Ben Stewart
@ben-stewart.bsky.social
Yeah, arguably a distinction without a difference
December 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Yeah, arguably a distinction without a difference
The claim (I think by you?) that the Nazis attacked Jews as an aim, rather than a tactic seems questionable...
Yes, it was an aim by the end.
But, it seems hard to deny they used it previously as a tactic to gain (and consolidate) power.
Yes, it was an aim by the end.
But, it seems hard to deny they used it previously as a tactic to gain (and consolidate) power.
December 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The claim (I think by you?) that the Nazis attacked Jews as an aim, rather than a tactic seems questionable...
Yes, it was an aim by the end.
But, it seems hard to deny they used it previously as a tactic to gain (and consolidate) power.
Yes, it was an aim by the end.
But, it seems hard to deny they used it previously as a tactic to gain (and consolidate) power.
You're welcome!
It's a fair question, because other countries can and do make it work.
Unfortunately politicians looking for short-term answers to long-term problems also happens everywhere :/
It's a fair question, because other countries can and do make it work.
Unfortunately politicians looking for short-term answers to long-term problems also happens everywhere :/
December 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
You're welcome!
It's a fair question, because other countries can and do make it work.
Unfortunately politicians looking for short-term answers to long-term problems also happens everywhere :/
It's a fair question, because other countries can and do make it work.
Unfortunately politicians looking for short-term answers to long-term problems also happens everywhere :/
Our whole system is built (and as a result people trained) on the adversarial system with a judge interpreting the law.
Asking judges - presumably late in their career - to also start deciding facts is a huge shift for them professionally.
It could work, but again, just dodging it... No good
Asking judges - presumably late in their career - to also start deciding facts is a huge shift for them professionally.
It could work, but again, just dodging it... No good
December 2, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Our whole system is built (and as a result people trained) on the adversarial system with a judge interpreting the law.
Asking judges - presumably late in their career - to also start deciding facts is a huge shift for them professionally.
It could work, but again, just dodging it... No good
Asking judges - presumably late in their career - to also start deciding facts is a huge shift for them professionally.
It could work, but again, just dodging it... No good
On the other question, civil law systems work because the entire system is set up differently. The judge finds facts and leads investigations.
We have it to an extent with magistrates.
But, you can't judge bodge them together by taking the outcome "no juries" without the rest of the system.
We have it to an extent with magistrates.
But, you can't judge bodge them together by taking the outcome "no juries" without the rest of the system.
December 2, 2025 at 9:12 AM
On the other question, civil law systems work because the entire system is set up differently. The judge finds facts and leads investigations.
We have it to an extent with magistrates.
But, you can't judge bodge them together by taking the outcome "no juries" without the rest of the system.
We have it to an extent with magistrates.
But, you can't judge bodge them together by taking the outcome "no juries" without the rest of the system.
Fixing the chronic lack of, and bad, investment in the infrastructure around the courts: bsky.app/profile/barr...
Abolishing jury trials to fix the backlog is like taking the brakes off your car because they "slow you down", when it hasn't got any petrol, the tyres are flat, and the clutch blew up.
Abolishing jury trials to fix the backlog is like taking the brakes off your car because they "slow you down", when it hasn't got any petrol, the tyres are flat, and the clutch blew up.
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
December 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Fixing the chronic lack of, and bad, investment in the infrastructure around the courts: bsky.app/profile/barr...
Abolishing jury trials to fix the backlog is like taking the brakes off your car because they "slow you down", when it hasn't got any petrol, the tyres are flat, and the clutch blew up.
Abolishing jury trials to fix the backlog is like taking the brakes off your car because they "slow you down", when it hasn't got any petrol, the tyres are flat, and the clutch blew up.
I mean...
Surely it's either that, they have miscounted requests in the logs, or the logs don't show what they think they do?
32 IPs doesn't pass the smell test. So, they don't come out looking good any way from this, hah
Surely it's either that, they have miscounted requests in the logs, or the logs don't show what they think they do?
32 IPs doesn't pass the smell test. So, they don't come out looking good any way from this, hah
December 1, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I mean...
Surely it's either that, they have miscounted requests in the logs, or the logs don't show what they think they do?
32 IPs doesn't pass the smell test. So, they don't come out looking good any way from this, hah
Surely it's either that, they have miscounted requests in the logs, or the logs don't show what they think they do?
32 IPs doesn't pass the smell test. So, they don't come out looking good any way from this, hah
I think this is probably it... They counted requests to their backend, not the CDN or other cache system.
Doesn't exactly inspire confidence though.
Doesn't exactly inspire confidence though.
December 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I think this is probably it... They counted requests to their backend, not the CDN or other cache system.
Doesn't exactly inspire confidence though.
Doesn't exactly inspire confidence though.
I'd be interested in a breakdown in more detail of the top decile.
My feeling is this this squeezes the lower end of that decile far more than the top end through the threshold freezes.
My feeling is this this squeezes the lower end of that decile far more than the top end through the threshold freezes.
November 27, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I'd be interested in a breakdown in more detail of the top decile.
My feeling is this this squeezes the lower end of that decile far more than the top end through the threshold freezes.
My feeling is this this squeezes the lower end of that decile far more than the top end through the threshold freezes.
Also the weird "is a question of law to be determined", like none of the rest of this is law that a military judge would determine if necessary?!
Odd
(To be fair, maybe it'd be a court martial and officers decide, but appeals would presumably go to a judge.)
Odd
(To be fair, maybe it'd be a court martial and officers decide, but appeals would presumably go to a judge.)
November 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Also the weird "is a question of law to be determined", like none of the rest of this is law that a military judge would determine if necessary?!
Odd
(To be fair, maybe it'd be a court martial and officers decide, but appeals would presumably go to a judge.)
Odd
(To be fair, maybe it'd be a court martial and officers decide, but appeals would presumably go to a judge.)
This feels like a weird mix between needlessly wordy, and nowhere near specific enough.
All the details around "relationship" and "authority", but - probably the most important part - "lawfulness" is "up to a judge". Not even any guidance on what the judge considers.
The UK one seems much better.
All the details around "relationship" and "authority", but - probably the most important part - "lawfulness" is "up to a judge". Not even any guidance on what the judge considers.
The UK one seems much better.
November 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
This feels like a weird mix between needlessly wordy, and nowhere near specific enough.
All the details around "relationship" and "authority", but - probably the most important part - "lawfulness" is "up to a judge". Not even any guidance on what the judge considers.
The UK one seems much better.
All the details around "relationship" and "authority", but - probably the most important part - "lawfulness" is "up to a judge". Not even any guidance on what the judge considers.
The UK one seems much better.
Looks like Prince Philip!
November 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Looks like Prince Philip!
Hah, I was actually about to say exactly the same thing!
The much better analogy is that Ukraine is Gondor here, fighting a ruthless invader from the east.
I'm sure that means Musk supports Ukraine against Mordor right? Oh, he doesn't? Odd...
The much better analogy is that Ukraine is Gondor here, fighting a ruthless invader from the east.
I'm sure that means Musk supports Ukraine against Mordor right? Oh, he doesn't? Odd...
October 29, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Hah, I was actually about to say exactly the same thing!
The much better analogy is that Ukraine is Gondor here, fighting a ruthless invader from the east.
I'm sure that means Musk supports Ukraine against Mordor right? Oh, he doesn't? Odd...
The much better analogy is that Ukraine is Gondor here, fighting a ruthless invader from the east.
I'm sure that means Musk supports Ukraine against Mordor right? Oh, he doesn't? Odd...
But yeah, another one for the "tech bro doesn't understand fiction he idolises"
October 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
But yeah, another one for the "tech bro doesn't understand fiction he idolises"
If you're being generous the Shire _was_ protected by Men without the Hobbits knowing. But, it definitely wasn't Gondor, it was the Rangers, ultimately descended from Arnor via Arthedain🤦
October 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
If you're being generous the Shire _was_ protected by Men without the Hobbits knowing. But, it definitely wasn't Gondor, it was the Rangers, ultimately descended from Arnor via Arthedain🤦
Where's that thread that someone made reporting in US events as if they were covering a "third world" country?
Or maybe it was about the UK. "The small maritime nation off the northwest coast of Europe was wracked by political deadlock..."
Anyway, we need that.
Or maybe it was about the UK. "The small maritime nation off the northwest coast of Europe was wracked by political deadlock..."
Anyway, we need that.
October 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Where's that thread that someone made reporting in US events as if they were covering a "third world" country?
Or maybe it was about the UK. "The small maritime nation off the northwest coast of Europe was wracked by political deadlock..."
Anyway, we need that.
Or maybe it was about the UK. "The small maritime nation off the northwest coast of Europe was wracked by political deadlock..."
Anyway, we need that.
Besides the fact they failed an open book test that's presumably fact-based(!), it feels like this is the kind of info they should know by-heart (i.e. when they're in the field), no?
October 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Besides the fact they failed an open book test that's presumably fact-based(!), it feels like this is the kind of info they should know by-heart (i.e. when they're in the field), no?
I'd be interested in an analysis of voter satisfaction in different systems!
I've had arguments with friends about PR where their counter is "but they are struggling with GDP and a rightward shift as well". If voters are more satisfied that is a good result though imo (less chance of extremism)
I've had arguments with friends about PR where their counter is "but they are struggling with GDP and a rightward shift as well". If voters are more satisfied that is a good result though imo (less chance of extremism)
October 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I'd be interested in an analysis of voter satisfaction in different systems!
I've had arguments with friends about PR where their counter is "but they are struggling with GDP and a rightward shift as well". If voters are more satisfied that is a good result though imo (less chance of extremism)
I've had arguments with friends about PR where their counter is "but they are struggling with GDP and a rightward shift as well". If voters are more satisfied that is a good result though imo (less chance of extremism)
Unless it's just a botched "T" and that's "TFC"
October 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Unless it's just a botched "T" and that's "TFC"
Whatever it is it is very... Norse
I'm pretty sure I see runes on the shield (and the hammers...)
I'm pretty sure I see runes on the shield (and the hammers...)
October 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Whatever it is it is very... Norse
I'm pretty sure I see runes on the shield (and the hammers...)
I'm pretty sure I see runes on the shield (and the hammers...)
And the pipeline from the latter to the former is very effective! See: X, and loads of other online cesspools
October 22, 2025 at 3:59 PM
And the pipeline from the latter to the former is very effective! See: X, and loads of other online cesspools
Alas, solving this problem would require upfront spend that's on "non-productive" staff, and managers (_gasp_) to oversee it.
We can't have that in our NHS! Everyone must see patients all the time! Downtime ist verboten!
We can't have that in our NHS! Everyone must see patients all the time! Downtime ist verboten!
October 21, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Alas, solving this problem would require upfront spend that's on "non-productive" staff, and managers (_gasp_) to oversee it.
We can't have that in our NHS! Everyone must see patients all the time! Downtime ist verboten!
We can't have that in our NHS! Everyone must see patients all the time! Downtime ist verboten!
Quite often these solutions that would fix a UX problem expose an internal process problem.
In this case, if I had to guess, I'd say it's probably a bit of both.
I imagine the same system that would massively improve patient experience would also made the lives of staff juggling patients easier.
In this case, if I had to guess, I'd say it's probably a bit of both.
I imagine the same system that would massively improve patient experience would also made the lives of staff juggling patients easier.
October 21, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Quite often these solutions that would fix a UX problem expose an internal process problem.
In this case, if I had to guess, I'd say it's probably a bit of both.
I imagine the same system that would massively improve patient experience would also made the lives of staff juggling patients easier.
In this case, if I had to guess, I'd say it's probably a bit of both.
I imagine the same system that would massively improve patient experience would also made the lives of staff juggling patients easier.
I'm a software engineer so quite like these "low hanging fruit" type problems. The lack of a "you are here in the queue, being seen by Dr X" indicates either they can't do that technically, or they don't have an eye on UX.
If they can't do it technically think of how bad it must be for staff!
If they can't do it technically think of how bad it must be for staff!
October 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I'm a software engineer so quite like these "low hanging fruit" type problems. The lack of a "you are here in the queue, being seen by Dr X" indicates either they can't do that technically, or they don't have an eye on UX.
If they can't do it technically think of how bad it must be for staff!
If they can't do it technically think of how bad it must be for staff!