Sign in

Thomas Blair

@thomas-bg.bsky.social
301 followers 691 following 600 posts

Building new things, fixing old things. Reader, runner, cyclist, occasional photographer. Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Thomas Blair
WaterBluSky 🇺🇸 🌻 🇺🇦 @waterblusky.bsky.social · 13h
Cloudfare: Russian troll activity on X drops to 49%, after Ukraine strikes Yandex Russian data center. 🤖 🫤 Could this disrupt the midterms for the GOP?
12034981158
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 16h
Copy this NZ! 36% of Australians already have solar. Fuel costs are unlikely to be cheap ever again. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Our place in the sun: Australia’s uptake of solar panels is already through the roof. How much higher could it get?
Sunshine, government subsidies and high power prices are driving record solar installations
011
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Bronwyn Hayward @bmhayward.bsky.social · 19h
The USA sanctions on #icc judges are punitive & far reaching, isolating them & their families, disrupting/blocking credit cards/banking services/email/ insurance/travel etc The attack on judges is an attack on a moral International order by USA- where does NZ stand? www.icc-cpi.int/news/icc-str...
icc-cpi.int
The ICC strongly rejects US sanctions against the institution
Today, the United States has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court as an institution. This unprecedented step follows a series of designations against thirteen independent Judges and p...
111744
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I hope that at some point, @sidlowe.bsky.social collects his interviews and publishes them in book format, as it will compose a unique human mosaic of Spanish football at its most seductive.
2857
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland @patrickreynolds.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Boom! 🚇 The City Rail Link is already helping make Auckland city centre into a 7-day city: Saturday 9pm ridership is now equivalent to pre CRL midday ridership 💥. Next month night frequencies are improving too, and getting a little later on Friday and Saturday nights, a good start. More please!
57616
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Gavin Shoebridge @kiwiev.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Enjoy 43 seconds of analogue, tactile goodness. 🫠
35213
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Nothing to see here...just the President of the United States inviting the country he illegally declared war on to "take out" 2 major American cities. If that's not treason, what is? 🤬 Law enforcement won't hold him accountable, but we WILL! The beginning of the end is on November 3rd. #VOTE-BLUE 🌊
35673471931
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Matt Binder @mattbinder.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
the tech industry is about to invent books
Andrew Yeung 
@andruyeung
X.com
We created gyms because modern day work no
longer required physical activity. Without exercise,
our muscles atrophy.
I predict we'll need gyms for our brains too, once Al
starts doing our knowledge work.
10:53 PM • 10/4/26 • 1.3M Views
572215394200
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Abbie Jury 🌱 @tikorangi.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Which would you rather slash to pay for more Pharmac meds? 1) Foreign aid to poverty stricken people and disaster areas 2) subsidies to Big Tobacco 3) subsidies to oil and gas companies 4) RONS 5) an LNG terminal
35221
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Mill Road sucks: "In other words, it would cost the country more than the entire City Rail Link project… to enlarge one local road in Auckland, parallel to an existing motorway, in a way that will change nothing: people will still be stuck in traffic." www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/10/06/t...
greaterauckland.org.nz
Transport policy on the campaign trail - Greater Auckland
Election campaigning is now in full swing. We’ve previously reported on the (unwise)
713248
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Cartoons by Jim. @cartoonsbyjim.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
“There is a live question as to whether the National Party’s election campaign is, in itself, a misstep. For its dogged single-mindedness, the ‘no new taxes’ mantra is pure Simeon Brown. But is it really working?” New cartoon for Pattrick Smellie’s column on @businessdesknz.bsky.social #nzpol
32011
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Bronwyn Hayward @bmhayward.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
In an election this tight, every vote matters But National changed the rules that always allowed Kiwis to register in a relaxed way in the 2 weeks prior to election This was voter suppression It is deeply undemocratic- potentially cutting 175,000 voters Get registered vote.nz/enrolling/en...
vote.nz
15828
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
He’ll be more compelling than Luxon I’d imagine. But the tide is going out on both of them.
020
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I imagine the debate tonight will accelerate the decline in share of the 2 ‘big’ parties. The best they can do is point out how bad the other Chris is. People desperately want to see a vision, and some ambition.
140
Reposted by Thomas Blair
David Slack @davidslack.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Rocked by a nightmare poll, National takes massive pivot and announces 100 new roads of national significance
2122034
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Huia Sue @huiasue.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Vapes & vape shops should be outlawed, with vapes requiring a prescription, -like in Australia #nzpol www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/05/v...
1news.co.nz
Vape chain fined $35k after minors bought vapes in undercover sting
Discount Mall Vape Ltd, a retailer with stores around the country, has been find following the first-of-its-kind prosecution.
2114
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Connor Sharp @connorsharp.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Reject $4,000,000,000+++ gold plated rural motorway. Embrace glorious light rail down Dominion Road.
Meme with Reject Modernity and a render image of Warkworth to Te Hana motorway above, and Embrace tradition and a render of Dominion Road light rail below
28219
Reposted by Thomas Blair
David Gerard @davidgerard.circumstances.run.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026
henstomper

oh my god the slot machine company says i have to keep putting coins in their machine or Im Gonna Get Left Behind. thats so scary. and it has to be true because they know more about slot machines than i do

oh my god the slot machine company says if we dont give them money to build the world's biggest slot machine the chinese are gonna build it first and win all the prizes. and then there wont be any prizes anymore
31128023988
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Wordle 1,932 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 🟩⬜🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
000
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
It’s remarkable how many people can move on a street when those people don’t feel the need to always take a massive car with them. Mobility in cities is about space.
Busy European street with buses filled with people in a long line of people on bikes, waiting for the light to change in a separated, protected bike lane. Imagine if all those people or each in a separate car.
18560112
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Wordle 1,930 5/6 ⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟨⬛🟨🟨 🟨⬛🟨🟨⬛ ⬛⬛🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
000
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Ben Ross @benakl.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Perfection which given also the success of the Northern Busway, should also have Airport to Botany Rapid Transit Stages 2 and 3 priority funded as well New City Rail Link clocks up more than a million rides insidegovernment.co.nz/new-city-rai...
insidegovernment.co.nz
New City Rail Link clocks up more than a million rides - Inside Government NZ
More than one million train rides have been recorded on Auckland’s rail network in the first two weeks since the City Rail Link (CRL) opened. Transport Minister, Chris Bishop said the early data showe...
0104
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Deepcut News @deepcutnews.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Albanese's proposal to water down Australian copyright to appease AI companies is a "terrible betrayal", writes Richard Flanagan in a blistering piece. "A government that doesn’t understand its nation’s culture is a government incapable of leading the nation." www.deepcutnews.com/p/the-great-...
deepcutnews.com
The great betrayal? AI imperialists and Albanese – Richard Flanagan
Australians should be furious that Anthony Albanese has opened the floodgates to American AI companies
5185106
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Wordle 1,927 4/6 ⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛🟩🟩 🟩⬛🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
000
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
It’s not exactly “I have a dream” is it?
000
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Gavin Shoebridge @kiwiev.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"Given what's going on in the world, would you still in 2026 want to buy a car with a combustion engine?" About once a year I make a good point. Can't wait for 2027's nugget of wisdom. 😂
2612226
Reposted by Thomas Blair
#BruceSterling @bruces.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
*This is a map of "all forms of armed violence" in the world, but I'd like to see a distinctive map that singles out areas getting blown up by aerial robots
3184
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Ika Makimaki @pezmico.mastodon.nz.ap.brid.gy · 23/09/2026
Be still, my beating heart. There's a chance we can be free of the cursed, most wrong-headed project of this evil coalition: the pointless LNG terminal. Decision on LNG terminal delayed | RNZ www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/1537112… #NZPol #FossilFools
rnz.co.nz
Decision on LNG terminal delayed
ACT and New Zealand First have all but confirmed a decision on whether the government should underwrite a new liquefied natural gas terminal has been put off until after the election.
2219
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
2/3 complete. A brilliant book already. Shades of Shuggy Bain - you think things can’t get any worse, they get better - then they get much worse. #douglasstuart #bookershortlist #johnofjohn
000
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Wordle 1,921 5/6 ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟨 🟩⬛🟩⬛🟨 🟩🟩🟩⬛🟩 🟩🟨⬛⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
000
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
They stand for nothing. If they had a spirit animal it would be a goldfish.
020
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Juha Saarinen @juha.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
“Not only do I struggle to find time for reproductive behaviour, but I also can’t find a reason to have a baby who will eventually grow into another human labourer for capitalists to exploit.”
042
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Janel Comeau 🍁 @verybadllama.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I mean if you really want to hear Ed Sheeran without any opening acts you can simply get put on hold with your bank
128115791941
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Wordle 1,915 4/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
010
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Paul Blinkhorn @paulblinkhorn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
You can't blame Ed Sheeran for caving in to American stadium owners I suppose. I mean, take these guys in the 60s, they refused to play to racially-segregated audiences in stadiums in the southern states of the USA and who remembers them now?
bbc.co.uk
The Beatles banned segregated audiences, contract shows
The Beatles refused to play to segregated audiences in the US, a contract for one of the group's concerts shows.
21893062834
Reposted by Thomas Blair
David Mohring @nzheretic.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The Life of Death and the Ensh*ttificator From Forbrukerrådet ( @forbrukerradet.bsky.social ) - Norwegian Consumer Council. Ever noticed how things tend to die a little too soon? That’s the topic of their latest report. [ www.forbrukerradet.no/shortlife/ ]
122
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Keystroke logging and Amazon style bathroom rules.
030
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Museum of Twitter @museum-of-twitter.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
@MohanadElshieky

Please stop saying the vaccine doesn't have severe side effects. I took my shots and now I'm alive and have to keep working
99166312427
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
🤝
53254395
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Wordle 1,914 4/6 ⬛🟨⬛🟨🟩 🟨🟨🟨⬛🟩 🟨🟩🟩⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
000
Reposted by Thomas Blair
James Nisbet @bandit.nz · 14/09/2026
No LNG facility needed to replicate results like this www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
Australia’s dependence on gas generation during evening energy peak falls by almost 70%
Batteries now meet almost half of the grid’s dispatchable power needs during hours of highest demand
0168
Thomas Blair @thomas-bg.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
You get the policy you pay for as an ACT donor.
020
Reposted by Thomas Blair
bossk baby @bonnnt.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
It is so mentally corrosive to try to ascertain, every day, whether the images I am seeing or the texts I am getting or the phone calls I am receiving are real - produced by a human who is trying to communicate something with me, even indirectly. It makes me feel insane and paranoid all the time
6616153
Reposted by Thomas Blair
eastlower @eastlower.co.uk · 14/09/2026
Wrote this 3 years ago over on Twitter, and it’s still exactly the same.
527528
Reposted by Thomas Blair
WHAT A FUCKING RECORD @whatafuckingrecord.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
28
MANICS THIS IS MY TRUTH ETC
17013
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Kent Lundberg @kentlundberg.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
One of the biggest improvements that came with the Auckland subway project was the introduction of bollards to manage streets.
35313
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Ben Ross @benakl.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Back of the A3 butter paper estimate means the CRL on Day 1 was already matching the maximum capacity the motorway network can offer in people per hour into the City Centre. And the CRL patronage will only grow. The motorway network will not
24419
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
“We need an Ozempic for cars. They are growing at a phenomenal rate, wreaking havoc on roads, squeezing out smaller vehicles and endangering pedestrians. Like ever-hungry teenagers, cars in Europe are growing on average a centimetre wider every year.” Don’t repeat North America’s mistake, Europe.
theguardian.com
Britain’s cars and SUVs are growing bigger – but there is a way to stop this deadly ‘carspreading’ | Christian Wolmar
Larger vehicles crowd our roads and are far more dangerous to pedestrians. Let’s curb them before they do even more damage, says says transport commentator Christian Wolmar
31626164
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Anonymous @youranoncentral.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Trump 🗣️: "im gonna invade CANA-DA. 51st state. okay" Canada: *signs military pacts with Poland, Ukraine, EU — creates brand new mil industry to build millions of combat drones within 2 years*
2344787
Reposted by Thomas Blair
Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
What people think will happen if we remove street parking and pedestrianize a street:
9847