Latest Stories from Jamie
Is the βSouls-likeβ explosion linked to real world adversity?
Difficult RPG games of the βSouls-likeβ variety used to be somewhat niche, due to their unforgiving nature. In the last 18 months, however, the popularity of these types of games has exploded. Why is that? Never had a tension headache from playing a game before? May I offer you some Souls-like? If you havenβt heard that term before, it originates from Dark Souls - a gothic RPG created by FromSoftware back...
Stop shoving online therapy down our throats
iβm trying to watch YouTube in the bath. Go away Iβm one BetterHelp ad away from bouncing my Pixel off the wall. Is it just me, or is anyone else being low key harassed by advertising for online therapy portals in 2024? Itβs either that or male grooming kits. Perhaps my YouTube algorithm sees the amount of Manchester United rant content I consume and has decided I personally need an intervention. Either way,...
Starlink access approved for areas hit by Hurricane Helene
Elon Muskβs gaggle of internet satellites is currently providing connectivity to areas affected by Hurricane Helene. This is what the tech tycoon had always envisioned for Starlink. You can argue whether Elon Muskβs Starlink project is borne of altruism or primarily of self-gain, but thereβs no denying the projectβs original MO is now being achieved. Hurricane Helene finally subsided after six long days, but the category 4 weather event has left...
Netflix, can we have nice things?
Netflix in 2024 is pretty shite. Iβm not a huge fan of reality TV. Iβll indulge in the odd season ofΒ Married At First SightΒ every couple years, sure, but I find it more irritating than anything before long. Despite being apparently βunscriptedβ, most now follow the same formula relentlessly year after year β to the extent that people will say: βItβs the XYZ episode onΒ Love IslandΒ tonightβ with genuine excitement. The novelty of these...
Has the PlayStation 5 Pro made the future of gaming inaccessible?
Retailing for an eye-watering Β£700 at launch, the PlayStation 5 Pro has fans of console gaming concerned that next gen hardware will completely price us out. Has the market just been ruined? How do you appease lifelong PlayStation fans becoming disillusioned by a lack of exciting new IPs and exclusives? By releasing a mid-gen console for Β£700, apparently. The PlayStation 5 Pro is slated for release in early November. As its...
Cognify wants AI-simulated memories to help rehabilitate prisoners
Hashem Al-Ghaili, a Berlin-based scientist and filmmaker, envisions a future where prisoners are rehabilitated using implanted synthetic memories created by AI. His MO is to instil a sense of empathy and cut lengthy sentences from years to a matter of minutes. Having cut his teeth in the realm of independent filmmaking, Hashem Al-Ghaili has certainly let his mind run wild with this controversial concept. Presumably after binging Black Mirror and the...
bought a home & our generation is screwed
iβm lucky and grateful for my unique set of circumstances β most others categorically donβt have, or just donβt fancy. Iβm currently in the process of moving into my first flat in the UK, Iβm rapidly approaching 30 and have a daughter to keep clean, dry, and fed. Ruby is the best thing thatβs ever happened to me β marginally ahead of Manchester Unitedβs 1999 treble β but Iβm not going...
Britainβs ageing homes offer βworst value for moneyβ of major economies
Britainβs ageing house stock offers the worst value for money of any advanced economy, the Resolution Foundation found in a recent survey. If youβre looking to buy a property β which, unfortunately, I am for the first time β hereβs a hefty dose of anxiety about the housing market to top you up. Britainβs βexpensive, cramped, and ageing housing stock offers the worst value for money of any advanced economy,β says...
Is Quora on deathβs doorstep?
The platform once deemed a barometer for quality responses to user queries has lost its way. AI is largely responsible β in more ways than one. Have you ever heard of βDead Internet Theory?β It subscribes to the idea that both bots and content created by algorithms will soon overtake the digital presence and volume of human works online. Weβve written about it in detail previously. Apprehension about that prospect has...
Study claims UK girls more anxious about climate change than boys
A report led by a team from the University College London claims that when it comes to fears about climate change, girls are far more concerned than boys β in UK schools, that is. Just how early does existential concern about humanityβs ecological doom begin, I wonder. Though my generation was perhaps a little late to the party, Gen Alpha are dealing with this inherited burden while navigating high school. Just...
