We'll be singing in a cinema to mark 90 years since the release of Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times. I'm looking forward to seeing the film on a proper screen. If you haven't seen it, I'd really recommend it. It's about (I think) not having enough money to participate in the society you live in.
https://www.commonerschoir.com/Shop.php#!/Smile-ticket/p/817444270

Noticed #BBCR4 news refer to US "Defense Secretary" Pete Hegseth. I guess it's hard to decide the "true" title, when technically it's still the Department of Defense but is branded "Department of War". But I think it might be sanewashing, softening, calming, to not call him "War Secretary". #USPol

The US ‘Department of War’ sacked an AI firm for insisting its software isn't used for ‘fully autonomous weapons’. Which means they want AI to make kill decisions.
Here, from Robocob, is ED-209; an illustration (gory) of why we don't want fully autonomous weapons.
https://youtu.be/TYsulVXpgYg?si=Gp-6CaKlza0ezCRp #USPol

Earlier I was looking to see if there is a German translation/equivalent. This is why I ignore the AI suggestions.

Americans must be excited. The Trump government has to pay the importers back the money taken in illegal tariffs, then they'll pass it on to the retailers who will pass it on to the people who paid extra for the product. At least, I assume that's how capitalism works. #USPol

Happened upon a demonstration I wasn't expecting in Leeds today. Lots of people from Iran or with Iranian heritage - of all ages - singing and cheering at the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. Some held photos of relatives recently killed by Iranian government forces.

I'm on strike again. Previously I've gone with “disappointed” and “sad”. I'm still going with “sad” but I'm adding in “simmering annoyance”.

There's a lot to answer in this Home Office consultation on making the UK inhospitable for people from other countries. But respond we all must. By 12 February.
The direction seems to be: make everyone unhappy & the economy worse, to court voters who don't like foreigners.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement
#UKpol

[Don't start an argument with bigots in a comments section. Don't start an argument with bigots in a comments section. Don't start an argument with bigots in a comments section. Don't start an argument with bigots in a comments section. Don't start an argument with bigots in a comments section.]
OK, stepping away from Facebook before I lose my common sense.
https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png

Microsoft365 homepage now *hiding* Outlook, Word, Excel and other apps to try to get us to use Copilot.
Do they expect me to use Copilot to open my emails or open a document? Dry up some valley to update a spreadsheet?