Michael Gray

Running the government is a lot like playing recorder – it doesn’t work if you suck.

#makeitstop by letting those in power know just how many people care about primary education in NZ. Share this film, sign our petition, or just make some noise for teachers & educators at makeitstop.co.nz

i can't stop thinking about how funny this is

Catherine O'Hara, Canadian comedy icon and beloved star of Schitt's Creek, Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and more, has sadly died aged 71.

Our thoughts are with O'Hara's friends and family at this difficult time — she will be sorely missed.

Read our tribute: www.empireonline.com/movies...

Only a little more than $5,000 to go! Please consider donating if you haven’t already!

Settings > Content and Media > Autoplay Video and GIFs

Turn it off, now.

It Was a Point Blank Execution David Farrier's Webworm reports from the scene as ICE executes another American

i was at the scene shortly after ICE executed a man they were piled on top of. my report and photos are on webworm: www.webworm.co/icekillsagain/

"There is no justification for letting that many bullets go. That's messed up, That is no regard for life at all" a lifelong resident told me.

fuck ice.

When will the 2026 New Zealand election be held? September? October? November? Christmas Eve?

lol @robbienicol.bsky.social and Toby Manhire correctly predicted the election date

these videos have raised more than $180,000(!) for a variety of urgent causes over the last few years.

this year i'm once again supporting the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, whose work is tragically as vital as ever. please consider giving if you can!

www.gofundme.com/f/david-ehrl...

The other piece is by @tworuru.com for the Bad Newsletter asking how the hell the supposedly neutral Public Service Commission ended up running attack ads supporting the Government against teachers, doctors and nurses unions www.emilywrites.co.nz/what-the-hel...

The Secret Lives of Games: 151: Games of the Year 2025 The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners. Happy new year! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway  Our GOTY Pic...

Our almost 4-hour GOTY 2025 special is live now!

The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners.

secretlives.games/151-games-of...

Grok has been allowing sexualised deepfakes in one form or another for a year. But finally, the media spotlight is on the AI tool. What can we do about it in Aotearoa New Zealand?

What happened? Grok, X’s AI Chatbot is being used to “undress” women and girls, without consent. Content ranges from bikini-style edits to fully nude and explicit sexualised imagery. In some cases, Grok outputs are used as a “jumping-off point” to create even more extreme pornography using other AI tools.

Research from Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa indicates Grok-based abuse is potentially widespread: Monitoring a single search term for one hour captured over 1,500 posts from 877 accounts across 44 countries. Extrapolated, that’s roughly 38,000 posts per day, and this is only a small portion of the activity. Abuse is multilingual and international, spreading across six continents. Women are overwhelmingly targeted, with hijabi women and cultural/religious markers often singled out. Abuse is systematic and coordinated: users share templates and “effective prompts” to amplify harm. Sexualised manipulation intersects with racism, religious desecration, political attacks, and extremist ideologies. The behaviour is normalised and gamified, treating abuse as a collaborative online challenge.

X’s policies prohibit sexualisation of children and nonconsensual adult images. But this is clearly not stopping abuse. Reactive moderation alone cannot keep up with AI-enabled harm. Platforms must implement safety-by-design measures that prevent abuse before it happens.

Grok, X’s AI chatbot, is being used to sexualise women, children, and marginalized communities worldwide. Abuse is fast, systematic, & often escapes current laws.
What can NZ do? What should NZ do? And what can you do? Check out the info in slides below 👇 (featuring @sanjanah.bsky.social) #nzpol

You can go listen to SEE YOU IN HELL right now on all podcast services and at seeyouinhell.tv!

EB Games proposes closing all New Zealand stores The Australian-based video game retailer is proposing to close its New Zealand business, according to a letter sent to employees.

I'm not surprised a physical-media games store is struggling, kinda amazing they outlasted the chain record stores and video stores

Still, awful to see more people thrown out of work right now

www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...

First koala chlamydia vaccine approved The disease has been plaguing the endangered marsupials since the 1990s.

I'm here to banish the darkness, if only for a moment.

A vaccine for chlamydia in koalas. Developed in Canada by a global team, with help from the family of Steve Irwin.

It reduces mortality, reduces disease severity, provides protection for baby koalas.

Turning the tide on a deadly disease.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AHL5daqvw/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AHL5daqvw/

Don't copy paste an Imperial response like other world "leaders" who are abandoning their independent foreign policy to cuddle up to Trump. Have some moral courage Luxon!

RIP to isiah whitlock jr., who swung so perfectly in THE WIRE b/t jovial backslapping aw-shucks politics and incredibly petty, deeply menacing villainy. the elongated "sheeeittt" catchphrase was a delight and a threat. the number of THE WIRE actors who are dying ... I hate it.

The Pokémon origin story How a young game critic made a mega-hit

It's a miracle Pokémon exists.

A game critic-turned-designer had a concept that got broadly dismissed. But his friends happened to be two of the most influential and brilliant people in games, and they championed him and the game through half a decade of development hell.

The full story is bonkers

How To Spot a Deepfake — 1/200 In the immediate aftermath of violent attacks, social media often fills the information vacuum before verified facts are available. That space is increasingly occupied by AI-generated deepfakes and ma...

New article from @legallyfeminist.bsky.social !

Huge thanks for this, we're really glad to have a static article to help people respond to this emerging threat.

www.1of200.nz/articles/how...

Support Rangatahi and Whānau Affected by the Ban on Puberty Blockers Raising funds to support rangatahi directly affected by the New Zealand Government’s decision to ban new prescriptions of puberty blockers.

This one’s important e hoa mā - a few of our orgs are collaborating on this fund to ensure that no trans young person in Aotearoa misses out on lifesaving care. Alternative treatment pathways exist but are expensive and we need your help.

givealittle.co.nz/cause/we-got...

Banner that reads: Ban the Ban. TTRPG bundle supporting trans rights, 27 TTRPGs for $20. A judge's gavel is coming down on the second 'ban', trailing a wake in the colours of the trans pride flag. Image by @java-and-art.bsky.social

Want to support trans rights in Aotearoa & get a bunch of cool TTRPGs? The Ban the Ban bundle is raising funds for action against the NZ govt's blocker ban.

Proceeds go to PATHA to fund their court challenge & support individuals. Get it now!

itch.io/b/3421/ban-t...

#transrights #ttrpg #nzpol

YouTube video by Gary Whitta SECRET PROJECT REVEALED

I'm bored today so I decided it's time to announce the secret project.

If they can ban access to healthcare like puberty blockers for one group of people, they can do this with any healthcare for their next target. They will ban abortion again given the chance and they will come after contraception after that. The anti-choice movement is our govt right now. #nzpol

Growing up were any moments in movies that traumatised you?

Once Were Warriors director Lee Tamahori dies aged 75 - NZ Herald He later directed major Hollywood hits including Die Another Day.

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/once-were...

If you, or someone you know has come into contact with Seymour, please isolate for 7 days. Read more here: yeehawtheboys.substack.com/p/the-other-...

YouTube video by IGN Death by Scrolling - Official Launch Trailer

Death by Scrolling out now! 💀

Welcome to Purgatory, Inc. now under new management.

Climb through this rogue-like vertically scrolling RPG where you’ll slay enemies, collect gold and try to pay your way into the afterlife. #indiegames

Play now on Steam! ⤵️

store.steampowered.com/app/3773590/...

‘Grand Theft Auto’ Studio Accused of Union Busting After Firings Union says 30 and 40 people were terminated. Rockstar Games’ parent company cites ‘gross misconduct’

BREAKING: Yesterday Grand Theft Auto VI maker Rockstar Games fired dozens of people, all of whom were involved in union efforts. A British union calls it "blatant and ruthless" union-busting. Take-Two Interactive says it was due to misconduct.

Here's the scoop: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Come on FENZ get Fire(fighter) wise!! Support your local firefighters on strike this Friday! Sticking for safer working conditions and fair pay! Talk more over at my substack: yeehawtheboys.substack.com/p/come-on-gu...

Star Trek TOS art, featuring floating heads of Kirk, Spock, and Bones.

Poster for Blade Runner, featuring floating heads of the characters.

Poster for Back to the Future Part II, with Doc and Marty both lifting shades to look at their watches with the Delorean nearby.

Poster for ET, with ET in the woods reaching for a floating UFO, with the lights of a city grid in the background.

RIP Drew Struzan

Mind blowing.

The Luxon Government has confirmed it will rewrite NZ’s once bipartisan climate change law to dilute methane reduction targets and PERMANENTLY exclude dairy from the Emissions Trading Scheme – a move Greenpeace says amounts to full-blown climate denial.
#nzpol