CoolMcCool

Born in N. Ireland, now living in Australia. Into bush camping - see https://slowcamping.com.au/ and a new holistic view of how we integrate with our natural environment. Professional human-centred designer, service designer (MA Design Futures).

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nprofile1qqsxmq57qsaqp37cngkhtgh9szsxpk0ecgf5jnhjdxujgk0lj8uwu2gpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerfw36x7tnsw43qfjh652

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Last Notes

2026-09-06 02:27:18 GMT

Misty morning, Mareeba, far north Queensland.
#silentsunday #photography #monochrome #blackandwhite #australia #phonephoto #pixelpro10
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/117/221/720/447/692/815/original/d26a5ae14f691165.jpg
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2026-08-21 06:32:42 GMT

According to iNaturalist, this is a specimen of ***Catacanthus punctus***. And according to what I can find out, it is a type of Shield Bug. Visitor to our campsite in Cooktown, Far North Queensland. Absolutely incredible colours. Went on its way unharmed, after kindly hanging around to be photographed.
Photo taken with Pixel 10 Pro. Cropped slightly, but not enhanced. #insects #nature #photography #wildlife #bugs #australia #macro #invertebrates
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/117/132/078/778/672/658/original/5c675d0bbdfc6bce.jpg
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2026-07-29 01:52:11 GMT

Church in the sugar cane fields, near Ayr, N. Qld.
Canon R10 with TTartisan manual 10mm f/2 lens.
#canon #photo #photography #landscapephotography #Australia #monochrome #blackandwhite #darktable #australiangothic
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/117/000/756/781/234/855/original/2642926032719adc.jpg

2026-07-28 06:43:01 GMT

Asian Magpie Moth, Nyctemera baulus, Tully Heads N Qld.
Canon R10, RF100-400 lens handheld, natural light. Minimal editing in #darktable
Suggestions on how I could improve my #photos welcome.
#australia #wildlife #moths #canon #mothtodon
#insect #insects #Insekt #Insekten #nature #Natur #naturephotography #macro #macrophotography #makro #makrofotografie #closeup #closeupshot #photography #Fotografie #amateurphotography
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2026-07-23 06:12:39 GMT

Beaut beetle which I noticed flying and which then landed in the grass at my feet. Managed to get some reasonable shots as it moved quite slowly and let me get quite close before flying off. Seen at Glen Erin near Bowen, Qld. Canon R10 and RF100-400 lens. Hand held, natural light. ID-ed on iNaturalist as Rhipicera mystacina.
#nature #photography #australia #insects #macro #wildlife #beetles
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/116/967/796/108/774/012/original/37c4fb69141c1eb8.jpg
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2026-06-11 02:40:51 GMT

Brown Honeyeater on banksia flowers.
Canon R10 and RF100-400
#birds #nature #australia #photography #wildlife
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2026-01-07 22:07:23 GMT

Cory Doctorow @nprofile…ugpy is able to pull an argument together in **such** clever ways. Here, he argues that AI-produced code is a *liability*, not an asset.
https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/06/1000x-liability/#graceful-failure-modes
#ai #writing #media #news #coding

2025-11-20 04:17:35 GMT

**Little Wattlebird** (*Anthochaera chrysoptera*) feeding on Grevillea, Central Coast, NSW.
#birds #birdwatching
#nature #wildlife #australia #inaturalist #photography #darktable
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2025-11-17 03:41:57 GMT

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@nprofile…q7h2 Really excellent photos. What kind of setup were you using, particularly lighting? Manual focus? Dedicated macro lens or extension tubes?
And thanks for sharing - really inspiring.

2025-08-25 02:25:02 GMT

Darwin – Infestation of Cane Toads
Lots of dead Cane Toads around the billabong this morning. Someone was out with a lamp last night trying to get rid of these pests, I think. Interesting to note that the resident Whistling Kite is taking an interest in some of the carcasses - some of which are even in the water.
UPDATE - The local kids had been on Toad-bashing expedition, and good on them. It's a bad
https://slowcamping.com.au/index.php/2025/08/23/cane-toad-2/
#iNaturalist #Wildlife

2025-06-13 04:14:16 GMT

Sacred Kingfiher on the Banks of the River Jordan
Sacred Kingfisher on the banks of the River Jordan, Jericho, QLD.
Camping just outside of the hamlet of Jericho in Queensland, we were delighted to have a Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) join us for breakfast every morning. One of the benefits of slow camping - that is staying in a place for
https://slowcamping.com.au/index.php/2025/06/13/sacred-kingfiher-on-the-banks-of-the-river-jordan/
#BirdWatching #Places #Birds #Wildlife
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2025-06-09 03:40:49 GMT

Cane ToadS
Cane Toad at Anakie, QLD.
Cane Toad helpfully offering a shoulderful of toxin.
Two BIG ones out in the morning sun - after a cold night. Note white substance (toxin?) one is exuding on shoulder area.
This is up in QLD, at Anakie in the Gemfields region. These two hopped off (sort of grudgingly) when me and the hound approached. One sort of raised itself up a
https://slowcamping.com.au/index.php/2025/06/06/cane-toad/
#iNaturalist #Other #Pests #Queensland #Wildlife

2025-06-09 02:43:03 GMT

Apostlebird
Image pulled in from iNaturalist.org - from an 'atom' RSS feed.
To be honest - they don't make it that transparent HOW to do this - typical developers! I'll havta write a guide!
https://slowcamping.com.au/index.php/2025/06/06/apostlebird-this-is-one-of-my-recent-photos-auto-magically-imported-from-inaturalist-using-an-atom-rss-feed-not-all-that-easy-to-find-how-to-do-it/
#BirdWatching #iNaturalist #Other #Photography #Wildlife

2025-01-29 00:29:12 GMT

Rupert Murdoch's *The Australian* newspaper, has predictably attacked DeepSeek as a new 'Chinese threat' and has complained about the apparent bias of the app:
#murdoch #auspol #australia #media #oligarchy #ai #deepseek #tech #China
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2025-01-29 00:29:12 GMT

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DeepSeek on Murdoch, continued:
"3. **Influence on Political Leaders**
Murdoch has cultivated close relationships with Australian political leaders, particularly those from the Coalition. Prime Ministers such as John Howard, Tony Abbott, and Scott Morrison have enjoyed favorable coverage from Murdoch's media outlets, while Labor leaders like Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard have often faced harsh criticism.
Murdoch's influence is not just limited to election cycles; his media's ongoing support or opposition can impact the longevity and stability of political leaders.
4. **Criticism and Controversy**
Murdoch's influence has been a source of controversy, with critics accusing him of wielding disproportionate power over Australian politics. Some argue that his media's biased coverage undermines democratic processes by limiting the diversity of viewpoints available to the public.
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been particularly vocal in criticizing Murdoch's influence, calling for a royal commission into media diversity and ownership in Australia.
5. **Impact on Policy**
Murdoch's media has played a role in shaping policy debates, particularly on issues like climate change, energy, and industrial relations. For example, *The Australian* and other Murdoch outlets have often criticized renewable energy policies and supported coal and gas industries.
The consistent messaging from Murdoch's media can pressure governments to adopt policies that align with his interests or those of his corporate allies.
6. **Cultural Influence**
Beyond politics, Murdoch's media has influenced Australia's cultural and social landscape by promoting certain values and narratives. This includes a focus on national identity, traditional values, and skepticism toward progressive social movements."
#auspol #australia #media #oligarchy #ai #deepseek #tech #murdoch

2025-01-27 22:22:11 GMT

That's ONE TRILLION $$$ just gone, folks: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/27/tech-shares-asia-europe-fall-china-ai-deepseek
#ai #tech #grifters #ponzi #theGreatTechCrashof2025

2025-01-20 01:19:55 GMT

Folks? What's the best way to combine my #pixelfed and #mastodon accounts? Post to Pixelfed and share with Mastodon? Or...
And best way to share followers between the two?
#fediverse

2025-01-17 05:12:34 GMT

A Great Egret (*Ardea alba*) which came along to investigate my fishing activities near Woy, Woy, NSW, Australia.
It seemed very tame and readily accepted some scraps of fish I threw in its direction. A very beautiful bird and it was a privilege to see it up so close.
(Not withstanding its scientific name, I'm sure that if they lived in #ireland they would be known as 'Great Big Egrets' or 'Complete Total Egrets').
#birds #wildlife #nature #australia #irish #humour
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2025-01-14 22:07:09 GMT

Cory Doctorow @nprofile…qz4x is ABSOLUTELY ON FIRE* today (and grimly hilarious), skewering crypto among many other enshittified things, not least the politicians who were warned of the consequences of their actions, but still continued to do the wrong thing, whether through stupidity, ideology or graft:
*Take Malcolm Turnbull, the former Australian Prime Minister. When he was told that the laws of mathematics dictated that it was impossible to build selectively effective encryption of the sort he was demanding, he replied, "The laws of mathematics are very commendable but the only law that applies in Australia is the law of Australia"*
https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/13/wanting-it-badly/
#tech #media #crypto #lafires #auspol #climateemergency #climatechange
*and he's writing as #la literally burns - though as he points out, the authorities were warned, time and time again, about the dangers. Not to mention that #exxonknew long ago about the consequences of its actions...

2025-01-14 05:28:40 GMT

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@nprofile…5wev #inaturalist is awesome! Good to see that #iNaturalistNZ is part of the global network. Join up and add your own observations of local flora and fauna - even if it's just a #spider you saw in your bathroom or a 'weed' you found in your own back yard.
https://www.inaturalist.org/
#nature #wildlife #rewilding #ecology #science #citizenscience #media #socialmedia #flora #fauna #plants #gardens

2025-01-10 04:16:31 GMT

*Tiliqua scincoides* aka the Common Bluetongue, among the vegetable beds. Very happy as this one is just a wee baby... so it looks as though they've successfully bred this year in our vicinity. #nature #wildlife #australia #biodiversity #reptiles #Skinks #lizards #herpetology #gardens #rewilding
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2025-01-09 02:12:55 GMT

The Common Mynahs nesting in our yard are having their eggs eaten by a rival species. I suspect either the local Little Wattlebirds or Noisy Miners, but it could also be a Butcherbird that often visits the area.
This is the second pecked-open egg I have found on the ground beneath their nest.
The mystery continues...
(I'm not bothered about the Common Mynahs getting attacked, as they're becoming a pest in the area as there are so many - and they must be having an impact on other species) #australia #birds #nature #wildlife #ecology #gardens #nsw #centralcoast
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2024-12-22 22:23:20 GMT

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@nprofile…5tkf Makes sense. That's probably why with a obsolete entry-level DSLR, and a not-so-great 300mm zoom, I'm struggling...
Double-barred Finch, *Stizoptera bichenovii, *#canberra, #australia.
#birds #photography
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2024-12-22 22:08:47 GMT

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@nprofile…5tkf Your bird photographs are AMAZING. How do you get them so pixel-perfect clear? I mean, where every feature/feather is in focus and no background noise??

2024-12-19 00:20:48 GMT

Writer Cory Doctorow @nprofile…qz4x on how he predicted violence against US #healthcare CEOs. As usual, he makes an *awful* lot of sense:
But the assassination of Brian Thompson is a wake-up call, a warning that if we don’t solve this problem politically, we may not have a choice about whether it’s solved with violence. As a character in “Radicalized” says, “They say violence never solves anything, but to quote *The Onion*: that’s only true so long as you ignore all of human history.”
https://pluralistic.net/2024/12/09/radicalized/#deny-defend-depose
#capitalism #gunviolence

2024-12-17 21:20:48 GMT

So good to see Retro Librarian @nprofile…quqw here on #mastodon #fediverse
I love your posts! Keep 'em coming!

2024-07-28 23:43:42 GMT

'Winter' on Central Coast, NSW, #australia
#photo #photography #garden'#gardening
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2024-07-24 07:58:12 GMT

The always readable George Monbiot on the super-rich. (And I was lucky enough to see dolphins at our local Umina Beach this morning.)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/24/extreme-wealth-super-rich-devon-society-planet
#EattheRich #capitalism #nature #climatechange #climatecrisis

2023-09-14 07:13:55 GMT

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@npub1r7v…qwpu Certainly; but surely their ultimate classic must be 'I Live In A Car'.
*I live in a car*
*I live in a car*
*I don't need no tv or stereo*
*Because I live in a car*
*I live in a car*
Sheer #poetry