iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Gem Hill @SelfCare Backpack @carebackpack.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

You're semi-regular reminder that SSRIs/antidepression, antipsychotic, and other mental health medications* can make heat even worse for yo. Stay safe, stay cool and covered, and stay hydrated. www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-...

bbc.co.uk

Some antidepressants may make heatwave challenging

Some types of mental health medication may make it difficult for the body to regulate temperature.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Off to UK Games Expo today, and got some fames to sell. And so I've got them on the back of my bike, and then a short train ride to the event. I feel like Santa delivering presents with those bags 😂

Back of a cargo bike, with two large red bags with snowflakes on. Inside are multiple boxes of board games.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Another lazy weekend with my son [his request], where after lunch he wanted to do some colouring in and then painting. As he was doing that, I joined in by drawing and colouring in a Gengar from pokemon. He's incredibly supportive and encouraging 🥰

A coloured-in drawing of Gengar from Pokemon, a purple ghost with red eyes and a big smile.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Next week it is Learning at Work Week, and I'll be giving an internal workshop on sketch noting. After plenty of overthinking on how to show concepts and approaches in a remote-only event, I realised why not sketch what I wanted to show and take a picture. #PirateTesting

Photo of a page, with 4 simple drawings surrounding text. From top left they are: The word Billboard, on a simple line drawing of a billboard. The word Pins, in a box with pins sticking out the top corners. The words Double Box, in box with a second outline around it. The word Clouds, in a drawing of a cloud.

Photo of a page, with stick figures of people. Top row has one with a triangle body, one with a rectangular body, and one with a round body. Bottom row has three half circles grouped together, with circles for heads, to represent a team of people.

Photo of a page, with the words "common icons", and five simple drawings around it: a computer, a light bulb, a cup with a handle and liquid inside, a clock, and a music symbol.

Photo of a page, broken into four quadrants, and each quadrant has six tiles. The top left have the tiles going 1 to 6, in a pattern going down, right, up, right, down, with 1 in the top left and 6 in the bottom right. The second quadrant has blue arrows connecting the tiles in a zig zag pattern, going down, up and to the right, down, up to the right and down again. The third quadrant has the tiles going A to C in the top row, to D in the bottom right, and to the left E then F. The fourth quadrant has green arrows, starting in the top left and connecting the top row, then going from the top right to the bottom left with a long arrow, and further arrows across the bottom tiles.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Re-watching Babylon 5. Series 1, episode 4. A world that had biotechnology, wiped out 1000 years ago. Watching at the time, that's cool. By the time you get to series 3, "Oh. OH! This all comes together." The little hooks early on that get revealed over time was amazing.

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

pirateplaytests.bsky.social @pirateplaytests.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

On my way to Empire E1 2025! Hopefully no drama with the train, and room for bags 🤞 Two stops makes it easier thankfully. Look forward to seeing folks on site.

Selfie in a mirror, of a man with a large rucksack, sleeping bag attached, and a black suitcase as well.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Classic bank holiday weather for my part of the UK today - rain! But having a nice few hours seeing my partner and going out for lunch (unsure where yet).

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Luerikerin (Mads Pedersen Ultra) @weltverbesserle.eurosky.social · 17/04/2025

Endometriosis: - millions of women (and fellow uterus-havers) suffer from severe symptoms on a monthly basis - it takes YEARS to get a diagnosis (if you're lucky) - there's still no proper treatment b/c "women" But sure, take your absurd amount of money and use it to harass trans people. 🖕

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

It's a nice day, so I thought I'd go with a nice summer shirt 🌞

Selfie of me, a white man, in a short-sleeved blue shirt with white leaf patterns on it.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Today has (so far) been productive 🥰 I've prepared my dinner for tonight in the slow cooker - Pork mince chilli As the mince was browning (not just grey, keep cooking it people!), I diced onion, added mixed beans as well as frozen peas and chopped tomato to the cooker Rice washed and now soaking

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I'm alone for the next few days, and I feel lost. My son is with his mum. My partner is focusing on her studies (but we were together in the middle of the week). I feel I should do something with the time. But that I'll then overthink, and it will stop me getting anything done.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Playing with my son building Lego. He wanted to do themes. I said we could do a mash-up! Both pick a theme, get 5 minutes to build. Then swap, and keep using our theme with the new piece. He picked car, I picked house. He enjoyed the approach, very different, and will suggest it at school.

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

pirateplaytests.bsky.social @pirateplaytests.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

My lab coat arrived today, so I decided to try it on for my Professor Oak cosplay. On Saturday 29th March, I'll be at MegaCon Birming, with my son as Ash, and my partner as Nurse Joy. I've not done cospkay in years, and only done Larp recently. #Pokemon #Cosplay

Selfie of a white man in a lab coat, and orange polo shirt. He has a red nae badge saying "Professor Oak, Pokemon Trainer". He is carrying a Bulbasaur plushie, with a Ditto face on it.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

In police movies, why are Internal Affairs seen as the enemy? Making sure the police follow rules is a good thing, right?? Yet somehow even in entertainment, can't be shown making sure the police follow the rules. Renegade cops get results and more appealing, right? See most cop movies...

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

I had a wardrobe clearout after my formal shirts sadly not fitting any longer. Body wise ok, but they're all 15.5" neck, and I'm a 16" these days (got measured last week). 11 shirts to get rid of. Will try selling on Vinted, and donate if no luck. Don't wear even 1 formal shirt per month though.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Rewatching Dark Knight, and I'm at the part where they escort Dent to jail and get ambushed by Joker. When the road was blocked and they went underground, why didn't they just drive in the oncoming lane instead?! The road was blocked off to all other traffic, and missed the Joker.

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Dan @thatdamnqa.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Does any accessibility experts out there know of any resources that can tell me exactly how a screen reader uses the tool? I’m not interested in how to use the tool, but _how_ it’s used. I’m after almost how to create good UX for SR users, beyond the basics

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

If someone ever asks if you can lose money on penny shares, show them this screenshot. I bought £2 worth in 2020, giving me 39 shares. They have fell 99.81%! They are worth £0.00 to me. Stock pucking can be exciting, but very risky. It's not my job for a reason!

Screenshot from a stock market app. It shows the company UK Oil & Gas. The investment gain/loss shows -99.81%, for a total of £2. Current value of shares being £0.00.

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Emily Webber @ewebber.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

I am running a Masterclass on Communities of Practice on 20th March, and the slides are looking 👌 Expect lots of insights and practical steps for communities at all stages. Join me at leap-online.mn.co/plans/1510719

An image showing people connected across teams and the text:
Community  of practice
Informal
Non hierarchical
Voluntary
Connected
Long lived
Cross-cutting

LEAP Masterclass
Communities of Practice, creating powerful networks and accelerating digital skills
With Emily Webber
20th March 2025 1pm-2:30pm
Registrations open!

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Testing a big project on our pre-prod env, and I made something happen that wasn't considered, and wouldn't have happened on local testing Bug magnet!!

media.tenor.com

a large group of bugs are crawling through the desert

Alt: a large group of bugs are crawling through the desert

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

How are folks doing? Monday mornings are full of meetings for me, so I worked from my living room as it faces the sun (unlike my home office), which has definitely helped me mood today 🥰

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Watching the QE Babble webinar on accessibility, which includes the wonderful @adystokes.bsky.social. And it's been a while, but I did sketch note for the talk, and feel happy with it.

Sketch note for a talk on Accessibility. Includes speakers of Steve Green, Jane D'Cruze, and Ady Stokes.
Suggestions from them include multi-language sites not applying to alt text, colour contrasts, keyboard use, zoom, and more.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

I'm liking how I look today. Meeting my partner in town, do some shopping, browse an alternative market, get lunch.

Selfie of a white man in glasses, with a pale blue shirt, baby blue jumper, and tan overcoat.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

I've had some clothes arrive recently, so I went for a mini fashion show, to try a combination of jumpers/turtlenecks, trousers, and belts together to see what I liked. I however, hate looking back at myself, but my partner told me her favourite, which did help me.

A screenshot of a gallery from Google photos, showing approximately 40 selfies of a man, in a mixture of different coloured jumpers and trousers. The jumpers are blue, yellow, navy, black, grey. The trousers are navy, mustard, and bright red.

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Swanny @swanny.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

My level of confidence at work is probably at a bit of a low right now. Nothing has changed from an effort or functional perspective, but for whatever reason, I’m not feeling good at what I do. Possibly a phase, but would love to hear how others have overcome this.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Inspired by Callum, I thought I would share what music I am listening to for my mood: Various versions of The Ballad of the Witches' Road. Getting my mojo flowing for some non-work stuff, and getting the in the spirit for it, as well as inspiration.

media.tenor.com

a woman in a suit is singing down down down the road in a dark room

Alt: A woman in a suit is singing down down down the road in a dark room

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

A question that is biased towards those in UK as it's to do with pensions, but I imagine the principle can apply wider. If you got a bonus at work, would you put it into your pension? Would it depend on how much the bonus was? £1k? £5k? £10k? More?! Would it be none, some, or all?

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Looking through at clothes on Vinted, seeing what I'd like to expand my wardrobe with. Continuing to look at ways to add more colour, such as burgundy or mustard trousers. One thing I read was to be inspired by the looks of other men to emulate as I find my style. But I can't think of anyone 😵‍💫

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

What are my fellow #Testing folks up to these days? Back in lockdown, making the testers hangout, a continuous Google video call folks could come and go to, was wonderful. I felt connected. These days I feel I barely interact with folks, I miss it. How are you all? What are you doing?

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Cassandra H. Leung (she / they) @cassandrahl.com · 13/02/2025

I had the pleasure of joining Gem Hill on the Mental Workload podcast, talking about self care and how to get back into work and community in a sustainable way. Listen to the podcast now: selfcarebackpack.com/the-mental-w...

selfcarebackpack.com

The Mental Workload episode 9: Self care with Cassandra Leung - SelfCare Backpack

This week I talk to Cassandra Leung about self care. We talk about getting back into work after a career […]

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Full Snack Tester @fullsnacktester.com · 12/02/2025

It's been a few days, I've made a few updates: - HTML5 export with touch buttons for mobile - Add celebration on victory for collecting all coins - Bug fixes to enemy collision Gameplay video: youtu.be/OzP6tMp_Ecw Play the game: fullsnackgamer.itch.io/full-snack-k... #devlog #godot

youtu.be

Full Snack Knight #devlog #godot #gamedev

YouTube video by Full Snack Testing

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Maaike Brinkhof @maaikees.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

New article alert! My hatred for all things AI forced me to consider the lovely drug that is cognitive dissonance once again. In the article, I present a visual metaphor that explains cognitive dissonance clearly: the cognitive dissonance pyramid. #blog #tech

maaikebrinkhof.nl

The cognitive dissonance pyramid: one hell of a drug.

We are all wrong from time to time, it's part of the human condition. Even smart people can be wrong. True wisdom is being able to admit you were wrong, and then actually change your mind. However, th...

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

In London with my partner for an early birthday/Valentine's celebration. Had lunch at a very nice Italian restaurant, so I'm dressed up for #ReverseCasualFriday without realising!

Selfie of white man in black turtleneck and double-breasted grey waistcoat, with hiseeflection behind him in a mirror.

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Bought some new trousers, a turtleneck, and bracers. Thought I'd share me trying them on. Wanting clothes outside the normal drab colours/looks is difficult! Trousers didn't feel right without a belt. And feel unhappy with my bodyshape 😞

Selfie of me in bright red smart trousers, with a brown belt, and a black turtleneck.

Selfie of me in dark green smart trousers, with a brown belt, and a black turtleneck.

Selfie of me in pale smart trousers, with a brown belt, and a black turtleneck.

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Lisi Hocke @lisihocke.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

reflections on a month of #CalmAndSteady growth | A Tester's Journey: Calm and Steady - Off to a Good Start www.lisihocke.com/2025/01/calm...

lisihocke.com

Calm and Steady - Off to a Good Start

A blog about learning, agile product development and software testing.

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Cassandra H. Leung (she / they) @cassandrahl.com · 31/01/2025

Is your first public speaking event coming up? Looking for some tips? I've collected some ideas for preparation, tech set up, and what to do on the day. Take a look here, and add your own tips: www.cassandrahl.com/blog/tips-fo... #PublicSpeaking #Speaker #CallForPapers

cassandrahl.com

Tips for First-Time Public Speakers - Cassandra HL

I recently read a post in a Slack workspace I’m in, asking for information and guidance for first-time speakers. I’ve spoken at a range of events, from local meet ups and internal presentations to in...

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Christian Baumann @chrissbaumann.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

The Call-for-Papers for the most awesome conference of all time has just open. Click the link below, and submit your session(s) for @agiletdzone.bsky.social ! #agileTD agiletestingdays.com/call-for-pap...

agiletestingdays.com

Call for Papers 2025 | AgileTD

We are looking for YOUR story! Share your experience and agile t…

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Lunch today I decided to do something a bit different. Rather than just plain cheese on toast, there is corned beef, with sweet pickle between that and the cheese. Embrace the rare energy I'm feeling to make more of an effort than I usually do for lunch.

Two slices of cheese on toast under a grill, on a sheet of kitchen foil and baking tray

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Emily Webber @ewebber.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Does anyone have any recommendations for an at-home weights strength training video series - ideally aimed at peri/menopause and led by a woman? (not Joe Wicks!)

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Jen Gentleman @jenmsft.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Accessibility doesn't only help a small group of people. Accessibility helps everyone

Displaying a graphic of how it's not just people with permanent needs that can benefit from inclusive design, there are also temporary and situational needs. For example, someone who's deaf, vs has an ear infection, vs in a loud bar

The full list, with little characters representing each is:

Touch: one arm, arm injury, new parent holding a baby
See: Blind, Cataract, distracted driver
Hear: Deaf, ear infection, bartender
Speak: non-verbal, laryngitis, heavy accent (a picture of a Viking)

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Hearing Dick Van Dyke mentioned on the radio 😱 Discovering it's a fluff piece about him still going to the gym at 99 years old 😮‍💨

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

A timely cartoon for @newscientist.bsky.social

Panel One:
A scientist works at a blackboard. Diagrams and text on the blackboard contain the phrases: crushing darkness, seemingly no escape, time drags and, inhospitably cold. A second figure approaches and, seeing the blackboard, asks "Black Holes?"

Panel Two:
The scientist replies "January"

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Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester) @thepiratetester.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Making my dinner, and realised after dropping my son off at school this morning, I haven't spoken by voice to another human today. Only work call was a webinar, so no chats. Friends I normally voice chat at night with are away for a few nights. So, it's just me. I might record something...?

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Reposted by Lee Marshall 🏴‍☠️ (Discord: thepiratetester)

Maaike Brinkhof @maaikees.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Again, a tech worker like you or me is the one implementing shit like this after management decree. Sure, you can stop using Meta products. But also be aware that someone implemented this, and that someone probably just needs to earn a paycheck. How can we get out of this awful situation?

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