Responding to AI-driven demand on public systems How public services can avoid new forms of rationing and turn individual actions into collective benefits.

@alexparsons.bsky.social has been thinking about the increased demand on public systems created by #AI - not just #FOI but for all areas where the public interface with government.

Here's a suggestion for an approach that can work for the public benefit:
www.mysociety.org/2026/04/14/r...

a block of five horizontal color swatches in Artificial Turf (#40bf62), Reptile Green (#26d991), Emerald Succulent (#55aaa4), Cosmic Red (#d92650), and Chili (#bf4a40).

a gratifying new palette for you to enjoy:

Artificial Turf (#40bf62),
Reptile Green (#26d991),
Emerald Succulent (#55aaa4),
Cosmic Red (#d92650), and
Chili (#bf4a40)

#color #ColorPalette

Data Visualization with Textiles This site is notes and drafts that may someday become a Handbook of Data Visualization with Textiles.

If you like data, or making things with textile crafts (sewing, knitting, crochet, weaving, etc.), I've finally written something up about data visualization with textiles. More words coming over the next few months! #DHmakes

From Plastic Waste to Purpose: Inspiring Future Changemakers Apr 8, 2026, 5:30:00 PM - GMT - DoES Liverpool, L3 8HL, Liverpool, United Kingdom - Pat Link shares how introducing plastics recycling in his teaching journey helps to spark student engagement and cri...

🗓️ The next in our regular DoES Salon series is this Weds, 8 April.
Pat Link will share how introducing plastics recycling in his teaching journey helps to spark student engagement and critical thinking, helping them see themselves as changemakers.
More here:
events.doesliverpool.com/events/fa669...

A great example of sports data visualization with textiles! ⚾ 🧢 #DHmakes

TOMORROW: Be a part of history! Show the world that the majority of Americans oppose the most corrupt, inept, criminal, orange "president" in U.S. History.

NO KINGS. Also: NO SERIAL LIARS/CONVICTED FELONS/ADJUDICATED RAPISTS & NO ILLEGAL WAR IN IRAN

Be there. Make your voices heard! 🇺🇸 ✊

#NO_KINGS

https://www.nokings.org/

We'll be passing these out. Feel free to print them too.

🤞

Meanwhile, in Paris, the new left-wing mayor is giving his first media interview since he won *WHILE* he biking.

Kensington community centre saved by Kwik Save boss to undergo major revamp A major refurbishment of a crumbling Liverpool community centre has moved a step closer after plans were given the green light by the city council. It was revealed earlier last…

Kensington community centre saved by Kwik Save boss to undergo major revamp www.birkenhead.news/kensington-c...

Wirral artists to open their private studios for a peninsula-wide creative trail An old fire station in Port Sunlight, a room in a former New Brighton greengrocer’s, and a Georgian town house in Hamilton Square are just a few of the exciting…

Wirral artists to open their private studios for a peninsula-wide creative trail www.birkenhead.news/wirral-artis...

DoES Liverpool - Coworking, Events and Makerspace DoES Liverpool is a coworking, events and maker space based on Kempston Street, Liverpool. Drop in and rent a desk by the day or hire a desk by the month.

From my own makerspace in liverpool at @doesliverpool.com who is a key support without none of it would happen. So yeah... not just a school. 🤣👍

doesliverpool.com

Tomorrow! Live companion bot building 🤩

I really like the Alvik – it's cute and approachable, but when I did the unboxing a couple years ago, I realized that its components and API are way more powerful than it lets on: www.hackster.io/glowascii/fi...

Glad to finally come back to it!

Could Williamson Square fountain be turned back on? The fountains in Williamson Square have become something of folklore over the years. First installed more than two decades ago, the water feature has been off more than it has…

Could Williamson Square fountain be turned back on? www.birkenhead.news/could-willia...

Ropemaking Workshop (Adults + Kids Welcome!) Come and learn the satisfying craft of ropemaking, using unwanted yarn in the colours of your choice.

I'll be running a Ropemaking workshop on Saturday 28th February @DoESLiverpool.
Suitable for adults and children. Can be used for skipping. Pay what you can. Book your half hour slot via Eventbrite:
Ropemaking Workshop (Adults + Kids Welcome!)
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ropemaking...

Week 768 - Ropemaking, Nerd-sniping - DoES Liverpool Each week we’ll endeavour to publish some details of the interesting things that members of DoES Liverpool have been up to over the past seven days. You can find out […]

Week 768 - Ropemaking, Nerd-sniping - DoES Liverpool
doesliverpool.com/weeknotes/we...

Pimoroni Badger 2350 menu with my ISS app

the names of the astronauts on the International Space Station

Tinkering with Pimoroni's new Badger 2350, powered by the #raspberrypi #RP2350 I've written an app to get the names of the astronauts on the International Space Station using the built in Wi-Fi and a little JSON magic.

Ropemaking Workshop (Adults + Kids Welcome!) Come and learn the satisfying craft of ropemaking, using unwanted yarn in the colours of your choice.

I'll be running a Ropemaking workshop on Saturday 28th February @DoESLiverpool.
Suitable for adults and children. Can be used for skipping. Pay what you can. Book your half hour slot via Eventbrite:
Ropemaking Workshop (Adults + Kids Welcome!)
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ropemaking...

I've always been fascinated by penplotter painting. It took me some time, but I've managed to develop a simple and effective method. It's time to share it with the community and inspire other artists.

#penplotter #plotterart #idrawpenplotter #uunatek

15% off on Uunatek.com with the code LBALLIXVIP

Destash Sale and Materials Swap Got stuff you don't need? Bring it to our Destash Sale and Materials Swap for a fun day of trading and finding new treasures!

Circular Arts Network LCRare holding a Destash Sale and Materials Swap at DoES Liverpool this weekend (14th - 15th February). Find out more and get your free tickets via Eventbrite:
Destash Sale and Materials Swap
www.eventbrite.com/e/destash-sa...

Vice headline reads: "Zara, Nike, and Abercrombie’s Indian Factories Weren’t Fully Paying Workers" The story was reporting on something put out by the Workers Rights Consortium.

Story at Mind The Gap reads: CASE STUDY: Zara fights sanctions for forced labour in Brazilian supply chain Spanish fast fashion giant Zara, an Inditex brand, has been found to source clothes from Brazilian workshops with modern slavery conditions but fought against sanctions in court – showing how corporations seek to avoid liability by hiding behind complex supply chains.

Disappointed to learn Bad Bunny wore Zara, effectively promoting the brand to millions. Although Zara has made admirable strides to address labor conditions, fast fashion can never be ethical because it depends on rapid production and cheap prices, which results in worker exploitation.

Festival of Data Exhibition of Data, Art and You at the ACC today (Saturday 7th Feb). Lots of stuff to see, including fire engine, Lego, talks, and data art - including this Quipu installation I worked on with children from Lawrence Road primary school.
civicdatacooperative.com/festival-of-...

Join us for the LCR Data Community of Practice in person meetup, a collaborative event organised by Open Data Manchester CIC in partnership with the Civic Data Cooperative.

Register now : www.tickettailor.com/events/opend...

Food and refreshments will be provided.

Good to see more free/open source projects move off the proprietary microsoft github platform to codeberg etc.

I think it's fair to say that projects left behind aren't really free/open source.. [1/2]

St George’s Hall exhibition celebrates pioneering nurse Mary Seacole St George’s Hall Charitable Trust has announced a free public exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Mary Seacole (1805–1881), the pioneering nurse, healer, and humanitarian whose courage and c...

St George’s Hall exhibition celebrates pioneering nurse Mary Seacole www.birkenhead.news/st-georges-h...

A red hat, inspired by a symbol of resistance to Nazi occupation, gains traction in Minnesota A Minneapolis knitting shop has resurrected the design of a Norwegian cap worn to protest Nazi occupation. Its owner says the money raised from hat pattern sales will support the local immigrant commu...

NPR: 'A red hat, inspired by a symbol of resistance to Nazi occupation, gains traction in Minnesota'

'Since making the pattern available for $5, the shop has raised nearly $400,000, Mashaal said Friday.'

www.npr.org/2026/01/31/n...

Call for Makers 2026 - Wirral MakeFest 2026 Call for Makers 2026

Wirral MakeFest will be on Saturday 25th April this year, at Birkenhead Central Library. DoES Liverpool will be there.
If you'd like your own stall then you need to apply by 1st February.
Here's the link to find out more and apply:
wirralmakefest.org/call-for-mak...
#WeekNotes

Not that i post here very often - at the moment mainly about events at Little Leaf but I do love a bit of Show & Tell - 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲?

𝗟𝗖𝗥 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 & 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 (𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻) 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆

www.tickettailor.com/events/opend...

a block of five horizontal color swatches in Delaunay Green (#a7b34d), Flowering Reed (#e0d8b8), Bailey Bells (#8688cb), Penna (#b8c7e0), and Heritage Blue (#4d94b3).

a groovy new palette for you to enjoy:

Delaunay Green (#a7b34d),
Flowering Reed (#e0d8b8),
Bailey Bells (#8688cb),
Penna (#b8c7e0), and
Heritage Blue (#4d94b3)

#color #ColorPalette