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Duncan Smith

@dnmns.bsky.social
332 followers 122 following 292 posts

Software engineering, mountaineering, cycling, making things.

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Reposted by Duncan Smith
Jules⚖️📨 @northjules.bsky.social · 22h
🗣️ Public executions don’t just end a life. They change a nation’s relationship with violence, punishment and human dignity. When death becomes a public spectacle, America risks teaching its citizens to applaud cruelty instead of questioning power. #JulesUnfiltered
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Cold War Steve @coldwarsteve.bsky.social · 18h
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Duncan Smith @dnmns.bsky.social · 15h
Adobe the pushing AI in my face full time? Couldn’t happen to a nicer company.
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Ben Jennings @bjennings90.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Illustration from today’s @theguardian.com to accompany piece by @georgemonbiot.bsky.social on the government’s Prepare campaign, which gives the public advice on how to avoid disasters whilst policies that lead us closer to crisis are given the green light www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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Dread and Rosie @rosiemund.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This is the shit you end up at when you refuse to accept that the problem is being overtly hostile to a large part of your target audience and pandering to people who already hated you and have appalling taste.
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
In a political system where companies can be gouged for unlimited cash, inconsistent application of the law is a powerful financial opportunity. At some point some of these companies might realize they are better off under a predictable and impartial legal system rather than a personalist one.
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Duncan Smith @dnmns.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
As a dalmeny commuter, this was less than useful.
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I'm sorry if this is obvious but the Tory proposal to exempt family homes completely from IHT will lead to 1] pensioners buying the biggest houses they possibly can 2] pensioners refusing to downsize which can only be bad news for younger families trying to buy family homes
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Marcus Chown @marcuschown.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Privatisation in a nutshell: 1) Steal from us something we own. 2) Sell us back an inferior service 3) Charge us a higher price. The pattern is the same everywhere: royal mail, water, railways, the NHS, public services, council services…
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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Russia’s Plan to Target Ukraine’s Water Supply Would Set a Dangerous Precedent An attack on water supplies this winter would cross a new line in the war, with consequences that would… bylinetimes.com/2026/10/08/russias-…
bylinetimes.com
Russia’s Plan to Target Ukraine’s Water Supply Would Set a Dangerous Precedent
An attack on water supplies this winter would cross a new line in the war, with consequences that would stretch from Russia to Iran
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David Brennan @magnatom.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
There are so many tragic examples like this. The potential consequences of distracted driving are obvious. brutal & devastating. We all know this. Why then, when people make the choice to risk others lives do we shy away from prosecuting them properly? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Driver using Snapchat on phone killed farmer in Northumberland crash
Michael Armstrong's family say his death was "brutal and senseless" as his killer is jailed.
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Duncan Smith @dnmns.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Under all that water?
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Duncan Smith @dnmns.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
‘As cars become more and more durable’. Really!? Newer cars are much less reliable than cars of 10 years ago - all that tech is Trouble.
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Trump historically wore Brioni, an Italian luxury company that makes suits in Italy. Here he flashes a Jos. A Bank label, a US company that long offshored its production to China and Bangladesh. They carry an associated label called Joseph Abboud, which is made in US. Curious he didn't choose that.
Donald Trump in a navy suit. He's opening the jacket, so you can see the label. A close up of the suit label says Jos. A. Bank.
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Steve Parks @steveparks.me · 06/10/2026
And look at the privacy policy, they can combine and use the data collected from my use of the app — because of their "Legitimate interest in improving marketing and promoting Ryanair’s services." That purpose is supposed to require _consent_ under GDPR!
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Alan Stedman @alanjstedman.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
If anything screams, 'we are the party that doesn't care' this is it This nihilist approach to our environment stinks and in the true sense of nihilism suggests the Tory party has lost its way on beliefs and values...but I think we probably knew that already 🫤 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Tories to pledge to scrap Environment Agency and Natural England
Shadow chancellor will also promise to scrap affordable homes regulations as part of strategy to refocus on growth
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Pavel Iosad @anghyflawn.net · 04/10/2026
I challenge you to read this article by the ex-convenor of Edinburgh Council’s Transport and Environment Committee and find even slight acknowledgment of how unsafe roads suppress cycling levels and how the city wasted the opportunity of Covid to change things for the better.
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Neil Degrassi Highson @funkpower.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
No one would have a problem with AI if it was actually being used for what it's good for: very niche scientific applications that 99% of humanity will never hear about. Instead we're being bombarded with useless AI garbage 24/7.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Chinese Govt owned Syngenta to cease operations at Grangemouth, 400 jobs at risk. Previously oil refinery closed. England-based British Steel rescued. What would govt do now? UK govts oppose state ownership but let foreign govts own infrastructure. Why? Any industrial strategy?
independent.co.uk
Chemical firm to cease operations at Grangemouth site putting nearly 400 jobs at risk
The move comes just over a year after Syngenta, owned by state Chinese firm Sinochem, was given more than £2 million in Scottish Enterprise funding to expand its Scottish site
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Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Regular reminder that Russia has been doing everything it can think of to Ukraine for years. And Russia has tried the “now we’re going to *really* fight, you’ll be sorry” move many times too. No doubt Russia will hit Ukraine hard this winter. But no, it’s not because “look what you made me do.”
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Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I think the other countries should refuse that meeting How to build distrust and try and play favourites.
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#BruceSterling @bruces.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
*The thing I like least about modern AI, among many things not to like *The lack of happy enthusiasm *The tech investors, coders, mathematicians, the people who know it best, they chew their fingernails till they bleed *Even the YouTube "techoptimists" chasing clicks and eyeballs look haunted
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Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 27/09/2026
It’s time for the crackdown on peaceful protest to end. Ask your MP to be there for the screening of The Line We Crossed in Parliament: thelinewecrossed.com/parliament
thelinewecrossed.com
Invite your MP: The Line We Crossed in Parliament
An evening of film clips and panel discussion in the Houses of Parliament on 26 October 2026, hosted by Clive Lewis MP. Add your name and we'll invite your MP.
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The Register @theregister.com · 27/09/2026
Big AI's content problem: Take the work, keep the money
theregister.com
Big AI's content problem: Take the work, keep the money
The more we learn about how AI does business, the more unfair it looks
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Edward Tissiman @edtiss.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Could be glorious. Instead, 22 cars parked for free, generating next to no customers and getting in the way of disabled parking and commercial loading. All but one of these cars was parked illegally anyway.
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Michael ᚋᚔᚉᚆᚓᚐᚂ @baoigheallain.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
What relevance has her bike's battery got to this report? You haven't told us if the 4x4 that hit her is petrol or diesel. You haven't told us if it had a driver. Are you trying to provoke fear of e-bikes now?
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Illia Ponomarenko @ioponomarenko.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 26/09/2026
Does my Speak-n-Spell feel pain when I type O-U-C-H? The jury is out. Philosophers and neuroscientists say that's fucking stupid, but I called a guy from the Center for Pretending that Household Electronics Are Sentient and he said there's no way to know for sure.
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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 13/09/2026
📣 Important PSA! 📽️ I'll be screening and talking about the wonderful 1951 short film "The Singing Street" on next 2 weekends. 📅 19th & 20th, 10AM, Abbeyhill School with Colony of Artists 📆 26th, 12 Noon, Norton Park Centre with Doors Open Day 🎫 Free, unticketed, arrive early to avoid disappointment
A little poster for the event with some stills from the film and the dates and places. "“A WONDERFUL PICTURE OF EDINBURGH – as true perhaps as has ever been put on the screen” The Scotsman"
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Robert Wright @reporterrwright.ft.com · 25/09/2026
I see a lot of people complaining about the undoubtedly stressful conditions at present on London's roads. But I see few people complaining about motor vehicles. Yet in the last 24 hours three vulnerable road users have died after being hit by people driving motor vehicles.
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Brexit and Trump have combined to be an absolute disaster for UK food and drink exports. Deficit worst in a quarter of a century and sales have plummeted ever since we left the single market
ft.com
Brexit and Donald Trump’s tariffs push UK’s food and drink trade deficit to £21bn
In the first half of 2026, the sector’s export volumes fell 11.7% to hit their third-lowest level on record
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
“Between 2019 and 2025, export volumes slumped 31 per cent as Brexit added border checks and trade complexity, pushing up costs for businesses” … and threatening our food security. Why TF would *anyone* want this for our businesses and our country? giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Brexit and Donald Trump’s tariffs push UK’s food and drink trade deficit to £21bn
In the first half of 2026, the sector’s export volumes fell 11.7% to hit their third-lowest level on record
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ChrisO_wiki @chriso-wiki.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
1/ Russia has the United States over a (diesel) barrel, says Russian analyst Igor Dimitriev. He says that the Kremlin is telling the West that "if you don't hand Ukraine over to us, a global [fuel] crisis will erupt that you won't be able to dig yourselves out of". ⬇️
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Kameron Hurley @kameronhurley.com · 24/09/2026
Reading that while the "official" unemployment rate is 4.1%, the true rate of unemployment - folks who have given up looking for work or not making living wage - is 24.9%. Which, while def feeling way more on par with vibes, makes me wonder how the fuck anyone is surviving www.lisep.org/tru
lisep.org
LISEP Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity
LISEP’s mission is to help achieve shared economic prosperity for all Americans, particularly for middle- and low-income families. Our focus is fact-based economic and policy research.
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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
And, as someone whose labour (all my books published pre 2021) was stolen, I took that personally
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sarah jeong @sarahjeong.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
lol my flight got diverted because of a medical emergency and they landed us in reykjavik in the middle of the night and deplaned us and sent us through passport control and then the crew vanished and then british airways sent us links to book an overnight hotel room but for a hotel at heathrow
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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 23/09/2026
In an environment of so many organisations turning to AI slop for their graphic design, *this* is how you do it. Be more cathedral. 🕍👏🏼
Advert from Edinburgh Minute: "Freelance graphic designer - 'St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral is searching for a freelance graphic designer to work with on a regular, long-term basis, for various print and digital media across the year (esp. summer and Christmas), including posters, flyers, and digital assets. "
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Nigel Bagshaw @nigelbagshaw.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The only reasonable response to a climate crisis. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Edinburgh Airport to expand terminal in £500m investment plan
The project includes new gates and aircraft stands, an expanded check-in hall and departure lounge, with new food and retail areas.
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Duncan Smith @dnmns.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
‘Interesting’
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Ken Tremendous @kentremendous.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
By the time this merger ruins HBO, destroys WB, gets 5,000 people fired, moves production overseas, and guts the quality of the movies the new studio makes, most people will have forgotten how fast the AGs caved and how little they got in this deal. Writers will not.
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Dreadnought Holiday @dreadships.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
You can see from the photo that boat's tipped too far right
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Owler Nook @owlernook.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
A reminder that transport is the largest producer of UK greenhouse gas emissions, and that fuel duty is currently the main leverage government has to get people to switch to EVs. Reducing fuel duty is not good policy.
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Caw Yar Bluff @j-leslie3k.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
"the big advantage that the Russians have is the one provided by the USA—which is doing nothing to help Ukraine in this vital area, and indeed is stringing the Ukrainians along and leaving them exposed."
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Swathes of UK economy are owned by foreign investors. No tax is deducted from billions paid to them in dividends. USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden have a dividend withholding tax for foreign investors. UK could do the same, generate billions. Why are super-rich privileged?
leftfootforward.org
Here’s how the chancellor can raise the billions needed to improve the quality of life of millions
Prem Sikka is an Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex and the University of Sheffield, a Labour member of the House of Lords, and Contributing Editor at Left Foot Forward. Mi...
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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Once again: this shit is not compatible with democracy. Not for Reform. Not for Labour. Not for any party. It has to stop, and the thread below spells out my idea for how to do that. Tell your MP. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
UK politics increasingly funded by billionaires as mega-donations surge
Exclusive: A total £179m has been donated by wealthy individuals since 2019, research reveals
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Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Obama: “Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps. You’re laughing, but this is what’s happening. It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent right now would have tolerated behavior like that from me.” Clip courtesy @meidastouch.com
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👻madeline bOoOoOoOodent👻 @oldenoughtosay.com · 18/09/2026
if you EVER get called for a meeting and they say “don’t bring a union rep” bring a union rep
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Tyler King @tyleraking.com · 17/09/2026
“A senior executive at Microsoft said A.I. systems built on the work of others will be seen as ‘an astonishing theft of unprecedented proportions’ and possibly the greatest robbery of labor in human history, according to court documents unredacted Thursday in an ongoing Manhattan lawsuit.”
orlandosentinel.com
Docs in A.I. copyright suit reveal startling admission by Microsoft exec over ‘astonishing theft’
The admission appeared in a newly unredacted filing in the landmark copyright infringement legal battle playing out between newspapers like the Orlando Sentinel and tech companies Microsoft and OpenAI...
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Dr Julia Grace Patterson @jujuliagrace.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This doesn’t surprise me at all. Which is pretty terrible, when you think about it 🚨 Article link: www.theguardian.com/politics/202... jujuliagrace.substack.com
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