André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
@andrealessi.bsky.social
Philosophy PhD student at the University of Waikato (working on how regular people figure out when to trust experts) but I mainly joke about tech and cats. Former telco product manager, data guy and financial crime analyst.
https://ko-fi.com/andrealessi
https://ko-fi.com/andrealessi
Pinned
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
NEW: Myanmar has made a big show of destroying the notorious KK Park scam compound—even publishing a video of a steamroller driving over thousands of phones
But new images show buildings are only destroyed in one area. Hundreds are left untouched and experts say the crackdown is mostly propaganda
But new images show buildings are only destroyed in one area. Hundreds are left untouched and experts say the crackdown is mostly propaganda
The Destruction of a Notorious Myanmar Scam Compound Appears to Have Been ‘Performative’
Myanmar’s military has been blowing up parts of the KK Park scam compound. Experts say the actions are likely for show.
www.wired.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
NEW: Myanmar has made a big show of destroying the notorious KK Park scam compound—even publishing a video of a steamroller driving over thousands of phones
But new images show buildings are only destroyed in one area. Hundreds are left untouched and experts say the crackdown is mostly propaganda
But new images show buildings are only destroyed in one area. Hundreds are left untouched and experts say the crackdown is mostly propaganda
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
1) genuine life changing moment of my early 20s was realizing I actually didn't have to do this at all. tell the youths
2) I feel like there's a class discussion to be had around the stakes of this kind of decision though
2) I feel like there's a class discussion to be had around the stakes of this kind of decision though
So many men go through life like that. You can play poker because it's right-coded, you can't enjoy fruity alcoholic drinks because they're women-coded, you can't lick an ice cream cone because it's gay-coded. All day, every day, choosing and judging things based on coding for narrow norms.
November 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
1) genuine life changing moment of my early 20s was realizing I actually didn't have to do this at all. tell the youths
2) I feel like there's a class discussion to be had around the stakes of this kind of decision though
2) I feel like there's a class discussion to be had around the stakes of this kind of decision though
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
I love how the localising editor in question knew enough to make the change but not enough to know how insane it sounds to any potential audience
new favourite New York Times term for a British thing just dropped
November 26, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I love how the localising editor in question knew enough to make the change but not enough to know how insane it sounds to any potential audience
They found your boyfriend:
Rare endangered mudfish discovered on Timaru farm
A critically threatened endemic freshwater fish found only in Canterbury has been discovered on a farm near Timaru.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 9:01 AM
They found your boyfriend:
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
OpenAI says they aren't liable for the suicide of a user their chat bot urged to kill himself because suicide is a violation of the TOS
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 AM
OpenAI says they aren't liable for the suicide of a user their chat bot urged to kill himself because suicide is a violation of the TOS
This is a good summary of some of the issues with NZ's proposed school science curriculum. I spend a lot of time thinking about what science actually is, and how to communicate that to non-scientists, and this summarizes many of those issues simply:
NZ’s draft science curriculum favours rote learning over critical thinking
Critical thinking is an essential skill students should be encouraged to develop as part of their science learning. NZ’s draft science curriculum fails the test.
theconversation.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:37 AM
This is a good summary of some of the issues with NZ's proposed school science curriculum. I spend a lot of time thinking about what science actually is, and how to communicate that to non-scientists, and this summarizes many of those issues simply:
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
Bluesky not addictive to teens but definitely a crutch for elder millennials who know too much about the Bajoran war.
Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat know how addictive their platforms can be to teens.
Those are allegations a group of school districts is making against the social media giants, according to a newly unsealed legal filing that quotes the companies’ own internal documents. https://cnn.it/3Xjq5x5
Those are allegations a group of school districts is making against the social media giants, according to a newly unsealed legal filing that quotes the companies’ own internal documents. https://cnn.it/3Xjq5x5
November 26, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Bluesky not addictive to teens but definitely a crutch for elder millennials who know too much about the Bajoran war.
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
This is hilarious, like so embarrassing. I'm mainly wondering though, if this has a) fundamentally undermined the basis of MMP by rendering coalition agreements kinda worthless, or b) been a useful example of why seriously batshit minor parties shouldn't overplay their hand even with a weakass major
Nicola Willis suggests National may join the Greens, Labour, TPM and NZ First campaigning to repeal Regulatory Standards Act
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
'It's not impossible': Willis says National may join other parties to repeal Regulatory Standards Act
The National deputy leader said her party may also campaign to get rid of the law.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 6:19 AM
This is hilarious, like so embarrassing. I'm mainly wondering though, if this has a) fundamentally undermined the basis of MMP by rendering coalition agreements kinda worthless, or b) been a useful example of why seriously batshit minor parties shouldn't overplay their hand even with a weakass major
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
imagine having to hear shit like "study confirms giving diabetic children insulin reduces their death rates by 100%" as if that hasn't been known for like a hunred years. that's what being trans is like
November 25, 2025 at 12:06 PM
imagine having to hear shit like "study confirms giving diabetic children insulin reduces their death rates by 100%" as if that hasn't been known for like a hunred years. that's what being trans is like
I don't think anyone would be particularly surprised by the fact that this is a punitive policy that intends to enforce a particular moral view of welfare rather than a practical one, but I guess it's useful to have it confirmed in writing.
Ministers were warned against teen welfare crackdown, documents reveal
Officials said the changes could actually increase long-term benefit dependency.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 25, 2025 at 11:42 PM
I don't think anyone would be particularly surprised by the fact that this is a punitive policy that intends to enforce a particular moral view of welfare rather than a practical one, but I guess it's useful to have it confirmed in writing.
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
So excited to be visiting Aotearoa New Zealand in February for the Capitol City Complex Systems Symposium 2026 (with side trips to Otago, Canterbury, and U. Auckland).
If you're in Wellington or fancy a visit, check out the program.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/conferences/...
If you're in Wellington or fancy a visit, check out the program.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/conferences/...
Capital City Complex Systems Symposium 2026
The Capital City Complex Systems Symposium 2026 explores cutting-edge knowledge of complex systems & complexity & how this knowledge is used to drive system change.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
So excited to be visiting Aotearoa New Zealand in February for the Capitol City Complex Systems Symposium 2026 (with side trips to Otago, Canterbury, and U. Auckland).
If you're in Wellington or fancy a visit, check out the program.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/conferences/...
If you're in Wellington or fancy a visit, check out the program.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/conferences/...
I bet Barron could talk him into pushing for a sequel to Honour Among Thieves.
‘Rush Hour 4’ is officially in the works.
This comes after Donald Trump personally requested Paramount to revive the franchise.
This comes after Donald Trump personally requested Paramount to revive the franchise.
November 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I bet Barron could talk him into pushing for a sequel to Honour Among Thieves.
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
It's not just the scrapping of structures that were considered cornerstones of "Western Values" just a few years ago; it's not even that the people scrapping them are the same sort of people who bray about Western Values; it's the casualness, the unseriousness about *their own* Most Serious Beliefs
Jury trials in England and Wales to be scrapped except for most serious cases on.ft.com/3LY1Ceq
Jury trials in England and Wales to be scrapped except for most serious cases
Proposed changes unlikely to apply for trials of serious offences such as rape and murder
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:27 PM
It's not just the scrapping of structures that were considered cornerstones of "Western Values" just a few years ago; it's not even that the people scrapping them are the same sort of people who bray about Western Values; it's the casualness, the unseriousness about *their own* Most Serious Beliefs
I've started training at a new job this week (full time over the summer, then part time during semester) and yesterday the trainers casually mentioned that over 400 people applied for the role just in Hamilton, but only ten of us made it through. It's a very rough job market out there.
November 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I've started training at a new job this week (full time over the summer, then part time during semester) and yesterday the trainers casually mentioned that over 400 people applied for the role just in Hamilton, but only ten of us made it through. It's a very rough job market out there.
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
I am of the simple opinion that stuff like this is the peak of human endeavour and we can cut it out with the missiles and demonic computers in favour of getting really good at a cool little thing
November 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I am of the simple opinion that stuff like this is the peak of human endeavour and we can cut it out with the missiles and demonic computers in favour of getting really good at a cool little thing
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
I’d add: we’ve seen on multiple occasions what it looks like when the British press are as one boiling with white hot fury, determined to rend and destroy until their hated enemies are utterly annihilated. Does this look anything like that and if it doesn’t, why not?
I 100% agree but I cannot tell you how bad it looks that this has become an urgent issue now, when they’re leading the polls, and it was a secondary issue at best for the last two decades when the lads had more important shit they wanted to focus on.
November 25, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I’d add: we’ve seen on multiple occasions what it looks like when the British press are as one boiling with white hot fury, determined to rend and destroy until their hated enemies are utterly annihilated. Does this look anything like that and if it doesn’t, why not?
The Chair Company is a great story that asks the question, "What if every single person in the world was extremely weird?"
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 AM
The Chair Company is a great story that asks the question, "What if every single person in the world was extremely weird?"
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
NZ has had two major reforms of subnational government so far: 1876 and 1989
As the guy who literally wrote a book on the demise of that first system, *and* as someone who generally supports more unitary authorities, my considered opinion is that this proposal is completely insane
As the guy who literally wrote a book on the demise of that first system, *and* as someone who generally supports more unitary authorities, my considered opinion is that this proposal is completely insane
No more regional councils - major shake-up of local government announced
The government says it is not a power grab, but about "making local government fit for purpose".
www.rnz.co.nz
November 25, 2025 at 7:59 AM
NZ has had two major reforms of subnational government so far: 1876 and 1989
As the guy who literally wrote a book on the demise of that first system, *and* as someone who generally supports more unitary authorities, my considered opinion is that this proposal is completely insane
As the guy who literally wrote a book on the demise of that first system, *and* as someone who generally supports more unitary authorities, my considered opinion is that this proposal is completely insane
I'm updating the bios on my laptop, and I'm pretty sure the flash process was designed by clowns. The initial confirmation screen has multiple "DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS DURING INSTALL" warnings, but the first thing you see after pressing "Proceed" is a cmd prompt saying "press any key".
November 25, 2025 at 8:14 AM
I'm updating the bios on my laptop, and I'm pretty sure the flash process was designed by clowns. The initial confirmation screen has multiple "DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS DURING INSTALL" warnings, but the first thing you see after pressing "Proceed" is a cmd prompt saying "press any key".
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Reposted by André "Seasonal Pun" Alessi
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
How the oil and gas industry helped rewrite New Zealand’s drilling rules
A paper trail shows just how far ministers went to accommodate the oil and gas industry's wishlist.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
There's a lot of room for differing opinions on what is the best meat pie, but I have yet to find one that makes me happier than the pork & watercress from the Bakehouse Café on Heaphy Terrace in Hamilton.
November 25, 2025 at 7:48 AM
There's a lot of room for differing opinions on what is the best meat pie, but I have yet to find one that makes me happier than the pork & watercress from the Bakehouse Café on Heaphy Terrace in Hamilton.