swimbird #FBPE
@swimbird.bsky.social
Retired Brit in the Loire Valley.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
The immensely wealthy men who run the AI companies are forcing the economy to serve their dreams and crowding out everyone else's.
AI Versus Everything Else
The hyperscaler boom is crowding out other investment
paulkrugman.substack.com
October 7, 2026 at 12:17 AM
The immensely wealthy men who run the AI companies are forcing the economy to serve their dreams and crowding out everyone else's.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
Actually interesting section on Reform. "To those who say 'unite the right', we are not uniting with that". Says she doesn't want to debate if her mixed-race children are English. "We must not let these people take us backwards." This is a very welcome section, which wins a standing ovation.
October 7, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Actually interesting section on Reform. "To those who say 'unite the right', we are not uniting with that". Says she doesn't want to debate if her mixed-race children are English. "We must not let these people take us backwards." This is a very welcome section, which wins a standing ovation.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
The daily sea surface temperature is now so high, they had to add more chart because the previous version only went up to 30C
October 6, 2026 at 5:46 PM
The daily sea surface temperature is now so high, they had to add more chart because the previous version only went up to 30C
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
October 5, 2026 at 11:34 PM
HMO trashed after false rumours of migrants there: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...
HMO trashed with front door thrown through window after social media rumours
An investigation into criminal damage in Salford is underway
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
October 7, 2026 at 1:12 PM
HMO trashed after false rumours of migrants there: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
In 1975, women at #Cornell gave “sexual harassment” a name.
By 1980, the #EEOC recognized it as prohibited sex discrimination.
In 1986, the #SupremeCourt ruled hostile-work-environment harassment could violate Title VII. Language became law!!!
#SheShed
By 1980, the #EEOC recognized it as prohibited sex discrimination.
In 1986, the #SupremeCourt ruled hostile-work-environment harassment could violate Title VII. Language became law!!!
#SheShed
October 6, 2026 at 2:11 PM
In 1975, women at #Cornell gave “sexual harassment” a name.
By 1980, the #EEOC recognized it as prohibited sex discrimination.
In 1986, the #SupremeCourt ruled hostile-work-environment harassment could violate Title VII. Language became law!!!
#SheShed
By 1980, the #EEOC recognized it as prohibited sex discrimination.
In 1986, the #SupremeCourt ruled hostile-work-environment harassment could violate Title VII. Language became law!!!
#SheShed
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
NEWS: New York City just recorded the fewest shootings, shooting victims, and murders in recorded history through the first nine months of the year.
Major crime is down 6.6% citywide, the largest year-to-date drop in 17 years, with declines in all five boroughs.
1/
Major crime is down 6.6% citywide, the largest year-to-date drop in 17 years, with declines in all five boroughs.
1/
October 6, 2026 at 4:27 PM
NEWS: New York City just recorded the fewest shootings, shooting victims, and murders in recorded history through the first nine months of the year.
Major crime is down 6.6% citywide, the largest year-to-date drop in 17 years, with declines in all five boroughs.
1/
Major crime is down 6.6% citywide, the largest year-to-date drop in 17 years, with declines in all five boroughs.
1/
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
I have heard rumours that Richard Tice heads a company called Britain Means Business, that has no employees and sells no products but takes in very large donations from foreign based people and forwards them to Reform UK Ltd. I can't believe this is true, but if it is it should bring down Reform.
October 5, 2026 at 6:05 PM
I have heard rumours that Richard Tice heads a company called Britain Means Business, that has no employees and sells no products but takes in very large donations from foreign based people and forwards them to Reform UK Ltd. I can't believe this is true, but if it is it should bring down Reform.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
Amnesty International UK chair Sandy Ruthven has left the Green Party following the party's adoption of its 'Zionism is racism' motion at its conference over the weekend. (Sky News)
Former Green mayoral candidate quits party
Sandy Ruthven has resigned his membership of the Green Party after its conference adopted a 'Zionism is racism' motion
www.bristol247.com
October 5, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Amnesty International UK chair Sandy Ruthven has left the Green Party following the party's adoption of its 'Zionism is racism' motion at its conference over the weekend. (Sky News)
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
The government's consultation on fireworks closes this week, so here is the link. I'm pretty sure there's also an email address for people who "cannot respond online"
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Fireworks and pyrotechnics in the UK
www.gov.uk
October 4, 2026 at 3:08 PM
The government's consultation on fireworks closes this week, so here is the link. I'm pretty sure there's also an email address for people who "cannot respond online"
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
October 3, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
France, Spain, Poland & now Germany have all openly stated the UK would be welcomed back into the EU fold.
What a difference a week - & a more positive government position - makes.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
What a difference a week - & a more positive government position - makes.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Germany backs UK to rejoin EU as Burnham moves closer to bloc
The leaders of France and Spain have also backed Britain returning to the European Union
www.independent.co.uk
October 2, 2026 at 11:38 AM
France, Spain, Poland & now Germany have all openly stated the UK would be welcomed back into the EU fold.
What a difference a week - & a more positive government position - makes.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
What a difference a week - & a more positive government position - makes.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Agreed. OK, I grew up with just the basic Lego blocks, but this is absurd, as if assembling an IKEA table makes you a furniture designer.
I note the capitalisation 'LEGO', something I'd expect from a press release or similar. Everyone else calls it 'Lego'.
I note the capitalisation 'LEGO', something I'd expect from a press release or similar. Everyone else calls it 'Lego'.
Counter-argument: This is awful.
Lego used to be a £20 box of bricks and no rules, to let a kid's imagination run riot. Then smash it and start again.
Now it's a £140 kit to make one thing that happened before the kid was even born. Then put it on a shelf and dust it.
Go shit in your hat, Lego.
Lego used to be a £20 box of bricks and no rules, to let a kid's imagination run riot. Then smash it and start again.
Now it's a £140 kit to make one thing that happened before the kid was even born. Then put it on a shelf and dust it.
Go shit in your hat, Lego.
Brilliant from the LEGO team! A 1,911 piece set to create an original PlayStation!
🔗: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/categories/adults-welcome/article/rediscover-playstation-1
🔗: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/categories/adults-welcome/article/rediscover-playstation-1
October 2, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Agreed. OK, I grew up with just the basic Lego blocks, but this is absurd, as if assembling an IKEA table makes you a furniture designer.
I note the capitalisation 'LEGO', something I'd expect from a press release or similar. Everyone else calls it 'Lego'.
I note the capitalisation 'LEGO', something I'd expect from a press release or similar. Everyone else calls it 'Lego'.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
New GB News accounts are out. Here are their losses to date. Or "spent political donations" if you prefer
October 2, 2026 at 10:14 AM
New GB News accounts are out. Here are their losses to date. Or "spent political donations" if you prefer
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
We're repeatedly told that asylum seekers pose a threat to the good people of our country...
Reading about the threatening and violent treatment of elderly and open minded locals in Crowborough I get the impression that the real threat comes from closer to home.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reading about the threatening and violent treatment of elderly and open minded locals in Crowborough I get the impression that the real threat comes from closer to home.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
October 1, 2026 at 7:55 AM
We're repeatedly told that asylum seekers pose a threat to the good people of our country...
Reading about the threatening and violent treatment of elderly and open minded locals in Crowborough I get the impression that the real threat comes from closer to home.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reading about the threatening and violent treatment of elderly and open minded locals in Crowborough I get the impression that the real threat comes from closer to home.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
This quote (thank you Bettina) is the essence of why I so admired Burnham’s speech. No one is denying it’s going to be incredibly hard to deliver on his agenda, but the UK will never tackle its problems effectively, if it’s not able to discuss them honestly - on the EU and much else besides.
"His remarks are particularly likely to be welcomed by EU members, who have been frustrated by the UK’s inability to have an honest conversation with itself about its relationship with the bloc."
An excellent article from @alexhh.bsky.social in @bylinetimes.bsky.social
And already....
An excellent article from @alexhh.bsky.social in @bylinetimes.bsky.social
And already....
October 1, 2026 at 1:59 PM
This quote (thank you Bettina) is the essence of why I so admired Burnham’s speech. No one is denying it’s going to be incredibly hard to deliver on his agenda, but the UK will never tackle its problems effectively, if it’s not able to discuss them honestly - on the EU and much else besides.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
I find this fascinating.
Connecting up my bank account to an AI agent is just a hard no for me.
But maybe I’m just out of touch? I can remember being baffled about how wary my parents were about online banking for a long time.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/t...
Connecting up my bank account to an AI agent is just a hard no for me.
But maybe I’m just out of touch? I can remember being baffled about how wary my parents were about online banking for a long time.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/t...
October 1, 2026 at 1:37 PM
I find this fascinating.
Connecting up my bank account to an AI agent is just a hard no for me.
But maybe I’m just out of touch? I can remember being baffled about how wary my parents were about online banking for a long time.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/t...
Connecting up my bank account to an AI agent is just a hard no for me.
But maybe I’m just out of touch? I can remember being baffled about how wary my parents were about online banking for a long time.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/t...
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
It's very easy to dismiss these voices as fringe and the discussion as feeding right-wing propaganda (which it does). But like the Greenfield bar story, anyone honest who has spent time in left spaces knows that these dynamics and people are very real and a problem that needs to be confronted.
I’ve never been in denial about it but I do think today was the first day I truly realized how much antisemitism is spreading and being normalized in online far-left circles.
It’s scary and frightening and is only going to get worse if the left insists it’s not a problem.
It’s scary and frightening and is only going to get worse if the left insists it’s not a problem.
September 30, 2026 at 12:34 PM
It's very easy to dismiss these voices as fringe and the discussion as feeding right-wing propaganda (which it does). But like the Greenfield bar story, anyone honest who has spent time in left spaces knows that these dynamics and people are very real and a problem that needs to be confronted.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
The people who convinced us that “we don’t want to be ruled by unelected [sic] bureaucrats in Brussels” are now telling us that we want to be owned by unnamed crypto fascists [sic], tax avoiders and brutal foreign kleptocracies.
September 30, 2026 at 7:46 AM
The people who convinced us that “we don’t want to be ruled by unelected [sic] bureaucrats in Brussels” are now telling us that we want to be owned by unnamed crypto fascists [sic], tax avoiders and brutal foreign kleptocracies.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
And in his previous UKIP version of Farage Party, they were staunch defenders of the £.
But now they promote crypto instead.
But now they promote crypto instead.
September 30, 2026 at 7:30 AM
And in his previous UKIP version of Farage Party, they were staunch defenders of the £.
But now they promote crypto instead.
But now they promote crypto instead.
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
The internet is erupting in mockery after Eric Schmitt’s spectacular Jack Smith faceplant.
Now people are openly speculating: Did his team plant the glowing 2028 story AND coordinate with MAGA influencers in advance, expecting a victory lap that blew up in their faces?
Now people are openly speculating: Did his team plant the glowing 2028 story AND coordinate with MAGA influencers in advance, expecting a victory lap that blew up in their faces?
Eric Schmitt Gets Mercilessly Mocked Over ‘Planted’ Story After Jack Smith Faceplant
A glowing 2028 scoop dropped just before Schmitt’s disastrous “gotcha,” while right-wing influencers appeared ready to celebrate. After it blew up, the internet noticed.
meidasnews.com
September 29, 2026 at 8:01 PM
The internet is erupting in mockery after Eric Schmitt’s spectacular Jack Smith faceplant.
Now people are openly speculating: Did his team plant the glowing 2028 story AND coordinate with MAGA influencers in advance, expecting a victory lap that blew up in their faces?
Now people are openly speculating: Did his team plant the glowing 2028 story AND coordinate with MAGA influencers in advance, expecting a victory lap that blew up in their faces?
Reposted by swimbird #FBPE
Having one of those days today.
September 29, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Having one of those days today.