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useyourbrain.bsky.social
PlsUseYourBrain
@useyourbrain.bsky.social
1.6K followers 2.2K following 5.6K posts
humanism, secularism, realism, anti-theism, anti-superstition, anti-irrationalism, anti-supernaturalism, anti-fucking-stupidism.
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useyourbrain.bsky.social
019 – #SmallJoys

My phone rarely rings, but when it does, I get the theme tune from Ruby Gloom.

The show is gorgeously designed and the theme song is just fun.

🎶 See the bright side of the dark side 🎶
Ruby Gloom and her friend Iris. Ruby Gloom is a kids animated TV show.
January 19, 2026 at 12:32 PM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
018 – #SmallJoys

Guy Ritchie movies are always fun.

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre has Hugh Grant playing exactly the same character as he did in The Gentlemen, except this time he's a billionaire arms dealer.

Aubrey Plaza is great.
Promotional image for the Guy Ritchie movie Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
January 18, 2026 at 6:35 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
"The issue of consistency is a key ingredient of bravery. Among white Australians, political leadership is often sporadic and lukewarm. It is unsurprising then that having lost the referendum on the Voice, the Labor Government has retreated into silence."
– Sisonke Msimang
Cropped front cover of the book "A time for BRAVERY : What happens when Australians choose courage?" from The Australia Institute. https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/a-time-for-bravery Contributors: Yanis Varoufakis, Hon Ralph Regenvanu, Mike Rann AC, Senator Fatima Payman, Dr Sophie Scamps MP, John Hewson AM, Michele O’Neil, Sisonke Msimang, Professor Georgina Long AO, Ben Quilty, Rodney Croome AM, Tim Costello AO, Dr Amy Coopes, Professor Frank Bongiorno AM, Josh Bornstein, Fr Frank Brennan AO, Leanne Minshull, Polly Hemming, Bill Browne, Stephen Long, Greg Jericho, Eloise Carr Amy Remeikis, Richard Denniss, Naomi Hodgson, Jim Casey, Barrie Cassidy, Dr Amy Thunig-McGregor, Craig Foster AM Edited by Anna Chang and Alice Grundy.
January 18, 2026 at 3:11 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
017 – #SmallJoys

I love our Aussie critters.

This beauty visited today. Possibly looking for a place to wait out the storm.
Poor photograph of a large grasshopper on cream coloured weatherboards. The critter is entirely bright green apart from its grey eyes.
January 17, 2026 at 7:16 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
016 – #SmallJoys

A few years ago I found the perfect tiny canvas backpack. Good quality and beautifully designed.

I raved about it so much that a colleague also bought one.

Before Christmas I lost mine.

The company no longer exists.

My colleague no longer uses his, so he gifted it to me. 😁
A small grey rumpled canvas backpack. It has multiple pockets of various sizes. The zipper closures have brown leather zip pulls.
January 16, 2026 at 11:18 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
015 – #SmallJoys

Remembering that time I visited the waterfalls named after my Great Great Grandfather.
Photo of Philosopher Falls from the observation deck. The falls, located near Waratah in North West Tasmania, are named after James “Philosopher” Smith, son of convicts, who is credited with changing the fortunes of the entire state of Tasmania after discovering tin at Mt Bischoff in 1871. The walk from the carpark to the falls is easy and meanders through gorgeous rainforest. But then there are these million billion stairs to get down to the falls viewing platform. This pic showns part of the daunting ascent when leaving the falls.
January 15, 2026 at 11:59 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
014 – #SmallJoys

Nailed my daily dose of puzzles today. Brain is still functional 👍
Screenshot showing the six puzzle pages I complete each day: – Wordle (plus Strands and Pips) – Quordle – Nerdle – Squareword – Squardle – Word Tower
January 14, 2026 at 12:06 PM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
Here's a handy chart for our shitforbrains politicians who just don't get it yet.

This red line should scare the shit out of anyone with a functioning brain.

#ClimateCrisis
rapidly becoming
#ClimateCatastrophe
Chart with heading: "Global temperature increase" Supporting text reads: "Annual global-average surface air temperature increase above pre-industrial (1850-1900) reference level. "Source: Copernicus Climate Change Service" Chart shows a jagged red line, starting at 1940. The first 40 years show the increase never goes above 0.4. From 1980 onwards, the line rapidly rises to our current state – consistently above 1.4.
January 14, 2026 at 3:44 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
013 – #SmallJoys

Love watching this Aussie trio work their magic for the Gunners – Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross.

#Gunners
#Matildas
Matildas stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross in the red and white Arsenal kit.
January 13, 2026 at 12:21 PM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
011 – #SmallJoys

This goofball spends most of his day just laying around, giving zero fucks.

But a trip in The Car gets him wound up like a puppy.

#greyhound
The happy head of a dark brindle greyhound, sticking out of a car window.
January 11, 2026 at 7:17 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
010 – #SmallJoys

Maybe @australiainstitute.org.au could run their own writers' festival.

Or maybe future Arts festival boards could at least read these essays to build something resembling fortitude before capitulating to bad actors.

#AWW

{link to purchase in alt text}
Cropped front cover of the book "A time for BRAVERY : What happens when Australians choose courage?" from The Australia Institute. https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/a-time-for-bravery Contributors: Yanis Varoufakis, Hon Ralph Regenvanu, Mike Rann AC, Senator Fatima Payman, Dr Sophie Scamps MP, John Hewson AM, Michele O’Neil, Sisonke Msimang, Professor Georgina Long AO, Ben Quilty, Rodney Croome AM, Tim Costello AO, Dr Amy Coopes, Professor Frank Bongiorno AM, Josh Bornstein, Fr Frank Brennan AO, Leanne Minshull, Polly Hemming, Bill Browne, Stephen Long, Greg Jericho, Eloise Carr Amy Remeikis, Richard Denniss, Naomi Hodgson, Jim Casey, Barrie Cassidy, Dr Amy Thunig-McGregor, Craig Foster AM Edited by Anna Chang and Alice Grundy.
January 10, 2026 at 1:50 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
009 – #SmallJoys

My favourite natural phenomenon – the atmosphere.

When things become overwhelming, I find it helps to refocus attention on the sky ... spending some time contemplating just how astounding this phenomenon is.

The ultimate stress relief.
Late afternoon shot looking up at the sky between tall buildings in the city. The sky is mostly blue with a big beautiful wispy cloud brightly lit by the setting sun.
January 9, 2026 at 11:16 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
008 – #SmallJoys

There are a number of benefits to shopping at Aldi, but none greater than the best chocolate available in the country.
A pack of Aldi's Moser Roth Finest Dark 70% Cocoa chocolate.
January 8, 2026 at 10:38 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
007 – #SmallJoys

I would really prefer to not catch public transport.

But the 50c fare brought in by Steven Miles makes commuting in Brisbane almost as cheap as shanks' pony.
Just a dodgy pic of the front end of a Brisbane Metro bus.
January 7, 2026 at 8:09 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
005 – #SmallJoys

Brisbane's western suburbs offer excellent wildlife encounters. Good sanity savers.

This male king parrot was unimpressed that the bowl was not overflowing.
Adult male king parrot having a snack.
January 5, 2026 at 11:35 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
004 – #SmallJoys

The roses my favourite daughter gave me for my birthday are holding up well in the Brisbane heat.
Close up of a few red and a few pink roses in a glass vase. Some look fresh, some look a little tired. I'll no doubt keep them longer than would be ordinarily considered normal.
January 4, 2026 at 1:39 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
003 – #SmallJoys

Bidding farewell to our niece, who's off to the other side of the world (Perth).

The Mussamun was far better than the photograph might suggest.
Poor photograph of Mussamun Beef Cheek Curry at Chalong Restaurant in Brisbane. Highly recommend.
January 3, 2026 at 9:57 AM
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Um ... Not sure if MW are being ironic or sarcastic or spiteful or ...

OK ... don't overthink it ... let's just go with 'hopeful' 🙂
Screenshot of Merriam Webster's "Your 2026 Word" gif displaying the word 'hopeful'.
January 2, 2026 at 8:49 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
002 – #SmallJoys

Sweaty work in the neighbour's yard. He can't do it anymore. So, I chip away at it occasionally.

A losing battle in the Brisbane heat.
Bright green T-shirt of a scrawny middle-aged white man – dirty and soaked in sweat. This is what you get when you combine Brisbane heat and a lack of fitness.
January 2, 2026 at 2:17 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
001 – #SmallJoys

Today is my birthday and my favourite wife made me this delicious ginger/lemon/berry creamy slice thing.

Hopefully an omen of all the goodness 2026 may bring.
Top down view of my birthday slice on a wooden board. A biscuit base, covered with whipped cream and topped with lemon curd and fresh raspberries and blueberries. So simple, so delicious.
January 1, 2026 at 9:32 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
Greys love Gooses
Dark brindle greyhound resting with large goose soft toy.
December 16, 2025 at 8:22 PM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
That Drought Envoy Report was released under FOI:
The Drought Envoy Report consisting of a text message conversation between Barnaby Joyce (B) and ScoMo (S). Complete with drunken typos. {begin transcript} B: G'day ScoMo. Jst reporting in from longreach. It's bloody dry out here. S: Righto B: Me again. Just been to Bedourie. That was dry too. Now I'm here in St George and bugger me if it's not dry. S: [sad face emoji] B: Dry as a dead dingos donga out here in Charleville Scomo. Just really dry. S: Thanks mate B: He is a hypocrite and a liar from my observations. Never trusted him. S: wot?? B: Ah Nah. Ignore that. Meant for someone else LOL. You wouln't belive how dry it is here in gumpie. I'm parched. S: Bummer B: I tell ya wot. were racking up the expences ha ha whaddya reckn? S: No worries. She'll be right B: Righto well I teel you wat its bludy dry here in tasssie. but not were i am haha {end transcript}
December 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
The Drought Envoy Report was released under FOI:
The Drought Envoy Report consisting of a text message conversation between Barnaby Joyce (B) and ScoMo (S). Complete with drunken typos. {begin transcript} B: G'day ScoMo. Jst reporting in from longreach. It's bloody dry out here. S: Righto B: Me again. Just been to Bedourie. That was dry too. Now I'm here in St George and bugger me if it's not dry. S: [sad face emoji] B: Dry as a dead dingos donga out here in Charleville Scomo. Just really dry. S: Thanks mate B: He is a hypocrite and a liar from my observations. Never trusted him. S: wot?? B: Ah Nah. Ignore that. Meant for someone else LOL. You wouln't belive how dry it is here in gumpie. I'm parched. S: Bummer B: I tell ya wot. were racking up the expences ha ha whaddya reckn? S: No worries. She'll be right B: Righto well I teel you wat its bludy dry here in tasssie. but not were i am haha {end transcript}
December 11, 2025 at 12:22 PM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
So, today's @nytimes.com Hard Pips is totally borked.

I gave in and chose Reveal.
Their 'solution' is even more wrong than my best attempt.

#NYTpips

(I've labelled this Graphic so as to avoid spoilers.)
Screen grab of New York Times Pips game showing significantly incorrect 'solution'.
December 9, 2025 at 4:10 AM
useyourbrain.bsky.social
This is a baby dragonfly (nymph).
Overhead shot of a dragonfly nymph on a white surface. They look nothing like an adult dragonfly. These aquatic predators feed on small fish, tadpoles, worms, insect larvae, etc. After many moultings, they energe from the water for a final moult into adult form.
December 4, 2025 at 9:41 PM