Danielle Clode

Quokkas make everything better...

Plump little possum. Nothing like a rat!

On the hunt for the super-poopers.

Fascinating discovery about the origins of the #pineal gland or "third eye" which all vertebrates have except hagfish. Central for regulating #sleep and circadian rhythms (jetlag anyone?) this fossil suggests it was once a pair of fully functioning #eyes, not just light sensitive tissue.

I hate them doing that. Stop it!

Missed US cultural references are probably more common than we think. I can't shake my image of a "sloppy joe" as a very daggy unwashed sweatshirt. #language #idioms

Think the potential for coal was discussed in esrly exploration accounts because of geological similarities to the Welsh coast. Also a way of increasing the perceived value of your discovery?
Not sure if the source is going to come to hand readily but I'll let you know if/when it does.

Something quite distressing about a new resident flying a huge Australian flag off their gatepost. Feels deeply divisive and disprespectful. But the big Q is - are they English or bogans?

That's an interesting idea. Our reasons for celebrating Jan 26 seem grounded in 1990s politics rather than older history. But I thought the reason for "New South Wales" was because of the coal? Which is a pretty good insight into their real interests. Not so much Enlightment as $$$.

I once had an editor describe an essay as being a bit "shrill". What is this shit? I was writing about our failure to address the environmental crisis. Impassioned, vehement, passionate, sure, but "shrill"? Funny how people who claim to deal in words have so little insight into the words they use.

That's crazy! We do usually have 5 repeats on most ongoing scripts but it still means more GP visits than you need.

Ouch. We're meant to have free healthcare in Aust but there's been a $70-100 co-payment for 15min for years. And you're forced to go back just for repeat prescriptions for ongoing conditions (like being female).

Regulation is definitely the best option (we're working on that in Australia but it's tough to counter the AI cult marketing - the lure of easy $$$ is powerful). But I'm not conviced by the "too hard" argument. Looks more like hands in the air.

Would love to read this but it's member only. Thanks for the Qobuz tip!

Another #AI email this morning full of effusive praise for one of my books. What kind of sick criminal industry steals my work and income and uses it to try and scam me out of the money I don't earn using fake praise? #writingcommunity

Can comment boxes be structured for some kind of manual entry that doesn't allow copy and paste? What about human verification systems for emails with unknown addresses? Where's the AI that detects AI slop (length, repetition, circularity, sycophancy, plagiarism..)? It should be ideal for that.

Day off today. Converted the former TV nook into more shelving for the (now) craft room. Toss up between fabric storage and book stock - books won. Plus stuffed toys for school visits.

I can definitely get behind this one.

Reading Ruth Starke's thesis on the history of Adelaide Writers Week. #AWW What a cracker. Can we get this published by March?

Book cover of The Enigmatic Echidna with a picture of an echidna on the cover and a brief descriptive text underneath. From the Australian newspaper.

Hsppy to see The Enigmatic Echidna featured in the Australian's Big Books of 2026. Out in May. #newbook #comingsoon #enigmaticechidna

Love listening to Pater talk about his work!

So a Wikipedia entry (written by someone else who thinks you warrant one) is pretty cool. Not so sure about a Grokopedia entry. Even I wouldn't write that much about myself (although I guess I did at some point). Needs a good edit for repetion and hallucination.

Me neither. I have long planned to go to the US for a writing residency but now it's just not possible. Firstly b/c many of the programs have been shut down but mainly b/c of the lack of protection for human and democratic rights.

I hate how these scammers use books the stole, pumped through a Ponzi scheme AI to constuct compelling emails to try to scam me out if even more of the little money I earn from writing. They really know how to twist the knife. No longer flagged by bad grammar, now it's all cloying greasiness.

More happy-clappy from the cult. Don't miss out or you won't go to AI heaven!

Debating which would be worse - working at Starbucks or drinking their coffee...

Poor language skills by journalists has long been a problem. "Regimes" "union bosses" etc. Not impartial, not objective.

Person in an orange kayak paddling across a small dam in bushland. Border collie looks on from shore.

Happy place! Was gifted a kayak/paddleboard by a friend. Just perfect for tootling around on the dam.

No surprises here.

The French have long recognised that land occupied by others was not free to be claimed by Western powers - they mocked and castigated the English for doing so during Pacific exploration. The English knew it was wrong too but they did it anyway. And eventually so did France.