Boosted by @trending@homestead.social
Spring warmth brings out the echidnas and larger lizards. This echidna is trying to avoid attracting attention by hiding at the corner of the house.
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Stephen Collins
@trib@aus.social
mastodon 4.7.2Living at the intersection of democratic socialism, regenerative ag, lumber-sexuality, gamer nerdery, and gorpcore.
Lives on Djiringanj Yuin country and runs a sustainably-managed, dog-friendly B&B on 100 acres in the hills of the Bega Valley and also works at a large dairy farm
Outdoorsman. Bowhunter. Semi-retired designer. Husband. (grand)Dad. DIY/Maker. RFS firefighter. 🐈and 🐕 dad.
He/him/whatever works at the time.
1037 Followers
380 Following
50 Posts
Joined October 30, 2022
Personal site:
Live + work:
Side hustle:
Mate, how am I supposed to read this?
Coco does not consider my wants as worthy of consideration.
Replying to
@kcarruthers@infosec.exchange @phs@aus.social it certainly fuels my ute. And at current prices, I need to work most of my first shift each week to pay for my fuel.
Before the orange fuck-knuckle decided to willy-wave at Iran, diesel was 60% of its current price. So clearly that whole deal has worked fabulously.
Flawed as they are (they're human after all), the best PMs in this corner of the world in recent times have been Jacinda Ardern in NZ and Julia Gillard here in Australia. Human, empathetic, often good listeners (Gillard as education minister, particularly), they showed a different kind of leadership - a better kind - could be successful.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-17/jacinda-ardern-empathetic-leadership-in-politics/106900418
We have a planned power outage of up to 6 hours today. Right now, our PV and battery is doing the job we paid it for.
Ribs at the pub.
Replying to
@imclaren@infosec.exchange @hacks4pancakes@infosec.exchange there is something of a vibe here in Australia that "kind regards" should be read along the lines of "fuck you very much" or similar.
It's not universal, but it exists.
First session of my new #DnD campaign done. 🎉 Me not having rolled dice in anger in over 20 years as DM, a complete newbie in @natcbr@mountains.social, and a player who is rusty and hasn't played 5e in several years. Our collective rust and inexperience showed and we were slow (we were also trying to use a VTT for the first time, as none of us had ever played online, so that slowed us significantly). Nonetheless, fun had by all.
The poll on my Patreon suggests I should do a series on Australian fauna, prehistoric animals, and cryptids. To that end, the first one is live for everyone to see. It's the infamous Dropbear with 5e and 5.5e stat blocks.
https://stephencollins.org/posts/look-up-in-the-forest-the-dropbear/
Every time I read or watch something that our current GG is involved in, I like her more. She’s good people and concerned about the right things.
#auspol
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/31/governor-general-warns-of-growing-catastrophe-that-threatens-to-undermine-democracy-in-australia-ntwnfb
Good. these scum need to spend a long, long time rotting in a cell.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/jul/18/andrew-tristan-tate-arrested-miami
Orion in the eastern sky, looking NE. 5:30am 26/7/2026. 10 second Night Mode exposure on iPhone 16.
#ddarksky #astrophotography #bushlife #nofilter #noprocessing
In case there were any doubts, Hanson has moved from noisy, annoying racist with a place in the parliament, to full-blown Nazi.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-17/pauline-hanson-tommy-robinson-podcast/106926030
I'm spending more of my spare time writing material for TTRPGs, and the words and ideas are beginning to flow.
In the interests of trying to do this in a more professional way, I've launched a little Patreon that will showcase that game development work (and the occasional diversion into life in the bush).
I'd be delighted if any of you chose to follow my efforts. You can find me at https://www.patreon.com/cw/forestvalleygames.
Replying to
@liamvhogan@aus.social see also "Kind regards".
I cannot convince my partner that when she signs off emails in this way, I am not the only one that reads "fuck you with a morningstar".
The conspiracy theorist take that 15 minute city planning is big government trying to control and restrict population movement is one of the oddest ones they have I think.
Yes, weirdos, well-planned neighbourhoods and suburbs is about repression.
Fuckin' numpties.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-05/one-nation-victorian-leader-promoted-conspiracy/106997026
Replying to
@tg@indieweb.social I happen to live somewhere with a very dark sky and no meaningful light pollution and we have guest cottages, so something I can point folks at without having to download Stellarium or some such is very handy!
Replying to
@stufromoz@aus.social @liamvhogan@aus.social same. I usually use a "thanks" or "TIA" if it's appropriate, otherwise, nothing.
And we're done... The final post in my toolkit set. This time, audio for your tabletop (physical or digital).
https://stephencollins.org/posts/building-an-online-ttrpg-toolkit-part-5-sound-and-fury/
Replying to
@dropbear@aus.social @liamvhogan@aus.social cheers is difficult to misinterpret as unfriendly. I dig it.
After starting my new #dnd group last week, I decided to document the way I've built out my tool set for (mostly) online play. I'm breaking it up into several posts, as otherwise it will be *very* long and unwieldy.
Anyway, Part 1 is up. First tool: @obsidian@mas.to.
Clearly legit.
Replying to
@jillL@theblower.au well, you know, the women have to be utter paragons in every way. Yet the men can be like Angus Taylor or Barnaby Joyce.
Farm life content…
Cow teats are not supposed to have two holes. But sometimes, you get one like this.
Also, cows are filthy a lot of the time and you need to clean off their teats before milking them.
#farming #dairyfarming
Replying to
@200ok@mastodon.social you'd think. But coherent argument has never been a strong suit of these people.
Thanks to @bedirthan@dice.camp and @Melestrua@dice.camp musing about language and culture, I put my literature education and etymology hobby to good (?) use and came up with a framework and new feat to, I think, better incorporate language and cultural affinity into D&D 5.5e.
I hope folks enjoy this.
Replying to
Replying to
@ApaulD@aus.social I’m old enough to remember Gough. Or at least the excitement my parents felt when he was elected.
Replying to
@gamesformusic@sunny.garden I can’t imagine how hard coming up with random tunes for a live tabletop would be. And not everything needs a tin whistle or guitar. How do you get epic horns?🎺
In a cynical and desperate bid for attention, I’ve put a poll on my Patreon asking what I should write about next. Poll closes midnight Sunday AEST. Go tell me what to do.
There’s a musical surprise in there as well thanks to @NewtonMark@eigenmagic.net.
https://www.patreon.com/forestvalleygames/posts/165895681?utm_campaign=postshare_creator
This is 100% Mark Parton areas. He’s a deadshit who hasn’t had a decent idea since well before he was on 2CA. #actpol
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-06/mark-parton-admits-to-texting-f-k-my-job-is-boring-estimates/107002778?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web
@KeithAmmann@dice.camp is there anywhere in my neck of the woods, i.e. Australia, you know of that sells your books?
I'm trying to work out the best way to buy for both currency exchange and postage.
Replying to
@vitalis@dirtyknight.life @stufromoz@aus.social Killing in the Name plays over the loudspeakers.
Just started watching Sugar S1 on Apple TV. It’s compelling. But what’s going on under the surface, because something hinky is up?
Replying to
@joannaholman@aus.social @KeithAmmann@dice.camp hmmm. They seem to have what I want and the price is reasonable. Looks like they fill the niche Book Depository once held.
Replying to
@Kels_316@aus.social which is weird, because you'd have thought they'd try to cast the lookalike with Paul Wesley, who doesn't look terribly like Shatner.
Replying to
@anne@toot.cat we're running all SigEnergy equipment. Hybrid 10kW inverter with 24kWh of battery. 9.23kW of PV on the roof.
Second post in my #trrpg toolkit series is up. It's about our Discord setup. No surprises here for many in this audience, but folk may be interested in our particular approach.
https://stephencollins.org/posts/building-an-online-ttrpg-toolkit-part-2-group-communication/
The fourth of my toolkit posts is up, this time on campaign management. It's also a full review of ENNIE-nominated West Marches, which might interest some folks here.
https://stephencollins.org/posts/building-an-online-ttrpg-toolkit-part-4-campaign-management-scheduling-economy-and-notes-and-a-review/