A key thing about corporate use of genAI is that it removes all the friction involved between the executives' weird fetish shit and inner thoughts, and public display It does to corporations what alcohol does to a bigot.

Pohutukawa at Waitangi Park on Wellington's waterfront. Photo by Miss P.

These ridiculous mega-projects like "datacenters in space" (doomed by thermodynamics) make a LOT more sense when you realize they're massive Ponzi schemes designed to transfer wealth from pension funds to VC's through "fee stacking." It's the old Assets Under Management con. It should be illegal.

Just saw someone arguing that economic sanctions are pro-capitalist and countries should just invade each other and I'm... interested in the logic that makes invasion less damaging than economic consequences.

I've been doing a bunch of media about Australia's social media ban for under 16s this week. NZ looks likely to follow. Before we copy-paste a ban, here’s what actually matters (imo) 👇 #nzpol

Why does National hate firefighters? #nzpol

📢 Parliament has rejected a petition fighting to change ACC workplace legislation to include injured volunteer firefighters. 👉 Report issues, make suggestions

As is traditional, we've assigned some #SecretSantaAoNZ super santas to make sure everyone gets a gift. But just because you haven't got a gift yet doesn't mean your original santa didn't get to it. Many crafters take extra time, or life gets busy, but they tell us and make sure it gets there.

Important reminder for the season Be kind #SecretSantaAoNZ If you don’t have your gift yet doesn’t mean we have had to assign you a super Santa. Some Santas are just running late (life stuff or they are frantically trying to finish crafting!). We have assigned some Super Santa’s where needed.

Look at it go! Thanks everyone.

checking in on Oracle stock market futures

Cincinnati. Sixth Street Market House as seen through alley in 1938. If I was shooting a 1930s mystery noir 1938, this is my opening shot, slowly panning down from ringing bell to see a body in the alley. Jeeves! Fetch me my time machine!

it seems to me that a lot of people working in the philosophy of language and mind could likewise see the emptiness of the gen ai fraud (meaning the general idea that we have finally fulfilled the centuries-old dream of a “cognitive engine”)

Hey Bluesky #SecretSantaAoNZ As you know, we have Mastodon players this time around, and we're lucky that the hashtag can work across platforms. They would love to see everyone's joy on opening day. If you follow @ap.brid.gy you'll then show up on the feed over there for them to see. 🎄💜🎄

Continuing to work on my day-to-day makeup skills. Playing with peach colour correction, a burgundy mascara, some different eyeliner ideas, a new cheap lipstick that I'm really happy with. Daily experimentation takes a long time, but I do frequently learn new things.

I've had a lot of interest from potential writers in Gaza but the budget only covers one more article this year. I start a new job in January so plan to continue this project for an extra year, but if I can I'd like to commission two extra articles before the end of 2025 ko-fi.com/byroncclark/...

Smol whales. pocomoto.co.nz/product/whal...

It's so tough for us casual employees and freelancers right now. Another colleague (w a phd, no less) asked me today if i knew if any work, and i thought that was utterly depressing. If you'd like the best Christmas party ever, with a cocktail person, a band/PA etc, hmu and I'll intro you.

"We may share your information with our Epic Games family of companies" KWS is a US-based subsidiary of Epic Games, created by startup SuperAwesome (youth-targeted ad strategies). Check out what happens "If we are acquired" www.kidswebservices.com/en-US/partne...

Up to 26,000 NZers' devices infected with malware Lumma Stealer www.1news.co.nz/2025/12/10/u...

The Australian social media age limit law has taken effect. At the time I made this post, I had not yet been age gated. Because the age gating will potentially invade my privacy to an unacceptable extent and may happen at any time, I may go quiet suddenly. If I do, this is why:

I cannot stress enough to any other Australians to please avoid KWS verification like the plague. I was checking through what bluesky's verification was and just immediately with this. If you don't know, KWS had a data breech and it was confirmed user data was stolen that was supposed to be deleted

The day I have to verify my age with official ID to use social media is the day I stop using social media.

Australia and Aotearoa, UK and various U.S. states, here are ways to get around age assurance on Bluesky.

"Record keepers are warning an amendment bill before Parliament will usher in the destruction or loss of vital public evidence" Interesting point about the NZ Ministry of Works being privatized in the 80s, all its records were privatized too & are now owned by Opus. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Thanks, Australian government. Now we're all expected to deliver our ID to random companies on the internet for safe keeping.

The "upgraded" Age Assurance system has essentially locked everyone out of the @ddosecrets.com account while we wait for @support.bsky.team to explain what a "birthdate" is for an organization, and whether we're supposed to submit made-up information or have the organization's account restricted.

At least one kiwi has been picked up in this, so maybe pin a post for if you get logged out and can't get back in.

Hey if I disappear online it's because I will NEVER submit to an age application process unless I have to for business/financial reasons. I've just seen a report that an Aotearoa NZ person has been presented an "Age Assurance" modal on login today, so if you need me, I'm at cloudisland.nz/@dznz

did it in four words hemmingway

the idea that we will ever devise a technology that can automatically sort true statements from false ones and factual ones from “hallucinations” is a lead-to-gold fantasy

One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten is that your aim should not be to love yourself, but to love BEING yourself. It became my Northstar. When being who I am feels right, when I feel good about how I'm acting... in short, when it feels fun to be me, I know I'm on the right track.

Heads up, salmon eaters! #FoodRecall 'Salmon products recalled due to possible listeria contamination.' www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

Family carers of disabled New Zealanders eligible for minimum wage, after another 7 years in court.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, "Paprika" will be re-released in Japanese theaters on January 2, 2026 (nationwide). The other films by the late Satoshi Kon will also be screened in January at the Cine Quinto theater (Tokyo).

I think i need more handholding than I can reasonably demand, sometimes.

#nzqt interrupted by anti-genocide protestors. Parliament has brought this on itself by simply ignoring people and attempting to suppress protest and protest groups.

I think National should roll Luxon and offer Collins a second run at the top spot, and Labour should definitely keep Chris Hipkins, a charismatic and interesting leader. Definitely a good faith opinion, trust.

Australia has had solar subsidies for so long that some of my Aussie colleagues are eligible for a second round of upgrades because it's been ten years. NZ meanwhile, we can't have nice things. It might upset the status quo.

Kia Ora koutou - Taking a chance that you’ll see this. We’re doing our annual Xmas fundraiser and we need around $8000 so if you could pop $ in, + share, that would help greatly Jackie x givealittle.co.nz/cause/the-au...

🔥 summary of presumptive and performative forgiveness, a pattern that shows up again and again.

I can fix the bad boy, is such a sad little trope. This isn't to say we should not extend grace, or understanding or even forgiveness. BUT YOU CANNOT FORGIVE HARMS NOT DONE UNTO YOU. And offering a path back is simply that, a path back. It's not about saying the right words, because lo...

All of the people lining up to forgive were never the ones harmed. Good people should give people second chances. If we didn't give people another chance, why we'd be terrible people that didn't ALLOW for reformation. It wasn't about giving Douchebag McGee another shot. It was about SEE

I think it's funny that Art Makers Aotearoa formed like 5 years ago and all they've done since they came together is push through a law that says "if you resell fine art, the artist gets a cut" rather than doing anything that could actually help workers in nz's creative sector

they're calling it the simplest and most inuitive-to-use UI for music improvisation ever invented

Look I’d love to stimulate the economy but rent takes 75% of my income. #NZPol

If you're working on some kind of sci-fi game, theme the dungeons as abandoned data centers

For it to trickle down, it must first be milked.

I heard you have to stimulate the economy from behind. Really "milk" the economy. That's what I heard.