Tim Hunter
@heterarchist.bsky.social
Full-time material scientist.
Part-time science fiction fantasy enthusiast.
Some-time democratic anarchist.
Australian, living at home, among the gum-trees.
Part-time science fiction fantasy enthusiast.
Some-time democratic anarchist.
Australian, living at home, among the gum-trees.
Pinned
Tim Hunter
@heterarchist.bsky.social
· Aug 15
AVATAR: Male western bearded dragon on wood fence post. Head & upper body blend into bleached wood. Tall grass behind.
BANNER: Concrete microstructure false-colour map. Calcium/blue, potassium/green, silicon/red. Bottom: aggregate flecks. Middle: diffuse cracks, soft gel. Top: craggly, cement paste.
BANNER: Concrete microstructure false-colour map. Calcium/blue, potassium/green, silicon/red. Bottom: aggregate flecks. Middle: diffuse cracks, soft gel. Top: craggly, cement paste.
Reposted by Tim Hunter
100's of jobs cut at CSIRO when it has never been more important for govts to invest in science & research. Why can Labor find $$ for AUKUS but not our nation’s premier science, industry & research org? The Greens implore the Albanese government to commit funding & prevent cuts.
November 19, 2025 at 3:37 AM
100's of jobs cut at CSIRO when it has never been more important for govts to invest in science & research. Why can Labor find $$ for AUKUS but not our nation’s premier science, industry & research org? The Greens implore the Albanese government to commit funding & prevent cuts.
Reposted by Tim Hunter
A government that can’t bring itself to tax fossil fuel, big tech or any wealth properly but defunds its critical institutions is not a good government, sorry
November 18, 2025 at 8:17 PM
A government that can’t bring itself to tax fossil fuel, big tech or any wealth properly but defunds its critical institutions is not a good government, sorry
Reposted by Tim Hunter
New from @EmpirePodUK
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
November 19, 2025 at 6:02 AM
New from @EmpirePodUK
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
Reposted by Tim Hunter
Sabotaging & smashing our biggest & best science & research organisations is exactly what our worst enemy would do. Why can't we have a govt which creates hope, creativity & cleverness & a better future instead of a festival of fossil fuel and Trump toadying? Boo. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
‘Sad day for publicly funded science’: up to 350 more jobs to go at CSIRO
Australia’s national scientific agency announces more research job losses as it looks for budgetary savings
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Sabotaging & smashing our biggest & best science & research organisations is exactly what our worst enemy would do. Why can't we have a govt which creates hope, creativity & cleverness & a better future instead of a festival of fossil fuel and Trump toadying? Boo. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Tim Hunter
Archaeologist here. For 99.5% of human history (ca 300-400,000 years), we were peaceful (no war). There was conflict and smaller scale violence, but countless studies on the 119 known modern hunter gatherer groups show cooperation, negotiation, and peace instead of conflict. Please read books.
Revenge/physical combat was how people settled things for literally millions of years, it's normal human behavior, we're wolves not sheep, the government project trying to social engineer us and domesticate us into sheep has been unsuccessful
November 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Archaeologist here. For 99.5% of human history (ca 300-400,000 years), we were peaceful (no war). There was conflict and smaller scale violence, but countless studies on the 119 known modern hunter gatherer groups show cooperation, negotiation, and peace instead of conflict. Please read books.
Reposted by Tim Hunter
“CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs as the national science agency grapples with long-term financial challenges … with current funding failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.”
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
CSIRO to cut up to 350 research jobs in major overhaul
After 440 positions were slashed last year, the CSIRO has announced more staff cuts across the country in a bid to remain financially viable.
www.abc.net.au
November 18, 2025 at 6:15 AM
“CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs as the national science agency grapples with long-term financial challenges … with current funding failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.”
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡
Reposted by Tim Hunter
That's more than 1,100 jobs lost at the CSIRO over the last two years.
"Combined, the staff association estimates that equates to cutting the agency’s size by a third."
This is more cuts to the CSIRO than was attempted by the Abbott government.
www.smh.com.au/national/csi...
"Combined, the staff association estimates that equates to cutting the agency’s size by a third."
This is more cuts to the CSIRO than was attempted by the Abbott government.
www.smh.com.au/national/csi...
CSIRO to slash hundreds of jobs in cost-saving drive
The staff association at the nation’s leading scientific research organisation says the latest round of cuts marks “a sad day for publicly funded science”.
www.smh.com.au
November 18, 2025 at 4:53 AM
That's more than 1,100 jobs lost at the CSIRO over the last two years.
"Combined, the staff association estimates that equates to cutting the agency’s size by a third."
This is more cuts to the CSIRO than was attempted by the Abbott government.
www.smh.com.au/national/csi...
"Combined, the staff association estimates that equates to cutting the agency’s size by a third."
This is more cuts to the CSIRO than was attempted by the Abbott government.
www.smh.com.au/national/csi...
Reposted by Tim Hunter
NEW: I have obtained, under FOI, a secret Department report that initially recommended the Targeted Compliance Framework - aka, the unlawful "mutual obligations" scheme
It reveals that, like Robodebt, they recklessly built this thing to punish "entitled" frauds who never existed
It reveals that, like Robodebt, they recklessly built this thing to punish "entitled" frauds who never existed
November 16, 2025 at 11:47 PM
NEW: I have obtained, under FOI, a secret Department report that initially recommended the Targeted Compliance Framework - aka, the unlawful "mutual obligations" scheme
It reveals that, like Robodebt, they recklessly built this thing to punish "entitled" frauds who never existed
It reveals that, like Robodebt, they recklessly built this thing to punish "entitled" frauds who never existed
Reposted by Tim Hunter
Being better than toddlers isn’t good government, it’s babysitting.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...
www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...
No saving the Coalition – and that should be a warning to Labor
Labor is trying to present itself as the adult in the room, by pointing to the opposition's tantrums. That’s not governing, it’s babysitting.
www.thenewdaily.com.au
November 15, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Being better than toddlers isn’t good government, it’s babysitting.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...
www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...
Reposted by Tim Hunter
THIS! Awesomely honest and spot on. Share, share, share. Exactly my thoughts.
theaimn.net/burgess-in-t...
theaimn.net/burgess-in-t...
Burgess in the Afternoon
A Conversation Between Bruce Dawe and Mike Burgess For 3CR Performance [FADE IN: A Canberra afternoon. BRUCE DAWE sits opposite MIKE BURGESS in a nondescript office. Coffee cups. Files scattered. The ...
theaimn.net
November 6, 2025 at 9:53 PM
THIS! Awesomely honest and spot on. Share, share, share. Exactly my thoughts.
theaimn.net/burgess-in-t...
theaimn.net/burgess-in-t...
Reposted by Tim Hunter
The whole point of democracy is so one person's derangement does not become everybody's problem. It's social hygiene. The fact the richest men in the West are a mix of grotty twelve year olds and deranged apocalypse fanatics is a problem, and we should be honest about it.
Someone went there:
"It Kind of Seems Like Peter Thiel is Losing It"
via @futurism.com
futurism.com/future-socie...
"It Kind of Seems Like Peter Thiel is Losing It"
via @futurism.com
futurism.com/future-socie...
It Kind of Seems Like Peter Thiel Is Losing It
He's spent the past month delivering four high-octane lectures in San Francisco's downtown waterfront on the antichrist.
futurism.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The whole point of democracy is so one person's derangement does not become everybody's problem. It's social hygiene. The fact the richest men in the West are a mix of grotty twelve year olds and deranged apocalypse fanatics is a problem, and we should be honest about it.
“All the founders of the Commonweal really knew was that they weren’t going to have anything like slaves and no sorcerer would rule them.” Dove says this formally […] it’s the basis of about half the civil law, it’s important.
A Succession of Bad Days (Commonweal #2) by Graydon Saunders
A Succession of Bad Days (Commonweal #2) by Graydon Saunders
October 19, 2025 at 7:48 AM
“All the founders of the Commonweal really knew was that they weren’t going to have anything like slaves and no sorcerer would rule them.” Dove says this formally […] it’s the basis of about half the civil law, it’s important.
A Succession of Bad Days (Commonweal #2) by Graydon Saunders
A Succession of Bad Days (Commonweal #2) by Graydon Saunders
Reposted by Tim Hunter
"Two US-based academics and experts said Rainforest Reserves Australia’s (RRA) claims in submissions about their work were “100% misleading” and “absurd"...the organisation’s submission writer has admitted using AI."
And, look who supports RRA ;)
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
And, look who supports RRA ;)
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Queensland anti-renewables group cited nonexistent papers in inquiry submissions using AI, publisher says
Exclusive: Rainforest Reserves Australia has published submissions naming nonexistent government authorities and a nonexistent windfarm
www.theguardian.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:14 AM
"Two US-based academics and experts said Rainforest Reserves Australia’s (RRA) claims in submissions about their work were “100% misleading” and “absurd"...the organisation’s submission writer has admitted using AI."
And, look who supports RRA ;)
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
And, look who supports RRA ;)
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Tim Hunter
I think this is a pretty lukewarm take but it’s instructive:
ME2 has the better narrative design; ME1 has the better writing.
ME2 has the better narrative design; ME1 has the better writing.
ME2 is such a quantum leap forward in terms of graphics and gameplay that it really disguises how much worse it is at worldbuilding and narrative coherence
October 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I think this is a pretty lukewarm take but it’s instructive:
ME2 has the better narrative design; ME1 has the better writing.
ME2 has the better narrative design; ME1 has the better writing.
Reposted by Tim Hunter
Dunno if youse are across this... but it's forecast that in Sydney on Wednesday the temp will be 38C. (100 F)
It's OCTOBER! That's FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!
Our Government and fossil fuel companies are determined to cook us alive! Boil the oceans. Kill our forests. Turn habitat to ash.🥺😩
It's OCTOBER! That's FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!
Our Government and fossil fuel companies are determined to cook us alive! Boil the oceans. Kill our forests. Turn habitat to ash.🥺😩
October 18, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Dunno if youse are across this... but it's forecast that in Sydney on Wednesday the temp will be 38C. (100 F)
It's OCTOBER! That's FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!
Our Government and fossil fuel companies are determined to cook us alive! Boil the oceans. Kill our forests. Turn habitat to ash.🥺😩
It's OCTOBER! That's FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!
Our Government and fossil fuel companies are determined to cook us alive! Boil the oceans. Kill our forests. Turn habitat to ash.🥺😩
Reposted by Tim Hunter
Reposted by Tim Hunter
Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.
Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild
October 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.
Reposted by Tim Hunter
University of Technology Sydney ordered a spreadsheet from KPMG targeting individual academics by research income, which might contravene the bargaining agreement. They repeatedly denied it even existed for several info requests. But that wasn't true. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...
Exclusive: University sought secret KPMG staff spreadsheet
The University of Technology Sydney denied the existence of a KPMG spreadsheet ranking the research performance of academics, in breach of its EBA, until it was forced to release it.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
September 26, 2025 at 8:24 PM
University of Technology Sydney ordered a spreadsheet from KPMG targeting individual academics by research income, which might contravene the bargaining agreement. They repeatedly denied it even existed for several info requests. But that wasn't true. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...
Reposted by Tim Hunter
Metroidvanias are either Protestant or Catholic. Castlevania? Catholic, of course. Metroid? Protestant. Blasphemous is Catholic. Dead Cells, Protestant.
Hollow Knight is Protestant, but Hollow Knight: Silksong is Catholic. That's why people are complaining the game is hard. Cause it's Catholic now.
Hollow Knight is Protestant, but Hollow Knight: Silksong is Catholic. That's why people are complaining the game is hard. Cause it's Catholic now.
September 7, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Metroidvanias are either Protestant or Catholic. Castlevania? Catholic, of course. Metroid? Protestant. Blasphemous is Catholic. Dead Cells, Protestant.
Hollow Knight is Protestant, but Hollow Knight: Silksong is Catholic. That's why people are complaining the game is hard. Cause it's Catholic now.
Hollow Knight is Protestant, but Hollow Knight: Silksong is Catholic. That's why people are complaining the game is hard. Cause it's Catholic now.
Reposted by Tim Hunter
1/At Macquarie Uni we are losing 50% of our units in my faculty. This is on top of cuts in 2020. We estimate by next year my faculty will be teaching 80% fewer subjects than pre Covid. Disciplines being cut do not have declining enrolments. @jennaprice.bsky.social @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 1:10 AM
1/At Macquarie Uni we are losing 50% of our units in my faculty. This is on top of cuts in 2020. We estimate by next year my faculty will be teaching 80% fewer subjects than pre Covid. Disciplines being cut do not have declining enrolments. @jennaprice.bsky.social @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social
Reposted by Tim Hunter
Two remarkable assumptions in the modelling for Australia's new climate target
#1 (via @tomswann.bsky.social) - a very significant drop in demand for coal and gas supplied by Australia (and a subsequent drop in domestic emissions because digging that shit up is so profoundly dirty)
#1 (via @tomswann.bsky.social) - a very significant drop in demand for coal and gas supplied by Australia (and a subsequent drop in domestic emissions because digging that shit up is so profoundly dirty)
Coal and gas production falls a fair bit in all scenarios behind the govts emissions reduction targets.
The fact it's almost the same in each policy scenario suggests it is driven mostly not by Aust policy in the model.
The fact it's almost the same in each policy scenario suggests it is driven mostly not by Aust policy in the model.
September 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Two remarkable assumptions in the modelling for Australia's new climate target
#1 (via @tomswann.bsky.social) - a very significant drop in demand for coal and gas supplied by Australia (and a subsequent drop in domestic emissions because digging that shit up is so profoundly dirty)
#1 (via @tomswann.bsky.social) - a very significant drop in demand for coal and gas supplied by Australia (and a subsequent drop in domestic emissions because digging that shit up is so profoundly dirty)
Reposted by Tim Hunter
It should not be possible to be this wrong
September 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
It should not be possible to be this wrong
Reposted by Tim Hunter
This reminds me of a @stfj.net quote that Dark Souls asked players to be patient and gamers responded by calling it hardest game of all time
If you're struggling with Silksong, here is a tip: It is more important to avoid getting hit than it is to hit. Every single enemy attack follows a pattern that can be identified and dodged. Patience is the key. Think of it more as a platformer than an action game and you'll have a much better time
September 11, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This reminds me of a @stfj.net quote that Dark Souls asked players to be patient and gamers responded by calling it hardest game of all time
Reposted by Tim Hunter
The #HugoAward for Best Game or Interactive Work goes to Caves of Qud.
August 17, 2025 at 4:45 AM
The #HugoAward for Best Game or Interactive Work goes to Caves of Qud.
AVATAR: Male western bearded dragon on wood fence post. Head & upper body blend into bleached wood. Tall grass behind.
BANNER: Concrete microstructure false-colour map. Calcium/blue, potassium/green, silicon/red. Bottom: aggregate flecks. Middle: diffuse cracks, soft gel. Top: craggly, cement paste.
BANNER: Concrete microstructure false-colour map. Calcium/blue, potassium/green, silicon/red. Bottom: aggregate flecks. Middle: diffuse cracks, soft gel. Top: craggly, cement paste.
August 15, 2025 at 11:16 AM
AVATAR: Male western bearded dragon on wood fence post. Head & upper body blend into bleached wood. Tall grass behind.
BANNER: Concrete microstructure false-colour map. Calcium/blue, potassium/green, silicon/red. Bottom: aggregate flecks. Middle: diffuse cracks, soft gel. Top: craggly, cement paste.
BANNER: Concrete microstructure false-colour map. Calcium/blue, potassium/green, silicon/red. Bottom: aggregate flecks. Middle: diffuse cracks, soft gel. Top: craggly, cement paste.