Dave Sag
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davesag.bsky.social
Dave Sag
@davesag.bsky.social
430 followers 450 following 890 posts
I write code and stuff
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davesag.bsky.social
My vinyl collection has re-started. I’ve been looking for this album for years. “X: Live at the Whisky A Go-Go on the Fabulous Sunset Strip” is one of the greatest live albums of all time. And now I finally have my own copy. Now I just need a turntable, amp, and speakers. #babysteps #80s #punkrock
Me holding my newly purchased copy of the LP “X Live at the Whisky A Go-Go on the Fabulous Sunset Strip”. The cover is a collage of colourful hand drawn faces.
October 2, 2025 at 8:04 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Loving Llamagrama but not loving its general unreliability.
Screen snap of Llamagrama failing to load and asking me to try again later. This happens far too often.
September 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
davesag.bsky.social
Back in the ‘Berra. Great to go on a frosty morning hike with a friend and his dogs. Red Hill is looking fresh! #canberra
View from the trig point atop Red Hill in Canberra. The sky is blue. There’s a light covering of grass on the hills and a thin layer of cloud in the distance. You can just see the Black Mountain tower off to the left. There are rocks.
September 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM
davesag.bsky.social
I spent quite some time watching people struggle up and down this ridiculous ladder.
A beach on the island of Milos in Greece. Best accessed by boat as the ladder (left) is extremely rickety. Cliffs, beach, water, tiny little people. Big ladder.
September 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
davesag.bsky.social
Nerding out to the legendary Clive Sinclair. How cool was the Sinclair Spectrum! Integer arithmetic FTW!
The Sinclair Spectrum display at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.
August 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
davesag.bsky.social
Fifty thousand Gannets. That’s all. #shetland #scotland #birdsarereal
August 18, 2025 at 8:17 AM
davesag.bsky.social
First it ran away, then it popped back to see if I was still there. #sheep #shetland
A shy Shetland sheep peers at me from a distance
August 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
davesag.bsky.social
When in England.

Also how good is proper black pudding. Damn delicious.

#breakfastofchampions
August 13, 2025 at 6:25 PM
davesag.bsky.social
Just made the flight. Yikes.
Looking out the window of a Jetstar flight.
July 18, 2025 at 6:57 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Magpie of the morning.
A magpie on a window sill peering into the house. The background is in soft focus. With window needs a clean.
June 30, 2025 at 10:14 PM
davesag.bsky.social
I asked chatGPT to clarify what it means by a “source”.
When I say Richard Marles “was identified as a source” in a Cablegate cable, it means that he spoke voluntarily and openly to U.S. diplomats, not that he was reporting covertly to intelligence agencies or that the information was obtained clandestinely. In the context of diplomatic cables, the term “source” often refers to: • Politicians, officials, or others who meet with embassy staff in an official or semi-official capacity. • People who knowingly and voluntarily share views with American diplomats — usually for mutual strategic or political purposes. These meetings are standard diplomatic practice, not espionage. The cables were internal communications from U.S. embassies back to Washington, summarising conversations and impressions. In Marles’ case, the cable suggests he was eager to align with U.S. strategic interests and possibly position himself favourably in the eyes of U.S. officials. So: No, he was not spying or secretly reporting. He was part of the normal machinery of diplomatic dialogue — albeit one that became public in an unprecedented way.
June 15, 2025 at 3:59 AM
davesag.bsky.social
ChatGPT has read #Cablegate files so you can ask it all kinds of interesting things. #wikileaks #auspol
Screen snap of ChatGPT. I asked if Richard Marles is mentioned in Cablegate. “Yes — according to Wikileaks Cablegate, Australian MP Richard Marles was indeed identified as a source in a 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable. In it, he emphasized “an increased Australian presence in Asia,” positioning himself as aligned with what American diplomats wanted to hear. A later analysis notes that this cable portrayed him as “an overwhelmed and underinformed parliamentary secretary,” which reportedly led to lasting embarrassment and shaped his antipathy toward Wikileaks. ⸻ So: yes, Richard Marles is directly mentioned in the Cablegate leak—as a named source providing views on Australia’s strategic posture in Asia.”
June 15, 2025 at 3:44 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Biosecurity puppies FTW! Enjoy your trip little doggies.
Protecting Australia from biosecurity is their job. Two biosecurity puppies so fierce they must be contained in plastic bags. Enjoy your new homes little ladies. The picture features two plush puppies wearing 30 Years of Biosecurity capes. One is blonde, the other black. They are in sealed plastic bags.
June 14, 2025 at 11:03 PM
davesag.bsky.social
I’ve grown quite used to this now.
Books arrayed flat and loosely grouped
June 10, 2025 at 9:59 AM
davesag.bsky.social
How cool is the Yarralumla Woolshed! They had an open day this morning. Perfect spot for a grown up birthday party. #canberra
Interior of the Yarralumla Woolshed. Wooden floors and galvanised iron roof.
June 6, 2025 at 5:30 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Haha of course I saw a typo in that screen snap. Fixed. Actual draft 19 now done. For reals.
Actual draft 19 of Daedalus, a forthcoming novel by Dave Sag. Pages app. Pp 442 and 443. 158,715 words. Table of contents is showing.
June 5, 2025 at 4:47 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Draft 19 is done. I’m going to do one last read through, this time on my phone. #writing #pages
Screen snap of pages 442 and 443 of draft 19 of Daedalus, a forthcoming novel by Dave Sag. The app is Apple’s Pages. The table of contents is showing.
June 5, 2025 at 4:33 AM
davesag.bsky.social
I’ve never seen this suspicious calling pattern warning before. Didn’t answer. It didn’t leave a message. One more for the blocklist. #spam #junk #scam
Screen snap from an iPhone showing a “suspicious calling pattern” warning for number 02 4072 9148.
June 5, 2025 at 2:24 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Beautiful morning up on the hill. #canberra
View from the east face of Red Hill looking towards Black Mountain on the left and Mount Ainslie to the right. The sky is blue with wispy clouds. Rocks and grass dominate the foreground. It was -1°C when I took this photo.
June 3, 2025 at 9:54 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Rereading draft 14 now. It feels done. I know I’ve said that before, but I’ve made it a third the way though now haven’t hit the burning urge to stop and rewrite whole sections. Have fixed many typos. At this point I’m just procrastinating. I should be trying to find a publisher. #writing
Pages 266 and 267 of draft 14 of Daedalus by Dave Sag. Chapter headings are shown on the left hand side.
May 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
davesag.bsky.social
Another fine autumn morning on the hill. #canberra
View from the trig point towards black mountain. It’s overcast. The grass is golden brown. View from the trig point looking down across the inner south of Canberra.
May 15, 2025 at 11:12 PM
davesag.bsky.social
A tiny white tail on the amaranth flower. #spiders #tiny #cute #canberra
Side view of a very small white tailed spider that’s standing on an amaranth flower. The flower is thick with pollen and the spider is alert for incoming pollinators. Side view of a very small white tailed spider that’s standing on an amaranth flower. The flower is thick with pollen and the spider is alert for incoming pollinators. Top view of a very small white tailed spider that’s standing on an amaranth flower. The flower is thick with pollen and the spider is alert for incoming pollinators.
May 15, 2025 at 6:58 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Seeya Adelaide. Short and sweet trip.
View from a Qantas flight in Adelaide. A Jetstar plane can be seen at the next gate. The sky is purest blue.
May 11, 2025 at 1:36 AM
davesag.bsky.social
The best Singapore Laksa in Australia can be found at The Asian Gourmet in the Adelaide Central Market.
A delicious Singapore laksa.
May 11, 2025 at 1:29 AM
davesag.bsky.social
Adelaide really does do amazing sunsets. Most golden of golden hours.
View over Adelaide at sunset from the top of the Chambers Gully walk. The city is seen to the left and in the distance the sun is setting over a golden sea. There’s a kangaroo in the foreground. It’s dry and warm for this time of year.
May 10, 2025 at 7:43 AM