It looks like Alberta's cookers have lost their bid to separate from Canada. While polls are still being counted, it seems 75% of Albertans want to remain Canadian. That's pretty decisive. The Trump regime must be gutted.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/livestory/alberta-referendum-results-live-updates-separatism-october-19-2026-9.7387777

#Canada #Alberta #Separatists

While other states settled with Meta for the 2016 privacy nightmare they concocted with Cambridge Analytica, New Mexico forged on with its case. A jury has just awarded a record fine of $25b against Meta.

Hopefully this sends a strong message to Zuckerberg and his fellow the tech bros that interfering in elections is a serious crime.

New Mexico will put Meta's fine towards the state’s education system.

https://apnews.com/article/facebook-penalty-cambridge-analytica-new-mexico-b329f82c3d3db3758a159405acbd4d0e?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

#Meta #CambridgeAnalytica

The NZ High Court has ruled that laws passed by the Luxon coalition which banned prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people were unlawful.

Naturally Family First NZ's Bob McCoskrie has got his knickers in a twist and is "Shocked." Shocked, I tell you. Bob is an expert in this area having devoted much of his life to thinking about other people's genitals.

The court did not accept "that the Minister abdicated his decision-making power to Cabinet and acted for an improper purpose of advancing New Zealand First's "anti-woke" agenda."

However the court has ruled that the regulations were unlawful and invalid, and made an order setting them aside.

NZ's Justice System: 1
Cookers and evangelical freaks: 0

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/2058561/puberty-blocker-restrictions-for-gender-diverse-youth-overturned-by-high-court

#PubertyBlockers #NZ

Controversial opinion: People who point lasers at aircraft should be charged with attempted murder.

Fight me!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland/auckland-man-charged-after-allegedly-pointing-laser-at-police-helicopter/VTH32RQ2T5DOPKF2AKCLCIKXSA/

#Laser #Helicopter

Bugger! Looks like it might rain next Monday.

#Dunedin

There's been a ‘serious incident’ on a Canadian Forces Base in Alberta. Multiple people have been hurt or killed and a significant fire was burning, fuelled by high winds.

Local hospitals were overwhelmed by the sheer number of patients involved.

No details have been forthcoming but the base offers "realistic battlefield exercises".

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/serious-incident-alberta-military-base-deaths-injuries-canada-carney-cfb-wainwright

#Canada #Disaster

Today is a classic Dunner Stunner with 17° and a mild northerly. The sky is so blue it looks like a chromakey background. Days like this make you forget how fucked up the world is.

This afternoon I'm going to plant wild flowers in one of the raised beds to give the bees and butterflies a handy transit point.

There's a symphony of mowers in the distance. A walk on the beach may be on the cards.

#Dunedin #DunnerStunner

This forecast makes a pleasant change after a few rainy days.

#Dunedin #Weather

Opportunity have come up with a new policy. They'll ban kiwis from using their Kiwisaver funds as deposits on houses.

Last year, over 50,000 first home buyers used KiwiSaver to help pay their deposits. Withdrawals averaged $44,000 each.

While the concept of preserving retirement funds is understandable, perhaps even laudable, this policy would have a detrimental effect on thousands of younger New Zealanders every year.

As economist Shamubeel Equab says, "...it's a stupid policy."

This close to the election is an odd time for TOP to shoot itself in the foot.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/home-property/361046941/stupid-policy-economist-attacks-plan-block-first-home-buyers-using-kiwisaver-their-deposit

#NZPol #Opportunity #Kiwisaver

NZ broadcaster Danny Watson has died.

While I never heard his radio work, I was editing 'Spot On' in the mid-70s when Danny joined Ian and Erin as a presenter. I remember him as an energiser-bunny of a man who enjoyed being a bit rough around the edges.

My lasting memory of Danny is going partying with him one night in Dunedin and both of us staggering home around 2am, him carrying half a lamb on his shoulder. I still don't know where the lamb came from.

R.I.P. Danny.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361047403/veteran-broadcaster-danny-watson-dies-after-short-illness

#NZ #DannyWatson #Obit

Some good news for New Zealand.

Fake bishop Brian Tamaki will appear in court on Monday on three charges of inciting racial disharmony.

This relates to Tamaki making a video calling for mosques and temples to be burnt down.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
~ Galatians 6:7

It's a lot like karma, really.

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/brian-tamaki-to-appear-in-court-for-allegedly-inciting-racial-disharmony-bd3ur5la

#BrianTamaki #Karma

Raining, raining, raining.

#Otepoti #Spring