Sunil
@sdvr.bsky.social
Erstwhile researcher in human computer interaction/tech, accessible environments, sociology, politics, transport/urbanism and rare diseases: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=oSEzsOoAAAAJ&hl=en
Sigh. No, major streaming music provider, I not wish to have a massive promoted advert for something in the middle of my ap home screen on a *paid* plan.
The enshittification is impossible to ignore now.
The enshittification is impossible to ignore now.
November 30, 2025 at 9:20 AM
As someone who did a PhD partly in an HCI research group (and whose thesis drew on STS) I’m somewhat astounded by the apparent bubble in which this research seems to be happening. Even within CS, HCI and its insights jave been around for many decades!
November 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
As someone who did a PhD partly in an HCI research group (and whose thesis drew on STS) I’m somewhat astounded by the apparent bubble in which this research seems to be happening. Even within CS, HCI and its insights jave been around for many decades!
Reposted by Sunil
This is a really clear and impressive bit of communication. I'm somewhat baffled that it's needed - by the fact that Frontier AI research is so disconnected from real life as to need the concept of "to a man with a hammer, everything looking like a nail" explaining - but Toner does it v well
November 29, 2025 at 6:56 AM
This is a really clear and impressive bit of communication. I'm somewhat baffled that it's needed - by the fact that Frontier AI research is so disconnected from real life as to need the concept of "to a man with a hammer, everything looking like a nail" explaining - but Toner does it v well
Reposted by Sunil
what I find fascinating is how Toner gets there and how she unpacks it. For anyone working in foresight, the idea that future events can't be controlled or predicted is obvious, but it's clearly not obvious at all to her audience or to her community of practice. To put it another way, life is messy
November 29, 2025 at 6:43 AM
what I find fascinating is how Toner gets there and how she unpacks it. For anyone working in foresight, the idea that future events can't be controlled or predicted is obvious, but it's clearly not obvious at all to her audience or to her community of practice. To put it another way, life is messy
Reposted by Sunil
The part that's most interesting to me is where she uses an eg from fluid mechanics to bring to light the concept that the future is not certain and progress isn't linear - that contradictory events can take place at the same time. Any sociotechnical researcher will say "Well duh" about this but...
November 29, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The part that's most interesting to me is where she uses an eg from fluid mechanics to bring to light the concept that the future is not certain and progress isn't linear - that contradictory events can take place at the same time. Any sociotechnical researcher will say "Well duh" about this but...
A long time ago, I wrote a masters thesis on the Vietnam Syndrome and Reagan‘s foreign policy. Far from “banishing” the syndrome, he adhered to it - not intervening unless likelihood of US mass casualties minimal (ie Grenada invasion yes; bombing Libya yes; boots on ground in Nicaragua no). similar?
November 29, 2025 at 2:57 PM
A long time ago, I wrote a masters thesis on the Vietnam Syndrome and Reagan‘s foreign policy. Far from “banishing” the syndrome, he adhered to it - not intervening unless likelihood of US mass casualties minimal (ie Grenada invasion yes; bombing Libya yes; boots on ground in Nicaragua no). similar?
Living elsewhere in greater Manchester and having visited only once (very briefly), I agree. I definitely want to go back at some point, the old part of the town centre is really cute
November 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Living elsewhere in greater Manchester and having visited only once (very briefly), I agree. I definitely want to go back at some point, the old part of the town centre is really cute
No problem! I meant to add, if you’ve got an Amex card, they regularly have offers on. Currently I’m seeing £50 off £115 spend by 31st Dec on my Amex, and the Economist half-price offer is £119.50 for the first year. So combining the two it is just under £70 for a year which is pretty decent!
November 29, 2025 at 10:38 AM
No problem! I meant to add, if you’ve got an Amex card, they regularly have offers on. Currently I’m seeing £50 off £115 spend by 31st Dec on my Amex, and the Economist half-price offer is £119.50 for the first year. So combining the two it is just under £70 for a year which is pretty decent!
Lose. Not had my coffee yet!
Guess my basic point is: the general advice is to have 3-6m of expenses in cash as a buffer. In most big cities that’s £3000-4500 for rent alone, plus all other expenses. Building that up takes time.
Guess my basic point is: the general advice is to have 3-6m of expenses in cash as a buffer. In most big cities that’s £3000-4500 for rent alone, plus all other expenses. Building that up takes time.
November 29, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Lose. Not had my coffee yet!
Guess my basic point is: the general advice is to have 3-6m of expenses in cash as a buffer. In most big cities that’s £3000-4500 for rent alone, plus all other expenses. Building that up takes time.
Guess my basic point is: the general advice is to have 3-6m of expenses in cash as a buffer. In most big cities that’s £3000-4500 for rent alone, plus all other expenses. Building that up takes time.
The 20k -> 12k shift doesn’t make a difference in that case, and I think it’s a red herring.
But I recall vividly having to pull what little money I’d invested to cash in late 2008. I simply couldn’t afford to loose it (& soon needed it to cover costs to set myself up a different city for a job)
But I recall vividly having to pull what little money I’d invested to cash in late 2008. I simply couldn’t afford to loose it (& soon needed it to cover costs to set myself up a different city for a job)
November 29, 2025 at 8:14 AM
The 20k -> 12k shift doesn’t make a difference in that case, and I think it’s a red herring.
But I recall vividly having to pull what little money I’d invested to cash in late 2008. I simply couldn’t afford to loose it (& soon needed it to cover costs to set myself up a different city for a job)
But I recall vividly having to pull what little money I’d invested to cash in late 2008. I simply couldn’t afford to loose it (& soon needed it to cover costs to set myself up a different city for a job)
Totally agree on importance of financial literacy, and if you can spare money early in your career then of course it makes sense to do as you suggest.
But if you’ve got a low paid, insecure job at best, and no cash buffer (or other means of rescue from disaster) that’s just not feasible.
But if you’ve got a low paid, insecure job at best, and no cash buffer (or other means of rescue from disaster) that’s just not feasible.
November 29, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Totally agree on importance of financial literacy, and if you can spare money early in your career then of course it makes sense to do as you suggest.
But if you’ve got a low paid, insecure job at best, and no cash buffer (or other means of rescue from disaster) that’s just not feasible.
But if you’ve got a low paid, insecure job at best, and no cash buffer (or other means of rescue from disaster) that’s just not feasible.
Jumping in a bit late, but re oEconomist I’m seeing a bunch of ads for 50% off a subscription in the last few days. Not sure if it’s a Black Friday thing or wider offer
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Jumping in a bit late, but re oEconomist I’m seeing a bunch of ads for 50% off a subscription in the last few days. Not sure if it’s a Black Friday thing or wider offer
Ahh, I didn’t realise that. Thank you!
November 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Ahh, I didn’t realise that. Thank you!