekly paper in Seattle, The Stranger, is way spicier, transgressive, and fun with its annual sex survey. But there’s not enough out there on women’s health, sexuality, and pleasure so I’m not mad. But I do thank the gay gods that I’m not trapped in the gender hell of straight people.

#Bookstodon #Books @bookstodon