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psheth.bsky.social
@psheth.bsky.social
Now living in Wellington, NZ. Previously in Richmond, VA, USA.

Toitū te Tiriti
You cannot seriously argue that it's incumbent on mayors, etc to waste their time responding to every crank suggestion. These people have actual responsibilities, and to the extent that they do submit, it's about stuff the RC has highlighted (which, in this case, was boundaries, NOT names)
November 23, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Since 2019 it has essentially become impossible for a first time home buyer. The median age shot up to 40, and the volume of first time buyers plunged. Meanwhile almost all home sales are to well-off old people.

Housing is a big problem, and deniers like Will don't want to deal with this
November 21, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Come on man, you're cherry picking one favorable year and ignoring long term trends. This is some mendacious bullshit, even by your standards.

Anyways the median home buyer age for first and repeat buyers is at a record high. First-time went from 33 pre-pandemic to 40 (!) last year.
November 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Surprised that the Stuff poll respondents* are this widely opposed to the government's benefit changes for 18/19yos

Probably explains why the government is all in on Peters' bullshit

* not representative, but they are generally centrist and older, and they usually eat up this kind of youth-bashing
October 7, 2025 at 6:26 AM
This is really disappointing by @misswhanau.bsky.social

These new standards aren't a "huge win" for Wellington. There's nothing good about letting property owners keep dangerous buildings around in order to save money, especially in a major seismic hazard area.
September 29, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Is it working backwards to justify not liking Democrats if I criticize their dogshit leadership for being fascist collaborators?

Because this is how Trump's junior coalition partners would act, not his opposition.
September 21, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Democratic leadership again showing that they're fascist collaborators more interested in honoring a Nazi than opposing Trump.

And despite months of this, exactly zero elected Dems have called for new leadership. This is what they want.

Just a fundamentally irredeemable political party.
September 19, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Done.
September 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
The House increasing its own personal security funding and the Senate providing unanimous consent for a resolution to honor Charlie Kirk.

You really do not hate Congress enough.
September 19, 2025 at 12:44 AM
What, you mean this chart doesn't tell a tale of success that should be emulated around the world?
September 17, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I wrote back asking for some actual specifics about what he found offensive about Prof Dutta's comments, and why exactly he wanted NZ Parliament to honor this particular American with no NZ connection
September 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
September 14, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Sent Joseph Mooney MP a little note inquiring as to his views on Charlie Kirk, and I encourage everyone else to do so as well.
September 14, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't grunge.

It might not be as acclaimed as OK Computer or Kid A, but this was my gateway into music beyond what was playing on mainstream radio, and it'll always be my favorite by them
September 8, 2025 at 7:24 AM
He wasn't a legend. He was an asshole who absconded with kids during a custody dispute, which unfortunately is common in abusive relationships.
September 8, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Finally saw an Andrew Little campaign sign. Why is it not in Labour red!? What's the point of being the Labour Party candidate if you're not going to match the branding of the other Labour candidates running in the same election?

Somehow even his signs manage to be pale, male, and stale...
September 2, 2025 at 9:13 AM
To their credit, RNZ actually has a perfect headline, putting the announcement in context right up top.
September 1, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The covid response in NZ was so good that there was NEGATIVE excess mortality in 2020-2022... Literally the best in the world.
August 25, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I wrote to Rachel Brooking about this and was told they would modify it (which is largely fine if done well), but that they probably wouldn't revoke consents already granted (which is completely unacceptable).
August 21, 2025 at 8:51 PM
This holds up pretty well: Portal and Civ IV and V are all-timers (pretty sure I bought V on an actual CD, hence the DLC here without the base game)

Braid is a neat little platformer and the Tropico games are fun little island-dictator-sim-city games
August 15, 2025 at 9:21 AM
This RNZ headline on the upcoming teachers strike is appalling.

It goes beyond just parroting the government's viewpoint. By failing to attribute the quote to a specific minister, it presents it as neutral or objective assessment of the situation

Something is deeply rotten at RNZ...
August 13, 2025 at 9:42 AM
The good news is that they do appear to be tackling interchange fees, which are the main underlying driver of costs for these transactions.

Ironic that this government finally seems to do something well and everyone instinctively thinks it's gonna be corrupt and shitty because they'd how they roll
July 28, 2025 at 7:11 AM
I think they are planning to, actually. They're capping interchange fees, which should reduce transaction costs to businesses for credit and paywave.

It's really ironic though that the one time this government does things well, no one believes them because they're so generally shit...
July 28, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Looks like they're actually capping interchange fees, so this will reduce merchant expenses and be better for consumers. The details are important, but this is the right approach to do this
July 28, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Looks like they are capping interchange fees, so maybe they're actually doing it right...
July 28, 2025 at 3:14 AM