The Berlin donnerwetter mix

Google thunderstorm weather alert with map of Berlin and airport in background

Recently I took a last minute flight to Berlin for Republica 2024. Although I mainly escaped the thunderstorm by going via Copenhagen it was touch and go on the Copenhagen to Berlin leg of the journey.

Of course I had lots of time to record this mix on the pacemaker device, which attracted the eye and question of a fellow passenger who asked what it was and how it worked. Gladly explained, not sure if he took it all on board but good to have interesting in this very aged device.

This mix is recorded live and moves a long at 136ish BPM with some classic trance tunes. Turn this one up nice and loud! Hopefully in the sunshine not in the thunderstorm!

Enjoy here or on Peertube or in full quality on my mixgarden

The list of tunes used

  1. Long Way Home – Gareth Emery
  2. Aberration Of Light (Original Mix) – Michael Kaelios
  3. Energy Crash (Extended Mix) – Maarten de Jong
  4. Erase – Brooks Alexsander
  5. Verdi – Mauro Picotto
  6. Opium (Quivver Remix) – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  7. Beat (Da Boxx) – Laurent Garnier
  8. Soundbar (extended mix) – Giuseppe Ottaviani
  9. Running up the hill (jerome isma-ae bootleg) – Placebo
  10. Whites Of Her Eyes (Original Mix) – Simon Patterson
  11. Amino Acids (Original Mix) – Tau-Rine
  12. Brush Strokes (Original Mix) – Simon Patterson
  13. Certitude (original mix) – Thomas Bronzwaer
  14. Floyd (extended mix) – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  15. Adam K & Soha Mix – Kaskade
  16. Inception – Teminite

Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (June 2024)

4 people standing (3 female and 1 male) look into their phones

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed while seeing the latest shiny AI device as simply a Android launcherFUD pointing at Signal & Proton and AI bots dating other each other?

To quote Buckminster Fuller “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.

You are seeing aspects of this with Meta sued under section 230Microsoft providing passkey support for all its users and finally some agreement around Bluetooth tracking.


Is the C-suite at fault for the current tech problems?

Ian thinks: This new series by Zittron looking at how the tech industry is being run by people who have far less interest in the technology. Some call it the maturing of the sector but its clear from the Zittron this isn’t necessarily a good thing

We need a public service internet. no really!

Ian thinks This is not going to come as a surprise to many readers but iit really unites a number of the different initiatives. Futher adding fuel to the slowly burning fire.

GoFundMe is worst that you can imagine

Ian thinks: Most people have seen a range of crowdfunding profiles/sites/apps for tragic healthcare cases, Even I pointed at the lack of public healthcare systems but the podcast goes so much deeper, pointing out who gets funding, how and ultimately how Crowdfunding sites profit from the misery.

Not heard about Deadbots?

Ian thinks: Digital recreations of dead people or deadbots, is on the rise and this Guardian piece highlights the rise and problems with them. The idea of them haunting others could be a real big problem in the future.

Is Passkeys a dream too far?

Ian thinks: Reading this flags a lot of alerts, MicrosoftGoogle and many more have thrown weight behind it. I still use them but alongside other multifactor authentication.

Time to own your own home page?

Ian thinks: Reading about the return of the home page is a interesting read but I can’t help but remember Steven Pemberton’s presentation from a long time ago.

Use the artificial creativity

Ian thinks: I found Ruskoff’s monologue about Gen AI is quite balanced and reminds us all of the problem with the wider ecosystem. Gen AI will create generic stuff but won’t create the next generation of anything without human creativity.

A public bid to acquire TikTok?

Ian thinks: The Tiktok bans are popping up everywhere and I found this news quite unique. With a billionaire buying Tiktok for the public good? There is a lot more detail on project liberty..

Does Data Colonialism exist?

Ian thinks: One of the most thought-provoking talks in Re:Publica this year, I felt. When layed out in a new book data grab, the professors make a compelling case for how the only word to describe now is data colonialism.


Find the archive here

Urban Artistry presents… at Cultplex Manchester

 

 Martha: A Picture Story

Urban artistry is putting on a series of Street art documentaries every month at Cultplex.

The Streetart / Graffiti documentaries starts on Thursday the 4th of July.

Tickets are £5.50 and all screenings are 18+ Cinema doors will open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. Food and drink are available from 6pm – 10pm.

The first one starts with Martha: A picture Story Year: 2019

If you are in Manchester and into street culture, this has to be a must!

I will be at MozFest House Amsterdam 2024

Woman sat on a chair in front of large screen in a light room

Less than a week after the PublicSpaces conference in Amsterdam is the Mozilla Festival House also in Amsterdam but just north of central station in Tolhuistuin on 11-13th June.

I will be part of the team running the Mozilla/BBCRD ethical dilemma cafe. You maybe asking what is the ethical dilemma cafe? Well there is more here and if you are deeply interested, we started pulling everything together here in this public github (barcamp style)

Panel discussion of 7 people sat on a chairs on a small stage with a host standing in front talking to the audience
Mozhouse AMS 2023

The Mozhouse schedule just went up and its looks great and matches the theme of solidarity and togetherness. Between the keynotes, workshops and talks, is some excellent people to spend time with.

As its a Mozilla House event, the event will focus on the issues with the Netherlands and the EU but have a heavy dose of the wider internet health concerns.

Get a sense of last year and book your tickets here.

I will be at PublicSpaces conference 2024

On June 6 and 7, PublicSpaces and Waag Futurlab will organise the annual PublicSpaces Conference. This year’s theme is ‘Taking Back the Internet!’ We’ll all be thinking and working towards a internet where we determine the rules, rather than it be dictated to us by the existing gatekeepers.

PublicSpaces conference with people sitting looking at a panel of speakers on stage with a large screens behind them all

Of course I’ll be there again and looking forward to getting right into the weeds of the technical stack to enable the vision. I’ll also be talking directly with someone quite special following their keynote speech.

Tickets are on sale now and keep an eye on #PubConf2024 for much more.

Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (May 2024)

Undersea internet cablesWe live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed while understanding the risks of wearable technologyDiscord public messages sold for profit and seeing the Investigatory Powers Bill approved.

To quote Buckminster Fuller “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.

You are seeing aspects of this with America finally getting a online privacy billBitwarden and Proton giving away passkey support to all users including the non-paying ones. Finally Fairphone shows up the consumer tech industry with new levels of sustainability.


The long con of the XZ backdoor

Ian thinks: This video really explains whats known about the XZ backdoor and the Microsoft employee who saved so many in the industry from a unthinkable backdoor. The social engineering side is also fascinating and chilling.

Encryption in the age of surveillance

Ian thinks: This lightening talk is a harsh reminder of the current state of encryption law in the UK. Whittaker’s talk is aimed at the EU, which are facing similar legal objections around encryption and privacy,

Fast fashion under the limelight

Ian thinks: Not tech as such but related as I was looking at larger effects of social media on our collective conscious.

Enshitification explained in a way we can all understand

Ian thinks: When a very popular youtuber covers a issue such as enshitification, you know its hit the mainstream (plus it was word of the year last year). This is perfect to share with many other people.

Who looks after those undersea cables?

Ian think: The Verge’s piece about the importance and health of those super important internet cables is a good read and reminder of how important the physical cables are to so many.

Are we at Peak AI and can you say AI bubble?

Ian thinks: Zittrain’s recent podcasts looking at AI is worth your time. Although he use the metric of revenue & profit most of the time, there is parts across both podcasts asking about the public benefit. There is also a clear question about the problem of booms and bubbles.

Why men shouldn’t control AI?

Ian thinks: Although a very clicky headline, there are some really good points raised about the fragile egos of some men and the clear pointers to the lack of imagination and cooperation in a patriarchy. Read with a open mind.

Fediverse gets new Threads

Ian thinks: In the latest dot social podcast, Mike Cue is joined by Meta employees to talk about joining the fediverse. Techcrunch have a good cover of the conversation, Regardless of Meta, its clear the fediverse isn’t something which can be ignored.

23andMe? A welcomed update

Ian thinks: I have always been concerned about DNA testing, especially in the tech space. In this update the Freakonomics play an existing interview and update it with the very public downfall. I can’t help but think public health was ignored from the start.

You may know Transhumanism as another name?

Ian thinks: To understand Transhumanism is to understand the almost unwritten motivation of so much of the tech billionaires. Recently renamed techno-optimism, longtermism and even effective altruism, it crops up so much. Where better to listen to a critical view of it than on tech won’t save us?


Find the archive here

Oslo euphoric ascendancy mix

Oslo's fjord at sunset
Oslo’s fjord at sunset

After the more darker Torp-Ekspressens mysterium mix, I felt more chilled out from the Saunas and relaxing atmosphere of the Nordic sky. This mix on the way back on the plane needed to be more lighter and joyful.

The euphoric ascendancy, really stokes the fires and has more super high trance tunes than any other mix I have done? 2 hours of hands in the Nordic air watching the sun set over a beautiful country.

I love this mix and it was done all in one go with no retakes, just hit record and go.

Enjoy here or on Peertube or in full quality on my mixgarden

The list of tunes used

  1. As The Amazon Rush Comes (Armin van Buuren vs DJ Commisad Bootleg) – Motorcycle vs Midway
  2. Peace (Original Mix) – Yves Deruyter
  3. On Air (Tau-Rine Remix) – Jan Miller
  4. Constellation (John O’Callaghan mix) – Thomas Bronzwaer
  5. Music Is More Than Mathematics (extended mix) – Protoculture
  6. Time (Sean Tyas Remix) – Paul Webster Feat Angelic Amanda
  7. Shapes – Maor Levi
  8. We Are One (Instrumental Mix) – Dave202
  9. Resound – Thomas Bronzwaer
  10. The Legacy – Push
  11. Tears (Protoculture Remix) – Dakota
  12. Arganda (Chris Schweizer rockin mix) – Heatbeat
  13. Gamemaster (Original Lost Tribe 1997 Remix) – Lost Tribe
  14. Big Sky (Agnelli & Nelson remix) – John O’Callaghan feat. Audrey Gallagher
  15. Shadow World – Thomas Bronzwaer
  16. Megalodon – Dash Berlin
  17. Anahera (extended mix) – Ferry Corsten presents Gouryella

Torp-Ekspressens mysterium mix

Lights trails along a darken road
Travelling along in the dark to Oslo

On a new visit to Oslo, I had the joy of a long tiring coach ride from Torp Sandefjord airport to actual Oslo. It was very late and although I did a mix on the plane with the pacemaker device, the long winding journey with a closed motorway was perfect timing to redo what I had done on the plane with little disruption.

Its a little bit of a dark mix but it certainly moves at the speed of 138bpm, not the speed of the coach but kept me very entertained at the back.

Enjoy here or on Peertube or in full quality on my mixgarden

The list of tunes used

  1. Gouryella (From the Heavens mix) – Ferry Corsten presents Gouryella
  2. Hole In The Sky (Arctic Moon Remix) – Tonny Nesse
  3. Stresstest (John Askew Remix) – John O’callaghan
  4. Killer Instinct (Original Mix) – Sneijder & Bryan Kearney
  5. Tears (Protoculture Remix) – Dakota
  6. Dolores – Indecent Noise
  7. Erase – Brooks Alexsander
  8. Fiction (Extended Mix) – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  9. Seven Cities (V-One’s Living Cities remix) – Solar Stone
  10. Chinook – Markus Schulz Pres Dakota
  11. Inferno – Carl Cox
  12. Club Quake (Oliver Klein Hard remix) – 5 Below 0
  13. Arrival – ANU

Inequality, narrative and Gary Stevenson

Me standing next to Gary Stevenson holding his book Trading game
Photo of myself and Gary after he signed the book for me and Dave

It started with my friend Dave, who lives in America talked to me about buying a copy of the Sunday telegraph because some guy called Gary Stevenson was featured in the magazine.

Who is Gary? I asked him. This lead to a series of long conversations, and I remember saying have you never read the Spirit & inner level?

Gary’s book the trading game, has had a lot interest. Which meant a tour to further encourage people to buy the book, obviously not in America. So I ended up buying a book and a ticket (all the tickets only were gone) and went to see him in Manchester. Similar to when I interviewed Cory Doctorow in Manchester.

Having only watched a few of his videos on YouTube I wasn’t sure what to expect. The room was packed to the maximum, I got the very last seat and it started. It was full of people who have read the book already so questions were quite defined. Everything from a question about a film/tv adaptation, will there be another book, etc.

I had two questions which I never got to ask but there were asked in similar fashion by others

  1. There must be organisations he wants to work with in a similar vein?
  2. Why a narrative over a non fiction book about inequality?

To the first one, Garry pretty much said there are but he’s going to focus on what he can bring to the space. His experience was quite unique and he wanted to focus on that angle.

The second one, Garry made a really good point about the lack of interest in economics and non-fiction books with people who could benefit the most from hearing his story. He felt the narrative was the way to reach many more people. 

I recently started the audiobook and about 30% through now. I have to say the narrative makes for an interesting story. As I learn more about the characters, history and context.

Is Gary economics going to answer the epidemic of inequality? Not likely but in combination with others (hence my first question). I can see him being like the Martin Lewis of economics. Speaking sense to busy people who are distracted by the underlying problem of inequality in every day life? I mentioned to him in the pub afterwards… find the others, as this is too big for one person.