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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 19m

Last week I reached the semi-finals of New Zealand Raw Comedy, the national competition for new comedians.

This is absolutely not my full-time job; it's a hobby & a v. enjoyable one too.

The best bit? You can learn to tell jokes right here in Auckland: Give it a go!

www.nzcomedyschool.com/enroll

GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 1h

Karanga-a-Hape station has operational passenger information displays (PIDs). Suddenly City Rail Link looks very real.

Also good to see new public realm underway in Mercury Lane.

The original CRL plan reinstated southbound through-traffic right outside a 🚇 station entrance :(

This is better.#CRL

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Idiot/Savant @norightturnnz.bsky.social · 8h

Sounds like an excellent place to get react quotes to National's weakening of methane targets.

The Press @thepress.co.nz · 12h

Hundreds of scientists and global leaders are converging on Christchurch for the world's largest and most influential climate adaptation gathering.

Global leaders, scientists gather for NZ's largest ever climate event

Hundreds of scientists and global leaders are converging on Christchurch for the world's largest and most influential climate adaptation gathering.

dlvr.it

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Kirsty Johnston @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social · 3h

I thought I’d have a go at answering the question: what’s the flow on effect on emissions budgets from the methane cuts?

The answer was worse than I had anticipated

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Scientists fear weaker methane target signals wider retreat from climate action

After cutting methane targets, New Zealand has a choice: shoulder the burden at huge cost - or cause more warming to the planet.

www.rnz.co.nz

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 2h

I shall!

GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 2h

If you like this post, please do listen to Bowie's fabbo song.

And...while you're there, listen to 'Sunmachine' by Dario G, which is I *also* thought was about a gigantic "Sound Machine".

open.spotify.com/album/0anIAS...

Imagine a vast ghetto blaster with a DJ booth where the tapedeck would be.

Sunmachine (25th Anniversary Edition)

open.spotify.com

GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 2h

The persistence of misheard lyrics is incredible.

For 20+ years, I thought that David Bowie sang (in 'Memories of a Free Festival'):

"The sound machine is coming down,
And we're gonna have a party" 🥳

I imagined a huge fluoro ghetto blaster descending into a park.

It's *actually* the SUN MACHINE🤦‍♂️

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Dustin Moskovitz @moskov.goodventures.org · 13d

This shouldn't need to be said, but coal is failing in the year 2025 because it is more expensive than alternative solutions. You can't polish this lump.

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Alan White @aljwhite.bsky.social · 13h

I ❤️ Viz

A letter to viz on why we should be removing British objects from people’s rectums, not foreign ones

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 12h

You're going to need a bigger glass.

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 12h

Prof @ianwalker.bsky.social is a leading expert in sustainable transport and is credited with popularising the term 'motornormativity'.

I shall be signing up to his newsletter.

Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 14h

On BlueSky I share thoughts about sustainable transport and environmental psychology, plus interesting links

I'm going to try a newsletter for when I want to explore ideas in more depth

Sign up? simple.ghost.io The first entry, to tell you what's going on, is at simple.ghost.io/the-simple-n...

The Simple Newsletter is coming soon

Because you can never have enough email

simple.ghost.io

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 12h

Vehicular cycling is at best a survival strategy. At worst it's a cult.

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 12h

So if you (or your child, neice, nephew, pupil, etc) are deciding what to study, please don't make the mistake that I did with maths A-level.

Do study things that you find engaging.

Don't pick your subjects based on fear of the dole.

If I had my time again I'd have done French & Spanish.

ENDS!

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 12h

For me, geography and economics led me to university to study social sciences, town planning, real estate & sustainable urbanism. This has shaped my career & I feel lucky to have found such an engaging niche.

And the only way to find engaging niches is to pursue avenues of inherent interest. 7/n

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 12h

Because...and this is really important...you're thinking about what you want to do for your career.

If the fundamental academic building blocks are neither engaging nor enjoyable, your career may not come with the satisfaction that you deserve.

And this is a waste of time.

6/n

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 12h

The point is, it's extremely unhelpful when schools, vocational advisors, etc dole out generic advice that leads to teenagers making decisions based on fear.

If the brochure had said: "Do maths if you enjoy it, you're good at it and it makes you tick" then that would have been sensible advice. 5/n

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 12h

Meanwhile, did maths (or lack thereof) keep the wolf from the door?

In an unscientific study, some ppl have done v. well helped by their aptitude in maths (eg trader at Goldman Sachs).

Other success (partner at law firm, social media entrepreneur, etc) came from ppl studying English & History 4/n

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 13h

With a lot of hard work, extra classes and past papers, I emerged with a D grade in AS-level maths (including a U for P2) and ditched it for the last year of school, sticking with Economics, Geography and Physics (AAB).

I was a good pupil and *wanted* to do well but the maths just didn't stick.
3/n

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 13h

When I was choosing my A-levels at 15/16, I thought:

"Well *I* don't want to be on the dole. I should clearly do maths because it's what you're meant to do."

I wasted a whole year battling with AS-Level maths, trying to memorise stuff like this. It was like filling a sink with the plug out.

2/n

Formulae list for Pure Maths 2 AS-level paper, written in a sanctimonious: "If you don't know it then tough luck" tone.

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 13h

🧵

This page contains the single most useless piece of career advice that I ever received at school.

TL:DR: "Study maths or join the dole queue."

This is insane. If you don't enjoy maths and are not good at maths, you shouldn't waste your time doing it.

1/n

Career advice from late 1999s school folder, saying: "Maths and science subjects are most likely to help you avoid a dead-end job or a place in the dole queue."

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TODERIAN UrbanWORKS Inc. (TUW) @toderianuw.bsky.social · 1d

Switzerland is “rich in something vanishingly rare in the rest of the world: common sense. This is most apparent in the way the Swiss get around…a model of sensible, sustainable — and yes, even enjoyable — transit. It’s simply the best transportation system in the world.” Via @taras-grescoe.com

Anatomy of the Swiss Revolution

How Switzerland Engineered Itself into Becoming the World's Greatest Transit Nation

www.highspeed.blog

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Anon Opin @anonopin.bsky.social · 18h

UK businesses using American English in their advertising should be liquidated and the proceeds given to charity.

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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 16h

BBC News explain that because of Brexit, Brits will be photographed and have their fingerprints taken when going into the EU, as the UK now is a third country

BBC News forget to explain that the UK helped create these rules when we were part of the EU because we wanted stronger border control

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Railmaps @railmaps.com.au · 1d

Perth's Armadale railway re-opens today after reconstruction of significant lengths and a number of stations as an elevated railway. Electric trains will now extend one station to Byford.

The first electric train to Byford will depart Perth at 9:18am

railmaps.com.au/routedetails...

Screencap of new Byford train timetable from Australian Rail Maps website.

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GeorgeWeeks2014 @georgeweeks2014.bsky.social · 1d

In tribute to Diane Keaton (may she rest in peace) here is my favourite 📽 clip from 'Annie Hall', featuring Diane Keaton, Woody Allen and Marshall McLuhan.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpIY...

It's a wonderfully believable scene + characters, with a perfectly-timed lurch into fantasty.

#DianeKeaton

Annie Hall

YouTube video by TGTE

www.youtube.com

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