Dan Thornton
@danthornton.net
Self-employed writer, marketer and SEO for 20+ years, avid sim racer. Interests: sci-fi, motorcycling, classic cars, film, freelancing, tech, music and playing guitar. Co-founder: Digital People in Peterborough / Peterborough STEM Festival
I'm generally more of a night owl, but learning photography is making me think I need to get up earlier and take some walks as the sun is coming up...
It's also made me realise the local wildlife can recognise cameras and only come out to pose when mine is at home...
It's also made me realise the local wildlife can recognise cameras and only come out to pose when mine is at home...
November 12, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I'm generally more of a night owl, but learning photography is making me think I need to get up earlier and take some walks as the sun is coming up...
It's also made me realise the local wildlife can recognise cameras and only come out to pose when mine is at home...
It's also made me realise the local wildlife can recognise cameras and only come out to pose when mine is at home...
I'm not sure it's where most people would choose to take a trip for their birthday, but it was perfect for me...
November 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I'm not sure it's where most people would choose to take a trip for their birthday, but it was perfect for me...
For my sim racing friends, or anyone thinking about it - iRacing is still the main sim for competitive online racing at any time of the day, and you can save up to 50% off a subscription during the Black Friday sale...
If you've never tried a modern racing sim, there's really nothing else like it
If you've never tried a modern racing sim, there's really nothing else like it
Save 50% on new iRacing accounts, and 25% on extending current subscriptions or reactivating an account with the 2025 Black Friday discount codes now available
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/11/07/t...
#iRacing #SimRacing #RacingGames #BlackFriday #ORD
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/11/07/t...
#iRacing #SimRacing #RacingGames #BlackFriday #ORD
November 7, 2025 at 5:04 PM
For my sim racing friends, or anyone thinking about it - iRacing is still the main sim for competitive online racing at any time of the day, and you can save up to 50% off a subscription during the Black Friday sale...
If you've never tried a modern racing sim, there's really nothing else like it
If you've never tried a modern racing sim, there's really nothing else like it
Even if you're not actively using AI, it's increasingly impacting schools, libraries, etc. And that's an issue when the creators and owners of AI services are private companies, largely unregulated, and easily used to promote one particular point of view...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Even if you're not actively using AI, it's increasingly impacting schools, libraries, etc. And that's an issue when the creators and owners of AI services are private companies, largely unregulated, and easily used to promote one particular point of view...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
So surprising...
#Reform UK suspends another member of Kent county council - www.theguardian.com/politics/202... “This council has been made a laughing stock with more clowns on display since I saw Bill Smart’s last circus”
Reform UK suspends another member of Kent county council
Isabella Kemp’s departure means party has lost nine of 57 councillors elected in May, including four after video leak
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
So surprising...
On the one hand I feel responsible having a calendar notification to remind me to put the bins out.
On the other, I feel like an idiot for scheduling it in the evening when it's gone dark...
On the other, I feel like an idiot for scheduling it in the evening when it's gone dark...
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
On the one hand I feel responsible having a calendar notification to remind me to put the bins out.
On the other, I feel like an idiot for scheduling it in the evening when it's gone dark...
On the other, I feel like an idiot for scheduling it in the evening when it's gone dark...
I appear to have subconsciously scheduled every life admin task possible over the last 15+ years to all be due in the next 4-6 weeks.
So that's nice...
So that's nice...
November 5, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I appear to have subconsciously scheduled every life admin task possible over the last 15+ years to all be due in the next 4-6 weeks.
So that's nice...
So that's nice...
Reposted by Dan Thornton
I've had to pause all the scheduled posts for now, because SocialChamp keeps breaking all the links. Sorry about that.
Meanwhile, to the women in STEM following us, if we were to totally rethink Ada Lovelace Day and how we support you, what services would you most like to see us provide? 1/2
Meanwhile, to the women in STEM following us, if we were to totally rethink Ada Lovelace Day and how we support you, what services would you most like to see us provide? 1/2
November 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I've had to pause all the scheduled posts for now, because SocialChamp keeps breaking all the links. Sorry about that.
Meanwhile, to the women in STEM following us, if we were to totally rethink Ada Lovelace Day and how we support you, what services would you most like to see us provide? 1/2
Meanwhile, to the women in STEM following us, if we were to totally rethink Ada Lovelace Day and how we support you, what services would you most like to see us provide? 1/2
Well that's my weekend sorted...
Especially after getting my first win last night in a really competitive league (which has featured various BTCC drivers etc at times)
Especially after getting my first win last night in a really competitive league (which has featured various BTCC drivers etc at times)
The 2025 iRacing FF1600 Festival takes place this weekend with five sessions across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Taking place at Brands Hatch Indy just a week after the real world event, the heat format offers something a bit different...
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/10/30/t...
#iRacing #SimRacing
Taking place at Brands Hatch Indy just a week after the real world event, the heat format offers something a bit different...
www.onlineracedriver.com/2025/10/30/t...
#iRacing #SimRacing
October 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Well that's my weekend sorted...
Especially after getting my first win last night in a really competitive league (which has featured various BTCC drivers etc at times)
Especially after getting my first win last night in a really competitive league (which has featured various BTCC drivers etc at times)
Reposted by Dan Thornton
Google's applied for planning permission to build a data centre down the road from where I was born in Essex — on land with Local Wildlife Status.
It's estimated that it'll put out 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Petition link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
It's estimated that it'll put out 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Petition link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Save Arena Essex- Tell Google to search elsewhere!
Wedged between the Mar Dyke Valley and Lakeside Retail Park, the former Arena Essex Raceway is not your usual wildlife haven. Where once stock cars and speedway bikes lined up to cross the fini...
you.38degrees.org.uk
October 29, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Google's applied for planning permission to build a data centre down the road from where I was born in Essex — on land with Local Wildlife Status.
It's estimated that it'll put out 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Petition link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
It's estimated that it'll put out 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Petition link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Trying to shift my time more to things that help my mental and physical wellbeing - getting enough sleep, walking outside, tai chi, learning photography, reading good books in print, and being more conscious about limiting time sinks like doomscrolling and binging Youtube videos etc...
October 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Trying to shift my time more to things that help my mental and physical wellbeing - getting enough sleep, walking outside, tai chi, learning photography, reading good books in print, and being more conscious about limiting time sinks like doomscrolling and binging Youtube videos etc...
Sure, you can prompt AI to generate an image from your desk, but I'm loving having a DLSR camera and learning how to take decent photographs - and how it benefits me in ways that gen AI never will...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
October 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Sure, you can prompt AI to generate an image from your desk, but I'm loving having a DLSR camera and learning how to take decent photographs - and how it benefits me in ways that gen AI never will...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
I've recently started logging my music collection on Discogs, with the rule that I have to listen to each single, EP and album before I can add them...
It's amazing how many CDs I either didn't know I had, or hadn't listened to in years.
It's amazing how many CDs I either didn't know I had, or hadn't listened to in years.
October 23, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I've recently started logging my music collection on Discogs, with the rule that I have to listen to each single, EP and album before I can add them...
It's amazing how many CDs I either didn't know I had, or hadn't listened to in years.
It's amazing how many CDs I either didn't know I had, or hadn't listened to in years.
Starting the week exhausted but incredibly inspired after an amazing Peterborough STEM Festival...
So many great moments - seeing kids engaged, excited and happy to spend a Saturday doing STEM stuff, chatting with all the exhibitors and volunteers, getting positive feedback from parents etc...
So many great moments - seeing kids engaged, excited and happy to spend a Saturday doing STEM stuff, chatting with all the exhibitors and volunteers, getting positive feedback from parents etc...
October 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Starting the week exhausted but incredibly inspired after an amazing Peterborough STEM Festival...
So many great moments - seeing kids engaged, excited and happy to spend a Saturday doing STEM stuff, chatting with all the exhibitors and volunteers, getting positive feedback from parents etc...
So many great moments - seeing kids engaged, excited and happy to spend a Saturday doing STEM stuff, chatting with all the exhibitors and volunteers, getting positive feedback from parents etc...
Reposted by Dan Thornton
Looks like the scammers who were going this all on various Mastodon servers a month or two ago have found a new target: Bsky.
Guys new scamming method on bluesky. Please share this around. Dont fall for this stuff
Block, move on.
Block, move on.
October 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Looks like the scammers who were going this all on various Mastodon servers a month or two ago have found a new target: Bsky.
In the midst of working out whether I fancy rebuilding my PC around a new motherboard, my GPU appears to have developed issues - literally on the day Win10 support officially ended...
Aside from prompting a conspiracy theory in my mind, I'm now considering a Mac and a PS5...
Aside from prompting a conspiracy theory in my mind, I'm now considering a Mac and a PS5...
October 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
In the midst of working out whether I fancy rebuilding my PC around a new motherboard, my GPU appears to have developed issues - literally on the day Win10 support officially ended...
Aside from prompting a conspiracy theory in my mind, I'm now considering a Mac and a PS5...
Aside from prompting a conspiracy theory in my mind, I'm now considering a Mac and a PS5...
It's an unecessary cost, an e-waste problem, a security issue, and a pain in the backside.
I've used one of the routes to extend support for my desktop, but I either need to replace the motherboard, do a workaround, or switch to Linux. All take time and effort.
www.404media.co/the-end-of-w...
I've used one of the routes to extend support for my desktop, but I either need to replace the motherboard, do a workaround, or switch to Linux. All take time and effort.
www.404media.co/the-end-of-w...
The End of Windows 10 Support Is an E-Waste Disaster in the Making
In an example of egregious planned obsolescence, as many as 400 million computers will soon hit the waste stream.
www.404media.co
October 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
It's an unecessary cost, an e-waste problem, a security issue, and a pain in the backside.
I've used one of the routes to extend support for my desktop, but I either need to replace the motherboard, do a workaround, or switch to Linux. All take time and effort.
www.404media.co/the-end-of-w...
I've used one of the routes to extend support for my desktop, but I either need to replace the motherboard, do a workaround, or switch to Linux. All take time and effort.
www.404media.co/the-end-of-w...
Reposted by Dan Thornton
Currently tired, busy, and balancing work with prepping for Peterborough STEM Festival...
If you're in the area and have a child to accompany you, it's free and great fun.
If not, you can still be involved as a volunteer.
If you're in the area and have a child to accompany you, it's free and great fun.
If not, you can still be involved as a volunteer.
Just a reminder that Peterborough STEM Festival is completely FREE-TO-ATTEND! 🎉
Thanks to our amazing sponsors and partners, we're able to keep the event accessible to all 🚀
Get free tickets today! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/peterborou...
#FreeEvent #Peterborough #PSF2025 #PeterboroughSTEMFestival
Thanks to our amazing sponsors and partners, we're able to keep the event accessible to all 🚀
Get free tickets today! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/peterborou...
#FreeEvent #Peterborough #PSF2025 #PeterboroughSTEMFestival
October 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Currently tired, busy, and balancing work with prepping for Peterborough STEM Festival...
If you're in the area and have a child to accompany you, it's free and great fun.
If not, you can still be involved as a volunteer.
If you're in the area and have a child to accompany you, it's free and great fun.
If not, you can still be involved as a volunteer.
There's part of me that dreams of a concrete house with a nice leather sofa and space to park a motorcycle.
There's another part that knows I'd fill it with bookcases, jackets, old CDs, and other clutter in days. If not sooner.
There's another part that knows I'd fill it with bookcases, jackets, old CDs, and other clutter in days. If not sooner.
The 2026 Ducati Scrambler Nightshift will arrive in UK dealers this month in the fresh colour of Emerald Green (which I personally prefer to the outgoing Nebula Blue).
The new Scramblers also get a smaller eight-plate clutch, lighter weight and more.
www.rescogs.com/2025/10/the-...
#Ducati #Rescogs
The new Scramblers also get a smaller eight-plate clutch, lighter weight and more.
www.rescogs.com/2025/10/the-...
#Ducati #Rescogs
October 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
There's part of me that dreams of a concrete house with a nice leather sofa and space to park a motorcycle.
There's another part that knows I'd fill it with bookcases, jackets, old CDs, and other clutter in days. If not sooner.
There's another part that knows I'd fill it with bookcases, jackets, old CDs, and other clutter in days. If not sooner.
It'd be more palatable if they weren't so consistently useless, and the services provided weren't already being cut back so heavily...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Peterborough council tax hike proposed to tackle £5.2m shortfall
The council says a rise of 1% above the current 4.99% cap could generate £1.1m to protect services.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM
It'd be more palatable if they weren't so consistently useless, and the services provided weren't already being cut back so heavily...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
When I see 12 Sponsored slots around 10 organic results, I have to question any commitment to offering a good search results experience...
October 3, 2025 at 10:42 AM
When I see 12 Sponsored slots around 10 organic results, I have to question any commitment to offering a good search results experience...
We did it!
Or rather everyone that liked, shared, spread the word and stepped up as a business to support this year's Peterbororough STEM Festival did it!
So grateful to everyone, as it's genuinely a highlight of the year to see thousands of happy kids being inspired and amazed by STEM...
Or rather everyone that liked, shared, spread the word and stepped up as a business to support this year's Peterbororough STEM Festival did it!
So grateful to everyone, as it's genuinely a highlight of the year to see thousands of happy kids being inspired and amazed by STEM...
Amazing news as we can confirm Peteborough STEM Festival 2025 will be going ahead on Saturday October 18th at ARU Peterborough from 11am-4pm (quiet time from 9:30am-11am).
Huge thanks to everyone that shared our request for help and to the businesses that stepped up. More details on them to follow!
Huge thanks to everyone that shared our request for help and to the businesses that stepped up. More details on them to follow!
September 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
We did it!
Or rather everyone that liked, shared, spread the word and stepped up as a business to support this year's Peterbororough STEM Festival did it!
So grateful to everyone, as it's genuinely a highlight of the year to see thousands of happy kids being inspired and amazed by STEM...
Or rather everyone that liked, shared, spread the word and stepped up as a business to support this year's Peterbororough STEM Festival did it!
So grateful to everyone, as it's genuinely a highlight of the year to see thousands of happy kids being inspired and amazed by STEM...
Two thoughts on digital ID cards - the first is that you need some public trust, which isn't likely when you do deals with Palantir.
The second is how will it work running a small business? More hassle, and trusting every client will keep things safe, secure and not abuse any info?
The second is how will it work running a small business? More hassle, and trusting every client will keep things safe, secure and not abuse any info?
September 25, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Two thoughts on digital ID cards - the first is that you need some public trust, which isn't likely when you do deals with Palantir.
The second is how will it work running a small business? More hassle, and trusting every client will keep things safe, secure and not abuse any info?
The second is how will it work running a small business? More hassle, and trusting every client will keep things safe, secure and not abuse any info?