Inquisitive person. Writer and player of music. Ecology, arts and science enthusiast.
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I am genuinely baffled at Farage’s appeal to substantial numbers of people. He sets my teeth on edge with his phoney manner, grating voice and conman patter. I’ve never met anyone who can stand him. I must belong to a different tribe. I also have an ear for insincerity & he’s a transparent fraud.
Your periodic reminder that mRNA vaccines are a scientific and public health game-changer. Those that have been approved have passed stringent efficacy and safety checks. They protect you and your child against potentially fatal diseases. You may, however, get a sore arm.
Yup.
Angela Rayner only owns one home. She’s not a landlord and is exploiting nobody. The hypocrisy of her detractors is breathtaking and sadly, it’s not a surprise. I’m not a cheerleader for this government but they’ve inherited a bloody mess & a struggling economy. She’s a good un.
Do you remember Sunak, after failing properly to declare various interests on many occasions, repeatedly using the excuse that he had no idea what his family had shares in, because it was part of a complicated investment portfolio?
Watch your step! If you go down that dark path you might tread in some Rupert Lowe.
What great news!
Emily Maitlis is conducting a good interview with a prickly and defensive Nick Clegg. He’s slippery as hell. Every time she mentions a fact, report or book he says he hasn’t read it or dismisses its relevance. He dismisses every question as an “insinuation “, “patronising” or a caricature!
Great cartoon. Can anyone help identify the cartoonist so we can credit them?
I’ll wait and see how he performs but although I agree with some of his statements I can’t warm to him as a character. Populists are always slightly aversive to me and he’s also quite politically naive especially on national security.
Quite White- Powder your nose with Grunt and Gove A stimulating podcast for those who’ve had “quite enough of experts”
Turner Prize entry?
I might look at the reviews for a laugh but may not bother. Who is their target audience?
Two remarkable Ambassadors for our Planet, 99 year old Sir David Attenborough and 91 year old Dr. Jane Goodall. They’ve dedicated their lives to educate and protect.. 🌍 #janegoodall #davidattenborough #nature #chimpanzees #wildlife #environment #drjanegoodall #jane #sirdavidattenborough #bbc #bsky
Yvette Cooper once stood at protests to protect refugees and child refugees. As Home Secretary today she has chosen to suspend families joining asylum seekers via any legal route.
Don’t touch him he’s probably very unhygienic.
I was searching on the Government Website to see if I was eligible for a Covid booster this Autumn. Unfortunately I’m not eligible until I’m 75 but worse still, there were links to the disinformation site X which should not be dignified with any Government presence.
I understand (though I do not accept) the government's case for remaining on X. What is totally indefensible is the *exclusive* presence of many MPs & departments on that site. They are handing a monopoly of key government communications to a site that's increasingly run by & for the radical right
Season Finale is up. And it is a corker, if I say so meself.
As Trump was approaching the Black Gates of Hell They cried, “Rake back the coals boys and we’ll roast him well!” I don’t believe it but I hope he does.
I'm preaching to the choir here but I'm dismayed people are still using a site owned and manipulated by an obvious fascist. I think if you'd asked them 5 years ago if they'd use a fascist's social media site they would have said god no, of course not
It seems relevant to ask why it is said to be important to leave the ECHR. I can get to ‘so we can abuse the rights of asylum seekers’; or ‘so we can abuse the rights of immigrants’; or ‘so we can abuse everybody’s rights’. Not the most attractive proposition.
"unlawful and unfounded asylum seekers" is just gibberish. Presumably Straw means unlawful *entrants* and unfounded *claims*. But given that he is being sold here as a Big Ass Lawyer, his lack of legal precision is just embarrassing.
In 2023, UK tax to GDP ratio was 35.4; 45.8% for France, 41.9% for Denmark, 42.8% for Italy. Graph doesn't show inequities. The UK's poorest 20% pay a higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%. Can't have European levels of welfare on USA levels of tax. www.oecd.org/en/about/new...
It’s a grim disease. My friend who’s a paediatrician told me that when he was a student his professor made them listen to a recording of a child with whooping cough for several minutes to drive home the lesson. I had it as a child . Immunity wanes. I had it again as an adult. It’s awful.
Zoe is lucid and calm. She’s the voice everyone needs to hear , countering prejudice and paranoia with facts and humanity.
Autocrats’ Playbook: page 17. Criminalise your opponents. I mean, at this stage it writes itself. www.foxnews.com/video/637738...
If "mass unrest" ever happens, that will be an important news story. But this fevered speculation every week on what *might* happen is downright irresponsible. It's misleading, it's fear-mongering & it makes the press look like an apocalyptic cult, gathering every Friday for the end of the world.
That little twit is not the real Paul Mason I was expecting to see.
They’ll probably stuff him, give him a respray & stick him in a golf buggy to lead his faithful band of morons like Charlton Heston in El Cid. He’s already held together with make up and hairspray.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: Putin is a predator. Putin's proxies have been targeting our societies for years with hybrid attacks, with cyber attacks. The weaponizing of migrants is another example.
This should be headline news - the implications are horrifying …
As Trump’s proctologist, Farage is keen to construct an incipient police state. It’s a chilling reminder of his hideous ambitions
What was the book’s title? More Tea Vicar? By Simon Teabag Montefiore
Labour's cowardice in the face of extremism iandunt.substack.com/p/labours-co...
It’s like those aunties who used to put a doll in a crinoline over the spare loo roll
He does it nicely. As a non flag waver, I like human diversity. I’ve never needed a group identity, a uniform, a flag, a team or a sense of ethnic superiority. I feel uneasy about people who proclaim a special status that excludes others. I still celebrate national achievements.
I remember the day he joined the Today programme. He was shallow, irritating and tedious . It helped to wean me off the programme and then abandon it after a lifetime of listening.
"Flag on Devon roundabout updates with rainbow and peace symbol" Would be terrible if this sort of thing were to start happening. ~AA www.devonlive.com/news/devon-n...
Let's hang Farage's "ICE-style enforcement" around his neck like a concrete albatross. Let's show people what that looks like. A majority does not want this.
The government can’t be unable to access some good communicators. I agree with your analysis of the problem and the remedies. Put Lewis in the old Alistair Campbell role or someone with his mental quickness and fluency. Alistair Campbell is still the master of framing a message.
Quiet Riot podcast. One of the appointments in my week that I never miss. It’s a source of insight, humour, and moments of positivity. Andrew Lewin, a bright Labour MP was guest. Plus a lovely story about a girl (12) who designed a solar back pack to heat thermal blankets for homeless people. 👏
Supporting Reform causes luminous lug hole syndrome . The synapses become overexcited by the racist rhetoric and the surplus heat it generates causes ears to glow brightly.
Who’s the little traitor Who would like to be Dictator? It’s Farage Who’s the pint sized fascist With the nicotine stained gnashers ? It’s Farage Spreading poison by osmosis… He’s a blast of halitosis Who’s the gob behind the mob? It’s Farage
The ever-eloquent @rafaelbehr.bsky.social pointedly refusing to mince his words on what Farage has done for us. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
🐞
What is the possible origin of this non linguistic feature. Is it an uvular fricative? Some British speakers have acquired it from American television.
UNEXCITABLE (11)
Who’s the little traitor Who would like to be Dictator? It’s Farage Who’s the pint sized fascist With the nicotine stained gnashers ? It’s Farage He offers his prognosis Like a blast of halitosis Leaking poison by osmosis… Who’s the gob behind the mob It’s Farage
Who’s the little traitor Who would like to be Dictator? It’s Farage Who’s the pint sized fascist With the nicotine stained gnashers ? It’s Farage He offers his prognosis Like a blast of halitosis Leaking poison by osmosis… Who’s the gob behind the mob It’s Farage
He also used detergent with optical brighteners.
They were probably brought up watching the Flintstones! Geological Time is difficult to comprehend and religion, popular entertainment and childrens’ books shape a naive worldview that undermines the foundations of scientific understanding.
This is not true. There are prominent gay Labour MPs and ministers. I’d like Labour to be more supportive of people with disabilities. However, they are not persecuting them. Incidentally, I have two adult children who are registered disabled. Labour should use the power of incumbency for change.
This is what I suspected but I still feel bad when I ignore them. It encourages cynicism when such tactics are used. Thanks for confirming my hunch.
Wonderful interview with Chris Bryant on “Oh God What Now!” podcast. Candour from the Rhondda! What a witty guest. A brilliant linguist too.
Great inversion! Quentin Blake needs some credit.
Charles Dickens Dahl's chickens
Farage serves as Trump & Putin’s Lord Haw-Haw- he’s like a remora or sucker fish that clings to Authoritarian sharks to make a living.
Facts.
Maxwell had a father who was a bully & a monster but she was a sophisticated, well educated woman who cynically procured young women and girls for a network of powerful abusers (whom she won’t expose .) If she names them she might end up dead like Epstein. Connolly pleaded guilty - no excuses.
“Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.” ― Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism
Exquisite
‘People just lie’: How Riverford’s Guy Singh-Watson became the most brutally honest farmer in Britain
Liszt - années du pélérinage…
She pleaded guilty! End of story.
Exquisite, right up to its perfect beaded antennae.
“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ~Soren Kierkegaard #Kindness #photography #integrity amzn.to/2STbrcK
A feeding frenzy of butterflies. Jersey Tiger, Tortoiseshells and a Red Admiral in Morchard Bishop
Jersey Tiger moth sipping nectar today in Morchard Bishop, Devon
Kaja Kallas, "This is the trap Russia wants us to walk into" "The discussion is all about what Ukraine should give up" "We are forgetting that Russia has not made one single concession, and they are the ones who are the aggressor here" #SlavaUkraïni 🇺🇦
Well said
She pleaded guilty.
How we're all changing under the gaze of AI, as we learn to see ourselves as the machine sees us iandunt.substack.com/p/machine-me...
I think he means warts.
I know that reproachful look!
Normally (adverb)
Reminder that Putin has never said he wants a trilateral meeting, had never said he would respect Ukrainian sovereignty, and has never said he wants to end the war. Not to be a downer, but the discussion of security guarantees is premature.
Today I argued for raising inheritance tax, a tax on a hand out, unearned wealth, in exchange for cuts in income tax-a tax on work. This has riled up lots of people on X. But I think it’s essential to make capitalism function. Watch my argument in full. youtu.be/YSruUZBxlrE?...
A brilliant debate Lewis- I applaud your sturdy good natured defence of a common sense position on the inertia and sclerotic effect of great inherited wealth. Those defending their “hard-earned” 🙄 wealth misrepresented your arguments for justice, dynamism and vitality in the economy.
I wonder why vets, dental hygienists and undertakers don’t get a mention?
Did it include Messiaen and Scriabin? Hope the chromatic scales were vivid.
Just listening to Lewis Goodall interviewing Zach. Polanski is fluent, facile and unconvincing. I think he has the economic grasp & foreign policy expertise of a student politician. I want the Greens focused on environment and ecology. I also used to be an idealistic pacifist. Less naive now.
I share your indignation about the Duchy and its feudal attitudes.
Land of the Emmet? I think devolved powers for regions are a good thing . I doubt Cornwall could be described as a nation these days.
Zoe relentlessly fighting the good fight on behalf of asylum seekers victimised because of race, demonised because of religion and or colour… Meanwhile white men sexually and physically abuse women but the right wing studiously ignore as it doesn’t suit their racist agenda🤷🏼♂️
You can tell he’s hard of thinking even with the sound off.
Imagine! It's something you will ever hear from a brexshitter... prior to 2017 there were no boats!!!!
If he’s ever charged for his crimes he’ll do a “Pinochet” and be diagnosed in advanced cognitive decline and unfit to stand trial ( though still able to play golf). He’s lacked capacity to serve for years but is too dim, vain and deluded. The world cringes every time he speaks. Poor America!!
A much covered song by Florence Reece written in 1931 for the Kentucky Miners Strike. I heard it first sung by Pete Seeger.
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Representatives of EU countries & others at the Trump/Vance meeting with Zelenskyy need to grow a spine. You need to vocally challenge Trump. No more pussy footing. Stand up, it may be your last chance. You can’t let Trump isolate Zelenskyy. Fight for him and us in the West. We’re watching you.
So tedious and unoriginal. The right are a conga line of naff tribute acts.
The Miller and his Donkey: The perfectly retelling of a wise parable that skewers the folly of making policy by listening to focus groups. Starmer needs to hear this and hire Alex to teach him how to tell a better story. It would be money well spent!
I can face the most aversive of Current Affairs in the company of Alex Andreou and Arthur Snell. Always balmy never barmy. Sane, well considered insights with context and a little ironic humour. Quiet Riot is the antidote to rage and slogans.
Hummingbird hawk moth on verbena at Rosemoor in Devon.
Sounds like a bot.
Definitely a portrait of a real lutenist. Well observed hands.
You can catch up on everything that happened during the Trump Putin Snow Job & what it means/and doesn’t mean, here 🎧👇
Sorry, it was a discourteous comment. Many American politicians use religiosity for political advantage while failing to support human rights or social justice. Trump embodies hate, vanity, greed and cruelty with support from the religious right. I don’t find prophecy apt or consoling.