James W
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jamesw228.bsky.social
James W
@jamesw228.bsky.social
430 followers 600 following 4.2K posts
Takes about all kinds of things but predominantly politics, autistic people things and research, technnology.

Opinions my own and all terrible.

He/Him Pōneke/Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
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jamesw228.bsky.social
James W @jamesw228.bsky.social · Oct 9
The questions I keep coming back to are:

What if they do?
What if they automate away white collar, creative and transport workers?
Who buys the stuff from their companies?
With what money?
How does that economy function?
Reposted by James W
jamesw228.bsky.social
On the one hand, this is depressing as an indicator of what we're getting for at least 3 years

On the other, it's nice to have such quick confirmation of my assessment of Little politically and personally

#nzpol
joelmacmanus.bsky.social Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 6h
In his first council meeting as Wellington mayor, Andrew Little gave a big promotion to controversial rival Ray Chung and opened a political rift between Labour and the Greens.

thespinoff.co.nz/politics/25-...
Andrew Little buddies up to the right
In his first council meeting as Wellington mayor, Andrew Little opened a political rift between Labour and the Greens.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
jamesw228.bsky.social
On the one hand, this is depressing as an indicator of what we're getting for at least 3 years

On the other, it's nice to have such quick confirmation of my assessment of Little politically and personally

#nzpol
joelmacmanus.bsky.social Joel MacManus @joelmacmanus.bsky.social · 6h
In his first council meeting as Wellington mayor, Andrew Little gave a big promotion to controversial rival Ray Chung and opened a political rift between Labour and the Greens.

thespinoff.co.nz/politics/25-...
Andrew Little buddies up to the right
In his first council meeting as Wellington mayor, Andrew Little opened a political rift between Labour and the Greens.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by James W
molly.wiki
"aggressive accounting" is a fun euphemism
bgrueskin.bsky.social Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 12h
This feels like one of those stories you're going to look at a year from now and say to yourself, "Why didn't I move more of my portfolio into cash?" **

** (This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or any other advice.)

🎁

www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
AI Meets Aggressive Accounting at Meta’s Gigantic New Data Center
Favorable treatment off the balance sheet hinges on some convenient assumptions.
www.wsj.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Reposted by James W
marcdaalder.bsky.social
Mike Hosking is wrong about the results of the UK Covid Inquiry this morning. The inquiry found an earlier lockdown could have saved 23k lives. It did find that "stringent restrictions short of a mandatory lockdown" if imposed earlier could have avoided a lockdown – which is diff from "unnecessary".
November 23, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Reposted by James W
bernardchickey.bsky.social
In my Chorus podcast/email newsletter today…PM's first election policy designed to look like Australian-type KiwiSaver bonus, but actually costs Government nothing & disguises further real cuts; Social Housing policy also disguises real cuts #nzpol
thekaka.substack.com/p/mondays-ch...
Monday's Chorus: Performative politics on KiwiSaver & social housing
PM's first election policy designed to look like Australian-type KiwiSaver bonus, but actually costs Government nothing & disguises further real cuts; Social Housing policy also disguises real cuts
thekaka.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Reposted by James W
keithng.bsky.social
Lol wut, 20x leverage trading with other crypto as collateral in a pool with a low-latency automated trading; just some "banana peel shoes on a tightrope over a tank of piranas" level of great idea
November 21, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Reposted by James W
jamesw228.bsky.social
Funny how everyone followed the correct procedure so nobody is at fault outside of the police but there's also no need to change the procedures #nzpol

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Police Minister's elecorate staff replied to Jevon McSkimming accuser's emails
Emails containing allegations about Jevon McSkimming were forwarded to Mark Mitchell's minsiterial office, months before he says he was made aware of charges.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by James W
commentsandopi2.bsky.social
Emails also went to the PM's office. Was the police protocol in place there too? Or did they just forward to Mitchell and NEVER mentioned that to the PM?
#nzpol
Police Minister's elecorate staff replied to Jevon McSkimming accuser's emails www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Police Minister's elecorate staff replied to Jevon McSkimming accuser's emails
Emails containing allegations about Jevon McSkimming were forwarded to Mark Mitchell's minsiterial office, months before he says he was made aware of charges.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 10:29 PM
jamesw228.bsky.social
Funny how everyone followed the correct procedure so nobody is at fault outside of the police but there's also no need to change the procedures #nzpol

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Police Minister's elecorate staff replied to Jevon McSkimming accuser's emails
Emails containing allegations about Jevon McSkimming were forwarded to Mark Mitchell's minsiterial office, months before he says he was made aware of charges.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by James W
kiwichar.bsky.social
Being “Unaware” in general is becoming a real trait of these National Party MP’s. 😂🤦‍♀️ #nzpol #OneTermGovernment
marcdaalder.bsky.social Marc Daalder @marcdaalder.bsky.social · 4d
Simon Watts says he announced back on Oct 12 that the Govt would reject the Climate Commission's advice to have a carbin negative 2050 target.

That surprised many, including, presumably, Simon Watts, who on Oct 14 told me that announcement would come "in due course".
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/21/c...
Confusion reigns as climate minister appears unaware of own announcement
The Govt says it rejected the Climate Change Commission's advice a month ago, but the commission says it hasn't heard anything from the Govt.
newsroom.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by James W
joelmacmanus.bsky.social
Christopher Luxon wants ‘a more mature conversation’ about selling public assets. Big daddy Spinoff is here to explain the birds and the bees of privatisation.

thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-...
How to have a ‘mature conversation’ about asset sales
Christopher Luxon wants 'a more mature conversation' about selling public assets. Big daddy Spinoff is here to explain the birds and the bees of privatisation.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Reposted by James W
marcdaalder.bsky.social
Simon Watts says he announced back on Oct 12 that the Govt would reject the Climate Commission's advice to have a carbin negative 2050 target.

That surprised many, including, presumably, Simon Watts, who on Oct 14 told me that announcement would come "in due course".
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/21/c...
Confusion reigns as climate minister appears unaware of own announcement
The Govt says it rejected the Climate Change Commission's advice a month ago, but the commission says it hasn't heard anything from the Govt.
newsroom.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by James W
bernardchickey.bsky.social
This timeline...
November 20, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Reposted by James W
acgeddis.bsky.social
Some opposition MP should put a "Regulatory Standards Act Repeal Bill" into the biscuit tin, approach the NZ First backbench MPs to sign on in support of it, and then see what happens if it gets pulled from the lottery ... NZ First didn't promise not to vote to repeal it once enacted!
Winston Peters vows to repeal Regulatory Standards Bill; David Seymour hits back
"We did our best to neutralise its adverse effects and we will campaign at the next election to repeal it," Peters told Radio Waatea.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Reposted by James W
molly.wiki
i love writing about crypto crime because these dudes do this constantly
Ahmed allegedly made the following search queries: embezzled defi hacks fbi defi hacks prosecution wire fraud how to prove malicious intent evidence laundering can I cross border with crypto how to stop federal government from seizing assets buying citizenship Criminal mastermind. However, the brothers' Google search history in the weeks after the theft for phrases including "how to wash crypto”, “top crypto lawyers”, “wire fraud statute / wire fraud statue [sic] of limitations”, and “prison or jail worse” suggest that perhaps the brothers had some clue that their actions could be interpreted criminally, as do the brothers' own descriptions of their plan as “sus”. Prosecutors, on the other hand, have pointed to his decision to buy a plane ticket out of the country the very next day, and to his Google searches for terms including "market manipulation criminal elements" and "FBI surveillance", as evidence that he knew quite well his actions were not merely "highly profitable trades".
November 20, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Reposted by James W
geordierogers.co.nz
Another 6 month review will not deliver the Golden Mile, just like the reviews before it. This city is stuck in managed decline and we desperately need to build our way out of it
November 20, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by James W
acgeddis.bsky.social
Yes, yes ... of course we can have complete confidence in the report findings of this inquiry set up for nakedly partisan purposes, given terms of reference designed to avoid criticism of a currently-governing party, and from which multiple professionals have run a mile. Why on earth would you ask?
Covid Inquiry hit by yet another top-level resignation
Inquiry boss quits only months into the job - the second executive director to resign this year
www.stuff.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Reposted by James W
keithng.bsky.social
The project is going over-budget! We cancel the project and begin a new project with a much lower budget!
November 20, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Reposted by James W
kellywhyte.bsky.social
Our minister of health is promoting an illegal and harmful 'treatment' to justify banning puberty blockers, a safe, effective and reversible medicine.

Resign! This man is unfit to run a lemonade stand.

#nzpol #BrownOut
jennifilm.nz Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 5d
He is also promoting conversion practices when he says he’s taking away access to gender affirming care and encouraging psychology instead. Psychology does not “fix” being trans.
November 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by James W
haydendonnell.bsky.social
Auckland’s traffic is bad because we built all our houses in Massey and Papakura to avoid upsetting the inhospitable residents of our inner city suburbs thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-1...
November 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by James W
jamesw228.bsky.social
As someone who struggled growing up because I didn't have that explanation for how and why I was different from other kids, if you have a problem with that then you can get fucked
November 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by James W
jamesw228.bsky.social
As for the idiocy about labels

Putting a name (label) on something doesn't change the reality of it's existence, it just acknowledges that existence

For kids this is about getting them the support and accomodations they need and helping them better understand themselves
November 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by James W
jamesw228.bsky.social
Wish I'd had ear defenders in school, it'd have made life so much easier

I'm 40, I either have headphones on or music playing in the background bc I have better than normal hearing & my brain doesn't filter out random background noise so I need to actively control that noise to focus properly
ericmgarcia.bsky.social Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 5d
Of course, Richard Tice saying kids wearing ear defenders got most of the headlines, but the fact he said "“You’ve got to the mad situation now where children who don’t have any form of label are starting to feel left out" is just ridiculous. www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
Reform UK’s Richard Tice says children wearing ear defenders in school is ‘insane’
Tice was outlining Reform’s Doge (Department of government efficiency) unit’s progress
www.independent.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by James W
jennifilm.nz
PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news
The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns today's decision from Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ideologically driven ban will have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people. We know that children, young people and their whanau will be highly distressed by this decision. We also acknowledge health professionals' frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded. "The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicidality and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people, and will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination," says Dr Elizabeth McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. "The prescribing of puberty blockers is always undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable group." This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. While the evidence brief identified some limitations in the academic quality of evidence regarding the risks and benefits of GRH analogues, limitations in evidence quality are common across a number of areas of medicine, especially within paediatric medicine, and do not justify a ban on access. "PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of three key components: academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values," says Dr McElrea. "When the quality of available academic evidence is of lower quality, it's incredibly common for clinicians to lean on guidelines drawn from clinical experience." "Practising medicine, and paediatric medicine (not just within gender affirming healthcare), often necessitates providing care without a high-quality evidence base. The absence of high-quality clinical evidence does not mean providing this care is wrong." "Children benefit from innovative medical treatments that improve their survival and quality of life. Pediatric care would all but cease if physicians denied treatments for which the evidence base is imperfect." (McNamara et al., 2024, p. 15) 'An Evidence-Based Critique of "The Cass Review" on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent The new restrictions will be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, which are not due until at least 2031. "In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children," says Avery Zavoda, PATHA Executive Committee member. PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people. "That New Zealand First announced this news three hours before the Minister of Health shows the way this care has been politicised, and how politics have been prioritised over the wellbeing of New Zealand children," said Zavoda. "Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender, despite the disinformation New Zealand First are promoting," says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. "It's obvious that this has been a political decision made to appease a coalition partner based on an imported culture war, rather than a medical recommendation reflecting the expertise of NZ clinicians and researchers who have been working in this field for over 25 years." Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences of rainbow young people showed "the proportion of young people who wanted puberty blockers and were able to use them was nearly half the number of young people who wanted these medications but could not access them." These findings made it clear that the prescription context and existing regulations "did not result in the easy access to young people who wanted puberty blockers that some people have claimed existed. In fact, the results demonstrate a seriously constrained prescription context that urgently needs further attention to be more equitable." "We call on the Ministry of Health to publish their consultation report immediately, so that health professionals, trans people, and the wider public can see that this decision has been made by politicians rather than based on clinical experience," says Shields. "We also look forward to the Minister now immediately allowing the updated guidelines for gender affirming healthcare to be published." "We also call on Labour, the Green Party, and Te Paati Mãori to commit to reversing this harmful decision if they are elected into government next year. Our communities need the reassurance that this ban will not last." "PATHA is committed to ensuring all trans children and children experiencing gender dysphoria have access to the best quality care.
November 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM