After 14 years I’ve decided to deactivate my Facebook account.

For a few years now I have felt uneasy about my addiction to social media. That craving to check your phone every few minutes for new posts, or worse seeking validation from others through likes and comments.

It steals hours of potentially productive time a day with little reward; reaching for the mobile as soon as I wake up, any time I find a spare five minutes – and let’s be honest, often on the loo – and needing a final hit before I go to sleep. By any definition that’s an addiction.

I’ve also felt increasingly manipulated by Facebook – the slurping of data by stealth, the profiling and targeted ads, the fake personality quizzes and the “Bet you can’t…” bullshit clickbait articles. Facebook chooses for me what to read and see and buy, and even think. Whenever I hear the phrase “I read on Facebook …” I assume what follows will be horseshit.

It’s all horribly Big Brother and yet we embrace it in our billions in our Fear Of Missing Out. And we will never even know how big a part social media’s lies and manipulation have played in Brexit and Trump.

Well I’m done.

I’m unplugging from the Matrix. Twitter went a long time ago. I’m deactivating my Facebook account and just keeping LinkedIn for keeping in touch with recruiters.

It’s not that I don’t want to socialise at all online – feel free to email me via the Contact page or comment on any of my posts – I just refuse to dance to Zuckerberg’s tune any more.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-life/201404/7-ways-facebook-is-bad-your-mental-health

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicabaron/2019/01/08/is-facebook-harmful-to-your-health/#19663c3a6436

One of the biggest jewels in Upper Hutt’s crown must be Brewtown. By converting a disused factory into microbreweries and restaurants they have created a hipster mecca drawing in neckbeards from far and wide.

The big draw for us is that they are dog-friendly, so we can let Penny lie beneath the table hoovering up fries and leftovers.

We tried Wild Kiwi distillery today — less crowded and quieter than neighbour Boneface — and would recommend it. The pulled pork burgers were juicy, had a gluten free bun option and the fries were crispy.

Even the loos were cool!

I don’t particularly subscribe to the concept of “guilty pleasures” – if you like something then who cares what anyone else thinks? – however if I did I would expect my love of the Bill & Ted films to fall into that category.

My head knows they’re terrible films, but my heart is happy to ignore it and go along with the air guitars, hair metal and good natured stupidity. I’ve been hoping they’d complete the trilogy for over 20 years since my bogan youth quoted the film endlessly and played the Bogus Journey soundtrack (cassette) to death.

Having seen the trailer for Botox & Ted: Face the Music however I’m a bit worried. I’m now used to Keanu as John Wick and half expecting him to shove a pencil in someone’s ear. He looks a bit like someone’s Dad doing an impression of Ted in the trailer, a fish out of water switching back to comedy.

Fingers crossed they’re holding things back from the trailer and it all ends most triumphantly. Be excellent to each other and PARTY ON DUDES!

After months of cabin fever during lockdown we took the opportunity to get out of town and enjoy the delights of Palmerston North. Nothing flash, just a night in a hotel, a decent Thai meal and lots of walking, but it was good to get away.

You have to wonder though with Palmy’s biggest building / eyesore what the architects are aiming for. Were they big Doctor Who fans or did really like pinatas?