Craig
@craig.nikolic.co.uk
NHS GP Federation CEO. Not a GP/clinician. Ex artillery forward observer, with dodgy knees and hearing. Favourite comment about me: "His comms style is like a brick through a window."
A counterpoint of course is that the Mayor of New York is gaining huge respect (and votes) *precisely* because he's concentrating on the 'little things' such as the parking and the bins.
James Austin@jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 14h agoThis is *such* a revealing line about Kemi's world view and contempt for those who do the day to day work of keeping our society functioning
Given we are approaching that time of the year, my big piece from years back on the 1983 Cold War Crisis (and the role of Stanislav Petrov in it) over onto authory as a free-to-read. Over the years, the myth of what happened has been simplified. The reality was scarier. Because: Ronald Reagan.
The Day the World Didn’t End
At the height of the Cold War, with alarms screaming, one Soviet officer stopped to think. It cost him his career. It may also have saved the world. The morning of the 26th September 1983 had started ...
authory.com
I've written a long blog post about AI Agents and the need for those running services to prepare - technically, operationally, commercially, strategically, legally and in terms of policy. AI Agents could be a properly huge deal. There. I wrote it. loosemore.com/2026/08/04/k...
Know Your Agent: Why you should act now, to avoid playing catch-up later
Back in March, I was beaten by the bins. I’d spent a happy few evenings (and a great many tokens) trying to build a simple web app: share any UK address, find out which bins to put out, and w…
loosemore.com
I know going full Mediterranean mode in hot weather is the right thing to do in shutting windows and closing blinds/curtains, but it just seems so wrong with a sunny day and I doubt I'll get over needing to do that in a British summer. The house is nice and cool today though, I'll give it that.
Once again I find myself asking "have you considered simply not breaking the speed limit?" www.dailymail.com/news/article...
Writer Lynda La Plante breaks down as she is handed driving ban
Lynda La Plante said a driving ban would effectively end her writing career, as she would not be able to meet contacts for her works.
dailymail.com
This is a disaster. They MUST fire the break clause. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... NHS England to revise Palantir platform data after staff concerns
NHS England to revise Palantir platform data after staff concerns
Changes to two most widely cited claims come as scrutiny grows over US tech company’s contract
giftarticle.ft.com
Another bit of travel advice that many don’t seem to know. If you’re travelling in most of Europe (the EEA footprint) get a GHIC card, even if you have the best travel insurance ever. www.nhs.uk/using-the-nh...
Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC)
Find out if you're eligible to apply for a new UK EHIC or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
nhs.uk
Craig@craig.nikolic.co.uk · 2y agoTalked yesterday to the third person in the last week who didn’t know about the UK Foreign Office Travel Advice page. If you’re going abroad, even as a seasoned traveller, this is where you get the only reliable advice on immigration, health, etc. Sign up to the alerts. www.gov.uk/foreign-trav...
Burnham has shown that he'll happily respond to the latest grand scare by the extremists rather than face it down with "erm, you have seen they've almost all gone home, and the rest will soon, haven't you? Haven't you?!"
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 3d agoBurnham to be ‘relentless’ on small boat crossings after Ceuta crisis
I heard Henry Cavill was going on Warhammer 40k and I instantly thought Horus. Then, no, Sanguinus. Then Commissar Cain. Then… So many roles he could do!
IGN@ign.com · 3d agoGames Workshop has made a number of significant announcements on the Henry Cavill Warhammer 40,000 Cinematic Universe. bit.ly/4g4XB4i
The police were contacted because a Reform councillor did not like being personally criticised for the decision. So much for the party's supposed love of free speech.
HappyToast@happytoast.co.uk · 6d agoThis has really pissed me off, if you're in the area and can afford it go and give the cafe owner some money to help fund the kids meals. And if he refuses buy yourself a nice coffee and tip him as much as you can. Fuck Reform taking food from kids in need. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Not just pervert glasses, misogynist racist pervert glasses
Michael@michaeljsc.bsky.social · 6d agoActually quite angry reading this. I know it’s a bit passé to talk about “why don’t politicians crack down on people not using headphones on the bus” but I think we do need to reckon with platforms that incentivise people to completely disregard the norms of civil society and get away with it.
the level of evil corporationing you have to do to make UEFA the good guy is pretty spectacular. top work, FIFA. Top work. www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
Fifa World Cup: Uefa to boycott tournament if Gianni Infantino's investment plans go through
Uefa's 55 member associations vote to boycott the World Cup if Fifa proceeds with its plan to sell stakes in its competitions.
bbc.com
Back in 2020/21, I was beyond fascinated with the mRNA COVID vaccines and their potential for doing so much more. I wonder how much groundbreaking research has been abandoned since on the technology because of the wilful deceit and grifting of the anti-vax folk. The contempt I have for people…
I think we're at the stage now where there should be zero competent complaints if the government were to ban disposable barbecue packs.
It's one thing to outsource thought leadership go consultants. But *if* they in turn outsource *their* thought leadership go GenAI, why not go straight to the source and cut out the middle man. www.ft.com/content/7e14...
PwC published ‘thought leadership’ reports marred by AI hallucinations
Big Four consultant is latest firm found to have produced slapdash work while marketing expertise on the technology
ft.com
Is it too much to hope that today's speech presents social care as a positive thing in itself? Not just an adjunct to healthcare, not just for older people, but a service which can & should enable 1000s of people with physical disabilities, mental health issues, learning disabilities to thrive? 1/2
Dave West @ HSJ@davewwest.bsky.social · last wk.Aside from hospitals - preventative support and care in the community surely need to be a big part of 'neighbourhood health' and 'integrated health organisations'. At the moment the connection is rather sketchy . Ends
Musk says medical school not needed as AI will take over from surgeons in next 3 years AI:
The new series of Ted Lasso starts 5th August.
Ted Lasso: How 'Bout That
Alt: Ted Lasso: How 'Bout That
static.klipy.com
The historical #chatbot, ELIZA, has had its source code unearthed from the MIT archives. The therapist personality was just one of its personas, including one that could make passable small talk and one that served as a tutor. spectrum.ieee.org/eliza-chatbo...
Reminder that a useful bit of hygiene is that if you discover someone is blocking you, you should block them back: they can choose to see your posts and can potentially share them to create a pile-on. If you block them back, they can't see your posts
Talked yesterday to the third person in the last week who didn’t know about the UK Foreign Office Travel Advice page. If you’re going abroad, even as a seasoned traveller, this is where you get the only reliable advice on immigration, health, etc. Sign up to the alerts. www.gov.uk/foreign-trav...
Foreign travel advice - GOV.UKGOV.UK
Get advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
gov.uk
I've seen a few takes like this today, I disagree with them though. Computing at school is foundational. Much of the stuff I was taught in my 1980s Computing O Grade is still as relevant today as it was then. You can never go wrong with a solid foundation in any subject.
Dr Jo Kershaw@mthrjo.bsky.social · last wk.Even if the government is right to be betting the house on AI (and I suspect the way things shake out will be different to what we expect), this is likely to have the problem Computing as a subject has always had in schools, ie it’s pretty much instantly out of date. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I wonder how many AI slop articles ChatGPT has generated on this for people to post as an “insight”.
Rav@rvbdrm.com · last wk.☠️
Those cars look about right for when he was last in Clacton.
Jonathan Pie@jonathanpienews.bsky.social · last wk.He bloody loves Clacton when it's election time, doesn't he?
Terrible news. Aside from learning more about the universe, we're not going to get much economic growth by cutting science funding. (If only we had a Prime Minister who was interested in supporting the north, and Manchester in particular, who could stop this.) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands
Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.
bbc.co.uk
Wildlife presenter and comedian Bill Oddie has died aged 85. In a statement announcing his death, Oddie’s agent paid tribute to the “intelligence and wit” of “Britain’s best-loved birder”
Wildlife presenter and comedian Bill Oddie dies aged 85
thetimes.com
