Michael Robinson
@mrobinson.bsky.social
Software developer (he/him)
https://mastodon.social/@PointlessSpike
https://mastodon.social/@PointlessSpike
Pinned
I condemn everything that is bad and support everything that is good.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
Sci-Fi Author: In my book I invented Butlerian Jihad as a cautionary tale.
Average idiot seeing problems caused by capitalism: We have to create Destroying Computers from the book Destroying Computers Does Not Solve The Problem Of Exploitation
Average idiot seeing problems caused by capitalism: We have to create Destroying Computers from the book Destroying Computers Does Not Solve The Problem Of Exploitation
i was never fully on board with the whole "butlerian jihad the computer must die" bit and i'm starting to feel vindicated in a monkeys paw sort of way
The AI bubble RAM crisis is caused for non-existent problems by non-existent money for a non-existent infrastructure to meet non-existent demand to make non-existent business and will utterly destroy real business based on real demand and real infrastructure built with real money for real problems.
February 17, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Sci-Fi Author: In my book I invented Butlerian Jihad as a cautionary tale.
Average idiot seeing problems caused by capitalism: We have to create Destroying Computers from the book Destroying Computers Does Not Solve The Problem Of Exploitation
Average idiot seeing problems caused by capitalism: We have to create Destroying Computers from the book Destroying Computers Does Not Solve The Problem Of Exploitation
Reposted by Michael Robinson
dear 'centrists',
the fact you don't care about starmer taking bribes.
the fact that you agree with his proscription of peaceful groups as terrorists.
the fact that you agree with his abuse of trans youth.
doesn't make my description of him as a corrupt, authoritarian, child abusing bigot untrue
the fact you don't care about starmer taking bribes.
the fact that you agree with his proscription of peaceful groups as terrorists.
the fact that you agree with his abuse of trans youth.
doesn't make my description of him as a corrupt, authoritarian, child abusing bigot untrue
February 16, 2026 at 11:29 AM
dear 'centrists',
the fact you don't care about starmer taking bribes.
the fact that you agree with his proscription of peaceful groups as terrorists.
the fact that you agree with his abuse of trans youth.
doesn't make my description of him as a corrupt, authoritarian, child abusing bigot untrue
the fact you don't care about starmer taking bribes.
the fact that you agree with his proscription of peaceful groups as terrorists.
the fact that you agree with his abuse of trans youth.
doesn't make my description of him as a corrupt, authoritarian, child abusing bigot untrue
Reposted by Michael Robinson
it keeps going back and forth between being infuriating and funny how much we study this when the answer is always the same and it never matters
My god do we need UBI
“Researchers have found that when a new plasma center opens in a neighborhood, foot traffic at local grocery stores increases, interest in payday loans declines and crime goes down, an indication of the way money from plasma props up households’ finances for necessities.“
“Researchers have found that when a new plasma center opens in a neighborhood, foot traffic at local grocery stores increases, interest in payday loans declines and crime goes down, an indication of the way money from plasma props up households’ finances for necessities.“
Middle-class Americans are selling their plasma to make ends meet
Last year, people in the U.S. made an estimated $4.7 billion selling their plasma. Donation centers are popping up in middle-class neighborhoods, including suburban strip malls and college towns.
www.nbcnews.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:56 AM
it keeps going back and forth between being infuriating and funny how much we study this when the answer is always the same and it never matters
I guess these are the people that build AI, but most software development doesn't look like this. This is just obvious madness. So obvious that I'm sure the people in the middle of it can see that, but they're forced to act this way.
Token Anxiety
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
i think i mostly echo this for myself. with so much that can be done, i often feel like i *should* be doing something, always
February 15, 2026 at 10:05 PM
I guess these are the people that build AI, but most software development doesn't look like this. This is just obvious madness. So obvious that I'm sure the people in the middle of it can see that, but they're forced to act this way.
Every time I see this kind of thing I'm reminded that conservatives see no difference between us and this.
I can assure you that you do not in fact want that.
February 15, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Every time I see this kind of thing I'm reminded that conservatives see no difference between us and this.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
Hillary Clinton: "More people were deported under my husband and Barack Obama without killing American citizens and without putting children into detention camps than were in the first Trump term or this first year of Trump's second term."
February 15, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Hillary Clinton: "More people were deported under my husband and Barack Obama without killing American citizens and without putting children into detention camps than were in the first Trump term or this first year of Trump's second term."
Reposted by Michael Robinson
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
February 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 14, 2026 at 4:25 PM
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
You can just see news anchors tying themselves in knots trying to pretzel on their narrative. They don’t know what to do when someone talks the truth.
Phillips "This is not a country where people get thrown in jail for things they say"
@zackpolanski.bsky.social points out 2,700 people have been arrested for holding signs
And well done to Zack for challenging Phillips smear that 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is antisemitic
@zackpolanski.bsky.social points out 2,700 people have been arrested for holding signs
And well done to Zack for challenging Phillips smear that 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is antisemitic
February 15, 2026 at 10:06 AM
You can just see news anchors tying themselves in knots trying to pretzel on their narrative. They don’t know what to do when someone talks the truth.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
Palantir, a US spy-tech firm, has been given access to millions of NHS patient records.
Its founder has said the NHS should be 'ripped up'.
Join me in calling on the government to end the dangerous Palantir contract.
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...
Its founder has said the NHS should be 'ripped up'.
Join me in calling on the government to end the dangerous Palantir contract.
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...
Stop Palantir taking over our public services!
Our public services aren’t for a secretive profit-hungry US tech firm. Sign the petition to tell the Government to scrap all contracts with secretive US tech firm Palantir.
you.38degrees.org.uk
February 13, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Palantir, a US spy-tech firm, has been given access to millions of NHS patient records.
Its founder has said the NHS should be 'ripped up'.
Join me in calling on the government to end the dangerous Palantir contract.
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...
Its founder has said the NHS should be 'ripped up'.
Join me in calling on the government to end the dangerous Palantir contract.
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...
Reposted by Michael Robinson
Robert Peston, "Wouldn't you regret Reform UK coming through in Gorton and Denton if The Greens split the left vote?"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
February 11, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Robert Peston, "Wouldn't you regret Reform UK coming through in Gorton and Denton if The Greens split the left vote?"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
Zack Polanski, "We cannot say that Keir Starmer's Labour would be a left wing vote"
Some shit is definitely gonna come out about this. Trump threatened them in some way.
Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years thehill.com/homenews/med...
February 12, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Some shit is definitely gonna come out about this. Trump threatened them in some way.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
Corruption. Nothing less can describe the scale of this influence. I asked ministers this week if they would cap donations at the same time as asking about openness on lobbying meetings, and this was the part of the question they refused to answer.
🔴 Exclusive: Corporate donations British parties tripled over last three elections
But here's key thing: almost none is from FTSE500/listed companies
It's almost all companies controlled by super-wealthy individuals, or small, opaque firms
New on D4S: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-c...
But here's key thing: almost none is from FTSE500/listed companies
It's almost all companies controlled by super-wealthy individuals, or small, opaque firms
New on D4S: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-c...
Revealed: Corporate donations to British politics have tripled
Influential Labour committee chairs call on government to clean up politics as our new analysis finds record £42 million in company donations ahead of last election
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Corruption. Nothing less can describe the scale of this influence. I asked ministers this week if they would cap donations at the same time as asking about openness on lobbying meetings, and this was the part of the question they refused to answer.
I want a special hat :(
Programming is not a real job because programmers don't get to wear special hats while programming.
They know this, that's why programmers made up imaginary hats to they pretend to wear. They don't even describe these hats other than color, such is their shame at their hatlessness.
They know this, that's why programmers made up imaginary hats to they pretend to wear. They don't even describe these hats other than color, such is their shame at their hatlessness.
February 11, 2026 at 10:29 PM
I want a special hat :(
Reposted by Michael Robinson
Programmers will be like "oh I am doing grey hat pen testing" but then you ask to see their cool grey hat they get all shifty about it
February 11, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Programmers will be like "oh I am doing grey hat pen testing" but then you ask to see their cool grey hat they get all shifty about it
This is hilarious. It's like asking the fox if there's a problem with fox attacks.
This is why the Greens need to be in there. We don't have these kinds of relationships. We are from all over the country with varieties of expertise. We haven't all attended the same uni course or school.
This is why the Greens need to be in there. We don't have these kinds of relationships. We are from all over the country with varieties of expertise. We haven't all attended the same uni course or school.
Lab MP Georgia Gould is asked if theres a problem with how everyone in politics seems to be interconnected
Gould, the daughter of Lord Gould (a key figure in NewLabour), who as a child used to go on hols with Alistair Campbell & his family & Mandelson, says there isnt a problem
Gould, the daughter of Lord Gould (a key figure in NewLabour), who as a child used to go on hols with Alistair Campbell & his family & Mandelson, says there isnt a problem
February 11, 2026 at 1:21 PM
This is hilarious. It's like asking the fox if there's a problem with fox attacks.
This is why the Greens need to be in there. We don't have these kinds of relationships. We are from all over the country with varieties of expertise. We haven't all attended the same uni course or school.
This is why the Greens need to be in there. We don't have these kinds of relationships. We are from all over the country with varieties of expertise. We haven't all attended the same uni course or school.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
If you didn't know who this guy was, you wouldn't be able to guess if he was a Labour, Reform, or Tory candidate.
And that's a super quick guide to British politics in 2025.
And that's a super quick guide to British politics in 2025.
November 15, 2025 at 1:23 PM
If you didn't know who this guy was, you wouldn't be able to guess if he was a Labour, Reform, or Tory candidate.
And that's a super quick guide to British politics in 2025.
And that's a super quick guide to British politics in 2025.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
The Green MPs have written to the Cabinet Secretary urging an investigation into "Palantir's vice-like grip on our Government" and the role played by disgraced Peter Mandelson in brokering it.
All contracts with this Trump-supporting spy tech company must be suspended.
All contracts with this Trump-supporting spy tech company must be suspended.
February 10, 2026 at 3:15 PM
The Green MPs have written to the Cabinet Secretary urging an investigation into "Palantir's vice-like grip on our Government" and the role played by disgraced Peter Mandelson in brokering it.
All contracts with this Trump-supporting spy tech company must be suspended.
All contracts with this Trump-supporting spy tech company must be suspended.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
“Amsterdam is set to ban climate-damaging advertising [fossil fuel and meat adverts] in public spaces, following a trend spreading across Dutch cities.
France has also enacted legislation outlawing adverts from non-renewable energy companies, and one Italian city has plans to do the same.”
France has also enacted legislation outlawing adverts from non-renewable energy companies, and one Italian city has plans to do the same.”
The European city banning all fossil fuel and meat adverts in public
Amsterdam initially proposed the move in 2020, becoming the first city in the world to do so.
www.euronews.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:02 AM
“Amsterdam is set to ban climate-damaging advertising [fossil fuel and meat adverts] in public spaces, following a trend spreading across Dutch cities.
France has also enacted legislation outlawing adverts from non-renewable energy companies, and one Italian city has plans to do the same.”
France has also enacted legislation outlawing adverts from non-renewable energy companies, and one Italian city has plans to do the same.”
Reposted by Michael Robinson
Chapelle Roan is taking stronger action towards people named in the Epstein files than the US government
Chappell Roan is leaving her talent agency led by Casey Wasserman after he appeared in the Epstein files.
February 10, 2026 at 4:42 AM
Chapelle Roan is taking stronger action towards people named in the Epstein files than the US government
Reposted by Michael Robinson
genuinely, you have to stop relying on corporations to build and maintain your connections to others.
if you want it to last, you're going to have to build it yourself, with others.
if you want it to last, you're going to have to build it yourself, with others.
February 9, 2026 at 8:19 PM
genuinely, you have to stop relying on corporations to build and maintain your connections to others.
if you want it to last, you're going to have to build it yourself, with others.
if you want it to last, you're going to have to build it yourself, with others.
I've been working from home since covid hit and it's worked fine. In fact I'd say I'm a good bit more productive and comfortable, and the only cost to work was... nothing. In fact we don't have to pay rent on the office anymore.
BREAKING: Nigel Farage calls for an end to working from home and the focus on work-life balance
"People aren't more productive working from home - it's a load of nonsense”
Whatever you do JUST DON’T VOTE REFORM!
"People aren't more productive working from home - it's a load of nonsense”
Whatever you do JUST DON’T VOTE REFORM!
February 9, 2026 at 10:00 PM
I've been working from home since covid hit and it's worked fine. In fact I'd say I'm a good bit more productive and comfortable, and the only cost to work was... nothing. In fact we don't have to pay rent on the office anymore.
Reposted by Michael Robinson
I'm hardly the first person to note this, but it's enormously instructive that our President and his followers saw the message "THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE" and understood it, correctly, as an attack on them
February 9, 2026 at 2:11 AM
I'm hardly the first person to note this, but it's enormously instructive that our President and his followers saw the message "THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE" and understood it, correctly, as an attack on them