Todd needs beer, badly. 🍻

Todd Alström. Founder of BeerAdvocate. Living in Helsinki, Finland. Interests: beer, coffee, coding/tech, gaming, punk/metal, and exploring all things Suomi.

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npub1khukeks80zcztfe38aqcycfm9uhgmunykh2u493vjldxp7tk5tlqaafsz3

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqstt7tvmgrh3vp95ucn7svzvyaj7t5d7fjtt4w2jckf0knql9m29lspz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43q6568yk

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relay.mostr.pub

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npub1khukeks80zcztfe38aqcycfm9uhgmunykh2u493vjldxp7tk5tlqaafsz3

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Last Notes

2025-07-23 04:55:56 GMT

Congrats to "Pusa saimensis!" 🇫🇮 🦭
"The Saimaa ringed seal — an endangered mammal native to the Lake Saimaa region in Eastern Finland — has now been officially recognised as a distinct species."
It's also "...Finland’s only endemic mammal — meaning that it exists nowhere else in the world — and it is one of few endemic mammals across Europe."
https://yle.fi/a/74-20173801
#Finland #Suomi #Saimaa #LakeSaimaa #SaimaaRingedSeal #PusaSaimensis #RingedSeals #seals #marine #mammalogy #taxonomy #nature

2025-07-07 19:33:06 GMT

Bluesky just received a massive and long overdue update to notifications, including activity from others.
#Bluesky #socialmedia
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/813/617/566/333/713/original/ed24f9f59e7a253d.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/813/617/907/114/767/original/b488adfd4283dfe3.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/813/618/201/177/216/original/3bd3e13d3fa39137.png

2025-07-07 08:39:04 GMT

I love the Fediverse, but I still believe in forums, especially for niche topics and communities. (I've been running a forum dedicated to beer since the late 90s.)
Probably need to explore federated forum options at some point...when I can find some spare time.
#forums #socialmedia #fediverse #beer

2025-07-05 06:58:42 GMT

Just got my first follower from Threads.
Feels weird.
#Mastodon #Threads #Meta #ActivityPub #weird

2025-07-01 04:15:19 GMT

For those using Bridgy Fed to bridge your Mastodon account to Bluesky, how's it been working out for you?
#Mastodon #Bluesky #BridgyFed #fediverse #socialmedia

2025-06-29 16:52:49 GMT

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@nprofile…jpfa @nprofile…g8jv Don't jinx it! 😉

2025-06-21 12:13:47 GMT

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@nprofile…jpfa Same. Feels like an afterthought at this point.

2025-06-02 11:28:49 GMT

It’s been spinning for a while, but it looks like Fediverse sharing is finally rolling out to Threads accounts based in the European Region.
#meta #threads #europe #fediverse
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/613/533/163/769/643/original/26fd3956ff2c5b4f.jpeg

2025-06-02 11:26:15 GMT

It’s been spinning for a while, but it looks like Fediverse sharing is finally rolling out to accounts based in the European Region.
#meta #threads #europe #fediverse
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/613/522/999/346/177/original/825cc471f769bc47.jpeg

2025-05-29 08:47:40 GMT

Received the invoice for my recent day surgery here in Finland.
218,70 €
#Finland #Suomi #healthcare

2025-05-26 12:51:07 GMT

Looks like Bluesky is experiencing a significant downtrend in overall usage.
https://bsky.app/profile/cooperlund.online/post/3lq2cftbkok2c
#Bluesky #socialmedia

2025-04-30 09:59:57 GMT

Just paid my internet bill…
It's crazy to think that two years ago in California we were spending $265.29/month for 1 Gbps internet + cable TV + equipment + fees/taxes + hidden fees. PER MONTH!
Now we're spending 34,90 €/month for the same speed + better service + a ton of free channels. We also cut all but one of our streaming subscriptions ages ago.
Anyway. Finding that the longer I'm in Finland, the less I want/need things beyond the basics.
#Finland #Suomi #consumerism

2025-04-29 03:58:23 GMT

Plain text emails are awesome. 🤘
Be awesome. 👇
https://useplaintext.email
#email #plaintext #useplaintext #useplaintextemail #accessibility #awesome

2025-04-26 18:01:01 GMT

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@nprofile…jpfa Sold our car before moving to Finland two years ago. Haven’t needed one since and don’t intend to own one again.

2025-04-26 09:34:03 GMT

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@nprofile…843t That's an awesome looking spread of food and beers. 🍻

2025-04-22 04:39:00 GMT

Blue checks have come to Bluesky…and users aren't happy about it (see the replies).
https://bsky.app/profile/bsky.app/post/3lndjyecwcs2a
#Bluesky #SocialMedia #BlueCheck

2025-04-20 08:43:49 GMT

Just received emails from both Facebook and Instagram (via Meta Platforms Ireland Limited) with the subject: “Learn how we’ll use your information as we improve AI at Meta” with links to object.
Done and done.
Doesn’t apply to any use before the objection though…
🙄
…but my abandoned accounts have been private for a while.
#Meta #AI #Facebook #Instagram #GenAI #MetaAI #Europe

2025-04-13 06:18:30 GMT

Looking at mini PCs (available in Finland) to run Linux for daily use, coding, and some gaming, but I've been out of the Linux scene for too long.
Recommendations for both the box and distro?
Thanks in advance!
#linux #linuxgaming #minipc #gaming #coding

2025-04-04 14:29:28 GMT

“However, it might seem a bit of a paradox to some when people are encouraging others to boycott the US on an American-owned social media platform.”
https://yle.fi/a/74-20153995
#Meta #Facebook #Finland #Suomi #USTariffs #BoycottUSA

2025-04-01 04:50:07 GMT

Believe nothing. Trust no one. Just like any other day of the year.
#AprilFoolsDay

2025-03-27 05:18:11 GMT

Just realized that Meta announced that “Threads has entered the fediverse” just over a year ago (March 21, 2024), but integration remains very much in “beta,” mostly one-way, and limited to those who live outside of the European Region.
#meta #threads #fediverse #activitypub #socialmedia
https://engineering.fb.com/2024/03/21/networking-traffic/threads-has-entered-the-fediverse/

2025-03-12 05:54:22 GMT

Just noticed that Mastodon only has 970k monthly active users across 8.6k accessible #Mastodon servers.
2023 = 1.56m MAU w/ 9.8k servers
2022 = 1.8m MAU w/ 9.7k servers
No link to a 2024 report yet, but safe to assume that it follows the downward trend.
Anyway. Thought it’d be closer to 2m by now, but I guess shiny new #socialmedia toys have lured many elsewhere.
Hopefully there are plans to turn this around.
https://joinmastodon.org/about

2025-03-12 03:44:15 GMT

My eyes need that “OLED” display setting for @nprofile…79ya on macOS too.
#Mastodon #Ivory #IvoryApp #DarkMode

2025-03-10 03:33:49 GMT

Let my @nprofile…79ya subscription expire on March 1. After using other #Mastodon apps, I might have to reconsider. We also got an update after ~5 months w/ more to come while they work on #Phoenix for #Bluesky.
"Once Phoenix is out the door, development will happen concurrently and both apps will get all the huge improvements we have planned throughout the apps. And we still have a huge list of great improvements that need to come to #Ivory (and as a result, also Phoenix)."
https://tapbots.com/phoenix/

2025-03-07 04:14:43 GMT

PSA: If you haven't heard from your favorite Mastodon app dev for a while, they're probably building a Bluesky app.
https://tapbots.com/phoenix/
#Mastodon #Bluesky #ATProto #ActivityPub #fediverse #ATmosphere #app #dev

2025-02-25 02:15:03 GMT

Just realized that no one talks about #Threads anymore.

2025-02-24 06:20:50 GMT

The icy view at Eiranranta on the Gulf of Finland just before sunset last night.
#Eiranranta #Helsinki #Finland #Suomi #GulfOfFinland #ocean #photography
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/057/415/656/179/684/original/8f2fb0ff3ee78f2b.jpeg

2025-01-24 12:01:39 GMT

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@nprofile…ekkm Same thing could be said about a raw, freshly unearthed potato given to a hungry vegan. Without the knowledge of its potential, it might as well be a rock.

2024-10-02 08:36:38 GMT

This chat on the importance of establishing identity on the social web w/ @mmccue.bsky.social and @jay.bsky.team is an awesome listen.
They dig into Decentralized identifiers (DIDs), how Bluesky / AT Protocol uses them, and why everyone else should too.
#Bluesky #atproto #ATProtocol #socialweb #socialmedia #DotSocial #podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dot-social/id1717622022?i=1000671461193

2024-08-26 16:40:03 GMT

My brain hurts from spending too much time checking out Bluesky, Nostr, and Threads over the weekend. (You're really not missing much. Just stay here. Trust me.)
Going to reset by removing them off of my phone, grabbing a beer, and focusing on Mastodon for a while.
#Mastodon #Threads #Bluesky #Nostr #fediverse

2024-08-19 15:09:00 GMT

Doing my best to get The Onion to join the fediverse so we can follow them on Mastodon and beyond…
https://www.threads.net/@toddalstrom/post/C-2tz5Ktj7e/
#TheOnion #Threads #Mastodon #fediverse
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/989/283/000/419/384/original/7f4fb260dd90cc11.jpeg

2024-08-01 12:36:18 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 Hyvää syntymäpäivää! 🍻

2024-07-31 05:06:39 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 Safe journey and hope you get to see more.

2024-07-19 09:30:26 GMT

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@npub1cx7…8tc2 Seems laggy when switching between notification types (I have “display all categories" selected), but I really dig where this is headed.

2024-07-16 07:44:37 GMT

Interesting article from The Atlantic that suggests replacing meat with cheese could be a bridge to a meatless future.
#meat #cheese #food #health
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/07/cheese-meat-replacement/678866/

2024-07-13 17:20:07 GMT

Since moving to Finland over a year ago, my blood pressure remains tens of points lower than it was in the United States.
Last reading: 107/60, pulse 63 beats/min. And that was immediately after doing some chores around the house.
Eat better/less, move more, touch grass, and give as close to zero fucks as possible.
#Suomi #Finland #health #mentalhealth

2024-07-12 04:34:56 GMT

We still need more beer geeks on Mastodon.
#Mastodon #beer #craftbeer
https://mastodon.social/@toddalstrom/112539252417367584

2024-06-25 17:38:22 GMT

The floodgates are opening…
“The beta was first introduced in March but was limited to three countries to start, including the U.S., Canada and Japan. In a post on Threads, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared that the option is now available to over 100 countries worldwide.”
https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/25/all-threads-users-can-now-share-to-the-open-social-web-aka-the-fediverse/
#Meta #Threads #fediverse

2024-06-11 04:15:48 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 This is the way. Embrace it.

2024-05-27 03:19:50 GMT

Can't believe that it's already been a year since we moved to Finland.

2024-03-23 17:43:17 GMT

Continuing my exploration of store brand/generic Lagers in #Finland, Coop Lager (4.2%, "Blond" #Lager) brewed by Sinebrychoff Oy Ab for S-kaupat. Ingredients: Water, hops, and barley malt of which at least 75% originates from Finland. Costs 1,02€ for a 330ml can. Best by Feb 23, 2025. Would buy again. #beer #olut #öl
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/146/238/284/358/132/original/9f1d0a5b33f8456d.jpeg

2024-03-19 04:45:56 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 If it’s a Gmail account, I recently saw some issues with iOS related to this.

2024-03-18 06:32:30 GMT

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@npub1lrv…tth9 @npub16gl…syzj You broke the internet. I get: “Resource Limit Is Reached. The website is temporarily unable to service your request as it exceeded resource limit. Please try again later.”

2024-03-17 12:08:36 GMT

PSA: https://paddynotpatty.com
☘️🇮🇪 #paddynotpatty #saintpatricksday #stpatricksday #stpaddysday #paddysday #PSA #themoreyouknow

2024-03-10 10:18:42 GMT

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@npub1cmg…rzd2 At least three #Mastodon apps already support #quoteposts and it's definitely coming to Mastodon core.

2024-03-08 12:37:39 GMT

#Norway and #Finland when they learn #Sweden is finally a part of #NATO
— Source: https://www.threads.net/@veryfinnishproblems
#cats #catsofmastodon #catsofnato
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/060/101/809/687/617/original/f09e07f4439f2e4d.jpeg

2024-03-03 05:08:35 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 There can never be too many cats.

2024-02-23 05:04:23 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 There's a rumor that the website could be nuked.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/vice-media-is-basically-dead.html
(I hate Vice, for so many reasons.)

2024-02-22 16:00:12 GMT

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@npub1jnh…lfd7 @npub1k08…gewc I don’t believe it is.

2024-02-19 05:22:12 GMT

#Bluesky is basically Twitter for furries, dick pics, and fanart.

2024-02-11 14:56:01 GMT

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@npub1cmg…rzd2 I feel this. Very tired of the bashing of social media platforms and people for their choices/opinions. It's easy to fall into this too. I've even had to check myself a few times.
And I agree that Mastodon (I love it here) + Threads (everyone I know is basically there) is a good combo; despite the latter being a Meta product, but also because it's a Meta product.
It'll also be interesting to see what we can do with our accounts when Threads finally federates with ActivityPub.

2024-02-08 07:17:58 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 They just announced 1 million new users in 24 hours.

2024-02-07 20:08:34 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 As of 7 hours ago, 550k new users signed up since they opened up invites. Probably much closer to a million by now.

2024-01-10 19:01:58 GMT

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@npub1lsl…9c2x Yes, please post more here and less on Bluesky.

2023-12-24 09:22:17 GMT

I’m starting to see people on #Bluesky announce that they’re moving to #Threads. Especially those who rely on engagement.
Why?
#Meta’s adoption of #ActivityPub vs. #ATProtocol.
#fediverse #socialmedia #socialweb

2023-12-24 06:24:02 GMT

Looks like the #threadiverse has been widely used by the #Lemmy and #Kbin communities for years, but now it's slowly being co-opted (including by #Meta staff) to refer to the #federation of #Threads.
I predict a complete takeover of the #hashtag, and term in general, before the end of 2024.
#Mastodon #ActivityPub #fediverse #socialweb #hashtags #predictions

2023-12-23 07:34:41 GMT

Good morning and happy #Caturday from #Helsinki #Finland!
Miss Chicken von Waffles is currently sleeping under the #Christmas tree.
Best present ever!
#cats #catsofmastodon #catstodon #catsoffediverse #catsofthefediverse #xmas
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/628/574/874/940/369/original/621931d44eebe270.jpeg

2023-12-21 06:18:39 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 Based on all of the coverage in my news feeds, I'm guessing updates will be forthcoming.

2023-12-21 05:55:30 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 Can you disable them?

2023-12-21 05:34:31 GMT

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@npub1xzm…eykm @npub1ckm…gutz Just listened to it. Very insightful and clarified a thing or two as well.

2023-12-21 05:23:39 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 That's creepy AF.

2023-12-16 19:42:58 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 I got spammed. Lots of site lag and errors for a bit, but all clear now.

2023-12-11 09:08:33 GMT

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@npub1xzm…eykm Not familiar with #Tidal, so I looked them up and quickly learned that:
Tidal is majority-owned by Block (formerly Square), which is owned by Jack Dorsey (formerly Twitter) and Jim McKelvey.
A couple of billionaires that just cut more than 10% of their staff too.
https://fortune.com/2023/12/06/jack-dorsey-tidal-music-layoffs-spotify/

2023-11-22 16:19:52 GMT

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@npub18qs…0s8s Nice. Looking forward to seeing where all of this goes and then seeing if I could apply something similar to our #BeerAdvocate Community #forums. #zombiethread #beer

2023-11-17 07:13:17 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 Yeah, I think you’re right. There are a ton of Jack fans still on Twitter too, who are already on Bluesky or patiently waiting to join him there.

2023-11-17 07:03:57 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 I voted #Mastodon.
I signed up for a #Bluesky invite shortly after it launched, and tried several times since, but nada. Not sure I’d even bother at this point.
#Threads blocked me for being in Europe, but my brief usage before that was a very meh experience. I also despise all things #Meta.
Mastodon definitely needs more love though, as seen by the current poll results.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/424/610/691/956/659/original/70621b89f262efcb.jpeg

2023-11-12 19:10:16 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 Our cat wakes me up between 4-5 AM every morning and gets louder with every meow if I attempt to ignore her. Sleeping in for me isn't an option. 😾

2023-10-26 10:10:31 GMT

Another #soup day in #Helskinki.
Bouillabaisse from Mogs.
#foodporn #finland #suomi #seafood #salmon #mussels #shrimp
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/300/749/422/830/130/original/c30769274c6bca6a.jpeg

2023-10-25 17:44:59 GMT

For anyone still on #X / #Twitter, they just launched audio and video calls and it’s enabled by default. Fuck that. Turn it off under Settings > Privacy and Safety > Direct messages
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/296/894/086/862/724/original/8a0b25c7926bfabc.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/296/894/136/617/258/original/042690bbb33c55de.jpeg

2023-10-20 03:25:45 GMT

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@npub1xzm…eykm “Elon Musk on Thursday denied a report that he was considering pulling the platform from the European Union”
…but take his word for what it’s worth.
https://themessenger.com/tech/elon-musk-denial-twitter-europe-x-dsa-report

2023-09-23 06:12:57 GMT

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@npub1xzm…eykm How often is the search index updated?

2023-09-22 04:33:29 GMT

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@npub1c9n…5q09 Thanks, I’ve been lurking around and following the progress.

2023-09-22 04:05:22 GMT

Good morning from Helsinki, Finland! ⛅ 🇫🇮
Took a long (and much needed) break from social media. Not sure if I want to come back to all of it (especially mainstream platforms), but Mastodon is calling to me again.