David Robson

David Robson

@davidotley.bsky.social

Hike, bike, bothy, belay, veg, politics, Can, Mekons, community, film, gigs. “I have moments”.

817 followers406 following9K posts

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

The Israeli government countered with the following (again): "You can't accuse of of this because we are the Israeli government."

ABC News Australia@news.abc.net.au

Israel committing genocide in Gaza despite ceasefire, UN commission of inquiry finds

abc.net.auGaza ceasefire hasn't stopped Israel committing genocide, UN inquiry findsIsrael has continued to commit genocide in Gaza since last October's ceasefire, according to a report from UN-commissioned experts. Israel has rejected the findings as "misinformation".
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Pathetic from Jonathan Reynolds on Today. He could and should have said: “The British economy and opportunities for British people are both impeded by the lack of Freedom of Movement and the government is keen to remove these obstacles.” But he didn’t - just blah blah blah. Mealy mouthed.

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

They invented Maths - guess that’s something.

The Bulwark@thebulwark.com

RFK: "There's five hundred million Arabs in the world. And yet they don't produce science. They don't win the Nobel Prize. They don't win the Fields Prize. They don't win the Wolf Prize. They don't produce literature."

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

So this morning the BBC will ask Nigel Farage for his balanced, thoughtful views on the current ‘Freedom of movement’ discussion. And next: Hannibal Lecter on vegetarianism. Jeremy Clarkson on cycling and pedestrianisation. Benjamin Netanyahu on olive harvesting. Donald Trump in international law.

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

BBC R4 Today carried a lengthy report this morning on how the Democrat’s “progressive / left wing” senate contender (Abdul El-Sayed) was doing less well compared to “mainstream” Democrats elsewhere. Interesting conclusion when the polls are considered… (Dems are blue, limeys).

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

My problem here isn’t the politics of it - which is appalling, coming as it does from a supposedly neutral BBC public employee news reporter; but the sheer vapid stupidity of it - coming as it does from a supposedly neutral BBC public employee news reporter.

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Going out for the evening meant that you came home stinking of stale cigarette smoke - even in cinemas.

Michael Druker 🇨🇦@mdruker.app

Social media loves talking about how everything is getting worse. But what’s something that you’ve seen get _better_ in your lifetime?

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Imagine if terrorists had killed 50,000 people in Europe this year. But no - it was just fossil fuel driven climate change, and I hear that the companies involved made huge profits for their shareholders and directors - not sure how much per death. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comHeat killed ‘staggering’ 50,000 people in Europe’s cities this summer, scientists warnPeople succumbed to heat at highest rates in Malta, Italy and Hungary, with health issues, loneliness and poverty exacerbating toll
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

So ..... These flaws have been know about, or suspected, for some time BUT it was only the use of AI that fully revealed their nature, and allowed bad actors using AI to try to hack them. So thank you AI??????????????????????????/

PBS News@pbsnews.org

Governments and corporations worked throughout the night to update software after the AI-assisted discovery of vulnerabilities in a programming language, PHP, vital to about 70% of websites globally. https://to.pbs.org/3WGvHnV

to.pbs.orgAI discovered a software vulnerability that could impact 70% of websites worldwide. The rush is on to patch itGovernments and corporations worked throughout the night to update software.
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

It is amazing how slowly politicians respond to the bleedin' obvious. Online shopping companies have smaller (pro-rata) employment and physical footprint costs - and use this to kill High Streets. What we do about this is a choice. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comSave high street by taxing online sales at higher rate, Burnham urgedExclusive: British Chambers of Commerce president tells PM to realign tax system away from favouring internet sellers
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Calling your company 'Axon' when you manufacture devices (weapons? torture instruments?) that disrupt the human nervous system, is like calling your company 'Retina' when you manufacture devices that blind people. (An axon is part of a nerve cell). www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

theguardian.comTied up and tortured: Israel using US-made electroshock weapons on Palestinian detaineesInvestigation suggests American company Axon still supplies Israel with Taser weapons despite evidence they have been used to torture prisoners
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Leading AI companies tell UK government to fund better bribe packages to appease local communities who think that LLM AI data centres are a complete waste of land, energy and water, an eyesore, and produce nothing useful, and lots that is harmful. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comAI firms say UK has a year to head off datacentre protests before construction is threatenedExclusive: Nvidia, Microsoft and Cisco taskforce urges ministers to offer areas greater benefits from tech infrastructure amid fears of US-style opposition
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

After the Metaverse, Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the Metaworse.

Dave Lee@davelee.me

Zuckerberg on Meta call on Muse costs: "Muse is very compute intensive to run, but we expect to improve its cost efficiency by more than 10x in the next year, which will enable it to be profitable once the revenue lines are at scale." Translation: This is costing us a bomb

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

(Fairly parochial question - turn away if you never cycle in the Wharfedale Valley area). Does anyone know if there are any plans to convert the former (now bypassed) Kex Gill Road (in the valley bottom) into a combined walking / cycling trail? #cycling #twowheelsgood @walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Alberta’s referendum turnout has been reported at 85%. Now come on Americans - you don’t want your pesky northern friends beating you in the turnout stakes!!

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Whether Christopher Harborne’s £5 million gift to Nigel Farage was for security, or as a Brexit reward, there was clearly a clause in the accompanying paperwork that placed an embargo on it being used to fund a personal stylist.

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

What if the global housing crisis, and global employment, and water, and democratic deficit, and inequality, and extinctions, and habitat loss, and pandemic, and information crises were simply parts of the big crisis - that we are exceeding planetary limitits www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comThe housing crisis is now global. It shows just how undemocratic our nations have become | Leilani FarhaWhen we can’t even afford to rent or buy somewhere to live, we have to ask: did we give the financial sector too much power?, asks the former UN special rapporteur on adequate housing, Leilani Farha
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Presumably musicians can fire a ‘cease and desist’ order at them?

Press Gazette@pressgazette.co.uk

GB News is launching GB Music Radio, a 24-hour digital station only playing artists from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on 2 November. Chief revenue officer Ross Sergeant said this "gives advertisers something genuinely new". radiotoday.co.uk/2026/10/gb-m...

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

But the important thing is that something that was never a problem will not now be a problem. Collateral damage is well worth it for this remarkable stasis in the identified risks. 😞 www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

theguardian.comNew NHS England policy for trans people could have ‘a number of adverse impacts’, report findsExclusive: rules on same-sex wards could lead to delays in care, discrimination and animosity between groups, finds internal assessment
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Tommy’s initial confidence in the cast-iron strength of his killer question only makes the subsequent patient unpicking of his baseless beliefs all the more sweet. And the audience! No one felt the need to thump him. They just allowed truth to chase him out of the room.

Abdul El-Sayed@abdulelsayed.bsky.social

This is Tommy. Tommy had a question about my allegiances. Listen to the end to hear about his.

David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

No shit Sherlock! Warm homes v new oilfields 50,000 jobs v 1100. £1 billion a year annual energy cost savings v none. 0.008% added to GDP v 0.0025% Benefit focussed on poorer households v benefit focussed on investors Future proof v scraping the barrel www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comHeat pumps and insulation would cut UK living costs more than new oilfields, study suggestsWarm homes plan would create 50,000 jobs, compared with about 1,100 for Rosebank oilfield, thinktank finds
David Robson
@davidotley.bsky.social

Hey cyclists!!! @cycling.bsky.social Send in a supporting complaint to Thames Water - Bicycle Nation's postcode SE24 9AA and its address 83 Norwood Road. Complain here as a New Problem (well they haven't done anything)... www.thameswater.co.uk/help/report-... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comStinky business: south London bike shop hit by ‘unbearable’ stench from Thames Water sewerOwner and mechanics fear for their health and future of the Herne Hill shop with no date for fixing problem