Rob of Melbourne
@robert24039377.bsky.social
Doer of things, sayer of words.
Longer form writing found here: https://gaijinrobert.wordpress.com/
Longer form writing found here: https://gaijinrobert.wordpress.com/
It's been a week of putting digital wellbeing controls on my phone.
They've worked so far.
I've done so much more reading and been more productive. I also have extra energy.
Still, I'm having a fatigue flare so I decided to get some scrolling "comfort food" for a few minutes haha.
They've worked so far.
I've done so much more reading and been more productive. I also have extra energy.
Still, I'm having a fatigue flare so I decided to get some scrolling "comfort food" for a few minutes haha.
January 10, 2026 at 11:58 AM
It's been a week of putting digital wellbeing controls on my phone.
They've worked so far.
I've done so much more reading and been more productive. I also have extra energy.
Still, I'm having a fatigue flare so I decided to get some scrolling "comfort food" for a few minutes haha.
They've worked so far.
I've done so much more reading and been more productive. I also have extra energy.
Still, I'm having a fatigue flare so I decided to get some scrolling "comfort food" for a few minutes haha.
Blog for End Partner Income Testing campaign is live.
Website is not far off.
endpartnerincometesting.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/e...
Website is not far off.
endpartnerincometesting.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/e...
End Partner Income Testing
Welcome to the End Partner Income Testing blog! We are excited to launch this campaign. As at December 2025, we have a small but growing team of volunteers dedicated to ending Centrelink’s partner …
endpartnerincometesting.wordpress.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Blog for End Partner Income Testing campaign is live.
Website is not far off.
endpartnerincometesting.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/e...
Website is not far off.
endpartnerincometesting.wordpress.com/2026/01/04/e...
Last night I rested my head from brain fog, closing my eyes.
Next thing I knew I was waking up at 4AM.
It was as if I had passed out.
Strange!
Next thing I knew I was waking up at 4AM.
It was as if I had passed out.
Strange!
January 3, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Last night I rested my head from brain fog, closing my eyes.
Next thing I knew I was waking up at 4AM.
It was as if I had passed out.
Strange!
Next thing I knew I was waking up at 4AM.
It was as if I had passed out.
Strange!
We've made an agreement among coworkers to start a book club.
We wear workers clothes and high vis vests, so this will be a blue-collar one.
Another coworker wants to start social events like barbecues.
We wear workers clothes and high vis vests, so this will be a blue-collar one.
Another coworker wants to start social events like barbecues.
January 2, 2026 at 2:03 PM
We've made an agreement among coworkers to start a book club.
We wear workers clothes and high vis vests, so this will be a blue-collar one.
Another coworker wants to start social events like barbecues.
We wear workers clothes and high vis vests, so this will be a blue-collar one.
Another coworker wants to start social events like barbecues.
Cat had princess play time and princess brushing time.
She was very vocal and expressive about these obligations to her.
Satisfied, she has taken herself off to bed and curled up in a ball.
Cat life has strict demands, but also quiet time.
She was very vocal and expressive about these obligations to her.
Satisfied, she has taken herself off to bed and curled up in a ball.
Cat life has strict demands, but also quiet time.
January 2, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Cat had princess play time and princess brushing time.
She was very vocal and expressive about these obligations to her.
Satisfied, she has taken herself off to bed and curled up in a ball.
Cat life has strict demands, but also quiet time.
She was very vocal and expressive about these obligations to her.
Satisfied, she has taken herself off to bed and curled up in a ball.
Cat life has strict demands, but also quiet time.
I've installed two "digital wellbeing" apps on my phone: Onesec and Digital Detox.
They create much more friction with its addictive features. As a result, my phone usage plummeted today.
Who knows? Maybe 2026 I'll be "chronically offline".
I desperately need this for my attention and EF.
They create much more friction with its addictive features. As a result, my phone usage plummeted today.
Who knows? Maybe 2026 I'll be "chronically offline".
I desperately need this for my attention and EF.
January 2, 2026 at 1:59 PM
I've installed two "digital wellbeing" apps on my phone: Onesec and Digital Detox.
They create much more friction with its addictive features. As a result, my phone usage plummeted today.
Who knows? Maybe 2026 I'll be "chronically offline".
I desperately need this for my attention and EF.
They create much more friction with its addictive features. As a result, my phone usage plummeted today.
Who knows? Maybe 2026 I'll be "chronically offline".
I desperately need this for my attention and EF.
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
Yesterday’s last action of 2025 from the West LA Freeway Brigade! Small but mighty.
See you next year.
@indivisiblewestsidela.com
#VisibilityBrigade
See you next year.
@indivisiblewestsidela.com
#VisibilityBrigade
December 31, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Yesterday’s last action of 2025 from the West LA Freeway Brigade! Small but mighty.
See you next year.
@indivisiblewestsidela.com
#VisibilityBrigade
See you next year.
@indivisiblewestsidela.com
#VisibilityBrigade
Marshmallow comes out every couple of hours to socialise with me.
That done, she goes back to her bed nest to curl up for some more rest.
She is too adorable.
That done, she goes back to her bed nest to curl up for some more rest.
She is too adorable.
January 1, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Marshmallow comes out every couple of hours to socialise with me.
That done, she goes back to her bed nest to curl up for some more rest.
She is too adorable.
That done, she goes back to her bed nest to curl up for some more rest.
She is too adorable.
I had no sleep problems until a month or so ago.
Well, we've got to get good sleep this year, Blueskyers!
I need it.
Well, we've got to get good sleep this year, Blueskyers!
I need it.
January 1, 2026 at 6:53 PM
I had no sleep problems until a month or so ago.
Well, we've got to get good sleep this year, Blueskyers!
I need it.
Well, we've got to get good sleep this year, Blueskyers!
I need it.
First-rate stand up; atrocious leader.
January 1, 2026 at 6:51 PM
First-rate stand up; atrocious leader.
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
No sleep. Oops!
It felt like morning, so I had coffee.
I hope I won't regret it.
If the day blesses me, I might have a nap before work...
Tomorrow I'm definitely going to feel it, if not today...
It felt like morning, so I had coffee.
I hope I won't regret it.
If the day blesses me, I might have a nap before work...
Tomorrow I'm definitely going to feel it, if not today...
January 1, 2026 at 6:40 PM
No sleep. Oops!
It felt like morning, so I had coffee.
I hope I won't regret it.
If the day blesses me, I might have a nap before work...
Tomorrow I'm definitely going to feel it, if not today...
It felt like morning, so I had coffee.
I hope I won't regret it.
If the day blesses me, I might have a nap before work...
Tomorrow I'm definitely going to feel it, if not today...
#Younger decided to depict Greta Thunberg as a spoiled brat who is self-righteous, shrill and pretentious.
It's pretty offensive if you know the first thing about climate change and about her work.
Somehow I gave the show a pass.
They were even more unflattering to George R R Martin.
It's pretty offensive if you know the first thing about climate change and about her work.
Somehow I gave the show a pass.
They were even more unflattering to George R R Martin.
January 1, 2026 at 3:50 PM
#Younger decided to depict Greta Thunberg as a spoiled brat who is self-righteous, shrill and pretentious.
It's pretty offensive if you know the first thing about climate change and about her work.
Somehow I gave the show a pass.
They were even more unflattering to George R R Martin.
It's pretty offensive if you know the first thing about climate change and about her work.
Somehow I gave the show a pass.
They were even more unflattering to George R R Martin.
Quarter to three.
My sleep cycle got knocked out a bit by my NYE shift.
Maybe I'll ask my doctor for a melatonin prescription.
Otherwise, I'll be transformed into a vampire!
My sleep cycle got knocked out a bit by my NYE shift.
Maybe I'll ask my doctor for a melatonin prescription.
Otherwise, I'll be transformed into a vampire!
January 1, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Quarter to three.
My sleep cycle got knocked out a bit by my NYE shift.
Maybe I'll ask my doctor for a melatonin prescription.
Otherwise, I'll be transformed into a vampire!
My sleep cycle got knocked out a bit by my NYE shift.
Maybe I'll ask my doctor for a melatonin prescription.
Otherwise, I'll be transformed into a vampire!
I do Bluesky slot-machine scrolling sometimes during breathwork exercises
...For no other reason than my mind is clamouring for stimulation and won't slow down enough to let my attention function.
I can't find the off button, and I've looked!
...For no other reason than my mind is clamouring for stimulation and won't slow down enough to let my attention function.
I can't find the off button, and I've looked!
January 1, 2026 at 12:08 PM
I do Bluesky slot-machine scrolling sometimes during breathwork exercises
...For no other reason than my mind is clamouring for stimulation and won't slow down enough to let my attention function.
I can't find the off button, and I've looked!
...For no other reason than my mind is clamouring for stimulation and won't slow down enough to let my attention function.
I can't find the off button, and I've looked!
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
BUILD. MORE. PUBLIC. HOUSING!!
"Australia needs a lot more public housing. This would enable a reversal of the filtering model, as lower-income households moving out of the private rental market and into public housing would free up lower-end rentals for people on moderate incomes."
"Australia needs a lot more public housing. This would enable a reversal of the filtering model, as lower-income households moving out of the private rental market and into public housing would free up lower-end rentals for people on moderate incomes."
What housing crisis? For most, there isn’t one – but look how the other third live
Housing was only deemed in “crisis” when the offspring of property owners found themselves locked out of the market. But we used to be better at dealing with the problem.
www.smh.com.au
December 31, 2025 at 11:35 PM
BUILD. MORE. PUBLIC. HOUSING!!
"Australia needs a lot more public housing. This would enable a reversal of the filtering model, as lower-income households moving out of the private rental market and into public housing would free up lower-end rentals for people on moderate incomes."
"Australia needs a lot more public housing. This would enable a reversal of the filtering model, as lower-income households moving out of the private rental market and into public housing would free up lower-end rentals for people on moderate incomes."
I'm going to sign up for a gym membership, be bigger than the Rock by February go on a pleasure cruise for two months and become physically debilitated, join a doomsday cult, become a tech billionaire, give away all my money and become a hermit by July.
I hope my NY's resolution isn't too ambitious.
I hope my NY's resolution isn't too ambitious.
January 1, 2026 at 11:49 AM
I'm going to sign up for a gym membership, be bigger than the Rock by February go on a pleasure cruise for two months and become physically debilitated, join a doomsday cult, become a tech billionaire, give away all my money and become a hermit by July.
I hope my NY's resolution isn't too ambitious.
I hope my NY's resolution isn't too ambitious.
My local community centre is closing down.
I ran into one of the organisers.
They provided me with a list for alternatives for when it's gone for good.
2026 might be a year of connecting and exploring new possibilities!
I ran into one of the organisers.
They provided me with a list for alternatives for when it's gone for good.
2026 might be a year of connecting and exploring new possibilities!
January 1, 2026 at 11:13 AM
My local community centre is closing down.
I ran into one of the organisers.
They provided me with a list for alternatives for when it's gone for good.
2026 might be a year of connecting and exploring new possibilities!
I ran into one of the organisers.
They provided me with a list for alternatives for when it's gone for good.
2026 might be a year of connecting and exploring new possibilities!
I was talking to a family member about how I hate AI.
Are the data centres our modern day Tower of Babel?
They are gargantuan projects of hubris and linguistic nonsense.
Are the data centres our modern day Tower of Babel?
They are gargantuan projects of hubris and linguistic nonsense.
January 1, 2026 at 5:01 AM
I was talking to a family member about how I hate AI.
Are the data centres our modern day Tower of Babel?
They are gargantuan projects of hubris and linguistic nonsense.
Are the data centres our modern day Tower of Babel?
They are gargantuan projects of hubris and linguistic nonsense.
When I lived in Japan, my sharehouse did an osoji (a big cleanup) to welcome the new year.
I'm going to space it out over January in my apartment.
I'm going to space it out over January in my apartment.
January 1, 2026 at 2:11 AM
When I lived in Japan, my sharehouse did an osoji (a big cleanup) to welcome the new year.
I'm going to space it out over January in my apartment.
I'm going to space it out over January in my apartment.
Didn't get to sleep until 4AM. Woke up at midday.
January 1, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Didn't get to sleep until 4AM. Woke up at midday.
Happy new year from tired Rob.
December 31, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Happy new year from tired Rob.
Year in review.
2025
...
Done.
Next.
2026 starting soon.
Ok, ready!
2025
...
Done.
Next.
2026 starting soon.
Ok, ready!
December 31, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Year in review.
2025
...
Done.
Next.
2026 starting soon.
Ok, ready!
2025
...
Done.
Next.
2026 starting soon.
Ok, ready!
One hour until fireworks and I'm sitting in an underground facility having a tea break.
The Flinders Street end is pretty crazy.
The Flinders Street end is pretty crazy.
December 31, 2025 at 12:00 PM
One hour until fireworks and I'm sitting in an underground facility having a tea break.
The Flinders Street end is pretty crazy.
The Flinders Street end is pretty crazy.
Reposted by Rob of Melbourne
“This could look like a user asking how much ibuprofen to take for a headache receiving a promoted ad for Advil in the chatbot’s response. Meanwhile, actual results on correct dosage may be brushed to the side, or buried under a mountain of ad text…”
OpenAI Reportedly Planning to Make ChatGPT "Prioritize" Advertisers in Conversation
OpenAI employees working on ChatGPT report plans to unleash sponsored advertisements above organic results.
futurism.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
“This could look like a user asking how much ibuprofen to take for a headache receiving a promoted ad for Advil in the chatbot’s response. Meanwhile, actual results on correct dosage may be brushed to the side, or buried under a mountain of ad text…”