Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 15hDoesn't every dissertation/thesis have an abstract anyway? Else, LLM output, LLM input. 100
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 06/10/2026A message from 2,300 years ago for our times: "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Count Binface is coming to Oxford. Sheldonian Series: Personal Identity Emma Dabiri (author & broadcaster), Jon Harvey, (Count Binface, comedian), Catrin Nye (BBC journalist), Prof Lady Sue Black (President, St John's). 10 November, 1730, Sheldonian Theatre www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sheldonian...eventbrite.co.ukSheldonian Series: Personal IdentityA discussion on personal identity in a digital age, with Emma Dabiri, Jon Harvey, Catrin Nye and Professor Lady Sue Black. 012
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Holding Russia accountable "We will continue to work with Ukraine to support efforts to document violations & preserve evidence, including of the over 260,000 recorded alleged war crimes. We will also continue to pursue justice through international & domestic mechanisms." www.gov.uk/government/s...gov.ukHolding Russia accountable for its war against Ukraine: UK statement to the Warsaw Human Dimension ConferenceDeputy Ambassador James Ford highlighted reports of Russia’s violations of international law, including torture, enforced disappearances and the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children. He reaffirmed ... 000
Reposted by Dr Michael FraserDoughty Street Chambers @doughtystreet.bsky.social · 02/10/2026𝗔𝗻𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗮, 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗶 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘀 We are delighted to welcome Anastasia Solopova, Juliet Smith and Sonder Li as they embark on their pupillage journey here at Doughty Street. ➡️ www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/anastas... 011
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026With the publication of his encyclical on AI, "Magnifica Humanitas", and 1.4 billion followers the Pope is literally an AI influencer. 1511
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026"The terminology used by the Federal Government should reflect the diminished capabilities of this Administration and the severe limitations they impose upon the American people. Accordingly, the term "Sub Intelligence" more appropriately captures the shortcomings, constraints etc..." 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I used to live in Prefab Sprout, between Ushaw Moor and Langley Park. 210
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Two roads if traffic out of Oxford along Woodstock Road any indication (three if same on Banbury Road). Not enough bus lane. Funny really, as there seemed to be less traffic when congestion charge in operation and Botley Road closed. 100
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026‘Hugely exciting’ finds on tiny Scottish island shed light on spread of Christianity. Community-funded archaeological excavations of ‘really important’ sixth-century monastery also rewrite story of Lismore. www.theguardian.com/science/2026...theguardian.com‘Hugely exciting’ finds on tiny Scottish island shed light on spread of ChristianityCommunity-funded archaeological excavations of ‘really important’ sixth-century monastery also rewrite story of Lismore 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026"A search for the site of Mo Luóc’s monastery was launched by the Lismore Historical Society in 2016." Clare Ellis, Angela Boyle, et al. A major monastic centre? Rethinking Lismore’s place in the ecclesiastical landscapes of early medieval Britain. Antiquity, 2026. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...cambridge.orgA major monastic centre? Rethinking Lismore’s place in the ecclesiastical landscapes of early medieval Britain | Antiquity | Cambridge CoreA major monastic centre? Rethinking Lismore’s place in the ecclesiastical landscapes of early medieval Britain - Volume 100 Issue 413 121
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 27/09/2026<pred>Gavels are not used in the English courts.</pred> I'll get me bus. 060
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Video from the same event ("Meeting with members of the Government") together with other pictures at kremlin.ru/events/presi...kremlin.ruСовещание с членами ПравительстваВладимир Путин в формате видеоконференции провёл совещание с членами Правительства Российской Федерации. 030
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Meanwhile, on the other hand, in the village of Tarluvada, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Google is building a vast AI hub. “They took land that we thought belonged to us, it’s a big shock,” he said. “Why are Google building this here and not in America?” www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...theguardian.comBroken promises, confiscated land: the hyperscale AI datacentre being built in a tiny Indian villageLocals say Google’s $15bn project in Andhra Pradesh has resulted in smallholdings being taken back off them by the government 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Well, I welcome the "Bodleian Library digitizing rare texts & using OpenAI’s API to transcribe them, making centuries-old knowledge newly searchable by scholars worldwide." (ChatGPT in my experience is pretty good at transcribing 19thC handwriting -- less sure about the multitude of gothic forms.) 100
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 26/09/2026At least Bodley's Google Books project used out of copyright works... www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...theguardian.comBook publishers sue Google for copyright infringement over Gemini AI trainingGroup of major publishers accuses the tech giant of ‘one of the most prolific infringements of copyrighted materials in history’ 010
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Humans can consult Bodley's digitised collections via digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/browse/digital.bodleian.ox.ac.ukDigital Bodleian | BrowseImages from over 2,500 medieval manuscripts from the Bodleian and Oxford colleges, with over 1,000 fully digitized items. 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Literally a backwards move -- from digital to microfilm; from global online to local room. Disappointing and with little notice. @manxheritage.bsky.social announce that digital access to the newspapers archive through iMuseum.im will cease from 12 October. manxnationalheritage.im/news/newspap...manxnationalheritage.imNewspaper archive preserved as iMuseum access changesManx National Heritage announce that digital access to the newspapers archive through iMuseum.im will cease from 12 October. For more than a decade, over Manx National Heritage announce that digital a... 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Joe Harkness Obituary www.theguardian.com/environment/... 010
Reposted by Dr Michael Fraseriomelections.bsky.social @iomelections.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Ramsey: Result Robert Cowell and Juan McGuinness elected in Ramsey. #Ramsey dlvr.it/TVdX5h dlvr.it/TVdX5kdlvr.itRamsey - Vote 2026 IOM Elections | Isle of ManIsle of Man House of Keys General Election 2026. Candidates, constituencies, debates, meetings and results from Vote 2026. 001
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 24/09/2026"The United Kingdom does not recognise these sham elections in the temporarily occupied territories or Russia’s attempted annexation of Ukrainian territory. Borders cannot be redrawn through force, repression or fabricated ballots." www.gov.uk/government/s... #OSCEgov.ukRussia’s sham elections in occupied Ukrainian territories: UK statement to the OSCEAmbassador Holland condemns Russia’s sham elections in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories as violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the Helsinki Final Act. The UK rejects Russia’s attempted a... 001
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 24/09/2026In case it's useful to anything else. To report a cyber security system risk email public.disclosure@servicesaustralia.gov.au. www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/report-cyber...servicesaustralia.gov.au 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 22/09/2026The part I don't fully understand (because I am not a farmer) is if the RPA reject a proportion of applications for whatever reason do they just carry the unspent funds to 2027 or zero them (since there is no indication of reallocating unspent funds back into the 2026 allocation)? 100
Reposted by Dr Michael FraserThesecretfarmer @thesecretfarmer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026What's the word I'm looking for to describe this today....oh yes 'shitshow' ! 173
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Weird. Imagine if research councils allocated funding like this. "But by 4pm on Tuesday – just six hours after it opened – the government confirmed that the 2026 SFI scheme was closed for applications, with all of the budget allocated." www.theguardian.com/environment/... #SFItheguardian.com‘Worse than the scramble for Oasis tickets’: England’s sustainable farming funds run out in just six hoursEntire £233m budget for 2026 allocated in less than a day, leaving thousands of farmers disappointed 100
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 22/09/2026"Scientists from #UKHSA, @ox.ac.uk and a collaboration of academic institutions have used bacterial genome sequencing to understand why the meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent earlier this year was so severe." www.gov.uk/government/n... Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...gov.ukUKHSA and University of Oxford scientists uncover genetic changes in the bacteria causing severe Kent meningococcal disease outbreakScientists used genome sequencing to identify genetic changes that may explain the severity of the Kent meningococcal disease outbreak earlier this year. 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Gets a little weird at T+1 million years but nonetheless an interesting thought experiment and read by Ilan Kelman & Matthew Blackett. theconversation.com/end-of-human... #Yellowstonetheconversation.comEnd of humanity? Blow-by-blow account of what would happen if the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted nowAnybody within the eruption zone would be pulverised by blasts, crisped by the heat, or asphyxiated by ash. 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Office for National Statistics (ONS), "Measuring artificial intelligence in the UK economy using a thematic account" (21 Sept 2026) The approach the ONS is taking to compile an AI thematic account & how it helps in the measurement of the impact of AI on the UK economy www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nati...ons.gov.ukMeasuring artificial intelligence in the UK economy using a thematic account - Office for National StatisticsThis article sets out the approach the ONS is taking to compile an AI thematic account and how it helps the measurement of the impact of AI on the UK economy. 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Every half hour a sip of water. Every four hours a bite of bread. 110
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Crown dependencies everywhere “There’s a large part of the community who would be quite pleased to revert back to being agricultural and fisheries and everything. But I don’t think we can go back there … who would support [the economy]? Who would pay the taxes?" www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...theguardian.com‘It’s unrecognisable’: How being a tax haven has changed JerseyWhile global billionaires and multinational companies have been lured to its shores, many islanders feel left behind and priced out, with food bank use increasing 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Worth noting that the Oxford Cheese Company in the Covered Market (long may @coveredmarketox.bsky.social keep them there) currently stock a selection of excellent cheeses from The Ethical Dairy (with names like Laganory & Dhoon). theethicaldairy.co.uktheethicaldairy.co.ukWelcome to The Ethical Dairy | The Ethical Dairy 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 18/09/2026I have previously found the step-by-step guide useful (I think what you are referring to is under step 7, "Reporting an estate’s income to HMRC" -- as distinct from inheritance tax, step 5). www.gov.uk/when-someone...gov.ukWhat to do when someone dies: step by step - GOV.UKCheck what to do after a death - how to register the death, notify government departments and deal with the estate. 073
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 18/09/2026And without question RNLI crews would rescue such bigots, racists and traitors were they to be in peril on the sea. 020
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Surely, press releases from the Prime Minister's Office concerning No10 North should use an actual picture of No10 North? 011
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Understanding the cost of undergraduate provision and qualifications in the #HigherEducation sector in England. Full economic cost of providing undergraduate degrees within #universities and colleges & extent to which the cost varies between different subjects etc. www.gov.uk/government/p...gov.ukCost of undergraduate provision and qualifications in EnglandA study of the full economic cost of providing undergraduate-level higher education and other qualifications in England. 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 17/09/2026UK’s priorities as Chair of #OSCE "We will continue to hold Russia accountable for its aggression and for actions that violate the principles on which this organisation was built. Sovereignty matters. Territorial integrity matters. And the Helsinki principles matter." www.gov.uk/government/s...gov.ukStrengthening European security: UK statement to the OSCEMinister for Europe, Lord Wood of Anfield, sets out the UK’s priorities as Chair of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, focusing on Ukraine, dialogue and managing security risks. 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Alain Goriely, "The illusion of illusions: There are no optical corrections in the Parthenon" ([v2] Sat, 4 Apr 2026) arxiv.org/abs/2510.16831 #OpenAccessarxiv.orgThe illusion of illusions: There are no optical corrections in the ParthenonOne of the oldest and most enduring myths in human history is the belief that the Parthenon was cleverly designed with various curved structures and sizes in order to correct optical illusions, and th... 130
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Dario Amodei: "We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models." Dante Gabriel Rossetti: "Aye, clench the casket now! Whither they go Thou mayst not dare to think: nor canst thou know If Hope still pent there be alive or dead." darioamodei.com/post/we-must... #Anthropic 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Parliament will debate the petition, “Apply to Rejoin the EU as soon as possible to increase growth in the UK”. The debate is scheduled for 12 October 2026. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74... #RejoinTheEU #BrexitIsNotWorkingpetition.parliament.ukPetition: Apply to Rejoin the EU as soon as possible to increase growth in the UKWe believe Brexit's not working. The OBR judges that the UK economy is smaller and trade is weaker because of Brexit, and it will just get worse. 10 years after the Brexit vote, let's apply to rejoin ... 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 11/09/2026'A military aircraft [from which nation?] entering “spurious” flight data into the UK’s air traffic control system led to an outage that caused thousands of planes to be grounded and unleashed a crisis that threatens to topple the head of the agency.' giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... #NATSgiftarticle.ft.comMilitary jet triggered UK’s latest air traffic meltdownFlight plan submitted by one aircraft sparked turmoil that grounded thousands of planes this week 010
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 11/09/2026I am informed (belatedly) that these are called, "suggestion pills". 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Add your name to an open letter in support of the volunteers and staff at the RNLI 38d.gs/jpcf38d.gsAn open letter in support of the volunteers and staff at the RNLIThis is a disgrace. Brave RNLI volunteers being called scum for risking their lives to save others at sea is just plain wrong. So I've signed an open letter of thanks for the RNLI letting them know th... 000
Dr Michael Fraser @ffinlo.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Dazzle ships... (to be confused with the OMD album of the same name), archive.biennial.com/journal/issu...archive.biennial.comZig-zag Dazzle Ships | Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary ArtThe Mersey ferry ‘Rose’ on the Mersey c.1923. From the McRoberts Collection, Maritime Archives, National Museums Liverpool, MCR/90/232 The marine artist Norman Wilkinson is generally… 000