Bill Thompson
@billt.bsky.social
Hack and pundit. BBC Research & Development. Formerly Digital Planet.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Sooo many folks I’m excited to work with on Mamdani’s technology transition committee. All hands on deck to bring the Affordability Agenda to life: childcare, housing, transportation.
While its easy to get swept up in personality, this is a group focused on peoples real needs. LETS KEEP THE FOCUS.
While its easy to get swept up in personality, this is a group focused on peoples real needs. LETS KEEP THE FOCUS.
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Sooo many folks I’m excited to work with on Mamdani’s technology transition committee. All hands on deck to bring the Affordability Agenda to life: childcare, housing, transportation.
While its easy to get swept up in personality, this is a group focused on peoples real needs. LETS KEEP THE FOCUS.
While its easy to get swept up in personality, this is a group focused on peoples real needs. LETS KEEP THE FOCUS.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
We just have to do what we can to stay sane and stand up for each other, and remind all these fuckholes that in the end they’ll be exposed for the assholes they are, and will be begging us for forgiveness.
November 25, 2025 at 9:57 PM
We just have to do what we can to stay sane and stand up for each other, and remind all these fuckholes that in the end they’ll be exposed for the assholes they are, and will be begging us for forgiveness.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Exciting news: throughout January BFI Southbank has a season of documentaries and early feature films linked to the publication on 8 January of Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Television in Britain.
First details here...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
First details here...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Magic Rays of Light: the BFI season - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Exciting news just released by the British Film Institute: throughout January BFI Southbank has a season of documentaries and early feature films linked to the publication of my mon...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Exciting news: throughout January BFI Southbank has a season of documentaries and early feature films linked to the publication on 8 January of Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Television in Britain.
First details here...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
First details here...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Reposted by Bill Thompson
If the article isn’t worth reading because a “spoiler” in the headline is revealed, it wasn’t worth writing either. Junk traffic is an addiction that’s killing the media.
I understand Reach are getting arsy at people who SPOILER their clickbait. My SPOILERS are not actual SPOILERS, unless they deserve it.
November 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
If the article isn’t worth reading because a “spoiler” in the headline is revealed, it wasn’t worth writing either. Junk traffic is an addiction that’s killing the media.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Like in this case legal reasoning led to the reversal of the intention of those writing the law.
There's a mechanical explanation of how that's happened, but the democratic response should be to see it as the result of a flawed process that then needs other actors to get involved.
There's a mechanical explanation of how that's happened, but the democratic response should be to see it as the result of a flawed process that then needs other actors to get involved.
November 22, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Like in this case legal reasoning led to the reversal of the intention of those writing the law.
There's a mechanical explanation of how that's happened, but the democratic response should be to see it as the result of a flawed process that then needs other actors to get involved.
There's a mechanical explanation of how that's happened, but the democratic response should be to see it as the result of a flawed process that then needs other actors to get involved.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
'“Do we think that someone who has stolen a bottle of whisky from a minimart should receive the right to trial by jury?” she said.'
The government apparently believes it's only removing the right to trial by jury for guilty people.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
The government apparently believes it's only removing the right to trial by jury for guilty people.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:19 PM
'“Do we think that someone who has stolen a bottle of whisky from a minimart should receive the right to trial by jury?” she said.'
The government apparently believes it's only removing the right to trial by jury for guilty people.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
The government apparently believes it's only removing the right to trial by jury for guilty people.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Sthg I don't specifically call out in this blog post on AI notetakers is how awful some bits of govt meeting culture appear to be. The bit about presenteeism directly reflects feedback from
junior folk who talked about how important it is to turn up to meetings www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11...
junior folk who talked about how important it is to turn up to meetings www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11...
Nine risks caused by AI notetakers — Careful Industries
AI transcription tools are not currently mature or reliable enough to be regarded as an always on, single-source of truth for meeting notes. Nine common risks, and six possible mitigations.
www.careful.industries
November 22, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Sthg I don't specifically call out in this blog post on AI notetakers is how awful some bits of govt meeting culture appear to be. The bit about presenteeism directly reflects feedback from
junior folk who talked about how important it is to turn up to meetings www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11...
junior folk who talked about how important it is to turn up to meetings www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11...
Thinking that the best way to deal with racists is to try to get them to vote for you by enacting racist policies just means you become racist. The only way to deal with them is to fight back, to oppose them, and (for those who can change) to change them. And render the remainder powerless.
November 16, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Thinking that the best way to deal with racists is to try to get them to vote for you by enacting racist policies just means you become racist. The only way to deal with them is to fight back, to oppose them, and (for those who can change) to change them. And render the remainder powerless.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Why Labour's cruel Reform-style refugee policies will backfire for the Government www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Shabana Mahmood and the Politics of Extortion
Labour's strategy of telling its supporters to back Reform-style policies, or get a Reform Government, is the politics of the protection racket and it is not going to work
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Why Labour's cruel Reform-style refugee policies will backfire for the Government www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Will be interesting to see how this plays on the doorstep in the run up to the local elections in England (less than 6 months away).
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Will be interesting to see how this plays on the doorstep in the run up to the local elections in England (less than 6 months away).
Reposted by Bill Thompson
To reiterate, this is about making life immeasurably more miserable and stressful for some of the most vulnerable people, in the almost certainly vain hope of winning over the votes of racists.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Asylum in UK to be made temporary under Home Secretary’s plans
Shabana Mahmood will lay out reforms modelled on the Danish system on Monday.
www.independent.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 9:14 AM
To reiterate, this is about making life immeasurably more miserable and stressful for some of the most vulnerable people, in the almost certainly vain hope of winning over the votes of racists.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
What does it say about my week that I am cheered that my train goes from Platform 1 at Cambridge (near the barrier) and not Platform 8 (all the way over the bridge and back again)? Such small victories over fate.
November 13, 2025 at 7:51 AM
What does it say about my week that I am cheered that my train goes from Platform 1 at Cambridge (near the barrier) and not Platform 8 (all the way over the bridge and back again)? Such small victories over fate.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
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...
The BBC is facing a coordinated, politically motivated attack. With these resignations, it has given in | Jane Martinson
The corporation should have stood up to the Telegraph, Trump and the Tories. Now, its enemies know how little it takes for it to fold, says Jane Martinson, professor of financial journalism
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
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...
The Internet Archive has removed 500,000 books from its Open Library. If it trained machines instead of people, like Anthropic, it might have avoided all the fuss
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost
“We survived, but it wiped out the library,” Internet Archive’s founder says.
arstechnica.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The Internet Archive has removed 500,000 books from its Open Library. If it trained machines instead of people, like Anthropic, it might have avoided all the fuss
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Live your life in such a way that when you die people don't literally rise from the dead to shit on your grave.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Live your life in such a way that when you die people don't literally rise from the dead to shit on your grave.
There is no limit to the vicious cruelty and pettiness of these people.
2/ The Dutch newspaper reports that two memorial panels installed at the NAC were removed some time earlier this year. They commemorated African-American soldiers who helped liberate Europe from German occupation during World War II.
November 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
There is no limit to the vicious cruelty and pettiness of these people.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
The Sunday dozen
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: As part of the overall re-boot of the blog, let’s see together whether it is interesting once again to share a dozen recommendations from my reading (mostly) and viewing (minimally)...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:06 AM
The Sunday dozen
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
A venerable tradition returns to the re-booted Illuminations blog with a weekend selection of links
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Well done to everyone who remembered to vote.
Once again the Restore Trust group were seen off.
Let's do it all again next year.
Once again the Restore Trust group were seen off.
Let's do it all again next year.
National Trust council elections saw a defeat for the Restore Trust campaign.
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Voting results from the AGM
Read about the National Trust's 2025 Annual General Meeting and the results from the day.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
November 9, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Well done to everyone who remembered to vote.
Once again the Restore Trust group were seen off.
Let's do it all again next year.
Once again the Restore Trust group were seen off.
Let's do it all again next year.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
Join us for the 2025 Public Policy Lecture with Prof Ricardo Hausmann @harvardkennedy.bsky.social on how today’s policymakers can drive growth & prosperity in an age of disruption.
Thu 20 Nov 2025 | 17:30–19:00 | Jesus College, Cambridge
Book your place www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/events/annua...
Thu 20 Nov 2025 | 17:30–19:00 | Jesus College, Cambridge
Book your place www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/events/annua...
November 5, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Join us for the 2025 Public Policy Lecture with Prof Ricardo Hausmann @harvardkennedy.bsky.social on how today’s policymakers can drive growth & prosperity in an age of disruption.
Thu 20 Nov 2025 | 17:30–19:00 | Jesus College, Cambridge
Book your place www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/events/annua...
Thu 20 Nov 2025 | 17:30–19:00 | Jesus College, Cambridge
Book your place www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/events/annua...
We seem to have collectively decided to disregard the fact that the US President, assisted by Elon Musk, is responsible for hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths, a number that will grow over time. But hey, "one trillion dollars" www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:31 PM
We seem to have collectively decided to disregard the fact that the US President, assisted by Elon Musk, is responsible for hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths, a number that will grow over time. But hey, "one trillion dollars" www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Bill Thompson
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:21 AM
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Bill Thompson
James Watson was not just a scientist who was a racist. He was worse - a scientist who offered other racists the comfort of scientific authority.
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:40 PM
James Watson was not just a scientist who was a racist. He was worse - a scientist who offered other racists the comfort of scientific authority.
Reposted by Bill Thompson
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
Reposted by Bill Thompson
I was busily telling a friend about a weird dream I'd had about them where they were hiding in fog, when I noticed they were wearing white loafers – very out of character for them – and then I awoke from telling them about it.
November 2, 2025 at 8:32 AM
I was busily telling a friend about a weird dream I'd had about them where they were hiding in fog, when I noticed they were wearing white loafers – very out of character for them – and then I awoke from telling them about it.