It's 20 yrs today that I was in a cafe on the shores of Loch Ness and my mate ordered a toasted teacake.

The waitress asked my exasperated southern friend to clarify.
"A teacake cut in half, grilled and buttered? Are you sure?'

The Tunnocks that came out was like a horror from Doctor Who.

Did I mention this opportunity for researchers to come to the UK?

‘The Frontier AI Bill and…?’: Briefing Paper Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

Yesterday was all about AI Opportunities...

We're expecting a frontier AI Bill...

But what plans does govt need for the harms & challenges already with us?

@connectedbydata.org, Demos & @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social convened civil society/industry for some answers

demos.co.uk/research/the...

I’ve often thought similar - eg someone going off to Hollyoaks Uni (or whatever it’s called) or having characters related across soaps (cousins living in Albert Sq & Coronation St)

The cover of 'Physics for Cats - Science Cartoons by Tom Gauld' which shows six cats on an impossible shape, floating in a purple void sparkling with stars.

'Physics for Cats' is my next collection of science cartoons. It'll be out in the autumn. More details and an excerpt are here: www.drawnandquarterly.com/books/physics-for-cats/

BBC One - Call the Midwife, Series 14, Episode 1, "This is going to be teaching us things for 80 years" The midwives get to grips with the 1970 Birth Cohort Study.

In case you missed it - cohort studies got a mention on Call the Midwife last Sunday (specifically the 1970 Birth Cohort Study)! A bit cheesy I know, but good to see these essential data resources, & the unique insight they make possible, get the attention they deserve. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

Hi all - start (sort-of) the New Year by following @usociety.bsky.social @iseressex.bsky.social @misoc-essex.bsky.social and @cempaessex.bsky.social - all based here at the @universityofessex.bsky.social

Data Have a Limited Shelf Life

#StatsSky I'm a big fan of data sets from the history of #statistics, but this article by guru Stephen Stigler gives one pause:

Data Have a Limited Shelf Life
hdsr.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/iu26pfw1/

""Data, unlike some wines, do not improve with age." Three interesting classic examples

FENStats is offering travel grants to support the participation of early-career statisticians at conferences like ours

Read the criteria and apply by 1 Feb 👇
www.fenstats.eu/news/2024-11...

it's done! it's published! my full list of "if we were to disband the US and give a state each to fifty countries, who should get which state"! I don't know why I wrote it but it's there! and free to read! youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arguably-m...

And we wonder why social care reform has stalled for so long… 👇

For Maths fans, 2025 is a square.
45² = 45 x 45 = 2025
Also,
9² x 5² = 2025
40² + 20² + 5² = 2025
My favourite?
1³+2³+3³+4³+5³+6³+7³+8³+9³ = 2025
#Mathematics #teaching #education

Another vote for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - also Piranesi, not quite a fairy tale but def not crime

Really enjoying Money, by @davidmcwecon.bsky.social
This section on Fibonacci makes a point I’ve long argued beautifully. Effective communication requires the ability to escape the tyranny of your peer group!

Feathers as a nun

Feathers as a chicken

Im sorry but there’s a new standard now if we are talking about acting range.

Laura Aikman (who played Sonia) didn’t tell her family she was back in Gavin & Stacey until she popped up on the screen last night. #GavinAndStacey

Loved opening this advent calendar everyday and even better - it’s a proper 25 day one 😊

So, let's try doing #duvetknowitschristmas here this evening? People are literally Driving Home For Christmas right now, which MIGHT JUST mean that they'll be sleeping somewhere unusual. 1/

Seven high-impact interventions to tackle health and care inequalities - Health Equity Evidence Centre We have undertaken a series of 10 evidence reviews for NHS England and here highlight seven interventions and programmes with the strongest evidence base.

www.heec.co.uk/resource/sev...

7 High impact interventions to address health inequalities- many interface with primary care with community and peer supported interventions necessary to close the health literacy and self-advocacy gap.
#PrimaryCare #GeneralPractice

The first side from England to tour Australia pictured on the eve of their departure from Liverpool in October 1861

The first side from England to tour Australia pictured on the eve of their departure from Liverpool in October 1861. Led by HH Stephenson, they arrived in Australia on December 24th and stayed for three months

Oh wow - I love Asterix! I should have recognised Getafix

Better in a wreath than boiled and then left uneaten on plates!

How beautiful. But also, what playmobil set did this fella come from?!

5 authors / 5 books
Ian McEwan
Jonathan Coe
Barbara Pym
Colm Tóibín
Ian Rankin

Coming to terms with climate change: a glossary for climate change impacts on mental health and well-being Climate change is a major threat to global health. Its effects on physical health are increasingly recognised, but mental health impacts have received less attention. The mental health effects of clim...

📣 New article just in time for Christmas! 🎁

Coming to terms with climate change: a glossary for climate change impacts on mental health and well-being

doi.org/10.1136/jech...

@vkatikireddi.bsky.social @ajwvictoriabc.bsky.social @hesterparr.bsky.social @richardshaw.bsky.social @uofgshw.bsky.social

Honoured (and also suffering imposter syndrome) to be following in the footsteps of previous lecturers Andrew Dilnot, @hilarycottam.bsky.social, Andy Haldane and @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social
If you are interested in AI and health do sign up - you can come in person or watch online

I’ll put you in touch with the folk in PHS developing our indicators in this area

New post: the National Data Library's goal should be to help people deliver trustworthy data services

peterkwells.com/2024/12/18/t...

UK Statistics Assembly 2025 The UK Statistics Assembly The UK Statistics Authority, in partnership with the Royal Statistical Society, is pleased to invite users, producers and stakeholders to the first UK Statistics Assembly on...

For anyone interested in discussing and advising on the stats and data needs for the UK, we’ve now published the agenda for the first-ever UK Stats Assembly on 22 Jan in London (you can join online if in-person’s not your thing). More details👉 uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/uk-statistic...