Chris Howe
@chrisjhowe.bsky.social
Superannuated biomed lab rat.
See also Musk and the other arsehats' take on Iain M Banks's Culture novels. IIRC, Banks seemed irritated and amused by turns with Musk's obtuse misunderstandings.
I don't think he'd be laughing now.
I reckon if that lot lived in the Culture, they'd all have slap drones assigned to them...
I don't think he'd be laughing now.
I reckon if that lot lived in the Culture, they'd all have slap drones assigned to them...
January 13, 2026 at 8:59 PM
See also Musk and the other arsehats' take on Iain M Banks's Culture novels. IIRC, Banks seemed irritated and amused by turns with Musk's obtuse misunderstandings.
I don't think he'd be laughing now.
I reckon if that lot lived in the Culture, they'd all have slap drones assigned to them...
I don't think he'd be laughing now.
I reckon if that lot lived in the Culture, they'd all have slap drones assigned to them...
Hi Wolfie, I've had a dwarf Meyer in the ground for several years. Bought it in Aldi.
It's very prolific for its size, and the juice tastes great.
Downsides are that it's a bit straggly and untidy, and the fruit is prone to fruit fly, which mightn't be a problem for you
It's very prolific for its size, and the juice tastes great.
Downsides are that it's a bit straggly and untidy, and the fruit is prone to fruit fly, which mightn't be a problem for you
January 13, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Hi Wolfie, I've had a dwarf Meyer in the ground for several years. Bought it in Aldi.
It's very prolific for its size, and the juice tastes great.
Downsides are that it's a bit straggly and untidy, and the fruit is prone to fruit fly, which mightn't be a problem for you
It's very prolific for its size, and the juice tastes great.
Downsides are that it's a bit straggly and untidy, and the fruit is prone to fruit fly, which mightn't be a problem for you
Good luck with it. My only downside was that my knees didn't thank me for the experience
January 10, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Good luck with it. My only downside was that my knees didn't thank me for the experience
Give it a go! I made a poor job of ours, years ago. I got sick of looking at it, fixed some waterproofing problems, used levelling compound and retiled it. It came up better than I hoped and made me feel like I'd learned some skills
January 10, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Give it a go! I made a poor job of ours, years ago. I got sick of looking at it, fixed some waterproofing problems, used levelling compound and retiled it. It came up better than I hoped and made me feel like I'd learned some skills
The frogs, lizards, pillbugs and especially the burrowing roaches like me leaving wood tucked into the corners of the garden. You're doing a good thing.
If I find a really nicely shaped chunk and spare it from the fire, it might get hung up with some sort of epiphyric plant stuck to it
If I find a really nicely shaped chunk and spare it from the fire, it might get hung up with some sort of epiphyric plant stuck to it
January 6, 2026 at 9:40 PM
The frogs, lizards, pillbugs and especially the burrowing roaches like me leaving wood tucked into the corners of the garden. You're doing a good thing.
If I find a really nicely shaped chunk and spare it from the fire, it might get hung up with some sort of epiphyric plant stuck to it
If I find a really nicely shaped chunk and spare it from the fire, it might get hung up with some sort of epiphyric plant stuck to it
Yes, in Australia for sure. We're one of the most urbanised populations in the world, and one of the more diverse, but apparently in political and media circles you're only Aussie (and should get a say) if you meet the old bush stereotypes.
January 1, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Yes, in Australia for sure. We're one of the most urbanised populations in the world, and one of the more diverse, but apparently in political and media circles you're only Aussie (and should get a say) if you meet the old bush stereotypes.
I did grow up in The Shire*. I'm not especially tall and I did spend a lot of time barefoot.
*Sutherland Shire, widely known as The Shire, in southern Sydney. So called bc the inhabitants were, and still are, conservative, self-absorbed and rather dull.
*Sutherland Shire, widely known as The Shire, in southern Sydney. So called bc the inhabitants were, and still are, conservative, self-absorbed and rather dull.
December 27, 2025 at 9:32 AM
I did grow up in The Shire*. I'm not especially tall and I did spend a lot of time barefoot.
*Sutherland Shire, widely known as The Shire, in southern Sydney. So called bc the inhabitants were, and still are, conservative, self-absorbed and rather dull.
*Sutherland Shire, widely known as The Shire, in southern Sydney. So called bc the inhabitants were, and still are, conservative, self-absorbed and rather dull.
I've started to help out there, was there today. Every time, exactly this thought runs through my head.
I have no hopes of improvement on this front in the near term, so I guess I do what I can.
I have no hopes of improvement on this front in the near term, so I guess I do what I can.
December 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I've started to help out there, was there today. Every time, exactly this thought runs through my head.
I have no hopes of improvement on this front in the near term, so I guess I do what I can.
I have no hopes of improvement on this front in the near term, so I guess I do what I can.
Even if I was sure of the ID I'd be more tentative, given your conservation background.
Anyway, I've just finished Absolution (late to the party as usual) and wanted to thank you for the ride. I'll go back now and read all four in sequence.
Happy holidays
Anyway, I've just finished Absolution (late to the party as usual) and wanted to thank you for the ride. I'll go back now and read all four in sequence.
Happy holidays
December 23, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Even if I was sure of the ID I'd be more tentative, given your conservation background.
Anyway, I've just finished Absolution (late to the party as usual) and wanted to thank you for the ride. I'll go back now and read all four in sequence.
Happy holidays
Anyway, I've just finished Absolution (late to the party as usual) and wanted to thank you for the ride. I'll go back now and read all four in sequence.
Happy holidays
I was going to get out of town for the Sydney Games, but then I got a job with the antidoping lab, which was quite an experience.
Don't really remember the games as such, I was pretty busy
Don't really remember the games as such, I was pretty busy
December 19, 2025 at 8:20 AM
I was going to get out of town for the Sydney Games, but then I got a job with the antidoping lab, which was quite an experience.
Don't really remember the games as such, I was pretty busy
Don't really remember the games as such, I was pretty busy
Thanks for the information. I use Libby a lot.
December 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Thanks for the information. I use Libby a lot.
You're right, I haven't seen pethidine mentioned. My partner used tapentadol after recent surgery & got good pain control & much reduced adverse effects.
I'm starting to sound like the friendly neighbourhood pusher here, aren't I...
We're very lucky, only needed opiates a few times between us.
I'm starting to sound like the friendly neighbourhood pusher here, aren't I...
We're very lucky, only needed opiates a few times between us.
December 8, 2025 at 5:48 AM
You're right, I haven't seen pethidine mentioned. My partner used tapentadol after recent surgery & got good pain control & much reduced adverse effects.
I'm starting to sound like the friendly neighbourhood pusher here, aren't I...
We're very lucky, only needed opiates a few times between us.
I'm starting to sound like the friendly neighbourhood pusher here, aren't I...
We're very lucky, only needed opiates a few times between us.
Yes! It did the pain relief for me, and I did need it badly, but I just felt dull and wanted to stop. My partner OTOH has an awful time, nausea, confusion, limited pain relief, all on the same dose.
December 8, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Yes! It did the pain relief for me, and I did need it badly, but I just felt dull and wanted to stop. My partner OTOH has an awful time, nausea, confusion, limited pain relief, all on the same dose.
My partner was (inappropriately) given pethidine for a bad migraine years ago. I got her home and into bed and she stared into the mirror, crying that she couldn't see her eyes, until she finally drifted off to sleep. It's a bit of a family joke now but it wasn't funny at the time
December 8, 2025 at 5:18 AM
My partner was (inappropriately) given pethidine for a bad migraine years ago. I got her home and into bed and she stared into the mirror, crying that she couldn't see her eyes, until she finally drifted off to sleep. It's a bit of a family joke now but it wasn't funny at the time
I had to look up Legend of the Overfiend. Oog.
I run a street library & I try to provide suggested grading by age across the shelf. It's usually fine, occasionally tricky. Like the half dozen graphic romance novels in Mandarin which *looked* OK for teens but my neighbour said had very explicit text
I run a street library & I try to provide suggested grading by age across the shelf. It's usually fine, occasionally tricky. Like the half dozen graphic romance novels in Mandarin which *looked* OK for teens but my neighbour said had very explicit text
December 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM
I had to look up Legend of the Overfiend. Oog.
I run a street library & I try to provide suggested grading by age across the shelf. It's usually fine, occasionally tricky. Like the half dozen graphic romance novels in Mandarin which *looked* OK for teens but my neighbour said had very explicit text
I run a street library & I try to provide suggested grading by age across the shelf. It's usually fine, occasionally tricky. Like the half dozen graphic romance novels in Mandarin which *looked* OK for teens but my neighbour said had very explicit text
Central Victoria too! Ten degrees at about 2pm in Bendigo. I'm not a from the area, but the locals were clearly not impressed
December 1, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Central Victoria too! Ten degrees at about 2pm in Bendigo. I'm not a from the area, but the locals were clearly not impressed
I was told by a Galapagos local (veracity not checked), that there is a no excuses, no exceptions 2 yr sentence for hitting a Santa Cruz giant tortoise. So, yes it is possible if the animals are valued.
In that case, too, it would be hard to hit one by mistake
In that case, too, it would be hard to hit one by mistake
November 23, 2025 at 6:38 AM
I was told by a Galapagos local (veracity not checked), that there is a no excuses, no exceptions 2 yr sentence for hitting a Santa Cruz giant tortoise. So, yes it is possible if the animals are valued.
In that case, too, it would be hard to hit one by mistake
In that case, too, it would be hard to hit one by mistake
There's an art to it I think - singe the hair but not the ear, and I've had it go a bit close.
The first time, in Istanbul, the whole haircut was a theatre performance. It took about 90 minutes, involved tea and a number of family members and was the best haircut ever.
The first time, in Istanbul, the whole haircut was a theatre performance. It took about 90 minutes, involved tea and a number of family members and was the best haircut ever.
November 15, 2025 at 8:47 AM
There's an art to it I think - singe the hair but not the ear, and I've had it go a bit close.
The first time, in Istanbul, the whole haircut was a theatre performance. It took about 90 minutes, involved tea and a number of family members and was the best haircut ever.
The first time, in Istanbul, the whole haircut was a theatre performance. It took about 90 minutes, involved tea and a number of family members and was the best haircut ever.
Do they use the Turkish flaming metho in a ball of cotton wool method? It's a bit startling if you're not expecting it.
November 15, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Do they use the Turkish flaming metho in a ball of cotton wool method? It's a bit startling if you're not expecting it.
Definitely can't have that. I keep mine trimmed, and I think it's partly a response to having the Rodent as my local member for all that time.
November 15, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Definitely can't have that. I keep mine trimmed, and I think it's partly a response to having the Rodent as my local member for all that time.
I'm not a fan of the confabulation engines, but I'd allow it just this once.
November 5, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I'm not a fan of the confabulation engines, but I'd allow it just this once.
The 3 Stooges came to mind this morning, as the ABC devoted yet another 10 minutes to their nonsense. I keep expecting them to start poking each other in the eyes and smacking each other on the head. Nyuck nyuck fucking nyuck.
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The 3 Stooges came to mind this morning, as the ABC devoted yet another 10 minutes to their nonsense. I keep expecting them to start poking each other in the eyes and smacking each other on the head. Nyuck nyuck fucking nyuck.
Did they pop out before or after you tasted the "nutritional yeast "?
Also, are you still at large?
Also, are you still at large?
November 5, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Did they pop out before or after you tasted the "nutritional yeast "?
Also, are you still at large?
Also, are you still at large?
I'd like to see you ask a barista for this in Sydney (or better, Melbourne).
October 29, 2025 at 11:42 AM
I'd like to see you ask a barista for this in Sydney (or better, Melbourne).
I've been doing this, but couldn't figure out how to ID the bay.
Thanks for that.
I hate blundering around blind in there
Thanks for that.
I hate blundering around blind in there
October 26, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I've been doing this, but couldn't figure out how to ID the bay.
Thanks for that.
I hate blundering around blind in there
Thanks for that.
I hate blundering around blind in there