Odds and Ends of History

Odds and Ends of History critically examines current socio-political narratives, technological impacts, and policy decisions with a focus on debunking popular misconceptions. It explores themes like the misalignment between public image and policy impact, the necessity of pragmatic approaches to climate change, and the potential of emerging technologies to reshape societal norms.

Political Commentary Technology Impact and Safety Climate Change and Environmental Policy Media Literacy and Journalism Public Transportation Systems Urban Development and Policy Economic Policy and Innovation

The hottest Substack posts of Odds and Ends of History

And their main takeaways

TfL's AI Tube Station experiment is amazing and slightly terrifying

2278 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Surveillance Transportation Data Analysis Digital innovation
  1. AI technology, like the one used in TfL's Tube Station experiment, is rapidly changing and being implemented in various sectors.
  2. AI cameras at stations can have a wide range of uses, from enhancing security to improving passenger welfare and gathering statistical data.
  3. While AI technology offers numerous benefits, there are also concerns about privacy, surveillance, and potential misuse of the technology.

We're about to witness the first "extremely online" Tory opposition

1340 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Conservative Party UK politics Political Analysis
  1. The Conservative Party is heading towards an 'extremely online' opposition with concerning behavior and radicalization.
  2. Some controversial actions by party members like Liz Truss are seen as potentially enhancing their standing within the party, rather than being disqualifying.
  3. The shift towards extreme behavior within the Conservative Party reflects a new structural reality in British politics that may lead to significant challenges in the future.

You can't always tell when you're on the right side of history

804 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture History Politics Ethics Activism
  1. You can't always tell when you're on the right side of history, even when causes seem morally right now.
  2. Appealing to being on the right or wrong side of history can be a powerful but flawed argument tactic in debates.
  3. Progress is possible, and it's important to think deeply about moral crusades rather than relying on 'right side of history' arguments.

Odds and Ends #32: My big Kate Middleton theory

469 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Royalty Analysis News
  1. The post discusses a theory about Kate Middleton that the author finds oddly interesting.
  2. There are links in the post pointing to good decarbonisation news and a win for the YIMBYs.
  3. The author is aiming for a round number of paid subscribers and offers a 20% discount on an annual subscription for a limited time.

Odds and Ends #31: Britain's new AI supercomputer is a shipping container in a car park

603 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Podcast Infrastructure
  1. Britain's new AI supercomputer, Isambard AI, is housed in a shipping container in a car park to boost the country's AI capabilities.
  2. London Mayoral and West Yorkshire Mayoral candidates support liberating the Postcode Address File, encouraging small business innovation.
  3. The National Underground Asset Register aims to map underground infrastructure to enhance safety and reduce accidental damage.
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🚨 The House of Lords could liberate the Postcode Address File if they back this amendment 🚨

1139 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Data Government Innovation Policy Legislation
  1. The Postcode Address File (PAF) is a critical database of postal addresses in the UK, owned by Royal Mail and requires expensive licensing fees for access.
  2. An amendment proposed in the House of Lords aims to make UK address data freely available for public use, potentially liberating the PAF.
  3. Individuals are encouraged to reach out to House of Lords members to support the amendment, as it moves through the legislative process towards potential implementation.

We could make our homes easier to decarbonise by using a crazy, sci-fi technology called a "database"

737 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Decarbonisation Database Data Collection
  1. Decarbonizing homes by replacing gas boilers with heat pumps is a known solution, but the challenge is logistical and costly for homeowners.
  2. Creating a central register of gas safety certificates could help target incentives for upgrading inefficient boilers, improve data collection, and hold landlords accountable.
  3. Adding gas safety certificate management to the Gas Safety Register's contract during the upcoming tender can facilitate the implementation of the central register at a minimal cost to the government.

There's a technology built into our cars to make driving safer – but we're not using it.

1541 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Safety Emergency Response Data Sharing Innovation
  1. There's a built-in technology in cars for safer driving that's not being utilized properly.
  2. The eCall system can connect drivers to emergency services with just a press of a button, providing important data like location and car details.
  3. The potential of eCall data to optimize emergency response and improve road safety is hindered by lack of integration among different emergency service systems.

How to fix Newsnight

737 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media TV Show Opinion Review
  1. Newsnight has faced a decline in viewers and budget cuts over the years.
  2. The show is undergoing changes with a reduced runtime and shift towards interviews and debates.
  3. Suggestions are made on how to improve Newsnight's situation and avoid irrelevance.

The rise of New Statesman Man

2010 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Society Politics Books Literature
  1. New Statesman Man is a character who is well-educated and politically engaged, but tends to focus more on image and status than actual ideas or beliefs.
  2. He is critical of capitalism and advocates for degrowth, but has a smug attitude and lacks concrete solutions for improving the lives of actual poor people.
  3. Despite claiming to be focused on materialism, New Statesman Man's actions and beliefs often betray a disconnect from the reality of poverty and inequality.

This is the dream

804 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
💼 Business Writing Subscription Income Audience Content
  1. The author is considering launching a paid tier on Substack to support their writing.
  2. They have calculated that converting a small percentage of their subscribers could make it financially viable.
  3. If the paid tier is launched, the author plans to alternate free and paid content and provide additional posts for subscribers.

E-scooters are good and Britain should legalise them

1072 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
💼 Business Transportation Urban planning Regulation Environment Infrastructure
  1. E-scooters can help reduce car usage and congestion in cities due to their compact design and ability to take up less space.
  2. Legalizing e-scooters can lead to positive downstream consequences, such as reducing car dependence, reshaping urban geography, and creating a more sustainable environment.
  3. Regulating e-scooters through legalization can improve safety standards, encourage responsible riding behavior, and prompt the development of infrastructure to accommodate different modes of transportation.

Labour needs to make the selfish case for foreign aid

670 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Foreign Aid Soft Power Corruption International relations
  1. Labour should make the selfish case for foreign aid to appeal to people's self-interest and make it more politically viable.
  2. Talking about foreign aid in terms of soft power and global stability can help reframe its purpose and importance.
  3. Addressing corruption in foreign aid should focus on improving practices rather than using it as an argument against aid altogether.

Activists should make fighting climate change a right-wing cause

938 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
  1. Activists should consider making fighting climate change a right-wing cause to widen the support base.
  2. Framing climate change without linking it to other political issues could make it easier to build broader support.
  3. Reaching out to right-wing individuals and groups by reframing climate change on terms they value could help in gaining more support for climate action.

Twitter's transport experts are wrong, and I know better than them

603 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology Transport Autonomy Safety Economics Future
  1. The writer disagrees with Twitter's transport experts about driverless buses and thinks they could revolutionize transport.
  2. Autonomous buses could lead to cheaper, more efficient public transportation and help reduce carbon emissions.
  3. The potential of autonomous buses lies in making public transport more convenient, increasing capacity, and reducing the need for private vehicles.