#NZPol #Healthcare

I see that National is promising to raise Pharmac's budget to improve medicine access, but will do so by cutting foreign aid.

I'm tired of this zero-sum cruelty. Here's what should happen instead:

1. Rewrite Pharmac's terms of reference so that it has flexibility in its approach to medicine negotiations and so that it prioritises patient health instead of the austerity-style budget rules it has now (and maybe completely overhaul the Orwellian 'health economics' rules that they use to determine the value of your life.)

2. Yes, raise its budget (a long overdue step), but don't do so by cutting other healthcare or foreign aid or education. Do it by taxing f$%&king landlords and corporations. They don't die of preventable diseases.

3. And it should go without saying: fund *all* healthcare properly: medicine access is just one part of a system that is collapsing under the weight of neo-liberal greed. A pill doesn't replace a coordinated system of care.

'Great time to be blind': Visually impaired hail AI smart glasses despite privacy concerns https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/science-and-technology/1551281/great-time-to-be-blind-visually-impaired-hail-ai-smart-glasses-despite-privacy-concerns

The Apple Store has recently added anti-bot protection that prevents third-party apps like Parcel from downloading order information. We're actively trying to find a solution and apologize for the inconvenience. In the meantime, please use the "Track on website" feature to check your order status.

To all my darlings who had to build their own family because the one they were born into didn’t have room for them: I see you. I honor you. I have a spare bedroom, a pantry full of pastries, and an infinite capacity for dramatic entrances. Come visit. #LwaxanaTroi #PrideInFamily #AllStarTrek #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #TNG #StarTrekDS9 #DS9 #Mastodon

If it's anyone's cup of tea, the lovely Perlina Lau from RNZ's Culture 101 program (think New Zealand's BBC, NPR or ABC) interviewed me last week about Beautiful Words. It was such a fun chat and quite a buzz to get so much time to speak on such a great program.

Still reeling a bit quite honestly! Would have shared earlier but I was a bit nervous about listening back to myself. (I've been a bit sleep deprived and was worried I'd just answered all questions with the equivalent of the Muppet's Mahna Mahna song.😂)

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/culture-101/audio/2019049752/george-penney-on-beautiful-words-con-and-why-silence-of-the-lambs-is-actually-a-romance

I’m very excited to finally announce what I’ve been working on. If you’re a fan of word games, this is for you!
Introducing Hangman Blitz, my new iPhone game that takes classic Hangman and adds some exciting twists.
Of course, Classic Hangman is where it all begins. Then, think you can handle the pressure of a ticking clock? Guess the word before the figure is completed, or before the clock hits zero.
And finally, there are the Blitz modes. The hangman figure is gone, the clock is ticking, and your goal is simple: guess as many words as you can before time runs out. Correct guesses can add precious seconds, while mistakes take them away. Work your way through Starter, Rapid, and Extreme Blitz, where the clock gets shorter and the penalties get tougher.
I’ve added plenty of sound effects and even haptic feedback to make the gameplay more immersive.
I’ve tried many Hangman games for iOS over the years, and I’ve never been completely happy with any of them. Hangman Blitz is the version I’ve always wanted, and I’ve worked hard to make it a fun game that everyone can play!
Ready for the challenge? Hangman Blitz launches this Friday!
But you don’t have to wait until then. Pre-orders are open NOW for $2.99 on the App Store! 🎉
Pre-order Hangman Blitz today, and you’ll be notified when your download is available!
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hangman-blitz/id6770376971

Cost of dying: Funeral directors demand election action https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361026047/cost-dying-funeral-directors-demand-election-action

Milestone I wasn’t aiming for

for the first time in weeks
I spoke about her
without crying or even
tearing up
I was aware of grief as a friend
occupying a guest bedroom
and though the creaking floorboards
told me they were moving about,
I was not seeking them out,
I was waiting to talk to them
when they came to the kitchen
to share a meal and an embrace
for the first time in weeks
I spoke about her
without having to shut the door
on a blizzard of emotion
or be buried in three feet
of grief, isolated by a barrier
which risks life and limb
to cross and which risks
insanity if one succumbs
and stops struggling to get out

Another song written by me and produced with the help of Suno.
This one gives you a peak into a conversation Bonnie and I have almost every Friday night if we find ourselves at home. It’s so predictable that it didn’t take me long at all to write this.

#Jamulus: bit of fast funk, then slows down without any idea of when, why or how it gets where it's going.
This was not planned or rehearsed or even decided on chord wise.

All the grief and pain 😢

https://cynnisblog.wordpress.com/2026/07/13/all-the-grief-and-pain-%f0%9f%98%a2/

Spending this evening with my “Anthems” playlist — the songs that hit hard enough at one point or another that they became woven into my life story.

Remembering the days after Dad got satellite radio in his car and you never quite knew what would be coming through the speakers when he pulled into the driveway. More than once, it was deep house or trance music playing loud enough to announce his arrival before you even saw the car.

Tomorrow I’ll bury Dad’s ashes. It will be just me there, a quiet and private moment.

Tonight’s soundtrack:
🎵 Freeze — Kygo
🎵 The World Is Mine — Lane 8, Kasbo & Bjørn
🎵 I Hope You Dance — Lee Ann Womack
🎵 Alive - Sia
🎵 On a Good Day - Above and Beyond

Maybe that’s what an anthem really is: a song that carries a piece of who you were, who you are, or who you’re trying to become.

Tonight, these are mine.

#NowPlaying #Music #SoundtrackOfMyLife #GriefJourney #Memories

Today I released C1B, the most personal app I’ve ever built.

Earlier this year, my father was diagnosed with lymphoma, and my family quickly outgrew our binders, Notes, spreadsheets, and group chats trying to coordinate his care.

C1B grew out of that experience. C1B is a caregiving log that helps families keep track of everything related to the ongoing care of a loved one.

❤️ https://c1b.app

Today is my wedding anniversary. But what is really incredible is that today is also Bonnie’s wedding anniversary.
I don’t often feel totally lost for words, but I honestly can’t convey how grateful I am for her love, patience and remarkable grace.
After an eventful year, we find ourselves stronger and more in love than ever.
For our anniversary, I wanted to give her something unique, something that truly reflects our intertwined life story and love story and the strength and serenity we find in each other’s. So, I wrote her a song, and worked with Suno to get what was inside my head into audio form. It’s a playful song about being very much in love, because after all these years, that’s where we are.
I love you so much, Bonnie. Thank you.

notification center,notification center,notification center,notification center,notification center,notification center,notification center. Annoyed yet? Well, get yourself an Apple watch and you too could entertain yourself with such buggy VoiceOver issues! It's been an issue for like 2 years now. And yes, I did report it. Many times!

Hello lovely people: This is a snapshot of my wonderful rainbow community here in Nelson New Zealand.

A friend posted this picture on Facebook today and dealt with some absolute vileness. They stood up to it but shouldn't have had to. And despite the negativity, they're still here, still resilient, still joyful. 🌈❤️

We were gathering to protest against the gender bill going through NZ parliament right now.

If you're a kiwi and you want to help stop this bill, you can fill out a submission by following the link at the bottom of this post.

You don't have to say much, "I oppose this Bill in its entirety" is good enough!

Thank you in advance for your kindness. 🌺😊🪻🌸🌈

And if you've already filled out a submission, just know you're absolutely appreciated and you've done an awesome thing.

(Oh, and as always, much more in the alt text)

https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCSSC_SCF_9E8E8A14-A51C-4567-AB33-08DE9053A7D1/legislation-definitions-of-woman-and-man-amendment-bill

#newzealand #community #pride

Well, I'm back. On June 20th, I'll be embarking on a fund-raising ride to help blind organizations around Toronto that help blind folk being more independent, trying new sports and dealing with blindness issues. I'm currently at around 200 bucks. I need to reach at least 500 bucks to participate. My page says that I want to reach 5,000, but I dont' think I'll reach that at this point. If anyone wants me to suffer a very sore bumm on June 21st, then just throw a few bucks my way and I'll share how much my tuccus hurts on the 21st. Barring that, you'll be helping 3 blindness organizations and helping further with blind folks reaching their potential. https://raceroster.com/events/2026/105402/eyeride-2026/pledge/participant/37371587

#AudioMo, Day 4! We're back to the travel theme with this one.
As I continue getting excited about attending my 12th NFB National Convention next month, I thought this would be a fun recording to share. Actually, it's two recordings for the price of one.
It's July 2015, and I've just landed in Orlando for my first National Convention. I soon discover that I have to take a really cool shuttle tram to baggage claim. I could immediately tell this was something I needed to record. Then, when it was time to head home, I took the tram again on the way to my gate and made another recording.
The second part features that same experience nearly nine years later, in July 2024. You'll hear how the announcements have completely changed, and honestly, the whole experience sounds very different.
The main reason is that Orlando International Airport introduced new Mitsubishi trams in 2017 for at least some of the terminals. My 2024 convention trip was my first chance to experience them. By then, the tram system was also known as Gate Link.
This was honestly one of my favorite parts of attending conventions in Orlando. I always enjoyed riding the system.
The 2015 recordings were made using a second-generation Victor Reader Stream, and I apologize in advance, the audio quality is pretty rough. Things improve dramatically for the 2024 recordings, which were captured using my Zoom H1 Essential.
Ready to ride?

And now, for the #AudioMo post I meant to share yesterday.
One of my favorite parts of cruising is that you can randomly stumble upon incredible live music performances throughout the ship.
I was aboard Oasis of the Seas in early May. Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships are special because they feature several unique areas known as neighborhoods. One of these is the Boardwalk, which includes several restaurants, games, and a beautiful carousel.
After having lunch, I headed out there and discovered that the ship's orchestra was performing. Sadly, I missed most of the show, but I knew I had to make a recording.
They ended with this lively jazz piece. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it features several incredible solos, and I especially love the percussion.
My favorite aspect of this recording, though, is that it simply sounds like vacation to me. If you listen closely, you can hear the carousel bell in the background at times, along with people moving around and enjoying themselves. It's one of the recordings from that trip that brings me the most joy, and I'm hoping you'll enjoy it too.
Recorded with my Zoom H1 Essential.
I'll be sharing today's #AudioMo post later, once I decide what it will be. Perhaps something involving my brand-new pickup coil? Stay tuned!

Of course, I'm late starting my posts for #AudioMo, and it's already midnight at the start of Day 3. Oh well, I'll share the audio anyway, because why not?
Here's what I intended to post on Monday, June 1.
First, a bit of an introduction. On June 1, 2011, I officially became fascinated by the Emergency Alert System when I heard it activate for a tornado warning in western Massachusetts. While the alert was scary and I was concerned for the people affected, I couldn't help but be fascinated by hearing the system in action, along with the ScanSoft Tom voice that I knew so well.
Prior to that, I had only heard the system used for tests and didn't fully understand its purpose. Hearing that tornado warning sent me down a rabbit hole. I spent countless hours watching videos of the system in action, from weather alerts and AMBER Alerts to various tests and everything in between. About a month later, that interest also led me to NOAA Weather Radio.
Now, back to the present day and this piece of audio.
I was sitting in the living room watching an old episode of Card Sharks on Buzzr when it was suddenly interrupted by the EAS. At first, I assumed it was just a standard test and didn't think much of it. Then the message began with, "The Civil Authorities have issued a Required Weekly Test." That immediately caught my attention, because I had never heard one start that way before.
The message went on to list a large number of states, and I later realized they were all in the Eastern Time Zone. It was voiced using the Loquendo Dave voice.
Fortunately, I was watching through our Comcast cable box and was able to rewind it. I knew I had to capture it because I had never heard anything quite like it before.
After doing some research, it appears that this may have been an IPAWS test, some type of federal alert. I'm still not entirely sure whether the public was intended to hear it or whether the station made an error when transmitting it. If anyone knows more about this, I'd love to learn more.
What made it even more fascinating to me was that I happened to hear it on the 15th anniversary of the event that sparked my interest in the EAS in the first place.
Enjoy this recording, captured on my iPhone 15 Pro Max.