Andy O'Brien
@spadge.bsky.social
Originally from Scotland. I'm a guest in Aotearoa, who works in public service. I try to do IT Security stuff. He/Him.🏳️⚧️Ally.
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
“Religion” here in the sense that Anders Breivik understood it…
Why does the media have to pretend to be surprised by bigotry, when it’s always the same nonsense?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Why does the media have to pretend to be surprised by bigotry, when it’s always the same nonsense?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Why Tommy Robinson supporters are turning to Christianity
The Church of England is grappling with what to do about followers of the far-right figure embracing faith.
www.bbc.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:39 AM
“Religion” here in the sense that Anders Breivik understood it…
Why does the media have to pretend to be surprised by bigotry, when it’s always the same nonsense?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Why does the media have to pretend to be surprised by bigotry, when it’s always the same nonsense?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Also the comparison to Australia is disingenuous
In Aussie they have a Mandatory Employer Contribution: By law, employers must contribute a minimum of 12% of an eligible employee's pre-tax income to an approved superannuation fund
That's paid in addition to wages and salaries
#NZPol
In Aussie they have a Mandatory Employer Contribution: By law, employers must contribute a minimum of 12% of an eligible employee's pre-tax income to an approved superannuation fund
That's paid in addition to wages and salaries
#NZPol
Who cut the $1000 Kickstarter? National
Who reduced the minimum contribution to 3%? National
Who reduced the member tax credit from $1040 to $521? National
Who then reduced the same member tax credit from $521 to $260.72? National.
Don't believe National on Kiwisaver.
#nzpol
Who reduced the minimum contribution to 3%? National
Who reduced the member tax credit from $1040 to $521? National
Who then reduced the same member tax credit from $521 to $260.72? National.
Don't believe National on Kiwisaver.
#nzpol
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Also the comparison to Australia is disingenuous
In Aussie they have a Mandatory Employer Contribution: By law, employers must contribute a minimum of 12% of an eligible employee's pre-tax income to an approved superannuation fund
That's paid in addition to wages and salaries
#NZPol
In Aussie they have a Mandatory Employer Contribution: By law, employers must contribute a minimum of 12% of an eligible employee's pre-tax income to an approved superannuation fund
That's paid in addition to wages and salaries
#NZPol
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
You might have seen National propaganda on how much kiwis are saving on mortgage payments. So, quick reality check, and a little explainer...
The actual average interest rate on *all* NZ mortgages moves slowly - in large part because most of us plucky mortgagors are on fixed rate deals [🧵1/n]
The actual average interest rate on *all* NZ mortgages moves slowly - in large part because most of us plucky mortgagors are on fixed rate deals [🧵1/n]
November 23, 2025 at 6:59 AM
You might have seen National propaganda on how much kiwis are saving on mortgage payments. So, quick reality check, and a little explainer...
The actual average interest rate on *all* NZ mortgages moves slowly - in large part because most of us plucky mortgagors are on fixed rate deals [🧵1/n]
The actual average interest rate on *all* NZ mortgages moves slowly - in large part because most of us plucky mortgagors are on fixed rate deals [🧵1/n]
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Odds that Nats are planning to hard campaign on raising the super age and this KiwiSaver policy is meant to offset that in people's hearts and minds? #NZPol
November 23, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Odds that Nats are planning to hard campaign on raising the super age and this KiwiSaver policy is meant to offset that in people's hearts and minds? #NZPol
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Former Finnish PM Sanna Marin put it bluntly: “To end the conflict, Russia must leave Ukrainian territory.”
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
November 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Former Finnish PM Sanna Marin put it bluntly: “To end the conflict, Russia must leave Ukrainian territory.”
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
This was such a fun photo to set up, taken by Thomas Reiter through a sleep station window on Mir. The sun was so bright we were all squinting like crazy. But I love how it shows the texture of the Shuttle's rough, protective hide, and the glimpse of humanity (and my moustache) against the universe.
November 22, 2025 at 3:11 PM
This was such a fun photo to set up, taken by Thomas Reiter through a sleep station window on Mir. The sun was so bright we were all squinting like crazy. But I love how it shows the texture of the Shuttle's rough, protective hide, and the glimpse of humanity (and my moustache) against the universe.
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
“The results of this scan add to the mounting evidence that unregulated face surveillance technology in the hands of government agencies is a serious threat to individual rights, due process, and democratic freedoms…”
Facial recognition technology falsely identifies famous athletes - ACLU of Massachusetts
Nearly one-in-six New England professional athletes were falsely matched to individuals in a mugshot database. In a test the ACLU of Massachusetts conducted using a widely available facial recognition...
www.aclum.org
November 22, 2025 at 9:49 PM
“The results of this scan add to the mounting evidence that unregulated face surveillance technology in the hands of government agencies is a serious threat to individual rights, due process, and democratic freedoms…”
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Well, this is pretty terrifying. The Daily Mail is buying the Telegraph.
One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.
What could go wrong?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.
What could go wrong?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Daily Mail owner strikes £500m deal to buy Telegraph titles
Acquisition likely to trigger in-depth investigation by regulator after agreement between DMGT and Redbird IMI
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Well, this is pretty terrifying. The Daily Mail is buying the Telegraph.
One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.
What could go wrong?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.
What could go wrong?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
this is a hate crime
22 Nov 2025 -- Hundreds of trans pride flags planted on Boston Commons in a planned city-licensed memorial for TDOR removed overnight anonymously. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social
Hundreds of transgender pride flags pulled from memorial on Boston Common
Hundreds of flags representing transgender rights were pulled from a memorial on Boston Common.
www.cbsnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:51 PM
this is a hate crime
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Artist: @eatmypaint on Insta
November 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Artist: @eatmypaint on Insta
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Who cut the $1000 Kickstarter? National
Who reduced the minimum contribution to 3%? National
Who reduced the member tax credit from $1040 to $521? National
Who then reduced the same member tax credit from $521 to $260.72? National.
Don't believe National on Kiwisaver.
#nzpol
Who reduced the minimum contribution to 3%? National
Who reduced the member tax credit from $1040 to $521? National
Who then reduced the same member tax credit from $521 to $260.72? National.
Don't believe National on Kiwisaver.
#nzpol
November 22, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Who cut the $1000 Kickstarter? National
Who reduced the minimum contribution to 3%? National
Who reduced the member tax credit from $1040 to $521? National
Who then reduced the same member tax credit from $521 to $260.72? National.
Don't believe National on Kiwisaver.
#nzpol
Who reduced the minimum contribution to 3%? National
Who reduced the member tax credit from $1040 to $521? National
Who then reduced the same member tax credit from $521 to $260.72? National.
Don't believe National on Kiwisaver.
#nzpol
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
"The new information is meant to reduce inauthentic engagement on the platform."
"No! Not that inauthentic engagement!"
"No! Not that inauthentic engagement!"
Grand opening, grand closing.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
November 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM
"The new information is meant to reduce inauthentic engagement on the platform."
"No! Not that inauthentic engagement!"
"No! Not that inauthentic engagement!"
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
at 10.06pm, new zealand's largest news site "stuff" made an amendment to one of its stories. this fascinated me, just about what it says about the trust we place in our sources: www.webworm.co/robertpurcha...
The Curious Case of Robert Purchase
David Farrier's Webworm looks at Stuff's reporting on Robert Purchase, a man applying for 8000 jobs and not telling reporters he'd served 25 years for kidnapping.
www.webworm.co
November 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
at 10.06pm, new zealand's largest news site "stuff" made an amendment to one of its stories. this fascinated me, just about what it says about the trust we place in our sources: www.webworm.co/robertpurcha...
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
This made me giggle
November 22, 2025 at 10:14 AM
This made me giggle
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
THESE are the documents that need to be released. Gift link, no paywall. #Khashoggi #vindman #saudi #corruption #assassination @indivisible.org
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Trump and Prince Had ‘Disturbing’ Call After Khashoggi’s Murder, Lawmaker Says
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:27 PM
THESE are the documents that need to be released. Gift link, no paywall. #Khashoggi #vindman #saudi #corruption #assassination @indivisible.org
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
The overwhelmingly positive experiences of trans youth on puberty blockers
The overwhelmingly positive experiences of trans youth on puberty blockers
A survey of trans youth highlights the enormous value of puberty blockers – and the strong need for continued access to them....
thespinoff.co.nz
November 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The overwhelmingly positive experiences of trans youth on puberty blockers
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
Reposted by Andy O'Brien
It also doesn't save any "red tape". It just creates an additional barrier to understanding whats in your food and means the seller can scrape your data.
Its a sh*tty solution to a non-problem that places the consumer increasingly at risk.
#nzpol
Its a sh*tty solution to a non-problem that places the consumer increasingly at risk.
#nzpol
These guys are dangerous idiots. It's tiresome enough already having to read, and re-check, the labels on everything that I eat, and now they want to have me scan a QR code to get to that information.
November 22, 2025 at 4:35 AM
It also doesn't save any "red tape". It just creates an additional barrier to understanding whats in your food and means the seller can scrape your data.
Its a sh*tty solution to a non-problem that places the consumer increasingly at risk.
#nzpol
Its a sh*tty solution to a non-problem that places the consumer increasingly at risk.
#nzpol