Craig
@craig.nikolic.co.uk
NHS GP Federation CEO. Not a GP/clinician.
Ex artillery forward observer, with dodgy knees and hearing.
Favourite comment about me: "His comms style is like a brick through a window."
Ex artillery forward observer, with dodgy knees and hearing.
Favourite comment about me: "His comms style is like a brick through a window."
I want my babelfish. I would prefer it as a phone app though so I can fire it through my hearing aid…
This would be legend grade tech for me.
This would be legend grade tech for me.
Spectrum Editor @gwendolynrak.bsky.social doesn’t speak Japanese, but she wanted to learn about new technology at Japan’s biggest #tech expo, so she tried out Timekettle’s translating earbuds.
November 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I want my babelfish. I would prefer it as a phone app though so I can fire it through my hearing aid…
This would be legend grade tech for me.
This would be legend grade tech for me.
This is where British public service is utterly awful. No major private company would accept this without the manufacturer giving major indemnity and liability guarantees.
It’s endemic in the public sector, awful procurement contracting gives substandard products.
www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...
It’s endemic in the public sector, awful procurement contracting gives substandard products.
www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...
Troops had hearing problems weeks before Ajax tanks declared safe
Soldiers were sent to hospital over fresh noise concerns relating to the army’s troubled armoured vehicles but the government pressed ahead with their launch
www.thetimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:35 AM
This is where British public service is utterly awful. No major private company would accept this without the manufacturer giving major indemnity and liability guarantees.
It’s endemic in the public sector, awful procurement contracting gives substandard products.
www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...
It’s endemic in the public sector, awful procurement contracting gives substandard products.
www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...
First ever 1* Uber rating given. If I could give 0* I would have.
Of course my rating remains 5*
Of course my rating remains 5*
November 8, 2025 at 4:50 AM
First ever 1* Uber rating given. If I could give 0* I would have.
Of course my rating remains 5*
Of course my rating remains 5*
Reposted by Craig
Word of the Day is ‘catchfart’ (17th century): an obsequious individual who sucks up to the boss and always follows the political wind.
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Word of the Day is ‘catchfart’ (17th century): an obsequious individual who sucks up to the boss and always follows the political wind.
21st century phrenology for the AI age. And likely just as racist and real-world stupid to use as phrenology.
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
Should facial analysis help determine whom companies hire?
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
econ.st
November 7, 2025 at 4:55 AM
21st century phrenology for the AI age. And likely just as racist and real-world stupid to use as phrenology.
Reposted by Craig
The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 AM
The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond
Today’s rant is at companies that use voice passwords. “My voice is my password”. Then get unhappy because they can’t recognise a Scottish accent.
To make it work you have to anglicise your accent and then a hope of remembering that when you use it.
A pox of uncontrollable flatulence on them.
To make it work you have to anglicise your accent and then a hope of remembering that when you use it.
A pox of uncontrollable flatulence on them.
I wish a dose of puss filled boils on the backside of any corporate exec who sets customer services to force you to use a third rate and wildly unusable “AI”.
Both cheeks for if it’s something a human call handler could fix it in a second.
Both cheeks for if it’s something a human call handler could fix it in a second.
November 6, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Today’s rant is at companies that use voice passwords. “My voice is my password”. Then get unhappy because they can’t recognise a Scottish accent.
To make it work you have to anglicise your accent and then a hope of remembering that when you use it.
A pox of uncontrollable flatulence on them.
To make it work you have to anglicise your accent and then a hope of remembering that when you use it.
A pox of uncontrollable flatulence on them.
I wish a dose of puss filled boils on the backside of any corporate exec who sets customer services to force you to use a third rate and wildly unusable “AI”.
Both cheeks for if it’s something a human call handler could fix it in a second.
Both cheeks for if it’s something a human call handler could fix it in a second.
November 5, 2025 at 7:49 AM
I wish a dose of puss filled boils on the backside of any corporate exec who sets customer services to force you to use a third rate and wildly unusable “AI”.
Both cheeks for if it’s something a human call handler could fix it in a second.
Both cheeks for if it’s something a human call handler could fix it in a second.
Reposted by Craig
Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.
November 3, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.
Add to this, even if you removed ageism (which you won’t) you get that a significant number of people increasingly have to work in poor health.
The healthy life expectancy in most poorer areas is nowhere near the current pension age, never mind any increased one.
The healthy life expectancy in most poorer areas is nowhere near the current pension age, never mind any increased one.
Reading this, one proposal is to raise state pension age to 70, which is fine except our ageist society routinely forces people out of work in their 50s. Add to that most people can't afford to retire in their 50s and you potentially have a giant fucking crisis right there
Beyond Our Means - Policy Exchange
Download Publication Online Reader The UK faces a twin-pronged fiscal crisis. At about 100% of GDP, public debt is inordinately high and is set to rise a good deal further. Debt interest alone account...
policyexchange.org.uk
November 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Add to this, even if you removed ageism (which you won’t) you get that a significant number of people increasingly have to work in poor health.
The healthy life expectancy in most poorer areas is nowhere near the current pension age, never mind any increased one.
The healthy life expectancy in most poorer areas is nowhere near the current pension age, never mind any increased one.
Reposted by Craig
Daniel Hannan was born in Peru.
November 2, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Daniel Hannan was born in Peru.
I would not be a hospital Trust CEO for an extra zero on the end of the salary. www.hsj.co.uk/local/prepar...
Prepare for ‘very unpleasant abuse’ if you want to be a CEO, warns retiring boss
Aspiring hospital leaders should be prepared for "very unpleasant, personal abuse", especially when they take the "courageous decisions" to cut spending, according to a trust boss retiring after 15 ye...
www.hsj.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I would not be a hospital Trust CEO for an extra zero on the end of the salary. www.hsj.co.uk/local/prepar...
Folks, would you go to a pub where the owner is ranting such things from behind the bar? No? Well why post on ex-Twitter?
Elon Musk, "These lovely small towns in England, Scotland and Ireland, they've been living their lives quietly. They're like hobbits"
"And so one day, 1,000 people show up in your village of 500 and start raping the kids"
"This has now happened, God knows how many times in Britain"
"And so one day, 1,000 people show up in your village of 500 and start raping the kids"
"This has now happened, God knows how many times in Britain"
November 3, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Folks, would you go to a pub where the owner is ranting such things from behind the bar? No? Well why post on ex-Twitter?
Having both good planning and skilled operatives saves lives.
This is what you pay for and what the persistent bad press about rail crew salaries misses deliberately every time.
This is what you pay for and what the persistent bad press about rail crew salaries misses deliberately every time.
Whatever else comes out once the attack on the ECML train last night, this alone is a credit to the train crew, driver, and signalling team.
Huntingdon was the first possible stop. In a highly stressful situation and improvising a plan the train lost just 3 minutes vs line speed to get there.
Huntingdon was the first possible stop. In a highly stressful situation and improvising a plan the train lost just 3 minutes vs line speed to get there.
November 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Having both good planning and skilled operatives saves lives.
This is what you pay for and what the persistent bad press about rail crew salaries misses deliberately every time.
This is what you pay for and what the persistent bad press about rail crew salaries misses deliberately every time.
“We missed you, Chris - come back to Labour”.
Hmmm. Not a good start.
But, no anyway. Not until I see convincing and repeated evidence of:
- the end of the appeasement of racists and xenophobes; and
- the end of the scapegoating of people on benefits.
Hmmm. Not a good start.
But, no anyway. Not until I see convincing and repeated evidence of:
- the end of the appeasement of racists and xenophobes; and
- the end of the scapegoating of people on benefits.
November 2, 2025 at 8:14 AM
“We missed you, Chris - come back to Labour”.
Hmmm. Not a good start.
But, no anyway. Not until I see convincing and repeated evidence of:
- the end of the appeasement of racists and xenophobes; and
- the end of the scapegoating of people on benefits.
Hmmm. Not a good start.
But, no anyway. Not until I see convincing and repeated evidence of:
- the end of the appeasement of racists and xenophobes; and
- the end of the scapegoating of people on benefits.
Reposted by Craig
The HPV vaccine has been a public health triumph. Very depressing to see this potentially unravel while we're on the verge of essentially eradicating cervical cancer.
As the article says, the problem is as much about the service as it is about parental attitudes.
As the article says, the problem is as much about the service as it is about parental attitudes.
This is terrible
Vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer have plummeted in Britain
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer have plummeted in Britain
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer have plummeted in Britain
Blame declining confidence, a lack of convenience and rising complacency
www.economist.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The HPV vaccine has been a public health triumph. Very depressing to see this potentially unravel while we're on the verge of essentially eradicating cervical cancer.
As the article says, the problem is as much about the service as it is about parental attitudes.
As the article says, the problem is as much about the service as it is about parental attitudes.
Reposted by Craig
Jesus Christ. We go mad about one bloke we wrongly released, yet hear next to nothing about this horror? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
More than 50 child asylum seekers still missing after disappearing from Kent care
Council data obtained by the Guardian shows 345 children have gone missing in recent years, many probably taken by traffickers
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Jesus Christ. We go mad about one bloke we wrongly released, yet hear next to nothing about this horror? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The benchmark for pay rises should be a measure of inflation. Above that is a net pay rise, below that is a net pay cut.
Saying 2.5% is all we can afford without reference to inflation is surely just wrong and making it the staff members’ problem instead.
www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/25...
Saying 2.5% is all we can afford without reference to inflation is surely just wrong and making it the staff members’ problem instead.
www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/25...
2.5% pay rise proposed by ministers
The government can only offer NHS staff a 2.5 per cent pay rise next year and says anything more threatens the "speed and delivery" of the 10-Year Health Plan.
www.hsj.co.uk
November 1, 2025 at 6:04 AM
The benchmark for pay rises should be a measure of inflation. Above that is a net pay rise, below that is a net pay cut.
Saying 2.5% is all we can afford without reference to inflation is surely just wrong and making it the staff members’ problem instead.
www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/25...
Saying 2.5% is all we can afford without reference to inflation is surely just wrong and making it the staff members’ problem instead.
www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/25...
Reposted by Craig
The wisdom of Jackson Lamb:
We have to answer the five F's:
"what the fuck
who the fuck
when the fuck
why the fuck"
-but that's only 4
"fuck off; that's 5"
We have to answer the five F's:
"what the fuck
who the fuck
when the fuck
why the fuck"
-but that's only 4
"fuck off; that's 5"
October 31, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The wisdom of Jackson Lamb:
We have to answer the five F's:
"what the fuck
who the fuck
when the fuck
why the fuck"
-but that's only 4
"fuck off; that's 5"
We have to answer the five F's:
"what the fuck
who the fuck
when the fuck
why the fuck"
-but that's only 4
"fuck off; that's 5"
Reposted by Craig
Reposted by Craig
It's that day I know you've all been waiting for with great anticipation.
That's right, it's NEW INDICES OF DEPRIVATION day!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
That's right, it's NEW INDICES OF DEPRIVATION day!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
English indices of deprivation 2025: frequently asked questions
www.gov.uk
October 31, 2025 at 9:07 AM
It's that day I know you've all been waiting for with great anticipation.
That's right, it's NEW INDICES OF DEPRIVATION day!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
That's right, it's NEW INDICES OF DEPRIVATION day!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Craig
This story runs and runs.
"Sally could not believe that as a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen, she had been forced to prove a negative - that she was not a fraudster"
Welcome to the experience of many thousands of benefit claimants who do not get their own story in the papers
"Sally could not believe that as a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen, she had been forced to prove a negative - that she was not a fraudster"
Welcome to the experience of many thousands of benefit claimants who do not get their own story in the papers
Woman who booked flight to Italy but did not board has child benefits stopped
Woman who booked flight to Italy but did not board has child benefits stopped
Family denied entry at gate after one of her children had epileptic fit, but HMRC said she boarded one-way flight
A woman has had her child benefit stopped after booking a holiday to Italy because HMRC inferred she had emigrated – even though she and her family did not board the flight.
Sally, her three children and her partner were going on holiday to Italy last July, but were refused boarding after one of the children had an epileptic fit at the departure gate. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:13 AM
This story runs and runs.
"Sally could not believe that as a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen, she had been forced to prove a negative - that she was not a fraudster"
Welcome to the experience of many thousands of benefit claimants who do not get their own story in the papers
"Sally could not believe that as a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen, she had been forced to prove a negative - that she was not a fraudster"
Welcome to the experience of many thousands of benefit claimants who do not get their own story in the papers
Change this to “negligently stabbed her with a knife while coming down from a high on cocaine and killed her” and you get a vastly different sentence.
Why do car drivers get lenient sentences for dangerously driving a two ton vehicle while on cocaine and causing a death?
Why do car drivers get lenient sentences for dangerously driving a two ton vehicle while on cocaine and causing a death?
Christopher Lynn, 32, drove into Yvonne Nichol’s car and forced it into the path of an oncoming vehicle. She died from her injuries
Driver who took cocaine before fatal crash jailed for six years
Christopher Lynn, 32, drove into Yvonne Nichol’s car and forced it into the path of an oncoming vehicle. She died from her injuries
www.thetimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Change this to “negligently stabbed her with a knife while coming down from a high on cocaine and killed her” and you get a vastly different sentence.
Why do car drivers get lenient sentences for dangerously driving a two ton vehicle while on cocaine and causing a death?
Why do car drivers get lenient sentences for dangerously driving a two ton vehicle while on cocaine and causing a death?
Reposted by Craig
We've done it - we've made it to nimby final boss level
Residents of a Hampshire village say noise from planned indoor courts would harm their mental health and could cause depression and type 2 diabetes
Noisy padel courts could give us diabetes, villagers claim
www.thetimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
We've done it - we've made it to nimby final boss level