Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
@markd.nz
He/him. Actor, analyst, and JP in Ōtautahi, Aotearoa. Cult survivor, atheist, vegan, gay. Chairing too many committees. Let's build a sustainable, just future!
Web: https://markd.nz
Blog: https://remarks.nz
Web: https://markd.nz
Blog: https://remarks.nz
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen sounded the alarm about Europe’s dependence on foreign technology today, saying “it’s very clear that Europe is having our independence moment.”
EU tech chief sounds alarm over dependence on foreign tech
Relying on foreign tech “can be weaponized against us,” says Commission’s Henna Virkkunen.
www.politico.eu
January 27, 2026 at 5:54 PM
European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen sounded the alarm about Europe’s dependence on foreign technology today, saying “it’s very clear that Europe is having our independence moment.”
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
So, given that we know what's going on, what's our strategy? Are we borrowing long-term to invest big in our infrastructure so that we can produce and live more efficiently? Are we working out how we reduce oil/gas reliance quickly to avoid getting stung by another global price shock? [7/n]
January 25, 2026 at 4:59 AM
So, given that we know what's going on, what's our strategy? Are we borrowing long-term to invest big in our infrastructure so that we can produce and live more efficiently? Are we working out how we reduce oil/gas reliance quickly to avoid getting stung by another global price shock? [7/n]
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
I have thought about this too much over the last couple of years to be both concise and persuasive, so I'll settle for being concise for the moment-
Both for me personally and for the groups/movements I find myself in step with, making a four day/30 hour work week happen would change everything
Both for me personally and for the groups/movements I find myself in step with, making a four day/30 hour work week happen would change everything
January 24, 2026 at 10:45 PM
I have thought about this too much over the last couple of years to be both concise and persuasive, so I'll settle for being concise for the moment-
Both for me personally and for the groups/movements I find myself in step with, making a four day/30 hour work week happen would change everything
Both for me personally and for the groups/movements I find myself in step with, making a four day/30 hour work week happen would change everything
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
The #NZ tour of Doomsday Comedy has two shows to go: #Wellington (Thursday 29 January) and #Christchurch (Waitangi Day Friday 6 February). Hilarious, heartwarming #comedy about #cults that brings beautiful, unexpected human connection. Ticket links in the thread.
www.doomsdaycomedy.com
www.doomsdaycomedy.com
January 25, 2026 at 12:27 AM
The #NZ tour of Doomsday Comedy has two shows to go: #Wellington (Thursday 29 January) and #Christchurch (Waitangi Day Friday 6 February). Hilarious, heartwarming #comedy about #cults that brings beautiful, unexpected human connection. Ticket links in the thread.
www.doomsdaycomedy.com
www.doomsdaycomedy.com
The #NZ tour of Doomsday Comedy has two shows to go: #Wellington (Thursday 29 January) and #Christchurch (Waitangi Day Friday 6 February). Hilarious, heartwarming #comedy about #cults that brings beautiful, unexpected human connection. Ticket links in the thread.
www.doomsdaycomedy.com
www.doomsdaycomedy.com
January 25, 2026 at 12:27 AM
The #NZ tour of Doomsday Comedy has two shows to go: #Wellington (Thursday 29 January) and #Christchurch (Waitangi Day Friday 6 February). Hilarious, heartwarming #comedy about #cults that brings beautiful, unexpected human connection. Ticket links in the thread.
www.doomsdaycomedy.com
www.doomsdaycomedy.com
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
Here ya go. Enjoy Cats vs Bears😂😂😂
January 22, 2026 at 4:13 AM
Here ya go. Enjoy Cats vs Bears😂😂😂
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
dad is coming over tomorrow - 25th Jan - the anniversary of the day in 1999 when he popped into mitre10 for a tin of undercoat. his wife waited in the car. the undercoat was on special, stacked in a pyramid at the end of an aisle. he grabbed a tin by the handle. as he did so, it clipped another tin
January 24, 2026 at 5:39 AM
dad is coming over tomorrow - 25th Jan - the anniversary of the day in 1999 when he popped into mitre10 for a tin of undercoat. his wife waited in the car. the undercoat was on special, stacked in a pyramid at the end of an aisle. he grabbed a tin by the handle. as he did so, it clipped another tin
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
The event will be held virtually on March 2nd from 8am to noon PT. It's going to be a participatory workshop, and we're asking people to submit short position papers or ideas on how they think we can grow the wider open social ecosystem. You can read more about my thinking on it here:
Got Ideas For Growing The Open Social Web? Bring Them.
Register here for our Growing the Open Social Web Un-Workshop. For over three years now, since Elon Musk decided to spend $44 billion turning Twitter into his personal playground, we've been watching the open social web slowly, sometimes…
Register here for our Growing the Open Social Web Un-Workshop. For over three years now, since Elon Musk decided to spend $44 billion turning Twitter into his personal playground, we've been watching the open social web slowly, sometimes…
Got Ideas For Growing The Open Social Web? Bring Them.
Register here for our Growing the Open Social Web Un-Workshop. For over three years now, since Elon Musk decided to spend $44 billion turning Twitter into his personal playground, we've been watching the open social web slowly, sometimes painfully, come into its own. Bluesky. Mastodon. The broader ATmosphere and fediverse along with a few other experiments (nostr! farcaster!). These aren't just tech experiments anymore—they're real alternatives that millions of people use every day.
www.techdirt.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:55 PM
The event will be held virtually on March 2nd from 8am to noon PT. It's going to be a participatory workshop, and we're asking people to submit short position papers or ideas on how they think we can grow the wider open social ecosystem. You can read more about my thinking on it here:
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
If my grandpa knew how little we spent on his funeral, he’d turn over in his cardboard box.
January 13, 2026 at 1:04 AM
If my grandpa knew how little we spent on his funeral, he’d turn over in his cardboard box.
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
Al Jazeera actually mentions climate change in the article
Several people were missing after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides across New Zealand’s North Island.
Rescuers search for survivors after landslide at New Zealand campsite
Several people were missing after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides across New Zealand's North Island.
www.aljazeera.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Al Jazeera actually mentions climate change in the article
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
Little evidence social media bans work, Labour's own report warns www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Feasibility Study of Methods and Data to Understand the Impact of Smartphones and Social Media on Children and Young People www.gov.uk/government/p...
#socialmediaban #censorship #techpolicy
Feasibility Study of Methods and Data to Understand the Impact of Smartphones and Social Media on Children and Young People www.gov.uk/government/p...
#socialmediaban #censorship #techpolicy
January 21, 2026 at 10:18 PM
I finally ran out of excuses and did my first exercises for the year. Feeling good.
January 21, 2026 at 10:10 PM
I finally ran out of excuses and did my first exercises for the year. Feeling good.
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
Beef has a huge environmental cost. And the only real fix is to consume less of it.
drawdown.org/insights/gre...
drawdown.org/insights/gre...
Greenwashing and denial won’t solve beef’s enormous climate problems
Dive into the world of beef's environmental impact, from deforestation to climate change. Learn about the myths of "eco-friendly" beef and the industry's narratives.
drawdown.org
January 19, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Beef has a huge environmental cost. And the only real fix is to consume less of it.
drawdown.org/insights/gre...
drawdown.org/insights/gre...
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
Crikey that ute video REALLY angered some folks on Zuck's website. 😳
A few kiwi blokes got super emotional and let rip with some horrible insults fly as if I'd offended them somehow by driving up a hill?? It's not even a long video. The heck's going on?
A few kiwi blokes got super emotional and let rip with some horrible insults fly as if I'd offended them somehow by driving up a hill?? It's not even a long video. The heck's going on?
January 21, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Crikey that ute video REALLY angered some folks on Zuck's website. 😳
A few kiwi blokes got super emotional and let rip with some horrible insults fly as if I'd offended them somehow by driving up a hill?? It's not even a long video. The heck's going on?
A few kiwi blokes got super emotional and let rip with some horrible insults fly as if I'd offended them somehow by driving up a hill?? It's not even a long video. The heck's going on?
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
#TrainNews: Steam Incorporated has shared photos from the inaugural Mainlander Train service.
Steam Incorporated's DC 4375 led the train services, and it was DC 4375's first trip south of Rolleston.
PICS - Marty Melville & Craig Rohloff.
Steam Incorporated's DC 4375 led the train services, and it was DC 4375's first trip south of Rolleston.
PICS - Marty Melville & Craig Rohloff.
January 20, 2026 at 8:35 PM
#TrainNews: Steam Incorporated has shared photos from the inaugural Mainlander Train service.
Steam Incorporated's DC 4375 led the train services, and it was DC 4375's first trip south of Rolleston.
PICS - Marty Melville & Craig Rohloff.
Steam Incorporated's DC 4375 led the train services, and it was DC 4375's first trip south of Rolleston.
PICS - Marty Melville & Craig Rohloff.
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
WARNING: I am about to talk about a small way in which I found an AI tool to be useful. If you hate *all* talk of AI, you don't need to tell me. You can just ignore or block. I am discussing this because I am interested in it and others have expressed curiosity in how I use these tools.
January 20, 2026 at 8:14 PM
WARNING: I am about to talk about a small way in which I found an AI tool to be useful. If you hate *all* talk of AI, you don't need to tell me. You can just ignore or block. I am discussing this because I am interested in it and others have expressed curiosity in how I use these tools.
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
The always-smart Cory Doctorow sets out how little old AoNZ can get rich:
#nzpol
pluralistic.net/2026/01/17/e...
#nzpol
pluralistic.net/2026/01/17/e...
Pluralistic: The world needs an Ireland for disenshittification (17 Jan 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
January 19, 2026 at 10:41 PM
The always-smart Cory Doctorow sets out how little old AoNZ can get rich:
#nzpol
pluralistic.net/2026/01/17/e...
#nzpol
pluralistic.net/2026/01/17/e...
One of those days where I was already exhausted and burnt out before I saw this morning's slew of new messages and emails wanting something from me as an unpaid volunteer.
January 19, 2026 at 9:29 PM
One of those days where I was already exhausted and burnt out before I saw this morning's slew of new messages and emails wanting something from me as an unpaid volunteer.
Auckland, come to Doomsday Comedy this evening at 7pm! Hilarious and heartwarming. Get your tickets now! #comedy #cults #Auckland #TāmakiMakaurau
Doomsday Comedy – Auckland
The End is near – come and laugh with us! Stand-up comedy featuring comedians who grew up in religious fundamentalist communities.
events.humanitix.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Auckland, come to Doomsday Comedy this evening at 7pm! Hilarious and heartwarming. Get your tickets now! #comedy #cults #Auckland #TāmakiMakaurau
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
Loops + Skylight + diVine = cross platform short videos, for everyone.
The dev of diVine is interested in cross platform interop, and with Bridgy, we could bridge Skylight too.
The revolution won't be centralized ❤️
joinloops.org via ActivityPub
skylight.social via ATproto
divine.video via Nostr
The dev of diVine is interested in cross platform interop, and with Bridgy, we could bridge Skylight too.
The revolution won't be centralized ❤️
joinloops.org via ActivityPub
skylight.social via ATproto
divine.video via Nostr
Loops - Short videos. Your community. Your rules.
All the fun of short-form video, none of the corporate control. Loops is federated, open-source, and designed to give power back to creators and communities.
joinloops.org
November 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Loops + Skylight + diVine = cross platform short videos, for everyone.
The dev of diVine is interested in cross platform interop, and with Bridgy, we could bridge Skylight too.
The revolution won't be centralized ❤️
joinloops.org via ActivityPub
skylight.social via ATproto
divine.video via Nostr
The dev of diVine is interested in cross platform interop, and with Bridgy, we could bridge Skylight too.
The revolution won't be centralized ❤️
joinloops.org via ActivityPub
skylight.social via ATproto
divine.video via Nostr
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
WANT #NZ
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
January 2, 2026 at 4:36 AM
WANT #NZ
Reposted by Mark Darbyshire🌱🏳️🌈
Once again: I loved Hound of the Baskervilles so much!
On a broader note, it's great to see what coll theatre we've had in Ōtautahi this last year (even if I was too ill to see most of it), and I hope to see more and better things coming in this next year!
On a broader note, it's great to see what coll theatre we've had in Ōtautahi this last year (even if I was too ill to see most of it), and I hope to see more and better things coming in this next year!
Aw thanks @ladyhorrors.bsky.social:
“There was a lot of admiration for Canterbury Repertory Theatre’s The Hound of The Baskervilles – strong leads, good design and direction, zesty script”
And thanks for reporting whispers from quiet corners. May decision-makers take note!
#Ōtautahi #theatre
“There was a lot of admiration for Canterbury Repertory Theatre’s The Hound of The Baskervilles – strong leads, good design and direction, zesty script”
And thanks for reporting whispers from quiet corners. May decision-makers take note!
#Ōtautahi #theatre
Review / preview: 2025 highlights, and a 2026 wishlist
Erin Harrington cobbles together a bunch of end of / start of year material. Did the performing arts in Ōtautahi survive or thrive in 2025? A little of both perhaps, but either way it was a very bi…
flatcityfieldnotes.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Once again: I loved Hound of the Baskervilles so much!
On a broader note, it's great to see what coll theatre we've had in Ōtautahi this last year (even if I was too ill to see most of it), and I hope to see more and better things coming in this next year!
On a broader note, it's great to see what coll theatre we've had in Ōtautahi this last year (even if I was too ill to see most of it), and I hope to see more and better things coming in this next year!
Aw thanks @ladyhorrors.bsky.social:
“There was a lot of admiration for Canterbury Repertory Theatre’s The Hound of The Baskervilles – strong leads, good design and direction, zesty script”
And thanks for reporting whispers from quiet corners. May decision-makers take note!
#Ōtautahi #theatre
“There was a lot of admiration for Canterbury Repertory Theatre’s The Hound of The Baskervilles – strong leads, good design and direction, zesty script”
And thanks for reporting whispers from quiet corners. May decision-makers take note!
#Ōtautahi #theatre
Review / preview: 2025 highlights, and a 2026 wishlist
Erin Harrington cobbles together a bunch of end of / start of year material. Did the performing arts in Ōtautahi survive or thrive in 2025? A little of both perhaps, but either way it was a very bi…
flatcityfieldnotes.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Aw thanks @ladyhorrors.bsky.social:
“There was a lot of admiration for Canterbury Repertory Theatre’s The Hound of The Baskervilles – strong leads, good design and direction, zesty script”
And thanks for reporting whispers from quiet corners. May decision-makers take note!
#Ōtautahi #theatre
“There was a lot of admiration for Canterbury Repertory Theatre’s The Hound of The Baskervilles – strong leads, good design and direction, zesty script”
And thanks for reporting whispers from quiet corners. May decision-makers take note!
#Ōtautahi #theatre
