@justdarnedordinary.bsky.social
Pinned
I feel like we need to form a League of Relatively Normal People, and our agenda should be things like:
--Canada's cool, leave them be
--Lot of smart people at universities, that's a plus
--We're scared of getting cancer, so let's research it
--Fewer floods and wildfires would be nice
--Canada's cool, leave them be
--Lot of smart people at universities, that's a plus
--We're scared of getting cancer, so let's research it
--Fewer floods and wildfires would be nice
Just Darned Ordinary would naturally join a League of Relatively Normal People
Reposted
NEW RESEARCH: UK heat pumps can perform far better than many think.
Our analysis of HeatPumpMonitor.org data shows well-designed systems achieve ~40% higher efficiency than past trials (SCoP 3.86 vs 2.81), cutting bills (~£224/yr) and emissions.
Open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Our analysis of HeatPumpMonitor.org data shows well-designed systems achieve ~40% higher efficiency than past trials (SCoP 3.86 vs 2.81), cutting bills (~£224/yr) and emissions.
Open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
NEW RESEARCH: UK heat pumps can perform far better than many think.
Our analysis of HeatPumpMonitor.org data shows well-designed systems achieve ~40% higher efficiency than past trials (SCoP 3.86 vs 2.81), cutting bills (~£224/yr) and emissions.
Open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Our analysis of HeatPumpMonitor.org data shows well-designed systems achieve ~40% higher efficiency than past trials (SCoP 3.86 vs 2.81), cutting bills (~£224/yr) and emissions.
Open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted
As a lunch break thought experiment, I thought - "What's a reasonable way to calculate a 'You're never going to need more money than that' level of wealth"
December 16, 2025 at 5:10 PM
As a lunch break thought experiment, I thought - "What's a reasonable way to calculate a 'You're never going to need more money than that' level of wealth"
New Year's resolution? Get that "listening age" down to a much more "respectable" under 70. Ok, so I've been going back to the 60s this year, big deal #Spotify #Wrapped
This year’s Spotify Wrapped broke engagement records, in part because of its new "listening age" feature.
Here's how they calculated it — and here's what Rolling Stone's average age ended up being ↓
Here's how they calculated it — and here's what Rolling Stone's average age ended up being ↓
Here's How Spotify Wrapped Calculated Your Listening Age -- And Here's Rolling Stone's
bit.ly
December 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted
Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen
April 9, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen
This is a heads-up about fake AI accounts which have proliferated across social media.
The screenshot is from a genuine thread asking for advice on a mountain route; there are plenty of useful, real human replies.
The attempted reply (we stopped it) looks very real - but it is from an AI bot.
The screenshot is from a genuine thread asking for advice on a mountain route; there are plenty of useful, real human replies.
The attempted reply (we stopped it) looks very real - but it is from an AI bot.
December 1, 2025 at 9:05 PM
And local planning resistance
The biggest bummer about electricity affordability is it is being driven by poles and wires, the replacement of which is becoming more expensive due to, you guessed it, climate change.
November 21, 2025 at 9:37 AM
And local planning resistance
Reposted
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
emptycity.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
We'd already chosen not to purchase any Chinese #EV on account of human rights abuses. This dramatically compounds the moral and ethical purchasing issues.
So if the survival of Europe's industrial base wasn't enough of a motivation not to go for a Chinese EV, not having your car weaponized against you sounds like another solid one.
Norway tested two different types of electric buses this summer -one from a Dutch and one from a Chinese manufacturer- to assess cybersecurity risks.
The tests revealed that the Chinese bus could be controlled and turned off remotely, while the European one could not.
www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/os...
The tests revealed that the Chinese bus could be controlled and turned off remotely, while the European one could not.
www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/os...
October 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
We'd already chosen not to purchase any Chinese #EV on account of human rights abuses. This dramatically compounds the moral and ethical purchasing issues.
@janrosenow.bsky.social is one of the very best sources of insightful, compelling and positive environmental threads. Sorely needed in these difficult days
Feedback loops and learning are often misunderstood or ignored. Batteries are a prime example: as batteries are scaled their costs have fallen amd as costs fall more batteries get deployed and so on.
We have written about this earlier this year. www.scurveeconomics.org/wp-content/u...
We have written about this earlier this year. www.scurveeconomics.org/wp-content/u...
October 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
@janrosenow.bsky.social is one of the very best sources of insightful, compelling and positive environmental threads. Sorely needed in these difficult days
Reposted
Grid scale batteries are changing our electricity system. Excellent new visual story on batteries in FT today shows just how far this technology has evolved.
Fasten your seatbelts, this is just the beginning.
ig.ft.com/mega-batteri...
Fasten your seatbelts, this is just the beginning.
ig.ft.com/mega-batteri...
October 13, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Grid scale batteries are changing our electricity system. Excellent new visual story on batteries in FT today shows just how far this technology has evolved.
Fasten your seatbelts, this is just the beginning.
ig.ft.com/mega-batteri...
Fasten your seatbelts, this is just the beginning.
ig.ft.com/mega-batteri...
Reposted
One curious thing on this site about speaking out against the encroachment of LLMs is that inevitably you get accused of being anti-tech. I don’t hate technology. I’ve used machine learning in my own code before. But I also recognize that oligarchs are so hellbent on pushing this tech for a reason.
October 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
One curious thing on this site about speaking out against the encroachment of LLMs is that inevitably you get accused of being anti-tech. I don’t hate technology. I’ve used machine learning in my own code before. But I also recognize that oligarchs are so hellbent on pushing this tech for a reason.
Limitations of AI
While AI can significantly enhance the shopping experience, it is not a complete solution. Challenges such as data privacy concerns, the need for human touch in customer service, and the potential for algorithmic bias still exist (1/2)
While AI can significantly enhance the shopping experience, it is not a complete solution. Challenges such as data privacy concerns, the need for human touch in customer service, and the potential for algorithmic bias still exist (1/2)
October 6, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Limitations of AI
While AI can significantly enhance the shopping experience, it is not a complete solution. Challenges such as data privacy concerns, the need for human touch in customer service, and the potential for algorithmic bias still exist (1/2)
While AI can significantly enhance the shopping experience, it is not a complete solution. Challenges such as data privacy concerns, the need for human touch in customer service, and the potential for algorithmic bias still exist (1/2)
Reposted
1/Striking speech by Macron: The future of European democracy depends on taking back its digital information space. A remarkable turn from Silicon Valley as source of enlightenment to being a purveyor of slop. And the stakes aren't just ad revenue but the nation.
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
"Europeans, let's wake up!" — Defend Democracy
“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.” President Macron on the occasion of German Unity Day, 3 October 2025.
defenddemocracy.eu
October 5, 2025 at 12:25 PM
1/Striking speech by Macron: The future of European democracy depends on taking back its digital information space. A remarkable turn from Silicon Valley as source of enlightenment to being a purveyor of slop. And the stakes aren't just ad revenue but the nation.
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
Reposted
Reposted
The Trump Action Tracker is a British academic’s answer to Trump “flooding the zone” with anti-democratic and anti- rule of law behaviours.
It’s a one-stop-shop for logging thd lot. And the neta-analysis of what is happening is very enlightening… darkly.
See TrumpActionTracker.info
It’s a one-stop-shop for logging thd lot. And the neta-analysis of what is happening is very enlightening… darkly.
See TrumpActionTracker.info
October 4, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The Trump Action Tracker is a British academic’s answer to Trump “flooding the zone” with anti-democratic and anti- rule of law behaviours.
It’s a one-stop-shop for logging thd lot. And the neta-analysis of what is happening is very enlightening… darkly.
See TrumpActionTracker.info
It’s a one-stop-shop for logging thd lot. And the neta-analysis of what is happening is very enlightening… darkly.
See TrumpActionTracker.info
Yeah, I know but let's take small steps?
Not enough emphasis on the climate crisis imho...
October 3, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Yeah, I know but let's take small steps?
This is going to be an Orange Sky?
October 1, 2025 at 5:52 PM
This is going to be an Orange Sky?
I am now listening to and enjoying #johncage Bubblegum by #Stereolab. In France. By the way, I've also read Nina Simone's Gum, by #warrenellis. I don't have a fixation on gum. I'm just #Ordinary
October 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I am now listening to and enjoying #johncage Bubblegum by #Stereolab. In France. By the way, I've also read Nina Simone's Gum, by #warrenellis. I don't have a fixation on gum. I'm just #Ordinary
Reposted
In 2012, a flood forced Dr Fiona Work out of her home in Edzell for 10 months. Eleven years later, the village flood group she helped form saved the community during Storm Babet.
Our latest: theferret.scot/new-a...
Our latest: theferret.scot/new-a...
September 29, 2025 at 8:09 AM
In 2012, a flood forced Dr Fiona Work out of her home in Edzell for 10 months. Eleven years later, the village flood group she helped form saved the community during Storm Babet.
Our latest: theferret.scot/new-a...
Our latest: theferret.scot/new-a...
* Skip Intro *
Everything about Enterprise is wonderful, apart from that theme. What were they thinking?
September 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM
* Skip Intro *
Reposted
So powerfully put - and terrifyingly accurate. We no longer hear the truth, because the truth is deeply inconvenient & because it poses a direct challenge to vested interests - and as a result, our lurch towards climate catastrophe accelerates
September 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
So powerfully put - and terrifyingly accurate. We no longer hear the truth, because the truth is deeply inconvenient & because it poses a direct challenge to vested interests - and as a result, our lurch towards climate catastrophe accelerates
There is joy in simple things, everyday things #JustBeOrdinary
September 25, 2025 at 8:11 PM
There is joy in simple things, everyday things #JustBeOrdinary
Just be Ordinary
Just go for a walk, have a swim, do some gardening, acknowledge real stuff and deny these so called "tech bros" of whatever they're after
September 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Just be Ordinary