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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Teàrlaidh @parttimecorvid.bsky.social · 2h

Psychiatrist years ago was like "I'm going to prescribe you 60mg and you can just go up and down depending on the time of year, idk man" and I was like 👍 nice cool thanks dude 👍 but the GP is incredibly invested

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Collapse faster! @maketotalcollapse.bsky.social · 1h

Thing is - the Greens are already much more democratic than any other UK party. So it feels a bit like putting a hat on a hat to build another grassroots democratic project alongside it.

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Michael Birtwhistle @salfordmh.bsky.social · 30m

mmmmmmmmmm

Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Bridget 🧟‍♀️ Oooo Brains @bridgetemob.bsky.social · 1h

The more computers act on my behalf, the more time I spend undoing their actions: my phone turns on “Work Focus” when I don’t want it on. A document decides it knows how to finish my sentence, except it’s wrong.

darth™️ @darthbluesky.bsky.social · 2h

“The PC should be able to act on your behalf.”

the fuck is it with these guys

Tom Warren @tomwarren.co.uk · 8h

This is the future of Windows. Microsoft wants to rewrite Windows to turn computers into AI PCs that you talk to. It's now bringing AI features to all Windows 11 PCs today, in a bid to convince you to talk to your PC and let AI control it. Full details 👇 www.theverge.com/news/799768/...

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Friends of Warriston Cemetery @fowarristoncem.bsky.social · 1h

#31daysofgraves Day 17: Relocated. We have several areas where stones have been moved & abandoned in haphazard piles. This was done decades ago by the original commercial company, when families stopped paying their maintenance fees. Shocking, distressing, heartbreaking & infuriating. #Edinburgh

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Michael Birtwhistle @salfordmh.bsky.social · 1h

When they've worn in, then they can pick up glass shards and feed them gradually inward over time - I get more of that than single pierces. Do you run the One's tubeless with solution? I've wondered if that would be equal to a puncture belt.

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Michael Birtwhistle @salfordmh.bsky.social · 1h

Me reading a critical review of Paul Burrell's autobiography.

John Attridge @johnattridge.bsky.social · 10h

Wow ok unfollowing now. I loved him as a loyal butler, did not know he was an unreliable narrator

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

the abbot of unreason (an archaeologist) @merovingians.bsky.social · 3h

still need to run him out of congress but what a watershed moment

Emissary Of Night | ليلى @diplomatofnight.com · 3h

NEW: Seth Moulton becomes the first candidate in a Democratic primary for Senate to officially announce that he will return and henceforth reject donations from AIPAC

Seth for
Massachusetts
I am returning AIPAC donations and refusing to accept any donations or support from them. The FEC filing I made yesterday reflects that we are returning donations. Below is my statement explaining why:
I'm cautiously optimistic that the recent breakthrough in Gaza will move us closer to ending the horrific violence in the region. A political resolution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace is exactly the kind of framework I've been calling for from the beginning.
I support Israel's right to exist, but l've also never been afraid to disagree openly with AIPAC when I believe they're wrong.
In recent years, AIPAC has aligned itself too closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. I'm a friend of Israel, but not of its current government, and AlPAC's mission today is to back that government. I don't support that direction. That's why l've decided to return the donations I've received and will not be accepting their support.

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Michael Birtwhistle @salfordmh.bsky.social · 1h

I'm intrigued how you've had regular punctures with marathon pluses, I have 26/28s on and only get punctures if I haven't birthed ingrained glass fragments out for several months, or underinflated snakebite on a kerb. I find them very reliable but a bugger to fit.

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Owler Nook @owlernook.bsky.social · 3h

An honest-to-goodness continuous footway, using Dutch entrance kerbs. Dorset Street, Bolton.

Photo courtesy of @tomjeffs.bsky.social

A terraced street in Bolton. A row of redbrick houses is broken by an access road from the front to the rear. The footway has recently been made continuous, so that it remains at the same level. Dutch-style kerbs have been used, which provide a ramp for vehicles to use if they want to pass over the continous footway.

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Hanniba-LINA Lecter 💀 @agirlcalledlina.bsky.social · 3h

Tbh you have to hand it to Keir Starmer don’t think even his fiercest critics could have predicted the level of shithousery

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Jamie McKelvie @mckelvie.bsky.social · 4h

My strongest book-related belief is that the paperback should come first and then the hardback after for people who want a fancy edition.

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Mark @worgztheowl.bsky.social · 5h

Not a chance

Ron Atkinson - It's Christmas Let's Give Love A Try

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Kevin Verhoff @kevinverhoff.bsky.social · 4h

This is the kind of high school level libertarian thinking that gets people to say things like, "If a company puts poison in their supplements, they'll suffer in the marketplace."

And then we find out that companies have been putting lead in protien powder.

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 17h

We’ve heard a lot of colossally stupid things from the Trump regime lately, but this is among the stupidest things I’ve heard from anyone, anywhere, ever.

Post quoting RFK Jr saying “We need to stop trusting the experts. Trusting the experts is not a feature of science or democracy, it’s a feature of religion and totalitarianism.”

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Gary Delaney Comedian @garydelaney.bsky.social · 6h

A story in three parts

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Michael Birtwhistle @salfordmh.bsky.social · 5h

can you tell what it is yet?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6h

"It is borderline hysterical. It would be funny if it wasn’t so f**king serious to think that this is in fact a war zone needing federal intervention, much less federal troops prepared to use all force." — @timdickinson.bsky.social

Scenes from Portland's imaginary insurrection

"It would be funny if it wasn’t so f**king serious," Tim Dickinson says.

www.publicnotice.co

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Sian Berry MP @sianberry.bsky.social · 13h

Who runs Labour’s housing policy? The biggest profit-driven big developers, that’s who.

Not councils, not Mayors with carefully Green-influenced policies, not housing co-ops or charities, not even housing associations. And definitely not homeless families.

The i Paper @theipaper.com · 22h

Leaked memo reveals Labour plan to slash affordable homes target trib.al/QKSFLn2

Leaked memo reveals Labour plan to slash affordable homes target

A requirement for developers to build affordable housing in London is set to be cut from 35% of new homes to 20%, in a move councils fear will spread across Britain

inews.co.uk

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

The Spectre Haunting Europe @frightfulhobgoblin.bsky.social · 12h

Unpopulism: the centrist belief (typified by Starmer) that the duty of govt is to choose the least popular set of policy positions, and then attempt to sell them as 'making tough decisions', 'winning back credibility' etc. This views the electorate as ungrateful hogs who should take their medicine.

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Phil McDuff @mcduff.bsky.social · 12h

This is a genuinely incredible thing to say in the paper where people can read it. And, like, look lads. The people who have been getting things their own way and need to be told the party is over: do we think that's "people reliant on the welfare state" or "strategists in the banking sector"?

Jack Saundrs @jacksaundrs.bsky.social · 12h

If you could ruin a few people's lives for us, that would really make us feel better, like we could trust you, you know?

Moyeen Islam, a fixed income strategist at the bank, said: “Welfare is totemic. It’s totemic for the market because it shows a willingness to do hard things and burn a little bit of political capital … If you can’t do this with a 150 MP majority, or whatever it is, then when will you do this?

“There would be an appreciation that she is willing to take hard choices. That to me is credibility bolstering or enhancing.”

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Michael Birtwhistle @salfordmh.bsky.social · 8h

It's well known that Reeves is both awful at economics (you can't cut your way out of a recession) and paid good money by vested interests to keep things favourable for them rather than the country.

Yet, we have to watch this live car crash, unable to intervene.

Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 23h

Making the case for wealth taxes on @SkyNewsPolitics just now. Rumours that Chancellor might seek yet more spending cuts are horrifying - public services are already on their knees & top 50 richest families in UK now hold more wealth than the poorest half of the population - over 34 million people.

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Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle

Some kind of Halloween pun on the name Madeleine @pbastronaut.bsky.social · 11h

The reason we have the highest energy bills in the world, for example, isn't because successive governments have been too feeble to make tough decisions. It's because the people who own energy companies enjoy being paid huge sums of money.

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Some kind of Halloween pun on the name Madeleine @pbastronaut.bsky.social · 11h

The problem with the current government or with previous Tory governments has never been that they're dishonest about "difficult realities" though. It's that they've consistently sided with the interests of the rich and powerful at the cost of prosperity, public services and the environment.

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Rose Schmits @roseschmits.bsky.social · 12h

Still feel like the segregation is gonna happen in the end but its gonna be more of a struggle for the gov and its great seeing them at each others throat and panicking

Rose Schmits @roseschmits.bsky.social · 13h

Feel like some of the apparent panic from the EHRC would be because they know the only way to push through the trans segregation is by force and not to look into it with due care so the minister seemingly not brute forcing throws their whole scheme off

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Jack 'on the Rack' Liu @teflonslinky.bsky.social · 1d

Also Michaelmas is pronounced as ‘Morms’ if you’re in Oxford and ‘Mamlass’ if you’re in Cambridge

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Michael Birtwhistle @salfordmh.bsky.social · 12h

No safety for students. Only for those in authority.

Nate O @nateo.bsky.social · 1d

Not once have I seen an explanation for why teenagers must hear things that upset them in virtue of the unspecified speech-acts being upsetting, nor have I ever seen an explanation for why teenagers will be forbidden to express displeasure with upsetting things.

William Hague: Why I’ll banish ‘safe spaces’ at Oxford
The new chancellor tells Cheltenham Literature Festival that there will be no ‘cancel culture’ and students should expect to hear things that upset them
October 14 2025, The Times
The new chancellor of Oxford University has said there will be no safe spaces for students and warned would-be undergraduates that they will “hear things that will upset and offend them”.

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