Simon Wood

Periwinkle is making self-hosted social media on Bluesky’s AT Protocol even easier https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/09/periwinkle-at-protocol-bluesky-self-hosted-social-media/

CogDog's Cheap Tricks for Running Webinars.

1. Show up Early- and dont leave participants in the cold space of a waiting room. Let people mingle before a session like they do in person.

2. Please have links ready to share in chat. Don't make me search for them during your session.

3. Stay […]

Palantir Sues Swiss Magazine For Accurately Reporting That The Swiss Government Didn’t Want Palantir
https://www.techdirt.com/2026/02/27/palantir-sues-swiss-magazine-for-accurately-reporting-that-the-swiss-government-didnt-want-palantir/

Please note that Palantir would rather that you didn't […]

Leave big tech behind! How to replace Amazon, Google, X, Meta, Apple – and more https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/26/how-to-replace-amazon-google-x-meta-apple-alternatives

30 Years of Riotous Adventures With Barnacles https://dalefort.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/dale-fort-blog-number-109/

@archelina.bsky.social That was very peaceful of you 😁

Photograph of Tim Key and David Cornwell

Comparing “The One and Only Herb Mcgwyer Plays…” and “The Ballad Of…” #WallisIsland. I really like Key’s performance in the original. But it is excellently adapted. They really should have kept “it’s another Le Carre” though 👌

Enjoying Radio 3’s subverting Valentines with a cue from Bernard Hermann’s Vertigo...

I don't personally see the appeal of stories about a pre-Casino Royale #JamesBond, but it's interesting that shortly after the EoN/Amazon MGM deal, we're seeing CD dramas featuring the character… https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/young-bond-audio-dramas

Hopefully that means that CD releases of […]

The Everything Account I've been thinking a lot about our accounts lately. We all have an ever-growing pile of digital identities scattered across the web, many forgotten after a brief stint with a random service we found i...

I wrote about what I've been calling "The Everything Account"

If you're familiar with The Atmosphere, you already know how to get one, and this should hopefully help you explain it to others.

For those of you who aren't, you'll be surprised to know you already have one; here's how you use it:

Blacksky has already built their own ATProto stack that's fully independent from Bluesky.

Now Eurosky is making progress as they roll out their own PDS.

I see more independent infrastructure springing up on https://atp.fyi/network, including AppViews.

For anyone hoping that we'll get another […]

The key thing in this @masnick.com piece, beyond “businesses gonna business” is how short-sighted these 'business' decisions are given “employees who actually believe in what they’re building tend to build better things” and the real surprise to me is how few of these companies seem to be able […]

Back in 2020, tech companies expounded about how important it was to "bring your whole self to work." Now, they want you to leave that girl or guy at home, while you, of course, return to the office. What gives? @mmasnick writes for @techdirt.com about how it was always just a business decision […]

Probably an unpopular take: I don't believe the EU can create an alternative tech stack. It needs to foster an independent ecosystem; anything less will just benefit all the people who already know how to get EU grants. What's needed is the conditions for real innovation, which are a culture and […]

Unch Crossword Magazine Unch, the clued-up crossword magazine

OK so if you bought a copy of Issue 2 it will be in the post by end of day tomorrow.

UK copies should start arriving by the end of the week.

Orders are still open on the website - buy now while stocks last!

unchcrosswords.com

#CrypticCrosswords

we all need a little less raging against the dying of the light and a little more coordinated tactical assault on the darkness factory

Chive, a decentralized eprints on ATProto service, is available in alpha today chive.pub

#ATScience

Well this will have to pass for good news. Announcement of the "I can't believe it's not HS2" Birmingham-Manchester rail link. https://www.itv.com/news/2026-01-13/new-manchester-to-birmingham-rail-link-planned-but-its-not-hs2?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

From 24 to Danger Mouse: it’s TV’s all-time top spies! A spy with a superhumanly good bladder, a crime-fighting rodent who lives in a postbox, and piles of dodgy 80s wigs … we rate the best small-screen spooks. Who comes out on top?

Obviously, Steed down at #12 is a travesty. But generally quite a respectable list, with a small handful of spies who have evaded my surveillance. I will investigate... https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jan/13/best-spy-tv-shows-night-manager-avengers-24-danger-mouse

If I'm reading this right, this bundle with the educator discount is something of a steal? Includes Final Cut, Logic and Pixelmator for $30/year? Probably turn out not to be available in the UK or something… […]

[UK Politics]

Zahawi says his defection will come as a shock to some but others will not be surprised.

I’ll admit I wasn't expecting it, but maybe he's right it's not surprising that the man who withdraw support from Johnson 48 hours after being appointed his chancellor (and then later called […]

If sleet is half way between snow and rain, what is it when it's half snow half hail? Snail?

Anyway, it's snailing here now.

I don't like patriotism; I think it's arbitrary to be proud of country, and I think it's a pretty slippery funnel into nationalism. Flag-waving feels fascist to me.

But it turns out that politicians who preach real multiculturalism and inclusive care for the vulnerable make me feel patriotic.

Unch Crossword Magazine Unch, the clued-up crossword magazine

Get your 2026 self a little treat!

Unch Issue 2 is out in January - you can ensure you don't miss out by pre-ordering a copy now...

Go to unchcrosswords.com to reserve YOURS!

This one has eight of our usual standard cryptics, plus a fun alphabetical *and* an exciting thematic as well!

Four-day week may be considered a sign of failure, England councils told Local government secretary writes to town halls warning them against ‘part-time work for full-time pay’

[UK Politics]

Hmmm. I wonder if the UK government ongoing failure to innovate on productivity could have anything to do with them regarding 'clocking in' as a performance metric… 🤔 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/23/four-day-week-sign-of-failure-england-councils-told-steve-reed

I've seen a few people post on Mastodon about how they would love a model railway, but can't, cos of space limitations. What if I was to tell you that you can enjoy model railways, even if you live in a tiny apartment.

This is a thread about standards and community.

1/n

Amazon is changing how its Kindle DRM works, but only for these titles Kindle users will be able to download specific titles they've bought as a PDF or EPUB file next year, but only if the author permits it.

Not that this limited change to re-enable downloads for some books would sway me, but too late Amazon, I've ditched my Kindle now (h/t @cubicgarden) https://www.pocket-lint.com/amazon-changing-kindle-drm/

苹果公司已锁定我的Apple ID，我束手无策。恳请帮助。 Apple has locked my Apple ID, and I have no recourse. A plea for help (hey.paris) 12:55  ↑ 170 HN Points

Buttfield-Addison’s account has now been restored, but Apple executive relations have apparently told him not to buy Apple gift cards from any other supplier. I'd say "at all" is safer, given the level of confidence that inspires. https://hey.paris/posts/appleid/

Don't buy Apple gift cards. “It’s digital Russian roulette.” https://tidbits.com/2025/12/17/compromised-apple-gift-card-leads-to-apple-account-lockout/