Bill Nelson
@softmagnificence.bsky.social
Poetry and other important things. Writer of Root Leaf Flower Fruit and Memorandum of Understanding (THWUP)
This is such a thoughtful and meaningful (and well written) piece on kotahitanga in light of recent more salaciously reported events. This is what good opinion pieces look like in my er, opinion. New Yorker level stuff. thespinoff.co.nz/atea/17-10-2... thespinoff.co.nz/atea/17-10-2...
Unity isn’t the destination – it’s the journey
Kotahitanga was never meant to silence dissent, but to serve a greater purpose.
thespinoff.co.nz
October 16, 2025 at 10:59 PM
This is such a thoughtful and meaningful (and well written) piece on kotahitanga in light of recent more salaciously reported events. This is what good opinion pieces look like in my er, opinion. New Yorker level stuff. thespinoff.co.nz/atea/17-10-2... thespinoff.co.nz/atea/17-10-2...
These may or may not be good books but either way turning my life around, back toward 1979, is not a reason to read them.
August 1, 2025 at 1:26 AM
These may or may not be good books but either way turning my life around, back toward 1979, is not a reason to read them.
I don’t think I’ve seen a topic divide people as much as AI does. War, climate change, art, identity politics… none of that comes close.
www.hec.edu/en/knowledge...
www.hec.edu/en/knowledge...
The AI Divide Is Human, Not Technological
HEC Paris research reveals that the technology’s biggest limitation isn’t technical, but human: who benefits, and who gets left behind.
www.hec.edu
June 30, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I don’t think I’ve seen a topic divide people as much as AI does. War, climate change, art, identity politics… none of that comes close.
www.hec.edu/en/knowledge...
www.hec.edu/en/knowledge...
Rachel O’Neill’s bizarre and hilarious musical instruments in Symphony of Queer Errands are fantastic! Everyone should read this slowly and with your chuckle shoes on. She’s like a mushed up version of Italo Calvino, Russell Edson and Anne Carson. So good.
April 27, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Rachel O’Neill’s bizarre and hilarious musical instruments in Symphony of Queer Errands are fantastic! Everyone should read this slowly and with your chuckle shoes on. She’s like a mushed up version of Italo Calvino, Russell Edson and Anne Carson. So good.
Isn’t this like trying to measure child poverty by asking a bunch of kids if they feel hungrier than they did a year ago? www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/557...
About a quarter of people feel more safe than a year ago - poll
The RNZ-Reid Research Poll reveals over a quarter feel safer, while about 38 percent have not had any safety concerns.
www.rnz.co.nz
April 3, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Isn’t this like trying to measure child poverty by asking a bunch of kids if they feel hungrier than they did a year ago? www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/557...
I'm reading some poems tonight in Christchurch with the excellent Joan Fleming and Zoë Deans if anyone is around. It'll be great!
canterburypoets.org.nz/coming-up/
canterburypoets.org.nz/coming-up/
Coming Up
Autumn 2025 SeasonThursdays, 6 – 27 March6.30 pm to 8.30 pm Deans, Fitchett, Fleming, Gray, Green, Morgan, Morton, Nelson, Pickens, Taylor … and maybe YOU? Download your own pdf copy of the poster …
canterburypoets.org.nz
March 12, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I'm reading some poems tonight in Christchurch with the excellent Joan Fleming and Zoë Deans if anyone is around. It'll be great!
canterburypoets.org.nz/coming-up/
canterburypoets.org.nz/coming-up/
Scientific Method
Hypothesis: Afghans are the most consistently delicious biscuit.
Experiment: Ate one.
Result: Very delicious.
Conclusion: More study needed.
Hypothesis: Afghans are the most consistently delicious biscuit.
Experiment: Ate one.
Result: Very delicious.
Conclusion: More study needed.
February 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Scientific Method
Hypothesis: Afghans are the most consistently delicious biscuit.
Experiment: Ate one.
Result: Very delicious.
Conclusion: More study needed.
Hypothesis: Afghans are the most consistently delicious biscuit.
Experiment: Ate one.
Result: Very delicious.
Conclusion: More study needed.
A NZ poetics manifesto from James Brown.
February 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A NZ poetics manifesto from James Brown.
One day I hope to a government department meeting room named after me.
February 4, 2025 at 4:23 AM
One day I hope to a government department meeting room named after me.
Was just about to learn the Twin Peaks theme on our piano (has the exact same sound). Will be doing that tonight in memorial.
January 16, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Was just about to learn the Twin Peaks theme on our piano (has the exact same sound). Will be doing that tonight in memorial.
This piece is titled: Pretentious window dressing photography with fire and emergency superimposed.
December 20, 2024 at 5:09 AM
This piece is titled: Pretentious window dressing photography with fire and emergency superimposed.
Local slumlord handiwork. Keeping NZers in housing since the dark ages.
November 10, 2024 at 9:11 PM
Local slumlord handiwork. Keeping NZers in housing since the dark ages.
‘Needle’ might be one of my favourite words in the English language. #needle #greatwords
October 21, 2024 at 7:30 PM
‘Needle’ might be one of my favourite words in the English language. #needle #greatwords
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #2,912,954!
Not quite the first person wandering around peering into empty rooms, but close enough.
Not quite the first person wandering around peering into empty rooms, but close enough.
October 10, 2024 at 9:51 PM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #2,912,954!
Not quite the first person wandering around peering into empty rooms, but close enough.
Not quite the first person wandering around peering into empty rooms, but close enough.
Made a submission, even though it seem futile at the moment.
Deranged plan “would result in an extra 51 million tonnes of planet-heating emissions being pumped into the atmosphere in the years to 2050”. We have 4 days to make submissions ✍️ 💚 🌏 . www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Public given just four days to submit on gas and oil exploration bill
The time for MPs to consider the bill has also been shortened because the government wants the change passed by the end of the year.
www.rnz.co.nz
September 27, 2024 at 6:54 PM
Made a submission, even though it seem futile at the moment.
Is advertising allergy a thing? Is it okay if I tell people I will throw up and possibly paas out if they bring their marketing BS into the same room as me.
August 29, 2024 at 12:05 AM
Is advertising allergy a thing? Is it okay if I tell people I will throw up and possibly paas out if they bring their marketing BS into the same room as me.
Spotted in a Danish library
July 17, 2024 at 12:09 PM
Spotted in a Danish library
I am talking with Mikaela Nyman and a bunch of other interesting people about (non)fiction in 2 minutes!
www.youtube.com/@flashfronti...
www.youtube.com/@flashfronti...
Flash Frontier
Flash Frontier: An Adventure in Short Fiction.
www.youtube.com
June 14, 2024 at 11:29 PM
I am talking with Mikaela Nyman and a bunch of other interesting people about (non)fiction in 2 minutes!
www.youtube.com/@flashfronti...
www.youtube.com/@flashfronti...
Reposted by Bill Nelson
crowd in the thousands gathering in and around train station in te whanganui a tara
May 30, 2024 at 12:04 AM
crowd in the thousands gathering in and around train station in te whanganui a tara
Some good convo with the other finalists.
Ockham NZ Book Awards: Poetry Round Table 2024 – Academy of New Zealand Literature
‘I assumed no publisher would be interested’
t.co
May 14, 2024 at 9:02 AM
Some good convo with the other finalists.
This is so good! Now for the Americas cup.
Maiden's all-female crew win the Ocean Globe Race
Heather Thomas and her all-women crew aboard Tracy Edwards’ famous 58ft yacht Maiden have won the 2023-4 Ocean Globe Race!
www.yachtingmonthly.com
April 23, 2024 at 7:13 PM
This is so good! Now for the Americas cup.
Thanks @paulajoygreen.bsky.social for the lovely write up. Poetry salutes you!
April 16, 2024 at 12:37 AM
Thanks @paulajoygreen.bsky.social for the lovely write up. Poetry salutes you!
Spent last night sleeping in the ED waiting room (purgatory) because the part of the hospital I was being admitted to (heaven when those doors opened) had only one doctor on and no beds. I don’t think we need clearer targets Mr Luxon (hell is a KPI) we need more doctors, more beds, more something.
April 10, 2024 at 8:49 AM
Spent last night sleeping in the ED waiting room (purgatory) because the part of the hospital I was being admitted to (heaven when those doors opened) had only one doctor on and no beds. I don’t think we need clearer targets Mr Luxon (hell is a KPI) we need more doctors, more beds, more something.