Paul Johnston
@pdj.bsky.social
Multi CTO, Climate, Data, Governance, Government, NED, advisor, strategist, ex AWS and GDS
Chair of Milton Keynes Community Energy
Chair of Milton Keynes Green Party
Other: ADHD/Leadership/Christianity
M: @pauldjohnston@mastodon.green
X: @pauldjohnston
Chair of Milton Keynes Community Energy
Chair of Milton Keynes Green Party
Other: ADHD/Leadership/Christianity
M: @pauldjohnston@mastodon.green
X: @pauldjohnston
Pinned
Paul Johnston
@pdj.bsky.social
· Nov 29
Bigger Finding # 2:
Outrage-evoking misinfo seems to have little concern for truth
It is shared more w/out reading, but people still could tell you it wasn't true, they just don't care
In other words, we basically prove the adage "YOU CAN'T BRING FACTS TO A FEELINGS FIGHT"
7/
Outrage-evoking misinfo seems to have little concern for truth
It is shared more w/out reading, but people still could tell you it wasn't true, they just don't care
In other words, we basically prove the adage "YOU CAN'T BRING FACTS TO A FEELINGS FIGHT"
7/
'In other words, we basically prove the adage "YOU CAN'T BRING FACTS TO A FEELINGS FIGHT"'
Love it
Love it
This is fascinating.
The huge increase in demand for data centres for AI has led to a massive problem for energy grids and therefore consumers.
This problem has been coming for a while. Interesting response to try to get the tech companies to pay for new power plants...
The huge increase in demand for data centres for AI has led to a massive problem for energy grids and therefore consumers.
This problem has been coming for a while. Interesting response to try to get the tech companies to pay for new power plants...
The Trump administration laid out a plan intended to compel tech companies to effectively fund the construction of new power plants as a way to tame surging consumer utility bills while aiding the development of data centers
Trump Pushes for Emergency Power Auction to Fuel AI Boom
The Trump administration and several states laid out a plan intended to compel technology companies to effectively fund the construction of new power plants as a way to tame surging consumer utility bills while aiding the development of data centers.
bloom.bg
January 16, 2026 at 9:49 PM
This is fascinating.
The huge increase in demand for data centres for AI has led to a massive problem for energy grids and therefore consumers.
This problem has been coming for a while. Interesting response to try to get the tech companies to pay for new power plants...
The huge increase in demand for data centres for AI has led to a massive problem for energy grids and therefore consumers.
This problem has been coming for a while. Interesting response to try to get the tech companies to pay for new power plants...
Can somebody *PLEASE* tell me what the accepted definition of "class" is in terms of working class, middle class and so on?
It's a term that is used so often with completely different contexts that it has become unusable.
e.g. I've seen UK politicians and journalists claim they are working class
It's a term that is used so often with completely different contexts that it has become unusable.
e.g. I've seen UK politicians and journalists claim they are working class
January 7, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Can somebody *PLEASE* tell me what the accepted definition of "class" is in terms of working class, middle class and so on?
It's a term that is used so often with completely different contexts that it has become unusable.
e.g. I've seen UK politicians and journalists claim they are working class
It's a term that is used so often with completely different contexts that it has become unusable.
e.g. I've seen UK politicians and journalists claim they are working class
This is called "polarization" and it's far worse in the US than most other countries.
Excellent piece from @gelliottmorris.com on how your news diet affects your politics and how you view the Trump Regime. Those with a heavy diet of conservative media view Trump favorably, while those with a diet of non-conservative media view him unfavorably.
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/what-your-...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/what-your-...
What your news diet says about your politics
Breaking down Trump's approval and 2026 midterms vote by Americans' primary news source
www.gelliottmorris.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:50 AM
This is called "polarization" and it's far worse in the US than most other countries.
I am seriously considering going back to X and posting there again, but in a "broadcast" not a "social" way.
This place is great but it's not where my network has moved.
This place is great but it's not where my network has moved.
December 3, 2025 at 10:52 AM
I am seriously considering going back to X and posting there again, but in a "broadcast" not a "social" way.
This place is great but it's not where my network has moved.
This place is great but it's not where my network has moved.
Fantastic analysis
December 1, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Fantastic analysis
Your Party should rename itself as the Judean People's Front.
November 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Your Party should rename itself as the Judean People's Front.
This is entirely because the BBC have reviewed everything in light of the recent issues and resignations.
The BBC is having a crisis of governance at the moment.
The BBC is having a crisis of governance at the moment.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 AM
This is entirely because the BBC have reviewed everything in light of the recent issues and resignations.
The BBC is having a crisis of governance at the moment.
The BBC is having a crisis of governance at the moment.
Genuinely don't understand some of the anti-AI stance of many people.
1: LLMs are only one form of AI and other forms of AI are doing amazing things e.g. healthcare.
2: Narrowing to LLMs many of the issues are around people losing jobs. Many of them have already been lost and won't come back.
1: LLMs are only one form of AI and other forms of AI are doing amazing things e.g. healthcare.
2: Narrowing to LLMs many of the issues are around people losing jobs. Many of them have already been lost and won't come back.
November 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Genuinely don't understand some of the anti-AI stance of many people.
1: LLMs are only one form of AI and other forms of AI are doing amazing things e.g. healthcare.
2: Narrowing to LLMs many of the issues are around people losing jobs. Many of them have already been lost and won't come back.
1: LLMs are only one form of AI and other forms of AI are doing amazing things e.g. healthcare.
2: Narrowing to LLMs many of the issues are around people losing jobs. Many of them have already been lost and won't come back.
*cough* join the Green Party @greenparty.org.uk *cough*
This and all the endless 'leaks' about proposed policy are infuriating. It's a way to sound out public opinion without accountability. Just devise a system where we can contribute meaningful feedback, with ownership of ideas. I want a proper method of engagement, not this sleekit bullshit.
oh just shut up about the effing Budget please. You'll have plenty of time to pontificate about what was *actually in it* on Thursday.
I really miss the days of Budget Purdah.
I really miss the days of Budget Purdah.
November 24, 2025 at 12:34 PM
*cough* join the Green Party @greenparty.org.uk *cough*
Reposted by Paul Johnston
This is what current polls are showing for Greens:
Opinium: joint highest ever rating 12%
Find Out Now: joint highest ever with 18% above Lab and Tories
YouGov: joint highest ever on 17% (just 2 behind Lab and same as Tories)
ipsos: highest ever on 15% (1 behind Tories and 3 behind Labour)
Opinium: joint highest ever rating 12%
Find Out Now: joint highest ever with 18% above Lab and Tories
YouGov: joint highest ever on 17% (just 2 behind Lab and same as Tories)
ipsos: highest ever on 15% (1 behind Tories and 3 behind Labour)
November 24, 2025 at 11:05 AM
This is what current polls are showing for Greens:
Opinium: joint highest ever rating 12%
Find Out Now: joint highest ever with 18% above Lab and Tories
YouGov: joint highest ever on 17% (just 2 behind Lab and same as Tories)
ipsos: highest ever on 15% (1 behind Tories and 3 behind Labour)
Opinium: joint highest ever rating 12%
Find Out Now: joint highest ever with 18% above Lab and Tories
YouGov: joint highest ever on 17% (just 2 behind Lab and same as Tories)
ipsos: highest ever on 15% (1 behind Tories and 3 behind Labour)
Using LLMs is reasonable for some circumstances, but getting high quality content is much harder than just shoving a prompt in.
These tools are very good at taking the role of an editor for existing content.
One of my favourite prompts is "tell me where the inconsistencies are in this doc"
These tools are very good at taking the role of an editor for existing content.
One of my favourite prompts is "tell me where the inconsistencies are in this doc"
November 24, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Using LLMs is reasonable for some circumstances, but getting high quality content is much harder than just shoving a prompt in.
These tools are very good at taking the role of an editor for existing content.
One of my favourite prompts is "tell me where the inconsistencies are in this doc"
These tools are very good at taking the role of an editor for existing content.
One of my favourite prompts is "tell me where the inconsistencies are in this doc"
Reposted by Paul Johnston
"You can agree or disagree with him, but Polanski does not pretend to be something he is not.
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Zack Polanski: ‘People will have to find some other way to hurt me’ | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
"You can agree or disagree with him, but Polanski does not pretend to be something he is not.
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Ireland have played so badly. Lost their discipline multiple times. Nobody on the field is taking control and calming it down.
South Africa haven't even been that good.
Referee has probably been a bit lenient but good grief Ireland have no excuses. This is self inflicted so far.
#rugby #IREvRAS
South Africa haven't even been that good.
Referee has probably been a bit lenient but good grief Ireland have no excuses. This is self inflicted so far.
#rugby #IREvRAS
November 22, 2025 at 6:46 PM
It still amazes me how many techies think that fixing a *massive* service outage like #cloudflare is akin to "turn it off and on again".
If we've learned anything over the past couple of decades, it's that no service, however well designed and architected, is immune from failure.
If we've learned anything over the past couple of decades, it's that no service, however well designed and architected, is immune from failure.
November 18, 2025 at 3:22 PM
It still amazes me how many techies think that fixing a *massive* service outage like #cloudflare is akin to "turn it off and on again".
If we've learned anything over the past couple of decades, it's that no service, however well designed and architected, is immune from failure.
If we've learned anything over the past couple of decades, it's that no service, however well designed and architected, is immune from failure.
I'm finding time spent on here less and less valuable unfortunately.
Maybe I'll try to figure out a way to use this platform, but recent activity suggests that may be hard.
Suggestions on how to use Bluesky to get more out of it?
Maybe I'll try to figure out a way to use this platform, but recent activity suggests that may be hard.
Suggestions on how to use Bluesky to get more out of it?
November 13, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I'm finding time spent on here less and less valuable unfortunately.
Maybe I'll try to figure out a way to use this platform, but recent activity suggests that may be hard.
Suggestions on how to use Bluesky to get more out of it?
Maybe I'll try to figure out a way to use this platform, but recent activity suggests that may be hard.
Suggestions on how to use Bluesky to get more out of it?
Reposted by Paul Johnston
"If the Greens overtake Labour in the polls, it will become harder for Labour to make the case that a vote for Polanski is a vote for Farage." www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
The Green surge is about to break Labour
Polanski's increasing popularity has huge implications for the future of British politics
www.newstatesman.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:42 AM
"If the Greens overtake Labour in the polls, it will become harder for Labour to make the case that a vote for Polanski is a vote for Farage." www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Paul Johnston
China is winning, and it's important that it does. Fossil fuels are washed.
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:08 AM
China is winning, and it's important that it does. Fossil fuels are washed.
Reposted by Paul Johnston
BBC: "the finale had 1.9m live requests on iPlayer, making #CelebrityTraitors finale the highest live-viewing number for any entertainment episode on iPlayer of all time."
www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ratings/the-...
www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ratings/the-...
The Celebrity Traitors Finale smashes past 11m
THURSDAY: Stellar night for Studio Lambert as Celebrity Race Across the World returns with a bang
www.broadcastnow.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 11:14 AM
BBC: "the finale had 1.9m live requests on iPlayer, making #CelebrityTraitors finale the highest live-viewing number for any entertainment episode on iPlayer of all time."
www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ratings/the-...
www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ratings/the-...
Love this
🧵 / YouGov's new study finds Britain's ethnic minority communities now tend to have a negative view of the Labour party
Greens: +17 net favourable
Lib Dems: +1
Labour: -19
Conservatives: -44
Reform UK: -62
Breakdowns by individual ethnic group in chart 👇
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Greens: +17 net favourable
Lib Dems: +1
Labour: -19
Conservatives: -44
Reform UK: -62
Breakdowns by individual ethnic group in chart 👇
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
October 28, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Love this
Reposted by Paul Johnston
The Green surge is breaking limits! 😲
Together, we can make hope normal again! 💚
Together, we can make hope normal again! 💚
October 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Green surge is breaking limits! 😲
Together, we can make hope normal again! 💚
Together, we can make hope normal again! 💚
Reposted by Paul Johnston
"You need to be unapologetic, someone who gets the modern media environment and social media, and is a competent speaker - all of which Polanski is."
Why Zack Polanski is one of the only UK politicians with a reason to be cheerful right now
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/zack...
Why Zack Polanski is one of the only UK politicians with a reason to be cheerful right now
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/zack...
Zack Polanski: Can the Green Party leader ‘rebalance the scales’ of UK politics? | The News Agents
In little more than a month of leadership, Zack Polanski has grown the party’s membership and become a powerful figure on the left-wing of UK politics. Can he, and the Green Party, take this further…
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 6:03 PM
93,000 members
Guess what? The time to join the Green Party was yesterday
Guess what? The time to join the Green Party was yesterday
We just hit 93,000 members.
We're polling on average higher than we have ever before.
Over 1000 people joining a day!
Join our movement.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
We're polling on average higher than we have ever before.
Over 1000 people joining a day!
Join our movement.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Join the Green Party
Join the Green Party from just £6 a year. Become a member today - join the only party standing up for people and planet.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
October 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM
93,000 members
Guess what? The time to join the Green Party was yesterday
Guess what? The time to join the Green Party was yesterday
Reposted by Paul Johnston
Back in the distant past, when I was a student, the Zoology department at Cambridge caught fire. Now, they didn’t have much in the way of computers, but they *were* next door to the Computer Lab, who, um, did. A bunch of microvaxen, which all got smoke damaged. And, more pertinently, the 1/n
October 9, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Back in the distant past, when I was a student, the Zoology department at Cambridge caught fire. Now, they didn’t have much in the way of computers, but they *were* next door to the Computer Lab, who, um, did. A bunch of microvaxen, which all got smoke damaged. And, more pertinently, the 1/n
I've turned on my heater on my garden cabin for the first time since the spring and my "smart radiator" thermostat is as unreliable as always...
It's not 19 degrees in here.
I also have a physical non digital thermometer that reads around 26 degrees so I'm not sure what the radiator is doing.
It's not 19 degrees in here.
I also have a physical non digital thermometer that reads around 26 degrees so I'm not sure what the radiator is doing.
October 9, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I've turned on my heater on my garden cabin for the first time since the spring and my "smart radiator" thermostat is as unreliable as always...
It's not 19 degrees in here.
I also have a physical non digital thermometer that reads around 26 degrees so I'm not sure what the radiator is doing.
It's not 19 degrees in here.
I also have a physical non digital thermometer that reads around 26 degrees so I'm not sure what the radiator is doing.
Cue searches for links on all govt documents for "source=chatgpt"
Yeah I dunno, maybe if I was creating a government document I might hide the fact I’d used ChatGPT to find the information.
October 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Cue searches for links on all govt documents for "source=chatgpt"