*banned 4 MarkDown love* @design_RG@social.cleverlibre.org

And I just found out up to date stats for Masto Bida IM -- ant they are over 7,000 users.

https://fediverse.network/mastodon.bida.im

3 large Instances now at the top of the JoinMastodon.org suggestions list.

I am glad, that there are other larger instances, helping accommodate new users joining #fediverse

👍 Bida.im is suprising me, didn't realize they had those numbers. Congrats!

https://joinmastodon.org/#getting-started

New user? need a Guide?

There's a good one here: https://lifehacker.com/a-beginner-s-guide-to-mastodon-1828503235

And on Christmas Eve, we get into a fight with someone with a mobile phone, some weird ideas and time to drum up and attack our instance.

Kind of neat the title being bandied there now, STEM Lords, for our staff here at QOTO.

LOL, thanks DK. 😜

Happy Holidays to you too.

/me needs this too... 😜

I just came across a post by someone who spouses De-Federation of QOTO.org -- and has simply posted a snapshot of one of our pages, without a word, to support their case.

I stumbled upon a reply in that thread by sheer accident, in the Home feeds.

If anyone is interested, it is here : https://radical.town/@DissidentKitty/103360603294150583

The post is Pinned at the top of DissidentKitty's user profile.

A number of users are posting supporting her views, a few disagree.

@DissidentKitty@radical.town is the author of the request.

Trying on formal wear for tonight. Black tie, invitation said; but, Contrast.

Prettier in #white . #xp #fediverse #cats #mastocats #CatsofMastodon #meow
---
RT @TreasuryMog
Anyone interested in a party soon?
https://twitter.com/TreasuryMog/status/1209220017868419074

Looking at yah. #xp #mastocats #CatsOfMastodon #meow
---
RT @DunPlayin
@StrayLiotta
https://twitter.com/DunPlayin/status/1208769170965508102

Quite an interesting picture. What is it? A BBC MicroBit computer.

The Micro Bit (also referred to as BBC Micro Bit, stylized as micro:bit) is an open source hardware ARM-based embedded system designed by the BBC for use in computer education in the UK.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Bit

RT from : https://mastodon.social/@heurekus/103362911870337806

"To avoid fights, 51% gave up on Politics in WhatsApp". Folha de São Paulo survey, on the most popular IM tool in Brazil (and assorted other countries). Brazilian politics is sharply divided, similar to what is seen in the USA.

#tech #xp #pol #Brazil #socialmedia
---
RT @folha
Para evitar brigas, 51% desistiram de comentário de política no WhatsApp, diz Datafolha https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2019/12/para-evitar-brigas-51-desistiram-de-comentario-de-politica-no-whatsapp-diz-datafolha.shtml

https://twitter.com/folha/status/1209343957278380032

Gorgeous Art! Will share with friends in #fediverse, the place to be for #technomancer gen.

Great work! cc: @thegibson #xp #cyberpunk
---
RT @AheadLooms
Cyberpunk city, Tarmo Juhola https://buff.ly/2HkceA0
https://twitter.com/AheadLooms/status/1209217182711898112

Pardon the man-spreading; So much activity in this #xmas season, exhausting.

#xp #cats #mastocats #catsOfMastodon #meow #kittylove
---
RT @TheSilkies11
😎😎
https://twitter.com/TheSilkies11/status/1209209929132912641

👍 #xp
---
RT @TheEconomist
Nobody could have predicted how deeply and widely James Taylor’s music would resonate. From July 2019 https://econ.st/2PmitI9
https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1209349113961168896

Holidays? Some tips for great conversations starters!

RT from Salad_Bar_Breath's post : https://todon.nl/@salad_bar_breath/103360695321173053

* Letter to a Japanese Friend, Winter Solstice *

Just now finished writing a letter to a good friend, a Japanese lady who is my penpal via the Slowly app.

My friend sent me a nice letter and described some local customs, including the one that explains the image in the post.

Now the story is on my blog: https://write.tedomum.net/rgx/letter-to-a-japanese-friend-winter-solstice

Temps quoted above in 'Merican degrees. (F.)

(not my idea, just to clarify)

Yukon is beautiful but #Winter is not easy. #xp #brrr #omg
---
RT @MeanwhileinCana@twitter.activitypub.actor
Whitehorse, Canada holds a hair freezing contest every February when temperatures reach – 22 degrees. The well-below-freezing temps combined with a dip in the 104 degree hot springs makes for one awesome contest.
#MeanwhileInCanada
https://twitter.com/MeanwhileinCana/status/1208832517530365953

#Xmas enough yet? #pol #xp
---
RT @BBCWorld
This is what happens when the Donald Trump impeachment inquiry gains a Christmas twist 🎶

https://bbc.in/2tMdXKz
https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1209164155665764352

Long Trip? Entertainment system is very important. Like this one.

#cats #mastocats #catsofmastodon #xp #travel #feline #friends
---
RT @gayocats
1218913549592
https://twitter.com/gayocats/status/1209159241207959552

#art #scifi #cyber #tech #xp
---
RT @AheadLooms
CYBERGURL 004 - 009, Art of TZU (Howard Yung-Tzu Chin) https://buff.ly/35f6eCG
https://twitter.com/AheadLooms/status/1209174350085206016