Mary Branscombe
@marypcbuk.bsky.social
Omnivorous technology journalist. girl with the USB earring; author of the Cassidy At Large technomysteries. Like my writing? Buy me a ☕ https://ko-fi.com/marybranscombe. she/her. Warning: contains opinions. signal marypcbuk.44
Pinned
Mary Branscombe
@marypcbuk.bsky.social
· Jul 29
Today I migrated my newsletter Cybercultural off Substack. I'm now using a custom website built with Eleventy, combined with an email delivery platform on Buttondown. Check out my blog post if you want to know more about why and how I did this migration. ricmac.org/2024/01/26/w...
I have a thread of people migrating off stubstack to various alternatives that I add to as I find more examples: lots of tips including which ones pay writers more than the Nazi-funding platform
bsky.app/profile/mary...
bsky.app/profile/mary...
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Mastodon doesn't allow you to move suspended accounts.
January 4, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Mastodon doesn't allow you to move suspended accounts.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
UK govt had a hate crime action plan, 2016-2020, but no govt updated it after 2020
One reason why our current govt has no public account of the causes of hatred/prejudice, nor its response. It has some political rhetoric + some instrumental claims re some policy choices
www.gov.uk/government/p...
One reason why our current govt has no public account of the causes of hatred/prejudice, nor its response. It has some political rhetoric + some instrumental claims re some policy choices
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Hate crime action plan 2016 to 2020
The government’s plan for dealing with hate crime in England and Wales.
www.gov.uk
January 4, 2026 at 1:59 PM
UK govt had a hate crime action plan, 2016-2020, but no govt updated it after 2020
One reason why our current govt has no public account of the causes of hatred/prejudice, nor its response. It has some political rhetoric + some instrumental claims re some policy choices
www.gov.uk/government/p...
One reason why our current govt has no public account of the causes of hatred/prejudice, nor its response. It has some political rhetoric + some instrumental claims re some policy choices
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Also that person who had ripped off multiple hacker artists on Etsy and then under penalty of perjury told Etsy they own the copyright in my original art and designs is back at it again.
Same listing.
It’s so incredibly frustrating.
Same listing.
It’s so incredibly frustrating.
Happy New Year! In about a week or so, I’m going to put my Etsy store on a long term (2-3 month) hiatus.
So if there’s anything you want, now is the time to grab it!
thegarbagefile.etsy.com
So if there’s anything you want, now is the time to grab it!
thegarbagefile.etsy.com
thegarbagefile.etsy.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Also that person who had ripped off multiple hacker artists on Etsy and then under penalty of perjury told Etsy they own the copyright in my original art and designs is back at it again.
Same listing.
It’s so incredibly frustrating.
Same listing.
It’s so incredibly frustrating.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Yah! An then made a fake website with my images with a watermark of theirs claiming they own the copyright.
Really putting the “will” in willful infringement.
Really putting the “will” in willful infringement.
January 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Yah! An then made a fake website with my images with a watermark of theirs claiming they own the copyright.
Really putting the “will” in willful infringement.
Really putting the “will” in willful infringement.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
nice! looks like more people will get access to the livestream indicator ring soon
@connoreatspants.bsky.social aiming to open access to this to more folks real soon :)
January 4, 2026 at 1:49 PM
nice! looks like more people will get access to the livestream indicator ring soon
Hugh Grant before Billy Bob makes a move on Ms Mcutcheon…
Starmer asked to respond to Trump breaking international law and seizing the leader of another sovereign nation replies that it is his "responsibility" to have a good relationship with the US President.
"I have stepped up that responsibility [and] I do get on with President Trump," he tells the BBC
"I have stepped up that responsibility [and] I do get on with President Trump," he tells the BBC
January 3, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Hugh Grant before Billy Bob makes a move on Ms Mcutcheon…
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
It was fairly challenging to combine data in #Excel
Two functions HStack() and VStack() combine dynamic arrays or ranges, by either stacking the data horizontally or vertically. in #Microsoft365 only.
office-watch.com/2025/combine...
Two functions HStack() and VStack() combine dynamic arrays or ranges, by either stacking the data horizontally or vertically. in #Microsoft365 only.
office-watch.com/2025/combine...
January 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
It was fairly challenging to combine data in #Excel
Two functions HStack() and VStack() combine dynamic arrays or ranges, by either stacking the data horizontally or vertically. in #Microsoft365 only.
office-watch.com/2025/combine...
Two functions HStack() and VStack() combine dynamic arrays or ranges, by either stacking the data horizontally or vertically. in #Microsoft365 only.
office-watch.com/2025/combine...
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Time for the comic relief
👺 Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it called US armed aggression against Venezuela on 3 January and said it is deeply concerned.
www.pravda.com.ua
January 3, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Time for the comic relief
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Anyway, any Brit wishing to escape all the international news today can settle down with BBC2 at 3.20pm, when "The Eagle Has Landed" is showing. It's a film about a group of soldiers attempting to kidnap another country's head of state.
I'm not kidding. It really is on today.
I'm not kidding. It really is on today.
January 3, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Anyway, any Brit wishing to escape all the international news today can settle down with BBC2 at 3.20pm, when "The Eagle Has Landed" is showing. It's a film about a group of soldiers attempting to kidnap another country's head of state.
I'm not kidding. It really is on today.
I'm not kidding. It really is on today.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Invading Venezuela might be President Trump's first entirely orthodox US foreign policy action
January 3, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Invading Venezuela might be President Trump's first entirely orthodox US foreign policy action
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Shout-out to all the quote-dunkers and rage-quoters on my post about muting words for your mental health.
Always handy having a way to spot followers I should block. 👍
Always handy having a way to spot followers I should block. 👍
January 3, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Shout-out to all the quote-dunkers and rage-quoters on my post about muting words for your mental health.
Always handy having a way to spot followers I should block. 👍
Always handy having a way to spot followers I should block. 👍
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
January 1, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Hello atmosphere ! Over the last few weeks, a bunch of us have been collaborating on a new set of lexicons for publishing, indexing, and building out social features across long-form reading and writing apps ! 🧵1/7
Standard.site - One schema. Every platform.
Standard.site provides shared lexicons for long-form publishing on AT Protocol. Making content easier to discover, index, and move across the ATmosphere.
standard.site
January 2, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Hello atmosphere ! Over the last few weeks, a bunch of us have been collaborating on a new set of lexicons for publishing, indexing, and building out social features across long-form reading and writing apps ! 🧵1/7
Remember, hyperscalers like Azure have Grok as one of the model options you can use for your AI workloads
For the last few days on X, people (mainly women, and sometimes children) have had nonconsensual images of them in swimsuits (or much worse) requested by users and created by Grok.
Musk's only apparent response thus far has been to crack jokes about it.
Musk's only apparent response thus far has been to crack jokes about it.
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Remember, hyperscalers like Azure have Grok as one of the model options you can use for your AI workloads
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Happy New Year, friends! I have some ~personal news~, which is that the Bluesky team is generously giving me some contract work (which could possibly turn into a job) welcoming more indie media and local govt to Bsky and supporting those already here.
Excited to take my amateur Bsky boosterism pro!
Excited to take my amateur Bsky boosterism pro!
January 1, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Happy New Year, friends! I have some ~personal news~, which is that the Bluesky team is generously giving me some contract work (which could possibly turn into a job) welcoming more indie media and local govt to Bsky and supporting those already here.
Excited to take my amateur Bsky boosterism pro!
Excited to take my amateur Bsky boosterism pro!
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 12:43 AM
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
I have a new favourite show. Nashville 911 from the creator of Glee and Dr Odyssey (which we refer to as Houseboat because it’s House on The Love Boat); so deliciously silly and involved (and it’s Callan from NCIS LA but as a rodeo riding fire chief, did I say silly?!)
January 2, 2026 at 1:16 AM
I have a new favourite show. Nashville 911 from the creator of Glee and Dr Odyssey (which we refer to as Houseboat because it’s House on The Love Boat); so deliciously silly and involved (and it’s Callan from NCIS LA but as a rodeo riding fire chief, did I say silly?!)
Shocked shag alert
From yesterday's Wandle wander, not the usual view of a cormorant on the Point Pleasant pilings.
They do have quite the green-eyed stare!
#birds #birding #wandle #wandsworth #wildlifephotography #cormorants
They do have quite the green-eyed stare!
#birds #birding #wandle #wandsworth #wildlifephotography #cormorants
December 31, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Shocked shag alert
The planner seems to be just drawing stuff out a map, without even route options so you get a trip with a widget but with NO TRAVEL in unless maybe you duplicate the bookings by hand; all the reservations are hidden in settings. My kingdom for better UI
But also, yay train to Venice
But also, yay train to Venice
The Interrail site is somewhat confusing; you can plan trips but not book them, and you can book trains but not add them to the planner...
Anyway: London - Munich, Munich - Venice, Venice - Tirano, and Tirano - Chur legs of our Europe By Rail our trip booked.
Anyway: London - Munich, Munich - Venice, Venice - Tirano, and Tirano - Chur legs of our Europe By Rail our trip booked.
December 31, 2025 at 10:18 PM
The planner seems to be just drawing stuff out a map, without even route options so you get a trip with a widget but with NO TRAVEL in unless maybe you duplicate the bookings by hand; all the reservations are hidden in settings. My kingdom for better UI
But also, yay train to Venice
But also, yay train to Venice
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Every time I've failed in my life, and Lord have I, it's because I let a system decay. Every success was iterated out of intentionally building a framework around the nebulous, weird, creative bit. Not eliminating the creative, but, like, building a Volvo to drive Gandalf to where he needs to go.
December 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Every time I've failed in my life, and Lord have I, it's because I let a system decay. Every success was iterated out of intentionally building a framework around the nebulous, weird, creative bit. Not eliminating the creative, but, like, building a Volvo to drive Gandalf to where he needs to go.
Booking our inter rail passes for our January trip and since @sbisson.com now gets a senior ticket, we’re joking that this makes me the adult supervision 😇
December 31, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Booking our inter rail passes for our January trip and since @sbisson.com now gets a senior ticket, we’re joking that this makes me the adult supervision 😇
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
libsoftiktok is now the third most powerful branch of government after the president and supreme court
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration says it's freezing child care funds to Minnesota after a series of fraud schemes in recent years.
December 30, 2025 at 11:38 PM
libsoftiktok is now the third most powerful branch of government after the president and supreme court
Felix Dennis, the CEO and founder of Dennis Publishing couldn’t drive so he had a chauffeur for his fancy car. On a journey back from IIRC Cornwall said chauffeur filled every slot in the 20 CD changer in the trunk with country and western. Felix had to wait until they got back to London to fire him
How many of y’all remember 100-disc CD changers?
December 31, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Felix Dennis, the CEO and founder of Dennis Publishing couldn’t drive so he had a chauffeur for his fancy car. On a journey back from IIRC Cornwall said chauffeur filled every slot in the 20 CD changer in the trunk with country and western. Felix had to wait until they got back to London to fire him
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
2025 Headline of the Year nominee (February)
December 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM
2025 Headline of the Year nominee (February)
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
2025 Headline of the Year nominee (July)
December 22, 2025 at 11:53 PM
2025 Headline of the Year nominee (July)