Richard Bartlett
@rgbartlett.bsky.social
Infosec nerd, environmentalist, wannabe #solarpunk and water gypsy. End User Computing Manager at a humanitarian non-profit. All views my own.
Pinned
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
I've never in my life felt hope like this. I was 6 when Thatcher came to power and screwed everyone, I've never known anything other than neo liberalism and profit before people. Let's try something else, why not?!
Am I the only one who finds the data and evidence around greenhouse gas emissions from the UK government to be heavily focused on how we've reduced omissions since 1990 and much less focused on whether we're on track to hit our targets for 2050? 1/3
February 1, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Am I the only one who finds the data and evidence around greenhouse gas emissions from the UK government to be heavily focused on how we've reduced omissions since 1990 and much less focused on whether we're on track to hit our targets for 2050? 1/3
So happy to see this, a working class socialist to represent the people of Manchester as opposed the 1% represented by Labour and Reform. Go Hannah!
Say hello to Hannah Spencer—councillor, plumber, greyhound lover and your Green Party candidate for Gorton and Denton 💚
January 30, 2026 at 11:19 AM
So happy to see this, a working class socialist to represent the people of Manchester as opposed the 1% represented by Labour and Reform. Go Hannah!
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
It's quite worrying the SoS is equating learning how to prompt in 20 mins or under with diagnostic uses of AI in healthcare. I also still can't really believe govt is investing in universal training in proprietary tools. That Microsoft koolaid must be pretty intoxicating
BREAKING: Free AI training will be offered to every adult in the UK, with short courses to teach people how to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
January 28, 2026 at 9:08 AM
It's quite worrying the SoS is equating learning how to prompt in 20 mins or under with diagnostic uses of AI in healthcare. I also still can't really believe govt is investing in universal training in proprietary tools. That Microsoft koolaid must be pretty intoxicating
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
Please spread this far and wide, as stories don't get much bigger than this. When the government blocks even the intelligence services from telling us we're heading for environmental catastrophe, you know we have a problem. A very big problem.
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George Monbiot
It took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Please spread this far and wide, as stories don't get much bigger than this. When the government blocks even the intelligence services from telling us we're heading for environmental catastrophe, you know we have a problem. A very big problem.
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Just stopped myself before I tried a firmware update on my @starlabssystems@mastodon.social StarBook at 22:48 when I'm tired and about to go to bed. Definitely need a personal tech change freeze after 9pm.
January 22, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Just stopped myself before I tried a firmware update on my @starlabssystems@mastodon.social StarBook at 22:48 when I'm tired and about to go to bed. Definitely need a personal tech change freeze after 9pm.
I've never in my life felt hope like this. I was 6 when Thatcher came to power and screwed everyone, I've never known anything other than neo liberalism and profit before people. Let's try something else, why not?!
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
January 22, 2026 at 7:40 PM
I've never in my life felt hope like this. I was 6 when Thatcher came to power and screwed everyone, I've never known anything other than neo liberalism and profit before people. Let's try something else, why not?!
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
A real shame if this photo went viral again today.
January 18, 2026 at 8:18 AM
A real shame if this photo went viral again today.
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
Some crypto/tech types want to build a major new city on agricultural land. With no experience in doing any thing like this.
Hmm. Sounds familiar. Where have I heard this one before?
Hmm. Sounds familiar. Where have I heard this one before?
REVEALED: Suffolk’s Forest City is a corporate power grab – as leaked private messages show www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/...
REVEALED: Suffolk's Forest City is a corporate power grab - as leaked private messages show
How Shiv Malik's own words over Suffolk's Forest City exposed a nefarious agenda — and why he's now calling me "shady" for publishing them.
www.thecanary.co
December 30, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Some crypto/tech types want to build a major new city on agricultural land. With no experience in doing any thing like this.
Hmm. Sounds familiar. Where have I heard this one before?
Hmm. Sounds familiar. Where have I heard this one before?
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
I've written an end of year substack post about tracking Trump, where we are ending the year and some implications for Europe and for me personally...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/personal-r...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/personal-r...
Personal reflections on a Trumpian 2025
The implications of a year in Trump's new America and why I started tracking Trump - and why I'm not stopping.
christinapagel.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I've written an end of year substack post about tracking Trump, where we are ending the year and some implications for Europe and for me personally...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/personal-r...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/personal-r...
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
The Labour Government refused a 1% asset tax on the super rich, yet raised taxes on people already struggling.
All whilst their "black hole" turned out to be utter nonsense.
Active choices to refuse to fund our communities which they desperately need.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
All whilst their "black hole" turned out to be utter nonsense.
Active choices to refuse to fund our communities which they desperately need.
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
November 29, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The Labour Government refused a 1% asset tax on the super rich, yet raised taxes on people already struggling.
All whilst their "black hole" turned out to be utter nonsense.
Active choices to refuse to fund our communities which they desperately need.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
All whilst their "black hole" turned out to be utter nonsense.
Active choices to refuse to fund our communities which they desperately need.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Having used my #Fairphone5 with @calyxos.bsky.social and @fdroidorg.bsky.social I'm struck by how much better the experience is compared to my (work) Android Samsung Galaxy A16. If you want to retain that freedom of choice sign this petition to stop Google taking it away c.org/XQBckBYV9W
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
Stop Google from limiting APK file usage
c.org
November 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Having used my #Fairphone5 with @calyxos.bsky.social and @fdroidorg.bsky.social I'm struck by how much better the experience is compared to my (work) Android Samsung Galaxy A16. If you want to retain that freedom of choice sign this petition to stop Google taking it away c.org/XQBckBYV9W
A lot of dogs don't like vacuum cleaners, some are petrified. Not so much our dog, he's completely unfazed.
November 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
A lot of dogs don't like vacuum cleaners, some are petrified. Not so much our dog, he's completely unfazed.
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
The UK govt: "Hmm, we might have to ban VPNs & a whole range of otehr basic privacy safeguards, to Protect The Children, y'know."
Also the UK govt: "It's perfectly fine to let Nazi billionaire & friend of Epstein Peter Thiel trawl through the entire corpus of NHS personal data on your children."
Also the UK govt: "It's perfectly fine to let Nazi billionaire & friend of Epstein Peter Thiel trawl through the entire corpus of NHS personal data on your children."
November 13, 2025 at 9:28 AM
The UK govt: "Hmm, we might have to ban VPNs & a whole range of otehr basic privacy safeguards, to Protect The Children, y'know."
Also the UK govt: "It's perfectly fine to let Nazi billionaire & friend of Epstein Peter Thiel trawl through the entire corpus of NHS personal data on your children."
Also the UK govt: "It's perfectly fine to let Nazi billionaire & friend of Epstein Peter Thiel trawl through the entire corpus of NHS personal data on your children."
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
Exclusive: Based on documents viewed by this newsletter, OpenAI spent over $12.4 billion on inference from 2024 to September 2025. As part of its Microsoft revenue share, it sent $493.8m in 2024/$865.8m Jan-Sep 2025, implying lower revenues than previously reported.
www.wheresyoured.at/oai_docs/
www.wheresyoured.at/oai_docs/
Exclusive: Here's How Much OpenAI Spends On Inference and Its Revenue Share With Microsoft
As with my Anthropic exclusive from a few weeks ago, though this feels like a natural premium piece, I decided it was better to publish on my free one so that you could all enjoy it. If you liked or f...
www.wheresyoured.at
November 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Exclusive: Based on documents viewed by this newsletter, OpenAI spent over $12.4 billion on inference from 2024 to September 2025. As part of its Microsoft revenue share, it sent $493.8m in 2024/$865.8m Jan-Sep 2025, implying lower revenues than previously reported.
www.wheresyoured.at/oai_docs/
www.wheresyoured.at/oai_docs/
I swear if I hear "We need to capitalise on AI" one more time I'm going to flip the table. This whole industry is a masterclass in snake oil sales, they've convinced a whole class of 'leaders' that they have to use it, without it being of actual use to 99% of them.
November 11, 2025 at 9:10 AM
I swear if I hear "We need to capitalise on AI" one more time I'm going to flip the table. This whole industry is a masterclass in snake oil sales, they've convinced a whole class of 'leaders' that they have to use it, without it being of actual use to 99% of them.
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
Interesting that (a) he didn't feel able to give a categorical 'no' in response to the question & (b) he answered a completely different question to the one he was asked — from which we may draw the conclusion that he did not want to be pressed about _current_ RefUK MPs &/or members & Russian bribes
You think it'd be in Zia Yusuf and Reform's interests to be a lot more convincing than this...
November 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Interesting that (a) he didn't feel able to give a categorical 'no' in response to the question & (b) he answered a completely different question to the one he was asked — from which we may draw the conclusion that he did not want to be pressed about _current_ RefUK MPs &/or members & Russian bribes
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
The Government needs to get serious about climate change. And it hasn't so we're suing. But this is the longest and most expensive legal letter Good Law Project has ever sent - and it involves a huge team of specialist lawyers. And we really could use your help. goodlaw.social/4cqi
Make Keir Starmer step up on climate
The government is failing to tackle global heating – so we’re forcing it to take action
goodlaw.social
November 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The Government needs to get serious about climate change. And it hasn't so we're suing. But this is the longest and most expensive legal letter Good Law Project has ever sent - and it involves a huge team of specialist lawyers. And we really could use your help. goodlaw.social/4cqi
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
URGENT: 6 WEEKS LEFT - We're 743 signatures away from forcing a Government response
The UK Government is rolling out freeports and free zones nationwide with billions in taxpayer money, yet operates with an alarming lack of transparency. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...
The UK Government is rolling out freeports and free zones nationwide with billions in taxpayer money, yet operates with an alarming lack of transparency. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...
Petition: Transparency and Review of the free zones and ports impacts
To ensure full transparency by releasing data on governance, funding, and operations of free zones. Plus a public review to assess impacts, such as job displacement and value for taxpayers money
petition.parliament.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:14 AM
URGENT: 6 WEEKS LEFT - We're 743 signatures away from forcing a Government response
The UK Government is rolling out freeports and free zones nationwide with billions in taxpayer money, yet operates with an alarming lack of transparency. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...
The UK Government is rolling out freeports and free zones nationwide with billions in taxpayer money, yet operates with an alarming lack of transparency. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
Today on the blog I wrote about AI and the golem, and the benefit of listening to cautionary tales from the past.
going-medieval.com/2025/10/21/o...
going-medieval.com/2025/10/21/o...
On AI and the golem
Recently I, like a lot of people who make their living by creating things, have been thinking a lot about so-called AI. I have been forced to do this because so many companies have been stealing th…
going-medieval.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Today on the blog I wrote about AI and the golem, and the benefit of listening to cautionary tales from the past.
going-medieval.com/2025/10/21/o...
going-medieval.com/2025/10/21/o...
Reposted by Richard Bartlett
![1
Nurse:
It’s become a real problem in this area
2
Nurse:
We’ve seen the whole community lost to addiction
3
Show a building sign posted:
Westminster ‘X’ Addiction Clinic
With various Westminster people or looking at their phones outside it
Nurse:
Ministers, Spads, Researchers…
4
Nurse:
Most mornings we’ll get a call about someone acting strangely
[Nurse on phone taking a call]
Ok - we’ll be right over
5
Nurse:
We just have a gentle chat
[Nurses approach a minister –Robert Jenrick? - standing in the Palace of Westminster
Minister:
I understand your concerns…
6
Nurse:
Are you OK love?
Minister:
Yes I’m just hearing legitimate concerns from real voters
7
Nurse:
That’s a robot, a Nazi and a poorly-disguised Russian
[Show that the people he is talking to are precisely these characters]
Nurse 2:
Give us your phone, love
8
Nurse:
At the clinic we put them in a Grass-Touching Pod, with a real voter to talk to
[We see them back at the clinic, holding the minister's head and pushing him into a glass isolation booth with a grass floor. And it is a baffled looking woman, on a chair, ready to talk to him.]
9
Minister:
YOU MUST BE WORRIED ABOUT THE COMING CIVIL WAR
[woman looks baffled]
10
woman:
I just want a bus service
Minister:
LOOK AT MY FLAG
[produces a St George's flag]
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreicahofq6s4xow7vowj7dx6odw6ejdwr4kwcmzta7qwi4hg2nvywji@jpeg)
A lovely way to warm the heart of anyone who's sick of Kier Starmer. Its poetry. @cassetteboy.bsky.social is a legend. youtu.be/C8uOPrU4B9s?...
Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer
YouTube video by cassetteboy
youtu.be
October 19, 2025 at 10:26 AM
A lovely way to warm the heart of anyone who's sick of Kier Starmer. Its poetry. @cassetteboy.bsky.social is a legend. youtu.be/C8uOPrU4B9s?...
This is the kind of leadership we need, this is the politics I support. Let's fucking goooo
October 16, 2025 at 8:12 PM
This is the kind of leadership we need, this is the politics I support. Let's fucking goooo
I watched Riot Woman on the BBC earlier, and bloody hell its a must watch. Traumatic, powerful, joyous and righteous in equal parts. It exposes the uphill struggle women with menopause and perimenopause face, and also the misogyny still rife in our society, from our families to our police force.
October 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I watched Riot Woman on the BBC earlier, and bloody hell its a must watch. Traumatic, powerful, joyous and righteous in equal parts. It exposes the uphill struggle women with menopause and perimenopause face, and also the misogyny still rife in our society, from our families to our police force.