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paulusthewoodgnome

@paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social

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Born 317ppm | Love London | Hate Racists The only thing that will redeem mankind is co-operation — Bertrand Russell

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · May 11

All of us are creatures of a day; the rememberer and the remembered alike. All is ephemeral-both memory & the object of memory. The time is at hand when you will have forgotten everything; and the time is at hand when all will have forgotten you.

Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 2h

'Russia’s retreat from global influence reaches beyond the Middle East. Across Central Asia and the Caucasus, states once seen as loyal satellites are steadily drifting out of Moscow’s orbit, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced them to reassess the potential risks to their own security.'

paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 2h

I think it's the frog being slowly boiled in a pot of water syndrome. If Twitter had been X from the outset governments wouldn't have trusted it as a safe space for political discourse. But they've gotten used to it as part of the system and now they're finding it hard to break off but they need to.

paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 2h

Oops-a-daisy.

'Putin was forced to shelve the gathering after only a handful of leaders confirmed their attendance. Instead, on Monday, global attention turned to Egypt, where world leaders gathered for a Gaza "peace summit" – with Russia notably absent.'
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Putin’s embarrassing cancellation of Arab summit signals waning influence in Middle East

Trump’s Gaza summit may bring home to Russia how much Ukraine war has damaged its international standing

www.theguardian.com

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Phil Browne @phil-browne.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy · 8h

Sumo in London > NFL in London

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Guy Boo! 👻 @guyroux.bsky.social · 4h

I know nothing about sumo but I'm more excited about the sumo coming to London than any basketball, baseball or NFL game they stage here 🇯🇵⛩️🎌🏯

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Will Norman @willnorman.co.uk · 4h

London is proud to host Japan's Grand Sumo Tournament this week - it's fantastic to see the the teams using our cycling infrastructure to get around.

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Patriciajaydee @patriciajaydee.bsky.social · 22h

It's interesting and a proven fact that children are never afraid of the yokozuna or a bigger-than-life rikishi. Everyone else parts the way for them--but never the kiddies. They approach them.

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Patriciajaydee @patriciajaydee.bsky.social · 22h

Oh yes.
And draft no less.

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Patriciajaydee @patriciajaydee.bsky.social · 22h

Have you ever seen Tobizaru smile with such abandon or, better yet, Churanoumi even SMILE? His entire face expresses delight.
I'm telling you--the boys are loving every moment of their pre-tournament holiday in London, even the grumpiest have been beaten down by The City's charms.

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Patriciajaydee @patriciajaydee.bsky.social · 22h

The locals have been amazingly open, friendly, courteous and so respectful to the sumotori(s).

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Patriciajaydee @patriciajaydee.bsky.social · 22h

Our yokozunae on route to the Royal Albert Hall (to view the venue for the first time and witness its tranformation into a Tokyo sumo ring) when Onosato spots his likeness on a poster for the tournament!
Now, Hoshoryu is on the hunt for his!

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 3h

Not really improved under Vicki Young, has it? Labour spokespersons still being interrupted more than Conservatives, whether by the host or fellow panelists.

#politicslive

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 3h

The show's finished but I can still hear Richard Holden talking... 😒

#politicslive

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 3h

Lest we forget...

Richard Holden backed to the hilt the Conservative Party's deliberately misleading video clip of Sadiq Khan West seemingly describing the Labour Party as anti-semitic. Never forget the depths to which the Tories will stoop.

#politicslive

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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 9h

Creativity has always run through London’s veins.

With 274 films from 79 countries, the BFI London Film Festival shows why our city remains the creative capital of the world.

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Tax Justice UK @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social · 23h

New fantasy hard-up millionaire just dropped… 💸🏰

The owns-a-£10 million-property-but-has-no-cash-to-pay-a-wealth-tax millionaire. 🙃

👏 Well done @kevmag.bsky.social
for knocking back this nonsense.👏

Here's why this just isn't an issue... 1/3

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 3h

Lest we forget...

Richard Holden was revealed as sole candidate for Basildon & Billericay days before selection closed, on what was expected to be a shortlist of 3. The Tory leader for Basildon branded CCHQ "shameful" and said he wouldn't campaign for him.

Holden won by 20 votes.

#politicslive

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 3h

The facts on London crime from the organisations that deal with it, as opposed to the alternative facts conjured by the far-right on social media to fit with their racist narrative that London is a "shithole".

#pmqs

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 3h

They should also change the name of American football to American throwball, or anything that doesn't confuse it with the world's greatest game.

paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 3h

You know what's great about Bluesky? Logging on and not being confronted by this shit. ⤵️

The government should mirror all of its accounts on Bluesky, with the aim of leaving the sewer of hate known as X under the ownership of a man who has called for the violent subversion of our democracy.

#pmqs

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 3h

Right-winger, Fraser Nelson, digs into the data on crime in London...

'The emerging picture is, London’s homicide count rose through the post-war decades, peaking in the early 2000s. Since then, despite occasional spikes, it has trended sharply downwards.'

#pmqs
open.substack.com/pub/fraserne...

On the case of London murder

The city's knife crime and murder rates are plunging

open.substack.com

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 7h

Do listen in. It became quite, ahem, heated.

The Francis Crick Institute @crick.ac.uk · 7h

NEW EPISODE: Will we survive climate change?

Join our expert panellists as they answer your questions about curbing rising global temperatures and what life could be like in a warmer world.

Listen on your favourite podcast platform: www.lnk.to/AQOSClimateBB

Panel of speakers with the title ‘Can We Survive Climate Change?’ from BBC Studios and The Francis Crick Institute.

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 5h

"With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and will survive their regime and gov’t and slogans. That’s the beauty of our game. It is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country." — Fifa vice-president Victor Monatgliani
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

Trump threatens removal of World Cup games from Boston, Olympics from LA

Blaming Boston street takeovers and LA wildfires, the US president said both global sporting events could be moved for supposed safety reasons

www.theguardian.com

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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 15h

For nearly 250 years, America promoted freedom and equality abroad, even when it failed to live up to those ideals itself, @anneapplebaum.bsky.social writes. Not anymore.

The Beacon of Democracy Goes Dark

For nearly 250 years, America promoted freedom and equality abroad, even when it failed to live up to those ideals itself. Not anymore.

bit.ly

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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 13h

In Scotland and Wales.