Reposted by High Pants
It sure seems like when we have our basic needs met, and don't have to hustle to survive, humans will almost always choose to create art.
And there is a lot of evidence that when a society decides to honor and promote art and artists, everyone who lives there is measurably happier.
And there is a lot of evidence that when a society decides to honor and promote art and artists, everyone who lives there is measurably happier.
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
I’m constantly astounded at the sheer level of artistic production coming out of Iceland. Novels, movies, music. Amazing.
February 18, 2026 at 6:29 PM
It sure seems like when we have our basic needs met, and don't have to hustle to survive, humans will almost always choose to create art.
And there is a lot of evidence that when a society decides to honor and promote art and artists, everyone who lives there is measurably happier.
And there is a lot of evidence that when a society decides to honor and promote art and artists, everyone who lives there is measurably happier.
Reposted by High Pants
Sorry to get radical but I don’t think it’s my job or yours to embrace, accept, understand - and certainly not to use - the thing being sold to us as AI. I don’t like any part of it, so I won’t. I’m missing out? Good, that’s what I want. You’re worried about me missing out? That’s fuckin weird, man.
February 18, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Sorry to get radical but I don’t think it’s my job or yours to embrace, accept, understand - and certainly not to use - the thing being sold to us as AI. I don’t like any part of it, so I won’t. I’m missing out? Good, that’s what I want. You’re worried about me missing out? That’s fuckin weird, man.
Reposted by High Pants
Completely mogs the entire looksmaxxing movement in under 2 minutes
February 18, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Completely mogs the entire looksmaxxing movement in under 2 minutes
Reposted by High Pants
This is a direct violation of long-standing US policy toward Taiwan.
Beginning with the 1982 version, the Six Assurances to Taiwan explicitly states that the U.S. will not consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan.
Nor will the U.S. set an end date of arms sales to Taiwan.
Beginning with the 1982 version, the Six Assurances to Taiwan explicitly states that the U.S. will not consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan.
Nor will the U.S. set an end date of arms sales to Taiwan.
President Donald Trump said that he’s discussing future weapons sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping and teased that he would soon make a decision about future defense support for the self-governing island.
Trump Says He’ll Soon Make Decision on Weapon Sales to Taiwan
President Donald Trump said that he’s discussing future weapons sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping and teased that he would soon make a decision about future defense support for the self-governing island.
bloom.bg
February 17, 2026 at 6:08 AM
This is a direct violation of long-standing US policy toward Taiwan.
Beginning with the 1982 version, the Six Assurances to Taiwan explicitly states that the U.S. will not consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan.
Nor will the U.S. set an end date of arms sales to Taiwan.
Beginning with the 1982 version, the Six Assurances to Taiwan explicitly states that the U.S. will not consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan.
Nor will the U.S. set an end date of arms sales to Taiwan.
Reposted by High Pants
Today I heard Paul Scofield, Senior Curator of Natural History at Canterbury Museum, give a public talk on moa resurrection and the museumʻs partnership with Colossal Biosciences (the “dire wolf” people).
February 17, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Today I heard Paul Scofield, Senior Curator of Natural History at Canterbury Museum, give a public talk on moa resurrection and the museumʻs partnership with Colossal Biosciences (the “dire wolf” people).
Reposted by High Pants
Back on Track™️
#nzpol
#nzpol
Food prices experience largest monthly rise in four years as grocery prices jump
Takeaway coffee and chocolate prices have risen sharply.
www.nzherald.co.nz
February 16, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Back on Track™️
#nzpol
#nzpol
Reposted by High Pants
As per usual, a loud and feral minority hijacking the conversation with misinformation.
Also seeing a disturbing & very familiar pattern of hostility toward Tamatha Paul. Our community must stand behind her. We can’t allow another Māori leader to be worn down and pushed out. #nzpol
Also seeing a disturbing & very familiar pattern of hostility toward Tamatha Paul. Our community must stand behind her. We can’t allow another Māori leader to be worn down and pushed out. #nzpol
“Rooted in racism” Hostility and disinformation overshadow Moa Point public meeting
More than 300 people packed into a public meeting on Monday night to demand answers over the ongoing Moa Point wastewater disaster.
www.teaonews.co.nz
February 17, 2026 at 12:40 AM
As per usual, a loud and feral minority hijacking the conversation with misinformation.
Also seeing a disturbing & very familiar pattern of hostility toward Tamatha Paul. Our community must stand behind her. We can’t allow another Māori leader to be worn down and pushed out. #nzpol
Also seeing a disturbing & very familiar pattern of hostility toward Tamatha Paul. Our community must stand behind her. We can’t allow another Māori leader to be worn down and pushed out. #nzpol
Reposted by High Pants
new allegory for modern dating just dropped
February 16, 2026 at 7:35 PM
new allegory for modern dating just dropped
Reposted by High Pants
There’s going to be Covid style shortages of cars, TVs and even washing machines and fridges, then job losses because assembly lines can’t source solid state memory, just so the stupidest person you know can state with 100% confidence a chatbot confirmed dinosaurs coexisted with humans.
I understand framing the AI bubble RAM supply crisis in terms of stuff like video game consoles because nerds can conceptualize that but the framing does really undersell the sheer magnitude of how it's going to fuck up everything that even touches a computer.
February 16, 2026 at 9:02 PM
There’s going to be Covid style shortages of cars, TVs and even washing machines and fridges, then job losses because assembly lines can’t source solid state memory, just so the stupidest person you know can state with 100% confidence a chatbot confirmed dinosaurs coexisted with humans.
Reposted by High Pants
The Internet is undefeated. One of the greatest moments in cinematic history.
February 15, 2026 at 3:15 PM
The Internet is undefeated. One of the greatest moments in cinematic history.
Reposted by High Pants
Oh look it’s the supposed terrible at business Labour Party going through the alleged Party of business’ rushed Indian trade deal with a pen highlighting all the actually terrible for business sections.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
February 15, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Oh look it’s the supposed terrible at business Labour Party going through the alleged Party of business’ rushed Indian trade deal with a pen highlighting all the actually terrible for business sections.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Reposted by High Pants
I am ABSOLUTELY reading this as HARD PROOF that Romans farmed ichthyosaurs.
It is fact now. Sorry.
It is fact now. Sorry.
Ichthyosaur snout and Roman farm found in bypass dig. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ichthyosaur snout and Roman farm found in Melton bypass digs
Archaeological digs unearth a rich seam of discoveries dating back to prehistory.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 11:52 AM
I am ABSOLUTELY reading this as HARD PROOF that Romans farmed ichthyosaurs.
It is fact now. Sorry.
It is fact now. Sorry.
Reposted by High Pants
Reposted by High Pants
Polish Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs Radek Sikorski: “Europe is now paying for this war. We are buying American weapons to deliver to Ukraine. US supplemental package ran out last year. We are paying, this is our security and therefore we deserve a seat at the negotiating table.”
February 14, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Polish Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs Radek Sikorski: “Europe is now paying for this war. We are buying American weapons to deliver to Ukraine. US supplemental package ran out last year. We are paying, this is our security and therefore we deserve a seat at the negotiating table.”
Reposted by High Pants
So Nicola Willis decided to run an RBNZ Covid inquiry, delayed it 8 months in time for the full election year run and is making us taxpayers pay $500,000 for her presumable hit job.
She said she couldn't find the right people as the reason for delays, then got an Atlas Network adjacent guy #nzpol
She said she couldn't find the right people as the reason for delays, then got an Atlas Network adjacent guy #nzpol
February 14, 2026 at 4:21 AM
So Nicola Willis decided to run an RBNZ Covid inquiry, delayed it 8 months in time for the full election year run and is making us taxpayers pay $500,000 for her presumable hit job.
She said she couldn't find the right people as the reason for delays, then got an Atlas Network adjacent guy #nzpol
She said she couldn't find the right people as the reason for delays, then got an Atlas Network adjacent guy #nzpol
Frickin' LOL!
February 13, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Frickin' LOL!
Dear USA, the German's had a word for this: Freudenabteilungen.
Seriously, what the actual fuck is wrong with you guys?
Seriously, what the actual fuck is wrong with you guys?
"Some were as young as 13, and at least half of those taken in so far became pregnant as a result of rape, sources said."
The Trump administration is incarcerating migrant girls in, essentially, a forced pregnancy camp.
February 12, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Dear USA, the German's had a word for this: Freudenabteilungen.
Seriously, what the actual fuck is wrong with you guys?
Seriously, what the actual fuck is wrong with you guys?
Reposted by High Pants
Lol. Lmao even.
#nzpol
#nzpol
New from me: Big industrials are slated to close or switch off gas whether the proposed LNG terminal goes ahead or not, new modelling has found.
newsroom.co.nz/2026/02/12/m...
newsroom.co.nz/2026/02/12/m...
Most economic damage from gas crisis 'locked in', officials warn
Big industrials are slated to close or switch off gas whether or not the proposed LNG terminal goes ahead, new modelling has found
newsroom.co.nz
February 12, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Lol. Lmao even.
#nzpol
#nzpol
Reposted by High Pants
did some data journalism thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-...
February 11, 2026 at 3:14 AM
did some data journalism thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-...
Reposted by High Pants
Reposted by High Pants
So struggling kiwis are going to subsidize for years nz's largest gas user multinational Methanex & fonterra. The only profit Methanex make is on-selling (price gouging) their gas quotas to electricity retailers during shortages.. All very corporate socialism from Luxon.. #nzpol
February 11, 2026 at 1:55 AM
So struggling kiwis are going to subsidize for years nz's largest gas user multinational Methanex & fonterra. The only profit Methanex make is on-selling (price gouging) their gas quotas to electricity retailers during shortages.. All very corporate socialism from Luxon.. #nzpol