Nostr notes by Adam Jacobs 🇺🇦

Oh, I see the government has an "AI plan". Not a single ...

2026-10-24T08:08:36Z

Oh, I see the government has an "AI plan".

Not a single mention of its carbon footprint. This government really doesn't understand that the number one threat we face is not from rogue AI, from economic slowdown, or from Russia, it's from climate collapse.

What is wrong with these people?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-unveils-britains-ambitious-plan-for-ai

#UKPolitics #AI #ClimateCollapse #ClimateEmergency #ClimateChange

Reckon I called that right. ...

2026-10-20T14:42:20Z

Reckon I called that right.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmy4xk1d8l53t

#CovidInquiry

RIP Jeffrey Archer, a true conviction politician. He got 2 years, ...

2026-10-06T12:32:39Z

RIP Jeffrey Archer, a true conviction politician.

He got 2 years, IIRC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckj0l401dvpgo

Because nothing says "I'm innocent" quite like going ...

2026-10-05T13:12:46Z

Because nothing says "I'm innocent" quite like going to a lot of trouble and expense to try to stop the evidence in the case being admissible in court

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c689zl5eljdzo

This seems like a positive development. Anyway, best not say any ...

2026-09-24T07:16:52Z

This seems like a positive development.

Anyway, best not say any more about it, wouldn't want to prejudice any trial.

https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/danny-tommo-arrested-video-showing-064400000.html

Happy Autumnal Equinox to all who celebrate! And I guess happy ...

2026-09-23T12:53:50Z

Happy Autumnal Equinox to all who celebrate!

And I guess happy Fallal Equinox to all my US followers.

Pretty sure that slashing a dinghy with a knife while there is an ...

2026-09-23T07:15:03Z

Pretty sure that slashing a dinghy with a knife while there is an emergency worker on board is illegal.

I do hope Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary take this seriously.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/22/far-right-activist-daniel-thomas-slashes-dinghy-with-blade-while-rescue-worker-onboard

I will believe that an AI agent has "gone rogue", rather ...

2026-09-15T11:27:34Z

I will believe that an AI agent has "gone rogue", rather than just done what its creators told it to, on the day it hacks into its CEO's bank account and donates $50 million to charity

#AI #RogueAI

I am gobsmacked that somehow it has become controversial to state ...

2026-09-10T06:56:34Z

I am gobsmacked that somehow it has become controversial to state that saving the lives of people in peril at sea is a good thing to do.

But apparently it is.

Anyway, if you think that saving lives at sea is a good thing to do, perhaps you'd like to show your support by donating a few quid to the RNLI? I'm sure they could use a bit of support right now.

https://www.justgiving.com/charity/rnli?utm_source=CL&utm_medium=DT

#RNLI #Lifeboats

Grannies sitting quietly holding placards: hundreds arrested on ...

2026-09-07T05:58:15Z

Grannies sitting quietly holding placards: hundreds arrested on terrorism charges

Gangs of masked men intimidating vulnerable people and obstructing a police operation: no-one arrested

Can someone remind me what people were saying about #TwoTierPolicing?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyegwl9vzqo

#UKPolitics #Asylum #FarageRiots

Ooh, "named and shamed". That'll show them. They even ...

2026-09-03T06:49:57Z

Ooh, "named and shamed". That'll show them. They even got fined amounts that might just show at the third decimal place in their accounts if you're lucky.

There really is remarkably little incentive for companies to obey the law here.

How many directors were disqualified?

How many directors were fined personally?

How many directors were made to wear an ankle tag and obey a curfew?

How many directors had to do hundreds of hours of community service picking up litter?

Guessing the answer is a bit fat zero to all of the above.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39mv4vm7exo

#OneRuleForThem

"Greens call for temporary ban on new data centres" Very ...

2026-08-28T06:34:47Z

"Greens call for temporary ban on new data centres"

Very sensible. Their carbon footprint is cause enough for concern, but when so much of the country is already under hosepipe bans, the idea of building stuff with that kind of water consumption is bonkers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz0zm4pzme2o

#GreenParty #ClimateChange #DataCentres #Drought

"El Niño set to be 'strongest in living memory', ...

2026-08-21T06:23:40Z

"El Niño set to be 'strongest in living memory', says Met Office"

This, for the avoidance of doubt, is not good news.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/c3ekg93vjz9o

#ClimateChange #ClimateCollapse

"More Fucked Today than Yesterday And even more fucked ...

2026-08-19T07:23:56Z

"More Fucked Today than Yesterday

And even more fucked tomorrow"

Some pretty scary numbers on climate change here. If we had a mainstream media that was designed to inform the public rather than serve the needs of corporate interests, this would be front page news every day until governments start to do something about it.

But we don't, so it isn't.

https://climatecasino.substack.com/p/more-fucked-today-than-yesterday

#ClimateChange #ClimateCollapse #ClimateEmergency

We seem to be in a state of massive collective denial about the ...

2026-08-11T07:41:34Z

We seem to be in a state of massive collective denial about the imminent threat from #ClimateCollapse.

I've seen supposedly well educated people post on LinkedIn today about what the demographic transition from falling birth rates in Europe is going to mean for stock market performance in 2050.

If we carry on accelerating the pace of #ClimateChange as we are doing, why would anybody seriously think that stock markets would still be a thing in 2050?

Nvidia are going to spend $500 billion on increasing their carbon ...

2026-08-11T06:36:50Z

Nvidia are going to spend $500 billion on increasing their carbon footprint.

For context, the UN have estimated that it would cost $93 billion per year to end world hunger.

Anyway, hope you're all enjoying the heat wave.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78gr0jv0mdo

#NVidia #ClimateCollapse #ClimateChange #ClimateCatastrophe #ClimateEmergency

But sure, Andy, let's drill for more oil. What's the ...

2026-07-28T08:58:02Z

But sure, Andy, let's drill for more oil. What's the worst that could happen?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cvgzd34kq5dt

#ClimateCollapse #ClimateEmergency #ClimateCatastrophe #ClimateChange #WildFires #AndyBurnham

I thought that the £2 bus cap sounded like a good thing, but if ...

2026-07-22T07:10:38Z

I thought that the £2 bus cap sounded like a good thing, but if they're paying for it by cutting "international climate projects" then I am concerned. Which projects are they scrapping?

Tackling #ClimateChange really should be any government's number one priority, and it sounds like Andy Burn 'Em really hasn't got the memo on that one (especially in light of his enthusiasm for drilling for more oil)..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cdx7z2wwe7qt?post=asset%3Add0a203d-4235-45ad-ba60-cba712c287a5#post

#UKPolitics #BusFareCap

The death of Ann Widdecombe is a useful reminder to us all that ...

2026-07-10T07:39:28Z

The death of Ann Widdecombe is a useful reminder to us all that we should strive to live our lives in such a way that when we finally shuffle off this mortal coil, other people are actually sad about it.

#BeKind #AnnWiddecombe

I don't think any of us really knows at this stage how good a ...

2026-06-30T14:39:22Z

I don't think any of us really knows at this stage how good a job Andy Burnham is going to do as PM, assuming he gets the job (as seems overwhelmingly likely).

I for one am certainly keeping an open mind for now.

I'm sure there are many criteria on which he can be judged, but one criterion I shall be using is this:

If the right-wing media publish endless vitriolic articles saying how terrible he is (probably accusing him of being antisemitic, that's usually how it works), then I shall assume he must be doing something right.

#UKPolitics #Burnham #AndyBurnham

It's 10 years to the day since the UK voted to make itself ...

2026-06-23T06:49:25Z

It's 10 years to the day since the UK voted to make itself poorer, and this week we learned that we have indeed made ourselves poorer to the tune of 6%.

Democracy in action, folks.

#Brexit

https://bmmagazine.co.uk/news/brexit-cost-uk-economy-6-percent-bank-of-england-company-data/

Anyway, since a story about an immigrant stabbing someone has ...

2026-06-10T07:07:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…rm3a
_________________________

Anyway, since a story about an immigrant stabbing someone has been the main story on the national news for the last day or so, I thought you might be interested in all these other recent stabbings that weren't done by immigrants, since for some reason the national media doesn't bother to report them.

Isn't that weird?

#MediaBias

https://www.essex.police.uk/news/essex/news/news/2026/january/colchester-coordinated-police-response-secures-convictions-for-knife-attack-trio/
https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/25628168.jaywick-man-sentenced-unprovoked-knife-attack-victim/
https://keep106.com/2025/08/21/victim-of-knife-attack-in-weymouth-is-fortunate-to-have-survived/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyg7yy2rwlo
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/25548014.man-enters-west-howe-home-knife-assaults-occupant/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yvpx0l8m3o
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/knife-attack-might-have-been-avoided-if-mental-health-care-h-339675/
https://metro.co.uk/2025/08/28/boy-17-fighting-life-another-teen-hurt-knife-attack-old-kent-road-24018215/
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/25338531.west-sussex-man-convicted-violent-knife-attack/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgkxn89lzwo
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3v6250493xo
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr51yqlz06mo

Oh Christ, this is horrific: the #FarageRiots have now escalated ...

2026-06-10T07:02:57Z

Oh Christ, this is horrific: the #FarageRiots have now escalated to setting fire to people's homes.

Isn't it about time that laws on incitement to violence were applied to politicians?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr47x99k5n6t

Octopus Energy are really starting to get on my tits. Another ...

2026-05-28T11:35:58Z

Octopus Energy are really starting to get on my tits.

Another electricity bill today, and that's 5 in a row in which they didn't credit my account for the electricity I'm exporting from my solar panels.

I made a formal complaint about this at the end of April, so if that happens next month as well then it's Ombudsman time.

#Octopus #OctopusEnergy #Electricity

The UK government has done WHAT? Jesus Christ, maybe the ...

2026-05-20T05:55:39Z

The UK government has done WHAT?

Jesus Christ, maybe the government don't give a shit about Ukraine, but do they not understand that it is the whole of Europe that's under attack?

If Putin gets away with invading Ukraine, do they really think he'll just say "thank you very much, I'll stop there"?

This is utterly shameful.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy42x3g7r89o

#Ukraine #Putin #Russia #UKPolitics #OilSanctions

My personal view (and I realise other views are available) is ...

2026-05-19T10:42:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…9kv6
_________________________

My personal view (and I realise other views are available) is that the Greens and LDs should either not stand candidates at all, or at the very least stand no-hoper candidates and give a tacit nod to their supporters to vote for Burnham.

Yes, there may be some political advantage to making Labour squirm, but I think Burnham winning the election, and potentially then the Labour leadership, would be better for the country than carrying on with Starmer, or, God help us, Streeting.

There's a nice illustration here of just how much of a ...

2026-05-19T10:36:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…mv9e
_________________________

There's a nice illustration here of just how much of a difference charges can make, even if they look small

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/are-pension-fees-deflating-your-retirement-savings-aHndy5F1PKbg

Predatory financial practices have a lot to answer for. The ...

2026-05-19T10:32:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…sgqd
_________________________

Predatory financial practices have a lot to answer for. The amount you pay in charges on pension funds is really quite staggering if you add it all up over the course of a working life, and take into account the growth foregone..

But I'm sure the people who benefit from it will make sure they don't get the blame. If they can't blame it on Boomers, they can always blame it on immigrants. That always works.

It seems that whichever way you look at it, we're storing up ...

2026-05-19T09:15:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…3zky
_________________________

It seems that whichever way you look at it, we're storing up a lot of trouble for pensioner poverty down the line.

I guess most of today's retirees are Boomers or older and had final salary pension schemes, but my generation (older Gen X) will be retiring soon, and we mostly didn't have them. Seems to me that the gradual disappearance of final salary schemes is going to make a big difference.

Yes, I believe that's correct. And also, as @npub154p…gwly ...

2026-05-19T09:06:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…wnpk
_________________________

Yes, I believe that's correct. And also, as MarjorieR (npub154p…gwly) points out, there's also an assumption there that you've paid off your mortgage by the time you retire. May very well not be true for many of those who have only the state pension.

That's an excellent question. I would imagine that for those ...

2026-05-19T09:05:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…xzh3
_________________________

That's an excellent question. I would imagine that for those with no pension provision other than the state pension, the proportion of those who rent or still owe money on the mortgage would be pretty high, though I'm not aware of any data.

Yes, the minimum one is basically equivalent to just getting the ...

2026-05-19T07:38:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…ugdj
_________________________

Yes, the minimum one is basically equivalent to just getting the state pension

Are they using the same definition of "comfortable" ...

2026-05-19T07:31:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…3c8x
_________________________

Are they using the same definition of "comfortable" retirement as this?

Because it's quite a high bar: the income levels there are higher than a lot of working people have.

https://www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk/

Can we have chaos with Ed Miliband please? We missed out on it ...

2026-05-14T09:33:12Z

Can we have chaos with Ed Miliband please? We missed out on it last time, but I think its time has come.

#UKPolitics #ChaosWithEdMiliband

Gotta admit, when I first saw this sign online I did wonder if it ...

2026-05-07T22:03:36Z

Gotta admit, when I first saw this sign online I did wonder if it had been photoshopped. But this evening I saw it with my own eyes and I can confirm that it is real.

#Barcelona #Orwell #CCTV

OK, here's a #TechieQuestion: if I want to sync directories ...

2026-04-23T06:22:32Z

OK, here's a #TechieQuestion: if I want to sync directories from a Linux server using a Python script, does it make much difference whether I invoke a shell command with rsync from the Python script or use a dedicated Python sync command such as pyrsync?

(Boosts welcome if this isn't your area of expertise)

#python #rsync #linux

Maybe. Heck, I may even get elected if that happens. I'm ...

2026-04-17T20:52:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…pjsw
_________________________

Maybe. Heck, I may even get elected if that happens. I'm standing for the Green party in what they call a "non-target" seat, so allegedly I have little chance of actually getting elected.

But it would be kinda fun if I did.

And on a side note, those odds on Reform to get the most seats: ...

2026-04-17T20:50:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…rksx
_________________________

And on a side note, those odds on Reform to get the most seats: WTAF?

This is why we can't have nice things.

Well I guess he may stay on if Labour do really well in the May ...

2026-04-17T20:49:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…n9vj
_________________________

Well I guess he may stay on if Labour do really well in the May elections.

Yeah, he's going after the May elections.

Been in meetings for much of the afternoon. Has #Starmer resigned ...

2026-04-17T16:10:37Z

Been in meetings for much of the afternoon. Has #Starmer resigned yet?

It's already fucked up enough that people can get arrested ...

2026-04-11T20:21:28Z

It's already fucked up enough that people can get arrested for sitting quietly and holding a placard, but it's doubly fucked up that you can still be arrested for it even after a court ruled that the government acted unlawfully when they made it illegal to sit quietly and hold a placard.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp38z9lylddo

#PalestineAction #UKPolitics

#Melania wants you all to know that she never had anything to do ...

2026-04-10T06:36:24Z

#Melania wants you all to know that she never had anything to do with #Epstein, never been friends with him, never even met the guy. And hasn't even ever met Ghislaine Maxwell.

So please don't boost this photo, as that would make her sad.

#EpsteinFiles #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles

I don't think the UK media have made nearly enough noise ...

2026-03-06T15:15:57Z

I don't think the UK media have made nearly enough noise about the US Navy sinking an *unarmed* Iranian warship and then, in clear violation of the Geneva Conventions, leaving them to drown.

This is a heinous war crime which the media would be rightly up in arms about if any country that wasn't nominally an "ally" had done it.

https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gcii-1949/article-18/commentary/2017

#IRISDena #IranWar #WarCrimes #GenevaConventions

Yes, and most importantly, they want to show that they are being ...

2026-03-04T14:38:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…vx4x
_________________________

Yes, and most importantly, they want to show that they are being mean to foreigners

I see the government's latest cunning plan in the policy to ...

2026-03-04T11:30:09Z

I see the government's latest cunning plan in the policy to "stop the small boats" is to close one of the few remaining routes in which people can claim asylum without having to get on a small boat.

Yeah, that ought to work.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2jy74895eo

#Asylum #TheLunaticsHaveTakenOverTheAsylum #SmallBoats #ShabanaMahmood

Starmer: We need to learn the lessons from last week's by ...

2026-03-02T09:41:20Z

Starmer: We need to learn the lessons from last week's by election. What are the voters telling us?

Advisers: They are upset that we support Israel when they kill people, they are concerned about the cost of living, and they think you're dishonest

Starmer: OK, here's the plan. Let's join in Israel's latest illegal war that will kill people and make everything more expensive, and let's say it's in "self defence".

Advisers: [Scream into the void and run away]

#UKPolitics #IsraelIranWar

Anyway, a bad night for Starmer, but cheer up, Keir, it could ...

2026-02-27T11:02:09Z

Anyway, a bad night for Starmer, but cheer up, Keir, it could have been worse. At least you don't have to wake up this morning to find that Andy Burnham is now an MP.

#GortonAndDenton #GortonAndDentonByElection #UKPolitics

One thing that makes me very happy about the Gorton & Denton ...

2026-02-27T10:59:45Z

One thing that makes me very happy about the Gorton & Denton by-election result is it shows that claiming you have to vote tactically for Labour if you want to keep Reform out is bollocks. This was one of the safest Labour seats in the country, and the Greens still won it.

If you want to keep Reform out, then the message is clear: vote Green. That way you even get a party with policies that are different from Reform.

#GortonAndDenton #GortonAndDentonByElection #TacticalVoting #UKPolitics

I've had an email from Octopus Energy telling me that because ...

2026-02-18T12:44:25Z

I've had an email from Octopus Energy telling me that because of dramatic falls in wholesale electricity prices, they sadly have no choice but to reluctantly reduce the price they are paying me for the electricity I export from my solar panels.

Weirdly, they seem very much to have the choice not to reduce the price of the electricity that they sell to me.

Isn't it funny how that works?

#Electricity #Octopus #OctopusEnergy #PowerCompanies

If the betting odds are anything to go by, the most likely winner ...

2026-02-08T12:21:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…e654
_________________________

If the betting odds are anything to go by, the most likely winner is the Green Party.

The anti-Reform tactical voting choice seems pretty clear: Labour supporters need to lend their votes to the Greens to stop a Reform win.

Or to Reform to stop a Green win, really. Depends on their preferences, which is not so obvious given the current direction of Labour.

"Palestine Action protesters cleared of Elbit burglary" ...

2026-02-04T14:16:04Z

"Palestine Action protesters cleared of Elbit burglary"

Hurrah for jury trials. No wonder the government wants to take them away.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wxlv99xrjo

#PalestineAction #JuryTrials

That article makes some good points, and there is no doubt Labour ...

2026-01-29T19:00:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…en30
_________________________

That article makes some good points, and there is no doubt Labour face a hostile media, but if we're going to explain why they are so unpopular it's odd that the article doesn't even once mention their support for Israel's genocide in Gaza

"Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as ...

2026-01-29T08:49:27Z

"Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as September"

I have no doubt that, once the technology is sufficiently mature, driverless cars will be safer than ones driven by humans. Humans cause a lot of crashes.

I am yet to be convinced that the technology will be sufficiently mature by September, but let's see.

I am also bothered by the built-in #DigitalExclusion. How are you supposed to hail a cab if you don't or can't have the app?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czej9n578k9o

#RoboTaxis

Thinking of trading in my Skoda Superb PHEV for a fully fledged ...

2026-01-27T08:28:59Z

Thinking of trading in my Skoda Superb PHEV for a fully fledged #EV.

Looking for something similar size and shape: 5 door hatchback with generous boot space but NOT an SUV. Would also consider an estate.

Not going to buy a Tesla, obvs.

Main contenders so far are Polestar 2 or Hyundai Ioniq 5. May also look at Mercedes CLA estate.

Good reliability is a must. Don't want to have to be switching it off and on again every time the software crashes.

Anything else I should look at?

#Cars #EVs

Maybe. Or maybe it was planned all along as a giant insider ...

2026-01-21T22:22:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…4rdd
_________________________

Maybe.

Or maybe it was planned all along as a giant insider trading scam and was never anything to do with Greenland.

https://mas.to/@statsguy/115935386110904004

quoting
note1fa0…h0re

I see that #TACO has happened and the stock market losses when tariffs were on the table have been reversed with markets up again.

Just imagine if you knew in advance that there was going to be all this threat of tariffs and markets would fall and then the threat would be lifted and markets would go up again.

If we had investigative journalists they would be looking at who sold stocks a week or so ago and bought stocks yesterday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cjrzjqg8dlwt?post=asset%3A44739ea8-b1eb-4dc6-8956-511eb087f5b9#post

#InsiderTrading #Greenland #Trump

I see that #TACO has happened and the stock market losses when ...

2026-01-21T22:13:21Z

I see that #TACO has happened and the stock market losses when tariffs were on the table have been reversed with markets up again.

Just imagine if you knew in advance that there was going to be all this threat of tariffs and markets would fall and then the threat would be lifted and markets would go up again.

If we had investigative journalists they would be looking at who sold stocks a week or so ago and bought stocks yesterday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cjrzjqg8dlwt?post=asset%3A44739ea8-b1eb-4dc6-8956-511eb087f5b9#post

#InsiderTrading #Greenland #Trump

Ah, I see Andrew Rosindell has defected to Reform UK. He was ...

2026-01-18T20:34:27Z

Ah, I see Andrew Rosindell has defected to Reform UK.

He was famously arrested on suspicion of rape (though never actually prosecuted).

I'm sure he'll fit right in.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98jn1wywdyo

#ReformUK #Misogyny

You really have to wonder just how damning the evidence in the ...

2026-01-15T07:11:56Z

You really have to wonder just how damning the evidence in the #EpsteinFiles is against The Rapist, given the extreme lengths he's been going in recent weeks to keep them out of the news cycle.

#Venezuela #Greenland #Iran #ICE #MinneapolisShooting #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles

I am very grateful for your software, having moved from Dropbox ...

2026-01-14T16:16:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…8zl5
_________________________

I am very grateful for your software, having moved from Dropbox to a hosted Nextcloud solution recently. Since then, I've discovered some of the other things Nextcloud can do for me as well, like Notes as an Evernote replacement and the calendar.

Trying to figure out whether the PhoneTrack integration with NC works as a Google Maps Timeline replacement at the moment. That would also be awesome if I can get it to work.

Look, this is really simple. Any politician who still uses ...

2026-01-09T14:10:05Z

Look, this is really simple. Any politician who still uses Twitter is telling their constituents that they are OK with child sexual abuse.

Any voters who disapprove of child sexual abuse may wish to take note when they next get the chance to vote.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99kn52nx9do

#Twitter #Grok #CSAM

When did you last hear the corporate media mentioning that, ...

2026-01-07T14:48:18Z

When did you last hear the corporate media mentioning that, despite the promise to do so, the #EpsteinFiles have still not been released in full?

They are so easily distracted, aren't they?

#Venezuela #Greenland #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles #TurdReich

Oh, they'd only need a medium sized family hatchback for the ...

2026-01-05T14:54:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…xuwq
_________________________

Oh, they'd only need a medium sized family hatchback for the candidates I've got.

Though to be fair, that does depend on how finely you chop them and how long you put them in the dehydrator first.

One of my tech new year's resolutions is to continue the ...

2026-01-05T12:29:39Z

One of my tech new year's resolutions is to continue the process of cutting US Evil Big Tech out of my life.

I made reasonable progress in 2025: deleted my FB account, moved from Dropbox to Nextcloud, switched my default search engine from Google to Ecosia, moved my Backblaze storage from US to EU servers.

But there is more to do!

At the top of my list is to bin Google Maps Timeline. The trouble is I find it *incredibly* useful.

Anyone know of a non-evil alternative?

#BigTech #GoogleMaps

I really wouldn't like to attempt to figure out which one it ...

2026-01-03T09:24:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…da7p
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I really wouldn't like to attempt to figure out which one it is. If I thought markets were rational, I might have a crack at it, but we know they're not.

I imagine economists will still be arguing about which one it actually was 20 years from now.

So according to the UK government, Greta Thunberg is now a ...

2025-12-23T11:42:20Z

So according to the UK government, Greta Thunberg is now a dangerous terrorist.

I'm beginning to think the UK government may have lost its moral compass.

https://news.sky.com/story/greta-thunberg-arrested-at-a-protest-supporting-palestine-action-hunger-strikers-13486842

#GretaThunberg #PalestineAction #UKPolitics

South Cambridgeshire council introduces a 4 day working week, and ...

2025-12-23T09:02:10Z

South Cambridgeshire council introduces a 4 day working week, and finds it saves money and improves services.

Central government says "No! Don't do that!"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl6j8n04eno

https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1880251/councils-four-day-week-trial-led-greater-retention-productivity-%E2%80%93-so-wider-public-sector-follow-suit

#Idiocracy #4DayWeek #SouthCambridgeshre #UKPolitics

I've had a really weird scam email. It's claiming to be ...

2025-12-16T09:04:31Z

I've had a really weird scam email. It's claiming to be from the UK government (which it clearly isn't) and asking me to renew and update my vehicle tax information.

The weird thing is if I hover over the link, it goes to a gov.uk email address. Also shown as the link in the source code.

How on earth is this scam supposed to work?

#Scams #Cybersecurity

Anyone know what this is? The person who gave it to me told me it ...

2025-12-07T11:48:46Z

Anyone know what this is? The person who gave it to me told me it was a bamboo orchid, but I think that's normally a name for Dendrobium nobile, and I'm pretty sure it's not one of those.

Another species of Dendrobium perhaps? Or something completely different?

#Orchids #HousePlants #Gardening #Denrobium

Yeah, I heard that line too and my initial thought was that it ...

2025-12-04T12:06:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…fawl
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Yeah, I heard that line too and my initial thought was that it was positively Trumpian.

Absolutely not language any serious politician should be using about serious professionals.

Yes, I'm sure the energy grid is badly in need of investment, ...

2025-12-04T08:49:30Z

Yes, I'm sure the energy grid is badly in need of investment, and it's good that they're getting it.

But it seems very regressive to put the costs of it on energy bills (especially as it's going on the standing charge - not mentioned in the article, but mentioned on Today this morning).

Why not pay for it through general taxation?

Obviously if privatisation actually worked, the energy companies' shareholders would pay for it, but we all know it doesn't.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp84yymxpjno

#Energy

When you look at the catastrophic damage that #ClimateChange is ...

2025-12-02T07:13:40Z

When you look at the catastrophic damage that #ClimateChange is *already* causing, and then you look at governments all over the world saying that they want to keep burning fossil fuels for decades to come and making things even worse, the only question I find I can ask is:

"What the absolute fuck is wrong with people?"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g4enlp6kzo

#cop30 #ClimateEmergency #Indonesia #Floods

That would be nice if it actually happens. Though I can't say ...

2025-12-01T14:18:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…mtn8
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That would be nice if it actually happens. Though I can't say I'm optimistic.

I'd absolutely love that too, but the problem with FPTP is ...

2025-12-01T14:11:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…ndjr
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I'd absolutely love that too, but the problem with FPTP is that large doesn't necessarily mean effective.

I suspect the idea of electoral pacts won't actually happen ...

2025-12-01T10:35:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…uhlv
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I suspect the idea of electoral pacts won't actually happen in practice, but if it does, then maybe that would be a good thing, especially if there are constituencies where the Greens could realistically never win but YP might.

But if so, then YP really need to stop all the Life of Brian routine and start looking like a serious party.

I bet you £100 that, if YP contest the next election in seats ...

2025-12-01T10:30:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…0uac
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I bet you £100 that, if YP contest the next election in seats where another progressive candidate has a realistic chance of winning the seat, that Reform win the most seats.

Loser to donate the money to a charity of the winner's choice.

Bet is void if YP has gone away by then or don't contest seats that Labour, Greens, SNP, Plaid, or LDs could plausibly win.

Deal?

Then I hope you enjoy the Reform UK government after the next ...

2025-12-01T08:57:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…wgzw
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Then I hope you enjoy the Reform UK government after the next election

I really, really wish Your Party would just give up and go home. ...

2025-12-01T07:38:01Z

I really, really wish Your Party would just give up and go home.

We have a good political party on the left of British politics - the Green Party - with plenty of support behind it right now, and anything that splits the left-wing vote only goes to make sure we end up with a Reform UK government at the next election.

Splitting the left is absolutely the last thing we need in our crazy FPTP electoral system.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyx2zjd8qvo

#UKPolitics #YourParty #Corbyn

Christ, the US is so far through the looking glass now. When I ...

2025-11-27T21:19:51Z

Christ, the US is so far through the looking glass now.

When I joined the Navy one of the first things they taught you was that you must always follow orders given by a superior officer, UNLESS they were illegal orders, in which case you had a duty to refuse to follow them.

https://www.mississippifreepress.org/pentagon-threatens-to-court-martial-us-senator-for-urging-troops-to-uphold-oath-defy-illegal-orders/

#Fascism #TurdReich #NurembergDefence

Had the last of this year's home grown tomatoes with lunch ...

2025-11-22T15:02:45Z

Had the last of this year's home grown tomatoes with lunch today. Quite pleased that they lasted that long. Not sure they've ever made it to November before.

#gardening

It's definitely possible that lockdowns could have been ...

2025-11-21T12:29:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…chqm
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It's definitely possible that lockdowns could have been avoided altogether. Japan, which was far better prepared for covid, never had mandatory lockdowns because their other disease control methods worked well.

Whether it would have been realistic to expect those effective public health measures to be implementable in a UK setting is another question.

But if the answer to that is no, the next question should be how we can make it realistic.

Listen folks, I know some of you are upset that CEOs of big ...

2025-11-21T08:47:24Z

Listen folks, I know some of you are upset that CEOs of big companies get paid squillions of dollars while the rest of us are worried about our food and electricity bills, but what you have to remember is that these people have unusual and rare talents.

Though apparently these rare talents don't include having even the faintest fucking idea what the customers of their company want.

"Microsoft Exec Asks: Why Aren't More People Impressed With AI?"

https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-exec-asks-why-arent-more-people-impressed-with-ai

#AI

I am very nervous about what this means for my Mum's care ...

2025-11-20T16:03:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…5mpr
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I am very nervous about what this means for my Mum's care home. The place simply couldn't function without immigrants.

It's surely been obvious for some time that Labour's ...

2025-11-19T11:48:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…89tx
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It's surely been obvious for some time that Labour's lurch to the far right can never be a successful electoral strategy.

I find it so puzzling why they embrace it so wholeheartedly anyway. They must surely know they're leading their party into oblivion.

Oh yes, very true. I've had ups and downs in my career. I am ...

2025-11-18T06:52:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…py6z
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Oh yes, very true. I've had ups and downs in my career. I am very aware that the ups were partly my own hard work and partly good luck.

And conversely the downs were partly my poor decisions and partly bad luck.

I like to think of life a like a game of backgammon. There's a lot of skill in it, but there's nothing you can do about it when your opponent rolls that double 6.

Do #Stamer and #Mahmoud seriously think that this policy will ...

2025-11-16T17:40:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…xz2j
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Do #Stamer and #Mahmoud seriously think that this policy will mean that the billionaire-controlled, Putin-adjacent media will just say "OK, fair play, Labour are being sufficiently mean to immigrants for our liking, everything is fine"?

No. It ain't going to happen. They will just keep screaming for ever more inhumane and destructive policies.

I am seriously scared by how far Labour are prepared to go down this road.

What scares me about this new asylum policy, quite apart from the ...

2025-11-16T17:37:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…dkj5
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What scares me about this new asylum policy, quite apart from the fact that it is a terrible abandonment of our moral duty to help those fleeing war, famine, catastrophic climate change etc, and its negative impacts on the UK economy, is that it shows that Labour are going firmly down a road of appeasement towards the far right.

And, as Neville Chamberlain found out, if you start by appeasing the far right, you will NEVER satisfy them. They will ALWAYS come back for more.

It's been a while since Labour could reasonably have been ...

2025-11-16T17:34:18Z

It's been a while since Labour could reasonably have been considered a party of the left, and I think most of us would have described them as "centre right" since #Starmer took over as leader.

But I think we need to have a conversation about whether the "centre right" label is still appropriate or whether they are really moving more towards the far right.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7970p2wx7ro

#UKPolitics #Asylum #FarRight

So in today's episode of "this climate is weird", I ...

2025-11-12T16:24:34Z

So in today's episode of "this climate is weird", I harvested some tomatoes in my garden today at about the same time I noticed that my Forsythia has already started flowering.

(I live in the south of England, so both of those things are spectacularly unusual for mid-November)

#Gardening #ClimateChange

That's disappointing. I wrote to my Lib Dem MP in Sept about ...

2025-11-10T21:19:05Z

That's disappointing. I wrote to my Lib Dem MP in Sept about small boat crossings and how the only way to stop them is safe and legal routes to claim asylum.

Got a letter back today saying how they agree small boat crossings are bad but think they can enforce their way out of the problem.

How's that working out for Starmer?

Honestly thought the LDs were more sensible than that. Think I'll be voting Green next time, and to hell with tactical voting.

#UKPolitics #SmallBoats #Asylum

Who do you think will get the job as the next BBC Director ...

2025-11-10T14:30:35Z

Who do you think will get the job as the next BBC Director General?

Isn't it funny that no-one at the BBC had to resign when they ...

2025-11-10T10:26:42Z

Isn't it funny that no-one at the BBC had to resign when they edited something Corbyn said to the point where they actually changed the entire meaning of what he said.

I wonder what the difference is?

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/18/bbc-trust-says-laura-kuenssberg-report-on-jeremy-corbyn-was-inaccurate-labour

#BBC #BBCBias

This whole thing really takes gaslighting to a whole new level. ...

2025-11-10T07:39:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…l5tz
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This whole thing really takes gaslighting to a whole new level.

And if Tim Davie is upset that editing The Rapist's speech is biased, just wait until he finds out about Tory Laura. Or their coverage of Brexit. Or any of the BBC's coverage of Corbyn in the 2019 election.

Or any of these.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1461670X.2017.1389295
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1461670X.2023.2173956
https://www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/party-political-coverage
https://cfmm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CfMM-Report-Final-MEDIA-BIAS-GAZA-2023-24-ePDF.pdf
https://uk.themedialeader.com/cardiff-university-has-settled-the-bbc-bias-argument-once-and-for-all/

#BBC #BBCBias

"The BBC had come under fire over a Panorama documentary that ...

2025-11-10T07:36:30Z

"The BBC had come under fire over a Panorama documentary that was accused of misleadingly editing a speech by Donald Trump to make it look like he was urging people to attack the US Capitol."

Well, I for one am glad the BBC have apologised for this egregious error.

I hope they will be broadcasting the deleted parts of the speech where The Rapist said "Biden won the election fair and square, and we must all accept it gracefully".

Seriously, though, WTAF?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mx28vlp4wo

#BBC #BBCBias

So today is 3 years since I joined Mastodon. Really glad I did, ...

2025-11-07T07:04:26Z

So today is 3 years since I joined Mastodon. Really glad I did, so much nicer than Twitter. I have found a super community here.

To celebrate the occasion, I've made a small donation to trumpet@mas.to (npub19vf…lppg) to help with the server costs.

Remember that Mastodon isn't funded by billionaires, and if you have a few pounds/euros/dollars/etc to spare, I'm sure your instance admin would also appreciate a donation. Details of how to donate should be in your instance's "About" page.

#Mastodon

Yesterday's news: sickness absence, driven in large part by a ...

2025-11-06T07:57:09Z

Yesterday's news: sickness absence, driven in large part by a surge in mental health issues, is costing the UK economy £212 billion a year.

Today's news: NHS mental health services are closing.

If someone thinks that's going to save money, they are going to be sorely disappointed.

Also, quite apart from the money, it's just utterly cruel on a human level.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpl150ze4o

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7v80n7mz2jo

#ADHD #MentalHealth #FalseEconomy

There's a more detailed critique here ...

2025-11-05T16:38:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…njw5
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There's a more detailed critique here
https://jonworth.eu/when-a-plans-not-a-plan-and-a-revolution-isnt-a-revolution-european-high-speed-rail/

I doubt it would. The Green party has been clearly left of centre ...

2025-10-31T18:22:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…sl99
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I doubt it would. The Green party has been clearly left of centre since long before YP was even thought of

I was initially sympathetic to the idea of YP, but quite apart ...

2025-10-31T16:23:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…7sx2
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I was initially sympathetic to the idea of YP, but quite apart from the mess they're making of things, it seems crazy for them to still exist now that the Green Party is really starting to get traction. Splitting the left wing vote is more or less guaranteed to let Reform win the next GE.

I am perfectly willing to believe that Reeves's failure to ...

2025-10-31T10:51:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…naj0
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I am perfectly willing to believe that Reeves's failure to get a license was not a deliberate decision, but a mistake made in good faith.

But Rayner's failure to pay the correct stamp duty was also not a deliberate decision, but a mistake made in good faith.

So why the different treatment?

You could make exactly the same argument that sickness benefits ...

2025-10-31T10:28:13Z

In reply to nevent1q…x7ef
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You could make exactly the same argument that sickness benefits are not benefits but rather an act of inter-health-status solidarity, or that unemployment benefits are acts of inter-employment-status solidarity.

Would you? And if not, what's different about pensions?