Maria
@thismaria.bsky.social
🍂 Writes, acts
🍂 Easily distracted, overly interested
🍂 Cape Town, mostly; Birmingham, occasionally
🍂 Easily distracted, overly interested
🍂 Cape Town, mostly; Birmingham, occasionally
Pinned
Maria
@thismaria.bsky.social
· Jan 2
My favourite poems from ON THE SUBJECT OF FALLEN THINGS by James Kearns. Thank you, @bloots.bsky.social, for the collection!
Happy New Year, and here are two poems from my favourite poet's beautiful collection ON THE SUBJECT OF FALLEN THINGS*.
Thanks, @karinamszczurek.bsky.social!
*James Kearns (Bad Betty Press, 2023)
Thanks, @karinamszczurek.bsky.social!
*James Kearns (Bad Betty Press, 2023)
Reposted by Maria
ChatGPT is adding the signatures of real New Yorker cartoonists to its AI-generated images. So far, I've found the signatures of more than 15 contributors.
"It’s slop, and unlike the other slop that I’ve encountered, this is slop that’s pretending to be me." www.niemanlab.org/2026/10/chat...
"It’s slop, and unlike the other slop that I’ve encountered, this is slop that’s pretending to be me." www.niemanlab.org/2026/10/chat...
October 5, 2026 at 8:47 PM
ChatGPT is adding the signatures of real New Yorker cartoonists to its AI-generated images. So far, I've found the signatures of more than 15 contributors.
"It’s slop, and unlike the other slop that I’ve encountered, this is slop that’s pretending to be me." www.niemanlab.org/2026/10/chat...
"It’s slop, and unlike the other slop that I’ve encountered, this is slop that’s pretending to be me." www.niemanlab.org/2026/10/chat...
Reposted by Maria
I'm on the edge of my seat over here. a journalist in South Africa is digging into the subject of my absolute favorite series of episodes of weird little guys -- the South African pro-apartheid terrorist who married an American klansman.
The pipeline between US white supremacists and the SA right
Decades before Ernst Roets lobbied the US, a little-known Kempton Park woman linked the AWB to global neo-Nazis – a story that sheds light on international support for the farm murder cause.…
www.dailymaverick.co.za
October 5, 2026 at 7:17 PM
I'm on the edge of my seat over here. a journalist in South Africa is digging into the subject of my absolute favorite series of episodes of weird little guys -- the South African pro-apartheid terrorist who married an American klansman.
Reposted by Maria
Manchester City cheated Premier League rules, the Commission found. Did it also cheat HMRC?
We've examined the decision and leaked Mancini documents. We think City likely failed to pay £12m in tax.
There should be a criminal investigation.
Thread:
We've examined the decision and leaked Mancini documents. We think City likely failed to pay £12m in tax.
There should be a criminal investigation.
Thread:
October 1, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Manchester City cheated Premier League rules, the Commission found. Did it also cheat HMRC?
We've examined the decision and leaked Mancini documents. We think City likely failed to pay £12m in tax.
There should be a criminal investigation.
Thread:
We've examined the decision and leaked Mancini documents. We think City likely failed to pay £12m in tax.
There should be a criminal investigation.
Thread:
Just got through this BBC Radio Scotland podcast on Colin Norris and, truly, WHAT IN THE EVER-LOVING HELL is going on in the UK justice system??
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio Scotland - Disclosure Investigates, Killer on the Ward, Trailer
A nurse convicted of murder. A case shadowed by doubt. A fight to clear his name.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 30, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Just got through this BBC Radio Scotland podcast on Colin Norris and, truly, WHAT IN THE EVER-LOVING HELL is going on in the UK justice system??
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Maria
It will never not be wild to me that the Russians attacked Keir Starmer's home, successfully spread falsehoods about Starmer's love life, and this didn't changed British politics and British political elite behaviour *at all*.
7-year sentence handed down to Oleg Bessedin for anti-Estonia activities. Work for russian SVR, pay the price. His handler Sergei Nalobin is, among other things, releted to Brexit campaign and arson of the home of British PM K.Starmer.
news.err.ee/1610150341/7...
news.err.ee/1610150341/7...
7-year sentence handed down to Oleg Bessedin for anti-Estonia activities
A court has found a pro-Kremlin propagandist guilty of crimes against Estonia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
news.err.ee
September 28, 2026 at 2:09 PM
It will never not be wild to me that the Russians attacked Keir Starmer's home, successfully spread falsehoods about Starmer's love life, and this didn't changed British politics and British political elite behaviour *at all*.
Reposted by Maria
Here’s the most incredible story you’ll read today.
A small plane with four people aboard crashes in a field.
Another pilot witnesses it. That pilot happens to be flying a bunch of skydivers. They offer to jump to assist, are given permission.
The skydivers happen to be EMTs. Everyone survives.
A small plane with four people aboard crashes in a field.
Another pilot witnesses it. That pilot happens to be flying a bunch of skydivers. They offer to jump to assist, are given permission.
The skydivers happen to be EMTs. Everyone survives.
Skydivers alert emergency crews, assist after plane crashes near East Troy airport
Four people were aboard the single-engine plane when it went down in a cornfield near Carvers School Road in East Troy at about 1:30 p.m.
www.wisn.com
September 28, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Here’s the most incredible story you’ll read today.
A small plane with four people aboard crashes in a field.
Another pilot witnesses it. That pilot happens to be flying a bunch of skydivers. They offer to jump to assist, are given permission.
The skydivers happen to be EMTs. Everyone survives.
A small plane with four people aboard crashes in a field.
Another pilot witnesses it. That pilot happens to be flying a bunch of skydivers. They offer to jump to assist, are given permission.
The skydivers happen to be EMTs. Everyone survives.
That's one way to deal with a comms failure, I suppose. #springboks
September 27, 2026 at 11:30 AM
That's one way to deal with a comms failure, I suppose. #springboks
Reposted by Maria
Every time someone links to this film, I have to repost it. It's one of the most significant bits of British 20th century art. Everything about it is incredible. Groundbreaking music production by Daphne Oram. Amazing camera work by Wolfgang Suschitzky (who later filmed Get Carter).-
[1963] Snow – Hypnotic British Transport Film showing the efforts of railway workmen to keep trains running in hazardous snowy conditions.
September 27, 2026 at 6:58 AM
Every time someone links to this film, I have to repost it. It's one of the most significant bits of British 20th century art. Everything about it is incredible. Groundbreaking music production by Daphne Oram. Amazing camera work by Wolfgang Suschitzky (who later filmed Get Carter).-
Reposted by Maria
South African journalist Micah Reddy and his local fixer Kooki Mahmoud have been missing in Djibouti since about noon on Saturday.
Read groundup.org.za/article/sout... by GroundUp Staff
Read groundup.org.za/article/sout... by GroundUp Staff
South African journalist Micah Reddy missing in Djibouti
Local fixer, Kooki Mahmoud, also missing since Saturday noon
groundup.org.za
September 21, 2026 at 6:49 AM
South African journalist Micah Reddy and his local fixer Kooki Mahmoud have been missing in Djibouti since about noon on Saturday.
Read groundup.org.za/article/sout... by GroundUp Staff
Read groundup.org.za/article/sout... by GroundUp Staff
Reposted by Maria
My friend Micah Reddy, a journalist with dual South African and British nationality, has gone missing while working on a story in Djibouti. If you know anyone in Djibouti who might be able to help, please get in touch. If not, please share this post so more people find out about Micah. It's urgent.
September 20, 2026 at 9:48 AM
My friend Micah Reddy, a journalist with dual South African and British nationality, has gone missing while working on a story in Djibouti. If you know anyone in Djibouti who might be able to help, please get in touch. If not, please share this post so more people find out about Micah. It's urgent.
Reposted by Maria
Our colleague Micah Reddy, @icij.org's Africa coordinator, and journalist Mohamed Willo Ismael have been missing in Djibouti City since Saturday. Djiboutian authorities must urgently account for them.
www.icij.org/news/2026/09...
www.icij.org/news/2026/09...
Statement on missing ICIJ journalist Micah Reddy - ICIJ
ICIJ lost contact with our colleague Micah Reddy, ICIJ's Africa coordinator, and local journalist Mohamed Willo Ismael ("Kooki Mahmoud"), in Djibouti City on Saturday, Sept. 19.
www.icij.org
September 20, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Our colleague Micah Reddy, @icij.org's Africa coordinator, and journalist Mohamed Willo Ismael have been missing in Djibouti City since Saturday. Djiboutian authorities must urgently account for them.
www.icij.org/news/2026/09...
www.icij.org/news/2026/09...
Uhm. 😕
September 19, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Uhm. 😕
Reposted by Maria
I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received - and that consequently, this country is at war with Piddington.
September 16, 2026 at 7:21 AM
I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received - and that consequently, this country is at war with Piddington.
Reposted by Maria
Byline Times has identified seven Reform councillors who are listed as members of the masked anti-migrant groups bylinetimes.com/2026/09/16/t...
The Reform Councillors Embedded in Britain’s Masked 'Patriot' Anti-Migrant Network
A Reform councillor and campaign co-ordinater urged his followers to join and support the masked group
bylinetimes.com
September 16, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Byline Times has identified seven Reform councillors who are listed as members of the masked anti-migrant groups bylinetimes.com/2026/09/16/t...
Reposted by Maria
Bonnie Greer famously sat with her back to the BNP’s Nick Griffin when he appeared on Question Time in 2009. There was much criticism of the BBC platforming the far right, Now every episode of Question Time is wall to wall far right talking points with open arms and a seat kept warmfor Reform
September 16, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Bonnie Greer famously sat with her back to the BNP’s Nick Griffin when he appeared on Question Time in 2009. There was much criticism of the BBC platforming the far right, Now every episode of Question Time is wall to wall far right talking points with open arms and a seat kept warmfor Reform
Reposted by Maria
“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.”
Ed Sheeran: “I am not complicit.”
And then he goes on to be complicit.
And then he goes on to be complicit.
September 15, 2026 at 4:20 PM
“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.”