# botanic (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover botanic. Page: Feed: --- ## [Parramatta Open Day](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94770) _2026-08-29 · Kris · web-goddess_ On duty for Parramatta Open Day, guarding the Council chambers! ## [Hector was a Brony.](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94767) _2026-08-28 · Kris · web-goddess_ This bit of Emily Wilson’s Iliad made me laugh. ## [🚴‍♀️ Ride: Greenway, Cooks River, and Sydney Airport](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94759) _2026-08-27 · Kris · web-goddess_ Added two more stamps to my collection! Distance: 18.82km Time: 75min The first one is at the Dulwich Hill end of the Greenway. The next is right under the flightpath as planes come in to land at Sydney Airport! Aren’t the stamps so great?! ## [A tree grows in Chippendale](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94756) _2026-08-27 · Kris · web-goddess_ Nature is doing its best to try to counter the sad news about Dolly and Tim and Yayoi. Our magnolia tree actually has a flower on it! Despite the machinations of Mr. Possum (and our bungled attempts at possum-proofing), the tree is still alive and has managed to put out a single flower, right at \[…\] ## [Dinner last night](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94751) _2026-08-27 · Kris · web-goddess_ We made Kenji’s corn and zucchini quesadillas with a side salad. See, we aren’t carnivores every day! ## [2 Fast 2 Furious](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94753) _2026-08-26 · Kris · web-goddess_ Me: Are we doing 2 Fast 2 Furious tonight? Rodd: Maybe it’s 2 soon?? We went straight into the second film in our Fast & Furious binge last night. We knew going in that Vin Diesel wasn’t in this one and that the only character that carries over is Paul Walker’s. And while I was \[…\] ## [Lost Boys](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94743) _2026-08-26 · Kris · web-goddess_ Another thing bringing me joy: Phoebe Bridgers performing her latest song with a band of school kids. I want to be as cool as that bass player girl in the red hat someday. ## [Moomin x LUSH](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94741) _2026-08-26 · Kris · web-goddess_ I picked up my LUSH order this week, and honestly, I needed this little bolt of joy. Soap in the shape of Finnish children’s book characters is a totally normal thing for an adult woman to get excited about. Of course I sprang for the cardboard Moominhouse. How could you not? Everything was wrapped up \[…\] ## [🚴‍♀️ Ride: Errands](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94739) _2026-08-26 · Kris · web-goddess_ Distance: 3.47kmTime: 19min ## [Definitive Dupain exhibition opening](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94736) _2026-08-26 · Kris · web-goddess_ After my sneak peek on the weekend, last night was time for the official launch of the State Library’s new Max Dupain exhibition and accompanying book. I knew my friend Bex was a big fan of his fashion photography from the 1930’s and 40’s so I invited her to come along with me on the \[…\] ## [Fast, secure international transfers (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/jh2e4inay65k) _2026-08-26 · **Sponsored**_ Bank transfer, cash pickup, mobile wallet — low fees and real-time tracking ## [The Fast and the Furious](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94734) _2026-08-26 · Kris · web-goddess_ In happier news, last night I realised that Netflix AU has most of the Fast and Furious movies. I’ve never seen any of them, so I convinced the Snook that we need to watch them all. We watched the original The Fast and the Furious last night, and we both found it really entertaining! We had both \[…\] ## [Islands in the stream, that is what we are…](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94718) _2026-08-25 · Kris · web-goddess_ Dolly Parton has been a part of my entire life. My Grandma Veva was a big country music fan, and I grew up with Dolly’s music in my bones. In grade school, I would’ve told you that “Islands in the Stream” was my favourite song and I’d play it on a record player over and over. \[…\] ## [New cycling gear – and my first stamp!](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94711) _2026-08-24 · Kris · web-goddess_ A few days ago I somehow managed to snap off half of one of my (plastic) pedals. How annoying! I’m starting to think that having a secondhand bike might be a false economy. 😂 Anyway, I headed over to 99 Bikes in Stanmore today to get a replacement set. I decided to go with the \[…\] ## [🚴‍♀️ Ride: Trying out my new pedals](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94706) _2026-08-24 · Kris · web-goddess_ Distance: 13.29kmTime: 52min ## [🚴‍♀️ Ride: Bike shop (again!)](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94703) _2026-08-24 · Kris · web-goddess_ Distance: 7.64km Time: 35min ## [The other Allianz Arena](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94699) _2026-08-23 · Kris · web-goddess_ Sydney Marathon organisers say finisher medals featuring German stadium an ‘unfortunate error’ – Hahahahaha, I thought that looked familiar! I rode my bike past it four years ago this month. (It’s at the most northern point on that route.) ## [Peko-chan Milky Bath Salts](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94686) _2026-08-23 · Kris · web-goddess_ I love our bigger bathtub post-renovation, and I make good use of it. I was running low on bubble bath last week so I headed to Daiso to see what they had. I ended up getting a container of Milky Bath Salts, the Peko-chan vanilla version. Obviously it doesn’t bubble, but a single capful makes \[…\] ## [Dashboard Touch](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94689) _2026-08-23 · Kris · web-goddess_ I was excited to see Anil Dash’s DIY replacement for Touch ID, but sadly, it’s a complete misnomer. I got it running and it’s 100% NOT a Touch ID replacement. It’s still useful, but you should know the limitations before you build it. I’ve been wanting a standalone Touch ID button for a long time \[…\] ## [Weezer – The Gold Album](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94684) _2026-08-22 · Kris · web-goddess_ There’s a new Weezer album out! Apple Music suggested it to me yesterday and I listened to it a few times. It’s got a real 90’s vibe that I love. I woke up with “Say Yes” stuck in my head, so I guess that’s my favourite song so far. It’s been getting pretty good reviews \[…\] ## [Stickers](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94682) _2026-08-22 · Kris · web-goddess_ I decided my International Posters Union – Australian Branch sticker was the perfect size to cover up the ⭐️️ one from a certain Mac blogger I used to rate, and it goes better with my Gen AI is for Losers one too. ## [Browse ThreatCrush Modules (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/hPsqCIaczUch) _2026-08-22 · **Sponsored**_ Install community-built security modules to extend real-time threat intelligence and monitoring ## [National Biography Awards](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94678) _2026-08-22 · Kris · web-goddess_ This afternoon I headed to the State Library to see a discussion with the two winners of this year’s National Biography Awards. First we were welcomed by Dr. Sylvia Martin, the chair of the 2026 judging panel. She explained that the judges had reviewed nearly 100 books to arrive at the shortlist of six finalists. \[…\] ## [Brisket](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94665) _2026-08-22 · Kris · web-goddess_ Earlier in the week Rodd told me that he was going to make brisket for Eileen’s visit. While I was appreciative, I confessed that I was also skeptical. I’ve had brisket many times in my life, but it’s almost always disappointing. In fact, the last time I had it (not prepared by him) it was \[…\] ## [Catching up with Eileen](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94664) _2026-08-21 · Kris · web-goddess_ Thirty-one years ago I got matched up with a crazy Bostonian as my college roommate. She caused a fire in our dorm room, but she’s also the reason I passed Biology. And when we catch up, it’s like no time at all has passed. ❤️ ## [🚴‍♀️ Ride: Lunch with Eileen](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94662) _2026-08-21 · Kris · web-goddess_ Distance: 4.13kmTime: 25min ## [Which it is a more rational Garment](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94659) _2026-08-21 · Kris · web-goddess_ “My wool garment? You have noticed it, have you? I had forgot, or I should have pointed it out. Have you ever seen anything so deeply rational?” LOOLLL. The Aubrey-Maturin subreddit discovered The Garment (the one that went viral on Ravelry recently), and they are chuckling over the comparison to Stephen’s “rational wool garment” from \[…\] ## [Sydney’s Cycling Scavenger Hunt](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94657) _2026-08-20 · Kris · web-goddess_ What a fun idea! There are 15 locations around Sydney with special stamps for cyclists to collect. I love that it’s just been done by one random dude, rather than a big commercial thing. I reckon I can get 3 or 4 this Spring pretty easily, but I’ll have to be brave and venture farther \[…\] ## [Studio Doherty](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94654) _2026-08-20 · Kris · web-goddess_ We subscribe to The Local Project on YouTube, and tonight we happened to watch the recent episode on The Gable House in Melbourne. I LOVE IT. I’m bookmarking the designers Studio Doherty for future inspiration. I am a maximalist at heart, and this is exactly the type of it I like. Colour, light, eclecticism, the \[…\] ## [Sydney Science Trail](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94644) _2026-08-20 · Kris · web-goddess_ And that’s a wrap for the Science Trail 2026! I had four volunteering sessions this year: stamping maps at Community Day, and then three days of leading groups of students around the Museum and Botanic Gardens (two primary age homeschool groups, and one large private boys’ high school group). My final group today had a \[…\] ## [Sydney Science Trail](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94641) _2026-08-19 · Kris · web-goddess_ Final day! This time I get to start at the Botanic Gardens. I’m grateful the sun is out. ❤️ ## [🚴‍♀️ Ride: Errands](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94639) _2026-08-19 · Kris · web-goddess_ Distance: 3.84kmTime: 19min ## [Realtime AI Arbitrage Terminal (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/o6GXElLMKZa7) _2026-08-19 · **Sponsored**_ Realtime auto-trading across exchanges with scored setups, backtesting, and risk controls. ## [Chilling at the Library](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94636) _2026-08-19 · Kris · web-goddess_ My rear bicycle brake is buggered, so I’m waiting while the bike shop guy fixes it. Time for some literature! ## [Pruning my Contacts](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94631) _2026-08-19 · Kris · web-goddess_ As mentioned, it’s time to clear out my Address Book. I used to be quite diligent about recording notes about how I met someone in my network, or when we had last spoken, or my overall impression of them. Mostly this was so I could search on some characteristic and hopefully remember the person if \[…\] ## [My Brilliant Career](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94629) _2026-08-17 · Kris · web-goddess_ I started watching Netflix’s new “adaptation” of My Brilliant Career tonight, and sadly I only lasted like ten minutes. It’s not for me. Once I realised I was just muttering “This is some BULLSHIT!” over and over, I gave up. Look, it’s not my favourite book in the world, and I’m generally okay with modern takes \[…\] ## [Sydney Science Trail](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94627) _2026-08-16 · Kris · web-goddess_ Who’s ready for some SCIENCE?! It’s pissing down, and we’re gonna be escorting kids through the Museum and out through the rain to the Botanic Gardens. Yay? 😂☔️ ## [The Sting](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94624) _2026-08-16 · Kris · web-goddess_ A few weeks back I read a proposal for a type of “Couch-to-5K” but for reading books, for those of us whose attention spans have been wrecked by devices. (I’d link to it but it’s on Substack, and Substack sucks.) In addition to regular short reading sessions, the author suggested a challenge for the first \[…\] ## [Sydney Science Trail](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94623) _2026-08-15 · Kris · web-goddess_ They put me on a stamping station! Come find me on Level 1 of the Australian Museum for your TRICERATOPS stamp. ## [Sydney Science Trail](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94619) _2026-08-15 · Kris · web-goddess_ The Sydney Science Trail 2026 is kicking off today with Community Day at the Australian Museum, and if you’re attending, you just might spot a couple of familiar volunteers… Mr. Snook has been donning the green t-shirt for the past two years, but this will be my first time. Annoyingly, it looks like it’s going \[…\] ## [Saving the receipts](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94615) _2026-08-14 · Kris · web-goddess_ Last week I met up with my friend Chris for lunch, and to talk about all the ways the tech industry is disappointing us lately. Chris had an idea about forming a community for people (not just those in tech) who are frustrated with the way things are going with LLMs and probabilistic automation. We \[…\] ## [Fixing my Weasley Sweater](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94608) _2026-08-14 · Kris · web-goddess_ In 2003 I knitted a Weasley Sweater because the Potter books meant a lot to me. Then 17 years later JK Rowling revealed herself as a litigious, fascist TERF punching down at people who really, really don’t deserve it. She has profoundly disappointed millions of fans who thought better of her, and I’ll never give \[…\] ## [Collecting the intangible](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94606) _2026-08-14 · Kris · web-goddess_ The State Library of NSW has an interesting event coming up on Sept 1st about how libraries are handling the problem of archiving digital records. I wondered about this myself. In the past famous people would leave “their papers” to historians and archivists, but very few of us have papers anymore. What would I leave \[…\] ## [Trialling Echofeed replacements](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94595) _2026-08-14 · Kris · web-goddess_ Since Echofeed is shutting down, I’m trialling a few alternatives. My goal for a while now has been to make my blog the central repository for what I share online and then syndicate\* it out to other platforms. I have an RSS feed, of course, and with Echofeed I would use that to share my \[…\] ## [Pruning my Contacts](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94593) _2026-08-13 · Kris · web-goddess_ Back when I worked at YOW and then AWS, I was pretty fastidious about maintaining my network of industry contacts. I went to lots of tech events, and I spent time every day connecting with folks on LinkedIn and across social media. I actually built out an automation where I could invoke a shortcut on \[…\] ## [The Garment](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94590) _2026-08-13 · Kris · web-goddess_ LOOOOOOOL. Thanks to my friend Ailsa’s latest YouTube video, I am now aware of the existence of The Garment. Behold its heft and splendor. To knit it requires an estimated 9lbs of yarn. The designer is now working on a version for “child-sized humans.” Honestly, have you ever seen anything more majestic? (I kind of \[…\] ## [Parramatta Open](https://www.web-goddess.org/archive/94587) _2026-08-13 · Kris · web-goddess_ I don’t often get the opportunity to visit western Sydney, but tonight I headed to Parramatta Town Hall for the volunteer induction for this year’s Parramatta Open Day on August 29. Sydney Open Day has been running for 29 years, but this will be the first ever satellite event. There will be 16 sites open \[…\]