Every now and then, when I’m browsing sewing patterns, I’ll filter for unisex ones for the sheer creepiness of the pattern photographs…

Lee Anderson selling… err… valentine’s messages for £50 a go must surely count as the low-water mark of both politics and romance? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-i...

Democracy in a nutshell

The road to hell is paved with ‘pragmatic’ point solutions

Guardian is reporting on ‘phantom investments’ in tech infrastructure - where are the jobs? What will the UK own? What’s in it for the average citizen? - so once again I’m sharing this Bloomberg gem… $100B data centre, the size of Central Park… and 57 jobs. FIFTY SEVEN.

If you’re struggling to explain the classification of labour force participation, also consider the view that it is fundamentally INEXPLICABLE. As in: fundamentally misconceived. And yes, you may take that as a professional opinion. You bet I’m going to explain…

RadStats annual conference 2025 is being held on 14 March at St Luke's community centre. The theme is using data to promote progressive change and there is a wide range of talks and workshops which is still being added to! Sign up now, students go free. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2026-radic...

We’ve been needling at these buckets all the while they’ve been drip-feeding details… basically: - the UKRI allocation is pretty much flat - if they really ARE putting more into buckets 2 & 3, then the sum of buckets 1 & 4 must be picking up the tab - it is now clear that bucket 4 is taking the fall

Clear out the spare room, Germany - I’m on my way!

Having literally surveyed the workers in these industries on this very question…. Wow, no.

Actually cackled at this…

‘Whereas so-called “red wall” residents who have moved to the right have been lionised as “hero voters” to be chased and never criticised, Labour-Green switchers must be scolded for being seduced by indulgent and reckless gesture politics.’ Feeling this deeply. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

If I were to go in for a second PhD (gods help me… I haven’t quite ruled this out), it would be on the need for richer diversity among trade unions, on a number of dimensions, but notably for the movement to nurture diversity of scale rather than the giants bullying out (or eating up) tiny unions.

I continue to be fascinated by the phenomenon whereby an expert engages with any of the LLMs on their field of expertise and is instantly horrified by the wrong answers, and then goes on to use it for things they are not experts in as though it won’t be just as bad for those.

An eye-watering report in the Guardian on the rise of right-wing populist rhetoric in mainstream politics - focus on immigration - serendipitously landed as I was preparing to talk to reps about what immigration system reform means in (our) trade union context: www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...

Just a few more days to nominate people to our awards!!

What I find so enervating is the Emperor’s New Clothesness of people who have no stake in the hype - no gain from the hype - propagating the hype out of… what? A habit of conformity? “AI will create new jobs.” “AI has the potential to solve climate change.” REALLY? ON WHAT EARTHLY EVIDENCE?

Five women authors by whom I’ve read (and loved) at least five books: Mary Renault Daphne du Maurier Suzanne Collins Karin Slaughter Mary Renault again. No apologies.

It's no accident that so many of the people who work in critical tech identify as women and so many people selling the line about how muscular technology will save us are men. It's no accident that lots of women shift out of tech cos to academia and civil society. It's all there in plain sight

UK public sector dropping AI initiatives at the prototype stage? Errr… okay? That sounds like prototypes doing exactly what prototypes are meant to do. Woe betide us when we start criticising public sector bosses for actually knowing when to quit. 🙄 www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Is it just me, or is this a creepy choice of words in this context? To ‘defy’ suggests to me that they must have owed some kind of obedience… and if that isn’t getting right to the heart of the disagreement, I don’t know what is. If this is a meeting of equals, too bad UK: you’ve just been overruled

“It’s not bravery” Oh #GiselePelicot, it’s nothing less than EVERYTHING! 🫡✊ www.theguardian.com/world/2024/o...

“1930s Germany targeted the Jewish ­minority on the basis of their perceived privilege Bridget Phillipson. Just like you going after the 500,000 children in private school.” Just the same thing 🥴 www.theguardian.com/education/20...

“I don’t have to outrun the bear.” Quick reminder that your digital services don’t have to be GOOD… just a bit better than the next guy’s will do. The bar is low. Go on home and enjoy your weekend.

Is anyone giving odds on Jenrick and Badenoch simultaneously withdrawing their candidacy in another of those tactical miscalculations? Because I actually think that might be worth a flutter… #UKPolitics #ToryLeadership 🍿

Do we really think that over the past 400 years that there hasn't even been one woman that could do this job? And that here in 2024 the best choice is going back to someone that has done the job before. What messages does this send? royalsociety.org/news/2024/10...

Oh fuck no… Of all the reasons, THAT IS NOT THE REASON. #UKPolitics #HowToMakeABadSituationEvenWorse #JustAddSexism

I can’t get enough of this story! Speaking of statistics inflated by failure to register deaths, I wonder how the turnout will turn out on the #ToryLeadership ballot 💁‍♀️

#LinkedIn latest… this was how someone chose to illustrate a post proclaiming their new data governance certification. The perfect visual metaphor for the quality of ‘expertise’ you’re going to get from the perfect shit-storm of LinkedIn Learning, #genAI, and not enough subject knowledge to judge

Today on #LinkedIn … there are companies selling “accreditation” in fucking #ThoughtLeadership. 🥴 It’s time for a full factory reset.

Cleverly: Conservative Party needs to be more normal Conservative Party: No. *chef’s kiss* #UKPolitics

Good evening to everyone except the idiots who drive cars three times the size of real cars, and especially excepting the driver who left me 20 cm to open the door of my puny little car. Happy to report that generalised hypermobility has an upside. I basically had to dislocate a hip to get in here.

It’s chocolate letter season! <whistles, looks at shoes>

I see those immediate improvements at #Euston station are really paying off 🙃

Parents! Are you looking for a way to get around the VAT on private school fees? Try this one weird trick…

Ah… now what could possibly go wrong?

“Cleverly said the party needed to be ‘more normal’” I AM DYING I mean, he’s not wrong, but… wow! What a leadership pitch! #UKPolitics #ConservativeParty #ToryLeadership #ConservativeConference www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This #ToryLeadership contest is like the blooper reel in the end credits of the last episode in the last series of the #ConservativeParty

I dropped into the #LabourConference this week… slightly weird energy this year, with such a multitude of new MPs preening for the attention of exhibitors, press and members, rather than everyone courting *them*. You want backbench engagement for your cause? It’s fish-in-a-barrel shooting season RN!

Another round of scolding the long-term sick into health and plenty, I see. 🙄 Imagine if as much effort went after the employers whose working conditions make us sicker, AND needlessly make work inaccessible to many of us with long term conditions. #UKPolitics www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

1066 and all that - ever relevant.

Yoohoo. It’s me.