I'm Dan Q (he/him). I've spent the last 26+ years creating and writing online.
I work as a software engineer, and I volunteer with Three Rings. I live with my partner, her husband, two kids and a dog. I can sometimes be found geo*ing, performing magic, or recording the most pointless podcast.
I believe in open source, open relationships, and opening doors to marginalised groups. Black lives matter. Trans
rights are human rights.
Be nice to humans, human.
-
I guess I'm never paying DreamHost back
About 17 years ago, I stopped using DreamHost. They later decided I owed them money. I disagreed, but enjoyed watching them incredibly-slowly claw it back via the 'refer and earn' program, from all the people I ever recommended them to. But now, only a few months from the (alleged) debt being settled... they've killed the program, depriving me of the opportunity for... a more-humorous blog post, I guess? Read more →
-
Beige Buttons
When was the last time you saw a computer with a reset AND a turbo button? Bet it's been a while. But now, thanks to a stupid web component I made, you can see one on my website... or your own. What does it do? Nobody knows! Read more →
-
How I Learned the Pythagorean Theorem
I clearly remember the day I first learned the Pythagorean theorem, because I had a problem I wanted to solve and a practical application that I wanted to use it on. Let's re-create the experience, and see if I can take any lessons about how to support my kids in their own mathematical journeys. Read more →
-
Are you closer to Ireland or Scotland?
A throwaway comment in a WhatsApp group lead me to a deep dive into geodata encoding and drawing a big old line all the way across England (and a little way across Wales!). It's nerdsnipe time! Read more →
-
Send Me a Postcard!
Sure, you could leave a comment or drop me an email or say hi on Mastodon... but wouldn't it be cooler if you could send a physical postcard in response to a blog post? Let's find out together. Read more →
-
The Signal and the Noise is still excellent
13 years ago I reviewed The Signal and the Noise by Pagan Wanderer Lu. Despite being knocked down at least one peg, it still stands among my top ten concept albums ever, and it's now available for free so you should go and listen to it. Read more →
-
Ten Pointless Facts About Me
A 'ten questions about yourself' quiz is circulating the blogosphere, and I figured I'd join in (and wear four different hats, in the process). Read more →
-
Best Viewed at: Your Resolution!
As the latest in a series of stupid things I've done on or for the Web, I've made a website that dynamically generates 'best viewed at' buttons... for exactly the Web visitor's current screen resolution... Read more →
-
Hive's Password Policy Makes Me Cry
Hive's password form can't decide whether you need 8+ or 12+ characters, gives misleading error messages and... requires that you use a 'special character' except most special characters (including most common punctuation) is secretly banned, and gives you a misleading error message if you try to use it. Do better, Hive! Read more →
-
More articles →
(articles are traditional long-form blog posts) -
AI and cigarettes
Chris Ferdinandi draws parallels between people pushing 'less-harmful' AI and those promoting vaping as 'less-harmful' smoking; the latter, of course, ultimately resulted in new people taking up a nicotine habit that might now have otherwise: not what was intended at all! Read more →
-
This telegraph pole in the centre of Eynsham carries the scars of hosting countless community announcements, notices, and flyers over the last 30 years.× Read more →
-
Gorgeous autumn dawn this morning with a razor-sharp moon hanging above the shifting hues of the South-East. It’s going to be a cold one. (At last; it’s been an unseasonably-warm November so far!) × Read more →
-
Wrote note for GC88ZY9 The Devil's Quoits
A local landowner has (controversially) decided to start enforcing their ownership of the land surrounding the lake at Dix Pit, and has erected new fences and private property signs to deter trespassers. So this evening, the geopup and I took a walk to the GZ to check that it's still an achievable find. Read more →
-
We Need to Talk About Botsplaining
In a wonderful blog post from last month, Stephanie describes the scourge of Botsplaining. Here's my experience of it. Read more →
-
I really liked Only Murders in the Building. It started with a fun premise. It grew into something hilariously self-aware. I'd recommend it.
But man, the fifth season had the most-disappointing reveal/conclusion imaginable.
Hoping the promised sixth season does better. -
Two modes of Internet use
Tracy Durnell keeps her online- and offline- friends separate, and describes some solid reasons to do so. I appreciate her thoughts, even where I don't want to apply her conclusions to my own life. Read more →
-
The Piss Saga
When somebody started repeatedly leaving bottles of urine on top of a utility cabinet in his neighbourhood, filmmaker Derek Milton decided to investigate. I watched the documentary he made while doing so and... I still have no idea what to think about it. Read more →
-
A chat with 19-year-old me
Giles Turnbull's written a wonderful piece, imagining a conversation with his 19-year-old self. I wonder what I'd say to myself at 19 if I bumped into him? Read more →
-
Found GCAJJP3 Kohtauspaikat - Virtual Reward 4.0
The younger child and I nipped across for a photo while we waited for our tram to come. Read more →
-
Found GC1JAWP Sibelius Monument
QEF while my family examined the sculpture. What a great spot for a cache, and so well-maintained. FP awarded. TFTC! Read more →
-
Found GC1JA6P Töölön kirjasto
Very easy find for the kids and I after a delightful visit to the Tram Museum. We went to the coordinates and instantly saw the cache! SL, TFTC, and greetings from Oxfordshire, UK. Read more →
-
Found GC8925F SkyWheel Helsinki
A quick photo before the family and I took a ride on the wheel! Read more →
-
Found GC76AG3 Hauta - Tomb
Found after an embarrassingly long hunt! After reading the hint I quickly spotted the correct hiding spot, but said to myself "no, it surely can't be there" and moved on. Only on my third time walking past it did I think to actually try it, and sure enough, there it was! SL, TFTC, and greetings from Oxfordshire, UK! Read more →
-
Found GC6TJ54 63# Levin kierros aka CITOn muistopurkki
Third of three finds on this, my final morning here before my flight to Helsinki. Taking a brisk walk/slow jog up to Hotel Levi Panorama, but first, a QEF. TFTC, and greetings from Oxfordshire, UK! Read more →
-
More posts →
(of all kinds:
articles, 
checkins, 
notes, 
reposts...)