Violet Blue®
@violetblue.bsky.social
Awarded author, journalist: cybersecurity, privacy, digital human rights, Covid. WIRED, PopSci, Spinoff, Engadget, FT, IFJ. Visiting Scholar at Stout Research Centre, NZ.
Bio: about.me/violetblue
Pod: linktr.ee/raisedbyhorror
News: patreon.com/violetblue
Bio: about.me/violetblue
Pod: linktr.ee/raisedbyhorror
News: patreon.com/violetblue
Can't wait to see this. www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens...
New 'Māori gothic' film Mārama draws on horror of colonialisation
Mārama tells the story of a young Māori woman lured to Victorian England under false pretenses, and her fight to keep her identity.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Can't wait to see this. www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens...
Reposted by Violet Blue®
Timeline cleanse
February 5, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Timeline cleanse
TFW I see Long Covid researchers, doctors (or clinics!) that don't or won't mask.
Some researchers
> support Let it Rip and mass infection dynamics with SARS-CoV-2
> enter the growing field of Long Covid research
> ask for funding for Long Covid
> collect prizes, accolades and funding for researching a disease they contributed not to prevent
> support Let it Rip and mass infection dynamics with SARS-CoV-2
> enter the growing field of Long Covid research
> ask for funding for Long Covid
> collect prizes, accolades and funding for researching a disease they contributed not to prevent
February 5, 2026 at 1:17 AM
TFW I see Long Covid researchers, doctors (or clinics!) that don't or won't mask.
Via @thewhn.bsky.social -- Petition for LA to Recognize "International Long Covid Awareness Day" #LongCovid
actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe...
actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe...
Recognize "International Long Covid Awareness Day" in LA
March 15 is International Long Covid Awareness Day. Sign the petition to tell the LA City Council that you want Long Covid acknowledged and City Hall lit teal in observance.
actionnetwork.org
February 4, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Via @thewhn.bsky.social -- Petition for LA to Recognize "International Long Covid Awareness Day" #LongCovid
actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe...
actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe...
TIL that today is a lowkey holiday in Aotearoa 😂
Really enjoyed this commemorative piece by @haydendonnell.bsky.social. The last line is gold.
National milestone: It’s been 10 years since the Waitangi dildo strike
When Josie Butler threw that dildo, she split our nation’s timeline into two eras: before dildo (BD) and after dildo (AD).
thespinoff.co.nz
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 PM
TIL that today is a lowkey holiday in Aotearoa 😂
Just remembered last night's/this morning's stress dream, where I was filling out the residence application on deadline and discovered a new section where I had to provide two separate test certificates for having learned to play the piano 😭
February 4, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Just remembered last night's/this morning's stress dream, where I was filling out the residence application on deadline and discovered a new section where I had to provide two separate test certificates for having learned to play the piano 😭
A good reminder that X-Ray: Bad Redaction Detector exists, thanks to the Free Law Project's Open Source Tools page: free.law/open-source-...
Also: respect, empathy, and gentle thoughts for every abuse survivor having to witness the internet comb through these files 24/7 without content warnings 💔
Also: respect, empathy, and gentle thoughts for every abuse survivor having to witness the internet comb through these files 24/7 without content warnings 💔
February 4, 2026 at 4:34 AM
A good reminder that X-Ray: Bad Redaction Detector exists, thanks to the Free Law Project's Open Source Tools page: free.law/open-source-...
Also: respect, empathy, and gentle thoughts for every abuse survivor having to witness the internet comb through these files 24/7 without content warnings 💔
Also: respect, empathy, and gentle thoughts for every abuse survivor having to witness the internet comb through these files 24/7 without content warnings 💔
Reposted by Violet Blue®
I keep saying to people in my life that the problem with writing in these days is that you sound absolutely off your nut for simply saying what is happening.
February 4, 2026 at 2:29 AM
I keep saying to people in my life that the problem with writing in these days is that you sound absolutely off your nut for simply saying what is happening.
This chaos happened right before the earthquake! The bird was fine, I caught it softly and safely, it's now free to shit chaotically all over everything somewhere else. The cats are still looking for it 😂
February 3, 2026 at 11:56 PM
This chaos happened right before the earthquake! The bird was fine, I caught it softly and safely, it's now free to shit chaotically all over everything somewhere else. The cats are still looking for it 😂
I think for me it was when on rewatch of Buffy it became clear to me that I hated all the aspects that I now recognize as Whedon's sexist grossness and lack of character, but loved the aspects that could only come from all the other uber talented artists, performers, writers, etc.
*except Xander
*except Xander
I feel like Joss Whedon—much of whose work I still love and think is genuinely really good—is such a great example of the latter case
Like in retrospect there were so many red flags
Like in retrospect there were so many red flags
Subconscious theory "if terrible people make art, it can only be terrible," that's not how it works. Sometimes in the art there is true catharsis & person is good. Other times, veiled confessions & manipulation. We can only know the difference by truly listening & respecting those around the artist.
February 3, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I think for me it was when on rewatch of Buffy it became clear to me that I hated all the aspects that I now recognize as Whedon's sexist grossness and lack of character, but loved the aspects that could only come from all the other uber talented artists, performers, writers, etc.
*except Xander
*except Xander
Reposted by Violet Blue®
We are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of travel grants to assist editors to participate in WikiCon 2026, held in Wellington from Friday 1 – Sunday 3 May.
Applications will be approved on a first come, first served basis, so don't delay: www.wikimedia.nz/travel-grant...
Applications will be approved on a first come, first served basis, so don't delay: www.wikimedia.nz/travel-grant...
Travel grants for WikiCon
We are offering a limited number of travel grants to assist editors to participate in Wikicon 2026, held in Wellington from Friday 1 – Sunday 3 […]
www.wikimedia.nz
February 3, 2026 at 9:10 PM
We are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of travel grants to assist editors to participate in WikiCon 2026, held in Wellington from Friday 1 – Sunday 3 May.
Applications will be approved on a first come, first served basis, so don't delay: www.wikimedia.nz/travel-grant...
Applications will be approved on a first come, first served basis, so don't delay: www.wikimedia.nz/travel-grant...
New: Epstein’s obsession with DEF CON and his pet “personal hacker” is outed by Reddit sleuths, Pentagon demands Anthropic remove AI safeguards so they can do bad things, a paper on evaluating anti-facial recognition tools, a Vic Uni desk selfie, cats, more!
Link: www.patreon.com/posts/cybers...
Link: www.patreon.com/posts/cybers...
February 3, 2026 at 10:35 PM
New: Epstein’s obsession with DEF CON and his pet “personal hacker” is outed by Reddit sleuths, Pentagon demands Anthropic remove AI safeguards so they can do bad things, a paper on evaluating anti-facial recognition tools, a Vic Uni desk selfie, cats, more!
Link: www.patreon.com/posts/cybers...
Link: www.patreon.com/posts/cybers...
Reposted by Violet Blue®
Great job Kohengi!!
Female #kakapo Kohengi on her three eggs on Pukenui/Anchor Island today. We don't yet know if they're fertile, but will investigate soon. So far fertility on Anchor is very high: only 8 infertile out of 33 checked. We expect many more infertile eggs though. #kakapo2026 #conservation #birds
February 3, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Great job Kohengi!!
Reposted by Violet Blue®
Every day Mamdani comes out and is like "hey guys, I turned off the orphan-crushing machine. Literally just had to flip a switch. Took less than 5 minutes."
After decades of dem leadership pissing and moaning and fundraising about how complex an issue it is and how difficult the process is etc
After decades of dem leadership pissing and moaning and fundraising about how complex an issue it is and how difficult the process is etc
February 3, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Every day Mamdani comes out and is like "hey guys, I turned off the orphan-crushing machine. Literally just had to flip a switch. Took less than 5 minutes."
After decades of dem leadership pissing and moaning and fundraising about how complex an issue it is and how difficult the process is etc
After decades of dem leadership pissing and moaning and fundraising about how complex an issue it is and how difficult the process is etc
Reposted by Violet Blue®
If you are a visual artist who’d like to be a contributor to the SciArt Feed, let me know! Reply, skeet, or DM.
I maintain an approved artist list to keep gen AI out. After I add you, I’ll send instructions.
Promote your work and join the community. Any art engaged with science welcome. 🐡
I maintain an approved artist list to keep gen AI out. After I add you, I’ll send instructions.
Promote your work and join the community. Any art engaged with science welcome. 🐡
According to @bluefacts.app, the SciArt Feed is:
🦋 Bluesky’s #41 most popular Feed
🎨 #4 in art feeds
🧪 #4 in science feeds
The intersection of art & science: a curated Feed of great art by skilled people. And no gen AI.
🐡 Please share, pin & like today so we reach 5,000 subscribers:
🦋 Bluesky’s #41 most popular Feed
🎨 #4 in art feeds
🧪 #4 in science feeds
The intersection of art & science: a curated Feed of great art by skilled people. And no gen AI.
🐡 Please share, pin & like today so we reach 5,000 subscribers:
February 2, 2026 at 9:59 PM
If you are a visual artist who’d like to be a contributor to the SciArt Feed, let me know! Reply, skeet, or DM.
I maintain an approved artist list to keep gen AI out. After I add you, I’ll send instructions.
Promote your work and join the community. Any art engaged with science welcome. 🐡
I maintain an approved artist list to keep gen AI out. After I add you, I’ll send instructions.
Promote your work and join the community. Any art engaged with science welcome. 🐡
Please!!! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Periodic reminder: When someone shares news with "BREAKING" and they aren't a journalist and don't link to a news story, it's probably not the best source for people to be resharing. It might be trying to get rage reposts, even! Better to find a news article that is accurately describing facts.
February 3, 2026 at 6:04 AM
Please!!! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Reposted by Violet Blue®
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
Xfinity has just released its Jurassic Park-themed Super Bowl ad that features a digitally de-aged Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. https://bit.ly/4rmRhrK
February 3, 2026 at 3:32 AM
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
Here's your reminder that you should subscribe to my newsletter: www.patreon.com/cw/violetblue
Threat Model | Patreon
Threat modeling cybersecurity, Covid, and more with Violet Blue
www.patreon.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Here's your reminder that you should subscribe to my newsletter: www.patreon.com/cw/violetblue
"Hashimoto explained that because the sculpture was made from cardboard ..." 👀
spoon-tamago.com/cats-to-blam...
spoon-tamago.com/cats-to-blam...
Cats to Blame for Octopus Deity Enshrinement Delay
Hayasuhime Shrine in Oita prefecture is a rarity in Japan because it is dedicated to the octopus. When local sculptor Kousei Hashimoto was tasked with creating a new deity to be enshrined, he expected for it to be completed by the end of the year. But the neighborhood cats had different plans.
spoon-tamago.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:46 PM
"Hashimoto explained that because the sculpture was made from cardboard ..." 👀
spoon-tamago.com/cats-to-blam...
spoon-tamago.com/cats-to-blam...
Reposted by Violet Blue®
Chotiner: Tell me what you found interesting about these vampires.
Documentarian: Well, it's just -- the group dynamics, I guess.
Chotiner: I can see that. I can see finding Nandor, Laszlo and Nadia entertaining.
Documentarian: Exactly.
Chotiner: So. How many people did you watch them murder?
Documentarian: Well, it's just -- the group dynamics, I guess.
Chotiner: I can see that. I can see finding Nandor, Laszlo and Nadia entertaining.
Documentarian: Exactly.
Chotiner: So. How many people did you watch them murder?
February 2, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Chotiner: Tell me what you found interesting about these vampires.
Documentarian: Well, it's just -- the group dynamics, I guess.
Chotiner: I can see that. I can see finding Nandor, Laszlo and Nadia entertaining.
Documentarian: Exactly.
Chotiner: So. How many people did you watch them murder?
Documentarian: Well, it's just -- the group dynamics, I guess.
Chotiner: I can see that. I can see finding Nandor, Laszlo and Nadia entertaining.
Documentarian: Exactly.
Chotiner: So. How many people did you watch them murder?
Reposted by Violet Blue®
My very Wellington flood story is out! 🐡 (you'll see)
The latest from Reckoning X is @remedy.bsky.social's "unconventional flood" story, "Antediluvian": reckoning.press/antediluvian/
Antediluvian | Reckoning
Your house isn’t flooded in the conventional sense. It’s an unconventional flood. You knew about the rising seas and that, but this was faster, like the kind of disaster movie that pisses off your mat...
reckoning.press
February 2, 2026 at 2:33 AM
My very Wellington flood story is out! 🐡 (you'll see)
Reposted by Violet Blue®
the whole country is on fucking fire and Mamdani is just over there going down the checklist of shitty things no one should have allowed rich people to get away with, and honestly it gives me hope for a better world.
Incredible contrast between this and Keir Starmer running a delivery driver over
Mamdani Forces Delivery Apps to Pay Back $4.6 Million Cheated From Drivers
New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has already scored a major win for deliveristas working for three delivery giants.
futurism.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM
the whole country is on fucking fire and Mamdani is just over there going down the checklist of shitty things no one should have allowed rich people to get away with, and honestly it gives me hope for a better world.