Note #26644

Out for a dog walk this morning along the Nevern Estuary, I spotted this brave fellow rowing his way (at least) half naked across the bay, on a route that pitted him against the wind, rain, and tide!

A shirtless white bald man rows a small white boat past bouys in a choppy estuary.

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DB13W3

I’d like to nominate DB13W3 for Most Cursed Connector. I mean, just look at that thing!

Cable with 'male' DB13W3 connector, featuring a D-sub body containing three analogue RGB connectors but with a gap between the second and third into which 10 regular D-sub style pins have been sandwiched in two rows of five).

Bonus: there were at least two different, incompatible, pinout “standards” for this thing, so there was no guarantee that a random monitor with this cable would connect to your workstation, even if it had the right port.

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Note #26627

I was happy to get out of the traffic jam and get some fresh air, but the dog is REALLY happy! Running, rolling, sniffing, jumping… so excited to be able to move around!

A French Bulldog happily rolls around on her back in lush green grass.

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Note #26625

Off to Pembrokeshire on holiday I’ve had to stop near Cardiff to put some more charge into the car… which provides the perfect opportunity for the doggo and I to explore a nearby sports field and take in All. The. Smells. 🐶

Standing in a green park space, Dan gestures to his dog, a Frenchie, who's sniffing a nearby tree.

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Philadelphia

Shower thought for the morning was: why is cream cheese spread ‘Philadelphia’ called that? Is it from Philadelphia? (My box isn’t, of course: it came from Ireland.)

Dan, a white man with blue hair and a goatee, wearing a purple t-shirt, stands in a spacious residential kitchen holding a 'Family Pack'-sized tub of 'Original Philadelphia'.

Nope, it turns out that it was originally invented in New York in the 19th century and named for Philadelphia because Philadelphia, PA was at that point famous for its dairy industry. Just another bit of parasitic branding leveraging a borrowed association, like the Quaker Oats guy or the Rolls Razor. Now I’m wondering how many other examples I can find!

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Queer Coded 🌈

Paraphrased from a conversation in a Manchester pub last night –

Them: Your [dyed blue] hair is queer-coded, right? Like… you’re telegraphing you’re queer?
Me: I mean… I’m also wearing a pride rainbow t-shirt and my watch strap is a ‘bi pride’ flag. I don’t feel like I’m being subtle.
Them: Nah. The hair’s the giveaway.

Dan shrugs for the camera as he sits at a pub table with a variety of people; one woman, sat to his left, throws a V-sign with her fingers.

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👋 Farewell, NLA

Highlights of yesterday’s Goodbye Nightline Association party in Manchester:

👨‍💻 Responded to Three Rings user query in real time by implementing new Directory property while at the event (pictured)
🤝 Met a handful of Nightliners past and present; swapped war stories of fights with students unions, battles for funding, etc. (also got some insights into how they’re using various tech tools!)
✍️ Did hilariously awful job of drawing ‘Condom Man’, Aberystwyth Nightline’s mascot circa 2000
🤞 Possibly recruited a couple of new Three Rings volunteers

Dan gestures at his laptop in a quiet pub function room, on which he's writing some code. In the background, two women are having a conversation.

Low points:

😢 It’s a shame NLA’s dying, but I’m optimistic that Nightlines will survive

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Three Rings ❤️ NLA

Oxford Station. Catching a train to Manchester for a get-together in memory of the Nightline Association, which will sadly be closing this year (although individual Nightlines will doubtless soldier on just as they did before the Association).

Carrying a big ol’ bag of Three Rings swag to give to basically anybody who expresses even the slightest interest. 😅

Three Rings has been supporting Nightlines since before the Nightline Association and nowadays underpins voluntary work by hundreds of other charities including helplines like Samaritans and Childline. Feeling sad that the Nightline Association is going away and looking for a new and rewarding way to volunteer? Come chat to me!

Dan, with blue hair and wearing a black t-shirt, stands on a sunny train platform holding aloft a medium-sized tote bag.

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Portal 3kend

Never underestimate the power of people who are motivated by the good they can do in the world.

Today I was in awe of this team of unpaid volunteers who, having already given up their bank holiday weekend, worked through dinner and into the night to ensure the continued uptime of a piece software that enables the listening service of emotional support and suicide helplines.

In a conference room, Dan stands in front of a group of people working on laptops.

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Note #26502

My contribution to the long-standing British tradition of photographing dogs at polling stations. Don’t forget to vote, folks!

A French Bulldog stands alongside a polling station sign that's been attached to a bike rack.

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