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npub1ggw9emcf98zeu37p69u23sf5phtq54nehx73egg64k5ek8z2xn6sw8y6e9

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nprofile1qqsyy8zuauyjn3v7glqaz79gcy6qm4s22eumn0gu5yd2m2vmr39rfagpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerfw36x7tnsw43qgugkxt

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Last Notes

2026-07-31 13:12:43 UTC

Co-Operative Energy has rebranded again (it was Your Co-Op Energy after the merger):-
https://energy.yourcoop.coop/help-resources/blog/your-co-op-energy-is-now-energycoop/
it's odd for them to contact me, I've become used to only dealing with Octopus since the Midcounties Co-Op outsourced Co-op Energy to Octopus.
#electricity #energy #utilities #UK #cooperatives

2026-07-30 15:59:58 UTC

How about "pro-people"?
"Plan to move Poole railway station called 'anti-motorist'"
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/26422138.plan-move-poole-railway-station-called-anti-motorist/
"That's according to Reform councillor Cameron Adams.
The plan includes proposals to reopen Hamworthy branch line as a freight route, relocate Poole train station to help regenerate the town centre, introduce trams across the BCP conurbation and make improvements to cycling networks and pedestrian routes."
#Dorset #Poole #UK #transport #ReformUK #politics #UK #cycling #biketooter

2026-07-30 09:49:53 UTC

"Reading named worst place for cyclist safety outside London"
https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/26411993.reading-named-worst-place-cyclist-safety-outside-london/
"Statistics showed that in 2024, there were 277 casualties in Reading on the highway where someone was killed or seriously injured, and 80 of these (28.9 per cent) involved an injury to a cyclist."
#cycling #UK #Reading #RoadViolence #RoadDanger #transport #roads #biketooter

2026-07-14 13:35:48 UTC

Why do motorists think that having to pay when they break the law is a "scam" or "money-making exercise"? Could they just not follow the Highway Code or signs? In this case, it's a road that has long been closed to cars but finally got cameras.
‘Blatant scam’ - Fury as 21,000 drivers fined on this one Basingstoke road
https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/26258961.drivers-slam-hampshire-council-alencon-link-camera-fines/

2026-07-11 15:08:28 UTC

It seems an odd coincidence that lifts get taken out of service at #Basingstoke station each Summer - either their maintenance schedule isn't in sync with increases in people with luggage or bikes, or the lifts can't cope with the heat.
#trains #railway

2026-05-22 21:40:36 UTC

"Complex animals evolved up to 10 million years earlier than previously thought, fossil discovery shows"
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/evolution/complex-animals-evolved-up-to-10-million-years-earlier-than-previously-thought-fossil-discovery-shows
"The findings push back the origins of animals that can move themselves in search of food by several million years, according to a study published May 20 in the journal Science Advances."
#science #palaeontology #evolution

2026-05-22 21:35:38 UTC

"The engineering behind Europe’s first 3D-printed concrete bike bridge"
https://interestingengineering.com/case-studies/europes-first-3d-printed-concrete-bike-bridge
"It was designed in such a way that it would be comprised of six lattice-like beams, which were prestressed end-to-end. In doing so, the researchers were able to cut down on their consumption of materials by nearly 40 percent"
#cycling #construction #Netherlands #nl

2026-05-21 17:28:28 UTC

"EU complains about ‘surprise’ UK move to roll back Russia sanctions"
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-surprised-uk-rolback-russia-sanctions/
Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis: “What we were discussing in G7 [is] actually that now is not the time to roll back sanctions against Russia because #Russia is actually the country that is benefiting from the war in Iran and having substantial windfall profits due to the higher energy prices"
#politics #eupol #ukpol #Europe #UK #UkraineWar #Ukraine #FossilFuels #diesel #oil #JetFuel #transport

2026-05-19 23:51:16 UTC

So it looks like we will be funding the Russian invasion of Ukraine through purchases of diesel and jet fuel.
"UK waters down Russian oil sanctions amid jet fuel crisis brought on by Strait of Hormuz closure"
https://news.sky.com/story/uk-waters-down-russian-oil-sanctions-amid-jet-fuel-crisis-brought-on-by-strait-of-hormuz-closure-13546009
"The UK government has watered-down sanctions on Russia, allowing diesel and jet fuel from Russian crude oil to enter the UK if it is refined in other countries."
#Russia #oil #FossilFuels #Ukraine #UkraineWar #uk #diesel #aviation

2026-05-17 20:39:10 UTC

"Man hit by van in Birmingham after residents take down union flags put up by anti-migrant group
Police investigate incident on Thursday after witness claims seeing Raise the Colours logo on side of vehicle"
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/15/man-hit-by-van-birmingham-residents-take-down-union-flags-put-up-by-anti-migrant-group
'The Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge said in an interview with the BBC that the area was “hijacked” by the “far-left”, adding that they looked like “they were there for trouble”.'
#UK #racism #flagshaggers #Birmingham #RoadViolence #RoadDanger #FarRight

2026-05-15 08:49:10 UTC

@nprofile…0a0c - will you resolve this?
#nevent1q…yyd0

2026-05-11 16:31:48 UTC

'Reform UK has banned newly-elected members charged with running a county council from speaking to journalists, an editor claimed.'
https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2026/news/new-reform-councillors-banned-from-speaking-to-press-editor-claims/
Ipswich.co.uk founder Oliver Rouane-Williams: “When approached by us on results day, a newly elected Reform councillor told us they wanted to engage with this publication but had been told they could not, and that they were only permitted to speak to GB News.”
#GBNews #democracy #PressFreedom #ReformUK #UK #ukpol #politics #Suffolk #Ipswich

2026-05-07 11:53:25 UTC

it's interesting that the #Conservatives think my County Council Division is so safe that they don't normally do any pre-election visits and don't hand deliver leaflets, but so at risk from #ReformUK that they post a last-minute leaflet with their national priorities (including Internet censorship/surveillance to protect children) and no local ones.
#Conservative #Tory #Tories #elections #politics #ukpol #AgeVerification #Hampshire #HampshireCountyCouncil
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/116/533/142/135/914/337/original/bc8b22a9366f10b5.jpg

2026-05-02 16:17:35 UTC

"The signing of the Magna Carta, the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War. Three topics Reform UK wants English schools to cover, and also staging posts in the development of British liberalism, an ideological movement that Reform seems largely to oppose. What gives? (Free to read)"
https://archive.ph/LTK3R
#history #England #UK #ReformUK #liberalism #politics #UKpol #education #schools

2026-05-01 10:04:51 UTC

I wish there was some kind of treatment available for male mid life crisis so they didn't have to spend their money on expensive and hideously noisy sports cars to drive around residential areas in Basingstoke.

2026-04-13 08:23:53 UTC

Is #Trump thinking about regime change in the Vatican?
"Donald Trump launches extraordinary attack on Pope Leo calling him ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/13/donald-trump-pope-leo
"In the 2024 election, Trump won 55% of Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. But Trump’s administration also has close ties to conservative evangelical Protestant leaders and has claimed heavenly endorsement for the war on Iran."
#DonaldTrump #religion #USA #politics #uspol

2026-04-05 11:11:26 UTC

"‘Migrants are blamed to distract you, don’t fall for it’: Shop in Reading displays anti-racism message in window as residents react".
https://rdg.today/migrants-are-blamed-to-distract-you-dont-fall-for-it-shop-in-reading-displays-anti-racism-message-in-window-as-residents-react/
"A Lush store in Reading has drawn attention for a campaign message displayed in its window warning against scapegoating migrants"
#UK #Reading #immigration #immigrants #Lush #politics #ukpol #racism

2026-04-05 10:51:24 UTC

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@nprofile…w76z @nprofile…t0ps #TheRegister has an occasional series of articles about bad units of measurement, and has a unit conversion page.
https://www.theregister.com/Design/page/reg-standards-converter.html
https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/21/truss_reg_standards/
https://www.theregister.com/2007/08/24/vulture_central_standards/

2026-04-03 13:55:57 UTC

Apparently the people of #Basingstoke are not bothered about shortages or cost of #FossilFuels. I have never seen so many petrol/diesel cars on the inter-estate roads leading to the A30 outside of rush hour as there are today. It took several minutes before I could consider crossing the road
#motorists

2026-03-30 19:00:11 UTC

'Meet the pupils teaching speeders a lesson in Kids Court'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyxpxx4xllo
'"Having drivers come into the school, meeting pupils face-to-face asking uncomfortable questions, personalises the message about road safety... it brings it home in a very powerful," he said.'
'"Speeding is not a low level crime. It's dangerous because with speed there are no second chances and lives can be lost. "'
#UK #NorthernIreland #schools #education #RoadViolence #motorists

2026-03-30 18:58:16 UTC

Huge #antimatter delivery to #Orkney
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3r384ye7reo
'A supermarket in Orkney has been giving away bananas after accidentally ordering an estimated 38,000 of them - almost double the entire population of the islands.'
'Tesco in Kirkwall had intended to order 380kg (750lbs) of the fruit but a slip-up meant it ordered 380 wholesale boxes, each containing about 100 bananas.'
#bananas #fruit #Scotland #UK

2026-03-30 09:12:08 UTC

'Councillor John Edwards (Independent, Owlsmoor) proposed a motion to fly the Union Flag at the Memorial Park.'
'While cllr Edwards sits as an Independent, he admitted to being a member of Reform UK at the last debate.'
https://wokingham.today/union-flag-returns-to-sandhurst-after-20-years-in-heated-council-vote/
#Sandhurst #UK #politics #ukpol #flag #ReformUK

2026-03-29 19:38:59 UTC

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@nprofile…gfcd from that article:-
'Mark Bray, a professor at Rutgers who studies anti-fascism. “The precedent is being set that the more cautious you are, the more that you could potentially be accused of trying to hide something.”'
'“The government has gone on record as saying that using Signal is a piece of evidence to suggest someone is a terrorist"'

2026-03-28 12:44:05 UTC

"Hundreds of North Sea licences granted by Tories ‘produce only 36 days of gas’"
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/28/north-sea-oil-gas-licences-conservatives
"Findings cast doubt on claims new drilling would help cut bills and boost energy security, researchers say"
"Some politicians are trying to sell us a dangerous fantasy of endless gas reserves, when the truth is – after 50 years of drilling – we have already burned most of it,” Tessa Khan said.
#FossilFuels #energy #UK #gas #oil #UKpol #Conservatives #Conservative

2026-03-27 23:42:47 UTC

I have so many #ScienceFiction ebooks written by authors whose names begin with "B", at least 60 from Ballard to Butler. I wonder if I can ever make it to "C"?
#SF #books

2026-03-27 20:52:35 UTC

"Britain’s dairy farmers are pouring milk away"
https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/03/26/britains-dairy-farmers-are-pouring-milk-away?giftId=OWI1NzE2NzUtMTRlZi00ZmU2LTk4NTgtNTZlYzI1NWExYjVh&utm_campaign=gifted_article
"Whereas others can convert the excess into butter or cheese, Britain lacks the spare capacity to do so. An alternative is to turn raw milk into powder, but Britain has too few production facilities."
#industry #farming #food #cows #milk #UK

2026-03-26 11:47:06 UTC

'Kemi Badenoch Accepted £7,500 Retreat from Chair of Climate Denial Group'
https://www.desmog.com/2026/03/24/kemi-badenoch-accepted-7500-retreat-from-neil-record-net-zero-watch/
'Its parent company, the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), has claimed that carbon dioxide has been “mercilessly demonised” when in fact it is a “benefit to the planet” and should be “two or three times” higher than current levels.'
#energy #FossilFuels #environment #globalWarming #UK #oil #gas #politics #ukpol #Conservatives #Tories #KemiBadenoch #Badenoch #ClimateChange

2026-03-20 00:27:26 UTC

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@nprofile…e40t @nprofile…gmxz @nprofile…hfl4 @nprofile…wn4u is this a good time to suggest #SailfishOS with Android App Support?

2025-11-19 19:19:58 UTC

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@nprofile…ks6m QL Forum is one: https://theqlforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5143&sid=34091acf7db1a578b973be4171b86d5b

2025-11-04 17:46:18 UTC

#YouTube have excelled today. Their aggravating autodub feature has replaced the audio of a video in English with a computerised French voice, which is no use to me. I blame #AI

2025-10-19 17:45:04 UTC

I hate training Google's self-driving cars

2025-10-13 15:44:47 UTC

Why is public funding for #rail or bus journeys called a "subsidy" (worse for cycling) but public funding for car infrastructure is not?
https://www.theguardian.com/business/ng-interactive/2025/oct/13/most-of-great-britains-major-rail-operators-are-back-in-public-hands-is-it-working
'“Irrespective of the ownership changes, the government’s got a major headache with the fact that rail is gobbling up so much public subsidy, and that’s before you get to HS2,” said Stephen Glaister, the emeritus professor of transport and infrastructure at Imperial College London...'
#UK #railways #trains #politics #transport #ukpol

2025-10-13 11:42:18 UTC

'Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport'
https://www.economist.com/international/2025/10/09/forget-evs-cycling-is-revolutionising-transport
https://archive.is/khwYb
'The third reason is a spread of bike-friendly infrastructure. Bicycles mostly died out as a form of transport in the mid-20th century not only because cars were faster and cushier, but also because cars made cycling catastrophically dangerous.'
#EVs #ElectricVehicles #ElectricCars #cars #transport #cycling #ActiveTravel #BikeTooter #Environment #RoadDanger

2025-10-12 12:32:40 UTC

#VirginMedia in the UK never change. Somehow I must have added myself back to their marketing list (I took myself off when 2 or 3 sales reps would call me at the same time). Anyway, they tried to persuade me that they were reviewing my usage after a local network upgrade and Gigabit cable would be best.
I know Gigabit cable has been available in my area for ages. Apparently they could do me a deal of paying £9 more per month. Gigabit only costs £5 more than I am paying.

2025-10-08 15:38:12 UTC

'It is well-known that the Climate Change Act was voted through the UK parliament with near-unanimous cross-party support.'... 'Just five Conservatives voted against.'
https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-what-the-climate-change-act-does-and-does-not-mean-for-the-uk/
'Less widely appreciated is the fact that the Labour government only agreed to legislate in the face of huge public and political pressure, including from then-Conservative leader David Cameron.'
#Environment #Conservatives #Conservative #Tory #Tories #politics #ukpol #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming

2025-10-06 18:22:13 UTC

If the #UK left the #ECHR as every major politician seems to want now, other than the obvious problems, wouldn't we be unable to extradite anyone arrested in Europe (except perhaps from Hungary) for crimes committed in the UK, because we wouldn't be able to guarantee the rights of the accused? Especially if our freedoms are not allowed to be exercised except at times convenient for the Government.
#HumanRights #law #crime

2025-10-05 09:17:37 UTC

'Britain’s opposition parties have pledged to shred Keir Starmer’s EU reset if they get into power. The U.K. public would rather they didn’t.
Polling commissioned by POLITICO shows the government’s agri-food deal agreed in principle with Brussels is popular with Remainers and Leavers alike — even when they're told it means following EU rules.'
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-want-nigel-farage-step-away-from-brexit-shredder-agri-food-deal/
#EU #UK #ukpol #politics #Brexit #food #agriculture #trade #Labour #Conservatives #ReformUK

2025-10-02 10:36:31 UTC

'Trump tariff threats punch holes in UK trade deal'
https://www.politico.eu/article/us-donald-trump-tariff-threats-punch-holes-in-uk-trade-deal/
'London is currently locked in talks with the U.S. government over NHS drug pricing. Science Minister Patrick Vallance has hinted the health service will need to pay more if Britain wants to stay attractive for investment.
#USA #tariffs #UK #politics #NHS #healthcare #Trump #DonaldTrump #trade

2025-09-07 19:00:30 UTC

Apparently I had the Red Hat Delivery Specialist - Platform and - Smart Management accreditations without realising it. Oh well, they expired today without me using them (I spent too long on a Windows project).

2025-09-05 10:17:19 UTC

'Ex-Tory minister Nadine Dorries defects to Reform UK'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9zld87y1go
'She said that her "core beliefs" were the same as when she first joined the Conservatives in 1995, adding that the party "had changed not me".'
'So far, Dorries has not spoken about the Online Safety Bill which she first introduced to Parliament and which Farage has strongly criticised.'
#Conservative #Conservatives #Tory #Tories #ReformUK #OnlineSafetyAct #nadineDorries #ukpol #UK #politics

2025-08-05 06:58:20 UTC

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@nprofile…gtyw I hate to imagine the conversation that parents have with their children about donating their guinea pig etc

2025-07-18 17:02:56 UTC

"Mercedes has announced it’s bringing Microsoft Teams video calls into the driver’s seat."
https://www.eta.co.uk/news/office-catchups-at-70mph-the-latest-threat-to-road-safety
'nothing says “road safety” like live-streaming your face while piloting two tonnes of steel through city streets.' .. 'you can beam your image into the boardroom, dashboard glow lighting your cheekbones just-so as you pass the local school at drop off.'
#RoadDanger #roads #motorists #cars #technology #Mercedes

2025-07-11 06:38:15 UTC

'The Tony Blair Institute participated in a project to develop a postwar Gaza plan that envisaged kick-starting the enclave’s economy with a “Trump Riviera” and an “Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone”.'
https://www.ft.com/content/0b1bc761-c572-4b61-882a-fb4467259dcd?emailId=e87dd536-d928-4d1e-bf0e-4b1ebe19efb2&segmentId=72adc702-369e-fc3e-1b5d-cacb5d193d80
#TonyBlair #Blair #ElonMusk #Musk #TrumpRiviera #DonaldTrump #Trump #Gaza #politics

2025-07-08 21:33:47 UTC

"LTNS CUT DEATHS AND INJURIES BY OVER A THIRD."
Taken from the #BikeIsBest newsletter https://www.bikeis.best/p/30-cycling-growth-and-good-ltn-news?publication_id=2148339&post_id=167820435&isFreemail=true
"Examining 113 London Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) across more than a decade, researchers found that LTNs were associated with a 35% reduction in all injuries, and a 37% drop in deaths and serious injuries (KSIs)."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/07/londons-low-traffic-zones-cut-deaths-and-injuries-by-more-than-a-third
#cycling #biketodon #biketodon #walking #ActiveTravel #London #UK #LTN #LTNs #transport #RoadDanger

2025-07-07 18:47:24 UTC

every once in a while, I look at the #YouTube app to see how bad adverts are these days. Normally they're all for scam investments. I especially like it when #Google gives me ads in languages I can't speak.
Now it gives me adverts for immigration to the #USA. I thought they only wanted Afrikaners these days. I imagine it's a scam like all YouTube ads that I see.
#technology
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/114/813/430/640/595/762/original/f75a334b3c2570f6.png

2025-07-07 18:31:07 UTC

I work for a multinational company employing tens or maybe hundreds of thousands of people. Why has #Microsoft #Teams on my company mobile now decided that it would be really helpful to only show first names in my "Activity" view? Precisely which Mike, Mark, or Susan across the globe was it who sent me a message or reacted to one I sent?
#technology

2025-07-07 14:19:10 UTC

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@nprofile…0tvd Surely AI can replace C-suite executives easily, and I don't know why the shareholders aren't asking for it to happen.

2025-07-07 09:10:40 UTC

I can read the example just fine, and I didn't learn that method. Maybe it helps that I spent some time being short sighted until a teacher noticed I couldn't see the board from far away.
"The radical 1960s schools experiment that created a whole new alphabet – and left thousands of children unable to spell"
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/06/1960s-schools-experiment-created-new-alphabet-thousands-children-unable-to-spell
#education #spelling #schools #uk

2025-07-07 08:18:02 UTC

'A UK minister has told Parliament that joining Europe's answer to Starlink — Elon Musk's satellite-based mobile internet service — would be a "stretch" given the nation's current financial challenges.'
https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/05/uk_budget_to_join_iris_not_there
#austerity #space #technology #broadband #UK

2025-06-30 15:27:03 UTC

I hate #AI. All I want to do is see what bank account I have set up for a direct debit to pay my credit card. Historically, I would just click some buttons in the credit card app or look at the statement. Now I have to go through a chat bot and answer loads of questions.

2025-06-26 21:02:57 UTC

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@nprofile…0tvd Nokia mobile wasn't the first iconic company that disappeared after Stephen Elop took over. I seem to recall that a Nokia joint venture was an earlier victim.
But Nokia had too many divisions that wouldn't talk to each other, and multiple mobile operating systems and UIs - eg Series 40 for feature phones, Series 60/Symbian, the short-lived Hildon UI, Meego (why wasn't the N9 released in countries where it could have sold?), at least one other Linux derivative for featurephones...

2025-06-17 22:06:10 UTC

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@nprofile…pp8p Hugo Girl reviewed it, maybe their review will help? I have only just started reading it today.
https://www.hugogirlpodcast.com/all-episodes

2025-06-03 22:11:33 UTC

Business Insider has pivoted to AI: 'Insiders have expressed concern at Business Insider CEO Barbara Peng’s assertion that the company was going “all in on AI” in the same note announcing the lay-offs.'
NUJ: “AI will never replace journalists, not unless the future media bosses want is one where content is regurgitated in perpetuity, getting increasingly warped and unrecognisable.”
#AI #technology #BusinessInsider

2025-06-02 15:12:18 UTC

I don't know how true this is, but I do know that my attempt to answer a question was met with an accusation that I was an AI (I deleted my answer, I decided that no-one deserved to see it after that accusation)
"AI didn’t kill Stack Overflow"
"How the groundbreaking developer forum moderated itself into oblivion."
https://www.infoworld.com/article/3993482/ai-didnt-kill-stack-overflow.html
#StackOverflow #technology

2025-05-26 18:21:29 UTC

"German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal"
https://www.politico.eu/article/german-court-vw-execs-prison-dieselgate-scandal-volkswagen-environment-illegal-pollution/
"These devices detected when a car was undergoing emissions testing and altered performance to meet environmental standards — while in real-world driving conditions, the cars emitted pollutants far above legal limits"
#Germany #law #pollution #environment #FossilFuels #VW #Volkswagen #cars #motorists

2025-05-25 17:01:29 UTC

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@nprofile…r5de I am still surprised they delivered it on a Sunday - Tuesday would still be within the 24 hour period! Maybe they don't have much room at the Delivery Office

2025-05-25 16:26:58 UTC

#RoyalMail have outdone themselves for once. I received a "tracked 24" parcel today (Sunday before a Bank Holiday) which was posted yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. Now if only they could deliver my normal post on time.

2025-05-24 12:02:06 UTC

#AI companies are removing more useful features - #Microsoft are stopping coupon suggestions whilst shopping in Edge (about the only good thing about Edge), and #Mozilla are cancelling #Fakespot which I use to check if sellers have a dodgy reputation.
Time to see if Mozilla has any useful extensions as replacements.

2025-05-18 13:35:23 UTC

"Great British Energy Bill passes through parliament"
https://www.current-news.co.uk/great-british-energy-bill-passes-through-parliament/
'GB Energy will be backed by £8.3 billion during this parliament, which is expected to last until 2029. According to a notice issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in March, “GB Energy will establish itself as an expert development partner and will develop, invest in, build and operate clean energy projects across the UK”.'
#energy #UK #environment #GBEnergy #GreatBritishEnergy

2025-05-16 13:51:50 UTC

I finally got an email (well, it was on Tuesday, but stuck in my Spam folder) from Marks & Spencer about their "cyber incident". Obviously it was sent via a 3rd party, Everest Engagement
"Unfortunately, the nature of the incident means that some personal customer data has been taken, but there is no evidence that it has been shared. The personal data could include contact details, date of birth and online order history."
#MarksAndSpencer #security #cybersecurity #technology

2025-05-11 20:20:43 UTC

local newspapers love clickbait headlines for food reviews
"'Top of Town's new restaurant serves the best Katsu curry I've ever had'"
https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/25147889.review-wont-regret-trying-omakase-top-town/
'This broccoli was a sensory experience that transcended life as I know it'
https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/leisure/food/25138927.review-new-indian-kitchen-holiday-inn-basingstoke/
I now want to eat this magical post-human broccoli, so the headline worked
#Food #FoodReviews #Basingstoke

2025-05-11 18:57:25 UTC

my doctor sent me a letter in RTF format. #Microsoft Word on my Android phone refuses to open RTF files unless I enable "connected experiences" in my privacy settings. Luckily my phone is next to my PC so I can use something that doesn't need me to train an #AI with my confidential health information.

2025-05-10 19:27:01 UTC

I hadn't noticed until today that you can change the app icon for #Microsoft Edge on Android to include #Clippy, presumably in honour of Edge being sold as AI-powered.
I use Edge for surveys (Pureprofile.com and Ipsosisay.com give me about £20 each a month, and I don't know about Maximiles, YouGov, and Mayu) - they want to track me to build a shadow profile on me, but all they really see is a load of other survey sites being used.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/114/485/164/077/591/629/original/ca36d9005f9b0bea.jpg

2025-04-26 15:56:35 UTC

Why do psychics advertise? And why do they flypost on public property?
Surely actually psychic people would be able to use their powers to promote their events.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/114/405/077/870/485/206/original/9e16de1b9c2053cd.jpg
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/114/405/079/932/844/022/original/0c27c42580cb0274.jpg

2025-04-24 17:51:00 UTC

I have only been to #Veeraswamy #restaurant (apparently the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the #UK) twice, but because I am on the mailing list of a restaurant chain with the same owners, I got this today because their landlord wants them out:-
"Please sign a petition to King Charles III and our landlords, the Crown Estate, to renew the lease of Veeraswamy at its current premises where it has operated with distinction for 99 years."
https://chng.it/FZ9FDv5B5x
#London #food

2025-04-14 10:09:06 UTC

Steel as essential for defence: 'Britain’s steelworks are anyway not entirely self-sufficient. They rely on imports of coal and iron ore from countries like Australia, Brazil, South Africa and Sweden. Nor were they self-sufficient in times of war. In the period leading up to the second world war, Britain sourced large quantities of iron from Sweden to make weapons'
https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/04/13/britains-rushed-muddled-intervention-in-the-steel-industry
#UK #steel #manufacturing #BritishSteel

2025-04-09 10:36:40 UTC

'Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Starmer said that although Britain needs strong internet safety rules to protect children, it also needs to remain a pioneer of free speech.'
https://www.politico.eu/article/keir-starmer-uk-online-safety-act-negotiation-united-states-digital-services-tax/
it's hard to know if the Government plans to improve the #OnlineSafetyAct or will just exempt American companies.
#USA #UK #poltics #technology #FreeSpeech #ukpol #uspol

2025-04-08 13:37:00 UTC

This might makes things complicated for America if its enemy (China) is fighting alongside its ally (Russia) in Ukraine.
'Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims Chinese soldiers fighting alongside Russians in Ukraine'
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/zelenskyy-claims-army-has-captured-chinese-soldiers-in-ukraine/105153948
'While Beijing and Moscow are allies, China has repeatedly claimed it has not supplied military aid to Russia during the course of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022.'
#Ukraine #Russia #China #UkraineWar

2025-04-07 09:22:59 UTC

As long as you're happy waiting 50 years before the journey time is cut by half (I'm sceptical)
'Startup Says Its Nuclear Fusion Rocket Could Cut Time to Mars in Half'
https://futurism.com/nuclear-fusion-rocket-cut-time-mars-half
'The firm is hoping to achieve fusion in orbit for the first time in 2027, a moonshot plan that could put far-flung destinations in our solar system within much easier reach — if everything goes perfectly according to plan, at least.'
#space #nuclear #fusion #NuclearFusion #UK #technology

2025-04-02 16:45:58 UTC

'While food standards remain a red line in negotiations, which are expected to continue beyond Wednesday, giving U.S. producers greater access to the U.K. market would put Britain’s farmers — already infuriated by tax changes — under further pressure.'
https://www.politico.eu/article/britain-does-not-deny-concessions-on-agriculture-in-uk-us-talks/
'Vance said there had been “infringements on free speech” in Britain, which “also affect American technology companies and, by extension, American citizens.”'
#UK #ukpol #politics #farming #agriculture #food #USA #uspol

2025-04-02 10:57:22 UTC

Probably dangerous to overlook people who only earn slightly more than MPs
'The “High Earner, Not Rich Yet” is the most overlooked voter in British politics'
https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/03/26/who-will-speak-for-henry
"At £100,000, the removal of the tax-free allowance creates a 60% marginal tax rate... When national insurance and student-loan repayment...are included, a young high-flyer can face a 71% rate."
"In England, however, earning one pound over £100,000 can cost thousands."
#HENRY #UK #ukpol #politics #tax

2025-03-29 13:04:32 UTC

I am on a train very close to a group of middle aged men joking about deliberately running over cyclists. I feel VERY uncomfortable, I will probably move for my own safety.

2025-03-25 10:04:43 UTC

'Microsoft tastes the unexpected consequences of tariffs on time'
https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/24/microsoft_opinion/
'This a post-literate era, and we should expect the next demand for bughunters to express proof-of-concept as a TikTok dance short. Also, it is very dangerous to give devs a chance to express their frustration. These people are creative, and Microsoft, you have given them so very much to be frustrated about.'
I didn't expect it to turn into a comparison with #Brexit
#Microsoft #technology

2025-03-15 19:15:04 UTC

"US politicians and privacy campaigners are calling for the private hearing between Apple and the UK government regarding its alleged encryption-busting order to be aired in public."
https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/14/apple_uk_encryption_hearing/
"Colloquially, the IPA is referred to as the Snooper's Charter since its aims are to legally empower intelligence agencies with greater surveillance powers."
#Apple #encryption #cryptography #technology #UK #politics #uspol #ukpol #InvestigatoryPowersAct #privacy #Surveillance

2025-03-09 17:43:26 UTC

imagine if a new feature was so unpopular that paying customers have posted so many complaints that it stretches to 14 pages over 2 years. Clearly as it's #AI and #Spotify they're going to stick with the unpopular feature.
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Your-Library/How-do-I-turn-off-the-ai-dj/td-p/5513222
#technology #music

2025-03-06 21:49:45 UTC

unimpressed with a campsite that I am thinking of booking. They forbid cycling on their internal roads including the road to the shop for the safety of other campers, obviously they don't forbid cars or camper vans on those roads because they're safe.
#cars #bicycles #biketodon #BikeTooter #camping

2025-03-03 09:40:10 UTC

They like to use the word "quantum" a lot, but it sounds a bit like dead reckoning. #GPS / #GNSS relies on very weak signals - could we not just use a system like #LORAN which has stronger localised transmitters?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6yg204pvmo
"While GPS is satellite-based, the new system is quantum-based - a term used to describe tech that is reliant on the properties of matter at very small scales."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz744gpl1dpo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELoran
#navigation #airTravel #planes #technology

2025-03-01 12:31:45 UTC

"Local MP writes to authorities over ‘irresponsible’ motorists flocking to see sunrise and sunset at Mam tor"
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/01/tiktok-craze-behind-peak-district-bad-parking-crisis-mam-tor
"On 11 January, gritters were blocked from accessing the road at Rushup Edge, close to Mam tor, by about 200 doubled-parked cars."
#motorists #TikTok #PeakDistrict #Derbyshire #cars #MamTor

2025-03-01 11:56:09 UTC

I keep seeing adverts with the face of Nigel Farage promoting get rich quick schemes. I wonder why the dodgy advertisers think their target audience would trust Farage?
#NigelFarage #Farage

2025-03-01 10:50:08 UTC

One thing I don't understand about #Trump is that he spent the past 10+ years essentially promising to do what he has done, but people are shocked that he is doing it (whilst trying to sign trade deals & giving him invitations to visit castles).
He promised he would dismantle the State, he said he would dismantle multilateral defence and trade agreements, he promised he would deregulate industry, he said he admired #Putin.
Why didn't Europe invest more in defence in the meantime?
#uspol

2025-02-28 09:43:10 UTC

#Tesla and #Nvidia are invested in by funds that concentrate on #ESG (environmental, social, governance) goals. Given the attitude of #ElonMusk and the climate-destroying effects of Nvidia's contribution to #AI I don't understand why I am involuntarily invested in them through both my share ISA and my company #pension.
#Musk #investments #finance #environment #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming

2025-02-25 18:30:06 UTC

Despite his rhetoric, the #Trump administration will INCREASE debt by trillions of dollars, not reduce it:-
"The budget resolution winding its way through the #Republican-controlled House of Representatives would permit nearly $4trn of new debt over the coming decade, even after cutting over $1trn of spending on the environment, health care and education"
https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/02/20/donald-trump-is-a-reckless-president-but-not-yet-a-lawless-one
#DonaldTrump #USA #uspol #politics #economy

2025-02-25 16:43:42 UTC

'Office mandate has failed, four in five civil servants tell union survey'
https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/office-mandate-has-failed-four-in-five-civil-servants-tell-union-survey
'Meanwhile, just 11% said the mandate had increased their productivity and 61% said it had made it worse.'
'As part of the review, it said the government should promote “purposeful office use”, with a view to ending the “culture of presenteeism” and ensuring that when employees are in the office, it is for activities improved by in-person presence.'
#RTO #ReturnToOffice #UK #CivilService

2025-02-24 17:57:47 UTC

Back in my day (before school proms were a thing in the UK), 16 year olds were considered mature enough to be able to deal with being near a roundabout. Obviously I'm just a miserable old sod.
https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/24951948.parents-criticise-choice-venue-blue-coat-school-prom/
a mother on pupils: 'feeling let down by the choice of venue as they 'want to take pictures outside', they feel concerned about safety.
"The hotel is on a busy roundabout, and there's going to be a bunch of Year 11 students roaming around, it's not safe."'

2025-02-22 21:47:31 UTC

On GB News and support for #Ukraine in the #UK :-
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/22/open-mouthed-farage-struggles-to-find-his-voice-as-gb-news-is-caught-between-trump-its-viewers-and-reality
"less than half of Reform UK voters agree, and one in 10 of Farage’s strongest supporters wants Russia to win. Appealing to the silent majority and the far right is no easy task."
Farage in 2014: '“admired Putin as a political operator” for taking control of Russia and insisted he disliked him as a person. '
#GBNews #UK #politics #war #NigelFarage #Farage #FarRight #Russia #ReformUK

2025-02-20 16:02:10 UTC

'UK achieves cheap, rare-earth-free solar cell breakthrough to fight China dominance'
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/uk-new-flexible-solar-cell
'"A key advantage of these flexible films is that the panel can be stuck onto any surface. In the UK, you currently have to think twice about adding thick solar panels onto relatively fragile roofs of warehouses that are not really designed to be load-bearing,”'
#perovskite #Solar #SolarPower #SolarEnergy #energy #technology #UK #Sheffield

2025-02-20 14:32:23 UTC

'The Irish part of Euractiv's parent company, Mediahuis, has sued X for scam advertisements, designed to appear as genuine news articles, alleging that they infringe the publishers' trademarks and copyrights and create reputational risk.'
https://www.euractiv.com/section/tech/news/euractiv-owner-sues-x-in-ireland/
'advertisements on X contained links to fictitious articles that included the logo of the Irish Independent, published by Mediahuis Ireland and with the byline of one of its journalists.'
#Twitter #X #ElonMusk #Musk #scam #Ireland

2025-02-19 13:22:12 UTC

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy: '“Unfortunately, President Trump, with all due respect for him as the leader of a nation that we respect greatly … is living in this disinformation bubble,” he says.'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/19/russia-ukraine-war-volodymyr-zelenskyy-vladimir-putin-donald-trump-europe-latest-news?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with%3Ablock-67b5b3188f08daacc9e11185#block-67b5b3188f08daacc9e11185
#Trump #DonaldTrump #politics #uspol #Ukraine #UkraineWar #Russia #propaganda

2025-02-19 12:47:08 UTC

I assumed the proportion was higher
"A quarter of bosses admit their return-to-office mandates were meant to make staff quit"
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/quarter-bosses-admit-return-office-104103939.html
"According to new research from BambooHR, a survey of over 1500 U.S. managers found that a quarter of C-suite executives hoped for some voluntary turnover among workers after implementing a #RTO policy.
Meanwhile, one in five #HR professionals admitted their in-office policy was meant to make staff quit."
#ReturnToOffice #employment #business

2025-02-18 17:40:37 UTC

"The rise of the far-right could speed up the population decline of Europe, projections show, creating economic shocks including slower growth and soaring costs from pensions and elderly care."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/feb/18/europes-population-crisis-see-how-your-country-compares-visualised
#Europe #demographics #pensions #immigration #tax

2025-02-15 00:06:12 UTC

"European Parliament urges lawmakers to only use encrypted messages after China hacks"
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-urge-mep-message-signal-encryption/
"New research by cyber intelligence firm Recorded Future on Thursday showed the group had breached telcos as recently as January, including in Italy and the U.K., despite U.S. sanctions."
#Signal #Europe #EU #EuropeanParliament #Surveillance #technology #espionage #China #SaltTyphoon

2025-02-14 15:21:26 UTC

UK Government abandons name "AI Safety Institute"
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/13/uk-drops-safety-from-its-ai-body-now-called-ai-security-institute-inks-mou-with-anthropic/
"So have AI safety issues been resolved? Not exactly, but the message seems to be that they can’t be considered at the expense of progress."
#UK #AI #technology

2025-02-12 14:51:24 UTC

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/12/cnbc-daily-open-tesla-wobbles-as-byd-gets-ahead-in-self-driving.html
'Tesla shares fell 6.3% Tuesday after Chinese EV maker BYD said it will integrate DeepSeek into its autonomous driving technology and offer it in nearly all its vehicles. There are also concerns over Musk’s distractions, such as his bid for Open AI and his role at the “Department of Government Efficiency” in the White House. Tesla’s stock price has fallen over 16% in the past five trading days.'
#ElonMusk #Musk #Tesla #BYD #EV #AI #Deepseek #motorists

2025-02-10 16:15:00 UTC

This should dent Musk's ambitions for Mars, but one wonders how this will be more successful than the other nuclear thermal rocket designs.
"Russia’s plasma engine could reach Mars in 30 days, drastically reduce space travel time"
https://interestingengineering.com/space/russia-plasma-engine-could-reach-mars-early
"This engine utilizes hydrogen as fuel, accelerating charged particles—electrons and protons—to a remarkable speed of 100 km/s (62 miles/s)."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_thermal_rocket
#NuclearThermalRocket #Russia #space #technology #Mars

2025-02-07 23:26:47 UTC

I thought Trump was against immigrants coming to the United States as refugees?
"The White House said Trump is also going to announce a program to resettle white South African farmers and their families as refugees."
https://apnews.com/article/trump-south-africa-apartheid-musk-1be10eb4e443682501f2d7bc5aa0b893
#SouthAfrica #USA #uspol #refugees #immigration #Trump #DonaldTrump

2025-02-07 12:37:00 UTC

"Cracks in the pavement: England’s parking problem"
https://www.eta.co.uk/news/cracks-in-the-pavement-englands-parking-problem?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=weekly
"For pedestrians, pavement parking is not just an inconvenience; it’s a safety hazard. Vehicles blocking footpaths force vulnerable road users - from children to elderly people - to step into traffic."
"When a car or lorry drives over a CatClaw, its weight exposes a sharp steel tube that quickly punctures the tyre"
#PavementParking #UK #transport #ActiveTravel #cycling #walking #motoring

2023-10-21 13:40:41 UTC

A councillor in #Wokingham: 'learnt about the concept of 15-minute neighbourhoods where residents could walk or cycle within their community to access shops, schools, GP surgeries and the other things they need to live.
Many of the new towns designed and built in the 1950s, and 1960s used that as a blueprint. However, over time, the car became king and walking and cycling became less attractive on roads congested with traffic.'
https://wokingham.today/from-the-chamber-a-government-going-backwards/
#cycling #walking #ActiveTravel #UK