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West Coast Space Show Wrap-up
a day ago
- The West Coast Space Show successfully engaged over 255 people across Tasmania with space-themed activities.
- The event featured real meteorites, impact glass (including Darwin glass), and Lego models of Saturn V and Space Shuttle.
- Telescopes were used to capture images despite less-than-perfect conditions, and the show was supported by National Science Week and local partners.
- The organizers express gratitude to supporters and look forward to future events leading to the development of a West Coast Space Centre.
Level Up Tasmania 2024
a day ago
- Level Up Tasmania 2024 celebrates local game development from September 27-29, 2024.
- Main showcase at PW1 in Hobart features over 30 Tasmanian-made games with free tickets.
- Participant will display 'Night in the Woods', 'I Feel Fine', and a preview of 'Leonardo’s Moon Ship'.
- Industry Day on Sunday at Theatre Royal includes a panel called 'Path to Play: Education & Gaming' at 10:20am.
- Session 'From Secret Lab to Yarn Spinner' at 12:30pm discusses the global impact of the open-source tool.
- Showcase hours: Friday 12-5 PM, Saturday 10 AM-3 PM; Industry Day Sunday 10 AM-5 PM.
(Gradient) Descent into Mediocrity
a day ago
- Tasmania's economic success stems from rejecting the 'bigger-faster-cheaper' mentality and embracing uniqueness, which AI's statistical averaging threatens to undermine.
- AI's high energy consumption contradicts Tasmania's 100% renewable electricity and net-zero emissions, posing risks to grid stability and environmental credentials.
- Tasmanian industries like whisky distilleries, artisan markets, and tourism thrive on craftsmanship, provenance, and human stories—qualities AI cannot replicate.
- The TasmanAI campaign cleverly subverts AI hype by using real artists, showcasing that human creativity outperforms AI-generated content.
- Adopting AI would replace premium differentiators with generic, algorithm-driven products, eroding Tasmania's competitive advantage.
- Independent research shows AI often reduces productivity (e.g., developers 19% slower) and offers minimal time savings without significant economic benefits.
- Legal risks from AI's copyright infringement and environmental contradictions (e.g., rising emissions in tech giants) further undermine Tasmania's authentic brand.
- Tasmania should focus on human-made alternatives, positioning itself as the 'anti-AI' destination to command premium prices in a market craving authenticity.
Space News, October 2025
a day ago
- The 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney gathered global space professionals, and Australia announced the Australasian Space Innovation Institute and four flagship programs covering agriculture, maritime surveillance, disaster management, and regional communities.
- Australia signed a collaboration framework with NASA, including an Australian lunar rover carrying NASA instruments, and the European Space Agency is considering Australia for Associate Member status.
- Tasmania is emerging as a space hub with the University of Tasmania operating a unique continental-scale antenna network, HENSOLDT providing the largest private RF antenna network for space tracking, and geographic advantages for polar orbit tracking.
- Tasmania's Centre for Antarctic, Remote & Maritime Medicine uses Antarctica as a Mars analogue, and the Royal Hobart Hospital has a dual hyperbaric/hypobaric chamber for health research applicable to space.
- Tasmanian companies develop space technology such as AI for cognitive load monitoring (FortifyEdge) and satellite-based wildfire prediction (Geoneon).
- The James Webb Space Telescope observed CT Chamaeleontis b, a young planet forming its moons, with a carbon-rich circumplanetary disk, offering a unique view of moon formation.
- Engineers are testing wind-powered inflatable 'tumbleweed' rovers for Mars that can cover hundreds of kilometers for a fraction of traditional rover costs; full-scale tests in Chile's Atacama Desert may lead to deployment in the 2030s.
A day in the threatened forests of the Central Highlands
a day ago
- Visited forests in Tasmania's Central Highlands that are currently being logged or scheduled for logging as part of a Bob Brown Foundation Threatened Forest Open Day.
- The experience was sobering and sad, but also fascinating and beautiful, with rain throughout the day.
- Learned about what is happening to the forests and what is planned for logging during talks under a marquee.
- Observed huge trees with moss and lichen on trunks, difficult to see the tops, and thick ground cover with mossy stumps.
- Many of these forests are slated for logging, with clear-cut areas already visible next to untouched sections.
- Some trees are hundreds of years old, and the cleared blocks demonstrate their fate.
- Unexpected live music in the forest added to the experience, and the author recommends attending if possible.
Posts
a day ago
- The Tasmanian Greens are pushing for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into AI data centres in northern Tasmania.
- The author advocates for Tasmania's competitive advantage in AI while criticizing rushed, unregulated development.
- Yarn Spinner explicitly avoids using AI in its products, citing ethical and quality concerns in creative work.
- The article criticizes Australia's social media ban for under-16s, which takes effect December 2025, as poorly understood and implemented.
- A major issue with Apple Gift Cards led to a user's entire Apple ID being locked out, highlighting problems with big tech customer service.
- CBA (Commonwealth Bank) faced criticism for over-relying on AI, causing customer service failures.
About Paris
a day ago
- Paris is a computer scientist, game designer, writer, and artist based in Hobart, Tasmania, also studying law.
- He co-founded Secret Lab, known for the BAFTA-winning Night in the Woods and creating Yarn Spinner, used in DREDGE, A Short Hike, and thousands more games.
- He has written over 20 books for O'Reilly and Wiley, talks on ABC Radio, teaches at University of Tasmania, and holds a PhD in Computing and a degree in medieval history.
- He leads Tasmanian Game Makers as President, co-founded a space centre, and runs /dev/world, the longest-running Apple developer conference not run by Apple.
- His notable projects include Yarn Spinner, Night in the Woods, I Feel Fine, Leonardo's Moon Ship, Play School games, and many others for clients like ABC, Qantas, and CSIRO.
- He has extensive community involvement, including government advocacy, conference organization, and recognition with awards like BAFTA and Pearcey Award.

Hasty Briefsbeta

tasmania

West Coast Space Show Wrap-up

Level Up Tasmania 2024

(Gradient) Descent into Mediocrity

Space News, October 2025

A day in the threatened forests of the Central Highlands

Posts

About Paris