Ian
@ianpatterson.com
We live in a funny world: just making the most of it, one day at a time. Tweeter. Liberaler. Quiddler. Un buveur d’encre. A recovering frog after slowly cooking in Musks cauldron for too long.
Pinned
Ian
@ianpatterson.com
· Nov 17
Mt current wish list for @bsky.app new features - when they can find the time:
- draft posts, that work cross device. Let me save tweets and come back to them
- bookmarks
- ability to mute reposts selectively ie per account. Some people post a lot of RTs, but I dont want to mute them entirely
- draft posts, that work cross device. Let me save tweets and come back to them
- bookmarks
- ability to mute reposts selectively ie per account. Some people post a lot of RTs, but I dont want to mute them entirely
Reposted by Ian
Weird. These people are just WEIRD.
December 30, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Weird. These people are just WEIRD.
Reposted by Ian
IDC expects shipments of PCs could shrink by up to 9% YoY in 2026 due to global memory shortages, as demand from AI data centers continues to outstrip supply (Zak Killian/Tom's Hardware)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
December 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
IDC expects shipments of PCs could shrink by up to 9% YoY in 2026 due to global memory shortages, as demand from AI data centers continues to outstrip supply (Zak Killian/Tom's Hardware)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Just one of the amazing differences between rights and responsibilities in US vs UK law. In UK, there's a limited set of circumstances for which police can take a life, and largely theyre trained not to, including how to capture alive. And if they do kill, even if they fire a bullet, ...
December 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Just one of the amazing differences between rights and responsibilities in US vs UK law. In UK, there's a limited set of circumstances for which police can take a life, and largely theyre trained not to, including how to capture alive. And if they do kill, even if they fire a bullet, ...
Reposted by Ian
Isn't it fantastic to be a sovereign nation once again, able to make our own rules and not bend to the demands of foreign politicians?
December 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Isn't it fantastic to be a sovereign nation once again, able to make our own rules and not bend to the demands of foreign politicians?
Reposted by Ian
Terrifying. Really terrifying.
BREAKING: A Russian newspaper today — “America no longer sees our country as a threat… The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World… he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold that must be destroyed…”
Read that again.
Read that again.
December 30, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Terrifying. Really terrifying.
It seems relatively regular that banks in Germany/Austria/Italy get broken into by tunnelling. I cant remember last time I heard it had happened in UK. (There was a Hatton Garden robbery, but that wasn't a bank). Is that our thieves have a different culture, or something is different here?
December 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
It seems relatively regular that banks in Germany/Austria/Italy get broken into by tunnelling. I cant remember last time I heard it had happened in UK. (There was a Hatton Garden robbery, but that wasn't a bank). Is that our thieves have a different culture, or something is different here?
I sometimes wonder how much money is made from YT channels etc that take old TV content and simply 'broadcast' it. This rendition of Le Marseillaise by Mireille Mathieu is fabulous, but there are numerous copies of it. This one has 7.8M views - I wonder how much it made.
youtu.be/7MQ-SC9bmp4?...
youtu.be/7MQ-SC9bmp4?...
La Marseillaise, sung by Mireille Mathieu. American English subtitles.
YouTube video by Tony
youtu.be
December 30, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I sometimes wonder how much money is made from YT channels etc that take old TV content and simply 'broadcast' it. This rendition of Le Marseillaise by Mireille Mathieu is fabulous, but there are numerous copies of it. This one has 7.8M views - I wonder how much it made.
youtu.be/7MQ-SC9bmp4?...
youtu.be/7MQ-SC9bmp4?...
Reposted by Ian
Another “prize” awarded Trump to feed his narcissism. Sad!
December 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Another “prize” awarded Trump to feed his narcissism. Sad!
Listening to the issues with the Channel Tunnel today is eye opening. The Tunnel operator says that the tunnel operates only at about half capacity (meaning only half the number of trains) that it could. They want to increase that - which may be reasonable. However, its not just terminal ...
December 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Listening to the issues with the Channel Tunnel today is eye opening. The Tunnel operator says that the tunnel operates only at about half capacity (meaning only half the number of trains) that it could. They want to increase that - which may be reasonable. However, its not just terminal ...
Aargh. Alsop being silly saying folk shouldn't use Freedom Passes if they can afford it.
A few glitches with the piece too:
- assuming his sight condition is qualifying, Rosen should be entitled to a Disabled Freedom Pass, which covers more of the system (eg peak hours)
...
A few glitches with the piece too:
- assuming his sight condition is qualifying, Rosen should be entitled to a Disabled Freedom Pass, which covers more of the system (eg peak hours)
...
December 30, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Aargh. Alsop being silly saying folk shouldn't use Freedom Passes if they can afford it.
A few glitches with the piece too:
- assuming his sight condition is qualifying, Rosen should be entitled to a Disabled Freedom Pass, which covers more of the system (eg peak hours)
...
A few glitches with the piece too:
- assuming his sight condition is qualifying, Rosen should be entitled to a Disabled Freedom Pass, which covers more of the system (eg peak hours)
...
Reposted by Ian
Still mind-blowing that a top admin official was revealed to have taken $50,000 in cash in a paper bag from people looking for government favors, the reaction of the administration was "Whatever losers, this is how it works now" and bigshot news media said "If you say so, we'll forget about it"
Border czar Tom Homan didn't receive a normal background check for his role while his bribery probe was still ongoing:
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
December 30, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Ian
"I used to listen to music all the time," @chatterton.bsky.social laments. "Now I fill every available moment with the sound of people talking." Compulsively listening to podcasts shows "just how limiting too much information can be," Williams argues:
The Podcast ‘Productivity’ Trap
Maybe don’t fill every available silence with the sound of people talking.
bit.ly
December 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
"I used to listen to music all the time," @chatterton.bsky.social laments. "Now I fill every available moment with the sound of people talking." Compulsively listening to podcasts shows "just how limiting too much information can be," Williams argues:
Reposted by Ian
and this year, we saw a lot of people fight back against the dystopia. here's our deep dive on 3D-printed whistles that have become a defense against ICE
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
The Latest Defense Against ICE: 3D-Printed Whistles
Chicagoans are making, sharing, and printing designs for whistles that can warn people when ICE is in the area. The goal is to “prevent as many people from being kidnapped as possible.”
www.404media.co
December 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
and this year, we saw a lot of people fight back against the dystopia. here's our deep dive on 3D-printed whistles that have become a defense against ICE
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
www.404media.co/the-latest-d...
With the inheritance tax shenanigans over the last year, it's almost like the Treasury didnt have the correct statistics, or sufficiently deep analysis/statistics of what was happening. With this British-Egyptian chap, its like no-one thought to look.
No wonder it feels there's no-one at the wheel..
No wonder it feels there's no-one at the wheel..
December 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
With the inheritance tax shenanigans over the last year, it's almost like the Treasury didnt have the correct statistics, or sufficiently deep analysis/statistics of what was happening. With this British-Egyptian chap, its like no-one thought to look.
No wonder it feels there's no-one at the wheel..
No wonder it feels there's no-one at the wheel..
IF only Meta et al devoted the same care and attention to this as they do their quarterly results. Or are they saying that billions in revenue are foregone every month because theyre crap at that too? Because thats increasingly what it sounds like.
bsky.app/profile/hamm...
bsky.app/profile/hamm...
Baby formula kills babies? Charge the CEOs
Bridge collapses due to shoddy materials?
Charge the CEOs
Worker dies of heat exhaustion?
Charge the CEOs
Software encourages user to suicide?
CHARGE THE CEOS
Bridge collapses due to shoddy materials?
Charge the CEOs
Worker dies of heat exhaustion?
Charge the CEOs
Software encourages user to suicide?
CHARGE THE CEOS
Charge the CEOs
That is the only way this stops
That is the only way this stops
December 30, 2025 at 4:57 PM
IF only Meta et al devoted the same care and attention to this as they do their quarterly results. Or are they saying that billions in revenue are foregone every month because theyre crap at that too? Because thats increasingly what it sounds like.
bsky.app/profile/hamm...
bsky.app/profile/hamm...
Reposted by Ian
Public transit may not be flashy and exciting but it is essential and it does what it is supposed to do.
MOVING PEOPLE AROUND EFFICIENTLY.
Stop getting razzle-dazzled by tech bros, self driving cars in a tunnel will never be able to do with a freaking SUBWAY has and will always be able to do.
MOVING PEOPLE AROUND EFFICIENTLY.
Stop getting razzle-dazzled by tech bros, self driving cars in a tunnel will never be able to do with a freaking SUBWAY has and will always be able to do.
December 30, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Public transit may not be flashy and exciting but it is essential and it does what it is supposed to do.
MOVING PEOPLE AROUND EFFICIENTLY.
Stop getting razzle-dazzled by tech bros, self driving cars in a tunnel will never be able to do with a freaking SUBWAY has and will always be able to do.
MOVING PEOPLE AROUND EFFICIENTLY.
Stop getting razzle-dazzled by tech bros, self driving cars in a tunnel will never be able to do with a freaking SUBWAY has and will always be able to do.
Remember too that Russia's 'offer' to rebuild Ukraine comes with strings. Woint that just be Russian 'men' (aka little green men, with their uniforms tucked away), the corrupt managers, the drunken politicians,. the criminals, let loose in the 'economic zone'?
bsky.app/profile/euro...
bsky.app/profile/euro...
Russia offered to help rebuild Ukraine. Zelenskyy's answer: "They have to give us money. We will rebuild everything what we need to rebuild, and we will decide what to do."
Pay up, stay out. ⤵️
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/30/z...
Pay up, stay out. ⤵️
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/30/z...
December 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Remember too that Russia's 'offer' to rebuild Ukraine comes with strings. Woint that just be Russian 'men' (aka little green men, with their uniforms tucked away), the corrupt managers, the drunken politicians,. the criminals, let loose in the 'economic zone'?
bsky.app/profile/euro...
bsky.app/profile/euro...
When a politician who is wannabe quasi judicial Home Secretary or Justice Secretary starts calling people not convicted of anything scumbags, we need to wake up. Thats authoritarianism straining at the leash. Even people who tweet bollocks have rights.
bsky.app/profile/anne...
bsky.app/profile/anne...
I couldn't agree more. A surreal debate. And it is not healthy for a nation when the BBC broadcasts soundbytes of politicians calling him "scumbag".
He is a British citizen. To strip him of it because of some admittedly disgusting tweets is unlawful.
This shouldn't be questioned just like that.
He is a British citizen. To strip him of it because of some admittedly disgusting tweets is unlawful.
This shouldn't be questioned just like that.
I'm certainly not defending the Abd el-Fattah tweets but I really can't stomach the outrage about them from those who also insisted that Lucy Connelly was a heroic martyr for free speech and were equally outraged by her punishment.
December 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
When a politician who is wannabe quasi judicial Home Secretary or Justice Secretary starts calling people not convicted of anything scumbags, we need to wake up. Thats authoritarianism straining at the leash. Even people who tweet bollocks have rights.
bsky.app/profile/anne...
bsky.app/profile/anne...
One aspect of this 'retirement' video that set me thinking - has anyone written or produced an economic - algorithm history of creators over the last 20 years or so. People who worked out how to work the algorithms YT, Inst, ... youtu.be/piHGnG4LsmQ?...
The Future of Veritasium
YouTube video by Veritasium
youtu.be
December 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
One aspect of this 'retirement' video that set me thinking - has anyone written or produced an economic - algorithm history of creators over the last 20 years or so. People who worked out how to work the algorithms YT, Inst, ... youtu.be/piHGnG4LsmQ?...
The growth of some content creator channels comes with the same growth pains in other businesses, the pain of hiring, of letting go of parts, of not being in charge of absolutely everything. If it works, and there was a core worthy idea behind it, then it can really work.
...
...
December 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The growth of some content creator channels comes with the same growth pains in other businesses, the pain of hiring, of letting go of parts, of not being in charge of absolutely everything. If it works, and there was a core worthy idea behind it, then it can really work.
...
...
Reposted by Ian
Reposted by Ian
Reposted by Ian
When I wrote in April that Trump was helping Putin kill Ukrainians by weakening Ukrainian air defense, some people got upset and said I was being too harsh. Guess what happened in 2025? US aid to Ukr withered and at the same time, Ukrainian civilian deaths rose steeply. news.un.org/en/story/202...
Ukrainian civilian casualties rise 27 per cent compared to last year
Civilian casualties in Ukraine were 27 per cent higher from January to October 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to the latest UN human rights report on the situation in the easte...
news.un.org
December 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM
When I wrote in April that Trump was helping Putin kill Ukrainians by weakening Ukrainian air defense, some people got upset and said I was being too harsh. Guess what happened in 2025? US aid to Ukr withered and at the same time, Ukrainian civilian deaths rose steeply. news.un.org/en/story/202...
Reposted by Ian
I’ve taken this piece out from the paywall for everyone to read. What happened this year could have been prevented, but the US made Putin’s terror campaign much easier.
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Trump Is Helping Putin Kill Ukrainians
The USA Is Running Down Ukrainian Air Defense in Coordination With Russia
open.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I’ve taken this piece out from the paywall for everyone to read. What happened this year could have been prevented, but the US made Putin’s terror campaign much easier.
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...