iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

"Where who you on the night of the incident." "She was here, Tom. Everyone was here. It was ten minutes ago." "Good point. We can save time here. EVERYONE: WHERE WERE YOU ON THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT? RAISE YOUR HAND IF IT WAS HERE."

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 15h

"Teamwork makes the dream work. I'm the dream, you're the work." #gamequotes #caseoftheresplendentruby

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"Oh, I know all about ... stuff."

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"...stranded by the rotting monstrous carcass of my wife-in-law..."

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I was surprised to learn the eldest had signed up, given that eldest doesn't have nostalgic memories of the game from fifteen years ago. But they loved it, as did their coterie, and they all did really well.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

(Last time I played would have been at Arcanacon fifteen or more years ago, an equally implausible stretch of time.)

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Last time I played would of course have been during the Siege of Antioch, where I convinced the Mechanical Turk to join in a round of story games, thereby ensuring our forces' victory on account of the Turk being famously mute.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

First #pheno game was a session of The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen, which I haven't played for some years. I told the stories of how my life was saved by the ticking of my pocketwatch, and how I raised the Siege of Gibraltar by inventing the repeating loom.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The pot of peppermint tea is very generous.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I really struggle with "decisions should be based on the best available information" being a fringe position, especially for government. It certainly isn't in keeping with how decisions are made in practice.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I'm maddened by the loss of policy capability within the public service, if this is the advice they need. Maybe Cathy's audience isn't the public service, but the political classes. That would make sense.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

There was a strong movement towards evidence-based policy under Rudd1, which faltered under Gillard and never came back. Tony Abbott killed it, burned it, and salted the earth. Successive governments laughed at the very concept. Occasionally I see Andrew Leigh trying to revive it. Alone, largely.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Cathy Foley on basic evidence literacy for public servants. Once upon a time I did public health advice at the NHMRC. The NHMRC had a very rigorous framework for evidence translation. It may still do. My naivety at the time was: I thought that was how government did evidence. It is not.

themandarin.com.au

Evidence in age of enshittification: Cathy Foley's survival guide

Former chief scientist Cathy Foley has six questions for policymakers struggling to make sense of the evidence around them.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Today's work-from-cafe is Pulp in Gold Creek. I'm outside listening to rain on corrugated iron. Pretty magical, honestly, but I suppose they can't put that on every time.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Hey bluesky - any recommendations for chill/upbeat/happy/anti-doom feeds? Also: charity, community action? "There are times when the sage must withdraw from the world; sometimes nothing can be done."

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Reposted by Stu B

Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is the most remarkable story Ray Bradbury ever shared with me. He told it to me late one night, sitting in his den of antiquities and mementos. Take five minutes to read this. It’s pure magic. #Writing #Living #Creativity #RayBradbury #BookSky

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My people are good people, I've always said, and by and large they've worked hard to become so. I am grateful for them, each and every one. Communities are made things, built, cultivated. Worth doing, I reckon.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Wrote and deleted a long set of posts about this headline (article is paywalled) about an ex in the dim, dark and distant who tried to manage my social life because she thought I couldn't. Figured in the end the article probably isn't about me. I still have the community. The ex is long gone.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

My work on alcohol policy let me to the belief that we are far too blasé about some forms of harm. But social reformers having been losing that one for centuries; the same work told me that data isn't enough to shift opinions. I'm personally ok with hijacking casualties being a global concern.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I mean. Something's working. ourworldindata.org/grapher/airl... (Don't have time to dig into "actual security" vs "security theatre".)

ourworldindata.org

Airliner hijackings and deaths in them

Based on commercial airliners (passenger-only and cargo) with a capacity for more than 14 passengers.

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Reposted by Stu B

Stacey Mason @stcymsn.bsky.social · 15/10/2024

Formal affordances are the elements that pull a player toward certain actions, they “cry out” for the player to take those actions. Material affordances are the actions a system actually allows the player to take. Agency occurs when the two are in balance. (Mateas 2001)

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Heroism *sucks* for individuals. It's burning your soul in a pyre of social commitment. It does you damage. It's not a role you should take on, long term. We need heroes, because social change doesn't happen without them. But we need to look after them, too. And we need to let them fucking rest.

macleayargus.com.au

Hero to zero: rural emergency workers' heavy burden

Rural first responders face added mental health risks due to isolation, hero worship, misogyny, judgement and expectations to...

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Yeah - I falter at "taking the time." New music is one of the less fun hobbies for me. I'm not actually against it.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"All these songs are older than I am." "Yeah, they stopped making good mu-" "Dad."

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

But there are a lot of Pokémon movies in my future.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Anyway we ended up with a randomiser which chose Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975).

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

There are a lot of Pokémon movies.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

"'Into the Spider-Verse'." "...fine."

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Movie night with the kids. "All of these movies are older than me." "Yeah, they stopped making good movies when you were born." "..." "I can't prove a causal link, but the circumstantial evidence is pretty clear." "Dad."

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Reposted by Stu B

Liz Argall @lizargall.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

New comic :-) www.patreon.com/lizargall/po... If you like my stuff and want to access it easily, I highly recommend you subscribe to my Patreon, there's even a free level!

patreon.com

New comic, the village of folks | Liz Argall

New comic, I'm not quite sure what to say about it. The comic came together fast, but based on the experiences and observances of many over

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

See? Biblical-level temptation!

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

...but yeah, no, I've experienced what you're talking about. It's not a common part of my experience, but yeah. Real.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Sometimes a kind of vertigo?

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Today's work-from-cafe is Little Oink in Cook. The Taro Latte is the best and weirdest thing I have drunk this week. I think. It's certainly the most remarkable.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Hey. Take a moment to reach out to that friend you've been meaning to reach out to. You'll thank me, I promise.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Kermit, for me, because there's no Muppets without Kermit. Also Miss Piggy for the same reason. And Gonzo, obviously. Hm. I see your problem.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I hope he understands the deepest depths of his contribution.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I am blaming Failbetter but only because I tripped over Sunless Skies again on my way to Nighthawks.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Reminds me of one of my favourite Le Guin quotes: '"The art begins and ends in naming," he said, which is indeed true, although there may be a good deal between the beginning and the end.' (Darkrose and Diamond, 1999)

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

(One of my areas of speciality is evidence-based policy; "how do you know?" and "how sure are you?" are central questions. The usual answers from a non-specialist are "I just know" and "very", and that's a Problem. You want "[long technical answer]" and "...fairly?")

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I don't think I am 100% right about anything - knowledge has depth and nuance, and a specialist in any given subject will know more than me. By the same token I am "more right" on my own specialist subjects - while retaining a possibility of error. Most likely anyone who is certain is wrong.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Oh shit, it was yesterday. ... Realising a bit later down the track is on theme, yeah?

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

May truth and justice prevail.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Happy Bi Day of Visibility, to all the visible bi folk out there. And, importantly, to the invisible bi folk. May you exist happily and without unwanted drama. May doing so help everyone do the same.

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Stu B @functionary.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

More work-from-cafe adventures - Two Before Ten in Aranda. I think I will host my next summit here.

Cafe layout - a large central table, with counters and bar seating around it.

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