Ash
@ashkk.bsky.social
Retired curmudgeon, despairing of our species
Reposted by Ash
Regardless of every published statement of intent and practice, the organisation ALWAYS delivers what the bosses WANT
THAT is why we need good PEOPLE, not good intentions, nor communicators, what do they do, and how do they do it, is all that matters
THAT is why we need good PEOPLE, not good intentions, nor communicators, what do they do, and how do they do it, is all that matters
“Once the political executive normalises disregard for consultation, evidence, and good-faith engagement, the public service begins to mirror that behaviour.”
“Depts start drafting advice to fit the minister’s tone rather than the public interest. Legal cautions are softened…” #nzpol
“Depts start drafting advice to fit the minister’s tone rather than the public interest. Legal cautions are softened…” #nzpol
The slow demolition of our democracy | E-Tangata
“We have a government willing to reshape constitutional understandings without genuine consultation, careful process, or respect for long-standing norms.” — Mark Feary.
e-tangata.co.nz
November 15, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Regardless of every published statement of intent and practice, the organisation ALWAYS delivers what the bosses WANT
THAT is why we need good PEOPLE, not good intentions, nor communicators, what do they do, and how do they do it, is all that matters
THAT is why we need good PEOPLE, not good intentions, nor communicators, what do they do, and how do they do it, is all that matters
Reposted by Ash
November 15, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Reposted by Ash
The attention given by this government to rewriting the school curriculum isn’t just about culture wars.
It’s also about perpetuating the decades-long ignorance of political economy, so people vote on the basis of government being run like a poorly managed household.
It’s also about perpetuating the decades-long ignorance of political economy, so people vote on the basis of government being run like a poorly managed household.
It's infuriating that local council services discussions have become all about rates, especially that truly most dumbarse of dumbarse complaint of "Why have my rates gone up so much when everything is broken and expensive to fix?"
People, for a species so supposedly intelligent, we're thick as shit
People, for a species so supposedly intelligent, we're thick as shit
November 15, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The attention given by this government to rewriting the school curriculum isn’t just about culture wars.
It’s also about perpetuating the decades-long ignorance of political economy, so people vote on the basis of government being run like a poorly managed household.
It’s also about perpetuating the decades-long ignorance of political economy, so people vote on the basis of government being run like a poorly managed household.
Reposted by Ash
Neo-Liberalism, Trickle-down economics, Thatcherism or whatever you call it really has more in common with fundamentalist religion than anything else.
November 16, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Neo-Liberalism, Trickle-down economics, Thatcherism or whatever you call it really has more in common with fundamentalist religion than anything else.
Reposted by Ash
🍃🌹🌿 #FastTrack Amendment Bill #Submission Done!!
Thanks for the guidance & making it easy to make a submission -I just added my thoughts & put it in my own words, as I agreed with your points. Closes tomorrow at 2pm #nzpol
www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/sto...
Thanks for the guidance & making it easy to make a submission -I just added my thoughts & put it in my own words, as I agreed with your points. Closes tomorrow at 2pm #nzpol
www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/sto...
Fast-Track Amendment Bill submission guide - Greenpeace Aotearoa
In a vicious escalation of the Government’s war on nature, the Government is proposing changes to the Fast Track Act that would make it even more dangerous and undemocratic.
www.greenpeace.org
November 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
🍃🌹🌿 #FastTrack Amendment Bill #Submission Done!!
Thanks for the guidance & making it easy to make a submission -I just added my thoughts & put it in my own words, as I agreed with your points. Closes tomorrow at 2pm #nzpol
www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/sto...
Thanks for the guidance & making it easy to make a submission -I just added my thoughts & put it in my own words, as I agreed with your points. Closes tomorrow at 2pm #nzpol
www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/sto...
Reposted by Ash
“We have a government willing to reshape constitutional understandings without genuine consultation, careful process, or respect for long-standing norms.” — Mark Feary.
The slow demolition of our democracy | E-Tangata
“We have a government willing to reshape constitutional understandings without genuine consultation, careful process, or respect for long-standing norms.” — Mark Feary.
e-tangata.co.nz
November 15, 2025 at 9:06 PM
“We have a government willing to reshape constitutional understandings without genuine consultation, careful process, or respect for long-standing norms.” — Mark Feary.
Reposted by Ash
All nations committed under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degC for good reason. Instead many governments are beholden to the fossil fuel lobby and even subsidize fossil fuel use with your money. We’re now at 1.4 degC & emissions are rising not falling.
unfccc.int/process-and-...
unfccc.int/process-and-...
November 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
All nations committed under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degC for good reason. Instead many governments are beholden to the fossil fuel lobby and even subsidize fossil fuel use with your money. We’re now at 1.4 degC & emissions are rising not falling.
unfccc.int/process-and-...
unfccc.int/process-and-...
Reposted by Ash
This is interesting — a recent study of mode share (the % share of transportation trips by car, transit, walking, biking etc) relative to city size and income levels in almost 800 cities in 61 countries. Interesting results. HT @davidzipper.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This is interesting — a recent study of mode share (the % share of transportation trips by car, transit, walking, biking etc) relative to city size and income levels in almost 800 cities in 61 countries. Interesting results. HT @davidzipper.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Ash
Brevetoxins are potent neurotoxins produced by certain algae and cause significant health problems (“red tide” is one form). Even if you don’t care about marine life, you can get sick and even die just from breathing air near a shoreline w/ brevetoxin-producing algae. Climate change will kill us all
Harmful algal bloom (HAB) spread across 20,000 km2 & resulted in the deaths of millions of marine animals, from at least 550 species
Scientists found a novel, significant brevotoxin-producing algal species, Karenia cristata, in the multispecies Karenia HAB—1st time brevetoxins have been found in 🇦🇺
Scientists found a novel, significant brevotoxin-producing algal species, Karenia cristata, in the multispecies Karenia HAB—1st time brevetoxins have been found in 🇦🇺
November 15, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Brevetoxins are potent neurotoxins produced by certain algae and cause significant health problems (“red tide” is one form). Even if you don’t care about marine life, you can get sick and even die just from breathing air near a shoreline w/ brevetoxin-producing algae. Climate change will kill us all
Reposted by Ash
Team, we are almost halfway there with two weeks to go - if you have any spare coins or you know anyone with some, please amplify and support - Dr Siouxsie should not be out of pocket even a single dollar after her mahi during the peak of a worldwide crisis.
Thanks to all leading the way here ❤️
Thanks to all leading the way here ❤️
Support Dr Siouxsie After She Supported Us! | PledgeMe
Support Dr Siouxsie to recover some of the money she spent fighting her legal case to protect employees experiencing online abuse
www.pledgeme.co.nz
November 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Team, we are almost halfway there with two weeks to go - if you have any spare coins or you know anyone with some, please amplify and support - Dr Siouxsie should not be out of pocket even a single dollar after her mahi during the peak of a worldwide crisis.
Thanks to all leading the way here ❤️
Thanks to all leading the way here ❤️
Reposted by Ash
CTU's Craig Renney does macro-economics in a very down-to-earth way...
well worth watching & subscribing!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=4gMy...
well worth watching & subscribing!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=4gMy...
Ep28 What latest migration numbers mean for the economy
YouTube video by Big Hairy Network
m.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:50 AM
CTU's Craig Renney does macro-economics in a very down-to-earth way...
well worth watching & subscribing!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=4gMy...
well worth watching & subscribing!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=4gMy...
Reposted by Ash
When Luxon advised people to go where the jobs are, they responded accordingly.
Not exactly a stirling endorsement of this govt.
Last person out, hit the light switch please. (Or get Siri to do it automatically.)
www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/578...
Not exactly a stirling endorsement of this govt.
Last person out, hit the light switch please. (Or get Siri to do it automatically.)
www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/578...
New Zealand's population growth dips by tens of thousands
New Zealand's population growth has been on a downward trend according to Statistics NZ following a strong drop off in international migration.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 8:48 AM
When Luxon advised people to go where the jobs are, they responded accordingly.
Not exactly a stirling endorsement of this govt.
Last person out, hit the light switch please. (Or get Siri to do it automatically.)
www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/578...
Not exactly a stirling endorsement of this govt.
Last person out, hit the light switch please. (Or get Siri to do it automatically.)
www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/578...
Reposted by Ash
Bollocks.
He KNOWS middle/upper midde class parents take their kids out of school to take advantage of cheaper flights to go on skiing hols.
Lying, manipulative little toad.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
He KNOWS middle/upper midde class parents take their kids out of school to take advantage of cheaper flights to go on skiing hols.
Lying, manipulative little toad.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
David Seymour blames teacher strikes for drop in school attendance in last week of term
The Associate Education Minister says there was a drop-off in school attendance in the final week of Term 3.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 12, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Bollocks.
He KNOWS middle/upper midde class parents take their kids out of school to take advantage of cheaper flights to go on skiing hols.
Lying, manipulative little toad.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
He KNOWS middle/upper midde class parents take their kids out of school to take advantage of cheaper flights to go on skiing hols.
Lying, manipulative little toad.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Reposted by Ash
Foreign affairs officials advised recognition of Palestine
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Foreign affairs officials advised recognition of Palestine
Early advice from officials that recommended New Zealand recognise Palestine as a state was ultimately ignored by the Government.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 15, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Foreign affairs officials advised recognition of Palestine
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
Reposted by Ash
*whistling merrily as I throw poppy seeds into the air*
Should we legalize all drugs?
YouTube video by Dr. Hilda Childa, PhD
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM
*whistling merrily as I throw poppy seeds into the air*
Reposted by Ash
Since the late 1980s, at the initiative of International PEN,
November 15 has been marked worldwide as the Day of the Imprisoned Writer –
or Empty Chair Day.
November 15 has been marked worldwide as the Day of the Imprisoned Writer –
or Empty Chair Day.
November 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Since the late 1980s, at the initiative of International PEN,
November 15 has been marked worldwide as the Day of the Imprisoned Writer –
or Empty Chair Day.
November 15 has been marked worldwide as the Day of the Imprisoned Writer –
or Empty Chair Day.
Reposted by Ash
Kyiv, Sophia Square today.
The annual “Empty Chairs” event –
in support of journalists, writers, and cultural figures
missing, imprisoned, or held captive
because of russia’s war against Ukraine.
I was there. I want the world to see.
The annual “Empty Chairs” event –
in support of journalists, writers, and cultural figures
missing, imprisoned, or held captive
because of russia’s war against Ukraine.
I was there. I want the world to see.
November 15, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Kyiv, Sophia Square today.
The annual “Empty Chairs” event –
in support of journalists, writers, and cultural figures
missing, imprisoned, or held captive
because of russia’s war against Ukraine.
I was there. I want the world to see.
The annual “Empty Chairs” event –
in support of journalists, writers, and cultural figures
missing, imprisoned, or held captive
because of russia’s war against Ukraine.
I was there. I want the world to see.
Reposted by Ash
Why do whales and elephants have much lower rates of cancer than expected?
"Species with a lower cancer prevalence and mortality
risk are those with a higher presence of cooperative and caring habits, while the opposite is found....:"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"Species with a lower cancer prevalence and mortality
risk are those with a higher presence of cooperative and caring habits, while the opposite is found....:"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Coevolution of cooperative lifestyles and reduced cancer prevalence in mammals
While cooperative mammals evolve reducing cancer prevalence, oncogenes can be maintained by selection in competitive species.
www.science.org
November 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Why do whales and elephants have much lower rates of cancer than expected?
"Species with a lower cancer prevalence and mortality
risk are those with a higher presence of cooperative and caring habits, while the opposite is found....:"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"Species with a lower cancer prevalence and mortality
risk are those with a higher presence of cooperative and caring habits, while the opposite is found....:"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Ash
So, basically, kindness lowers cancer rates in a species and cruelty increases them.... wow....
Why do whales and elephants have much lower rates of cancer than expected?
"Species with a lower cancer prevalence and mortality
risk are those with a higher presence of cooperative and caring habits, while the opposite is found....:"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"Species with a lower cancer prevalence and mortality
risk are those with a higher presence of cooperative and caring habits, while the opposite is found....:"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Coevolution of cooperative lifestyles and reduced cancer prevalence in mammals
While cooperative mammals evolve reducing cancer prevalence, oncogenes can be maintained by selection in competitive species.
www.science.org
November 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
So, basically, kindness lowers cancer rates in a species and cruelty increases them.... wow....
Reposted by Ash
Syphilis rates have risen 45% nationally since 2022, hitting wāhine, rangatahi and pēpi Māori hardest, urging for more testing and open sexual health.
Wāhine, rangatahi, pēpi Māori most affected by syphilis rise
Syphilis rates have risen 45% nationally since 2022, hitting wāhine, rangatahi and pēpi Māori hardest, urging for more testing and open sexual health.
www.teaonews.co.nz
November 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Syphilis rates have risen 45% nationally since 2022, hitting wāhine, rangatahi and pēpi Māori hardest, urging for more testing and open sexual health.
Reposted by Ash
Greenpeace joins over 40,000 marching in Belém calling for forest and climate action at COP30 www.greenpeace.org/internationa... #cop30
Greenpeace joins over 40,000 marching in Belém calling for forest and climate action at COP30 - Greenpeace International
Greenpeace joined more than 40,000 people at the Global Climate March in Belém to end the first week of the UN climate conference.
www.greenpeace.org
November 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Greenpeace joins over 40,000 marching in Belém calling for forest and climate action at COP30 www.greenpeace.org/internationa... #cop30
Reposted by Ash
The closest one to me is a couple of mid-afternoon Tūī at the edge of the Botanic Gardens
explore.dawn-chorus.org/sound/212704...
explore.dawn-chorus.org/sound/212704...
November 15, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The closest one to me is a couple of mid-afternoon Tūī at the edge of the Botanic Gardens
explore.dawn-chorus.org/sound/212704...
explore.dawn-chorus.org/sound/212704...
Reposted by Ash
The UN says Israel has deliberately been targeting Gaza's health facilities and killing medical personnel.
Gaza’s medical students help health system decimated by Israel’s war
The UN says Israel has deliberately been targeting Gaza's health facilities and killing medical personnel.
bit.ly
November 15, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The UN says Israel has deliberately been targeting Gaza's health facilities and killing medical personnel.
Reposted by Ash
Carbon capture is a ploy, a distraction, a nefarious deception by the fossil fools, no different than the tobacco industry telling consumers not to worry: they’ll put filters on their cigarettes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZg...
Honest Government Ad | Carbon Capture & Storage
YouTube video by thejuicemedia
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Carbon capture is a ploy, a distraction, a nefarious deception by the fossil fools, no different than the tobacco industry telling consumers not to worry: they’ll put filters on their cigarettes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZg...
Reposted by Ash
BREAKING: Israeli attacks inside the Gaza ceasefire’s “yellow line” of demarcation have hit near the cities of Khan Younis in the south and Gaza City in the north, report our colleagues on the ground.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ceieiw
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ceieiw
November 15, 2025 at 6:59 PM
BREAKING: Israeli attacks inside the Gaza ceasefire’s “yellow line” of demarcation have hit near the cities of Khan Younis in the south and Gaza City in the north, report our colleagues on the ground.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ceieiw
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ceieiw