Neil Batchelor

Number crunching: Royal Mail From the latest Private Eye, out now.

I'm so gosh-darned excited! css-tricks.com/css-tricks-h...

Thanks, Google Maps, for protecting the cow's privacy.

The secret to a stone wall that lasts is "one over two, two over one." Never line up vertical joints, because that's where walls split. Dry stone masonry is now UNESCO heritage.

The 52nd annual Nikon Small World competition honours the world’s most remarkable images captured through a microscope. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Important #PHP security update: TL>DR We are aware of it, we have already put a protective measure in place, we will install the official fix as soon as available. This affects #WordPress #Joomla #Mautic and a whole lot more Further advice here and how to access support: encode.host/announcement...

📢 CAVA is recruiting a Delivery & Development Manager for Warwickshire South & Rugby! ⏰ 22.5 hours/week | 💷 £34,479 pro rata | 🏡 Hybrid Help community groups and charities thrive! 📅 Apply by 20 Nov, 9am: www.wcava.org.uk/vacancies/wa... #WarwickshireJobs

Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE), opens new tab, Orange (ORAN.PA), opens new tab, Telefonica (TEF.MC), opens new tab ​and Vodafone (VOD.L), opens new tab have agreed to ‌explore a joint bid for the future allocation of spectrum for mobile satellite ​services in Europe www.reuters.com/business/aer...

Community groups, charities and not-for-profits can apply for £500-£1,500 through the #HealthyAndSustainableFoodForAll Small Grant 2026. ⏰ Deadline: 12pm, 21 October Find out more and apply 👇 https://orlo.uk/EcNND

There's only 6 tickets remaining for #WCMCR! They are selling fast, so if you don't have yours yet, head over to manchester.wordcamp.org/2026/tickets before they're all gone. WordCamp Manchester returns on Friday 6th November 2026.

Her: "OK I'll go out but I'm not drinking" Also her, two hours later:

As a society, if we can afford billionaires, we can afford a benefits system that helps those in need.

ICYMI: WordCamp Manchester is back! If you haven't got your ticket yet, head over to manchester.wordcamp.org/2026/tickets before they're all gone ⚡️ #WCMCR 🐝

On today! Come to the Climate Hub at 30 Meer Street this morning to learn how to make attractive patching and embroidery to save old clothes from an early grave!

Congratulations to our Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners! 🎉📸 🐘 Federico Veronesi is our Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026, awarded for his mesmerising image, ‘The Aftermath’. 🪲 Oscar Whitfield’s ‘Labour of Love’ crowns him our Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026.

Meet the organisers for WordCamp Manchester 2026! WordCamp Manchester returns on Friday 6th November. 🔗 manchester.wordcamp.org/2026/organis... #WCMCR 🐝

Want to know how "Pick-n-Fix" works? It's very easy - decide what you need, check out website listing, pop into the Climate Hub and take what you need! Simples!

Oh no www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...

NEW: Prime Minister Andy Burnham finally breaks a decade of UK govt silence…& reveals there was ‘clear’ Russian interference in the Brexit vote. 1/

🚨The government is looking for UK alternatives to Palantir to run the NHS data platform, the FT reports. This follows a week of protests in 40+ places across England and a rally of hundreds at Palantir's London HQ. Help keep the pressue up: nopalantirinthenhs.com

vaporised.co.uk

I have said before and will again: any electoral reform commission must NOT rule out a change of system BEFORE the next election if needed. We cannot risk a minority vote handing a huge majority to any party that would take a shredder to democracy itself.

And more news coverage of the river cleaning, “It's a Beautiful World” performance and water testing in Warwickshire.

Hey Folks, Bit of news this morning. We're happy to present WordCamp Manchester 2026! The event will take place in the Whitworth Locke Hotel on November 6th 2026. Launch Post: manchester.wordcamp.org/2026/alright... Buy Tickets: manchester.wordcamp.org/2026/tickets/ #wcmcr #wordcamp

We're just 1 month away from WDC2026! Tickets are just £99! This year we have an awesome lineup of speakers @paavandesign.com @duncanpetrie.com @amyhupe.bsky.social @joshtumath.uk @hidde.blog @cjforms.bsky.social @rivea0.bsky.social @jesslynnrose.bsky.social webdevconf.com

Almost one in six members of the House of Lords holds a paid political advisory role that, on Transparency International UK's analysis, carries a significant lobbying risk. "At least six peers go further still, sitting as directors or senior partners in lobbying and political advisory firms."

Good to see a Library of Things getting some coverage on the BBC. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Did I buy this old black and white TV/clock radio and an RF modulator just so I could use it as a tiny monitor to make this post? Yes, yes I did.

Important Update: Upcoming Enhancements to Your .UK Domain Name The official registry for .UK domains is getting a major upgrade. Here is what it means for your business. 👇️ encode.host/announcement... #DomainNames #Domains #UK

Great day at the Nominet Members Event today, held at the Triumph factory. Insights on the UK domain space, how it stacks up against other TLDs, what's happening with AI, but also, where some opportunities are hiding. Also, got to see The Great Escape motorbike! #nominet #dns #domain

Old housemates, old school friends, family members, - they even asked a local launderette for an itinerary of what I've had washed! All this from billionaire owned media because they don't want a party to continue growing that challenges power & wealth. Join.greenparty.org.uk

🚨 Spam in the age of AI Search - A must read piece by @gfiorelli1.bsky.social warning about manipulative tactics from traditional search that are making a reappearance with AI search... that you should stay away from 👇 Check it out: www.iloveseo.net/spam-in-the-...

Our main launch event for #GreatBigGreenWeek in Stratford District is taking place in Meon Vale this year on Saturday 6th June. Lots of activities and talks you can take part in, and information to help you live a greener lifestyle.

We’re working with @WarksWildlife to fund biodiversity projects across the District—think wildflower planting 🌼 and tree planting 🌳 in shared spaces. Eligible sites include schools, parks, allotments, village greens, community centres & more. 👉 Learn more: https://orlo.uk/7YJMl

Happy 30th Birthday Internet Archive! On May 10, 1996, Brewster Kahle founded a non-profit organization called the Internet Archive. #InternetHistory

When DAVID BOWIE attended PETER SELLER’s 50th birthday party in L.A. in 1975 he put together an impromptu band called ‘Trading Faces’ - including Bowie (sax), Bill Wyman (bass), Ron Wood (guitar), Joe Cocker (vocals), Jesse Ed Davis (guitar), Keith Moon (organ, vocal, drums).

Brilliant from @carolinelucas.bsky.social on Farage’s failed Brexit experiment 👏 bylinetimes.com/2026/05/01/n...

Two things about the Commons shenanigans: 🤔 Whatever Keir Starmer may or may not have done is not in the same ballpark as what Boris Johnson did over #Partygate 😡 This performative politics does nothing to improve the lives of British citizens and undermines their faith in democracy

Tomorrow is the 100th edition of SEO Office Hours! Hurrah! If you have never attended before - now's the time! All (some) of your SEO questions answered, probably, by either the guests or other SEO's in the chat, if they are not larking about. www.goodsignals.com/seo-office-h...

EU: The European Union will require sale of mobile phones with “user-replaceable and longer-lasting batteries” starting in 2027. The regulation demands “availability of spare parts and manuals for 10 years to curb planned obsolescence”.

Sharon Osbourne, an immigrant in the US, joins Tommy "10 names" Robinson, son of immigrants, with an Irish passport, who lives in Spain, on an anti-immigrant march in London 🤔

Forgot to post that I updated our Bad Bots plugin earlier this week.... Better code and quashed some bugs. "Bot detection and blocking system that protects your WordPress site from unwanted crawlers and malicious bots." #WordPress #Plugin #Updates wordpress.org/plugins/edh-...

New from Fathom Analytics! Bots Blocked report. My filly link: usefathom.com/ref/ILRGSP

From the Archives: How many WordPress Plugins is too many for your site? - https://dwinrhys.com/2023/03/15/how-many-wordpress-plugins-is-too-many-for-your-site/

For this month's co-working we're happy to announce that Pete Morley of Typeface Digital is offering free business headshots for members! Come along to the event and see Pete. So if you need a new LinkedIn profile picture, you've a week to get your hair done! mwug.uk/2026/03/mwug... #wordpress

BBC News leading all its bulletins on demands by former Government advisor Lord Robertson for more defence spending, without at any point mentioning his current paid senior role for US defence lobbyists

Among Reform UK’s biggest donors is the Crypto billionaire Ben Delo, who was handed a fawning spread in the Telegraph this week to explain why he is giving £4m to the party. What is buried in the piece that Delo is a convicted criminal who pled guilty to violating money laundering law in the US