Stefan Czerniawski
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pubstr.at
Stefan Czerniawski
@pubstr.at
910 followers 320 following 1.6K posts
Blogging less than the olden days. Still working to make public services better, now in healthcare regulation.
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pubstr.at
Standard grump that publishers show not the slightest interest in taking money off people who might want to preorder ebooks, with the publisher in this case contenting themselves with supplying a collection of broken links, some of which go to the wrong country. Not the fault of authors, of course
gsoh31.bsky.social Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 7d
Lots of you will be logging off at the end of today. So what's coming up in 2026? It'll be packed. On 10 February I'll be publishing 'New Labour, New Britain?' - a whole book on the Blair governments. Have I said anything about it yet? www.amazon.co.uk/New-Labour-B...
New Labour, New Britain?: How the Blair Governments Reshaped the Country
Buy New Labour, New Britain?: How the Blair Governments Reshaped the Country by O’Hara, Glen (ISBN: 9781526146328) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
pollymackenzie.bsky.social
"Every time I pull a lever" says the Prime Minister.

This dead metaphor is killing his ability to get things done.

There aren't any levers. There's only leadership.

howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/there-aren...
There aren't any levers
A dead metaphor is killing the government's ability to get things done
howtorunacountry.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:10 AM
pubstr.at
Signs with portents
Three signs on a post: "Caution! Pedestrians Max Speed 5 mph" "Ramps" "Nature Conservation Area No Motor Bikes or Shooting" A brick pillar at the end of a high wall. A sign attached to the pillar reads "Please do not park opposite this pillar"
December 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
pubstr.at
The theme of the walk was winter orchards
Two red apples hang on an otherwise bare tree in front of a berry-covered hawthorn A single red apple on one of a line of trees. In the background a tiny spot of red indicates another apple further along the row. An arc of branches catching low winter light against a cloudless deep blue sky Skeletal trees glistening in winter sunlight with a clear blue sky behind
December 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
pubstr.at
This is just one reason why RSS feeds are wonderful things - a blog lies dormant for eight years, but the moment of its reawakening is instantly recognised.

www.wordyard.com/2025/12/01/w...
A screenshot of the opening of a blog post: Well, hello. It's been a while. Last post… eight years ago. OK! Sorry about that. Much has gone down since then, to borrow a phrase I learned from a veteran writer/editor at the San Francisco Examiner who left us a while ago.
December 2, 2025 at 11:15 PM
pubstr.at
The theme of the walk was cloudless sunshine
The last wall standing of a mediaeval castle is silhouetted against a deep blue sky A tree covered in golden leaves stands on green grass under a deep blue sky Autumnal trees and reeds at the edge of a lake are reflected in the still water, which echoes the deep blue of the sky above. A path leads through bare trees towards the bright sun - close to noon, but low in the sky
November 30, 2025 at 4:43 PM
pubstr.at
To this day, English law makes special provision for red diesel in customs and excise law. Implausible connections with red eels are invited.

www.nationwidefuels.co.uk/faq/red-dies...
greenleejw.bsky.social Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 28d
Medieval English laws categorized eels by size. The most common types were:

Pimpernell / Pimper eels: very small
Shaft / Dole eels: medium
Stub eels: larger
Red: ??

No one knows for sure what red eels were. But they were bad, & customs officers threw them out if they found any.
🗃️🧪
Meme. Book cover from "The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel." The title of the book is scrawled across the top, with "The Adventures of" in small yellow letters, and "The Scarlet Pimpernel" in large red letters, in a font with aggressive serifs. The title is set against a dark red sky. Below the title, on the left, is a setting sun behind an ominous guillotine, it's blade ascending to its moment of doom. On the right side is a castle tower, tinted blood red by the sun (and possibly the spray from the guillotine). Between the castle and the guillotine is startled looking man. You can only see his head and shoulders. He's wearing a powdered wig, & a white lace at his neck, & a stiff-looking blue coat. His eyebrows are arched up like railway bridges, & his small mouth is tight. His chin is weak, and it suggests something about his character. His eyes are condescending, but also aghast. He looks like you just threw a lizard at him. Meme text reads: "Part pimper. Part red. All eel."
November 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
pubstr.at
This is nominative determinism of the very highest order
The cover of a book 'The first referendum: Reassessing Britain's entry to Europe, 1973-75'. The author is Lindsay Aqui
November 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
pubstr.at
Impressive how it is possible to spot an @anothertimbre.bsky.social cover design at twenty paces - with the attendant promise of something weird and glorious.
andrewmale.bsky.social Andrew Male @andrewmale.bsky.social · Nov 20
#NowPlaying I have no issues with this instrumentation.
Santiago Diez Fischer SONGS Gyre Ensemble (Another Timbre, 2025) SONGS Percussion instruments used by piece + vocal credits: tres ciegos 4 different sized tupperware + student guitar (all bowed) Stefanie Mirwald-Kaiser & Christian Streit Smith, voice under the redwood tree Bowed/struck spatula & ruler clamped to resonating bodies (2 snare drums) + electric razor and cloth preparation Stefanie Mirwald-Kaiser & Christian Streit Smith, voice sappho's song 2 floor toms with super ball, voltage controlled fan preparation of student recorder, bowed cymbal, bowed spatula Santiago Diez Fischer, voice Alejandro Oliván López plays a Selmer Il Baritone Saxophone Stefanie Mirwald - Keiser plays a Pigini Nova Accordion All tracks recorded by Eguzki Irusta Salles November 8-10.2024 except tres ciegos recorded by Mikael Szafirowski December 10-11.2022 Recording Location - Musikwohnhaus Basel, Switzerland Mixed by Santiago Diez Fischer Mastering by Murat Colak at GERYON, 2025, New York City Cover photo: Santiago Diez Fischer, Paris 2024 Santiago Diez Fischer and your mouth is like the sound of many waters (2024) for solo baritone saxophone & electronics tres ciegos (2015) for baritone saxophone, percussion, and accordion under the redwood tree (2023) . for solo percussion & electronics rise in the sky to be a reminder of comfort (2024) for solo accordion & electronics sappho's song (2024) for baritone saxophone, percussion, and accordion Gyre Alejandro Oliván López, baritone saxophone Stefanie Mirwald-Keiser, accordion Christian Streit Smith, percussion
November 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
annkempster.com
A fundraiser for people affected by the flooding in Monmouth has been set up by the town council and the mayor.

You can donate here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
Help raise £5000 to Monmouth Mayor's fund to help Monmouth residents affected by the devastating flood – JustGiving Crowdfunding
Iʼm raising money to Monmouth Mayor's fund to help Monmouth residents affected by the devastating flood. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.
www.justgiving.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
thomascheney.bsky.social
also you know refugees are allowed to have unremarkable lives - they don't need to prove that giving them refuge was 'worthwhile' their need is justification enough
November 15, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
bm.wel.by
This is absolute gold from @richardpope.org on digitally enabled preventative healthcare
Preventative healthcare: designing for the service loop
A set of provocations about the design of digitally enabled preventative healthcare
www.rpp.works
November 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
pubstr.at
It's sometimes hard to remember that public services can be delivered with pride and self confidence
A stone plaque above a doorway inscribed "The health of the people is the highest law" The facade of a brick building in confident municipal style.
November 1, 2025 at 11:27 AM
pubstr.at
It's sometimes hard to remember that public services can be delivered with pride and self confidence
A stone plaque above a doorway inscribed "The health of the people is the highest law" The facade of a brick building in confident municipal style.
November 1, 2025 at 11:27 AM
pubstr.at
The very excellent @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social seems to have quietly died a couple of days ago. Does anybody know what might have befallen it and whether it can be revived?
October 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
pubstr.at
The theme of the walk was autumn ending
A row of trees in autumnal colours - deep red, yellow and residual green - with a clear blue sky A single arch brick bridge with a steam locomotive going across it, framed by trees Two mushrooms with white almost lacy caps and black frills A view across a lake to woodland beyond in a range of autumnal colours. The sky is covered in low cloud.
October 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM
pubstr.at
It's completely optional, other than not being at all optional.

#FixTheForms
Two fields from an online form. The prompt text for each includes "optional" but there are error messages saying "This field is required"
October 18, 2025 at 11:21 AM
pubstr.at
Tangentially reminded of an extraordinary weaving installation in a tunnel in Holborn years ago - eerie, mesmerising, and strangely beautiful

clapham-omnibus.blogspot.com/2009/10/chor...
October 18, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
ukgovcamp.com
Register is open for UKGovCamp 2026!

Join us on 17 January 2026 for a free, community-led unconference where public sector people meet to share ideas, collaborate, and improve services.

Spaces are limited. Secure your spot today: forms.gle/tL5q1ZBHYxAq...
UKGovCamp 2026 Registration
Our next annual in-person event is: free to attend, in Birmingham, on Saturday 17 January 2026. Please note: Registration does not guarantee a ticket because: the event is always oversubscribed,...
forms.gle
October 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
pubstr.at
Music stands in place for the solo performer
An empty stage with nine music stands set out in a row, with the sheet music glowing red in reflected light
October 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
pollymackenzie.bsky.social
My hero is a farmer, not a duck. Which will only make sense if you read this new piece by me, the start of a new substack which I am bravely calling How To Run A Country.

howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/its-the-de...
It’s the despair that’s going to kill us
Time to cheer up
howtorunacountry.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
pubstr.at
"When you’re trying to bring about significant change in any complex system, it’s impossible to know up front exactly what’s going to work, how the various risks are going to pan out or how the context is going to change."
'Being a leader isn’t about becoming great at everything': Civil service reform DG Janet Hughes sets out her priorities
Hughes, who became Cabinet Office DG for civil service reform and efficiency in June, on bringing the spirit of One Team Gov to her new role, test ...
www.civilserviceworld.com
October 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
pubstr.at
A strange little demonstration outside Broadcasting House - a handful of people with a banner bigger than they are proclaiming that "Bullets will not silence us - RIP Charlie Kirk" against a stylised union flag.

The ratio of confusion to word count seems remarkably high.
A very small crowd outside Broadcasting House in London A long banner is held up with a handful of people standing in front of it
October 1, 2025 at 5:37 PM
pubstr.at
Thick mist last night, clear blue skies this morning. Autumn beyond doubt.
A street at night, there are cones of light from lampposts picking up thick mist, visibility fades quickly into the middle distance
September 29, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Reposted by Stefan Czerniawski
paulclarke.com
Much of what is written about "digital identity" veers (often wildly) across two broad lanes: 1) the concept of your 'identity' and 2) means by which you prove a claim in relation to that (usually that you are either The Person, or that some fact is true - without necessarily revealing who you are).
September 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM