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

If this was a game, I'd suggest the level designer was lazy and copy-pasted the same sentences, decals and artwork around a lot. Is it just that my mind is unusually good at spotting similarities and patterns, and so the massive use of AI-generated stuff triggers me? Or am I mad? 4/4

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

There's a similar effect with AI-based writing. It all seems to have the same tone and phrases repeat, giving this uncomfortable sense of deja vu. Yet no-one else feels this way or sees it, as far as I can tell. Even people you'd think would (see above, the anti-AI campaigns using AI) 3/4

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

I've seen anti-AI campaign posters made with AI. I've seen pro-environment campaign posters made with AI. Every lunch store near my work has an identical AI generated poster advertising their food. Everything is starting to look the same! 2/n

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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

Alternatively, maybe things are worse now than then? I don't have the stats to tell, and my memory is not going to be that accurate after 25 years.

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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

All I ever see other people do on there is post about how great AI is, so maybe I'm being punished for my lack of enthusiasm? 🙃 (ok, probably not that. But does seem like they have a hair-trigger for suspending people.) 2/2

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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

I wondered if this was disingenuous or even unhelpful? The genuine person will look different enough to the image posted that people may say they're not the culprit! Whereas the original low-res security footage was ambiguous. 2/2

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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 · 08/04/2026

I am perpetually confused that 24° could be considered hot anywhere! Doesn't it limit your range of expression? Like if that's hot, then how do you describe 34? Or 44?

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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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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 07/02/2026

Simulated self driving cars. Unknown if the simulation is at all accurate vs real self driving cars.

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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 · 06/01/2026

Am I missing it, or is there no scale on the Y axis? It could be going from 1000 users to 1010 users for all we know.

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 30/12/2025

Not every street corner, but I swear you could get it over the counter at the supermarket in Collingwood

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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 25/12/2025

I think this is true of all editions of The Conversation. Eg. @us.theconversation.com @aunz.theconversation.com @uk.theconversation.com etc Unsure about proof though - perhaps by tagging them in, an editor can drop a link to a public editorial policy or similar?

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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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Toby Wint_rmute @wintrmute.net · 17/12/2025

Give them a hot minute and we will have AI-based adblockers running on in-browser models, trained on old copies of open source blocklists.

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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

The last few months have been about worrying and grieving for the inevitable end. Over this final weekend of vigil I've been beside myself. Now that it's over.. I don't know what to do. There's a sense of relief that there is nothing more to worry for, but also, a huge hole in my life.

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

He loved his little adopted family of Ikea toys, and would always be carrying them around the house. He has been buried alongside his two favourites as an honour guard into the afterlife.

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

He was born October 2009, and moved in with me shortly after. Over the next sixteen years he was my constant companion through good times and bad, with his big personality. I had a very chaotic life at times, but I knew I could always rely on him being there.

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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 · 21/11/2025

Damn.. I did 92k at a party earlier in the year and thought that was impressive! I have nothing on you!

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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

I wondered if the local HFC in the street is already at maximum capacity in the evenings? Or if there's something wrong with Superloop's speed boost? And yes, I'm on a wired ethernet connection to the router, which is itself capable of high speeds, and my PC has a good SSD. 2/2

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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

This is my first time as the site manager, and I'm a bit stressed, but tbh I think everything will work out. I am optimistically packing my climbing gear too, just in case I get a day off, as we're quite close to the Grampians. 3/3

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

If small arts and music festivals are your thing, please consider buying a ticket and coming along! It'll be running from 25-29 September. If you're already planning to come, then I look forward to seeing you there! 2/3

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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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