Raquel Blackburn
@queenofcobden.bsky.social
I look at things. You can look at the things also.
I also rate cats.
I also rate cats.
Would work here
November 10, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Would work here
Describe your cat's personality with one photo
Sweet
Sweet
November 9, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Describe your cat's personality with one photo
Sweet
Sweet
Someone at work was talking about how we can go from creating things to checking AI outputs LIKE IT WAS A GOOD THING.
Work is more fulfilling if I do it myself, and also I get it right the first time!
Work is more fulfilling if I do it myself, and also I get it right the first time!
AI is *so* unreliable. I don't know why I keep trying. I asked Anthropic Claude to help me come up with some ideas for my upcoming NZ road trip and it confidently suggested a stay at the Kura Tawhiti DOC campsite and told me all about it. The only problem? The campsite is an AI hallucination.
November 9, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Someone at work was talking about how we can go from creating things to checking AI outputs LIKE IT WAS A GOOD THING.
Work is more fulfilling if I do it myself, and also I get it right the first time!
Work is more fulfilling if I do it myself, and also I get it right the first time!
Now up to Day 6 of the reenactment of the D Day landings 😐
November 8, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Now up to Day 6 of the reenactment of the D Day landings 😐
This is a real thing you can buy www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/...
The Crotch Pot by Gossamer Gear
Enjoy the ease of cold soaking with a warm twist—harness your body heat while hiking for a hot meal at camp, no stove required. Lightweight & hassle-free!
www.garagegrowngear.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:54 AM
This is a real thing you can buy www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/...
'How often do I need to change the oil in my Learjet?'
Am I paying too much in tax on foreign investments? - Ask Susan
Am I paying too much in tax on foreign investments? - Ask Susan
RNZ's money correspondent answers your questions.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 7, 2025 at 11:49 PM
'How often do I need to change the oil in my Learjet?'
Cat is cowering under the bed.
BAN FIREWORKS
BAN FIREWORKS
November 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Cat is cowering under the bed.
BAN FIREWORKS
BAN FIREWORKS
You want to a display of nazis you can show them burning in hell for eternity forever facing their victims
November 5, 2025 at 12:10 AM
You want to a display of nazis you can show them burning in hell for eternity forever facing their victims
This is a good idea
'Enough is enough' - New Zealand First wants to ban private fireworks
'Enough is enough' - New Zealand First wants to ban private fireworks
"The abuse and misuse of fireworks has far outgrown any of the benefits," claims Winston Peters.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 4, 2025 at 3:35 AM
This is a good idea
Can tell the evenings are warming up when the neighbours start having their massive arguments outside 🥰
November 2, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Can tell the evenings are warming up when the neighbours start having their massive arguments outside 🥰
Nothing like wandering around work with a basket full of chocolates being the mid-afternoon chocolate fairy
October 31, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Nothing like wandering around work with a basket full of chocolates being the mid-afternoon chocolate fairy
100% this. Getting kids to spout a whole bunch of facts is not ambitious. Simple recall is not cognitively demanding.
History teachers label government's draft curriculum 'unrealistic', 'unmanageable'
History teachers label government's draft curriculum 'unrealistic', 'unmanageable'
The government's plan will water down the teaching of New Zealand history in schools with topics including Ancient Egypt and the French Revolution, they say.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 30, 2025 at 6:43 AM
100% this. Getting kids to spout a whole bunch of facts is not ambitious. Simple recall is not cognitively demanding.
Hard agree
Soldier who tried to spy on New Zealand should be in prison Crown says
Soldier who tried to spy on New Zealand should be in prison Crown says
A soldier with links to far-right groups is having his sentence re-examined at the Court Martial Appeal Court in Wellington.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 30, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Hard agree
We need to make giant shows where you look at cool stuff a thing again
20 sleeps until the centenary of the self-proclaimed "The Greatest Spectacle Ever Held in the Dominion!" This was no hype with 3.2 million visitors it remains the largest public event ever held in Aotearoa New Zealand. #TheBigShow 💯 #Dunedin #history
October 29, 2025 at 5:52 AM
We need to make giant shows where you look at cool stuff a thing again
Periodic reminder that if you think history is too bleak you are allowed to do things like the history of togs
October 28, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Periodic reminder that if you think history is too bleak you are allowed to do things like the history of togs
Contrast this with Bolger and Doug Graham - hardly socialists - pushing through Treaty settlements because they thought what happened to Maori was unjust.
What happened to those people on the right?
What happened to those people on the right?
October 28, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Contrast this with Bolger and Doug Graham - hardly socialists - pushing through Treaty settlements because they thought what happened to Maori was unjust.
What happened to those people on the right?
What happened to those people on the right?
If they had any historical awareness they would also know that history is all about interpretation. You get to discuss how and why people come to different understandings of the past
Don't see the new Aotearoa NZ histories curriculum online yet. But Act are already crowing about having gutted it.
community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...
community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...
Community Scoop » New Curriculum Takes Politics Out Of History
community.scoop.co.nz
October 28, 2025 at 8:17 AM
If they had any historical awareness they would also know that history is all about interpretation. You get to discuss how and why people come to different understandings of the past
Like... there were wars! Multiple wars! None of the other immigrant groups to NZ had a war! They are not all the same!
Don't see the new Aotearoa NZ histories curriculum online yet. But Act are already crowing about having gutted it.
community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...
community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...
Community Scoop » New Curriculum Takes Politics Out Of History
community.scoop.co.nz
October 28, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Like... there were wars! Multiple wars! None of the other immigrant groups to NZ had a war! They are not all the same!
One of the things I find worst about this is that it paints the existing curriculum as some kind of politically-slanted brainwashing exercise. But I know the man who drove the new curriculum - he just wanted NZ kids to know their own history
Don't see the new Aotearoa NZ histories curriculum online yet. But Act are already crowing about having gutted it.
community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...
community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...
Community Scoop » New Curriculum Takes Politics Out Of History
community.scoop.co.nz
October 28, 2025 at 7:49 AM
One of the things I find worst about this is that it paints the existing curriculum as some kind of politically-slanted brainwashing exercise. But I know the man who drove the new curriculum - he just wanted NZ kids to know their own history
100%
And it's not like the Coalition is taking compromise positions as a means to appease the left
And it's not like the Coalition is taking compromise positions as a means to appease the left
So just do the big thing.
Your opponents are gonna throw their toys regardless. Pre-negotiating yourself into a compromised position from the outset helps no one. And having a strong decision position might actually help you.
Labor won 50% of the vote in NZ the one time they acted decisively.
Your opponents are gonna throw their toys regardless. Pre-negotiating yourself into a compromised position from the outset helps no one. And having a strong decision position might actually help you.
Labor won 50% of the vote in NZ the one time they acted decisively.
October 28, 2025 at 4:51 AM
100%
And it's not like the Coalition is taking compromise positions as a means to appease the left
And it's not like the Coalition is taking compromise positions as a means to appease the left
The moment of truth!
October 26, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The moment of truth!
Had my text read on the radio 😎
October 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Had my text read on the radio 😎
Labour Day!
youtu.be/ZL7JaWsbg-4
youtu.be/ZL7JaWsbg-4
Strong Bad Email #83 - Labor Day
YouTube video by homestarrunnerdotcom
youtu.be
October 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Labour Day!
youtu.be/ZL7JaWsbg-4
youtu.be/ZL7JaWsbg-4