1/ Many potential users complain about Mastodon's sign-up process.

So I'm going to put this under the microscope right now.

To be sure, I'm not going to say it is "bad" or that there shouldn't be a barrier to entry.

Just pointing out ways the sign-up process can be easier. 🧵

Ever since I've focused on Mastodon over Twitter, the one major thing I've said over and over again that was missing (but I was sure was coming) was a Mastodon version of Nuzzel or Tweetshelf. A tool to find what news links your followers are sharing.

And... @decius has just built one! Just released today, so may be buggy, but already looks amazing and INCREDIBLY useful.

https://news.feedseer.com/

Some people believe there's no purpose to "liking" something on Mastodon since it doesn't affect any algorithm.

Not the case.

It does something incredibly valuable: it acknowledges people.

Which is incredibly powerful, and is all the more important *because* it's not connected to gaming any algorithm.

By liking something on Mastodon, you are doing it honestly -- without any agenda at play other than that you like it.

So go ahead. Click that like button for its own sake.

I just spotted my first wombats in the wild on Cradle Mountain in Tasmania.

These stocky little marsupials sort of look like a cross between a baby brown bear, koala & pig. They have a pouch like other marsupials, but it’s backwards which prevents dirt from entering as they burrow.

At just over 3 ft long, they’re absolutely charming. But millions of years ago, herds of giant wombats as large as rhinoceros roamed southern #Australia. #wildlife #photography #SharedPlanet

Kevin McCarthy just confirmed he’s going to strip Swalwell, Schiff and Omar of their committee seats.

Not only are Republicans incapable of governing, but they make it so no one else can either.

Trump Org CFO Weisselberg is being sentenced to 5 months jail for massive tax fraud, of which he'll serve ~100 days on Rikers.

Kalief Browder suffered in Rikers for 700 days in solitary confinement on the false accusation he stole a backpack, then died by suicide.

Two Americas. And a reminder that a system cannot fail those it was never meant to protect, and that a system will always protect those it was never meant to fail.

Twitter just suspended the account for Washington D.C.'s public transit system, maybe for posting the buses' real-time assassination coordinates

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/01/10/dc-metro-twitter-account-suspended/ @faizsays