Matt Cengia
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mattcen.com
Matt Cengia
@mattcen.com
🏳️‍🌈🇦🇺
#Linux #SysAdmin, #FOSS advocate, #Scouts Victoria leader, #Bisexual, #Polyamorous, #Autistic, #ADHD geek. þey/þem/þeirs
📻 VK3MCN
Co-founder of remotequeer.co with @saul.remotequeer.co

Currently Seeking Work! ​
> An error occurred accessing your remote calendar Victorian public holiday dates: 404 Not Found

www.vic.gov.au/ical lists iCal URLs which keep changing! The current one is www.vic.gov.au/sites/defaul...

Just get a better CMS and use a consistent URL; you can do it, Vic Gov, I believe in you! 🤦🏻
iCal calendar downloads
Add iCal downloads to your Apple or Android calendar. Includes public holidays, school holidays and parliamentary sitting dates.
www.vic.gov.au
February 15, 2026 at 3:25 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
we need to talk about that Ring Super Bowl ad
February 10, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
Spoiler: Even the short-term ephemeral productivity gains turn out to just be a) people taking on tasks they have no business doing (like managers coding), b) people working longer hours because they're having fun dicking around and c) people trying to do 800 tasks at once.
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW: “.. In our in-progress research, we discovered that AI tools didn’t reduce work, they consistently intensified it.”

hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
February 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
Relax, bread department
February 6, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
being this genuinely delighted by little childrens dumb antics is such a huge green flag
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”

Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
And wonderful to see the staff at the albatross center taking such good care of them. Here, egg-weighing time. Which gives you a sense of scale for these massive, beautiful birds.
February 6, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
honestly baffling to see newsletter writers move to patreon of all platforms — it doesn’t allow people to own their relationships with their subscribers, so it’s almost impossible to move anywhere later!

i can only assume patreon must have paid them upfront to make it worthwhile.
February 3, 2026 at 4:27 AM
I love this for me. #Melbourne
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
Courts should treat biometric locks as equivalent to password protection, EFF’s Andrew Crocker told @TheIntercept.com. “Your constitutional right against self-incrimination should not be dependent on technical convenience or lack thereof.”
theintercept.com/2026/01/30/...
Washington Post Raid Is a Frightening Reminder: Turn Off Your Phone’s Biometrics Now
The search warrant to raid a Washington Post reporter’s home shows how authorities can open your phone without your consent.
theintercept.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:56 PM
At the #ScoutsVictoria Leader of Adults conference in Williamstown today! As usual, we're operating on Scout Time! 😂
January 30, 2026 at 10:35 PM
I often misjudge my volume and speak too loudly. I appreciate people gently pointing this out. Today on the bus while I chatted to another passenger, someone from the back of the bus crouched *uncomfortably* close to my face to say their wife had a headache.
Mixed feelings about that experience.
January 30, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
Love travel and telling global stories that matter? Don’t miss this live virtual masterclass taught by a seasoned travel journalist this February.

You’ll get 10 years of industry knowledge distilled into actionable steps to turbocharge your work and walk away […]

[Original post on remotequeer.co]
How to Work in Travel Media: A Four-Week Live Masterclass
<p>Love travel and telling global stories that matter? Don’t miss this live virtual masterclass taught by a seasoned travel journalist this February.</p><p>You’ll get <strong>10 years of industry knowledge</strong> distilled into <strong>actionable steps </strong>to turbocharge your work and walk away with a clear understanding of how it works, where you fit, and how you can start today.</p><p><strong>Yulia Denisyuk</strong> is the creator of <a href="https://www.goingplacesmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer"><strong>Going Places</strong></a>, which features "global stories of hope through a decolonial lens." We think <strong>Going Places</strong> shares a lot of values with <strong>Remote Queer</strong>, which is why we're excited to feature this announcement directly from Yulia:</p><h2 id="learn-how-to-work-in-travel-media-feb-728-2026">Learn How To Work In Travel Media: Feb 7 - 28, 2026</h2><p>Join us for a live virtual masterclass where you'll learn actionable steps to kickstart your career in the travel industry. We’ll demystify travel media in sessions like <strong>pitching to travel editors, working with tourism boards, and the economics of travel.</strong></p><p>We'll meet on Zoom <strong>every Saturday in February at 1 pm EST (U.S.)</strong>.</p><p>This masterclass is for anyone who loves storytelling and wants travel to become a larger part of their professional lives.</p><p>Learn from <a href="https://www.yulia-denisyuk.com/">Yulia Denisyuk</a>, a seasoned journalist who has worked with tourism boards from Sierra Leone to Hong Kong, published work in top global outlets like National Geographic, The NYT, and many more, and taught numerous travel media classes to emerging storytellers.</p><p><strong>Yulia's students have been published in outlets like TIME, Nat Geo, Conde Nast Traveler, and more. </strong></p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.yulia-denisyuk.com/"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Yulia Denisyuk</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">Portfolio site for travel journalist, photographer, and writer Yulia Denisyuk</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a50abba8132a77191791390c3eb19fe7/icon/favicon-1769659694210.ico" alt="" /><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Yulia Denisyuk</span></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a50abba8132a77191791390c3eb19fe7/thumbnail/IMG_3982-1769659694628.PNG" alt="" /></div></a></figure><p><strong>Our agenda:</strong></p><p><strong>February 7 at 1 pm EST</strong>: Working with tourism boards and PR agencies (how to get press trip invites)</p><p><strong>February 14 at 1 pm EST</strong>: Working with travel publishers (how to navigate the media landscape)</p><p><strong>February 21 at 1 pm EST</strong>: Foundations of pitching (how to get editors to tell you 'yes')</p><p><strong>February 28 at 1 pm EST</strong>: The economics of travel media (how much can you earn?)</p><p>Class Pass ticket holders also get<strong> a portfolio review + their own publishing roadmap</strong> with actionable next steps on entering the industry.</p><p>All attendees get the masterclass recording.</p><div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-grey kg-cta-minimal "> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Get a </span><b><strong style="white-space:pre-wrap">$147 class pass</strong></b><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> to attend all four sessions or choose a </span><b><strong style="white-space:pre-wrap">$55 single-ticket option</strong></b><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> for a session of your choice.</span></p> </div> <a href="https://book.goingplacesmedia.com/travel-media-masterclass-2026/" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#ffffff"> Register now </a> </div> </div> </div><hr /><h2 id="why-going-places">Why <em>Going Places</em>?</h2><p>In the face of consolidation and homogenization of travel media, <strong>Going Places</strong> is a reader-supported publication that isn't afraid to question prevailing narratives around how and why we travel.</p><p>You'll find thoughtful articles like this profile of <strong>Karen Oosterhoff, </strong>a queer tattoo artist based in Brighton, U.K.:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.goingplacesmedia.com/meet-the-artist-tattooing-for-palestine/"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Meet the Artist Tattooing for Palestine</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">And get your own solidarity tattoo.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a50abba8132a77191791390c3eb19fe7/icon/GP-favicon-1769633369817.png" alt="" /><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Going Places</span><span class="kg-bookmark-publisher">Yulia Denisyuk</span></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a50abba8132a77191791390c3eb19fe7/thumbnail/Going-Places-5-Questions-With-Headers-1-1769633370205.png" alt="" /></div></a></figure><p>Or this podcast interview with <strong>Imani Bashir</strong>, an American abroad who's written about the complexity of life as a Black digital nomad:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.goingplacesmedia.com/imanibashir/"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">What Is Intersectional Travel?</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">A Black Muslim journalist reflects on becoming a global citizen.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a50abba8132a77191791390c3eb19fe7/icon/GP-favicon-1769633493913.png" alt="" /><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Going Places</span><span class="kg-bookmark-publisher">Yulia Denisyuk</span></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a50abba8132a77191791390c3eb19fe7/thumbnail/RReEcd34cPt_Rn_Ls_7U04ouHWhW3VdtB7zmK36gPVs-1769633494162.jpeg" alt="" /></div></a></figure><p><strong>Going Places</strong> also highlights freelance opportunities, like this call for pitches from <strong>Intrepid Travel</strong>, a company I've traveled with several times:</p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.goingplacesmedia.com/a-call-for-pitches-from-intrepid-travel/"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">A Call for Pitches From Intrepid Travel</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">PLUS: meet me in NY this week.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a50abba8132a77191791390c3eb19fe7/icon/GP-favicon-1769635297178.png" alt="" /><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Going Places</span><span class="kg-bookmark-publisher">Yulia Denisyuk</span></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a50abba8132a77191791390c3eb19fe7/thumbnail/DSC06593-1769635297336.jpg" alt="" /></div></a></figure><p>We think you'll learn a lot from Yulia's approach to work and travel. So <a href="https://book.goingplacesmedia.com/travel-media-masterclass-2026/" rel="noreferrer">join the masterclass</a> and get ready to grow your career in the travel industry today.</p><p>As always, thanks for reading!</p><p>Saul &amp; the RQ Team</p>
remotequeer.co
January 30, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
Our January newsletter is out! 🎉 New location, open Calls for Proposals, and all the updates you need. 👀

👉️ Link in the first comment.
January 28, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
Big big thank you to Vercel supporting DDD Melbourne again in 2026.
Make sure you say hello to the fine folks, they're great supporters of the tech community, and we appreciate them and love their work. 👏

👉 🎟️ Make sure to get your tickets for DDD Melbourne: www.dddmelbourne.com/tickets
January 29, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
Every word of this article is a delight. There are some great anecdotes about working for real tip lines.

yarnspinner.dev/blog/hint-li...
We Pitched a Museum a 1993 Game Hint Line (And They Actually Said Yes) | Yarn Spinner
Early 2025, ACMI, the Australian museum of screen culture, put out a call for comissions for Game Worlds. They wanted to commission microgames from Australian developers, and the brief was deliberatel...
yarnspinner.dev
January 26, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
"Across the country, renters are living in properties with no insulation, poor sealing, broken or inadequate fans or no cooling options at all. Others technically have air conditioning, but they are in such extreme rental stress they can’t afford to turn it on."
Australia’s heatwaves are getting deadlier – and renters are paying the price | Maiy Azize
Some are trapped in a vicious cycle: rising rents, rising energy bills and falling standards. But this is not inevitable
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:56 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
Teenagers *are* known for ravenous appetites

but surely there are other ways.
January 26, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Clothing too comfortable? Maybe you should try shopping at …
January 25, 2026 at 8:17 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
**If you're an employer seeking a "senior cyber gardener"**, please take a look and ping me if you'd like to chat

**If you're employed at an org that you think might be a good fit**, please also ping me and let me know

pls #boost4reach, thank you! 🙏 💕

#EverythingOpen
#EO2026

(2/2)
January 23, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
hi #EverythingOpen friends 👋
(a brief thread 🧵)

**I am currently looking for a new role in the cyber security genre** 🎉

I've just posted my info on the #EO2026 **Jobs BoF** page on the wiki (I'm not publishing the link, if you're here you know where to find it 😜)

#boost4reach pls!

(1/2)
January 23, 2026 at 1:07 AM
More conference venues should have hammocks. #EverythingOpen
January 23, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by Matt Cengia
I have just discovered a hairline crack in my phone's screen protector, and I have no idea how it happened. Yet again though, I'm very thankful for this screen protector!
January 22, 2026 at 8:10 PM
"Here’s a friendly reminder about our lounge access dress code", says the email from Qantas. clicks link

"Error 404: dress code not found". Welp that sounds fun!
January 20, 2026 at 7:28 PM