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Dan Q

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Hi! I'm Dan Q (he/him). I've spent the last 28+ years making things and blogging about it.

I work as a software engineer and I volunteer with Three Rings. I live with my partner, her husband, our two kids, and a bleppy dog.

I enjoy GPS sports, performing magic, and recording the most pointless podcast.

  • Under Construction

    This site needed a refresh, but with thousands of pages spanning three decades, I've probably broken something.
    Sorry.

    Get in touch if anything doesn't works. Or to tell me what you think.
    Or just to say hi!

  • Did not find GCB9ZGB Church Micro 2416...Appleton - St Laurence

    Worked out the coordinates on the way out into the woods but was prevented from searching by muggles. Had a hint on the way back out of the woods but couldn't lay eyes, hands, nor paws on it. Maybe a job for another day.

    Read more (44 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZGB
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Found GCB9ZHJ Besselsleigh Wood - The Old Coppiced Tree

    Found in the second place we looked. The geohound and I definitely approached this one from the wrong direction and the poor pupper's little legs weren't well-equipped for the brambly terrain: she had to be carried for the last bit! Eventually though we found the right host and were able to extract the generously-sized cache. …

    Read more (56 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZHJ
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Found GCB9ZHR Besselsleigh Wood - The Fallen Stump

    (Excellent) container was undisguised and visible from the path, and with both latches unfastened! But I still had something to open, thanks to the fun (but not too challenging) inner puzzle box. Sealed everything up properly and added a stack of camouflage but it might have enjoyed even more effort to hide it: sadly I …

    Read more (77 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZHR
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Wrote note for GCB9ZJK Besselsleigh Wood - A Little Birdie Told Me

    Passed the GZ twice without being able to perform a proper search owing to endless streams of muggles on one or the other side of the fence. One for another day perhaps.

    Read more (32 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZJK
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Did not find GC27K1V Church Micro 1146...Bessels Leigh

    While doing the series in the woods nearby the geohound and I figured we'd look for this cache, too. It might still be there, but if so it's deeper into the brambles than I was willing to probe!

    Read more (38 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GC27K1V
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • A very large mushroom.

    Found GCB9ZJG Besselsleigh Wood - The Conifer

    Easy enough to sight this one despite its disguise, but a bit of a challenge to retreive and return it! Coming back out to the footpath I spotted one of the biggest wild mushrooms I've ever seen.

    Read more (58 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZJG
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Found GCB9ZJB Besselsleigh Wood - Across The Ditch

    Had a bad GPS fix and stumbled about for a while before we found this, yet another container sized perfectly for its environment. TFTC!

    Read more (24 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZJB
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Found GCB9ZJ0 Besselsleigh Wood - The Lightning Strike

    An easy find of this brilliant container, not least because it was a little exposed: almost completely without camouflage and with its lid unfastened. Contents seem fine though, and I took care to re-hide tree cache better using nearby resources. TFTC!

    Read more (41 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZJ0
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Found GCB9ZJ6 Besselsleigh Wood - The Holey Tree

    QEF, the cache winking out at us from its hiding place as the geopup and I approached. TFTC, and Happy Halloween!

    Read more (21 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZJ6
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Sign warning of wasps.

    Found GCB9ZH3 Little Bridges # 3220 - Besselsleigh Wood

    Out for a dog walk around Appleton when I figured I'd have a go at this offset. As soon as we approached the starting waypoint we were faced with multiple warning signs warning that a nest of aggressive wasps was nearby! I got a nasty sting (in a sensitive area) from an angry wasp on …

    Read more (161 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZH3
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • A French Bulldog on a footpath.

    Found GCB9ZGP Besselsleigh Wood - The Little Oak

    A relatively easy find (with a nice container) for the geohound and I while out on a walk around Appleton this morning. TFTC!
    AltA French Bulldog on a footpath.

    Read more (23 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB9ZGP
    • posted 31 October, 2026
  • Graph of Adjusted Operating Margin trending from -221% in Q1'25 to +19% in Q2'26.

    Is Anthropic going to prove me wrong?

    Anthropic's latest numbers seem to suggest that they're the first GenAI company to actually make money! But we ought to take that with an enormous pinch of salt.

    Read more (297 words)

    • Note
    • 1 comment
    • posted 30 October, 2026
  • Man Who Identifies as a β€˜Humanist’ Gets Religious Exemption From Using AI at Work

    If your religious beliefs are incompatible with your use of a particular tool that isn't essential for a particular kind of work, then you should absolutely be able to be exempted from using those tools. At least, that's the legal verdict in this case!

    Read more (397 words)

    • Repost
    • of this original
    • posted 30 October, 2026
  • Two children in school uniforms are barely-visible through a close-up of a cobwebbed wing mirror.

    Fragments

    Photographic fragments from the last six weeks of my camera roll, presented without context, inspired by Eric Foltin.

    Read more (80 words)

    • Article
    • posted 30 October, 2026
  • Installing Websites Must Be Easy

    Some excellent recommendations from the W3C's TAG on installability of web applications to the "desktop", whether or not they have defined manifests/are PWAs. I really hope to see the major OS and browser manufacturers take these recommendations on board!

    Read more (192 words)

    • Repost
    • of this original
    • posted 29 October, 2026
  • Did not find GC6Q39P Cur.Bri.Lew 9

    Made two searches for this - one on the way out, one on the way back - but I'm confident that it simply isn't there. CO attention needed.

    Read more (28 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GC6Q39P
    • posted 29 October, 2026
  • A French Bulldog on a footpath through a cropped cornfield.

    Found GC6Q39H Cur.Bri.Lew 8

    A quick find while walking the dog after running an errand nearby. Container in very poor condition, unlikely to survive a big winter storm. Re-hid as found. TTFC.

    Read more (28 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GC6Q39H
    • posted 29 October, 2026
  • Web page showing a list of domain names.

    /domains - a /slashpage for people who buy too many domain names

    I buy too many domain names. So to help keep track of them... and to let the world see how bad my purchasing problem has gotten... I've come up with the "/domains" /slashpage. Perhaps you want one, too?

    Read more (155 words)

    • Article
    • 3 comments
    • posted 29 October, 2026
  • Firefox showing DanQ.me, with a pop-up browser plugin menu listing slashpages.

    .well-known/slashpages

    Matthias Pfefferle proposes an OPML-based .well-known/slashpages in a similar vein to my own .well-known/feeds. I love it, and I've implemented it right here on DanQ.me!

    Read more (160 words)

    • Repost
    • of this original
    • 2 comments
    • posted 28 October, 2026
  • The Mythical Man-Month in the age of AI

    Jan van den Berg suggests that the corollary to the Mythical Man-Month in the age of AI might be: "Adding agents to a project with unclear requirements gets you the wrong answer faster."

    Read more (288 words)

    • Repost
    • of this original
    • posted 28 October, 2026
  • The second-round seekers' team with lemons taped to their bodies.

    We Played Hide & Seek across Greater London

    The rest of the family and I spent a long weekend playing Jet Lag's "Hide & Seek" across Greater London. Here's how that went, and what we learned about playing the game (and, in particular, playing it with preteen children!).

    Read more - about 12 minutes (2766 words)

    • Article
    • 4 comments
    • posted 28 October, 2026
  • Overly Attached Girlfriend smiles creepily, overlaid with 'Come back to Firefox'.

    It’s Time to Come Back to Firefox. The Internet You Loved Is Still Here

    The Firefox team absolutely knocking it out of the park by rallying the faces of the memes you've missed and using them as a reminder that the Web you've missed is still out there. And your choice of web browser is part of your choice to see that.

    Read more (293 words)

    • Repost
    • of this original
    • posted 27 October, 2026
  • Let this be your reminder to check on how your computer systems truncate long strings for public display.

    Full image of Cinema films list starting with the truncated title 'Ghosts: The Possession of Butt'
    Alt

    Cinema films list starting with the truncated title 'Ghosts: The Possession of Butt'

    • Note
    • posted 26 October, 2026
  • Dan, under a canal bridge, points to a pair of swans.

    Found GC13NEG From a Swan to the Canary: Hermit

    I'm in London for a long weekend of Jet Lag Hide & Seek, staying at a hotel a little to the North of here. After having to DNF Aldgate East Sidetracked, which is pretty much below my bedroom window but seems to have gone walkabout, I felt like I needed a geocaching win so I waked down here to hunt for this one.

    Initially starting atop the bridge I soon realised that I needed to approach this one from the waterfront. I first found a more-obvious hiding spot - perhaps the home of the larger muggled container? - before checking the hint and locating its younger sibling.

    Greeted some swans before beginning the rainy walk back to check out of my hotel.

    Read more (122 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GC13NEG
    • posted 26 October, 2026
  • Statue of two horses with small fountains giving the appearance of them kicking up water as they run.

    Did not find GC6R926 TUBE SideTracked - Aldgate East

    I've been in London playing Hide & Seek (by Jet Lag rules) and my hotel overlooks this fountain. I came down to take a look - the "running hooves" splash effect is pretty great!

    Sadly, the cache was nowhere to be found, though. I found the right dog and prodded and poked it, as well as running an investigative mirror around every side of it, without success. Think it might have vanished!

    Read more (72 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GC6R926
    • posted 26 October, 2026
  • Found GC9BD0E Church Micro 14013...Clerkenwell - St Marks

    QEF in the second hiding place I tried, while out playing Jet Lag The Game with the family (my hiding zone is the 500m around Angel Station and I wanted to find a generic looking church that I can send a picture of if the seekers' team asks for one!). TFTC!

    Read more (51 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GC9BD0E
    • posted 25 October, 2026
  • ASCDENDING: a Weird Web October distraction for when it is time to go up the wooden hill, by Dan Q, with blocks rolling up a staircase.

    Ascending

    Sometimes it's just time to go up the wooden hill... during Weird Web October! Let's roll some shapes...

    Read more (110 words)

    • Article
    • posted 25 October, 2026
  • Well, it looks like I've committed to playing this on the wettest imaginable weekend. Wish me luck!

    Full image of Customised maps of Greater London's transit network alongside a boxed set of Jet Lag: The Game - Hide & Seek and its expansion.
    Alt

    Customised maps of Greater London's transit network alongside a boxed set of Jet Lag: The Game - Hide & Seek and its expansion.

    • Note
    • 1 comment
    • posted 23 October, 2026
  • Incognito Mode for Wikipedia, featuring a paper bag with eye holes cut out as an icon.

    Incognito (Weird Web October)

    In another Weird Web October contribution, I'd like to introduce you to Incognito Mode for Wikipedia. Yes, it's stupid.

    Read more (108 words)

    • Article
    • posted 23 October, 2026
  • There isn't an easy exploit for this PHP vulnerability

    Elias's experience of the PHP CVE matches mine: it's real, it's serious... but it's not actually that easy to exploit "in the wild" except in conjunction with OTHER exploits, so it's not by-itself catastrophic. Patch your servers, yeah. But calm the fuck down while you do so.

    Read more (376 words)

    • Repost
    • of this original
    • posted 22 October, 2026
  • Dem Bones! (skelly.monster)

    Dem Bones! (Weird Web October)

    The hand bone's connected to the cellphone. The cellphone's connected to the website. The website's connected to the puppet. Now shake 'dem skeleton bones!

    Read more - about 3 minutes (508 words)

    • Article
    • posted 22 October, 2026
  • So elegant. So demure. Much doggle.

    Full image of An inelegant looking French Bulldog in a teal jumper lies in her back, with her tongue out, on top of Dan.
    Alt

    An inelegant looking French Bulldog in a teal jumper lies in her back, with her tongue out, on top of Dan.

    • Note
    • posted 17 October, 2026
  • Found GC8VFV3 Freeland to Hanborough - Bonus Cache #2

    A very quick final find on our walk with Menssana Martial Arts. Thanks for maintaining this series!

    Read more - about 1 minutes (17 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GC8VFV3
    • posted 17 October, 2026
  • A group of youngsters walks away down a forest path.

    Found GCAXYB9 Freeland to Hanborough #04 - Revived

    Found in the third candidate place I looked, as the other walkers from my youngest kid's taekwondo school escaped into the woods ahead. Had to jog to catch up after this find! Discovered my kid leading the pack, when I finally got there.

    Read more (43 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCAXYB9
    • posted 17 October, 2026
  • Found GCAF07M Freeland to Hanborough #06 - Revived

    A second diversion from the taekwondo group to find a cache just off the beaten track, this gloriously clear morning!

    Read more - about 1 minutes (20 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCAF07M
    • posted 17 October, 2026
  • Found GCAXZQ5 Freeland to Hanborough - Bonus Cache #5

    A quick find while out with the younger kid on a walk with his taekwondo school. TFTC!

    Read more - about 1 minutes (17 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCAXZQ5
    • posted 17 October, 2026
  • Re: My Hobby Is Learning

    Like me, Kev Quirk's hobby is learning... to the point at which he, like me, picks up hobbies like they're fistfuls of popcorn. I've got some thoughts on what this lifestyle means for me, too.

    Read more (238 words)

    • Reply
    • 1 comment
    • posted 16 October, 2026
  • Alternate timeline in which all Greek and Latin roots are swapped

    Remoteoscope and equigamic are both wonderful words and I envy our alternate-universe buddies. Concavenator has some more.

    Read more (104 words)

    • Repost
    • of this original
    • posted 15 October, 2026
  • Top of my /pfp page, showing my latest avatar.

    /pfp - a /slashpage for profile picture history

    /pfp is a /slashpage standard intended to showcase a timeline of 'profile pictures' you've used to represent yourself online over the years. I've added one, now, and man do I look young in some of those photos!

    Read more (222 words)

    • Article
    • 1 comment
    • posted 15 October, 2026
  • I continue to fight to make BBC News' RSS feeds not-suck, despite ongoing efforts to dilute their value by the BBC themselves.

    Last month they started injecting ads for their email newsletter-based subscription option into their RSS feed. But I don't need email: I have RSS! The ad initially slipped through the filters because it looks like the URL of a news article: sneaky move, BBC!

    Anyway; it's fixed now and these newsletter ads should no longer appear in the feeds available on https://bbc-feeds.danq.dev - hurrah!

    • Note
    • posted 14 October, 2026
  • A peep behind the curtain: here's an animation illustrating how I had to learn to dissect/think about origami in order to make origami.danq.dev for my Weird Web October contribution today:

    • Note
    • posted 14 October, 2026
  • Promotional banner for 'Origami' by Dan Q, featuring a partially-folded paper model.

    Origami (Weird Web October)

    A (well-folded) love letter to the Weird World Wide Web: my entry for day 14 of Weird Web October is "Origami". Go play with virtual paper!

    Read more (200 words)

    • Article
    • 3 comments
    • posted 14 October, 2026
  • Parody of the 'home taping is killing music' posters, featuring a mouse whose right button is being clicked. It reads: right-clicking is part of the Web and it's great.

    Webpage Copy-Protection is Impossible (and that's great!)

    A friend of mine was inconvenienced by an over-eager bit of Web copy-protection JavaScript this week, and it reminded me that more-than-ever, these scripts are both harmful (to legitimate users) and pointless (ineffective at preventing downloading).

    Read more - about 5 minutes (1012 words)

    • Article
    • 4 comments
    • posted 13 October, 2026
  • Last time I made a dental insurance claim, Aviva insisted on sending me a cheque. So I asked them via live chat if I could claim via bank transfer. Yes, they say, although apparently I have to ask every time because "they can't store bank details". Sigh. Fine. At least they'll pay this one by bank transfer.

    Except a few days later they emailed to say they'd lost my bank details and could I provide them again. They asked me to add it to my claim, but their website won't let me do that because the claim is already agreed to pay-out. So now my claim's stuck in limbo.

    Back into live chat I go. I give all the details and we're getting there but then... I suddenly get cut off from the human and I'm back with the robot.

    The robot says live chat closed at 6:30pm so I'll need to come back tomorrow.

    But it's only 5:45pm.

    Is the whole world going mad, or is it just me?

    Full image of Live Chat gatekeeping chatbot saying that live chat is open until 6:30pm, which is in the future, but it's claiming that it's closed.
    Alt

    Live Chat gatekeeping chatbot saying that live chat is open until 6:30pm, which is in the future, but it's claiming that it's closed.

    • Note
    • 1 comment
    • posted 12 October, 2026
  • Legs of a couple dancing tango on a polished wooden floor.

    What Argentine Tango is like...

    A series of metaphors about what tango feels like, to me. Like improvising music. Like spinning tops. Like an flock of birds. Or something like that.

    Read more - about 4 minutes (888 words)

    • Article
    • with an accompanying podcast
    • 1 comment
    • posted 12 October, 2026
  • Ruth and I stopped at Hanley Swan for a picnic lunch on our way home from our weekend of Argentine Tango classes. Within seconds our lunch had attracted a large flock of ducks from the little duck houses on the village's adorable duck pond.

    But better yet: I managed to catalogue like eleven memorial benches around the pond and the village green, all previously unknown to OpenBenches (@openbenches@botsin.space): #46341, #46342, #46343, #46344, #46345, #46346, #46347, #46348, #46349, #46351, #46352!

    Full image of A slightly dried-up duck pond with ducks and cute like pontoon duck houses.
    Alt

    A slightly dried-up duck pond with ducks and cute like pontoon duck houses.

    • Note
    • posted 11 October, 2026
  • Dan and Ruth sit on a bench alongside a verdant spring pool, as spectators cheer on runners in the background.

    Found GCB19MJ St Ann's Well

    There's some kind of foot race going on today and the well area is heaving with people: spectators lining the roadside are cheering and whooping as the runners barrel past. My partner Ruth and are only in town for a weekend class in Argentine Tango and didn't anticipate being able to find this cache at …

    Read more (111 words)

    • Checkin
    • to GCB19MJ
    • posted 10 October, 2026
  • On the window sill of the bar at the hotel where Ruth and I are learning to tango... this morning I made a squirrel friend!

    At least now I'll have succeeded at something today even if I can't get the hang on not-treading-on-toes!

    Full image of A grey squirrel lies against the glass pane of a stone-framed window.
    Alt

    A grey squirrel lies against the glass pane of a stone-framed window.

    • Note
    • posted 10 October, 2026
  • The bed in my hotel room tonight is made up for not one, not two, but three occupants. Did they... see me and instantly clock me as polyamorous?

    Full image of Wide bed with three sets of pillows laid out.
    Alt

    Wide bed with three sets of pillows laid out.

    • Note
    • 1 comment
    • posted 9 October, 2026
  • An undated handout image of Hasan that was released by authorities in 2012

    Firing squad execution to be livestreamed, Pentagon says

    The public will be able to watch the execution of a former US Army major by firing squad, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said. I feel physically sick.

    Read more (312 words)

    • Repost
    • of this original
    • 1 comment
    • posted 9 October, 2026
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