Steve Parks
@steveparks.me
Geeking out about writing, entrepreneurship, journalism, food, tech — or ideally a combination.
European, living/writing in France & running a business in UK.
https://www.steveparks.me
European, living/writing in France & running a business in UK.
https://www.steveparks.me
Pinned
Steve Parks
@steveparks.me
· May 7
I'm working on a Digital Detox.
It's a process of reviewing online services I use to prune out those with bad business practices, or who fund/support fascism and hate.
In this thread I'll collate my blog posts in which I document my findings.
Hopefully it can be useful to you too.
#DigitalDetox
It's a process of reviewing online services I use to prune out those with bad business practices, or who fund/support fascism and hate.
In this thread I'll collate my blog posts in which I document my findings.
Hopefully it can be useful to you too.
#DigitalDetox
Reposted by Steve Parks
For the past year I've been collecting images of the English countryside with the eventual goal of doing some landscape paintings. I used to think that painting landscapes was boring and that I did not have the skill of landscape painting. Well, it sure feels good to try new things! #Landscapes #art
February 12, 2026 at 9:36 PM
For the past year I've been collecting images of the English countryside with the eventual goal of doing some landscape paintings. I used to think that painting landscapes was boring and that I did not have the skill of landscape painting. Well, it sure feels good to try new things! #Landscapes #art
This is absolutely fantastic news. Only hope this can make it all the way through to approval before avian influenza adapts more to humans - and that the Trump regime doesn’t manage to derail this progress
Exciting research shows potential for a new way to prevent flu infection using a nasal spray! 🧵🧪
Phase 1 and preclinical studies reveal safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of intranasal delivery of the influenza antibody CR9114
Intranasal CR9114 is safe in humans, and twice-daily dosing confers protection against influenza virus challenge in macaques.
www.science.org
February 12, 2026 at 8:32 AM
This is absolutely fantastic news. Only hope this can make it all the way through to approval before avian influenza adapts more to humans - and that the Trump regime doesn’t manage to derail this progress
Yes!
Was just thinking the other day that TVs and cars have such terrible user interfaces these days.
No excuse for it. Plenty of experts they could hire and user research and testing they could do, if they cared
Was just thinking the other day that TVs and cars have such terrible user interfaces these days.
No excuse for it. Plenty of experts they could hire and user research and testing they could do, if they cared
Samsung makes a great TV. But these two things drive me up the wall and wish I'd bought LG.
www.theverge.com/tech/877396/...
www.theverge.com/tech/877396/...
Why I wish I hadn’t bought my Samsung OLED TV
Wish someone warned me about the software.
www.theverge.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Yes!
Was just thinking the other day that TVs and cars have such terrible user interfaces these days.
No excuse for it. Plenty of experts they could hire and user research and testing they could do, if they cared
Was just thinking the other day that TVs and cars have such terrible user interfaces these days.
No excuse for it. Plenty of experts they could hire and user research and testing they could do, if they cared
As soon as it’s light in the morning I’m going to look out to the Atlantic to check there’s still water left in it.
February 11, 2026 at 9:54 PM
As soon as it’s light in the morning I’m going to look out to the Atlantic to check there’s still water left in it.
I really hope they controlled for wealth in this study.
So many studies like this turn out to simply be finding that wealthy people have better health, and wealthy people also tend to do the thing the study is focused on.
So many studies like this turn out to simply be finding that wealthy people have better health, and wealthy people also tend to do the thing the study is focused on.
February 11, 2026 at 9:15 PM
I really hope they controlled for wealth in this study.
So many studies like this turn out to simply be finding that wealthy people have better health, and wealthy people also tend to do the thing the study is focused on.
So many studies like this turn out to simply be finding that wealthy people have better health, and wealthy people also tend to do the thing the study is focused on.
Top tip if you like promotional pop-ups, banners and general begging….
How to make the Guardian your go-to news source in Google search
How to make the Guardian your go-to news source in Google search
Google now allows you to pick your preferred sources in Top Stories. Here’s how to do it in two clicks
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Top tip if you like promotional pop-ups, banners and general begging….
Subtle, to the point
The cartoon that appeared this week on the front page of France’s most influential national newspaper, Le Monde
Brilliant work by the cartoonist, Guffo.
Brilliant work by the cartoonist, Guffo.
February 11, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Subtle, to the point
It’s 2030, and Donald Trump sends a deranged string of overnight posts on Twitter, the platform rescued out of the collapse of Musk’s empire, from his dacha outside Moscow - where he continues to evade justice.
February 11, 2026 at 8:39 AM
It’s 2030, and Donald Trump sends a deranged string of overnight posts on Twitter, the platform rescued out of the collapse of Musk’s empire, from his dacha outside Moscow - where he continues to evade justice.
And they’d need to live where they can easily get to/from NBH at unsociable hours.
It’s a recipe for only having journalists who can be supported by family money.
It’s a recipe for only having journalists who can be supported by family money.
The min wage for a 40 hr week is £25,397. The BBC is advertising a job for a journalist with "significant experience" on the Today programme for £27k.
Sure, this is benchmarked - but it just isn't good enough. What do we want from our national flagship news radio broadcast?
Journalism is dying.
Sure, this is benchmarked - but it just isn't good enough. What do we want from our national flagship news radio broadcast?
Journalism is dying.
February 11, 2026 at 7:42 AM
And they’d need to live where they can easily get to/from NBH at unsociable hours.
It’s a recipe for only having journalists who can be supported by family money.
It’s a recipe for only having journalists who can be supported by family money.
Watched that Super Bowl halftime show, and it really was great. Energy, positivity, love. And the crowd loved it. A sign that the real America is still there despite MAGAs best attempts.
February 10, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Watched that Super Bowl halftime show, and it really was great. Energy, positivity, love. And the crowd loved it. A sign that the real America is still there despite MAGAs best attempts.
Good!
Highly recommend ditching your Ring/Alexa devices because this is just the direction of travel for Amazon tech now…
Highly recommend ditching your Ring/Alexa devices because this is just the direction of travel for Amazon tech now…
People on Reddit are getting Amazon to refund their Ring products because of their partnership with Flock and that creepy Super Bowl ad
www.reddit.com/r/FlockSurve...
www.reddit.com/r/FlockSurve...
February 10, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Good!
Highly recommend ditching your Ring/Alexa devices because this is just the direction of travel for Amazon tech now…
Highly recommend ditching your Ring/Alexa devices because this is just the direction of travel for Amazon tech now…
Reposted by Steve Parks
For Pete’s sake, fund the BBC World Service to the hilt, this isn’t hard 🤦♀️
NEW: BBC World Service faces funding cliff edge in seven weeks, says Tim Davie
As trust in Russia and China’s state broadcasters grows, director general warns of the dangers of cutting back the service
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
As trust in Russia and China’s state broadcasters grows, director general warns of the dangers of cutting back the service
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
BBC World Service faces funding cliff edge in seven weeks, says Tim Davie
As trust in Russia and China’s state broadcasters grows, director general warns of the dangers of cutting back the service
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:47 PM
For Pete’s sake, fund the BBC World Service to the hilt, this isn’t hard 🤦♀️
Reposted by Steve Parks
February 2026 - the BMJ publishes a piece called "Why covid-19 is “a vascular disease masquerading as a respiratory one”
Some of us have been screaming this for years
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
Some of us have been screaming this for years
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
Why covid-19 is “a vascular disease masquerading as a respiratory one”
Covid-19 is not just a respiratory infection. Cardiovascular symptoms are seen in both acute and long covid. Katharine Lang reports on what we’ve learnt since the onset of the pandemic
Cardiovascular...
www.bmj.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:54 AM
February 2026 - the BMJ publishes a piece called "Why covid-19 is “a vascular disease masquerading as a respiratory one”
Some of us have been screaming this for years
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
Some of us have been screaming this for years
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
And by extension, making sure people never get the chicken pox virus in their lives…
We’re now discovering in so many ways that viruses impact us way beyond the acute illnesses they cause initially. From cancers to dementia to cardiac issues, it’s best to do whatever we can to avoid viruses.
We’re now discovering in so many ways that viruses impact us way beyond the acute illnesses they cause initially. From cancers to dementia to cardiac issues, it’s best to do whatever we can to avoid viruses.
The shingles vaccine may have a dementia upside ft.trib.al/0XWJF0W | opinion
The shingles vaccine may have a dementia upside
Research suggests it could prevent and slow the progress of cognitive decline
ft.trib.al
February 10, 2026 at 7:12 PM
And by extension, making sure people never get the chicken pox virus in their lives…
We’re now discovering in so many ways that viruses impact us way beyond the acute illnesses they cause initially. From cancers to dementia to cardiac issues, it’s best to do whatever we can to avoid viruses.
We’re now discovering in so many ways that viruses impact us way beyond the acute illnesses they cause initially. From cancers to dementia to cardiac issues, it’s best to do whatever we can to avoid viruses.
Reposted by Steve Parks
I understand why tech journalists in particular continue to look at X (it's where people we cover like to post stuff) but I don't understand why they post there.
Moral qualms aside, it has zero juice in terms of generating discussion or clicks.
Moral qualms aside, it has zero juice in terms of generating discussion or clicks.
No-one seems to have noticed, but many of the core developments in the Mandelson/Epstein story these last few days have been broken on this website. @pickardje.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social are both posting each breaking development on BlueSky, not X.
February 10, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I understand why tech journalists in particular continue to look at X (it's where people we cover like to post stuff) but I don't understand why they post there.
Moral qualms aside, it has zero juice in terms of generating discussion or clicks.
Moral qualms aside, it has zero juice in terms of generating discussion or clicks.
I’ve heard anecdotal evidence of increased sickness absences from SMEs in my network too, but also of people being ill often, but working through it from home.
🚨
Are people sicker now than in 2019?
Civil servants in England are.
Sickness absence rates have *risen by between 12% to 23% across the age groups*.
Are things getting worse?
It certainly looks like it.
This is exactly what we predicted repeat covid infection would do.
Are people sicker now than in 2019?
Civil servants in England are.
Sickness absence rates have *risen by between 12% to 23% across the age groups*.
Are things getting worse?
It certainly looks like it.
This is exactly what we predicted repeat covid infection would do.
February 10, 2026 at 9:33 AM
I’ve heard anecdotal evidence of increased sickness absences from SMEs in my network too, but also of people being ill often, but working through it from home.
Reposted by Steve Parks
Every session – whether in the Lords or Commons – starts with prayers.
Peers and MPs reserve a seat with a 'prayer card'. Those who are seated are more likely to have speaking privileges.
This gives unfair advantage to parliamentarians who pray.
That's wrong.
humanists.uk/action/parli...
Peers and MPs reserve a seat with a 'prayer card'. Those who are seated are more likely to have speaking privileges.
This gives unfair advantage to parliamentarians who pray.
That's wrong.
humanists.uk/action/parli...
Sign our petition: Replace parliamentary prayers with inclusive time for reflection
We're calling on the procedure committees of both Houses of Parliament to review the outdated and discriminatory 'prayers' system which the puts the views of non-religious people at a disadvantage.
humanists.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Every session – whether in the Lords or Commons – starts with prayers.
Peers and MPs reserve a seat with a 'prayer card'. Those who are seated are more likely to have speaking privileges.
This gives unfair advantage to parliamentarians who pray.
That's wrong.
humanists.uk/action/parli...
Peers and MPs reserve a seat with a 'prayer card'. Those who are seated are more likely to have speaking privileges.
This gives unfair advantage to parliamentarians who pray.
That's wrong.
humanists.uk/action/parli...
Insider trading is a bit of a hallmark of the Trump regime, so…
Someone on Polymarket has just placed a $100k bet that the US will strike Iran today. $4m payout if true.
More money than sense or insider information, you decide.
More money than sense or insider information, you decide.
February 9, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Insider trading is a bit of a hallmark of the Trump regime, so…
A problem I seem to have, and really want to get past, is that replying to messages is a three step process:
1. Read incoming message and think how great to hear from X, they deserve a proper reply when I get a quiet moment
2. Infinite loop
3. Reply to message with abject apologies
1. Read incoming message and think how great to hear from X, they deserve a proper reply when I get a quiet moment
2. Infinite loop
3. Reply to message with abject apologies
February 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
A problem I seem to have, and really want to get past, is that replying to messages is a three step process:
1. Read incoming message and think how great to hear from X, they deserve a proper reply when I get a quiet moment
2. Infinite loop
3. Reply to message with abject apologies
1. Read incoming message and think how great to hear from X, they deserve a proper reply when I get a quiet moment
2. Infinite loop
3. Reply to message with abject apologies
Well this is a nice email to get from Orange to start the week.
Home broadband now upgraded to 8 Gbit/s, up and down, for no extra charge!
(and here I'm in a small village on the Atlantic coast. Nearest town only has 18,000 population. Yet my flat in London can still only get minimal speeds)
Home broadband now upgraded to 8 Gbit/s, up and down, for no extra charge!
(and here I'm in a small village on the Atlantic coast. Nearest town only has 18,000 population. Yet my flat in London can still only get minimal speeds)
February 9, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Well this is a nice email to get from Orange to start the week.
Home broadband now upgraded to 8 Gbit/s, up and down, for no extra charge!
(and here I'm in a small village on the Atlantic coast. Nearest town only has 18,000 population. Yet my flat in London can still only get minimal speeds)
Home broadband now upgraded to 8 Gbit/s, up and down, for no extra charge!
(and here I'm in a small village on the Atlantic coast. Nearest town only has 18,000 population. Yet my flat in London can still only get minimal speeds)
Yabba Dabba Dooooo!
A Super Bowl treat - the LX Hammer Burger. Serves 4. $180.
A cheeseburger, bone-in braised beef shank, roasted mirepoix demi-glaze, bleu cheese fondue on a brioche bun.
A cheeseburger, bone-in braised beef shank, roasted mirepoix demi-glaze, bleu cheese fondue on a brioche bun.
February 9, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Yabba Dabba Dooooo!
Love to see this. As with any country that slips into fascism, the good people outnumber the bad — and will win in the end.
February 9, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Love to see this. As with any country that slips into fascism, the good people outnumber the bad — and will win in the end.
I have no interest in watching other people play baseball but from the feed this morning, looks like I’m going to at least have to watch the halftime show. Sounds amazing!
February 9, 2026 at 6:55 AM
I have no interest in watching other people play baseball but from the feed this morning, looks like I’m going to at least have to watch the halftime show. Sounds amazing!
Reposted by Steve Parks
Reposted by Steve Parks
Seems like a good time to reshare my Radio Four Infinite Jest documentary. We tried to make it so it gives you a decent idea whether or not you'd like the book.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
January 29, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Seems like a good time to reshare my Radio Four Infinite Jest documentary. We tried to make it so it gives you a decent idea whether or not you'd like the book.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...