Posts by billbennett@mastodon.nz
(DIR) Post #AywmyxPoDufycVAWo4 by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-06T22:55:40Z
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@Salty I've written about that somewhere, but I'm damned if I can find it... for some strange, inexplicable reason Google and Bing haven't indexed that story.
(DIR) Post #AywnEH1XbLjlmL7YsC by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-06T23:13:24Z
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@lightweight @Salty I don't think the mighty tech giants have programmed their bots to swipe me personally, but I assume their tech is now good enough to detect stories that may be detrimental and keep them from surfacing on search engines.
(DIR) Post #AywnYGfQdYpsSqJPYu by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-06T23:16:41Z
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@lightweight @Salty In the past I was important enough for them to put people on to dealing with me personally. You would not believe some of the examples.
(DIR) Post #Ayyy6PBWrWpgaLABcW by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-08T00:13:54Z
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@stephen Without seeing a detailed analysis, it looks like most of the NZF voters are switching from National. But the numbers suggest some are moving from Labour... which on one level feels odd, but probably seems rational to the people concerned. After all Shane Jones and Stuart Nash went Labout to NZF.
(DIR) Post #Az7BLe62Yc35qQsBNI by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-11T23:17:31Z
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Have I got this right? We can't afford to fund the health system but we can build a Death Star. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/575634/nz-defence-strategy-explores-space-weapons-export-potential
(DIR) Post #AzkxqFpvH6N5fxaPtQ by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-31T04:08:04Z
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@lightweight I've always thought a holiday centred on death, being scared and poor quality lollies feels like a uniquely American event. ;)
(DIR) Post #AzkyLvB3cWeorxZVrs by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-31T04:13:48Z
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@lightweight The Mexican Day of the Dead looks like fun... but I guess that gets just as degraded.
(DIR) Post #Azl75tQpF4zUPRNZZY by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-30T19:05:57Z
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City Rail Link goes full 4G and 5G: https://billbennett.co.nz/city-rail-link-goes-full-4g-and-5g/
(DIR) Post #Azl75wIQal3XIGTPOq by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-10-31T04:57:48Z
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@juliaclement Funny you should mention that. I specifically asked CRL Ltd if they had heard anything from 5G protestors about the project. There hasn't been a single word.
(DIR) Post #B0apoWFeeLVbLeoTtg by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-11-25T04:39:48Z
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Bishop is clearly more competent and gives less embarrassing interviews, but would voters warm to him more than Luxon?https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/579973/chris-bishop-says-he-s-not-plotting-to-roll-christopher-luxon
(DIR) Post #B0aqTlAm4rvhUzCBn6 by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-11-25T04:50:32Z
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@lightweight Yes, he is slightly better in most departments, but I’m not convinced voters will warm to him. Historically leadership challenges are not rewarded at the ballot box. It would be different if Luxon resigned.
(DIR) Post #B0asFZ94CNl43AkxJg by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-11-25T04:38:00Z
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@jeremy_pm I doubt that is a representative sample of New Zealand voting intention, probably reflects Mastodon quite accurately.
(DIR) Post #B0asFaoZzWYhEDBcf2 by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-11-25T04:53:48Z
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@jeremy_pm Personally I’d like to see the Greens put more emphasis on the climate part of that list, I feel it often gets pushed too far down the agenda. But I realise I’m in a minority.
(DIR) Post #B0asT2kVRYqfd5h96G by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-11-25T05:08:27Z
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@jeremy_pm You could also put that the other way around, fixing the environment requires fixing the other things.
(DIR) Post #B0gztUcsHlQcFFRaym by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-11-28T03:50:27Z
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How about NOT going to the store if it is that busy?https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/580289/40-minute-queues-drivers-warned-to-expect-delays-when-ikea-opens-in-auckland
(DIR) Post #B0qdh59ktsecMm6GXo by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-12-02T19:42:32Z
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@lightweight In part it is because they are inherently clueless about these matters but also because their main connection with the big tech companies is through expensive lobbyists and government relations folk whose job is all about feeding an unbalanced picture to politicians .
(DIR) Post #B0qvFTNR3N22YHU1RI by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-12-02T22:57:41Z
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@lightweight I don't think there is corruption here in the usual sense of the word (although if a former minister goes to work for one of these companies that would be corrupt). It's more that politicians are dazzled by the smoke and mirrors, the promise of new jobs being created or billions added to GDP and the idea of being, in their eyes, new and modern. People who know enough to be skeptical in one or more domains really need to bring that to the government technology procurement party.
(DIR) Post #B0rebdnpT2ExC8m0yu by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-12-03T07:27:38Z
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@lightweight We are... but to the best of my knowledge that's not happening (or not happening much) with the big tech companies... they get what they want anyway. It does show up when big donors to the right-wing parties are awarded lucrative government contracts.
(DIR) Post #B1GFdjlsbhA8NnlLSi by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-12-14T21:50:00Z
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Shout out to North Shore Hospital Emergency Department for sterling job last night after Mrs B broke her arm in a fall.
(DIR) Post #B1GS2hzTZ0HbY8nOk4 by billbennett@mastodon.nz
2025-12-15T06:34:37Z
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@lightweight Well the good news is that I only have minimal work for the next six weeks so I can make it as comfortable as possible. ;)