James Jefferies
jamesjefferies.mastodon.me.uk.ap.brid.gy
James Jefferies
@jamesjefferies.mastodon.me.uk.ap.brid.gy
Technologist @shedcode - Data Engineer @RewildingB - @jamesjefferies (he/him) - #IrisMurdoch, #TheWeddingPresent, #LFC, #Railways #TheArchers #Canals […]

[bridged from https://mastodon.me.uk/@jamesjefferies on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Urgh, back has been playing up and then easing off, today though got a pain down the back of my leg and now concerned that I’m having my first experience of sciatica 😢
November 22, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Reposted by James Jefferies
I presented the Consequence Check tool to some digital folks in govt this week. It's a methodology for rapidly QAing tech products against their social impacts, not just their tech specification, designed to help surface trade offs www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11... Someone asked a very good Q
Introducing the Careful Consequence Check — Careful Industries
A step-by-step guide to using the Careful Consequence Check canvas.
www.careful.industries
November 15, 2025 at 12:38 PM
This is a great software bug hunter story 🤩 https://mensfeld.pl/2025/11/ruby-ffi-gc-bug-hash-becomes-string/
mensfeld.pl
November 14, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by James Jefferies
Hey UK GLAM friends, I'm super keen to get to the GLAM Labs conference in Edinburgh next June, but I need to find some funding. https://www.glamlabs.io/events/glam-labs-futures-26 Is there anything I could come and do for you around June next year that could help pay my way?
International GLAM Labs Community - GLAM Labs Futures 26
GLAM Labs Futures ● 25-26 June 2026 ● Scotland
www.glamlabs.io
November 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Oh no, just started to install ffmpeg with brew and it is currently to downloading and installing the whole internet 😬
November 1, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Went to 6th form college open evening with number 1 daughter - looked at A-level English curriculum - all flippin’ bloke authors apart from a few poems and maybe Mary Shelley. Now, I’m not knocking Mary, but is that it?! It’s an absolute embarrassment.
November 1, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Watched #houseofdynamite - well written, well acted, well directed - but also flipping terrifying.
November 1, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Hot take - new Sabrina Carpenter album is better than the new Taylor Swift album 🤩
October 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Darn it, water has been off and now it’s back on, our newest loo will not switch off its fill valve 🧐 what’s worse is that the blimmin’ plumber who fitted it, didn’t fit an isolation valve - git!
October 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by James Jefferies
👋 I’m on the look out for my next project, I’m an experienced Elixir dev (> 8 years, and > 10 years of Ruby before that + I'm still the maintainer of RSpec), very familiar with Phoenix and LiveView, and have enough CSS / JS knowledge to approach projects from a full stack angle.

I’ve worked […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
October 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Oh my gosh - this brought a little tear to my eye - hoping there is something in Europe!

https://youtu.be/koiX_Wspatw

#rush
October 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by James Jefferies
New community gem server from the rubygems team just dropped: https://gem.coop
gem.coop
gem.coop
October 6, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Evicted two slugs this morning & also heard some rustling in the shopping bags which makes me think we might have a mouse in the house 🙃🐭
October 6, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Can anyone recommend a decent battery recharger (AA/AAA) which gives an output on battery capacity and charge?

I’m sure our current one isn’t doing the job 🙁
October 5, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by James Jefferies
159 is the number to right if you have suspicious banking things going on - it asks you which bank you are with and it sends you directly to someone who will help, no waiting
October 2, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Reposted by James Jefferies
Over 40 years, we were collectively told to give tax cuts to rich people.

And we were told that if we did that, wealth would trickle down and everyone would be better off.

Over 40 years, pretty much everything got cut to fund these tax cuts.

Schools. Hospitals. Public housing. Public […]
Original post on gts.sadauskas.id.au
gts.sadauskas.id.au
October 1, 2025 at 12:18 PM
First personalised email received after a phone call from the Green Party…

Dear Andy

For Flapjack’s Sake, get the basics right!
September 30, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by James Jefferies
In the British Isles, it looks like 2025 is a mast year.

https://ribbletrust.org.uk/what-is-a-mast-year/

Please help the trees. Gather as many acorns & other big, easy to find tree seeds as you can find, & scatter them on any waste land you can reach.

The world urgently needs more trees.
## What Is A Mast Year And What Does It Mean For Our Woodlands? If you’ve been out and about over the last couple of months, you’ve probably noticed that our trees are packed full of berries and branches are weighed down with fruits, seeds, and nuts. That’s because 2025 is shaping up to be a mast year. This is a special event that only happens every few years, and one that has fascinating effects on wildlife, woodlands, and even the work we do here at Ribble Rivers Trust. ## **What is a mast year?** A mast year is when trees and shrubs produce an unusual abundance of fruits, nuts, and seeds, known as “mast.” Instead of a scattering of acorns or the usual crop of berries, mast years bring thick carpets of nuts and seeds, heavy branches of fruit, and a feast for wildlife across our landscapes. These events usually occur roughly every five years, although like all things in nature, this schedule is far from guaranteed! However, the last mast year in the UK was in 2020, and now, five years on, nature is giving us another bumper crop. ## **Why do mast years happen?** Mast years are nature’s clever way of ensuring the next generation of trees. Producing fruits and nuts takes a lot of energy, so trees can’t do it every year. Instead, they build up resources and release them all at once. The strategy is known as predator satiation. In normal years, squirrels, mice, and other seed-eating animals consume most of the crop. But in a mast year, there’s so much food that the animals can’t possibly eat it all, so some seeds inevitably escape and grow into new saplings. The impact ripples through the ecosystem too. Small mammals and birds benefit from the extra food, predators such as owls and foxes enjoy the increase in prey, and woodland regeneration gets a huge boost. It’s a cycle that keeps woodlands healthy, and benefits wildlife too. ## **How do trees ‘plan’ their mast years?** One of the mysteries of mast years is how trees manage to synchronise across such vast areas. Trees in Ribble Catchment, and beyond all seem to “agree” on the same year to produce bumper crops. Scientists believe the answer lies in a combination of weather cues and communication. Warm, dry springs are perfect for pollination, while particular patterns of temperature and rainfall influence seed development. This year has seen our trees put under some serious environmental stress, with prolonged dry spells and hot weather throughout spring and summer. Alternatively, some researchers suggest trees also release chemical signals or synchronise through pollen exchange, allowing them to act in unison even across wide landscapes. It’s a reminder that trees are far from solitary, they’re part of a vast, living network. ## **What does this mean for our woodlands and tree nurseries?** Here at Ribble Rivers Trust, mast years are both fascinating and practical. Our team has been busy behind the scenes, inspecting our woodland sites and planning seasonal maintenance. Interestingly, some of the woodlands we planted in winter 2024/25 are already outpacing older woodlands in their growth. The cause of this could be the mast year, alongside the mild, wet winter and warm summer. Or is could be a coincidence! The abundance of seeds and nuts this year also means our tree nurseries will be overflowing seeds too. Collecting seeds from local woodlands allows us to grow new saplings that perfectly suit the climate and soils of Ribble Catchment. In time, we will plant these out to form new woodlands that protect rivers, boost biodiversity, and capture carbon. ## **How t** o**get involved** If you’d like to get involved in our woodland work, we’d love to have your support! There are several ways you can help us in our mission to plant more trees and protect more rivers. * **Dedicate a tree** for just £15 and leave a lasting legacy in our landscape. * **Volunteer with us** to help plant trees and care for young woodlands. * **Support our tree nurseries** by helping us collect seeds, grow saplings, or maintain sites. Get in touch with us to find out more. * **Stay connected** by following Ribble Rivers Trust on social media for tree-themed updates, or dive into our blogs to learn more about why rivers and trees are nature’s dream team. * * * Rivers are at the heart of our local landscapes. Whether you’re casting a line, exploring a riverside trail, or simply basking in the beauty of nature, you can help protect these special places now, and for generations to come. By becoming a Ribble Rivers Trust supporter for just £3 a month, you’ll be funding real, on-the-ground action. Ready to make a difference? Learn more here: ribbletrust.org.uk/become-a-supporter Share this:
ribbletrust.org.uk
September 28, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Reposted by James Jefferies
#rails folks, here's an open letter asking the Rails Core to cut ties with DHH and hard fork Rails to a new project with proper governance.

You can sign with a pull request. Let's show that there's demand for this, and that the community won't appease racists […]
Original post on mastodon.me.uk
mastodon.me.uk
September 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Popping in to say I love Ruby on Rails but can’t stand the facist crap which “you know who*” is spouting - it’s an absolute disgrace

* Don’t even want to post his initials

(It’s not Voldemort)
September 16, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I think Brian’s timing may be slightly out, but worth a watch for Roger at the end 😆

'Freddie would have loved it': Queen wow at Last Night of the Proms https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyn7lq1q1ro
Queen wow at Last Night of the Proms with symphonic performance of Bohemian Rhapsody
The rock band play an orchestral version of Bohemian Rhapsody; while Bill Bailey plays a typewriter.
www.bbc.com
September 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by James Jefferies
#running
#recycle
A gentle reminder that recycling your old running shoes is easy and will cost just £2 in the UK.
( Mine go via the Post Office)

Enjoy your running (and recycling).

https://www.jogonagain.com/sendusyourshoes
POSTAGE | Send Us Your Shoes
This is how you can get your unwanted running shoes to us
www.jogonagain.com
September 10, 2025 at 10:38 AM
20% off Interrail passes at the mo, buy now, use in the next 12 months!

https://allaboard.eu/interrail-september-promo
Train Ticket Booking Solutions: API and more • All Aboard
allaboard.eu
September 2, 2025 at 4:56 PM