Ian Watt
@watty62.bsky.social
Open Data advocate. Charity founder & trustee. Wikimedia UK trainer. Data scientist. Tinkerer with Python, LLMs etc. Enthusiastic reader. #Jazz lover. Drawer, painter, photographer. Whisky afficionado. #FRSA #FIoL Burgess of Guild of #Aberdeen, OSS Taisho.
Reposted by Ian Watt
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
emptycity.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
Reposted by Ian Watt
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy
A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...
writesbright.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Reposted by Ian Watt
New #Substack post... open.substack.com/pub/theantho...
Cowardice: BBC Chiefs Quit Amid Storm Over Trump Speech Edit
The BBC falls to fascism.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 AM
New #Substack post... open.substack.com/pub/theantho...
Reposted by Ian Watt
Everything on our news agenda is being driven by a corrupted disinformation machine, run by a billionaire who sponsors Tommy Robinson and who keeps trying to foment civil war in the UK.
And incredibly our MPs & news providers stay there.
THAT is the problem. Not some bad editing choice on the BBC.
And incredibly our MPs & news providers stay there.
THAT is the problem. Not some bad editing choice on the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Everything on our news agenda is being driven by a corrupted disinformation machine, run by a billionaire who sponsors Tommy Robinson and who keeps trying to foment civil war in the UK.
And incredibly our MPs & news providers stay there.
THAT is the problem. Not some bad editing choice on the BBC.
And incredibly our MPs & news providers stay there.
THAT is the problem. Not some bad editing choice on the BBC.
Reposted by Ian Watt
Happy birthday, Meta-Wiki 🎉
If Wikipedia is the encyclopedia anyone can edit, Meta‑Wiki is where those editors meet to plan, discuss, and dream. Dive into Meta‑Wiki and see how global collaboration comes to life ➡️ w.wiki/37o
If Wikipedia is the encyclopedia anyone can edit, Meta‑Wiki is where those editors meet to plan, discuss, and dream. Dive into Meta‑Wiki and see how global collaboration comes to life ➡️ w.wiki/37o
November 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Happy birthday, Meta-Wiki 🎉
If Wikipedia is the encyclopedia anyone can edit, Meta‑Wiki is where those editors meet to plan, discuss, and dream. Dive into Meta‑Wiki and see how global collaboration comes to life ➡️ w.wiki/37o
If Wikipedia is the encyclopedia anyone can edit, Meta‑Wiki is where those editors meet to plan, discuss, and dream. Dive into Meta‑Wiki and see how global collaboration comes to life ➡️ w.wiki/37o
Reposted by Ian Watt
A majority of the days the government has ever been shut down, Donald Trump was president. www.howtoreadthisch.art/red-versus-b...
November 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A majority of the days the government has ever been shut down, Donald Trump was president. www.howtoreadthisch.art/red-versus-b...
Reposted by Ian Watt
photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday's Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday's Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty
Reposted by Ian Watt
When deception’s more profitable than honesty, users lose.
Internal documents suggest that Meta earns $3.5B(!) every 6 mo. from scam ads, revealing a deeper systemic problem: the economic incentive to tolerate “higher legal risk” content still outweighs any penalty. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Internal documents suggest that Meta earns $3.5B(!) every 6 mo. from scam ads, revealing a deeper systemic problem: the economic incentive to tolerate “higher legal risk” content still outweighs any penalty. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:14 AM
When deception’s more profitable than honesty, users lose.
Internal documents suggest that Meta earns $3.5B(!) every 6 mo. from scam ads, revealing a deeper systemic problem: the economic incentive to tolerate “higher legal risk” content still outweighs any penalty. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Internal documents suggest that Meta earns $3.5B(!) every 6 mo. from scam ads, revealing a deeper systemic problem: the economic incentive to tolerate “higher legal risk” content still outweighs any penalty. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Ian Watt
Thank you to @katysclark.bsky.social MSP for holding last night's roundtable at the Scottish Parliament on the FoI Reform (Scotland) Bill! The speeches and discussion provided a much needed opportunity to discuss the Bill's importance
#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi
#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi
November 7, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Thank you to @katysclark.bsky.social MSP for holding last night's roundtable at the Scottish Parliament on the FoI Reform (Scotland) Bill! The speeches and discussion provided a much needed opportunity to discuss the Bill's importance
#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi
#FoISAReform25 #freedomofinformation #humanrights #scotland #foi
Reposted by Ian Watt
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 6:10 PM
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
Today would have been the 111th birthday of my grandfather, Joe, who was a great influence on me growing up.
As a youngster I used to believe that the 5th November fireworks were being set off for his birthday!
#guyFawkes #fireworks #birthday
As a youngster I used to believe that the 5th November fireworks were being set off for his birthday!
#guyFawkes #fireworks #birthday
November 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Today would have been the 111th birthday of my grandfather, Joe, who was a great influence on me growing up.
As a youngster I used to believe that the 5th November fireworks were being set off for his birthday!
#guyFawkes #fireworks #birthday
As a youngster I used to believe that the 5th November fireworks were being set off for his birthday!
#guyFawkes #fireworks #birthday
Reposted by Ian Watt
Samir Zitouni who works for LNER was the first person to try and stop the attack in Huntingdon.
He is a hero spread his name far and wide, judge people on their actions not their names or immigration status.
He is a hero spread his name far and wide, judge people on their actions not their names or immigration status.
November 4, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Samir Zitouni who works for LNER was the first person to try and stop the attack in Huntingdon.
He is a hero spread his name far and wide, judge people on their actions not their names or immigration status.
He is a hero spread his name far and wide, judge people on their actions not their names or immigration status.
Reposted by Ian Watt
Timeline cleanse!
The @rijksmuseum.bsky.social has put out a banger of a voyage round Petronella Oortman's dollshouse. Not to be missed. www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/dollshouse
The @rijksmuseum.bsky.social has put out a banger of a voyage round Petronella Oortman's dollshouse. Not to be missed. www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/dollshouse
Rijksmuseum Poppenhuis
www.rijksmuseum.nl
November 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Timeline cleanse!
The @rijksmuseum.bsky.social has put out a banger of a voyage round Petronella Oortman's dollshouse. Not to be missed. www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/dollshouse
The @rijksmuseum.bsky.social has put out a banger of a voyage round Petronella Oortman's dollshouse. Not to be missed. www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/dollshouse
This Tuesday #Aberdeen ⏬️💥⏬️ Three great #datascience talks!
📊 Next Tuesday : Aberdeen Data Meetup 📊
📅 Tues, 4th Nov
⏰ 18:00 - 20:30
📍 The Soap Factory, AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
3 great speakers on Data Topics
📅 Tues, 4th Nov
⏰ 18:00 - 20:30
📍 The Soap Factory, AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
3 great speakers on Data Topics
Aberdeen Data Meetup 04 November 2025
Talk 1 - "Messy Data Getting the Signal from the Noise" - Queen Akindele The session will explore practical strategies for cleaning and managing messy datasets, highlighting how clear, reliable data…
ti.to
November 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This Tuesday #Aberdeen ⏬️💥⏬️ Three great #datascience talks!
Reposted by Ian Watt
"I PITY THE FOOL who measures out his life in coffee spoons. I ain't gonna wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled, fool."
Oh look. It's Mr T's Eliot.
Oh look. It's Mr T's Eliot.
October 31, 2025 at 3:31 PM
"I PITY THE FOOL who measures out his life in coffee spoons. I ain't gonna wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled, fool."
Oh look. It's Mr T's Eliot.
Oh look. It's Mr T's Eliot.
Reposted by Ian Watt
Wikidata has been recognized as a digital public good by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) 🎉
Learn how Wikidata, which houses over 1.6 billion facts, advances education, innovation, and public institutions ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/10...
Learn how Wikidata, which houses over 1.6 billion facts, advances education, innovation, and public institutions ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/10...
October 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Wikidata has been recognized as a digital public good by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) 🎉
Learn how Wikidata, which houses over 1.6 billion facts, advances education, innovation, and public institutions ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/10...
Learn how Wikidata, which houses over 1.6 billion facts, advances education, innovation, and public institutions ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Ian Watt
OK, who did this?!!! 🤣
October 25, 2025 at 1:20 AM
OK, who did this?!!! 🤣
Reposted by Ian Watt
Enten: "Trump is doing absolutely awful in the minds of the American people. We're talking about new lows. CNBC, -13 net approval on the economy. It's -19 among Quinnipiac ... He's not just beating himself with record lows -- this is the lowest for any president ever."
October 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Enten: "Trump is doing absolutely awful in the minds of the American people. We're talking about new lows. CNBC, -13 net approval on the economy. It's -19 among Quinnipiac ... He's not just beating himself with record lows -- this is the lowest for any president ever."
Reposted by Ian Watt
Tech billionaires are serving up ultra-processed culture, and we’re swallowing it whole.
This isn’t innovation. It’s consumption disguised as creativity.
Tom Haczewski reports
This isn’t innovation. It’s consumption disguised as creativity.
Tom Haczewski reports
Is AI the next obesity pandemic?
AI can be compared to the next obesity pandemic, as it kills creativity and increases the power of tech billionaires
eastangliabylines.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Tech billionaires are serving up ultra-processed culture, and we’re swallowing it whole.
This isn’t innovation. It’s consumption disguised as creativity.
Tom Haczewski reports
This isn’t innovation. It’s consumption disguised as creativity.
Tom Haczewski reports
Reposted by Ian Watt
ICE is stockpiling arms, including chemical weapons, guided missile warheads and explosive components. The spending dwarfs anything we've ever seen in the agency - a 700% increase.
The President is building an army to attack his own country.
The President is building an army to attack his own country.
October 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
ICE is stockpiling arms, including chemical weapons, guided missile warheads and explosive components. The spending dwarfs anything we've ever seen in the agency - a 700% increase.
The President is building an army to attack his own country.
The President is building an army to attack his own country.
Reposted by Ian Watt
the president has destroyed the east wing of the white house without so much as a word of input from anyone else to build a royal ballroom paid for with bribes
NEW: After The Washington Post reported Monday on the demolition of the "East Wing facade," a new picture obtained by Law Dork that was taken on Tuesday shows that a substantial portion of the entirety of the East Wing has been demolished.
October 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
the president has destroyed the east wing of the white house without so much as a word of input from anyone else to build a royal ballroom paid for with bribes
Reposted by Ian Watt
Interested in improving the world's largest free knowledge resource? Join us for the next Aberdeen Wiki Meetup!
📅 Mon, 27th Oct 2025
⏰ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 The Soap Factory, 111 Gallowgate AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
#Wikipedia #WikimediaUK #OpenKnowledge #DigitalSkills #CodeTheCity #Aberdeen
📅 Mon, 27th Oct 2025
⏰ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 The Soap Factory, 111 Gallowgate AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
#Wikipedia #WikimediaUK #OpenKnowledge #DigitalSkills #CodeTheCity #Aberdeen
October 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Interested in improving the world's largest free knowledge resource? Join us for the next Aberdeen Wiki Meetup!
📅 Mon, 27th Oct 2025
⏰ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 The Soap Factory, 111 Gallowgate AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
#Wikipedia #WikimediaUK #OpenKnowledge #DigitalSkills #CodeTheCity #Aberdeen
📅 Mon, 27th Oct 2025
⏰ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 The Soap Factory, 111 Gallowgate AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
#Wikipedia #WikimediaUK #OpenKnowledge #DigitalSkills #CodeTheCity #Aberdeen
Reposted by Ian Watt
Join us for the AI Builders Full-Day Session on 25th Oct! This event will explore AI tools, develop projects, and provide networking opportunities for AI enthusiasts. Sat, 25th Oct 2025 10:30 - 16:00. The Soap Factory, AB25 1BU luma.com/zsyvpx6n #AIBuildersAberdeen #AIForGood #CodeTheCity
October 16, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Join us for the AI Builders Full-Day Session on 25th Oct! This event will explore AI tools, develop projects, and provide networking opportunities for AI enthusiasts. Sat, 25th Oct 2025 10:30 - 16:00. The Soap Factory, AB25 1BU luma.com/zsyvpx6n #AIBuildersAberdeen #AIForGood #CodeTheCity
Reposted by Ian Watt
📊 Aberdeen Data Meetup: Lightning Talks! 📊
📅 Tuesday, 4th November 2025
⏰ 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 The Soap Factory, 111 Gallowgate AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
Lightning Talks: Share Your Data Stories!
#AberdeenDataMeetup #LightningTalks #DataCommunity #CodeTheCity #DataScience #TheSoapFactory
📅 Tuesday, 4th November 2025
⏰ 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 The Soap Factory, 111 Gallowgate AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
Lightning Talks: Share Your Data Stories!
#AberdeenDataMeetup #LightningTalks #DataCommunity #CodeTheCity #DataScience #TheSoapFactory
Aberdeen Data Meetup 04 November 2025
Lightning Talks: Share Your Data Stories! This month, we're shining the spotlight on YOU - our community of data enthusiasts! We're hosting a series of lightning talks where attendees can share their…
ti.to
October 20, 2025 at 5:15 AM
📊 Aberdeen Data Meetup: Lightning Talks! 📊
📅 Tuesday, 4th November 2025
⏰ 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 The Soap Factory, 111 Gallowgate AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
Lightning Talks: Share Your Data Stories!
#AberdeenDataMeetup #LightningTalks #DataCommunity #CodeTheCity #DataScience #TheSoapFactory
📅 Tuesday, 4th November 2025
⏰ 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 The Soap Factory, 111 Gallowgate AB25 1BU
🎟️ ti.to/code-the-cit...
Lightning Talks: Share Your Data Stories!
#AberdeenDataMeetup #LightningTalks #DataCommunity #CodeTheCity #DataScience #TheSoapFactory