Notices by Bob LeFridge :tinoflag: (boblefridge@mastodon.nz)

Predictably, Peters once more announced NZ First's plan to declare a "war on woke".

While being heckled by protesters who he decried as "left-wing fascists" and "communist, fascist and anti-democratic losers", he also attacked diversity, equity and inclusion policies and suggested we should pretty much ignore climate change.

He coined a slogan: "make New Zealand first again". How innovatively original.

Honestly, Grandad is *this* close to wearing a little red cap.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/23/nz-first-leader-winston-peters-declares-war-on-woke/

What is it with every minor party leader and their dog giving "State of the Nation" speeches? Today it's Seymour... the Minister for School Slop.

In a SST piece - "David Seymour and the food fight he can’t win" - Andrea Vance argues that Seymour was better in opposition than he is in government.

"When questioned, he is rigid and defensive, with the demeanour of a man forced to eat a woke quinoa salad when he ordered a steak."

Touché.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360625194/david-seymour-and-food-fight-he-cant-win

#NZPol #Seymour #SchoolLunches

Meanwhile Police in New Zealand are channelling the Keystone Cops. They accidentally dropped a "Tactical Deflation Device" off an overbridge onto a busy motorway and spiked the tyres of seven vehicles.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/544110/police-accidentally-drop-road-spikes-drivers-pop-their-tyres

@fixatedpersonsunit @luciedigitalni

@heyrochelle @donkey

Save the bees
Plant more trees
Clean the seas
Punch nazis.

Don’t despair
Tax billionaires
Society repairs
Punch nazis.

French newspaper Le Monde has decided to stop sharing content on Xitter where they have 11m followers. This lengthy editorial explains their ethical decision.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/01/20/fighting-for-facts-in-the-era-of-trump-and-musk_6737224_23.html

#LeMonde #Twitter #Musk

For me the story arc has taken an abrupt turn lately, and not in a good way. The scene with all the tech bros lining up to kiss the orange ring was contrived & I find most of the characters to be very two dimensional.

The plot, where there is one, is convoluted at best. Especially unbelievable is the final episode where the plucky billionaires finally achieve their dream and destroy Western democracy.

Insincere, laboured & improbable.
* one star

@pezmico

Ooooh! New Zealand's number two cop who had been in the running for the Police commissioner role has been suspended, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into his conduct.

RNZ says "The nature of the allegations against McSkimming cannot be reported."

Then they helpfully provide a link to an earlier story which states: "RNZ understands it relates to inappropriate conduct with a more junior staff member."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/538930/country-s-second-most-powerful-police-officer-jevon-mcskimming-suspended-amid-probe

#NZ #Police

I gave it this image with Luxon's name but it chose to ignore that. However the final paragraph is eerie.

"A closer examination reveals a subtle detail: a faint, artistic representation of a cloud-like substance emanating from the central figure, visually symbolizing the spread of airborne particles. This artistic choice likely conveys a symbolic meaning, adding a layer of interpretation to the photograph."

Damn right!

@Daveosaurus @SusannahWrites

Like Dave ⬆️ I also grew up in a time where basic courtesy was the norm. It takes no effort to say thanks or give a driver a nod when they've stopped for you.

The way I look at it, every interaction I have with other people is a small opportunity to put a smile on their face or make their day just a little better.

Not acknowledging another's good deeds seems churlish when it costs nothing & makes both parties happier.

Also: the ute driver was out of order.

This website shows you what Google AI learns from your photographs. The level of detail is quite amazing. The site is owned by a former Google engineer who is trying to put people off storing photos on Google's servers.

I fed it some Seymour and just look what it produced.

"The man in the image appears to be Caucasian, middle-aged, and of seemingly average economic status."

https://theyseeyourphotos.com/

BIRD FLU REPORTING

Biosecurity NZ advises anyone seeing three or more sick or dead wild birds in a group, to report it immediately to the exotic pest and disease hotline on:

𝟎𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝟖𝟎 𝟗𝟗 𝟔𝟔

#Biosecurity #NZ #BirdFlu #H7N6

[ Edit: added extra hashtags ]

It's definitely time enshittification entered the lexicon. With an appropriate hat-tip to Cory, of course.

@gnoll110 @stilgherrian @pluralistic

More confirmation that police targeted mainly Moroccans and left the Zionist troublemakers alone.

https://todon.nl/@joenepraat/113448801597084168

@RustyBertrand @thrilway @RTFirefly

Another large ski resort in France has announced it's closing for good. After 85 years, Alpe du Grand Serre has cited decreasing snowfall as the main reason for the closure.

The villages making up Alpe du Grand Serre are at 1,368 metres and the highest lift goes to 2,184m.

For comparison, Coronet Peak base building is 1,187m while the peak of the Peak is 1,649m.

Climate change... coming to a ski-field near you.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/oct/07/large-french-alpine-ski-resort-to-close-in-face-of-shrinking-snow-season

#ClimateChange France #Skiing

Tesla recalls over 27,000 Cybertrucks over the time it takes for the rear camera to activate.

When your over-sized ute doesn't have a rear window, being blind for up to eight seconds after you shift into reverse might be a problem.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-recall-cybertruck-rearview-camera-problem/

#Tesla #Cybertruck #WankPanzer

@RiaResists @spinbackwards @NZedAUS @alpinefolk

I fail to recognise any justification of the genocide being carried out in Gaza. The situation may be "way too complicated" but the US just sent another $3.5bn worth of heavy weapons to the Zionists.

This is not a war. Only one side has tanks, state-of-the-art aircraft and the best of US technology & munitions.

To anyone who believes this genocide can be conveniently forgotten until after the election, let's agree to disagree.

@RiaResists @spinbackwards @NZedAUS @alpinefolk

What you think is between you and your conscience and I cant help you with that.

As I said earlier, "Let's agree to disagree."

@NZedAUS

The wave of positivity fuelling the Harris camp is indeed a wonderful thing and Walz will be perfect VP. They're inspiring and I have no doubt will trounce Trump.

However the US-backed Israeli genocide is still taking place every single day. Yesterday the Israelis bombed a school and murdered over 100 people, claiming there was a ‘high probability’ a PIJ commander was inside.

How can you expect people to put aside their disgust of their country supporting an active genocide?

@NZedAUS @alpinefolk

With genocide, there are no "goodies & baddies" -- only perpetrators and victims.

None of the situational complexity overrules the fact that the world is witnessing a horrific genocide, nor the fact that the current US administration is willingly supporting it. Without US weapons, Netanyahu would be impotent.

If I was American of course I'd vote for Harris & Walz because the alternative is the end of democracy. But ignore an active genocide? Sorry, can't do that.

At the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, the only company allowed to supply drinks is Coca-Cola. The choice is Coke, Fanta or Sprite and they expect to sell 18 million drinks.

Putting aside the logic of feeding sugary drinks to athletes, for the self-proclaimed "most eco-friendly games in history", Coke is pouring drinks from plastic bottles into plastic cups.

Capitalism will kill us all.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/07/greenwash-games-french-public-points-finger-at-coca-cola-over-olympics-plastic-waste

#Olympics #CocaCola #Greenwashing