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Portentious
@portentious.bsky.social
· Jul 24
Hi friends, you may know me from my previous incantations as owning my own business, maps, GIS, tech, strategy, IT, green stuff and renewable energy. Glad to see familiar folk here! :)
Reposted by Portentious
Preparing for Putin's Intermittent War - why we have to harden UK society against the kind of treatment Ukraine is suffering - open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/p...
Preparing for the 'Intermittent War'...
What I learned at the RUSI Long War Conference
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Preparing for Putin's Intermittent War - why we have to harden UK society against the kind of treatment Ukraine is suffering - open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/p...
Reposted by Portentious
If it were steel works we would have a government bailout plan, yet losing thousands of jobs at unis is met with a shrug. & unlike steelworks universities were profitable when they had foreign students.
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
Every sympathy for University of Essex (and pressures facing them) but this is very bad news for Southend.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Roles to be lost are part of wave of redundancy programmes across UK’s higher education sector
giftarticle.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 AM
If it were steel works we would have a government bailout plan, yet losing thousands of jobs at unis is met with a shrug. & unlike steelworks universities were profitable when they had foreign students.
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
Reposted by Portentious
Fossiele subsidies kosten miljarden, verergeren de klimaatcrisis en staan in de weg van een gezonde toekomst.
✍️ Teken jij de petitie voor een stop op fossiele subsidies? www.brandbriefaanhetkabinet.nl
✍️ Teken jij de petitie voor een stop op fossiele subsidies? www.brandbriefaanhetkabinet.nl
Brandbrief aan het kabinet | Stop fossiele subsidies
Brandbrief aan het kabinet: Fossiele subsidies kosten miljarden, verergeren de klimaatcrisis en staan in de weg van een gezonde toekomst. Stop fossiele subsidies.
www.brandbriefaanhetkabinet.nl
December 3, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Fossiele subsidies kosten miljarden, verergeren de klimaatcrisis en staan in de weg van een gezonde toekomst.
✍️ Teken jij de petitie voor een stop op fossiele subsidies? www.brandbriefaanhetkabinet.nl
✍️ Teken jij de petitie voor een stop op fossiele subsidies? www.brandbriefaanhetkabinet.nl
Reposted by Portentious
Finland has Europe's cleanest and cheapest electricity. So what do they do? They pair it with the cheapest and cleanest storage.
Smart Suomi.
Smart Suomi.
Iets compacter maar ook flink trager dan warmteopslag in water
www.wattisduurzaam.nl/49946/energi...
www.wattisduurzaam.nl/49946/energi...
Silo vol zand houdt Fins warmtenet 5 dagen op temperatuur
De Finse startup Polar Night Energy en nutsbedrijf Lahti Energia bouwen samen een grote zandbatterij met 250 megawattuur (thermische) opslagcapaciteit. De zandbatterij levert warmte aan het warmten…
www.wattisduurzaam.nl
December 3, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Finland has Europe's cleanest and cheapest electricity. So what do they do? They pair it with the cheapest and cleanest storage.
Smart Suomi.
Smart Suomi.
Reposted by Portentious
Reposted by Portentious
Interesting and alarming piece on the use of AI in Universities www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 3, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Interesting and alarming piece on the use of AI in Universities www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
Reposted by Portentious
"Lake Urmia, once the largest lake in the Middle East, has lost over 90% of its water since the 1970s due to damming, drought, and agricultural demands.... This ecological catastrophe serves as a stark warning about the consequences of water mismanagement in an era of climate change"
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
How Iran Destroyed it’s Largest Lake.
YouTube video by Urban Atlas
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 4:23 AM
"Lake Urmia, once the largest lake in the Middle East, has lost over 90% of its water since the 1970s due to damming, drought, and agricultural demands.... This ecological catastrophe serves as a stark warning about the consequences of water mismanagement in an era of climate change"
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Reposted by Portentious
JUST IN: India’s rupee falls to a fresh record low of 90 per US dollar
Indian Rupee Falls Past 90 Per Dollar as Trade Stalemate Bites
India’s rupee fell past a key psychological level of 90 per dollar as delays in finalizing a crucial trade deal with the US hurt sentiment.
bloom.bg
December 3, 2025 at 3:41 AM
JUST IN: India’s rupee falls to a fresh record low of 90 per US dollar
Reposted by Portentious
Scientists if you’re like “man I wish more people knew about X” then I humbly suggest hiring an artist to make a thing that communicates X and then put it into the world because it’s so fun, extremely “hell yeah” inducing, you gotta try it.
December 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Scientists if you’re like “man I wish more people knew about X” then I humbly suggest hiring an artist to make a thing that communicates X and then put it into the world because it’s so fun, extremely “hell yeah” inducing, you gotta try it.
Reposted by Portentious
Giving Tuesday officially started today, but facts are under attack right now—and a generous donor has offered to help us get ahead of the crowd by matching every Giving Tuesday gift, dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000.
Consider donating today! We'd appreciate the support ❤️ tinyurl.com/y6wzer7w
Consider donating today! We'd appreciate the support ❤️ tinyurl.com/y6wzer7w
December 3, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Giving Tuesday officially started today, but facts are under attack right now—and a generous donor has offered to help us get ahead of the crowd by matching every Giving Tuesday gift, dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000.
Consider donating today! We'd appreciate the support ❤️ tinyurl.com/y6wzer7w
Consider donating today! We'd appreciate the support ❤️ tinyurl.com/y6wzer7w
Reposted by Portentious
3 December 1933 | A Dutch Jewish girl, Rosalia Elisabeth Bloemist, was born in Amsterdam.
In February 1944 she was deported to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the selection.
In February 1944 she was deported to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the selection.
December 3, 2025 at 3:00 AM
3 December 1933 | A Dutch Jewish girl, Rosalia Elisabeth Bloemist, was born in Amsterdam.
In February 1944 she was deported to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the selection.
In February 1944 she was deported to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the selection.
Reposted by Portentious
as a grantwriter, the lack of unrestricted funding is a MASSIVE burden on nonprofits. everyone wants to fund a new shiny pilot program that makes them look like innovators. they don’t want to help make your tried and tested programs that have served the community for 50 years more sustainable
The headline I feel like is that all the philanthropic donations from billionaires typically have a shitload of restrictions.
Mackenzie is like “you’re doing work to stop something horrible or to help something good? Cool. Here’s a few hundred million.” and the paper is like “wow… so novel”
Mackenzie is like “you’re doing work to stop something horrible or to help something good? Cool. Here’s a few hundred million.” and the paper is like “wow… so novel”
Mackenzie Scott’s signature philanthropic style is giving unrestricted gifts—a rarity in the industry. trib.al/DjrurgM
December 3, 2025 at 2:53 AM
as a grantwriter, the lack of unrestricted funding is a MASSIVE burden on nonprofits. everyone wants to fund a new shiny pilot program that makes them look like innovators. they don’t want to help make your tried and tested programs that have served the community for 50 years more sustainable
Reposted by Portentious
Hey, it’s Giving Tuesday! Want to help kids all over the world? Clubfoot is one the most common birth differences, affecting 1 in 1000 babies. Including mine! This is Margot in her brace. Clubfoot can be fixed with simple casts and braces, but the costs add up. Enter Miracle Feet www.miraclefeet.org
December 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Hey, it’s Giving Tuesday! Want to help kids all over the world? Clubfoot is one the most common birth differences, affecting 1 in 1000 babies. Including mine! This is Margot in her brace. Clubfoot can be fixed with simple casts and braces, but the costs add up. Enter Miracle Feet www.miraclefeet.org
Reposted by Portentious
How about we worry less, as a society, about whether individuals might be cheating to get a disability accommodation or some help buying food, and more about whether extremely wealthy people and corporations are paying their fair share of taxes?
December 2, 2025 at 9:42 PM
How about we worry less, as a society, about whether individuals might be cheating to get a disability accommodation or some help buying food, and more about whether extremely wealthy people and corporations are paying their fair share of taxes?
Reposted by Portentious
I work at @freedom.press. I'm told it's some sort of holiday for donating to nonprofits.
My team supports journalists with digital security for themselves and sources. In 2025, I really do think this matters more than ever. If this is something you care about, support our work. freedom.press/donate
My team supports journalists with digital security for themselves and sources. In 2025, I really do think this matters more than ever. If this is something you care about, support our work. freedom.press/donate
freedom.press
December 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I work at @freedom.press. I'm told it's some sort of holiday for donating to nonprofits.
My team supports journalists with digital security for themselves and sources. In 2025, I really do think this matters more than ever. If this is something you care about, support our work. freedom.press/donate
My team supports journalists with digital security for themselves and sources. In 2025, I really do think this matters more than ever. If this is something you care about, support our work. freedom.press/donate
Reposted by Portentious
Why Are Governments Racing to Implement AI Without Protecting Citizens?
I highly recommend four essential books that explain what's really happening, and why you should read them all.
Thread
I highly recommend four essential books that explain what's really happening, and why you should read them all.
Thread
December 2, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Why Are Governments Racing to Implement AI Without Protecting Citizens?
I highly recommend four essential books that explain what's really happening, and why you should read them all.
Thread
I highly recommend four essential books that explain what's really happening, and why you should read them all.
Thread
Reposted by Portentious
copyright question: are things that are not copyrightable automatically considered to be "in the public domain" or are they just not copyrightable? this has come up in a student paper and i dont actually know the answer
December 2, 2025 at 4:51 PM
copyright question: are things that are not copyrightable automatically considered to be "in the public domain" or are they just not copyrightable? this has come up in a student paper and i dont actually know the answer
Reposted by Portentious
Last week, ICE arrested and separated a father and son after a routine check-in. Six-year-old Yuanxin had just enrolled in the first grade at an elementary school in Astoria. Now he's in custody, alone. ICE won't say where. This cruelty serves no one. It must end.
December 2, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Last week, ICE arrested and separated a father and son after a routine check-in. Six-year-old Yuanxin had just enrolled in the first grade at an elementary school in Astoria. Now he's in custody, alone. ICE won't say where. This cruelty serves no one. It must end.
Reposted by Portentious
A new NY state law requires retailers to disclose when a "price was set by an algorithm using your personal data." What personal data?? Why a particular price?? There's a lot of unanswered questions, but the disclosure is attached to eggs and toilet paper: www.wired.com/story/algori...
Your Data Might Determine How Much You Pay for Eggs
A newly enacted New York law requires retailers to say whether your data influences the price of basic goods like a dozen eggs or toilet paper, but not how.
www.wired.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:38 PM
A new NY state law requires retailers to disclose when a "price was set by an algorithm using your personal data." What personal data?? Why a particular price?? There's a lot of unanswered questions, but the disclosure is attached to eggs and toilet paper: www.wired.com/story/algori...
We need to remember not to appease the aggressors; to not give up before this goes from ‘hybrid’ to a ‘hot’ war across Europe.
And to give Ukraine every support she needs to defend herself against Russia. As with all bullies, it will be us next, if we don’t.
And to give Ukraine every support she needs to defend herself against Russia. As with all bullies, it will be us next, if we don’t.
December 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
We need to remember not to appease the aggressors; to not give up before this goes from ‘hybrid’ to a ‘hot’ war across Europe.
And to give Ukraine every support she needs to defend herself against Russia. As with all bullies, it will be us next, if we don’t.
And to give Ukraine every support she needs to defend herself against Russia. As with all bullies, it will be us next, if we don’t.
Reposted by Portentious
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia does not want a war with European powers, but is ready to fight if Europe does want a direct conflict with Moscow. Putin told reporters that ‘if Europe suddenly decides to wage war against us and starts it, we are ready right now.
December 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia does not want a war with European powers, but is ready to fight if Europe does want a direct conflict with Moscow. Putin told reporters that ‘if Europe suddenly decides to wage war against us and starts it, we are ready right now.
Reposted by Portentious
The madman has lost it just as his entire country and his country’s economy is collapsing without any revenue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia does not want a war with European powers, but is ready to fight if Europe does want a direct conflict with Moscow. Putin told reporters that ‘if Europe suddenly decides to wage war against us and starts it, we are ready right now.
December 2, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The madman has lost it just as his entire country and his country’s economy is collapsing without any revenue.
Reposted by Portentious
Very proud to be Colombian right now! 🇨🇴 I hope all neighboring countries follow suit soon! news.mongabay.com/short-articl...
Colombia bans all new oil and mining projects in its Amazon
Colombia will no longer approve new oil or large-scale mining projects in its Amazon biome, which covers 42% of the nation’s territory, according to a Nov. 13 statement by its environment ministry. Ac...
news.mongabay.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Very proud to be Colombian right now! 🇨🇴 I hope all neighboring countries follow suit soon! news.mongabay.com/short-articl...
Reposted by Portentious
We are fighting to avoid becoming a Ukrainian shell of a Russian entity
We are fighting to avoid becoming a Ukrainian shell of a Russian entity
About the author: Yuliia Boklah is a PR specialist and board member of the Helping to Leave charitable project, which has evacuated more than 21,000 Ukrainians from occupied territories or deportation...
kyivindependent.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:03 PM
We are fighting to avoid becoming a Ukrainian shell of a Russian entity
Reposted by Portentious
This is pretty interesting - Ecosia have now launched "the world's greenest AI".
I think it's lacking *a lot*, namely:
- Disclosure of energy consumption (absolute, but not even per-query??)
- Disclosure of emissions
- Still obviously massive problems w/ accuracy
blog.ecosia.org/ecosia-ai/
I think it's lacking *a lot*, namely:
- Disclosure of energy consumption (absolute, but not even per-query??)
- Disclosure of emissions
- Still obviously massive problems w/ accuracy
blog.ecosia.org/ecosia-ai/
December 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
This is pretty interesting - Ecosia have now launched "the world's greenest AI".
I think it's lacking *a lot*, namely:
- Disclosure of energy consumption (absolute, but not even per-query??)
- Disclosure of emissions
- Still obviously massive problems w/ accuracy
blog.ecosia.org/ecosia-ai/
I think it's lacking *a lot*, namely:
- Disclosure of energy consumption (absolute, but not even per-query??)
- Disclosure of emissions
- Still obviously massive problems w/ accuracy
blog.ecosia.org/ecosia-ai/