John Small
@smalltorquer.bsky.social
Chair at NZ Commerce Commission
Biological dairy farmer at Rai Valley
Posts are personal views. Shares are not endorsements.
Biological dairy farmer at Rai Valley
Posts are personal views. Shares are not endorsements.
Economics does force people to confront their values. But this pathology is uniquely USian.
NEW: Brown econ prof Rachel Friedberg says the shooting happened in a finals review session:
"The room has stadium seating with doors that enter at the top. [The TA] said that the shooter came in the doors, yelled something ... and started shooting." www.oceanstatemedia.org/news-and-cul...
"The room has stadium seating with doors that enter at the top. [The TA] said that the shooter came in the doors, yelled something ... and started shooting." www.oceanstatemedia.org/news-and-cul...
December 14, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Economics does force people to confront their values. But this pathology is uniquely USian.
Reposted by John Small
Students! Have you written a poem about math or a mathematical concept? There is a contest, and it is free to enter. Deadline January 20th: www.ams.org/learning-car...
AMS :: Math Poetry
www.ams.org
December 13, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Students! Have you written a poem about math or a mathematical concept? There is a contest, and it is free to enter. Deadline January 20th: www.ams.org/learning-car...
News to me: this is a 1-way screw. Install only, can't be unscrewed.
December 6, 2025 at 5:56 AM
News to me: this is a 1-way screw. Install only, can't be unscrewed.
I agree with the problem definition and obviously the solution needs to be cloud-based but what we really need is for the smart contracts people to block chain shame so the prediction markets can gamify it
A massive problem today is the uneven distribution of shame. Some of us are running dedicated on-site shame servers 24/7 while others have no access to shame at all, even though they desperately need it. What we need to do is put shame in the cloud
December 6, 2025 at 5:02 AM
I agree with the problem definition and obviously the solution needs to be cloud-based but what we really need is for the smart contracts people to block chain shame so the prediction markets can gamify it
Reposted by John Small
I was disappointed with several elements of The @economist.com recent articles on minimum wages. To their credit, they've published my response.
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
December 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I was disappointed with several elements of The @economist.com recent articles on minimum wages. To their credit, they've published my response.
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Here are some links to the research I reference and to some other research which had to be cut from the published letter
1/N
Can anyone help me complete this ancient Nordic oath about the term on which governance is accepted....
"We, who are just as good as you, allow you,who are no better than us to...provided that you don't...in which case all best are off"
"We, who are just as good as you, allow you,who are no better than us to...provided that you don't...in which case all best are off"
December 1, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Can anyone help me complete this ancient Nordic oath about the term on which governance is accepted....
"We, who are just as good as you, allow you,who are no better than us to...provided that you don't...in which case all best are off"
"We, who are just as good as you, allow you,who are no better than us to...provided that you don't...in which case all best are off"
Sounds like the K road street party is getting going...
I'll wander up soon.
I'll wander up soon.
November 29, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Sounds like the K road street party is getting going...
I'll wander up soon.
I'll wander up soon.
Reposted by John Small
To give you an idea of how "AI" has fucked up the holiday season, their insane demand for RAM chips that's barely even being used has caused a production drought for every other application.
Meaning right now you can buy a cheap PC, yank the RAM, and sell it on eBay for twice what the PC costs.
Meaning right now you can buy a cheap PC, yank the RAM, and sell it on eBay for twice what the PC costs.
November 28, 2025 at 7:30 PM
To give you an idea of how "AI" has fucked up the holiday season, their insane demand for RAM chips that's barely even being used has caused a production drought for every other application.
Meaning right now you can buy a cheap PC, yank the RAM, and sell it on eBay for twice what the PC costs.
Meaning right now you can buy a cheap PC, yank the RAM, and sell it on eBay for twice what the PC costs.
I love these pairs of nikau that are being scattered around.
November 25, 2025 at 4:54 AM
I love these pairs of nikau that are being scattered around.
I love central Auckland bus rides because they often go to unexpected places.
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 AM
I love central Auckland bus rides because they often go to unexpected places.
Reposted by John Small
Larry Summers steps back from public commitments, ‘deeply ashamed’ by Epstein revelations
Larry Summers steps back from public commitments, ‘deeply ashamed’ by Epstein revelations
Emails revealed that Summers sought advice from Epstein on romantically pursuing a woman he referred to as his mentee.
dlvr.it
November 18, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Larry Summers steps back from public commitments, ‘deeply ashamed’ by Epstein revelations
Reposted by John Small
wake up babe, new units of measurement just dropped www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
November 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
wake up babe, new units of measurement just dropped www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
November 17, 2025 at 5:25 AM
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
Reposted by John Small
ICE vs the clergy
November 15, 2025 at 1:32 AM
ICE vs the clergy
Is there actually a bagpipe version of Firestarter? I really hope so (surely there must be) but my search skills are not up to the task.
Put them on hold with a holding tape of yourself practicing playing “Firestarter” on the bagpipes.
November 15, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Is there actually a bagpipe version of Firestarter? I really hope so (surely there must be) but my search skills are not up to the task.
Hopefully fun.
My Irish friend went back after 20yrs in NZ, knocked on his old pals door, who greeted him with:
"Tony X! I haven't seen you in years and you said you'd be around on Thursday"
My Irish friend went back after 20yrs in NZ, knocked on his old pals door, who greeted him with:
"Tony X! I haven't seen you in years and you said you'd be around on Thursday"
I am calling upon the people of Ireland to immediately begin construction of a thread on this site about how you or someone you know was roasted for a fashion choice. We need it.
All roasts must have come from Irish people *only*. Please respect this important rule, it makes a difference.
Tanks
All roasts must have come from Irish people *only*. Please respect this important rule, it makes a difference.
Tanks
November 12, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Hopefully fun.
My Irish friend went back after 20yrs in NZ, knocked on his old pals door, who greeted him with:
"Tony X! I haven't seen you in years and you said you'd be around on Thursday"
My Irish friend went back after 20yrs in NZ, knocked on his old pals door, who greeted him with:
"Tony X! I haven't seen you in years and you said you'd be around on Thursday"
Great conversation this afternoon with Matthew Tukaki on Waatea radio...
waateanews.com/2025/11/10/w...
waateanews.com/2025/11/10/w...
Why the Commerce Commission is important for Te Whanau Maori
waateanews.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Great conversation this afternoon with Matthew Tukaki on Waatea radio...
waateanews.com/2025/11/10/w...
waateanews.com/2025/11/10/w...
I love this so much...
In early 2015 I built my first woodworking bench. My first project was building a small sailboat. But in the process of building the sailboat I became so drawn to woodworking that I stopped in the middle to build the bench. Story here on the sailboat. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/build...
Building a Small Sailboat
Last fall I was walking along a Long Island Sound beach with...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 AM
I love this so much...
Reposted by John Small
I really hope they don't
BREAKING FOX NEWS: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy goes on the record: "Pilots need to stop depending on air traffic controllers. They need to suck it up and go with their gut feelings."
November 9, 2025 at 2:58 AM
I really hope they don't
Karamea, 1983 with our first child and an unfinished house.
November 8, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Karamea, 1983 with our first child and an unfinished house.
Reposted by John Small
"China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels. "
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
"China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels. "
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
Reposted by John Small
Playing at Morningside Tavern till 8. I have the sunny Friday night vibes breaking out all over, mind the ride for the tonal tide 🎼🎹🎲🎛️🎚️🍖
November 7, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Playing at Morningside Tavern till 8. I have the sunny Friday night vibes breaking out all over, mind the ride for the tonal tide 🎼🎹🎲🎛️🎚️🍖
WINDIES are giving our bowlers a damn good seeing to.
November 5, 2025 at 7:35 AM
WINDIES are giving our bowlers a damn good seeing to.