Sign in

Jim Spriggs

@jimspriggs.bsky.social
217 followers 162 following 18 posts

Reader, lurker. Laugh or you would be curled in a ball on the floor sobbing

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Alan Dreams of Candy Corn @alans9.bsky.social · 5h
xkcd.com/1873/
xkcd.com
Email Reply
829827
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Senator David Shoebridge @davidshoebridge.bsky.social · 4h
Extraordinary attack from ABC management against the most senior elected union representative at the ABC - Labor should be speaking out against threats by ABC management against Michael Slezak and the MEAA. Critical thinking, critical writing, should never be weaponised against staff at the ABC.
Fight erupts between union and ABC’s head of news
Calum Jaspan
Calum Jaspan
Updated October 13, 2026 — 11:01am,first published October 12, 2026 — 1:30pm

Save


Gift


Share
A
A
A
56View all comments
Add us as a preferred source on Google

The ABC’s new head of news Simon Robinson is staring down the barrel of a staff revolt just four weeks after joining the public broadcaster, with its union committee labelling a threat of disciplinary action against a senior journalist an attack on press freedom.

The ABC’s Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance house committee called an urgent meeting for its members on Monday after Michael Slezak, who is also the federal president of media at the union, was threatened with disciplinary action over a piece he wrote in The Australian Financial Review.
914863
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Megan Herbert @meganjherbert.bsky.social · 2h
Brilliant work by @mackinnonart.bsky.social
A reimagining of/homage to M. C. Escher's "Drawing Hands" showing a realistic human hand emerging from the paper drawing a robotic/AI hand which is also emerging from the paper... and that robotic hand, having turned the pencil around, is erasing the human hand. By Bruce MacKinnon
08439
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
mr dog @firstdogonthemoon.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Donald Trump's televised execution? No not like that. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
44713
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 12/10/2026
If you are wondering why Anthropic aren't coming out and opposing statements like this, it's because they very genuinely do not care about climate responsibility and will burn absolutely whatever they can get their hands on to keep the grift going. www.capitalbrief.com/article/anth...
Anthropic’s $32b Queensland data centre to run on coal and gas power until renewables are built
I frontier lab Anthropic’s first Australian data centre at Zerra DC’s proposed $32 billion project in regional Queensland will be powered by coal and gas as a bridge until renewables to support the facility are built.

Wambo Cattle Company managing director Max Winders, the owner of the land Zerra plans to build on, told Capital Brief he expects fossil fuels to power the massive project for the foreseeable future.

“I think we’ll be using fossil fuels for quite a long time in Queensland, anyhow, certainly enough to be able to get the power to drive the data centres,” he said.

Winders said that he believed that the concessions Queensland Premier David Crisafulli negotiated “at National Cabinet was critical” for ensuring the Western Downs development has the best chance of being built.

“In all likelihood, they’ll just link up to the grid, sign a contract with the state energy provider, and then, likely draw the power from the coal plants that are already there.”
13597198
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
The Shovel @theshovel.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
1019954
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
#BruceSterling @bruces.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
*Elena Vasquez, Marcus Chen, and Elara Voss, the somewhat-famous generated fake-scientists www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Elena, Aris, Marcus: AI-generated ‘ghosts’ are polluting the scientific literature
The overuse of certain names has revealed the scale of fake experts on academic publishing platforms, say researchers.
06718
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Michael West @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Nobel Peace Prize winner Pillay praised, pilloried, ignored by Australia Professor Stuart Rees reports. Read it here: michaelwest.com.au/nobel-peace-priz…
Michael West Media story graphic
1212052
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 07/10/2026
Spectrum Allocation xkcd.com/3307/
Comic: Modern Spectrum Allocation Chart. [Long line of rectangles of different widths in shades of gray. From top to bottom: radio (shouting), TV test patterns, 1G cellular, radio (music), radio (static), reserved for zeppelin navigation, TV channels 2, 5, 7-13, 16, 17, and 28 with 2G cellular in between, interference, WKRP in Cincinnati, spaceship beeps, all other TV, car dealership ads, numbers stations, weather balloons, amateur radio, HAM radio, “weather balloons”, *Choosing Texas* 24/7, [extra large rectangle] boat captains say they need this for something and we don’t ask what because they’re scary, the secret radio waves that make planes stay up, defunct satellite phone company, radioastronomy, radioastrology, [extra small rectangle] all modern wireless infrastructure, death rays, LoFi hip hop beats to relax/study to, security guard walkie talkies, amateur military satellites, left open in case aliens try to call, one brand of garage door openers with a lot of political pull.]
663446611
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 08/10/2026
Juice xkcd.com/3308/
4-panel comic. (1) [Two people, one with a ponytail, sitting and typing at terminals opposite each other. A sign on the wall reads “Juice Mission Control,” with JUICE in huge letters.] PERSON 1: Jupiter Icy Moons Exploder checkin is complete. All systems nominal. (2) PERSON 2 with ponytail. [People turn to look at each other.] PERSON 1: What? PERSON 2: Jupiter Icy Moons *Explorer*. (3) [Person 1 turns back to his terminal.] (4) PERON 1: Control, everything is fine, but I need to schedule an urgent spacecraft update. [Person 2 facepalms] PERSON 2: Oh no.
373371513
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
rowecartoon.bsky.social @rowecartoon.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
firing squad
27935
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Michael Bell @disirregardless.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
*Shocked* that a religious conservative would uncritically platform a fellow religious conservative
032
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Marlene Robertson🍁🇨🇦 @marlenerobertson.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
A senior Ukraine official told the Financial Times that Kyiv will continue long range drone strikes, and will burn Russian refineries despite Trump’s agreement with Putin for Russia to supply diesel. Ukraine has vowed to destroy all Russia refineries to ensure they don’t get exported to the US.
45484105
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Dana Bergstrom @danambergstrom.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
276 diesel generators to run a planned datacentre in Nth Tasmania Yup that’s moving foward🤦‍♀️
abc.net.au
Tasmanian EPA says it was not told extent of Firmus data centre generator plans
Tasmania's EPA is worried about the extent of AI data centre company Firmus's planned diesel generator use, saying it is much more than initially disclosed.
1211064
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Matt McNeil Show @mattmcneilshow.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Reports are saying that since this strike happened, troll bot traffic in the US has dropped by half. I guess we know where most of the "concerned Trump patriots" actually reside... www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Russian search engine Yandex struggles after Ukrainian strikes on data centres
Often dubbed "Russia's Google", the tech firm admits customers may experience disruption to digital services due to the attacks.
14226
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
paulpro @mariopro.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
@rowecartoon.bsky.social
13010
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Prof Gavin Yamey MD MPH @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Holy shit FOUR members of the ethics committee in Denmark that gave the green light to allow the widely-condemned RFK Jr-funded trial to proceed in Guinea-Bissau have now resigned in protest This quote is 🔥 Great reporting by @melodyschreiber.com www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Stig Børsen Hansen, a founding member who was one of two reviewers who presented the study to the Danish committee, resigned from the group in protest on Friday, citing major ethical issues with the study.

“You are now enrolling newborns in a lottery to test a hypothesis,” Hansen said. The children who are randomly selected not to receive the birth dose of the vaccine, those who “lost the lottery”, face in their earliest days the risk of contracting hepatitis B, which can cause irreversible lifelong damage. “They contract hepatitis B in the context of being part of a research project,” Hansen said, which made their infection happen, in effect, “by design”.

Three other members of the committee have also resigned in protest.
301270628
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 09/10/2026
HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS
65611
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Megan Herbert @meganjherbert.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The story below is what today's toon is about and honestly it's the kind of good news I think we all need to celebrate right about now
A political cartoon by Megan Herbert showing two older conservative men having coffee in a busy cafe. One of them holds a newspaper open to an article titled "Win for activists: Coal mine must account for knock-on emissions." He says to the other man, "This ruling sets a terrible precedent for people who want to avoid the long-range consequences of their actions on a technicality."
110434
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Simon Rosenberg @simonrosenberg.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
"She was also chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory that last year found that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Israel dismissed the report as 'scandalous'." They would say that, woudn't they? #GazaGenocide www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...
abc.net.au
Breaking: Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Judge Navi Pillay
The South African-born former UN human rights chief was recognised for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
412950
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Matt Golding @goldingcartoons.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
US live streaming firing squad executions @theageaustralia.bsky.social www.theage.com.au/world/north-...
26616293
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Megan Herbert @meganjherbert.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Very honoured to be included on this long list, among truly excellent cartoonists, named in honour of the late great Jon Kudelka who was the best at it and is so very missed 🤍 thepoint.com.au/new/261009-k...
thepoint.com.au
Kudelka Climate Cartoon Award Longlist
View the cartoons longlisted for the Kudelka Climate Cartoon Award
13811
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
WarTranslated (Dmitri) @wartranslated.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
2/ Russia confirmed readiness to supply oil to the US, and the two agreed to keep talking. Putin once again reiterated to Trump that Russia's war goals remain unchanged. Way to go, Donald, this is "a win."
1117113
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
ABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 09/10/2026
Tasmania's EPA worried AI company Firmus plans to use generators much more than first disclosed
abc.net.au
Tasmanian EPA says it was not told extent of Firmus data centre generator plans
Tasmania's EPA is worried about the extent of AI data centre company Firmus's planned diesel generator use, saying it is much more than initially disclosed.
0126
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Heard Island Government @heardislandgov.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
America now runs on Argentinian beef, Russia Diesel, and measles.
20406112
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
The Onion @theonion.com · 10/10/2026
Pentagon To Livestream Firing Squad Execution theonion.com/pentagon-to-livestream…
“No way is this administration capable of setting up a working livestream.”

Willem Brydon, Unemployed
242088296
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Scott Edelman @scottedelman.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This defense from the publisher of Asimov's, Analog, and F&SF is no defense at all. I'd hoped those of us who'd protested rights-grab contracts last year had caused a change in the way the company dealt with creators, but sadly, all three dream markets must still be unacceptable outlets for me. Sad.
A Statement on Copyright Retention Instead of "Work-for-Hire" Cover Illustrations at MRM

We previously commissioned illustrators to create covers as work-for-hire when they were asked to adapt authors' original stories for elements such as cover art.

This will be changing.

The rights granted to MRM by authors are limited, and therefore we can't protect the intellectual property and rights of the original author of the story, if we at the same time grant the authors' rights to the illustrator so that the illustrator can then retain an adaptation copyright. We don't acquire rights from authors that allow us to grant illustrators broad unencumbered use of the worlds, characters, and other elements created by the author.

We're planning to pause cover contracts based on specific stories for the foreseeable future while we figure out the best way forward with those kinds of commissions.

We prefer a process that will both feel fair to illustrators and protect the story authors' copyright.

To that end, we can license existing art or license new original art for our covers (not based on a story) with contracts for illustrators where the artist clearly retains the copyright in the underlying image, since there are no underlying rights owned by authors of the stories that are a part of these kinds of original works.

Regarding retention of "moral rights" in illustrations: our licensing agreements for original art and original fiction use language prepared by an international IP attorney based on notes we received from SFWA's contracts committee. These kinds of agreements no longer include a waiver of moral rights.

We always appreciate when contributors to the magazines express their concerns.
4314
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
New working paper: the Norwegian wealth tax was a huge success. The "exodus" of wealthy people never happened (less than 100 individuals left). Tax revenue increased by 71.5%. No changes in business activity or investment. www.nber.org/papers/w35854
Taxing Entrepreneurial Wealth: Evidence from
Norway, 2021-2025
Marius A. K. Ring
WORKING PAPER 35854|
DOl 10.3386/w35854
ISSUE DATE October 2026
Whether imposing higher taxes on business owners adversely affects business activity by constraining investment and inducing capitalist flight is a central question in the ongoing debate on how to tax the ultra wealthy. To shed new light, I exploit a series of related Norwegian reforms during 2021-2024 that increased dividend tax rates, removed migration-related capital gains tax loopholes, and nearly doubled the effective marginal tax rate on business wealth. These reforms spurred international debate and, allegedly, an "exodus" of Norwegian billionaires (Financial Times,
2023). While I document clear effects on migration, these responses are concentrated among the top 0.1% of the wealth distribution and mostly confined to 2022 and 2023. My results indicate that at most 100 individuals left due to the reforms. I find no evidence of significant outmigration or reduced inflows of startup founders or inventors. I estimate that absent any outmigration, wealth tax revenues would have increased by 75% from 2021 to 2024. Reform-driven outmigration lowers the revenue gain to 71.5%. My findings further show that outmigrating owners' firms remain economically active and do not reduce investment. In a broader set of analyses, I examine whether business outcomes are affected, regardless of whether owners outmigrate, since firms may reduce investment both due to liquidity constraints or distortions to owners' savings decisions. I compare firms owned by Norwegian individuals subject to the wealth tax with firms owned by foreigners and other tax-exempt entities. By merging historical ownership data from Orbis with the Norwegian shareholder register, I perform these analyses on both Norwegian and foreign-domiciled firms.
Across settings, I find no evidence that Norwegian-owned firms pay out more dividends or invest less after the reforms,…
148148216384
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Leena 🌵 @leena.reuben.games · 10/10/2026
i blindfolded a 7yo and gave him a bat and stood right behind him while he tried to take a swing at the t-ball and, my nuts got owned it’s made me rethink standing behind blindfolded kids with wiffle ball bats fr
114143
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
New Scientist @newscientist.com · 10/10/2026
OpenAI is using mathematics as a test site for its most capable AI models, and that means it has a responsibility to deal with the fallout, rather than just leaving it to mathematicians, says Jacob Aron
newscientist.com
OpenAI has dumped 722 maths papers – now it must clean up the mess | New Scientist
062
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
#BruceSterling @bruces.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
219636
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
The Cathy Wilcox @cathywilcox.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Hey guess what everybody? We’re doing a climate cartoon award again and we’re naming it in our dear, late friend Jon Kudelka’s honour!
17557146
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
LouiseMorris @louisemorris.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The glorious legacy of Jon Kudelka. Born out of a boycott of fossil fuel sponsorship, from this year the prize is named in honour of Jon Kudelka, whose principled stand in 2023 inspired fellow cartoonists to withdraw from the Walkley Awards. thepoint.com.au/new/261009-k...
thepoint.com.au
Kudelka Climate Cartoon Award announces 2026 longlist
The annual Stanley Awards, Australia’s premier awards for cartoonists, has announced its long list for best climate cartoon honours. Born out of a boycott of fossil fuel sponsorship, from this year th...
15720
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
The DILETTANTE @demwar.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Dad: we need to get lobbyists out of politics, end Aukus and the US alliance and start doing something about fossil fuels Me: so you need to vote Greens Dad: no i can’t vote Greens Me: if you genuinely want those things you have to vote Green because none of the others agree with you. Dad: Me:
57819
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Matt Golding @goldingcartoons.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Coalition migration policy announcement sound bite bingo. Today’s @theageaustralia.bsky.social @sydmorningherald.bsky.social cartoon
09925
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Matt Golding @goldingcartoons.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
When you’re part of the solution and the problem. @theageaustralia.bsky.social
010543
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
ebisback.bsky.social @ebisback.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Pretty Awesome 👍
742191114257
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
rowecartoon.bsky.social @rowecartoon.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
pre-op
1315455
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Bethany Williams @bethanyincbr.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
See! Israel DOES know the difference between Zionism and Judaism. It’s just cherry-picking when it chooses.
15922
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Ireland is pushing a motion to ban Israel from FIFA and UEFA. It has made JD Vance very mad. It's time to remove Israel from world sport, don't you agree?
1342631643
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 07/10/2026
We have published now two full reports both debunking this claim and shining a new light on the climate impacts of companies like NVIDIA and others who insist on this without evidence. Public control won't fix this problem - not at all. ketanjoshi.co/2026/02/17/b... ketanjoshi.co/2026/09/16/n...
a graphic showing the difference bw energy consumption and climate benefit claimsthe rising energy consumption of hyperscalers an increase in greenhouse gas emissions
814557
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
kjcon.bsky.social @kjcon.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Ignorance was shown the door!
321142843356
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Megan Herbert @meganjherbert.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Cliffhanger! :) My cartoon in today's @theageaustralia.bsky.social and @sydmorningherald.bsky.social
A political cartoon by Megan Herbert showing a couple cosying up on the couch to watch the evening news. Their eyes are glued to the screen, wine (his) and hot toddy (hers), clutched in their respective hands, looks of rapt anticipation on both of their faces, as she says, "Ooh... I wonder which one is going to win... climate change, AI, or the Plague?"
38329
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Dr Monique Ryan @mon4kooyong.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
The government's plan to drop the private insurance rebate for over Australians aged over 65 will remove supports for over 2 million Australians with incomes less than $37,000 a year.
abc.net.au
Private health legislation appears doomed without change
The Greens signal they will not back the government's controversial private health insurance changes as they stand.
137928
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
mariewalsh18.bsky.social @mariewalsh18.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
184618
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Matt Golding @goldingcartoons.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
The High Court has found that under NSW planning law, miners must also account for “scope three” emissions – the pollution created when the coal is burnt by their overseas customers www.theage.com.au/environment/...
820069
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
paulpro @mariopro.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
@ellisjrosen.bsky.social
034940
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Albo is genuinely no better than Scomo at this point www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...
abc.net.au
PM Anthony Albanese declines floral head garland in Tuvalu
Follow the latest headlines from ABC News, Australia's most trusted media source, with live events, audio and on-demand video from the national broadcaster.
3319340
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
The Point @thepointau.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
"Big Coal's day in court" a new cartoon from @fionakatauskas.bsky.social See this morning's cartoon on The Point: thepoint.com.au/opinions/261008-big…
07936
Reposted by Jim Spriggs
🌊🏄BlueWaveSurfer🏄🌊 @bluewavesurfer.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
364182095223