Access to the internet shouldn't be a mandatory requirement of belonging to a society. People should be able to use physical currency, and receive physical mail, and connect with actual human beings when they have problems.

If we have billions to throw at magic pixie dust vendors for digital ID, we have billions to end poverty.

When I finally get round to writing my first play, it will be about a once-idealistic politician who makes a Faustian bargain for relevance that slowly turns him into an oligarch's plaything. democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...

UX friends - fancy a few sunny (*) days in Scotland next year? UX Scotland returns from 10-11 June. uxscotland.net Tickets now available. Call for Speakers opens soon. Join the mailing list to be the first to hear event announcements... uxscotland.net/mailing-list (*) Actual sunshine may vary.

Think this is spot on - assuming the people pulling the strings on the right wing are idiots is a terrible strategy

Finally an example of an algorithm working out for the better

“Half of expertise is knowing what to ask, what to look for, and when to be satisfied with an answer.” - /v @mattedgar.social.coop.ap.brid.gy

I blogged about #FawltyTowers just after the death of Andrew Sachs. This is what I wrote. I also had some thoughts on that Ian Main memo. firstlastanything.co.uk/2016/12/05/t...

Beehive Cottage in Nunney has just become even more tempting. Now available at £395,000, it’s a rare chance to own one of the village’s most iconic and photographed homes. #Frome #Somerset #Mendips #ukproperty #BathUK #cottageforsale #Bruton #hybrid #Rightmove #OnTheMarket

Shout out to everyone only now learning that "Albert Einstein was reclusive at the end of his career, shunning public engagements." Really meant, "For the last *20 years* of his career, Einstein opposed US racism by only speaking publicly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

1939

Why do some gamers invert their controls? Scientists now have answers, but they’re not what you think

TLDR: Make racism shameful again. While you’re at it add fascism too.

Wow

Other work by the Ladybird artists ‘The South Hams of Devonshire’ (1951) Artist: SR Badmin

#ActiveListening needs explicit action by people who can speak fluently and fill time with opinions. Shutting up is holding space for other people.

@hilaryonline.bsky.social “I saw this and thought of you…”

Outstanding.

“The strategy of labelling our enemies fascist depends on a context where the mainstream is willing to isolate and shame Nazis. Those are not the times we are living in.” Not sure this nails what the alternative is, but suspect it’s right on the problem www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I feel some of the anger here is misplaced. You could recast this as a huge success - apprenticeships benefit not just school leavers, but are popular to upskill and retrain throughout life. Ensuring older workers remain productive and in employment is ALSO highly beneficial.

Some Wednesday/Friday tickets have opened up for #SDinGov (sorry, no Thu availability). Also, some 1 day tickets just for Friday. Event programme: govservicedesign.net/programme-2025

Right wing radicalisation is a process of filtering resentments thru othering to revenge. The process can be stopped by explicitly saying that the others are not responsible. However, the people with power to say that are often the people who are actually responsible for problems.

Discworld QOTD, from Going Postal

A truly terrible joke Respect

The 100yr cycle from mid 20th c to the mid 21st that goes “these British seaside towns were rich because people went there for holidays for sun - these British seaside towns were poor because people went to Spain for more sun - these towns were rich because Spain had too much sun” will be wild

Why was there a Kindertransport? Because we wouldn't let their parents come with them. Five years into the Nazi persecution, we wouldn't let their parents come with them. And we insisted every child had someone to meet their "costs". And we only agreed on condition most would "re-emigrate".

Thanks for the reminder @janemunday.bsky.social. Every summer, I repost this article DROWNING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE DROWNING. To date, I know of FOUR kids who were saved after someone who'd clicked on the link learnt how to spot actual drowning. Take time to read and pass on. slate.com/technology/2...

Let’s start re-designing how Governments works! It's time to get serious about design cathydutton.co.uk/posts/its-ti...

I was asked about my opinion on this recent study into #MECFS and I wanted to share here as well. First and foremost, sincere congratulations to the research team for some stellar work. I will never stop cheering for groups that are working to uncover the biological 1/

I need a few volunteers. People who have been through an assessment for ADHD. It is to complete a google form about your experience and give feedback. Any takers? TIA

In the world we’re entering, a trustworthy human voice is all we’ll have. Brands that have it, and demonstrate it in every interaction, will win.


 *Build trust at every touchpoint.* (Crafted in partnership with Jamie Marsland.)

Anyone have experience of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme? hdsunflower.com/uk/

Disgusted to see this beautiful landscape ruined by wind turbines.

Baby donkeys are so underrated... 😍

To mark the start of BBC Proms 2025, here’s my version of the Postman Pat theme tune in the style of a tango.

We're looking for a Delivery Lead to join our GovPress team You’ll work closely with clients and dxw colleagues to build a single multidisciplinary, agile team. GovPress provides a secure, high quality, fully managed web publishing service. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/3IQkpXh

“It took from the invention of the photovoltaic solar cell, in 1954, until 2022 for the world to install a terawatt of solar power; the second terawatt came just two years later, and the third will arrive either later this year or early next.” Moore’s Law eat your heart out. Jesus.

Watch this to the end.

The call for Sessions for Ripples:Bristol (formerly Agile in the City: Bristol) is open: bristol.ripple.events/call-sessions See the event website for more info.

“a big, shouty number, presented as proof that severely disabled people are “better off” than workers – as if round-the-clock care were some kind of lifestyle choice”

I think in this slightly terrible world people are desperate for communal singing

Ok here we go www.linkedin.com/pulse/nhs-10...

1977: why would the bartender in star wars even care if some robots with artificial intelligence came into his bar 2025: ohhh ok

These are the very last of the books I bought from my defunct ex-publisher. If you'd like one for the price of postage (just £4 UK), plus whatever YOU want to pay, please email me your address at [email protected]. Stephen Fry called the book "hilarious" but don't trust him. Find out for yourself

“Andor doesn’t portray fascism as an aesthetic, but shows it as an operating system” I call it Star Wars for Grown Ups. The people we became once we grew out of cowboy films, and knights rescuing princesses, and got proper jobs with meetings and politics and bureaucracy Still ❤️ Star Wars tho

On of my absolute favourite Sci-Fi movies

Britain’s health/disability doom loop: austerity = more poverty = poorer health = greater disability = ££ on health benefits up + demand & ££ on NHS up = pressure on NHS = longer waiting times = worsening health++ = disability benefits ££++ = rising public spending = more austerity = return to start

Paul Krugman is Not Online

Extended GP opening hours only reduced A&E visits if the GP was open at the same time as someone went to A&E. Which seems incredibly obvious but is probably worth stating: 9-22% of ED visits could be seen by a GP - but that only works if the GP surgery is actually open at the time!