Chris Burgess
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chris.bur.gs
Chris Burgess
@chris.bur.gs
210 followers 310 following 590 posts
Tech for good, for people, for orgs. Less tech, and slower too. Popping balls through hoops, open source, learning guitar, making prints, building with wood. Ōtepoti, Aotearoa.
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chris.bur.gs
Kid picked up this t-shirt at the Disk Den, I can't find record of the band but the shop owner said they were Dunedin local. Appears to be a 90s era print from the fabric.

Does anyone recall Ronnie Raygun and the Destroyers? Or is it fiction?
T-shirt print of RONNIE RAYGUN AND THE DESTROYERS, Reagan's face on a comic plane shooting cannons, it's possible the artist had only NZAF Skyhawks to refer to.
November 12, 2025 at 7:12 PM
chris.bur.gs
Got this pot back from a blackened mess of burned rhubarb. Thanks grapefruit spoon, top tier decarboniser.
A pot is positioned in a dish rack so we see inside it. The pot looks clean. What we can't see is how called with burned rhubarb it was last night. In front of the pot is a steel grapefruit spoon which was used to decarbonize (?) the surface.
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
chris.bur.gs
Benedict Ong!

Full article @ www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin... (paywall link)
DCC chief calls Ong to meeting New Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong has made people feel "uncomfortable", prompting the council’s chief executive to invite him to a meeting to discuss ways to ensure a safe and professional work environment. One returning councillor has also blocked his calls. An email from Dunedin City Council chief executive Sandy Graham to Mr Ong said the meeting was intended to be about supporting him in his role and ensuring there was a safe and professional workplace environment for everyone. She told the Otago Daily Times there were no code of conduct proceedings in play. Mr Ong forwarded to the ODT the email he had been sent by Ms Graham. In it, she also congratulated him on his election, acknowledging the energy and commitment he had brought to the role already. As chief executive, it was important for her to ensure the workplace was safe, respectful and inclusive, she said. "I’ve received feedback from several people who have felt uncomfortable in recent interactions with you," she told Mr Ong. "I want to be clear that I do not believe this has been intentional on your part, but I do believe we need to talk openly about how we can support you in your role while ensuring a safe and professional environment for all. "I believe we can work together constructively to ensure you feel confident in your role and that others feel safe and respected in their interactions with you." Mr Ong told the ODT he was unsure if a meeting would be beneficial as he remained focused on preparing to serve the community. Responding to questions from the ODT, Ms Graham said in an email the invitation to a meeting came after feedback from several people about recent interactions with Mr Ong. "The aim of the meeting, which is yet to occur, is to have a constructive discussion about the way forward." Full article at https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dcc-chief-calls-ong-meeting (subscription link)
October 19, 2025 at 6:43 AM
chris.bur.gs
interesting backdrop choice?

from https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dunedin-airport-named-best-nz
group of celebrating airport executives pose in front of a picture of a dilapidated airplane which appears to be in a forest
October 8, 2025 at 7:31 PM
chris.bur.gs
well heck, I'd never seen this, but here's what we got in Aotearoa in 1996 (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Te...)
The Xtra homepage from 1996; a rendered digital world, with various buildings to explore the 1996 internet.
October 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
chris.bur.gs
oh yeah

https://www.haywards.co.nz/auctions/200/catalogue/0640

(no I'm not buying them, fun tho!)
a fairly solid wooden box cased set of 8 IBM Selectric typewriter type ball heads, typefaces include COURIER, ORATOR, SCRIPT, LETTER GOTHIC, SYMBOL, CAPTAIN, COURGETTE ... maybe I made some up
October 7, 2025 at 7:28 AM
chris.bur.gs
CI job artifact upload/download issues on a couple of #Gitlab projects - one public, one private - since yesterday.

Others seeing same?

Jobs (with artifacts) now timing out while waiting on artifact fetch or push.
Screenshot Uploading artifacts for successful job 58:34 Uploading artifacts... junit.xml: found 1 matching artifact files and directories WARNING: upload_artifacts_on_success could not run to completion because the timeout was exceeded. For more control over job and script timeouts see: https://docs.gitlab.com/ci/runners/configure_runners/#set-script-and-after_script-timeouts ERROR: Job failed: execution took longer than 1h0m0s seconds
October 5, 2025 at 6:31 PM
chris.bur.gs
I had been thinking this was a comment on the futility of consumer activity but today on the bus I realized ... it's about shopping points

Good one slogan people!
A poster. Two happy shoppers make a heart with their hands, elated. The sign says SHOPPING ELSEWHERE IS POINTLESS
September 25, 2025 at 5:35 AM
chris.bur.gs
Do they mean "rooting" like we do?
Inspector Gadget search result screenshot says that Inspector Gadget is out to solve "the mystery rooting in America"
September 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
chris.bur.gs
What's your sign?
A bus sign, from Wellington in the 90s I think. There are smiling people. The sign says "happiness is a spaced out bus, please move to the rear". Everyone smiles.
September 22, 2025 at 7:15 AM
chris.bur.gs
phone camera lens is busted but this morning's clouds lit from below were a joy

so was the crescent moon and clouds earlier 🌛
clouds lit from below at sunrise, light blue skies, golden tones, peach underbelly At the horizon, Te Pahuri o te Rangipohika / Signal Hill In the foreground, three power poles in an urban street not yet lit by the sun
September 17, 2025 at 1:53 AM
chris.bur.gs
My favorite local government election poster I saw today #dunedin #ōtepoti #kikorangi
A poster, black and white printed A scary comic vampire fangs and fingers at a man in suit and tie reclining on the ground. The text says VOTE RUTHVEN & DRAIN THE RICH VAMPIRE FOR MAYOR
September 16, 2025 at 8:18 AM
chris.bur.gs
It's two thirty, do you know where your trampoline is?
September 13, 2025 at 2:35 AM
chris.bur.gs
I saved this to refer to also!
Dunedin "radical action faction" poster with environmental message amongst other posters in the central city Candidates featured are James Cockle (ORC), Jen Olsen (DCC), Ruthven Allimrac (Vampire, DCC)
September 10, 2025 at 10:06 AM
chris.bur.gs
Hard to Find Books is hiring a manager in #Dunedin

re-share from print reality
Photo of newspaper advert, text reads - { 📖 hard to find books logo 📖 } A UNIQUE BOOKSHOP CAREER No Previous Experience Required The legendary Hard To Find Quality Secondhand Bookshop is looking for a new Manager in Dunedin. This is a longterm career position. The successful applicant should be reliable, personable, presentable, honest, confidant (sic?), energetic, committed (probably should be), loyal, dedicated, knowledgeable (in a general sense - brilliant at trivial pursuit and pub quizzes), love books of all kinds, enquiring, engaged, fit & healthy, strong, open and broad minded (but not empty or leaky), adaptable, focused, omnivorous, humble, and have a great sense of humour. The job involves engaging with clients from all walks of life, assessing, buying, pricing and cataloguing books, as well as overseeing staff and day to day business adctivities while finding time to be appropriately obsequious towards the owner. Not a job for clockwatchers. More a calling than a job, it requires you to learn and problem solve every day forever. It can be physically, mentally and sometimes emotionally demanding. The money is ... ok ... but the true satisfaction is in somehow maintaining some sense of order amidst the chaos, and loving the challenge of endeavouring to know it all, but finding there's always more to learn. TO BE CONSIDERED ALL APPLICANTS MUST CALL IN TO OUR STORE FOR OUR APPLICATION FORM
September 1, 2025 at 8:38 PM
chris.bur.gs
a new world struggles to be born, and it is even worse at dates than I am
Google search result screenshot. Query asks for the date of God Friday 2025 and is answered with the date for 2026. A second search suggestion proposes the question, What dates are Good Friday and Easter Monday 2025, then answers with Thursday, 25 December 2025 (not Easter).
August 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM
chris.bur.gs
Understandable
Peter Wyngarde as Jason King
August 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
chris.bur.gs
Oh is it, sorry! Becs Twemlow.
Screenshot of text, which reads - A Dunedin City Council candidate has been called "completely out of touch" after suggesting striking McDonald’s workers could easily be automated out of their jobs. Future Dunedin candidate Bex Twemlow made the comments on Facebook after five Central Dunedin McDonald’s workers downed tools and protested outside the restaurant on Wednesday, calling for a living wage after the company’s latest pay offer was rejected. "You all realise they [McDonald’s owners] could easily completely automate the restaurants and not employ hundreds of people, paying them a wage which then is spent in our economy?" Mrs Twemlow said. "Honestly, I do wonder why good people bother." Unite Union Dunedin organiser Andrew Tait said Mrs Twemlow’s comments dismissed hundreds of McDonald’s workers and depicted them as not contributing to the community in other ways. "It’s completely out of touch with ordinary people," he said. If Mrs Twemlow was trying to win votes ahead of October’s local body election, she was going about it in "completely the wrong way". Mr Tait said while stores already featured automation, which the union expected to continue, workers still deserved to be paid a living wage. The strike was not specifically against local owners but part of nationwide bargaining with a co-operative of McDonald’s and its franchisees, including local franchisee owners Justin and Eterei Stonelake. Union members recognised the Stonelakes’ stores, which include Central Dunedin, were well run and some staff were paid above contract rates but the latest pay offer from the co-operative was below the rate of inflation — "an effective pay cut", Mr Tait said.
August 24, 2025 at 7:43 AM
chris.bur.gs
#fuckyeah #typography
A newspaper advert, but the medium to fine text is relaxed with rectangular white boxes showing approximate letter shapes - no doubt there's a word for this Not including advert details cos neither of us care
August 23, 2025 at 4:15 AM
chris.bur.gs
all sandwiches are sandwiches for throwing
a children's book illustration of a gigantic jam sandwich being constructed; the size is such that folks are spreading butter with a tractor and jam with shovels. we needed a bigger sandwich. source is of course https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giant_Jam_Sandwich
August 18, 2025 at 2:35 AM
chris.bur.gs
At least the headline sub editor got it?
Screenshot of the article being discussed; headline reads "a cycleway barrier damaged by Tesla", which may have been intended to read "damaged *my* Tesla", but it's more correct in this form. Pictured, indignant Tesla driver who hit an inanimate object on the road, and complained about it to the media.
August 6, 2025 at 6:42 PM
chris.bur.gs
I have not worked out yet how to access designated smut like this on bluesky.

I get a helpful notification but no option to click through ... Is that how everyone sees it or am I missing a setting?
Screenshot of the thread above. The original blort is behind an "adult content" sign and there are links to "learn more" which provide surprisingly little educational content.
August 4, 2025 at 5:05 AM
chris.bur.gs
I'm getting a lot of "I'm sorry, I can't open the washing machine door" vibe from the bespoke AI laundry device
Newspaper advert of a bespoke AI laundry device, whatever that means. It's a washing machine and to me the circular door and stainless evokes HAL 9000 from 2001.
July 31, 2025 at 3:30 AM
chris.bur.gs
I have arrived in Whanganui-a-Tara and I am now prepped on hotel safety
A safety chart graphic from a hotel, instructing that in event of earthquake one should STAY in bed, COVER up with a duvet, and HOLD your head. Text below graphic says "You are less likely to be injured if you stay in bed".
July 16, 2025 at 4:12 AM
chris.bur.gs
#Ōtepoti folk, what can you tell me about this print?

It's "Some Dispute Over Mount Cargill", 1997 by M Jordan (Matthew?).

Saw it in the window of Moray Gallery some years ago (sorry for the terrible photo). It's huge!
A woodcut depicting conflict: farmers, cyclists, recreational horticulturalists, children and assorted community wrangle one another furiously over the fate of a mountain obscured in the background.
July 14, 2025 at 12:12 AM