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  I'd have expected endangering lives at sea to be a criminal act. I hope this apology for a human being suffers the full effects of the law. "Thomas filmed himself stabbing a knife into the inflatable dinghy several times and slashing its side. The noise of escaping air was audible, and Thomas shouted: “This is England. This is not France any more.”" "Far-right activist Daniel Thomas slashes dinghy in Channel with blade while rescue worker onboard." https://www.theguard...

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  Well, this made me smile! It's rather lovely. "I drive a bus for dogs." https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jul/31/experience-i-drive-a-bus-for-dogs?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  Andy Burnham banging on about "the North" in the Grauniad. It's not the north, of course. It's the north *of England*. I'm in favour of more devolution: England's regions need more representation. But despite devolution being a Labour project - badly enacted by Blair's government - Labour show no understanding. They just don't get it. "It’s not just a No 10 in the north, it’s an engine for growth throughout the whole UK." https://www.theguardian.co...

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  Because Trump claimed the BBC's report damaged his businesses, the judge says he must release financial details of those businesses. Lol. "Trump must divulge financial details about businesses in $10bn BBC lawsuit." #Trump #BBC https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/21/trump-financial-details-bbc-lawsuit?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  Vote Binface! #Clacton #UKpol

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  An excellent post by @cocteautriplets@mastodon.scot on the troubled history of Leith Central station. I had no idea the Central bar predated the station - I'd always assumed it had been the station's bar! As a student some friends and I explored a bit of the station one afternoon in 1984... (I remember nothing except that I went there!) #Leith #Edinburgh #railways https://threadinburgh.scot/2026/07/03/the-station-nobody-wanted-the-thread-about-leith-central/

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  Many people here seem to appreciate ants, bees and other insects. You might be interested in this! "Nominate your invertebrate of the year." #wildlife #invertebrates #insects https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/01/nominate-your-invertebrate-of-the-year?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  Good news. "‘Exploratory': mysterious rise in orca sightings off Northumberland coast." #wildlife #GoodNews https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/02/northumberland-coast-rise-orca-sightings?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  @benroyce@mastodon.social 👏👏👏🙏

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  @Natasha_Jay@tech.lgbt I've always thought teachers must have amazing antibodies, too!

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  This is some headline. "Films more likely to star an actor called Chris or a talking animal than a woman over 60, study finds." #ageism #misogyny https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/25/films-more-likely-to-star-an-actor-called-chris-or-a-talking-animal-than-a-woman-over-60-study-finds?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  @TheBreadmonkey@beige.party oh dear so they'll have to go the chemist's...!

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  Some lovely pictures here. "Britain and Ireland’s wildflowers." #photography #BloomScrolling https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/may/11/britain-ireland-wildflowers-photographer-of-the-year-competition-in-pictures?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  Starmer prepares to press alt-ctl-del on his government. I'm sure it'll work, just like the previous two - three? - resets! #UKpol #Starmer

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  A factor of five seems more then just a misstatement! "Emissions understated by factor of five in Essex plans for tech giant, while Greystoke’s Lincolnshire plans show similar error." "Google developers significantly misstate carbon emissions of proposed UK datacentres." https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/09/google-developers-significantly-misstate-carbon-emissions-of-proposed-uk-datacentres?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  Laura Kuenssberg, plugging her show tomorrow morning, says "it feels like a very different political universe" after Thursday's elections. Utter bollocks. The margin might have moved. The landscape is the same. And the world, let alone the universe, is unmoved. #UKpol

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  Reform didn't win any constituency seats in Scotland. But they've got fifteen regional seats, with Highlands & Islands - seven seats - yet to declare. It looks like they won't be the official opposition, as Labour are two seats ahead of them. Still, when Offord appeared on tv, I let out a stream of invective. It's going to be a long five years ... #UKpol #ScotPol #Scotland

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  "Seven BBC Radio 3 programmes to mark Miles Davis Centenary." #jazz #MilesDavis #BBCRadio3 https://ukjazznews.com/seven-bbc-radio-3-programmes-to-mark-miles-davis-centenary/

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  The Lego marketing team have been watching social media ...

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  "The football chant mystery: where do fans’ favourite songs come from in the first place?" #football https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/02/the-football-chant-mystery-where-do-fans-favourite-songs-come-from-in-the-first-place?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  Walking back from a gig tonight, I noticed lots of people in Castle Street taking pictures. So I turned around to see what they were photographing. And this is what I saw. #Edinburgh #castle #moon #photography #clouds

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  Adding to my digital shopping list, I made a typo. And hence I need to buy some "waking up liquid". I think I've just invented coffee...

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  This is the damning result of years of austerity. "People in UK spend fewer years in good health than a decade ago, study finds." #health #UKpol https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/apr/27/people-in-uk-spend-fewer-years-in-good-health-than-a-decade-ago-study-finds?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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  In an interview with BBC News, Nigel Farage said "I have been the most attacked, physically, politician of modern times". I think Jo Cox and David Amess might disagree. #UKpol #Reform https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8jv8xl17l8o

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  Reform UK Ltd has released a new policy (possibly illegal were it enacted). "In order to deport all illegal migrants in Britain, a Reform government will build detention capacity for at least 24,000 illegal migrants at a time. They will not be able to leave the detention centres, and be held for a short period while they await deportation." They plan to place "detention centres" in constituencies that vote Green. They're evil, and this policy is shameful. #UKpol htt...

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  Lakenheath Warren was one of my field sites when I did my PhD, 40 years ago - it was a much researched area for botany, which is why picked it. Within sight of the fence around RAF Lakenheath, my presence was checked out by the security services. The existence of so many bases in the UK (largely England) remains rather disturbing. There's a reason Orwell called it "Airstrip One"... "Bunker busters and a Burger King: a visual guide to US military bases on Brit...

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  How to make friends and influence people, Reform UK Ltd edition. I guess this isn't as awful as their policies on immigration and fossil fuels. Maybe it will help people see how vile they are! "Reform UK will tell Welsh museums how to present history, manifesto says." #UKpol #Wales https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqww40gv19o

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  Pause for Talisker. #cat #paws #CatsOfMastodon #EveryDayIsCaturday

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  I went to see The High Life: The Musical tonight, having bagged a late ticket yesterday after a friend insisted and a 5* review in the Grauniad. It was brilliant. The most fun I have had in the theatre in a very long time. Very silly, and very, very funny. It's touring to Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee and Glasgow. Go and see it if you can! #Scotland #theatre #NationalTheatreOfScotland #TheHighLife https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/events/the-high-life

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  The great jazz composer Mike Westbrook has died. I've been lucky enough to see him perform several times, leading small groups and big bands. His death is a great loss. But of course we still have the music. #Jazz #UKJazz https://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/