Simon Lyall
@slyall.bsky.social
Living in Auckland, New Zealand.
I write about IT, Public Transport, Auckland, Food, Trailers, Audiobooks & Geeky stuff
Work with Cloud Infrastructure. Kubernetes, AWS, Linux, Monitoring, etc.
Blog: https://blog.darkmere.gen.nz/
I write about IT, Public Transport, Auckland, Food, Trailers, Audiobooks & Geeky stuff
Work with Cloud Infrastructure. Kubernetes, AWS, Linux, Monitoring, etc.
Blog: https://blog.darkmere.gen.nz/
Pinned
Audiobooks – December 2025
After Eden: A short history of the world by John Charles Chasteen 3/5
Ground Combat by Ben Connable 3/5
Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang 4/5
The Devil Reached towards the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2026/01/audi...
After Eden: A short history of the world by John Charles Chasteen 3/5
Ground Combat by Ben Connable 3/5
Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang 4/5
The Devil Reached towards the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2026/01/audi...
Poster on AI use at university
Surprised it doesn't say anything about not using it for your assignments
Surprised it doesn't say anything about not using it for your assignments
January 22, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Poster on AI use at university
Surprised it doesn't say anything about not using it for your assignments
Surprised it doesn't say anything about not using it for your assignments
I'm on day 2 of the #everythingopen conference in Canberra.
Good talks so far and I'm meeting and talking to lots of people.
Good talks so far and I'm meeting and talking to lots of people.
January 21, 2026 at 11:26 PM
I'm on day 2 of the #everythingopen conference in Canberra.
Good talks so far and I'm meeting and talking to lots of people.
Good talks so far and I'm meeting and talking to lots of people.
Found this guy on LinkedIn.
He's arguing that New Zealand (and Christchurch specifically) is building too many homes and too many smaller homes
Cause apparently there is no shortage of housing or smaller families 🤡
Feels like a familiar argument assuming your goal is to maintain high house prices
He's arguing that New Zealand (and Christchurch specifically) is building too many homes and too many smaller homes
Cause apparently there is no shortage of housing or smaller families 🤡
Feels like a familiar argument assuming your goal is to maintain high house prices
January 21, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Found this guy on LinkedIn.
He's arguing that New Zealand (and Christchurch specifically) is building too many homes and too many smaller homes
Cause apparently there is no shortage of housing or smaller families 🤡
Feels like a familiar argument assuming your goal is to maintain high house prices
He's arguing that New Zealand (and Christchurch specifically) is building too many homes and too many smaller homes
Cause apparently there is no shortage of housing or smaller families 🤡
Feels like a familiar argument assuming your goal is to maintain high house prices
Reposted by Simon Lyall
The difference between "dev" and "ops" is not about who writes code. It's 2026, dude: everyone writes code.
The difference is a separation of concerns. Are you responsible for writing code to generate revenue, or building the systems for code to run on?
charitydotwtf.substack.com/p/bring-back...
The difference is a separation of concerns. Are you responsible for writing code to generate revenue, or building the systems for code to run on?
charitydotwtf.substack.com/p/bring-back...
Bring Back Ops Pride
"Operations" is not a dirty word, a synonym for toil, or a title for people who can't write code. May those who shit on ops get the operational outcomes they deserve.
charitydotwtf.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 1:01 AM
The difference between "dev" and "ops" is not about who writes code. It's 2026, dude: everyone writes code.
The difference is a separation of concerns. Are you responsible for writing code to generate revenue, or building the systems for code to run on?
charitydotwtf.substack.com/p/bring-back...
The difference is a separation of concerns. Are you responsible for writing code to generate revenue, or building the systems for code to run on?
charitydotwtf.substack.com/p/bring-back...
Arrived in Australia.
Got a new Phone Sim cause Spark's roaming plans suck.
Tested it worked by hitting Bluesky and straight away it detected I was in Aus and had to verify I was over 16
Got a new Phone Sim cause Spark's roaming plans suck.
Tested it worked by hitting Bluesky and straight away it detected I was in Aus and had to verify I was over 16
January 20, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Arrived in Australia.
Got a new Phone Sim cause Spark's roaming plans suck.
Tested it worked by hitting Bluesky and straight away it detected I was in Aus and had to verify I was over 16
Got a new Phone Sim cause Spark's roaming plans suck.
Tested it worked by hitting Bluesky and straight away it detected I was in Aus and had to verify I was over 16
A new drive arrived and was installed on Saturday for broken laptop.
I've reinstalled Linux and got the basic apps installed. Doesn't need a lot since I only really use it for travel
I've reinstalled Linux and got the basic apps installed. Doesn't need a lot since I only really use it for travel
No luck swapping drives as don't appear compatible and I don't have the right screwdriver to open one laptop.
Ordered a new drive. Going to cost me $50 for the drive and $80 to put in the laptop
Ordered a new drive. Going to cost me $50 for the drive and $80 to put in the laptop
Checking my laptop and it looks like the drive is busted. All sort of random errors trying to access the file system.
Tried another on I had lying around and that just beeps rather than boots.
I hoping the drive in the busted one still works and I can swap it over.
Tried another on I had lying around and that just beeps rather than boots.
I hoping the drive in the busted one still works and I can swap it over.
January 19, 2026 at 3:35 AM
A new drive arrived and was installed on Saturday for broken laptop.
I've reinstalled Linux and got the basic apps installed. Doesn't need a lot since I only really use it for travel
I've reinstalled Linux and got the basic apps installed. Doesn't need a lot since I only really use it for travel
Reposted by Simon Lyall
By now, asteroid 2026 Dreadstone has impacted the Indian Ocean, sparking a firestorm not seen on this planet since the K–Pg Extinction Event. Most people just want to be with their families. Here are three ways effective business leaders can leverage targeted KPIs to turn tragedy 😔 into triumph 💪
January 11, 2026 at 5:47 AM
By now, asteroid 2026 Dreadstone has impacted the Indian Ocean, sparking a firestorm not seen on this planet since the K–Pg Extinction Event. Most people just want to be with their families. Here are three ways effective business leaders can leverage targeted KPIs to turn tragedy 😔 into triumph 💪
Anti-AI people post
"Look! This Company uses AI in their ads"
and others in conversation don't get why we all should be boycotting the company now
The anti AI think they are saying:
"Company X uses people in Nazi uniforms in their advertising"
but if people who don't hate AI don't really care
"Look! This Company uses AI in their ads"
and others in conversation don't get why we all should be boycotting the company now
The anti AI think they are saying:
"Company X uses people in Nazi uniforms in their advertising"
but if people who don't hate AI don't really care
January 17, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Anti-AI people post
"Look! This Company uses AI in their ads"
and others in conversation don't get why we all should be boycotting the company now
The anti AI think they are saying:
"Company X uses people in Nazi uniforms in their advertising"
but if people who don't hate AI don't really care
"Look! This Company uses AI in their ads"
and others in conversation don't get why we all should be boycotting the company now
The anti AI think they are saying:
"Company X uses people in Nazi uniforms in their advertising"
but if people who don't hate AI don't really care
Creator I follow is leaving X cause:
"Due to the new Terms of Service over at X granting a permanent right to use all posted content to train their AI with no opt-out provisions"
Which sounds like an excuse cause they are staying on other platforms like Reddit which use their content for training
"Due to the new Terms of Service over at X granting a permanent right to use all posted content to train their AI with no opt-out provisions"
Which sounds like an excuse cause they are staying on other platforms like Reddit which use their content for training
January 17, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Creator I follow is leaving X cause:
"Due to the new Terms of Service over at X granting a permanent right to use all posted content to train their AI with no opt-out provisions"
Which sounds like an excuse cause they are staying on other platforms like Reddit which use their content for training
"Due to the new Terms of Service over at X granting a permanent right to use all posted content to train their AI with no opt-out provisions"
Which sounds like an excuse cause they are staying on other platforms like Reddit which use their content for training
Reposted by Simon Lyall
Audiobooks – December 2025
After Eden: A short history of the world by John Charles Chasteen 3/5
Ground Combat by Ben Connable 3/5
Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang 4/5
The Devil Reached towards the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2026/01/audi...
After Eden: A short history of the world by John Charles Chasteen 3/5
Ground Combat by Ben Connable 3/5
Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang 4/5
The Devil Reached towards the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2026/01/audi...
January 8, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Audiobooks – December 2025
After Eden: A short history of the world by John Charles Chasteen 3/5
Ground Combat by Ben Connable 3/5
Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang 4/5
The Devil Reached towards the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2026/01/audi...
After Eden: A short history of the world by John Charles Chasteen 3/5
Ground Combat by Ben Connable 3/5
Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang 4/5
The Devil Reached towards the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2026/01/audi...
Very frustrating when people say things like "New Zealand's film censorship works well, let apply that to the Internet"
Same guy also suggested extending NZ's gambling regulations to apply to social media algorithms
🤦
Same guy also suggested extending NZ's gambling regulations to apply to social media algorithms
🤦
January 16, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Very frustrating when people say things like "New Zealand's film censorship works well, let apply that to the Internet"
Same guy also suggested extending NZ's gambling regulations to apply to social media algorithms
🤦
Same guy also suggested extending NZ's gambling regulations to apply to social media algorithms
🤦
Sad to see NZ government is backing down on the pc120 plan to increase housing density around train stations etc in Auckland
Basically telling young people, workers and businesses to move to Australia
Rich old Nimbys are the only vote that counts I guess
Basically telling young people, workers and businesses to move to Australia
Rich old Nimbys are the only vote that counts I guess
January 15, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Sad to see NZ government is backing down on the pc120 plan to increase housing density around train stations etc in Auckland
Basically telling young people, workers and businesses to move to Australia
Rich old Nimbys are the only vote that counts I guess
Basically telling young people, workers and businesses to move to Australia
Rich old Nimbys are the only vote that counts I guess
Reposted by Simon Lyall
"After a man turns 30, he has to choose between specializing in the history of the Roman Empire or the World Wars" - Dan Wang
January 10, 2026 at 5:54 AM
"After a man turns 30, he has to choose between specializing in the history of the Roman Empire or the World Wars" - Dan Wang
Reposted by Simon Lyall
Shower Thought:
Ops people have increasing needed good programming skills to get (and sometimes do) jobs
But AI coding tools are giving everyone a reasonable level of coding skills (which is usually enough for most Ops) so somebody having these skills "native" isn't as important anymore
Ops people have increasing needed good programming skills to get (and sometimes do) jobs
But AI coding tools are giving everyone a reasonable level of coding skills (which is usually enough for most Ops) so somebody having these skills "native" isn't as important anymore
January 12, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Shower Thought:
Ops people have increasing needed good programming skills to get (and sometimes do) jobs
But AI coding tools are giving everyone a reasonable level of coding skills (which is usually enough for most Ops) so somebody having these skills "native" isn't as important anymore
Ops people have increasing needed good programming skills to get (and sometimes do) jobs
But AI coding tools are giving everyone a reasonable level of coding skills (which is usually enough for most Ops) so somebody having these skills "native" isn't as important anymore
Prepping for my trip to Canberra, Australia next week
I will be going to Everything Open which is a tech conference:
2026.everythingopen.au
followed by Ozmoot which is about the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and related topics
signumuniversity.org/event/ozmoot...
I will be going to Everything Open which is a tech conference:
2026.everythingopen.au
followed by Ozmoot which is about the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and related topics
signumuniversity.org/event/ozmoot...
Everything Open 2026 | Canberra, Australia
2026.everythingopen.au
January 15, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Prepping for my trip to Canberra, Australia next week
I will be going to Everything Open which is a tech conference:
2026.everythingopen.au
followed by Ozmoot which is about the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and related topics
signumuniversity.org/event/ozmoot...
I will be going to Everything Open which is a tech conference:
2026.everythingopen.au
followed by Ozmoot which is about the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and related topics
signumuniversity.org/event/ozmoot...
Reposted by Simon Lyall
why don't new people fucking LISTEN when we tell them about the sun in aotearoa nz? we warn them then they act shocked that they have 2nd degree burns when they were "only outside for 2 hours" ok so like I said, burn time in Jan on a sunny day is 5 minutes. you think we bang on about it for fun??
January 9, 2026 at 6:33 PM
why don't new people fucking LISTEN when we tell them about the sun in aotearoa nz? we warn them then they act shocked that they have 2nd degree burns when they were "only outside for 2 hours" ok so like I said, burn time in Jan on a sunny day is 5 minutes. you think we bang on about it for fun??
Saw a discussion on Threads where somebody said a creator had admitted to her that they used AI to create some content
Lots of people replied demanding the name of the creator to harass/cancel them. They explicitly said they wanted lots of people to harass them
The anti-AI mob is real and nuts
Lots of people replied demanding the name of the creator to harass/cancel them. They explicitly said they wanted lots of people to harass them
The anti-AI mob is real and nuts
January 14, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Saw a discussion on Threads where somebody said a creator had admitted to her that they used AI to create some content
Lots of people replied demanding the name of the creator to harass/cancel them. They explicitly said they wanted lots of people to harass them
The anti-AI mob is real and nuts
Lots of people replied demanding the name of the creator to harass/cancel them. They explicitly said they wanted lots of people to harass them
The anti-AI mob is real and nuts
Reposted by Simon Lyall
There’s already a yawning cultural divide between those who use ChatGPT (et al) so frequently they don’t even register any more and those who wouldn’t let it within 100 miles of any written or creative effort they make.
![You’ve got super fans pausing and zooming in on individuals frames of your documentary. One allegedly shows one of the Duffers with a ChatGPT tab open on their computer. In your presence, what did they use ChatGPT for?
I mean, are we even sure they had ChatGPT open?
I’m personally not, but the internet seems sure.
Well, there’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, “We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.” But to me it’s like, doesn’t everybody have it open, to just do quick research?
I do.
How can you possibly write a storyline with 19 characters and use ChatGPT, I don’t even understand.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7t2urmt3i33jl6tjgiolio6g/bafkreidw2tmcr2ayq74oqmjm5pn2tdox6hlxnpqevhuqqj6oa7nsslx3oi@jpeg)
January 13, 2026 at 10:20 PM
There’s already a yawning cultural divide between those who use ChatGPT (et al) so frequently they don’t even register any more and those who wouldn’t let it within 100 miles of any written or creative effort they make.
Well I just copied a 6 line python script off stackoverflow and ran it.
But it was buggy (I think assumed python2) so I got AI to find the bug
Sometimes you need to use both the old ways and the new ways to fix a problem.
But it was buggy (I think assumed python2) so I got AI to find the bug
Sometimes you need to use both the old ways and the new ways to fix a problem.
January 13, 2026 at 3:16 AM
Well I just copied a 6 line python script off stackoverflow and ran it.
But it was buggy (I think assumed python2) so I got AI to find the bug
Sometimes you need to use both the old ways and the new ways to fix a problem.
But it was buggy (I think assumed python2) so I got AI to find the bug
Sometimes you need to use both the old ways and the new ways to fix a problem.
Just realised I'm old enough to remember when we used to use to have phone-books on every desk in the office
Younger generation probably wouldn't know what they were and how to use one
These days computer screens have better height adjustment or people use reams of printer paper
Younger generation probably wouldn't know what they were and how to use one
These days computer screens have better height adjustment or people use reams of printer paper
January 13, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Just realised I'm old enough to remember when we used to use to have phone-books on every desk in the office
Younger generation probably wouldn't know what they were and how to use one
These days computer screens have better height adjustment or people use reams of printer paper
Younger generation probably wouldn't know what they were and how to use one
These days computer screens have better height adjustment or people use reams of printer paper
No luck swapping drives as don't appear compatible and I don't have the right screwdriver to open one laptop.
Ordered a new drive. Going to cost me $50 for the drive and $80 to put in the laptop
Ordered a new drive. Going to cost me $50 for the drive and $80 to put in the laptop
Checking my laptop and it looks like the drive is busted. All sort of random errors trying to access the file system.
Tried another on I had lying around and that just beeps rather than boots.
I hoping the drive in the busted one still works and I can swap it over.
Tried another on I had lying around and that just beeps rather than boots.
I hoping the drive in the busted one still works and I can swap it over.
January 12, 2026 at 11:52 PM
No luck swapping drives as don't appear compatible and I don't have the right screwdriver to open one laptop.
Ordered a new drive. Going to cost me $50 for the drive and $80 to put in the laptop
Ordered a new drive. Going to cost me $50 for the drive and $80 to put in the laptop
Shower Thought:
Ops people have increasing needed good programming skills to get (and sometimes do) jobs
But AI coding tools are giving everyone a reasonable level of coding skills (which is usually enough for most Ops) so somebody having these skills "native" isn't as important anymore
Ops people have increasing needed good programming skills to get (and sometimes do) jobs
But AI coding tools are giving everyone a reasonable level of coding skills (which is usually enough for most Ops) so somebody having these skills "native" isn't as important anymore
January 12, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Shower Thought:
Ops people have increasing needed good programming skills to get (and sometimes do) jobs
But AI coding tools are giving everyone a reasonable level of coding skills (which is usually enough for most Ops) so somebody having these skills "native" isn't as important anymore
Ops people have increasing needed good programming skills to get (and sometimes do) jobs
But AI coding tools are giving everyone a reasonable level of coding skills (which is usually enough for most Ops) so somebody having these skills "native" isn't as important anymore
Checking my laptop and it looks like the drive is busted. All sort of random errors trying to access the file system.
Tried another on I had lying around and that just beeps rather than boots.
I hoping the drive in the busted one still works and I can swap it over.
Tried another on I had lying around and that just beeps rather than boots.
I hoping the drive in the busted one still works and I can swap it over.
January 11, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Checking my laptop and it looks like the drive is busted. All sort of random errors trying to access the file system.
Tried another on I had lying around and that just beeps rather than boots.
I hoping the drive in the busted one still works and I can swap it over.
Tried another on I had lying around and that just beeps rather than boots.
I hoping the drive in the busted one still works and I can swap it over.
I wonder if weaponised drones are due to become part of the toolkit of protesters soon
Imagine a protest where dozens of drones are circling overhead and harnessing police helicopters or police on the ground
It certainly evens up the force that can be applied by each side
Imagine a protest where dozens of drones are circling overhead and harnessing police helicopters or police on the ground
It certainly evens up the force that can be applied by each side
January 11, 2026 at 6:17 AM
I wonder if weaponised drones are due to become part of the toolkit of protesters soon
Imagine a protest where dozens of drones are circling overhead and harnessing police helicopters or police on the ground
It certainly evens up the force that can be applied by each side
Imagine a protest where dozens of drones are circling overhead and harnessing police helicopters or police on the ground
It certainly evens up the force that can be applied by each side
Reposted by Simon Lyall
Google's Nano Banana Pro keeps doing a weird thing with pictures of people on the phone
The person is wearing a headset but it also puts a phone in their hand to one ear
The person is wearing a headset but it also puts a phone in their hand to one ear
January 7, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Google's Nano Banana Pro keeps doing a weird thing with pictures of people on the phone
The person is wearing a headset but it also puts a phone in their hand to one ear
The person is wearing a headset but it also puts a phone in their hand to one ear