Andy Mabbett
@pigsonthewing.org.uk
Man of many talents-some of them useful. Multiple monomaniac. Author, 'Pink Floyd: The Music & The Mystery'.
Also Wikipedia, Wikidata &c. OpenStreetMap. Birds. Birmingham. Open data. FoI. Art. Architecture. History. FRSA.
Everything is interesting.
Also Wikipedia, Wikidata &c. OpenStreetMap. Birds. Birmingham. Open data. FoI. Art. Architecture. History. FRSA.
Everything is interesting.
"But Wikipedia’s volunteer community of editors reverted changes within minutes..."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Epstein Paid Reputation Firms to Suppress Child Sex Offenses Online
Epstein Paid Reputation Firms to Suppress Child Sex Offenses Online
Epstein Paid Reputation Firms to Suppress Child Sex Offenses Online
Jeffrey Epstein tapped online reputation management firms to bury negative coverage of his 2008 sex offense conviction and flood the internet with favorable content in a years-long effort to rehabilit...
www.bloomberg.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:04 AM
"But Wikipedia’s volunteer community of editors reverted changes within minutes..."
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
Bad news, @jamesomalley.co.uk - most postcode stonewalling from the government: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
questions-statements.parliament.uk
February 12, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Bad news, @jamesomalley.co.uk - most postcode stonewalling from the government: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
Another benefit of alt text in images and videos - as far as Bluesky is concerned it's just regular text. Which means you can search for that text. This text can be picked up by feeds. And yes - that text can be muted.
Ugh, somebody didn't use alt text so my mute function didn't work and I had to read some bullshit Will Stancil wrote.
Another reason alt text is important
Another reason alt text is important
make sure to only protest CORRECTLY. also, i have insider sources at ice. also, epstein was NOT part of any conspiracy or intelligence network. i'm just a normal guy btw. not a fed. calling me a fed is actually an incitement to violence.
February 12, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Another benefit of alt text in images and videos - as far as Bluesky is concerned it's just regular text. Which means you can search for that text. This text can be picked up by feeds. And yes - that text can be muted.
"White church" - the one that follows the teachings of the guy from Palestine?
Trump nominated a legit white nationalist to a top post at the State Department. I asked him some basic questions about his belief in the “erasure of white culture”. Watch this embarrassing, fumbling answer. Like he has never before been asked to explain his views.
February 12, 2026 at 11:39 PM
"White church" - the one that follows the teachings of the guy from Palestine?
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
Absolutely. This Darwin quote sums up every writer’s life.
I think I might copy ‘I am languid and bedevilled and hate writing and hate everybody’
February 12, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Absolutely. This Darwin quote sums up every writer’s life.
It's not unusual for organisations to use my #OpenLicence photos without including the required attribution (i.e credit me as the photographer).
But it takes the biscuit when it's done by the organisers of a photography festival... [1/2]
www.theeyefestival.com/vanley-burke
But it takes the biscuit when it's done by the organisers of a photography festival... [1/2]
www.theeyefestival.com/vanley-burke
Eye — Vanley Burke
www.theeyefestival.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:12 PM
It's not unusual for organisations to use my #OpenLicence photos without including the required attribution (i.e credit me as the photographer).
But it takes the biscuit when it's done by the organisers of a photography festival... [1/2]
www.theeyefestival.com/vanley-burke
But it takes the biscuit when it's done by the organisers of a photography festival... [1/2]
www.theeyefestival.com/vanley-burke
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
This might be the best accidental justaposition in the history of Blusky
February 12, 2026 at 12:08 AM
This might be the best accidental justaposition in the history of Blusky
I wrote a Wikipedia profile of Sheila Reith, inventor of the insulin injection pen.
Thanks to @louisebrown.bsky.social for bringing her story to my attention
Thanks to @louisebrown.bsky.social for bringing her story to my attention
Sheila Reith - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 12, 2026 at 5:14 PM
I wrote a Wikipedia profile of Sheila Reith, inventor of the insulin injection pen.
Thanks to @louisebrown.bsky.social for bringing her story to my attention
Thanks to @louisebrown.bsky.social for bringing her story to my attention
This might be the best accidental justaposition in the history of Blusky
February 12, 2026 at 12:08 AM
This might be the best accidental justaposition in the history of Blusky
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
@bengoldacre.bsky.social Did you know Epstein was talking about you (in a non-creepy way)?
www.justice.gov
February 11, 2026 at 8:58 PM
@bengoldacre.bsky.social Did you know Epstein was talking about you (in a non-creepy way)?
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
Hey, have been asking about this. There are definitely subtitles on the repeats later in the week, and they are looking into getting them on the Sunday broadcast. Check again though, and hopefully your Dad can get to enjoy it!
February 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Hey, have been asking about this. There are definitely subtitles on the repeats later in the week, and they are looking into getting them on the Sunday broadcast. Check again though, and hopefully your Dad can get to enjoy it!
Why doesn't she name them?
Chris Christie: So many of my fellow party members come up to me…in the green room at ABC, they'll say, 'You're so brave. That's so great. I totally agree with you. Trump's nuts.' ... Then on camera to be interviewed, and they go, ‘The greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.’ ...
February 10, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Why doesn't she name them?
"They are called homunculi," explained Sir Michael, "which I don't think anybody knows anything about, apart from Mackenzie."
There has been a Wikipedia article about them since September 2003
There has been a Wikipedia article about them since September 2003
Small Prophets: Sir Michael Palin on his first TV acting role in seven years
The actor and presenter said he was attracted by the
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 10:16 PM
"They are called homunculi," explained Sir Michael, "which I don't think anybody knows anything about, apart from Mackenzie."
There has been a Wikipedia article about them since September 2003
There has been a Wikipedia article about them since September 2003
Language is evolutioning
i heard both of these today:
"what are we solutioning here"
"we don't have a solve for that"
nouns and verbs, two ships passing in the night
"what are we solutioning here"
"we don't have a solve for that"
nouns and verbs, two ships passing in the night
February 10, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Language is evolutioning
They forgot Nick Mason's drumkit...
Masterpiece, fridge magnet, phone case … opera: how Hokusai’s The Great Wave hit the stage
Masterpiece, fridge magnet, phone case … opera: how Hokusai’s The Great Wave hit the stage
He survived a stroke, a lightning strike, a fire – and created one of the world’s most recognisable images. Now the Japanese artist’s ‘wild, fascinating’ life has inspired an opera
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:34 PM
They forgot Nick Mason's drumkit...
Sat down with my Dad to watch a recording of the new 'Mock the Week' on TLC.
No subtitles. Disappointed Dad.
#EverydayAbleism @daraobriain.bsky.social
No subtitles. Disappointed Dad.
#EverydayAbleism @daraobriain.bsky.social
February 9, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Sat down with my Dad to watch a recording of the new 'Mock the Week' on TLC.
No subtitles. Disappointed Dad.
#EverydayAbleism @daraobriain.bsky.social
No subtitles. Disappointed Dad.
#EverydayAbleism @daraobriain.bsky.social
Noam Chomsky's wife says "in 2015 ... Epstein’s 2008 conviction in the State of Florida was known by very few people, while most of the public – including Noam and I – was unaware of it. That only changed after the November 2018 report by Miami Herald."
It was in his Wikipedia biography.
It was in his Wikipedia biography.
Noam Chomsky's Wife Responds to Epstein Controversy | Aaron Maté
"Noam’s overly trusting nature, in this specific case, led to severe poor judgment on both our parts... we express our unrestricted solidarity with the victims," Valéria Chomsky writes.
www.filmsforaction.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Noam Chomsky's wife says "in 2015 ... Epstein’s 2008 conviction in the State of Florida was known by very few people, while most of the public – including Noam and I – was unaware of it. That only changed after the November 2018 report by Miami Herald."
It was in his Wikipedia biography.
It was in his Wikipedia biography.
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
Just a heads up to any fellow parents, the formula recall has expanded to Aptamil and Cow and Gate now, as well as Nestle and Danone, please do check if you use formula at all on case you need to stop:
Full list of Aptamil and Cow & Gate baby formulas recalled over toxin poisoning fears
The Food Standards Agency confirmed this week that dozens of children suffered symptoms of toxin poisoning
www.independent.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Just a heads up to any fellow parents, the formula recall has expanded to Aptamil and Cow and Gate now, as well as Nestle and Danone, please do check if you use formula at all on case you need to stop:
I've just been accused of "censoring Wikipedia" and "agenda editing"...
...for changing "American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Green Day" to "American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the US rock band Green Day".
...for changing "American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Green Day" to "American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the US rock band Green Day".
February 9, 2026 at 12:24 AM
I've just been accused of "censoring Wikipedia" and "agenda editing"...
...for changing "American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Green Day" to "American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the US rock band Green Day".
...for changing "American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Green Day" to "American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the US rock band Green Day".
Big shout out to someone called "guillotinefred", who has has added me to his "Alt text scolds" moderation list and blocked me.
Presumably so that he and his friends can continue to discriminate against people with disabilities unchanged
Presumably so that he and his friends can continue to discriminate against people with disabilities unchanged
February 8, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Big shout out to someone called "guillotinefred", who has has added me to his "Alt text scolds" moderation list and blocked me.
Presumably so that he and his friends can continue to discriminate against people with disabilities unchanged
Presumably so that he and his friends can continue to discriminate against people with disabilities unchanged
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
The MoJ continues to be truly terrible for transparency and open data.
They haven’t commented for this article, but I will bet money that the reason turns out to be they want to licence the data out to a company that will then charge a *massive* markup on it, making it inaccessible to the public.
They haven’t commented for this article, but I will bet money that the reason turns out to be they want to licence the data out to a company that will then charge a *massive* markup on it, making it inaccessible to the public.
The Ministry of Justice has ordered the deletion of the UK’s largest court reporting archive.
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
MoJ orders deletion of UK’s largest court reporting archive
Courtsdesk, which supports the media in monitoring records, is an important tool for journalists and the move raises concerns over open justice
www.thetimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:58 PM
The MoJ continues to be truly terrible for transparency and open data.
They haven’t commented for this article, but I will bet money that the reason turns out to be they want to licence the data out to a company that will then charge a *massive* markup on it, making it inaccessible to the public.
They haven’t commented for this article, but I will bet money that the reason turns out to be they want to licence the data out to a company that will then charge a *massive* markup on it, making it inaccessible to the public.
Just found this 2014 email in the Epstein files:
"What are some famous pictures that ruined peoples lives? - Quora"
"What are some famous pictures that ruined peoples lives? - Quora"
www.justice.gov
February 8, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Just found this 2014 email in the Epstein files:
"What are some famous pictures that ruined peoples lives? - Quora"
"What are some famous pictures that ruined peoples lives? - Quora"
Reposted by Andy Mabbett
A thing I did not discover until today but somehow makes perfect sense: in the 60s local papers would report their own local record charts, by the same method as the national ones: ring up the shops (sometimes, shop) and ask what's selling well.
February 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM
A thing I did not discover until today but somehow makes perfect sense: in the 60s local papers would report their own local record charts, by the same method as the national ones: ring up the shops (sometimes, shop) and ask what's selling well.
A M-W wants to live in a royal residence.
Isn't there room at the Tower of London?
Isn't there room at the Tower of London?
This report implies that 'Andrew' may have broken the Official Secrets Acts (& I wonder if the same could be possible of Mandelson?) and if so I wonder whether that, rather than 'Misconduct in Public Office' might, in both cases, form the basis of a prosecution?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Andrew shared confidential information with Epstein as trade envoy, files suggest
Under official guidance, trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive, commercial, or political information.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 6:39 PM
A M-W wants to live in a royal residence.
Isn't there room at the Tower of London?
Isn't there room at the Tower of London?