Magsmanston
@magsmanston.bsky.social
Personal account of a Biologist. General nerd (computer games, physics, Raspberry Pi, tinkering, stats). Likes frogs and fish. Runner. Same handle as on the old place.
Reposted by Magsmanston
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
Reposted by Magsmanston
Interested in a #PhD with neuroendocrine and bioimaging focus? Check out our @swbiodtp.bsky.social project 'Creating a functional map for brain-gut signalling in a simple worm', with @alexdcorbett.bsky.social and CASE partner Cairn Research Ltd. Application deadline Wednesday 3rd December.
November 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Interested in a #PhD with neuroendocrine and bioimaging focus? Check out our @swbiodtp.bsky.social project 'Creating a functional map for brain-gut signalling in a simple worm', with @alexdcorbett.bsky.social and CASE partner Cairn Research Ltd. Application deadline Wednesday 3rd December.
Reposted by Magsmanston
A reminder of the importance of universities to a local economy. Lancaster's university is fundamental to the area, with the centre already looking rather run down.
'The prospect of hundreds of job cuts at Lancaster University could damage the city's economy, students have warned.'
'Could'? Surely 'will'.
'Could'? Surely 'will'.
Fears Lancaster University job cuts would hit city's businesses
Lancaster University is seeking to cut 400 full-time posts as part of efforts to save £30m.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A reminder of the importance of universities to a local economy. Lancaster's university is fundamental to the area, with the centre already looking rather run down.
Reposted by Magsmanston
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
Reposted by Magsmanston
Huh? How do you do a "balancing" program when one candidate did an insurgency trying to overturn the election and the other...didn't?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Michael Prescott was ‘“shocked” that after an hour-long Panorama documentary dealing with Trump and the January 6 insurgency, there was no “similar, balancing” programme about Kamala Harris.’
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
The departure of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness means the BBC is leaderless when it needs leadership more than ever. Where are the people at the head of the BBC standing up for it?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Huh? How do you do a "balancing" program when one candidate did an insurgency trying to overturn the election and the other...didn't?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Reposted by Magsmanston
"i asked grok" "i asked chatgpt" yeah well i asked carl sagan and he said the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge 🧪
July 18, 2025 at 4:12 AM
"i asked grok" "i asked chatgpt" yeah well i asked carl sagan and he said the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge 🧪
Reposted by Magsmanston
You're gonna be unpopular. Be unpopular because you're fixing things, not because you aren't.
November 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
You're gonna be unpopular. Be unpopular because you're fixing things, not because you aren't.
Reposted by Magsmanston
Good blog this. I think another reason why this comes up so often (“put it on the curriculum” was far and away the most repeated ask when I chaired the BoD’s commission on racial inclusivity) is that the kind of person who submits to inquiries liked school, likes learning, had an inspiring teacher.
For political hacks like myself, 'put it in the curriculum' is the oldest and hattiest of old hat policy ideas.
Why do we think schools should solve all our problems? What if we thought differently about life skills and civic education?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/schools-ca...
Why do we think schools should solve all our problems? What if we thought differently about life skills and civic education?
howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/schools-ca...
Schools cannot solve all our problems
The limits of ‘put it in the curriculum’ politics
howtorunacountry.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Good blog this. I think another reason why this comes up so often (“put it on the curriculum” was far and away the most repeated ask when I chaired the BoD’s commission on racial inclusivity) is that the kind of person who submits to inquiries liked school, likes learning, had an inspiring teacher.
Reposted by Magsmanston
open.substack.com/pub/dandiamo... Here’s a great example of how the social media industry is wired to prefer colourful false information over the mundane truth
A man collapsed in the Oval Office. The internet got the story wrong.
A case study in how bad information can spread — and how hard it is to correct it.
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
open.substack.com/pub/dandiamo... Here’s a great example of how the social media industry is wired to prefer colourful false information over the mundane truth
Reposted by Magsmanston
Reposted by Magsmanston
“We are in trouble for all the crimes”
Steve Bannon: If we lose the midterms and we lose 2028, some in this room are going to prison, myself included.
November 7, 2025 at 8:47 AM
“We are in trouble for all the crimes”
Reposted by Magsmanston
Dear GOD if you want to save money in the asylum system
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Dear GOD if you want to save money in the asylum system
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
Reposted by Magsmanston
Without DEI, we would only make merit-based hires, like the genius strategist who decided to pick a fight with his boss’s new young wife.
Dominic Cummings has this racialised take on David Lammy
There is an increasingly prevalent kneejerk online rightwing trait to call the presence of any black or Asian person a diversity hire
There is an increasingly prevalent kneejerk online rightwing trait to call the presence of any black or Asian person a diversity hire
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Without DEI, we would only make merit-based hires, like the genius strategist who decided to pick a fight with his boss’s new young wife.
Reposted by Magsmanston
EU rejoin is a *current* Lib Dem policy and one that we ran on in 2024. Simply announcing it isn't an option for the UK. We don't get to tell the EU that we're rejoining without years of prior steps. It will need a careful pathway, such as the one set out below, to make it a reality.
October 22, 2025 at 9:55 PM
EU rejoin is a *current* Lib Dem policy and one that we ran on in 2024. Simply announcing it isn't an option for the UK. We don't get to tell the EU that we're rejoining without years of prior steps. It will need a careful pathway, such as the one set out below, to make it a reality.
Reposted by Magsmanston
We’ve made this investigation free to read because so many people in Sheffield are affected by this story.
Our journalists have been knocking on doors for weeks and we’ve had to employ lawyers because of the legal threats made against us.
We can only do this kind of journalism with your support.
Our journalists have been knocking on doors for weeks and we’ve had to employ lawyers because of the legal threats made against us.
We can only do this kind of journalism with your support.
“It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car,” one woman who paid Milne tens of thousands of pounds told us. “He has just wiped me out.”
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived
Exclusive: The Tribune can reveal that Andrew Milne has threatened leaseholders with high court action. It ‘broke my heart’ one woman says
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
We’ve made this investigation free to read because so many people in Sheffield are affected by this story.
Our journalists have been knocking on doors for weeks and we’ve had to employ lawyers because of the legal threats made against us.
We can only do this kind of journalism with your support.
Our journalists have been knocking on doors for weeks and we’ve had to employ lawyers because of the legal threats made against us.
We can only do this kind of journalism with your support.
Reposted by Magsmanston
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Reposted by Magsmanston
🚨🚨This is stellar investigative journalism by @kaitlintosh.bsky.social and @michelleinezsimon.bsky.social on how #elonmusk is boosting the #british right. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:51 AM
🚨🚨This is stellar investigative journalism by @kaitlintosh.bsky.social and @michelleinezsimon.bsky.social on how #elonmusk is boosting the #british right. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Magsmanston
lol
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 AM
lol
Reposted by Magsmanston
A great day for the golden rule of political analysis: when the right wins it is a resounding ideological victory that humiliates the left and when the left wins it is a precarious fluke that will surely end up humiliating the left. Conservatives are power’s landlords and the left merely tenants
November 5, 2025 at 10:35 AM
A great day for the golden rule of political analysis: when the right wins it is a resounding ideological victory that humiliates the left and when the left wins it is a precarious fluke that will surely end up humiliating the left. Conservatives are power’s landlords and the left merely tenants
Reposted by Magsmanston
FAO Matt Goodwin and all the other racist filth who tried to exploit this incident
November 4, 2025 at 12:38 PM
FAO Matt Goodwin and all the other racist filth who tried to exploit this incident
Reposted by Magsmanston
While Musk is recommending & nominating Robinson as a violent future civil war leader, Robinson himself has not made such explicit calls for violence as Musk. The billionaire platform owner is the outrider for explicit calls for violence at the movement's political rallies
bsky.app/profile/sund...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Elon Musk: "It is time for the English to ally with the hard men, like Tommy Robinson, and fight for their survival or they shall surely all die" 29th October 2025. 2 million views in its first hour.
November 4, 2025 at 12:41 PM
While Musk is recommending & nominating Robinson as a violent future civil war leader, Robinson himself has not made such explicit calls for violence as Musk. The billionaire platform owner is the outrider for explicit calls for violence at the movement's political rallies
bsky.app/profile/sund...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Reposted by Magsmanston
So a weird thing happened to me in Aldi that I cdn't quite place until I was listening to Gabby Bertin talking about choking in porn on the radio this am. (NB: this is 100% not a sex thing). Having the usual polite chitchat with the cashier who is tired from working extra shifts to make £ for xmas..
November 4, 2025 at 9:22 AM
So a weird thing happened to me in Aldi that I cdn't quite place until I was listening to Gabby Bertin talking about choking in porn on the radio this am. (NB: this is 100% not a sex thing). Having the usual polite chitchat with the cashier who is tired from working extra shifts to make £ for xmas..
Reposted by Magsmanston
Cars the U.K are up to 55% larger today than they were in the 1970s and there are twice the number of motors on our roads as there were 30 years ago, but anti-Low Traffic Neighbourhood and anti-cycle lane campaigners keep claiming they 'cause congestion'.
Okay.
Okay.
November 4, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Cars the U.K are up to 55% larger today than they were in the 1970s and there are twice the number of motors on our roads as there were 30 years ago, but anti-Low Traffic Neighbourhood and anti-cycle lane campaigners keep claiming they 'cause congestion'.
Okay.
Okay.
Reposted by Magsmanston
Why are Carter-Ruck doing this?
I don't know. But I'd speculate: because they have something to hide. There's something in their client correspondence which (for example) proves that the litigation was abusive.
I don't know. But I'd speculate: because they have something to hide. There's something in their client correspondence which (for example) proves that the litigation was abusive.
November 4, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Why are Carter-Ruck doing this?
I don't know. But I'd speculate: because they have something to hide. There's something in their client correspondence which (for example) proves that the litigation was abusive.
I don't know. But I'd speculate: because they have something to hide. There's something in their client correspondence which (for example) proves that the litigation was abusive.
Reposted by Magsmanston
Carter-Ruck, the UK’s most notorious libel firm, used abusive litigation to silence criticism of a former Tory donor.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is investigating - but Carter-Ruck just filed a judicial review. If successful, they'll have total impunity.
Thread:
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is investigating - but Carter-Ruck just filed a judicial review. If successful, they'll have total impunity.
Thread:
November 4, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Carter-Ruck, the UK’s most notorious libel firm, used abusive litigation to silence criticism of a former Tory donor.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is investigating - but Carter-Ruck just filed a judicial review. If successful, they'll have total impunity.
Thread:
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is investigating - but Carter-Ruck just filed a judicial review. If successful, they'll have total impunity.
Thread: