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/
Well I did check who else was from Kingston and the first person in the alphabetical list beats out your guy
November 16, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Well I did check who else was from Kingston and the first person in the alphabetical list beats out your guy
Was over at the other site and got this ad.
Looks like blockchain needs a little more time till it's ready for normal people..
Looks like blockchain needs a little more time till it's ready for normal people..
November 12, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Was over at the other site and got this ad.
Looks like blockchain needs a little more time till it's ready for normal people..
Looks like blockchain needs a little more time till it's ready for normal people..
Audiobooks Oct 25
To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw 4/5
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home 4/5
Love Life by Rob Lowe 3/5
Midnight at Chernobyl 4/5
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2025/11/audi...
To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw 4/5
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home 4/5
Love Life by Rob Lowe 3/5
Midnight at Chernobyl 4/5
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2025/11/audi...
November 11, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Audiobooks Oct 25
To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw 4/5
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home 4/5
Love Life by Rob Lowe 3/5
Midnight at Chernobyl 4/5
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2025/11/audi...
To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw 4/5
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home 4/5
Love Life by Rob Lowe 3/5
Midnight at Chernobyl 4/5
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden 4/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2025/11/audi...
Review:
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden
4/5
A memoir covering the NZ Prime Minister's life up to shortly after she resigned. Best bits are her early life while her time as MP and especially Prime Minister is reduced to a few events
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden
4/5
A memoir covering the NZ Prime Minister's life up to shortly after she resigned. Best bits are her early life while her time as MP and especially Prime Minister is reduced to a few events
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
November 9, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Review:
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden
4/5
A memoir covering the NZ Prime Minister's life up to shortly after she resigned. Best bits are her early life while her time as MP and especially Prime Minister is reduced to a few events
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden
4/5
A memoir covering the NZ Prime Minister's life up to shortly after she resigned. Best bits are her early life while her time as MP and especially Prime Minister is reduced to a few events
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Thanks facebook
I'm sure that group will be fun and make me a better, happier person.
I'm sure that group will be fun and make me a better, happier person.
November 8, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Thanks facebook
I'm sure that group will be fun and make me a better, happier person.
I'm sure that group will be fun and make me a better, happier person.
Review:
Midnight at Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham
4/5
Mainly a chronology but mixed in with interviews and other information that has come to light 30 years later. Fascinating and scary read
patricktreardon.com/book-review-...
Midnight at Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham
4/5
Mainly a chronology but mixed in with interviews and other information that has come to light 30 years later. Fascinating and scary read
patricktreardon.com/book-review-...
November 7, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Review:
Midnight at Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham
4/5
Mainly a chronology but mixed in with interviews and other information that has come to light 30 years later. Fascinating and scary read
patricktreardon.com/book-review-...
Midnight at Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham
4/5
Mainly a chronology but mixed in with interviews and other information that has come to light 30 years later. Fascinating and scary read
patricktreardon.com/book-review-...
Core of the Auckland CBD ( Customs, High, Victoria, Federal streets) as about the same size as the core of Manukau City Center
Except Manukau is about 50% covered in carparks and surrounded by even lower density. Could use another 10k jobs and the same number of homes.
Except Manukau is about 50% covered in carparks and surrounded by even lower density. Could use another 10k jobs and the same number of homes.
November 6, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Core of the Auckland CBD ( Customs, High, Victoria, Federal streets) as about the same size as the core of Manukau City Center
Except Manukau is about 50% covered in carparks and surrounded by even lower density. Could use another 10k jobs and the same number of homes.
Except Manukau is about 50% covered in carparks and surrounded by even lower density. Could use another 10k jobs and the same number of homes.
Review:
Love Life by Rob Lowe
3/5
A second memoir by Lowe. Usual anecdotes about showbiz and celebrity life mixed in with stories of family. Not as good as the first book but still okay
archive.ph/HnPyg
Love Life by Rob Lowe
3/5
A second memoir by Lowe. Usual anecdotes about showbiz and celebrity life mixed in with stories of family. Not as good as the first book but still okay
archive.ph/HnPyg
November 2, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Review:
Love Life by Rob Lowe
3/5
A second memoir by Lowe. Usual anecdotes about showbiz and celebrity life mixed in with stories of family. Not as good as the first book but still okay
archive.ph/HnPyg
Love Life by Rob Lowe
3/5
A second memoir by Lowe. Usual anecdotes about showbiz and celebrity life mixed in with stories of family. Not as good as the first book but still okay
archive.ph/HnPyg
I went to the Otahuhu Food Festival and took photos of most of the stalls
Lots of stalls and pretty great food.
www.flickr.com/photos/simonlyall/albums/72177720321785241/
Lots of stalls and pretty great food.
www.flickr.com/photos/simonlyall/albums/72177720321785241/
October 31, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I went to the Otahuhu Food Festival and took photos of most of the stalls
Lots of stalls and pretty great food.
www.flickr.com/photos/simonlyall/albums/72177720321785241/
Lots of stalls and pretty great food.
www.flickr.com/photos/simonlyall/albums/72177720321785241/
Well at least the current cast looks good
October 27, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Well at least the current cast looks good
I like how with AI I can turn a silly pun into a picture in a couple of minutes
In this case Stalin endorsed Anti-Tartar Toothpaste
"For A Healthy Smile, For the Motherland"
In this case Stalin endorsed Anti-Tartar Toothpaste
"For A Healthy Smile, For the Motherland"
October 27, 2025 at 9:20 AM
I like how with AI I can turn a silly pun into a picture in a couple of minutes
In this case Stalin endorsed Anti-Tartar Toothpaste
"For A Healthy Smile, For the Motherland"
In this case Stalin endorsed Anti-Tartar Toothpaste
"For A Healthy Smile, For the Motherland"
Review:
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home by Jack Clemons
4/5
An engineer on the Apollo and Shuttle programs writes about his career and experiences. Some interesting stories and insight into areas not covered by most books
balloonstodrones.com/2019/02/13/b...
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home by Jack Clemons
4/5
An engineer on the Apollo and Shuttle programs writes about his career and experiences. Some interesting stories and insight into areas not covered by most books
balloonstodrones.com/2019/02/13/b...
October 26, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Review:
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home by Jack Clemons
4/5
An engineer on the Apollo and Shuttle programs writes about his career and experiences. Some interesting stories and insight into areas not covered by most books
balloonstodrones.com/2019/02/13/b...
Safely to Earth: The Men and Women Who Brought the Astronauts Home by Jack Clemons
4/5
An engineer on the Apollo and Shuttle programs writes about his career and experiences. Some interesting stories and insight into areas not covered by most books
balloonstodrones.com/2019/02/13/b...
A different soundtrack choice
October 25, 2025 at 1:41 AM
A different soundtrack choice
I guess spring is here
October 16, 2025 at 3:33 AM
I guess spring is here
Pizza for lunch from Rosalia’s on Mt Eden Rd, Auckland
They start serving Pizza right at Noon so there is a queue but they get though it pretty quick.
They start serving Pizza right at Noon so there is a queue but they get though it pretty quick.
October 15, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Pizza for lunch from Rosalia’s on Mt Eden Rd, Auckland
They start serving Pizza right at Noon so there is a queue but they get though it pretty quick.
They start serving Pizza right at Noon so there is a queue but they get though it pretty quick.
To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw
4/5
A single volume covering the period. Covers the military campaigns only in passing to use space for other areas. Very good and manages to cover all countries
www.theguardian.com/books/2015/o...
4/5
A single volume covering the period. Covers the military campaigns only in passing to use space for other areas. Very good and manages to cover all countries
www.theguardian.com/books/2015/o...
October 13, 2025 at 8:48 AM
To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw
4/5
A single volume covering the period. Covers the military campaigns only in passing to use space for other areas. Very good and manages to cover all countries
www.theguardian.com/books/2015/o...
4/5
A single volume covering the period. Covers the military campaigns only in passing to use space for other areas. Very good and manages to cover all countries
www.theguardian.com/books/2015/o...
I went to Hobbiton earlier this week.
Pretty good fun and enjoyed myself. Would recommend
Pretty good fun and enjoyed myself. Would recommend
October 12, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I went to Hobbiton earlier this week.
Pretty good fun and enjoyed myself. Would recommend
Pretty good fun and enjoyed myself. Would recommend
If you are going to just do a feed of articles could you include the headline in as text please?
Bluesky doesn't pick up the headline properly always so it is not obvious what you are linking to..
Bluesky doesn't pick up the headline properly always so it is not obvious what you are linking to..
October 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
If you are going to just do a feed of articles could you include the headline in as text please?
Bluesky doesn't pick up the headline properly always so it is not obvious what you are linking to..
Bluesky doesn't pick up the headline properly always so it is not obvious what you are linking to..
Audiobooks - September 2025
The Astronaut Maker: How One Mysterious Engineer Ran Human Spaceflight for a Generation by Michael Cassutt 4/5
The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom by David J. Helfand 3/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2025/10/audi...
The Astronaut Maker: How One Mysterious Engineer Ran Human Spaceflight for a Generation by Michael Cassutt 4/5
The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom by David J. Helfand 3/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2025/10/audi...
October 4, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Audiobooks - September 2025
The Astronaut Maker: How One Mysterious Engineer Ran Human Spaceflight for a Generation by Michael Cassutt 4/5
The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom by David J. Helfand 3/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2025/10/audi...
The Astronaut Maker: How One Mysterious Engineer Ran Human Spaceflight for a Generation by Michael Cassutt 4/5
The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom by David J. Helfand 3/5
blog.darkmere.gen.nz/2025/10/audi...
Yesterday was a little tame
October 1, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Yesterday was a little tame
I wonder what counts as New Zealand's 4th city
Traditionally it was Dunedin but that has lower population than Hamilton or Tauranga.
But Dunedin still has greater weight in Culture and mindshare than Tauranga and possibly Hamilton
Traditionally it was Dunedin but that has lower population than Hamilton or Tauranga.
But Dunedin still has greater weight in Culture and mindshare than Tauranga and possibly Hamilton
October 1, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I wonder what counts as New Zealand's 4th city
Traditionally it was Dunedin but that has lower population than Hamilton or Tauranga.
But Dunedin still has greater weight in Culture and mindshare than Tauranga and possibly Hamilton
Traditionally it was Dunedin but that has lower population than Hamilton or Tauranga.
But Dunedin still has greater weight in Culture and mindshare than Tauranga and possibly Hamilton
Was looking at home prices. Where I am in Auckland a basic two-bedroom apartment or unit is around $800k
Browsing some places in Whanganui and you can get something okay for $500k. Even saw this commercial/residential place for under $600k
homes.co.nz/address/whan...
Browsing some places in Whanganui and you can get something okay for $500k. Even saw this commercial/residential place for under $600k
homes.co.nz/address/whan...
September 29, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Was looking at home prices. Where I am in Auckland a basic two-bedroom apartment or unit is around $800k
Browsing some places in Whanganui and you can get something okay for $500k. Even saw this commercial/residential place for under $600k
homes.co.nz/address/whan...
Browsing some places in Whanganui and you can get something okay for $500k. Even saw this commercial/residential place for under $600k
homes.co.nz/address/whan...
Every time I got to get a piece of Shortbread my brain starts playing the Shortnin' Bread song
They aren't even the same sort of food. In fact I don't think I've ever eaten Shortening bread
They aren't even the same sort of food. In fact I don't think I've ever eaten Shortening bread
September 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Every time I got to get a piece of Shortbread my brain starts playing the Shortnin' Bread song
They aren't even the same sort of food. In fact I don't think I've ever eaten Shortening bread
They aren't even the same sort of food. In fact I don't think I've ever eaten Shortening bread
The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom by David J. Helfand
3/5
How isotopes are used to date events from the recent to distant
past and find out other things like the atmosphere's composition millions of years ago. Worth reading
harishpi.substack.com/p/book-revie...
3/5
How isotopes are used to date events from the recent to distant
past and find out other things like the atmosphere's composition millions of years ago. Worth reading
harishpi.substack.com/p/book-revie...
September 21, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom by David J. Helfand
3/5
How isotopes are used to date events from the recent to distant
past and find out other things like the atmosphere's composition millions of years ago. Worth reading
harishpi.substack.com/p/book-revie...
3/5
How isotopes are used to date events from the recent to distant
past and find out other things like the atmosphere's composition millions of years ago. Worth reading
harishpi.substack.com/p/book-revie...