David

Day Job: IT Support at UQ Library
Things I do when not at work:
* Blacksmithing
* Cooking
* Photography
* noodling around on computers
* avid Sea of Thieves player

Politics: LEFT
Photo Account: [@[email protected]](https://photog.social/@david )
Wider Audience Account: David de Groot (npub17jn…alaq)

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[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsfcxsvmfwxqjdrlztkax86lvx8868tkf4fjwc49dxcgxhqz93m07qpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsnuzfvc

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1nsdqekjuvpy687yhd6v047cvw05whvn2nya3226dssdwqytrkluqpmtqle

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Last Notes

2026-04-16 05:51:43 GMT

If you're in Qld, there's an eMobility survey being run at UQ, the results of which will be submitted to the Dept of Transport and Main Roads.
https://uniofqueensland.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cHNS3Omfoik2u2O

2026-02-04 05:11:50 GMT

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Haven’t looked in to that one, but it’s American, which kinda turns me off somewhat.
What I really want is a good electric tow vehicle. Can be just a two seater, but ideally be able to tow a 3.5kg load for 450km+ between charges (longer range when not towing). And in as compact a form factor as possible while still complying with the tow rules.
Such a beastie does not exist (yet).
Even better would be if it had a fold out solar array of no less than 4kW so when you’re parked up, you can recharge off-grid. Would make outback travel more doable.

2026-01-28 02:30:07 GMT

Pretty good outside today (well in the shade anyway). Two views over the lake at UQ. One from this morning, and one just now (lunchtime).
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/115/970/361/014/483/369/original/ad95ad69b0fa488f.jpeg
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/115/970/360/598/617/302/original/99a34d28e017a306.jpeg

2026-01-22 22:56:18 GMT

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no it’s just a bus.

2026-01-20 20:33:32 GMT

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yep! feint, but nice colours on the camera.
Had to drive out to Laidley to get photos due to Brisbane's massive light pollution.

2026-01-20 13:17:33 GMT

Queensland folk, if you have dark skies, you can see the aurora now.

2026-01-20 09:02:03 GMT

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I'm considering heading out later tonight, just in case. The skies are meant to clear by 10pm and well, I'd feel pretty silly if I didn't try.

2026-01-18 22:34:06 GMT

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this is common across a lot of makes. However, can highly recommend the Mini / BMW OS and its driver profiles and non-intrusive safety systems.

2026-01-18 09:06:11 GMT

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IIRC @npub1yyy…uagp has the MGS5.
Others in that size bracket, include the Volvo EX30 (and EX30 Cross). If you don't need quite as large, the new BYD Atto 2 might suit. Or the Mini Countryman (which is actually mid-sized SUV, unlike my little Cooper SE)

2026-01-17 10:03:55 GMT

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Aye. :)

2026-01-17 08:35:17 GMT

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And it's all over.
64.5mm of rain. 6º temperature drop outside.
#BNEStorm

2026-01-17 07:49:00 GMT

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Much rain. Very green.
#BNEStorm

2026-01-17 07:29:46 GMT

Storm incoming. Much rumbling here.

2026-01-13 05:24:17 GMT

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ewww

2025-12-31 04:29:07 GMT

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That's odd behaviour indeed (not bring in a tree, but feeding up there).

2025-12-28 01:33:18 GMT

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Yep, noticed it at the Aldi at Keperra too.
Thankfully not out in the Drakes at Samford (yet).

2025-12-22 03:55:20 GMT

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i photographed a pair of those in NZ last year. (Captive).
They are quite the sight to behold in person.
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/115/761/193/228/162/427/original/8675bcb56d11f8b8.jpeg
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/115/761/193/150/880/917/original/3791f6831fc2b62c.jpeg

2025-12-17 19:39:30 GMT

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I've gone to Librewolf. Same principle.

2025-12-13 20:46:37 GMT

Australian Battery Rebate system is changing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p503XKJ28nU
You have until May 2026 to take advantage of the existing system before changes to the rebate occurs.
From May 2026:
From 0 kWh up to 14 kWh (inclusive): STC Factor applied at 100%.
Every kWh greater than 14 and up to 28 kWh (inclusive): STC Factor applied at 60%.
Every kWh greater than 28 and up to 50 kWh (inclusive): STC Factor applied at 15%.
And that will be reduced every 6 months for the remainder of the 4 yr scheme.
#battery

2025-11-27 07:33:23 GMT

Fun trip home featuring a surprise storm, some small hail, and a stop and sketchy diversion around a fallen tree across the road.
Made it home ok though.
#BNEstorm

2025-11-23 10:34:56 GMT

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Or you could make a BoM out of it ;-)

2025-11-22 21:27:18 GMT

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Also woke to storm (now engulfing Brisbane and surrounds).
Steady (light) rain and the occasional roll of thunder now.

2025-11-19 07:08:08 GMT

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The ones we get look like this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dadegroot/47932272213/in/photolist-2g2BqAr
Very pretty blue and brown fellows.
(and I have confirmed, they do indeed glow under UV light at night).

2025-11-18 21:34:58 GMT

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wow! We have heaps of them out here, easily found hiding under rocks / bricks / pieces of wood. I've never been stung by one though. (Australian Scorpions are mostly harmless, which at least is something)

2025-11-14 08:21:51 GMT

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We recorded a maximum rain rate of 205mm/hr at home (Cedar Creek, 4520) !!

2025-11-14 08:14:18 GMT

Holy snapping turtles batman! That's some heavy rain I just drove through (visibility down to maybe 20m)

2025-11-14 08:13:46 GMT

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Same! (but while driving)

2025-11-12 12:10:37 GMT

RE: https://bne.social/@phocks/115535540378242622
I'm sure you mean Quooting.
You toot a toot, but you can quoot another toot.
#note13ua…ked5

2025-11-09 10:56:53 GMT

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oooh, a juvenile male (beak is starting to turn red, whereas the females look the same but have a dark grey beak).
We've had quite a few recently.

2025-11-06 20:33:30 GMT

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Don't partake in the forbidden fruit. ;-)
(but yeah, I have had thoughts along those lines a few times, but then I came to my senses)

2025-11-06 12:19:04 GMT

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No need if you know Vi
;-)

2025-11-05 21:57:02 GMT

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same. I need to drive home and pick Lea up and drive back in.

2025-11-04 21:31:41 GMT

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A nightly regular here at this time of year (never see it, but hear it most nights).

2025-11-04 10:09:36 GMT

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Pantomime horses FTW

2025-10-26 19:58:35 GMT

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no :(

2025-10-20 04:31:30 GMT

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for the sale of my solar installers, I’m hoping they’re wrong about Thursday.

2025-10-20 03:15:27 GMT

Very summery on campus today.
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/115/404/312/837/705/515/original/a581f8fa0a801954.jpg

2025-10-18 06:02:23 GMT

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Looks like it might do the Samford split and we'll miss it here.

2025-10-12 08:29:27 GMT

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I made "The Sultan was Delighted" (well that's the English translation). An Ottoman Turkish dish which is essentially a béchamel sauce with mushed roasted eggplant in it, topped with some lamb (but you could do halloumi) kofte (Long meatballs) and a drizzle of red-pepper butter.

2025-10-09 11:50:48 GMT

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Airline map designer... "Hmm, the west of Australia is pretty empty, we need to show something here. By Joves, I've got it! Shipwrecks! It's totally obvious when in a plane".

2025-10-09 09:46:11 GMT

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Do inflight maps usually show historical shipwrecks?

2025-10-09 04:49:02 GMT

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its been shorts weather for weeks!

2025-10-04 06:06:10 GMT

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say you aren’t on tank water without saying you aren’t on tank water challenge. ;-)

2025-10-03 10:51:05 GMT

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Another one??? There was one in that area earlier in the week.

2025-09-24 10:50:44 GMT

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I've only been there virtually (in Sniper Elite 5). ;-)

2025-09-16 08:12:18 GMT

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argh that’s not great.

2025-09-12 10:32:21 GMT

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och laddie, that IS autumn ;-)

2025-09-07 07:31:13 GMT

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yeah, first day or three after infection you’re not shedding enough virus/developing enough antibodies for it to detect.
PCR tests are more reliable in that period, but also expensive and inconvenient.

2025-09-07 07:08:41 GMT

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or too early for the rat to detect it.

2025-09-05 06:42:09 GMT

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they usually do. Your people will deal with his people. Providing they approved your claim, there’s nothing else you need to worry about.

2025-09-01 01:49:10 GMT

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I recommend and use the Logitech G903 (with the optional power play mouse mat, which charges the mouse wirelessly in use).
Can be used in either hand (I use it left handed, due to how my desk is arranged).

2025-08-30 01:46:48 GMT

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3/5 for me. Apparently I speak more like a South Australian despite being born in Qld and living here most of my life.
I suspect that might be age related though.

2025-08-22 07:20:50 GMT

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I dunno - I am hoping to patch the driveway, and start my taxes.
It's all the High Life here.

2025-08-22 02:11:34 GMT

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but are they voiced by Danny DeVito?

2025-08-20 08:09:33 GMT

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wait! It's still only Wednesday???

2025-08-16 00:17:07 GMT

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Luckily a very short one.

2025-08-16 00:03:28 GMT

#BNEearthquake just now.
5.6 !
https://earthquakes.ga.gov.au
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/115/035/509/657/307/196/original/9751a943d078adaf.png

2025-08-15 04:05:09 GMT

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neither of us got it, but the worthy winner was the Rakali.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-15/wildlife-blog-15-august-2025/105651126#live-blog-post-212546

2025-08-13 06:16:17 GMT

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gah!

2025-08-11 23:43:18 GMT

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Indeed - just don’t go licking your batteries for added lithium ;-)

2025-08-11 09:09:33 GMT

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that'll teach you to have fancy valves :P

2025-08-10 10:38:45 GMT

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That sounds like a day you'd have been better off staying in bed for.

2025-08-05 02:26:02 GMT

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And if you like the writing style in the Name of the Rose, one of his other books, Baudolino is also good.

2025-08-03 23:44:49 GMT

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oh no!
Pet deaths are the worst deaths. 😭

2025-08-02 00:55:07 GMT

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the safest of places.

2025-08-01 02:10:05 GMT

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So many choices, but I went with #TeamGhostbat

2025-07-30 00:06:07 GMT

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they're safety lighters, so clearly just the thing for the "your first fire" party. ;-)

2025-07-27 23:45:46 GMT

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I cannot say I was a fan.

2025-07-27 08:10:34 GMT

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how many babies does it have to be to qualify as a shower?

2025-07-20 11:29:28 GMT

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I did a night drive to Dove Lake and back when there (it was October I think), saw probably just as many critters, but alas, no Quolls.

2025-07-13 21:37:22 GMT

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-4 in Stanthorpe this morning! (according to Weather Underground anyway)
A toasty 8 here :)

2025-07-13 04:32:41 GMT

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Time to track down some wombats!

2025-07-13 00:45:28 GMT

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https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/114/843/157/552/525/834/original/16a5eb3573a70ff7.mp4

2025-07-05 23:23:47 GMT

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I *generally* don't go out in public unless dressed reasonably. (with the exception of say going to the hardware in daggy work clothes).
I figure that's just me though, since plenty of people go out in trackies and ugg boots.

2025-07-04 07:59:13 GMT

@npub1scp…6zy8 seen in my local newsletter, might interest you.
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/114/793/897/581/195/490/original/d7f31c6251aed471.jpg

2025-07-01 03:03:09 GMT

Steps outside: Who turned the wind up???

2025-06-28 02:04:30 GMT

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I didn’t like Bazzite, but HoloISO works for me. (But i also have an AMD GPU)

2025-06-17 21:31:38 GMT

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It definitely works, but, I have issues with it on non-MS OS's. It requires a Nightly build of Rust to build the app. This is *NOT* how you make production ready applications. NO-ONE should be relying on features in a nightly build of your compiler.

2025-06-12 09:43:23 GMT

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The solution is to take a break from reading news for a while. Pop in now and then just to see what's going on, but definitely not worth spending too much time on (esp. when so much of the news you can't do anything about).

2025-06-04 00:04:11 GMT

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depends on if you’re a tooth fairy, or a dentist (if the latter, I’d say around $1500-$7000)
😂

2025-05-28 07:15:57 GMT

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didn't get above 16º here all day.

2025-05-22 19:54:09 GMT

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That is at least one I don't have to pay (although my electricity bill is higher because of it).

2025-05-22 07:11:15 GMT

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so what you're saying is you're a tight-arse? 😂

2025-05-20 02:17:53 GMT

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this is hilarious!

2025-05-15 08:10:12 GMT

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🤯

2025-05-14 07:33:49 GMT

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Bit of a moot point I'm afraid. :(
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/114/505/023/949/300/109/original/c446ba1b11dd214e.png

2025-05-04 00:36:20 GMT

#Free to a good* home.
One Torini 2.8kVa generator. 18L petrol tank, motor runs well and starts easily.
The catch js that there’s something wrong with the generator portion. Might be the breaker, might be the generator itself. I am not an electrical engineer so have no idea.
If you want to have a crack at it, or just want a small petrol engine for something, I’m happy to pass it on.
*home does not actually have to be good.
location: Cedar Creek 4520
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/114/446/741/074/284/834/original/680cdc602dc960b6.jpg
https://assets.bne.social/media_attachments/files/114/446/743/158/014/006/original/1913e4d16cb92f80.jpg

2025-05-01 21:02:07 GMT

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It is *glorious*

2025-04-28 12:18:04 GMT

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bet you didn't think you'd need to debug your eye!

2025-04-26 21:44:24 GMT

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Hate to say it, but "you ain't seen nothing yet!" 'cause you've got the Teenage Years to come.

2025-04-21 08:05:57 GMT

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When my photog are get together (herding cats is usually easier), the Sandgate Fishmonger / Sandgate foreshore, is the general consensus. (lunch obvs).
Advantage of being outside, and who doesn't like some fish'n'chips by the water?

2025-04-21 03:37:21 GMT

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cruel and unusual punishment!

2025-04-19 04:03:01 GMT

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I don't understand why the ALP aren't pushing hard in this seat. Dutton only holds it by 1.7% or something, it *shouldn't* be that hard to unseat him.

2025-04-19 04:02:08 GMT

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good luck! I hope the surgery fixes the problems.

2025-04-19 03:52:29 GMT

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I think that goes for most Teals. That's why they're Teal, instead of say Pink.
The ALP gave up on Allie, so viable alternatives to Dutton (and it's imperative that bastard gets voted out), are few and far between.

2025-04-19 03:35:22 GMT

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There's definitely that. Although, I'm also aware of people running for parliament full of vim and vigour and then crashing in to stone wall when they're voted in and amounting to nothing. Or quiet but dependable people who've made it in and done a lot of negotiation when they get in to make their promises happen.
Which style is she? Hopefully the latter, since the former while inspiring, often burn out too quickly to achieve anything. (I miss Scott Ludlam from the Greens)

2025-04-19 03:13:34 GMT

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From what I can tell, she's running on her own merits rather than relying on slagging the other teams. An interesting strategy in today's politics. Still a better option than Dutton, ON, FF, and TP.

2025-04-17 00:06:16 GMT

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racing slicks!

2025-04-12 04:03:03 GMT

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we had some light rain (also went to the shops), but it bucketed down just minutes after arriving home.

2025-04-12 01:03:57 GMT

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I have 7 candidates in my electorate, and only three of those are fighting for last, which is a nice change.