@Simbera@aus.social avatar

Simbera

@Simbera@aus.social

Climate and transport activist

Living in Ballarat (Wadawurrung country), Victoria, Australia

He/Him

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timrichards, to random
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

I love all the extra toppings you can add at the Little Ramen Bar. Which do you think I should choose? (Hint: one will definitely be the 🧄 💣 )

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@timrichards I'd be going for the egg, personally! I also like to get bamboo shoots but they don't seem to be an option there...

decryption, to random
@decryption@aus.social avatar

Any solutions for using a smartphone permanently plugged in without destroying the battery? e.g for use as a security camera, or a display

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@decryption not directly, but perhaps a useful anecdote: I kept an old Samsung semi-permanently plugged in for the better part of 4 years as a secondary Pokemon Go phone* and it hasn't noticeably degraded the battery. So you might not need to worry too much about that?
*(The GPS signal is imperfect indoors, so your avatar walks randomly around near your house as the phone tries to lock onto your location, so I used to "walk" to hatch eggs while sleeping or whatever)

decryption, to random
@decryption@aus.social avatar

which mastodon clients are folks on Android enjoying?

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@decryption Tusky is working well for me!

decryption, to random
@decryption@aus.social avatar

tell me again how toyota not going 100% into EVs is a mistake - they're selling more cars then ever! I love EVs, have been driving one for 5 years, but EVs are not the answer for a large portion of motorists yet and hybrid/ICE engines have a long life ahead of them (20+ years imho)

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@decryption left to their own devices ICEs might have 20 or more years of life in them, but that would be incompatible with a safe climate, so it can't be allowed to happen.
Hybrids probably do have a strong role for a while, but remember Toyota's mistake is saying that hydrogen will play a big role - they're sure as shit not selling a lot of those!

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@jamesh @decryption yeah almost all of the world's hydrogen is currently made using fossil fuels of some kind. Mostly Steam Methane Reformation using fossil gas, but then there's also this last (taxpayer-subsidised) gasp from the coal industry: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-31/greens-seek-end-of-coal-to-hydrogen-latrobe-valley-project/102792594

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@decryption @jamesh It is dead and buried, but Toyota doesn't appear to have noticed yet: https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/motoring-news/toyota-announces-plan-to-expand-hydrogen-refuelling-infrastructure/news-story/9a9ab945a0ed7b1915b93f4be2170efc?amp

timrichards, to random
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

Ugh, Brisbane has such a half-arsed train system. From 12-2pm the Skytrain from the airport runs every 15 minutes, BUT every second train only goes as far as the CBD, rather than onward to Southbank etc. Just missed a train I wanted for Southbank, sigh

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@simon @timrichards yeah it's privately owned, and it's a huge impediment to the government increasing services. Causing big headaches with the upcoming Olympics, apparently - their contract even prevents the government from running competing services like buses!

Simbera, to random
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

I'm about to try to board a Ghost Train...
Google Transit thinks the next train to Wendouree goes straight from Southern Cross to Deer Park without picking up at Footscray (or Sunshine). The V/Line app agrees...but the PDF timetable on their website (and logic) says that it does stop at Footscray.
I'm at Footscray and can't get to Southern Cross in time, so wish me luck.

Simbera, to random
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

I recently listened to this @drvolts podcast on "reconductoring" - hanging new, better wires on existing transmission towers to boost capacity.

I'm wondering if this is applicable in Australia, and might reduce the fights we're having over new transmission? https://www.volts.wtf/p/one-easy-way-to-boost-the-grid-upgrade

Simbera, to random
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

Are you looking for a role organising for climate action?

I've just been tipped off about this role going at Friends of the Earth in Melbourne, and I'm told they're especially keen for folks from the Ballarat area to apply.

FoE is a great org and this looks like a fantastic foot in the door of professional climate activism.

Closes soon so get in quick! https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/friendsoftheearth/energy-champions-organiser-yes2renewables

Simbera, to random
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

It's a resounding "yes" from me. Do the states and the national flag while you're at it!

Australia's city flags: What are they and is it time to change any of them? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-17/australia-city-flags-sydney-redesign/103585696

(H/T @timrichards)

timrichards, to random
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

Trying to have a coffee at Pellegrini's while a madwoman shouts and throws chairs around outside. I try to be sympathetic to such people, but it's bloody hard sometimes.

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@timrichards ahhh, I saw a bunch of cops milling about there earlier and wondered what it was about. She must've left by that stage though because I didn't hear any shouting

timrichards, to random
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

Interesting read. The flags could do with some updating.

Australia's city flags: What are they and is it time to change any of them? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-17/australia-city-flags-sydney-redesign/103585696

Simbera,
@Simbera@aus.social avatar

@timrichards I have strong opinions about this! I absolutely think our major cities should have flags that make them proud (ditto our states and our nation) and that basically none of them do this at the moment.
Notably absent from the article was Ballarat, which is potentially the only Australian city to have a flag that is both well-known and well-liked by residents - the Eureka flag

decryption, to random
@decryption@aus.social avatar

deleted_by_author

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    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @decryption the AAA is very conservative - way more conservative than its constituent bodies (RACV etc), and often more aligned with FCAI etc, which causes a lot of friction around issues like this. Seems to me like they were motivated to find any flimsy excuse to downplay the viability of the NVES

    decryption, to random
    @decryption@aus.social avatar

    deleted_by_author

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    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @decryption that Vozo thing sounds like a potentially useful tool for actual creators - do the hard work of an hour-long video, but then let the software create your promo clips for it.
    But a double-edged sword, since it'll be mostly used by content aggregators to steal other people's clips

    decryption, to random
    @decryption@aus.social avatar

    deleted_by_author

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    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @decryption they tend to ride pretty rough when empty, because their suspension is designed for a full load. Might not be too comfortable

    Simbera, to random
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    TIL: they've already started through-running (some) Sunbury Line trains to Pakenham, in advance of the Metro Tunnel opening

    decryption, to random
    @decryption@aus.social avatar

    deleted_by_author

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    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @decryption it's tricky because the NSW projects have quite different needs to the Vic ones. In Vic I'd say it's 99% upgrading existing lines, whereas in NSW the alignments are so squiggly you'd need to build a lot of whole new lines...and then it's like "If we're building new lines we might as well go for higher speeds".
    (Also the NSW ones make sense as the first steps of HSR links to Bris & Melb, whereas Geelong and Bendigo would be the end of the line)

    timrichards, to Trains
    @timrichards@aus.social avatar

    Lunch aboard the Indian Pacific as we cross the Nullarbor Plain. Camel curry, anyone? 🐪 🐪 🐪

    Cc @diningcar

    Bowl of camel curry with a glass of white wine.
    Baked apple and cinnamon with vanilla ice cream.

    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @timrichards @ThermiteBeGiants they had it on the Ghan a few months back

    timrichards, (edited ) to melbourne
    @timrichards@aus.social avatar

    Melbourne Mastodon Meetup!

    @mike, @ThermiteBeGiants, @NarrelleMHarris and I would like to get together IRL for some drinks, and you're all invited...

    On: Thursday 18 January, from 6pm
    At: The Quiet Man pub, 271 Racecourse Road, Kensington
    PT: Newmarket Station or Tram 57 (Stop 24).

    We can meet for a drink in the front bar, and there'll be a table booked in the dining room from 6.30pm. (Find menu etc here: https://www.thequietman.com.au/)

    If you can definitely make it, could you let me know by replying below? Then I can get the numbers right when booking the table.

    See you there! (Please boost for reach)

    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @timrichards @mike @ThermiteBeGiants @NarrelleMHarris I should be able to make it 👍

    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @timrichards @mike @ThermiteBeGiants @NarrelleMHarris confirming I still plan to attend 🙂

    Simbera, to random
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    UITP (International Association of Public Transport) has released a report highlighting the lack of public transport improvements in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions: https://www.uitp.org/news/third-of-countries-overlook-public-transport-in-climate-plans/

    Some key takeaways:

    • only about a third of nations have included public transport in their NDCs
    • those that do include public transport often don't have clear commitments to funding it (either no budget attached, or one that's contingent on external assistance)
    • many of those that mention public transport are focused on greening the vehicles (ie swapping diesel buses for electric buses, rather than increasing buses' mode share)
    • the broad trend is that wealthier nations are much more focused on greening the vehicles, while low- and middle-income nations are more focused on infrastructure and service improvements that would encourage mode shift

    (H/T @capntransit)

    timrichards, to random
    @timrichards@aus.social avatar

    I've noticed a curious tendency in TV shows to describe the person who gives massage as a "masseuse", no matter their gender.

    FYI, the male version is "masseur" and female is "masseuse". I suspect the latter word has been mis-adapted because it sounds more exotic.

    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @timrichards the trend, of course, is to move away from such gendered terms for professions (eg no more 'actresses', thespians of all genders are actors now).
    Given this common mistake, I wonder if the feminine version will officially win out as the generic term?

    Simbera, to Miami
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    Great overview of not just the transit planning, but also the organisational & public change management process, that went into a big bus network redesign
    QT @humantransit Miami! The Better Bus Network, the result of our collaboration with Transit Alliance Miami and Miami-Dade County, is finally here! The new service starts Monday, 11/13. Read all about it: https://humantransit.org/2023/11/miami-the-better-bus-network-is-here.html

    timrichards, (edited ) to random
    @timrichards@aus.social avatar

    Yes, we are blocking Ballarat's Lydiard Street traffic with our very long heritage train. sorrynotsorry

    Simbera,
    @Simbera@aus.social avatar

    @timrichards I believe you were waiting for my train to arrive so you could continue forwards! (also not sorry, full Ballarat line duplication when)

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