Simon Hildrew
@sihil.net
Previously dev @theguardian.com; interested in Serverless, DevOps, AWS, Functional Programming; XR "extremist"; @sihil on Twitter
If there is one writer the @theguardian.com could greatly benefit from replacing with an LLM it is Adrian Chiles. Based on the latest column, I suspect this is already happening. #aislop
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
This on the other hand is spectacular: bsky.app/profile/adri...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
This on the other hand is spectacular: bsky.app/profile/adri...
bsky.app
November 13, 2025 at 11:52 AM
If there is one writer the @theguardian.com could greatly benefit from replacing with an LLM it is Adrian Chiles. Based on the latest column, I suspect this is already happening. #aislop
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
This on the other hand is spectacular: bsky.app/profile/adri...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
This on the other hand is spectacular: bsky.app/profile/adri...
Interesting observation from @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social. Having looked at the data, the Greens are already beating Labour in the under-50 demographic.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What happens if the Greens overtake Labour in the polls? All bets are off | Gaby Hinsliff
They may lack Labour’s party machine, but Zack Polanski’s burgeoning popularity could have seismic consequences for British politics, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Interesting observation from @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social. Having looked at the data, the Greens are already beating Labour in the under-50 demographic.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The PSU of my real pen plotter went yesterday, when I wanted to test a new app I was writing to drive it. So I wrote this mock pen plotter which can be connected to via a TCP socket and interpret Gcode just like my iDraw v2. It was fun to build and flawlessly ran my existing Gcode files. #penplotter
November 3, 2025 at 8:48 AM
The PSU of my real pen plotter went yesterday, when I wanted to test a new app I was writing to drive it. So I wrote this mock pen plotter which can be connected to via a TCP socket and interpret Gcode just like my iDraw v2. It was fun to build and flawlessly ran my existing Gcode files. #penplotter
@daviddark.bsky.social I sense that you would have an interesting and insightful reflection on Thiel's recent lectures.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Inside tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s off-the-record lectures about the antichrist
The political svengali and investor has been giving lectures on ‘an evil king or tyrant … who appears in the end times’
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:48 PM
@daviddark.bsky.social I sense that you would have an interesting and insightful reflection on Thiel's recent lectures.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Enjoying seeing transparent explanation of LLM usage in journalism in what seems like a great application of the technology by @porcelinad.bsky.social.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Reading the post-riot posts: how we traced far-right radicalisation across 51,000 Facebook messages
Tracing profiles of those charged with online offences in summer 2024 helped us map a thriving social ecosystem trading far-right sentiment and political disillusionment
www.theguardian.com
September 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Enjoying seeing transparent explanation of LLM usage in journalism in what seems like a great application of the technology by @porcelinad.bsky.social.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
I no longer read or see the Economist, but my throwaway thread on how I feared this unfolding back in 2023 has turned out to be depressingly accurate.
I cannot believe the Economist has published this article advocating for genocide. Figuring out how to cancel our sub.
It's not like it would even going to achieve what they are claiming it will.
www.economist.com/leaders/2023...
It's not like it would even going to achieve what they are claiming it will.
www.economist.com/leaders/2023...
Why Israel must fight on
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is taking a terrible toll. But unless Hamas’s power is broken, peace will remain out of reach
www.economist.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I no longer read or see the Economist, but my throwaway thread on how I feared this unfolding back in 2023 has turned out to be depressingly accurate.
Petition rejecting Digital ID cards in the UK has reached 1m shortly after it was announced. Labour can't win 🤷
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Petition: Do not introduce Digital ID cards
We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards. There are reports that this is being looked at.
petition.parliament.uk
September 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Petition rejecting Digital ID cards in the UK has reached 1m shortly after it was announced. Labour can't win 🤷
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
“The tyranny of the veto sabotages the very reason for the UN’s existence.” - Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Trump’s UN speech makes it clear: the world can no longer look to the US for strong leadership
US president’s speech made a mockery of UN values and highlights the need for strong anti-Trumpian alliances
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
“The tyranny of the veto sabotages the very reason for the UN’s existence.” - Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
The video in this piece is terribly brilliant.
September 22, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The video in this piece is terribly brilliant.
The gaping hole in this interesting piece by @jasperjolly.bsky.social and Dan Milmo is the extent to which this extends to the OTA systems that every recent JLR car on the road connects to. Could motivated attackers have shipped malicious updates to cars?
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Inside the Jaguar Land Rover hack: stalled smart factories, outsourced cybersecurity and supply chain woes
Being a carmaker where ‘everything is connected’ has left JLR unable to isolate its plants or functions, forcing a shutdown of most systems
www.theguardian.com
September 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The gaping hole in this interesting piece by @jasperjolly.bsky.social and Dan Milmo is the extent to which this extends to the OTA systems that every recent JLR car on the road connects to. Could motivated attackers have shipped malicious updates to cars?
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
My opinion of Nick Clegg continues to worsen - I'm not sure I need to read this book, but I do worry about those with power who do and decide to take what he says at face value 😨
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
How to Save the Internet by Nick Clegg review – spinning Silicon Valley
Instead of recognising that social media harms mental health and democracy, the former deputy PM and Meta executive repeats company talking points
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 10:03 AM
My opinion of Nick Clegg continues to worsen - I'm not sure I need to read this book, but I do worry about those with power who do and decide to take what he says at face value 😨
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Wow. Microsoft Teams is just bad right? Is it because I'm using it on macOS via Chrome or is it just terrible?
September 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Wow. Microsoft Teams is just bad right? Is it because I'm using it on macOS via Chrome or is it just terrible?
Reposted by Simon Hildrew
"What Was Israel Supposed To Do After October 7?" Is Asking The Wrong Question
A much more useful and interesting question is “What were Palestinians supposed to do in response to all of Israel’s abuses prior to October 7?”
www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/what-was-i...
A much more useful and interesting question is “What were Palestinians supposed to do in response to all of Israel’s abuses prior to October 7?”
www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/what-was-i...
"What Was Israel Supposed To Do After October 7?" Is Asking The Wrong Question
Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley):
www.caitlinjohnst.one
August 3, 2025 at 2:21 AM
"What Was Israel Supposed To Do After October 7?" Is Asking The Wrong Question
A much more useful and interesting question is “What were Palestinians supposed to do in response to all of Israel’s abuses prior to October 7?”
www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/what-was-i...
A much more useful and interesting question is “What were Palestinians supposed to do in response to all of Israel’s abuses prior to October 7?”
www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/what-was-i...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
The image at the top of this live blog makes me sick to my stomach. Enough is enough.
The image at the top of this live blog makes me sick to my stomach. Enough is enough.
Mass starvation spreading across Gaza, aid agencies warn, as pressure on Israel grows – Middle East crisis live
More than 100 aid agencies, including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children and Oxfam, say ‘our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away’
www.theguardian.com
July 23, 2025 at 10:52 AM
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
The image at the top of this live blog makes me sick to my stomach. Enough is enough.
The image at the top of this live blog makes me sick to my stomach. Enough is enough.
First time I’ve had an Amazon delivery stripped of the contents.
Frustratingly Amazon are unable to replace it and can only offer a refund of the 21% off price (a price that is no longer available). That’s kind of annoying given that this is a problem in their supply chain.
#firstworldproblems
Frustratingly Amazon are unable to replace it and can only offer a refund of the 21% off price (a price that is no longer available). That’s kind of annoying given that this is a problem in their supply chain.
#firstworldproblems
July 15, 2025 at 8:08 AM
First time I’ve had an Amazon delivery stripped of the contents.
Frustratingly Amazon are unable to replace it and can only offer a refund of the 21% off price (a price that is no longer available). That’s kind of annoying given that this is a problem in their supply chain.
#firstworldproblems
Frustratingly Amazon are unable to replace it and can only offer a refund of the 21% off price (a price that is no longer available). That’s kind of annoying given that this is a problem in their supply chain.
#firstworldproblems
@jessicaelgot.bsky.social I’d really like to see some exploration into how many people who threatened to leave Massachusetts as a result of the wealth tax, actually left? Or similar wealth taxes elsewhere.
July 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
@jessicaelgot.bsky.social I’d really like to see some exploration into how many people who threatened to leave Massachusetts as a result of the wealth tax, actually left? Or similar wealth taxes elsewhere.
It seems that totaluptime.com (and the DNS service they offer) is errrr, down.
June 16, 2025 at 11:20 AM
It seems that totaluptime.com (and the DNS service they offer) is errrr, down.
I'm more excited about the release of this later this week than I have been about any TV for a long time 🤖
May 13, 2025 at 10:40 AM
I'm more excited about the release of this later this week than I have been about any TV for a long time 🤖
I'm honestly starting to wonder if we'll see the extinction of both the UK's main political parties in the next election cycle.
I didn't vote for Labour, but didn't expect them to be as hapless as the Tory government they replaced.
Who or what has this hold over Starmer? Maybe he's not sleeping. 😖
I didn't vote for Labour, but didn't expect them to be as hapless as the Tory government they replaced.
Who or what has this hold over Starmer? Maybe he's not sleeping. 😖
May 13, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I'm honestly starting to wonder if we'll see the extinction of both the UK's main political parties in the next election cycle.
I didn't vote for Labour, but didn't expect them to be as hapless as the Tory government they replaced.
Who or what has this hold over Starmer? Maybe he's not sleeping. 😖
I didn't vote for Labour, but didn't expect them to be as hapless as the Tory government they replaced.
Who or what has this hold over Starmer? Maybe he's not sleeping. 😖
If you want to read something to rejuvenate you hope in humanity then cast your eyes over this: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Meet the lost jewellery hunters: ‘I will be for ever grateful. It wasn’t just a ring’
Metal detecting isn’t just about searching for ancient treasure – the missing belongings of living people are just as precious. Meet the volunteers reuniting the two
www.theguardian.com
April 27, 2025 at 3:39 PM
If you want to read something to rejuvenate you hope in humanity then cast your eyes over this: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Hey #penplotter Bluesky 👋
I won an UUNA TEK A0 pen plotter in a Christmas competition and I’ve made a video about unboxing it and using it for the first time to plot the famous Schotter.
A lot of assembly, use of vpype to generate gcode, and a floor that isn’t flat.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwX6...
I won an UUNA TEK A0 pen plotter in a Christmas competition and I’ve made a video about unboxing it and using it for the first time to plot the famous Schotter.
A lot of assembly, use of vpype to generate gcode, and a floor that isn’t flat.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwX6...
Unboxing huge A0 iDraw V2 pen plotter / UUNA TEK Christmas competition prize!
YouTube video by Simon Plots
m.youtube.com
April 25, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Hey #penplotter Bluesky 👋
I won an UUNA TEK A0 pen plotter in a Christmas competition and I’ve made a video about unboxing it and using it for the first time to plot the famous Schotter.
A lot of assembly, use of vpype to generate gcode, and a floor that isn’t flat.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwX6...
I won an UUNA TEK A0 pen plotter in a Christmas competition and I’ve made a video about unboxing it and using it for the first time to plot the famous Schotter.
A lot of assembly, use of vpype to generate gcode, and a floor that isn’t flat.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwX6...
I’ve followed the highly competent @molly.wiki for longer than I remember but I don’t think I have heard her speak until her highly articulate discussion with @racheldonald.bsky.social on Planet Critical this evening. Can recommend.
www.planetcritical.com/p/molly-white
www.planetcritical.com/p/molly-white
Popping the Tech Bro Bubble | Molly White
From libraries to online, our information system is being dismantled
www.planetcritical.com
April 19, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I’ve followed the highly competent @molly.wiki for longer than I remember but I don’t think I have heard her speak until her highly articulate discussion with @racheldonald.bsky.social on Planet Critical this evening. Can recommend.
www.planetcritical.com/p/molly-white
www.planetcritical.com/p/molly-white
@teslatakedown.co.uk you should share www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/...
It’s an excellent review of the latest Tesla.
“At a glance
Pros: good battery efficiency, AWD model is properly quick, great charging network
Cons: uncomfortable ride, irritating cabin ergonomics, everyone will hate you”
It’s an excellent review of the latest Tesla.
“At a glance
Pros: good battery efficiency, AWD model is properly quick, great charging network
Cons: uncomfortable ride, irritating cabin ergonomics, everyone will hate you”
Tesla Model Y (2025) review: an exercise in irritation
Tesla Model Y (2025) review: an exercise in irritation
www.carmagazine.co.uk
April 13, 2025 at 8:07 AM
@teslatakedown.co.uk you should share www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/...
It’s an excellent review of the latest Tesla.
“At a glance
Pros: good battery efficiency, AWD model is properly quick, great charging network
Cons: uncomfortable ride, irritating cabin ergonomics, everyone will hate you”
It’s an excellent review of the latest Tesla.
“At a glance
Pros: good battery efficiency, AWD model is properly quick, great charging network
Cons: uncomfortable ride, irritating cabin ergonomics, everyone will hate you”
Reposted by Simon Hildrew
So @everyonehateselon.bsky.social's Tesla smashing event went well: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Sledgehammer-wielding Musk critics smash up Tesla in London art project
Campaign group Everyone Hates Elon organised protest with car bound for scrap heap ‘to create debate about wealth inequality’
www.theguardian.com
April 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
So @everyonehateselon.bsky.social's Tesla smashing event went well: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
A question that I honestly think is in the public interest for Kier Starmer to be asked (we live in a new normal where he is cosying up to an authoritarian leader): “what will you do when Trump insists that the UK deploys troops to help the USA invade Greenland or Canada?”
April 5, 2025 at 9:34 PM
A question that I honestly think is in the public interest for Kier Starmer to be asked (we live in a new normal where he is cosying up to an authoritarian leader): “what will you do when Trump insists that the UK deploys troops to help the USA invade Greenland or Canada?”