Jon Sullivan
@joncounts.mastodon.nz.ap.brid.gy
Kia ora! I'm a #nature nut, addict of #iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao, and an #ecologist at #LincolnUniversity in #Aotearoa-#NewZealand.
I spend an inordinate […]
[bridged from https://mastodon.nz/@joncounts on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
I spend an inordinate […]
[bridged from https://mastodon.nz/@joncounts on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central #Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
Closing Central Madrid To Cars Resulted In 9.5% Boost To Retail Spending, Finds Bank Analysis
City of Madrid significantly boosted the takings of its shops and restaurants last Christmas by banning cars from the CBD, finds an analysis by Spain's second largest bank.
www.forbes.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:09 AM
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central #Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
FYI I’ve opened this up for full public reading, listening & sharing after requests from paying subscribers. Their support allows me to do this kind of public interest journalism on Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate & poverty in public. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/why-not-sp...
Why not spend $2.7b on solar & batteries instead?
Govt to pay up to $180m/year or $2.7b over 15 years to lease LNG re-gasification plant, paid for by $15-$30 'levy' per household per year. That $2.7b would build four Benmore Dams worth of electricity
thekaka.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:59 AM
FYI I’ve opened this up for full public reading, listening & sharing after requests from paying subscribers. Their support allows me to do this kind of public interest journalism on Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate & poverty in public. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/why-not-sp...
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
This would be really interesting to know for the NZ market too, eh @jackyan ? We only ever get to see how many (most) of the top five selling "cars” are trucks…
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/consumer/ford-fiesta-2025s-most-popular-used-car-hatchbacks-dominate
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/consumer/ford-fiesta-2025s-most-popular-used-car-hatchbacks-dominate
The Ford Fiesta is STILL the UK's favourite used car | Autocar
All but one of the top 10 best sellers last year were hatchbacks; petrol remains clear favourite fuel
www.autocar.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 1:13 AM
This would be really interesting to know for the NZ market too, eh @jackyan ? We only ever get to see how many (most) of the top five selling "cars” are trucks…
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/consumer/ford-fiesta-2025s-most-popular-used-car-hatchbacks-dominate
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/consumer/ford-fiesta-2025s-most-popular-used-car-hatchbacks-dominate
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
This cartoon of his lives rent free in my brain.
February 9, 2026 at 4:05 AM
This cartoon of his lives rent free in my brain.
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
It turns out that fungus growing termites sometimes cultivate Termitomyces titanicus. This is an excellent scientific name. It's a fungi farmed by termites (like ants they do not allow it to produce "fruiting bodies" or mushroom caps while the colony is active […]
[Original post on sauropods.win]
[Original post on sauropods.win]
February 9, 2026 at 12:22 AM
It turns out that fungus growing termites sometimes cultivate Termitomyces titanicus. This is an excellent scientific name. It's a fungi farmed by termites (like ants they do not allow it to produce "fruiting bodies" or mushroom caps while the colony is active […]
[Original post on sauropods.win]
[Original post on sauropods.win]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
A Second World War air raid shelter, filled with fascinating portraits scrawled on the walls.
Inside one of the chambers is a time capsule underground art gallery, of sorts. The walls are covered with around 20 portraits, mostly drawn in charcoal or soot. Many […]
[Original post on mstdn.social]
Inside one of the chambers is a time capsule underground art gallery, of sorts. The walls are covered with around 20 portraits, mostly drawn in charcoal or soot. Many […]
[Original post on mstdn.social]
February 9, 2026 at 6:45 AM
A Second World War air raid shelter, filled with fascinating portraits scrawled on the walls.
Inside one of the chambers is a time capsule underground art gallery, of sorts. The walls are covered with around 20 portraits, mostly drawn in charcoal or soot. Many […]
[Original post on mstdn.social]
Inside one of the chambers is a time capsule underground art gallery, of sorts. The walls are covered with around 20 portraits, mostly drawn in charcoal or soot. Many […]
[Original post on mstdn.social]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Thoughts while I was riding back home.
The #bycicle is a magnificent force multiplier. You stick it between your legs and suddenly you can travel faster, carry much more weight and much more efficiently than just walking. But it doesn't atrophy your legs; on the contrary, the more you ride, the […]
The #bycicle is a magnificent force multiplier. You stick it between your legs and suddenly you can travel faster, carry much more weight and much more efficiently than just walking. But it doesn't atrophy your legs; on the contrary, the more you ride, the […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
February 9, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Thoughts while I was riding back home.
The #bycicle is a magnificent force multiplier. You stick it between your legs and suddenly you can travel faster, carry much more weight and much more efficiently than just walking. But it doesn't atrophy your legs; on the contrary, the more you ride, the […]
The #bycicle is a magnificent force multiplier. You stick it between your legs and suddenly you can travel faster, carry much more weight and much more efficiently than just walking. But it doesn't atrophy your legs; on the contrary, the more you ride, the […]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
The fungi farmed by ants also produce mushrooms when their colonies die out. This fungi can't survive without the ants and the propagate it by carrying it with them when they found new nests, so what is the purpose of the mushrooms?
Is it just a hold over from the days before the fungi was […]
Is it just a hold over from the days before the fungi was […]
Original post on sauropods.win
sauropods.win
February 9, 2026 at 12:24 AM
The fungi farmed by ants also produce mushrooms when their colonies die out. This fungi can't survive without the ants and the propagate it by carrying it with them when they found new nests, so what is the purpose of the mushrooms?
Is it just a hold over from the days before the fungi was […]
Is it just a hold over from the days before the fungi was […]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Imported LNG?
Why, oh why, are we under the thumb of absolute #fossilfools?
We could have energy independence with cheap offshore wind and solar power. We could phase out fossil fuels and transition to a carbon free economy.
But not with these crapitalist bootlickers in charge.
This is tying […]
Why, oh why, are we under the thumb of absolute #fossilfools?
We could have energy independence with cheap offshore wind and solar power. We could phase out fossil fuels and transition to a carbon free economy.
But not with these crapitalist bootlickers in charge.
This is tying […]
Original post on mastodon.nz
mastodon.nz
February 9, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Imported LNG?
Why, oh why, are we under the thumb of absolute #fossilfools?
We could have energy independence with cheap offshore wind and solar power. We could phase out fossil fuels and transition to a carbon free economy.
But not with these crapitalist bootlickers in charge.
This is tying […]
Why, oh why, are we under the thumb of absolute #fossilfools?
We could have energy independence with cheap offshore wind and solar power. We could phase out fossil fuels and transition to a carbon free economy.
But not with these crapitalist bootlickers in charge.
This is tying […]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
I had an interesting conversation on here recently that made me realize that maybe not everyone who uses Mastodon knows that you can use filters as a way to add content warning to other people's posts?
https://stefanbohacek.com/blog/on-fediverse-content-warnings-and-filters/
#fediverse […]
https://stefanbohacek.com/blog/on-fediverse-content-warnings-and-filters/
#fediverse […]
Original post on stefanbohacek.online
stefanbohacek.online
February 8, 2026 at 3:48 PM
I had an interesting conversation on here recently that made me realize that maybe not everyone who uses Mastodon knows that you can use filters as a way to add content warning to other people's posts?
https://stefanbohacek.com/blog/on-fediverse-content-warnings-and-filters/
#fediverse […]
https://stefanbohacek.com/blog/on-fediverse-content-warnings-and-filters/
#fediverse […]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
February 8, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Today I learned more about Wasp Parasitizer Moths, in the genus Chalcoela.
Why doing something dangerous like be out in the open for days eating cabbage leaves when you instead can be inside a *wasp nest* eating *wasp larvae*.
Respect.
(The moths are among candidates being considered for […]
Why doing something dangerous like be out in the open for days eating cabbage leaves when you instead can be inside a *wasp nest* eating *wasp larvae*.
Respect.
(The moths are among candidates being considered for […]
Original post on mastodon.nz
mastodon.nz
February 9, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Today I learned more about Wasp Parasitizer Moths, in the genus Chalcoela.
Why doing something dangerous like be out in the open for days eating cabbage leaves when you instead can be inside a *wasp nest* eating *wasp larvae*.
Respect.
(The moths are among candidates being considered for […]
Why doing something dangerous like be out in the open for days eating cabbage leaves when you instead can be inside a *wasp nest* eating *wasp larvae*.
Respect.
(The moths are among candidates being considered for […]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Finally saw The Iron Giant yesterday. The main character kid rides a bicycle – and the main character giant eats cars!
Great movie!
#bikesinfilms #bikesinculture #bicycle #BikeTooter
Great movie!
#bikesinfilms #bikesinculture #bicycle #BikeTooter
February 8, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Finally saw The Iron Giant yesterday. The main character kid rides a bicycle – and the main character giant eats cars!
Great movie!
#bikesinfilms #bikesinculture #bicycle #BikeTooter
Great movie!
#bikesinfilms #bikesinculture #bicycle #BikeTooter
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Here goes the really intense week:
Tomorrow I speak here in Napier
Wednesday is in New Plymouth
Thursday is Wairarapa
Friday is Wellington
https://www.rasnz.org.nz/rasnz-info/rasnz-lecture-trust-bht-1
#profsamlecturetour
Tomorrow I speak here in Napier
Wednesday is in New Plymouth
Thursday is Wairarapa
Friday is Wellington
https://www.rasnz.org.nz/rasnz-info/rasnz-lecture-trust-bht-1
#profsamlecturetour
Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand encourages interest in astronomy.It is an association of observers and others for mutual help and advancement of s
www.rasnz.org.nz
February 8, 2026 at 3:31 AM
Here goes the really intense week:
Tomorrow I speak here in Napier
Wednesday is in New Plymouth
Thursday is Wairarapa
Friday is Wellington
https://www.rasnz.org.nz/rasnz-info/rasnz-lecture-trust-bht-1
#profsamlecturetour
Tomorrow I speak here in Napier
Wednesday is in New Plymouth
Thursday is Wairarapa
Friday is Wellington
https://www.rasnz.org.nz/rasnz-info/rasnz-lecture-trust-bht-1
#profsamlecturetour
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
One of the most notable visitors to my moth light this past week turns out to not be a moth at all but instead is this kind of house fly. I've not seen the species before.
Steve Kerr, volunteer fly expert from Otago Museum, identified it on iNaturalist as a […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
Steve Kerr, volunteer fly expert from Otago Museum, identified it on iNaturalist as a […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
February 8, 2026 at 3:10 AM
One of the most notable visitors to my moth light this past week turns out to not be a moth at all but instead is this kind of house fly. I've not seen the species before.
Steve Kerr, volunteer fly expert from Otago Museum, identified it on iNaturalist as a […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
Steve Kerr, volunteer fly expert from Otago Museum, identified it on iNaturalist as a […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Ari the Karearea having a quiet rest after a high speed chase
#birdsofmastodon
#birdsofmastodon
February 7, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Ari the Karearea having a quiet rest after a high speed chase
#birdsofmastodon
#birdsofmastodon
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Observations from a Canadian in New Zealand:
-Making NZers say "Saskatchewan" is kind of hilarious
-Roundabouts work really really well when everyone is used to them
-Drip coffee apparently does not exist (espresso-based coffee drinks only. Even at the one […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
-Making NZers say "Saskatchewan" is kind of hilarious
-Roundabouts work really really well when everyone is used to them
-Drip coffee apparently does not exist (espresso-based coffee drinks only. Even at the one […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
February 7, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Observations from a Canadian in New Zealand:
-Making NZers say "Saskatchewan" is kind of hilarious
-Roundabouts work really really well when everyone is used to them
-Drip coffee apparently does not exist (espresso-based coffee drinks only. Even at the one […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
-Making NZers say "Saskatchewan" is kind of hilarious
-Roundabouts work really really well when everyone is used to them
-Drip coffee apparently does not exist (espresso-based coffee drinks only. Even at the one […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
This evening I've been continuing to upload my week's home moth light photos to #inaturalist. I'm up to 64 moth species this week, so far, 8 of which are new species for our garden.
This one is not new but I only saw one of them, once, this week, and every […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
This one is not new but I only saw one of them, once, this week, and every […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
February 6, 2026 at 10:01 AM
This evening I've been continuing to upload my week's home moth light photos to #inaturalist. I'm up to 64 moth species this week, so far, 8 of which are new species for our garden.
This one is not new but I only saw one of them, once, this week, and every […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
This one is not new but I only saw one of them, once, this week, and every […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
@joncounts It would be interesting and technically possible to add these kinds of limited calculations but I'm not sure how to do it without making a real mess of the UI. Of course, you can already use the tool to scale the whole thing to NZ, in which case mastodon.social is Auckland and […]
Original post on discuss.systems
discuss.systems
February 6, 2026 at 6:24 AM
@joncounts It would be interesting and technically possible to add these kinds of limited calculations but I'm not sure how to do it without making a real mess of the UI. Of course, you can already use the tool to scale the whole thing to NZ, in which case mastodon.social is Auckland and […]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Hachyderm is the El Paso of the Fediverse
It can be kind of hard to understand how big a server (instance) on the Fediverse really is. I know mastodon.social is much bigger than the server I'm on, but how much bigger, really?
So what if we compare the […]
[Original post on discuss.systems]
It can be kind of hard to understand how big a server (instance) on the Fediverse really is. I know mastodon.social is much bigger than the server I'm on, but how much bigger, really?
So what if we compare the […]
[Original post on discuss.systems]
February 6, 2026 at 5:53 AM
Hachyderm is the El Paso of the Fediverse
It can be kind of hard to understand how big a server (instance) on the Fediverse really is. I know mastodon.social is much bigger than the server I'm on, but how much bigger, really?
So what if we compare the […]
[Original post on discuss.systems]
It can be kind of hard to understand how big a server (instance) on the Fediverse really is. I know mastodon.social is much bigger than the server I'm on, but how much bigger, really?
So what if we compare the […]
[Original post on discuss.systems]
Here's the theme for Harry's Game from Clannad.
The haunting song sung in Gaelic unexpectedly became a big hit and has taken on a life of its own since. It was originally written as the theme song for a TV drama set in the troubles of Northern Ireland.
To quote Clannad's lead singer, Marie […]
The haunting song sung in Gaelic unexpectedly became a big hit and has taken on a life of its own since. It was originally written as the theme song for a TV drama set in the troubles of Northern Ireland.
To quote Clannad's lead singer, Marie […]
Original post on mastodon.nz
mastodon.nz
February 6, 2026 at 5:46 AM
Here's the theme for Harry's Game from Clannad.
The haunting song sung in Gaelic unexpectedly became a big hit and has taken on a life of its own since. It was originally written as the theme song for a TV drama set in the troubles of Northern Ireland.
To quote Clannad's lead singer, Marie […]
The haunting song sung in Gaelic unexpectedly became a big hit and has taken on a life of its own since. It was originally written as the theme song for a TV drama set in the troubles of Northern Ireland.
To quote Clannad's lead singer, Marie […]
Here's Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" being performed, remarkably faithfully, by Tenacious D, live.
For all his other talents, Jack Black has a great voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH2iSYNyWvw
#toysandgames
#JukeboxFridayNight
For all his other talents, Jack Black has a great voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH2iSYNyWvw
#toysandgames
#JukeboxFridayNight
February 6, 2026 at 5:31 AM
Here's Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" being performed, remarkably faithfully, by Tenacious D, live.
For all his other talents, Jack Black has a great voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH2iSYNyWvw
#toysandgames
#JukeboxFridayNight
For all his other talents, Jack Black has a great voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH2iSYNyWvw
#toysandgames
#JukeboxFridayNight
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
These Beetles Are Entirely Dependent on Ants for Survival. Here's Why That's Not an Evolutionary Death Sentence
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-beetles-are-entirely-dependent-on-ants-for-survival-heres-why-thats-not-an-evolutionary-death-sentence-180988137/
Rove beetles […]
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-beetles-are-entirely-dependent-on-ants-for-survival-heres-why-thats-not-an-evolutionary-death-sentence-180988137/
Rove beetles […]
Original post on mastodon.nz
mastodon.nz
February 6, 2026 at 4:43 AM
These Beetles Are Entirely Dependent on Ants for Survival. Here's Why That's Not an Evolutionary Death Sentence
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-beetles-are-entirely-dependent-on-ants-for-survival-heres-why-thats-not-an-evolutionary-death-sentence-180988137/
Rove beetles […]
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-beetles-are-entirely-dependent-on-ants-for-survival-heres-why-thats-not-an-evolutionary-death-sentence-180988137/
Rove beetles […]
Reposted by Jon Sullivan
Thank goodness!!!!
Fast track panel declines Taranaki seabed mining over risk to marine life | RNZ News https://share.google/5DgBqLYpOXvQC3RLB
#nzpol #environment #seabedmining #moana
#shamejones
Fast track panel declines Taranaki seabed mining over risk to marine life | RNZ News https://share.google/5DgBqLYpOXvQC3RLB
#nzpol #environment #seabedmining #moana
#shamejones
Fast track panel declines Taranaki seabed mining over risk to marine life
In a draft decision the panel found that there would be a credible risk of harm to marine life.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 5, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Thank goodness!!!!
Fast track panel declines Taranaki seabed mining over risk to marine life | RNZ News https://share.google/5DgBqLYpOXvQC3RLB
#nzpol #environment #seabedmining #moana
#shamejones
Fast track panel declines Taranaki seabed mining over risk to marine life | RNZ News https://share.google/5DgBqLYpOXvQC3RLB
#nzpol #environment #seabedmining #moana
#shamejones