I seem to remember learning that from a Milton Jones episode on R4 way way back !

The definitive answer, really.

Others: Stevie Nicks, Gabi Hartmann

And for the men: Richard Hawley, Matt Berninger

Apple generates money at an incredible rate, has loyal customer base and distribution, and can buy its way into any tech at any point.

OpenAI burns money at an incredible rate, and has no defensible unique tech, little distribution, a flighty customer base.

One of those is ‘winning’.

Anyone who knows anything of the real backstory knew there was a helluva spin going on.

And then he kept having random right-wing guests. Like, ffs, Matt Hancock for no obvious reason given he has never been a CEO.

So THIS is why Bezos wanted to get married there. He could finally have the gimp suit stag do he'd been dreaming of

Smart for the people, but grotesque that the system is designed like this, penalising some and enriching others

Yeah, the lack of clear signage is a problem. So many people must have been penalised, for what is really a failure by the authority.

Fortunately I happened to see a tiny sign high on a gantry, that wasn't clear but made me suspect. So I double checked.. and set up autopay... but still got PCN!

So now another admin fight begins, and adds to a mounting feeling of continually having to battle UK public services. Taking up my time/energy, risking bigger fines for trying to get sorted.

So I can definitely see how many people feel like it’s an attack on them.
And where does that feeling lead?

So when back at a computer (and a crucial thing of this invisible toll is you have to remember to go to the website at the end of a journey in which you have to focus on lots of other things)… I logged on to pay.

Their site advised it best to set up autopay, so I did.
But still got a PCN ?!?

Latest example for me is the Blackwall Tunnel charges. I had no idea they’d been introduced! I used to live in east london and used the tunnel regularly. There’s hardly any signage, and it’s not clear. Fortunately only return journey, still within deadline for first trip, I spotted a small sign…

Great work !

Love that they are now exposed as the Free Speech But Not Like That Union

Another issue is the crap digital systems they use for all these interactions with motorists. Probably mostly Crapita.

There should be a single UK road use charging account, owned and controlled by a gov digital team. Motorists have one account, everything in one place.

The obstructiveness of the approach is an automated refusal of any appeal on any grounds by the authority (or its enforcement company). Computer says no.

So you have to go all the way to the independent appeals body. Which seems scary, and the authority has told you there’s no chance.

I’m someone who wants to comply, tries to comply, and (so far) fines have only been issued wrongly.

Therefore once I go through the dispute process I have won each time.

But the process is so obstructive, so threatening, and with the threat of a bigger fine if you don’t give in.

Many must cave.