Is anyone else feeling bombarded by Windows Updates? I've been alerted to two each week over the last month. They normally go smoothly, and I suppose I should check what 'potential problem' they're addressing, but is it all mainly about inflicting unwanted AI?

Wordle 1,606 5/6* ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜ ⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩 ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 That was tricky today!

Hutton is always marvellous, but this exceeds all expectations. ..."the Sketch was failing to emphasise many of the benefits of Conservative policy: for instance, many people dislike visiting the dentist, and under the last government, that worry simply went away".

I wanted to know the weight of firewood delivered on a pallet, I googled, in English, so most of the results were from the US. Aside from US pallets being very big, they measure wood in 'cords', occasionally referencing cubic feet! Googling in Italian worked.

FINALLY

Why doesn't Hamilton just retire the car? #F1 He has told the pit that it's undrivable, 19th isn't going to add any points to the constructors.

I need a stand-in driver to support (as the Ferraris have been a bit disappointing) so I'm going for Hadjar. He seems to live a pretty charmed life avoiding incidents, besides being reasonably fast. #F1

That sky looks a bit threatening - rain in third session of quali maybe?

Maisie Adam was good fun on #HIGNFY tonight.

An entertaining read , although I remain convinced that the plural of quail is quail, as in duck!

BREAKING: SANDWICH GUY ACQUITTED. NOT GUILTY!

This is entertaining - apparently culled from the publication Le Parisien - the 'petty crooks' first arrested for the Louvre heist didn't know they were robbing 'The Louvre'!

For anybody who has not yet been enchanted by the 'Sandwich Guy' mini saga this is a good starting point!

I liked the woman (expert on Rome's medieval towers) on #BBCPM this evening. The Torre dei Conti has had a couple of misfortunes today, and she told us that Roman medieval towers were thrown up in a bit of a rush, and not really expected to last!

Wordle 1,598 3/6* ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟨🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I got it in two yesterday, but for some reason the site wouldn't let me copy it.

This is a major problem, Grok (et al) are scraping the internet for content, and they are therefore also scraping bot posts. Bots are not just pests, they have become opinion formers.

If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight. Use the Quick Vote option. Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...

Is anyone else a bit surprised that there are tourists, on holiday, in Jamaica at the moment?

How is it that Hurricane Melissa has fallen off the 'Trending' list?

The BBC PM programme has gone mad. It is trailing an item investigating how AI can help with building your patio. It can't; that is YouTube's purpose.

Wordle 1,591 3/6* ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟩⬜🟨⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 (Not that I would have spelt it that way!)

Re the Venezuela Trumpisms: they have a lot of 'crude oil' which (I am told) is the only sort of oil which the US refineries are set up to cope with (this is a very different material from fracked product). Canada also exports this crude. Tariffs get in the way.

Shame about the VSC at the end. Compliments to Norris - but even more to Bearman who (I think) had two pit stops (instead of Leclerc and Norris on a single stop).

Bit odd that Ham pitted (IMO) #F1

Isn't Russell opening up a fantastic gap from Antonelli? (Sarcasm) #F1

I didn't initially clock this as a post from the US.

I'm hoping for troubleshooting tips on b+w laser printer cartridges. I bought two (about eight years ago!) and the first is now running out (fair enough) but the printer will have nothing to do with the second identical cartridge. Ideas anyone?

Oh my giddy aunt!!

It's that moment again for National Trust members to vote to keep the entryists out. Quick and easy to vote and please do so by 31st of October Quick Vote link keeps the AstroTurfers out. Then share. Thank you. secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...

Had is one I've been keeping an eye on, he seems promising! Now if he got into a red car I'd be even keener on him!

Qualifying for the Mexico GP just started. #F1

This Tim Stanley 'analysis' on #Newsnight is irrisorious!

This is an extraordinary article. One starts reading it thinking yeah yeah, we know all about the bullying tactics of this vengeful man - but it gets steadily more astonishing as one reads on. It is very frightening.

I've just seen some lookalike fish fingers in a supermarket, except they are filled with peas and bits of carrot and other veg instead of fish. I think they might make an entertaining alternative - dunno if they are #vegan, but they are certainly vegetarian.

It is so adorable! Nadine telling Prince Andrew to piss off out of the country! FOM anyone?

Oh, BBC #QuestionTime have got Nadine Norries as a panellist.

I've just seen an advert for Grana Padana (a slightly downmarket version of Parmesan cheese) claiming it is naturally lactose free. Is this true?

"His more recent engoldening of the Oval Office, described by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as a “golden office for the golden age”, has been unflatteringly compared to a professional wrestler’s dressing room." Do read the whole article!

This is funny! The German manufacturer of the crane ladder used to rob the Louvre is using this photo in it's adverts. "When you need to do something in a hurry"

#Newsnight might give us a giggle tonight. They're trailing Prince Andrew (yawn) and it's not clear whether the two guests, Rory Stewart and Zack Polanski will be interrogated on this subject!

@wewantplatesbot.bsky.social Need to know!

For UK readers, the large out of town Tesco superstores weigh in at about 70,000 sq ft. And this ballroom is supposed to accommodate eighty people??

Consider this your sign to vote in our Annual General Meeting! Make a difference by letting us know what’s important to you. You have until midnight on 31 October: buff.ly/GGr65eT

Nasty story here about basketball fans of one team throwing bricks at a rival fans' bus and killing the driver. What sort of nonsense is re-emerging after a period of relative peace between 'fans' of sporting teams, and what is driving it?

Phew. I can now exit my brain from French (I follow the Grand Prix F1 races with French commentary!) It never ceases to amaze me how much French I understand - I only did it to "O level" - but I learnt it as a child and it has 'stuck'.

If Leclerc can finish on his mediums, remember to subtract 22secs from his current position. He could win.

So HAM is now on softs - can't finish the race on those, surely.

Is DRS not terribly useful at this circuit? Not seen any evidence of it helping overtaking.

Leclerc on softs, Hamilton on mediums. Interesting!

Grand Prix of America from Austin beginning in less than five minutes! #F1 I'd love for a Ferrari to do well ...