Soon Lee
@soonleenz.bsky.social
Malaysian Chinese Aotearoa (New Zealander), geek, food, wine & microbes interest. Best Auckland Restaurant Venn diagram (Onedrive): https://tinyurl.com/AucklandRestaurant TL50
Pinned
Reposted by Soon Lee
Reminds me of this gem of a Douglas Adams quote comparing the BBC’s attitude toward producing a radio play of the HHGttG to Macbeth’s attitude toward murder.
February 13, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Reminds me of this gem of a Douglas Adams quote comparing the BBC’s attitude toward producing a radio play of the HHGttG to Macbeth’s attitude toward murder.
Reposted by Soon Lee
Also there were bouquets of red roses for $100. One. Hundred. Dollars.
You could buy so many snacks for that money.
Buy your person their favourite treats. The ones that they're like "oh I love it but it's too expensive". That's a good gift.
You could buy so many snacks for that money.
Buy your person their favourite treats. The ones that they're like "oh I love it but it's too expensive". That's a good gift.
February 13, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Also there were bouquets of red roses for $100. One. Hundred. Dollars.
You could buy so many snacks for that money.
Buy your person their favourite treats. The ones that they're like "oh I love it but it's too expensive". That's a good gift.
You could buy so many snacks for that money.
Buy your person their favourite treats. The ones that they're like "oh I love it but it's too expensive". That's a good gift.
Reposted by Soon Lee
I regularly post updates on this story because it's an atrocity on an incomprehensible scale but people don't really talk about it
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
USAID cuts may cause over 14 million additional deaths by 2030, study says
Deep funding cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development and its potential dismantling could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The ...
www.reuters.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I regularly post updates on this story because it's an atrocity on an incomprehensible scale but people don't really talk about it
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Reposted by Soon Lee
In incredible news, the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly for "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women."
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
European Parliament Votes Overwhelmingly For "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women"
The resolution, though nonbinding, is a significant shot at those who seek to erode transgender rights on the continent.
www.erininthemorning.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:17 PM
In incredible news, the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly for "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women."
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
Reposted by Soon Lee
I feel this way about pretty much all vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. You shouldn't be allowed to dump cyanide into municipal drinking water and you shouldn't be allowed to recreationally spread viruses around shared public spaces.
My most authoritarian opinion is that the MMR vaccine should be mandatory, with only medical (not religious or floofy) exemptions allowed. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
This Is How a Child Dies of Measles
When your family becomes a data point in an outbreak
www.theatlantic.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I feel this way about pretty much all vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. You shouldn't be allowed to dump cyanide into municipal drinking water and you shouldn't be allowed to recreationally spread viruses around shared public spaces.
Reposted by Soon Lee
Things that are bad luck, worldwide:
▪️Friday the 13th (France)
▪️Friday the 17th (Italy)
▪️Tuesday the 13th (Greece)
▪️Sharing a pear with your spouse (China)
▪️Whistling indoors (Lithuania)
▪️Yo-yos (Syria)
▪️Complimenting a baby (Serbia)
▪️Having ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife (Canada)
▪️Friday the 13th (France)
▪️Friday the 17th (Italy)
▪️Tuesday the 13th (Greece)
▪️Sharing a pear with your spouse (China)
▪️Whistling indoors (Lithuania)
▪️Yo-yos (Syria)
▪️Complimenting a baby (Serbia)
▪️Having ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife (Canada)
February 13, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Things that are bad luck, worldwide:
▪️Friday the 13th (France)
▪️Friday the 17th (Italy)
▪️Tuesday the 13th (Greece)
▪️Sharing a pear with your spouse (China)
▪️Whistling indoors (Lithuania)
▪️Yo-yos (Syria)
▪️Complimenting a baby (Serbia)
▪️Having ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife (Canada)
▪️Friday the 13th (France)
▪️Friday the 17th (Italy)
▪️Tuesday the 13th (Greece)
▪️Sharing a pear with your spouse (China)
▪️Whistling indoors (Lithuania)
▪️Yo-yos (Syria)
▪️Complimenting a baby (Serbia)
▪️Having ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife (Canada)
February 13, 2026 at 6:13 PM
"This is progress" by Aram J. French
mandatoryrollercoaster.com/post/8081046...
(It's good to link back to the creator)
mandatoryrollercoaster.com/post/8081046...
(It's good to link back to the creator)
February 12, 2026 at 11:49 PM
"This is progress" by Aram J. French
mandatoryrollercoaster.com/post/8081046...
(It's good to link back to the creator)
mandatoryrollercoaster.com/post/8081046...
(It's good to link back to the creator)
This AI-detector rates the "Picky eater test" (1 point for every item you will not eat) infographic doing the rounds as 99% likely to be AI-generated.
sightengine.com/detect-ai-ge...
sightengine.com/detect-ai-ge...
February 12, 2026 at 10:38 PM
This AI-detector rates the "Picky eater test" (1 point for every item you will not eat) infographic doing the rounds as 99% likely to be AI-generated.
sightengine.com/detect-ai-ge...
sightengine.com/detect-ai-ge...
Deleted a quote post after I found out it was 'AI' "art" titled "Picky eater test" of a bunch of foods you would/ would not eat.
This AI art detector was 96% confident it was a chatGPT artifact.
sightengine.com/detect-ai-ge...
This AI art detector was 96% confident it was a chatGPT artifact.
sightengine.com/detect-ai-ge...
AI image detector. Detect AI-generated media at scale
Check the authenticity and provenance of images with our AI image detector. Automatically detect fake images.
sightengine.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Deleted a quote post after I found out it was 'AI' "art" titled "Picky eater test" of a bunch of foods you would/ would not eat.
This AI art detector was 96% confident it was a chatGPT artifact.
sightengine.com/detect-ai-ge...
This AI art detector was 96% confident it was a chatGPT artifact.
sightengine.com/detect-ai-ge...
Reposted by Soon Lee
A fantastic article from Yale’s student newspaper last October that I’ve required all my students to read at the beginning of this semester:
thenewjournalatyale.com/2025/10/insi...
thenewjournalatyale.com/2025/10/insi...
Inside Yale’s Quiet Reckoning with AI | The New Journal
Amid ChatGPT's rising popularity and a computer science cheating scandal, Yale students, professors, and administrators wrestle privately with the proper role of AI in education. What happens when eve...
thenewjournalatyale.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:25 PM
A fantastic article from Yale’s student newspaper last October that I’ve required all my students to read at the beginning of this semester:
thenewjournalatyale.com/2025/10/insi...
thenewjournalatyale.com/2025/10/insi...
Reposted by Soon Lee
"Renewables are already much cheaper than fossil fuels. Alas, fossil fuels are up to three times as profitable. Thus capital forces governments to link electricity prices to the price of the most expensive liquified natural gas, not of cheap solar energy"
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#nzpol
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#nzpol
We can move beyond the capitalist model and save the climate – here are the first three steps | Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis
Capitalism cares about our species’ prospects as much as a wolf cares about a lamb’s. But democratise our economy and a better world is within our grasp, say Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:39 PM
"Renewables are already much cheaper than fossil fuels. Alas, fossil fuels are up to three times as profitable. Thus capital forces governments to link electricity prices to the price of the most expensive liquified natural gas, not of cheap solar energy"
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#nzpol
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#nzpol
Reposted by Soon Lee
An older writer friend once told a story about the night his karate teacher got the class hyped up to see "the one move that ends any fight." He took them out into the parking lot, faced off against them, turned, and sprinted his ass off, vanishing into the darkness.
February 12, 2026 at 4:47 AM
An older writer friend once told a story about the night his karate teacher got the class hyped up to see "the one move that ends any fight." He took them out into the parking lot, faced off against them, turned, and sprinted his ass off, vanishing into the darkness.
February 12, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Soon Lee
This is true
And if the govt were serious about it they could have shown good faith by constructively working on the previous govt's WIPs
But instead they repealed record amounts of policy without scrutiny, even where things were ready
When anyone suggests this in bad faith, we say "you first"
And if the govt were serious about it they could have shown good faith by constructively working on the previous govt's WIPs
But instead they repealed record amounts of policy without scrutiny, even where things were ready
When anyone suggests this in bad faith, we say "you first"
📢 ‘Tax policy certainty needs to span successive governments’: Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks investment boost policy, productivity and the long term at the New Zealand Economics Forum
Willis calls for bipartisan consensus on investment boost policy
https://www.interest.co.nz/public-policy/137178/‘tax-policy-certainty-needs-span-successive-governments’-finance-minister
February 12, 2026 at 8:40 AM
This is true
And if the govt were serious about it they could have shown good faith by constructively working on the previous govt's WIPs
But instead they repealed record amounts of policy without scrutiny, even where things were ready
When anyone suggests this in bad faith, we say "you first"
And if the govt were serious about it they could have shown good faith by constructively working on the previous govt's WIPs
But instead they repealed record amounts of policy without scrutiny, even where things were ready
When anyone suggests this in bad faith, we say "you first"
Reposted by Soon Lee
There's a part of learning, which generative AI completely turns into dogshit, which is *doing something you could not have done before*
Whether it's drawing, playing an instrument, solving a physics problem, organizing an essay, you find yourself doing easily what previously you found overwhelming
Whether it's drawing, playing an instrument, solving a physics problem, organizing an essay, you find yourself doing easily what previously you found overwhelming
November 25, 2025 at 2:55 PM
There's a part of learning, which generative AI completely turns into dogshit, which is *doing something you could not have done before*
Whether it's drawing, playing an instrument, solving a physics problem, organizing an essay, you find yourself doing easily what previously you found overwhelming
Whether it's drawing, playing an instrument, solving a physics problem, organizing an essay, you find yourself doing easily what previously you found overwhelming
Reposted by Soon Lee
My favorite exchange on Twitter in the history of the site
February 12, 2026 at 5:53 AM
My favorite exchange on Twitter in the history of the site
Reposted by Soon Lee
Okay, nomination eligible folks. I want to see NUMBERS. I want us to beat the record of the most ever Hugo nominations. I don't actually know what the record is, but I believe we can fly past it!
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Hugo Awards!
Emails are going out to eligible nominators (those who became a member of LAcon V by January 31, 2026, or were a member of the Seattle Worldcon 2025) about how to set up their LAcon V virtual convention account.
Emails are going out to eligible nominators (those who became a member of LAcon V by January 31, 2026, or were a member of the Seattle Worldcon 2025) about how to set up their LAcon V virtual convention account.
February 12, 2026 at 1:47 AM
Okay, nomination eligible folks. I want to see NUMBERS. I want us to beat the record of the most ever Hugo nominations. I don't actually know what the record is, but I believe we can fly past it!
Reposted by Soon Lee
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
Reposted by Soon Lee
One of my favourite comics of all time.
February 11, 2026 at 10:06 PM
One of my favourite comics of all time.
Reposted by Soon Lee
Discworld QOTD, from Wyrd Sisters
February 11, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Wyrd Sisters
Reposted by Soon Lee
James Van Der Beek was part of one of the most influential shows of a certain era, a show that loomed large to a certain generation of critics. Beyond that, he was talented, willing to poke fun at himself & seemed like a good man. Extremely sad news. Way, way too young. 💚 people.com/james-van-de...
James Van Der Beek, Dawson's Creek Star and Father of 6, Dies at 48 After Cancer Journey
James Van Der Beek has died after he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2024. The actor was best known for playing Dawson Leery on 'Dawson's Creek'.
people.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:52 PM
James Van Der Beek was part of one of the most influential shows of a certain era, a show that loomed large to a certain generation of critics. Beyond that, he was talented, willing to poke fun at himself & seemed like a good man. Extremely sad news. Way, way too young. 💚 people.com/james-van-de...
#Wordle #dailyWordleClub #Wordle1699 Wordle 1,699 3/6*
⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨
🟨🟨⬛🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Another very helpful second guess.
⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨
🟨🟨⬛🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Another very helpful second guess.
February 11, 2026 at 5:18 PM
#Wordle #dailyWordleClub #Wordle1699 Wordle 1,699 3/6*
⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨
🟨🟨⬛🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Another very helpful second guess.
⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨
🟨🟨⬛🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩Another very helpful second guess.
Rice. Pork belly slices slowcooked with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, star anise (added boiled egg at the end). Stirfried cabbage with garlic. #cookingDiary #kai #food🍜 🍽️
February 11, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Rice. Pork belly slices slowcooked with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, star anise (added boiled egg at the end). Stirfried cabbage with garlic. #cookingDiary #kai #food🍜 🍽️
Reposted by Soon Lee
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-...