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@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

operationpuppet

@[email protected]

He/him. Your goth gampa who makes puppets, podcasts and plays games.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. View on remote instance

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Friends, it's time to embrace tech, right-to-repair and just keeping your devices as long as possible. Buying nothing isn't a protest, there will be nothing to buy. is eating everything so the rich can continue their money circle jerk.

https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/many-consumer-electronics-manufacturers-will-go-bankrupt-or-exit-product-lines-by-the-end-of-2026-due-to-the-ai-memory-crisis-phison-ceo-reportedly-says/

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Hey anyone know of any Fedi-forward outlets looking for a “content creator” to join them? I’d like to contribute to an existing collective. Any recommendations?

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

This is me being super pleased the new Oracle episode is doing far better on than that other garbage corporate platform. The is my peeps.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

RE: https://mastodon.content.town/@operationpuppet/109960351337252504

I understand we're having another influx of folks to the . Welcome! Been here a while myself, here's my pinned post by way of an

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Hey 2026, I know you’re young but could you calm the fuck down for 5 minutes, thanks.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Remember dear friends, every day you exist, every day you laugh, make art, feel anger, communicate with people and actually feel anything is an act of sheer bloody mindedness defiance.

They want you to feel despair and helpless. Never give a fascist what they want.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

The rich can’t see how they’re setting themselves up for collapse. Replacing junior roles with means no new senior roles. LLMs can only regurgitate, not innovate. Result: cognitive stagnation.

The only people who learn and innovate will be in the fringes and underground. They will be hard as nails and smart.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

I understand why some creators, including myself, don't leave . However it's vital now more than ever to also make yourself a server. You need an accurate archive of your work that YOU control, even if no one watches it there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrwJgDHJJoE

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

If you use to generate your thumbnail I don’t give a shit who you are or what it’s about, that channel goes on the “Do Not Recommend Ever Again” list.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

time. People misunderstand selfishness and egotism. They can be tools for good. When I dress in a way I think I look good, it's huge motivation to maintain a healthy weight.

Helping others is a massive dopamine hit. It feels great. I want to be good so I do things to make good happen. Empthy is a gateway drug to an awesome high.

Don't banish your demons. Put the fuckers to work.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

I understand we have some new refugees here in the . Remember to boost and share, the Fediverse is made of people, not exploitive algorithms! Welcome! Intro time:

I’m Kevin, been building professional since 2019. I make videos and tutorials, live , a , and even do some occasional not-puppet tech and stuff. All links at https://www.operationpuppet.com.

Also an old goth, but you might have guessed that from these examples of my more recent work.

A spider hand puppet and a pointy head goth
Two goth hand puppets, a large live hands purple ogre and a white fleece Greeblee with black lipstick
A skeleton hand puppet

A skeleton hand puppet
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@yeoldepunk@mastodon.social avatar yeoldepunk , to random

Is anybody here like.... or whatever. I wanna embrace this app, but it seems like most people are tech geeks and I'm just not. Has anyone gone to a good concert lately? Shit. I wanna find my weirdos.

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@yeoldepunk Well I definitely fall into the tech geek moniker but also an aging Goth who builds puppets for a living and hates bigots so two out of three aint bad!

Lots of crafty/music types on the Fediverse. Hitting up @FediTips is a great way to find like-minded folks.

Welcome!

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@FediTips @yeoldepunk You're only saying that becasue you're increadibly smart and insightful!

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

I am increasingly of the opinion that the "It Just Works" mantra is a curse. While a noble goal, setting that expectation trains users to reject anything that doesn't supply instant gratification or require independent thought.

As @vkc so wisely said recently, "Jank is a feature. Embrace it."

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Made my first sloth for a client commission this week! Now on to the other Deadly Sins! Wait, did I misunderstand the assignment? 🥁

Sloth live hands puppet full right view
Sloth live hands puppet face closeup

Sloth live hands puppet face closeup
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@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Compulsory “I love you ” post. Been trying to up my viewers so regretfully spending time on things like Instragram. The amount of utter garbage AI slop is intolerable.

Normal people are so fucking weird. Stay abnormal you wonderful freaks.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

builds done! Listings tomorrow!

An orange and brown spider hand puppet and Gothy grey pointy head hand puppet
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@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Keeping the train rolling! I am increadibly grateful for @FediFollows . They have helped so many people navigate the sometimes complicated byways of the Fediverse and find a footing.

Real people connecting with real people is the whole point, and this personifies that perfectly.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

My today goes to @firesidefedi for their continued devotion to the and being a trailblazer & cheerleader for spotlighting interesting folks the algorithm leaves behind. And for giving me the push to get back to podcasting.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

It’s no coincidence that big tech shoving garbage down our throat matches the tactics of toxic masculinity. Copilot is basically Microsoft being the sleazy creep at the bar going “c’mon baby, just one kiss” and later “if you just try it, you’ll like it”.

@_elena@mastodon.social avatar _elena , to random

A moment of gratitude for the amazing @vkc - whose video tutorials are simply illuminating.

As a clueless self-hosting newbie I often ask for advice here on the Fediverse… and get really helpful feedback but most of the time it reads like a foreign language to me (a non-dev).

Well, Veronica has perfected a way to talk to newbies.

Thank you Veronica for making me understand OpenSSH - at long last 🙌

I highly recommend her channel: https://tinkerbetter.tube/c/veronicaexplains/videos ❤️✨

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@_elena @vkc Veronica helped me enormously as well, and I've now been Linux-only over a year! Linux Mom is the best!

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

I used fedi.directory by @FediFollows just this morning to find a couple of new (to me) podcasts. An increadibly valuable service, we all on the owe them a huge thanks. Donate if you can!

https://fedi.directory

@firesidefedi@social.firesidefedi.live avatar firesidefedi , to random

THIS is the shit we're fighting against. If anyone has any suggestions on how to do this within Reddit's "filters" please let me know.

A picture showing a white background of Reddit with multiple posts to numerous different subreddits. The posts say "Introducing the Fediverse: a New Era of Social Media". They point to https://news.elenarossini.com/fediverse-video/ Below each post is "Sorry, this post was removed by Reddit's filters."
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operationpuppet ,
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@firesidefedi Gross. Reddit now only exists to let VCs harvest data to feed to LLM mills for a tidy profit. Shame it's still so useful.

operationpuppet ,
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@firesidefedi 100%! To semi-quote Terry Pratchett: "Better to light a flamethrower than to curse the darkness".

@FediTips@social.growyourown.services avatar FediTips , to random

You don't need to use weird spellings or algospeak for any topics on the Fediverse ("unalived", "seggs" etc). There is no automated moderation or algorithm on here, moderation happens entirely through human beings and posts are shown in chronological order.

In fact it's better that you use the correct spellings for difficult topics so that people with genuine traumas related to them can filter them more easily.

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@FediTips I honestly didn't even know that was a thing. Which means I'm (a) old and (b) spending the majority of my social media time on the Fediverse and I'm not unhappy about either of those things 😁

@firesidefedi@social.firesidefedi.live avatar firesidefedi , (edited ) to random

I've had a few folks asking if I'm going to have a presence on X/Facebook/Youtube/TikTok, etc aka "big tech". They have a point that I'm currently preaching to the choir and we should attempt to spread information as far and wide as possible, but Fireside Fedi (FsF) is about folks around the Fediverse, for folks around the Fediverse, powered by the Fediverse. So I'm not certain what to do. So I need folks help.

I'm also planning on doing videos about how to set up your own Peertube and platforms and how to reach out to folks about the fediverse. So it's possible that could be a completely separate account that does share across the other social platforms.

So I've thought of a few options. Please let me know your thoughts in the poll or if there's some other recommendations, please message me.

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@firesidefedi Tricky, I feel ya. If it were me I'd keep the vast bulk of it to the Fediverse and make the occasional "outreach" post on big socials (except X becasue seriously, actual, literal Nazis). Most people on big tech will never move, no matter how bad it gets. Better to preach to the choir than to those who will never listen.

@firesidefedi@social.firesidefedi.live avatar firesidefedi , to random

Thank you so much to @potterybyosa for joining me today on Fireside Fedi. It was so wonderful talking with Osa, learning about pottery and the outreach programs she does. I highly recommend checking out her beautiful pottery at potterybyosa.com .

Watch or listen to the interview at the following links:

- https://video.firesidefedi.live/w/aY6EDqCZBMRUd23qDGLWaa

- https://audio.firesidefedi.live/@firesidefedi/episodes/osa-atoy-pottery-by-osa-livestream-2025-05-29

All - https://firesidefedi.live

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@firesidefedi @potterybyosa Was only able to catch a few mins live but looking forward to watching it all on the VoD!

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@potterybyosa @firesidefedi Fellow crafter on the Fediverse who's also done Fireside Fedi fist bump 🤜🤛

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

As announced on the @firesidefedi show, all Frankie Play gaming streams are now exclusive to The , as a thank you to the one social online space we actually want to participate in. Details here:

https://puppet.zone/w/ibiXJcsqxZ5goMbbwkN5ZK

@roadriverrail@signs.codes avatar roadriverrail , to random

I'm hoping to publish another newsletter by the end of June, so I'm taking submissions and tips! Got a thing you're doing? An add-on or related code to promote? DM me soon so I can get it started!

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@roadriverrail Don’t recall if you’ve pinged @firesidefedi yet but they’re doing great work with Owncast as the deployment point.

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Work week begins! Still tickled from my chat with @firesidefedi on Saturday. When you’re in the weeds it’s easy to forget but I really am lucky I get to do this for a living.

A pink and purple puppet under construction on a work table with a sewing machine and other tools
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@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

friends, here's the VoD of my delightful chat with @firesidefedi ! I answer the big questions: How does one become a builder, and how old is Frankie? Plus a Fediverse-exclusive announcement! Share! Share far and wide! https://video.firesidefedi.live/w/kXyX7zXzkzwuLNJyaA56G3

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

Had an absolutely lovely time chatting with @firesidefedi this evening! Will let y'all know when the VoD is up for those who couldn't join live.

@_elena@mastodon.social avatar _elena , to random

Dear Fedi friends, I need your help!

We are working on motion graphics for the Fediverse promotional video... and we would love to do a sequence at the end with a mosaic of people's profile photos. For that, I need your consent.

If you'd like to have a small cameo in our video, can you let us know if we can use your profile pic?

Thanks! 🙏

Can you please boost this?

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@_elena Consent given! Cheers!

@_elena@mastodon.social avatar _elena , to random

Good morning Fedi friends!

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to my interns Riyen (@patel[email protected]) & Sam ( @samaaberg ). They will be working with me through the end of June on videos promoting the Fediverse. This is their .

Sam & Riyen are two talented film students who are : a mere 7 days ago they had no idea what the Fediverse was. I have the immense honor of introducing them to it.

We are filming this week! Send us good vibes 🎥✨

Three people sit on a couch. On the left: a young man with black hair and a beard wearing a black blazer and white pants; in the middle: a woman with long brown hair (me) wearing a blue and white striped t-shirt and blue jeans, holding a clapper with the text: "Fediverse Promo no.1 by Elena Riyen & Sam - May 2nd 2025"; on the right there is a young man with glasses and light brown hair wearing a red hooded sweatshirt. A bookshelf and various items are visible in the background.
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operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@_elena @patel[email protected] @samaaberg Incoming: good vibes!

@_elena@mastodon.social avatar _elena , to random

Good morning Fedi friends!

So it is decided (and thank you for voting in yesterday's poll!)

I will create a series about "People of the Fediverse" - doing short, written interviews with fascinating people posting on here - across ages, nationalities and professions.

The impetus behind it? In a week I will start production of videos promoting the Fediverse and I won't have time anymore to write 2,000 word posts for . Q&As are more manageable for the next 2 months 😅

the screenshot of a poll I posted yesterday on Mastodon. the message read: "Because I always get my best ideas in the shower... here is what I just thought about. Maybe I could create an interview series on #TheFutureIsFederated about People of the Fediverse - doing Q&As with interesting people across fields..." 206 people participated in the poll. 98% voted for "Yes sounds good". 1% selected "No it doesn't interest me" and 1% voted for "Something like this already exists". The poll is now closed
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operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@_elena If “professional puppet builder who has fully embraced the Fediverse” counts as interesting, I’d be honoured to get involved 😁

@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

As an aging person let me be clear: if you’re my age and don’t support rights, you’ve missed the fucking point. We’re the generation that created as a genre. There is nothing more cyberpunk than self selecting your gender identity. 🏳️‍⚧️

@FediVideo@social.growyourown.services avatar FediVideo , to random

Kevin Blades (aka Operation Puppet) is a professional puppet maker creating all kinds of muppet-like characters/creatures which feature in videos & livestreams:

➡️ @kevin (videos)

➡️ @live (live stream)

The video account already has over 100 videos. If these haven't federated to your server yet, you can browse them all at https://puppet.zone/a/kevin/videos

You can also follow Kevin's general account at @operationpuppet

operationpuppet ,
@operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

@FediVideo Thank you so much! 🙏

vkc , to random

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    operationpuppet ,
    @operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

    @vkc Shifting to full time Linux myself. Been using pro video editors for years, very comfortable in Premiere and Resolve, and I can say Kdenlive is a delightful and fully capable editor. I will be using more going forward.

    @operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

    I really appreciate what is doing for growing the but the lead dev starting some petty beef with and publicly proclaiming himself to be a “genius” for obfuscating server selection in signup is straight up toxic crap we do not need.

    We Linux nerds really need social skills and media training.

    @_elena@mastodon.social avatar _elena , to random

    When I booked my train for in November I was intimidated: will I feel like a fish out of water, since I'm not a developer?

    Around that time @ilja recommended I check out @yunohost .

    On Dec 17 I signed up for a VPS, installed and in the span of a month I'm now running:

    1. a instance @elena
    2. my own @ele
    3. a
    4. a blog (upcoming)

    So I'm a little less intimidated (but still a newbie).

    Excited to connect with so many familiar faces 😊

    operationpuppet ,
    @operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

    @_elena @wcbdata I too am about to investigate Yunohost, and I'll be blogging about it. All thanks to @_elena . So thank you 😁

    @operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

    First new builds of the year done! Will be listed on https://www.OperationPuppet.com tomorrow.

    Two Fraggle-like hand and rod puppets, one green with beige fur and the other blue with purple fringe
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    @Vivaldi@vivaldi.net avatar Vivaldi , to random

    What feature made you switch to Vivaldi? 👀

    operationpuppet ,
    @operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

    @Vivaldi As a working artist, avoiding AI slop is both of practical and ethical value to me.

    vkc , to random

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    operationpuppet ,
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    @peertube@framapiaf.org avatar peertube , to random

    v7 is out!

    Themes, pages, menus, layouts, accessibility… The whole interface gets a relooking to make your platforms more enjoyable and easy to use!

    Here are the details: https://framablog.org/2024/12/17/peertube-v7-offer-a-complete-makeover-to-your-video-platform/

    operationpuppet ,
    @operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

    @peertube Nice! Many contratulations and thanks for all your hard work!

    Has this rolled out to Docker yet? Don't have an update notification so just wondering if I should wait.

    vkc , to random

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    operationpuppet ,
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    @vkc If you’re having trouble there’s a wonderful lady named Veronica who helps by explaining things! Look her up!

    @operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar operationpuppet , to random

    Hey kids, just a heads up: I need to rework how my domains are handled and the and servers will be affected. They’ll be going away under their current domains and re-launched under subdomains of my main site.

    As there’s no real way to migrate users from one domain to another unfortunately this means starting from scratch, but welcome to the nature of FOSS 😂

    @gamingonlinux@mastodon.social avatar gamingonlinux , to random
    operationpuppet ,
    @operationpuppet@mastodon.content.town avatar

    @gamingonlinux Wild that it's only been 6 years. Thanks to it, I now have a 100% Linux dedicated gaming rig that would have been a chore to do before.