hi itsa me, vinlew
@vinlew.bsky.social
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
FYI for Ao/NZ Bsky: new variant covid boosters coming in Feb/march
December 29, 2025 at 11:11 PM
FYI for Ao/NZ Bsky: new variant covid boosters coming in Feb/march
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Just wow. @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy came out swinging in this article. He's right though and that's the coolest part.
December 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Just wow. @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy came out swinging in this article. He's right though and that's the coolest part.
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
This is a double whammy story... Multiple entirely fake entries on this list published in multiple papers.
But the list itself is taken whole from a press release.
So it's a warning story about AI slop, but also a warning about unquestioning reproduction of press releases.
But the list itself is taken whole from a press release.
So it's a warning story about AI slop, but also a warning about unquestioning reproduction of press releases.
#4 sounds like a lovely book but I didn't write it. Have had whānau up and down the country send me clippings lol
Whoever put together this list that has been circulated to regional papers, didn't fact check.
Whoever put together this list that has been circulated to regional papers, didn't fact check.
December 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
This is a double whammy story... Multiple entirely fake entries on this list published in multiple papers.
But the list itself is taken whole from a press release.
So it's a warning story about AI slop, but also a warning about unquestioning reproduction of press releases.
But the list itself is taken whole from a press release.
So it's a warning story about AI slop, but also a warning about unquestioning reproduction of press releases.
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
For a basic start. Golden Mile had a BCR that was at least 5 times higher, would have been delivered much faster. The Mt Vic tunnel costs 17 times more! That’s just math. 🤯
December 26, 2025 at 5:29 AM
For a basic start. Golden Mile had a BCR that was at least 5 times higher, would have been delivered much faster. The Mt Vic tunnel costs 17 times more! That’s just math. 🤯
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Mark Zuckerberg earned just $1 at Meta in 2024. Elon Musk made $0 at Tesla. They're not alone. A tax law professor explains how the ultrawealthy legally avoid income taxes while their wealth grows by billions annually.
Billionaires with $1 salaries – and other legal tax dodges the ultrawealthy use to keep their riches
The richest Americans can largely avoid paying income and other taxes. A new book explains the history.
buff.ly
December 24, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Mark Zuckerberg earned just $1 at Meta in 2024. Elon Musk made $0 at Tesla. They're not alone. A tax law professor explains how the ultrawealthy legally avoid income taxes while their wealth grows by billions annually.
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
"The minister also noted most recorded boating incidents happened outside of Cook Strait". Yep - Just like a few days ago when the same tug towed an oil and chemical tanker off the coast of Stewart Island back to the mainland www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa... 2/3
Stricken oil and chemical tanker towed back to mainland
An open-ocean tugboat has started towing a stricken oil and chemical tanker off the coast of Stewart Island back to the mainland.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 11:54 PM
"The minister also noted most recorded boating incidents happened outside of Cook Strait". Yep - Just like a few days ago when the same tug towed an oil and chemical tanker off the coast of Stewart Island back to the mainland www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa... 2/3
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Any Netsafe members on BlueSky? I’ve put myself forward for one of two available positions on the Board. I care deeply about protection against online harm and want to use my experience to strengthen the HDCA and tools to help others feel safe. HMU if you want to chat further.
November 18, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Any Netsafe members on BlueSky? I’ve put myself forward for one of two available positions on the Board. I care deeply about protection against online harm and want to use my experience to strengthen the HDCA and tools to help others feel safe. HMU if you want to chat further.
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Face age estimation doesn't even meet the threshold for "fairness" when it is used for age-gating the internet, so of course it can be used to make life-changing decisions !? I think Yoti need to review their ethics and unpublished DPIA.
November 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Face age estimation doesn't even meet the threshold for "fairness" when it is used for age-gating the internet, so of course it can be used to make life-changing decisions !? I think Yoti need to review their ethics and unpublished DPIA.
I heard the government is moving to legislate that asbestos sand isn't harmful, and therefore it won't be harmful.
November 16, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I heard the government is moving to legislate that asbestos sand isn't harmful, and therefore it won't be harmful.
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
One of the huge perks of working at a software company is, when there's something about the product that bothers you personally, you can get your hands dirty and find out why it's basically impossible to get fixed
November 4, 2025 at 11:00 PM
One of the huge perks of working at a software company is, when there's something about the product that bothers you personally, you can get your hands dirty and find out why it's basically impossible to get fixed
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Centrist D66 party set to win most seats in Dutch election, exit poll suggests
Centrist D66 party set to win most seats in Dutch election, exit poll suggests
Result would pave the way for the Netherlands’ first out gay prime minister and end far-right populist Geert Wilders’ time in power
The liberal-progressive D66 party was on track to become the largest in the Dutch parliament, according to an exit poll, after a snap general election in which Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom party was seen losing a third of its seats.
The poll, with a one- to two-seat margin of error, gave the centrist party an estimated 27 MPs in the 150-seat assembly, possibly clearing a path for its 38-year-old leader, Rob Jetten, to become the Netherlands’ youngest and first out gay prime minister. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Centrist D66 party set to win most seats in Dutch election, exit poll suggests
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
if you've travelled on an air new zealand flight, chances are you've snacked on a "project 32" chickpea puff. the brand claims to be NZ owned & give to charity, but a webworm investigation finds some of those claims are full of hot air: www.webworm.co/project32/
Are Air NZ's Snacks Full of Hot Air?
There's a mysterious snack onboard that leaves more questions than answers.
www.webworm.co
October 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
if you've travelled on an air new zealand flight, chances are you've snacked on a "project 32" chickpea puff. the brand claims to be NZ owned & give to charity, but a webworm investigation finds some of those claims are full of hot air: www.webworm.co/project32/
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
I’ve changed my name to Ron S. and the Nz government has just sent me a cheque for $18bn
October 30, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I’ve changed my name to Ron S. and the Nz government has just sent me a cheque for $18bn
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Researchers pointed a satellite dish at the sky for 3 years and monitored what unencrypted data it picked up. The results were shocking: They obtained thousands of T-Mobile users' phone calls and texts, military and law enforcement secrets, much more: www.wired.com/story/satell... 🧵👇
Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data
With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypte...
www.wired.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Researchers pointed a satellite dish at the sky for 3 years and monitored what unencrypted data it picked up. The results were shocking: They obtained thousands of T-Mobile users' phone calls and texts, military and law enforcement secrets, much more: www.wired.com/story/satell... 🧵👇
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Wild idea: just run local elections like national elections
Wild idea: just run local elections like national elections
We need to hold a proper election day, and most importantly, call in the orange guy....
thespinoff.co.nz
October 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Wild idea: just run local elections like national elections
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Just leaving this here for later.
September 17, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Just leaving this here for later.
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System is getting attention bc RFK Jr. & his antivaxx goons plan to use VAERS to claim COVID vaccines killed children.
This is an actual VAERS report for a reported death after COVID vaccine. This is what these people count as data showing “death after vaccine:”
This is an actual VAERS report for a reported death after COVID vaccine. This is what these people count as data showing “death after vaccine:”
September 12, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System is getting attention bc RFK Jr. & his antivaxx goons plan to use VAERS to claim COVID vaccines killed children.
This is an actual VAERS report for a reported death after COVID vaccine. This is what these people count as data showing “death after vaccine:”
This is an actual VAERS report for a reported death after COVID vaccine. This is what these people count as data showing “death after vaccine:”
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Remember, if you encounter what seems like an implausible survey finding, ask:
1. Were survey respondents selected randomly or was this an opt-in poll?
2. Could the results, especially for young adults, be driven by bogus respondents?
Keep this post in mind: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/... 🧪
1. Were survey respondents selected randomly or was this an opt-in poll?
2. Could the results, especially for young adults, be driven by bogus respondents?
Keep this post in mind: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/... 🧪
September 8, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Remember, if you encounter what seems like an implausible survey finding, ask:
1. Were survey respondents selected randomly or was this an opt-in poll?
2. Could the results, especially for young adults, be driven by bogus respondents?
Keep this post in mind: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/... 🧪
1. Were survey respondents selected randomly or was this an opt-in poll?
2. Could the results, especially for young adults, be driven by bogus respondents?
Keep this post in mind: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/... 🧪
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
Facebook is often a cesspit, but the comments I've seen on stories about Tom Phillips event today may be among the most cooked I've seen in a long time (since the height of the Covid response I'd say)
September 8, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Facebook is often a cesspit, but the comments I've seen on stories about Tom Phillips event today may be among the most cooked I've seen in a long time (since the height of the Covid response I'd say)
My latest nerd hyperfixation is Meshtastic, which is actually pretty cool and has a heap of users in Wellington.
September 8, 2025 at 10:30 AM
My latest nerd hyperfixation is Meshtastic, which is actually pretty cool and has a heap of users in Wellington.
P!ATD kinda day
September 4, 2025 at 10:31 PM
P!ATD kinda day
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
I was really sad to read about Mayor Barry and what has led to a family breakdown. Then I saw Mark Crofskey was involved and I was not at all surprised. This is another man who constantly posts unhinged material online: www.facebook.com/markcrofskey...
These weirdos really have nothing better to do
These weirdos really have nothing better to do
The mayor, his mother-in-law and a property dispute decided in court
A land deal gone sour has laid bare a bitter family dispute involving Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry, with unfounded claims of fraud, corruption and animal mistreatment ‒ and alleged meddling from Ba...
www.thepost.co.nz
August 19, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I was really sad to read about Mayor Barry and what has led to a family breakdown. Then I saw Mark Crofskey was involved and I was not at all surprised. This is another man who constantly posts unhinged material online: www.facebook.com/markcrofskey...
These weirdos really have nothing better to do
These weirdos really have nothing better to do
Reposted by hi itsa me, vinlew
This is both readable and precise. Highly recommended!
With campaigning for local elections under way, many people will - like Wellingtonians - find their local election uses the STV voting system. I wrote this three years ago for the last local elections if you or someone you know is unsure how it works.
thespinoff.co.nz/local-electi...
thespinoff.co.nz/local-electi...
August 3, 2025 at 10:56 PM
This is both readable and precise. Highly recommended!