Barb
@barbsgarden.bsky.social
Love my dogs & cats, craft beer fan, home brewer, avid reader & gardener. Based in Tasman region NZ. she/her
Toitu te Tiriti
Toitu te Tiriti
I know this is not very holiday-ish but look at how cool this is.
Interesting look at a kidney stone under an electron microscope; I always though it was painful because you were pushing an object through a hole too small for it to easily pass, but no it's literally just razor sharp crystals too.
December 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I know this is not very holiday-ish but look at how cool this is.
Reposted by Barb
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
December 20, 2025 at 11:36 PM
So reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can't fly, but they are VERY MAGICAL.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
For example, their EYES CHANGE COLOR during the year & they're one of the few large mammals that can see UV. Golden brown in summer, deep blue in winter.
Let's talk about the unique visual adaptations of Rudolph and company.
Reposted by Barb
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Damn. I guess the recorder can be cool after all
Today in “Dudes Rock”:
A dude playing Dire Straits’s “Sultans of Swing” guitar solo on…a recorder.
A dude playing Dire Straits’s “Sultans of Swing” guitar solo on…a recorder.
December 12, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Damn. I guess the recorder can be cool after all
An absolute cracker of a day.
December 6, 2025 at 11:48 PM
An absolute cracker of a day.
Reposted by Barb
Anyway, National's new shoplifting law is a reminder that if you see someone stealing food or other essentials in the supermarket, no you didn't.
December 3, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Anyway, National's new shoplifting law is a reminder that if you see someone stealing food or other essentials in the supermarket, no you didn't.
This is a lovely thread.
I wish I could write as eloquently as this. It's important that we remember
I wish I could write as eloquently as this. It's important that we remember
LONG RAMBLING EMOTIONAL THREAD:
It's World AIDS Day. Since the Administration has decided to keep it quiet, I'd like to share my introduction to AIDS.
I grew up in Seattle. My mom remarried a man who had a brother who was a King County Sheriff's Deputy. His name was Terry and he was gay. 1/x
It's World AIDS Day. Since the Administration has decided to keep it quiet, I'd like to share my introduction to AIDS.
I grew up in Seattle. My mom remarried a man who had a brother who was a King County Sheriff's Deputy. His name was Terry and he was gay. 1/x
December 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
This is a lovely thread.
I wish I could write as eloquently as this. It's important that we remember
I wish I could write as eloquently as this. It's important that we remember
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Pixies (too many times to count)
Nirvana
Ray Charles
Smashing Pumpkins
Cheap Trick (my first concert)
Pixies (too many times to count)
Nirvana
Ray Charles
Smashing Pumpkins
Cheap Trick (my first concert)
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Iron Maiden (Auckland x3)
Steven Wilson (Brisbane)
Mike Portnoy's Shattered Fortress (Auckland)
Opeth (Auckland)
Cruise to the Edge 2024 (Norwegian Pearl blatting around the Caribbean; see attached)
Iron Maiden (Auckland x3)
Steven Wilson (Brisbane)
Mike Portnoy's Shattered Fortress (Auckland)
Opeth (Auckland)
Cruise to the Edge 2024 (Norwegian Pearl blatting around the Caribbean; see attached)
November 27, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Pixies (too many times to count)
Nirvana
Ray Charles
Smashing Pumpkins
Cheap Trick (my first concert)
Pixies (too many times to count)
Nirvana
Ray Charles
Smashing Pumpkins
Cheap Trick (my first concert)
Reposted by Barb
James Bond supervillains threaten to blow up the world with their big laser unless you pay them a trillion dollars.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
James Bond supervillains threaten to blow up the world with their big laser unless you pay them a trillion dollars.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Reposted by Barb
Why am I so against generative AI in games?
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
November 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Why am I so against generative AI in games?
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
These designs are awesome! and they support great and vital research. Pledge now (so I can be sure to get one of these tea towels)
I've got some fantastic new rewards on offer, including these feminist tea towels designed by up-and-coming NZ designer Emma Stein. 6/8
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 AM
These designs are awesome! and they support great and vital research. Pledge now (so I can be sure to get one of these tea towels)
This is so so so IMPORTANT! Scientists have been looking for something like this for ages
This is why funding scientific research is critical
This is why funding scientific research is critical
This is part of why blue sky research is important, eh?
He's not on this team but this is exactly what my brother does, too: get some dirt, isolate micro organisms, see what chemicals they might produce that are useful.
Then hand it off to the synthetic chemists to see if they can make it.
He's not on this team but this is exactly what my brother does, too: get some dirt, isolate micro organisms, see what chemicals they might produce that are useful.
Then hand it off to the synthetic chemists to see if they can make it.
British and Australian chemists have discovered a powerful new antibiotic called pre-methylenomycin C lactone, hiding in a well-known soil bacterium. This molecule kills drug-resistant bacteria without triggering resistance. buff.ly/YlXaONo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
November 16, 2025 at 8:45 PM
This is so so so IMPORTANT! Scientists have been looking for something like this for ages
This is why funding scientific research is critical
This is why funding scientific research is critical
There is a mouse in my house. The dogs are very excitedly chasing it around but it keeps getting away. At least now I can vacuum behind the furniture.
November 14, 2025 at 9:42 PM
There is a mouse in my house. The dogs are very excitedly chasing it around but it keeps getting away. At least now I can vacuum behind the furniture.
Reposted by Barb
As New Zealand Minister Hon. Simon Watts heads to #COP30, here's some remarkable new information from an Official Information Act response I received today. 1/-
November 13, 2025 at 7:35 AM
As New Zealand Minister Hon. Simon Watts heads to #COP30, here's some remarkable new information from an Official Information Act response I received today. 1/-
My 9 books are (in no particular order):
1- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
2- 100 years of Solitude
3- Love in the time of Cholera
4- Gods and Generals
5- In the Night Garden
6- The Count of Monte Cristo
7- The Princess Bride
8- Wild Swans
9- Zeitoun
1- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
2- 100 years of Solitude
3- Love in the time of Cholera
4- Gods and Generals
5- In the Night Garden
6- The Count of Monte Cristo
7- The Princess Bride
8- Wild Swans
9- Zeitoun
I’m not as well read as you guys but my 9 books are:
1- Pride and Prejudice
2- Pachinko
3- The Lowland
4- Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
5-The Inheritance of Loss
6- Invisible Man
7- One Hundred Years of Solitude
8- Anna Karenina
9- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
1- Pride and Prejudice
2- Pachinko
3- The Lowland
4- Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
5-The Inheritance of Loss
6- Invisible Man
7- One Hundred Years of Solitude
8- Anna Karenina
9- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
November 10, 2025 at 11:20 PM
My 9 books are (in no particular order):
1- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
2- 100 years of Solitude
3- Love in the time of Cholera
4- Gods and Generals
5- In the Night Garden
6- The Count of Monte Cristo
7- The Princess Bride
8- Wild Swans
9- Zeitoun
1- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
2- 100 years of Solitude
3- Love in the time of Cholera
4- Gods and Generals
5- In the Night Garden
6- The Count of Monte Cristo
7- The Princess Bride
8- Wild Swans
9- Zeitoun
Reposted by Barb
This. I taught my son, "Leave enough room around you for someone in your immediate vicinity to discover a spider in their car."
4) Give the person ahead of you room. Seriously. Don't tailgate. Besides the fact that, ya know, it's dangerous, giving them room will help with the flow of traffic. If they slow down, you have more room to do so, thus allowing the opportunity for traffic to keep moving.
November 8, 2025 at 2:09 AM
This. I taught my son, "Leave enough room around you for someone in your immediate vicinity to discover a spider in their car."
Like many Kiwis, I received an email from Microsoft about switching to MS 365 personal classic (reduction in cost plus avoids AI shit). but the link took me to the Australian site.
I was 1100 in the queue so quit that. Realised I could change AU to NZ in the web address. This worked.
Done.
I was 1100 in the queue so quit that. Realised I could change AU to NZ in the web address. This worked.
Done.
November 6, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Like many Kiwis, I received an email from Microsoft about switching to MS 365 personal classic (reduction in cost plus avoids AI shit). but the link took me to the Australian site.
I was 1100 in the queue so quit that. Realised I could change AU to NZ in the web address. This worked.
Done.
I was 1100 in the queue so quit that. Realised I could change AU to NZ in the web address. This worked.
Done.
Reposted by Barb
i logged into linkedin to turn this setting off, and scrolled for a couple minutes, which reminded my why I never ever ever log into linkedin
Next week LinkedIn will use your personal data for AI training by automatically enabling permissions.
To manually turn off go to:
Settings ➡️ Data Privacy ➡️ under
“How LinkedIn uses your data” click “Data for Generative AI improvement” ➡️ toggle off
To manually turn off go to:
Settings ➡️ Data Privacy ➡️ under
“How LinkedIn uses your data” click “Data for Generative AI improvement” ➡️ toggle off
November 2, 2025 at 9:50 AM
i logged into linkedin to turn this setting off, and scrolled for a couple minutes, which reminded my why I never ever ever log into linkedin
Pixie is tired (and happy) from hunting mice in the tall grass
October 31, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Pixie is tired (and happy) from hunting mice in the tall grass
Reposted by Barb
Exciting day today. Not only is it Halloween, but my crowdfunding campaign is also live! Please support me by making a pledge and/or sharing on all your socials and with your friends, family, and colleagues. Thanks to everyone offering rewards. You rock! www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
Support Dr Siouxsie After She Supported Us! | PledgeMe
Support Dr Siouxsie to recover some of the money she spent fighting her legal case to protect employees experiencing online abuse
www.pledgeme.co.nz
October 30, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Exciting day today. Not only is it Halloween, but my crowdfunding campaign is also live! Please support me by making a pledge and/or sharing on all your socials and with your friends, family, and colleagues. Thanks to everyone offering rewards. You rock! www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/852...
Reposted by Barb
Chris Slane’s Cartoon of the Week
Chris Slane shares his perspective of the week in politics.
www.nzherald.co.nz
October 27, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by Barb
Dear NZ Labour please stop trying to get farmers to love you, they never will
It just pisses off people who might actively vote for you if you weren't trying to pander to wealthy property owners who hate tax but love a bailout during the extreme weather events #nzpol
It just pisses off people who might actively vote for you if you weren't trying to pander to wealthy property owners who hate tax but love a bailout during the extreme weather events #nzpol
October 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Dear NZ Labour please stop trying to get farmers to love you, they never will
It just pisses off people who might actively vote for you if you weren't trying to pander to wealthy property owners who hate tax but love a bailout during the extreme weather events #nzpol
It just pisses off people who might actively vote for you if you weren't trying to pander to wealthy property owners who hate tax but love a bailout during the extreme weather events #nzpol
#pukapuka just finished this awesome book. Like a cross between Alice in wonderland and Snow white. I love our geeky scientist main character! Thanks @tkingfisher.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:26 PM
#pukapuka just finished this awesome book. Like a cross between Alice in wonderland and Snow white. I love our geeky scientist main character! Thanks @tkingfisher.com