Dr Aleisha Ward
@nzjazzhistory.bsky.social
NZ Jazz Historian; Lilburn Fellow 2017; Professional Teaching Fellow Music at Auckland Uni. Come for the music, stay for everything else. Opinions definitely my own! She/her
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
A prize for whomever asks this flag bearer for “free speech” to specify *exactly how many times per calendar year* any members of the public (and of affected professions) may speak publicly about the impact of his policies on people they care for, before being rudely dismissed as “frequent flyers” 🏆
In March this year I emailed Peggy Burrows to voice my support for her public stance re the school lunch disgrace. I noted the courage it takes as a Principal to speak up.
Her lovely reply made me tear up. She takes her role as a strong advocate for her students and their whānau deeply seriously.
Her lovely reply made me tear up. She takes her role as a strong advocate for her students and their whānau deeply seriously.
Seymour labels principal at centre of mouldy school lunches a media 'frequent flyer'
The principal has hit back saying the food is delivered daily and leftovers removed.
www.nzherald.co.nz
December 1, 2025 at 8:55 PM
A prize for whomever asks this flag bearer for “free speech” to specify *exactly how many times per calendar year* any members of the public (and of affected professions) may speak publicly about the impact of his policies on people they care for, before being rudely dismissed as “frequent flyers” 🏆
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
No offense but I think we underestimate how many of our current problems, both cultural and political, are downstream of the decline in reading, the decline in learning and the loss of interest in the humanities.
December 1, 2025 at 8:59 PM
No offense but I think we underestimate how many of our current problems, both cultural and political, are downstream of the decline in reading, the decline in learning and the loss of interest in the humanities.
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
December 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
November 30, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
Advent Sunday & London was bitterly cold and wreathed in a damp fog which smelt of underground rivers and coal smoke. The Dragon of Kensington Church Street, however, was exceedingly well wrapped up in a Sèvres blue muffler and matching mittens.
November 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Advent Sunday & London was bitterly cold and wreathed in a damp fog which smelt of underground rivers and coal smoke. The Dragon of Kensington Church Street, however, was exceedingly well wrapped up in a Sèvres blue muffler and matching mittens.
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
Analysis: OpenAI is a loss-making machine, how can it survive?
Don't call it a bubble! Loss-making monster OpenAI is on the hook for $1.4 trillion (with a T) in compute commitments. How can this go on?
www.windowscentral.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
Morning peeps! Final tally from my crowdfunding campaign is just over $194,500, incl the donations made directly. I’m blown away! Pledge Me will be in touch to collect your gifts shortly. Thanks so much for all your support!
November 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Morning peeps! Final tally from my crowdfunding campaign is just over $194,500, incl the donations made directly. I’m blown away! Pledge Me will be in touch to collect your gifts shortly. Thanks so much for all your support!
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
November 30, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
Well, I’ve been made redundant. The literal mum and dad company I worked for, and loved working for, has had so little business recently that they’ve had to let go of a quarter of their staff.
This is a direct result of the government intentionally or incompetently crashing the economy.
This is a direct result of the government intentionally or incompetently crashing the economy.
November 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Well, I’ve been made redundant. The literal mum and dad company I worked for, and loved working for, has had so little business recently that they’ve had to let go of a quarter of their staff.
This is a direct result of the government intentionally or incompetently crashing the economy.
This is a direct result of the government intentionally or incompetently crashing the economy.
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
The second piece for this project, this one is called RAW, and it’s an oil painting (oil paint and oil stick) on a 20x25cm unframed and unvarnished canvas board. For sale at £75.00 inc P&P, UK delivery only. Get a piece of Haus Of Holly for your home!!
November 15, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The second piece for this project, this one is called RAW, and it’s an oil painting (oil paint and oil stick) on a 20x25cm unframed and unvarnished canvas board. For sale at £75.00 inc P&P, UK delivery only. Get a piece of Haus Of Holly for your home!!
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
It's 4,000 BC.
You are immortal.
The Egyptian pyramids have not yet been built.
You decide to save $10,000 EVERY DAY, never spending a cent.
6025 years later, it's 2025.
You still don't have as much money as Gina Rinehart.
TAX. THE. FUCKING. BILLIONAIRES.
🐝
#auspol
You are immortal.
The Egyptian pyramids have not yet been built.
You decide to save $10,000 EVERY DAY, never spending a cent.
6025 years later, it's 2025.
You still don't have as much money as Gina Rinehart.
TAX. THE. FUCKING. BILLIONAIRES.
🐝
#auspol
November 30, 2025 at 9:04 AM
It's 4,000 BC.
You are immortal.
The Egyptian pyramids have not yet been built.
You decide to save $10,000 EVERY DAY, never spending a cent.
6025 years later, it's 2025.
You still don't have as much money as Gina Rinehart.
TAX. THE. FUCKING. BILLIONAIRES.
🐝
#auspol
You are immortal.
The Egyptian pyramids have not yet been built.
You decide to save $10,000 EVERY DAY, never spending a cent.
6025 years later, it's 2025.
You still don't have as much money as Gina Rinehart.
TAX. THE. FUCKING. BILLIONAIRES.
🐝
#auspol
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
The wizard's pajama robes are set on a little table next to the bathtub. He carefully steps into the bath. It is just the right temperature and the bubbles smell of dry grass.
November 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
The wizard's pajama robes are set on a little table next to the bathtub. He carefully steps into the bath. It is just the right temperature and the bubbles smell of dry grass.
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
What a start to the final day of November. #NZHellhole
November 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
What a start to the final day of November. #NZHellhole
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
November 29, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
This is Salem. He waited for his mom to leave the car before stealing her breakfast. Loves the thrill of the hunt. 12/10 #SeniorPupSaturday (TT: unhingeddogmom)
November 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
This is Salem. He waited for his mom to leave the car before stealing her breakfast. Loves the thrill of the hunt. 12/10 #SeniorPupSaturday (TT: unhingeddogmom)
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
“I want us to remember that our job is not just to oppose – it is to aspire and inspire.”
- Carmel Sepuloni, Labour Party Conference 2025
Reflecting that the list of policy many might call aspirational or inspiring is desperately needed, bare minimum policy, and we need leadership to call it that.
- Carmel Sepuloni, Labour Party Conference 2025
Reflecting that the list of policy many might call aspirational or inspiring is desperately needed, bare minimum policy, and we need leadership to call it that.
November 29, 2025 at 6:09 PM
“I want us to remember that our job is not just to oppose – it is to aspire and inspire.”
- Carmel Sepuloni, Labour Party Conference 2025
Reflecting that the list of policy many might call aspirational or inspiring is desperately needed, bare minimum policy, and we need leadership to call it that.
- Carmel Sepuloni, Labour Party Conference 2025
Reflecting that the list of policy many might call aspirational or inspiring is desperately needed, bare minimum policy, and we need leadership to call it that.
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
The OpenAI ruling writers should know about 👀 (if your work was scraped for LLM training, this affects you). www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
OpenAI Loses Key Discovery Battle as It Cedes Ground to Authors in AI Lawsuits
The issue has been a major battleground in discovery. OpenAI could be on the hook for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars if it was aware it was infringing on copyrighted material.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The OpenAI ruling writers should know about 👀 (if your work was scraped for LLM training, this affects you). www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
Things used in everyday life are the real archaeological treasures! These sewing #needles were made from animal bone some 15,000 years ago. Some designs simply don't need to be improved, because form and functions were perfectly matched from the start. Form follows function! 🧵1/2
🏺
🏺
November 29, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Things used in everyday life are the real archaeological treasures! These sewing #needles were made from animal bone some 15,000 years ago. Some designs simply don't need to be improved, because form and functions were perfectly matched from the start. Form follows function! 🧵1/2
🏺
🏺
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
Last month, @theguardian.com framed this historical event project the same way; minimizing the years of archival work, the interviews etc it took to be able to do this.
Instead ‘AI solved this historical problem!’
Instead ‘AI solved this historical problem!’
November 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Last month, @theguardian.com framed this historical event project the same way; minimizing the years of archival work, the interviews etc it took to be able to do this.
Instead ‘AI solved this historical problem!’
Instead ‘AI solved this historical problem!’
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
Instead, in ten years 1/3 of academic budgets are gonna end up in the hands of five or six people in the world who own AI corporations. 
November 29, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Instead, in ten years 1/3 of academic budgets are gonna end up in the hands of five or six people in the world who own AI corporations. 
Reposted by Dr Aleisha Ward
If universities would prioritize smaller classes and fewer bells and whistles like third-party technology contracts, a significantly bigger number of PhDs would find a position in higher education.
November 29, 2025 at 1:47 AM
If universities would prioritize smaller classes and fewer bells and whistles like third-party technology contracts, a significantly bigger number of PhDs would find a position in higher education.