Alistair
@perivale.bsky.social
Ex-astronomer, now cybersecurity consultant, millennial Londoner back in London. “The horrors persist but so do I” - someone in 2023 apparently
Reposted by Alistair
With this there would have been no Mo Farah. No Freddie Mercury. No Lenny Henry. No George Michael. No Meera Syal. No Sadiq Khan. No Sajid Javid. No Salman Rushdie. No Hanif Kureishi.
December 9, 2025 at 12:12 PM
With this there would have been no Mo Farah. No Freddie Mercury. No Lenny Henry. No George Michael. No Meera Syal. No Sadiq Khan. No Sajid Javid. No Salman Rushdie. No Hanif Kureishi.
This has been frustrating me with googlemaps for a while - it’ll suppress even perfect matches nearby for totally opaque reasons. Love this project (although it is missing my 2 favourite coffee shops in Brixton!)
I wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...
How Google Maps quietly allocates survival across London’s restaurants - and how I built a dashboard to see through it
I wanted a dinner recommendation and got a research agenda instead. Using 13000+ restaurants, I rebuild its ratings with machine learning and map how algorithmic visibility actually distributes power.
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This has been frustrating me with googlemaps for a while - it’ll suppress even perfect matches nearby for totally opaque reasons. Love this project (although it is missing my 2 favourite coffee shops in Brixton!)
Reposted by Alistair
Going to be fun watching them try to figure out a way to say "oh we didn't mean dual citizenship with a white country" without sounding like massive racists.
The Conservative party’s policy also includes stripping people of their British citizenship when they are found guilty of a crime ⬇️
All criminals with dual nationality must be deported, say Tories
The Conservative party’s policy also includes stripping people of their British citizenship when they are found guilty of a crime
www.thetimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Going to be fun watching them try to figure out a way to say "oh we didn't mean dual citizenship with a white country" without sounding like massive racists.
I don’t know whether it all comes crashing down but it is patently obvious that what the AI firms have been selling “AI that replaces almost the entire workforce” doesn’t exist and that the approach they’re currently taking (thankfully) won’t lead to it
Silicon Valley has placed a trillion-dollar bet that gen AI can transform the global economy and pave the way for AGI. But warning signs show the marketing hype has vastly overrated what current AI tech can achieve, creating a bubble with growing costs when it pops, writes @jeremyhsu.bsky.social.
When it all comes crashing down: The aftermath of the AI boom
AI has buoyed the stock market and a struggling US economy but warning signs indicate a bubble that everyone will pay for when it bursts.
thebulletin.org
December 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I don’t know whether it all comes crashing down but it is patently obvious that what the AI firms have been selling “AI that replaces almost the entire workforce” doesn’t exist and that the approach they’re currently taking (thankfully) won’t lead to it
Reposted by Alistair
"back in my day i paid a single time for a piece of software that actually did the thing it said"
you are just a luddite afraid of RELENTLESS innovation
you are just a luddite afraid of RELENTLESS innovation
December 8, 2025 at 5:10 PM
"back in my day i paid a single time for a piece of software that actually did the thing it said"
you are just a luddite afraid of RELENTLESS innovation
you are just a luddite afraid of RELENTLESS innovation
Reposted by Alistair
this is a good excuse to post my all time favorite Star Trek meme
December 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
this is a good excuse to post my all time favorite Star Trek meme
Going full “performative male” and reading in a coffee shop - reading Warhammer 40’000 Archmagos by Guy Haley, 100% sure women dig the adeptus mechanicus
December 7, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Going full “performative male” and reading in a coffee shop - reading Warhammer 40’000 Archmagos by Guy Haley, 100% sure women dig the adeptus mechanicus
Ok, in more festive and positive news - I went to see “The Lost Library of Leake Street” at the Glitch yesterday and highly recommend it. The venue is lovely, Christmassy and intimate and the play itself was beautiful. Do go see it if you get a chance! www.theglitch.london/the-lost-lib...
The Lost Library of Leake Street — The Glitch
www.theglitch.london
December 7, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Ok, in more festive and positive news - I went to see “The Lost Library of Leake Street” at the Glitch yesterday and highly recommend it. The venue is lovely, Christmassy and intimate and the play itself was beautiful. Do go see it if you get a chance! www.theglitch.london/the-lost-lib...
Reposted by Alistair
“We’re cracking down on family reunion”.
Can they even hear themselves?
Have they tried saying it this stuff out loud?
Did they not go “Jesus Christ, I sound like a fucking comic book villain.”
Can they even hear themselves?
Have they tried saying it this stuff out loud?
Did they not go “Jesus Christ, I sound like a fucking comic book villain.”
The Government says these reforms are “for councils”, but councils themselves are warning they will cause real harm.
Southwark Council’s leader has said the Government’s new asylum plans are “deeply concerning” — increasing homelessness, traumatising children, and separating families.
Southwark Council’s leader has said the Government’s new asylum plans are “deeply concerning” — increasing homelessness, traumatising children, and separating families.
December 7, 2025 at 10:31 AM
“We’re cracking down on family reunion”.
Can they even hear themselves?
Have they tried saying it this stuff out loud?
Did they not go “Jesus Christ, I sound like a fucking comic book villain.”
Can they even hear themselves?
Have they tried saying it this stuff out loud?
Did they not go “Jesus Christ, I sound like a fucking comic book villain.”
Reposted by Alistair
Good point from @labourlewis.bsky.social
December 7, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Good point from @labourlewis.bsky.social
Reposted by Alistair
I’m so sick of hearing about how LLMs are correct “more often than humans.” This is a highly qualified claim, and to the extent it is true, it’s wisdom of crowds—-most things on the internet are true, so LLMs mostly give you the average of true things. (This breaks down in under-sampled regions)
December 6, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I’m so sick of hearing about how LLMs are correct “more often than humans.” This is a highly qualified claim, and to the extent it is true, it’s wisdom of crowds—-most things on the internet are true, so LLMs mostly give you the average of true things. (This breaks down in under-sampled regions)
Reposted by Alistair
This is literally neo-Nazi talking points that I've been tracking for years.
This is what white nationalists have been promoting & is the thesis of mass shooters and terrorists such as Anders Breivik.
Now? GOP talking points.
Are they doing politics "the right way?"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This is what white nationalists have been promoting & is the thesis of mass shooters and terrorists such as Anders Breivik.
Now? GOP talking points.
Are they doing politics "the right way?"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump administration says Europe faces 'civilisational erasure'
European politicians have begun to react, with Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul saying his country did not need "outside advice".
www.bbc.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This is literally neo-Nazi talking points that I've been tracking for years.
This is what white nationalists have been promoting & is the thesis of mass shooters and terrorists such as Anders Breivik.
Now? GOP talking points.
Are they doing politics "the right way?"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This is what white nationalists have been promoting & is the thesis of mass shooters and terrorists such as Anders Breivik.
Now? GOP talking points.
Are they doing politics "the right way?"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Alistair
There is much to say on this, but the very first point that must be made as a matter of urgency to the NEC is that excluding trans women is not a "compromise position", it is a segregation position, a biased position, a transphobic position and a morally repugnant position.
EXCLUSIVE: Labour's NEC finds compromise position that enables women's conference to return in 2026. And Labour will campaign on NHS, Families and Pride in Place in May.
EXCLUSIVE: Labour women’s conference plan and locals campaign priorities revealed – LabourList
The Labour party women’s conference will be revived next year with only biological women allowed to vote, but a fringe programme and reception will be…
labourlist.org
December 5, 2025 at 5:54 PM
There is much to say on this, but the very first point that must be made as a matter of urgency to the NEC is that excluding trans women is not a "compromise position", it is a segregation position, a biased position, a transphobic position and a morally repugnant position.
It’s just pathetic isn’t it?
December 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
It’s just pathetic isn’t it?
Reposted by Alistair
The Trump National Security Strategy is bonkers in many ways but this objective stood out:
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The Trump National Security Strategy is bonkers in many ways but this objective stood out:
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
Reposted by Alistair
Fascinated to know what those who got very upset about a few Labour activists having a working jolly on the Harris campaign because "foreign interference" think about the American government saying its aim is to promote fascism in Europe.
December 5, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Fascinated to know what those who got very upset about a few Labour activists having a working jolly on the Harris campaign because "foreign interference" think about the American government saying its aim is to promote fascism in Europe.
Reposted by Alistair
I hate that everything is becoming content, including people.
December 4, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I hate that everything is becoming content, including people.
Reading “Failure is not an Option” and, around the very cool details regarding Mission Control, there are small hints of how office work was done in the late ‘60s and ‘70s. Really brings home how much we’ve removed the “human factor” in offices in the name of efficiency
December 4, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reading “Failure is not an Option” and, around the very cool details regarding Mission Control, there are small hints of how office work was done in the late ‘60s and ‘70s. Really brings home how much we’ve removed the “human factor” in offices in the name of efficiency
Reposted by Alistair
I need the most “Labour’s strategy and its obvious consequences” poll finding you have, and make it snappy!
Labour's perceived stance on Israel divides voters, with Green, Labour and Lib Dem voters tending to see the party as pro-Israel, while Conservative and Reform UK voters see them as anti-Israel
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
December 4, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I need the most “Labour’s strategy and its obvious consequences” poll finding you have, and make it snappy!
Less than space though Palmer. Checkmate
December 4, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Less than space though Palmer. Checkmate
Reposted by Alistair
My despair in 2020 that the only way to make money was to make up a new kind of money is only exceeded by my despair today that a thousand new kinds of fraud have filled the gaps. And you can gamble on the fraud.
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
My despair in 2020 that the only way to make money was to make up a new kind of money is only exceeded by my despair today that a thousand new kinds of fraud have filled the gaps. And you can gamble on the fraud.
Reposted by Alistair
1) What the actual fuck how did this just get normalised in the space of three years…. Oh yeah everyone just hanging out on Twitter like boiling frogs
2) not broadcast, as they aren’t quite ready to push Ofcom on this. This is the “good stuff” for unregulated YouTube.
2) not broadcast, as they aren’t quite ready to push Ofcom on this. This is the “good stuff” for unregulated YouTube.
December 3, 2025 at 7:13 PM
1) What the actual fuck how did this just get normalised in the space of three years…. Oh yeah everyone just hanging out on Twitter like boiling frogs
2) not broadcast, as they aren’t quite ready to push Ofcom on this. This is the “good stuff” for unregulated YouTube.
2) not broadcast, as they aren’t quite ready to push Ofcom on this. This is the “good stuff” for unregulated YouTube.
Reposted by Alistair
I find it very strange how a legal decision which relates solely to gender recognition certificates – something under 18s definitively cannot have – is being used to justify changes to longstanding policies on including trans kids.
December 2, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I find it very strange how a legal decision which relates solely to gender recognition certificates – something under 18s definitively cannot have – is being used to justify changes to longstanding policies on including trans kids.
Absolutely terrifying - not really sure what I'll do if we *do* end up with a Reform government as I doubt the NHS survives it
For a long time, I thought a Reform-Tory pact couldn’t happen, because it would require the Conservatives to accept they were the junior partner. But Badenoch is so crap that I now think…maybe it could?
Farage tells donors he expects Reform UK will do an election deal with Tories
Rightwing populist party could pursue a merger or pact with the Conservatives
www.ft.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Absolutely terrifying - not really sure what I'll do if we *do* end up with a Reform government as I doubt the NHS survives it
Reposted by Alistair
But we’ll price the UK out because we don’t value security more than protecting our industries?
Welcome to SAFE, Canada!
When like-minded partners join forces on security and defence in a turbulent world, our countries grow stronger, our industries benefit and our citizens are safer.
Our Joint Statement ↓
link.europa.eu/QCDtpr
When like-minded partners join forces on security and defence in a turbulent world, our countries grow stronger, our industries benefit and our citizens are safer.
Our Joint Statement ↓
link.europa.eu/QCDtpr
December 2, 2025 at 9:11 AM
But we’ll price the UK out because we don’t value security more than protecting our industries?