peterkwells
@peterkwells.com
BlackpoolFC, books, tech, people, policy & delivery, realist. Hopes to make stuff work for everyone.
https://peterkwells.com
https://peterkwells.com
Life-size statues of Trump on buildings all across USA, not doing anything, just there
Like those Gormleys in London a few years back, but with tiny authoritarian hands...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_H...
Like those Gormleys in London a few years back, but with tiny authoritarian hands...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_H...
January 11, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Life-size statues of Trump on buildings all across USA, not doing anything, just there
Like those Gormleys in London a few years back, but with tiny authoritarian hands...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_H...
Like those Gormleys in London a few years back, but with tiny authoritarian hands...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_H...
Head of Product for data.gov.uk
Irregular reminder that while everyone will say they want a single, national, data portal that - outside of political need - most ppl want a single portal w/data relevant to them & that fits into their workflows
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
Irregular reminder that while everyone will say they want a single, national, data portal that - outside of political need - most ppl want a single portal w/data relevant to them & that fits into their workflows
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
January 11, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Head of Product for data.gov.uk
Irregular reminder that while everyone will say they want a single, national, data portal that - outside of political need - most ppl want a single portal w/data relevant to them & that fits into their workflows
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
Irregular reminder that while everyone will say they want a single, national, data portal that - outside of political need - most ppl want a single portal w/data relevant to them & that fits into their workflows
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
Reposted by peterkwells
This interview of Fiona Hill by @meganjgibson.bsky.social is excellent and full of insight and zingers such as this on whether Trump is driven by his legacy
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
![So it's his legacy?
I don't think he's really interested in legacy. He wants the accolades in real time because he won't be around to enjoy them when he is dead. Putin and Xi are somewhat different because they see themselves as the inheritors of great history - millennia-long [history] in the case of China. For Trump, it is just Trump. He completely trashes every other American leader - he doesn't have a good word for any of them.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yhbp52uzo4vsn5hlkbrfvxoq/bafkreie7344y3koedblfiuhb5dfsh5455gnb3o3ciayv76gt6jhz2y6fo4@jpeg)
January 11, 2026 at 3:48 PM
This interview of Fiona Hill by @meganjgibson.bsky.social is excellent and full of insight and zingers such as this on whether Trump is driven by his legacy
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
And this pothole map connects to pothole reporting services where people can report potholes in England (or wider UK)?
Or understand who's responsible for a particular pothole?
Or even track progress (if there's enough need for that...)?
Yes?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Or understand who's responsible for a particular pothole?
Or even track progress (if there's enough need for that...)?
Yes?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Potholes map rates council road repair progress
Thirteen local authorities received a
www.bbc.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 12:47 PM
And this pothole map connects to pothole reporting services where people can report potholes in England (or wider UK)?
Or understand who's responsible for a particular pothole?
Or even track progress (if there's enough need for that...)?
Yes?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Or understand who's responsible for a particular pothole?
Or even track progress (if there's enough need for that...)?
Yes?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by peterkwells
I know its a long shot but to rub salt into the wounds of yesterday my youngest left his scarf somewhere at the match yesterday. Got a load of badges on from this seasons Home games. Hes gutted.
Any reposts appreciated in the hope it might be recovered.
Any reposts appreciated in the hope it might be recovered.
January 11, 2026 at 11:37 AM
I know its a long shot but to rub salt into the wounds of yesterday my youngest left his scarf somewhere at the match yesterday. Got a load of badges on from this seasons Home games. Hes gutted.
Any reposts appreciated in the hope it might be recovered.
Any reposts appreciated in the hope it might be recovered.
Well, quite and some of the chatbot developers are using their very human voices to to try and make that happen as default 'cos ££$$€€
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
January 11, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Well, quite and some of the chatbot developers are using their very human voices to to try and make that happen as default 'cos ££$$€€
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by peterkwells
Just the 31,000 stories later.... it was a cold day in 2009 when it all began(!).
Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years. 🙌
Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years. 🙌
17 years of Blog Preston – Blog Preston
<p>Just the 31,000 stories written later – thanks to everyone who has supported us.</p>
www.blogpreston.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Just the 31,000 stories later.... it was a cold day in 2009 when it all began(!).
Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years. 🙌
Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years. 🙌
BBC/Laura K going from taking seriously Peter Mandelson's opinions on Trump's character to Mandelson's defence of his friendship with Epstein being that he misunderstood Epstein's character is so jarring
There's many foreign policy commentators out there who don't come with that offensive baggage
There's many foreign policy commentators out there who don't come with that offensive baggage
January 11, 2026 at 9:51 AM
BBC/Laura K going from taking seriously Peter Mandelson's opinions on Trump's character to Mandelson's defence of his friendship with Epstein being that he misunderstood Epstein's character is so jarring
There's many foreign policy commentators out there who don't come with that offensive baggage
There's many foreign policy commentators out there who don't come with that offensive baggage
Brb, I'm editing Wiki to show that Marty Supreme is a sports horror-drama
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_S...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_S...
January 10, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Brb, I'm editing Wiki to show that Marty Supreme is a sports horror-drama
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_S...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_S...
Reposted by peterkwells
Help us build a solidarity network for Hopeful Technologists ☀️hopeful.technology
January 10, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Help us build a solidarity network for Hopeful Technologists ☀️hopeful.technology
According to proper football rules Macclesfield mow hold on to the FA Cup until someone can beat them
January 10, 2026 at 2:19 PM
According to proper football rules Macclesfield mow hold on to the FA Cup until someone can beat them
Well the Colombian Cafe San Juan in Stockport is all kinds of wonderful
confidentials.com/manchester/c...
confidentials.com/manchester/c...
Cafe Sanjuan, Stockport's amazing secret Colombian cafe
Luis Felipe Sanjuan tells us the secrets to his incredible food in Stockport
confidentials.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Well the Colombian Cafe San Juan in Stockport is all kinds of wonderful
confidentials.com/manchester/c...
confidentials.com/manchester/c...
Reposted by peterkwells
One week to go until UKGovCamp 2026!
Take a look at the agenda to get a feel for what to expect on the day: ukgovcamp.com/agenda/
Check our FAQs for common questions: ukgovcamp.com/faq/
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to email us.
Take a look at the agenda to get a feel for what to expect on the day: ukgovcamp.com/agenda/
Check our FAQs for common questions: ukgovcamp.com/faq/
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to email us.
What should I expect from the day?
Location: Birmingham City Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB
ukgovcamp.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
One week to go until UKGovCamp 2026!
Take a look at the agenda to get a feel for what to expect on the day: ukgovcamp.com/agenda/
Check our FAQs for common questions: ukgovcamp.com/faq/
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to email us.
Take a look at the agenda to get a feel for what to expect on the day: ukgovcamp.com/agenda/
Check our FAQs for common questions: ukgovcamp.com/faq/
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to email us.
Reposted by peterkwells
This ad appeared this week on our West Philly block. Read all the way down.
January 10, 2026 at 12:39 PM
This ad appeared this week on our West Philly block. Read all the way down.
Booking a trip to cinema provides a nice example of how increased availability of digital ID products can increase the bar on where strong ID checks happen
(& unless that effect slows, that also increases the need for very widely available forms of ID so society doesn't unnecessarily exclude ppl)
(& unless that effect slows, that also increases the need for very widely available forms of ID so society doesn't unnecessarily exclude ppl)
January 10, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Booking a trip to cinema provides a nice example of how increased availability of digital ID products can increase the bar on where strong ID checks happen
(& unless that effect slows, that also increases the need for very widely available forms of ID so society doesn't unnecessarily exclude ppl)
(& unless that effect slows, that also increases the need for very widely available forms of ID so society doesn't unnecessarily exclude ppl)
This is exactly what it looks like when our cat decides she has had enough of the dogs effing nonsense
January 10, 2026 at 10:06 AM
This is exactly what it looks like when our cat decides she has had enough of the dogs effing nonsense
Nerdy consultancy point. This isn't Palantir it's the mgmt consultants with a tech team on the side that they hope can bring in some recurring revenues but is actually still custom building everything: Deloitte, Accenture....
🚨 Exclusive: Tony Blair isn’t just a big fan of AI — he's now trying to build and sell AI tools to governments
Tony Blair Institute staff have described the plan as 'insane' and compared it to Palantir
New by D4S and @lighthousereports.com 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/blair-bids...
Tony Blair Institute staff have described the plan as 'insane' and compared it to Palantir
New by D4S and @lighthousereports.com 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/blair-bids...
Blair bids to build own AI tools to rival Palantir
TBI insiders warn of “'insane” plan to transform think tank into a tech company
democracyforsale.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Nerdy consultancy point. This isn't Palantir it's the mgmt consultants with a tech team on the side that they hope can bring in some recurring revenues but is actually still custom building everything: Deloitte, Accenture....
Idly wondering if it will be A16Z, Anduril, Tesla or Palantir who first start offering jobs to people who worked at ICE
January 10, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Idly wondering if it will be A16Z, Anduril, Tesla or Palantir who first start offering jobs to people who worked at ICE
Reposted by peterkwells
The immigration doom loop in full swing.
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
January 10, 2026 at 3:52 AM
The immigration doom loop in full swing.
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
For less technical ppl these proposed changes to gov.uk reduce the ability for users to share from gov.uk to X
Govt comms teams/ministers could make different decisions - if they wanted - & users could still share links - with a few more button presses - if they wanted to debate things on X
Govt comms teams/ministers could make different decisions - if they wanted - & users could still share links - with a few more button presses - if they wanted to debate things on X
Think I’ve found the right repos to propose these for removal:
github.com/alphagov/gov...
github.com/alphagov/fro...
github.com/alphagov/e-p...
github.com/alphagov/gov...
github.com/alphagov/fro...
github.com/alphagov/e-p...
January 9, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Stuck outside of Stockport with the broken UK train blues again
(W/apologies to Dylan)
(W/apologies to Dylan)
January 9, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Stuck outside of Stockport with the broken UK train blues again
(W/apologies to Dylan)
(W/apologies to Dylan)
Reposted by peterkwells
Great to see this report is available to read online.
It lays out pretty much the whole story of Teesworks over the last few years (and why it matters!).
It lays out pretty much the whole story of Teesworks over the last few years (and why it matters!).
As Tees Valley mayor Lord Houchen's defence of his deal with local businessmen crumbles, here's the Eye's recent special report on how Britain's flagship regeneration scheme secretly turned into one of the biggest giveaways of public money on record.
➡️ www.private-eye.co.uk/special-repo...
➡️ www.private-eye.co.uk/special-repo...
Special Report: Stripped Tees
IT WAS to be the UK’s largest regeneration scheme in decades, a model for regional devolution and the flagship post-Brexit freeport. But the redevelopment of the former steelworks on the south bank of...
www.private-eye.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Great to see this report is available to read online.
It lays out pretty much the whole story of Teesworks over the last few years (and why it matters!).
It lays out pretty much the whole story of Teesworks over the last few years (and why it matters!).
Reposted by peterkwells
Today's #openaddresses:
Royal Borough of Greenwich has released its Council Tax address list as open data owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad...
Greenwich is the seventh London borough to unlock its CT list. Thanks @royalgreenwich.bsky.social!
I've geocoded the addresses
#UKhousing #FOI #opendata
Royal Borough of Greenwich has released its Council Tax address list as open data owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad...
Greenwich is the seventh London borough to unlock its CT list. Thanks @royalgreenwich.bsky.social!
I've geocoded the addresses
#UKhousing #FOI #opendata
January 9, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Today's #openaddresses:
Royal Borough of Greenwich has released its Council Tax address list as open data owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad...
Greenwich is the seventh London borough to unlock its CT list. Thanks @royalgreenwich.bsky.social!
I've geocoded the addresses
#UKhousing #FOI #opendata
Royal Borough of Greenwich has released its Council Tax address list as open data owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad...
Greenwich is the seventh London borough to unlock its CT list. Thanks @royalgreenwich.bsky.social!
I've geocoded the addresses
#UKhousing #FOI #opendata
*looks at various news stories about X/xAI limiting use of Grok for image editing to paid subscribers*
*notes absence of any actual statements from X/xAI *
*wonders if they're just temporarily reducing the server load/cost*
*notes absence of any actual statements from X/xAI *
*wonders if they're just temporarily reducing the server load/cost*
January 9, 2026 at 11:45 AM
*looks at various news stories about X/xAI limiting use of Grok for image editing to paid subscribers*
*notes absence of any actual statements from X/xAI *
*wonders if they're just temporarily reducing the server load/cost*
*notes absence of any actual statements from X/xAI *
*wonders if they're just temporarily reducing the server load/cost*
"we're rolling out a new product - called home internet access - next year. We expect it will be less popular than telephone and TV, but some nerds will like it."
Without revealing your actual age,what's something you remember that if you told a younger person they wouldn't understand?
January 9, 2026 at 11:06 AM
"we're rolling out a new product - called home internet access - next year. We expect it will be less popular than telephone and TV, but some nerds will like it."