iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 25/09/2026

I've put Batō's portrait up on top of the temple that will be burnt at Underland. He always loved looking out from on top of his towers. Still miss him a lot.

Black and white A4 portrait of a much loved tuxedo cat, stapled to the outside of a wooden domed structure

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 26/08/2026

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only sane person in a world gone mad! ...but I'm all too aware that when you start thinking you're the only one who can see the truth, that you're probably wrong and having a mental health crisis 😅 (splitting this over several posts) 1/n

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 11/07/2026

My career lived through the 2000-2002 dotcom crash, but I bet a huge percentage of current tech people are too young to remember that.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 05/06/2026

LinkedIn is messed up. I logged back in for the first time in quite a while, updated my profile, and messaged about six previous coworkers to see if they had any leads on jobs. (Each message was personalised, they weren't just copy-pasta.) My account was then suspended. For looking for work?? 1/2

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 05/06/2026

A local shop posted an "AI-enhanced" photo of a thief who stole from them. Based on a screencap from a security camera -- low resolution and at a high angle. Result looks wrong in that uncanny way, and FB comments are like "woah this guy is ugly". Shop hadn't clearly declared it was AI generated 1/n

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Reposted by Toby Wint_rmute

Svante Thunberg @svantethunberg.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

"Researchers found undisturbed primary forests store 83% more carbon per acre than the managed forests that are replacing them." This study is "shocking" - as in "we've been lied to by the forest industry" and... it's not in our climate models. sustainability.stanford.edu/news/shockin...

sustainability.stanford.edu

A ‘shocking’ carbon discovery in Sweden’s forests

A new study finds old-growth forests in Sweden store far more carbon than the industrial tree plantations that are rapidly replacing them, with soil accounting for most of the difference. Protecting u...

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 18/05/2026

Bank Australia just emailed me to say they were turning 2FA off on my account, but I could call their customer support line to request to continue using 2FA. This feels like a strange approach to take. (Meanwhile I do 99% of my actual banking with another bank who is more progressive)

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 25/04/2026

Bought a FedHQ sodium-ion battery for a motorcycle and it died after not that long. Popped it open and it's ultra simple inside - no BMS. The battery had failed because the positive lead solder connection had popped off. Cells can't possibly reach advertised current either!

Battery opened up showing several blue 32700 cells. They are labelled 4.5Ah 3.0V

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 20/04/2026

Version 2 of my sash window cat flap. Goal of v2 is to be less drafty in winter.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 07/04/2026

Went back to Araps for Easter! Trad lead on six routes (up to grade 13, mostly two pitches), trad second on four routes (up to grade 19) including the epic Watchtower Crack multi. I was at Araps last weekend too. Leading on Panzer (gr12 multi) and some fun single pitch routes.

A man with a helmet and climbing harness, carrying equipment, is climbing a vertical crack

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 14/03/2026

I haven't been down to the dodgy end of the CBD in ages! Jumped off the tram this afternoon and immediately saw a homeless guy punching out a tourist who had taken a photo. Stay classy Melbourne. Might continue to stay in the inner north hey

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 24/02/2026

Is VicEmergency trying to supplant the BoM for weather? I'm getting a red shelter-in-place warning because of an incoming... thunderstorm?

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Reposted by Toby Wint_rmute

Senator David Shoebridge @davidshoebridge.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Shared with us from Sydney happening now. He had his hands up.

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Reposted by Toby Wint_rmute

edeath @edithcharles.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I imagine tech bros on a date must be like "do you consent, yes or maybe later?"

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 24/12/2025

Is Google Calendar's timezone support totally broken or am I using it wrong? While I'm in the +10 timezone, I create an event and say that event will be at 14:00 in the +9.5 timezone. I then travel to the +9.5 timezone. My calendar updates and shows the event at 15:00 local time. WTF?

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Reposted by Toby Wint_rmute

Sharb 🏳️‍⚧️ @firengames.com · 10/12/2025

I cannot stress enough to any other Australians to please avoid KWS verification like the plague. I was checking through what bluesky's verification was and just immediately with this. If you don't know, KWS had a data breech and it was confirmed user data was stolen that was supposed to be deleted

Age Assurance
Verify your age
We have partnered with KWS

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 08/12/2025

Batō passed away peacefully this afternoon, after spending most of the day relaxed in his favourite outdoor spot, on a sunny day. When he received the lymphoma diagnosis six months ago, I never even expected him to make it this long, so I'm glad we had more time together.

A tuxedo cat lays on an outdoor couch on a blanket, next to several Ikea animals

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 27/11/2025

Headed to the Grampians on Friday, back home Sunday, for some rock climbing. Went to the West Flank and I Forget walls, climbing a total of 10 different routes over the days. Nothing crazy -- grades from 13 to 17 (lead, sport), up to 25-30m in height, but some interesting climbs in there.

Cliff face, with a rope going up it - a climber is at the top, distant and small, under a roof section

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 21/11/2025

Retired couple at the campsite were asking why we like climbing. Tried to explain but I think they went away still thinking we're wrong in the head.

Sunset light on the West Flank wall of Mt Zero

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 11/11/2025

The original Indiana Jones film aired in 1981, 45 years later than its setting in 1936. If the recent Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024) was set 45 years earlier than its release date, it would be set around the time they were filming the original film! (However it's actually set in 1937)

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 18/10/2025

I don't want to jinx it by saying so, but... my '84 Goldwing is actually running really well at the moment! Went for a long ride with a friend today, it worked fine, and was actually feeling kinda peppy at times!

A Honda GL1200 (black) in front of a wall with a mural on it

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 14/10/2025

I have sold one of my motorcycles! It seems like I spend my spare time climbing now, or travelling, and I have barely ridden this bike. It's just depreciating and costing rego and insurance, so I thought it was time to go. I still have a 1984 Honda Goldwing - I'm not giving up riding entirely.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 06/10/2025

My ISP, Superloop, has an option to take a 24 hour "speed boost", which is claimed to upgrade my 100/40mbps link to 750/250. I tried it on the weekend, excited to download a new 120gb game quickly. However.. it made no noticeable difference at all. 1/3

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 12/09/2025

My van is more packed than ever, along with a trailer -- I'm off to Paradise* to start setting up for Underland. * Postcode 3477, an actual place in Victoria, Australia. 1/3

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 28/08/2025

With iHerb suddenly stopping shipping melatonin to Australia - does anyone have a recommendation of another online store that ships here?

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 24/08/2025

My frustrations with Google's RMA process continues: I shipped them the useless locked replacement phone, via a courier they arranged, and the tracking shows it was delivered. However their RMA status page says it hasn't been delivered, and the tracking there says `UNKNOWN_CARRIER`. 🤦

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 19/08/2025

Australian house quality: My room is quite small. The a/c has been set to 25° for four or five hours now, but the actual temp is merely 18.5°. Just impossible to warm this room up. Heat escapes everywhere.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 14/08/2025

So my Pixel 8 went bad while at Nowhere, and I returned it under warranty when back in Australia. Google sent me a replacement phone.. but it's locked to some organisation so I can't even sign into set it up. FFS. So frustrating!

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 11/08/2025

What's up with the capitalisation in Chrome's File menu on MacOS?

Screenshot of Chrome's File menu, showing "New tab / New window" and "New Tab / New Window", with inconsistent capitalisation of Tab and Window.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 08/08/2025

Oh FFS.. Microsoft forced my hand into upgrading to Windows 11 on my gaming PC.. and now it's busted. (Screen flashing to black at like 1 Hz) Luckily it's just a gaming PC; daily life occurs on a Mac.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 30/07/2025

I'm on the way home! It's been quite the holiday. After doing 12 days at Nowhere, I wasn't sure I needed or wanted to do another week-long event, and felt like I could have happily stayed in the Spanish mountains for longer. But I'm glad I made it to The Borderland in Sweden - it was awesome! 1/n

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 17/07/2025

After a brief stop in Tarragona to check out some 2000+ year old architecture dating back to the Romans, we flew to Sweden to prepare for The Borderland. Unfortunately the airline has lost the bag with the shared tent and my friend's mattress. 1/2

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 16/07/2025

Last via ferrata post, I promise. This one was a grade higher in difficulty (K4), and longer and harder. I did get quite nervous at a couple of points! Highly recommend it too, though. Shown below is a 28m wire bridge, with the handhold wires directly overhead rather than either side.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 15/07/2025

Went to do another via ferrata, but it was closed! I looked at the start of an underground via ferrata too. I decided it wasn't sensible to do that one solo. If I slipped I might lose my head torch, and it'd be impossible to find my way out in the dark, and would have no way to message for help.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 14/07/2025

Hiking near La Morera de Montsant, and climbing the 250m high via ferrata. I was the only person on the mountain! The views are amazing and the climb somewhat technical and very fun, including two wire bridges. Every hour I could hear a bell ring from the tiny medieval town in the valley.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 13/07/2025

Arrived in Cornudella de Montsant, near the famous crag Siurana. The main road through this medieval village is closed for repairs, forcing all traffic through the extremely narrow streets.

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Reposted by Toby Wint_rmute

Camp @campfireharve.st · 11/07/2025

I saw an infographic a couple years ago about how to remove source identifiers from links and why it's important, but I can't find it again and too many people I know are sending me links with them so here's an infographic straight from the oven

Header text: "HEY YOU! YES YOU! TAKE THIS SHIT OUT OF LINKS!"

This is followed by a couple example urls, with a red square highlighting the sections with source identifiers. The rest of the text is as follows:

Source identifiers are used to track your activity on a site. Where you came from, what device you use, and even who you talk to. Whether it's written clearly in the url or tied to a random string of characters, it's assigned to your activity.

When you send a link containing a source identifier to somebody and they click it, it signals to the website that you two are connected. And that data goes right back to the website operators, and thus their advertisers.

Whenever you select "share" or "copy link" on a social app or website, it creates a link like this. If you give even the smallest shit about online privacy, it's important to remove them. Everything after the "?" symbol can be removed without issue, especially sections starting with "si=" or "utm_source="

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 10/07/2025

This is the Barrio at Nowhere which I was part of this year. Quite a big build! Photo credit: Stephane Lanoux

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 10/07/2025

Bought a Samsung A26 5G overseas as my Pixel 8 was dying. Samsung's website says it supports eSIM, but it doesn't seem to actually support them. WTF? So that's hundreds of dollars wasted, unless there's some way to unlock the functionality?

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 09/07/2025

It's probably due to the excessive heat, but my phone (Pixel 8) developed an issue while at Nowhere, and it is just getting worse since then. The screen frequently crashes to green static, or strobes to black. 1/n

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 12/06/2025

This is probably the second-to-last Batō update. For a short while it seemed like he was responding well to some medication, and was brightening up and eating more, but he has been going downhill again this week, and there are no more medical options left.

A black and white adult tuxedo cat named Bato sits outdoors. He is facing the camera but his eyes are looking sideways, out of the frame

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 29/05/2025

I used to think that, one day, when Bato dies he should be buried with an honour guard consisting of the two plush ratties that he's had as toys since a kitten. I was sobbing after some bad news from the vet, and then Bato brought both ratties to me. Which just set me off sobbing even more.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 23/05/2025

Jetstar are hopeless! My flight was cancelled and the email about it has a link to rebook that goes to an error page. Navigating to my booking in the app instead provides a button to select replacement flights, but clicking it just gives an error message. Guess I'm not going on holiday today huh

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 21/05/2025

If this TP-Link energy monitor is right, I'm going to have a hell of an electricity bill at the end of the month! (I don't think it's right - my bedroom would not be so cold if my heater was actually drawing megawatts)

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 09/05/2025

Oh FFS Soundcloud, why do you have to do this?

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 30/04/2025

Bought a cheap used Apple laptop as I wanted something to take on a holiday that is much less expensive than my main laptop, in case it gets stolen. But I think I might have just bought a stolen laptop? 1/3

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Reposted by Toby Wint_rmute

Pavel @spavel.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Even linkedin is starting to get it

↳ They are heavily influenced by the last conversations they had.

↳ They contradict themselves, pretending they aren't.

↳ They politely apologize for their mistakes, but don't take any real steps to fix the underlying problem that caused them in the first place.

↳ They tend to forget what they told you last week, or even one hour ago, and do it in a way that makes you doubt your own recall of events.

↳ They are victims of the Dunning–Kruger effect, and they believe they know a lot more about the job of people interacting with them than they actually do.

↳ They can make pretty slides in high volumes.

↳ They're very good at consuming resources, but not as good at turning a profit.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 28/04/2025

Surprisingly long queue at the voting centre near my house. Glad it's a slow day at work so I can take the time.

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