Andy Robinson
@andycayenne.bsky.social
Recovering doer of digital things. Mediocre player of multiple musical instruments.
Trying to sign up for a new NatWest bank account. By far the clunkiest, most frustrating user experience I've seen from a bank in many, many years. Currently waiting to get access to the app, which may take 24 hours. Presumably because everything is done via parchment and carrier pigeon.
December 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Trying to sign up for a new NatWest bank account. By far the clunkiest, most frustrating user experience I've seen from a bank in many, many years. Currently waiting to get access to the app, which may take 24 hours. Presumably because everything is done via parchment and carrier pigeon.
Reposted by Andy Robinson
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
Reposted by Andy Robinson
I am glad you are all enjoying the cricket. I have no idea what the hell you're all talking about but honestly it's nice seeing people on here be happy for a change.
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I am glad you are all enjoying the cricket. I have no idea what the hell you're all talking about but honestly it's nice seeing people on here be happy for a change.
I’ve often wondered if the cost of cycle-to-work could be better spent by eg cutting VAT on bikes across the board, making cycling cheaper for everyone, inc families buying kids bikes and probably be much easier to implement.
The more people cycling the better for environment and public health.
The more people cycling the better for environment and public health.
Axing the cycle-to-work scheme might seem like low-hanging fruit for a cash-strapped Treasury, but it would be a big mistake. Particularly with expensive kid-carrying cargo e-bikes, it's one of the most effective modal shift levers out there.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Rachel Reeves to cut tax benefits for workers using salary sacrifice schemes to buy bikes
Chancellor expected to introduce new limit on how much can be spent on a bicycle through cycle to work scheme
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I’ve often wondered if the cost of cycle-to-work could be better spent by eg cutting VAT on bikes across the board, making cycling cheaper for everyone, inc families buying kids bikes and probably be much easier to implement.
The more people cycling the better for environment and public health.
The more people cycling the better for environment and public health.
Reposted by Andy Robinson
Definitely worth paying for a flu jab this year, about £15 at pharmacies!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 9, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Definitely worth paying for a flu jab this year, about £15 at pharmacies!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
So if the xenophobic bellends don’t win the next election they’ll leave? Oh no! What ever will do?
'Get rid of the migrants or I'll become a migrant' is quite the argument
October 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
So if the xenophobic bellends don’t win the next election they’ll leave? Oh no! What ever will do?
An excellent - if rather depressing - read.
The most frustrating thing is that it could have been written 10 years ago. The problems are much the same, only worse. The solutions are much the same too, but there is a failure to accept what needs to be done.
The most frustrating thing is that it could have been written 10 years ago. The problems are much the same, only worse. The solutions are much the same too, but there is a failure to accept what needs to be done.
New post just out:
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
On the edge
My week in the NHS
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
An excellent - if rather depressing - read.
The most frustrating thing is that it could have been written 10 years ago. The problems are much the same, only worse. The solutions are much the same too, but there is a failure to accept what needs to be done.
The most frustrating thing is that it could have been written 10 years ago. The problems are much the same, only worse. The solutions are much the same too, but there is a failure to accept what needs to be done.
Reposted by Andy Robinson
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Reposted by Andy Robinson
There's a really great MinutePhysics video about the aesthetics- and physics-based reasons for the number of wind turbine blades: youtu.be/pgqkti7yePk
October 3, 2025 at 4:13 PM
There's a really great MinutePhysics video about the aesthetics- and physics-based reasons for the number of wind turbine blades: youtu.be/pgqkti7yePk
This. The number of basic errors that I’ve spotted it make is extraordinary.
The "AI" responses that Google gives about me and my work are consistently error-prone, which I know because I am me. If I know Google's "AI" responses give incorrect answers about things I know about, I can't trust it to give correct answers about things I don't know. So, no, I don't use it.
I’m surprised you don’t use ai answer engines in research you currently do with Google
October 3, 2025 at 10:58 AM
This. The number of basic errors that I’ve spotted it make is extraordinary.
Here’s a thought: Does Farage really want to win the next election? Sure, he loves the attention he gets from his anti-establishment, contrarian shtick but there’s very little to suggest he’s remotely interested in the day-to-day grind of actually being Prime Minister.
🧵Something odd in the strategic choices Reform has made in past few weeks after by any measure a very successful summer. Take this comment, it's just so out of line with British public opinion. Politically damaging for 2 key reasons 1. Brits trust science 2. They don't like Trump
Farage asked on @lbc.co.uk whether he agreed with on the unproven link between paracetamol and autism
“I have no idea... We were told thalidomide was a v safe drug and it isn’t. who knows. I don’t know, you don’t know…when it comes to science I don’t side with anybody. It’s never settled.”
“I have no idea... We were told thalidomide was a v safe drug and it isn’t. who knows. I don’t know, you don’t know…when it comes to science I don’t side with anybody. It’s never settled.”
September 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Here’s a thought: Does Farage really want to win the next election? Sure, he loves the attention he gets from his anti-establishment, contrarian shtick but there’s very little to suggest he’s remotely interested in the day-to-day grind of actually being Prime Minister.
Trust me, this one’s worth watching til the end…
July 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Trust me, this one’s worth watching til the end…
Reposted by Andy Robinson
![[Scene is Women’s World Cup match showing on big screen in pub, lots of FANS in pub watching it cheerfully, apart from one guy at the back looking grumpy]
1
FANS [as goal goes in]:
YYEEEESSS!
2
COMMENTATOR 1 VOICEOVER ON THE TV:
Ooh and there's been a VAR check on that goal
3
COMMENTATOR 2:
Yeah Robyn it looks like there’s been a question about it...
4
[show a miserable gammony bloke watching the same from the back of the pub]
COMMENTATOR 2:
…from Brian at the back of the pub.
5
COMMENTATOR 1:
Looking at the replay we can see Brian using this rare moment of uncomplicated national joy
6
COMMENTATOR 1:
to talk about men.
BRIAN [holding his pint while he watches the screen, grumbling his own commentary]:
Grumble Grumble Grumble men’s game
7
COMMENTATOR 2:
Yeah you can see from his body position he’s making a dumb and sexist comparison there
8
COMMENTATOR 1:
The ref’s made her decision…
[Ref returns to the pitch, making one of the big VAR speeches they’ve started doing through her head-mic]
9
REF:
MY JUDGEMENT IS…
10
REF:
BRIAN IS TALKING BOLLOCKS.
11
PEOPLE IN PUB:
YEEEAAH
12
PEOPLE IN PUB [all pointing at Brian]:
SHUT UP BRIAN SHUT UP BRIAN](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreidptbbvbpc664jxdtqfonnmfoz4mb2ldyiglirnxknvunk5uc6e4u@jpeg)
Reposted by Andy Robinson
what were you worried about
July 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM
what were you worried about
Blimey. Not sure I can take another 30 mins of this but what a goal!
July 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Blimey. Not sure I can take another 30 mins of this but what a goal!
A lot of people have no idea that for most of history childhood mortality of 30%-40% was the norm, and had no regard for social class or status. Modern medicine and public health are amazing things. Anti-vaxxers and their Luddite ilk and absolutely full of it.
I have James VI and I on the brain at the moment, but the guy - the first king of the whole of the British Isles! - buried five of his children and died in his 50s. Three of them died before they were two.
July 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A lot of people have no idea that for most of history childhood mortality of 30%-40% was the norm, and had no regard for social class or status. Modern medicine and public health are amazing things. Anti-vaxxers and their Luddite ilk and absolutely full of it.
Reposted by Andy Robinson
I agree with this but - as Giles' post effectively goes on to say - there *is* a way out of this fiscal corner, it's called raising taxes, and I don't think it's as politically impossible as people make out
Hard (by Labour's own doing) but not impossible
First, welfare revolts tells us nothing...
Hard (by Labour's own doing) but not impossible
First, welfare revolts tells us nothing...
In an effort that will no doubt torch my follower base, I have laid out some basic numbers around our fiscal situation. Obvious, but still a little sobering for me.
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
There really is no getting out of this fiscal corner
It is something of a cliche to argue that Britain is running out of money, living beyond its means, wandering through a fiscal fool’s paradise – but no less true for that. The trend of …
freethinkecon.wordpress.com
July 15, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I agree with this but - as Giles' post effectively goes on to say - there *is* a way out of this fiscal corner, it's called raising taxes, and I don't think it's as politically impossible as people make out
Hard (by Labour's own doing) but not impossible
First, welfare revolts tells us nothing...
Hard (by Labour's own doing) but not impossible
First, welfare revolts tells us nothing...
Reposted by Andy Robinson
In an outcome that *nobody* could have foreseen 'Head of State' on Amazon Prime is really a great deal of fun!
Almost entirely down to Idris and Cena having boat loads of chemistry and most of the supporting cast being much better than you would expect.
It is silly as anything but worth a watch!
Almost entirely down to Idris and Cena having boat loads of chemistry and most of the supporting cast being much better than you would expect.
It is silly as anything but worth a watch!
July 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
In an outcome that *nobody* could have foreseen 'Head of State' on Amazon Prime is really a great deal of fun!
Almost entirely down to Idris and Cena having boat loads of chemistry and most of the supporting cast being much better than you would expect.
It is silly as anything but worth a watch!
Almost entirely down to Idris and Cena having boat loads of chemistry and most of the supporting cast being much better than you would expect.
It is silly as anything but worth a watch!
Reposted by Andy Robinson
Tell me your company has no Brits without telling me
The Ploopy Knob is an open-source control dial for your PC
The Ploopy Knob is an open-source control dial for your PC
A big scroll wheel for your PC.
buff.ly
July 4, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Tell me your company has no Brits without telling me
Hell hath no fury like a toxic narcissist scorned
“That's a 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 when you've got as much money as Elon Musk has got.”
Musk vowed to primary any Congress member who votes for Trump's spending bill: 'if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.'
articles.globalplayer.com/2GXqBWU59626...
Musk vowed to primary any Congress member who votes for Trump's spending bill: 'if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.'
articles.globalplayer.com/2GXqBWU59626...
Is Elon Musk about to launch a new political party?
Things are heating up between Elon Musk and Donald Trump again, with Musk threatening to launch a new political party and primary Republican lawmakers over their support for Trump's big beautiful bill...
articles.globalplayer.com
July 2, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Hell hath no fury like a toxic narcissist scorned
Reposted by Andy Robinson
People want too see their lives get better.
Starmer has not set out a compelling route to that which may convince people to be patient or put up with sacrifice along the way.
Neither has he the money to actually deliver it. It can't be done with services falling apart.
Starmer has not set out a compelling route to that which may convince people to be patient or put up with sacrifice along the way.
Neither has he the money to actually deliver it. It can't be done with services falling apart.
July 1, 2025 at 9:50 AM
People want too see their lives get better.
Starmer has not set out a compelling route to that which may convince people to be patient or put up with sacrifice along the way.
Neither has he the money to actually deliver it. It can't be done with services falling apart.
Starmer has not set out a compelling route to that which may convince people to be patient or put up with sacrifice along the way.
Neither has he the money to actually deliver it. It can't be done with services falling apart.
Reposted by Andy Robinson
YES AND stop getting any information from ChatGPT or any other "AI" because pretty much all of it is inaccurate.
I'm begging people to stop getting their medical information from ChatGPT, because it is inaccurate.
June 29, 2025 at 11:05 PM
YES AND stop getting any information from ChatGPT or any other "AI" because pretty much all of it is inaccurate.
Oh, so you’re only going to screw over new claimants not the existing ones? Oh that’s perfectly fine then. Carry on.
FFS
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
FFS
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We've got the right balance says Keir Starmer, after benefits U-turn
The prime minister has made concessions on his welfare bill after an angry response from 120 of his own MPs.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Oh, so you’re only going to screw over new claimants not the existing ones? Oh that’s perfectly fine then. Carry on.
FFS
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
FFS
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I know I’m not the first person to make this point, but pointing a gun at someone is a *colossally* stupid thing to do. It’s not just gun safety 101, it’s basic common sense.
No, it shouldn’t be loaded but mistakes happen. So you don’t ever do it.
No, it shouldn’t be loaded but mistakes happen. So you don’t ever do it.
This pic of Kemi Badenoch, taken by PA during a visit to a barracks in Essex, looks like she is taking an army officer hostage at the start of a coup attempt.
June 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I know I’m not the first person to make this point, but pointing a gun at someone is a *colossally* stupid thing to do. It’s not just gun safety 101, it’s basic common sense.
No, it shouldn’t be loaded but mistakes happen. So you don’t ever do it.
No, it shouldn’t be loaded but mistakes happen. So you don’t ever do it.