At least the Microsoft Paperclip made funny faces whilst being annoying, and you could get rid of it!

Open Data Camp 11 – Save the Date Dear friends of open data We’re excited to announce that Open Data Camp 11 is coming to Birmingham on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026 Join us at the for a weekend of unconference sessions, …

Open Data Camp (@odcamp.uk) is coming to #Birmingham on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026 💚💚💚

www.odcamp.uk/open-data-ca...

Tickets will be free (as always) and available soon.

#excited 🙂
#CivicTech
#OpenData
#unconference

😔

📢 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭! Register and submit an abstract before 24 April.
𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐠𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 - 18-19 June 2026 in Brest 🇫🇷
👉 www.euro-argo.eu/News-Meeting...
#EAONE #Argofloats #OceanScience
@univbrest.bsky.social @ifremer.bsky.social @cnrs.fr @awi.de

Some would say the Mek'leth would be preferable...

This was my immediate thought too

Aimee Smith Aimee is Government Chief Data Officer leading the Government Digital Service ( GDS ) data strategy to improve data maturity throughout its lifecycle. She works closely with Chief Data Officers across...

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Who says the North doesn't get any sun?

Help us improve Open Government Licensing guidance The National Archives oversees the UK Government Licensing Framework, helping both public sector information providers and people who re-use this data to understand their rights and responsibilities. ...

If you’re interested in open government data, please read (and repost) www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blogs/digita...

I’m running a survey to ask researchers what they want the UK Government Web Archive to offer in the future to enable wider use of the collection. If you’re a web archive user, or you would like to be, please take ten minutes to complete this survey: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/UKGWA-Rese...

Globally, no single day in 2025 was cooler than its 1991-2020 average.
climate.copernicus.eu/global-clima...

When it rains, it now rains more.

For those experiencing the flooding in south-west England, it is worth remembering that rainfall in winter has increased by about 25% overall.

And, the rainfall has also become more intense: when it rains, it now rains more, increasing the risk of flooding.

Tide observations at Newlyn showing a level on the morning of 23rd Jan 2026 peaking at over 6m

BBC weather map for noon today 23rd Jan with a low pressure storm just off Cornwall

Very high sea-levels this morning at Newlyn in Cornwall, thanks to this storm coinciding with a (moderate) spring tide.

*shudders*

We’re excited to welcome Brazil & Steph Muchai as OGP’s Co-Chairs and to spotlight UK & Laura Neuman, who will follow in 26–27.

Brazil & Steph’s Co-Chair Agenda sets bold priorities for #opengov.

opengovpartnership.org/news/brazil-and-steph-muchai-to-co-chair-the-ogp-steering-committee/

I don't buy that. Maintenance aside, damage control efforts would need ready access. That's not the only problem though. The vessel is routinely portrayed as being far too small to have any meaningfully useful internal volume.

Looks good, but makes zero sense as a real vessel.

Yes, you're quite right.

Worth noting that a 15" shell was hypersonic...

If I'd expended all my missiles and didn't have the choice, I'm sure I'd be quite fond of a naval gun with programmable ammunition. I might be more fond if I had a few of them...

That might be true of 'big guns' but modern naval guns with programmable munitions arguably turn the tables at least at shorter ranges, especially re: cost per shot.

I'm not suggesting anyone should build one, but with modern air defense technology, a modern battleship would not be vulnerable to air attack in the way they were in WW2.

Since it's coming up again in the Discourse: GPS (GNSS) is a passive system and does not itself actually track anything. The satellites just shout out their own position & time.
Your device just listens to that, works out its position, and may store or transmit that data through a phone connection.

Ah right, full set of numbers, and only 5 seconds of music. It was great how it brought levity and finality at the same time.

Last time I attended was quite awhile ago, and I must admit the timer is my most prominent recollection! Along with a few speakers talking at an ever increasing pace. Could have sworn it was the full 30 seconds, but I bow to you as the original source!

Last time I attended (which was awhile ago) the Challenger Society Ocean Modelling Group meetings had everyone on a strict 10 minute timer, and in the last 30 seconds the countdown music kicked in automatically.

Agreed. A totally pointless activity which never made any sense at any *cough* point in time.

Dip-test question: without looking it up, what do you think "open government" is?

Depending on one's perspective, either many trip hazards across the building or one giant trip hazard with many expressions. Although I didn't ponder too much about that when I first entered and fell over with my suitcase in tow.

I once stayed in a hotel in Bergen that had black walls and carpets with a square laser-like pattern across the floor, up the walls, and over the ceiling. And the floor wasn't even as several buildings had been knocked through. Trippy!