iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 11/10/2026

Rah! FFS. I'm getting SMART errors on a brand new disk. They all look like ``` Error 16 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 8 hours (0 days + 8 hours) When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle. After command completion […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

Screenshot of a terminal having run `smartctl -a`

```
60 00 b8 00 00 00 40 08 09:40:29.557 READ FPDMA QUEUED
61 00 b0 00 64 41 40 08 09:40:29.528 WRITE FPDMA QUEUED
61 00 a8 00 60 41 40 08 09:40:29.526 WRITE FPDMA QUEUED
61 00 a0 00 5c 41 40 08 09:40:29.525 WRITE FPDMA QUEUED
61 00 98 00 58 41 40 08 09:40:29.523 WRITE FPDMA QUEUED

Error 16 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 8 hours (0 days + 8 hours)
When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

After command completion occurred, registers were:
ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
10 41 00 00 04 eb 40 Error: IDNF at LBA = 0x00eb0400 = 15401984

Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC Powered_Up_Time Command/Feature_Name
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---------------- --------------------
60 00 20 00 00 00 40 08 08:14:09.710 READ FPDMA QUEUED
61 00 18 00 04 eb 40 08 08:14:09.695 WRITE FPDMA QUEUED
61 00 10 00 00 eb 40 08 08:14:09.693 WRITE FPDMA QUEUED
61 00 08 00 fc ea 40 08 08:14:09.691 WRITE FPDMA QUEUED
61 00 00 00 f8 ea 40 08 08:14:09.689 WRITE FPDMA QUEUED

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num Test_Description Status Remaining LifeTime(hours) LBA_of_first_error
# 1 Short offline Completed without error 00% 120 -

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
SPAN MIN_LBA MAX_LBA CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
1 0 0 Not_testing
2 0 0 Not_testing
3 0 0 Not_testing
4 0 0 Not_testing
5 0 0 Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.

The above only provides legacy SMART information - try 'smartctl -x' for more
```

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 11/10/2026

I'm building a bridge over the creek to get the mower across. Digging holes for all the stumps is hard work, particularly with the occasional floaters germane to being close to a water stream. But the last hole was by far the easiest! I'll jot it down to improved […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

Photo of a grassy patch of ground. There's a nice round hole in the middle, and bits of a wooden structure in the making towards the top of the photograph.

Two arms, presumably the owner of the hole's, project from outside the frame. They lead to hands, cradling opposite sides of the hole. There's a ring on the ring finger of the left hand.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2026

Trying to sanitise Internet content for (not so) little people is a new challenge. Looking at Android devices, you can get content filters and even, presumably disable algorithms and ads. This is great! ... Only for under 13... OK, that should work.. Except the […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

Screenshot from YouTube.

“
You must be 16 or older to sign in to YouTube in Australia
Due to a new local law, you won't be able to sign in. Videos that you've created won't be visible on YouTube, but you can always download them.
Learn more
”

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026

Ugh, the september Android update hasn't been kind on my Pixel 6a. It runs hotter, and the battery struggles to reach the end of the day. Anyone noticing this?

Screenshot of a Home Assistant (mobile) history page. It shows battery charge and device temperature over a couple of weeks. There is a notable inflection where the battery drains faster (and gets lower), and the device runs hotter. That's when I installed the september update.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 21/09/2026

I'll be at the Repair Café in Kingston, Tas, next Sunday. I'll bring my gear to try and blow some more life into your electronic devices. #repairCafé #kingston #tasmania #reuserestoreRepair

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 16/09/2026

Hahahah! That time when I had transparents screens.

Two Dell screens showing Unix terminals.

Except the root image is a photograph of what is behind the screens, taken from the same angle, including screen mounts. So it looks like the screens are delightfully transparent.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 12/09/2026

RE: live.acarsdrama.com/@acarsdrama/117… What is happening? I've seen this message multiple times over the last few days, and it seems to be in various region, and in the air-to-ground direction? Is the ground changing position? Is this an […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

Cropped screenshot of Phanpy searching for “POSSIBLE GPS SPOOFING PLEASE VERIFY YOUR POSITION” returning many identical messages in different geographic regions. Also, they are Air-to-Ground message.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 12/09/2026

www.smh.com.au/national/trump-spoke… I reckon the only acceptable answer from the AU govt would be as follows. #auspol #bigTech

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 12/09/2026

The Power of 10: New Rules for the Digital World | Communications of the ACM dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3774658 > Proposing a novel ethical framework to help individuals and societies make prudent, human-centered decisions in the age of “supercharged” […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

10 Rules for the Digital World (as a table)

Table headers: Rule, Issues to Debate and Expand, Illustrative Conclusions for End Usersg, Illustrative Conclusions for Professionals

1. Do not elevate digital technology to an end in itself.

The ideologization of technology for its own sake, including the lack of respect for the hierarchy of being, where the digital should serve the analog and not vice versa. This also includes the tendency to fall in love with one’s own creations and promote the idea of “superintelligence.”

Avoid expecting technological solutions for every problem.Refrain from striving to digitize everything.2. Do not wrongfully attribute humanity to machines.

The use of imprecise, human-like naming of machine capabilities (anthropomorphism) and the construction or depiction of machines in ways that confuse technical capabilities with human qualities.

Refrain from building personal relationships with AI bots.Avoid simulating a first-person perspective in AI conversations.3. Create space for downtime and analog encounters.The configuration of systems for permanent and non-discriminatory connectivity and reachability, along with the ubiquity of computing in all areas. This raises questions about the prioritization of efficiency over higher values such as leisure and well-being.Establish regular routines for digital detox to create time and space away from screens.Design systems that include spaces for leisure time and non-connectivity.4. Honor social and democratic capabilities.The replacement of meaningful social and family relationships with thousands of weak ties (for example, “friends” on social media), as well as the lack of respectful and democratic discourse across ideological or social “bubbles.”Practice polite and healthy online behavior.Promote and support polite and healthy communities both online and offline.5. Do not destroy life and nature for technological progress.The recognition that IT (and AI specifically) can be detrimental to humans as well as the environment when used excessively. IT is highly resource- and CO2-intensive, prompting the need to balance its use for global ecological health.Treat and utilize AI as a valuable and limited resource.Develop IT solutions that prioritize minimal energy consumption.

6. Do not treat people as mere data objects.

The potential for confusion between digital twins and their human counterparts, highlighting the importance of staying true and loyal to the person behind the user. This also includes concerns about sharing data on intimate analog activities and the need to prioritize data minimization and quality.Look beyond what the Internet tells you about people; seek deeper understanding.Prioritize the individuality of people over computational scores.7. Do not deprive yourself and others of their true human potentials.The recognition that human attention and creativity are among the most precious resources, requiring protection by design. This includes the careful orchestration of user accessibility to avoid default, disruptive, real-time, and ubiquitous access to people.Leverage digital tools to support, not replace, your own creativity and knowledge.Ensure humans make the first creative proposal, allowing AI to improve it, not the other way around.8. Care for truth and do not deny the limits of technology.The need to remain realistic about the limitations of technological capabilities, including their error-proneness, security vulnerabilities, and added complexity. This also involves ensuring the protection of user rights in the face of machine errors and the necessity to protect and monitor truth.Question machine-generated answers and decisions with confidence.

Acknowledge and address machine errors sincerely, and pursue error indications with vigilance.

9. Do not undermine the freedom of others by technical means.The risk of abusing technology to restrict the freedom of others, including the dangers of technology paternalism and mutual surveillance in private life.Strike a careful balance between monitoring children or partners and respecting their right to freedom.Avoid creating configurations (for example, robots) that are physically restrictive and cannot be overridden.10. Prevent the concentration of power and ensure participation.The monopolization or undue privatization of technological power or knowledge, as well as the excessive and non-democratically legitimized use of shared resources (for example, water, energy, Earth, space).Support trustworthy local providers by paying for private computing resources.Advocate for and support open source, interoperable, modular, and controllable IT systems.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 05/09/2026

I was randomly checking my German as you do, and ran into a weird case of self-censorship. noai.duckduckgo.com/?q=es+mir+sheis… It feels inappropriate to have this level of performative prudeness here here...

Screenshot of noai.duckduckgo.com in Firefox Mobile. The translation widget is open at the top, offering the translation of the German “es mir scheissegal” to be “i don't give a”.

Don't give a what?! Say it, you prude!

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 31/07/2026

I'll be at the repair café at Kingston Neighbourhood house www.kingstonnh.org.au this Sunday from 14:00 to 16:00. Bring you damaged/old tech, and we'll try to breathe some life back into them! > Repair Cafe is this Sunday from 2pm - 4pm. Bring in your […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 20/07/2026

While I'm —errr— servicing my outdoors sensor, I got back to designing a nicer PCB than the little adapter I had on a protoboard. I'm thinking about getting it made by one of those PCB services. I'll take any advice on things to be careful in the design, when […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

Electronics schematics. Main elements include a 4-20mA sensor feeding a 150Ω resistor and connected to an ADC input with some protective resistors and zener diode on the way. There is also a DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 18/07/2026

Why, thank you IP65 box. This explains a number of things.

An electronics enclosure with seals. Inside, a PCB and a few cables. Happily swimming in dirty water.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 14/07/2026

New Tab context menu in @firefoxnightly. I find it way cleaner, and less overwhelming. Give it a go! Enable the “Streamlined tab menu” in `about:preferences#experimental`

New tab context menu in Firefox Nightly.

* New Tab to Right
* Duplicate
---
* Pin
* Mute
* Reload
---
* Open in Split View
* Move to >
* Open in a New Container Tab >
---
* Bookmark
---
* Share >
* Send to Your Devices >
---
* Close
* Close Multiple >
* Reopen Closed Tab
---
(Extensions)

The “Move to >” submenu is open:

* New Group
---
(Existing groups witch color)
Closed Groups >
---
Move to Start
Move to End
Move to New Window
---
Move to (various other profiles)
---
Select All Tabs

Cropped screenshot of the “Firefox Labs” config section (from `about:preferences#experimental`).

Towards the bottom, “Streamlined tab menu
See a simpler context menu when you right-click a tab. It’s designed to make common actions easier to find”, is selected. There is also a link to “Share feedback”

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 29/06/2026

In @acm TechNews today: a story in two screenshots. www.geekwire.com/2026/short-form-sc… ... but […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

Screenshot of an news item under a sloppy image: “PaperTok Combats AI Slop

At ACM CHI 2026, University of Washington researchers presented PaperTok, a free AI-powered tool that transforms academic papers into engaging 45-second videos. Designed to combat misleading AI-generated science content, the tool helps researchers communicate their findings using AI-generated scripts, narration, and visuals, while requiring human review and editing at every step. Users can refine the output down to individual words, ensuring accuracy and maintaining scientific integrity.”

Screenshot of an news item under a sloppy image: “Medical Students Use Research Tool to Pump Out Misleading Studies

Screenshot of an news item under a sloppy image:Medical students and researchers are increasing their use of TriNetX, a platform containing anonymized health records from over 300 million patients. Because the platform makes analyses quick and accessible, inexperienced users—sometimes aided by AI—can produce papers that overlook key statistical biases, exaggerate treatment benefits, or even describe methods the software cannot perform.”

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 04/06/2026

Tangentially relatedly, I was allowed to look in someone else's MyHealthRecord. Here is an informative screenshot of the privacy section. You can choose from 3 levels of access for each document selectively, as well as delete them. The levels seem to be matched […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

Select document access level

* Choose Document Access, Hide and Removal Options
General Access
Allow healthcare providers and your representatives to view this document.
* Restricted Access
Allow healthcare providers and your representatives with restricted access to view this document.
* Hide Document
You, your healthcare providers and your representatives will not be able to view this document.
If you want to view it in future, you or your representatives will need to reinstate it in Manage My Document Access in the Privacy & Access section.
* Remove Document
You, your healthcare providers and your representatives will not be able to view this document.
This is a permanent removal.
Once the document is removed there is no way to reinstate it in your record. You can see a list of documents you have removed in Manage My Document Access in the Privacy & Access section.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 21/05/2026

Oh! Look what dropped in @firefoxnightly You can now natively share a link as a QR Code.

Screenshot of the tab context menu in Firefox Nightly.

The Share submenu is open, showing the “Copy link” and “Generate QR code” options. The latter is selected.

In the background, a QR code is show.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 12/04/2026

Making me sum cheese. Turns out the slow cooker juuuuust fits the 6L of milk that Woolies substituted for a price match, #homeBrewing

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 29/12/2025

My UPS has been angrily beeping at me and saying I need to replace the battery. It's a lead acid. Can I / How do I determine if I can swap it out for a LiFePo instead? #homelab #ups #battery #leadAcid #liFePo4

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 16/12/2025

RE: wetdry.world/@nonfedimemes/11556809… Hoping is not gonna save us. Here's a clean hairy heart to add to anything that supports custom emojis.

The yellow heart emoji, as rendered as a hairy heart in Android 4.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 29/11/2025

...because all you and I want to say is so much more precise and shorter if we just exchange the prompts directly, rather than burning the Earth twice over. #artificialintelligence #largeLanguageModels #environment #email #meme

No/yes lady meme.

No: “Please consider the environment before printing this email.”
Yes: “Please consider the environment before using AI on this email.”

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 17/10/2025

Achievement unlocked: explaining to a non-tech person why they couldn't see posts on their instance, but could access them from a browser. I think I did ok. Right?

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 07/09/2025

Found some time to turn water into beer yesterday. Been a while. Barring running out of gas during the boil, and scattering hops everywhere at one point, I didn't botch the recipe near as much as I did the last two batches. I even managed to hit my targets […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

A big pot with a large thermometer and a tap on a gas burner, on the ground next to a brick wall and a garden bed.

The backup gas bottle proved useful.

The beer kettle on a bench, transferring the wort to a fermenter.

A home assistant history view showing a temperature curve over a few hours: from 18°C to ~68°C, held for an hour, then up to 100°C for 1:30, then going logarithmically down.

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Olivier Mehani @shtrom.piaille.fr.ap.brid.gy · 29/06/2025

I just read this article. It describes GenieTalk (Generating Expression through Narrative in Everyday Talk), an input device for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). It sounds interesting, even as a standard input device! ‘What I Think about When I […] [Original post on piaille.fr]

Screenshots showing the sequence of using part of a retrieved sentence and repurposing it for a different audience: a) the predicted sentence is offered to the user; b) the user selects the opening clause of the sentence only; c) the user completes the sentence with an alternative ending to suit their current interaction.

In three screens, subsequent suggestions to complete input are shown. Suggestions are letters, words, or full clauses. They are anchored at the next key that would start the suggestion, and allow the user to enter them all as a block. Any words in suggested clauses can be chosen as an end-point, and new suggestions restart from there.

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