Ali King
@aliking.bsky.social
Data botherer & code tinkerer in Edinburgh. Queer Code Scotland organiser, support diversity in tech as I live here. Opinions model's own. They/them
Mastodon: ali_king@blahaj.social
Twitter: @ali_king
Mastodon: ali_king@blahaj.social
Twitter: @ali_king
Pinned
Reposted by Ali King
“Young people have a kind of disconnect. Quite often, when I tell young people that there was a forced labour camp for gay people in Fuerteventura, they don’t believe it.” From @swajones.bsky.social piece on lack of knowledge and dangerous nostalgia of the unknown www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
‘Dangerous nostalgia’: did Spain’s ‘pact of forgetting’ after Franco leave new generation open to far right?
Events to mark the 50th anniversary of dictator’s death are intended to remind Spaniards, particularly the young, of the dangers of fascism
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:13 AM
“Young people have a kind of disconnect. Quite often, when I tell young people that there was a forced labour camp for gay people in Fuerteventura, they don’t believe it.” From @swajones.bsky.social piece on lack of knowledge and dangerous nostalgia of the unknown www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Ali King
This is the first story I ever did that got more than a million views
November 19, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This is the first story I ever did that got more than a million views
Reposted by Ali King
We need your help.
@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Please read on for more information
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...
(1/2)
@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Please read on for more information
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...
(1/2)
Anger as Waterstones snaps up prime site on doorstep of independent bookshop
UK's biggest bookselling chain under fire over plans for new store beside Edinburgh tram line.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
We need your help.
@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Please read on for more information
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...
(1/2)
@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Please read on for more information
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...
(1/2)
Reposted by Ali King
Today & tomorrow, @mileswgriffis.bsky.social & I are remotely watching the Long COVID International Conference. We aren't doing a full live blog as some researchers are sharing preliminary data, but will have an article up at @thesicktimes.org in the coming days with highlights from the meeting.
November 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Today & tomorrow, @mileswgriffis.bsky.social & I are remotely watching the Long COVID International Conference. We aren't doing a full live blog as some researchers are sharing preliminary data, but will have an article up at @thesicktimes.org in the coming days with highlights from the meeting.
Reposted by Ali King
This story about a Reform councillor in Northumberland has about three different massive stories in it.
He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.
He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.
His own council is suing him.
He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.
He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.
His own council is suing him.
Blyth Reform councillor Barry Elliott's property firms owe customers £140,000
Property companies owned or run by Barry Elliott owe tens of thousands of pounds to customers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 8:45 AM
This story about a Reform councillor in Northumberland has about three different massive stories in it.
He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.
He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.
His own council is suing him.
He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.
He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.
His own council is suing him.
Reposted by Ali King
hey scribes, here's a christmas movie practically writing itself 🎄❤️
November 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
hey scribes, here's a christmas movie practically writing itself 🎄❤️
Reposted by Ali King
Sharron Davies appears to have launched a new anti-trans astro-TERF group, setting their sights on Stonewall, DEI, Parkrun, amongst other things (interspersed with various perfectly worthy aims to promote women's sport, of course)
(www dot womenssportsunion dot com)
(www dot womenssportsunion dot com)
November 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Sharron Davies appears to have launched a new anti-trans astro-TERF group, setting their sights on Stonewall, DEI, Parkrun, amongst other things (interspersed with various perfectly worthy aims to promote women's sport, of course)
(www dot womenssportsunion dot com)
(www dot womenssportsunion dot com)
Reposted by Ali King
A thought-provoking couple of hours at a roundtable organised by @drhick.bsky.social & @catherinemax.bsky.social on objects (signs, barriers, fences, etc) in public space and their relationship to access, belonging and more, against the backdrop of the Farrell Centre’s Keep on the Grass exhibition.
November 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
A thought-provoking couple of hours at a roundtable organised by @drhick.bsky.social & @catherinemax.bsky.social on objects (signs, barriers, fences, etc) in public space and their relationship to access, belonging and more, against the backdrop of the Farrell Centre’s Keep on the Grass exhibition.
Reposted by Ali King
Whomst among us hasn't felt a little vacuum about snackie all done
November 18, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Whomst among us hasn't felt a little vacuum about snackie all done
Reposted by Ali King
I had to un repost this to add the proper Yorkshire caption, which EIGHT POUNDS FIFTY for one??
a visionary, touched by the muse, has created their Yorkshire Pudding Sistine Chapel
November 18, 2025 at 1:33 PM
I had to un repost this to add the proper Yorkshire caption, which EIGHT POUNDS FIFTY for one??
Reposted by Ali King
Bret Stephens and the NYT played major roles in manufacturing consent for the Iraq War.
Now they appear to be running the same playbook on Venezuela.
Now they appear to be running the same playbook on Venezuela.
November 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Bret Stephens and the NYT played major roles in manufacturing consent for the Iraq War.
Now they appear to be running the same playbook on Venezuela.
Now they appear to be running the same playbook on Venezuela.
Reposted by Ali King
why can they not just fix it
![[Scene is MCcDONALDS PICKUP POINT but for the most part we can only see the close up faces of tha CUSTOMER and the McDONALDS EMPLOYEE at the serving point].
1
CUSTOMER:
Hi - I’m afraid this isn’t what I ordered
2
McDONALDS EMPLOYEE:
Number 187?
CUSTOMER:
Yes
3
CUSTOMER:
Maybe I pressed the wrong thing?
I just ordered one strawberry milkshake.
4
EMPLOYEE:
Oh - yeah sorry
5
EMPLOYEE:
The milkshake machine’s not working.
6
EMPLOYEE:
The only flavours we can do are vanilla, banana, and Labour Leader Pretending to be Nigel Farage.
7
CUSTOMER:
Is that a new flavour?
EMPLOYEE:
Yeah
8
[We now see that the employee has placed a gigantic milkshake cup on the counter]
EMPLOYEE:
If you look inside, there’s a Labour leader pretending to be Nigel Farage.
9
[Customer looks inside the cup]
10
[Show Keir Starmer dressed as Nigel Farage inside the cup]
CUSTOMER:
So there is
11
CUSTOMER:
Is that something people want, then?
EMPLOYEE:
No! No, not at all.
12
EMPLOYEE:
It just keeps happening when we press banana.
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibbip5v2gcsv5j7kp6qm7lp6hpmaqcsanoobea2dxms7gxgrqk4qy@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 11:16 AM
why can they not just fix it
Reposted by Ali King
Well we said Black and Asian home secretaries are used as a shield to implement racist policies a white man couldn’t get away with and there’s no starker example than this. The worst kind of identity politics.
Shabana Mahmood asks MPs to stop mentioning Tommy Robinson's name (in relation to his support for her policies) as "he doesn't even think I am English. I find that offensive."
November 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Well we said Black and Asian home secretaries are used as a shield to implement racist policies a white man couldn’t get away with and there’s no starker example than this. The worst kind of identity politics.
Reposted by Ali King
The Greens don’t believe providing safe refuge for endangered asylum seekers is an “out-of-control” policy.
Nor do we believe making life more difficult for those in need is the way to unify British society.
Refugees are welcome.
Nor do we believe making life more difficult for those in need is the way to unify British society.
Refugees are welcome.
November 17, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The Greens don’t believe providing safe refuge for endangered asylum seekers is an “out-of-control” policy.
Nor do we believe making life more difficult for those in need is the way to unify British society.
Refugees are welcome.
Nor do we believe making life more difficult for those in need is the way to unify British society.
Refugees are welcome.
Reposted by Ali King
Shabana Mahmood asked by Labour MP John McDonnell to "give me the assurance that no child will be placed in detention as a result of this policy"
Mahmood does not give him that assurance
Mahmood does not give him that assurance
November 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Shabana Mahmood asked by Labour MP John McDonnell to "give me the assurance that no child will be placed in detention as a result of this policy"
Mahmood does not give him that assurance
Mahmood does not give him that assurance
Reposted by Ali King
Tag yourself in this 1800s list of supernatural entities of the British isles
October 10, 2024 at 10:35 PM
Tag yourself in this 1800s list of supernatural entities of the British isles
Reposted by Ali King
Solar and wind power are now cheaper than coal and natural gas for electricity generation. Yet in developing countries, higher financing costs still make renewable projects more expensive upfront, according to a professor who studies energy and climate solutions. buff.ly/hQc5VqD
Renewable energy is cheaper and healthier – so why isn’t it replacing fossil fuels faster?
Politics is just one challenge. The cost of borrowing to build wind and solar farms is another, especially in fast-growing developing countries. There are solutions.
theconversation.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Solar and wind power are now cheaper than coal and natural gas for electricity generation. Yet in developing countries, higher financing costs still make renewable projects more expensive upfront, according to a professor who studies energy and climate solutions. buff.ly/hQc5VqD
Reposted by Ali King
My personal “Don’t give to the Salvation Army” story:
When I was homeless in 2019, the Salvation Army shelter refused to give me a bed (even though they were available), because I was on immunosuppressant meds and they didn’t want to be responsible or liable if I got more sick or died on premises. They’d rather I die on the street.
It’s dinner time for the police. Appears to be pizza from a Salvation Army van.
Broadview’s “free speech” curfew starts soon, at 6pm.
Broadview’s “free speech” curfew starts soon, at 6pm.
November 18, 2025 at 4:22 AM
My personal “Don’t give to the Salvation Army” story:
Reposted by Ali King
#Edinburgh #PostgreSQL community, our first-ever meetup is here! 🐘
Join us for pizza, networking, and two great tech talks (all levels!).
🗓️ Thurs, Dec 11 @ 6 PM 📍 Old College, UoE 🗣️ Topics: #Postgres Tips for App Devs + AI/RAG with pgvector
👉 luma.com/b9kv5fds #TechMeetup #AI #pgvector #Database
Join us for pizza, networking, and two great tech talks (all levels!).
🗓️ Thurs, Dec 11 @ 6 PM 📍 Old College, UoE 🗣️ Topics: #Postgres Tips for App Devs + AI/RAG with pgvector
👉 luma.com/b9kv5fds #TechMeetup #AI #pgvector #Database
PostgreSQL Edinburgh meetup · Luma
Be part of the very first Edinburgh PostgreSQL Meetup!
Join host Jimmy Angelakos and fellow PostgreSQL enthusiasts at the University of Edinburgh's beautiful…
luma.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM
#Edinburgh #PostgreSQL community, our first-ever meetup is here! 🐘
Join us for pizza, networking, and two great tech talks (all levels!).
🗓️ Thurs, Dec 11 @ 6 PM 📍 Old College, UoE 🗣️ Topics: #Postgres Tips for App Devs + AI/RAG with pgvector
👉 luma.com/b9kv5fds #TechMeetup #AI #pgvector #Database
Join us for pizza, networking, and two great tech talks (all levels!).
🗓️ Thurs, Dec 11 @ 6 PM 📍 Old College, UoE 🗣️ Topics: #Postgres Tips for App Devs + AI/RAG with pgvector
👉 luma.com/b9kv5fds #TechMeetup #AI #pgvector #Database
Reposted by Ali King
license plate data merged with credit header data, marriage records, vehicle ownership, and voter registrations, in one app for ICE agents. oh and it sends push notifications when someone they're seeking is nearby.
🆒: www.404media.co/this-app-let...
🆒: www.404media.co/this-app-let...
This App Lets ICE Track Vehicles and Owners Across the Country
Material viewed by 404 Media shows data giant Thomson Reuters enriches license plate data with marriage, voter, and ownership records. The tool can predict where a car may be in the future.
www.404media.co
November 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
license plate data merged with credit header data, marriage records, vehicle ownership, and voter registrations, in one app for ICE agents. oh and it sends push notifications when someone they're seeking is nearby.
🆒: www.404media.co/this-app-let...
🆒: www.404media.co/this-app-let...
Reposted by Ali King
Reposted by Ali King
Why is it important to include references to slavery on blue plaques, National Trust properties, etc? Because otherwise people are convinced that somehow those lovely houses were gifted to certain British families by the fairies, and don't think about where the money came from.
holy shit: “Among the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 85% were unaware that Britain forcibly transported more than 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the Caribbean for more than 300 years” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Caribbean reparations leaders in ‘historic’ first UK visit to press for justice
CRC mission will seek to deepen public understanding of Britain’s colonial legacy and its lasting impact
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Why is it important to include references to slavery on blue plaques, National Trust properties, etc? Because otherwise people are convinced that somehow those lovely houses were gifted to certain British families by the fairies, and don't think about where the money came from.
Reposted by Ali King
Reposted by Ali King
Just heard re: some ICE agents who raided a Chicago taqueria, then went back to the same taqueria for lunch the following week and got confused when the owner kicked them out, and I realized "jesus these doofuses really do believe we're all living in a video game where the NPCs have no memory"
November 17, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Just heard re: some ICE agents who raided a Chicago taqueria, then went back to the same taqueria for lunch the following week and got confused when the owner kicked them out, and I realized "jesus these doofuses really do believe we're all living in a video game where the NPCs have no memory"