Ian | Founder & Firestarter
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cubicgarden.com
Ian | Founder & Firestarter
@cubicgarden.com
Previously Senior firestarter at BBC RD, emergent technology expert and serial social geek event organiser.
http://www.cubicgarden.com | @cubicgarden@mas.to
Reposted by Ian | Founder & Firestarter
Every day, thousands of women and children are victimized by people on X using the Grok chatbot to generate scantily clad and naked photos of them.

It’s time for governments to take action. Elon Musk’s X should have been banned long ago. They don’t have an excuse to delay any longer.
Elon Musk’s X must be banned
Regulators need to stop cowering before the richest man in the world
disconnect.blog
January 8, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Making the familiar strange, a new podcast exploring modern relationships, intimacy, loneliness and love.

https://redcircle.com/shows/95190f06-ba12-47ae-9267-4aaa656f4e93

In an era of hyper connectivity, why does it feel like we've never been further apart?

Soon to be found everywhere you find…
New podcast: Making the familiar strange
Its been a long time in coming but as most people know I'm fascinated about relationships, loneliness and intimacy space. They are at the heart of much of the things I have been working on. From the impact of loneliness to my own experiences with dating in a book I'm writing. Lets also not forget the manifesto I started.
cubicgarden.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Jan 2026)

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed reading Arduino's new terms of service, reading the awful story of the man behind evil twin wifis on airplanes and please stop using AI…
Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Jan 2026)
This scientist predicted AI-induced delusions... We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed reading Arduino's new terms of service, reading the awful story of the man behind evil twin wifis on airplanes and please stop using AI browsers. To quote Buckminster Fuller "You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
cubicgarden.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:49 AM
My new years resolutions for 2026

Following the long tradition of blogging my resolutions since 2008!
My new years resolutions for 2026
Following my review of last year… here’s my New Years Resolutions for 2026 which follows on from 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 ones. Work smarter with the business With the new business, I'm getting to grips with the general running of it.
cubicgarden.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Whats that? Santa has left for the all good people of the world?

Yes!

#Techgrumps 3.3.5 (Special holiday special)

With @eastmad.bsky.social @rnalexander.bsky.social, @andypiper.me and @mskakapo.bsky.social

rss.com/podcasts/tec...

Happy holidays people... Bless The #TechGrumps

Available now!
TechGrumps 3.3.5: - Bless The TechGrumps (Special holiday special) | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
Techgrumps 3.3.5 (Special holiday special)Hannah: is grumpy about marketers using "GEO" or "Generative Engine Optimisation"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/10/is-retail-ready-for-ai-shaki...
rss.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Ian | Founder & Firestarter
Whats that? Santa has left for the all good people of the world?

Yes!

#Techgrumps 3.3.5 (Special holiday special)

With @eastmad.bsky.social @rnalexander.bsky.social and @mskakapo.bsky.social

rss.com/podcasts/tec...

Happy holidays people... Bless The #TechGrumps

Available now!
TechGrumps 3.3.5: - Bless The TechGrumps (Special holiday special) | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
Techgrumps 3.3.5 (Special holiday special)Hannah: is grumpy about marketers using "GEO" or "Generative Engine Optimisation"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/10/is-retail-ready-for-ai-shaki...
rss.com
December 24, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Some news about me and my wonderful partner Alison

Because Facebook should not have a monopoly on this type of happy news.
Some news about me and my wonderful partner, Alison
I have some news to share and have been sharing it slowly when meeting people since Summer. After 3.5 years of being together, you can guess me and Alison are now engaged! It was Alison who proposed to me, which is a thing as it runs in the family, with her mum and grandma proposing to their partners too.
cubicgarden.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the questionable AI courtcase in the UK, Zuck running an illegal school and big tech refusing to talk about election influencing in the Netherlands.

To quote Buckminster Fuller "You never change…
Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Dec 2025)
We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the questionable AI courtcase in the UK, Zuck running an illegal school and big tech refusing to talk about election influencing in the Netherlands. To quote Buckminster Fuller "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
cubicgarden.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Best tips for dealing with your digital legacy from Wired.

Why the machine readable wishes project - https://machinereadablewishes.cc is perfectly set to take some of the burden off your digital legacy plans
Best tips for dealing with your digital legacy
Wired magazine has a good summary of the death tech or I prefer digital legacy space. I can believe the sector is worth  125,000,000,000 dollars but people are throwing money around in the wrong places I feel. The best part of the video comes when talking about what people can actually do to take some control over their digital legacy. First step get a will, talk with your family and finally take some control of your data now.
cubicgarden.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The past and the future of portable DJing in one shot

"Looking back at the #Pacemaker now, it feels like a glimpse of a future that never quite materialised. The device represented a genuine attempt to rethink DJing for a mobile-first world,"

Could the Drift DJ be the natural successor? I…
The past and the future of portable DJing in one shot
A post was recently share on the Drift DJ discord. The pacemaker when djing went pocket sized and the world wasnt ready Its a really good piece about the massive leap the Pacemaker device provided way back in 2008. In short the device was up against smartphones like the iphone. Smartphones turned everything down to software. ...the idea of carrying a dedicated device for DJing felt quaint when your phone could theoretically do the same thing via an app…
cubicgarden.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Today I got the Drift DJ Zero for alpha testing and its impressive to say the very least

The future of mixing is in my hands - https://driftdj.com

Made by DJs for DJs and you can tell!
Drift Zero DJ, alpha testing
I have been using the Pacemaker device for I believe 17 years now but I have been looking around for the next generation of DJ tools. It was Si who first sent me the Drift DJ zero and I was sold pretty much straight away. Under a year later, I have have signed up as a alpha tester and today it came in the post from…
cubicgarden.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Recursive rhythms: the bring back techno ciento climb mix

My latest DJ mix, created on KLM, raised on BA
Recursive rhythms: the bring back techno ciento climb mix
Conference season is pretty much over and my last event was the excellent Mozilla Festival, this time in Barcelona. I took a KLM flight via Amsterdam on the way and created the base of a interesting mix. On the way back I flew via Heathrow on BA (a reminder how much I don't like Heathrow, and use to fly from Gatwick when I could).
cubicgarden.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Reposted by Ian | Founder & Firestarter
Amazing inspiring presentation by @bmann.ca that inspires new ideas of apps that can be built on ATProto. #EuroSkyLive
November 19, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Reposted by Ian | Founder & Firestarter
As @alexandrageese.bsky.social mentioned at #EuroSkLive, we need the European Commission to stand up against big tech.
Very timely with the important campaign launched by @peoplevsbigtech.bsky.social!
🚨 Brussels, today 🚨Ursula! Stand up for Europe – not for Trump’s tech bros!

As the EU unveils its “Digital Omnibus” today, we're rolling out billboards calling on @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to stop bending to US and Big Tech pressure and enforce our digital laws #StandUpUrsula✊
November 19, 2025 at 10:44 AM
@phoenixrd.bsky.social
Seems my primary mastodon is down.
The fediverse podcast I mentioned is hosted by @flipboard.com

dot-social.simplecast.com
Dot Social
Learn about the Internet’s next wave on the open social web and what it will unlock for how we connect, communicate, and innovate online. Hosted by Flipboard CEO Mike McCue.
dot-social.simplecast.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I present the Helsinki familiar stranger #pacemakerdevice mix.

Recorded on different planes after going to #mydata2025, inspired by a stranger at the chihuahuajulep
Helsinki familiar stranger mix
About a month ago I was in Helsinki for the Mydata conference, one of the things I like to do is find new places. A guy I knew from Manchester suggested a really amazing speakeasy place to me, while I complained about the sugar-horrific gin & lemon in a can  one night. So I checked it out and thought it was…
cubicgarden.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 PM
We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the deliberate thoughtfulness of Tilly Norwood,  Deloitte's AI report to the Australia government and Windows 10 end of life is a e-waste disaster?

To quote Buckminster Fuller "You never change…
Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Nov 2025)
We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed seeing the deliberate thoughtfulness of Tilly Norwood,  Deloitte's AI report to the Australia government and Windows 10 end of life is a e-waste disaster? To quote Buckminster Fuller "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
cubicgarden.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I was surprised to see myself on youtube.

One of the stories from #MyData2025.

The Machine readable wishes project got a good starting launch.
Stories from MyData 2025: Machine readable wishes
I was surprised to find myself on Youtube, It was a really good conference and the machine readable wishes workshop went down very well. You can see the slide deck linked here. Myself, Sam and Solana have started a blog here and there is a github repo started here.  Expect more soon, and get in touch if you find the project interesting.
cubicgarden.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Bannatyne shuts down in Manchester, if only all the spas in gyms in the Manchester area would get in touch with their best offers.
Bannatyne Gym/Spa shuts down in Manchester
A man spoke to me in the Bannatyne, Withworth street Steam room. I adjusted my headphones and announced I can't hear him, as I'm listening to an audiobook. He kept speaking and I paused Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown. Turning to him, as he was the only one in the steam room, which was admittedly strange for peak-time.
cubicgarden.com
October 12, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Reposted by Ian | Founder & Firestarter
Join #freeourfeeds and @eurosky.social on Wednesday, 19 November in Berlin as European leaders, policymakers, developers, and investors explore what's already being built and chart the path forward for Europe’s open social web. We are so pleased that @alexandrageese.bsky.social will be joining us!
We're delighted to announce @alexandrageese.bsky.social, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens/EFA Group, as a speaker for Eurosky Live in Berlin this November.

#EuroskyLive #DigitalSovereignty #EuropeanTech

www.eurosky.social/eurosky-live
October 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM