Posts by spacelizard@aus.social
(DIR) Post #AtmQTnbwiAeoNzS59k by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-05T05:02:33Z
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@Unixbigot Of course in Australia the "keyboas" are technically keypythons, because we have no native boas and it's illegal to import them. Pythons are just as good at data entry though.
(DIR) Post #AtmQTocKyCZ3VUduPA by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-05T06:10:11Z
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@Unixbigot Yep. They're good at loops.
(DIR) Post #Au2dqhU447oRycNIO0 by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-13T02:21:56Z
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So given a choice between Sussssan Ley and Angus "Well done Angus" Taylor for placeholder leader the Liberal Party have awarded the poison chalice to Sussssan. Not in the least bit surprising the first female party leader of the Libberals would be appointed just after a disastrous (for them) election when they have years of wandering in the political wilderness ahead of them. They are bound to ditch her as soon as they think they have a chance of winning an election again.
(DIR) Post #AuFlFUIXKIwZhc1v9s by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-19T12:27:49Z
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The kid and his friends have discovered an ant nest in the school grounds and they are all, understandably, totally fascinated by them. They have been observing their behaviour and doing experiments by giving them bits of food from their lunches to find out what kinds the ants like. He wanted to know the species so I went to iNaturalist with this photo and discovered that they are Green Head Ants (Rhytidoponera metallica), a.k.a. Green Ants or Metallic Pony Ants. He is very excited by all this and is bombarding me with observations and questions about them, which is absolutely delightful. I love the curiosity and enthusiasm.
(DIR) Post #AuFlFVW2nZLJTnMDqq by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-19T12:42:50Z
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I have to concur with the children, these are very cool looking ants.This has also reignited his interest in the idea of keeping ants, which has been further reinforced by claims that one of his friends has ants of her own. Not just any ants either, but bull ants (Mymecia)!I'm not entirely averse to the idea myself, my main concern would be what to do when we go away. What do ant keepers do in those situations? Do they get ant sitters? @futurebird ?
(DIR) Post #AuFnEvbyUQls24z0SW by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-19T13:52:41Z
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@futurebird Thanks. That is, coincidentally, very similar to our lizard. As long as I make sure he has water and won't overheat he is fine for one or two weeks by himself. When we go away for longer than that (which we only do once every couple of years, usually) I need to find someone to come by our place every week or so to replenish his water and do a feed.
(DIR) Post #AusOfz6TQQI34yKsJk by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-04T02:53:37Z
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Something a bit different this morning, an introductory archery session with the kid at the Olympic Archery Centre.
(DIR) Post #AusOg0UcG9CDO8dfaS by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-18T09:51:29Z
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Following on from our "Bronze Arrow" beginners archery session two weeks ago today we were back at the Olympic Park Archery Centre for our first of 3 "Silver Arrow" intermediate sessions. This is fun. š¹
(DIR) Post #AusOg1bk78UUqWysKm by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-18T10:13:45Z
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Due to a mix up with the club bows I spent much of the session with a 14 lb bow while the kid was struggling a little with a 16 lb bow. Eventually this got worked out and the kiddo got the 14lb bow, which he was much happier with, and I got given a series of heavier bows to try, and finished up the session on 24 lb. The main issue the kid was having wasn't lack of strength though, it was finger pain. I think before our next session I'll buy us some basic finger tabs.
(DIR) Post #AusOg2lhna3QRieLVA by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-05-22T08:41:20Z
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Pakidge! :pakidge: My Archery Starter Kitā¢ has arrived. I got myself a finger tab, an armguard and, most importantly, a bucket hat.Why a bucket hat? This is why: https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/8/5/12336516/2016-rio-olympics-archery-bucket-hats-south-korea-tony-yayo
(DIR) Post #AusOg3yVJTt0Bhe55c by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-06-07T04:21:53Z
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After an enforced 3 week gap due to my work travel the kid and I made it back to the archery centre for another session today. This time we came equipped with finger tabs and, in my case, the all important bucket hat.Having such a long gap from our first two sessions wasn't ideal, it took a while to find the kid a bow he was comfortable with, and I was still feeling rather under the weather so neither of us were shooting very well for the most part, but it's just so nice to be learning something together anyway.
(DIR) Post #AveLOK2Juw0Lhsu1Me by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-06-30T00:20:58Z
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Just in case anyone was still considering visiting the USA:"Blood-sucking ticks that trigger a bizarre allergy to meat in the people they bite are exploding in number and spreading across the US, to the extent that they could cover the entire eastern half of the country and infect millions of people, experts have warned."https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/29/lone-star-ticks-increase-climate-crisis
(DIR) Post #AvsDR56zGtYcdEgWUC by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-06-26T13:14:28Z
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@esoastronomy Welcome, again!You weren't able to migrate your followers to the new instance? I've never moved myself but I was under the impression that while you can't take your old posts with you, you could take your follows and followers.
(DIR) Post #B1Wr2lTCV7lUByw7km by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-12-23T04:24:53Z
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Scam calls from Russia that don't even bother to hide the fact they're from Russia? That's new.
(DIR) Post #B1hM0OZHicikkBjQdU by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-12-28T04:44:20Z
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Ant Mastodon, can you ID this little lady? Spotted in the Glass House Mountains, south east Queensland.I'm fairly sure it's a Spiny Ant from the genus Polyrhachis, but not sure if the species is P. ammon, P. brisbanensis, or something else.@futurebird #Ant #AntsOfMastodon #Ants
(DIR) Post #B1hM0WTuIVAlHpHFMe by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-12-28T05:18:25Z
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I saw a lizard too, which I can't completely ID either.I'm pretty sure it's a Snake Eyed Skink from the genius Cryptoblepharus, but I'm not sure of the species.#Lizard #LizardsOfMastodon #Skink #SkinksOfMastodon #LizardPosting
(DIR) Post #B1hM0egxlqMykdRmpE by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-12-28T05:57:19Z
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This was all while walking the Tibrogargan Circuit. It's a nice short easy walk. The scenery was good, but I do tend to be distracted by the little things.The walk: https://strava.app.link/BjkCwA7wsZb
(DIR) Post #B1hN7evPP1pzSH6jHE by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-12-28T06:16:41Z
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@futurebird I didn't notice any signs of golden hair on her head. It was only on her gaster, as far as I could tell.
(DIR) Post #B1hOugNOtWzE6I8m0W by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-12-28T06:36:47Z
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@futurebird Ah, yes, I see. Looking at iNaturalist it shows many "sub-genera" within Polyrhachis, including the Hagiomorpha species group, and within Hagiomorpha it has many "complexes" of similar species, including the Ammon-group Spiny Ants, which includes both P. ammon and P. uncaria.I guess this is the sort of thing that happens when you have over 600 species in a genius.
(DIR) Post #B1hPcd7gLuYokekCKe by spacelizard@aus.social
2025-12-28T06:44:42Z
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@futurebird Thanks.She certainly was a good looking ant. Still photos don't really do justice to their golden sheen.