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Alan

@two-cats.com

Northern Irish, but Cambridge is home. I work in tech with strong opinions on agile and engineering management. Also into government - especially the local kind. Skiing, gym, gin, and video games. ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง

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07.11.2024
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Latest posts by Alan @two-cats.com

They won't. Programmers will be using AI-assistance. The current generation of tools like Claude Code works too well not to use them. AI is not a panacea, but it's nonetheless a useful tool.
2/4

08.03.2026 16:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 86 ๐Ÿ” 8 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
HS2 explains why putting Manchester station underground is not a viable option | New Civil Engineer HS2 Ltd carried out the assessment following pressure from northern politicians and engineers who support the underground option as a way to maximise the

Ah yes. Sorry. www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/hs2-e...

08.03.2026 17:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yes indeed. The original plan was for 400m accommodating platforms underground.

08.03.2026 15:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Well itโ€™s like a bad interior designer had to fit out an airport bathroom as a dinging room. On a budget, using only Facebook marketplace and instagram suppliers.

08.03.2026 15:50 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The article is mostly factual but the headline is misleading.

HS2 trains are 200 m sets that couple to 400 m. Running single units onto the WCML was always part of the operating concept.

Whatโ€™s changed is the demand model after Phase 2 was cancelled - which might affect fleet size.

08.03.2026 15:46 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Tu Casa - tapas, reliably โ€” Louche Gastronomique The tortilla at Tu Casa, at the town end of Mill Road, is one of the best Iโ€™ve had - well seasoned, great texture, retaining a little bite to the potatoes and just gooey in the middle. Like the paella...

February's one-a-month Cambridge Restaurant review new year's resolution entry comes a week into March, for which I plan to look February square in the eye and blame it for being short.

It's about tapas. The review, not February.

www.louchegastronomique.com/blog/2026/tu...

07.03.2026 17:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yep.

06.03.2026 08:39 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Neep! Neep!

04.03.2026 15:54 ๐Ÿ‘ 17 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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03.03.2026 21:10 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yes, but that means no.

03.03.2026 21:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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If anyone is friends with any Georgian air traffic controllers, buy them a nice bottle of wine. As guardians of pretty much the only narrow gap still available between Europe and Asia that avoids both Iran, the Gulf, Ukraine and Russia, they are under some substantial pressure.

03.03.2026 14:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 3967 ๐Ÿ” 1281 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 71 ๐Ÿ“Œ 131

With the reintroduction of beavers and other formally native animals to the UK, I believe that wolves and bears should also be reintroduced, making rambling a much more exciting way to pass the time.

03.03.2026 16:55 ๐Ÿ‘ 157 ๐Ÿ” 6 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 16 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

It was ok! And yes. I think Iโ€™ll continue watching it.

02.03.2026 07:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Some cats.

01.03.2026 17:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Gunna assume the author of this is a straight man.

01.03.2026 12:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Blue hydrogen is green washing and shouldnโ€™t exist.

26.02.2026 19:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Lewis Herbert would be amazing

25.02.2026 13:27 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Hugs.

16.02.2026 08:09 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Love Reddit posters. Really, really dislike these Americans.

15.02.2026 12:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

As it turns out, although not ideal. Itโ€™s better than the current shower. So yes. Yes please.

14.02.2026 14:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Roger, Product Manage for the Tony Blair Institute. And my brain immediately went to Tony Blair Clippy being the product. ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ. I blame you.

14.02.2026 14:03 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A cartoon illustration of Tony Blair reimagined as Microsoft Office 95โ€™s Clippy. Blairโ€™s smiling face, with exaggerated wide eyes and neatly parted hair, sits on top of a shiny silver paperclip body. The paperclip is wrapped around a pale yellow lined sheet of paper, floating against a plain white background. The overall style is playful and satirical, blending a recognisable political face with the iconic Clippy character.

A cartoon illustration of Tony Blair reimagined as Microsoft Office 95โ€™s Clippy. Blairโ€™s smiling face, with exaggerated wide eyes and neatly parted hair, sits on top of a shiny silver paperclip body. The paperclip is wrapped around a pale yellow lined sheet of paper, floating against a plain white background. The overall style is playful and satirical, blending a recognisable political face with the iconic Clippy character.

14.02.2026 13:54 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

SaaS AI Tony Blair advisor API. Obviously.

14.02.2026 13:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

They were bought out by a HK family fund about a decade ago. Seems to be working ok.

14.02.2026 10:37 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Tbh. A boring corporate like Diageo or family owned business like Green King would be much better.

14.02.2026 10:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Anyway. Iโ€™ve just started watching the gay hockey show.

11.02.2026 23:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I was mostly confused; and that made it worse. So many people who knew better, but I assume too polite to speak up.

11.02.2026 23:06 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Gosh. Iโ€™d forgotten about the homophonic choir.

11.02.2026 22:59 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โ€ฆ โ€ฆ

11.02.2026 22:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Two Maine coons. One grey. The other ginger sniff one another. Theyโ€™re under a garden table but the maine coon is on a chair.

Two Maine coons. One grey. The other ginger sniff one another. Theyโ€™re under a garden table but the maine coon is on a chair.

Have a cat. Or two.

11.02.2026 13:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0