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Kevin Rigotti

@kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu
87 followers 224 following 106 posts

Experienced engineer specialising in user research and user safety. Alumnus of a few universities, a scientific Civil Service, and industry. Likely to have strong opinions about systemic risk.

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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 7h
Given that the Tory spending promise for “Britannia Shield" is about 10% of what everyone else thinks it would cost, I propose we call it Wooden Dome.
static.klipy.com
Eureka Penguin
Alt: Cute pink Penguin cartoon character holding a wooden shield
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 05/10/2026
I have resigned from the Green Party. I'm done with being held hostage by a minority who do not represent the views of the ordinary membership, but have a strong voice at conference. I'm tired of being in the tiny proportion who engage with the policy process. Use your vote, or be judged for it.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 02/10/2026
Waiting for the 'Who Owns the Machines' session to start at the Green Party conference, and listening to my hungry stomach complaining.
static.klipy.com
Hurry Up Get On With It
Alt: Get On With It animated God from Monty Python and the Holy Grail film
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Reposted by Kevin Rigotti
Preston Green Party @greenpartypreston.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
💧 Clean water isn't optional. When sewage is discharged into our rivers and seas, it isn't just an environmental issue. It's about public health, wildlife, and our local communities. 🌱 What environmental issue would you like to see tackled in Preston?
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Reposted by Kevin Rigotti
University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 30/09/2026
Nottingham today. Everywhere tomorrow. 2,700 staff put at risk. 600+ jobs targeted. At least 48 courses facing closure. What happens here sets the template for the sector. Stand with Nottingham.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 30/09/2026
We don't need more slop Just fix the bugs 😠
Notification from Windows Update informing us that Windows 11 version 26H2 is available, and inviting us to see what's in this update
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 30/09/2026
It wouldn't be the Preston Bypass without an unexplained dip. #Preston
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 29/09/2026
If you teach a dog to bite people, then putting a pink ribbon on its collar will not make it safe to leave with with your children. Guardrails cannot overturn basic training.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 25/09/2026
As a wise man said, when you are attacked you are at war. It would be terrible if an Australian warship "went rogue" and fired a Tomahawk missile into the offending data centre. Fortunately, they are controlled by normal people, not dodgy AI fantasists.
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Reposted by Kevin Rigotti
Euronews @euronews.com · 22/09/2026
“We are throwing away energy that we have already paid for."
l.euronews.com
Europe’s waste heat alone could power Paris for 48 years
“We are throwing away energy that we have already paid for."
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 22/09/2026
Very atmospheric in the park this morning, with trees looming out of the mist, the Jurassic screech of the bin lorry, the chuckling of the magpies, and a clarty ballet of men in high visibility jackets listlessly moving mud from where it was yesterday to where it will be tomorrow. #Preston #Parks
A footpath disappears into the mist framed by the silhouettes of two large trees. Above them a few wisps of cloud can be seen in a chalky blue sky.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 20/09/2026
Ed Davey knows perfectly well that only the rich benefit from income tax cuts, not people who are struggling with the cost of living. By declaring themselves the party of tax cuts, they are occupying the centre ground vacated by the Conservatives. "Tories, but Fun" is not the real change we need.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 20/09/2026
Recent negative headlines about AI stem directly from people taking the conscious decision to weaponise it, then failing to control the result. Announcing that he is creating an AI Force is not reassuring.
static.klipy.com
Elmo Fire
Alt: The Muppet character Elmo holding a traditional bomb in each out-stretched hand against a backdrop of flames, and looking up as if dedicating the result to a chaotic god.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 19/09/2026
Smart response. Everyone should do that.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 17/09/2026
It's already in the wrong hands. That's the problem.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 15/09/2026
Reality versus the model. Always worth checking the latest rainfall observations before deciding whether to believe the local forecast. A good example today where the reality (10:55, left picture) is much wetter than the forecast (11:00, right picture). #weather #prediction #uncertainty
Rainfall radar observations at 10:55 for the Preston areaRainfall model predictions for 11:00 in the Preston area
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 14/09/2026
Betteridge's law applies here. No.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 13/09/2026
Studios have spent decades building a narrative of the United States as a dysfunctional place. When I see clips of senior politicians being a pantomime villain, and the crowd responding in kind, all I can do is shrug. The US told us that's who they are. Don't like your image? Vote for change.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 12/09/2026
If a rich biochemist made a public statement that they were working on something really impressive that had a 10% chance of wiping out humanity, I feel sure that they would quickly attract the attention of the security services and police. Why should these AI numpties be treated any differently?
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 11/09/2026
Twenty five years ago I attended an ATC seminar in London. An official from the FAA gave a presentation in which he explained that the United States only had an expeditionary military force, because there was no homeland threat. He flew home to a painfully different reality. We remember.
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Reposted by Kevin Rigotti
Preston Green Party @greenpartypreston.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
💚 Fancy getting involved? There are lots of ways to support Preston Green Party! There's no pressure to do everything. Whatever time or skills you can offer, we'd love to have you involved. 🌱 Want to volunteer? Send us a message and let's have a chat. #Preston #PrestonGreenParty #Volunteers
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Reposted by Kevin Rigotti
Preston Green Party @greenpartypreston.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
🧵🌱 Craftivism is happening this Saturday! Join us for our regular second-Saturday-of-the-month Craftivism session. Come and say hello! 💚 #Preston #Craftivism #PrestonGreenParty #Community
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 07/09/2026
The plans will no doubt be completed in an entirely different style at great expense and at the last minute. Anyone got a number for Ralph the Wonder Llama 😕
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 07/09/2026
"Nature security is national security" is a crucial statement. Britain has not been fully self sufficient in food since the 18th century. We depend on imports that may be impacted by climate change. A country that cannot feed itself is fundamentally insecure.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 06/09/2026
I'd rather they exported the skills, not the ice. Value people, not things.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 31/08/2026
🎶It's fun to charter an accountant, and sail the wide accountancy 🎶
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 29/08/2026
Up earlier than usual thanks to suspected food poisoning. If I'd only bought the thing I went for, I would have been fine. If I'd stuck to a plant based diet I would have been fine. Is peri-peri a Mozambique dialect word for the noise you make while purging yourself of the offending item?
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Reposted by Kevin Rigotti
Prof. Virginia Braun (she/her they/them) @ginnybraun.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Now published… We Reject the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reflexive Qualitative Research - Tanisha Jowsey, Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke, Deborah Lupton, Michelle Fine, 2025 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com
We Reject the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reflexive Qualitative Research - Tanisha Jowsey, Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke, Deborah Lupton, Michelle Fine, 2025
Four hundred and nineteen experienced qualitative researchers from 32 countries invite readers of Qualitative Inquiry to consider their position on use of gener...
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 26/08/2026
Details matter. The Ofgem energy price cap is not rising by 4%, that's a dodgy headline. It's a nearly 9% rise per kWh for gas (8.7%) That matters in a stormy El Niño winter with most people still reliant on gas for heating. #UK #energy www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-...
ofgem.gov.uk
Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
Energy price cap unit rates and daily standing charges by region.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 24/08/2026
Good article. One point I would add is that the people best placed to spot the problem are being excluded from the workplace by agist recruitment.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 22/08/2026
AI Native is not a thing. Good luck.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 18/08/2026
Well, we always thought supermarket trolleys had a mind of their own, but not like this.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 17/08/2026
I wish journalists would stop this. We elect a parliament. They (effectively) pick a prime minister to recommend to the King. It would be good if they had a formal vote of confirmation, as a demonstration of parliamentary sovereignty, but we do not have a presidential system, nor do I want one.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 16/08/2026
Why is default paper size not part of regional settings? If I had £1 for every time I had to change it back to A4 it would pay for my ink cartridges. Is there some legitimate technical reason, is it an oversight, or is it just deliberate 'asshole' design (Gray, 2020) dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...
dl.acm.org
What Kind of Work Do
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 14/08/2026
Go to the North for the wonderful landscapes and people. Don't go for the lights. You can't book them. They happen or they don't.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 14/08/2026
Comparing and contrasting the semantics of following live posts about a TV show I am not watching, and reading replies to a post that has been deleted 🤔
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 14/08/2026
Reassuring to know that Emergency Alerts do actually work on my current mobile provider. With my previous one they didn't. 🙄
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 14/08/2026
Last orders at the isobar. The Met Office is going to retire their old website design and force us to use the new one, which I really dislike. #UX #fail
NEW - This design will be turned off soon. Use our new design.
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Reposted by Kevin Rigotti
Fire Brigades Union @fbunational.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Our thoughts are with the firefighters in hospital with injuries caused by the Stourbridge wildfire. This is one of the most challenging periods for our members since the Blitz. The FBU will continue fighting for more firefighters, proper PPE, and resources to keep our members safe.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 14/08/2026
This shows a lack of foresight from the county council. If it is not dealt with it will spread to public land that is their responsibility. There was a serious outbreak on St George's Road in Preston a few years back, miles from the river, presumably spread by birds.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 14/08/2026
A full 37% of the votes in the Clacton by-election went to an option other than Reform. A recall petition requires 10% of the electorate, several thousand fewer than those who said yesterday that they preferred an alternative candidate (in many cases very alternative). It may not be over yet 🍿
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 13/08/2026
Planning rules were changed back in the 1990's specifically to address the retail park threat to the high street. It happened anyway. The interesting thing is how busy retail parks still are, despite online shopping. The captive audience that went online in lockdown is back outside and staying.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 12/08/2026
I'm no bird expert, but that looks like a swallow to me (paywall, didn't read)
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 12/08/2026
Needed another bout of turning off the slop yesterday, as my phone intercepted an incoming call despite call screening being off. Sick of software that never does what it agreed to do. #UX #AI #slop
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 10/08/2026
Community Wealth Building works, and has lessons for energy policy. See www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Community wealth building in an age of just transitions: Exploring civil society approaches to net zero and future research synergies
Community Wealth Building (CWB) is a burgeoning international policy agenda for local economic development that seeks to enhance democratic ownership,…
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 09/08/2026
Fun fact: Tom Clancy's book Patriot Games was a prequel to The Hunt for Red October
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 09/08/2026
Interesting bit of research led by Dr Zhonghua Zheng at the University of Manchester evaluating the use of roof sprinklers for cooling (doi.org/10.1029/2026...)
doi.org
Optimizing the Rainwater Harvesting and Roof Sprinkling System to Adapt to Urban Extreme Heat
The sprinkling trigger temperature is the dominant design parameter for the rainwater harvesting and roof sprinkling system Increasing rainwater tank size diminishes marginal benefits for reducin...
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 07/08/2026
Just a normal Friday then. What became the M6 was built as a Preston bypass. It was meant to relieve congestion, not cause it. That's how building new roads always works. For a while they distribute existing traffic, but they also enable new journeys you would not otherwise have made.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 06/08/2026
I never expected to see political lettuce memes on both sides of the Atlantic, but here we are. What a time to be alive.
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Kevin Rigotti @kevin-rigotti.wsocial.eu · 05/08/2026
Data centres use a lot of energy. We should ask whether the intended use justifies the local and environmental impact. Being honest, we should also acknowledge that what we say on social media is hosted by a data centre (W Social is hosted by UpCloud in Finland). novaramedia.com/2026/08/03/l...
novaramedia.com
Labour Forces Through London Data Centre Amid Worst Drought in Decades
Andy Burnham’s government has approved a new data centre near London’s Brick Lane despite widespread local opposition, even as the city suffers its worst drought in decades.
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