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When Bluesky opened its waitlist I applied for an invite, more out of curiosity than anything. Not being on any other social network I certainly wasn't looking for an alternative and it wasn't FOMO – I just wondered what they would do with it.

Fast forward to last night when my invite code arrived; I'd completely forgotten about it and I'm in two minds about what to do.

I stopped using the big social networks for a reason: the toxicity and bullshit got too much, any benefits were far outweighed by the negatives. I just didn't have the headspace to deal with it and haven't wanted to go back since.

I much prefer smaller, more intimate environments for direct connection. Yes, Bluesky is 'smaller' (currently about 2 million users) but the aim is to grow, especially once it opens up and is decentralised next year.

I had a quick look at the AT protocol earlier this year but not long enough to make any sense of it. I suspect I'll have the same reaction as with ActivityPub. In any event, implementing it is only worth it if interacting on the platform.

There are two common sense approaches:

1. I sign up, take a look and if I don't use it I've not lost anything, or

2. steer clear

Maybe, if I'm having to think about it this much I know which approach I should take.

Thanks to Dave Winer for his thoughts.

When I used to DJ, back in the early 90's, I was primarily known for playing hard techno at a relatively high BPM – not Gabber high but (on a good night with the right crowd) I could hit 150.

I still love listening to stuff like that – a typical tempo for acid techno is 140 BPM – but I struggle to write stuff at that speed. I don't know why but I have some kind of mental block. It just doesn't sound right.

A lot of what I've produced recently has been somewhere around the 120-128 BPM range and that seems to be where I'm creatively most comfortable. If I try to push the tempo or, heaven forbid, layer in a techno rumble it feels fake.

Maybe I just need to practice more. I've not spent any time on music recently so am likely trying to run before I can walk – or crawl.