Jen

Geek of many colours.
Queer mum interested in climate and social justice, TTRPG, boardgames, SciFi.
UK based.
She/her.

Profile pic: a wooden bird shape with violet highlights.

Profile banner: A milk chocolate wolf silhouette against a white chocolate moon. The milk chocolate sky has swirls of white chocolate clouds.

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Last Notes

2025-03-19 09:11:34 UTC

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why?

2025-03-19 08:31:09 UTC

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there are currently 4 Green MPs, 5 Independent Alliance and 7 independent.
Green, IA, and at least some of the indies share a lot of common ground. I don't understand why they haven't joined forces. Surely a group of 10+ MPs could begin to wield respect and influence?

2025-03-19 07:22:56 UTC

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so what's really blocking me from working, and what would actually help?
1. Long covid, for which there's no cure or effective treatment.
A. Investment in research & treatment, truly flexible working, much better public transport.
2. Son needs home ed, because school broke him.
A. Investment in CAMHS, properly fund alternative education, wholesale societal switch to individual-centred support instead of rigid rules.
Huh. Benefit cuts aren't in my list. Weird.

2025-03-18 08:40:20 UTC

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what's the issue with their stance on wealth tax?

2025-03-17 22:53:23 UTC

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we haven't yet seen a flood of votes moving from Labour to Green. More of a trickle. I really hope it picks up pace soon. Some people will not survive Labour cruelty.

2025-03-12 09:20:49 UTC

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how many have long-standing struggles, but are only recently seeking financial support because the employment landscape is now so hostile they can't keep themselves afloat without it?
How many should have been on PIP for *years* but didn't have the information or support to apply? There seems to be a bigger front-line focus on helping people get what they're entitled to these days, maybe it's working?

2025-03-12 09:16:18 UTC

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given how long covid often manifests, I wonder how many of us are being incorrectly categorised as people with mental health problems? And with how lacking medical support is, how many of us *additionally* have mental health problems?

2025-03-09 09:10:47 UTC

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I never understood how shared ownership was supposed to work.
If first time buyers can afford, say, £50k, that's what a 2-up-2-down will go for. Create a scheme that means they can afford a £100k house, and the same houses will go up in price to £100k. So the first time buyers spend the same, but only own half the house.
Every scheme based on increasing the spending power of buyers has the same basic flaw of pushing up house prices.

2025-03-08 17:25:25 UTC

I will always be happy to be a convenient excuse for my kids when they need an out.
Today, it was avoiding a sleepover without upsetting a friend, because kid just needs some time to himself. He texted "pls say no", then asked for permission. I provided a reason it wasn't convenient.
Tomorrow, it might be something more serious, like a party getting out of hand, or "friends" egging them on to do stuff they shouldn't.
I'm glad I taught them this, and I'm glad they're practicing it.

2025-03-02 10:08:21 UTC

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Where does the feed for the current high number of animals come from? Wide scale deforestation and land that could be arable for human consumption.

2025-02-24 09:28:16 UTC

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I have witnessed so many lightbulb moments unpicking that one fallacy.
🚫 I couldn't go vegan
💡But I could maybe have a veggie burger instead of a beefburger sometimes
🚫 I feel bad about flying, but I love my holidays
💡If every third holiday is UK, I cut my flying by 1/3
🚫 I can't live without my tumble dryer
💡But I could line dry more
And the really great thing about small steps is then you might take a second, and a third, and build momentum.

2025-02-24 08:11:08 UTC

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having worked at the sharp end of green lifestyle choices for four years, I'm not sure I agree.
Most people do want to make changes, but most changes are not affordable or achievable. With anti-green propoganda ("heat pumps don't work"), funding schemes that don't work, greenwashing, all-or-nothing attitudes ("go vegan"), etc, it feels impossible.
When supported to try changes that feel possible and relevant, people do often make them, and encourage others, too.

2025-02-23 21:20:43 UTC

It's so good to see the ban on polystyrene being effective. It's been in place for over a year now and the last time I saw food served in polystyrene was... Today.
https://objstorage.f7it.net/masto1/media_attachments/files/114/055/281/963/035/977/original/d433085b995cf53e.jpg

2025-02-22 09:46:09 UTC

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my frustration with this and other security & privacy issues is that it's always an arms race between police and criminals, and ordinary people always lose.
More powers to see more data just makes the police more overwhelmed. Criminals sidestep, or ignore it because of low enforcement. Decent people trying to do right lose rights and privacy.
See also Online Safety Act, every generation of DRM, constant video surveillance...

2025-02-07 08:39:50 UTC

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even just the time spent jumping through hoops could be better spent elsewhere.
I reckon I average at least an hour a week just doing benefits admin. Instead, I could do a hobby, or rest, or take a bath. A fortnightly trip to a swimming pool would be good for my symptom management. A little more housework would lift significant strain off my spouse and carer. I could do an hour of admin for the local food bank. I could run a craft group. Almost anything would be more worthwhile.

2025-02-02 09:28:44 UTC

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the Karen stereotype exists for a reason.
Given that it started with Black people describing the entitlement and weaponisation of systemic racism displayed frequently by white women, I have to wonder whether race is another dimension that has not been researched. Dark personality traits and how they are expressed seem to correlate with power dynamics and what people believe is - or should be - within their power.

2025-02-01 12:55:50 UTC

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exactly - all about what they can't do. We weren't allowed to paint the shutters on the building I used to work in.
I hadn't considered the lack of builders in the equation. I'm not sure how much is reason and how much is convenient excuse. I'm pretty sure it's at least some of each.

2025-02-01 11:51:35 UTC

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the conservation area near me is certainly a mess.
The rules are all about what landlords *can't* do, with nothing about any maintenance they *should* do. So they do nothing. Some get rent, more just sit on assets that have value on paper.
There are more buildings empty and rotting than in use. Cannabis grows, fires, and dangerous squats are common. The heritage that is supposed to be preserved just crumbles.

2025-01-12 14:47:54 UTC

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assuming it actually did cancel the contract, rather than just claiming confidently that it did.

2025-01-12 10:24:36 UTC

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I like to turn big money numbers into jobs as it means more.
600 million over 5 years is equivalent to about 3,500 jobs of around £35,000pa. Not exactly economy-saving figures.

2025-01-02 08:36:45 UTC

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a friend and her colleagues have been told that bringing in their own grant money is the only route to contract renewal. But they've been given almost no support for the process of finding, applying for, and managing grants. Individuals are at increased risk of losing their jobs and unis risk losing excellent academics - making it even harder to keep offering courses.
Is this something you've seen elsewhere?

2024-12-30 11:46:42 UTC

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what comes to mind for me is a recent thread on here somewhere about Tesla's factories having a much higher accident rate than other auto plants.
The main factor was that they just don't care about staff, so many end up in unsafe situations. Too many shifts a week making them tired, work deemed "too slow" being punished by moving staff to more demanding tasks, putting one person on a task they were not tall enough to reach safely (broken arm, OTC pills, back to work).
I love H&S.

2024-12-24 14:40:21 UTC

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you could do some satire around TERF talking points, eg:
Earnest articles on how having a penis makes you run faster because of the better crotch aerodynamics.
Correct procedures for demanding genital inspections of strangers at public toilets.
A how-to guide on spotting trans women by highlighting masculine features on a photo (and comparing them to the feminine features on exactly the same photo).

2024-12-24 08:56:33 UTC

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this is an accurate assessment of my experience.
I determined months ago that my youngest is eligible for DLA. I haven't applied yet because the 40+ page form and the work, stress, and heartache associated with it are so heavy.
With PIP, you should describe an average day, but they don't believe you and you don't get what you deserve. Or you take the common advice to describe your worst days and risk prison (as literally happened to a friend).
It's all horrible.

2024-12-23 07:54:43 UTC

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every free tree scheme I've seen is for hundreds of trees and you need to have space.
Only a slight tweak to the criteria and councils etc could easily do what you're suggesting and have tree giveaways for folks who have space for one or two.

2024-12-18 08:08:07 UTC

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it is increasingly difficult to find palatable answers to the question, "what are the police for?"
Keeping the peace? This summer's riots suggest not.
Solving crime? Not at a success rate of 5%.
Keeping the public safe? Not given the high number of assaults the police themselves commit.

2024-12-18 07:49:56 UTC

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I can highlight a part that works effectively and efficiently!
When my eldest turned 16, he had to transition from DLA to PIP. This process is triggered by DWP sending a form at some point after the birthday. The form arrived within the week.
I'm sure the fact that this imposed a deadline on us that could have seen payments missed is coincidental.

2024-12-11 09:24:34 UTC

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Stoke-on-Trent could so easily be the poster child for this. But decades of "citifying" it mean we've lost so much.
It's a patchwork of six towns and many villages. I live on the edge of two. Smallthorne village has a high street with post office, food shop, pharmacy, GP, dentist, barber, newsagent, butcher, community centre... Burslem town has pubs, takeaways, and almost nothing else, because it's all been moved to the city centre in Hanley or Festival Retail Park.

2024-12-09 22:37:12 UTC

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I can't help but wonder if we'll see a Spartacus moment.

2024-12-08 09:43:04 UTC

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arguably, the former overrides the child's consent, thus undermining the concept.
Yes, kids need nutrition. Making the last pea a battleground is not helpful when maybe they're full, or genuinely hate peas, or are struggling to physically catch it on the fork you insist they use. You could just accept it and serve carrots tomorrow.

2024-12-08 09:39:08 UTC

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yes, absolutely. But most things authoritarian parents say no about are not actually about consent but about control.
Compare:
"No, you can't get down from the table until you've eaten every last pea."
"No, I don't want to play a game right now."
Both are saying no to the child. The second is absolutely compatible with gentle parenting.

2024-12-08 09:26:04 UTC

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Gentle parenting done well is all about consent. It highlights that the child has autonomy, and therefore a right to consent or not. There are times when need must overrule want, but acknowledging the conflict supports decision making. It also doesn't negate the parent's autonomy and right to consent!
Authoritarian "no" teaches only that the person in power makes all decisions. Then they get big enough to feel they should be in power, therefore they make all the decisions...

2024-12-07 09:20:22 UTC

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this has, for decades, been an effective distraction. But I wonder if its power is starting to wain?
Time was, the average middle-class voter didn't know many (any?) people on benefits, apart from that poor lady down the road who has to use a wheelchair (such an inspiration!)
But now, with more and more people being forced by low wages, long covid, etc, to interact with some part of the benefits system, a lot more people personally know someone fighting with it.

2024-12-01 11:13:21 UTC

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yes, there should be a lot more human moderators, with much better pay and conditions. This should definitely include support to deal with the horrors they necessarily encounter.

2024-12-01 10:28:26 UTC

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it's difficult to build an algorithm based on ethics.
Can it distinguish an innocent photo of near-naked child enjoying a day at the beach, from a far more sinister image?
Is that picture of a cut encouraging self harm, or teaching first aid?
Is that nipple porn or breastfeeding advice?
Can it recognise sarcasm and satire?
Of course, there is also nothing encouraging Meta to try, as it thrives on views. It just needs to maintain enough trust to keep viewers.

2024-11-30 10:10:40 UTC

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it doesn't help that it's all finger-in-the-air guesswork.
I have no idea if I'm saving enough. I don't think it's even possible to work out, given how unpredictable any investment is. So I may as well prioritise the now and the near-future of the next few months - there are tangible benefits to doing that.

2024-11-24 10:40:43 UTC

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I think the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence, remember that?) had something good, conceptually.
When people learn to drive a car, the expectation is that they will be able to drive any car. A little orientation time to find the bite and learn where the indicators are, and off you go.
But people learn IT by rote. They click/tap that button there, and get confused by UI changes.
We should teach tech on the drive-anything paradigm. But the big players might lose out.

2024-11-23 22:20:07 UTC

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The more I read that Mastodon is more difficult than Twitter, the more I wonder if anyone has really compared it objectively. Are they, in fact, comparing getting started with Mastodon to existing after years of settling in on Twitter? Because it took me ages and ages to get the hang of Twitter and days to settle in here.

2024-11-23 11:01:42 UTC

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there was talk about clear pricing laws some years ago. Whatever happened to that? Did it just turn out to be inadequate?

2024-11-14 12:11:43 UTC

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please don't misgender him.
It implies that you don't think a person's gender deserves respect, or that they must meet with your approval to be gendered correctly. This is a terrible message to trans people, who often already have to suffer the whims of other people's opinions.
There is much to call out about Musk, and his close relationship with Trump. Calling him Trump's boyfriend or First Gentleman makes the point just as well without the implied transphobia and misogyny.

2024-11-12 07:56:00 UTC

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"we don't want to rely on big tech search, so we're going to rely on big tech genAI instead."
How does that a) make any sense whatsoever, and b) not utterly undermine their supposed stance on privacy and environment?

2024-11-05 08:47:10 UTC

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big drops in the last few years? What has happened that might have negatively impacted children's ability to concentrate? Maybe repeated covid infections leaving their unrecognised mark? Studies show that it impairs cognitive function even in people who don't think they have long covid.

2024-10-31 22:29:00 UTC

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this year, I've made 30 pumpkin cupcakes, toasted a large tray of seeds, turned 2.5kg flesh into puree (4/5 now frozen), and right now I have two pies baking. I've also got a few seeds set aside to plant.
I couldn't get the last 2kg dealt with before it went funny, so that's gone in the compost.
Not bad, considering I haven't bought or grown any pumpkins!

2024-10-27 08:44:22 UTC

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interesting.
I wonder if there's scope for them to put their collective weight behind the Greens? There's already notable synergy, and a history of collaboration. Might bringing the WE counsellors and the wider enthusiasm under the Green banner give the whole a boost?

2024-10-26 16:07:06 UTC

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I think an internal NHS software division is a great idea.
I used to work for a software house that sold exclusively to the NHS. If they'd bought the company, they could have had our standard software across all trusts for far less than the licensing would have cost, not least because they wouldn't have had to cover our profits, marketing, or licence admin. And we could have built what they needed, instead of what we thought we could sell them.

2024-10-21 07:29:07 UTC

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isn't it always?
Doing things on the cheap means poorer quality, in almost everything.

2024-10-21 06:22:26 UTC

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a large part of it is (unsurprisingly) underfunding.
Mainstream schools are so very stretched that they can no longer offer the lower levels of additional support that some students might need. With other services (children's centres etc) cut to the bone, more falls on schools, whose staff don't necessarily have the training, let alone the capacity.
Parents are forced into fighting for an EHCP to get their children's needs met.

2024-10-14 07:23:09 UTC

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I do think attitude is fundamental to many things we as a country struggle with.
Everything for ordinary citizens is sticks, while everything for the super rich is carrots. If there were more carrots on offer, the stick costs wouldn't be nearly so high.
Applies to prisons, benefits, jobs, education, health, housing... it's all "do as we say, or else" and wondering why that doesn't work.

2024-10-10 08:56:44 UTC

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I had exactly this conversation with Mum a while ago.
She was telling me about a woman who had been attacked on a quiet path at 3am. Her response was to wonder what the woman was doing, being out at such a time alone. I countered with "what was he doing going out raping people?" She had never considered it from that angle. Her opinions shifted quite significantly once she did.
We need to keep putting the blame back where it belongs.

2024-10-08 06:37:54 UTC

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I've just checked. It is impossible to recycle cables here without a car.
Our local tip (walking distance for many) will take them and recycle them, but they don't allow people to arrive on foot. Other options are too far away to walk and not on bus routes. Either way, it would require a specific trip out and life is busy.
So yet again I agree with the principle that we should be recycling, but the practicality gets in the way for many people. Making it *easier* is the key.

2024-10-05 08:02:54 UTC

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we should totally decorate migrants.
Anyone who successfully navigates the arcane and hostile systems blocking their way here deserves a medal. Two for anyone who survived a highly dangerous journey to do so.
(I know it's a typo, but it amused me)

2024-09-28 10:40:24 UTC

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there is.
I seem to recall there's even some case law around unnecessarily long T&Cs being inherently unfair, because nobody is going to spend 5 hours reading the fine print for a <£50 transaction.

2024-09-25 12:01:40 UTC

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I have whiplash from how quickly I've gone from praying for the downfall of the Conservative government to praying for the downfall of the Labour government.
I wonder how long it will take for the disquiet in their ranks (and previous ranks) to reach the level where Starmer's leadership is in trouble?

2024-09-08 12:33:36 UTC

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the conclusion I'm drawing / having reinforced is that LLM is always the wrong tool for information.

2024-09-08 08:20:29 UTC

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I don't think Google Fight exists anymore.

2024-09-08 08:18:26 UTC

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I'm not sure how to read these figures.
If I deposit £10, bet it, win £6 back, bet it again, win £4 back, bet it again, and lose it... have I bet £10 or £20? Which figure feeds into turnover? If it's the £20, isn't it self-evident that has half the economic impact of spending £20 elsewhere? If it was counted as £10 only, how would that compare with £10 spent elsewhere?
(Not defending online gambling here, just trying to work out whether *this* effect is exaggerated)

2024-09-08 07:33:22 UTC

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it seems to have given answers based on what's most talked about, rather than what's true.
Because LLM can't tell the difference.

2024-08-22 08:23:30 UTC

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cars are not the only things that can be put under those panels.
When (if?) we get better public transport, localised services, etc, and reliance on cars reduces, the carparks can be slowly transformed into bike parking, seating areas, market squares... all they'd need would be repainting the ground and (for bikes) a collection of "giant staples". You could do one row of car parking at a time.

2024-08-21 15:05:30 UTC

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I did not know this! I shall have to keep an eye out for anything being rejected.

2024-08-09 06:38:57 UTC

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yep. It's related to the dogfood principle.
To know if the dogfood you produce is good, you should eat it yourself. It's sometimes applied in software, especially open source, with the product being actively used by the maintainers.
I think it should also apply to other products and services. The more distant people are from their users the more important it is, eg MPs making decisions on public transport.
See also the NHS friends and family test for staff.