Michael Kilpatrick
@mtkilpatrick.bsky.social
Baritone saxophonist, Duke Ellington devotee.
Harmony In Harlem jazz orchestra.
Liberal Democrat, federalist, poet.
Former VLSI engineer at ARM.
South Cambs, UK.
#NAFO - spend money to free Ukraine.
Harmony In Harlem jazz orchestra.
Liberal Democrat, federalist, poet.
Former VLSI engineer at ARM.
South Cambs, UK.
#NAFO - spend money to free Ukraine.
1/ Quick thread on a bit of electronics DIY. I've got this Dymo label machine but it's REALLY ANNOYING because it runs on six AAA cells. Yro, bonkers. And it won't take 6 rechargeable AAAs because that's only 7.2V, not 9V.
Here is the battery compartment.
Here is the battery compartment.
January 27, 2026 at 6:48 PM
1/ Quick thread on a bit of electronics DIY. I've got this Dymo label machine but it's REALLY ANNOYING because it runs on six AAA cells. Yro, bonkers. And it won't take 6 rechargeable AAAs because that's only 7.2V, not 9V.
Here is the battery compartment.
Here is the battery compartment.
Nice bit of wiring in the garage, sorting out the mess of the armoured cables. Tidying up long overdue. Previous owners were a bit messy. I've used some PVC mini-trunking, and that's still a work in progress.
January 24, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Nice bit of wiring in the garage, sorting out the mess of the armoured cables. Tidying up long overdue. Previous owners were a bit messy. I've used some PVC mini-trunking, and that's still a work in progress.
The stupidity of having an executive president rather than a parliamentary government doesn't really appear to be sinking in for people in the USA. They're not going to change their flawed constitution, ever.
January 23, 2026 at 9:38 AM
The stupidity of having an executive president rather than a parliamentary government doesn't really appear to be sinking in for people in the USA. They're not going to change their flawed constitution, ever.
#bbcqt If we don't have a Land Value Tax, there will never be a penalty for brownfield site owners to leave them undeveloped.
Quite simple, really. Brown wasteland, no buildings? No tax. No incentive to build, no penalty not to.
Quite simple, really. Brown wasteland, no buildings? No tax. No incentive to build, no penalty not to.
January 22, 2026 at 11:44 PM
#bbcqt If we don't have a Land Value Tax, there will never be a penalty for brownfield site owners to leave them undeveloped.
Quite simple, really. Brown wasteland, no buildings? No tax. No incentive to build, no penalty not to.
Quite simple, really. Brown wasteland, no buildings? No tax. No incentive to build, no penalty not to.
#bbcqt Green Belt is itself a stupid construct that tries to defy 10,000 years of urban development and stop the natural growth of towns and cities. Ridiculous.
January 22, 2026 at 11:42 PM
#bbcqt Green Belt is itself a stupid construct that tries to defy 10,000 years of urban development and stop the natural growth of towns and cities. Ridiculous.
#bbcqt Shame Mrs Yellowjacket is rambling and incoherent as some reasonable points were buried in there.
But, Mrs, you need to pay attention to politics to know who represents what you want for the country. It's on you.
But, Mrs, you need to pay attention to politics to know who represents what you want for the country. It's on you.
January 22, 2026 at 11:32 PM
#bbcqt Shame Mrs Yellowjacket is rambling and incoherent as some reasonable points were buried in there.
But, Mrs, you need to pay attention to politics to know who represents what you want for the country. It's on you.
But, Mrs, you need to pay attention to politics to know who represents what you want for the country. It's on you.
#bbcqt Look folks, like it or not, we vote for a person not a party, and MPs are representatives, not delegates.
Do you want to vote for a party without knowing the person? Do you want politics to be even more party-dominated, or for MPs to be more individualistic?
Do you want to vote for a party without knowing the person? Do you want politics to be even more party-dominated, or for MPs to be more individualistic?
January 22, 2026 at 11:29 PM
#bbcqt Look folks, like it or not, we vote for a person not a party, and MPs are representatives, not delegates.
Do you want to vote for a party without knowing the person? Do you want politics to be even more party-dominated, or for MPs to be more individualistic?
Do you want to vote for a party without knowing the person? Do you want politics to be even more party-dominated, or for MPs to be more individualistic?
#bbcqt I started following this hashtag on "that other place" but found the proportion of nasty, racist, Trump-supporting loond is reaching epidemic levels. Yuck.
January 22, 2026 at 11:22 PM
#bbcqt I started following this hashtag on "that other place" but found the proportion of nasty, racist, Trump-supporting loond is reaching epidemic levels. Yuck.
Calling anyone in the UK who knows how to find wild and constructive volunteering opportunities for a 19-yr old, whether it's digging wells for people in Timbuktu, or anything - if you know what I mean. Our Tom really needs something to keep him on track.
January 19, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Calling anyone in the UK who knows how to find wild and constructive volunteering opportunities for a 19-yr old, whether it's digging wells for people in Timbuktu, or anything - if you know what I mean. Our Tom really needs something to keep him on track.
NATO is already dead in the water thanks to Trump's antics over Greenland and his insults to many member states.
Denmark should ask the UK and Canada to help undertake Arctic monitoring from Greenland and expel the USA forthwith. There is little point prolonging this. #NAFO #NATO #Greenland
Denmark should ask the UK and Canada to help undertake Arctic monitoring from Greenland and expel the USA forthwith. There is little point prolonging this. #NAFO #NATO #Greenland
January 10, 2026 at 12:41 AM
NATO is already dead in the water thanks to Trump's antics over Greenland and his insults to many member states.
Denmark should ask the UK and Canada to help undertake Arctic monitoring from Greenland and expel the USA forthwith. There is little point prolonging this. #NAFO #NATO #Greenland
Denmark should ask the UK and Canada to help undertake Arctic monitoring from Greenland and expel the USA forthwith. There is little point prolonging this. #NAFO #NATO #Greenland
There should be a full stop before the word "if". #NAFO
BBC News - UK and France to send troops to Ukraine if peace deal agreed
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - UK and France to send troops to Ukraine if peace deal agreed
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK and France to send troops to Ukraine if peace deal agreed with Russia
The announcement was made by UK PM Sir Keir Starmer after a meeting of Ukraine's allies in Paris.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 11:54 AM
There should be a full stop before the word "if". #NAFO
BBC News - UK and France to send troops to Ukraine if peace deal agreed
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - UK and France to send troops to Ukraine if peace deal agreed
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Michael Kilpatrick
"The moral purpose of civilized society is to prevent the stronger from attacking the weaker. The US was founded on that principle"
No it wasn't
USA was founded on principle of expanding west - breaking the British Royal Proclamation of 1763 to stop Indian wars
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
No it wasn't
USA was founded on principle of expanding west - breaking the British Royal Proclamation of 1763 to stop Indian wars
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Donald Trump poses a threat to civilization | Robert Reich
The moral purpose of civilized society is to prevent the stronger from attacking the weaker. The US was founded on that principle
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:19 AM
"The moral purpose of civilized society is to prevent the stronger from attacking the weaker. The US was founded on that principle"
No it wasn't
USA was founded on principle of expanding west - breaking the British Royal Proclamation of 1763 to stop Indian wars
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
No it wasn't
USA was founded on principle of expanding west - breaking the British Royal Proclamation of 1763 to stop Indian wars
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Makes a change from falling out of a window, which is the more usual form of vertically-inspired Russian "accident".
Meanwhile in Russia…
“A cleaning worker at a warehouse in Elektrostal suffered a spinal injury after an elevator fell on her.”
I keep warning people about elevators in Russia!
www.mk.ru/incident/202...
“A cleaning worker at a warehouse in Elektrostal suffered a spinal injury after an elevator fell on her.”
I keep warning people about elevators in Russia!
www.mk.ru/incident/202...
January 6, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Makes a change from falling out of a window, which is the more usual form of vertically-inspired Russian "accident".
Disclaimer: does not apply to archipelagoes in the Indian Ocean.
BBC News - Only Greenland should decide its future, Starmer says - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Only Greenland should decide its future, Starmer says - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Only Greenland should decide its future, Starmer says
It comes after President Trump again said
www.bbc.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Disclaimer: does not apply to archipelagoes in the Indian Ocean.
BBC News - Only Greenland should decide its future, Starmer says - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Only Greenland should decide its future, Starmer says - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Michael Kilpatrick
Yesterday on Times Radio, we discussed Venezuela and Trump.
Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s illegal action in Venezuela - Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate leader, but riding roughshod over international law like this only makes Britain and the world less safe.
Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s illegal action in Venezuela - Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate leader, but riding roughshod over international law like this only makes Britain and the world less safe.
January 5, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Yesterday on Times Radio, we discussed Venezuela and Trump.
Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s illegal action in Venezuela - Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate leader, but riding roughshod over international law like this only makes Britain and the world less safe.
Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s illegal action in Venezuela - Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate leader, but riding roughshod over international law like this only makes Britain and the world less safe.
If Trump actually goes ahead and recognises the Russian annexation of Crimea and the Donbass, the USA needs to be expelled from NATO immediately. #NAFO #Ukraine
🤬🇺🇸 The US is preparing to recognise Russia’s control of Crimea and other occupied Ukrainian regions as part of Trump’s proposed peace deal, - The Telegraph
Trump has sent Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow to deliver the offer directly to Putin. Ukraine would not be required to recognise these losses.
Trump has sent Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow to deliver the offer directly to Putin. Ukraine would not be required to recognise these losses.
November 28, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The fact that Ukraine is on the edge of a precipice yet has two anti-corruption agencies going at it hammer-and-tongs is why we should double our support. #NAFO
BBC News - Zelensky's chief of staff resigns after Ukrainian anti-corruption raid on his home
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Zelensky's chief of staff resigns after Ukrainian anti-corruption raid on his home
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak resigns after anti-corruption raid
Yermak, 54, has been Zelensky's closest adviser throughout Russia's full-scale war.
www.bbc.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The fact that Ukraine is on the edge of a precipice yet has two anti-corruption agencies going at it hammer-and-tongs is why we should double our support. #NAFO
BBC News - Zelensky's chief of staff resigns after Ukrainian anti-corruption raid on his home
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Zelensky's chief of staff resigns after Ukrainian anti-corruption raid on his home
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Just what is it about China being our actual enemy that people don't understand?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK expected to approve plans for Chinese mega embassy
A final decision has not yet been formally taken but the controversial project is expected to be given the go-ahead.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Just what is it about China being our actual enemy that people don't understand?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#bbcqt Boy turns up straight from a cricket pitch to say Farage should be in charge, but not actually saying how he sees Farage as not being establishment.
November 20, 2025 at 11:38 PM
#bbcqt Boy turns up straight from a cricket pitch to say Farage should be in charge, but not actually saying how he sees Farage as not being establishment.
#bbcqt Flipping heck, this mad woman thinks that investing in technology related to Net Zero is bad and that this, and not the stupid mechanism that ties energy costs to the price of gas-powered generation etc, is responsible for high domestic energy costs.
November 20, 2025 at 11:36 PM
#bbcqt Flipping heck, this mad woman thinks that investing in technology related to Net Zero is bad and that this, and not the stupid mechanism that ties energy costs to the price of gas-powered generation etc, is responsible for high domestic energy costs.
I think you'll find that it's hate and victim-blaming that are tearing the UK apart, you silly cow, not immigrants of any sort.
BBC News - Illegal migration tearing UK apart, Mahmood says - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Illegal migration tearing UK apart, Mahmood says - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Illegal migration tearing UK apart, Mahmood says
The home secretary is set to announce major policy reforms, including a 20-year wait before people granted asylum can apply to settle permanently.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I think you'll find that it's hate and victim-blaming that are tearing the UK apart, you silly cow, not immigrants of any sort.
BBC News - Illegal migration tearing UK apart, Mahmood says - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Illegal migration tearing UK apart, Mahmood says - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bob Hunt's Harlem Jazz Orchestra playing my transcription of Swanee Shuffle, as recorded by Duke Ellington in 1929. Absolutely love playing this, and I'm proud of brief Carneyesque solo near the end.
youtu.be/3DpHMTSQ9JM
youtu.be/3DpHMTSQ9JM
Harlem Jazz Orchestra play "Swanee Shuffle" from 1929.
YouTube video by Harlem Jazz Orchestra
youtu.be
September 30, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Bob Hunt's Harlem Jazz Orchestra playing my transcription of Swanee Shuffle, as recorded by Duke Ellington in 1929. Absolutely love playing this, and I'm proud of brief Carneyesque solo near the end.
youtu.be/3DpHMTSQ9JM
youtu.be/3DpHMTSQ9JM
The BBC News are getting a bit sloppy with their proofreading. The word "policies" is missing from the end of the headline for this article by Chris Mason.
September 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The BBC News are getting a bit sloppy with their proofreading. The word "policies" is missing from the end of the headline for this article by Chris Mason.