UK politics nerds: AIUI most government advertising except 'essentials' should be paused in the pre-election period. Does this include arms-length bodies?
OFGEM is advertising an energy price cap on social media and that feels like a bigger impact than stuff we've been asked to stop.
Today's "Taxpayers' Alliance" press release about 'fat cat' council bosses has my local Nextdoor group frothing wildly. As if this year's >£100m budget deficit is due to salaries at council HQ.
"What do they even do?" they foam, under an article that shows they manage a budget of >£2bn.
When something you warned was ill-conceived does turn into precisely the shit-show you anticipated for the reasons you said, how do you say 'told you so' to people who dismissed your advice as 'overly pessimistic' without seeming petty?
I wish there was a key combination I could press when clicking a link that told 'the algorithm' I was just clicking it for a laugh / curiosity and that it didn't need to recommend more houses costing £20m or jobs tending remote island lighthouses.
@bensmithuk Or: they could piss off the EU with their disingenuousness, developers with their cumbersome conditions, and consumers with the huge mess that they’re going to make with their convoluted concessions as they capitulate piecemeal.
I got a discount code from Amazon so bought a Kindle Scribe. It's actually not bad and - I think - I prefer writing on it over a Supernote (which I sold) and iPad with Pipelike screen protector.
@bensmithuk I will be tuning in. I’ve considered a Scribe and a Remarkable, as I do like e-ink for reading. But I haven’t convinced myself I’d use it enough to justify. Hadn’t heard of the Supernote, will take a look.
I have reluctantly re-joined Facebook with a minimal profile so I can join some local / kid's school groups that don't exist elsewhere.
EVERY 3 posts there's a scam ad - mainly fake celebrity endorsements and fake give-aways by big retailers. I reported a few but most are deemed not to break advertising rules 🤷
@bensmithuk Yes, and especially on a mobile (or the last minute, oh no dance class tonight is cancelled because the teacher is ill messages) that's harder to do. Here there's also a lot of WhatsApp - which is perhaps better, but still all Meta.
According to the paperwork that came with my son's new fish, they can 'reduce blood pressure' and 'improve mental health'. TBH I'm not feeling it yet as I anxiously check the new aquarium for fatalities every 10mins.