2026-09-12T04:39:24Z https://yabu.me Bill Bennett https://yabu.me/npub17fjacsse6zr92v9mlfgu9p20qpwkke309dyn2jed07sjucmkewgqlxctcs https://o.mastodon.nz/accounts/avatars/109/264/888/868/876/453/original/11d826b4bcee81b1.jpg https://o.mastodon.nz/accounts/avatars/109/264/888/868/876/453/original/11d826b4bcee81b1.jpg https://yabu.me/nevent1qqstx865ghrx6w02rykhvv90k0mljcwm6leh4a2ef0haa6wv099nynszyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq9p6tgs In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqs8nz08gtgjfvmwlzmzk82du88ke8fzrama87g6pxp54m0pggyt4lqhd9d37'>nevent1q…9d37</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>It costs a lot, around NZ$500 a year, but that includes hosting, mailing out the weekly newsletter and, if I ever need it, the ability to charge subscription fees. I basically have to do nothing other than focus on the editorial. <br/><br/>By the time all the inescapbable add ons are included, it works out slightly less than using WordPress and a third party mailing service. 2026-09-02T00:39:08Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs09j5e4vef9x3x3dhe4ycfqr0krrzsghy6nnhv6hxlzw78n6fy3mqzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqyqreya In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqs9yuefpm0pfdpln6l6mnhhw4f3rquppzqwxu2sc4yhlhj2afx0lxslftnul'>nevent1q…tnul</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>I&#39;m pleased with it. Any gripes are so minor that I can&#39;t even remember them right now. I&#39;ve gone for the fully hosted service, which ain&#39;t cheap, but needs zero maintenance. 2026-09-01T08:03:20Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsd6ql0taumalqdy254fja9ua9474leqpmhergtz6pyhhu63hmuuqszyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqqvqsw6 In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsxsglnaq3mjck6sqm66q45hgcjucuqqpzfpx4znd0c6ga0vktanscwparcu'>nevent1q…arcu</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>I use it for my site and newsletter. <a href="https://billbennett.co.nz">https://billbennett.co.nz</a> 2026-08-28T23:24:18Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqszn9yvwwvmfr4wf4z4wwaaymj67er8vwhpz9rh43xav33j3py3u3czyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqmzrvvc I’ve said this before and will say it again. If you think social media is so toxic that it damages 16-year-olds then it damages everyone. You don’t magically become immune on your 17th birthday. Either ban it for everyone or not at all. 2026-08-24T05:25:26Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqswzn0yas8qea85e9vs0ntqj4f8wk5ee9lygjxtdhxjj2x8k4msfwgzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq22selu In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqs227nsdhp7ns8gg9yfzx5tlf8lyy606wm8tms73npnfwprs0qd8rs5mhdf3'>nevent1q…hdf3</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>The ice fear is mild 2026-08-04T10:18:39Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs0e9u5vc4kwltunwuujeuy3fj5fcysc00fu3e82j3vxvjv8g57ugczyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqerrya8 In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsxqtzsf562nzjlvpm0p0kmm7e964sjnkqth5tj0ldfgk8tftlst4quk460r'>nevent1q…460r</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>I absolutely have to tell you that I know exactly who Utarg is... and that Doomdark says hello. 2026-08-04T08:15:36Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsykye73nf4euwq0ksv7hkynjntpe34ec8seqjq3ccz8ajlmvm4zgqzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq3aruvl In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsqqy9nrlgzcdh7paszm4dyj23ymzmjx4tzmy0h3eky47fpszp9hlgam6362'>nevent1q…6362</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>Reminds me of the surface of a Toblerone. 2026-07-11T08:16:43Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsqdyhg58sjfg8yj9g2su88dw4n4srhwmxzs6fzsuwufj0jz5as4mczyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq8uj9dh This is not my area of expertise, but I can read and I can do arithmetic, from what I read and the numbers I see, it&#39;s clear to me that supplies of oil products are almost certainly going to run out unless the Iran war wraps up now. It strikes me that our government is in denial. 2026-04-23T07:46:12Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsvta5xrfshc4eda534zaarzk00va94lk3xcfxpece0kg6skcrs97szyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqfelyqz Have I got this right? We can&#39;t afford to fund the health system but we can build a Death Star. <br/><br/><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/575634/nz-defence-strategy-explores-space-weapons-export-potential">https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/575634/nz-defence-strategy-explores-space-weapons-export-potential</a> 2025-10-11T23:17:31Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsf372sea898ngddpv86lnzgha6fe24t9g0eavem782zvcyfapm2sszyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqdpl2zq I&#39;m starting to wonder if this government is deliberately trying to lose the next election:<br/><br/><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/575025/jobseeker-parents-earning-more-than-65k-must-support-18-19yo-children">https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/575025/jobseeker-parents-earning-more-than-65k-must-support-18-19yo-children</a> 2025-10-05T05:07:05Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqspgg0zqkckr9djqajwr2qe4lad2vmqgld9w2mnf0zm2gd9mcht29czyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqqelpzl Looking at the council and local board candidates booklet and I swear some of those innocuous looking manifestos hide nut jobs... <br/>I checked one out and found she is anti vax presumably there are more. Is there a local election spot the nut job directory anywhere? 2025-09-18T00:16:19Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs2ju4tqd2hcs8w75c3g9tkk0s3lt0qypcpddmt0kag88lktlvnntqzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq7an2yz You say that like it is a bad thing:<br/><br/>“Red tape, high costs and tough rules have cruise companies turning their backs on New Zealand, and our cruise industry on the brink of sinking.”<br/><br/><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/571268/mayday-call-for-new-zealand-s-sinking-cruise-industry">https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/571268/mayday-call-for-new-zealand-s-sinking-cruise-industry</a> 2025-08-27T20:20:51Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsydy23eesx8j2m0lgm3cmk0cxmzwt6acfqaf4cw2hqxp6lzs088mgzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqatd0gv In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqs97gmes22xt8yayt5jmh9k6araz7mrk0pd38wc2h9hx5kf3rvaa8qk3k499'>nevent1q…k499</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>He sure did. :) <br/><br/>That doesn&#39;t necessarily mean the research I refer to is rubbish... but it may not be original work. 2025-08-11T07:30:08Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqspttcvl37kxnl7esq7cjpxmrwcjt4n4cdx7k0url6dx82m70ta7kszyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqmcweem When Words betray you. From 15 years ago on my site. <br/><br/><a href="https://billbennett.co.nz/words-betray/">https://billbennett.co.nz/words-betray/</a> 2025-08-11T07:14:03Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqswj8mxhwn7zlwdqny3acnhtnr8ld74nkrp0pm3sen9ep9f7cl95pszyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqnpyyzf When the Beatles played Taxman in 1966, the top rate on income tax in the UK was 95%. Going by what people say today about a 39% top rate of tax in NZ, you might think 1966 Britain would have been an economic disaster, but it was booming, the “swinging sixties”. 2025-08-07T04:20:27Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsxugff3wchutlgngvnxfjlt7f0hyutqtzfr0mws0p3602jlzh2htgzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqp09ngu In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsp8pusw7gv24gk0e6crvcxdramm7mhdlny8vn3znca5539rt67qdsjpcd07'>nevent1q…cd07</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>Yes..l that squares with my experience… I’ve lived on the Shore since 2004 and only saw forked lightning once (and that was in the city) before two, possibly three, years ago. I have seen sheet lightning. 2025-06-09T23:16:40Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsvvpvj63mp5mq6zsxy5f40kg7j4hqxeed6pjp2j5ge8ayre0fzjyszyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq9q8czz I’ve lived in Auckland for 20 years and I doubt we saw more than a single bolt of lightning in the first 15 of those years. Was that always the case and we just went through a multi year relaxed phase or are we witnessing dramatic climate change? 2025-06-09T20:40:45Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsr9yd7jkhaefxgfv0572wmygv8zddykd4fq45y8nj6ne6a5syy9cgzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq9a6t7z I’m a volunteer for the Kaipatiki repair cafe on the North Shore. Today, we, collectively, fixed 75 items that might otherwise head to the landfill. Half the time the necessary fixes are trivial. It’s worth checking to see if there’s one near you. 2025-06-07T04:14:21Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqspswg2hx4f47p7ftzed4dc62p0q7h7fg2492463cqt7xzhnxm6zjczyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq7zazxv I love to fix broken things. My daughter gave me her stick vacuum. Turns out the problem is the battery, found a replacement battery, but it costs more to buy the replacement and pay for shipping than the price of a new vacuum. This is why landfills are full. 2024-12-23T00:30:37Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsvn052y5970kpy47vznm40uuj9sn9cmywpjaxca625dzf3hlgyrdczyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqgdlv5a The thing about New Zealand is that you are only ever one Lotto jackpot away from being financially set-up for life. 2024-12-08T22:39:29Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsvdqaxc0w593pxmzazhz8zmpnczyjdvvg79qcr4cmyp00x77jquuqzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqt8kqdr In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsqgyddgt052hhdrguk9x2d65tuv3gnar2zxnl8cl2p05n9s9cp0rsmfysq3'>nevent1q…ysq3</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>We stopped using teabags about 5 years ago and switched back to leaf tea. It actually tastes better, but it can be hard to find in supermarkets, it tends to empty off the shelves faster than boxes of teabags. 2024-11-26T06:29:48Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsrx78vd862g2j2mklemvck6qysx2e3njr9x2xt5aznt2qd7zd7rkszyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq6zgqzk Would the telecommunications sector fare better if there was another extreme weather event like Cyclone Gabrielle? The Download Weekly put the questions to TCF CEO Paul Brislen.<br/><br/><a href="https://billbennett.co.nz/cyclone-preparedness/">https://billbennett.co.nz/cyclone-preparedness/</a> 2024-11-22T20:19:11Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsrgqltajft0smztue6ucn6pq9g22qqllwzkl3u4lsjpjsqxgv4emczyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqs82w05 Have a dislike of App Store apps that don&#39;t list a price then once you&#39;ve downloaded they reveal the subscription to actually use the software costs an arm and a leg 2024-11-13T06:37:34Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsp38ylvpv8ee9wmn77ntvhkx8axjxup4ummspayt3txdv2q73m4fczyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqg0djaq Food for thought:<br/><br/><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/25/business/iceland-shorter-working-week-economy/index.html">https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/25/business/iceland-shorter-working-week-economy/index.html</a> 2024-11-07T07:03:24Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsgfkr2yvlg7runxwwvze86ujzzduq05tlpyndvmzjrnr5eplldumgzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqnv5nhs Annoyed that my personal data is among the material the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department gave to Facebook. Doubly so because I haven’t used Facebook in more than 12 years. 2024-11-05T21:55:21Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsdwf7t9ch3z5rk49zpgzuh092ueuvd62vpew0cxe4qq338rla3htszyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqkexs9c A &#34;coffee like drink&#34; is a brave idea.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/markets/company-hopes-to-create-coffee-alternative-from-native-plant/">https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/markets/company-hopes-to-create-coffee-alternative-from-native-plant/</a> 2024-11-05T05:23:18Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqst6txdmpyndf3wc7ezvwaq3jvlh450yveuuycdspq8uvvxfzgqqrqzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqfe9ta3 WordPress - some context.<br/><br/><a href="https://billbennett.co.nz/i-didnt-leave-wordpress/">https://billbennett.co.nz/i-didnt-leave-wordpress/</a> 2024-11-04T18:25:44Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqswythx7pv0frgnqul2ru8lyuaax9csyezzx6d4r2x5gl74d7lszwczyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqgm7sep In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsxmrtkmtk9npxuvk8eyau35fh5yt5en74p47073qpv98k89atwphsg7cc95'>nevent1q…cc95</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>It probably is... but there are some who put social media at the top of their priorities. 2024-10-22T19:18:42Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs8tn0zwcl688wgezp02n48jwws92k0espdptdtyc40jeg2v755quczyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq477d86 It’s easy to tell when I have a full work load: my social media output drops almost to zero. 2024-10-22T04:41:57Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsrcsdrk7cxdkw8rlyr9uxh5q32lntpxngvlcktp5qtpm3wndqjl9qzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqx0r79l Not happy that an electric kettle purchased online during the first Covid lockdown had to be replaced. I&#39;d expect ten years from it but the rubbish wasn&#39;t even remotely repairable... and my secret superpower is fixing dead appliances. 2024-10-14T22:21:36Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs0ysj0a6wpnp339hsvg37t0766hc859jhkl5w0a4e0fj8mydz00mqzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqcx8yng In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsggtkpu4pyqky2qahzn344ng58phv9sm30ssmegm3kt6huat4mt5g808rww'>nevent1q…8rww</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>I don&#39;t even know what commit, dev and prod refer to.... presumably something to do with software? <br/><br/>Even so, this seems a perfect metaphor for the gap between any kind of planning and execution 2024-09-23T01:14:39Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsrfs3nzn055zwvhclqzphd2xksec2ww275hdvyhznkpns5za8g6egzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqw9d268 Is this a film about Donald Trump?<br/><br/>“An Indiana family discovers strange, demonic occurrences that convince them and their community that the house is a portal to hell.”<br/><br/><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4196566/">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4196566/</a> <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4196566/">https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4196566/</a> 2024-09-07T23:28:41Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsym63py8qhw66jwyuvrqrwpw6cq5hvjpcct70u0dappg2k06lk73czyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqdwl84m In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsvjaa5usx68dyfmy5c7gy40v7ftmlzqzy4w2nnhs0xr7hgplv25yc3herv5'>nevent1q…erv5</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>I didn&#39;t even consider that they might dispise or resent their children. That&#39;s just weird. <br/><br/>But even so, the point stands: The idea of merrily sending other people&#39;s offspring off to war while yours stay at home is despicable. 2024-09-05T07:39:23Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsge0gtgxx4fn4zadscuyz6a5zfq3m35djtcf2qyh3ajmldg4jlm2gzyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eqnxy34n It should be a universal law that any politician voting for a war has to be willing for their children to serve in the front line. Anything else is rank hypocrisy. 2024-09-05T06:45:29Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqstnlhgrz22y9a4xu6eghxhpqxn4x0jsa025z0mxt2k6kpnr604n6czyrexthzzr8ggv4fsh0a9rs59fuq966mx9u45jd2t94l6ztnrwm9eq6h4a8k You say that like it&#39;s a bad thing. <br/><br/><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/01/musk-twitter-investors-underwater/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/01/musk-twitter-investors-underwater/</a> 2024-09-02T08:07:41Z