Simon Farnsworth
@simon.farnz.org.uk
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
it's a lovely michaelmas day and you are a horrible goose
Happy Michaelmas! In some parts of Ireland on this day, rent could be paid in geese. If you’re due to pay rent this month, please consider setting a very irritated goose on your landlord in lieu of payment, in the name of upholding important Irish traditions.
September 29, 2026 at 8:49 PM
it's a lovely michaelmas day and you are a horrible goose
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
So the answer to "during his time on earth, did Jesus ever see an armadillo?" is: "the armadillo is nocturnal so it really all depends on what time of day it was when the Devil got round to showing him the Americas."
September 16, 2026 at 6:27 PM
So the answer to "during his time on earth, did Jesus ever see an armadillo?" is: "the armadillo is nocturnal so it really all depends on what time of day it was when the Devil got round to showing him the Americas."
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
NEW
The legal agony of Wile E Coyote
Coyote vs Acme may be one of the best films about civil litigation ever made
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
The legal agony of Wile E Coyote
Coyote vs Acme may be one of the best films about civil litigation ever made
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
The legal agony of Wile E Coyote
Coyote vs Acme may be one of the best films about civil litigation ever made
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
September 4, 2026 at 12:11 PM
NEW
The legal agony of Wile E Coyote
Coyote vs Acme may be one of the best films about civil litigation ever made
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
The legal agony of Wile E Coyote
Coyote vs Acme may be one of the best films about civil litigation ever made
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
But a real big one, in my view, is the rise of private prisons & the drive away from state care. State hospitals are very far from perfect, but they’re regulated. “Regulation” is a bad word to the guys who want a return to the days of institutionalization.
June 24, 2026 at 11:21 AM
But a real big one, in my view, is the rise of private prisons & the drive away from state care. State hospitals are very far from perfect, but they’re regulated. “Regulation” is a bad word to the guys who want a return to the days of institutionalization.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
Watching all this unfold reminded me of Crayton's insight about how viewing ourselves as the "hero or victim, never the villain" is a mechanism of white supremacy.
Good is a thing we do. And in order to do it, we need to view "ally" as a verb, not an identity.
14/
Good is a thing we do. And in order to do it, we need to view "ally" as a verb, not an identity.
14/
June 22, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Watching all this unfold reminded me of Crayton's insight about how viewing ourselves as the "hero or victim, never the villain" is a mechanism of white supremacy.
Good is a thing we do. And in order to do it, we need to view "ally" as a verb, not an identity.
14/
Good is a thing we do. And in order to do it, we need to view "ally" as a verb, not an identity.
14/
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
The press is supposed to be a vital cog in the machinery of democracy. In Britain, it’s more of a protection racket for some of the very nastiest and most absurdly malicious people in our society.
June 1, 2026 at 11:10 AM
The press is supposed to be a vital cog in the machinery of democracy. In Britain, it’s more of a protection racket for some of the very nastiest and most absurdly malicious people in our society.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
Do I still know any HCI or computing history people? I'm curious about systems that blur the lines between "undo" and "version control"
May 22, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Do I still know any HCI or computing history people? I'm curious about systems that blur the lines between "undo" and "version control"
This is key - many people will react positively to ideas they initially rejected once they get it.
Hard part is talking to them enough that they get it.
Hard part is talking to them enough that they get it.
And you can convert the low info voters as you sell them on it! The whole idea is you sell them on your policies by educating them on the issue and convincing them that your ideas are good! You get them both - you just have to *talk to people*!
April 28, 2026 at 7:44 PM
This is key - many people will react positively to ideas they initially rejected once they get it.
Hard part is talking to them enough that they get it.
Hard part is talking to them enough that they get it.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
One of them hides. Other three pretend there never was a fourth crew member.
This works best if the one in hiding has a twin back on Earth who can pop up in the control room and shout “surprise!”
This works best if the one in hiding has a twin back on Earth who can pop up in the control room and shout “surprise!”
When they go round the moon, the Artemis astronauts will be completely out of contact for 40 minutes. What's the single funniest (yet feasible) thing they could do when they get back in touch?
April 6, 2026 at 8:24 PM
One of them hides. Other three pretend there never was a fourth crew member.
This works best if the one in hiding has a twin back on Earth who can pop up in the control room and shout “surprise!”
This works best if the one in hiding has a twin back on Earth who can pop up in the control room and shout “surprise!”
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
Using AI to make medical decisions can risk your health, according to the largest ever study on the subject by the University of Oxford on large language models. They found LLMs tended to provide inaccurate and inconsistent information.
www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news-events/...
OII | New study warns of risks in AI chatbots giving medical advice
Study finds AI chatbots less helpful than search engines for medical advice
www.oii.ox.ac.uk
February 10, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Using AI to make medical decisions can risk your health, according to the largest ever study on the subject by the University of Oxford on large language models. They found LLMs tended to provide inaccurate and inconsistent information.
www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
It's not just the women and girls we know of. It's all their future work, and everything they could have been, and how we build structures that shelter their abusers. It's how a man's future has always been worth more than my past, present, and future combined.
February 5, 2026 at 9:05 PM
It's not just the women and girls we know of. It's all their future work, and everything they could have been, and how we build structures that shelter their abusers. It's how a man's future has always been worth more than my past, present, and future combined.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
alt text isn't just a good thing to do for potential readers; it's also a useful practice for you the writer, helping you think through "why am i using this image, what's in it and what's germane about it" on a regular basis
Using alt text is a way to be kind that you can start doing right now.
It’s right there in your accessibility settings. Turn on require alt text before posting to help yourself remember (worth checking because this app sometimes flips it off for no reason).
It’s right there in your accessibility settings. Turn on require alt text before posting to help yourself remember (worth checking because this app sometimes flips it off for no reason).
January 28, 2026 at 2:41 PM
alt text isn't just a good thing to do for potential readers; it's also a useful practice for you the writer, helping you think through "why am i using this image, what's in it and what's germane about it" on a regular basis
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
This Wondermark comic is years old and still precisely captures my feelings.
January 21, 2026 at 8:53 AM
This Wondermark comic is years old and still precisely captures my feelings.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
I respect the UK dot gov designers so much because they understand this: there's no competitor or open source alternative to the government. There's just the one place to get these services (which are not only necessary but mandatory), and so the standard of the experience must be impeccable.
Public digital services need to be *so much better* than anything the market offers. You can't switch. You can't get fed up and choose to pay a bit more at Ocado than Sainsbury's because the UX is better. You can't opt out of public services because you're digitally excluded.
January 17, 2026 at 11:08 PM
I respect the UK dot gov designers so much because they understand this: there's no competitor or open source alternative to the government. There's just the one place to get these services (which are not only necessary but mandatory), and so the standard of the experience must be impeccable.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
January 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
Peugeot 309
Vauxhall Astra
Seat Cordoba
Skoda Superb
We've had the Skoda nearly 15 years, so might well be on car 5 in the next 5 years.
Vauxhall Astra
Seat Cordoba
Skoda Superb
We've had the Skoda nearly 15 years, so might well be on car 5 in the next 5 years.
Introduce yourself with 5 cars you've owned
Car-free
Vauxhall Zafira
Ford Focus
Ford Escort
Ford Escort
I haven't owned 5 cars!
Car-free
Vauxhall Zafira
Ford Focus
Ford Escort
Ford Escort
I haven't owned 5 cars!
Introduce yourself with 5 cars you've owned
*cracks knuckles*
Renault 4
Austin Allegro Equipe
Fiat Strada
Nissan Micra
Mini Cooper Estate
Currently: Škoda Scala, the first time I’ve bought new.
*cracks knuckles*
Renault 4
Austin Allegro Equipe
Fiat Strada
Nissan Micra
Mini Cooper Estate
Currently: Škoda Scala, the first time I’ve bought new.
November 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Peugeot 309
Vauxhall Astra
Seat Cordoba
Skoda Superb
We've had the Skoda nearly 15 years, so might well be on car 5 in the next 5 years.
Vauxhall Astra
Seat Cordoba
Skoda Superb
We've had the Skoda nearly 15 years, so might well be on car 5 in the next 5 years.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
#Booksky Spooktacular 2025 Day 23: Feed is the start of @seananmcguire.bsky.social’s engaging and innovative riff on zombie fiction. It’s the first thing I ever read from her, full of exciting twists, and its landscape of a shifting news environment has only gotten more relevant with time.
October 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
#Booksky Spooktacular 2025 Day 23: Feed is the start of @seananmcguire.bsky.social’s engaging and innovative riff on zombie fiction. It’s the first thing I ever read from her, full of exciting twists, and its landscape of a shifting news environment has only gotten more relevant with time.
Possibly the ultimate in Oxford policing - both the technique and the reason for keeping protestors out of the road
Police used bicycles to separate the protesters and ensure buses could pass through the demonstration safely.
October 18, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Possibly the ultimate in Oxford policing - both the technique and the reason for keeping protestors out of the road
A fault I see in UK politics: most of our political leaders speak and act like they're trying to follow what the public desire right now, rather than to lead us from where we are to where we "should" be.
This leads to nasty consequences.
This leads to nasty consequences.
October 1, 2025 at 9:56 AM
A fault I see in UK politics: most of our political leaders speak and act like they're trying to follow what the public desire right now, rather than to lead us from where we are to where we "should" be.
This leads to nasty consequences.
This leads to nasty consequences.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
Okay. The people have spoken.
For every reskeet this gets, I will post a random picture from my camera roll with no explanation (other than alt text).
Let the games begin.
For every reskeet this gets, I will post a random picture from my camera roll with no explanation (other than alt text).
Let the games begin.
May 8, 2024 at 3:34 AM
Okay. The people have spoken.
For every reskeet this gets, I will post a random picture from my camera roll with no explanation (other than alt text).
Let the games begin.
For every reskeet this gets, I will post a random picture from my camera roll with no explanation (other than alt text).
Let the games begin.
I think this is a key insight into incel culture; it's about giving adult men the belief that 13 year old's fantasy relationships ought to be real, and that any other form of relationship involves giving up on enjoying life.
Like, the fuckin Manchid-Industrial Complex immediately grabs anything fun associated with being adult and infantilizes it down to tween boy level.
This is another reason comedy got to be so shit, by the way.
This is another reason comedy got to be so shit, by the way.
September 14, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I think this is a key insight into incel culture; it's about giving adult men the belief that 13 year old's fantasy relationships ought to be real, and that any other form of relationship involves giving up on enjoying life.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
When I worked on The Office, Greg Daniels had a list of questions he asked of every story. Some were show-specific (eg “Are we saying something truthful if exaggerated about office life?”), but many are applicable to any script. Here’s a little thread on them…
🧵1/X
#Scriptsky #Screenwriting
🧵1/X
#Scriptsky #Screenwriting
March 9, 2025 at 8:06 PM
When I worked on The Office, Greg Daniels had a list of questions he asked of every story. Some were show-specific (eg “Are we saying something truthful if exaggerated about office life?”), but many are applicable to any script. Here’s a little thread on them…
🧵1/X
#Scriptsky #Screenwriting
🧵1/X
#Scriptsky #Screenwriting
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
🧵Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A tiny human (1?) is helping Mum sell things. While Mum is greeting customers and taking payments--all one-handed. Tiny Human is propped on her hip, blowing big raspberry kisses of thanks. Giggle-snorting when people blow kisses back. (1)
A tiny human (1?) is helping Mum sell things. While Mum is greeting customers and taking payments--all one-handed. Tiny Human is propped on her hip, blowing big raspberry kisses of thanks. Giggle-snorting when people blow kisses back. (1)
August 1, 2025 at 11:47 PM
🧵Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:
A tiny human (1?) is helping Mum sell things. While Mum is greeting customers and taking payments--all one-handed. Tiny Human is propped on her hip, blowing big raspberry kisses of thanks. Giggle-snorting when people blow kisses back. (1)
A tiny human (1?) is helping Mum sell things. While Mum is greeting customers and taking payments--all one-handed. Tiny Human is propped on her hip, blowing big raspberry kisses of thanks. Giggle-snorting when people blow kisses back. (1)
There's a chunk of people not getting the UK's Online Safety Act.
The core problem is that the OSA assumes that (a) any device or connection might be used by an unsupervised child, and (b) that the world has to be child-safe by default.
Virtually all the issues with the Act fall out from this.
The core problem is that the OSA assumes that (a) any device or connection might be used by an unsupervised child, and (b) that the world has to be child-safe by default.
Virtually all the issues with the Act fall out from this.
July 28, 2025 at 2:20 PM
There's a chunk of people not getting the UK's Online Safety Act.
The core problem is that the OSA assumes that (a) any device or connection might be used by an unsupervised child, and (b) that the world has to be child-safe by default.
Virtually all the issues with the Act fall out from this.
The core problem is that the OSA assumes that (a) any device or connection might be used by an unsupervised child, and (b) that the world has to be child-safe by default.
Virtually all the issues with the Act fall out from this.
Reposted by Simon Farnsworth
This link provides a passthrough to those who don't have subscriptions to Science (i.e. most of us).
I'd much rather continue the conversation of how AI is a cultural tech vs. "highly intelligent"
This is the lens that would make me more inclined to engage. The other angles are too damn dangerous and imaginary.
Shout-out to @himself.bsky.social and crew:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
This is the lens that would make me more inclined to engage. The other angles are too damn dangerous and imaginary.
Shout-out to @himself.bsky.social and crew:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Large AI models are cultural and social technologies
Implications draw on the history of transformative information systems from the past
www.science.org
July 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This link provides a passthrough to those who don't have subscriptions to Science (i.e. most of us).