Dan Thornton
@danthornton.net
Self-employed writer, marketer and SEO for 20+ years, avid sim racer. Interests: sci-fi, motorcycling, classic cars, film, freelancing, tech, music and playing guitar. Co-founder: Digital People in Peterborough / Peterborough STEM Festival
I'm not sure it's where most people would choose to take a trip for their birthday, but it was perfect for me...
November 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I'm not sure it's where most people would choose to take a trip for their birthday, but it was perfect for me...
Sure, you can prompt AI to generate an image from your desk, but I'm loving having a DLSR camera and learning how to take decent photographs - and how it benefits me in ways that gen AI never will...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
October 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Sure, you can prompt AI to generate an image from your desk, but I'm loving having a DLSR camera and learning how to take decent photographs - and how it benefits me in ways that gen AI never will...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
danthornton.net/2025/10/why-...
Kenickie - At The Club.
A debut with no dull moments, the soundtrack to 1997, and they disbanded about 18 months later after their second album...
And if that's too popular, Hull's Kingmaker, who were supported by Radiohead and Suede in their early years.
A debut with no dull moments, the soundtrack to 1997, and they disbanded about 18 months later after their second album...
And if that's too popular, Hull's Kingmaker, who were supported by Radiohead and Suede in their early years.
October 16, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Kenickie - At The Club.
A debut with no dull moments, the soundtrack to 1997, and they disbanded about 18 months later after their second album...
And if that's too popular, Hull's Kingmaker, who were supported by Radiohead and Suede in their early years.
A debut with no dull moments, the soundtrack to 1997, and they disbanded about 18 months later after their second album...
And if that's too popular, Hull's Kingmaker, who were supported by Radiohead and Suede in their early years.
Nipped out at the weekend with my son to pick up some snacks from a local shop.
And accidentally chatted and kept on driving for long enough to end up on the Lincolnshire coast, discovering a bench in the middle of nowhere and enjoying the tranquil scenery...
And accidentally chatted and kept on driving for long enough to end up on the Lincolnshire coast, discovering a bench in the middle of nowhere and enjoying the tranquil scenery...
September 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Nipped out at the weekend with my son to pick up some snacks from a local shop.
And accidentally chatted and kept on driving for long enough to end up on the Lincolnshire coast, discovering a bench in the middle of nowhere and enjoying the tranquil scenery...
And accidentally chatted and kept on driving for long enough to end up on the Lincolnshire coast, discovering a bench in the middle of nowhere and enjoying the tranquil scenery...
Had a great time at the @dpipboro.bsky.social games-themed meetup last night. It was weird to share my sim racing hobby rather than a marketing talk, but hopefully how it blends real and virtual was interesting for those not interested in motorsport
Pic Credit: Umar Ijaz
Pic Credit: Umar Ijaz
September 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Had a great time at the @dpipboro.bsky.social games-themed meetup last night. It was weird to share my sim racing hobby rather than a marketing talk, but hopefully how it blends real and virtual was interesting for those not interested in motorsport
Pic Credit: Umar Ijaz
Pic Credit: Umar Ijaz
Wrote a quick blog post about Typepad shutting down at the end of the month, which turned into a bit of a eulogy for the good bits of Web 2.0...
danthornton.net/2025/09/and-...
danthornton.net/2025/09/and-...
September 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Wrote a quick blog post about Typepad shutting down at the end of the month, which turned into a bit of a eulogy for the good bits of Web 2.0...
danthornton.net/2025/09/and-...
danthornton.net/2025/09/and-...
Doing a bit of a marketing/website test in my spare time - what difference does it make to an old site if I only fix the tech problems highlighted by a couple of popular SEO tools?
No new content, no new links etc.
Only just started, so no noticeable traffic increase yet, as I'd expect.
No new content, no new links etc.
Only just started, so no noticeable traffic increase yet, as I'd expect.
September 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Doing a bit of a marketing/website test in my spare time - what difference does it make to an old site if I only fix the tech problems highlighted by a couple of popular SEO tools?
No new content, no new links etc.
Only just started, so no noticeable traffic increase yet, as I'd expect.
No new content, no new links etc.
Only just started, so no noticeable traffic increase yet, as I'd expect.
Tired and happy after making slime seemed pretty popular at the @angliaruskin.bsky.social Family Day, promoting @pborostemfest.bsky.social and going through 100s of pots and bags with Andy, @lizrandell.bsky.social and Stanley...
Peterborough STEM Festival is on Oct 18, 2025 at ARU Peterborough...
Peterborough STEM Festival is on Oct 18, 2025 at ARU Peterborough...
August 18, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Tired and happy after making slime seemed pretty popular at the @angliaruskin.bsky.social Family Day, promoting @pborostemfest.bsky.social and going through 100s of pots and bags with Andy, @lizrandell.bsky.social and Stanley...
Peterborough STEM Festival is on Oct 18, 2025 at ARU Peterborough...
Peterborough STEM Festival is on Oct 18, 2025 at ARU Peterborough...
Good to see you on the right side of the river...
August 5, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Good to see you on the right side of the river...
Met a new friend on my walk today - in the middle of a hectic (busy but overall pretty good) week, it's incredibly relaxing to spend some time just watching common wildlife going about their business a few metres away.
And if you're one of the few quiet visitors, they're pretty nonchalant about you
And if you're one of the few quiet visitors, they're pretty nonchalant about you
July 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Met a new friend on my walk today - in the middle of a hectic (busy but overall pretty good) week, it's incredibly relaxing to spend some time just watching common wildlife going about their business a few metres away.
And if you're one of the few quiet visitors, they're pretty nonchalant about you
And if you're one of the few quiet visitors, they're pretty nonchalant about you
Peterborough - much maligned until people head out into the countryside. Do it before the council inevitably stick houses on it...
July 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Peterborough - much maligned until people head out into the countryside. Do it before the council inevitably stick houses on it...
I was never a huge user of music-based social networking/dating site Tastebuds fm, but seeing 10+ year old sites close feels different in the AI era...
danthornton.net/2025/06/tast...
danthornton.net/2025/06/tast...
June 24, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I was never a huge user of music-based social networking/dating site Tastebuds fm, but seeing 10+ year old sites close feels different in the AI era...
danthornton.net/2025/06/tast...
danthornton.net/2025/06/tast...
Some other locals decided they wanted to use the same bridleway - friendly enough, but a little moo-dy at times...
June 17, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Some other locals decided they wanted to use the same bridleway - friendly enough, but a little moo-dy at times...
Went for a nice walk with my son at the weekend, and discovered a potential new home if the rent goes up...
It's funny how amazed he is by the fact I spent my childhood and teenage years playing in pillboxes around the Kent coast or hanging out with friends drinking etc...
It's funny how amazed he is by the fact I spent my childhood and teenage years playing in pillboxes around the Kent coast or hanging out with friends drinking etc...
June 16, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Went for a nice walk with my son at the weekend, and discovered a potential new home if the rent goes up...
It's funny how amazed he is by the fact I spent my childhood and teenage years playing in pillboxes around the Kent coast or hanging out with friends drinking etc...
It's funny how amazed he is by the fact I spent my childhood and teenage years playing in pillboxes around the Kent coast or hanging out with friends drinking etc...
Been on some nice long walks over the weekend, and refuelled with possible the best pork pie I've ever eaten from Moor Farm, and a brilliant vegan Mexican brunch at Tacos and FlipFlops... Can recommend both if you're in or around #Peterborough...
May 26, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Been on some nice long walks over the weekend, and refuelled with possible the best pork pie I've ever eaten from Moor Farm, and a brilliant vegan Mexican brunch at Tacos and FlipFlops... Can recommend both if you're in or around #Peterborough...
It's been a challenging couple of weeks, but it's starting to feel like I'm finally coming out the other side with a new found appreciation for taking the time to get outdoors, exercise and look after my mental wellbeing...
May 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
It's been a challenging couple of weeks, but it's starting to feel like I'm finally coming out the other side with a new found appreciation for taking the time to get outdoors, exercise and look after my mental wellbeing...
Made some new friends on my walk yesterday, but only one was bothered to pose for the camera...
May 9, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Made some new friends on my walk yesterday, but only one was bothered to pose for the camera...
Had a little time between work and family commitments to grab a walk in a local country park, and the difference it made to my mood and stress levels was much appreciated...
Also had a close-up view of a heron, along with some very noisy reed warblers...
Also had a close-up view of a heron, along with some very noisy reed warblers...
May 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Had a little time between work and family commitments to grab a walk in a local country park, and the difference it made to my mood and stress levels was much appreciated...
Also had a close-up view of a heron, along with some very noisy reed warblers...
Also had a close-up view of a heron, along with some very noisy reed warblers...
Did my first talk at @dpipboro.bsky.social for quite a while, and it seemed to go well. Aimed for 40 minutes, ended up over an hour with lots of interesting questions at the end...
And it's such a great opportunity if you're at all nervous about presenting - everyone is always kind and welcoming.
And it's such a great opportunity if you're at all nervous about presenting - everyone is always kind and welcoming.
April 4, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Did my first talk at @dpipboro.bsky.social for quite a while, and it seemed to go well. Aimed for 40 minutes, ended up over an hour with lots of interesting questions at the end...
And it's such a great opportunity if you're at all nervous about presenting - everyone is always kind and welcoming.
And it's such a great opportunity if you're at all nervous about presenting - everyone is always kind and welcoming.
Uh-oh...
They'll let anyone speak these days...
They'll let anyone speak these days...
April 2, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Uh-oh...
They'll let anyone speak these days...
They'll let anyone speak these days...
On one hand, I'm quite excited about the new F1 film with Brad Pitt.
On the other, I'm slightly confused how Sonny Hayes would have tested in the 1990 Lotus 102 (Camel sponsorship ended that year).
It puts his character in his early 50s. The oldest real driver in F1 history was Louis Chiron at 55.
On the other, I'm slightly confused how Sonny Hayes would have tested in the 1990 Lotus 102 (Camel sponsorship ended that year).
It puts his character in his early 50s. The oldest real driver in F1 history was Louis Chiron at 55.
March 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
On one hand, I'm quite excited about the new F1 film with Brad Pitt.
On the other, I'm slightly confused how Sonny Hayes would have tested in the 1990 Lotus 102 (Camel sponsorship ended that year).
It puts his character in his early 50s. The oldest real driver in F1 history was Louis Chiron at 55.
On the other, I'm slightly confused how Sonny Hayes would have tested in the 1990 Lotus 102 (Camel sponsorship ended that year).
It puts his character in his early 50s. The oldest real driver in F1 history was Louis Chiron at 55.
Had a great time at @dpipboro.bsky.social last night. It was good to catch up with @optimisey.com, who kindly presented a really useful guide to Google Search Console with handy tips for beginners and more advanced users alike...
If you're in or around #Peterborough it's free to attend: mydpip.com
If you're in or around #Peterborough it's free to attend: mydpip.com
March 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Had a great time at @dpipboro.bsky.social last night. It was good to catch up with @optimisey.com, who kindly presented a really useful guide to Google Search Console with handy tips for beginners and more advanced users alike...
If you're in or around #Peterborough it's free to attend: mydpip.com
If you're in or around #Peterborough it's free to attend: mydpip.com
12 hours.
300+ laps.
4 drivers working together across Europe and America, and we made it to the end...
300+ laps.
4 drivers working together across Europe and America, and we made it to the end...
February 22, 2025 at 9:49 PM
12 hours.
300+ laps.
4 drivers working together across Europe and America, and we made it to the end...
300+ laps.
4 drivers working together across Europe and America, and we made it to the end...
I remember how advanced Toca 2 and Gran Turismo felt at the time...
And now I'm getting ready to run the Bathurst 12 Hours with my sim racing team on iRacing tomorrow, hoping it doesn't rain during my stint with about 40 other human drivers piloting GT3s around Mount Panorama
And now I'm getting ready to run the Bathurst 12 Hours with my sim racing team on iRacing tomorrow, hoping it doesn't rain during my stint with about 40 other human drivers piloting GT3s around Mount Panorama
February 21, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I remember how advanced Toca 2 and Gran Turismo felt at the time...
And now I'm getting ready to run the Bathurst 12 Hours with my sim racing team on iRacing tomorrow, hoping it doesn't rain during my stint with about 40 other human drivers piloting GT3s around Mount Panorama
And now I'm getting ready to run the Bathurst 12 Hours with my sim racing team on iRacing tomorrow, hoping it doesn't rain during my stint with about 40 other human drivers piloting GT3s around Mount Panorama
Some more highlights... A couple of other sim racing shots, and then me on my own beloved Japanese import 20 years ago, and the one bike I wish I still owned, my Honda RVF400RR
February 12, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Some more highlights... A couple of other sim racing shots, and then me on my own beloved Japanese import 20 years ago, and the one bike I wish I still owned, my Honda RVF400RR