Augustus Brown 🌈

https://aus.social/@augustusbrown

Transport planner 🍃
Posting about news and politics.
Also at https://augustusbrown.bsky.social
Naarm (Melbourne, Aus)

Public Key

npub1we4waq37pkjnzqvy4m3jgjj6e783a68g4m528w8q60nkm6xcyrnss0wev3

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs8v6hwsglqmff3qxz2aceyffdvlrc7ar52a69rhrsd8emdarvzpecprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntzxdg4t

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub1we4waq37pkjnzqvy4m3jgjj6e783a68g4m528w8q60nkm6xcyrnss0wev3

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Last Notes

2026-05-17 11:22:45 GMT

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"Broken promises" only really matter to the media and opposition. In a perfect world, the debate would be on the policy merits at the time and not whether someone expressed an opinion about it some years ago.

2026-05-17 11:18:01 GMT

Push poll:
"Labor ruled out changing the two housing taxes before the 2025 election. Some argue that breaking promises like this is damaging to democracy and dishonest, whereas others say circumstances have changed and the housing crisis warrants the changes. Has this broken promise changed your views of Labor or not?"
How to ask without pushing:
"Do you support, oppose, or have no opinion on the proposed changes to housing taxes?"
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/labor-s-primary-vote-slumps-after-broken-promise-budget-20260517-p5zxus.html
No paywall: https://archive.md/PwDyo
#AusPol #GeneralNews

2026-04-14 08:39:28 GMT

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We get the "baseload" bullshit a lot in Australia. Every prediction of network failure over the last 20 years has proven themself false as wind and solar have become a significant proportion of energy generation.
Really, "baseload" is an adaption of the inability to turn off coal power even when its generation is surplus to requirements. It's becoming clearer and clearer that we'll be able to get by with wind, solar, hydro and battery storage, and backup gas.

2026-04-13 08:49:56 GMT

Fuck I hate slop. I can now only trust imperfection as genuine. Make sure your podcast/video has a crappy mic or slur your words a bit.

2026-03-26 21:55:48 GMT

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/26/australia-electric-buses-transition-from-diesel-fuel-crisis
#Transport #Energy #AusPol #GeneralNews

2026-03-24 12:09:11 GMT

Support the ABC's worker strike. Don't interact with trackable ABC services from 11 am AEDT this Wednesday to 11 am Thursday.
Don't use ABC websites. Don't use iview. Don't use ABC apps. Don't interact with anything trackable.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/mar/24/abc-staff-strike-bbc-content-to-replace-flagship-shows-including-730-and-am
#Labour #Australia #AusPol #GeneralNews

2026-03-12 00:54:15 GMT

Taxi driver abandoned their vehicle, blocking trams on Union Road, Ascot Vale, beside a vacant car parking space!
Tram driver and passenger had managed to find the taxi driver by the time I'd taken this picture.
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/213/465/373/110/607/original/8c2b27fa10dde406.jpg

2026-02-12 07:44:09 GMT

Tyre spikes for humans coming to Woolworths!
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/056/521/737/467/231/original/6b2f6e9967155ed9.jpg
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/116/056/521/879/235/847/original/a1cd54aabfeb430b.jpg

2026-01-15 02:40:56 GMT

"Sweden, France and Norway have begun sending armed forces to Greenland at Denmark's request."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-15/greenland-denmark-us-meeting-on-territory-future/106230646
#War #Greenland #USPol #GeneralNews

2026-01-08 22:01:01 GMT

Abundance of renewable energy protected grid and prevented blackouts during Wednesday's heatwave.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-09/solar-powers-australia-through-heatwave-conditions/106211394
#Energy #ClimateChange #AusPol #GeneralNews

2025-12-27 20:18:33 GMT

Get these vehicles off the road.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/pedestrian-fatalities-reach-17-year-high-this-trend-could-be-why-20251227-p5nq8x.html
No paywall: https://archive.md/3sYNL
#Transport #AusPol #GeneralNews

2025-12-21 04:38:53 GMT

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Yeah, which is why I don't want to participate in it tbh

2025-12-21 00:20:01 GMT

We must avoid a tipping culture.
(I'll admit to tipping food delivery bicycle riders on the rare event I get food delivered. I just figure the job is atrocious).
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-21/automatic-tipping-on-the-rise-amid-cost-of-business-crisis/106167380
#AusPol #GeneralNews

2025-12-05 06:45:55 GMT

Pigeons 🐦‍⬛
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/115/665/607/537/350/766/original/6012c18b270a51e0.jpg

2025-11-30 03:02:35 GMT

Lots of love for this new train line.
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/115/636/419/267/022/820/original/53e1d3d021fed7c2.jpg

2025-11-21 00:24:45 GMT

ABC headline: The unexpected ways a meteor can shape your career.
Upon rereading: The unexpected ways a mentor can shape your career.

2025-09-11 20:59:59 GMT

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I got fed up with constant punctures that I switched to heavy duty tubes. On some bikes I also switched to thicker tyres. Almost never get punctures anymore

2025-08-22 23:59:22 GMT

Funny level crossing operation in Chicago. Gates open for a few seconds, lights never stop flashing.
Full video: https://youtu.be/4Krz6IFIW6s?si=EmAXgvFaQPaw_Hjf
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/115/075/130/722/484/999/original/1dfcb3becf194281.mp4

2025-08-01 06:59:16 GMT

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Thanks 😊

2025-08-01 06:48:17 GMT

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That bit near Gordon Street should be shown as local. Here's a map of state government arterials.
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/068ac885fc3f47d4aecfea22c22c4e54

2025-08-01 06:38:47 GMT

Thanks to my tireless efforts (spotting a mapping error late one night), the "arterial road" designation on Google Maps has been removed from Barkly Street and Hopkins Street through Footscray's activity centre.
The route is not a state government arterial, it's a local council road and, strategically, it should not be considered a through route for motor traffic.
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/114/952/114/282/280/463/original/34f0954330e36a74.png
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/114/952/114/511/181/336/original/274ababc7c7e4445.png

2025-07-14 04:41:32 GMT

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It may depend on the question/interpretation because a lot of newspaper reading would have been skimming, similar to online. Not the same as reading a book

2025-07-14 04:35:57 GMT

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Including newspapers but not online news reports is silly

2025-06-12 05:28:57 GMT

Hopefully this isn't the first of a thousand cuts against women's freedom in Syria.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgq7d9qdego
via @npub1phq…3s3j
#Oppression #Religion #Syria #GeneralNews

2025-06-08 21:27:38 GMT

I envy her bravery, and everyone who has the courage to face such a murderous foe.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-09/israel-katz-greta-turn-back-madleen-aid-ship-idf-military/105392192
#Palestine #Gaza #Israel #GeneralNews

2025-04-05 23:57:02 GMT

Bluesky down. #SkyIsFalling

2025-02-25 20:46:12 GMT

Antony Green retiring on-screen role after upcoming election. #AusPol
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-26/legendary-abc-chief-election-analyst-antony-green-to-step-down/104977638
https://mediacdn.aus.social/media_attachments/files/114/066/477/557/915/843/original/2a581f86e68b520d.jpg

2024-11-28 21:18:17 GMT

Scott Morrison, oops, Anthony Albanese secretly takes on another portfolio.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/done-over-labor-dismay-over-pm-s-call-to-ditch-environment-watchdog-20241128-p5ku9z.html
No paywall: https://12ft.io/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/done-over-labor-dismay-over-pm-s-call-to-ditch-environment-watchdog-20241128-p5ku9z.html
#Environment #AusPol #GeneralNews

2024-11-17 20:09:10 GMT

Business targets improve following implementation of four-day work week.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-18/fitter-happier-more-productive-after-switch-to-four-day-week/104581586
#Business #AusPol #GeneralNews

2024-11-16 21:01:36 GMT

I've been told off for posting 'no paywall' links. Do you think I should stop doing it? I can understand the concern from the journo who approached me.

2024-11-07 05:35:20 GMT

An outage that has disabled hundreds of myki readers is believed to be caused by the shutdown of Telstra’s 3G network, even after Victoria spent millions of dollars ensuring they would work with 4G.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/free-ride-as-myki-hit-with-widespread-glitches-after-3g-shutdown-20241107-p5koo6.html
No paywall: https://12ft.io/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/free-ride-as-myki-hit-with-widespread-glitches-after-3g-shutdown-20241107-p5koo6.html
#SpringSt #GeneralNews

2024-11-06 20:11:54 GMT

Concerns about income inequality in Australia are strongly related to dissatisfaction with democracy.
https://theconversation.com/australians-who-think-inequality-is-high-have-less-faith-in-democratic-institutions-study-242902
#AusPol #GeneralNews

2024-09-29 04:04:49 GMT

I rode a new Transit Systems bus. It was a diesel bus, but it was clean, wasn't horribly loud, had a nice seating layout, two double doors, and it wasn't covered in ad wrap.
However, it was still driven by a Melbourne bus driver, none of whom seem to understand the effect of centripetal force on the passengers.

2024-08-25 00:38:09 GMT

New volcanoes expected in Australia's south-east.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-25/new-volcanoes-in-south-east-australia-will-form-in-the-future/104250412
#GeneralNews