Paul Brislen
@brislen.nz
Kiwi telco guy. No I don’t know how that happened either.
I shall bind him to me, with promises. 🇳🇿🏴
Cymro o ddewis (Welsh by choice)
"We consider that Mr Brislen is an authoritative source." (BSA decision, March 2020)
Aotearoa he/him
I shall bind him to me, with promises. 🇳🇿🏴
Cymro o ddewis (Welsh by choice)
"We consider that Mr Brislen is an authoritative source." (BSA decision, March 2020)
Aotearoa he/him
Reposted by Paul Brislen
Reposted by Paul Brislen
'Errors with the article were first flagged on the social media platform Bluesky' #yuss
A better article about the NZME/World Literacy Foundation/AI NZ booklist debacle. Feat. the always fab @taniaroxborogh.bsky.social They've published a list of the fake books - no doubt encouraging AI to keep thinking they exist. The future of the internet: screwed. www.1news.co.nz/2025/12/27/n...
NZME apologises for Christmas list featuring made-up book titles
Some have speculated online that some of the fake book titles published in NZME-owned papers may have been AI-generated.
www.1news.co.nz
December 27, 2025 at 5:07 AM
'Errors with the article were first flagged on the social media platform Bluesky' #yuss
The Harpers books in Anne McCaffrey’s Dragons of Pern series
The Hyperion novels.
Every Culture novel by Iain M Banks starting with Use of Weapons.
May require all the budget.
The Hyperion novels.
Every Culture novel by Iain M Banks starting with Use of Weapons.
May require all the budget.
Not considering my own work:
1. Grass, by Sheri Tepper
2. Heroes Die, Matthew Woodring Stover
3. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
Also if I was going to do a remake, I would 100% update Buckaroo Banzai.
1. Grass, by Sheri Tepper
2. Heroes Die, Matthew Woodring Stover
3. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
Also if I was going to do a remake, I would 100% update Buckaroo Banzai.
OK, less contentious post:
You've been placed in charge of a movie studio, and have an unlimited budget to adapt any work of your choosing that has never been made into a live-action TV series or film. What are you picking?
For me: PC Hodgell's Kencyrath Cycle and there's no close second
You've been placed in charge of a movie studio, and have an unlimited budget to adapt any work of your choosing that has never been made into a live-action TV series or film. What are you picking?
For me: PC Hodgell's Kencyrath Cycle and there's no close second
December 26, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The Harpers books in Anne McCaffrey’s Dragons of Pern series
The Hyperion novels.
Every Culture novel by Iain M Banks starting with Use of Weapons.
May require all the budget.
The Hyperion novels.
Every Culture novel by Iain M Banks starting with Use of Weapons.
May require all the budget.
Reposted by Paul Brislen
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
December 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Reposted by Paul Brislen
12YO girl signed up to do “stand up comedy” at the talent show. 13YO boy decided to heckle her. Teacher started to tell the boy to leave her alone, but the 12YO comedian said “no, no, let him go, this is the closest he’s ever going to get to having a conversation with a girl.”
What's an insult you'll never forget?
December 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
12YO girl signed up to do “stand up comedy” at the talent show. 13YO boy decided to heckle her. Teacher started to tell the boy to leave her alone, but the 12YO comedian said “no, no, let him go, this is the closest he’s ever going to get to having a conversation with a girl.”
Reposted by Paul Brislen
The Year in Review in glorious print in today’s NZ Herald. Thank you to my editors for continuing this tradition - to the journos and subs for keeping the lights on and importantly, thank you to the readers. It doesn’t happen without you. See you on Jan 1st 2026 😎❤️🎶🎄
December 26, 2025 at 2:45 AM
The Year in Review in glorious print in today’s NZ Herald. Thank you to my editors for continuing this tradition - to the journos and subs for keeping the lights on and importantly, thank you to the readers. It doesn’t happen without you. See you on Jan 1st 2026 😎❤️🎶🎄
Reposted by Paul Brislen
It’s the Boxing Day Hunt, Nigel Farage thinks packs of hounds should chase a fox and tear it to shreds.
December 26, 2025 at 8:10 AM
It’s the Boxing Day Hunt, Nigel Farage thinks packs of hounds should chase a fox and tear it to shreds.
Reposted by Paul Brislen
John Oliver has said this explicitly FYI
That without local news he couldn't do his show (and to his credit, he's pretty good about crediting his news sources)
That without local news he couldn't do his show (and to his credit, he's pretty good about crediting his news sources)
When I was on CNN's northeast desk, the first job at 6a every morning was to read the local papers. That guided some of what the massive CNN machine followed every day.
When those papers die, CNN doesn't hire new regional reporters. What you get instead is more panel shows, more punditry.
When those papers die, CNN doesn't hire new regional reporters. What you get instead is more panel shows, more punditry.
"The newspaper industry served as a feeder for our entire news media ecosystem. So when we lose those newspapers, we've lost that journalism. In the early 2000s, we had 40 journalists per 100,000 people. We're now down to 8 journalists per 100,000 people," says @victorpickard.bsky.social.
December 26, 2025 at 12:11 AM
John Oliver has said this explicitly FYI
That without local news he couldn't do his show (and to his credit, he's pretty good about crediting his news sources)
That without local news he couldn't do his show (and to his credit, he's pretty good about crediting his news sources)
Reposted by Paul Brislen
Just a little anti-constitution! Definitely anti-democracy.
December 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Just a little anti-constitution! Definitely anti-democracy.
Reposted by Paul Brislen
I’ll give them credit for going out on their own terms; however I’ll have to deduct hypocrisy points for claiming to be pro-life but dying anyway.
December 25, 2025 at 3:20 AM
I’ll give them credit for going out on their own terms; however I’ll have to deduct hypocrisy points for claiming to be pro-life but dying anyway.
Reposted by Paul Brislen
There’s something very Snow Crash about a world in which humans are paid to clean up after robots in a future gig economy. Like a job Hiro Protagonist would be reduced to if he lost his mafia pizza delivery gig.
Because riders and passersby can be unreliable, Waymo pays workers in L.A. $20 or more for rescuing a robotaxi by closing a door, summoning help through an app called Honk that is like an Uber for towing companies.
When robot taxis get stuck, a secret army of humans comes to the rescue
Waymo robotaxis get stranded when a passenger leaves the door open. Tow truck operators can get paid $22 to close a door and set them free again.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 25, 2025 at 8:14 PM
There’s something very Snow Crash about a world in which humans are paid to clean up after robots in a future gig economy. Like a job Hiro Protagonist would be reduced to if he lost his mafia pizza delivery gig.
Merry Christmas you lot.
Seasonally adjusted greetings one and all.
Seasonally adjusted greetings one and all.
December 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Merry Christmas you lot.
Seasonally adjusted greetings one and all.
Seasonally adjusted greetings one and all.
Reposted by Paul Brislen
It's a Christmas Movie if it has a Nativity scene.
December 24, 2025 at 12:53 AM
It's a Christmas Movie if it has a Nativity scene.
Highly recommended.
IT'S TUESDAY (not Wednesday)!
But it's #buyastrangerabook day!
The grooviest of all the days.
I'll give out TWO books.
FOR FREE.
If you'd like one, let me know.
Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know.
It's a thing! Look.
www.biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...
UK only.
But it's #buyastrangerabook day!
The grooviest of all the days.
I'll give out TWO books.
FOR FREE.
If you'd like one, let me know.
Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know.
It's a thing! Look.
www.biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...
UK only.
Buy A Stranger A Book. #buyastrangerabook - Stuff you might like... - Big Green Bookshop. @biggreenbooks on Twitter. Cheese fan. My Mum says hi.
The Big Green Bookshop an independent online bookshop in selling awesome titles by awesome authors to awesome people
www.biggreenbookshop.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Highly recommended.
Reposted by Paul Brislen
Reposted by Paul Brislen
I mean yeah it’s an authoritarian takeover but can we take some comfort in the fact that the people doing it are INSANELY stupid?
December 23, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I mean yeah it’s an authoritarian takeover but can we take some comfort in the fact that the people doing it are INSANELY stupid?
Reposted by Paul Brislen
Bad Santa - in today’s NZ Herald
December 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Bad Santa - in today’s NZ Herald
Reposted by Paul Brislen
This year’s Presidential Christmas card.
December 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
This year’s Presidential Christmas card.
Reposted by Paul Brislen
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
Reposted by Paul Brislen
"It's filled with lies. Only about the president. The rest might be true. Unless it's friends of his. Then it's not. But *anything* about *him* is a lie. He's innocent. It's all "rigged" against him. He didn't do anything wrong (yeah, I mean, we don't think it was wrong, but legal?). Pinkie swear!!!
December 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
"It's filled with lies. Only about the president. The rest might be true. Unless it's friends of his. Then it's not. But *anything* about *him* is a lie. He's innocent. It's all "rigged" against him. He didn't do anything wrong (yeah, I mean, we don't think it was wrong, but legal?). Pinkie swear!!!
Did anyone else’s iPhone decide to lose half your contacts in the latest update or is this a result of my email migrations?
December 23, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Did anyone else’s iPhone decide to lose half your contacts in the latest update or is this a result of my email migrations?
PSA for Russell @publicaddress.bsky.social - don’t forget to put out the recycling 😀
December 23, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Reposted by Paul Brislen
Radical bearded cleric issues new fatwa -->
December 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Radical bearded cleric issues new fatwa -->