Marsden
@marsdennz.bsky.social
He/Him, Webdev from Ōtautahi, Aotearoa (Christchurch, New Zealand). Interested in #SocialIssues, #BoardGaming and #TabletopRoleplaying.
Pinned
Marsden
@marsdennz.bsky.social
· Apr 5
Achievement unlocked - sat on by a meerkat.
And some other critters from today.
#meerkat #wallaby #koala #marmoset #self #ParadiseCountry #GoldCoastAustralia
And some other critters from today.
#meerkat #wallaby #koala #marmoset #self #ParadiseCountry #GoldCoastAustralia
Reposted by Marsden
Just repeating as it's timely: The number one item on my wish list for telecommunications resilience is better regulation for trees near power lines.
Second would be better regulation for trees being cut down and stuff left in the hills (slash) that washes down in storms and takes out bridges.
Second would be better regulation for trees being cut down and stuff left in the hills (slash) that washes down in storms and takes out bridges.
February 15, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Just repeating as it's timely: The number one item on my wish list for telecommunications resilience is better regulation for trees near power lines.
Second would be better regulation for trees being cut down and stuff left in the hills (slash) that washes down in storms and takes out bridges.
Second would be better regulation for trees being cut down and stuff left in the hills (slash) that washes down in storms and takes out bridges.
Reposted by Marsden
It’s taken me a while to tease out my thoughts on this. Which reflects the mess that inclusive education is in, the failure of respective ministries and governments to insist that schools and school communities lift their game, and the individualising of blame.
open.substack.com/pub/drbex/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/drbex/p/...
Specialist schools, exclusion, and education
Individualising blame and systemic ableism
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:05 AM
It’s taken me a while to tease out my thoughts on this. Which reflects the mess that inclusive education is in, the failure of respective ministries and governments to insist that schools and school communities lift their game, and the individualising of blame.
open.substack.com/pub/drbex/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/drbex/p/...
Reposted by Marsden
We bought Article II of the United Nations Charter with the blood of a hundred million human beings, and less than a century later, it's being sold for nothing by people who don't even understand what they're doing.
i think this is what drives me nuts. people talk about how, say, the UN was founded by "starry eyed idealists" who didn't understand "reality." the truth is that the UN was founded by those who had just fought and *won* the bloodiest war in human history.
February 14, 2026 at 8:03 PM
We bought Article II of the United Nations Charter with the blood of a hundred million human beings, and less than a century later, it's being sold for nothing by people who don't even understand what they're doing.
Reposted by Marsden
I desperately need you, the person reading this post, to know that this is happening at the senior leadership/executive levels of YOUR COMPANY TOO right now.
And I really do mean *you* even if I know you personally.
Hell, some of you ARE the executives.
And I really do mean *you* even if I know you personally.
Hell, some of you ARE the executives.
lol this is gonna burst so fucking hard
February 15, 2026 at 4:24 AM
I desperately need you, the person reading this post, to know that this is happening at the senior leadership/executive levels of YOUR COMPANY TOO right now.
And I really do mean *you* even if I know you personally.
Hell, some of you ARE the executives.
And I really do mean *you* even if I know you personally.
Hell, some of you ARE the executives.
Reposted by Marsden
Truer now than when I downloaded it in 2023.
Sorry, i don't know who to credit, but they deserve lots of it.
Sorry, i don't know who to credit, but they deserve lots of it.
February 15, 2026 at 4:31 AM
Truer now than when I downloaded it in 2023.
Sorry, i don't know who to credit, but they deserve lots of it.
Sorry, i don't know who to credit, but they deserve lots of it.
Reposted by Marsden
So, it's ok if we use these chatbots to run safety critical messaging systems and stuff in our internal systems, right?
February 14, 2026 at 10:38 PM
So, it's ok if we use these chatbots to run safety critical messaging systems and stuff in our internal systems, right?
Reposted by Marsden
Annual reminder of the True Meaning and Origin of Valentine’s Day and why it’s still completely wonderful whether you have a partner or not:
catvalente.substack.com/p/on-valenti...
catvalente.substack.com/p/on-valenti...
On Valentine's Day
Why I care so much about this holiday, which is not a Hallmark holiday in the least, and in fact, is much, much cooler than most things.
catvalente.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Annual reminder of the True Meaning and Origin of Valentine’s Day and why it’s still completely wonderful whether you have a partner or not:
catvalente.substack.com/p/on-valenti...
catvalente.substack.com/p/on-valenti...
Reposted by Marsden
The dragon heard someone disturbing their hoard. Looking in, they saw a knight checking a bejewelled sword.
"There you are! May I buy this?"
"You have a sword," said the dragon.
"It's for a valentine!"
"A sword?"
"What better gift to give?"
"Hm. That one is blunt. I'll find a sharp one."
"There you are! May I buy this?"
"You have a sword," said the dragon.
"It's for a valentine!"
"A sword?"
"What better gift to give?"
"Hm. That one is blunt. I'll find a sharp one."
February 14, 2026 at 7:58 PM
The dragon heard someone disturbing their hoard. Looking in, they saw a knight checking a bejewelled sword.
"There you are! May I buy this?"
"You have a sword," said the dragon.
"It's for a valentine!"
"A sword?"
"What better gift to give?"
"Hm. That one is blunt. I'll find a sharp one."
"There you are! May I buy this?"
"You have a sword," said the dragon.
"It's for a valentine!"
"A sword?"
"What better gift to give?"
"Hm. That one is blunt. I'll find a sharp one."
Reposted by Marsden
Remember, this useless Govt and its evil money men backers CHOSE to make our right to drinkable water, safe sanitation & clean waterways a political football to win the 2023 election and that is one of the major reasons we are here, literally in the shit, now.
February 14, 2026 at 4:03 AM
Remember, this useless Govt and its evil money men backers CHOSE to make our right to drinkable water, safe sanitation & clean waterways a political football to win the 2023 election and that is one of the major reasons we are here, literally in the shit, now.
Online contact management seems to have killed desktop (local) address book software, at least on Windows :( Can anyone offer any (relevant!) suggestions?
#ContactManagement #AddressBook #MSWindows #Software
#ContactManagement #AddressBook #MSWindows #Software
February 14, 2026 at 4:44 AM
Online contact management seems to have killed desktop (local) address book software, at least on Windows :( Can anyone offer any (relevant!) suggestions?
#ContactManagement #AddressBook #MSWindows #Software
#ContactManagement #AddressBook #MSWindows #Software
Reposted by Marsden
Reflections on leaving Google as my email carrier.
1: Gmail filters a shittonne of spam.
2: Google has so integrated its email offering into everything that leaving will break things you didn’t know were connected (eg authenticator settings).
The impact of 2 is so bad I will never go back.
1: Gmail filters a shittonne of spam.
2: Google has so integrated its email offering into everything that leaving will break things you didn’t know were connected (eg authenticator settings).
The impact of 2 is so bad I will never go back.
February 13, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Reflections on leaving Google as my email carrier.
1: Gmail filters a shittonne of spam.
2: Google has so integrated its email offering into everything that leaving will break things you didn’t know were connected (eg authenticator settings).
The impact of 2 is so bad I will never go back.
1: Gmail filters a shittonne of spam.
2: Google has so integrated its email offering into everything that leaving will break things you didn’t know were connected (eg authenticator settings).
The impact of 2 is so bad I will never go back.
Reposted by Marsden
Gaming is totally a niche thing for nerds. That's why a new store in Palmy has lines around the block on opening day right?
Love to see this, even if it is mostly CCG focused they do carry board games. Just neat to see a games store being treated like a big deal when it opens.
Love to see this, even if it is mostly CCG focused they do carry board games. Just neat to see a games store being treated like a big deal when it opens.
February 13, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Gaming is totally a niche thing for nerds. That's why a new store in Palmy has lines around the block on opening day right?
Love to see this, even if it is mostly CCG focused they do carry board games. Just neat to see a games store being treated like a big deal when it opens.
Love to see this, even if it is mostly CCG focused they do carry board games. Just neat to see a games store being treated like a big deal when it opens.
Reposted by Marsden
Cost pressures from *who*, motherfucker?
Kiwi shoppers turning to supermarket own brands as cost pressures persist
Foodstuffs and Woolworths New Zealand say many Kiwi shoppers are choosing home-brand supermarket products to cut grocery costs.
www.1news.co.nz
February 13, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Cost pressures from *who*, motherfucker?
Reposted by Marsden
Reposted by Marsden
I have a friend who said, of Starfleet Academy, that this took them out of it - that seeing a person in a wheelchair in the 32nd century seemed unrealistic, since medicine in Star Trek "should be able to cure whatever was wrong with them."
That's not the case, for any number of possible reasons.
That's not the case, for any number of possible reasons.
February 12, 2026 at 9:52 PM
I have a friend who said, of Starfleet Academy, that this took them out of it - that seeing a person in a wheelchair in the 32nd century seemed unrealistic, since medicine in Star Trek "should be able to cure whatever was wrong with them."
That's not the case, for any number of possible reasons.
That's not the case, for any number of possible reasons.
Reposted by Marsden
HELLO YES HI GIDDAY KIA ORA
ME AND WHO ME AND WHO ME AND WHOOOOO cordcuttersnews.com/babylon-5-is...
Babylon 5 Is Now Free to Watch On YouTube | Cord Cutters News
In a move that has delighted fans of classic science fiction, Warner Bros. Discovery has begun uploading full episodes of the iconic series Babylon 5 to YouTube, providing free access to the show just...
cordcuttersnews.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:05 AM
HELLO YES HI GIDDAY KIA ORA
Reposted by Marsden
Your regular reminder that "social media addiction" is a made-up thing and using the language of addiction for social media use causes people to pathologize their perfectly normal use and destroys their ability to self-regulate www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Overestimates of social media addiction are common but costly - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Overestimates of social media addiction are common but costly
www.nature.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Your regular reminder that "social media addiction" is a made-up thing and using the language of addiction for social media use causes people to pathologize their perfectly normal use and destroys their ability to self-regulate www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Marsden
This artwork is not only gorgeous, it perfectly communicates EXACTLY WHAT THE TITLE SAYS
“The Nerves That Fuck Up My Life”
Watercolor, graphite, embroidery floss, and thread.
A mixed media piece about my experience living with chronic pain from Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
Watercolor, graphite, embroidery floss, and thread.
A mixed media piece about my experience living with chronic pain from Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
February 13, 2026 at 4:01 PM
This artwork is not only gorgeous, it perfectly communicates EXACTLY WHAT THE TITLE SAYS
Reposted by Marsden
I’ve spent years of my life trying to explain to people that anti-trans conservatism naturally flows from their belief that children in the American nuclear family are not individuals with autonomy, but instead property of the parents and state, and this guy just… tweeted it out
February 12, 2026 at 10:53 PM
I’ve spent years of my life trying to explain to people that anti-trans conservatism naturally flows from their belief that children in the American nuclear family are not individuals with autonomy, but instead property of the parents and state, and this guy just… tweeted it out
Reposted by Marsden
Every time a Government MP gives a speech at first (or any!) reading that lasts five seconds and consists of "this is a good bill and I commend it to the House", they're spitting in your face. It's their job to thoroughly explore every bill and explain why it is necessary to change the law. #NZPOL
February 12, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Every time a Government MP gives a speech at first (or any!) reading that lasts five seconds and consists of "this is a good bill and I commend it to the House", they're spitting in your face. It's their job to thoroughly explore every bill and explain why it is necessary to change the law. #NZPOL
Reposted by Marsden
I don't think a day has gone by in the past six years where I haven't called on some old skill or past job experience from decades ago to pull us out of a jam or fix a problem. From plumbing to herbal medicine to growing food or metalworking. I've spun and given away wool. I've bartered raspberries.
February 12, 2026 at 4:51 AM
I don't think a day has gone by in the past six years where I haven't called on some old skill or past job experience from decades ago to pull us out of a jam or fix a problem. From plumbing to herbal medicine to growing food or metalworking. I've spun and given away wool. I've bartered raspberries.
Reposted by Marsden
This isn't about luxury - it's about basic human dignity. It's about mental wellbeing. It's about being able to live without constant anxiety about where you'll sleep.
Housing shouldn't make you sick. It should make you feel safe.
Housing shouldn't make you sick. It should make you feel safe.
February 12, 2026 at 5:31 AM
This isn't about luxury - it's about basic human dignity. It's about mental wellbeing. It's about being able to live without constant anxiety about where you'll sleep.
Housing shouldn't make you sick. It should make you feel safe.
Housing shouldn't make you sick. It should make you feel safe.
Reposted by Marsden
My dad says multiple points of failure:
* there are floor sensors everywhere, the plant operator should've known immediately
* there's an emergency overflow in the plant itself - why didn't that operate?
* The plant is on a damn hill - the wastewater is pumped *to* the treatment plant...
* there are floor sensors everywhere, the plant operator should've known immediately
* there's an emergency overflow in the plant itself - why didn't that operate?
* The plant is on a damn hill - the wastewater is pumped *to* the treatment plant...
February 11, 2026 at 9:04 PM
My dad says multiple points of failure:
* there are floor sensors everywhere, the plant operator should've known immediately
* there's an emergency overflow in the plant itself - why didn't that operate?
* The plant is on a damn hill - the wastewater is pumped *to* the treatment plant...
* there are floor sensors everywhere, the plant operator should've known immediately
* there's an emergency overflow in the plant itself - why didn't that operate?
* The plant is on a damn hill - the wastewater is pumped *to* the treatment plant...
Reposted by Marsden
Sad, as it is, given today’s announcement of the imminent re-writing of history (sigh, again😠), seems pertinent to repost my thoughts from last year.
The Value of a Statistical Life
open.substack.com/pub/ganeshna...
The Value of a Statistical Life
open.substack.com/pub/ganeshna...
The Value of a Statistical Life
"... I've never seen such a high value on life"
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Sad, as it is, given today’s announcement of the imminent re-writing of history (sigh, again😠), seems pertinent to repost my thoughts from last year.
The Value of a Statistical Life
open.substack.com/pub/ganeshna...
The Value of a Statistical Life
open.substack.com/pub/ganeshna...
Reposted by Marsden
Righto. I've read the papers released by MBIE on the LNG analysis. This will be a longish thread on my thoughts, which I'll add to progressively. Docs are here. 🧵 1/-
Document library | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
A filtered search to all the documents stored on the MBIE website.
www.mbie.govt.nz
February 10, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Righto. I've read the papers released by MBIE on the LNG analysis. This will be a longish thread on my thoughts, which I'll add to progressively. Docs are here. 🧵 1/-