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Andy Smart

@andysmart1948.bsky.social

150 followers 74 following 1.7K posts

Ex (not very good) youth worker and (slightly more useful) manager of youth workers. Edinburgh & SW France. Opinionated.

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · Jul 14

pluralistic.net/2024/11/02/u...

Pluralistic: Bluesky and enshittification (02 Nov 2024) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

pluralistic.net

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 19m

Mandelson knows who else is in the Epstein/Maxwell/Mossad Files.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 24m

This is a GMO Labour government. The genes have been modified to suit the donor community.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 29m

Give is criticising Hamas but bigging up the man who funded and armed them in order to weaken the PLO (who threatened peace and the end of his career and immunity).

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 12h

Is leaving guns lying around for the little ones to play with a form of 'family planning' for people opposed to contraception and abortion on what they claim to be religious grounds?

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 16h

I think we have to separate social policy from economic policy. They appear to operate almost independently!

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 23h

Google calendar on my Android lets me enter exact times and allows me to set different time zones for start and finish. I still add the local time to the text title of the event. I use the underscore as a separator because it will strip out time in a format it recognises!

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 1d

Goodwin reminds me of Malcolm Muggeridge. An unattractive right-winger whose allegedly lively and interesting mind faded quickly as he turned into a dessicated old bigot.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 1d

I'm not sure this is the same thing: I think City Doctorow is arguing that these people can't be adequately replaced by the machines and that Amazon is sacrificing some profit from their retail business to prop up an illusion about their AI B2B.

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 1d

archive.ph/2025.11.02-1...

archive.ph

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 1d

pluralistic.net/2025/10/29/w...

Pluralistic: When AI prophecy fails (29 Oct 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

pluralistic.net

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 1d

Cory Doctorow argues, convincingly, that Amazon is doing this to prop up the idea that AI can replace workers wholesale, and is prepared to accept a loss in efficiency and profit in order to nurture its interest in AI.

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

How shadowy Russian and US groups are pouring billions into the systematic destruction of women’s rights globally

The world is being split in two by transnational organisations that are promoting right-wing politics under the insidious guise of ‘family values’, and they are reversing human rights gains all over t...

www.dailymaverick.co.za

Reposted by Andy Smart

@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 2d

Farage’s claim that flag mania was down to ordinary citizens couldn’t be further from the truth. Brilliant expose via @manchestermill.bsky.social.
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...

The men who raised the flags

Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found

manchestermill.co.uk

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

They are actually tug boats, hustling for the contract when HMS Tyne breaks down. Like the tow-trucks in Cape Town.

Story of Drone boats surrounding Royal Navy ship

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

"our Great Christian population around the world"*

* But especially in countries with enormous oil and gas reserves.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

pluralistic.net/2025/11/01/r...

Pluralistic: There’s one thing EVERY government can do to shrink Big Tech (01 Nov 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

pluralistic.net

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 3d

We are almost exactly as wealthy as the eurozone countries but we’re exporting wealth at twice the rate of even the most indebted poor countries. Can I get you to reflect on that – Scotland is rich like Europe but leaks wealth much, muc

archive.ph/2025.11.01-0...

archive.ph

Reposted by Andy Smart

IWGB @iwgbunion.bsky.social · 3d

Rockstar: not only making history in terms of profits, but in enacting the most brazen act of union busting the games industry has ever seen.

IWGB Game Workers Union @gameworkers.co.uk · 3d

This is the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry. Yesterday, @rockstargames.com unfairly fired over 30 employees for union activity.

We won't back down, and we're not scared - we will fight for every member to be reinstated.

Jason Schreier @jasonschreier.bsky.social · 3d

BREAKING: Yesterday Grand Theft Auto VI maker Rockstar Games fired dozens of people, all of whom were involved in union efforts. A British union calls it "blatant and ruthless" union-busting. Take-Two Interactive says it was due to misconduct.

Here's the scoop: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 3d

I agree it's a fairer system and I i think it is a mistake for some at Holyrood to make out that list seats are in some way less valid. We should be proud of having a better system (and if there are ways to further improve, they should make the case - tell us what and how)

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 3d

My train in from Burntisland this morning was delayed 6 minutes because the line was slippery. They didn't mention leaves - 10 pints and a chicken korma in Kirkcaldy?

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 3d

Very, very hard to know what Indy supporters might do. I think Joanna C's efforts to hold on to fairness, decency and democratic ways of working within the SNP were all but superhuman. Look at the thanks she got!

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 3d

Yet again, taking dope dealers scales to a (relatively) straightforward question of fairness and decency. The government must tell us what they think and argue for it!

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 3d

Seems to me, the independence movement is divided against itself currently and that there can't be Reconciliation without Truth. The perjurious conspiracy against Alex, the abuse of the justice system to persecute other 'enemies' and the wrecking of SNP internal democracy all need sunshine.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 3d

Could be even quicker if Morgan McSweeney gets the job as Farage's Chief of Staff that he's been auditioning for!

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 3d

Sat here on a stationary train in Berwick because of "signalling issues", my heart swells with pride at the thought we have all chosen to upgrade 'our' nuclear weapons rather than fritter it away on feeding hungry children or maintaining the vital infrastructure of the country.