Stu Lester
@stulester.bsky.social
Maps, web dev, West Midlands, local gov and new found backyard BBQer.
Reposted by Stu Lester
Reposted by Stu Lester
The BSL during Finland was sensational #Eurovision
May 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The BSL during Finland was sensational #Eurovision
Reposted by Stu Lester
Thanks to @sharl.bsky.social for recreating that Sound of Birmingham playlist on Apple Music
▶️🍏 music.apple.com/gb/playlist/...
▶️🍏 music.apple.com/gb/playlist/...
Sound of Birmingham by Robert Sharl on Apple Music
Playlist · 81 Songs
music.apple.com
May 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Thanks to @sharl.bsky.social for recreating that Sound of Birmingham playlist on Apple Music
▶️🍏 music.apple.com/gb/playlist/...
▶️🍏 music.apple.com/gb/playlist/...
Tragic loss. Feels like many of the folk from my early days in Twitter are gone. World was a different place back then and online interactions were fun.
I lost a dear friend, a most generous soul.
We've all lost a fine blogger, podcaster and community builder.
perfectpath.co.uk/2025/04/16/n...
We've all lost a fine blogger, podcaster and community builder.
perfectpath.co.uk/2025/04/16/n...
Nick Booth (1965-2025)
I was going to write something on Facebook, but Nick was a blogger and so this belongs here. I heard this afternoon that my dear friend Nick Booth died yesterday after a fall at the weekend. ItR…
perfectpath.co.uk
April 16, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Tragic loss. Feels like many of the folk from my early days in Twitter are gone. World was a different place back then and online interactions were fun.
Reposted by Stu Lester
This gorgeous light fitting was made in 1929 by Harcourts of Moseley Street, Birmingham for the Austin Reed barber's shop on Regent St, London. It's now a Uniqlo
April 4, 2025 at 7:22 AM
This gorgeous light fitting was made in 1929 by Harcourts of Moseley Street, Birmingham for the Austin Reed barber's shop on Regent St, London. It's now a Uniqlo
Difficult not to go down a rabbit hole here. Also to pretend you’re on holiday in a country skipping through the various local channels.
This is fantastic! This website allows you to watch TV stations from around the world. I just watched 2 minutes of Afghan volleyball. All the small regional TV stations from Germany are here too. Spread the word! Source: tv.garden
March 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Difficult not to go down a rabbit hole here. Also to pretend you’re on holiday in a country skipping through the various local channels.
Reposted by Stu Lester
I read 14 reports and blog posts on the idea of the UK government setting up a National Data Library. The equivalent of a 300 page book. And then I wrote up what I think in 2000 words. So if that's the kind of thing you like reading,... tomforth.co.uk/nationaldata...
Building a National Data Library.
What I learned from reading 14 reports and blog posts on a National Data Library.
tomforth.co.uk
March 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I read 14 reports and blog posts on the idea of the UK government setting up a National Data Library. The equivalent of a 300 page book. And then I wrote up what I think in 2000 words. So if that's the kind of thing you like reading,... tomforth.co.uk/nationaldata...
Reposted by Stu Lester
As it's transfer deadline, a reminder if #wba don't sign a Robson, Kanu or combination before 2039, then the 2030s will be the first decade since the 1940s #wba haven't had a robson/kanu on their books.
Sir Bobby: 50s, 60s
Bryan: 70s, 80s
Gary: 80s, 90s
K: 2000s
HRK: 2010s, 20s
Sir Bobby: 50s, 60s
Bryan: 70s, 80s
Gary: 80s, 90s
K: 2000s
HRK: 2010s, 20s
February 2, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Reposted by Stu Lester
Tracking the Buses in England by @OpenInnovates
open-innovations.org/blog/2025-01...
We've got data for everywhere -2 weeks in September 2024- but the tool only works for The North West and Yorkshire & The Humber - hit us up if you want to do more with this data, infrastructure & tools.
open-innovations.org/blog/2025-01...
We've got data for everywhere -2 weeks in September 2024- but the tool only works for The North West and Yorkshire & The Humber - hit us up if you want to do more with this data, infrastructure & tools.
January 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Tracking the Buses in England by @OpenInnovates
open-innovations.org/blog/2025-01...
We've got data for everywhere -2 weeks in September 2024- but the tool only works for The North West and Yorkshire & The Humber - hit us up if you want to do more with this data, infrastructure & tools.
open-innovations.org/blog/2025-01...
We've got data for everywhere -2 weeks in September 2024- but the tool only works for The North West and Yorkshire & The Humber - hit us up if you want to do more with this data, infrastructure & tools.
Some very valid points especially the focus on input control by Treasury over the years. Long way to go still in identifying key deliverables by departments to prioritise spend. A lot of unknown links could be overlooked. So a “saving” or “efficiency gain” could have unintended consequences.
January 2, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Some very valid points especially the focus on input control by Treasury over the years. Long way to go still in identifying key deliverables by departments to prioritise spend. A lot of unknown links could be overlooked. So a “saving” or “efficiency gain” could have unintended consequences.
Reposted by Stu Lester
“Anyone? Anyone?”
Remember when "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" tried to teach us about tariffs and no one was paying attention
November 26, 2024 at 6:06 PM
“Anyone? Anyone?”
Reposted by Stu Lester
One thing I don’t see mentioned enough on here are App Passwords.
If you need to give an App access to your Bluesky account, go to settings and under Advanced you can set an App Password. This is a password you can revoke at any time and means you don’t have to give access to your full account
If you need to give an App access to your Bluesky account, go to settings and under Advanced you can set an App Password. This is a password you can revoke at any time and means you don’t have to give access to your full account
November 13, 2024 at 8:43 AM
One thing I don’t see mentioned enough on here are App Passwords.
If you need to give an App access to your Bluesky account, go to settings and under Advanced you can set an App Password. This is a password you can revoke at any time and means you don’t have to give access to your full account
If you need to give an App access to your Bluesky account, go to settings and under Advanced you can set an App Password. This is a password you can revoke at any time and means you don’t have to give access to your full account
Reposted by Stu Lester
If youre still looking for your tribe, here’s a directory of hundreds of starter packs covering all interests and searchable by keyword. Repost and check it out.
All - Bluesky Directory
A curated collection of all things relating to the Blue Sky social media platform.
blueskydirectory.com
November 12, 2024 at 6:23 PM
If youre still looking for your tribe, here’s a directory of hundreds of starter packs covering all interests and searchable by keyword. Repost and check it out.
Fascinating themes in the calls for the latest yCombinator support.
My views on the construction industry is that the data is not handled correctly to truly apply AI. Maybe some startups to enable the good management of data should be a pre-requisite?
www.ycombinator.com/rfs-build
My views on the construction industry is that the data is not handled correctly to truly apply AI. Maybe some startups to enable the good management of data should be a pre-requisite?
www.ycombinator.com/rfs-build
Requests for Startups | Y Combinator
We are entering the golden age of building. Let's use it to make the country better!
www.ycombinator.com
November 12, 2024 at 5:28 AM
Fascinating themes in the calls for the latest yCombinator support.
My views on the construction industry is that the data is not handled correctly to truly apply AI. Maybe some startups to enable the good management of data should be a pre-requisite?
www.ycombinator.com/rfs-build
My views on the construction industry is that the data is not handled correctly to truly apply AI. Maybe some startups to enable the good management of data should be a pre-requisite?
www.ycombinator.com/rfs-build
Reposted by Stu Lester
The book I just finished writing is a blow-by-blow account of the technology of supply-chain management, from punch-cards to neural nets. I argue that SCM is what you get when you treat the world like a computer.
November 11, 2024 at 9:26 PM
The book I just finished writing is a blow-by-blow account of the technology of supply-chain management, from punch-cards to neural nets. I argue that SCM is what you get when you treat the world like a computer.
Reposted by Stu Lester
Helen Mirren thinks it's "magical" that dancing in orbit around the earth are a hundred robots singing (at 1575Mhz, one eternal note held halfway between B♭ and B, 21 octaves above middle C), and any time you can hear four of them sing at once you know exactly where in the universe you are
every day, I too grieve the fact that Kurt Cobain never experienced GPS
October 25, 2024 at 2:10 AM
Helen Mirren thinks it's "magical" that dancing in orbit around the earth are a hundred robots singing (at 1575Mhz, one eternal note held halfway between B♭ and B, 21 octaves above middle C), and any time you can hear four of them sing at once you know exactly where in the universe you are
Reposted by Stu Lester
Waterloo Street in Birmingham has recently been pedestrianised and has acquired sliding bollards. I felt that an appropriate soundtrack was required.
October 4, 2024 at 8:34 PM
Waterloo Street in Birmingham has recently been pedestrianised and has acquired sliding bollards. I felt that an appropriate soundtrack was required.
Reposted by Stu Lester
“Intriguingly, informal transport self-organizes in ways at or above efficiency levels of centralized services. They exhibit fewer detours, more uniform paths, and comparable interconnectivities, all while remaining profitable without the major subsidies common in the Global North”
Efficient self-organization of informal public transport networks - Nature Communications
Informal transportation services constitute the primary form of public transport in the Global South. Here, the authors analyze the structure of route networks in cities across the globe, showing how ...
www.nature.com
October 2, 2024 at 6:48 AM
“Intriguingly, informal transport self-organizes in ways at or above efficiency levels of centralized services. They exhibit fewer detours, more uniform paths, and comparable interconnectivities, all while remaining profitable without the major subsidies common in the Global North”
Reposted by Stu Lester
People turned up in the rain to hear me talk for 45 minutes about postcodes!
October 1, 2024 at 8:42 PM
People turned up in the rain to hear me talk for 45 minutes about postcodes!
Reposted by Stu Lester
So, gang, I am in this group helping DSIT put some flesh on the bones of a future vision for digital public services, and what being the digital centre for government means. Hit me up with your reckons / pointers. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Tech experts to shape government digital vision to drive innovation and boost public services
Millions are set to benefit from reduced waiting times and improved public services, as technology experts, advocates, and academics come together to shape the government's new 'digital centre.
www.gov.uk
October 1, 2024 at 11:56 AM
So, gang, I am in this group helping DSIT put some flesh on the bones of a future vision for digital public services, and what being the digital centre for government means. Hit me up with your reckons / pointers. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Stu Lester
Orbit is a new music discovery experiment from the BBC to help you find new music from unsigned UK artists. My team has been designing and building this for the last 6 months. It only takes a few minutes and you'll probably find something good... bbc.co.uk/orbitmusic
Orbit – Follow the music and find your vibe
Support undiscovered artists and find new tracks for your playlists, handpicked by local BBC Introducing teams. No algorithms, no genres and no personalisation – all you need to do is listen to music ...
bbc.co.uk
September 10, 2024 at 2:40 PM
Orbit is a new music discovery experiment from the BBC to help you find new music from unsigned UK artists. My team has been designing and building this for the last 6 months. It only takes a few minutes and you'll probably find something good... bbc.co.uk/orbitmusic
Reading reports where the monetary gains are through IT. But the skills improvements are all focussed elsewhere. I’m a bit fed up of how the profession is treated. www.ippr.org/research/pub...
Great government: Public service reform in the 2020s
The next government will inherit one of the most challenging contexts in terms of public services of any new government since the second world war.
On the key challenges facing the UK's public …
www.ippr.org
December 30, 2023 at 9:38 AM
Reading reports where the monetary gains are through IT. But the skills improvements are all focussed elsewhere. I’m a bit fed up of how the profession is treated. www.ippr.org/research/pub...
Reposted by Stu Lester
Free the Postcode Address File!
And other important suggestions from @hetanshah.bsky.social .
Cc: @jonnelledge.bsky.social
And other important suggestions from @hetanshah.bsky.social .
Cc: @jonnelledge.bsky.social
A few excerpts from my evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee today making the case for: more transparency of evidence underpinning policy, better evaluation of major government projects and better researcher access to data
committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...
committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...
November 10, 2023 at 6:32 AM
Free the Postcode Address File!
And other important suggestions from @hetanshah.bsky.social .
Cc: @jonnelledge.bsky.social
And other important suggestions from @hetanshah.bsky.social .
Cc: @jonnelledge.bsky.social