Dai Vaughan
@daivaughan.uk
930 followers 940 following 200 posts
Geek. Cymru. Digital technology specialist. Consulting Practice CTO at Public Digital. Independent Member for Digital at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Co-founder of GDS. Views my own.
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daivaughan.uk
From @willhaycardiff.bsky.social’s newsletter.

After more than a year in office, how is it that the PM still can’t pronounce the name of Wales’ First Minister? A leader in his own party.

It’s incredibly disrespectful.

willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/wales-watc...
The Prime Minister also mispronounced Eluned Morgan’s name several times at one point making a noise which sounded like “Eleanor”

“He does always struggle with her name,” one of the onlookers said
Reposted by Dai Vaughan
alexnurse.bsky.social
Today was one of my favourite lectures, on how evidence influences debates.

Case A: 79 people died as a consequence of smart motorways (2010-2024). That's sufficient to pause the policy.

Case B: In the first year of the Welsh 20mph scheme 900 fewer people were injured. There's still contestation.
daivaughan.uk
I think there’s a valid question though - if we can’t consistently and accurately manage a set of links to local authority websites, how is digital ID going to make reporting potholes better?
daivaughan.uk
There was also that one time a LA had a bunch of their content on a .com instead of a .gov.uk. They let the domain lapse & it became a porn site instead. That was fun.
daivaughan.uk
Ah. The holy grail of automated link maintenance. I helped build & run the predecessor to Local Links Manager. We had the system flag us whenever a link “broke”. Which only worked 50% of the time because LA websites often failed to properly use HTTP status codes. 404s served with 200s etc 😢
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ciaranm.bsky.social
Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack latest from the Financial Times 😬😬😬
Reposted by Dai Vaughan
radiobeartime.com
Some practical action staff can take.

1. Speak to your union. This is the kind of thing the TUC should be all over. Why should trades unions fund a “Labour” party which treats workers like this?

2. Copy every request for a staff time meeting to Nick Thomas–Symonds’s Private Office
Reposted by Dai Vaughan
foundationsofthedigitalstate.com
You wouldn't have the global success of GDS without staff networks like UK Gov Camp and OneTeamGov
Civil Service staff networks can support staff in a number of areas and support a productive working environment.
Reposted by Dai Vaughan
robertsaunders.bsky.social
Why are the American president's claims about autism the first item on British news bulletins?

He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions.

So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?
Reposted by Dai Vaughan
joetidy.bsky.social
BBC West Midlands Radio is devoting its entire breakfast show to reporting on the Jaguar Land rover cyber attack today. Incredible to hear about the enormous impact it's having on local people who rely on the plant for direct and indirect employment. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Radio WM - Listen Live - BBC Sounds
Listen live to BBC Radio WM on BBC Sounds
www.bbc.co.uk
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garwboy.bsky.social
Does Tylenol cause autism?
(A comprehensive neuroscientific response to the recent US govt report)

[Summary]

No, of course not! What's wrong with you?

[Full answer]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-[1/237]

Reposted by Dai Vaughan
simonwillison.net
Leaked memo from Amazon that warns existing H1B holders to avoid travel back into the USA after the September 21st deadline - their lawyers evaluated the new executive order as not just affecting new applications
Amazonians,

We've reviewed the Presidential Proclamation on H-1B visas that was released today and are actively working to gain greater clarity. Here's what you need to know right now: The proclamation creates a travel restriction starting September 21, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT (9:01 p.m. PDT tomorrow). After this deadline, individuals cannot enter the U.S. on H-1B status without an additional $100,000 payment associated with their petition. Recommended actions for you to take:

If you have H-1B status and are in the U.S.: Stay in the country for now, even if you have travel planned for the immediate future. We will continue to provide updates as more details are available. If you have H-4 dependent status: We also recommend you remain in the U.S., though the proclamation doesn't specifically mention H-4 dependents.

If you have H-1B or H-4 status and are outside the U.S.: Try to return before tomorrow's deadline if possible. We realize this is short notice but returning soon is advisable and you should make every effort possible to clear U.S. customs before 12:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 p.m. PDT) on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

At this time, if you have an H1-B or H-4 status and are unable to return before the deadline, we advise that you do not attempt to enter the U.S. until further guidance is provided.
daivaughan.uk
In other news... a supply-chain big cyber attack affecting airports around Europe.

This is a good time to share @publicdigital.bsky.social's recent guidance on recovering from a cyber attack: public.digital/pd-insights/...
daivaughan.uk
And a failure of regulators to ask why the biggest players continue to dominate a market that is plagued by failure after failure after failure.

I’m sure there is truth to what this whistleblower is staying. Because we’ve seen it before. Over and over and over again.
daivaughan.uk
The ERP problem is a collective failure of industries and professions. A failure of software providers to build good quality systems. A failure of project management. Of financial & accounting practices to modernise. Of HR to focus on users. Of leadership to force change.
daivaughan.uk
It’s a blight on the entire industry that these failures happen so consistently.

The question is why do we allow it to keep happening? And why do leadership keep glossing over it and treating it as acceptable?
daivaughan.uk
Birmingham is an extreme example of this, but there are so many others. Edinburgh University, MoD, UK Gov’s Matrix, West Sussex, and many more.

ERP systems are a black hole of money, and effort. A huge drag on productivity and time.
daivaughan.uk
ERP system replacements are some of the most difficult and complex projects we see organisations undertake.

We’ve seen example after example go wrong. Late delivery. Blown budgets. Toxic environments. People left in misery afterwards.
Reposted by Dai Vaughan
daivaughan.uk
My best guess is that the devs have custom made a validation script rather than using something standard, and haven't realised that domains beyond .com/.uk exist etc. Wouldn't surprise me if the form also blocks .scot email addresses as well.