Stewart Sims
@stew-sims.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Coder, and occasional fixer of cars.
In pursuit of better experiences with technology by following user-centred design and engineering simplicity […]
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@stew_sims on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
In pursuit of better experiences with technology by following user-centred design and engineering simplicity […]
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@stew_sims on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Curious how artists and creators of all kinds are engaging with the digital world in the age of AI (slop)? If at all?
If you are an artist in the fediverse, do you publish and promote online, have a portfolio site, self-hosted or begrudgingly do the Instagram thing etc.?
Or have you decided […]
If you are an artist in the fediverse, do you publish and promote online, have a portfolio site, self-hosted or begrudgingly do the Instagram thing etc.?
Or have you decided […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
December 29, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Curious how artists and creators of all kinds are engaging with the digital world in the age of AI (slop)? If at all?
If you are an artist in the fediverse, do you publish and promote online, have a portfolio site, self-hosted or begrudgingly do the Instagram thing etc.?
Or have you decided […]
If you are an artist in the fediverse, do you publish and promote online, have a portfolio site, self-hosted or begrudgingly do the Instagram thing etc.?
Or have you decided […]
Today in AI fails: Google Photos identified our dog as 'feline' with its AI curated slideshow
December 23, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Today in AI fails: Google Photos identified our dog as 'feline' with its AI curated slideshow
It's funny how I sometimes get asked either with respect to my day job or my hobby fixing cars: 'how do you know / did you learn all this'
There's two simple things I think help with this:
1. I read a lot of instructions, documentation and manuals and refer back to them when I need to
2. I try […]
There's two simple things I think help with this:
1. I read a lot of instructions, documentation and manuals and refer back to them when I need to
2. I try […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
December 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
It's funny how I sometimes get asked either with respect to my day job or my hobby fixing cars: 'how do you know / did you learn all this'
There's two simple things I think help with this:
1. I read a lot of instructions, documentation and manuals and refer back to them when I need to
2. I try […]
There's two simple things I think help with this:
1. I read a lot of instructions, documentation and manuals and refer back to them when I need to
2. I try […]
The bass line Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to Love is quite something
October 14, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The bass line Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to Love is quite something
Was a pleasant surprise to find that our boiler has a modular timer system so when the basic analogue rotary timer switch broke I could buy and fit a digital replacement panel which just plugged right in.
October 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Was a pleasant surprise to find that our boiler has a modular timer system so when the basic analogue rotary timer switch broke I could buy and fit a digital replacement panel which just plugged right in.
Did a proper inter rail tour of some parts of Europe over last few weeks. Was amazing, well worth the expense and taking time off (not something we do very often). Amsterdam was my favourite I think. Belgium looked nice from the train but was just passing through, maybe one for another trip […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
September 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Did a proper inter rail tour of some parts of Europe over last few weeks. Was amazing, well worth the expense and taking time off (not something we do very often). Amsterdam was my favourite I think. Belgium looked nice from the train but was just passing through, maybe one for another trip […]
On the theme of niche mobile app development trends: one of the big problems with cross platform frameworks is the learning curve for developers and how they tend to be less accessible to designers and editors to modify layouts, styling and content.
Many people have told me PWAs (progressive […]
Many people have told me PWAs (progressive […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
September 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
On the theme of niche mobile app development trends: one of the big problems with cross platform frameworks is the learning curve for developers and how they tend to be less accessible to designers and editors to modify layouts, styling and content.
Many people have told me PWAs (progressive […]
Many people have told me PWAs (progressive […]
Google's recent enforcement that apps in the Play Store support '16kb page sizes' from 1st November will probably be the end of Xamarin for anyone still using it (which I believe to still be a significant number of app developers).
Now they've reached some maturity I think Flutter and MAUI are […]
Now they've reached some maturity I think Flutter and MAUI are […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
September 1, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Google's recent enforcement that apps in the Play Store support '16kb page sizes' from 1st November will probably be the end of Xamarin for anyone still using it (which I believe to still be a significant number of app developers).
Now they've reached some maturity I think Flutter and MAUI are […]
Now they've reached some maturity I think Flutter and MAUI are […]
Car guy life hacks: ball joint splitters make good patio weed removal tools.
1. Choose appropriate size for patio joint
2. Hammer splitter fork into centre of weed
3. Lever weed out of patio joint
1. Choose appropriate size for patio joint
2. Hammer splitter fork into centre of weed
3. Lever weed out of patio joint
August 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Car guy life hacks: ball joint splitters make good patio weed removal tools.
1. Choose appropriate size for patio joint
2. Hammer splitter fork into centre of weed
3. Lever weed out of patio joint
1. Choose appropriate size for patio joint
2. Hammer splitter fork into centre of weed
3. Lever weed out of patio joint
Reposted by Stewart Sims
A new study from two researchers at the University of Amsterdam looks at what makes social media so terrible — and found that it's not algorithms, non-chronological feeds or humans' tendency to seek out negativity. "Rather, the dynamics that give rise to all those negative outcomes are […]
Original post on flipboard.social
flipboard.social
August 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
A new study from two researchers at the University of Amsterdam looks at what makes social media so terrible — and found that it's not algorithms, non-chronological feeds or humans' tendency to seek out negativity. "Rather, the dynamics that give rise to all those negative outcomes are […]
One of the AI news things that passed me by (because I tuned out of the hype some time ago) is that the UK government issued a 'playbook' for public sector AI use earlier this year.
This essentially supercedes previous advice issued to civil servants to never enter anyone's personal data into a […]
This essentially supercedes previous advice issued to civil servants to never enter anyone's personal data into a […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
August 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM
One of the AI news things that passed me by (because I tuned out of the hype some time ago) is that the UK government issued a 'playbook' for public sector AI use earlier this year.
This essentially supercedes previous advice issued to civil servants to never enter anyone's personal data into a […]
This essentially supercedes previous advice issued to civil servants to never enter anyone's personal data into a […]
One consequence of limiting my time online is that if I'm completely honest with myself I'm not sure even Mastodon is somewhere I want to spend much time.
There are some great people here posting interesting things but I am currently missing a lot of that. Although it sounds brutal, even […]
There are some great people here posting interesting things but I am currently missing a lot of that. Although it sounds brutal, even […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
August 1, 2025 at 5:01 PM
One consequence of limiting my time online is that if I'm completely honest with myself I'm not sure even Mastodon is somewhere I want to spend much time.
There are some great people here posting interesting things but I am currently missing a lot of that. Although it sounds brutal, even […]
There are some great people here posting interesting things but I am currently missing a lot of that. Although it sounds brutal, even […]
Been trying to limit my time spent online lately. I also went for the minimalist phone (Mudita Kompakt) that I was considering in the end. You can read a bit about that here:
https://ssims.co.uk/personal/blog/Using-the-Mudita-Kompakt-as-my-on-person-device
https://ssims.co.uk/personal/blog/Using-the-Mudita-Kompakt-as-my-on-person-device
Using the Mudita Kompakt as my on-person device
An experiment in digital minimalism
ssims.co.uk
July 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Been trying to limit my time spent online lately. I also went for the minimalist phone (Mudita Kompakt) that I was considering in the end. You can read a bit about that here:
https://ssims.co.uk/personal/blog/Using-the-Mudita-Kompakt-as-my-on-person-device
https://ssims.co.uk/personal/blog/Using-the-Mudita-Kompakt-as-my-on-person-device
Really nice long weekend away taking in the MGF 30 year celebrations at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. Just under 400 miles round trip, managed to avoid motorways and Silverstone Grand Prix traffic. First proper road trip in the TF with no hiccups ✅
July 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Really nice long weekend away taking in the MGF 30 year celebrations at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. Just under 400 miles round trip, managed to avoid motorways and Silverstone Grand Prix traffic. First proper road trip in the TF with no hiccups ✅
This 'Mudita Kompakt' is one of the best minimalist phone designs I've seen recently. For me the combination of a radically overhauled (or should that be underhauled?) version of Android while still being able to install your own software (via USB) is very compelling.
I think I could live with […]
I think I could live with […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
July 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This 'Mudita Kompakt' is one of the best minimalist phone designs I've seen recently. For me the combination of a radically overhauled (or should that be underhauled?) version of Android while still being able to install your own software (via USB) is very compelling.
I think I could live with […]
I think I could live with […]
Working hard on an app release for the 'new job'. A few months to go before going live I think but I'm enjoying it so far. Despite the huge issues with. NET MAUI developers have experienced until recently and slow progress from Microsoft on issues, it does feel it is now achieving a level of […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
July 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Working hard on an app release for the 'new job'. A few months to go before going live I think but I'm enjoying it so far. Despite the huge issues with. NET MAUI developers have experienced until recently and slow progress from Microsoft on issues, it does feel it is now achieving a level of […]
Did a charity car run thing a couple weeks ago
June 19, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Did a charity car run thing a couple weeks ago
Reposted by Stewart Sims
A fun picture of my little black rubber-bumper MGB next to a V12 1974 Jaguar E-Type at last night’s MG club meeting. It would have been easy to give up on my little B as I struggled through a bunch of repairs over the last couple of years. But now it’s […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
June 12, 2025 at 2:46 PM
A fun picture of my little black rubber-bumper MGB next to a V12 1974 Jaguar E-Type at last night’s MG club meeting. It would have been easy to give up on my little B as I struggled through a bunch of repairs over the last couple of years. But now it’s […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
A little geeky update on MGF / TF cooling system issues I've learnt lately. I've known for a long time for some reason MG Rover K Series engines are susceptible to failure of expansion tank caps. The resulting loss in pressure can lead to the coolant boiling over, eventually causing overheating […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
May 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
A little geeky update on MGF / TF cooling system issues I've learnt lately. I've known for a long time for some reason MG Rover K Series engines are susceptible to failure of expansion tank caps. The resulting loss in pressure can lead to the coolant boiling over, eventually causing overheating […]
How I got my car 'show ready' for PoL:
https://ssims.co.uk/personal/blog/Giving-the-MG-TF-a-Spring-face-lift
https://ssims.co.uk/personal/blog/Giving-the-MG-TF-a-Spring-face-lift
Giving the MG TF a spring face-lift
Smartening up my car in time for 'show season'
ssims.co.uk
April 28, 2025 at 3:15 PM
How I got my car 'show ready' for PoL:
https://ssims.co.uk/personal/blog/Giving-the-MG-TF-a-Spring-face-lift
https://ssims.co.uk/personal/blog/Giving-the-MG-TF-a-Spring-face-lift
Made the pilgrimage to the birthplace of my car today - the event that is known as Pride of Longbridge. 4 of us set out from Thetford. Spent a good amount of time chatting to fellow MG Rover nuts. It's not something I go to every year but it is well worth […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
April 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Made the pilgrimage to the birthplace of my car today - the event that is known as Pride of Longbridge. 4 of us set out from Thetford. Spent a good amount of time chatting to fellow MG Rover nuts. It's not something I go to every year but it is well worth […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Just thinking about a conversation I had with my wife last weekend about the toxicity of most social media...
We both arrived at a conclusion that something like a federated approach was the way forward. But one where it was easy for people to customise their own space.
I don't know how easy […]
We both arrived at a conclusion that something like a federated approach was the way forward. But one where it was easy for people to customise their own space.
I don't know how easy […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
April 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Just thinking about a conversation I had with my wife last weekend about the toxicity of most social media...
We both arrived at a conclusion that something like a federated approach was the way forward. But one where it was easy for people to customise their own space.
I don't know how easy […]
We both arrived at a conclusion that something like a federated approach was the way forward. But one where it was easy for people to customise their own space.
I don't know how easy […]
Thinking back across this chunk of my career as my current job is winding up...
One of the key things I've learnt is the importance of the design of forms and the scale of the impact form design has on the world.
Seemingly small changes to forms make a huge difference and sometimes can make or […]
One of the key things I've learnt is the importance of the design of forms and the scale of the impact form design has on the world.
Seemingly small changes to forms make a huge difference and sometimes can make or […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
April 23, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Thinking back across this chunk of my career as my current job is winding up...
One of the key things I've learnt is the importance of the design of forms and the scale of the impact form design has on the world.
Seemingly small changes to forms make a huge difference and sometimes can make or […]
One of the key things I've learnt is the importance of the design of forms and the scale of the impact form design has on the world.
Seemingly small changes to forms make a huge difference and sometimes can make or […]
With my Visual Studio screaming at me today that 'GITHUB COPILOT IS NOW FREE' I feel like this could be the beginning of the end of this phase of the current AI bubble.
I could be wrong about this but the overheads seem too high for it to be sustainable.
I reckon we'll start seeing more AI […]
I could be wrong about this but the overheads seem too high for it to be sustainable.
I reckon we'll start seeing more AI […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
April 14, 2025 at 8:25 AM
With my Visual Studio screaming at me today that 'GITHUB COPILOT IS NOW FREE' I feel like this could be the beginning of the end of this phase of the current AI bubble.
I could be wrong about this but the overheads seem too high for it to be sustainable.
I reckon we'll start seeing more AI […]
I could be wrong about this but the overheads seem too high for it to be sustainable.
I reckon we'll start seeing more AI […]
The way things have gone with Lotus is a shame really. I feel they've been in decline since before Chinese ownership and it's only gotten worse. Can it be turned round in some way, like MG?
I'm not sure and I'm not sure if the SUV route works for Lotus like it did MG.
It would be nice to see […]
I'm not sure and I'm not sure if the SUV route works for Lotus like it did MG.
It would be nice to see […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
April 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
The way things have gone with Lotus is a shame really. I feel they've been in decline since before Chinese ownership and it's only gotten worse. Can it be turned round in some way, like MG?
I'm not sure and I'm not sure if the SUV route works for Lotus like it did MG.
It would be nice to see […]
I'm not sure and I'm not sure if the SUV route works for Lotus like it did MG.
It would be nice to see […]