Shaun McDonald
@smsm1.mastodon.green.ap.brid.gy
Sustainable travel, energy efficiency, solar, cycling, maps.
#fedi22 #OpenStreetMap #solar #cycling #EnergyEfficency #Scotland #ActiveTravel
🌉 bridged from https://mastodon.green/@smsm1 on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/
#fedi22 #OpenStreetMap #solar #cycling #EnergyEfficency #Scotland #ActiveTravel
🌉 bridged from https://mastodon.green/@smsm1 on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/
Heatpump install
In June 2025 I got a heat pump installed in my 3 bedroom semi-detached house built in 1900. I thought I'd document the process as it may be of interest to others, particularly some aspects of the heat pump sizing and installation of the underfloor heating, which on discussing […]
In June 2025 I got a heat pump installed in my 3 bedroom semi-detached house built in 1900. I thought I'd document the process as it may be of interest to others, particularly some aspects of the heat pump sizing and installation of the underfloor heating, which on discussing […]
Original post on mastodon.green
mastodon.green
December 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Heatpump install
In June 2025 I got a heat pump installed in my 3 bedroom semi-detached house built in 1900. I thought I'd document the process as it may be of interest to others, particularly some aspects of the heat pump sizing and installation of the underfloor heating, which on discussing […]
In June 2025 I got a heat pump installed in my 3 bedroom semi-detached house built in 1900. I thought I'd document the process as it may be of interest to others, particularly some aspects of the heat pump sizing and installation of the underfloor heating, which on discussing […]
Figured out why my mirrorless camera was doing heating photos. It was set to max ISO.
December 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Figured out why my mirrorless camera was doing heating photos. It was set to max ISO.
I'm attempting to cook Christmas dinner with a single oven. Really could do with another to get good roast potatoes.
December 25, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I'm attempting to cook Christmas dinner with a single oven. Really could do with another to get good roast potatoes.
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
Trying to reverse image search (one of the great features of Google in recent years) on an image I know to be a mundane Edinburgh Corporation electrical transformer room, to try and find an original source for it, Google now instead confidently tells me this is an image of the control room in GCHQ 🤦♂️
December 22, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Trying to reverse image search (one of the great features of Google in recent years) on an image I know to be a mundane Edinburgh Corporation electrical transformer room, to try and find an original source for it, Google now instead confidently tells me this is an image of the control room in GCHQ 🤦♂️
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
Thinking about this more, there is one #OpenStreetMap tag value which is particularly handy, and it is reservation=recommended. Quite often on trips I stumble upon restaurants, only to discover they're fully booked. If I could get a list of places where it is recommended to book, I could […]
Original post on en.osm.town
en.osm.town
December 20, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Thinking about this more, there is one #OpenStreetMap tag value which is particularly handy, and it is reservation=recommended. Quite often on trips I stumble upon restaurants, only to discover they're fully booked. If I could get a list of places where it is recommended to book, I could […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
We need YOUR help! 🫵
Are you maintaining (or have you spotted) a website / app using old or incorrect tile.openstreetmap.org tile URLs? There are tens of thousands out there, and they need to be updated.
Please check your projects, shared examples, and help us fix them […]
Are you maintaining (or have you spotted) a website / app using old or incorrect tile.openstreetmap.org tile URLs? There are tens of thousands out there, and they need to be updated.
Please check your projects, shared examples, and help us fix them […]
Original post on en.osm.town
en.osm.town
December 19, 2025 at 8:45 AM
We need YOUR help! 🫵
Are you maintaining (or have you spotted) a website / app using old or incorrect tile.openstreetmap.org tile URLs? There are tens of thousands out there, and they need to be updated.
Please check your projects, shared examples, and help us fix them […]
Are you maintaining (or have you spotted) a website / app using old or incorrect tile.openstreetmap.org tile URLs? There are tens of thousands out there, and they need to be updated.
Please check your projects, shared examples, and help us fix them […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
Everytime I do a thread on energy someone drops into my mentions to tell me we shouldn't be building energy generation capacity. Whether I talk about Nuclear, or Wind, or solar. Someone says we shouldn't do it. Fucking BANANAs everywhere. I sometimes wonder if BANANAs are more annoying than […]
Original post on social.v.st
social.v.st
December 18, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Everytime I do a thread on energy someone drops into my mentions to tell me we shouldn't be building energy generation capacity. Whether I talk about Nuclear, or Wind, or solar. Someone says we shouldn't do it. Fucking BANANAs everywhere. I sometimes wonder if BANANAs are more annoying than […]
Yesterday I had a trip to London for work. Sleeper train both ways. Before the event went to the British Library and seen the exhibition and then had a little walk along. After the event I headed south past St Paul's cathedral, over the river and then headed west along the river. Dinner was a […]
Original post on mastodon.green
mastodon.green
December 16, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Yesterday I had a trip to London for work. Sleeper train both ways. Before the event went to the British Library and seen the exhibition and then had a little walk along. After the event I headed south past St Paul's cathedral, over the river and then headed west along the river. Dinner was a […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
So: #mozilla's got the next CEO with a corporate background determined to make yet another futile attempt to beat big tech at their own game, when in fact the obvious way to secure relevance and a good market share for #firefox is, to combine privacy and security with good usability on all […]
Original post on berlin.social
berlin.social
December 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
I have a new hobby. You see, our local Lidl is where a lot of the refugees in "temporary asylum accommodation" shop. And they are trying to get food that feels like actual food, in a place where there have been some really nasty xenophobic protests.
The other day it was two guys from South […]
The other day it was two guys from South […]
Original post on todon.nl
todon.nl
December 15, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I have a new hobby. You see, our local Lidl is where a lot of the refugees in "temporary asylum accommodation" shop. And they are trying to get food that feels like actual food, in a place where there have been some really nasty xenophobic protests.
The other day it was two guys from South […]
The other day it was two guys from South […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
Nothing can make a student feel like they are "totally lost" and "will never get it" more than suddenly not even knowing what the symbols are or how to write them or even find them on a keyboard.
If you teach CS keep in mind that many people don't know how to type [] or {} and things like [a […]
If you teach CS keep in mind that many people don't know how to type [] or {} and things like [a […]
Original post on sauropods.win
sauropods.win
December 13, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Nothing can make a student feel like they are "totally lost" and "will never get it" more than suddenly not even knowing what the symbols are or how to write them or even find them on a keyboard.
If you teach CS keep in mind that many people don't know how to type [] or {} and things like [a […]
If you teach CS keep in mind that many people don't know how to type [] or {} and things like [a […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
I have discovered that teaching programming goes much better with my fifth grade students if I take the time to teach them about all the symbols I think of as "normal" that are totally new to them.
"These are square brackets, you'll find them over the 'enter' key we use them for lists. In […]
"These are square brackets, you'll find them over the 'enter' key we use them for lists. In […]
Original post on sauropods.win
sauropods.win
December 13, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I have discovered that teaching programming goes much better with my fifth grade students if I take the time to teach them about all the symbols I think of as "normal" that are totally new to them.
"These are square brackets, you'll find them over the 'enter' key we use them for lists. In […]
"These are square brackets, you'll find them over the 'enter' key we use them for lists. In […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
I find “but jobs!” arguments which appears a couple of times in this article completely disingenuous. Yes nuclear might create specialist jobs. So might bringing back the death penalty. If regional leaders are blinkered about economic diversity they insult their people.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The nuclear power station on the front line of an election battle
Scotland's last operational plant, at Torness in East Lothian, is scheduled to cease operating in 2030.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I find “but jobs!” arguments which appears a couple of times in this article completely disingenuous. Yes nuclear might create specialist jobs. So might bringing back the death penalty. If regional leaders are blinkered about economic diversity they insult their people.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
For instance, yes the North Sea oil and gas industry creates thousands of jobs. But you insult workers if you say they’re unretrainable one-trick ponies. Renewables need engineers, electricians, divers, helicopter pilots. If NE had got its arse in gear in renewables, Aberdeen wouldn’t be in slump.
December 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
For instance, yes the North Sea oil and gas industry creates thousands of jobs. But you insult workers if you say they’re unretrainable one-trick ponies. Renewables need engineers, electricians, divers, helicopter pilots. If NE had got its arse in gear in renewables, Aberdeen wouldn’t be in slump.
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
I see the English Broadcasting Corporation news article on Great British Railways conveniently fails to mention that services in Scotland and Wales are run by the devolved governments, or that peak fairs have been scrapped in Scotland reducing the costs to commuters, something that GBR won’t do. […]
Original post on mastodon.scot
mastodon.scot
December 9, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I see the English Broadcasting Corporation news article on Great British Railways conveniently fails to mention that services in Scotland and Wales are run by the devolved governments, or that peak fairs have been scrapped in Scotland reducing the costs to commuters, something that GBR won’t do. […]
It's rather windy out there. Slightly what window for whipped open by the wind and the window ledge, carpet, pillow and duvet are wet enough that I needed to change the duvet and pillow, and run the dehumidifier to dry things out. It's not the quietest of dehumidifiers and it's right beside my bed.
December 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
It's rather windy out there. Slightly what window for whipped open by the wind and the window ledge, carpet, pillow and duvet are wet enough that I needed to change the duvet and pillow, and run the dehumidifier to dry things out. It's not the quietest of dehumidifiers and it's right beside my bed.
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
Zuckerberg has blown 77 billion – enough money to revitalize entire countries – on an idea so overwhelmingly, obviously stupid that I have never once heard anyone, from the Thanksgiving avuncular table to the most wretched depths of social media, say they liked it or even tried it. He was so […]
Original post on infosec.exchange
infosec.exchange
December 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Zuckerberg has blown 77 billion – enough money to revitalize entire countries – on an idea so overwhelmingly, obviously stupid that I have never once heard anyone, from the Thanksgiving avuncular table to the most wretched depths of social media, say they liked it or even tried it. He was so […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
RE: https://mastodon.social/@eunews/115673826414965291
I call for the abolishment of billionaires like Musk
Forever.
I call for the abolishment of billionaires like Musk
Forever.
mastodon.social
December 6, 2025 at 7:42 PM
RE: https://mastodon.social/@eunews/115673826414965291
I call for the abolishment of billionaires like Musk
Forever.
I call for the abolishment of billionaires like Musk
Forever.
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
Apple crumble, custard thrown at Crown Jewels in UK
In the UK, four protesters have been arrested after food was thrown at a display case containing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1206/1547623-uk-crown-jewels-protest/
#news #uk #uknews #UK
In the UK, four protesters have been arrested after food was thrown at a display case containing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1206/1547623-uk-crown-jewels-protest/
#news #uk #uknews #UK
Apple crumble, custard thrown at Crown Jewels in UK
In the UK, four protesters have been arrested after food was thrown at a display case containing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
www.rte.ie
December 6, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Apple crumble, custard thrown at Crown Jewels in UK
In the UK, four protesters have been arrested after food was thrown at a display case containing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1206/1547623-uk-crown-jewels-protest/
#news #uk #uknews #UK
In the UK, four protesters have been arrested after food was thrown at a display case containing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1206/1547623-uk-crown-jewels-protest/
#news #uk #uknews #UK
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
A severe #accessibility issue I've seen very few people talking about is the widespread adoption (in my country at least) of touch-only card payment terminals with no physical number buttons.
Not only do these devices offer no tactile affordances, but the on-screen numbers move around to limit […]
Not only do these devices offer no tactile affordances, but the on-screen numbers move around to limit […]
Original post on dragonscave.space
dragonscave.space
December 6, 2025 at 4:50 PM
A severe #accessibility issue I've seen very few people talking about is the widespread adoption (in my country at least) of touch-only card payment terminals with no physical number buttons.
Not only do these devices offer no tactile affordances, but the on-screen numbers move around to limit […]
Not only do these devices offer no tactile affordances, but the on-screen numbers move around to limit […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
The busiest pavement in #Edinburgh?
A normal city that’s survived with only one lane for vehicles for 7 years would just make the pavement much bigger and put in the planned bus gate when the scaffolding comes down.
Edinburgh: sorry, it’ll revert to a dual carriageway with meagre pavements 🤷♀️
A normal city that’s survived with only one lane for vehicles for 7 years would just make the pavement much bigger and put in the planned bus gate when the scaffolding comes down.
Edinburgh: sorry, it’ll revert to a dual carriageway with meagre pavements 🤷♀️
December 5, 2025 at 9:41 AM
The busiest pavement in #Edinburgh?
A normal city that’s survived with only one lane for vehicles for 7 years would just make the pavement much bigger and put in the planned bus gate when the scaffolding comes down.
Edinburgh: sorry, it’ll revert to a dual carriageway with meagre pavements 🤷♀️
A normal city that’s survived with only one lane for vehicles for 7 years would just make the pavement much bigger and put in the planned bus gate when the scaffolding comes down.
Edinburgh: sorry, it’ll revert to a dual carriageway with meagre pavements 🤷♀️
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
General-purpose laptop and desktop computers? Nope, can't have those, AI needs the hardware.
Living wages and secure employment? Nope, can't have that either, need to AI-ify the workplace.
Clean water and a solution to the climate crisis? A regulatory regime that allows, or at least doesn't […]
Living wages and secure employment? Nope, can't have that either, need to AI-ify the workplace.
Clean water and a solution to the climate crisis? A regulatory regime that allows, or at least doesn't […]
Original post on wandering.shop
wandering.shop
December 4, 2025 at 7:02 AM
General-purpose laptop and desktop computers? Nope, can't have those, AI needs the hardware.
Living wages and secure employment? Nope, can't have that either, need to AI-ify the workplace.
Clean water and a solution to the climate crisis? A regulatory regime that allows, or at least doesn't […]
Living wages and secure employment? Nope, can't have that either, need to AI-ify the workplace.
Clean water and a solution to the climate crisis? A regulatory regime that allows, or at least doesn't […]
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
After nearly 30 years, Crucial will stop selling RAM to consumers
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/after-nearly-30-years-crucial-will-stop-selling-ram-to-consumers/
Micron cites AI data centre demand as reason for killing DIY upgrade brand.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/after-nearly-30-years-crucial-will-stop-selling-ram-to-consumers/
Micron cites AI data centre demand as reason for killing DIY upgrade brand.
arstechnica.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:53 PM
After nearly 30 years, Crucial will stop selling RAM to consumers
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/after-nearly-30-years-crucial-will-stop-selling-ram-to-consumers/
Micron cites AI data centre demand as reason for killing DIY upgrade brand.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/after-nearly-30-years-crucial-will-stop-selling-ram-to-consumers/
Micron cites AI data centre demand as reason for killing DIY upgrade brand.
Eek the Crucial memory brand is going so the parent company can focus on AI customers. I can remember buying my first memory upgrades as a student from Crucial.
https://www.theverge.com/news/837594/crucial-ram-ssd-micron-ai
https://www.theverge.com/news/837594/crucial-ram-ssd-micron-ai
December 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Eek the Crucial memory brand is going so the parent company can focus on AI customers. I can remember buying my first memory upgrades as a student from Crucial.
https://www.theverge.com/news/837594/crucial-ram-ssd-micron-ai
https://www.theverge.com/news/837594/crucial-ram-ssd-micron-ai
Reposted by Shaun McDonald
A huge unforced error by senior management at the University of Nottingham: https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/university-nottingham-selling-80m-campus-10675585
Utterly disastrous for University staff. A second round of early retirement/voluntary redundancy, or more, is in the […]
Utterly disastrous for University staff. A second round of early retirement/voluntary redundancy, or more, is in the […]
Original post on en.osm.town
en.osm.town
December 1, 2025 at 10:11 AM
A huge unforced error by senior management at the University of Nottingham: https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/university-nottingham-selling-80m-campus-10675585
Utterly disastrous for University staff. A second round of early retirement/voluntary redundancy, or more, is in the […]
Utterly disastrous for University staff. A second round of early retirement/voluntary redundancy, or more, is in the […]