Alastair Wilcox

I've just voted for the recommended candidates and to keep the reactionary candidates out. If you're a member it would be great if you could consider doing the same.

So I get that there's (yet again) a big debate going on about AI on Bluesky. I am turning off replies to this post because I don't want to have notifications flooded one way or the other on this one. I just want to share what I've heard multiple times in just the past two weeks.

Posting from bluesky to test editing from mu.social at 9.50 BST. Edited in mu.social at 9.51

Testing the editing facility from mu.social. Post created at 9.49 BST. Edited at 9.50

I hate to say this, really I do, but in 2026 banning access to YouTube for teens is like stopping them from going to the library.

"At the end of the day it goes dark." In isolation, that reads both as banal and bleak. Perfect for Morrissey.

All lampposts to have a Union Flag or cross of St George (preferably both). Flogging for anyone removing them, flying a Union Flag upside down or flying the Union Flag below the St George's Cross.

Good summary of the paper on AI and productivity going round, and OH BOY I'd watch that rise in productivity in Information services like a hawk. What use is more information if it's probably subtly wrong. (Also amirite that some of those labels are missing?) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

So the Lords think no one under 18 should be able to do a job that requires VPN usage or access public WiFi securely or bank ATMs? www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...

I saw a familiar face across Trafalgar Square. Tried to catch his eye in the hope he'd recognise me and that would remind me how I knew him. He walked straight past me without acknowledgement. When I was about 20 yards beyond him, I realised it was Neil Kinnock who I've never met before or since.

Magdalen(e)

Morning! Society for Hopeful Technologists newsletter #2 is arriving in inboxes now. A little bit on Musk and X, much more about future plans + organising buttondown.com/society-of-h... and great to have a group of fellow organisers coming together 💪

So not dissimilar to a (uk) public schoolboy.

If in doubt, organise! The tech industry is a roaring bin fire, so brilliant to share the results of this survey of 522 UK tech workers who want sthg better buttondown.com/society-of-h... Help design the Society for Hopeful Technologists and give a voice to ppl who want to make a meaningful change

New report reveals smartphones ARE bad for you (but not the one you're thinking of) theneuroscienceofeve... A look back at a detailed report about whether or not smartphones in schools are as harmful as many assume. The answer is... nuanced. If you're into that sort of thing. #Smartphones #Tech

Magnum Cart. The singular of Magna Carta.

@profanity.accountant what’s my score?

From the Oxblogger Newsletter - Long Term Thinking 'You may be Sam Long's number one fan but I reckon you still under-appreciate him. I’m going to explain why.' @ADawsonBros explains why there's even more to Sam Long's story than you imagine. oxblogger.substack.com/p/long-term-... #oufc

Has it not stopped before now, how do passengers get on and off?

🎄🤶🎄🤶🎄🤶🎄🤶 open.spotify.com/track/6EEGlQ...

I think this may be compulsory in the UK, so #snow in OX10.

It's pretty amazing that it's possible to do this - and shows why Bluesky is so much superior in ethos and functionality to the other place. Not sure I want to rebuild my old Twitter self here, though... a fresh start seems nice.

Hello! I’ve finally got fed up of the binfire that is X these days and hoping for a less toxic experience over here…

On Wed's Money Box Live I'm looking at what benefits and perks you're entitled to but many people don't claim. Pension Credit, council tax support, social tariffs, Tax-Free Childcare... if you discovered you could get more help then pls email me felicity.hannah@bbc.co.uk

Can we get 500 of you as soon as possible to share this new ad Kamala Harris just released

A quick thread on schools and phones. I'm quite in favour of older kids having phones and managing their own social relationships/travel/finances and learning about how to be good digital citizen. Seems sensible and useful preparation for more independence and autonomy.

This place is clearly maturing. Two porn bots followed me today. Blocked and reported both. Let's hope the moderation can scale here as it grows.

Not sure whether to come back on here…no reflection on BSky, just don’t really have time for both. That’s why I stopped last time. But like lots of folk, find Musk Twitter grim. Is anyone really here? Or does X actually still have the numbers?!! 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Good. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2456582...

1. Why did you come to Bluesky? 2. How is it going? 3. Who are you missing and how are you going to get them to come here?

THIS IS MAGNIFICIENT. God bless Tina Brown for sharing her son's connection with Gus Walz. This is a gift link and a gift from her. Do read now! My Son and Gus Walz Deserve a Champion Like Tim Walz www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/o...

#hashtags are here.

Hits Radio - City of Liverpool would allow the tower to still be called Radio City Tower and Baur to have their rebrand.

This looks curious. Are any lawyers able to explain why they were acquitted?

Dom's writing out lists of his enemies again. I wonder what he wants for his 13th birthday?

Appointing Cameron as Foreign Secretary is the political equivalent of a football club saying "we'll give the manager's job to Sam Allardyce until the end of the season." Caretaker Foreign Secretary until the General Election.

If anyone has a contact who needs an invitation Code, let me know. I have one spare and can share it.

As is traditional at this time of year, when Derry throws the biggest Halloween party on Earth, please enjoy this paragraph from my book, in which I pay tribute to the single greatest costume I've ever seen. (And if you want to read more, hit mammybook.com)

In case you haven't spotted each other @birchdave.bsky.social, @wiggytoo.bsky.social

Incredible message from Simon Case released by Covid Inquiry. I mean we all knew, but to see it set out so clearly by someone who was there...

These days I'm working through a number of my articles to bring them into the new design that we are rolling out on Our World in Data. This is a cartogram I made to show where people live. Each little square here represents half a million people. → ourworldindata.org/world-popula...

Must suck to realize that there are some forms of epistemic grounding that you and your pals can't simply purchase and torch to the ground.

I hadn't noticed ringtone sales had disappeared. They just sort of stopped. Also, sales seem to be doing fairly well right now at a gross level, but not as good as the 2000 peak. I wonder if a graph exists of revenues accruing to artists?