Bayesian Bacon Brit
@bayes-bacon.bsky.social
computer scientist; centrist until the centre moved; social capitalist
Pinned
How Spain put up wealth taxes - without chasing away the billionaires
Amid calls for Rachel Reeves to bring in a new levy for the super-rich, Madrid offers lessons for policymakers
www.theguardian.com
“Cutting public services in order to fund tax breaks, or simply balance the books, can create a doom loop, because it reduces the quality of provision, undermining the consensus on which taxation depends” www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Providing people with no incentive to "integrate" is a brain-dead immigration policy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Providing people with no incentive to "integrate" is a brain-dead immigration policy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
Thanks to months of pitch rolling, the Labour government has now effectively told anyone paying attention that income tax rises are necessary, but they’re not going to do them because they’re politically weak. Let’s see how that plays!
November 14, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Thanks to months of pitch rolling, the Labour government has now effectively told anyone paying attention that income tax rises are necessary, but they’re not going to do them because they’re politically weak. Let’s see how that plays!
Can’t have your cake and eat it; can’t give up on tax rises after giving up on spending cuts www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK borrowing costs up after markets spooked by Reeves’s income tax U-turn
Pound down 0.5% against dollar in early trading after chancellor drops plans for upcoming budget
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Can’t have your cake and eat it; can’t give up on tax rises after giving up on spending cuts www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
I'm very pleased to see the announcement that PCCs are being abolished at the end of their current term. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... - which was... (just checking notes)... a Lib Dem manifesto pledge! As was votes for 16 & 17 year olds. I never mind another party stealing our good ideas!
Police and crime commissioners to be scrapped in England and Wales
The government says it will save £100m over this Parliament and less than 20% of voters can name their PCC.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I'm very pleased to see the announcement that PCCs are being abolished at the end of their current term. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... - which was... (just checking notes)... a Lib Dem manifesto pledge! As was votes for 16 & 17 year olds. I never mind another party stealing our good ideas!
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
Crikey, this is a damming exposé of Chinese state interference in UK universities.
This is what happens when you make universities’ entire bottom line rest on recruitment of international students 😬
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This is what happens when you make universities’ entire bottom line rest on recruitment of international students 😬
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show
Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Crikey, this is a damming exposé of Chinese state interference in UK universities.
This is what happens when you make universities’ entire bottom line rest on recruitment of international students 😬
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This is what happens when you make universities’ entire bottom line rest on recruitment of international students 😬
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
We list industrial infrastructure such as pottery and brick kilns, but Historic England refuses to get behind the listing of, even a representative example, of one of the most sculptural elements of our industrial past, cooling towers, which international experience shows can also be repurposed.
💥12 months ago Britain's last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, shut down after 50 years powering the national grid. We can now confirm that C20's listing application for Ratcliffe's 8 cooling towers has been rejected by DCMS, while their demolition has been approved.
October 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM
We list industrial infrastructure such as pottery and brick kilns, but Historic England refuses to get behind the listing of, even a representative example, of one of the most sculptural elements of our industrial past, cooling towers, which international experience shows can also be repurposed.
"Smith has found that whenever he comes across a job suitable for his age and experience, it is already overwhelmed with applications. [...] The data backs up his point: in 2024, each entry-level role received an average of 140 applications, up from 86 in 2023" www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/c...
Why young people are giving up on work before they’ve even started
Spike in young people not working or studying is more complex than simply personal choice
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 6:32 PM
"Smith has found that whenever he comes across a job suitable for his age and experience, it is already overwhelmed with applications. [...] The data backs up his point: in 2024, each entry-level role received an average of 140 applications, up from 86 in 2023" www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/c...
"The lockdowns impacted his confidence when it came to talking to new people and he found himself struggling.[...] “There were so many new faces [at college], it was overwhelming.” [...] Cocker dropped out of college and started looking for his first job"
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/c...
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/c...
Why young people are giving up on work before they’ve even started
Spike in young people not working or studying is more complex than simply personal choice
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
"The lockdowns impacted his confidence when it came to talking to new people and he found himself struggling.[...] “There were so many new faces [at college], it was overwhelming.” [...] Cocker dropped out of college and started looking for his first job"
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/c...
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/c...
"I support independence from a progressive rather than nationalist position. Basically, I’ve no faith in Westminster ever creating the kind of fair and equal society I want, so independence remains my only route to change" www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
October 16, 2025 at 8:43 AM
"I support independence from a progressive rather than nationalist position. Basically, I’ve no faith in Westminster ever creating the kind of fair and equal society I want, so independence remains my only route to change" www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
This is doing nothing to dispel my long-held conviction that much of recent Silicon Valley innovation is largely about addressing the various ineptitudes of young entitled men
October 15, 2025 at 9:11 AM
This is doing nothing to dispel my long-held conviction that much of recent Silicon Valley innovation is largely about addressing the various ineptitudes of young entitled men
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
"If the business model of OpenAI is advertising, then it is NOTHING."
"The friction matters, Sam!"
So many bangers in less than 4 minutes here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz0o...
"The friction matters, Sam!"
So many bangers in less than 4 minutes here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz0o...
Give me a single reason why Sora2 should exist.
YouTube video by Hank Green
www.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:56 PM
"If the business model of OpenAI is advertising, then it is NOTHING."
"The friction matters, Sam!"
So many bangers in less than 4 minutes here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz0o...
"The friction matters, Sam!"
So many bangers in less than 4 minutes here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz0o...
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
Chinese companies have stakes in National Grid and Thames Water as well as plans to build Britain’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility ⬇️
China’s hold on UK infrastructure — from nuclear power to Heathrow
Chinese companies have stakes in National Grid and Thames Water as well as plans to build Britain’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility
www.thetimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Chinese companies have stakes in National Grid and Thames Water as well as plans to build Britain’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility ⬇️
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
It pains me to say it, but I’m thinking that the Nobel Committee should announce that it will give the Peace Prize to Trump - next year, if a genuine peace in Palestine holds. This for purely instrumental reasons: it would embed Trump’s investment in enforcing it on Netanyahu.
October 9, 2025 at 7:21 AM
It pains me to say it, but I’m thinking that the Nobel Committee should announce that it will give the Peace Prize to Trump - next year, if a genuine peace in Palestine holds. This for purely instrumental reasons: it would embed Trump’s investment in enforcing it on Netanyahu.
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
Farridge’s #BrexitBoats - never a truer word said on the question of asylum and immigration.
Leaving the EU and with it the Dublin Convention on refugees is the single cause of the rise in small boats Channel crossings.
Time to call the #RefUK Leader out and hold him accountable.
Leaving the EU and with it the Dublin Convention on refugees is the single cause of the rise in small boats Channel crossings.
Time to call the #RefUK Leader out and hold him accountable.
Ed Davey, "I'm afraid Nigel Farage should be apologising for helping cause this problem in the first place"
"Before Brexit we didn't have a small boats problem because we had 27 return agreements with EU countries and we could return people"
-Maybe we should call them Farage's Brexit Boats
"Before Brexit we didn't have a small boats problem because we had 27 return agreements with EU countries and we could return people"
-Maybe we should call them Farage's Brexit Boats
September 23, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Farridge’s #BrexitBoats - never a truer word said on the question of asylum and immigration.
Leaving the EU and with it the Dublin Convention on refugees is the single cause of the rise in small boats Channel crossings.
Time to call the #RefUK Leader out and hold him accountable.
Leaving the EU and with it the Dublin Convention on refugees is the single cause of the rise in small boats Channel crossings.
Time to call the #RefUK Leader out and hold him accountable.
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
A BBC spokesperson told @politicshome.bsky.social this week’s Have I Got News for You “contained an inaccurate story” about Euan Blair’s firm being linked with digital ID cards
PoliticsHome understands the government plans to step up comms on the ID scheme to counter misinformation
PoliticsHome understands the government plans to step up comms on the ID scheme to counter misinformation
BBC Apologises For Airing Fake Claim About Digital ID Scheme
The BBC has apologised for airing a false claim about Tony Blair's son's company being awarded a government contract to produce the new mandatory d...
www.politicshome.com
October 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
A BBC spokesperson told @politicshome.bsky.social this week’s Have I Got News for You “contained an inaccurate story” about Euan Blair’s firm being linked with digital ID cards
PoliticsHome understands the government plans to step up comms on the ID scheme to counter misinformation
PoliticsHome understands the government plans to step up comms on the ID scheme to counter misinformation
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
Another great part of the PMs speech!
Calling racists, racist!
Calling out Farage and Reform for their plans to deport our friends and neighbours!
(And the addition of music makes it even better!)
Calling racists, racist!
Calling out Farage and Reform for their plans to deport our friends and neighbours!
(And the addition of music makes it even better!)
September 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Another great part of the PMs speech!
Calling racists, racist!
Calling out Farage and Reform for their plans to deport our friends and neighbours!
(And the addition of music makes it even better!)
Calling racists, racist!
Calling out Farage and Reform for their plans to deport our friends and neighbours!
(And the addition of music makes it even better!)
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
In case there were doubts that Starmer thinks that to defeat Reform UK Labour must become Reform UK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Starmer wants rethink on international law to tackle migration
The PM gives the clearest sign yet the government wants to reform how human rights laws are applied in immigration cases.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 6:34 AM
In case there were doubts that Starmer thinks that to defeat Reform UK Labour must become Reform UK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Models often don’t work as well outside of their test conditions": tempting as it is to anthropomorphize AI as having the broader knowledge of a human doing the task, AI is actually just a mathematical model that may only work well for a certain range of values worksinprogress.co/issue/the-al...
The algorithm will see you now - Works in Progress Magazine
Radiology combines digital images, clear benchmarks, and repeatable tasks. But replacing humans with AI is harder than it seems.
worksinprogress.co
September 30, 2025 at 9:18 PM
"Models often don’t work as well outside of their test conditions": tempting as it is to anthropomorphize AI as having the broader knowledge of a human doing the task, AI is actually just a mathematical model that may only work well for a certain range of values worksinprogress.co/issue/the-al...
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
i've seen so many articles on this today, and not a single one so far has pointed out that where "not taking any benefits payments" is concerned, you have no access to public funds on a visa. this has been the case for years. but nobody, from the BBC down, will challenge this or anything else
To say that you will ‘have to volunteer’ to be eligible for settled status even if working full time as a doctor or nurse for example is not really volunteering because it would not be voluntary. The govt should call it something else if they want to enforce it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Shabana Mahmood to demand migrants earn right to settled status
New tests will include learning English to a high standard, paying National Insurance and not claiming benefits.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
i've seen so many articles on this today, and not a single one so far has pointed out that where "not taking any benefits payments" is concerned, you have no access to public funds on a visa. this has been the case for years. but nobody, from the BBC down, will challenge this or anything else
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
Nope. They’ve lost me. Not in my name
Mahmood says she will introduce new conditions for indefinite leave to remain:
Lived here 10 years not 5
Being in work
Not taking a penny in benefits
No criminal record
Giving back to community eg volunteering
Lived here 10 years not 5
Being in work
Not taking a penny in benefits
No criminal record
Giving back to community eg volunteering
September 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Nope. They’ve lost me. Not in my name
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
The sub-hed here gets to the meat of the thing:
"If not for AI spending, the bank says the US would be in a recession."
"If not for AI spending, the bank says the US would be in a recession."
This story combines 3 of my current interests: the tulip bulb investment bubble in AI/ML, the poor or fictional benefit to customers for same, and the underlying weakness of the US economy.
Deutsche Bank Notices That a Needle Is Getting Dangerously Close to the AI Bubble
gizmodo.com/deutsche-ban...
Deutsche Bank Notices That a Needle Is Getting Dangerously Close to the AI Bubble
gizmodo.com/deutsche-ban...
Deutsche Bank Notices That a Needle Is Getting Dangerously Close to the AI Bubble
If not for AI spending, the bank says the US would be in a recession.
gizmodo.com
September 29, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The sub-hed here gets to the meat of the thing:
"If not for AI spending, the bank says the US would be in a recession."
"If not for AI spending, the bank says the US would be in a recession."
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
If you read this thread it seems less threatening than the headlines ('twas ever thus). The NHS app is great btw.
We have official details on the planned digital ID scheme.
* available to all UK citizens and legal residents
* will in time make it simpler to apply for services like driving licences, childcare and welfare
* no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it
1/4
* available to all UK citizens and legal residents
* will in time make it simpler to apply for services like driving licences, childcare and welfare
* no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it
1/4
New digital ID scheme to be rolled out across UK
A new digital ID scheme will help combat illegal working while making it easier for the vast majority of people to use vital government services. Digital ID will be mandatory for Right to Work checks ...
www.gov.uk
September 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
If you read this thread it seems less threatening than the headlines ('twas ever thus). The NHS app is great btw.
Reposted by Bayesian Bacon Brit
Why I changed my mind on digital ID:
Want to know how the new digital ID system will work?
Good news! I’ve explained how it will almost certainly work here:
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/britcard
Good news! I’ve explained how it will almost certainly work here:
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/britcard
The "BritCard" digital ID proposal is a good idea
Why I've changed my mind on ID cards
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Why I changed my mind on digital ID: