iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

After a century of resistance, it’s great to see #Trump advocating for the uptake of #SI. Wait, he was unaware of the existence of Système international d'unités? Yep, he’s still just a self-serving moron.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Woke us up, and the dog. Melbourne.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Correction: Set 8003 (8103-8603)

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

X’trapolis 2 Set 8103-8503 on test, Frankston line passing through Malvern Station

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Oh no, won’t someone think of the firearms businesses…

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Probably not, because there still aren’t sufficient alternative devices like synchronous condensers on the grid to guarantee stability (inertia, frequency control, short-circuit strength, reactive power).

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I quite liked Bailey Smith’s blue and black Brownlow suit. Or was it white and gold?

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Kaurna (Adelaide Plains SA): Gunya / Karrku Palawa / Pakana (TAS): Lutana Kunwinjku language group (Arnhem Land NT): Karl / Lorr

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Yuin Nation (NSW South Coast): Ngalgala Dja Dja Wurrung (Central VIC): Djandak Wii Woi Wurrung / Wurundjeri (Greater Melbourne VIC): Wii Bagurrk Guugu Yimithirr / Binthi (Cape York QLD): Yuku Ngaala

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Did you known the cultural practice of using fire selectively to manage and care for Country has different names across the multitude of different Aboriginal language and clan groups? Some examples: (Please correct/teach me where I’ve got these wrong)

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

NSW: Hazard Reduction Burn VIC: Planned Burn QLD: Planned / Hazard Reduction Burn WA: Prescribed / Planned Burn SA: Prescribed Burn TAS: Fuel Reduction Burn NT: Prescribed Burn ACT: Prescribed Burn

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Did you know the practice of using fire to burn combustible matter in controlled circumstances with the goal of reducing the risk of uncontrolled fire at a later date, is known by different names in each state of Australia?

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Domain.com.au still reporting test data on their live auction results prod site 🤷‍♂️

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Rawdog. Unless you carry a screwdriver?

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

WTF - now the pedestrian crossing signs are also gone. Such a backward move. Does #CityofKingston not care about pedestrian safety?

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Granted there aren’t too many compelling reasons why anyone would want to visit them, but I’m not objecting if they want to come here and spend their money

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It’s an incredibly fortuitous coincidence that there’s no AFLM finals matches in Melbourne this week, so nothing to dilute the attention the NFL got.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

50% of tickets were sold to interstate/international attendees, and estimates are $300m in direct spend associated with the event - hospitality, accom, retail, transport etc archive.today/AOthg

archive.today

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

It’s sold out. It’s a bigger deal than I expected, the NFL hype and talk all week in Melbourne has been significant. Night network trains running overnight tonight, for early start game Friday. That’s very unusual. Will easily inject $millions in tourism spend into Melbourne’s veins.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Unconfirmed but speculated to be $15m per game per year for 2 years, with an optional 3rd year.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

There are no Opal readers on Sydney Ferries. They’re on the wharf.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It’s not carbon-free. But it’s a hell of a lot better than having a fossil-fuelled vehicle driving around emitting carbon full-time, when the task that actually needs the extended range and capacity is very infrequent.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The caravan is likely to be infrequently used, compared to the towing vehicle. So make the towing vehicle full BEV for maximum everyday efficiency. And build an old-school, small, efficient static mounted onboard generator into the van to provide supplementary power to the EV when it’s needed.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

You know that oft quoted objection to EVs: “but how will it tow my caravan, around Australia, on a trip I do once, ever?” Surely EV and caravan designs will evolve such that the caravan will supply power to the towing vehicle? Active power hitch and a small static dino-fuelled generator in the van.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Looking forward to one day catching trains at Shin-Box Hill, Shin-Glen Waverley, Shin-Clayton and Shin-Southland.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Now that proper dedicated transfer connections have been removed from scope at Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Clayton and Southland, will the SRL stations at those locations get completely new names, similar to the way Town Hall and State Library got separate names for new stations adjacent to old ones???

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I think I just vomited a little bit

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

“Applehead Deli” opened this week in the old Mentone Station. A cafe/bar collab by the people who run the successful popular Applehead Deli Mentone and Mates Bar Mordialloc. Breakky menu & coffee today were great, service flawless, seating plentiful. They’ll do well. maps.app.goo.gl/zGtSjHPBeTDf...

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This business seems to have used quality, reputable brand e-bikes - like Amp Bros Chubby, Vallkree, NCM and MURF. I wonder what they did wrong? Mixed up the chargers maybe?

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Given the widespread adoption of CCS2 as the Australian standard, and the availability of CCS2 to CHAdeMO (Car has CHAdeMO, station has CCS2) adaptors, I’d like to see all the useless (to me) CHAdeMO chargers replaced with CCS2.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I immediately wondered how it dealt with discarded vapes and their pesky tendency-to-ignite LiON batteries. Fire in the hole?!?

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Maroochydore’s “new” city centre has an underground automated waste collection system, the only one in Australia. Intended to reduce the need for waste collection trucks, particularly services for large apartment and commercial sites. Seems to work ok. www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/living-and-c...

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The rental market is tight on the Sunshine Coast, and letting agents have taken to using bait-pricing to make their properties appear lower in searches. This tactic is prohibited in VIC, and should be prohibited everywhere. Ping @purplepingers.bsky.social

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Share the last photo of the sky from your camera roll.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

So easy to forget you haven’t done the PLT & work placement, applied for admission, passed the ‘fit & proper’ character test, attended the Supreme Court admission ceremony, sworn the oath, received acceptance, signed the roll, applied for the practicing certificate and completed supervised practice!

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Apparently the state government doesn’t insure public works of art, and they’ve just given up on replacing the stolen sculpture. July 2026. Plinth will be removed.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

One of the “Windsong” sculptures hacked off at the ankles and stolen, November 2025. Plinth boxed the following month.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

“Windsong” Two beautiful bronze sculptures by Anne Ross, installed in the plaza under the new Parkdale Station, December 2024

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Um, what? It’s a 1% levy based on the ticket price of a trip. I don’t know who you think is spending $6000 a week on public transport fares? The maximum weekly cost right now for travelling every day is ($5.70x5)+($4x2)=$36.50, and the ‘secret 1% tax’ included in that would be 36.5 cents.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Shades of previous governments cost-cutting the RRL, leaving Geelong and Ballarat Lines with a hideously inefficient, service-limiting flat junction in Ravenhall, when flyovers should have been built.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This Core Business Precinct is supposed to support… “the widest range and highest order of commercial, civic and administrative uses in the Sunshine Coast region, supporting community, cultural and entertainment facilities”. Data centres aren’t any of that.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

And how do they get planning approval for prime sites like this, designated a “core business precinct” in the Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area Development Scheme???

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

That’s a market offer, not the regulated SSO.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

And there it is. The things that make this project actually worth doing: cancelled. Safe, efficient and convenient interchanges for travellers have been deemed “unnecessary additions”. So frickin stupidly short sighted.

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Michael Bell @xtrackka.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Can almost guarantee that the thing Carroll is planning to cancel is the thing that will make #SRL useful: the ability to easily, seamlessly transfer between lines at interchange stations. If he does cancel this, he may as well cancel the whole thing.

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