Alastair Smith
@alastair.dev
Software and Data Engineer • 1Password (Trelica) • Founded the Cambridge Software Crafters and ran until 2019 • One-time bassoonist • Occasional photographer
Reposted by Alastair Smith
Amazing story in The Times. Reform UK failed to pay VAT to HMRC on its sales (tickets, merchandise). About £400k in all.
Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.
Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.
October 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Amazing story in The Times. Reform UK failed to pay VAT to HMRC on its sales (tickets, merchandise). About £400k in all.
Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.
Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
Edinburgh castle failing to render, likely thanks to the AWS outage
October 20, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Edinburgh castle failing to render, likely thanks to the AWS outage
There’s a lot of things I like about working for @1password.bsky.social, but today’s DJ hour was *chef’s kiss*
October 3, 2025 at 9:21 PM
There’s a lot of things I like about working for @1password.bsky.social, but today’s DJ hour was *chef’s kiss*
Reposted by Alastair Smith
Seems a lot like the Cameron/Osborne austerity programme was an entirely avoidable national calamity with devastating, still worsening consequences, but I don’t get much sense anyone has learned any lessons from it except “We got away with it by shouting into microphones”.
Scrapping of audit watchdog for English councils ‘led to soaring costs and chaos’
Highly critical report finds that instead of promised annual saving of £100m, fees have rocketed amid financial crisis
www.theguardian.com
August 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Seems a lot like the Cameron/Osborne austerity programme was an entirely avoidable national calamity with devastating, still worsening consequences, but I don’t get much sense anyone has learned any lessons from it except “We got away with it by shouting into microphones”.
Found this line buried in our code:
// this relationship would make Cersei Lannister blush
…and honestly I think I’m done for the day.
// this relationship would make Cersei Lannister blush
…and honestly I think I’m done for the day.
August 19, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Found this line buried in our code:
// this relationship would make Cersei Lannister blush
…and honestly I think I’m done for the day.
// this relationship would make Cersei Lannister blush
…and honestly I think I’m done for the day.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
Extremely pleased to have been able to write for Comment is Freed about the problem of low turnout in UK elections, and its wider political-economic implications.
Once again, I draw on @duncanweldon.bsky.social's notion of a high-turnout "post-economic voter bloc" as a central obstacle to growth.
Once again, I draw on @duncanweldon.bsky.social's notion of a high-turnout "post-economic voter bloc" as a central obstacle to growth.
New post out:
Today we have a guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social asking whether low turnout is harming growth as well as undermining democratic legitimacy.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Today we have a guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social asking whether low turnout is harming growth as well as undermining democratic legitimacy.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Is low turnout undermining growth?
A reminder that you can read Lawrence’s post on the Tump-Putin summit here, his next post will look at the outcome.
open.substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Extremely pleased to have been able to write for Comment is Freed about the problem of low turnout in UK elections, and its wider political-economic implications.
Once again, I draw on @duncanweldon.bsky.social's notion of a high-turnout "post-economic voter bloc" as a central obstacle to growth.
Once again, I draw on @duncanweldon.bsky.social's notion of a high-turnout "post-economic voter bloc" as a central obstacle to growth.
A strong thesis exceptionally well-argued IMO. Well worth your time.
New post out:
Today we have a guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social asking whether low turnout is harming growth as well as undermining democratic legitimacy.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Today we have a guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social asking whether low turnout is harming growth as well as undermining democratic legitimacy.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Is low turnout undermining growth?
A reminder that you can read Lawrence’s post on the Tump-Putin summit here, his next post will look at the outcome.
open.substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:51 AM
A strong thesis exceptionally well-argued IMO. Well worth your time.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
COME ON DOWN TO THE BLUESKY BALLS RACE!
PUT YOUR BETS DOWN NOW ON THE MOST AMAZING RACE OF 2025
PUT YOUR BETS DOWN NOW ON THE MOST AMAZING RACE OF 2025
July 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
COME ON DOWN TO THE BLUESKY BALLS RACE!
PUT YOUR BETS DOWN NOW ON THE MOST AMAZING RACE OF 2025
PUT YOUR BETS DOWN NOW ON THE MOST AMAZING RACE OF 2025
Reposted by Alastair Smith
Laughing in front of cages designed to hold migrants and refugees, many of whom came to this country fleeing extreme violence and poverty, and hoping to raise their children in a more compassionate country. And many of whom followed all the legal procedures to enter the country.
July 2, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Laughing in front of cages designed to hold migrants and refugees, many of whom came to this country fleeing extreme violence and poverty, and hoping to raise their children in a more compassionate country. And many of whom followed all the legal procedures to enter the country.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
There is not a single person in the Democratic Party who is treating the death of USAID with the gravity it deserves. There’s no political issue more important than the death of 14 million people, but they’re just delivering boilerplate condemnations and nothing more.
July 2, 2025 at 5:24 AM
There is not a single person in the Democratic Party who is treating the death of USAID with the gravity it deserves. There’s no political issue more important than the death of 14 million people, but they’re just delivering boilerplate condemnations and nothing more.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
maybe instead of asking socialists whether billionaires should exist we should be asking billionaires whether poverty should exist
July 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
maybe instead of asking socialists whether billionaires should exist we should be asking billionaires whether poverty should exist
Reposted by Alastair Smith
u know what
this *is* a really well done video
and worth watching
this *is* a really well done video
and worth watching
This @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social video is absolutely INCREDIBLE. The numbers he cites, the strategy and results they produced — it’s the future. When have you heard *any* campaign talk about this, ever? (Video split in 2 to fit in Bluesky’s limits)
July 2, 2025 at 5:11 AM
u know what
this *is* a really well done video
and worth watching
this *is* a really well done video
and worth watching
Reposted by Alastair Smith
because it has to pass again in the house everyone PLZ call and writer your congresspeople AGAIN and tell them they MUST votes against it. The current Medicaid bill lasts til Jan 2026, then it will kick 20 Million people off Medicaid. 40% of all children are on Medicaid. 70mill Americans total.
Use this form to demand that your reps vote to keep Medicaid intact
actnow.strengthenhealthcare.org/a/medicaid-l...
actnow.strengthenhealthcare.org/a/medicaid-l...
People in wheelchairs are getting arrested right now in the Russell Senate Office Building in DC. They showed up to tell Congress not to cut their Medicaid, because they cant afford health care without it. If you look closely you can see the zip ties on their hands. #WeWontGetOverLosingMedicaid
July 1, 2025 at 6:59 PM
because it has to pass again in the house everyone PLZ call and writer your congresspeople AGAIN and tell them they MUST votes against it. The current Medicaid bill lasts til Jan 2026, then it will kick 20 Million people off Medicaid. 40% of all children are on Medicaid. 70mill Americans total.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
If only there were a clinically proven, totally safe way to prevent diseases like measles…
Measles is a highly infectious virus, and summer travel raises fears that it will spread. Here’s how to protect yourself and your family.
What to Know About Measles When Traveling
Summer travel raises fears that the highly infectious virus will spread. Here’s how to protect yourself and your family.
trib.al
July 2, 2025 at 4:17 AM
If only there were a clinically proven, totally safe way to prevent diseases like measles…
Reposted by Alastair Smith
Susan Hall is the GLA Conservative group leader. She has become the most senior Conservative to support Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain movement. One of Lowe's core goaıs is to shift the immigration debate to remigration: not how many people come but how many leave: mass deportations & net outflows
July 2, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Susan Hall is the GLA Conservative group leader. She has become the most senior Conservative to support Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain movement. One of Lowe's core goaıs is to shift the immigration debate to remigration: not how many people come but how many leave: mass deportations & net outflows
Reposted by Alastair Smith
TRANS PEOPLE - If you've had your account on any social media site - but especially LinkedIn - censored, taken down, removed, etc, for using your chosen name - message me.
I'm working on a story about this happening as a broad phenomena, and the more people I talk to the better.
DMs open!
I'm working on a story about this happening as a broad phenomena, and the more people I talk to the better.
DMs open!
July 1, 2025 at 7:22 PM
TRANS PEOPLE - If you've had your account on any social media site - but especially LinkedIn - censored, taken down, removed, etc, for using your chosen name - message me.
I'm working on a story about this happening as a broad phenomena, and the more people I talk to the better.
DMs open!
I'm working on a story about this happening as a broad phenomena, and the more people I talk to the better.
DMs open!
Reposted by Alastair Smith
I’m not the first to say it, but today’s Senate vote sure feels like a punch in the face to the first day of Disability Pride Month.
A reminder that one source of pride is sheer survival.
A reminder that one source of pride is sheer survival.
July 1, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I’m not the first to say it, but today’s Senate vote sure feels like a punch in the face to the first day of Disability Pride Month.
A reminder that one source of pride is sheer survival.
A reminder that one source of pride is sheer survival.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
The problem with hung parliaments is that important Bills end up having to be negotiated between ministers and backbenchers.
And that is why we need governments with large overall majorities, to avoid such embarrassing brokerage.
Oh.
And that is why we need governments with large overall majorities, to avoid such embarrassing brokerage.
Oh.
July 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The problem with hung parliaments is that important Bills end up having to be negotiated between ministers and backbenchers.
And that is why we need governments with large overall majorities, to avoid such embarrassing brokerage.
Oh.
And that is why we need governments with large overall majorities, to avoid such embarrassing brokerage.
Oh.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
ICEblock, which allows users to alert others to the geographical location of ICE officers, is the top social networking app in the App Store right now after Karoline Leavitt condemned it from the podium yesterday.
July 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM
ICEblock, which allows users to alert others to the geographical location of ICE officers, is the top social networking app in the App Store right now after Karoline Leavitt condemned it from the podium yesterday.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
This is a concentration camp.
Call it Alligator Auschwitz, because that's what it is.
This is America. Never forget and never forgive the people who allowed this to happen.
Call it Alligator Auschwitz, because that's what it is.
This is America. Never forget and never forgive the people who allowed this to happen.
July 1, 2025 at 6:47 PM
This is a concentration camp.
Call it Alligator Auschwitz, because that's what it is.
This is America. Never forget and never forgive the people who allowed this to happen.
Call it Alligator Auschwitz, because that's what it is.
This is America. Never forget and never forgive the people who allowed this to happen.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
I got permission to share this, and I'm extremely grateful for that.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
July 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I got permission to share this, and I'm extremely grateful for that.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
If a sitting president can openly muse about arresting and disappearing someone who is likely to become mayor of the country's largest city, while also getting the funding for a massive secret police, it'd be hard to find sufficient evidence to qualify that country as a democracy.
Trump threatens to arrest Mamdani and then adds, "a lot of people are saying he's here illegally"
July 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
If a sitting president can openly muse about arresting and disappearing someone who is likely to become mayor of the country's largest city, while also getting the funding for a massive secret police, it'd be hard to find sufficient evidence to qualify that country as a democracy.
Reposted by Alastair Smith
In all this Bob Vylan pearl clutching some are conveniently forgetting the IDF is committing genocide.
July 1, 2025 at 12:16 PM
In all this Bob Vylan pearl clutching some are conveniently forgetting the IDF is committing genocide.