Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland

LTG Mark Hertling discusses the current state of physical training readiness at a briefing to the Department of Physical Education at the United States Military Academy, West Point NY 2 Oct 209 Photo by Ahodges7 under Creative Commons 3.0

"Military power can destroy targets with remarkable efficiency. Turning that destruction into durable political outcomes is far harder. Tactical victories often produce strategic complications", writes
@markhertling.bsky.social at @thebulwark.com
www.thebulwark.com/p/kristi-noe...

Yes. Combustion requires constant stoking of the furnace, you’re never done buying fuel. Invest in renewable generation infrastructure, and it’s still there tomorrow delivering energy. Electrons over molecules- we now have the technology, it’s cheaper and better. The future is present.

This is an even stulpider way to accelerate the end of empire than Suez was for the Brits…

Other nice adjectives for this approach, if say any opposition parties were looking to fortify their appeal at the moment: sensible, prudent, thrifty, versatile, creative, self-sufficient, adaptable, organised, strategic, ready, provident, collaborative, cooperative, united, and dare I say, popular.

Just not ‘conservative’ in the sense of always backing incumbents no matter how harmful that becomes. That twisted idea of conservative: Conserving concentrated vested interest’s wealth and power, over the whole nation.

Ok, hear me out here. A govt enabled acceleration to renewables, effective alternatives to always driving, + EVs, is essentially the lowest cost, most resilient, independence supporting, job creating, and actually ‘conservative’ option ahead.

Never get hooked on this drug- we have alternatives.

Why do these five London bridges cost the taxpayer absolutely nothing? YouTube video by Jack Chesher- Living London History

Now this is responsible infrastructure funding, maintenance and governance:
The long view:

youtube.com/shorts/WzUzf...

Ryan Bridge: I don't mind paying the train tax Ryan Bridge doesn't mind paying the rate increase that will subsidise Auckland's City Rail Link.

Interesting, good to see, though this is almost entirely debt servicing, not operations. A function of the local authority having to half fund nationally significant infrastructure:

www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/early...

Suburbia is Subsidized: Here's the Math [ST07] YouTube video by Not Just Bikes

WATCH: This is STILL one of the toughest truths for some to accept, but one of the most IMPORTANT — car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtowns and urban areas!

Watch this excellent video by #NotJustBikes with #Urban3 & @strongtowns.bsky.social.

PLEASE SHARE it as much as possible.

OIL!

Remember when words communicated concepts which could be combined to express ideas? Those were the days. I miss language.

VINDICATED: not paid anything at any petrol station for over 3 years.

FT comments section this morning - saying what everyone else is thinking, right?

Western Springs bowl: New 30,000‑seat concert venue to rival Eden Park The $2.5m plan would create a 30,000-capacity concert bowl at Western Springs.

Excellent! The right use for this natural asset:
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland/...

Champagne bar, really (and lots of trains)

Denmark: Lessons From the World's Climate Action Leader The pioneer of commercial wind energy says it will reduce emissions by at least 82% by 2035, relative to 1990 levels.

It's a good time to revisit this story about how Denmark doubled down on energy efficiency and homegrown clean energy after the oil crisis of the early 1970s, and how it's now reaping the benefits.

theprogressplaybook.com/2025/11/18/l...

If only there were EV’s during the Iran Oil Crisis in the 70’s. A great vid by @rewiringaus.bsky.social 👌🚙

Shared by @electrifythis.bsky.social

Huge new heat pumps at Auckland Airport replace old gas-guzzlers The 12-tonne heat pumps replace a gas-fired system that ran for 50 years.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Auckland Airport installs giant heat pumps in $15m move off gas"
#kikorangi

Fossil fuels have had a "leg-up" for generations.
Jog on, smokey.

Iran war explainer

Gas prices jumped again this morning and are on track to double - a stark reminder of our exposure to fossil fuel volatility.

The real solution isn’t more drilling, but moving away from combustion: electrify, use renewable power, and boost energy efficiency.

The true conservatives in NZ work in the public service. Making damn sure nothing ever changes. Unclear how the average civil servant dares risk getting out of bed in the morning:

Gas prices up by around 50% today.

A painful reminder that relying on imported fossil fuels is a risky strategy.

Image of an urban arterial jammed with cars and trucks congestion, with the text saying our dependency doesn’t equal to freedom. Mobility freedom comes from mobility choices. Message via the Urban Truth Collective.

1946: Freedom is being able to drive anywhere.

2026: Freedom is not having to drive everywhere.

(above text suggested to us by @harrisongibbons.bsky.social)

🛢️Brent crude oil prices rose 8% to $79/barrel amid heightened security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz. At the start of the year, it was trading at $60/barrel.

🇪🇺 European natural gas futures jumped 20% due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Bombings in Iran raise fears of oil crisis The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and US-Israeli strikes in Iran are reigniting the specter of a surge in crude oil prices. But the global economy is less vulnerable today than it was during the 197...

Another reason why countries that are pushing for transport electrification will benefit!

Breaking their reliance on petrostates!

www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/a...

Moving Home with an Electric Van How my daughter and her boyfrind arrived in their new home

I've just written a review of the 100% electric Citroen e-Dispatch. It might be moving in more ways than one.
llewellyn.substack.com/p/moving-hom...

What a mayor