Eddie Clark
@dreddieclark.bsky.social
Personal account so expect eclecticism. Law, politics, SFF books, anime, gaming, music. Queer stuff.
Day job = Administrative law and public law theory.
Day job = Administrative law and public law theory.
Pinned
Eddie Clark
@dreddieclark.bsky.social
· Oct 22
Really feels today like everything is happening so much, so forgive me a #booksky metathread of book rec threads from me in my year on bluesky.
Maybe you'll find something to dive into if you, too, are finding things just a bit much at the moment.
Maybe you'll find something to dive into if you, too, are finding things just a bit much at the moment.
Interesting thread. I don't think andromeda is perfect but agree with a lot of this about the narrative. And it also has the most fun combat in a bioware ME/DA era game *by miles* (Veilguard is clearly second, ahead of the rest but gets repetitive in a way Andromeda doesn't).
[MASS EFFECT: ANDROMEDA]
You know, I was all prepared to blast ANDROMEDA for being politically incoherent, but it seems like that's largely limited to the early first act. I'm getting into the second act and this game honestly has things to say that the OT didn't
You know, I was all prepared to blast ANDROMEDA for being politically incoherent, but it seems like that's largely limited to the early first act. I'm getting into the second act and this game honestly has things to say that the OT didn't
November 29, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Interesting thread. I don't think andromeda is perfect but agree with a lot of this about the narrative. And it also has the most fun combat in a bioware ME/DA era game *by miles* (Veilguard is clearly second, ahead of the rest but gets repetitive in a way Andromeda doesn't).
Reposted by Eddie Clark
Going to build a sci-fi religion around this dog, who is clearly the reincarnation of a galactic emperor.
Some of those dogs at the dog show are just obscene abominations unto the lord.
November 29, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Going to build a sci-fi religion around this dog, who is clearly the reincarnation of a galactic emperor.
Science-fantasy is one of my favourite modes of pulp, and just picked up 3 different, well-reviewed settings of such in the Drive-Tru RPG sale:
- Fantasy Age (2E): Tecnofantasy
- Fabula Ultima: Techno fantasy
- Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells (the most obscure, & looks the most interesting).
- Fantasy Age (2E): Tecnofantasy
- Fabula Ultima: Techno fantasy
- Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells (the most obscure, & looks the most interesting).
DriveThruRPG
www.drivethrurpg.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Science-fantasy is one of my favourite modes of pulp, and just picked up 3 different, well-reviewed settings of such in the Drive-Tru RPG sale:
- Fantasy Age (2E): Tecnofantasy
- Fabula Ultima: Techno fantasy
- Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells (the most obscure, & looks the most interesting).
- Fantasy Age (2E): Tecnofantasy
- Fabula Ultima: Techno fantasy
- Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells (the most obscure, & looks the most interesting).
Not going to name names but hoo boy seeing an queer indie press QT the most prickish stuff in response to a good faith post has made me put THAT lot on the black list let me tell you.
Don't be an absolute prick to your potential customer base seems a basic thing but apparently not in this case.
Don't be an absolute prick to your potential customer base seems a basic thing but apparently not in this case.
November 29, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Not going to name names but hoo boy seeing an queer indie press QT the most prickish stuff in response to a good faith post has made me put THAT lot on the black list let me tell you.
Don't be an absolute prick to your potential customer base seems a basic thing but apparently not in this case.
Don't be an absolute prick to your potential customer base seems a basic thing but apparently not in this case.
Freddy Lim (also former member of the legislative yuan & former chair of Amnesty International Taiwan) is an absolute legend.
Taiwanese ambassador to Finland performs with his metal band at Taiwan-Finland cultural event! 🤘✊️
That's what I call great ambassador
That's what I call great ambassador
November 29, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Freddy Lim (also former member of the legislative yuan & former chair of Amnesty International Taiwan) is an absolute legend.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
CAUL negotiations with Elsevier need academic support.
Until this dispute is resolved:
“Do not submit to Elsevier journals.
Do not review for Elsevier.
Pause your work on Elsevier editorial committees…
Withdraw your (free) labour. It is the simplest and most powerful statement that you can make.”
Until this dispute is resolved:
“Do not submit to Elsevier journals.
Do not review for Elsevier.
Pause your work on Elsevier editorial committees…
Withdraw your (free) labour. It is the simplest and most powerful statement that you can make.”
"They’ve already struck an in-principle deal with T&F that all Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand university research published by T&F can be freely accessed by members of the public from 1 Jan 2026. This is kind of huge." Um, yeah it is! #highered #academicsky researchwhisperer.org/2025/11/25/l...
Librarians versus the world
Photo of London’s National Art Library by Sebastien LE DEROUT on Unsplash Here at the Research Whisperer, we love librarians. They are smart, dedicated people who want to help you with your researc…
researchwhisperer.org
November 28, 2025 at 7:03 AM
CAUL negotiations with Elsevier need academic support.
Until this dispute is resolved:
“Do not submit to Elsevier journals.
Do not review for Elsevier.
Pause your work on Elsevier editorial committees…
Withdraw your (free) labour. It is the simplest and most powerful statement that you can make.”
Until this dispute is resolved:
“Do not submit to Elsevier journals.
Do not review for Elsevier.
Pause your work on Elsevier editorial committees…
Withdraw your (free) labour. It is the simplest and most powerful statement that you can make.”
Reposted by Eddie Clark
Our society has so entirely lost the plot when it comes to education, no longer viewing it as a good in and of itself, no longer seeing it as necessary to live in a free society -- and that's down to several decades of the right wing deliberately devaluing education.
November 29, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Our society has so entirely lost the plot when it comes to education, no longer viewing it as a good in and of itself, no longer seeing it as necessary to live in a free society -- and that's down to several decades of the right wing deliberately devaluing education.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
But one aspect I hope doesn't get overlooked in analyses is the viewpoint shift that considers the students as consumers. And when they consider *themselves* that way, it fosters an attitude of "Well, I paid for this, so I should get a passing grade & the credits whether I do the work or not."
November 29, 2025 at 12:30 AM
But one aspect I hope doesn't get overlooked in analyses is the viewpoint shift that considers the students as consumers. And when they consider *themselves* that way, it fosters an attitude of "Well, I paid for this, so I should get a passing grade & the credits whether I do the work or not."
Reposted by Eddie Clark
This whole thread.
And I must add, trade school full of nontrads did not escape, so Jes is right that it absolutely isn't a "kids these days" issue or even just in academia. People are not firing on all cylinders. Worse, many don't seem to have noticed the check engine light.
And I must add, trade school full of nontrads did not escape, so Jes is right that it absolutely isn't a "kids these days" issue or even just in academia. People are not firing on all cylinders. Worse, many don't seem to have noticed the check engine light.
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 28, 2025 at 11:40 PM
This whole thread.
And I must add, trade school full of nontrads did not escape, so Jes is right that it absolutely isn't a "kids these days" issue or even just in academia. People are not firing on all cylinders. Worse, many don't seem to have noticed the check engine light.
And I must add, trade school full of nontrads did not escape, so Jes is right that it absolutely isn't a "kids these days" issue or even just in academia. People are not firing on all cylinders. Worse, many don't seem to have noticed the check engine light.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
things were headed in this direction when I left the academy. reading, writing, discussion—all the work of learning is being reframed as a burden on students that it would be better for professors to lift.
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 28, 2025 at 11:55 PM
things were headed in this direction when I left the academy. reading, writing, discussion—all the work of learning is being reframed as a burden on students that it would be better for professors to lift.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
It's only a matter of time before humanities departments will be forced to accept AI-authored assignments, as part of revised university policy to cooperate with these billionaires. It's already happening, and our response needs to be decisive. Because our students' ability to *think* is at stake.
November 28, 2025 at 10:37 PM
It's only a matter of time before humanities departments will be forced to accept AI-authored assignments, as part of revised university policy to cooperate with these billionaires. It's already happening, and our response needs to be decisive. Because our students' ability to *think* is at stake.
Absurd deal from one of the consistently best publishers in the business.
You could pick up pretty much anything & get a good read out of it but can I again suggest as many as people as possible buy A Mourning Coat by Alex Jeffers, the single most criminally under-read SFF book of the past 2 years.
You could pick up pretty much anything & get a good read out of it but can I again suggest as many as people as possible buy A Mourning Coat by Alex Jeffers, the single most criminally under-read SFF book of the past 2 years.
📚 50% off ebooks because capitalism i guess
use code UGHFINE
or you could just buy them! up to you 📚
www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks
use code UGHFINE
or you could just buy them! up to you 📚
www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks
November 28, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Absurd deal from one of the consistently best publishers in the business.
You could pick up pretty much anything & get a good read out of it but can I again suggest as many as people as possible buy A Mourning Coat by Alex Jeffers, the single most criminally under-read SFF book of the past 2 years.
You could pick up pretty much anything & get a good read out of it but can I again suggest as many as people as possible buy A Mourning Coat by Alex Jeffers, the single most criminally under-read SFF book of the past 2 years.
+1. ~15% of the cohort in our competitive 'need to do well to progress' 1st year law class attended and/or watched recordings of 10% or less of the lectures, attended zero small group tutorials, do not know where to find course readings in week 12 of a 12 week course. *Total* disengagement is new.
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 28, 2025 at 10:27 PM
+1. ~15% of the cohort in our competitive 'need to do well to progress' 1st year law class attended and/or watched recordings of 10% or less of the lectures, attended zero small group tutorials, do not know where to find course readings in week 12 of a 12 week course. *Total* disengagement is new.
This book is genuinely excellent. One of my favourites or last year and it great example of the novella as an actual form rather than a cut-down novel. Absolute steal at under a buck.
Get The Mountain Crown ebook for 0.99! shop.rebellion.com/collections/...
November 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
This book is genuinely excellent. One of my favourites or last year and it great example of the novella as an actual form rather than a cut-down novel. Absolute steal at under a buck.
👀👀👀
(paywalled)
(paywalled)
The transparency project that went dark: Inside the collapse of Bryce Edwards’ Integrity Institute
A million-dollar political integrity project has imploded with little transparency, revealing a tangle of broken promises, stalled research and an institution unwilling to explain what went wrong.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 28, 2025 at 6:49 PM
👀👀👀
(paywalled)
(paywalled)
Reposted by Eddie Clark
Basic #OIA rules: don't rant. Just ask for (specific) information. If you do both, your rant will bury your actual request.
[Response] Ministry of Justice replied about There is a gap in the law which facilitates and condones self represented lawyers to commit crime in the civil jurisdiction
November 28, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Basic #OIA rules: don't rant. Just ask for (specific) information. If you do both, your rant will bury your actual request.
A) Yes
B) Also the massively underrated Tokyo Mirage Sessions. Idol agency demon fighting JRPG.
B) Also the massively underrated Tokyo Mirage Sessions. Idol agency demon fighting JRPG.
Having seen this, I’ve got to say, the KPop Demon Hunter fans need to re-discover Final Fantasy X-2, where you play a girl band who changes fighting classes by changing dresses and has no less than two concerts on the way to saving the world from a giant weapon.
Okay, the crowd going nuts like someone just scored a touchdown at the Super Bowl all *through* the KDH performance is a hell of a thing to see hear/see:
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 AM
A) Yes
B) Also the massively underrated Tokyo Mirage Sessions. Idol agency demon fighting JRPG.
B) Also the massively underrated Tokyo Mirage Sessions. Idol agency demon fighting JRPG.
Husband has been in Canada, I asked him to bring me back some coffee crisps (basically coffee flavoured kitkat; only available on Canada). He may have been slightly excessive.
November 28, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Husband has been in Canada, I asked him to bring me back some coffee crisps (basically coffee flavoured kitkat; only available on Canada). He may have been slightly excessive.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
A tip for folks who use kobo to buy ebooks (at least the UK & US stores: until the end of the week, they're having a "buy 50 dollars/quid of gift cards & we'll give you a $10 credit" promotion... and they don't stop you sending the gift card to yourself.
Effectively 20% off 50 bucks of books.
Effectively 20% off 50 bucks of books.
November 27, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A tip for folks who use kobo to buy ebooks (at least the UK & US stores: until the end of the week, they're having a "buy 50 dollars/quid of gift cards & we'll give you a $10 credit" promotion... and they don't stop you sending the gift card to yourself.
Effectively 20% off 50 bucks of books.
Effectively 20% off 50 bucks of books.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
Regardless of where you stand in terms of political party allegiance, or even just on the political spectrum ... rhetorically positioning a commitment to Te Tiriti as inherently "anti-government" speaks a lot to how you view the policy positioning of the government you're a part of.
Boards Chair here - before our BOT passed a motion affirming our commitment to Te Tiriti, I received emails from parents and teachers urging the board on.
The union never said a word.
Amazing that reaffirming a commitment to Te Tiriti is viewed as "anti-govt" (his words)
The union never said a word.
Amazing that reaffirming a commitment to Te Tiriti is viewed as "anti-govt" (his words)
November 27, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Regardless of where you stand in terms of political party allegiance, or even just on the political spectrum ... rhetorically positioning a commitment to Te Tiriti as inherently "anti-government" speaks a lot to how you view the policy positioning of the government you're a part of.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
To bear out this rosy projection, HSBC assumes that OpenAI will become "as ubiquitous [...] as Microsoft 365" (345mm users worldwide) while bringing in 10x the number of users (3bn).
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
A tip for folks who use kobo to buy ebooks (at least the UK & US stores: until the end of the week, they're having a "buy 50 dollars/quid of gift cards & we'll give you a $10 credit" promotion... and they don't stop you sending the gift card to yourself.
Effectively 20% off 50 bucks of books.
Effectively 20% off 50 bucks of books.
November 27, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A tip for folks who use kobo to buy ebooks (at least the UK & US stores: until the end of the week, they're having a "buy 50 dollars/quid of gift cards & we'll give you a $10 credit" promotion... and they don't stop you sending the gift card to yourself.
Effectively 20% off 50 bucks of books.
Effectively 20% off 50 bucks of books.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
After two years following work toward this, I can finally report that more than 40 duty lawyers are taking industrial action over pay rates in January.
It’ll include 80 per cent of those in Auckland District Court.
Duty lawyers act for those charged with criminal offences who don’t have lawyers.
It’ll include 80 per cent of those in Auckland District Court.
Duty lawyers act for those charged with criminal offences who don’t have lawyers.
November 27, 2025 at 9:39 AM
After two years following work toward this, I can finally report that more than 40 duty lawyers are taking industrial action over pay rates in January.
It’ll include 80 per cent of those in Auckland District Court.
Duty lawyers act for those charged with criminal offences who don’t have lawyers.
It’ll include 80 per cent of those in Auckland District Court.
Duty lawyers act for those charged with criminal offences who don’t have lawyers.
Reposted by Eddie Clark
Page 27, a half-sentence reads "In addition, personnel expenses incurred by Health New Zealand were $0.5 billion lower than forecast..." It doesn't even rate its own sentence! 😠
www.treasury.govt.nz/publications...
www.treasury.govt.nz/publications...
Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the Year Ended 30 June 2025
Accessible version Only the Financial Statements Summary has been prepared in HTML.
www.treasury.govt.nz
November 27, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Page 27, a half-sentence reads "In addition, personnel expenses incurred by Health New Zealand were $0.5 billion lower than forecast..." It doesn't even rate its own sentence! 😠
www.treasury.govt.nz/publications...
www.treasury.govt.nz/publications...
Reposted by Eddie Clark
The previously unknown gold, well mapped by prospectors who knew about it in the late 19th century:
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The previously unknown gold, well mapped by prospectors who knew about it in the late 19th century: