Paul Cowling
@picowlo.bsky.social
Far from the madding crowds... Politics, society, culture and stuff. Views from the shores of the Baltic
Pinned
Paul Cowling
@picowlo.bsky.social
· Nov 12
What this site needs is more posts on wooden boatbuilding...... 😉 #clinkerboat #Boat #boatbuilding #sailing
Reposted by Paul Cowling
Finally got round to giving @benansell.bsky.social's latest. It's also one of his very best - especially if you want to understand the extent to which Reform voters (often talked of as 'the people' and, apparently therefore, representative of all UK voters) are real outliers, culturally-speaking.
Odd Ones Out
Mapping Britain's social values and the marginalisation of the 'anti-woke'
benansell.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Finally got round to giving @benansell.bsky.social's latest. It's also one of his very best - especially if you want to understand the extent to which Reform voters (often talked of as 'the people' and, apparently therefore, representative of all UK voters) are real outliers, culturally-speaking.
Blow me down with a feather...
Huge news from the UK today: after UN climate talks in which there was a massive fight over language on fossil fuels, the UK government today announced that it will in fact be keeping many millions of barrels of oil & gas in the ground. Deeds rather than just words for a change! 🧵
November 26, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Blow me down with a feather...
In a sane world the FBI would be investigating people giving illegal orders ...
🚨BREAKING: The FBI has requested interviews with a group of Democratic lawmakers who reminded U.S. military and intelligence service members in a video last week that they are obligated to refuse illegal orders. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
FBI Investigating Dems Who Warned Military of Unlawful Orders
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 PM
In a sane world the FBI would be investigating people giving illegal orders ...
Oh....
Small reactors are significantly more expensive than expected.
Small reactors are significantly more expensive than expected.
Toppen, tack regeringen!👍🏻
”När forskarna beräknade den totala kostnaden per producerad megawattimme fann de att alla SMR-typer hamnade på mer än dubbelt så höga nivåer som en stor vanlig reaktor – trots att kostnader för avfallshantering inte ingick i kalkylen.”
klimatgranskaren.se/forskare-sma...
”När forskarna beräknade den totala kostnaden per producerad megawattimme fann de att alla SMR-typer hamnade på mer än dubbelt så höga nivåer som en stor vanlig reaktor – trots att kostnader för avfallshantering inte ingick i kalkylen.”
klimatgranskaren.se/forskare-sma...
Forskare: Små reaktorer betydligt dyrare än väntat
klimatgranskaren.se
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Oh....
Small reactors are significantly more expensive than expected.
Small reactors are significantly more expensive than expected.
Reposted by Paul Cowling
Is your child texting about the Mary Rose? Here are the signs...
BRB - Boat Raised Brilliantly
LOL - Lots of Linstocks
TBH - That Boat's Historic
WTF - Wood That's Freeze-dried
ROFL - Really Old Flagship (Late)
PMSL - Polyethylene glycol Makes Stuff Last
BRB - Boat Raised Brilliantly
LOL - Lots of Linstocks
TBH - That Boat's Historic
WTF - Wood That's Freeze-dried
ROFL - Really Old Flagship (Late)
PMSL - Polyethylene glycol Makes Stuff Last
a woman with short hair is using a cell phone while standing on a street .
ALT: a woman with short hair is using a cell phone while standing on a street .
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Is your child texting about the Mary Rose? Here are the signs...
BRB - Boat Raised Brilliantly
LOL - Lots of Linstocks
TBH - That Boat's Historic
WTF - Wood That's Freeze-dried
ROFL - Really Old Flagship (Late)
PMSL - Polyethylene glycol Makes Stuff Last
BRB - Boat Raised Brilliantly
LOL - Lots of Linstocks
TBH - That Boat's Historic
WTF - Wood That's Freeze-dried
ROFL - Really Old Flagship (Late)
PMSL - Polyethylene glycol Makes Stuff Last
Reposted by Paul Cowling
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
Reposted by Paul Cowling
The number of war crime investigations open in Ukraine at the beginning of the fall was 178,391, Kyiv's top prosecutor told CBS' "60 Minutes" in a program airing this evening.
Ukraine says it's investigating over 178,000 war crimes amid Trump peace plan talks
U.S. and Ukrainian officials are discussing Trump's peace proposal that includes accepting amnesty for Russians accused of war crimes.
www.axios.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:35 AM
The number of war crime investigations open in Ukraine at the beginning of the fall was 178,391, Kyiv's top prosecutor told CBS' "60 Minutes" in a program airing this evening.
Reposted by Paul Cowling
One plan. Six pillars of international law demolished.
Trump's Ukraine plan requires the US to violate 71 international commitments, @EerikNKross has calculated.
It systematically contradicts the legal order America built over 80 years—from the Geneva Conventions to NATO's founding treaty:
Trump's Ukraine plan requires the US to violate 71 international commitments, @EerikNKross has calculated.
It systematically contradicts the legal order America built over 80 years—from the Geneva Conventions to NATO's founding treaty:
November 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
One plan. Six pillars of international law demolished.
Trump's Ukraine plan requires the US to violate 71 international commitments, @EerikNKross has calculated.
It systematically contradicts the legal order America built over 80 years—from the Geneva Conventions to NATO's founding treaty:
Trump's Ukraine plan requires the US to violate 71 international commitments, @EerikNKross has calculated.
It systematically contradicts the legal order America built over 80 years—from the Geneva Conventions to NATO's founding treaty:
Reposted by Paul Cowling
🇺🇦 Zelensky: The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
🇺🇦 Zelensky: The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that it was Russia, and only Russia, that started this war, and it is Russia, and only Russia, that has been refusing to end it throughout the full-scale invasion.
A new study shows that none of the studied forests clear cut since the 1950s have completely recovered their biological diversity over 70 years later.
En ny studie visar att inga av de undersökta svenska skogarna som kalhuggits sedan 1950-talet har återhämtat sig helt när det gäller biologisk mångfald, över 70 år senare.
www.natursidan.se/nyheter/skog...
www.natursidan.se/nyheter/skog...
Skogar som kalhöggs på 1950-talet är fortfarande artfattigare
Även 65-85 år gamla produktionsskogar har betydligt sämre förutsättningar för rödlistade arter och naturvårdsarter än vad naturreservat har.
www.natursidan.se
November 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
A new study shows that none of the studied forests clear cut since the 1950s have completely recovered their biological diversity over 70 years later.
Reposted by Paul Cowling
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
Reposted by Paul Cowling
The only “peace plan” that makes sense is the one from Sanna Marin, Finland’s former Prime Minister:
“The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That is the way out of the conflict.”
“The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That is the way out of the conflict.”
November 22, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The only “peace plan” that makes sense is the one from Sanna Marin, Finland’s former Prime Minister:
“The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That is the way out of the conflict.”
“The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That is the way out of the conflict.”
Reposted by Paul Cowling
Dear media of the world,
When an autocrat admiring the aggressor sits with the aggressor and together they write up the terms on which the victim should surrender, it's not a peace plan/proposal, much less a peace deal.
Stop parroting the autocrat!
When an autocrat admiring the aggressor sits with the aggressor and together they write up the terms on which the victim should surrender, it's not a peace plan/proposal, much less a peace deal.
Stop parroting the autocrat!
November 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Dear media of the world,
When an autocrat admiring the aggressor sits with the aggressor and together they write up the terms on which the victim should surrender, it's not a peace plan/proposal, much less a peace deal.
Stop parroting the autocrat!
When an autocrat admiring the aggressor sits with the aggressor and together they write up the terms on which the victim should surrender, it's not a peace plan/proposal, much less a peace deal.
Stop parroting the autocrat!
So the Trump Ukraine capitulation deal signs away the USA's ability to send troops into Ukraine (as a member of NATO). Can you imagine any other US President rolling over for Russia and signing up for that?
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
So the Trump Ukraine capitulation deal signs away the USA's ability to send troops into Ukraine (as a member of NATO). Can you imagine any other US President rolling over for Russia and signing up for that?
Reposted by Paul Cowling
I don’t understand how more people aren’t outraged by the simple concept of “if you fall in love and get married, your spouse will probably not be allowed to live here with you.”
I can only guess it’s because the media doesn’t tell them.
I can only guess it’s because the media doesn’t tell them.
November 20, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I don’t understand how more people aren’t outraged by the simple concept of “if you fall in love and get married, your spouse will probably not be allowed to live here with you.”
I can only guess it’s because the media doesn’t tell them.
I can only guess it’s because the media doesn’t tell them.
Reform .. longing for the good old days...
In a spell-binding move, Reform run, cash-strapped, Kent County Council repaints the yellow 'Keep Clear' lines outside a school that closed 10 years ago
news.sky.com/story/reform...
news.sky.com/story/reform...
Reform council repaints road markings for school which closed in 2016
Kent County Council sold the disused school site to a government agency in March, but has repainted yellow zigzags and "School Keep Clear" warnings.
news.sky.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Reform .. longing for the good old days...
Nature has not evolved brains that can process such rapid changes since what we see since 1970 is unique and unchartered. Not in 600 (not 60) million years has anything come close to the speed of change. Human children now grow up slower than nature collapses globally.
November 18, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Paul Cowling
Only 2 years since the ban on neonics, France's population of insect-eating birds has risen 2-3% - from banning a single type of insecticide. Demonstrating just how much harm we cause birds when pesticides kill off the insects they need for food.
@paneurope.bsky.social
@paneurope.bsky.social
Good news: Study shows France’s birds making tentative recovery after neonicotinoid pesticide ban
UK has only just closed loophole in neonics ban (‘derogations’) so may be too soon to see recovery here?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK has only just closed loophole in neonics ban (‘derogations’) so may be too soon to see recovery here?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
With neonicotinoid pesticide ban, France’s birds make a tentative recovery - study
Analysis shows small hike in populations of insect-eating species after 2018 ruling, but full recovery may take decades
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Only 2 years since the ban on neonics, France's population of insect-eating birds has risen 2-3% - from banning a single type of insecticide. Demonstrating just how much harm we cause birds when pesticides kill off the insects they need for food.
@paneurope.bsky.social
@paneurope.bsky.social
Cryptocurrencies can't die soon enough...
Data Centers, Crypto Mining To Push Electricity Costs Higher In 2026
Data Centers, Crypto Mining To Push Electricity Costs Higher In 2026
This week’s Current Climate newsletter also looks at Tesla’s engineering exodus and helping the electric truck market expand
www.forbes.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Cryptocurrencies can't die soon enough...
Reposted by Paul Cowling
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Paul Cowling
There is no difference in practice between removing rights of individuals and leaving the ECHR. The end outcome is still the same, people lose rights. If human rights are an obstacle to your policy it is not the rights which are the issue, it is your policy. Labour going full Reform at this stage.
November 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
There is no difference in practice between removing rights of individuals and leaving the ECHR. The end outcome is still the same, people lose rights. If human rights are an obstacle to your policy it is not the rights which are the issue, it is your policy. Labour going full Reform at this stage.
Reposted by Paul Cowling
Labour’s latest attack on asylum seekers is cruel & counterproductive. How does it help community cohesion to hold threat of deportation over vulnerable people? We don’t need an arms race with the hard right over asylum, we need safe routes & European cooperation #bbclaurak
November 16, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Labour’s latest attack on asylum seekers is cruel & counterproductive. How does it help community cohesion to hold threat of deportation over vulnerable people? We don’t need an arms race with the hard right over asylum, we need safe routes & European cooperation #bbclaurak
Reposted by Paul Cowling
Deep breath, once more for those at the back, seeking asylum is not illegal. No matter route used, which considering Labour has closed pretty much all the last remaining alternatives means irregular ones.
Anti-immigration sentiments are stoked by politicians like Mahmood, not people seeking safety.
Anti-immigration sentiments are stoked by politicians like Mahmood, not people seeking safety.
November 16, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Deep breath, once more for those at the back, seeking asylum is not illegal. No matter route used, which considering Labour has closed pretty much all the last remaining alternatives means irregular ones.
Anti-immigration sentiments are stoked by politicians like Mahmood, not people seeking safety.
Anti-immigration sentiments are stoked by politicians like Mahmood, not people seeking safety.
Reposted by Paul Cowling
“Someone with a 1-hr car commute needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work. On the other hand, if someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” #CityMakingMath
50 reasons to want more walkable cities.
50 reasons to want more walkable cities.
50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets
From making you live longer to making cities more resilient: If you want a reason to make your city more walkable, it's in here.
www.fastcompany.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:40 AM
“Someone with a 1-hr car commute needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work. On the other hand, if someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” #CityMakingMath
50 reasons to want more walkable cities.
50 reasons to want more walkable cities.
Reposted by Paul Cowling
Refuge isn’t weakness. It’s an investment. And the returns are human, immeasurable, and generational.
Britain once understood that. It can again.
8/8
Britain once understood that. It can again.
8/8
November 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Refuge isn’t weakness. It’s an investment. And the returns are human, immeasurable, and generational.
Britain once understood that. It can again.
8/8
Britain once understood that. It can again.
8/8