Michael Birtwhistle
@salfordmh.bsky.social
Consultant Community and Rehabilitation Psychiatrist. Rides bicycles. Politically engaged. Likes a good discussion. http://mas.to/@SalfordMH just in case. And here.
And Ariana Tall, the shortest of them.
November 30, 2025 at 6:50 PM
And Ariana Tall, the shortest of them.
Haha, very good.
November 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Haha, very good.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Between diffusion models and LLMs, tech has inflated a trillion dollar bubble around automating activities that have immense social and cultural capital—writing, art, photography—but little actual capital. It’s harmful to education, culture, and society with minimal overall benefit
November 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Between diffusion models and LLMs, tech has inflated a trillion dollar bubble around automating activities that have immense social and cultural capital—writing, art, photography—but little actual capital. It’s harmful to education, culture, and society with minimal overall benefit
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Im also a writer for money. My concern with this is always that the people who hire us can rarely tell bad vs good vs great. They just want it over with. People still say to me “I’ll send this to you and you can figure out where to put the commas”
November 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Im also a writer for money. My concern with this is always that the people who hire us can rarely tell bad vs good vs great. They just want it over with. People still say to me “I’ll send this to you and you can figure out where to put the commas”
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Trufax. I've had some awkward moments during "tell me about your career" interviews w/ local high schoolers, where the kid was like, " . . . Oh. I make more than that as a part-time nursing assistant."
November 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Trufax. I've had some awkward moments during "tell me about your career" interviews w/ local high schoolers, where the kid was like, " . . . Oh. I make more than that as a part-time nursing assistant."
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Comical corner.
November 30, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Comical corner.
Now I'm going to sing Acab in a Sega voice.
November 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Now I'm going to sing Acab in a Sega voice.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Public transport generally is inadequate in south-east Manchester. To get to other parts of the conurbation you have to go into town and out. Oh for the 400 Airport-Bolton Trans Lancs Express to return, or orbital Metrolink… that would be transformative.
November 29, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Public transport generally is inadequate in south-east Manchester. To get to other parts of the conurbation you have to go into town and out. Oh for the 400 Airport-Bolton Trans Lancs Express to return, or orbital Metrolink… that would be transformative.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
*sigh* The glacial speed of it all is one of the most depressing aspects. Quite clear that extending & improving Metrolink is key - compare sub/urban transport network between e.g. Munich & Mcr. But it is SO SLOW. I guess mainly as there's no investment, + Council cash-strapped & borrowing banned.
November 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
*sigh* The glacial speed of it all is one of the most depressing aspects. Quite clear that extending & improving Metrolink is key - compare sub/urban transport network between e.g. Munich & Mcr. But it is SO SLOW. I guess mainly as there's no investment, + Council cash-strapped & borrowing banned.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
I grew up in a smallish town, with a 12-minute daytime frequency on the bus ride into the big town.
The buses were full of people commuting. When they stopped at the hospital, half the bus would get off, on their way to work.
Now it's hourly, and everyone needs parking spaces. 🤦♂️
The buses were full of people commuting. When they stopped at the hospital, half the bus would get off, on their way to work.
Now it's hourly, and everyone needs parking spaces. 🤦♂️
November 29, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I grew up in a smallish town, with a 12-minute daytime frequency on the bus ride into the big town.
The buses were full of people commuting. When they stopped at the hospital, half the bus would get off, on their way to work.
Now it's hourly, and everyone needs parking spaces. 🤦♂️
The buses were full of people commuting. When they stopped at the hospital, half the bus would get off, on their way to work.
Now it's hourly, and everyone needs parking spaces. 🤦♂️
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Been paying just a bit more my entire career now.
Just a bit more. Tax thresholds don't change. More rent every year. Higher bills. Huge food and drink inflation. Just a bit more.
Net result is my job would have bought me a home 10 years ago. Now it can't even rent one.
Just a bit more. Tax thresholds don't change. More rent every year. Higher bills. Huge food and drink inflation. Just a bit more.
Net result is my job would have bought me a home 10 years ago. Now it can't even rent one.
November 30, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Been paying just a bit more my entire career now.
Just a bit more. Tax thresholds don't change. More rent every year. Higher bills. Huge food and drink inflation. Just a bit more.
Net result is my job would have bought me a home 10 years ago. Now it can't even rent one.
Just a bit more. Tax thresholds don't change. More rent every year. Higher bills. Huge food and drink inflation. Just a bit more.
Net result is my job would have bought me a home 10 years ago. Now it can't even rent one.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
These Labour types pretending they would vote Green if not for this *one* thing
November 30, 2025 at 1:17 PM
These Labour types pretending they would vote Green if not for this *one* thing
As @hagenilda.bsky.social says,if you called them sundried plums they'd be all the rage.
November 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
As @hagenilda.bsky.social says,if you called them sundried plums they'd be all the rage.