BoxOfRain

The more I think about this, the more I marvel. We live in a country actively defunding the core elements of knowledge infrastructure — basic research and education — and we’re supposed to believe these conditions will lead to AI as infrastructure?

Every hospital in England has been urged to disobey an NHS directive to use software operated by controversial US analytics software company Palantir
www.bmj.com/content/392/...

Curious about the "highly educated, female voters" who work at Palantir... and wonder why they don't go work elsewhere, for a CEO who isn't completely losing touch with reality.

You’d think? Right?

Six years ago, Americans were okay kids sitting on a curb outside Taco Bell trying to connect to the Internet so they could learn long division via Zoom but sure, we're about to leapfrog into a world where those kids have instant (albeit metered) access to the chatbots that'll cox them into suicide.

Question 7 is a good one.

my actual literal favourite book of all time.

Troubling advice issued by the Foreign Office today for Lebanon, as the conflict there escalates

"You should consider departing now...If you decide to stay, we cannot guarantee we will be able to help you. You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government."

May you live to see the Pentagon overrun with flowers, the site of family picnics

One of the really soothing things about the ruins of castles is that they are ruins. Militarism seems everlasting sometimes, but even the strongest fortresses crumble and the only thing certain is change

Do these tech bro CEOs have some sort of sweepstake going on who can be filmed saying the most unhinged thing without getting strung up?

Certain dudes are still upset with me when I said in 2012 that here in the US, being a straight white male is living on the lowest difficulty setting of life. From here on out I'm just going to refer them to these DOGE staffer depositions, and then tell them to go fuck themselves.

🔗 to full text of the letter, with 12 expertly worded questions that will hopefully, finally, get to the bottom of why we find ourselves in this dire situation.

So impressed by Dame @chionwurah.bsky.social and her committee - politics actually in action ❤️

committees.parliament.uk/publications...

Farage goes to war with the Archers over Bank Notes Nigel Farage who divides his time between Mar A Lago and the Chagos Islands these days has been fulminating about a new series of Bank Notes (issue some way off) which will replace the current seri…

wp.me/p15p2Q-gk7

Super impressive letter.

Also nice button detail on the shirt.

And once again I’m zooming in to get a closer look at the mug. 😀

Palantir is such a great fit for the NHS.

😂 Love Viz

📣 New Research just published.

Adoption of EVs, solar PV, and heat pumps in Ireland is driven by affluence. Current grants favour high-income groups, risking a "green divide." Policies must focus on equity and lower upfront costs.

Open access: authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

we dare you to find a museum more ready

Select committees Well, the fight to stop the decimation of particle, astro and nuclear physics continues. The House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology select committee session I mentioned in the previous…

Some thoughts after two parliamentary committee hearings
lifeandphysics.com/2026/03/08/s...
#LifeAndPhysics

New MP Hannah Spencer was given a police escort after an anti-hate demonstration turned violent. The Green Party MP had made a speech at the Greater Together Manchester event on Sunday afternoon in Piccadilly Gardens.

I try very hard not to use the word Orwellian too much but it’s the best adjective for the mauling of language at the start of this BBC News report. “… an anti-hate demonstration that turned violent”. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

*Laughs from the UK*

Budgets for US Nat'l Endowments for the Arts & Humanities, combined $414 million annually.

Budget for the UK Arts & Hums Res Council for "curiosity-driven research", £39 million, rising to a staggering £45m by 2029...

Also, 100% agree about Jessica Hynes.

Sounds perfect!

(We’re watching old Marple at the moment.)

*adds it to the list*

Grant Witness is hiring! We're seeking a full-time data scientist to join our team building data resources to support journalism, litigation, and activism protecting science, public health, and the rule of law. grant-witness.us/apply.html #rstats

Showed this to G and she said “oooh, we’ve been there!”