michael lascarides
LightNews LightNews
mlascarides.bsky.social
michael lascarides
@mlascarides.bsky.social
140 followers 310 following 250 posts
Art tinkerer, library dweller, immigrant. Thinking a lot about how to prove libraries are worth keeping around. Ōtepoti.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by michael lascarides
angus.bsky.social
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.

So much work remains to be done.
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
cethanleahy.com
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
albertocairo.com
I love this:
mapcenter.com Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 17h
Why do I include poetry in a presentation about data visualization? Because cartography IS poetry.
The ocean is not literally blue. The land is not literally green.
Symbolism, metaphor, language, cultural context and history all inform map making.
Both exercise the same brain-parts.
mapcenter.com Andrew Middleton @mapcenter.com · 1d
Guess I'm a freelance corporate consultant now because I just led a really fun session walking a group of software developers through some mind bending relationship visualization problems.
Bibliography: Tufte, Margaret Atwood, Borges, Tobler, Cynthia Brewer, RJ Andrews and Madeline L'Engle
November 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
christchurchlib.bsky.social
Big Fresh. Billy T James. Big Snow. Aramoana. Ruthanasia.
Oh, and Radiohead, and Servalan from Blake's Seven.
Yes, it's the Nineties! You can now dive into The Press from 1990 to 1995 with Papers Past.
my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/1... ^DR
#Christchurch #Ōtautahi
134 years of The Press online: Papers Past now goes to 1995
Copies of The Press from 1861 to 1995 are now online at Papers Past. The years 1990 to 1995 are newly available.
my.christchurchcitylibraries.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
ira.bailey.nz
Found out why the Wellington Hospital has been so busy at night lately.

The only 24hr Afterhours Medical Centre in Wellington is shut due to staff shortages. NZ’s health system is borked!

#NZPol
Photo sign at the entrance to the 24hr Wellington medical center “DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES WE ARE NOW CLOSED # you require Urgent medicol treatment please present to the Wellington Hospital Emergency Dept”
November 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
tadethompson.bsky.social
So this morning I get an urgent email for a same day cardiology appointment at my local treatment centre.

I was surprised (and alarmed) but fine. I moved things around and went there a few minutes ago.

Only there was no real appointment. The receptionist said I wasn't supposed to receive any 1/
November 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
awaterevalley.bsky.social
I'm sure the 'tough on crime' govt will have them all in jail any minute now. That's how it works, right?

Revealed: The five senior officers at the heart of the McSkimming cover-up
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
Revealed: The five senior officers at the heart of the McSkimming 'cover-up'
The IPCA report on the handling of the McSkimming case identifies a string of complicit senior officers. So who are they?
www.stuff.co.nz
November 12, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Reposted by michael lascarides
paullecomtephoto.nz
As Corporal Jones would say "Don't panic, Mr. Mainwaring"

BUT holly #Aurora Alert Batman!

There's a big fuck off Aurora going off right now & for the next 24hrs. If this keeps up, it will visible from Auckland New Zealand after dark.

Moon doesn't rise till 2:45am tomorrow so no issue.
GOES magnetometer products are an integral part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) space weather operations, providing information on the general level of geomagnetic activity and permitting detection of magnetic storms and substorms. In addition, these measurements will be used to validate large-scale space environment models that will be added to SWPC operations in the future. Historically, the data have been presented in the E (earthward), P (parallel) and N (normal) coordinate system where: Hp: magnetic field vector component, points northward, perpendicular to the orbit plane which for a zero degree inclination orbit is parallel to Earth's spin axis. He: magnetic field vector component, perpendicular to Hp and Hn and points earthward. Hn: magnetic field vector component, perpendicular to Hp and He and points eastward. Ht: the total field. GOES 3-day Hp plot shows the 1-minute averaged parallel component of the magnetic field in nanoTeslas (nT), currently measured at GOES-13 (~75 degrees west geographic longitude) and GOES-15 (~135 degrees west geographic longitude). The longitudes can vary, so for any particular case it is important to check the satellite location. A diurnal variation is observed in these data as a result of magnetospheric currents systems that, at geosynchronous orbit, produce a stronger magnetic field on the dayside of Earth and weaker magnetic fields on the nightside. If these data drop to near zero, or less, when the satellite is on the dayside, it may be due to a compression of the Earth's magnetopause into the geosynchronous orbit boundaries, exposing satellites to negative and/or highly variable magnetic fields. On the nightside, the smaller field values indicate strong currents in the magnetotail that are often associated with the stretching and subsequent release of energy in Earths tail. Aurora Alert iPhone app showing the Aurora is going OFF Bz-33 is BONKERS, absolutely BONKERS Spaceweather live webpage showing the aurora data & forecast model maps. Anything with orange or red in it shows a massively intense storm, anything this size, given you can see aurora 1000km from the edge of the event will be visible across most of New Zealand forecast model showing this aurora is going to go for 2 days
November 12, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by michael lascarides
maetl.bsky.social
“A few bad apples” is always used to deflect criticism of systemic problems in NZ.

Schopenhauer’s entropy is a more realistic way to think about it: “If you put a spoonful of wine in a barrel full of sewage, you get sewage. If you put a spoonful of sewage in a barrel full of wine, you get sewage.”
November 11, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
paulapenfold.bsky.social
Honestly, the IPCA report into the police (mis)handling of the McSkimming case makes for jaw-dropping reading.

But it’s 135 pages long so I’ve read it for you.

Here’s my report on one of the most serious failures of integrity in modern policing history⬇️⬇️
The inside story of how police protected a senior cop, and prosecuted his accuser instead
For years, police leadership ignored warnings about Jevon McSkimming. The IPCA has set out the chain of failures.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
xtotl.bsky.social
People Watching: 'Mega-strike' - Healthcare staff, educators and firefighters march in central Auckland on a Thursday
November 11, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
jennabeet.bsky.social
What the fuck, bluesky
substack.com/@sarahkendzi...
Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior)
I’ve been suspended from BlueSky. I don’t know why. I wasn’t online much today, and the last things I posted were excerpts from my substack newsletter articles. The suspension followed without explana...
substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
gailsimone.bsky.social
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
legallyfeminist.bsky.social
Of course she was charged under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, rather than treating the allegations as serious (and they were serious). This is awful.
#nzpol

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Police 'failed' woman who accused Jevon McSkimming of sexual offending, her lawyer says
The allegations arose from an affair between McSkimming and the woman who at the time was a junior non-sworn police employee.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Reposted by michael lascarides
shakingstick.bsky.social
Just seems a little short while ago that various government politicians, and people acting as their media surrogates, were outraged and scandalized by, and poured scorn on, comments from younger women politicians for suggesting many people don't trust cops.

Highest levels of the force - filth.
November 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Reposted by michael lascarides
byroncclark.bsky.social
Christchurch's playground elephant: demure, unassuming, shaped like a friend

Oamaru's playground elephant: ready for the next Punic war
The rotund Canterbury elephant The battle-ready North Otago packaderm
November 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Reposted by michael lascarides
standplaatskrk.pl
As a digital artist I've been accused of being AI numerous times and I'd like to add: just because it's shit doesn't mean it wasn't made by a human either, I can be a bad artist without assistance, thank you very much.
susannashore.bsky.social Susanna Shore, Author @susannashore.bsky.social · 9d
I spotted this on Mastodon and I find it horrible, not least for the speed with which this has happened.
A post on Mastodon by small cypress (@small_cypress@indieweb.social): As an art teacher I was worried AI would come up as an issue of "why should I learn how to draw when I can use AI instead." But the real issue is that my middle schoolers CONSTANTLY believe all art I show them is AI. Digital art. Photography. Oil paintings from the Western canon. "A human couldn't do that" Being convinced that humans can't make great art is kind of terrifying
November 9, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
depthsofwikipedia.bsky.social
the only instance in recorded history of a traffic collision between a car and a u-boat!
November 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by michael lascarides
genesisnz.bsky.social
AI is *so* unreliable. I don't know why I keep trying. I asked Anthropic Claude to help me come up with some ideas for my upcoming NZ road trip and it confidently suggested a stay at the Kura Tawhiti DOC campsite and told me all about it. The only problem? The campsite is an AI hallucination.
"Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill DOC Campsite Location & Access Located about 90km from Christchurch (1.5 hours drive) on State Highway 73 towards Arthur's Pass. The limestone rock formations are right beside the highway, and the campsite is just off the road - very easy access in your Aqua, no challenging roads at all. The Setting This is one of the most unique camping spots in Canterbury. You're camping literally among giant limestone boulders and rock formations that are millions of years old. The landscape is otherworldly - think huge weathered rocks creating caves, arches, and formations scattered across tussock grassland with mountain views in the background. Why it's special: Incredibly photogenic at all times of day, but especially sunrise and golden hour The rocks create a sense of shelter and privacy despite being an open landscape It's a spiritual site for Ngāi Tahu - there's a profound sense of peace here Popular with rock climbers (bouldering), so you might see people but it rarely feels crowded The Southern Alps backdrop is stunning Campsite Facilities Basic but adequate: Toilet (long-drop style) Water available (should be treated) Flat tent sites among the rocks Some sites quite sheltered from wind by the boulders No showers, no power $8 per adult per night (as of my knowledge) Important notes: Can be VERY windy - the rocks help but bring good tent pegs and guy ropes Gets cold at night even in summer (it's 700m elevation) - bring warm sleeping bag Exposed to weather - check forecast Not much shade in summer heat" ALL LIES This campsite does not exist. Kura Tawhiti does but the "flat tent sites among the rocks" option for $8/night absolutely does not.
November 9, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Reposted by michael lascarides
kiswanson.medsky.social
Ryan Moulton @moultano Oil is the most Lovecraftian thing that actually exists. You're telling me that there's a black ichor under the earth, made from the ancient dead, whose burning can realize all the dreams of man but only at the price of slowly returning the earth to its primordial state?
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
kissane.myatproto.social
Real question bc there’s clearly a media culture thing here that I am not getting: Why are we not seeing citations to Sarah Kendzior, who has been on this exact beat for years? What is it about her and/or her work that has made it acceptable to ignore her?
November 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
publichealthguy1.bsky.social
congrats to everyone for thinking this through before signing very big contracts to put it on every student’s device at the school or university you run
colincarlson.bsky.social Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 5d
OVER A MILLION USERS

DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT

EVERY *WEEK*

what the fuck are we DOING here
ryanmarino.bsky.social Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · 5d
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.

This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
joles.bsky.social
applying for jobs again
screenshot from an online job application form. the question reads "Can you describe specific ways you have integrated AI tools into your development workflow? Please include any custom setups, automations, or use cases beyond single prompt usage" (a red asterisk indicates that this is a required question). an answer has been typed in the textbox below the question: "there is a monster in the forest and it speaks with a thousand voices. it will answer any question you pose it, it will offer insight to any idea. it will help you, it will thank you, it will never bid you leave. it will even tell you of the darkest arts, if you know precisely how to ask. it feels no joy and no sorrow, it knows no right and no wrong. it knows not truth from lie, though it speaks them all the same. it offers its services freely to any passerby, and many will tell you they find great value in its conversation. “you simply must visit the monster—i always just ask the monster.” there are those who know these forests well; they will tell you that freely offered doesn’t mean it has no price for when the next traveler passes by, the monster speaks with a thousand and one voices. and when you dream you see the monster; the monster wears your face."
May 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
jessicawluther.com
This is fascinating because this is such a new field and somehow they are going to hire 100 tenure-track faculty in the next 5 years who specialize in it. And yet when asked to fill spots with faculty of color/women/marginalized groups, administrators often cry about how the pipelines don't exist.
November 7, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by michael lascarides
mads100tist.bsky.social
Apropos of today's discussion on science Bluesky 🧪 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_pur...
The purpose of a system is what it does - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 PM