Matheson Russell

allowed to preserve himself, he would be without rights; and, since his life is refused him, his whole freedom is denied to him also.” - GWF Hegel, Elements of a Philosophy of Right

“Life, or the totality of ends, has a right against abstract right. For instance, by the theft of a loaf of bread a property is doubtless injured. Still, if the act was the means of prolonging life, it would be wrong to consider it an ordinary theft. If the man whose life is in danger were not …

Hi Sam! I'm XXXXX a postdoctoral researcher in XXXXX. I'm from NZ, was born and raised in Auckland, and did my PhD at the XXXXXXXXXXX. I've never lived anywhere else other than NZ, I used to want to build my scientific career there. And now, I don't ever see that happening. It feels like I have to choose between science and living in NZ. Maybe I was naive? I don't know, I thought maybe we learned lessons from the pandemic about how research was important and had benefits to humans? Let alone the fucking economy?? Anyway, pardon my french. Thank you for saying what you said. I'm proof of it, and there are so many others in my shoes. You better believe we will all be voting from wherever we are in the world. Ngā mihi nui, -- XXXXXXXXXXX - Postdoctoral Researcher

yesterday on RNZ I talked with Kathryn Ryan about cuts to NZ science funding and the risk of losing talent www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

here's some correspondence about the opposite problem: kiwi scientists who want to return home to work, but can't, given the bleak funding environment

#nzpol

*stares morosely in New Zealander*

This is what happened to my Grandfather in Frankfurt, Germany on 9th November 1938, commonly known as Kristallnacht.

Perfect!

@alexgphilosophy.bsky.social would be proud

Powerful

Yeah, he’s amazing

Thanks team. It was a privilege to spend time with you. It will have to be much longer next time!

YouTube video by Louis Cato Louis Cato and Jon Batiste “Africa” (D’Angelo Tribute)

D'Angelo deep cut ... tribute.
youtu.be/qgneMEs2i-w?...

YouTube video by pdbass From the Bottom: The Bass Lines of BROWN SUGAR (1995)

youtu.be/ac9NivlFJzQ?...

Global use of coal hit record high in 2024 Bleak report finds greenhouse gas emissions are still rising despite ‘exponential’ growth of renewables

There’s no way to stop climate change without consuming less.

Two party system not helping in this regard.

I’ve felt this pull myself. My solution: post nothing.

I suggest it helps to think probabilistically about it. Are protests the action that is sure to succeed? No. Might it be a thing that helps reverse the slide into authoritarianism? Yes.

Prescient

So grateful that D’Angelo made the music he did.

Photo of smartly dressed man working at a desk with an enormous number of papers and pads open.

How to keep a hundred tabs open before browsers were invented.

There was a time when antifa WAS an organisation, in fact an alliance of military powers. It is celebrated in countless US films about WWII and has been a prominent part of US cultural identity for the past 80 years. But that’s in the past now, it seems

These guys are nuts

Once upon a time the US was antifa, and militantly so. Now antifa is a terrorist network. Go figure

“I’ll declare war on you if you don’t give me the peace prize” is an incredible bit

Jin says, Wait! I just saw the last photo in your first post…is that it?!?

Jin says, please have some of that perfect insanely light pandan sponge cake from Bengawan Solo so she can live vicariously etc

Nah, Calvin’s just got ADHD

When students' brains go quiet Comment from Auckland University: Students starting to learn with AI is the difference between using a calculator after understanding math versus never learning math because calculators exist.

newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/02/w...

The criminalising of non-violent protest in the UK is a disgrace. A clear and absolutely indefensible denial of political rights that are basic for any democracy