Ian johnson
@simplyian.net
Software Developer, Architect, occasional artist, sometimes cooks edible food, always a nerd. He/Him
My views are not as confused as those of my employers.
My views are not as confused as those of my employers.
This isn't any national decline, this is a Labour managed decline with no, media annoying, long term vision but luscious lashings of "tough choices"
November 9, 2025 at 10:41 AM
This isn't any national decline, this is a Labour managed decline with no, media annoying, long term vision but luscious lashings of "tough choices"
Better get the headlines done once than a trickle of more tax rises each year and also get the money in to try to make deliverable and meaningful change.
Or be beholden to a manifesto promise they didn't need to make in th first place (they were going to win anyway, folks were fed up of the Tories)
Or be beholden to a manifesto promise they didn't need to make in th first place (they were going to win anyway, folks were fed up of the Tories)
November 8, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Better get the headlines done once than a trickle of more tax rises each year and also get the money in to try to make deliverable and meaningful change.
Or be beholden to a manifesto promise they didn't need to make in th first place (they were going to win anyway, folks were fed up of the Tories)
Or be beholden to a manifesto promise they didn't need to make in th first place (they were going to win anyway, folks were fed up of the Tories)
"New money" is often ostentatious because of insecurities and doesn't really feel they belong
Even though Trump has had money all his life, I feel he is insecure that he has to overcompensate and go full on tacky ostentatious displays of "wealth"
Even though Trump has had money all his life, I feel he is insecure that he has to overcompensate and go full on tacky ostentatious displays of "wealth"
November 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
"New money" is often ostentatious because of insecurities and doesn't really feel they belong
Even though Trump has had money all his life, I feel he is insecure that he has to overcompensate and go full on tacky ostentatious displays of "wealth"
Even though Trump has had money all his life, I feel he is insecure that he has to overcompensate and go full on tacky ostentatious displays of "wealth"
The basic recipe as far as I can see
- Have values that you truly believe and base your opinions/ideas/policies on those values rather than chasing opinion polls
- Passionately talk about opinions/ideas/policies in terms of those values
- Don't let the media bully you
- Have values that you truly believe and base your opinions/ideas/policies on those values rather than chasing opinion polls
- Passionately talk about opinions/ideas/policies in terms of those values
- Don't let the media bully you
November 6, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The basic recipe as far as I can see
- Have values that you truly believe and base your opinions/ideas/policies on those values rather than chasing opinion polls
- Passionately talk about opinions/ideas/policies in terms of those values
- Don't let the media bully you
- Have values that you truly believe and base your opinions/ideas/policies on those values rather than chasing opinion polls
- Passionately talk about opinions/ideas/policies in terms of those values
- Don't let the media bully you
We need a new data storage format, obviously.
I propose "Format for Robust Efficient Data Interchange" - FREDI for short (*)
(*) Just so we can do FREDI vs JSON jokes
I propose "Format for Robust Efficient Data Interchange" - FREDI for short (*)
(*) Just so we can do FREDI vs JSON jokes
November 5, 2025 at 7:47 PM
We need a new data storage format, obviously.
I propose "Format for Robust Efficient Data Interchange" - FREDI for short (*)
(*) Just so we can do FREDI vs JSON jokes
I propose "Format for Robust Efficient Data Interchange" - FREDI for short (*)
(*) Just so we can do FREDI vs JSON jokes
I'm surprised he knew that there were any elections happening, normally he feigns ignorance
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I'm surprised he knew that there were any elections happening, normally he feigns ignorance
I think one of the things he did was just stand for something, has a set of values that come out and then he is good at communicating his policies and ideas in terms of those values.
That's the bit I would most like to see people copy, rather than bland technocratic drones that are merely puppets
That's the bit I would most like to see people copy, rather than bland technocratic drones that are merely puppets
November 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I think one of the things he did was just stand for something, has a set of values that come out and then he is good at communicating his policies and ideas in terms of those values.
That's the bit I would most like to see people copy, rather than bland technocratic drones that are merely puppets
That's the bit I would most like to see people copy, rather than bland technocratic drones that are merely puppets
He's really doubling down on his party's lurch to full-on unapologetic racism.
What would happen if politicians didn't spend time using a horrific attack trying to score cheap political points and wait for facts to emerge?
What would happen if politicians didn't spend time using a horrific attack trying to score cheap political points and wait for facts to emerge?
November 2, 2025 at 9:04 PM
He's really doubling down on his party's lurch to full-on unapologetic racism.
What would happen if politicians didn't spend time using a horrific attack trying to score cheap political points and wait for facts to emerge?
What would happen if politicians didn't spend time using a horrific attack trying to score cheap political points and wait for facts to emerge?
My assumption: due to a stagnant economy, the poorest haven't seen real-term growth in wealth & spending power but the wealthiest have
Am I right to believe the wealthy have more ways to grow wealth that are not categorised as income?
How has wealth distribution changed?
I may well be wrong
Am I right to believe the wealthy have more ways to grow wealth that are not categorised as income?
How has wealth distribution changed?
I may well be wrong
November 1, 2025 at 9:29 AM
My assumption: due to a stagnant economy, the poorest haven't seen real-term growth in wealth & spending power but the wealthiest have
Am I right to believe the wealthy have more ways to grow wealth that are not categorised as income?
How has wealth distribution changed?
I may well be wrong
Am I right to believe the wealthy have more ways to grow wealth that are not categorised as income?
How has wealth distribution changed?
I may well be wrong
An old lady I knew got fed up with her neighbour's loud music. She went next door
OL "can you help, I have a problem..."
They return to her house
OL "can you hear that noise?"
N "what noise? I can only hear my music, I'll tu..."
OL "exactly, I don't want to hear your music, now turn it down!"
OL "can you help, I have a problem..."
They return to her house
OL "can you hear that noise?"
N "what noise? I can only hear my music, I'll tu..."
OL "exactly, I don't want to hear your music, now turn it down!"
October 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
An old lady I knew got fed up with her neighbour's loud music. She went next door
OL "can you help, I have a problem..."
They return to her house
OL "can you hear that noise?"
N "what noise? I can only hear my music, I'll tu..."
OL "exactly, I don't want to hear your music, now turn it down!"
OL "can you help, I have a problem..."
They return to her house
OL "can you hear that noise?"
N "what noise? I can only hear my music, I'll tu..."
OL "exactly, I don't want to hear your music, now turn it down!"
Admirals are just too woke for them, they're just not trained to make decisions as they have spent far too much of their career Naval Gazing... ... ... I'll get my coat
October 30, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Admirals are just too woke for them, they're just not trained to make decisions as they have spent far too much of their career Naval Gazing... ... ... I'll get my coat
Star Trek does legal drama so well. It took me back to Measure of a Man from TNG
October 29, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Star Trek does legal drama so well. It took me back to Measure of a Man from TNG
Auntie-establishment candidate faces smear campaign by establishment media
October 28, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Auntie-establishment candidate faces smear campaign by establishment media
And everyone is entitled to a hypothesis but then they should do the hard work and get the evidence using reproducible experiments (eliminating as much bias as is possible). It's not enough to just question something
October 28, 2025 at 9:28 AM
And everyone is entitled to a hypothesis but then they should do the hard work and get the evidence using reproducible experiments (eliminating as much bias as is possible). It's not enough to just question something
You've explained this better than I've managed.
I fear we live in the "age of opinion" or the "age of endumbification" where the loudest opinion becomes the accepted truth regardless of evidence. Where crank opinions, without evidence, are treated as equal to decades of research by scientists
I fear we live in the "age of opinion" or the "age of endumbification" where the loudest opinion becomes the accepted truth regardless of evidence. Where crank opinions, without evidence, are treated as equal to decades of research by scientists
October 28, 2025 at 9:24 AM
You've explained this better than I've managed.
I fear we live in the "age of opinion" or the "age of endumbification" where the loudest opinion becomes the accepted truth regardless of evidence. Where crank opinions, without evidence, are treated as equal to decades of research by scientists
I fear we live in the "age of opinion" or the "age of endumbification" where the loudest opinion becomes the accepted truth regardless of evidence. Where crank opinions, without evidence, are treated as equal to decades of research by scientists
Yup. Things that bring me joy:
I bought a harmonica, I'll never be great but it is so meditative to play something
I write stories that very few will read (I really should type them up). I rewrite songs lyrics for my D&D Bard character, e.g. "Bard to the Bone"
I bake and cook
I paint & doodle
I bought a harmonica, I'll never be great but it is so meditative to play something
I write stories that very few will read (I really should type them up). I rewrite songs lyrics for my D&D Bard character, e.g. "Bard to the Bone"
I bake and cook
I paint & doodle
October 26, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Yup. Things that bring me joy:
I bought a harmonica, I'll never be great but it is so meditative to play something
I write stories that very few will read (I really should type them up). I rewrite songs lyrics for my D&D Bard character, e.g. "Bard to the Bone"
I bake and cook
I paint & doodle
I bought a harmonica, I'll never be great but it is so meditative to play something
I write stories that very few will read (I really should type them up). I rewrite songs lyrics for my D&D Bard character, e.g. "Bard to the Bone"
I bake and cook
I paint & doodle
If only there was a way to avoid such headlines. I have a feeling corporations don't donate out of a clear moral purpose and political stance, but to curry favour with the parties. Perhaps ban corporate donors - including unincorporated associates? - and review limits on individual contributions
October 26, 2025 at 10:24 AM
If only there was a way to avoid such headlines. I have a feeling corporations don't donate out of a clear moral purpose and political stance, but to curry favour with the parties. Perhaps ban corporate donors - including unincorporated associates? - and review limits on individual contributions
It's heartening to see. It often takes too long for senior party figures to call it out (like Lam's policy)
I hope this is a shift in tone and policy, e.g. no longer implying legal migrants don't "give back" to society that they need to amend the law to test for voluntary work, as if they only take
I hope this is a shift in tone and policy, e.g. no longer implying legal migrants don't "give back" to society that they need to amend the law to test for voluntary work, as if they only take
October 26, 2025 at 10:13 AM
It's heartening to see. It often takes too long for senior party figures to call it out (like Lam's policy)
I hope this is a shift in tone and policy, e.g. no longer implying legal migrants don't "give back" to society that they need to amend the law to test for voluntary work, as if they only take
I hope this is a shift in tone and policy, e.g. no longer implying legal migrants don't "give back" to society that they need to amend the law to test for voluntary work, as if they only take
If only there was a way these billionaires could fund the government legally and transparently. They seem eager to do so.
Some kind of compulsory levy against earnings & wealth for people and companies. A sliding percentage where poorest pay none richest the most. A "patriotic levy" perhaps
Some kind of compulsory levy against earnings & wealth for people and companies. A sliding percentage where poorest pay none richest the most. A "patriotic levy" perhaps
October 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
If only there was a way these billionaires could fund the government legally and transparently. They seem eager to do so.
Some kind of compulsory levy against earnings & wealth for people and companies. A sliding percentage where poorest pay none richest the most. A "patriotic levy" perhaps
Some kind of compulsory levy against earnings & wealth for people and companies. A sliding percentage where poorest pay none richest the most. A "patriotic levy" perhaps
I've played the clarinet so know a bit about proper breathing technique and how important a good embouchure.
The harmonica you also draw, breathe in, to play which is really messing with my breathing (drawing too much air in and not having the time to release it)
The harmonica you also draw, breathe in, to play which is really messing with my breathing (drawing too much air in and not having the time to release it)
October 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I've played the clarinet so know a bit about proper breathing technique and how important a good embouchure.
The harmonica you also draw, breathe in, to play which is really messing with my breathing (drawing too much air in and not having the time to release it)
The harmonica you also draw, breathe in, to play which is really messing with my breathing (drawing too much air in and not having the time to release it)
Is that an admission that billionaires are eager to pay more taxes? does that mean they should scrap Trump's tax reduction for them and actually tax them a lot more?
October 24, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Is that an admission that billionaires are eager to pay more taxes? does that mean they should scrap Trump's tax reduction for them and actually tax them a lot more?
I had forgotten that.
I want to be generous and say they are just in fear of losing the next election and just chasing polls - driven by The media disproportionately focusing on certain topics - rather truly believimg this. But it is increasingly hard to justify that generosity
I want to be generous and say they are just in fear of losing the next election and just chasing polls - driven by The media disproportionately focusing on certain topics - rather truly believimg this. But it is increasingly hard to justify that generosity
October 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
I had forgotten that.
I want to be generous and say they are just in fear of losing the next election and just chasing polls - driven by The media disproportionately focusing on certain topics - rather truly believimg this. But it is increasingly hard to justify that generosity
I want to be generous and say they are just in fear of losing the next election and just chasing polls - driven by The media disproportionately focusing on certain topics - rather truly believimg this. But it is increasingly hard to justify that generosity