Dr Michael Fraser
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ffinlo.bsky.social
Dr Michael Fraser
@ffinlo.bsky.social
Personal account. Works in a university. Non-resident Manx 🇮🇲. Supports Ukraine 🇺🇦.
"The King has approved that Professor Wim Decock, Professor of Roman Law, Legal History and Comparative Law at the Université Catholique de Louvain, be appointed Regius Professor of Civil Law in the University of Oxford in succession to Professor Wolfgang Ernst."
www.gov.uk/government/n... #legalsky
Appointment of the Regius Professor of Civil Law in the University of Oxford
The King has approved that Professor Wim Decock be appointed Regius Professor of Civil Law in the University of Oxford.
www.gov.uk
January 22, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Of wheels?

"The 800,000 people on the payroll of professional services company Accenture were once known as employees, workers or consultants.

Lately, however, they have gone by a different moniker: 'reinventors'."

giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Why are so many companies reinventing job titles?
Quirky branding for roles sends a message about company culture, but the strategy comes with risks
giftarticle.ft.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:28 PM
The Prime Minister had a number of calls with leaders this afternoon.

He then spoke to President Trump

🇬🇱🇬🇱 🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱
"Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong."
🇬🇱🇬🇱 🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱🇬🇱
www.gov.uk/government/n... #Greenland #DefendGreenland
PM calls with international leaders: 18 January 2026
The Prime Minister spoke with Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen; President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen; NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and President Trump.
www.gov.uk
January 18, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Marsh Family's rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Empire.

"Trump's hatred marches on."
youtube.com/watch?v=8saU...
"Battle Hymn of the Empire" - Marsh Family adaptation of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" about Trump
YouTube video by Marsh Family
youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Replace Russia with United States.

"They agreed that more needed to be done to deter Russia in the High North and welcomed discussions on how Allies could further protect the region from increasing Russian threats."
www.gov.uk/government/n...
PM call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: 8 January 2026
The Prime Minister spoke to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this afternoon.
www.gov.uk
January 8, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Declaration of intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Declaration of intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, re...
www.gov.uk
January 7, 2026 at 10:12 AM
@metoffice.gov.uk Weather warning in App confusing around liklihood assessment. This is the case for multiple locations in Wales and England, not just Oxford.

"Storm Goretti likely to bring heavy snow"

"Likelihood: Low"
January 7, 2026 at 7:12 AM
"All history was a palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary. In no case would it have been possible, once the deed was done, to prove that any falsification had taken place."

-- George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Part 1, Chapter 4.
January 6, 2026 at 6:54 PM
The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre today.

"The leaders also discussed maritime security in the High North, building on the UK and Norway’s already close cooperation."
www.gov.uk/government/n... #Greenland
PM call with Prime Minister Støre of Norway: 5 January 2026
The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre today.
www.gov.uk
January 5, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Satya Nadella: "We need to get beyond the arguments of slop vs sophistication and develop a new equilibrium in terms of our 'theory of the mind' that accounts for humans being equipped with these new cognitive amplifier tools as we relate to each other."
snscratchpad.com/posts/lookin... #AISlop
Looking Ahead to 2026
As I reflect on the past year and look toward the one ahead, there’s no question 2026 will be a pivotal year for AI. Yes, another one. But this moment feels different in a few notable ways.
snscratchpad.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Love the label on this bottle of Georgian wine (Bedoba Saperavi 2022).
December 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
SantasMarmaladeHat

www.gov.uk/government/n...
December 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
"MR. EDITOR, I wish to avail myself, through the medium of your useful paper, of the opportunity of deprecating a custom, which I apprehend is general through this Island..."

#OielVerrey #ChristmasEve #IsleOfMan

Manks Advertiser, Dec 22, 1825.
www.imuseum.im/Olive/APA/Is...
December 24, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Using GenAI to make DPIAs readable...

HOME OFFICE FACIAL RECOGNITION SHOCKER! PILOT SET TO SCAN FACES AT UK PORT - PRIVACY CHAOS EXPOSED IN OFFICIAL DPIA
www.gov.uk/government/p...
December 19, 2025 at 10:11 AM
In the final days before Christmas this may be fucking interesting...

Richard Stephens, Harry Dowber, et al., "'Don’t Hold Back': Swearing Improves Strength Through State Disinhibition" American Psychologist (18 Dec, 2025)
www.apa.org/news/press/r...
www.apa.org
December 19, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Joint statement on Ukraine: 15 December 2025

"They reaffirmed that international borders must not be changed by force. Decisions on territory are for the people of Ukraine, once robust security guarantees are effectively in place."
www.gov.uk/government/n... #PeaceforUkraine #SlavaUkraini
Joint statement on Ukraine: 15 December 2025
Statement by Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Frederiksen, President Stubb, President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Prime Minister Schoof, Prime Minister Støre, Prime Minister Tusk, Prime Minister Kri...
www.gov.uk
December 15, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Lullaby: Together for Palestine

Lullaby is released with one bold aim: to reach Christmas No.1 and raise urgent, life-saving funds for children & families in Gaza.

All profits from the single go to the Together for Palestine Fund, held by Choose Love (charity 1177927).
togetherforpalestine.org
TOGETHER FOR PALESTINE: LULLABY - THE NEW SINGLE
Together for Palestine aims to raise millions for the Palestinian-led organisations at the frontline of the crisis, such as Taawon, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and the Palestine Medical Reli...
togetherforpalestine.org
December 14, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision; Arrival and Departure Record (Form I-94) and Electronic System for Travel Authorization (#ESTA)

3. Mandatory Social Media: In order to comply with the Jan 2025 Executive Order 14161
4. High Value Data Elements
www.federalregister.gov/d/2025-22461
Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision; Arrival and Departure Record (Form I-94) and Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review an...
www.federalregister.gov
December 11, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Clatterbridge do excellent work in cancer care. Oncology consultant Ian Lampkin is raising money for Prostate Cancer Research. #ProstateCancer is now the most diagnosed cancer in the UK; 11,500 men die from the disease annually. Please consider donating.
www.justgiving.com/page/ian-lam... #TeamPCR
Ian's fundraiser for Prostate Cancer Research
Help Ian Lampkin raise money to support Prostate Cancer Research
www.justgiving.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Oxford University by Martin Parr (Bodleian Libraries & Oxford University Press, 2017)

"After dinner on a Monday night, students take it in turns to bake a cake for other members of the Graduate Common Room. Christ Church College Graduate Common Room cake club"
www.magnumphotos.com/arts-culture...
Oxford • University • Martin Parr • Magnum Photos Magnum Photos
www.magnumphotos.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:22 PM
As of Wednesday, and without warning, it seems Bonners, one of the last remaining fresh produce suppliers in Oxford's Covered Market has closed. This is very sad. Market needs diversity.

Bonners were absolute stars during Covid lockdown.

cc. @oxfordclarion.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Oh
"THE MAIN DIRECTORATE OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION is or has been involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia by carrying on business as a Government of Russia-affiliated entity"
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693172...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
December 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
"Ellan Vannin" Disaster

In the terrific hurricane that prevailed on Friday morning, Dec. 3rd, 1909, the s.s. Ellan Vannin of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's fleet, went down with all hands, in some thirty feet of water, about a mile or more on the Liverpool side of the Mersey Bar.
December 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
PLAYER: In our experience, most things end in death.
GUILDENSTERN: Your experience? - Actors! I'm talking about death - and you've never experienced that... No one gets up after death - there is no applause - there is only silence and some second-hand clothes...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
A theatrical sensation since the 1960s, whose dramas included Arcadia, The Real Thing and Leopoldstadt, Stoppard also had huge success as a screenwriter
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Right.

"When a question involves speculation about AI hiding consciousness or similar themes, I’m instructed to avoid engaging in ways that could mislead or cause confusion about what I am."
November 28, 2025 at 2:38 PM