David Hood
@thoughtfulnz.bsky.social
I like collating data,
and getting thoughts in the brain.
All for Public data, Aotearoa New Zealand, and informed communities. #openData #NewZealand #Aotearoa #rstats. He/him.
He tangata tiriti ahau
and getting thoughts in the brain.
All for Public data, Aotearoa New Zealand, and informed communities. #openData #NewZealand #Aotearoa #rstats. He/him.
He tangata tiriti ahau
Reposted by David Hood
Depressingly well-made point.
November 28, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Depressingly well-made point.
Reposted by David Hood
This is handy. Google Ads Transparency Center: This is Google's official, free tool where you can search any advertiser's name or website URL to see all the ads they are currently running or have run in the last 30 days across all Google platforms.
adstransparency.google.com?region=NZ
adstransparency.google.com?region=NZ
November 29, 2025 at 2:51 AM
This is handy. Google Ads Transparency Center: This is Google's official, free tool where you can search any advertiser's name or website URL to see all the ads they are currently running or have run in the last 30 days across all Google platforms.
adstransparency.google.com?region=NZ
adstransparency.google.com?region=NZ
As Lilith did a cool thing here, my take is my own (by extracting my own timeline) autobiography summary poem based on picking among the commonest terms in my posts. In this post showing the #rstats code, the next showing the selected rearrangement (code in alt text).
November 29, 2025 at 5:27 AM
As Lilith did a cool thing here, my take is my own (by extracting my own timeline) autobiography summary poem based on picking among the commonest terms in my posts. In this post showing the #rstats code, the next showing the selected rearrangement (code in alt text).
Reposted by David Hood
Congratulations Erik Olssen — 2025 New Zealand Historical Association Award for Contribution to New Zealand History. #NZHistory #HistoryMatters #history @universityofotago.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Congratulations Erik Olssen — 2025 New Zealand Historical Association Award for Contribution to New Zealand History. #NZHistory #HistoryMatters #history @universityofotago.bsky.social
Reposted by David Hood
Hard to believe that ~150 years ago, New Zealand had no Black Swans. Today? They’re on every lake, bay, and sad little treatment pond by the highway. It’s thought they filled the niche left by the extinct New Zealand swan…and then just went wild. Nature always finds a way. 🌿
🪶 My photo from October
🪶 My photo from October
November 28, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Hard to believe that ~150 years ago, New Zealand had no Black Swans. Today? They’re on every lake, bay, and sad little treatment pond by the highway. It’s thought they filled the niche left by the extinct New Zealand swan…and then just went wild. Nature always finds a way. 🌿
🪶 My photo from October
🪶 My photo from October
Reposted by David Hood
Oft-ignored dataset - IRD's count of people by primary income source. Here's the annual change data - the hope is that the red bars (benefits) get back to zero growth - maybe next winter? The blue bars (work) could turn positive in early 2026 when we get a tinsy bit of job growth. [1/2]
November 28, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Oft-ignored dataset - IRD's count of people by primary income source. Here's the annual change data - the hope is that the red bars (benefits) get back to zero growth - maybe next winter? The blue bars (work) could turn positive in early 2026 when we get a tinsy bit of job growth. [1/2]
Reposted by David Hood
Ever feel like AI is trying to gaslight you?
“There is no such book, Rachel. It never existed. No, no don’t look down, don’t look at the search results just listen to me. YOU NEVER WROTE A BOOK AND ALSO YOU WERE IN THE MIGHTY BOOSH”
“There is no such book, Rachel. It never existed. No, no don’t look down, don’t look at the search results just listen to me. YOU NEVER WROTE A BOOK AND ALSO YOU WERE IN THE MIGHTY BOOSH”
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Ever feel like AI is trying to gaslight you?
“There is no such book, Rachel. It never existed. No, no don’t look down, don’t look at the search results just listen to me. YOU NEVER WROTE A BOOK AND ALSO YOU WERE IN THE MIGHTY BOOSH”
“There is no such book, Rachel. It never existed. No, no don’t look down, don’t look at the search results just listen to me. YOU NEVER WROTE A BOOK AND ALSO YOU WERE IN THE MIGHTY BOOSH”
Reposted by David Hood
Um, did some not check their transcription app?
I think you meant to write 'Attacks on...' not 'A Tax on' Anneke Smith @rnzrss.bsky.social
I think you meant to write 'Attacks on...' not 'A Tax on' Anneke Smith @rnzrss.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Um, did some not check their transcription app?
I think you meant to write 'Attacks on...' not 'A Tax on' Anneke Smith @rnzrss.bsky.social
I think you meant to write 'Attacks on...' not 'A Tax on' Anneke Smith @rnzrss.bsky.social
Reposted by David Hood
It’s the time of the year in Aotearoa when blueberries are the size of grapes, grapes are the size of strawberries, berries are the size of mandarins, and mandarins are the size of apples.
November 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
It’s the time of the year in Aotearoa when blueberries are the size of grapes, grapes are the size of strawberries, berries are the size of mandarins, and mandarins are the size of apples.
Reposted by David Hood
To be explicit, we executed a German U-Boat commander who said he had to sink lifesaving gear / “inadvertently” kill survivors because it might give away his position, thereby potentially resulting in the loss of his submarine.
We executed multiple members of that crew.
We executed multiple members of that crew.
November 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
To be explicit, we executed a German U-Boat commander who said he had to sink lifesaving gear / “inadvertently” kill survivors because it might give away his position, thereby potentially resulting in the loss of his submarine.
We executed multiple members of that crew.
We executed multiple members of that crew.
Reposted by David Hood
The most maddening thing about this is that restoring inanga spawning habitat is really easy. Like, the easiest, fastest results I've seen in any project. We've got to stop monitoring towards extinction and actually start spending money on fixing the problems! www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Whitebait species at risk from declining state of waterways
A new freshwater fish report has found 28 percent of species are facing extinction and 32 percent are at risk of becoming threatened.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM
The most maddening thing about this is that restoring inanga spawning habitat is really easy. Like, the easiest, fastest results I've seen in any project. We've got to stop monitoring towards extinction and actually start spending money on fixing the problems! www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by David Hood
it kinda gives the game away when you see members of the "if you do what you love you'll never work a day in your life" crowd use generative AI to do the work they ostensibly love doing so much
November 28, 2025 at 6:32 PM
it kinda gives the game away when you see members of the "if you do what you love you'll never work a day in your life" crowd use generative AI to do the work they ostensibly love doing so much
Reposted by David Hood
This autism infographic was obvious slop but it made it through two rounds of peer review at one of the most trusted academic publishers in the world. How did that happen? What else has made it past? Hoping users of generative AI are so sloppy and expecting the public to catch them is not a solution
On the Factor Fexcectorn and autism bicycle AI slop study: I got an answer from Springer Nature this morning that this scientific paper will be retracted! 🧪
Full story: nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/riding-the...
Full story: nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/riding-the...
Riding the Autism Bicycle to Retraction Town
Does anyone *really* know their Factor Fexcectorn?
nobreakthroughs.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This autism infographic was obvious slop but it made it through two rounds of peer review at one of the most trusted academic publishers in the world. How did that happen? What else has made it past? Hoping users of generative AI are so sloppy and expecting the public to catch them is not a solution
Reposted by David Hood
For context, these were due to be published in March 2025. The NZ govt prevented their publication because they intended to ban puberty blockers and the guidelines show they are safe, effective, and standard care internationally. Today they were released in an OIA putting them in the public domain.
In some good news, today PATHA has finally been able to release the 2025 Guidelines for Gender Affirming Care in Aotearoa New Zealand. You can read them here: patha.nz/resources-an...
Clinical Guidelines | Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa Inc. (PATHA)
patha.nz
November 28, 2025 at 7:25 AM
For context, these were due to be published in March 2025. The NZ govt prevented their publication because they intended to ban puberty blockers and the guidelines show they are safe, effective, and standard care internationally. Today they were released in an OIA putting them in the public domain.
Reposted by David Hood
🚨 SynthNet is out 🚨
Researchers propose new constructs and measures faster than anyone can track. We (@anniria.bsky.social @ruben.the100.ci) built a search engine to check what already exists and help identify redundancies; indexing 74,000 scales from ~31,500 instruments in APA PsycTests. 🧵1/3
Researchers propose new constructs and measures faster than anyone can track. We (@anniria.bsky.social @ruben.the100.ci) built a search engine to check what already exists and help identify redundancies; indexing 74,000 scales from ~31,500 instruments in APA PsycTests. 🧵1/3
November 26, 2025 at 11:42 AM
🚨 SynthNet is out 🚨
Researchers propose new constructs and measures faster than anyone can track. We (@anniria.bsky.social @ruben.the100.ci) built a search engine to check what already exists and help identify redundancies; indexing 74,000 scales from ~31,500 instruments in APA PsycTests. 🧵1/3
Researchers propose new constructs and measures faster than anyone can track. We (@anniria.bsky.social @ruben.the100.ci) built a search engine to check what already exists and help identify redundancies; indexing 74,000 scales from ~31,500 instruments in APA PsycTests. 🧵1/3
Reposted by David Hood
Flying Saucer Digest, no. 130.
This alien spacecraft looks suspiciously like Parliament to me.
This alien spacecraft looks suspiciously like Parliament to me.
November 28, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Flying Saucer Digest, no. 130.
This alien spacecraft looks suspiciously like Parliament to me.
This alien spacecraft looks suspiciously like Parliament to me.
Reposted by David Hood
📣 Working from home results in lower performance ratings📣
Managers give lower performance ratings to teleworkers than to office workers, even when holding performance constant.
Female teleworkers face an even greater disadvantage.
Managers give lower performance ratings to teleworkers than to office workers, even when holding performance constant.
Female teleworkers face an even greater disadvantage.
November 28, 2025 at 3:01 AM
📣 Working from home results in lower performance ratings📣
Managers give lower performance ratings to teleworkers than to office workers, even when holding performance constant.
Female teleworkers face an even greater disadvantage.
Managers give lower performance ratings to teleworkers than to office workers, even when holding performance constant.
Female teleworkers face an even greater disadvantage.
Reposted by David Hood
Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation
Study finds that a week of political content can bring about a shift in views that previously would have taken three years
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Study finds that a week of political content can bring about a shift in views that previously would have taken three years
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation
Study finds that a week of political content can bring about a shift in views that previously would have taken three years
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation
Study finds that a week of political content can bring about a shift in views that previously would have taken three years
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Study finds that a week of political content can bring about a shift in views that previously would have taken three years
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
So, Christmas pork (ham) and chicken
(I checked the food price index for the trends, having seen some headline numbers about increases)
(I checked the food price index for the trends, having seen some headline numbers about increases)
November 28, 2025 at 3:51 AM
So, Christmas pork (ham) and chicken
(I checked the food price index for the trends, having seen some headline numbers about increases)
(I checked the food price index for the trends, having seen some headline numbers about increases)
There are a few times a year that essentially 10% of the population of Ōtepoti either want to leave or arrive in the city. It would be good for passenger rail to be a competitor to air at those times.
November 28, 2025 at 3:10 AM
There are a few times a year that essentially 10% of the population of Ōtepoti either want to leave or arrive in the city. It would be good for passenger rail to be a competitor to air at those times.
Reposted by David Hood
If you’re a small NZ business and your business account on a social media platform like Facebook has been locked, NZ Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) has set up an email address for people to contact. Send details to [email protected]
www.privacy.org.nz/resources-an...
www.privacy.org.nz/resources-an...
Home | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) plays a central role in shaping and delivering a strong New Zealand economy.
mbie.govt.nz
November 28, 2025 at 12:48 AM
If you’re a small NZ business and your business account on a social media platform like Facebook has been locked, NZ Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) has set up an email address for people to contact. Send details to [email protected]
www.privacy.org.nz/resources-an...
www.privacy.org.nz/resources-an...
Reposted by David Hood
Your universe is a photocopy of a photocopy of a…
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
November 27, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Your universe is a photocopy of a photocopy of a…
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
While covid per capita in wastewater did not get lower than the all time low (since covid spread nationwide) in mid-October, Christmas is looking a lot more like a 2024 prevalence than any earlier year.
November 28, 2025 at 12:43 AM
While covid per capita in wastewater did not get lower than the all time low (since covid spread nationwide) in mid-October, Christmas is looking a lot more like a 2024 prevalence than any earlier year.
Reposted by David Hood
We used to spend time - real, substantive time - on "what does the data mean", "what are we trying to emphasise", "how is it going to be interpreted". But the slop is just... "dear sirmedem have gud ibfrograohic". It's *worse* than any of the bullshit we've ever had.
November 28, 2025 at 12:09 AM
We used to spend time - real, substantive time - on "what does the data mean", "what are we trying to emphasise", "how is it going to be interpreted". But the slop is just... "dear sirmedem have gud ibfrograohic". It's *worse* than any of the bullshit we've ever had.
Reposted by David Hood
We've just published the programme for the Capital City Complex Systems Symposium 2026, and registrations are open 👀
#cccss26 #complexsystems
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/conferences/...
#cccss26 #complexsystems
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/conferences/...
Capital City Complex Systems Symposium 2026
The Capital City Complex Systems Symposium 2026 explores cutting-edge knowledge of complex systems & complexity & how this knowledge is used to drive system change.
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz
November 27, 2025 at 11:17 PM
We've just published the programme for the Capital City Complex Systems Symposium 2026, and registrations are open 👀
#cccss26 #complexsystems
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/conferences/...
#cccss26 #complexsystems
www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/conferences/...