Andy O'Brien
@spadge.bsky.social
Originally from Scotland. I'm a guest in Aotearoa, who works in public service. I try to do IT Security stuff. He/Him.🏳️⚧️Ally.
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Impossible to know what the Minister for Throwing Used Car Batteries in the Ocean is up to by disbanding the only organisations that monitor and prosecute the throwing of car batteries in the ocean - Hipkins
November 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Impossible to know what the Minister for Throwing Used Car Batteries in the Ocean is up to by disbanding the only organisations that monitor and prosecute the throwing of car batteries in the ocean - Hipkins
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Space photographer Andrew James McCarthy @ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social has captured many epic images of celestial bodies, but this may be his greatest: a perfectly timed photo of a skydiving friend with the sun behind him (shot w/ equipment revealing great solar detail).
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Space photographer Andrew James McCarthy @ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social has captured many epic images of celestial bodies, but this may be his greatest: a perfectly timed photo of a skydiving friend with the sun behind him (shot w/ equipment revealing great solar detail).
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
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
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Just sent out this free piece. When the stories of the 28-point plan were first written, too many people went into overdrive to try and make excuses for Trump (He was not informed! He was not involved!). open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
We Seem Intent On Making Excuses For Trump Until He Destroys Us
Phillips’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Just sent out this free piece. When the stories of the 28-point plan were first written, too many people went into overdrive to try and make excuses for Trump (He was not informed! He was not involved!). open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
The Joker vs The Skipper Thanksgiving Dinner Showdown! Their fight over Anton is probably the most tragic aspect of what undoubtedly was a bitter feud, as I’m sure Anton used to play concertina at the Lobster Barrel before Cesar worked his charms to lure him away… “For you, my dear Anton - A PIANO!”
November 2, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The Joker vs The Skipper Thanksgiving Dinner Showdown! Their fight over Anton is probably the most tragic aspect of what undoubtedly was a bitter feud, as I’m sure Anton used to play concertina at the Lobster Barrel before Cesar worked his charms to lure him away… “For you, my dear Anton - A PIANO!”
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
If you enjoyed this thread, you'll love the full article it's based on, at the Bad Newsletter - now enjoying its new home at Emily Writes Weekly: www.emilywrites.co.nz/what-the-hel...
#nzpol #kikorangi
#nzpol #kikorangi
What the HELL is happening with the new school curriculum?
Over and over again, I've had emails and messages from parents asking me about the new curriculum. I tried to get my head around it, but just had more questions than answers. So I teamed up with my fr...
www.emilywrites.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 4:30 AM
If you enjoyed this thread, you'll love the full article it's based on, at the Bad Newsletter - now enjoying its new home at Emily Writes Weekly: www.emilywrites.co.nz/what-the-hel...
#nzpol #kikorangi
#nzpol #kikorangi
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
What the hell is going on with the new New Zealand school curriculum, and what does it have to do with the Atlas Network? (No, really!)
A thread:
#nzpol #kikorangi
A thread:
#nzpol #kikorangi
November 26, 2025 at 4:16 AM
What the hell is going on with the new New Zealand school curriculum, and what does it have to do with the Atlas Network? (No, really!)
A thread:
#nzpol #kikorangi
A thread:
#nzpol #kikorangi
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Christ on a bike, these fucking idiots are ruining the country for no other reason than coalition agreements.
VOTE THEM OUT
#nzpol
VOTE THEM OUT
#nzpol
'It's not impossible': National may campaign on regulatory standards repeal
The National deputy leader said her party may also campaign to get rid of the law.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Christ on a bike, these fucking idiots are ruining the country for no other reason than coalition agreements.
VOTE THEM OUT
#nzpol
VOTE THEM OUT
#nzpol
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
tweets that aged like wine
November 26, 2025 at 1:59 AM
tweets that aged like wine
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
NOS, basically the Dutch equivalent of BBC News & Sport, has stopped posting on Twitter. The article makes no mention of Bluesky but they are active here at @nieuws.nos.nl.
The usual "if they can do it then why can't the BBC/Labour/everyone else..."
The usual "if they can do it then why can't the BBC/Labour/everyone else..."
NOS plaatst vanaf vandaag geen nieuwsberichten meer op X - Over NOS
De NOS en Nieuwsuur (NOS/NTR) zijn gestopt met posten op X. Het platform past niet meer bij onze visie op...
over.nos.nl
November 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
NOS, basically the Dutch equivalent of BBC News & Sport, has stopped posting on Twitter. The article makes no mention of Bluesky but they are active here at @nieuws.nos.nl.
The usual "if they can do it then why can't the BBC/Labour/everyone else..."
The usual "if they can do it then why can't the BBC/Labour/everyone else..."
Beef Smoothies....
Trump: "Despite their size, Secretary Kennedy has formally certified that these are the first ever MAHA turkeys. They could be fat, but they're still MAHA. They've been fattened on a steady diet of grass, beef, to allow the smoothies and all the other things they have been eating for this occasion."
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Beef Smoothies....
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
oh, so if this is because they needed to brute force executive power because they couldn't attack Maaori enough via local referenda then this is another human rights and constitutional issue. ACT completely giving the game away here. They're speedrunning unaccountable anti-democracy policy
November 25, 2025 at 5:59 AM
oh, so if this is because they needed to brute force executive power because they couldn't attack Maaori enough via local referenda then this is another human rights and constitutional issue. ACT completely giving the game away here. They're speedrunning unaccountable anti-democracy policy
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Michelle Mone can be expelled from the House of Lords by a simple majority vote in the Commons, and then in the House of Lords.
Like if she needs to go.
RT if she has to go.
Like if she needs to go.
RT if she has to go.
November 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Michelle Mone can be expelled from the House of Lords by a simple majority vote in the Commons, and then in the House of Lords.
Like if she needs to go.
RT if she has to go.
Like if she needs to go.
RT if she has to go.
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
LOL sometimes it pays to be dyslexic & miss emails.
Email on Friday 'so sorry Paul our printers have broken down & are out for a couple of days, things will be delayed'.
I didn't see that email till today after the proofs arrived from ChCh or I'd have PANICKED
paullecomtephoto.nz/products/202...
Email on Friday 'so sorry Paul our printers have broken down & are out for a couple of days, things will be delayed'.
I didn't see that email till today after the proofs arrived from ChCh or I'd have PANICKED
paullecomtephoto.nz/products/202...
November 25, 2025 at 3:03 AM
LOL sometimes it pays to be dyslexic & miss emails.
Email on Friday 'so sorry Paul our printers have broken down & are out for a couple of days, things will be delayed'.
I didn't see that email till today after the proofs arrived from ChCh or I'd have PANICKED
paullecomtephoto.nz/products/202...
Email on Friday 'so sorry Paul our printers have broken down & are out for a couple of days, things will be delayed'.
I didn't see that email till today after the proofs arrived from ChCh or I'd have PANICKED
paullecomtephoto.nz/products/202...
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
November 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Local whānau need us this Christmas 🍽 And we need you 🙌🏽
One month 'til Christmas and we know there is more good kai out there to rescue. You can help turn rescued food into real impact.
💚 Donate to support our mahi today:
www.kaibosh.org.nz/donate-now/?...
One month 'til Christmas and we know there is more good kai out there to rescue. You can help turn rescued food into real impact.
💚 Donate to support our mahi today:
www.kaibosh.org.nz/donate-now/?...
November 25, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Local whānau need us this Christmas 🍽 And we need you 🙌🏽
One month 'til Christmas and we know there is more good kai out there to rescue. You can help turn rescued food into real impact.
💚 Donate to support our mahi today:
www.kaibosh.org.nz/donate-now/?...
One month 'til Christmas and we know there is more good kai out there to rescue. You can help turn rescued food into real impact.
💚 Donate to support our mahi today:
www.kaibosh.org.nz/donate-now/?...
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
We warned you that self-driving cars would just create self-driving traffic jams, and here they are.
The car industry has no solution to the shortage of space in cities. Public transit, cycling, and walking are all part of the answer, but cars are not.
The car industry has no solution to the shortage of space in cities. Public transit, cycling, and walking are all part of the answer, but cars are not.
Waymo privatized another public street:
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
November 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
We warned you that self-driving cars would just create self-driving traffic jams, and here they are.
The car industry has no solution to the shortage of space in cities. Public transit, cycling, and walking are all part of the answer, but cars are not.
The car industry has no solution to the shortage of space in cities. Public transit, cycling, and walking are all part of the answer, but cars are not.
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
New Zealand is about 29% foreign born, Australia 32%. And with several generations of ancestors born in New Zealand, I would like to say a hearty "Fuck Off. No. Fuck off further" to these US concerns about us not being scared of or angry at of migrants. DEPLOY THE DOBBYN youtu.be/Wlz2uEuxyyk?...
November 25, 2025 at 3:51 AM
New Zealand is about 29% foreign born, Australia 32%. And with several generations of ancestors born in New Zealand, I would like to say a hearty "Fuck Off. No. Fuck off further" to these US concerns about us not being scared of or angry at of migrants. DEPLOY THE DOBBYN youtu.be/Wlz2uEuxyyk?...
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
You know, I'm not sure I ever really read the Pond Rules at our local nature preserve all that closely before
November 25, 2025 at 1:24 AM
You know, I'm not sure I ever really read the Pond Rules at our local nature preserve all that closely before
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Neutrality is increasingly problematic in both theory and practice since X became such a toxic platform while so many people continue to use it to consume information.
Wrote this a couple of weeks ago. Feels more relevant still after today. And it’s a deficit of self awareness which goes far beyond some members of the BBC board.
November 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Neutrality is increasingly problematic in both theory and practice since X became such a toxic platform while so many people continue to use it to consume information.
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Another Republican war for oil. I feel like we’ve done this before just a little while ago. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day"
November 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Another Republican war for oil. I feel like we’ve done this before just a little while ago. bsky.app/profile/atru...