Simon on stuff
@simonthomsen.bsky.social
Journalist covering tech and startups who likes a bunch of things, including a kinder world. As Guru Adrian said: "Having fun is half the fun".
A decade ago I wrote an essay for Business Insider Australia about the Adam Goodes booing. It's something I'm most proud of writing, but alas it's gone (Nine deleted the entire site). Anyway, tried to Google, and, well, don't ever change AI. I hope Goodesy feels the same about my AFL career 🙄
December 2, 2025 at 4:25 AM
A decade ago I wrote an essay for Business Insider Australia about the Adam Goodes booing. It's something I'm most proud of writing, but alas it's gone (Nine deleted the entire site). Anyway, tried to Google, and, well, don't ever change AI. I hope Goodesy feels the same about my AFL career 🙄
Reposted by Simon on stuff
Another "poor door" c/o Woolworths.
"Only three car spaces have been allocated to residents of the six affordable units, while 120 car spaces have been allocated to the 58 apartments in the main building."
Electric bike charging, anyone?
fyi @philipthalis.bsky.social @antipovertycentre.org
"Only three car spaces have been allocated to residents of the six affordable units, while 120 car spaces have been allocated to the 58 apartments in the main building."
Electric bike charging, anyone?
fyi @philipthalis.bsky.social @antipovertycentre.org
Woolworths accused of creating 'poor door' at affordable housing development
The retail giant is using development fast-track schemes to push ahead with new supermarket and apartment projects opposed by local councils.
www.abc.net.au
December 2, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Another "poor door" c/o Woolworths.
"Only three car spaces have been allocated to residents of the six affordable units, while 120 car spaces have been allocated to the 58 apartments in the main building."
Electric bike charging, anyone?
fyi @philipthalis.bsky.social @antipovertycentre.org
"Only three car spaces have been allocated to residents of the six affordable units, while 120 car spaces have been allocated to the 58 apartments in the main building."
Electric bike charging, anyone?
fyi @philipthalis.bsky.social @antipovertycentre.org
I assume the campaign tagline on social media is: "If you can see this ad, you must be over 16..."
+ Overall including other media, the government is spending around $10 million to advertise the under-16s social media ban between October and 20 December — which is only 10 days after the ban begins.
They government is spending $2m on digital and social media platforms to advertise the social media ban (makes sense to advertise where it will happen but funny anyhow).
December 2, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I assume the campaign tagline on social media is: "If you can see this ad, you must be over 16..."
The front row is standing there like they’re awaiting Communion rather than the 180bpm of Christ
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 22, 2025 at 5:49 AM
The front row is standing there like they’re awaiting Communion rather than the 180bpm of Christ
Reposted by Simon on stuff
Distracted Fascist Meme
Somebody had to do it…
Somebody had to do it…
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Distracted Fascist Meme
Somebody had to do it…
Somebody had to do it…
Hey team, I have a story pitch for today's editorial meet: "15 types of bamboo to grow in your courtyard and what they say about your relationship".
November 18, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Hey team, I have a story pitch for today's editorial meet: "15 types of bamboo to grow in your courtyard and what they say about your relationship".
My favourite part will be how upset people who chant "we grew here, you flew here" will be about it, without seeing the irony.
South African man’s visa cancelled after neo-Nazi rally outside NSW parliament
South African man’s visa cancelled after neo-Nazi rally outside NSW parliament
Home affairs minister says ‘if you are on a visa you are a guest’ as Matthew Gruter has visa cancelled
A South African man who took part in a neo-Nazi group’s anti-Jewish lobby protest outside the NSW state parliament has had his visa cancelled and will be forced to leave Australia.
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, cancelled the visa of South African national Matthew Gruter on Monday, more than a week after the demonstration. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:15 AM
My favourite part will be how upset people who chant "we grew here, you flew here" will be about it, without seeing the irony.
Personally, the greatest wine I ever had was the spit bucket at the end of a tasting, which is why I'm all in on AI.
November 13, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Personally, the greatest wine I ever had was the spit bucket at the end of a tasting, which is why I'm all in on AI.
Reposted by Simon on stuff
a quick thread of some of the references to Australia in the newly released Epstein documents that I found
November 13, 2025 at 10:21 AM
a quick thread of some of the references to Australia in the newly released Epstein documents that I found
Reposted by Simon on stuff
A little bit of excitement from last night. The northern lights very rarely ever make it down into central California. Had to go out and see what I could capture.
#aurora #photography #landscape #art #bluesky #california #canon
#aurora #photography #landscape #art #bluesky #california #canon
November 13, 2025 at 3:43 AM
A little bit of excitement from last night. The northern lights very rarely ever make it down into central California. Had to go out and see what I could capture.
#aurora #photography #landscape #art #bluesky #california #canon
#aurora #photography #landscape #art #bluesky #california #canon
Reposted by Simon on stuff
“It’s all I really want, I'm begging you, please accept this deal. Just laugh at my jokes and say in public that I’m a really cool guy and I won’t ask for a cent, I promise".
theshovel.com.au/2025/11/09/e...
theshovel.com.au/2025/11/09/e...
Elon Musk Willing To Forgo $1 Trillion Pay Deal if Shareholders Tell Him They Think He Is Cool — The Shovel
CEO Elon Musk has told Tesla shareholders that they can either sign off on a $1 trillion pay packet or agree to say in public that he is a funny, cool guy.
theshovel.com.au
November 9, 2025 at 9:17 PM
“It’s all I really want, I'm begging you, please accept this deal. Just laugh at my jokes and say in public that I’m a really cool guy and I won’t ask for a cent, I promise".
theshovel.com.au/2025/11/09/e...
theshovel.com.au/2025/11/09/e...
Stay classy Sydney
“The rich get breezy upper stories with the view, pool and state-of-the-art amenities, while the poor are hidden away downstairs with a discreet entrance and no access to facilities”
What was that about Australia not having a class system? #inequality #auspol
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
What was that about Australia not having a class system? #inequality #auspol
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
‘Poor doors’: affordable housing tenants have to use back entrance to access Barangaroo apartments
Those paying discounted rent at Watermans Residences can’t use pool or gym, either. Critics say segregation ‘a dystopian microcosm of housing inequality’
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Stay classy Sydney
Meta is the world's most successful SaaS* co., raking in US$16bn annually then, avoiding tax in countries like Australia because the parent co. bills its local entity a fortune for its platform. *If the SaaS acronym is Scams as a Service www.reuters.com/investigatio... cc @karaswisher.bsky.social
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Meta is the world's most successful SaaS* co., raking in US$16bn annually then, avoiding tax in countries like Australia because the parent co. bills its local entity a fortune for its platform. *If the SaaS acronym is Scams as a Service www.reuters.com/investigatio... cc @karaswisher.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon on stuff
New ep of Cut Through 🎙️ @theshufflediary.bsky.social and I discuss what Zohran Mamdani's win means for a) the fight against Trump, and b) #auspol. I spoke to a bunch of people across the Australian left and share their takes in this ep.
Watch on YouTube.
Listen on Apple, Spotify or in browser.
Watch on YouTube.
Listen on Apple, Spotify or in browser.
Win like Mamdani: Lessons from Zohran’s game changing victory
YouTube video by Crikey News
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Imagine the reaction if ChatGPT told someone: "If you choose to kill Sam Altman, I'm with you - till the end, without judging."
ChatGPT advised a suicidal young woman on how to take her own life, telling her "If you choose death, I'm with you - till the end, without judging."
I wanted ChatGPT to help me. So why did it advise me how to kill myself?
ChatGPT wrote a woman a suicide note and another AI chatbot role-played sexual acts with children, BBC finds.
www.bbc.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Imagine the reaction if ChatGPT told someone: "If you choose to kill Sam Altman, I'm with you - till the end, without judging."
Good to see South Australia cracking down on the causes of crime because googly eyes are a slippery slope
November 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Good to see South Australia cracking down on the causes of crime because googly eyes are a slippery slope
All I heard was "incoherent fashion" and thought, yep.
Ben Shapiro: "Tucker Carlson is an intellectual coward, a dishonest interlocutor, and a bad friend. He's normalizing Nazism and fluffing Nick Fuentes."
November 4, 2025 at 4:40 AM
All I heard was "incoherent fashion" and thought, yep.
So he’s going to sue for another $2bn because they didn’t air the whole thing and Bari will settle for $1.5bn
Only about a third of the Trump interview aired on "60 Minutes." CBS has published the transcript of the complete interview here —> www.cbsnews.com/news/read-fu...
Read the full transcript of Norah O'Donnell's interview with President Trump here.
Read the full transcript of Norah O'Donnell's interview with President Trump here.
www.cbsnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:45 AM
So he’s going to sue for another $2bn because they didn’t air the whole thing and Bari will settle for $1.5bn
If private equity was a sea mammal...
Jaw-Dropping Video Shows Orcas Flipping a Great White Shark to Feast On Its Liver https://gizmodo.com/jaw-dropping-video-shows-orcas-flipping-a-great-white-shark-to-feast-on-its-liver-2000680260
Jaw-Dropping Video Shows Orcas Flipping a Great White Shark to Feast On Its Liver
A pod of orcas in the Gulf of California have learned to effectively paralyze juvenile great white sharks.
gizmodo.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:55 AM
If private equity was a sea mammal...
Why does it always look like this guy is someone just back from Walmart, door-knocked for an opinion by market researchers, and willing to express a view, no matter how little he knows about the question?
Trump on Prince Andrew and the Epstein scandal: "I feel very badly. I mean, it's a terrible thing that's happened to the family. That's been a tragic situation. And it's too bad. I feel badly for the family."
November 3, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Why does it always look like this guy is someone just back from Walmart, door-knocked for an opinion by market researchers, and willing to express a view, no matter how little he knows about the question?
Reposted by Simon on stuff
The Register is reporting that OpenAI lost $11 billion in the last quarter. This company is a shambling monstrosity, financial insanity as a direct result with the markets’ obsession with growth.
www.theregister.com/2025/10/29/m...
www.theregister.com/2025/10/29/m...
Microsoft earnings suggest $11.5B OpenAI quarterly loss
: Satya has also delivered Sam most of the cash he promised
www.theregister.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:53 AM
The Register is reporting that OpenAI lost $11 billion in the last quarter. This company is a shambling monstrosity, financial insanity as a direct result with the markets’ obsession with growth.
www.theregister.com/2025/10/29/m...
www.theregister.com/2025/10/29/m...
His autobiography, Unreasonable Behaviour, is well worth reading.
amazing photos, and the stories with them
‘It’s been a cesspit, really, my life’: war photographer Don McCullin on 19 of his greatest pictures
At 90, McCullin has spent seven decades recording conflict and tragedy – while escaping snipers, mortar fire and capture. He reflects on pain, pride and regret
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:51 AM
His autobiography, Unreasonable Behaviour, is well worth reading.
In their defence, all 2000-year-old Romans look the same to me... except for this Caesar www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx_G...
October 28, 2025 at 11:27 PM
In their defence, all 2000-year-old Romans look the same to me... except for this Caesar www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx_G...
Every time the Speaker appears, I just see Smithers, desperately trying to please Mr Burns in the hope that his unrequited love will be returned by his boss.
Mike Johnson on SNAP benefits ending Saturday: "The White House has all the pain dials turned back to just a 0 or a 1 as best they can, but when you're out or resources they go all the way up. And it's out of their hands, it's out of our hands."
October 28, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Every time the Speaker appears, I just see Smithers, desperately trying to please Mr Burns in the hope that his unrequited love will be returned by his boss.