I don’t write about being chronically ill very often, mostly because I’m still thinking it through in real time.

This short piece is about effort, belief, and what it’s like to live in a culture that insists improvement is always possible…even when your body says otherwise.

kristiedegaris.substack.com/p/…

#Health #Scotland #UK #Writing #WritingCommunity #Books #Reading #Women

Effort Without Improvement

Chronic illness, meritocracy, and the pressure to do more

^{Kristie De Garis}

#UK Lords vote to ban VPNs for children as pressure on the #privacy tools increases

tomsguide.com/computing/vpns/u…

#VPN #politics

#AI and #FacialRecognition to be rolled out as #Britain’s ‘broken’ policing system faces sweeping reforms

independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim…

#FRT #privacy #surveillance #UK

AI and facial recognition to be rolled out as Britain’s ‘broken’ policing system faces sweeping reforms

Officials say using AI will free up 6 million hours of police time – the equivalent of 3,000 officers – each year

^{Amy-Clare Martin (The Independent)}

#China hacked #DowningStreet phones for years

telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/2…

#UK #privacy #cybersecurity #politics

China hacked Downing Street phones for years

Spying operation targeted senior government members, including aides to Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak

^{Rozina Sabur (The Telegraph)}