michael lascarides
@mlascarides.bsky.social
Art tinkerer, library dweller, immigrant. Thinking a lot about how to prove libraries are worth keeping around. Ōtepoti.
Reposted by michael lascarides
What the hell is going on with the new New Zealand school curriculum, and what does it have to do with the Atlas Network? (No, really!)
A thread:
#nzpol #kikorangi
A thread:
#nzpol #kikorangi
November 26, 2025 at 4:16 AM
What the hell is going on with the new New Zealand school curriculum, and what does it have to do with the Atlas Network? (No, really!)
A thread:
#nzpol #kikorangi
A thread:
#nzpol #kikorangi
Post your warning label.
November 26, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Post your warning label.
It is currently 31C in Dunedin, NZ. Latitude 45.6S, in November.
🇦🇺AUSTRALIA HISTORIC HEAT
Sun 46.8C Bedourie
Monthly record and World highest Temperature this month
Mon CRAZY MINIMM 34.2C
‼️HOTTEST SPRING NIGHT IN AUSTRALIA SINCE 1965
and 3RD WORLD HOTTEST NOVEMBER NIGHT EVER
More High Mins Records:
25.4 Blackwater
26.4 Lochington
Sun 46.8C Bedourie
Monthly record and World highest Temperature this month
Mon CRAZY MINIMM 34.2C
‼️HOTTEST SPRING NIGHT IN AUSTRALIA SINCE 1965
and 3RD WORLD HOTTEST NOVEMBER NIGHT EVER
More High Mins Records:
25.4 Blackwater
26.4 Lochington
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 AM
It is currently 31C in Dunedin, NZ. Latitude 45.6S, in November.
Italo Calvino's The Baron In The Trees, directed by someone young, hungry, weird, and goth-y.
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Italo Calvino's The Baron In The Trees, directed by someone young, hungry, weird, and goth-y.
Reposted by michael lascarides
This is why I keep saying there is no number of books I could feasibly sell that would make a difference in my life financially. But every book sold is a vote of confidence to publishers and book sellers that I get to do another one. Having your book in stores is so fucking cool. Even 3 copies.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:14 PM
This is why I keep saying there is no number of books I could feasibly sell that would make a difference in my life financially. But every book sold is a vote of confidence to publishers and book sellers that I get to do another one. Having your book in stores is so fucking cool. Even 3 copies.
Reposted by michael lascarides
I am always a sucker for collections in the "Things that go hard" category and was pleased to have found the Public domain - Pics that go hard album while at work today. www.flickr.com/photos/parfo...
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I am always a sucker for collections in the "Things that go hard" category and was pleased to have found the Public domain - Pics that go hard album while at work today. www.flickr.com/photos/parfo...
Reposted by michael lascarides
Libraries are free for you to use, serve the public good, are great, support creators financially and, I cannot be clear enough about this-- ARE FREE FOR YOU TO USE-- so pirating books makes you kind of an asshole, not some Marxist revolutionary.
If the book you want isn't there *request it.*
If the book you want isn't there *request it.*
November 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Libraries are free for you to use, serve the public good, are great, support creators financially and, I cannot be clear enough about this-- ARE FREE FOR YOU TO USE-- so pirating books makes you kind of an asshole, not some Marxist revolutionary.
If the book you want isn't there *request it.*
If the book you want isn't there *request it.*
Reposted by michael lascarides
Thread time.
These proposed local government reforms are being reported as the end of Regional Councils but actually they're probably the end of a lot of rural and smaller district councils in New Zealand. Not sure what I mean?
These proposed local government reforms are being reported as the end of Regional Councils but actually they're probably the end of a lot of rural and smaller district councils in New Zealand. Not sure what I mean?
November 25, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Thread time.
These proposed local government reforms are being reported as the end of Regional Councils but actually they're probably the end of a lot of rural and smaller district councils in New Zealand. Not sure what I mean?
These proposed local government reforms are being reported as the end of Regional Councils but actually they're probably the end of a lot of rural and smaller district councils in New Zealand. Not sure what I mean?
Reposted by michael lascarides
Is it good or bad that my searches for "the fae" and "the fey" on British Newspaper Archives is mostly returning results for margin blotches that lurk beyond the boundaries of human language
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Is it good or bad that my searches for "the fae" and "the fey" on British Newspaper Archives is mostly returning results for margin blotches that lurk beyond the boundaries of human language
Reposted by michael lascarides
As the year comes to an end, I'm reposting some of the comics I made this year, including this ridiculous thing.
November 25, 2025 at 3:19 PM
As the year comes to an end, I'm reposting some of the comics I made this year, including this ridiculous thing.
Reposted by michael lascarides
Reposted by michael lascarides
How to make beautiful comics:
Step 1: Have something to say.
Step 2: See Step 1.
Step 1: Have something to say.
Step 2: See Step 1.
imgs.xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 AM
How to make beautiful comics:
Step 1: Have something to say.
Step 2: See Step 1.
Step 1: Have something to say.
Step 2: See Step 1.
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Reposted by michael lascarides
I recorded a video for my #slvresidency on hacking the SLV website. It talks about looking beneath the hood of #glam websites to try and imagine alternatives & fix problems. https://lab.slv.vic.gov.au/resources/hack-website-video-tim-sherratt #libraries #digitalhumanities
How to 'hack' a library website – a video tutorial by Tim Sherratt | SLV LAB
Learn how to hack a web browser to view and access online collections in different ways
lab.slv.vic.gov.au
November 25, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I recorded a video for my #slvresidency on hacking the SLV website. It talks about looking beneath the hood of #glam websites to try and imagine alternatives & fix problems. https://lab.slv.vic.gov.au/resources/hack-website-video-tim-sherratt #libraries #digitalhumanities
A common phrase in teams I've worked in is "Not to jump to solutions, but…", an acknowledgement that trying to solve the problem before it's fully understood is Bad, Counterproductive, and should be approached with the same trepidation as operating heavy machinery without the proper protective gear.
"writing code to solve a problem" used to have "understanding the problem" as a prerequisite. but vibecoding allows solution-shaped objects to be produced without any of the hard-won understanding. beware of solution-shaped objects.
November 24, 2025 at 10:45 PM
A common phrase in teams I've worked in is "Not to jump to solutions, but…", an acknowledgement that trying to solve the problem before it's fully understood is Bad, Counterproductive, and should be approached with the same trepidation as operating heavy machinery without the proper protective gear.
Reposted by michael lascarides
I see this fallacy almost every day, in tech and politics:
1. There is a problem
2. We believe that our solution will fix the problem
3. We built the solution
4. Therefore the problem is now fixed
Bitch, no. You have to check.
Let's talk about leading and trailing indicators.
1. There is a problem
2. We believe that our solution will fix the problem
3. We built the solution
4. Therefore the problem is now fixed
Bitch, no. You have to check.
Let's talk about leading and trailing indicators.
May 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I see this fallacy almost every day, in tech and politics:
1. There is a problem
2. We believe that our solution will fix the problem
3. We built the solution
4. Therefore the problem is now fixed
Bitch, no. You have to check.
Let's talk about leading and trailing indicators.
1. There is a problem
2. We believe that our solution will fix the problem
3. We built the solution
4. Therefore the problem is now fixed
Bitch, no. You have to check.
Let's talk about leading and trailing indicators.
Also the word "generative", which was mostly associated with lovely things up until a year ago. I've been making generative algorithmic software art for 20 years. It's precise, deterministic, effortful, and information dense—the exact opposite of an LLM. But I fear the whole space is poisoned now.
One of the main ways that "gen AI" bullshit and the bullshitters attendant thereto have fucked everything for everyone is that they fully succeeded in their attempts to obfuscate and occult what "AI" means, so now people hate the very concept structure of the term, even down to its far less bad uses
November 23, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Also the word "generative", which was mostly associated with lovely things up until a year ago. I've been making generative algorithmic software art for 20 years. It's precise, deterministic, effortful, and information dense—the exact opposite of an LLM. But I fear the whole space is poisoned now.
NZ folks: What's a good recommendation these days for small website hosting for a little db-driven app (think Django or Rails, including db and email and shell access)?
November 23, 2025 at 4:14 AM
NZ folks: What's a good recommendation these days for small website hosting for a little db-driven app (think Django or Rails, including db and email and shell access)?
Reposted by michael lascarides
"In a sequel to her influential 'Library as Infrastructure', contributing writer Shannon Mattern delves into the organizing force of libraries at a time when public knowledge is under attack."
placesjournal.org/article/extr... @shannonmattern.bsky.social
placesjournal.org/article/extr... @shannonmattern.bsky.social
Extralibrary Loan: Making the Civic Infrastructure We Need
Amid a war on public knowledge, libraries are pushing outward, enlarging the commons through new configurations of civic and creative life.
placesjournal.org
November 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
"In a sequel to her influential 'Library as Infrastructure', contributing writer Shannon Mattern delves into the organizing force of libraries at a time when public knowledge is under attack."
placesjournal.org/article/extr... @shannonmattern.bsky.social
placesjournal.org/article/extr... @shannonmattern.bsky.social
Reposted by michael lascarides
Anyone would think we’re talking about 1000s of children being prevented from going through puberty forever with the use of puberty blockers.
Puberty blockers were prescribed to 113 people in 2023.
Come on now. Let doctors and other medical professionals do their damned job.
Puberty blockers were prescribed to 113 people in 2023.
Come on now. Let doctors and other medical professionals do their damned job.
November 22, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Anyone would think we’re talking about 1000s of children being prevented from going through puberty forever with the use of puberty blockers.
Puberty blockers were prescribed to 113 people in 2023.
Come on now. Let doctors and other medical professionals do their damned job.
Puberty blockers were prescribed to 113 people in 2023.
Come on now. Let doctors and other medical professionals do their damned job.
Reposted by michael lascarides
Why is startup culture always “I am inventing a coffeeproof phone you can put in your coffee cup to keep it warm with cell radiation” and never “I’m inventing a new library wholesaler to replace the single company that is shutting down and sending libraries into crisis”
November 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Why is startup culture always “I am inventing a coffeeproof phone you can put in your coffee cup to keep it warm with cell radiation” and never “I’m inventing a new library wholesaler to replace the single company that is shutting down and sending libraries into crisis”
Reposted by michael lascarides
NEWS: Libraries WIN in federal court!
A judge in RI issued a permanent injunction stopping the Administration from dismantling the Institute of Museum & Library Services and nullifying all actions taken to do so.
Read the ruling: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... (More to come from ALA)
A judge in RI issued a permanent injunction stopping the Administration from dismantling the Institute of Museum & Library Services and nullifying all actions taken to do so.
Read the ruling: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... (More to come from ALA)
November 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM
NEWS: Libraries WIN in federal court!
A judge in RI issued a permanent injunction stopping the Administration from dismantling the Institute of Museum & Library Services and nullifying all actions taken to do so.
Read the ruling: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... (More to come from ALA)
A judge in RI issued a permanent injunction stopping the Administration from dismantling the Institute of Museum & Library Services and nullifying all actions taken to do so.
Read the ruling: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... (More to come from ALA)
Reposted by michael lascarides
DM: The orange fascist lurks in his lair, hunched behind his massive desk, revelling in his stolen power. His acolytes hiss at you as you approach. What does your human bard do --
MAMDANI: Active perception check.
DM: ...that's a natural 20
MAMDANI: Let's fucking go. <FLUTE TRILL>
MAMDANI: Active perception check.
DM: ...that's a natural 20
MAMDANI: Let's fucking go. <FLUTE TRILL>
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM
DM: The orange fascist lurks in his lair, hunched behind his massive desk, revelling in his stolen power. His acolytes hiss at you as you approach. What does your human bard do --
MAMDANI: Active perception check.
DM: ...that's a natural 20
MAMDANI: Let's fucking go. <FLUTE TRILL>
MAMDANI: Active perception check.
DM: ...that's a natural 20
MAMDANI: Let's fucking go. <FLUTE TRILL>
Reposted by michael lascarides
Glad to see others joining my bandwagon. Scale is the reason that online harms can’t really be fixed properly.
The business models require scale.
Fix the business model to something more modest and you fix online harm, Silicon Valley billionaires, and create resilience through diversity.
The business models require scale.
Fix the business model to something more modest and you fix online harm, Silicon Valley billionaires, and create resilience through diversity.
re: roblox dude's interview crashout. the thing he wants to say but can't is "at scale, kids are gonna get hurt. that is the price for scale." the thing nobody wants to say out loud is "maybe scaling to a level where harm isn't manageable is bad, and scale should be contained"
November 21, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Glad to see others joining my bandwagon. Scale is the reason that online harms can’t really be fixed properly.
The business models require scale.
Fix the business model to something more modest and you fix online harm, Silicon Valley billionaires, and create resilience through diversity.
The business models require scale.
Fix the business model to something more modest and you fix online harm, Silicon Valley billionaires, and create resilience through diversity.
Reposted by michael lascarides
Imagine being one of those CEOs or school presidents who bowed down to this weird old man, then realizing he doesn’t like you as much as he likes this guy who didn’t bow at all
November 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Imagine being one of those CEOs or school presidents who bowed down to this weird old man, then realizing he doesn’t like you as much as he likes this guy who didn’t bow at all