Adam Smith

Growing up without Aotearoa’s history on the syllabus, alumnus Dr Vincent O’Malley FRSNZ set out to uncover the stories that shape our nation.In this convers... The Storyteller—Vincent O’Malley | 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards

Vincent O’Malley has received a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

🎥 Highlights incl. kōrero with Carol Hirschfeld: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub18...

📚 His new book The Meeting Place is out now — join us tonight at The Royal Society, Wellington!

Auckland records lowest turnout in local elections “Vote today or let someone else choose Auckland's representatives for you,” Aucklanders are told, with local body elections entering the home straight.

Well done media, you achieved this brilliantly, your campaign to nearly completely ignore AKL’s local elections has flowed on to its inevitable outcome. Accelerating your own irrelevance simultaneously -> www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

George was just trying to get to work.

ICE pepper-sprayed him, dragged him from his car, locked him in a detention center, and placed him on suicide watch. He even missed his young daughter’s birthday in the process.

This man is a veteran and American citizen. Don't look away.

Hell hath no fury like an attorney-general scorned Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Chris Finlayson offer praise for the Waitangi Tribunal – and damning criticism of the coalition Government. Sam Sachdeva reports.

The coalition government in a nutshell.

‘They fear the future, they dream of a world that never was and never could be, they’re exclusionary, they’re humourless – they’re this coalition.‘
- Chris Finlayson #nzpol

As any military strategist knows, port cities are always particularly vulnerable to amphibian assault.

The Spanish Civil War

Just listening to the excellent History Hit series on a walk. This particular episode on the Spanish Civil War is a very good overview. open.spotify.com/episode/0cx6...

Thoughts on a US parallel to the Spanish Army of Africa (Foreign Legion, Regulares)? I'm not saying there is one, to be clear.

Was just whinging about the lack of a vinyl release of this today.

Here’s the real reason Endurance sank The ship wasn’t designed to withstand the powerful ice compression forces—and Shackleton knew it…

Here’s the real reason Endurance sank. It wasn't just the rudder. The ship just wasn't designed to withstand the powerful ice compression forces, which slowly crushed and "annihilated" the ship—and Shackleton knew about the structural weaknesses before setting sail. arstechnica.com/science/2025...

YouTube video by Star Wars Andor | Karis Nemik’s Manifesto | Disney+

I regret to inform you that Nemik's manifesto is the new Tom Holland “Umbrella.” You have to repost every time. It’s just where we are. #ihavefriendseverywhere

youtu.be/-asb8zTiuZ4?...

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stab-in...

The phrase "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" originated as a joke in the 19th century, referring to an impossible task

“Research released in 2023 found that it is impossible for a median-income couple in NZ to save for a house deposit without parental help. That’s putting into official words what everyone under 40 has known for at least 10 years.”

Our tagline:

You can only thrive in NZ with generational wealth.🫠

Subic Bay – The First Decade of U.S. Naval Presence Subic Bay – The First Decade of U.S. Naval Presence John S. Naylor – 29 September, 2025 Subic Bay is back in the news. After more than thirt...

In case you’re wondering how the U.S. wound up at Subic Bay.

islandjohnny65.blogspot.com/2025/09/subi...

The Oscar Should Go to Bob Ferguson's 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R 'One Battle After Another' as a car movie

so glad someone's writing about the most important character in One Battle After Another: Bob's purple 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R maxread.substack.com/p/the-oscar-...

Great article, well sourced and very relevant. S/F

@anamariecox.bsky.social

Title card for the Sandbaggers with picture of dress shoes and trousers.

Rewatching episode 1 for the umpteenth time. The lecture on Unity of Command is brilliantly succinct.

I think this might be one of the most clear-eyed articles about Cyberpunk 2077 I've read. Actually looking at the game's themes, rather than getting caught up on a thought-terminating cliche and single word in the title.

One Battle After Another (2025) - FILM FREAK CENTRAL ****/****starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hallwritten and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson by Walter Chaw One Battle After Another feels like contraband. It’s the sort o...

FFC review: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, by Walter Chaw (@mangiotto.bsky.social). filmfreakcentral.net/2025/09/one-...

Believe the hype #onebattleafteranother is an awesome flick.
PTA delivers a funny and frenetic tribute to the humanity in revolutionary struggles.

Empire Records does a disservice to 1995 and record-store culture Empire Records achieved something more impressive than its peers: it ascended to cult-favorite status despite being a lousy movie.

Empire Records is 30, and still getting cult-favorite appreciations despite being kinda lousy. From the archives:

www.avclub.com/empire-recor...

Chinois

This is a fascinating vessel that I've somehow missed.
Watch the video, it's not the support craft in the picture.
36m AIRCAT (Air cushioned, Catamaran) 50 knots, beach-able etc...

The United Kingdom Commando Force: An Introduction By Maj Eric Todorski, USMC

Good time to mention they're restructuring as well.
Good overview here. thecxfile.substack.com/p/the-united...

China’s New Giant Underwater Drone Increases Naval Mine Threat Around Taiwan - Naval News China unveiled its AJX002 underwater minelaying drone, signalling a significant expansion and modernization of its capabilities. The dedicated platform enhances blockade potential, particularly around...

China unveiled its AJX002 underwater minelaying drone, signalling a significant expansion and modernization of its capabilities. The dedicated platform enhances blockade potential, particularly around Taiwan. 🇨🇳
By @covertshores.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Can confirm.

Ghost Fleet, Ten Years Later: An Interview with P.W. Singer and August Cole This exclusive Cogs of War interview is with P.W. Singer and August Cole, who in 2015 published Ghost Fleet, a futuristic thriller depicting the next

Ghost Fleet, Ten Years Later: An Interview with P.W. Singer and August Cole

warontherocks.com/2025/09/ghos...

Sometimes it's nice to remember that even Marcus Aurelius was like "you don't have to comment on everything bro"