Dan Thornton
@danthornton.net
Self-employed writer, marketer and SEO for 20+ years, avid sim racer. Interests: sci-fi, motorcycling, classic cars, film, freelancing, tech, music and playing guitar. Co-founder: Digital People in Peterborough / Peterborough STEM Festival
Between MTD, IR35, NIC contributions and now an increase in dividend tax, it definitely feels like being a solo director makes less and less sense every year...
It's a way to offset the loss of holiday and sick pay, the increased risks etc. And already subject to corporation tax.
It's a way to offset the loss of holiday and sick pay, the increased risks etc. And already subject to corporation tax.
November 26, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Between MTD, IR35, NIC contributions and now an increase in dividend tax, it definitely feels like being a solo director makes less and less sense every year...
It's a way to offset the loss of holiday and sick pay, the increased risks etc. And already subject to corporation tax.
It's a way to offset the loss of holiday and sick pay, the increased risks etc. And already subject to corporation tax.
Looking at the budget headline points, it seems that if you run an existing small business you'll pay more tax, but if you're taking a gamble on something with big investors, you'll get some help.
Cool.
Cool.
November 26, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Looking at the budget headline points, it seems that if you run an existing small business you'll pay more tax, but if you're taking a gamble on something with big investors, you'll get some help.
Cool.
Cool.
Well, that's a handy reminder to always double and triple-check publication dates and times when you're uploading something to a website...
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Well, that's a handy reminder to always double and triple-check publication dates and times when you're uploading something to a website...
😢
'The Harder They Come' and 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' have been on a playlist I've kept saved for years, and play any time I need to feel happier or more motivated.
And they take me back to childhood, and my dad pulling out classic vinyl to share with me
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'The Harder They Come' and 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' have been on a playlist I've kept saved for years, and play any time I need to feel happier or more motivated.
And they take me back to childhood, and my dad pulling out classic vinyl to share with me
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff dies, aged 81
The musician was known for hits like You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
😢
'The Harder They Come' and 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' have been on a playlist I've kept saved for years, and play any time I need to feel happier or more motivated.
And they take me back to childhood, and my dad pulling out classic vinyl to share with me
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'The Harder They Come' and 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' have been on a playlist I've kept saved for years, and play any time I need to feel happier or more motivated.
And they take me back to childhood, and my dad pulling out classic vinyl to share with me
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Still working on my photography, and discovering more local residents...
November 21, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Still working on my photography, and discovering more local residents...
Is it weird to want to model my home office on the interior of a nuclear bunker decomissioned in 1992?
November 18, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Is it weird to want to model my home office on the interior of a nuclear bunker decomissioned in 1992?
It's not surprising there are so many right wing voices online considering how much time and effort it takes to stop adutomated ad systems from trying to fund them - even for totally irrelevant topics.
November 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
It's not surprising there are so many right wing voices online considering how much time and effort it takes to stop adutomated ad systems from trying to fund them - even for totally irrelevant topics.
Doing the difficult thing first is always a little painful when you sit down to work...
But it's rarely as bad as anticipated, and always feels better when it's done. Yet for some reason my brain seems to forget it every few days until I give myself a kick...
But it's rarely as bad as anticipated, and always feels better when it's done. Yet for some reason my brain seems to forget it every few days until I give myself a kick...
November 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Doing the difficult thing first is always a little painful when you sit down to work...
But it's rarely as bad as anticipated, and always feels better when it's done. Yet for some reason my brain seems to forget it every few days until I give myself a kick...
But it's rarely as bad as anticipated, and always feels better when it's done. Yet for some reason my brain seems to forget it every few days until I give myself a kick...
Aside from the fact modern sims look absolutely amazing - I'm really enjoying Assetto Corsa Rally so far...
The car choice and the stages feel great, even if I suck at rally driving...
The car choice and the stages feel great, even if I suck at rally driving...
Just a month after it was announced with a surprise reveal, Assetto Corsa Rally is now available via Steam Early Access with 4 laser-scanned stages, 10 iconic rally cars, dynamic conditions and a 20% discount on the launch price...
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/11/13/a...
#AssettoCorsaRally #ORD
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/11/13/a...
#AssettoCorsaRally #ORD
November 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Aside from the fact modern sims look absolutely amazing - I'm really enjoying Assetto Corsa Rally so far...
The car choice and the stages feel great, even if I suck at rally driving...
The car choice and the stages feel great, even if I suck at rally driving...
I'm generally more of a night owl, but learning photography is making me think I need to get up earlier and take some walks as the sun is coming up...
It's also made me realise the local wildlife can recognise cameras and only come out to pose when mine is at home...
It's also made me realise the local wildlife can recognise cameras and only come out to pose when mine is at home...
November 12, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I'm generally more of a night owl, but learning photography is making me think I need to get up earlier and take some walks as the sun is coming up...
It's also made me realise the local wildlife can recognise cameras and only come out to pose when mine is at home...
It's also made me realise the local wildlife can recognise cameras and only come out to pose when mine is at home...
I'm not sure it's where most people would choose to take a trip for their birthday, but it was perfect for me...
November 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I'm not sure it's where most people would choose to take a trip for their birthday, but it was perfect for me...
For my sim racing friends, or anyone thinking about it - iRacing is still the main sim for competitive online racing at any time of the day, and you can save up to 50% off a subscription during the Black Friday sale...
If you've never tried a modern racing sim, there's really nothing else like it
If you've never tried a modern racing sim, there's really nothing else like it
Save 50% on new iRacing accounts, and 25% on extending current subscriptions or reactivating an account with the 2025 Black Friday discount codes now available
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/11/07/t...
#iRacing #SimRacing #RacingGames #BlackFriday #ORD
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/11/07/t...
#iRacing #SimRacing #RacingGames #BlackFriday #ORD
November 7, 2025 at 5:04 PM
For my sim racing friends, or anyone thinking about it - iRacing is still the main sim for competitive online racing at any time of the day, and you can save up to 50% off a subscription during the Black Friday sale...
If you've never tried a modern racing sim, there's really nothing else like it
If you've never tried a modern racing sim, there's really nothing else like it
Even if you're not actively using AI, it's increasingly impacting schools, libraries, etc. And that's an issue when the creators and owners of AI services are private companies, largely unregulated, and easily used to promote one particular point of view...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Even if you're not actively using AI, it's increasingly impacting schools, libraries, etc. And that's an issue when the creators and owners of AI services are private companies, largely unregulated, and easily used to promote one particular point of view...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
So surprising...
#Reform UK suspends another member of Kent county council - www.theguardian.com/politics/202... “This council has been made a laughing stock with more clowns on display since I saw Bill Smart’s last circus”
Reform UK suspends another member of Kent county council
Isabella Kemp’s departure means party has lost nine of 57 councillors elected in May, including four after video leak
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
So surprising...
On the one hand I feel responsible having a calendar notification to remind me to put the bins out.
On the other, I feel like an idiot for scheduling it in the evening when it's gone dark...
On the other, I feel like an idiot for scheduling it in the evening when it's gone dark...
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
On the one hand I feel responsible having a calendar notification to remind me to put the bins out.
On the other, I feel like an idiot for scheduling it in the evening when it's gone dark...
On the other, I feel like an idiot for scheduling it in the evening when it's gone dark...
I appear to have subconsciously scheduled every life admin task possible over the last 15+ years to all be due in the next 4-6 weeks.
So that's nice...
So that's nice...
November 5, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I appear to have subconsciously scheduled every life admin task possible over the last 15+ years to all be due in the next 4-6 weeks.
So that's nice...
So that's nice...
Reposted by Dan Thornton
I've had to pause all the scheduled posts for now, because SocialChamp keeps breaking all the links. Sorry about that.
Meanwhile, to the women in STEM following us, if we were to totally rethink Ada Lovelace Day and how we support you, what services would you most like to see us provide? 1/2
Meanwhile, to the women in STEM following us, if we were to totally rethink Ada Lovelace Day and how we support you, what services would you most like to see us provide? 1/2
November 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I've had to pause all the scheduled posts for now, because SocialChamp keeps breaking all the links. Sorry about that.
Meanwhile, to the women in STEM following us, if we were to totally rethink Ada Lovelace Day and how we support you, what services would you most like to see us provide? 1/2
Meanwhile, to the women in STEM following us, if we were to totally rethink Ada Lovelace Day and how we support you, what services would you most like to see us provide? 1/2
Well that's my weekend sorted...
Especially after getting my first win last night in a really competitive league (which has featured various BTCC drivers etc at times)
Especially after getting my first win last night in a really competitive league (which has featured various BTCC drivers etc at times)
The 2025 iRacing FF1600 Festival takes place this weekend with five sessions across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Taking place at Brands Hatch Indy just a week after the real world event, the heat format offers something a bit different...
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/10/30/t...
#iRacing #SimRacing
Taking place at Brands Hatch Indy just a week after the real world event, the heat format offers something a bit different...
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/10/30/t...
#iRacing #SimRacing
October 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Well that's my weekend sorted...
Especially after getting my first win last night in a really competitive league (which has featured various BTCC drivers etc at times)
Especially after getting my first win last night in a really competitive league (which has featured various BTCC drivers etc at times)
Reposted by Dan Thornton
Google's applied for planning permission to build a data centre down the road from where I was born in Essex — on land with Local Wildlife Status.
It's estimated that it'll put out 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Petition link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
It's estimated that it'll put out 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Petition link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Save Arena Essex- Tell Google to search elsewhere!
Wedged between the Mar Dyke Valley and Lakeside Retail Park, the former Arena Essex Raceway is not your usual wildlife haven. Where once stock cars and speedway bikes lined up to cross the fini...
you.38degrees.org.uk
October 29, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Google's applied for planning permission to build a data centre down the road from where I was born in Essex — on land with Local Wildlife Status.
It's estimated that it'll put out 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Petition link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
It's estimated that it'll put out 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Petition link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Trying to shift my time more to things that help my mental and physical wellbeing - getting enough sleep, walking outside, tai chi, learning photography, reading good books in print, and being more conscious about limiting time sinks like doomscrolling and binging Youtube videos etc...
October 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Trying to shift my time more to things that help my mental and physical wellbeing - getting enough sleep, walking outside, tai chi, learning photography, reading good books in print, and being more conscious about limiting time sinks like doomscrolling and binging Youtube videos etc...
Sure, you can prompt AI to generate an image from your desk, but I'm loving having a DLSR camera and learning how to take decent photographs - and how it benefits me in ways that gen AI never will...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
October 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Sure, you can prompt AI to generate an image from your desk, but I'm loving having a DLSR camera and learning how to take decent photographs - and how it benefits me in ways that gen AI never will...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
I've recently started logging my music collection on Discogs, with the rule that I have to listen to each single, EP and album before I can add them...
It's amazing how many CDs I either didn't know I had, or hadn't listened to in years.
It's amazing how many CDs I either didn't know I had, or hadn't listened to in years.
October 23, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I've recently started logging my music collection on Discogs, with the rule that I have to listen to each single, EP and album before I can add them...
It's amazing how many CDs I either didn't know I had, or hadn't listened to in years.
It's amazing how many CDs I either didn't know I had, or hadn't listened to in years.
Starting the week exhausted but incredibly inspired after an amazing Peterborough STEM Festival...
So many great moments - seeing kids engaged, excited and happy to spend a Saturday doing STEM stuff, chatting with all the exhibitors and volunteers, getting positive feedback from parents etc...
So many great moments - seeing kids engaged, excited and happy to spend a Saturday doing STEM stuff, chatting with all the exhibitors and volunteers, getting positive feedback from parents etc...
October 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Starting the week exhausted but incredibly inspired after an amazing Peterborough STEM Festival...
So many great moments - seeing kids engaged, excited and happy to spend a Saturday doing STEM stuff, chatting with all the exhibitors and volunteers, getting positive feedback from parents etc...
So many great moments - seeing kids engaged, excited and happy to spend a Saturday doing STEM stuff, chatting with all the exhibitors and volunteers, getting positive feedback from parents etc...