Paul Brislen

While you may have heard Cr Fletcher blaming City Vision's Richard Northey for the postal voting system, there was a vote last term where we decided NOT to change from postal voting to booth voting. As the sole City Vision councillor I voted FOR booth voting, and Cr Fletcher voted AGAINST booths🤷‍♀️

If I had a nickel for every time Franz Ferdinand was involved in the precursor events of a world war, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird it happened twice

The proliferation of road cone hotlines needs to be addressed as a drain on resources: www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/582...

Featured Interview: Paul Brislen (3G network shutdown end of March) Hugh chats to Paul Brislen, CEO of the NZ Telecommunications Forum, about the impending shutdown of the 3G cellular network which happens at the end of March. They talk about what this will mean for customers, how you can find out if your devices will keep working, and what to do next. A community interview from the Morning Show on Manawatū People's Radio, produced with the support of New Zealand On Air

Did you know that 3G services are being shut off at the end of March? This morning @objectivereality.bsky.social caught up with @brislen.nz of the NZ Telecommunications Forum to talk about why this is happening, who might be affected, and what to do about it!

Listen here: bit.ly/morning_show...

"Don't be so careful in time of death" is the motto I live by right now.

The proposed changes to how NZ fishing quota is governed - the ones Shane Jones is pushing - are getting some pushback.

Groups who don't normally align are coming together in opposition. (Disclaimer: Steve Hathaway is a friend of mine - he's interviewed in this)
www.tvnz.co.nz/news/news-in...

How Gloriavale's former leader avoided jail for sex offending spanning more than 20 years The judge ruled Howard Temple would not go on the Child Sex Offender Register.

Is it because of the misogyny embedded in the system?

Surely this is the end of the LNG terminal plan.

three men are dancing in front of a large building Alt: Four men are dancing an Irish jig which consists largely of knee-jerk reactions to international affairs.

YOU KNOW WE GONNA

Today I joined the queue and was almost immediately passed on to a human called Mary Anne. Full credit where it's due -- sub 60 seconds there, Air New Zealand.

It is one of the great mysteries* of life that banks, petrol companies, airlines et al must instantly, in real time, respond to suggestions of a price rise but must be thoughtful and measured when it comes to price falls.

*not a mystery

Screenshot from a Herald headline that reads, "Middle East conflict live updates: Nicola Willis doesn't want 'kneejerk' reaction to oil prices as 91 octane shoots past $3 at NZ stations".

Cue the "Don't panic, Mister Mainwaring!" gif.

A New Chapter for Bluesky - Bluesky After several intense and incredible years building Bluesky from the ground up, I've decided to step back as CEO and transition to a new role as Bluesky's Chief Innovation Officer.

Some personal news: I’m transitioning from CEO to a new role as Bluesky’s Chief Innovation Officer! I’m excited to welcome @toni.bsky.team as our interim CEO.

More here: bsky.social/about/blog/0...

We are a very stupid country

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/o...

Scientific Shot of a Peacock mantis shrimp eyes which are the most advanced in the animal world. Photo by Daniel Sasse.

the mantis shrimp has 16 types of color receptors.

humans have 3.

we see roughly 10 million colors and think that's impressive.

the mantis shrimp is sitting there processing a visual reality so hyperchromatic that scientists genuinely aren't sure what it's like to be one.

#addOcean

Sadly this is the chatbot transferring me to the one remaining human not a phone call.

Ah, Glasgow.

US President Donald Trump’s pick for New Zealand Ambassador reveals priorities, interested in expanding defence partnership

They are gonna help protect us from ... minerals.. near Cook Islands

Such a big danger...

I have abandoned my search for a receipt for the day. Four hours on hold waiting for the bot to hand me off to a human.

I shall try again tomorrow.

me paying $30 in gas to buy imported things that have been hit with tariffs bc joe rogan is learning about politics at age 58

ROOKIE MISTAKE

I thought it had timed out so I rejoined the queue.

I'm now 25th.

The people's bot is crimson red.

I just want a receipt. If the website could provide such a thing none of this would be a problem but can I get a receipt out of the website? No, I cannot.

Oh and they want all the detail from the trip, which VANISHES from the website and app as soon as I've travelled.

So no.

I honestly do.

I have been on hold with Air New Zealand's robot chat for an hour now.

Holding for a robot.

What have we become?

WHAT A SURPRISE I AM SHOCKED

That's a question for them I'm afraid. Lots of companies brought in their own gear so it's hard to tell from here. Might use 3G, might use wifi, might use landlines... who knows!