Ben Torkington
@bentorkington.bsky.social
I want to make software that makes people's lives better, not worse.
Tones to -18dB. All vehicles parked at owners' risk.
Tones to -18dB. All vehicles parked at owners' risk.
Reposted by Ben Torkington
Apps give companies more power because users can’t modify them, block ads, or protect their privacy.
Live at Web Summit, Cory Doctorow spoke with @rabble.nz about how anticircumvention laws turned apps into ideal tools for data extraction and control.
Full episode out now.
Live at Web Summit, Cory Doctorow spoke with @rabble.nz about how anticircumvention laws turned apps into ideal tools for data extraction and control.
Full episode out now.
November 29, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Apps give companies more power because users can’t modify them, block ads, or protect their privacy.
Live at Web Summit, Cory Doctorow spoke with @rabble.nz about how anticircumvention laws turned apps into ideal tools for data extraction and control.
Full episode out now.
Live at Web Summit, Cory Doctorow spoke with @rabble.nz about how anticircumvention laws turned apps into ideal tools for data extraction and control.
Full episode out now.
DoT funding cut regrets
November 30, 2025 at 1:09 AM
DoT funding cut regrets
Reposted by Ben Torkington
rich dudes got freakier after butlers fell out of fashion, like say what you will about having domestic servants but clearly it was some sort of moderating force on old rich dudes having a fancy man follow you around saying shit like "oh dear sir, that wouldn't be very becoming"
November 29, 2025 at 6:43 AM
rich dudes got freakier after butlers fell out of fashion, like say what you will about having domestic servants but clearly it was some sort of moderating force on old rich dudes having a fancy man follow you around saying shit like "oh dear sir, that wouldn't be very becoming"
Reposted by Ben Torkington
Gone get on my bullshit a bit and try and figure out what we can actually know. Spoiler: Not Much but Not Nothing.
lol. Very difficult to parse these yarns for truth on account of how by their nature you are getting self interested sources briefing journos off the record. There are no reliable narrators here, just people telling you what they want you to think rumours mean, but still, lol
Chris Bishop in failed National leadership coup - report
Former Hutt South MP and Transport, Housing, Infrastructure and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop was behind a recent failed coup plan within the National Party, The Post has reported.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 29, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Gone get on my bullshit a bit and try and figure out what we can actually know. Spoiler: Not Much but Not Nothing.
Reposted by Ben Torkington
it’s cool that we’ve just accepted that a study that’s like, “Those surveyed said they have limited their sun exposure as they’ve learned more about UV danger,” will turn into a headline that says, “Sol people versus mole people? Millions shutting themselves inside in so-called ‘sun panic.’”
November 29, 2025 at 2:33 AM
it’s cool that we’ve just accepted that a study that’s like, “Those surveyed said they have limited their sun exposure as they’ve learned more about UV danger,” will turn into a headline that says, “Sol people versus mole people? Millions shutting themselves inside in so-called ‘sun panic.’”
only makes it taste better
November 29, 2025 at 1:14 AM
only makes it taste better
finally, cutlery for MEN
Upsetting flatware continued
November 29, 2025 at 12:22 AM
finally, cutlery for MEN
Reposted by Ben Torkington
To give you an idea of how "AI" has fucked up the holiday season, their insane demand for RAM chips that's barely even being used has caused a production drought for every other application.
Meaning right now you can buy a cheap PC, yank the RAM, and sell it on eBay for twice what the PC costs.
Meaning right now you can buy a cheap PC, yank the RAM, and sell it on eBay for twice what the PC costs.
November 28, 2025 at 7:30 PM
To give you an idea of how "AI" has fucked up the holiday season, their insane demand for RAM chips that's barely even being used has caused a production drought for every other application.
Meaning right now you can buy a cheap PC, yank the RAM, and sell it on eBay for twice what the PC costs.
Meaning right now you can buy a cheap PC, yank the RAM, and sell it on eBay for twice what the PC costs.
actually what the hell is going on with that building? Are those three fists, grasping cylindrical objects, arranged in a circle? Is it a university hostel or something?
November 28, 2025 at 5:53 PM
actually what the hell is going on with that building? Are those three fists, grasping cylindrical objects, arranged in a circle? Is it a university hostel or something?
/etc/init.d/sshd restart
November 28, 2025 at 9:18 AM
/etc/init.d/sshd restart
Reposted by Ben Torkington
they are removing a big australian beach christmas artwork from redfern station (a huge train station) because it's ai garbage. kangaroos have koala heads and some animals have missing limbs and one of them is WEARING A BRA
November 28, 2025 at 4:43 AM
they are removing a big australian beach christmas artwork from redfern station (a huge train station) because it's ai garbage. kangaroos have koala heads and some animals have missing limbs and one of them is WEARING A BRA
guy is off the chain
November 28, 2025 at 4:22 AM
guy is off the chain
"Times tables" is about as close to the Sun you can fly before you lose the NewstalkZB audience. It's the peeling potatoes of chef training. Talk about mathematics in terms of *what it actually is*, and you're toast, as bad as the rest of the commies and boffins in Wellington.
November 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
"Times tables" is about as close to the Sun you can fly before you lose the NewstalkZB audience. It's the peeling potatoes of chef training. Talk about mathematics in terms of *what it actually is*, and you're toast, as bad as the rest of the commies and boffins in Wellington.
lmao as if Coca Cola Amatil aren’t already on the phone to Shane Jones right now
November 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
lmao as if Coca Cola Amatil aren’t already on the phone to Shane Jones right now
The Fonterra butter price meeting was embarrassing enough. The idea that banks and their small armies of analysts are gonna be swayed into doing the FinMin a solid, as a mate, is just asinine
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Finance Minister urges banks to slash home loan rates after latest OCR cut
Banks began dropping their floating rates on Wednesday after the Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points to 2.25 percent.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 5:30 AM
The Fonterra butter price meeting was embarrassing enough. The idea that banks and their small armies of analysts are gonna be swayed into doing the FinMin a solid, as a mate, is just asinine
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
what is even the point. what is the potential threat model and how does the security detail mitigate it. you are either worried that a 10 year old is going to fillet you, or you are not.
need that security detail in tight when high fiving the kids... #nzpol
November 27, 2025 at 4:54 AM
what is even the point. what is the potential threat model and how does the security detail mitigate it. you are either worried that a 10 year old is going to fillet you, or you are not.
Reposted by Ben Torkington
Musk: Have you tried grok unhinged mode? Have you? Have you tried unhinged? It's like, it's unhinged, it's, if if if you, let's say you ask it "grok give me a guacamole recipe" it's like "here's a recipe for grokamole"
Rogan: what's wild is it just keeps getting better
Rogan: what's wild is it just keeps getting better
November 27, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Musk: Have you tried grok unhinged mode? Have you? Have you tried unhinged? It's like, it's unhinged, it's, if if if you, let's say you ask it "grok give me a guacamole recipe" it's like "here's a recipe for grokamole"
Rogan: what's wild is it just keeps getting better
Rogan: what's wild is it just keeps getting better
This has got to be a troll. Also, half the money in the world is riding on people actually believing that pretty soon there's gonna be a magic button you just wake up and press and it turns you into a millionaire, and indications are a good chunk of them are buying it.
It has to be a troll.
It has to be a troll.
November 26, 2025 at 10:44 PM
This has got to be a troll. Also, half the money in the world is riding on people actually believing that pretty soon there's gonna be a magic button you just wake up and press and it turns you into a millionaire, and indications are a good chunk of them are buying it.
It has to be a troll.
It has to be a troll.
Reposted by Ben Torkington
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Call on God,
But file by the 7th
But file by the 7th
The tax department is having a company linked to the operations of Destiny Church liquidated and has applied to have another of the church's trusts shut down.
IRD moves to liquidate two Destiny Church entities
newsroom.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Call on God,
But file by the 7th
But file by the 7th
November 26, 2025 at 7:48 AM
That means it's two years since I stopped.
I was chill with making myself broker and deader, but helping some asshole who's already loaded buy a new ute was a bridge too far, and to this minute I've saved $30,002.32
I was chill with making myself broker and deader, but helping some asshole who's already loaded buy a new ute was a bridge too far, and to this minute I've saved $30,002.32
Two years since the incoming government announced it hoped to fund the tax cuts for landlords partly by having more people smoking
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 AM
That means it's two years since I stopped.
I was chill with making myself broker and deader, but helping some asshole who's already loaded buy a new ute was a bridge too far, and to this minute I've saved $30,002.32
I was chill with making myself broker and deader, but helping some asshole who's already loaded buy a new ute was a bridge too far, and to this minute I've saved $30,002.32
Reposted by Ben Torkington
On top of everything, this plays *terribly* to National's base. Their politics is rooted in might-is-right, we-have-power-because-we're-better-than-you ideology and they've spent two years insisting that they are incredibly weak
Not just weak, getting-bossed-around-by-utter-git-David-Seymour weak
Not just weak, getting-bossed-around-by-utter-git-David-Seymour weak
Nicola Willis suggests National may join the Greens, Labour, TPM and NZ First campaigning to repeal Regulatory Standards Act
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
'It's not impossible': Willis says National may join other parties to repeal Regulatory Standards Act
The National deputy leader said her party may also campaign to get rid of the law.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 6:12 AM
On top of everything, this plays *terribly* to National's base. Their politics is rooted in might-is-right, we-have-power-because-we're-better-than-you ideology and they've spent two years insisting that they are incredibly weak
Not just weak, getting-bossed-around-by-utter-git-David-Seymour weak
Not just weak, getting-bossed-around-by-utter-git-David-Seymour weak
He used his tried-and-true formula: the National leader always seems to when whenever it's not him
November 26, 2025 at 6:41 AM
He used his tried-and-true formula: the National leader always seems to when whenever it's not him
the state of it, they even took their photographer out to stage a mock photo of them rocking up to a council building like they're heavies collecting rent arrears or some shit
November 26, 2025 at 6:10 AM
the state of it, they even took their photographer out to stage a mock photo of them rocking up to a council building like they're heavies collecting rent arrears or some shit