Mike Carrington
@mikecarrington.bsky.social
Figuring out how this one works
Reposted by Mike Carrington
"It has been an exercise in what economists call "comparative advantage" & "agglomeration"...Manchester has young people, workers, space & lots of globally important cultural assets, from music to football & cycling. Above all, it has long had Europe's biggest university campus"
Could Manchester be a model for the UK to kickstart growth?
With an annual growth rate of 3.1%, Manchester's economy has performed twice as well as that of the UK as a whole.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 4:09 PM
"It has been an exercise in what economists call "comparative advantage" & "agglomeration"...Manchester has young people, workers, space & lots of globally important cultural assets, from music to football & cycling. Above all, it has long had Europe's biggest university campus"
Reposted by Mike Carrington
I've had enough AI "woo-woo." If this technology is going to be meaningful and useful we can't surround those discussions with a fog of mysticism. biblioracle.substack.com/p/can-we-ple...
Can We Please Stop it with the AI Woo-Woo?
If we're going to deal with this technology we have to cut through the fake mystery.
biblioracle.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I've had enough AI "woo-woo." If this technology is going to be meaningful and useful we can't surround those discussions with a fog of mysticism. biblioracle.substack.com/p/can-we-ple...
Reposted by Mike Carrington
People had speculated on what went into ‘books2’ for years. Now we know; pirated books powered the hugely successful launch of ChatGPT.
IMO this should be mentioned every time ChatGPT is discussed.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
/end
IMO this should be mentioned every time ChatGPT is discussed.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
/end
Memorandum & Opinion – #846 in In Re: OpenAI, Inc. Copyright Infringement Litigation (S.D.N.Y., 1:25-md-03143) – CourtListener.com
OPINION & ORDER RE: OPENAI'S DELETION OF BOOKS1 AND BOOKS2 DATASETS AND PRIVILEGE RULINGS (ECF NOS. 413, 428, 479, 481, 504, 505, 615, 616) re: (226 in 1:24-cv-00084-SHS-OTW, 413 in 1:25-md-03143-SHS-...
storage.courtlistener.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:22 AM
People had speculated on what went into ‘books2’ for years. Now we know; pirated books powered the hugely successful launch of ChatGPT.
IMO this should be mentioned every time ChatGPT is discussed.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
/end
IMO this should be mentioned every time ChatGPT is discussed.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
/end
Reposted by Mike Carrington
Imagine being so "patriotic" that you protest the Royal National Lifeboat Institute for saving lives.
Racist morons fuelled by hate.
Racist morons fuelled by hate.
February 15, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Imagine being so "patriotic" that you protest the Royal National Lifeboat Institute for saving lives.
Racist morons fuelled by hate.
Racist morons fuelled by hate.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
Rod Liddle not only said he couldn't have become a teacher because he "could not remotely conceive of not trying to shag the kids", but he also wrote laws banning child pornography are "absurd". Someone whose opinions ought not receive either an airing or people's eyeballs. Why is he published?
February 15, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Rod Liddle not only said he couldn't have become a teacher because he "could not remotely conceive of not trying to shag the kids", but he also wrote laws banning child pornography are "absurd". Someone whose opinions ought not receive either an airing or people's eyeballs. Why is he published?
Reposted by Mike Carrington
In 2005 Rod Liddle was arrested and accepted a caution for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. He continues to have a career in journalism because the British press is fine with violent misogynists.
Reminder that Rob Liddle said he couldn't be a teacher because he would try to rape the kids
![We are almost back to sanity in schools, thanks to JK, Maya and the Darlo nurses
Rod Liddle
At the height of the madness, from which I think we are now in merciful and terminal retreat, a Scottish schoolboy announced that he identified as a wolf and was apparently indulged in this fantasy by his teachers. There was a confusion here — a kind of ideologyversus-reality disconnect, as so often happens with lifestyle-left intersectional idiocies.
If the teachers had truly believed the child was a wolf he would have been separated from the rest of the pupils by extremely robust metal fencing and thrown chunks of raw bison every few hours. Of course the school did not do that, meaning that in truth, and contrary to the approved narrative, it did not really think he was a wolf.
At the same time reports surfaced of other British schools where kids were identifying as a multitude of creatures, real and imagined, such as cats, horses, dinosaurs and dragons. One assumes that in each case the schools responded similarly, by pretending to respect these expressions of the fictional condition “species dysphoria” but in reality not believing it for a minute. [Times]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cyefpiziml7b24sxpd74axq7/bafkreigglphoukvf3nzz3cy7wvc6tigvtyllp2jv4b5viqr6llbqzfpzuy@jpeg)
February 15, 2026 at 8:47 AM
In 2005 Rod Liddle was arrested and accepted a caution for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. He continues to have a career in journalism because the British press is fine with violent misogynists.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
It doesn’t really matter *why* Trump’s desire to destabilise & divide Europe precisely mirrors Vladimir Putin’s - whether kompromat, self-interest, naked bigotry or something else l. What matters is that Europe treats both regimes like the enemies of progress & democracy they so clearly are.
February 14, 2026 at 11:10 AM
It doesn’t really matter *why* Trump’s desire to destabilise & divide Europe precisely mirrors Vladimir Putin’s - whether kompromat, self-interest, naked bigotry or something else l. What matters is that Europe treats both regimes like the enemies of progress & democracy they so clearly are.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
He clumsily read his speech from the page without hardly looking up and told everyone in the room to follow the US's lead or suck it. He accused Europe of managed decline by not being racist enough, and if it doesn't fall in line then America won't be there for it. Not sure how reassuring that is.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a calm and reassuring message to America's allies in Munich, after more than a year of President Donald Trump's often-hostile rhetoric toward allies. n.pr/4qHYOAJ
Rubio reassures trans-Atlantic ties with Europe at Munich Security Conference
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a calm and reassuring message to America's allies in Munich, after more than a year of President Donald Trump's often-hostile rhetoric toward allies.
n.pr
February 14, 2026 at 11:14 AM
He clumsily read his speech from the page without hardly looking up and told everyone in the room to follow the US's lead or suck it. He accused Europe of managed decline by not being racist enough, and if it doesn't fall in line then America won't be there for it. Not sure how reassuring that is.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
This story keeps getting bigger.
🔴 SCOOP: Wife of Starmer’s comms chief had direct knowledge of Labour Together’s investigation into journalists, documents seen by D4S show
Revelation heaps more pressure on minister Josh Simons to explain why he paid a PR firm to dig dirt on reporters
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Revelation heaps more pressure on minister Josh Simons to explain why he paid a PR firm to dig dirt on reporters
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Starmer ally Josh Simons faces fresh questions about digging dirt on journalists
Tory and SNP chiefs call for Labour minister Simons to ‘come clean’ as we reveal new details of PR firm’s campaign to discredit journalists
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 11:11 AM
This story keeps getting bigger.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
When will policymakers recognise that the digital information environment is impacting views of London in a way that can hit investment and tourism? This is one clip from several vignettes outlined in @jim.londoncentric.media’s latest newsletter
www.londoncentric.media/p/london-cri...
www.londoncentric.media/p/london-cri...
February 14, 2026 at 10:55 AM
When will policymakers recognise that the digital information environment is impacting views of London in a way that can hit investment and tourism? This is one clip from several vignettes outlined in @jim.londoncentric.media’s latest newsletter
www.londoncentric.media/p/london-cri...
www.londoncentric.media/p/london-cri...
Reposted by Mike Carrington
Reposted by Mike Carrington
I regularly post updates on this story because it's an atrocity on an incomprehensible scale but people don't really talk about it
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
USAID cuts may cause over 14 million additional deaths by 2030, study says
Deep funding cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development and its potential dismantling could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The ...
www.reuters.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I regularly post updates on this story because it's an atrocity on an incomprehensible scale but people don't really talk about it
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Reposted by Mike Carrington
this is comically evil. brazenly anti-social. just absolute black-pilled nihilism. we will not have a republic, we will not be free, until we regulate these companies to the point where — at a bare minimum — they're too afraid to put stuff like this down on paper.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
February 13, 2026 at 2:54 PM
this is comically evil. brazenly anti-social. just absolute black-pilled nihilism. we will not have a republic, we will not be free, until we regulate these companies to the point where — at a bare minimum — they're too afraid to put stuff like this down on paper.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Reposted by Mike Carrington
In 2008, he named Powell as his political hero, saying he agreed with the “basic principle” of the "Rivers of Blood" speech. “While his language may seem out of date now, the principles remain good and true,” Farage said.
February 13, 2026 at 5:08 PM
In 2008, he named Powell as his political hero, saying he agreed with the “basic principle” of the "Rivers of Blood" speech. “While his language may seem out of date now, the principles remain good and true,” Farage said.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
The Today programme this morning interviewed Diana Furchgott-Roth, a senior staff member at the Heritage Foundation, about Trump's climate policies, during which she came out with the zinger: “a lot of people like it a bit warmer.”
How is it in the public interest to platform anti-science tripe?
How is it in the public interest to platform anti-science tripe?
February 13, 2026 at 9:20 AM
The Today programme this morning interviewed Diana Furchgott-Roth, a senior staff member at the Heritage Foundation, about Trump's climate policies, during which she came out with the zinger: “a lot of people like it a bit warmer.”
How is it in the public interest to platform anti-science tripe?
How is it in the public interest to platform anti-science tripe?
Reposted by Mike Carrington
Nigel Farage claims "Look at net migration numbers. Oh, it isn't good that net migration is coming down".
"Do you know why? Its because there is an exodus: those of a situation + a financial position to be fortunate to have a choice"
A v misleading exaggeration/narrative of falling net migration
"Do you know why? Its because there is an exodus: those of a situation + a financial position to be fortunate to have a choice"
A v misleading exaggeration/narrative of falling net migration
February 13, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Nigel Farage claims "Look at net migration numbers. Oh, it isn't good that net migration is coming down".
"Do you know why? Its because there is an exodus: those of a situation + a financial position to be fortunate to have a choice"
A v misleading exaggeration/narrative of falling net migration
"Do you know why? Its because there is an exodus: those of a situation + a financial position to be fortunate to have a choice"
A v misleading exaggeration/narrative of falling net migration
Reposted by Mike Carrington
If you’re preparing to interview a known liar, the very least you could do is swot up on the very stuff he is most likely to tell lies about.
Nigel Farage claims "Look at net migration numbers. Oh, it isn't good that net migration is coming down".
"Do you know why? Its because there is an exodus: those of a situation + a financial position to be fortunate to have a choice"
A v misleading exaggeration/narrative of falling net migration
"Do you know why? Its because there is an exodus: those of a situation + a financial position to be fortunate to have a choice"
A v misleading exaggeration/narrative of falling net migration
February 13, 2026 at 4:20 PM
If you’re preparing to interview a known liar, the very least you could do is swot up on the very stuff he is most likely to tell lies about.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Reposted by Mike Carrington
Meta are never afraid to say the quiet bit out loud, but also, um WTAF?
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Meta are never afraid to say the quiet bit out loud, but also, um WTAF?
Reposted by Mike Carrington
This is really what I want people to appreciate. I get that it feels good to be like "well that person's a pedophile too!" But in many cases they weren't. They were just people who didn't think it was a big deal. That's terrible in its own particular way.
I'm worried that the broader public isn't really understanding the Epstein Files. The problem isn't that everyone in the files is a secret pedophile, it's that all the people are corresponding with him because they *don't care that he's a pedophile*. It's a story of elite impunity.
You can look at the Epstein files and conclude that only bad people have billions of dollars, but I think it’s also possible that having billions of dollars cauterizes your humanity
February 3, 2026 at 7:38 PM
This is really what I want people to appreciate. I get that it feels good to be like "well that person's a pedophile too!" But in many cases they weren't. They were just people who didn't think it was a big deal. That's terrible in its own particular way.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
The Trump administration is literally going to kill its supporters, and still they cheer the circus.
February 13, 2026 at 7:31 AM
The Trump administration is literally going to kill its supporters, and still they cheer the circus.
Reposted by Mike Carrington
EXCL: Police are assessing new claims unearthed by ITV News tonight that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was setting up a business with convicted paedophile Epstein while STILL a Trade Envoy.
It appears the plan was to discreetly use his "aura and access".
www.itv.com/news/2026-02...
It appears the plan was to discreetly use his "aura and access".
www.itv.com/news/2026-02...
www.itv.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:10 PM
EXCL: Police are assessing new claims unearthed by ITV News tonight that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was setting up a business with convicted paedophile Epstein while STILL a Trade Envoy.
It appears the plan was to discreetly use his "aura and access".
www.itv.com/news/2026-02...
It appears the plan was to discreetly use his "aura and access".
www.itv.com/news/2026-02...
Reposted by Mike Carrington
Reposted by Mike Carrington
"Powering hastily constructed data centers with standalone gas turbines is a short term solution to a demand crunch … The longer term question, however, is whether any of this makes sense by any metric other than the industry’s mad rush to build capacity at breakneck speed."
Why the AI industry can’t resist dirty on-site gas turbines
Expect others to follow in Elon Musk’s footsteps — there’s a logic to on-site gas power that the industry is unlikely to reject
www.transformernews.ai
February 12, 2026 at 4:37 PM
"Powering hastily constructed data centers with standalone gas turbines is a short term solution to a demand crunch … The longer term question, however, is whether any of this makes sense by any metric other than the industry’s mad rush to build capacity at breakneck speed."
Reposted by Mike Carrington
Top tip: if you ever hear anyone talking about the "need to defend Western values," rest assured that they hold views functionally indistinguishable from the Taliban.
February 12, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Top tip: if you ever hear anyone talking about the "need to defend Western values," rest assured that they hold views functionally indistinguishable from the Taliban.