David Rainey
@davidrainey.bsky.social
Singapore 🇸🇬based Scot🏴
Singapore has just stepped up its prohibition on vapes. Previously it was possibly the most flouted law, but now it’s a big time serious offence.
Sales of nicotine withdrawal sprays have gone through the roof!
Sales of nicotine withdrawal sprays have gone through the roof!
November 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Singapore has just stepped up its prohibition on vapes. Previously it was possibly the most flouted law, but now it’s a big time serious offence.
Sales of nicotine withdrawal sprays have gone through the roof!
Sales of nicotine withdrawal sprays have gone through the roof!
Can’t believe we’re getting this advice without a paywall. Absolute steal.
November 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Can’t believe we’re getting this advice without a paywall. Absolute steal.
My Boss’s kids were at the same school as GL’s kids. At a fundraiser event, he auctioned off a pre-premiere screening at Skywalker Ranch. Bidding got out of hand, to the point the runner up table felt utterly relieved they’d been outbid. Lucas then announced he’d graciously let them both win. Ouch.
November 10, 2025 at 7:55 PM
My Boss’s kids were at the same school as GL’s kids. At a fundraiser event, he auctioned off a pre-premiere screening at Skywalker Ranch. Bidding got out of hand, to the point the runner up table felt utterly relieved they’d been outbid. Lucas then announced he’d graciously let them both win. Ouch.
Two thirds of the FAA budget comes from Passenger Taxes. Half of the FAA budget is spent on ATC. It would be left pocket/right pocket to corporatise it, with the benefit of increased investment and isolation from shut down shenanigans.
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Two thirds of the FAA budget comes from Passenger Taxes. Half of the FAA budget is spent on ATC. It would be left pocket/right pocket to corporatise it, with the benefit of increased investment and isolation from shut down shenanigans.
I mean airlines are famously not that profitable, but his take is just wrong. The reason the system is jamming up is because ATC staff are paid out of Federal funds which are caught up in the shutdown. If it was corporatised fee-for-service then it would continue.
November 9, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I mean airlines are famously not that profitable, but his take is just wrong. The reason the system is jamming up is because ATC staff are paid out of Federal funds which are caught up in the shutdown. If it was corporatised fee-for-service then it would continue.
If they need to crank up the pace, they can just get the kids to mumble silently while someone narrates what they are saying and doing, “Heidi” and “Silas” style.
November 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM
If they need to crank up the pace, they can just get the kids to mumble silently while someone narrates what they are saying and doing, “Heidi” and “Silas” style.
I’m no expert, just a snippet I remember from reading Correlli Barnett way back.
Improvements should be expected, the learning curve. The rule of thumb for bidding on contracts by Grumman, North American, Boeing etc was 15% cost reduction (labour and/or materials) for every doubling of production
Improvements should be expected, the learning curve. The rule of thumb for bidding on contracts by Grumman, North American, Boeing etc was 15% cost reduction (labour and/or materials) for every doubling of production
October 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I’m no expert, just a snippet I remember from reading Correlli Barnett way back.
Improvements should be expected, the learning curve. The rule of thumb for bidding on contracts by Grumman, North American, Boeing etc was 15% cost reduction (labour and/or materials) for every doubling of production
Improvements should be expected, the learning curve. The rule of thumb for bidding on contracts by Grumman, North American, Boeing etc was 15% cost reduction (labour and/or materials) for every doubling of production
I’m sure that was part of it too. It was also flattered by the Spitfire being a direct descendant of a low volume series of racing planes. Mass manufacturing was not a consideration, winning the Schneider Trophy was. I’m sure that also improved though.
October 30, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I’m sure that was part of it too. It was also flattered by the Spitfire being a direct descendant of a low volume series of racing planes. Mass manufacturing was not a consideration, winning the Schneider Trophy was. I’m sure that also improved though.
Apple already does this. To the point that even most of the parts from a stolen phone will be rejected when transplanted into another iPhone.
The crooks resort to harassment of the owner, threatening them with all sorts if they don’t remote unlock. That, or pretending to be Apple or their MNO.
The crooks resort to harassment of the owner, threatening them with all sorts if they don’t remote unlock. That, or pretending to be Apple or their MNO.
October 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Apple already does this. To the point that even most of the parts from a stolen phone will be rejected when transplanted into another iPhone.
The crooks resort to harassment of the owner, threatening them with all sorts if they don’t remote unlock. That, or pretending to be Apple or their MNO.
The crooks resort to harassment of the owner, threatening them with all sorts if they don’t remote unlock. That, or pretending to be Apple or their MNO.
It’s certainly a cherry picked story. They had many talented engineers, hence Paperclip. They also did mass production better than Britain at first. ISTR from “The Audit of War” that a Me109 needed less than half the man hours to build than a Spitfire.
But Radar, Jet engine, Atomic Bomb as you say
But Radar, Jet engine, Atomic Bomb as you say
October 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It’s certainly a cherry picked story. They had many talented engineers, hence Paperclip. They also did mass production better than Britain at first. ISTR from “The Audit of War” that a Me109 needed less than half the man hours to build than a Spitfire.
But Radar, Jet engine, Atomic Bomb as you say
But Radar, Jet engine, Atomic Bomb as you say
Oh man, PTSD. I ran the movie nights in our Uni Halls. I fancied a change from the usual Schwarzenegger / Spielberg fare. Hired WoD. If they had heard about recall elections they would have run one. Not my finest four hours.
October 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Oh man, PTSD. I ran the movie nights in our Uni Halls. I fancied a change from the usual Schwarzenegger / Spielberg fare. Hired WoD. If they had heard about recall elections they would have run one. Not my finest four hours.
If pacifists, during the biggest land war in Europe since 1945, want to conscientiously object, then we won't draft them.
Blocking construction of defensive weapons against a war of aggression? I daren't say what should be done with them.
Blocking construction of defensive weapons against a war of aggression? I daren't say what should be done with them.
October 28, 2025 at 7:43 AM
If pacifists, during the biggest land war in Europe since 1945, want to conscientiously object, then we won't draft them.
Blocking construction of defensive weapons against a war of aggression? I daren't say what should be done with them.
Blocking construction of defensive weapons against a war of aggression? I daren't say what should be done with them.
That is magnificent!
October 26, 2025 at 2:03 AM
That is magnificent!
A toll should cover a flat per mile component and a multiplier per weight on axle ( damage varies as the 4th power I believe?) to encourage Fiat 500s over Range Rovers. And also a congestion element to time shift flexible journeys
October 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
A toll should cover a flat per mile component and a multiplier per weight on axle ( damage varies as the 4th power I believe?) to encourage Fiat 500s over Range Rovers. And also a congestion element to time shift flexible journeys
Trains are more efficient in certain use cases, and absolutely for congested commuters, but not overall. Going to my parents from my
Old place was 4 hours driving. Train and public transport was 7-8 hours and 6 changes of line/mode.
Old place was 4 hours driving. Train and public transport was 7-8 hours and 6 changes of line/mode.
October 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Trains are more efficient in certain use cases, and absolutely for congested commuters, but not overall. Going to my parents from my
Old place was 4 hours driving. Train and public transport was 7-8 hours and 6 changes of line/mode.
Old place was 4 hours driving. Train and public transport was 7-8 hours and 6 changes of line/mode.
The government raises about £30bn a year in Fuel Duty and VED. Road construction and maintenance is under £10bn from what I can see. The problem is not “subsidies” to roads.
When FD goes away, Dynamic Tolling will need to take the strain.
When FD goes away, Dynamic Tolling will need to take the strain.
October 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The government raises about £30bn a year in Fuel Duty and VED. Road construction and maintenance is under £10bn from what I can see. The problem is not “subsidies” to roads.
When FD goes away, Dynamic Tolling will need to take the strain.
When FD goes away, Dynamic Tolling will need to take the strain.
I’ve seen some good demos of systems that do a pretty plausible video interview with an AI. It’s great for mass hiring of entry level people in retail or customer service.
But there is no way we’d deploy it for anyone more experienced.
But there is no way we’d deploy it for anyone more experienced.
October 25, 2025 at 6:40 AM
I’ve seen some good demos of systems that do a pretty plausible video interview with an AI. It’s great for mass hiring of entry level people in retail or customer service.
But there is no way we’d deploy it for anyone more experienced.
But there is no way we’d deploy it for anyone more experienced.
Not sure, Putin seems to rely much more on the plain thuggery of throwing people out of windows and poisoning them with chemical or radiological weapons.
Also, Trump can’t fail to have noticed that his coterie of sycophants will deny and defend anything stupid or embarrassing.
Also, Trump can’t fail to have noticed that his coterie of sycophants will deny and defend anything stupid or embarrassing.
October 22, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Not sure, Putin seems to rely much more on the plain thuggery of throwing people out of windows and poisoning them with chemical or radiological weapons.
Also, Trump can’t fail to have noticed that his coterie of sycophants will deny and defend anything stupid or embarrassing.
Also, Trump can’t fail to have noticed that his coterie of sycophants will deny and defend anything stupid or embarrassing.
I think so many go to conspiracy/ kompromat because almost nobody else sees Putin as admirable. A plain gangster.
October 22, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I think so many go to conspiracy/ kompromat because almost nobody else sees Putin as admirable. A plain gangster.
Sometimes, but sometimes the fault of Engineering not being able to articulate the need and value of the resilience. Gold plating is also an ill, and its finances job to challenge costs that don’t make sense.
Saving thousands of £ per day for a minuscule increase in risk looks great until 💩hits🪭
Saving thousands of £ per day for a minuscule increase in risk looks great until 💩hits🪭
October 20, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Sometimes, but sometimes the fault of Engineering not being able to articulate the need and value of the resilience. Gold plating is also an ill, and its finances job to challenge costs that don’t make sense.
Saving thousands of £ per day for a minuscule increase in risk looks great until 💩hits🪭
Saving thousands of £ per day for a minuscule increase in risk looks great until 💩hits🪭
Smart Customers demanded to see the street level duct maps from exchange / node to site.
October 20, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Smart Customers demanded to see the street level duct maps from exchange / node to site.
A classic “smart customer” move was to buy a primary circuit from one provider, and noticing a guaranteed diverse secondary circuit was more expensive, they’d buy from a competitor provider to save £pennies.
Imagine their surprise when the competition was just reselling our primary circuit.
Imagine their surprise when the competition was just reselling our primary circuit.
October 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
A classic “smart customer” move was to buy a primary circuit from one provider, and noticing a guaranteed diverse secondary circuit was more expensive, they’d buy from a competitor provider to save £pennies.
Imagine their surprise when the competition was just reselling our primary circuit.
Imagine their surprise when the competition was just reselling our primary circuit.
I’d place a sum of money of this being “a choice”. A lot of customers see The Cloud as inherently resilient and don’t want to shell out for multiple Availability Zones or Regions.
Let’s see the major AWS customers who weren’t affected.
Let’s see the major AWS customers who weren’t affected.
October 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
I’d place a sum of money of this being “a choice”. A lot of customers see The Cloud as inherently resilient and don’t want to shell out for multiple Availability Zones or Regions.
Let’s see the major AWS customers who weren’t affected.
Let’s see the major AWS customers who weren’t affected.