Bruce Buckman
@brucebuckman.bsky.social
Probationary curmudgeon. 🇳🇿
The problem with thinking AI slop must ultimately fail is that most of us in our working lives have had to deal with human slop: shitty work produced by actual humans that had little value but was somehow paid for & deemed acceptable. Those are the people now producing AI slop.
February 19, 2026 at 2:13 AM
The problem with thinking AI slop must ultimately fail is that most of us in our working lives have had to deal with human slop: shitty work produced by actual humans that had little value but was somehow paid for & deemed acceptable. Those are the people now producing AI slop.
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
And after all that, the Pitt/Cruise AI fight scene appears to have been just digital BG and face replacement on multi-angle green screen reference videos of two real live human stuntees fighting.
In other words, like most AI hype — it was a con. www.shokunin.studio/blog/2026/2/...
In other words, like most AI hype — it was a con. www.shokunin.studio/blog/2026/2/...
February 19, 2026 at 1:18 AM
And after all that, the Pitt/Cruise AI fight scene appears to have been just digital BG and face replacement on multi-angle green screen reference videos of two real live human stuntees fighting.
In other words, like most AI hype — it was a con. www.shokunin.studio/blog/2026/2/...
In other words, like most AI hype — it was a con. www.shokunin.studio/blog/2026/2/...
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
"Even excluding both Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary floods, the past decade has seen natural hazard costs of $230 million a year, more than double the average over the decade before that."
February 19, 2026 at 1:24 AM
"Even excluding both Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary floods, the past decade has seen natural hazard costs of $230 million a year, more than double the average over the decade before that."
The nation that coined ‘omnishambles’ continues to innovate exciting new developments in the field.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
British dual nationals with NZ passports no longer need new UK passport
The British government has changed the rules again.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 19, 2026 at 1:03 AM
The nation that coined ‘omnishambles’ continues to innovate exciting new developments in the field.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
The stupidity of this government thinking US-style employment law will lead to US style innovation & entrepreneurship. What works* in an economy of 340 million people does not work in an economy of 5.3 million.
*for whatever definition of works you think applies to US employment practice
*for whatever definition of works you think applies to US employment practice
February 19, 2026 at 12:06 AM
The stupidity of this government thinking US-style employment law will lead to US style innovation & entrepreneurship. What works* in an economy of 340 million people does not work in an economy of 5.3 million.
*for whatever definition of works you think applies to US employment practice
*for whatever definition of works you think applies to US employment practice
The Mythbusters Archimedes’ Mirror experiment but for ripening figs in this terrible summer.
February 18, 2026 at 9:19 PM
The Mythbusters Archimedes’ Mirror experiment but for ripening figs in this terrible summer.
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
*looks around Catholicly*
February 18, 2026 at 8:35 PM
*looks around Catholicly*
The AI memory crisis is basically Starkiller Base sucking all the energy out of a sun just to break shit.
“.. ‘many system vendors will go bankrupt or exit product lines due to a lack of memory. Mobile phone production will be reduced by 200-250 million units, and PC and TV production will be significantly reduced.’ Yikes.”
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
@pcgamer.com #DRAM
www.pcgamer.com/hardware/mem...
February 17, 2026 at 10:48 PM
The AI memory crisis is basically Starkiller Base sucking all the energy out of a sun just to break shit.
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
What jumped out to me from the long-term NZ temperature data was the acceleration in recent years.
The lowest annual average in the past decade was 11.34C in 2020. Yet, that threshold was only exceeded four times between 1901 and 2015.
The lowest annual average in the past decade was 11.34C in 2020. Yet, that threshold was only exceeded four times between 1901 and 2015.
February 17, 2026 at 10:04 PM
What jumped out to me from the long-term NZ temperature data was the acceleration in recent years.
The lowest annual average in the past decade was 11.34C in 2020. Yet, that threshold was only exceeded four times between 1901 and 2015.
The lowest annual average in the past decade was 11.34C in 2020. Yet, that threshold was only exceeded four times between 1901 and 2015.
The problem with Shane Jones’ version of populism is he champions, almost exclusively. issues that are statistically, irrefutably unpopular.
www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
Minister defends bottom trawling, despite poll showing majority of NZers want it banned
A new poll shows a majority of New Zealanders want the fishing method of bottom trawling banned, but Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is not of this view.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 17, 2026 at 10:05 PM
The problem with Shane Jones’ version of populism is he champions, almost exclusively. issues that are statistically, irrefutably unpopular.
www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
Today the ERA Bill passed, marking a dark day for NZ workers.
This Govt has weakened YOUR job security.
For instance, the door is now open for employers to ‘re-hire’ anyone as a ‘specified contractor’, lacking protections like min wage, holiday pay, sick leave and the right to join a union. #nzpol
This Govt has weakened YOUR job security.
For instance, the door is now open for employers to ‘re-hire’ anyone as a ‘specified contractor’, lacking protections like min wage, holiday pay, sick leave and the right to join a union. #nzpol
![text reading "“[The ERA Bill] will worsen the cost-of-living crisis, exacerbate the exodus of New Zealand workers to Australia, and encourage more predation on the working class by big business without redress.” - Dennis Maga, Workers First General Secretary"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:znrmzrovbbulmo2huuzapvm3/bafkreiam5yqf4o6z5avhsh6imrdn2hpd3zto7fo6edfp44qgtlwx5byunm@jpeg)
February 17, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Today the ERA Bill passed, marking a dark day for NZ workers.
This Govt has weakened YOUR job security.
For instance, the door is now open for employers to ‘re-hire’ anyone as a ‘specified contractor’, lacking protections like min wage, holiday pay, sick leave and the right to join a union. #nzpol
This Govt has weakened YOUR job security.
For instance, the door is now open for employers to ‘re-hire’ anyone as a ‘specified contractor’, lacking protections like min wage, holiday pay, sick leave and the right to join a union. #nzpol
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
pov: you're being frisked for dog biscuits (🔊)
February 17, 2026 at 7:46 PM
pov: you're being frisked for dog biscuits (🔊)
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
In today’s NZ Herald
February 17, 2026 at 5:32 PM
In today’s NZ Herald
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
The Roman Pharos (lighthouse) at Dover, still standing after almost 2,000 years! 🤩
It is the tallest surviving Roman structure in Britain, and one of only three surviving lighthouses from the former Roman Empire! Dated 1st-2nd century AD.
📷 me
#Archaeology
It is the tallest surviving Roman structure in Britain, and one of only three surviving lighthouses from the former Roman Empire! Dated 1st-2nd century AD.
📷 me
#Archaeology
February 17, 2026 at 6:36 PM
The Roman Pharos (lighthouse) at Dover, still standing after almost 2,000 years! 🤩
It is the tallest surviving Roman structure in Britain, and one of only three surviving lighthouses from the former Roman Empire! Dated 1st-2nd century AD.
📷 me
#Archaeology
It is the tallest surviving Roman structure in Britain, and one of only three surviving lighthouses from the former Roman Empire! Dated 1st-2nd century AD.
📷 me
#Archaeology
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
Probably the best frame I've shot in at least a year, and I knew it the second I touched the shutter release.
South Island oystercatcher. 🪶
South Island oystercatcher. 🪶
February 17, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Probably the best frame I've shot in at least a year, and I knew it the second I touched the shutter release.
South Island oystercatcher. 🪶
South Island oystercatcher. 🪶
February 17, 2026 at 9:30 AM
If you’re unwilling to acknowledge the actual cause of your need to plan for climate related disasters then you have most definitely shoved your politics right in there.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Party leaders call for politics to be taken out of planning for weather events
Luxon wants it handled independently, while Hipkins says infrastructure should not be something the parties "compete" on.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 17, 2026 at 5:33 AM
If you’re unwilling to acknowledge the actual cause of your need to plan for climate related disasters then you have most definitely shoved your politics right in there.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
#ITeachPhysics another relative velocity video for you
February 16, 2026 at 3:52 PM
#ITeachPhysics another relative velocity video for you
Look it’s all grifting bullshit but it would nonetheless make a good kiwi Jurassic Park movie where it’s discovered the clone dudes put NZ Falcon DNA in the mix and have accidentally created fake moa terror birds that go on a bloodthirsty rampage.
I said "Paul, I bet you $1000 there will be no 'functionally-equivalent' moa running around in ten years." We shook on it, witnessed by the Friends of the Museum audience. The talk will be on YouTube but not the questions, so you'll have to take my word that this happened.
February 17, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Look it’s all grifting bullshit but it would nonetheless make a good kiwi Jurassic Park movie where it’s discovered the clone dudes put NZ Falcon DNA in the mix and have accidentally created fake moa terror birds that go on a bloodthirsty rampage.
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
Straight up we have a coordinated, intentional pattern that explicitly intends to push overwhelmingly wahine Māori from public and political life - not just from members of the public, but hugely from our media outlets. Do you know how fast this racist disinformation turns into outright fascism?
As per usual, a loud and feral minority hijacking the conversation with misinformation.
Also seeing a disturbing & very familiar pattern of hostility toward Tamatha Paul. Our community must stand behind her. We can’t allow another Māori leader to be worn down and pushed out. #nzpol
Also seeing a disturbing & very familiar pattern of hostility toward Tamatha Paul. Our community must stand behind her. We can’t allow another Māori leader to be worn down and pushed out. #nzpol
“Rooted in racism” Hostility and disinformation overshadow Moa Point public meeting
More than 300 people packed into a public meeting on Monday night to demand answers over the ongoing Moa Point wastewater disaster.
www.teaonews.co.nz
February 17, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Straight up we have a coordinated, intentional pattern that explicitly intends to push overwhelmingly wahine Māori from public and political life - not just from members of the public, but hugely from our media outlets. Do you know how fast this racist disinformation turns into outright fascism?
Oh cool another fucking streaming service you’ll have to cycle through using (cause who can afford all these bloody subs) just to see a few shows or movies you want. Truly a golden age for capitalism gaslighting consumers that they’re getting “more choice”.
www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens...
www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens...
New Zealand is getting a new streaming service - HBO Max is coming
Shows like The Pitt, Succession and The White Lotus will live exclusively on the new platform from mid-2026.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 16, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Oh cool another fucking streaming service you’ll have to cycle through using (cause who can afford all these bloody subs) just to see a few shows or movies you want. Truly a golden age for capitalism gaslighting consumers that they’re getting “more choice”.
www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens...
www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens...
Reposted by Bruce Buckman
This climate change which governments and billionaires tell us isn’t really happening is now not really happening much more.
February 16, 2026 at 8:56 PM
This climate change which governments and billionaires tell us isn’t really happening is now not really happening much more.
Love poll stories where the max sampling error is 3.1% yet the story is very excited about the shifts that are mainly within the margin of error.
February 16, 2026 at 6:39 AM
Love poll stories where the max sampling error is 3.1% yet the story is very excited about the shifts that are mainly within the margin of error.