Current reading, late July 2025 edition

Kindle books anyway. I also have library books on loan, plus other books ongoing in the house. I mainly read ebooks now because of huge problems reading print due to a progressive neurological disease. Gargantuan fonts on my Kindle keep me reading for extended periods.

Age verification on Bluesky

Just did the age verification (UK) thing for Bluesky. Using my face with laptop camera. Photo supposedly deleted afterwards. The website was estimating my age, and I'm saying "Tell me a number!" Or probably best don't! It didn't give me a guessed age, but it was sure I was old enough. So yup, done.

Bluesky is one of the first services asking for this verification from UK folks due to new legislation. It's likely more will do this soon too. Verification can be done by photo (if you look old enough) or ID. I was much happier with a brief photo check than doing anything with my official paper ID. I'd probably not have been willing to do the latter option.

Age verification is currently not essential to use Bluesky, even with the new UK legislation. Most of the site's features will work without it. Though not direct messaging, which is something I find useful sometimes.