Darren Townsend
@forrishilier.bsky.social
Husband. Proud dad to 17yo boy. Codeclub leader, CoG at 3 fab schools. Digital Making advocate. RPi Certified Educator. Delivers bread.
Reposted by Darren Townsend
It would be good if people started to understand AI doesn’t “know” anything. It’s been programmed to show what looks like an answer.
lol this is gonna burst so fucking hard
February 15, 2026 at 9:23 AM
It would be good if people started to understand AI doesn’t “know” anything. It’s been programmed to show what looks like an answer.
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Stop acting like a sociopath: Holding a phone when driving -- even when stopped -- is illegal, and it's just not for fun irishcycle.com/2026/02/14/s...
Stop acting like a sociopath: Holding a phone when driving — even when stopped — is illegal, and it’s just not for fun
Comment & Analysis: Unless you’re actually a sociopath, most people don’t want to run over a child or cyclist or an old lady, yet if you walk past cars in traffic, you’ll like…
irishcycle.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Stop acting like a sociopath: Holding a phone when driving -- even when stopped -- is illegal, and it's just not for fun irishcycle.com/2026/02/14/s...
Reposted by Darren Townsend
This coming Tuesday 17th February we're running another Social/Induction evening at the Hackspace. We also plan to fire up the pancake machine so there will be automated pancakes available as well as the usual tea/coffee and biscuits.
February 14, 2026 at 12:03 PM
This coming Tuesday 17th February we're running another Social/Induction evening at the Hackspace. We also plan to fire up the pancake machine so there will be automated pancakes available as well as the usual tea/coffee and biscuits.
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Our full bursary - worth over 5k +add itional years' (yep) worth of benefits & resources - closes tomorrow, midnight GMT. It's for under-rep writers & we ask that you don't apply if you could ordinarily afford it. For NOVEL writers and you should be 10k underway,
jerichowriters.com/jericho-writ...
jerichowriters.com/jericho-writ...
The Ultimate Novel Writing Programme Alum Bursary – Jericho Writers
jerichowriters.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Our full bursary - worth over 5k +add itional years' (yep) worth of benefits & resources - closes tomorrow, midnight GMT. It's for under-rep writers & we ask that you don't apply if you could ordinarily afford it. For NOVEL writers and you should be 10k underway,
jerichowriters.com/jericho-writ...
jerichowriters.com/jericho-writ...
Reposted by Darren Townsend
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Breaking News: The Trump administration repealed the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life and well being, meaning that the EPA can no longer regulate them. nyti.ms/4rSszQu
February 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Me at 20: I’ll have it all figured out by the time I’m 40.
Me at 40: wtf do you mean they rearranged the grocery store
Me at 40: wtf do you mean they rearranged the grocery store
February 13, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Me at 20: I’ll have it all figured out by the time I’m 40.
Me at 40: wtf do you mean they rearranged the grocery store
Me at 40: wtf do you mean they rearranged the grocery store
It took a second, but it made me chuckle 🤣
Wow, the helpline people at the suppository company are really rude.
February 13, 2026 at 1:20 PM
It took a second, but it made me chuckle 🤣
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Reposted by Darren Townsend
It’s depressing to see how well propaganda works😫
People on X and now out in the real world GENUINELY believe that this is all because of Muslims🤦🏼♀️
There hasn’t been a single case anywhere of Muslims in this country trying to ban dogs or trying to limit what anyone does with their dog
Yet…
🧵
1/14
People on X and now out in the real world GENUINELY believe that this is all because of Muslims🤦🏼♀️
There hasn’t been a single case anywhere of Muslims in this country trying to ban dogs or trying to limit what anyone does with their dog
Yet…
🧵
1/14
February 12, 2026 at 2:18 PM
It’s depressing to see how well propaganda works😫
People on X and now out in the real world GENUINELY believe that this is all because of Muslims🤦🏼♀️
There hasn’t been a single case anywhere of Muslims in this country trying to ban dogs or trying to limit what anyone does with their dog
Yet…
🧵
1/14
People on X and now out in the real world GENUINELY believe that this is all because of Muslims🤦🏼♀️
There hasn’t been a single case anywhere of Muslims in this country trying to ban dogs or trying to limit what anyone does with their dog
Yet…
🧵
1/14
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Just a reminder to any racist millionaire football club owners out there that without immigration we wouldn't have any of this
February 12, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Just a reminder to any racist millionaire football club owners out there that without immigration we wouldn't have any of this
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Quick preview of the modular sci-fi kit which will release on Sunday, for free. It's the first time I've included a texture (for the floor) in my 3D #gameassets and it really makes a difference, it'll be integrated in the colormap - so it's still all 1 material/texture! 🎉
February 12, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Quick preview of the modular sci-fi kit which will release on Sunday, for free. It's the first time I've included a texture (for the floor) in my 3D #gameassets and it really makes a difference, it'll be integrated in the colormap - so it's still all 1 material/texture! 🎉
Reposted by Darren Townsend
The stark contrast is set to raise a simple but incendiary question: who is truly paying for Britain?
Racist POS Ratcliffe, or people coming here from all over the world helping to build Britain? #UKNews
Racist POS Ratcliffe, or people coming here from all over the world helping to build Britain? #UKNews
February 12, 2026 at 8:19 AM
The stark contrast is set to raise a simple but incendiary question: who is truly paying for Britain?
Racist POS Ratcliffe, or people coming here from all over the world helping to build Britain? #UKNews
Racist POS Ratcliffe, or people coming here from all over the world helping to build Britain? #UKNews
Reposted by Darren Townsend
My doomer-worry about AI is not that the LLMs become omnipotent and take over the world but that the wealthy and powerful use it as a means to consolidate power and marginalize or lay off skilled workers and also everything about our technological and political and social life gets worse
February 11, 2026 at 8:20 PM
My doomer-worry about AI is not that the LLMs become omnipotent and take over the world but that the wealthy and powerful use it as a means to consolidate power and marginalize or lay off skilled workers and also everything about our technological and political and social life gets worse
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Public reporting deters crime. We urge it for burglary, assault, fraud — so why not road danger?? Reporting helps tackle reckless driving and save lives. The Daily Mail mocking this as “villainy” misses the point. Accountability on our roads protects everyone.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/jeremy-vine-...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/jeremy-vine-...
Jeremy Vine loves him, motorists hate him. Is this man London’s most controversial cyclist?
How Cycling Mikey's quest for road safety divided London
www.the-londoner.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Public reporting deters crime. We urge it for burglary, assault, fraud — so why not road danger?? Reporting helps tackle reckless driving and save lives. The Daily Mail mocking this as “villainy” misses the point. Accountability on our roads protects everyone.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/jeremy-vine-...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/jeremy-vine-...
Reposted by Darren Townsend
I still have a few spaces on my 28 Feb botanical illustration & mental health w'shop
I teach you
🌿how to break plants down to simple shapes & add shading
🧠how creative activity alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health
Earlybird price expires 14 Feb
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/bota...
I teach you
🌿how to break plants down to simple shapes & add shading
🧠how creative activity alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health
Earlybird price expires 14 Feb
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/bota...
February 10, 2026 at 7:27 PM
I still have a few spaces on my 28 Feb botanical illustration & mental health w'shop
I teach you
🌿how to break plants down to simple shapes & add shading
🧠how creative activity alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health
Earlybird price expires 14 Feb
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/bota...
I teach you
🌿how to break plants down to simple shapes & add shading
🧠how creative activity alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health
Earlybird price expires 14 Feb
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/bota...
Reposted by Darren Townsend
The DWP are pretending their new changes are good - but they'll leave new disabled Universal Credit claimants with £2550.48 LESS a year
By @rachelcdailey.bsky.social
www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/...
By @rachelcdailey.bsky.social
www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/...
DWP tries to make screwing disabled UC claimants sound like a good thing
The DWP are pretending their new changes are good - but they'll leave new disabled Universal Credit claimants with £2550.48 LESS a year
www.thecanary.co
February 10, 2026 at 10:44 AM
The DWP are pretending their new changes are good - but they'll leave new disabled Universal Credit claimants with £2550.48 LESS a year
By @rachelcdailey.bsky.social
www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/...
By @rachelcdailey.bsky.social
www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/...
Reposted by Darren Townsend
MY BIG CLEAR OUT!
Here are 3 shelves of my books in A-Z order by author.
You can have any 2 for £10 (free P+P).
Please share (and buy).
UK only.
Here are 3 shelves of my books in A-Z order by author.
You can have any 2 for £10 (free P+P).
Please share (and buy).
UK only.
February 10, 2026 at 1:46 PM
MY BIG CLEAR OUT!
Here are 3 shelves of my books in A-Z order by author.
You can have any 2 for £10 (free P+P).
Please share (and buy).
UK only.
Here are 3 shelves of my books in A-Z order by author.
You can have any 2 for £10 (free P+P).
Please share (and buy).
UK only.
Reposted by Darren Townsend
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 Darren Townsend
Cracking piece, think many of us know that feeling of too much information or I don't why this, but it's this... is my mouth hasn't caught up with my brain. Mostly that pattern recognition of here we go again.
Autistic brains take in more of reality at once, not less. A deeper look at high-bandwidth processing and sensory experience in autism.
The High-Bandwidth Brain:
Why Autistic Minds Process More Reality
By J.K. Hamilton
medium.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Cracking piece, think many of us know that feeling of too much information or I don't why this, but it's this... is my mouth hasn't caught up with my brain. Mostly that pattern recognition of here we go again.
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Things you can do in the UK and get out on bail: modern slavery. Things you can't get bail for: spray painting a fighter jet to call attention to an ongoing genocide and the UK governments complicity in it. 🍉
The 37-year old has been bailed pending further enquiries. A closure order has been placed on one of the business premises, while a Proceeds of Crime Act application has been made and granted.
February 10, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Things you can do in the UK and get out on bail: modern slavery. Things you can't get bail for: spray painting a fighter jet to call attention to an ongoing genocide and the UK governments complicity in it. 🍉
Reposted by Darren Townsend
National Insurance (NI) dodges.
Companies pay employers' NI (ENI) on director wage.
Partners of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) get share of profit, instead of wage
No ENI paid. Big 4 law firms alone dodged £4bn.
Billions more lost in other LLPs.
No govt plugs this perk for the rich
Companies pay employers' NI (ENI) on director wage.
Partners of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) get share of profit, instead of wage
No ENI paid. Big 4 law firms alone dodged £4bn.
Billions more lost in other LLPs.
No govt plugs this perk for the rich
National Insurance is a regressive tax that hits the less well-off hardest
Compared to income tax, national insurance contributions attract little sustained scrutiny even though they provide large amounts to the public purse.
leftfootforward.org
February 10, 2026 at 10:14 AM
National Insurance (NI) dodges.
Companies pay employers' NI (ENI) on director wage.
Partners of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) get share of profit, instead of wage
No ENI paid. Big 4 law firms alone dodged £4bn.
Billions more lost in other LLPs.
No govt plugs this perk for the rich
Companies pay employers' NI (ENI) on director wage.
Partners of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) get share of profit, instead of wage
No ENI paid. Big 4 law firms alone dodged £4bn.
Billions more lost in other LLPs.
No govt plugs this perk for the rich
Reposted by Darren Townsend
🚨 Hot tip for school governors 🚨
NGA have free toolkits, including one for mental health.
bit.ly/4qmt1p7
It’s written with experts from the Youth Sport Trust.
#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek
NGA have free toolkits, including one for mental health.
bit.ly/4qmt1p7
It’s written with experts from the Youth Sport Trust.
#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek
Disadvantage in education | National Governance Association
Exploring disadvantage and the drivers that impact pupils in your school/trust
bit.ly
February 10, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🚨 Hot tip for school governors 🚨
NGA have free toolkits, including one for mental health.
bit.ly/4qmt1p7
It’s written with experts from the Youth Sport Trust.
#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek
NGA have free toolkits, including one for mental health.
bit.ly/4qmt1p7
It’s written with experts from the Youth Sport Trust.
#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek
Reposted by Darren Townsend
Become a #MutualAid Champion by giving £20 a month - this will cover all costs for our electric van to get food to families in need oxfordmutualaid.org/donate/
February 10, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Become a #MutualAid Champion by giving £20 a month - this will cover all costs for our electric van to get food to families in need oxfordmutualaid.org/donate/
Reposted by Darren Townsend
On a train on a VPN controling my house lights via my smart watch, through Node-RED.
Two devices are MQTT smart plugs and the other is a ZigBee lamp.
Why?
Um .. I'll get back to you on that.
Next step .. request room temps and turn on heating boost. I wonder if I can do geofencing.
Two devices are MQTT smart plugs and the other is a ZigBee lamp.
Why?
Um .. I'll get back to you on that.
Next step .. request room temps and turn on heating boost. I wonder if I can do geofencing.
February 10, 2026 at 7:36 AM
On a train on a VPN controling my house lights via my smart watch, through Node-RED.
Two devices are MQTT smart plugs and the other is a ZigBee lamp.
Why?
Um .. I'll get back to you on that.
Next step .. request room temps and turn on heating boost. I wonder if I can do geofencing.
Two devices are MQTT smart plugs and the other is a ZigBee lamp.
Why?
Um .. I'll get back to you on that.
Next step .. request room temps and turn on heating boost. I wonder if I can do geofencing.
Reposted by Darren Townsend
431) Tbot. A robotic t-shirt. Very comfortable. Not to be confused with Teabot or Teebot. #SmallRobotsRemastered
February 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
431) Tbot. A robotic t-shirt. Very comfortable. Not to be confused with Teabot or Teebot. #SmallRobotsRemastered