Dr Mike Ward
@schroedinger99.bsky.social
Retired data-modeller with background in genetics & philosophy of science. grandfather, sceptic, deracinated cosmopolitan, citizen of nowhere, & angry old man.
Yeah I was looking, and I read your post explaining (and showing) the 4 rail dual gauge system. But thanks for the extra info. I imagine that points will be a bit of a headache for dual gauge systems too?
November 25, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Yeah I was looking, and I read your post explaining (and showing) the 4 rail dual gauge system. But thanks for the extra info. I imagine that points will be a bit of a headache for dual gauge systems too?
Re dual gauge lines, I presume it's not possible to achieve this by simply adding a third rail? (I've seen this arrangement on narrow gauge tourist railways, but there was IIRC a much bigger difference twixt the 2 gauges)
November 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Re dual gauge lines, I presume it's not possible to achieve this by simply adding a third rail? (I've seen this arrangement on narrow gauge tourist railways, but there was IIRC a much bigger difference twixt the 2 gauges)
QT was easy to get off, but I'm still sadly addicted to Today, even as I well up with self-loathing while continuing to listen to it and failing to switch it off.
November 25, 2025 at 9:37 AM
QT was easy to get off, but I'm still sadly addicted to Today, even as I well up with self-loathing while continuing to listen to it and failing to switch it off.
TP's remarks defy all logic (NTM ethics). Why scare regular migrants? The HO can simply issue fewer visas. Ppl who arrive in small boats are declared & documented. Why would we snatch them off our streets? That would only make sense for ppl who sneak in & live under the radar: very tiny numbers.
November 24, 2025 at 11:42 PM
TP's remarks defy all logic (NTM ethics). Why scare regular migrants? The HO can simply issue fewer visas. Ppl who arrive in small boats are declared & documented. Why would we snatch them off our streets? That would only make sense for ppl who sneak in & live under the radar: very tiny numbers.
Soz, **et al. I was going to make a joke about crick-et, but thought better of it.
Anyway, this programme (also with Charlotte Houldcroft @virologyhouldcroft.bsky.social ) is far more interesting than chaps throwing balls at each other ... and in the air: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Anyway, this programme (also with Charlotte Houldcroft @virologyhouldcroft.bsky.social ) is far more interesting than chaps throwing balls at each other ... and in the air: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Start the Week - Genes and hands: mapping character and health - BBC Sounds
Alison Bashford, Matthew Cobb and Charlotte Houldcroft with Adam Rutherford.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Soz, **et al. I was going to make a joke about crick-et, but thought better of it.
Anyway, this programme (also with Charlotte Houldcroft @virologyhouldcroft.bsky.social ) is far more interesting than chaps throwing balls at each other ... and in the air: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Anyway, this programme (also with Charlotte Houldcroft @virologyhouldcroft.bsky.social ) is far more interesting than chaps throwing balls at each other ... and in the air: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
A few examples: the continued use of Bargeld in contexts where the rest of Europe long ago moved to cards, and their use of the (internationally incompatible) Maestro even when they do use cards; retention of paper-based, cf digital, systems; the slowness of moving from ICEs to electric vehicles etc
November 24, 2025 at 1:04 PM
A few examples: the continued use of Bargeld in contexts where the rest of Europe long ago moved to cards, and their use of the (internationally incompatible) Maestro even when they do use cards; retention of paper-based, cf digital, systems; the slowness of moving from ICEs to electric vehicles etc
I have no stats to evidence this, but I (based purely on anecdotal evidence) suspect there might be something in your suggestion that German industry is a bit more tied to the past and unwilling to adapt to changing technology.
November 24, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I have no stats to evidence this, but I (based purely on anecdotal evidence) suspect there might be something in your suggestion that German industry is a bit more tied to the past and unwilling to adapt to changing technology.
Less so I'd say. In fact I'm not sure that has ever been used in a non-antisemitic way. Whereas "globalist" certainly has.
November 24, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Less so I'd say. In fact I'm not sure that has ever been used in a non-antisemitic way. Whereas "globalist" certainly has.
Indeed, but this does depend on context.
November 24, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Indeed, but this does depend on context.
*Of which (the otherwise quite sensible) @rentouljohn.bsky.social is one - though not one (I trust) who was motivated by xenophobia.
November 23, 2025 at 6:26 PM
*Of which (the otherwise quite sensible) @rentouljohn.bsky.social is one - though not one (I trust) who was motivated by xenophobia.
There is rich irony in the fact that the Brexiters* succeeded in their quest to stop white people coming here from Europe thereby necessitating a huge influx of brown people from elsewhere to fill the gaps in the UK's labour market.
November 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
There is rich irony in the fact that the Brexiters* succeeded in their quest to stop white people coming here from Europe thereby necessitating a huge influx of brown people from elsewhere to fill the gaps in the UK's labour market.
If so, it's nuts: driving ppl away whom we've invited in for their skills and who are established here employing those skills.
November 23, 2025 at 10:32 AM
If so, it's nuts: driving ppl away whom we've invited in for their skills and who are established here employing those skills.
(And if I hear somebody talk again about "border control" - utterly irrelevant/tangential to the issues at hand - I shall scream.)
November 23, 2025 at 9:55 AM
(And if I hear somebody talk again about "border control" - utterly irrelevant/tangential to the issues at hand - I shall scream.)
Reposted by Dr Mike Ward
Do we really think tinkering with rules about ILR etc will fundamentally change the incentives of those risking their lives, and those of their kids in dinghies? And is legitimising racism by seeing it as a logical reaction to policy failure really takes basis on which to proceed?
November 23, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Do we really think tinkering with rules about ILR etc will fundamentally change the incentives of those risking their lives, and those of their kids in dinghies? And is legitimising racism by seeing it as a logical reaction to policy failure really takes basis on which to proceed?
Also, these new rules hit regular migrants (the vast majority). The HO can issue exactly as many or as few visas to such people as it sees fit. I'm not sure what being beastly to ppl they've already invited in is meant to achieve.
November 23, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Also, these new rules hit regular migrants (the vast majority). The HO can issue exactly as many or as few visas to such people as it sees fit. I'm not sure what being beastly to ppl they've already invited in is meant to achieve.
***users' problems
November 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
***users' problems
It may not be inevitable but it is ubiquitous. I'm currently doing battle with Evri, SAS, Amazon, Royal Mail, Outfox... All of them have built walls ( which increase in height on a daily basis) between their users and anyone in those companies who can do anything about their users problems.
November 21, 2025 at 8:44 AM
It may not be inevitable but it is ubiquitous. I'm currently doing battle with Evri, SAS, Amazon, Royal Mail, Outfox... All of them have built walls ( which increase in height on a daily basis) between their users and anyone in those companies who can do anything about their users problems.
Ah! Splendid 🙂. I have to confess that, although I've been trying to listen assiduously and mostly have, I keep getting interrupted by grandparenting duties, arriving at my destination in the car, injunctions to vacuum the floors etc; so I have occasionally lost the thread.
November 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Ah! Splendid 🙂. I have to confess that, although I've been trying to listen assiduously and mostly have, I keep getting interrupted by grandparenting duties, arriving at my destination in the car, injunctions to vacuum the floors etc; so I have occasionally lost the thread.