Alastair Wilcox
@awilcox.chalmere.com
IT by profession. Interested in education, politics, economics and sport. Based in South Oxfordshire, UK, originally from the Wirral.
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
Good summary of the paper on AI and productivity going round, and OH BOY I'd watch that rise in productivity in Information services like a hawk. What use is more information if it's probably subtly wrong. (Also amirite that some of those labels are missing?) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
February 5, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Good summary of the paper on AI and productivity going round, and OH BOY I'd watch that rise in productivity in Information services like a hawk. What use is more information if it's probably subtly wrong. (Also amirite that some of those labels are missing?) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
So the Lords think no one under 18 should be able to do a job that requires VPN usage or access public WiFi securely or bank ATMs? www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
UK government targets VPNs in online safety consultation as Lords vote for ban
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall promises "evidence-led" approach to keeping children safe online
www.techradar.com
January 24, 2026 at 7:10 AM
So the Lords think no one under 18 should be able to do a job that requires VPN usage or access public WiFi securely or bank ATMs? www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
I saw a familiar face across Trafalgar Square. Tried to catch his eye in the hope he'd recognise me and that would remind me how I knew him. He walked straight past me without acknowledgement. When I was about 20 yards beyond him, I realised it was Neil Kinnock who I've never met before or since.
Please quote this with the time you didn’t interact with someone famous - eg one time I was in Cardiff the same weekend as Willem Dafoe (but I didn’t see him or even know he was there until he appeared on the telly later)
Please quote this with your major interactions with massive celebrities. eg “I was married to the pope for fifteen years”
December 30, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I saw a familiar face across Trafalgar Square. Tried to catch his eye in the hope he'd recognise me and that would remind me how I knew him. He walked straight past me without acknowledgement. When I was about 20 yards beyond him, I realised it was Neil Kinnock who I've never met before or since.
Magdalen(e)
What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?
October 10, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Magdalen(e)
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
Morning! Society for Hopeful Technologists newsletter #2 is arriving in inboxes now. A little bit on Musk and X, much more about future plans + organising buttondown.com/society-of-h... and great to have a group of fellow organisers coming together 💪
#2: Hopeful Actions
What's next for the Society for Hopeful Technologists: events, principles, and opportunities to get involved.
buttondown.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Morning! Society for Hopeful Technologists newsletter #2 is arriving in inboxes now. A little bit on Musk and X, much more about future plans + organising buttondown.com/society-of-h... and great to have a group of fellow organisers coming together 💪
So not dissimilar to a (uk) public schoolboy.
AI is an over-confident pal that doesn't learn from mistakes
AI is an over-confident pal that doesn't learn from mistakes
So says a study by boffins at Carnegie Mellon University
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have likened today's large language model (LLM) chatbots to "that friend who swears they're great at pool but never makes a shot" - having found that their virtual self-confidence grew, rather than shrank, after getting answers wrong.…
dlvr.it
July 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
So not dissimilar to a (uk) public schoolboy.
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
You utter bastard Hemingway!
July 22, 2025 at 10:52 AM
You utter bastard Hemingway!
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
If in doubt, organise! The tech industry is a roaring bin fire, so brilliant to share the results of this survey of 522 UK tech workers who want sthg better buttondown.com/society-of-h... Help design the Society for Hopeful Technologists and give a voice to ppl who want to make a meaningful change
Society of Hopeful Technologists: Survey Results
🥁 🥁🥁 The results are finally in: what do people want from the Society for Hopeful Techologists? 🥁🥁🥁 522 technologists based in the UK responded to the...
buttondown.com
July 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
If in doubt, organise! The tech industry is a roaring bin fire, so brilliant to share the results of this survey of 522 UK tech workers who want sthg better buttondown.com/society-of-h... Help design the Society for Hopeful Technologists and give a voice to ppl who want to make a meaningful change
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
New report reveals smartphones ARE bad for you (but not the one you're thinking of)
theneuroscienceofeve...
A look back at a detailed report about whether or not smartphones in schools are as harmful as many assume. The answer is... nuanced. If you're into that sort of thing.
#Smartphones #Tech
theneuroscienceofeve...
A look back at a detailed report about whether or not smartphones in schools are as harmful as many assume. The answer is... nuanced. If you're into that sort of thing.
#Smartphones #Tech
New report reveals smartphones ARE bad for you (but not the one you're thinking of)
Recently published reports suggests that smartphones (in schools) may not be as damaging as many believe... but if you sit and think about it too long, they can be.
theneuroscienceofeverydaylife.substack.com
June 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
New report reveals smartphones ARE bad for you (but not the one you're thinking of)
theneuroscienceofeve...
A look back at a detailed report about whether or not smartphones in schools are as harmful as many assume. The answer is... nuanced. If you're into that sort of thing.
#Smartphones #Tech
theneuroscienceofeve...
A look back at a detailed report about whether or not smartphones in schools are as harmful as many assume. The answer is... nuanced. If you're into that sort of thing.
#Smartphones #Tech
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
Magnum Cart.
The singular of Magna Carta.
The singular of Magna Carta.
May 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Magnum Cart.
The singular of Magna Carta.
The singular of Magna Carta.
@profanity.accountant what’s my score?
March 6, 2025 at 12:37 PM
@profanity.accountant what’s my score?
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
From the Oxblogger Newsletter - Long Term Thinking
'You may be Sam Long's number one fan but I reckon you still under-appreciate him. I’m going to explain why.'
@ADawsonBros explains why there's even more to Sam Long's story than you imagine.
oxblogger.substack.com/p/long-term-...
#oufc
'You may be Sam Long's number one fan but I reckon you still under-appreciate him. I’m going to explain why.'
@ADawsonBros explains why there's even more to Sam Long's story than you imagine.
oxblogger.substack.com/p/long-term-...
#oufc
Long Term Thinking
By Andrew Dawson
oxblogger.substack.com
January 13, 2025 at 7:23 PM
From the Oxblogger Newsletter - Long Term Thinking
'You may be Sam Long's number one fan but I reckon you still under-appreciate him. I’m going to explain why.'
@ADawsonBros explains why there's even more to Sam Long's story than you imagine.
oxblogger.substack.com/p/long-term-...
#oufc
'You may be Sam Long's number one fan but I reckon you still under-appreciate him. I’m going to explain why.'
@ADawsonBros explains why there's even more to Sam Long's story than you imagine.
oxblogger.substack.com/p/long-term-...
#oufc
Has it not stopped before now, how do passengers get on and off?
Fife to Edinburgh driverless bus service to stop in 2025
Fife to Edinburgh driverless bus service to stop in 2025
The Fife to Edinburgh autonomous bus service is to be pulled because of a lack of passengers.
www.bbc.com
December 17, 2024 at 7:48 PM
Has it not stopped before now, how do passengers get on and off?
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
It's pretty amazing that it's possible to do this - and shows why Bluesky is so much superior in ethos and functionality to the other place. Not sure I want to rebuild my old Twitter self here, though... a fresh start seems nice.
With BlueArk, you can migrate your tweets from X/Twitter to Bluesky quickly, securely and with the original date of each post. We preserve your stories, your media and your most relevant content on a new platform, without losing anything along the way. 🪽 blueark.app/en-us/
October 20, 2024 at 10:48 PM
It's pretty amazing that it's possible to do this - and shows why Bluesky is so much superior in ethos and functionality to the other place. Not sure I want to rebuild my old Twitter self here, though... a fresh start seems nice.
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
Hello! I’ve finally got fed up of the binfire that is X these days and hoping for a less toxic experience over here…
a cartoon opossum is standing in the dirt with the words peace out below him
ALT: a cartoon opossum is standing in the dirt with the words peace out below him
media.tenor.com
October 20, 2024 at 7:16 PM
Hello! I’ve finally got fed up of the binfire that is X these days and hoping for a less toxic experience over here…
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
On Wed's Money Box Live I'm looking at what benefits and perks you're entitled to but many people don't claim. Pension Credit, council tax support, social tariffs, Tax-Free Childcare... if you discovered you could get more help then pls email me [email protected]
October 11, 2024 at 2:52 PM
On Wed's Money Box Live I'm looking at what benefits and perks you're entitled to but many people don't claim. Pension Credit, council tax support, social tariffs, Tax-Free Childcare... if you discovered you could get more help then pls email me [email protected]
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
Can we get 500 of you as soon as possible to share this new ad Kamala Harris just released
October 9, 2024 at 3:22 AM
Can we get 500 of you as soon as possible to share this new ad Kamala Harris just released
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
A quick thread on schools and phones. I'm quite in favour of older kids having phones and managing their own social relationships/travel/finances and learning about how to be good digital citizen. Seems sensible and useful preparation for more independence and autonomy.
September 15, 2024 at 6:15 AM
A quick thread on schools and phones. I'm quite in favour of older kids having phones and managing their own social relationships/travel/finances and learning about how to be good digital citizen. Seems sensible and useful preparation for more independence and autonomy.
This place is clearly maturing. Two porn bots followed me today. Blocked and reported both. Let's hope the moderation can scale here as it grows.
September 8, 2024 at 6:36 PM
This place is clearly maturing. Two porn bots followed me today. Blocked and reported both. Let's hope the moderation can scale here as it grows.
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
This post from a teacher at Apalachee High School. 😭
America isn't just failing students. It is failing teachers, too.
America isn't just failing students. It is failing teachers, too.
September 6, 2024 at 9:07 PM
This post from a teacher at Apalachee High School. 😭
America isn't just failing students. It is failing teachers, too.
America isn't just failing students. It is failing teachers, too.
Reposted by Alastair Wilcox
Not sure whether to come back on here…no reflection on BSky, just don’t really have time for both. That’s why I stopped last time. But like lots of folk, find Musk Twitter grim. Is anyone really here? Or does X actually still have the numbers?!! 🤷♂️🤷♂️
September 6, 2024 at 6:51 AM
Not sure whether to come back on here…no reflection on BSky, just don’t really have time for both. That’s why I stopped last time. But like lots of folk, find Musk Twitter grim. Is anyone really here? Or does X actually still have the numbers?!! 🤷♂️🤷♂️