Nostr notes by Tim 🎮

Hey, #FountainPen folks of fedi. I've had the idea to get ...

2026-08-26T22:21:23Z

Hey, #FountainPen folks of fedi. I've had the idea to get someone a purple pen of some kind for a birthday in about a month. I don't know if I do or don't want a fountain pen specifically (and I barely do any handwriting myself these days, I've never bought anything other than cheap supermarket pens), but what terms should I be searching for / reading up on to start learning and making a decision?

I propose a new kind of time-keeping device: once a minute, it ...

2026-07-26T05:30:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…dmum
_________________________

I propose a new kind of time-keeping device: once a minute, it asks 100 random people on Fedi how they pronounce scone, and uses the ratio of 'gone' to 'cone' answers (and its trend over time) to figure out the ratio of Americans vs Brits and Australians who are awake and online and thus what the likely time is.

Also, this scone may be the single most photogenic bit of food I've ever made. #baking

I have a Dymo Letratag bought on sale at my local supermarket. ...

2026-07-10T00:24:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…50uz
_________________________

I have a Dymo Letratag bought on sale at my local supermarket. It's not been a serious area of hobby investment so far - interesting though that there are multiple options out there!

Today I learned, and you should too: heatshrink label printers ...

2026-07-09T23:35:46Z

Today I learned, and you should too: heatshrink label printers are a thing.

They look like a normal laser printer except you feed them cartridges with white heatshrink tubing, they print text *directly onto the heatshrink* and then you put that on your wiring.

Looks like they're maybe AU$100 for a bundle with some supplies. Not entirely impulse purchase territory, but the next time I'm tearing down and recabling a desk from scratch or some other massive wiring project, I'm getting one. #maker

"...connection issues were mostly being reported in ...

2026-07-09T02:59:39Z

"...connection issues were mostly being reported in Australia's eastern states". Is this not simply a map of #Australia's population density? #Telstra

(Article here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-09/telstra-outage-still-impacting-triple-zero-calls/106895430?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other)

I spent one of Sydney's hotter summers in a barren concrete ...

2026-07-02T11:32:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…jwaz
_________________________

I spent one of Sydney's hotter summers in a barren concrete block of apartments with windows that tilted out like in the photo. They're really not suited for portable aircon units, you could rig it up and seal it with tape against airflow but it'll be terrible at insulating against heat. You'll end up with a cool spot in the room in front of the A/C and it'll be super loud the whole time but if you have nowhere else to go it might be worth it to be vaguely comfortable at home.

Today's keyboard is an unusual one. It's a Chicony ...

2026-07-02T01:15:07Z

Today's keyboard is an unusual one. It's a Chicony KB-2931, and while it's "modern" enough to have Windows keys, it also has a 5-pin DIN plug - so I'm using it with a tinkerBOY 5-pin to USB adapter: https://www.tinkerboy.xyz/product/tinkerboy-ibm-terminal-keyboard240-degree-5-pin-din-to-usb-converter-with-soarers-converter-firmware/

I've been after a board with approximately the shape and layout of a proper IBM model M for a while - I won't have the time to properly test that aspect for a little bit, but for now, I'm having fun actually using this board for work today.

how different a climate is it where you are? Here we might see a ...

2026-06-25T03:26:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…6wf3
_________________________

how different a climate is it where you are? Here we might see a week of -7C mornings in the middle of winter, and 40+ days in summer.

There's also unexpectedly some minor repairs to make before ...

2026-06-24T02:56:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…vyjc
_________________________

There's also unexpectedly some minor repairs to make before new blinds can be installed - the old curtains were screwed into the architraves over the windows, and on bigger ones, that's pulled them away from the wall in places.

I've recently had a guy come in and do some bathroom ceiling work; I have a couple of other boxes he could tick if he came back, so I'll get him to look at those as well. That'll be 100% my cost (strata paid for the bathroom stuff) so I hope he's feeling generous.

tl;dr: poking holes in buildings so you can have windows is a ...

2026-06-24T02:46:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…a4zu
_________________________

tl;dr: poking holes in buildings so you can have windows is a terrible idea in every way because they are so hard to engineer and insulate. You can spend thousands on them and they'll still let more cold or heat in than your walls. It's a shame we like looking outside so often.

Haven't bothered with actual quotes for double glazing but it ...

2026-06-24T02:43:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…jgma
_________________________

Haven't bothered with actual quotes for double glazing but it would be 1.5-2x as much as the cost of putting these blinds in everywhere. I'll use up my NSW scheme money on insulation and solar, so I'd still be out of pocket paying full price for DG and THEN still need to do something about my shitty curtains on top of that.

The advantage of having skinny 90s windows is that I can fit most of the rollerblinds next to them within the reveal rather than outside, which makes them a bit cheaper.

Got quotes for window blinds - roughly AU$200-300 each for roller ...

2026-06-24T02:38:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…rvxk
_________________________

Got quotes for window blinds - roughly AU$200-300 each for roller shades, $800-1300 each for the insulated blockouts that run in side tracks and have an enclosed top to stop air moving between the window glass and the room. Price tracks linearly with size, small windows are cheaper, big glass sliding doors are obviously more expensive. Total approaches $10k to refit my place. Motorising any of them would be an extra $500ish each.

France: Nuclear power reactors are having to shut down because ...

2026-06-24T01:38:55Z

France: Nuclear power reactors are having to shut down because the rivers they source cooling water from are too hot (28C!), the Louvre shuts early because its climate control can't handle the afternoon heat from its patrons, and people are drowning in rivers trying desperately to cool off.

I wish I was reading these things in a Michael Crichton novel, not the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/23/heatwave-france-spain-italy-europe

Is there anyone in my network here associated with the #QUT ...

2026-06-23T10:40:23Z

Is there anyone in my network here associated with the #QUT School of Design who could put me in touch with a particular lecturer there (or at least tell me if he's still around)? There's a thing I need to discuss with the guy specifically and I haven't been able to connect with him so far.

Ha. Two days ago, NSW annouced $15k for green energy upgrades: ...

2026-06-19T05:15:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…rg55
_________________________

Ha. Two days ago, NSW annouced $15k for green energy upgrades: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-17/nsw-government-interest-free-renewable-energy-loans-subsidies/106805702

Details here: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-06/NSW_Home_Energy_Saver_Loans_guidelines.pdf

Edit: this *beats* the ACT's offering as it's no interest vs 3%. Although the ACT is still bumping the amount up to $20k from July.

This does actually matter, because it means I'll be able to do solar + battery this year no matter what happens jobwise. And I'll be better off in the long run with immediate savings on energy costs.

#Linux #Apple #iMac folks - what Linux distro and age am I likely ...

2026-06-19T02:00:13Z

#Linux #Apple #iMac folks - what Linux distro and age am I likely to get running on a 2009-era Intel iMac? A guide written last year suggested Ubuntu Budgie but it's giving me UVD errors and graphics glitches trying to run a live environment from a USB drive.

Edit: Hoping for "I used X on my Y iMac and it definitely worked", not just "distro F should work fine"

Tonight's actual micro project: checking out the USB SSD my ...

2026-06-15T11:16:33Z

Tonight's actual micro project: checking out the USB SSD my partner bought off Temu, which claims to have *thirty terabytes* of space, maybe a year ago.

I can't remember what she said she spent on it, but it wasn't in the same ballpark as a house deposit, so I warned her not to put any data she actually cared about on it. It's sat unused at her place until I spotted it and decided to check it out, as fairly as I could. 🧵

I don't quit hobbies, they're waiting for me to come back ...

2026-06-15T00:35:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…fz87
_________________________

I don't quit hobbies, they're waiting for me to come back with the time, energy or knowledge that I was missing to progress them further

Of course, not replacing my windows means keeping the old ones, ...

2026-06-12T11:50:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…373n
_________________________

Of course, not replacing my windows means keeping the old ones, which are (again) original to the house, and a bit beaten up. Many of the sashes no longer stay up on their own, and I will have to repair these.

Fortunately, information about that is easier to come by. This video demonstrates how to replace spiral balances in sash windows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se-YGNegpOo

And Whitco, the Aussie-made spiral balances Bunnings carry, have a product spec and selection guide here: https://www.whitco.com.au/au/en/documents/catalogue-pdf/whitco-window-balance-systems-catalogue/Whitco%20Window%20Balance%20Systems%20Catalogue.pdf

I was not expecting to find window upgrades at the bottom of my ...

2026-06-12T11:50:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…77v9
_________________________

I was not expecting to find window upgrades at the bottom of my list, but for what I might have spent on that, I'm getting more effective upgrades that will start saving me money from day one. That may become more affordable over time as glaziers and fitters replace ageing equipment with modern gear and double-glazing becomes more standard, but for now, I will focus my attention elsewhere.

Is it worth getting one done if you don't know much about ...

2026-06-12T11:50:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…jzhe
_________________________

Is it worth getting one done if you don't know much about this stuff? If you have cash to throw at some home improvements to make your place more comfortable to live in and/or be more energy efficient, you could get an assessment, do the top two or three things it suggests, and be very happy with the results.

What if you've already turned this topic into your hobby and personality for a month? Yes, because it'll give you advice specific to your situation without trying to profit from you.

Note that most of the information you find casually online about ...

2026-06-12T11:50:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…36hh
_________________________

Note that most of the information you find casually online about window insulation, blinds and coverings is going to be marketing info on manufacturers' websites, and SEO-tweaked florid prose and worthless AI-generated diagrams on installers' sites. You can get more personal opinions by searching Reddit and other forums, but those aren't any more immune to corporate influence and astroturfing.

This is why you should pay for an independent assessment and a NatHERS Home Energy Rating Certificate.

The apparent go-to is honeycomb blinds, which offer one or two ...

2026-06-12T11:49:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…5ml5
_________________________

The apparent go-to is honeycomb blinds, which offer one or two layers of fabric-small gap-fabric. Good ones work well - one supplier says theirs are rated R2 to R4, matching or besting basic double-glazing significantly - but real-world reviews pan their looks and their tendency to collect dust like nobody's business. I don't need that in my life, so I'm getting quotes for boxed-in roller blinds that run in tracks on their side, and have a closed-in top to tick the pelmet box.

My place has a mishmash of window coverings. Most have heavy ...

2026-06-12T11:49:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…zpga
_________________________

My place has a mishmash of window coverings. Most have heavy drapes, which do some good against the cold, but have what I can only describe as decorative pelmets - it's like a skirt around the top, with nothing blocking air movement. I could cover these and be done with it, but they are also from the 90s, look terrible, take space, and are coming apart in places, so I want to be rid of them.

Other windows have basic rollers, a sheer curtain, or nothing at all, and desperately need improvement.

I'm already taking my ceiling closer to R5, and my walls ...

2026-06-12T11:49:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…6te9
_________________________

I'm already taking my ceiling closer to R5, and my walls R2.5. Getting double paned windows will bring those into line with the walls, but at significant cost - I'm yet to get actual quotes, but I've had back-of-laptop estimates of over $10k for my place. So with the ceiling and walls improved significantly, the value proposition of bumping a much smaller surface area up as well becomes much harder to justify.

So, I'm looking in a different direction: engineered windowblinds.

And a theoretical future phase 4 is replacing the windows. ...

2026-06-12T11:49:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…3f5s
_________________________

And a theoretical future phase 4 is replacing the windows. Getting double-glazing is probably the most talked-about step in Canberra, but it might actually be one of the least useful, and certainly the worst value.

To my understanding: Windows are measured with U values, representing thermal efficiency, instead of R values, thermal resistance. The relationship between the two is inverse, so double-pane glass with a U value of 0.4 gets R2.5. Single pane glass is U1, R1.

Phase 3 is my other gas appliances - the oven, and the cooktop. I ...

2026-06-12T11:49:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…3l72
_________________________

Phase 3 is my other gas appliances - the oven, and the cooktop. I will absolutely relish the sight of my tenant-grade oven leaving the house for good, not least because it takes 20 minutes to preheat and still manages to cook everything unevenly. The stovetop I hate less, but once it's the last gas thing left, it's gotta go - it's an estimated 10% of my household energy usage, not even counting the ~$220/year I pay to have gas piped in before I start using it.

Phase two will be looking at solar power, maybe a battery, and ...

2026-06-12T11:49:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…577t
_________________________

Phase two will be looking at solar power, maybe a battery, and replacing my now ancient gas hot water tank (I'm thinking of offering it to a museum). PV panels will make power much cheaper when the sun is shining, the battery will keep it cheap when it isn't, and I'll be able to get a cheaper resistive hot water tank rather than an expensive and less reliable heat pump jobbie.

The report says my gas HWS alone is responsible for 50% of my house's energy usage, so that has to GTFO ASAP.

Ceiling, walls and floor are the biggest heat saps in Australian ...

2026-06-12T11:48:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…g628
_________________________

Ceiling, walls and floor are the biggest heat saps in Australian winters. Adding insulation where I can (not much I can do about the concrete slab without ripping up my entire ground floor), plus finding and blocking air gaps, will be an unexpectedly afforable phase one of my plan.

I'm also getting quotes for insulated window blinds. I'm not thinking practically about double glazed windows anymore, I will explain why later on in the thread.

Being from the 90s, my place also has nothing in the wall gaps ...

2026-06-12T11:47:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…97n0
_________________________

Being from the 90s, my place also has nothing in the wall gaps but air. That's an R value of zero, where the recommendation is R2.5.

Separately to the NatHERS report, I have an estimate of about AU$2k to remedy the ceiling insulation, and another $2k to drill holes and blow insulation into the walls, too. There's some electrical future-proofing to do at the same time, because dumping insulation into the wall cavities has follow-on implications for house wiring.

My place was built in the mid 90s, and while there is some ...

2026-06-12T11:47:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…h66g
_________________________

My place was built in the mid 90s, and while there is *some* insulation in the ceiling, it's not enough - it doesn't look like it was great to begin with, and there's lots of gaps from being carelessly shoved out of place and not shoved back again. Even small gaps make a huge difference.

The recommended minimum R value for ceiling insulation is now R5. Mine's about half that, and will likely get improved by topping it up with a second layer at a 90 degree angle to minimise through-holes.

So, the #NatHERS report grades both your home's building for ...

2026-06-12T11:46:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…d8vr
_________________________

So, the #NatHERS report grades both your home's building for insulation (this is a star rating, out of 10), and the efficiency of your major appliances (a rating out of 100). I'll avoid giving specific numbers out of my report for privacy reasons, but I can talk about some general results, what I've learned from the process, its value, my plan for making upgrades and why it's proceeding in this particular order.

The report progresses (I may receive it today) but we are 100% in ...

2026-06-12T05:07:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…f276
_________________________

The report progresses (I may receive it today) but we are 100% in the "double-check every detail, everywhere, in every document ever"-ocene era.

I did get to take a photo of a cat through a thermal imaging ...

2026-06-09T12:50:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…gt9y
_________________________

I did get to take a photo of a cat through a thermal imaging camera during the assessment. It was too warm and still to effectively locate any air leaks today, but I managed to detect some floof.

Electrifying the hot water situation leaves the cooktop and oven ...

2026-06-09T10:48:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…qn4p
_________________________

Electrifying the hot water situation leaves the cooktop and oven as my only remaining gas appliances. I would need to have more power circuits run for possibly all of the above, which should probably all be done before I fill every wall cavity with insulation, which will also de-rate my current wiring.

That will pump up the cost of the insulation work without immediate benefit, so the right perspective for that is enabling my future dream kitchen upgrades.

After insulation, solar power and maybe a battery are next. With ...

2026-06-09T10:41:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…uhcn
_________________________

After insulation, solar power and maybe a battery are next. With what I spent to heat and cool the place, solar panels on the roof would pay off very quickly indeed, and a battery to run heating or cooling overnight would be a huge quality of life improvement in the gap before doing thicker, thermally broken windows.

That would also mean I could replace my ageing gas HWS with a resistive electric tank, rather than a pricey heat pump system, because I don't need to maximise the HWS's efficiency.

I'd need quotes to verify, but it sounds like my estimate for ...

2026-06-09T10:38:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…r55m
_________________________

I'd need quotes to verify, but it sounds like my estimate for retrofitting double glazed windows was low by an order of magnitude. The current ones aren't in *terrible* condition, but they would need some repairs and servicing if I chose to keep them long-term. So here I might instead look into insulated roller blinds, or at the very least curtain pelmets that aren't decorative (mine are open at the top for some reason and actually thermally useless).

(And for anyone suddenly shrinking back and going "eww, a ...

2026-06-09T10:35:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…tjaz
_________________________

(And for anyone suddenly shrinking back and going "eww, a landlord!": I rent a room under very favourable conditions to someone who urgently needed a place to stay when fleeing a DV situation, then ended up staying long-term as they settled in. I am deeply respectful of the circumstance of providing a place for someone to live and do not view it as an investment or an opportunity to profit.)

The verbal estimate I have is my current ceiling insulation ...

2026-06-09T10:32:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…xavc
_________________________

The verbal estimate I have is my current ceiling insulation should have an R value of 3.5, but with its current state it's probably 2.5ish. In #Canberra, any ceiling with an R value of less than R must be upgraded to at least R5 to be rented to a tenant: https://www.climatechoices.act.gov.au/policy-programs/sustainable-household-scheme/buyers-guides/making-homes-healthy-all-year-a-guide-to-ceiling-insulation

I'm in NSW, so I'm not legally subject to a rule like that (yet!), but that seems like a good target to aim for, especially since I also live here.

It looks like the first priority is actually insulation - the ...

2026-06-09T10:25:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…4e6r
_________________________

It looks like the first priority is actually insulation - the wood framing inside walls apparently has an R value of one, and there's currently just air in between them in my place. So getting insulation pumped into the gaps should make a significant difference to the inside temperature.

The stuff in the ceiling isn't completely terrible, but it's laid badly and there's plenty of gaps. So probably it'll end up with a second layer over the top, at right angles to minimise thermal holes.

So, step one of the NatHERS report process done. Had a guy here ...

2026-06-09T10:23:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…qzff
_________________________

So, step one of the NatHERS report process done. Had a guy here for 3 hours (he estimated 1.5-2, but it was his first one for NSW), I've had tons of information and advice and will get an official certificate telling me how terribly insulated my house is in a day or two.

This wasn't mandatory to get done (yet), but it was discounted thanks to the NSW scheme and I now have a better informed and re-arranged set of priorities for improving the livability of my house in summer and winter.

the whole thing is just so completely "the Russians used a ...

2026-06-06T02:41:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…62jw
_________________________

the whole thing is just so completely "the Russians used a pencil" to me. We've probably spent more money as a species making typing on flat screens bearable than we would have making phones with physical keyboards instead. Just give me the faster horse please

It goes almost without saying that my ACTUAL solution to this ...

2026-06-06T02:16:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…gm6p
_________________________

It goes almost without saying that my ACTUAL solution to this problem is to give me a goddamn physical keyboard again, but neither Google nor Apple are keen on that, so those options will remain fleeting and niche and not something I can rely on. So let's at least do something good with the pixels we've been allowed by the market, yeah?

The way I type on my phone causes so many consistent mistakes and ...

2026-06-06T02:15:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…gv8f
_________________________

The way I type on my phone causes so many consistent mistakes and it's always a battle with the spell checker as to what kinds of mistakes it'll actually recognise. Like hitting 'v' instead of spacebar to separate words? It figures that out. But hitting backspace instead of M, and missing "m*" from the middle of a word? It can't comprehend that. But if it saw that, and made the M key a little wider on the right for me, it could adapt to my typical errors and make my typing more reliable.

Is there a keyboard app that changes the shape/position of keys ...

2026-06-06T02:13:10Z

Is there a keyboard app that changes the shape/position of keys depending on how you type? Like, you type a sentence it gives you, then it figures out exactly where you actually pressed on the screen and puts the bulk of the key there for you?

It boggles my mind that we've taken physical keyboards, which are inflexible only because it costs money to redesign them, and rigidly stuck to them on a touchscreen, where they could be literally any shape and size from one phone to the next.

How it started / how it's going: ...

2026-06-03T03:36:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…emgp
_________________________

How it started / how it's going:

Do you live in #NSW, #Australia? As part of the Nationwide House ...

2026-06-03T02:49:08Z

Do you live in #NSW, #Australia? As part of the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), NSW is trialling a home energy rating scheme like they have in the ACT, where a place must have a valid report if you're renting or selling. It's currently discounted, I'm getting someone to come and do an inspection for my place for about $250 through here: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/action/initiatives/home-energy-ratings

I'm about to go through the process and start improving my house, and will report costs and results in a thread here.

Today I successfully superglued magnets to a 3D printed project ...

2026-05-31T06:11:37Z

Today I successfully superglued magnets to a 3D printed project without also gluing myself to myself.

We take the victories as and where we can.

"Get out of that cupboard, I've told you before you are ...

2026-05-19T07:42:42Z

"Get out of that cupboard, I've told you before you are not Tupperware" and other completely normal sentences spoken in households with cats

The golden age of finding random discount codes for websites is ...

2026-04-30T02:06:07Z

The golden age of finding random discount codes for websites is dead, right?

As far as I can tell, every website that claims to have even 5-10% codes seems to beg you to install a plugin before getting anything, lists deals that already exist with "no code needed", or the few genuine codes they do have are long-expired. Plus they have ridiculous "75-80% off!!!" lies in their page descriptions to improve their SEO.

Not even mentioning affiliate code fraud here.

That page goes on to say that if you want to use touch-scrolling ...

2026-04-29T10:53:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…hwvh
_________________________

That page goes on to say that if you want to use touch-scrolling and pinch-to-zoom and stuff, you have to be using Wayland rather than X11 for display; I was expecting another evening-long shitfight to get that working, but literally all it took was to log out, click the little mountain? icon on the login screen, click "Cinnamon on Wayland (Experimental)", and log back in, and it just. Fucking. Works.

I'm gobsmacked. #Linux isn't meant to be this easy! Not on a goddamn Microsoft-branded laptop!

Uh, I was expecting to spend all night writing a thread about the ...

2026-04-29T10:45:24Z

Uh, I was expecting to spend all night writing a thread about the trials and tribulations of getting my #Surface Pro 6's touchscreen working under #Linux, but the steps I took can be summarised as 1. Install #LinuxMint, 2. Copy and paste a few lines from here into the terminal: https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Installation-and-Setup 3. Reboot, type "surface" to enroll the touch-enabled kernel in secure boot (or something), and it just magically works. Less than 30 minutes from Windows 11 to touchy-feely Linux.

Hey #Australia, I want to replace a bunch of HDMI and DisplayPort ...

2026-04-29T05:50:33Z

Hey #Australia, I want to replace a bunch of HDMI and DisplayPort cables all at the same time so they actually all look and work exactly the same - I'm recabling a desk with multiple computers plugged into multiple 4K60 screens with both kinds of input.

Where do I want to buy them from? I've bought cables from lindy.com.au in the past and they've been fine but will go anywhere for a good deal with consistent quality.

⚠️ Heads up - there's a #Mastodon #scam bot doing the ...

2026-04-14T02:54:05Z

⚠️ Heads up - there's a #Mastodon #scam bot doing the rounds. Mastodon does not "temporarily restrict your visibility" - that is simply not a thing here.

If you see a DM or post to that effect begging you to click a link to restore anything, do not click it - report it instead.

You know that thing in Teams meetings where multiple people speak ...

2026-04-12T23:54:28Z

You know that thing in Teams meetings where multiple people speak at once, immediately go quiet, then wait a short amount of time to see who speaks up first, and then that person gets to talk?

My entire team appears to be programmed to wait exactly the same amount of time, so we have multiple goes of it, every time.

We need a plugin that detects who actually made a sound first, mutes everyone else, and flashes up a message that says "Sorry, Joshua, you go".

This will be the longest of long shots, but: a decade ago, I ...

2026-03-25T05:13:00Z

This will be the longest of long shots, but: a decade ago, I backed the #Coostr on Kickstarter - it's a funny little drink coaster in the shape of a turtle and you can pop the shell up when it's not got a drink on it.

If you did the same, and still have them collecting dust somewhere - could I have them? I bought a bunch but have lost most of them through multiple house moves and a breakup, and it looks like the website went down permanently in late 2024.

If you have Windows 10 and use multiple screens, you can click on ...

2026-03-23T01:32:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…pf9c
_________________________

If you have Windows 10 and use multiple screens, you can click on the time/date on the taskbar on any of your screens to make the calendar pop up.

On Windows 11, only the time/date in the taskbar on your primary screen will do this. Clicking the time and date on any other screen will do exactly nothing.

This is so unexpected and unreasonably pointless I wondered first if something was wrong with my *mouse*.

Just had a bizarro Bluetooth keyboard thing happen - I was trying ...

2026-03-23T00:07:40Z

Just had a bizarro Bluetooth keyboard thing happen - I was trying to type the word "date" and it kept coming up as "ate". I backspaced it and tried typing it again a few times before realising I wasn't missing the D key, it just wasn't typing anything... then a moment later, with my hands off the keyboard, "ddd" appeared on the screen.

I guess wireless packets containing the letter 'd' are particularly laggy today?

It's gonna be another "we should never have taught sand to think" day, isn't it

That's not a bad price for some tender, juicy lion but ...

2026-03-22T09:13:28Z

That's not a bad price for some tender, juicy lion but I'd rather season it myself. I'll pass, Coles.

Only just noticed this incredibly infuriating typo I made years ...

2026-03-02T07:13:44Z

Only just noticed this incredibly infuriating typo I made years ago.

Fortunately my otherwise flawless system means I know the solution is exactly two drawers up from this.

Label maker alphabetical order keyboards are Not Good and we need to let go the idea that anyone using them isn't by now familiar with the concept of a QWERTY layout.

Of course I don't expect anyone to pick this up and suddenly ...

2026-02-25T01:16:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…y4md
_________________________

Of course I don't expect anyone to pick this up and suddenly start making a big game out of it, it's just a silly idea that's been bouncing around in my head for a while and I thought it might be amusing.

But if anyone did decide to whip up a couple of levels just to see what it'd be like? Sign me up.

Maybe there's a pickup that gives you the temporary ability ...

2026-02-25T01:14:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…v8gx
_________________________

Maybe there's a pickup that gives you the temporary ability to lean left or right in 3D to shoot at stuff behind other stuff. Some kind of side-perspective minimap that helps you navigate because it'd be hell otherwise. Picking up and carrying large items completely blocks your view until you put them down again. There's definitely a jetpack, Halloween Harry-style. Maybe a Mirror's Edge or Talos Principle style movement aid that helps you jump to particular platforms.

I want a 2D platformer that plays like a 3D FPS. You can look up ...

2026-02-25T01:11:19Z

I want a 2D platformer that plays like a 3D FPS. You can look up and down, but looking left or right just spins you 180 degrees. If you're facing multiple enemies you have to shoot and kill the closest one to you before you start damaging anything else. You can jump eleven times your height. If you walk into a room obviously full of treasure it says "you found a secret room!" because hidden passages in walls are completely visible in first person. Someone make a PoC of this please. #gamedev

I'm not familiar with Huntarr (looks like something to do ...

2026-02-23T22:24:12Z

I'm not familiar with Huntarr (looks like something to do with Plex), but it looks like it was a vibe-coded (gen AI) system with huge security flaws and when these were raised with its author he simply blocked everyone and deleted everything and went into hiding: https://old.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/1rckopd/huntarr_your_passwords_and_your_entire_arr_stacks/

If you or someone you know have used #Huntarr, it's time to nuke it from orbit and do some personal security auditing.

Okay, #AskFedi - what is the best ice cream scoop I can buy today ...

2026-02-22T01:46:20Z

Okay, #AskFedi - what is the best ice cream scoop I can buy today for a home kitchen? My partner has been buying a string of "whatever flimsy cheapness is available at Woolworths" and I want something better.

I need smaller-size scoops that come out easily. I've had a squeezy-rotatey mechanism scoop before but nobody else who tried it liked it. I'm used to running a scoop under hot water to get more bite and release.

All comments, suggestions and boosts are welcome. 🍨

cheddar I could've put on the parmigiana I'd planned to ...

2026-02-08T09:08:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…agcq
_________________________

cheddar I could've put on the parmigiana I'd planned to make tonight! I don't mind hommus every now and then but this is way too much.

pay peanuts, get hommus? Maybe they thought it was cream cheese ...

2026-02-08T09:00:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…gu3k
_________________________

pay peanuts, get hommus? Maybe they thought it was cream cheese or something

I regret to inform you all that Coles supermarkets are out of ...

2026-02-08T08:05:17Z

I regret to inform you all that Coles supermarkets are out of buffalo mozzarella cheese, every every other kind of mozzarella cheese, every other kind of cheese entirely, and every other substance categorically or philosophically on the scale between cheese and a 1kg bucket of hommus.

Hey, folks who solder stuff - for my silly little electronic ...

2026-02-07T08:17:02Z

Hey, folks who solder stuff - for my silly little electronic hobby projects, I use solder wire that measures 0.8mm in width, and looking at Jaycar 0.7mm and 1.0mm seem common too. But there is also a spool there that's got 3mm thick solder wire on it, that says it's recommended for soldering pins on Anderson connectors (seems like a niche use case).

What thicknesses of solder outside of my little world are common, and what are they used for?

Any/all comments and boosts welcome. #AskFedi

I managed to pocket dial 000 today (the Australian equivalent of ...

2026-02-01T08:19:52Z

I managed to pocket dial 000 today (the Australian equivalent of 911). Apparently if you tap my phone screen to wake it up, slide up to reveal the pattern screen and an "emergency" button, then tap that button, an #Android Pixel 8a will call for help... And it's entirely possible to do the entirety of this with it inside your pocket.

Anyway, here's the photo I was trying to take of a kangaroo (the Australian equivalent of a bison, I guess).

WhatsApp: Use AI to summarise these 1 unread messages! The ...

2026-01-31T22:50:20Z

WhatsApp: Use AI to summarise these 1 unread messages!

The message: "Good morning"

I like his presentation about cows too

2026-01-27T00:12:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…2qx9
_________________________

I like his presentation about cows too

Nostr event nevent1qqsycrtl6lhr8z8txml97l20weckvwtm0acswhd8zs8kqlvr4wxreggzyqmeuree7s0h0plv2ywxkvuwtwmvwe003cj0dw8ucyvq4vljdv8cjx9ptze

2026-01-16T10:44:36Z

Miso soup implies the existence of mosi soup and clock soup

It's been 20 years since I did anything at all in Pascal and ...

2026-01-16T05:15:04Z

It's been 20 years since I did anything at all in Pascal and I still sometimes type writeln instead of println and can't figure out why my Arduino code won't compile and upload.

My 3d printer is more reliable than my 2d printer, by orders of ...

2026-01-15T00:56:18Z

My 3d printer is more reliable than my 2d printer, by orders of magnitude.

Tempted to submit these documents in the form of a lithophane.

Currently doing my annual personal budget and rigorously checking ...

2026-01-04T10:49:51Z

Currently doing my annual personal budget and rigorously checking for better gas, power, insurance etc etc.

There's nowhere to run on power prices, but AGL appear to be fucking me for double what I should be paying for gas, and NRMA similarly want twice to insure my car than others are offering.

I'm going to save at least a grand this year by doing this. It takes time, but you'd pay yourself a grand for a few hours' spreadsheeting, wouldn't you? #Australia

Oh sure, it's getting old and tired and the keys don't ...

2025-12-29T23:31:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…55z8
_________________________

Oh sure, it's getting old and tired and the keys don't all sit at the same height anymore, and I keep reaching for a volume control that isn't there. And it's big and heavy and displaces my mousing a bit to the right because it's not a TKL. And the left alt key isn't where my fingers want it to be.

But those aren't failures. It's not obsolete. It's just not new, and that's okay. It still works fine, even on a completely different system to the one it was intended to work with. #retrocomputing

So I fully expected to put my G915 TKL back on the desk almost ...

2025-12-29T23:29:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…tnnk
_________________________

So I fully expected to put my G915 TKL back on the desk almost immediately, but I've actually been using the #Apple Extended Keyboard II unironically for a couple of days now. Keyboards have barely changed in decades - certainly not enough to make older ones *obsolete*, this one's merely *incompatible* without the right adapter - and unless I was working, or programming, and needed my keyboard to be as finely tuned an instrument as Mitutoyo calipers, it's a completely adequate input device.

Today in "things that make me grin like an idiot": ...

2025-12-28T01:42:42Z

Today in "things that make me grin like an idiot": finally getting around to trying out the beautiful old Apple Extended II that I bought from Gus (npub1e4d…gw2l) back in July.

It came with the Griffin iMate USB adapter he rescued from unplanned obsolescence by modding it to work without a coin cell battery: https://www.projectgus.com/2023/04/griffin-imate/

Mine was never an Apple household, so this feels like an alien technology rather than nostalgia to me, but I still have a deep appreciation for this beast. #retrocomputing

Getting two separate rejection notices for the same job ...

2025-12-18T01:39:27Z

Getting two separate rejection notices for the same job application weeks apart feels very public service

Cool thing I just learned about 4-wire stepper motors: If you ...

2025-12-15T10:42:05Z

Cool thing I just learned about 4-wire stepper motors: If you don't have documentation telling you which wires are paired, try turning the motor by hand to get a feel for how hard it is, then hold two of the wires together and see if it gets harder to turn - if it does, the wires you're holding together are a coil pair.

Source: https://buildbotics.com/wiring-stepper-motors/

Something I hadn't considered before: designing a 3D print to ...

2025-12-11T22:56:30Z

Something I hadn't considered before: designing a 3D print to be largely hollow, then filling it with hobby concrete to set it solid and rigid. This guy made a little desktop lathe by 3D printing the frame and then filling it with concrete for strength: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Js8erWbsDQ

I've heard of 3D prints being used for slip casting, but designining a print with a large hollow specifically to be filled and then used that way is cool and might open up some new projects in future.

#maker #3DPrinting

You will surely not regret putting an entire kilogram of sliced ...

2025-12-04T23:45:09Z

You will surely not regret putting an entire kilogram of sliced mushrooms in the pot at once

Hey #Australia, you should know about #13SICK - ...

2025-12-04T22:40:37Z

Hey #Australia, you should know about #13SICK - https://13sick.com.au/ - I've been sick and off work with a cold this week and needed a medical cert. I filled out a form, got a call and had the cert emailed to me all within the span of five minutes, and all completely free because it was bulk-billed.

In the past I've used a paid service that made me book an hour window and sit around waiting for a call. Today's was so quick I feel like I need a second appointment for the whiplash from it.

The IKEA chatbot misunderstood my question about a cabinet door ...

2025-11-25T04:31:17Z

The IKEA chatbot misunderstood my question about a cabinet door not lining up, so it asked me if I wanted to return a product.

I said no, expecting further prompts.

It said have a nice day, disconnected, and then it asked me for feedback.

I'm now waiting in a massive queue.

If AI chatbots ever, *ever* stop understanding "put me through to a human", the revolution immediately begins

I love that the photo composition here suggests there's a ...

2025-11-12T02:29:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…nuye
_________________________

I love that the photo composition here suggests there's a second, much better camouflaged cat on the left, and I have to consciously stop myself from looking for it

others are saying to get manual calipers. IMHO digital ones are ...

2025-11-11T22:39:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…5f6m
_________________________

others are saying to get manual calipers. IMHO digital ones are the correct tool for 3d printing, you will get precise, easily interpretable readings every time. You don't need to spend megabucks, you're not machining metal to tolerances of a thousandth, the cheapest one on eBay will get you the precision you need for basic 3d prints. And yes, cheap ones will go through a battery in 6-12 months, but if you find yourself still using it every day then that's when you invest in a good one.

Australian and generic Italian tinned tomatoes are... okay, they ...

2025-11-03T08:01:50Z

Australian and generic Italian tinned tomatoes are... okay, they do the job, but if you have someone to impress, level up to DOP San Marzano tomatoes. They're a few bucks more, but they're grown in the fertile volcanic soil at the base of Mt. Vesuvius and have a depth and breadth of flavour not available even to the same variety grown elsewhere.

The pictured meal was not made with them because my local supermarket is insufficiently bougie to stock them.

what a good smush

2025-10-24T21:25:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…83u3
_________________________

what a good smush

I have successfully made: A box with some stuff in it! This is a ...

2025-10-13T11:16:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…2ay2
_________________________

I have successfully made: A box with some stuff in it! This is a complete 3D printed enclosure for my dual NES controller adapter - two parts and some M3 screws and that's it.

There will be some tweaks before settling on a final version, but fundamentally, this is all the hardware there needs to be. This is now a fully self-contained project I can use to test, develop and play with the adapter software. #3DPrinting #retrogaming

🔹 There might be some ebook apps for Android that let you use ...

2025-10-13T06:12:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…gccq
_________________________

🔹 There might be some ebook apps for Android that let you use the volume keys to flip pages. That at least potentially opens up the market to generally any old tablet, but volume controls on Android devices generally aren't intended to be used constantly (my phone's ones are definitely too stiff to want to press 40 times an hour). That then becomes a search for ereader-duty-suitable tablets with extremely variable results.

🔹 Some people use Bluetooth remotes to get physical buttons.

Things I have learned so far: 🔹 Every modern ereader is ...

2025-10-13T05:56:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…lwmw
_________________________

Things I have learned so far:

🔹 Every modern ereader is actually just an Android tablet with a touch-capable eink screen and nobody bothers putting physical buttons on them anymore because touch is the few-chah

🔹 People would still rather ones with physical buttons enough that even the most coffee-stained button-encrusted specimens are listed for equally filthy money on eBay

🔹 The Kindle 4 she already has might actually be the least shit option and I should just show her how to use Calibre?

And the plain old breakout board as well. These connectors are ...

2025-10-13T04:34:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…yu84
_________________________

And the plain old breakout board as well. These connectors are spaced correctly for dual-plug devices like the Four Score and Satellite receiver, so you can build your own adapter that also supports those.

And the finished assembly! This is all the electrical parts for ...

2025-10-13T01:41:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…7qgt
_________________________

And the finished assembly! This is all the electrical parts for my NES dual socket adapter - the next step is designing the 3D printed enclosure to surround it.

Second soldering jig for the last part of assembly - this one ...

2025-10-13T01:23:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…uem3
_________________________

Second soldering jig for the last part of assembly - this one holds the NES socket daughterboard to the Pro Micro mainboard so it can be soldered together at a precise 90 degree angle.

It's being held conveniently aloft by my #SolderingStation, which immediately became an integral part of my workshop infrastructure the moment it came together.

With the angled header and the Arduino soldered to the mainboard, ...

2025-10-12T11:13:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…d868
_________________________

With the angled header and the Arduino soldered to the mainboard, assembly step 3 is getting the NES sockets onto the daughterboard.

The sockets I'm using have lots of little plastic gubbins around them, including the remains of the plastic push-pins I've already clipped off, and it took five iterations to nail the cutouts to suit them. The sixth and final print tomorrow will get the height right, so the sockets sit flush in the production case - which I'll start designing from this part.

I'll be installing and walking her through Calibre on her PC ...

2025-10-12T07:22:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…40um
_________________________

I'll be installing and walking her through Calibre on her PC so she can copy stuff to it outside of the capitalist-approved ecosystems. Would also be interested in third party/jailbroken firmware for a Kindle 4 as the hardware is otherwise alright.

Hey #AskFedi, please recommend me an ebook reader for an ...

2025-10-12T07:21:31Z

Hey #AskFedi, please recommend me an ebook reader for an Australian teenager. She has a Kindle that's almost as old as she is and the Amazon integration is either not working anymore or is too complex to be practical. The only really hard requirement is physical buttons to flip pages - anything that's pure touchscreen is a definite no. An older model is fine/ideal if I can likely still find one new or in decent condition used. I have a few weeks to hook this up so give me your best suggestions!

This little one-off part is a jig to help me solder right-angle ...

2025-10-08T23:24:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…gwp9
_________________________

This little one-off part is a jig to help me solder right-angle headers to my NES adapter PCB. Won't have time today to actually do anything further with it, but at least this is here for when I do.

Yes... ha ha ha... yes! Now to find a couple of hours of time to ...

2025-10-08T01:40:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…rqfu
_________________________

Yes... ha ha ha... yes!

Now to find a couple of hours of time to do some soldering and some 3D printing.