Posts by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
(DIR) Post #B6SDz775xSTKlJcYaW by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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While I don't like the conclusion of the Information Commissioner's Office's publication on advertising - that more advertising entailing access to and storage of information on a user's device should be permitted without that user's consent (it should not, IMHO) - it is a genuinely thoughtful and detailed paper.But I think that, as the data protection regulator, the ICO should be pushing for *more* protection, not less.https://ico.org.uk/media2/yefdqvk4/20260505-report-for-dsit-on-changes-to-regulation-6-pecr-for-online-advertising.pdf#DataProtection #GDPR
(DIR) Post #B6SyfcdLkifcZfuoW8 by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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Kickstarter's apology for its hamfisted banning of more projects reflects a genuine problem of conservative fiscal censors:> It means that at any point ... Stripe can still suspend a campaign that Kickstarter has approved. That's the reality of operating within a payment system we don't fully control. I wish that there was a good solution to this, one which doesn't look like cryptocurrency.https://updates.kickstarter.com/an-apology-rethinking-our-mature-content-guidelines/
(DIR) Post #B6YSinsKNjSyiv9bF2 by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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Today is World Goth Day.Wishing a very dark and mystical day to those who, erm, celebrate.
(DIR) Post #B6a3bTVlaRNP07vhSa by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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In a spirit of eagerness earlier in the week, I booked an 09:00 appointment at our local recycling centre, to help tidy up some of the garden.I now regret this.
(DIR) Post #B6auMhTChZ2pWIZSNs by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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A kind person said to me this week words to the effect of "Neil, I love talking with you. You make chatting so easy!"And now, dear reader, I - someone who is not a very people person - will share with you the two secrets of my critically acclaimed prowess:1) "Oh {wow,cool,my,yes,no,oops,dear}, tell me more about that!"2) Listening - genuinely listening - and asking questions.Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
(DIR) Post #B6auMieEK3SVAmjmD2 by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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I reckon that this probably also works well as dating advice.
(DIR) Post #B6e8tgnwB9EtqPm0JM by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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I saw an advert for a fibre supplement, and that sounds great as right now our home network is only Cat 6.
(DIR) Post #B6gZh7q1vBcUMhejGy by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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Today is World Dracula Day.Fancy getting your teeth into a good epistolary book?Available free:https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/bram-stoker/dracula
(DIR) Post #B6gjk1JlcT8mYLaHmi by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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From what I've seen, both in terms of spam but also in the legal press, there is (consistent with other industries too) a big sales push for genAI, using the notion that lawyers who do not "adopt AI" will be "left behind" as the lever.This kind of rhetoric has come from people selling AI, which is to be expected, but also from some quite senior judges, which is perhaps less expected.And it comes despite the repeated, even weekly, reports of the impact of misuse of AI by lawyers.I sometimes feel that I am an outlier in not using genAI for my legal work.
(DIR) Post #B6iH8ABtlwu4fSz3Y0 by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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Well that was a rubbish night's sleep.Oh well. Let the lawyering commence.This week is always quiet - lots of clients taking time off for half term - so perhaps only half a day for me today.
(DIR) Post #B6ifglpGkaoo8WQxYe by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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Take me downTo the Paradise CityWhere the grassHas been replaced with trees and other plants which provide shade and cooling and lower the ambient temperature for everyone aroundBut at least it is not tarmac or paving slabs
(DIR) Post #B6jVjjRZG98nEW55ZQ by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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I am reading up on Mattermost, and a voice in my head keeps saying "just run an irc server again, Neil".
(DIR) Post #B6jX2EsPEPApt41UpM by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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I'm surprised that anyone can afford gaslighting these days.There must be a renewable equivalent.
(DIR) Post #B6lFFpb2bp9qg59VTs by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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Over the summer, I will attempt to configure Linux to use printers from over 40 different countries.Yes, I am part of the World CUPS.
(DIR) Post #B6ut5unOAX3cUoOT3o by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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SSDs still £££ :(
(DIR) Post #B7LzAk7YAAdy3SEUL2 by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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Right.Internet safety / #OnlineSafetyAct in the UK is clearly going to be the topic of the day.Child protection is essential, but I am highly sceptical of the proposed approach.Keeping to my "more than three toots should be blogpost" rule, here's a brief - probably entirely as-expected - analysis from me:https://neilzone.co.uk/content/files/2026-06-15_online_safety_phase_2.html#UK #Internet #blog
(DIR) Post #B7MJ7kuEmjp0hkrJ1U by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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10 years of #mastodon Although this account is only eight and a bit years old...
(DIR) Post #B7N0bGWEcladB2wvxY by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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A random thought.Let's suppose that this daft proposed UK social media ban for children, and perhaps age verification for everyone, is coming in 6-12 months.Some parents will want their children to still enjoy online social lives, without either child or parent giving up their privacy. Same for child-free adults, who will be swept up in this.I wonder what tangible steps such people could do now, to mitigate if not remove this coming risk.Downloading from YouTube to build a local archive?Looking at local gaming servers, to share with friends but not the public?Small, controlled, social media instances which might be in scope but may not be the subject of enforcement?(Changing the status quo and bringing in UBI, educating people about changing the law to address harmful functionality, not child users etc.)
(DIR) Post #B7SMC4mZoSXMGjEXL6 by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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I am most grateful to everyone who consistently uses content warnings (CWs) here. Thank you.This little extra effort makes such a different.
(DIR) Post #B7ZB9Ia1OzB5lPzCgS by neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk
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Ah, the prospect of one of those rare (albeit increasingly less so) weeks which is hotter than I am.