Christian Balanes
@ceebarnacles.bsky.social
By the sea or by the books. Never ever submit to authority.
Reposted by Christian Balanes
My latest blog is about Paul Robeson, who died 50 years ago.
buddyhell.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/r...
buddyhell.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/r...
Remembering Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson died 50 years ago yesterday, and I’ll always remember the following exchange between my parents. Mum – I see Paul Robeson died today Dad – He was a communist Mum R…
buddyhell.wordpress.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:52 PM
My latest blog is about Paul Robeson, who died 50 years ago.
buddyhell.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/r...
buddyhell.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/r...
I have never supported the ‘cause’ behind the ‘War on Terror’ but in sheer terms of humanity this captures the ignorant, obnoxious puff and strut of fascism:
To the cowardly draft-dodging lump of excrement, who describes his own brave war dead as 'suckers and losers': UK personnel killed in Afghanistan fighting alongside our US allies number 454,with 2000 + wounded, many severely. In Iraq, 179 killed, 3598 wounded. Josh Leakey's VC citation says it all.
January 23, 2026 at 2:25 PM
I have never supported the ‘cause’ behind the ‘War on Terror’ but in sheer terms of humanity this captures the ignorant, obnoxious puff and strut of fascism:
Reposted by Christian Balanes
To the cowardly draft-dodging lump of excrement, who describes his own brave war dead as 'suckers and losers': UK personnel killed in Afghanistan fighting alongside our US allies number 454,with 2000 + wounded, many severely. In Iraq, 179 killed, 3598 wounded. Josh Leakey's VC citation says it all.
January 23, 2026 at 1:48 PM
To the cowardly draft-dodging lump of excrement, who describes his own brave war dead as 'suckers and losers': UK personnel killed in Afghanistan fighting alongside our US allies number 454,with 2000 + wounded, many severely. In Iraq, 179 killed, 3598 wounded. Josh Leakey's VC citation says it all.
Where are all the usual UK Veterans trumpeters / exploiters queuing up to condemn Trump and his denigration of combat veterans killed following the U.S. call for the (confected) ‘War on Terror’?!
January 22, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Where are all the usual UK Veterans trumpeters / exploiters queuing up to condemn Trump and his denigration of combat veterans killed following the U.S. call for the (confected) ‘War on Terror’?!
Just seen someone suggest / believe Lisa Nandy is the ‘attack dog’ à la John Prescott that Starmer needs to subtext Trump. Good grief.
January 22, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Just seen someone suggest / believe Lisa Nandy is the ‘attack dog’ à la John Prescott that Starmer needs to subtext Trump. Good grief.
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Print history fam— ICE is terrorizing & threatening this small business print shop in Minneapolis: Smart Set Community Printing.
If you’re in the area and need some printing (fine prints, business cards, stickers, saddle-stitched booklets, posters, etc) please consider supporting them! smartset.com
If you’re in the area and need some printing (fine prints, business cards, stickers, saddle-stitched booklets, posters, etc) please consider supporting them! smartset.com
Smart Set · Smart Set, Quick Printing, Minneapolis, MN
Certified B Corp and Union quick printer located in Minneapolis
smartset.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Print history fam— ICE is terrorizing & threatening this small business print shop in Minneapolis: Smart Set Community Printing.
If you’re in the area and need some printing (fine prints, business cards, stickers, saddle-stitched booklets, posters, etc) please consider supporting them! smartset.com
If you’re in the area and need some printing (fine prints, business cards, stickers, saddle-stitched booklets, posters, etc) please consider supporting them! smartset.com
Ha. Like Andy Burnham is Roger Ramjet or something. This is how desperate shit is these days.
a cartoon drawing of a red and white plane with the letter r on it
ALT: a cartoon drawing of a red and white plane with the letter r on it
media.tenor.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Ha. Like Andy Burnham is Roger Ramjet or something. This is how desperate shit is these days.
Reposted by Christian Balanes
This gesture means: I am reading, f*ck off.
January 22, 2026 at 9:51 AM
This gesture means: I am reading, f*ck off.
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Aw, don’t be mean. Just let him have it.
January 21, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Aw, don’t be mean. Just let him have it.
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Watched this today. Quite liked it. Especially liked the Dartmoorage and the Ditsworthy Warren location featuring. Used to start many a hike from there as a young’un.
m.imdb.com/title/tt2689...
m.imdb.com/title/tt2689...
All the Devils Are Here (2025) ⭐ 5.4 | Mystery, Thriller
1h 31m | R
m.imdb.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Watched this today. Quite liked it. Especially liked the Dartmoorage and the Ditsworthy Warren location featuring. Used to start many a hike from there as a young’un.
m.imdb.com/title/tt2689...
m.imdb.com/title/tt2689...
Just noticed this ‘change my nation’ button on the BBC site and got momentarily excited!
January 21, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Just noticed this ‘change my nation’ button on the BBC site and got momentarily excited!
Everything I look at online is grim, so I am just going to keep looking at this …
🕺♥️🤍
🕺♥️🤍
January 21, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Everything I look at online is grim, so I am just going to keep looking at this …
🕺♥️🤍
🕺♥️🤍
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Noor Hindi's poem on poetry and craft.
Metaphors about death are for poets who think ghosts care about sound.
- Noor Hindi
Metaphors about death are for poets who think ghosts care about sound.
- Noor Hindi
January 20, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Noor Hindi's poem on poetry and craft.
Metaphors about death are for poets who think ghosts care about sound.
- Noor Hindi
Metaphors about death are for poets who think ghosts care about sound.
- Noor Hindi
Of diuers notable and famous Women …
Aelian lists six. Three Greek, three Roman.
“More could I recounte, but I wyll not, least I might be suspected of flattery, and cast in the téeth with parasitical practise, and the art of adulation: which I vtterly abhorre.”
STC: 164
Top Trumps LOL factor: 88
Aelian lists six. Three Greek, three Roman.
“More could I recounte, but I wyll not, least I might be suspected of flattery, and cast in the téeth with parasitical practise, and the art of adulation: which I vtterly abhorre.”
STC: 164
Top Trumps LOL factor: 88
January 20, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Of diuers notable and famous Women …
Aelian lists six. Three Greek, three Roman.
“More could I recounte, but I wyll not, least I might be suspected of flattery, and cast in the téeth with parasitical practise, and the art of adulation: which I vtterly abhorre.”
STC: 164
Top Trumps LOL factor: 88
Aelian lists six. Three Greek, three Roman.
“More could I recounte, but I wyll not, least I might be suspected of flattery, and cast in the téeth with parasitical practise, and the art of adulation: which I vtterly abhorre.”
STC: 164
Top Trumps LOL factor: 88
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Last night's Aurora Borealis over Greenland.
January 18, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Last night's Aurora Borealis over Greenland.
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Certainly then that people must needs be mad or strangely infatuated, that build the chief hope of their common happiness or safety on a single person: who if he … be bad, hath in his hands to do more evil without check, than millions of other men ~ John Milton, 1660
January 20, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Certainly then that people must needs be mad or strangely infatuated, that build the chief hope of their common happiness or safety on a single person: who if he … be bad, hath in his hands to do more evil without check, than millions of other men ~ John Milton, 1660
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Nay it is well and happy for the people if their King be but a cypher, being oft times a mischief, a pest, a scourge of the nation ~ John Milton
January 20, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Nay it is well and happy for the people if their King be but a cypher, being oft times a mischief, a pest, a scourge of the nation ~ John Milton
‘Altai’. Loved reading this part-sequel to ‘Q’ the novel by the Italian writer-collective ‘Luther Blissett’ / ‘Wu Ming’ (Chinese for ‘no name’).
These books deal with how people responded to Roman Church authority and persecution. It is sympathetic to heretical and revolutionary responses.
These books deal with how people responded to Roman Church authority and persecution. It is sympathetic to heretical and revolutionary responses.
January 20, 2026 at 10:19 AM
‘Altai’. Loved reading this part-sequel to ‘Q’ the novel by the Italian writer-collective ‘Luther Blissett’ / ‘Wu Ming’ (Chinese for ‘no name’).
These books deal with how people responded to Roman Church authority and persecution. It is sympathetic to heretical and revolutionary responses.
These books deal with how people responded to Roman Church authority and persecution. It is sympathetic to heretical and revolutionary responses.
Kent County Council Scrutiny Committee is meeting this week and one of its agenda points is SEND funding. Looking over their report it is all Policy Exchange and Daily Telegraph. I feel so anxious for people about the damage likely to be coming 😕🫥
democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s1...
democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s1...
democracy.kent.gov.uk
January 19, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Kent County Council Scrutiny Committee is meeting this week and one of its agenda points is SEND funding. Looking over their report it is all Policy Exchange and Daily Telegraph. I feel so anxious for people about the damage likely to be coming 😕🫥
democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s1...
democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s1...
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Is Jenrick seeing which way the wind is blowing or just pissing into the wind? IT’S PRIVATE EYE WEEK!
New edition in shops and with subscribers from Wednesday.
(From Eye 1657, September 2025)
New edition in shops and with subscribers from Wednesday.
(From Eye 1657, September 2025)
January 19, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Is Jenrick seeing which way the wind is blowing or just pissing into the wind? IT’S PRIVATE EYE WEEK!
New edition in shops and with subscribers from Wednesday.
(From Eye 1657, September 2025)
New edition in shops and with subscribers from Wednesday.
(From Eye 1657, September 2025)
Reposted by Christian Balanes
Both government rhetoric, and policies, combined with a media fixation, is emboldening the far right. When they hear the PM say he "understands their concerns", what else can you expect other than an escalation of far right activities?
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
‘They’re emboldened’: British far-right activists step up harassment of asylum seekers in northern France
Aid groups say rise of far-right rhetoric in politics has fed into intimidation, vandalism and hate graffiti around migrant camps
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Both government rhetoric, and policies, combined with a media fixation, is emboldening the far right. When they hear the PM say he "understands their concerns", what else can you expect other than an escalation of far right activities?
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Christian Balanes
‘The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond’, a collab between @ies-sas.bsky.social and @senatehouselib.bsky.social celebrating 550 years of printing in England, opens @senatehouselib.bsky.social on 26 Feb 2026! www.london.ac.uk/about/servic...
The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond
See the first book in which Caxton was ever involved, one of the books he printed in England, and examples of later genres, typefaces and illustrations for which he paved the way.
www.london.ac.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:47 AM
‘The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond’, a collab between @ies-sas.bsky.social and @senatehouselib.bsky.social celebrating 550 years of printing in England, opens @senatehouselib.bsky.social on 26 Feb 2026! www.london.ac.uk/about/servic...