Ian Watt
@watty62.bsky.social
Open Data advocate. Charity founder & trustee. Wikimedia UK trainer. Data scientist. Tinkerer with Python, LLMs etc. Enthusiastic reader. #Jazz lover. Drawer, painter, photographer. Whisky afficionado. #FRSA #FIoL Burgess of Guild of #Aberdeen, OSS Taisho.
Reposted by Ian Watt
And there it is! Over 100,000 signatures. 💥
November 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
And there it is! Over 100,000 signatures. 💥
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you have seen.
Sonny Rollins
Fairport Convention
Chet Baker
Roy Harper
Sheila Jordan
Sonny Rollins
Fairport Convention
Chet Baker
Roy Harper
Sheila Jordan
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you have seen.
Velvet Underground
John Lee Hooker
Iris DeMent
Jordi Savall
Alfred Brendel.
Velvet Underground
John Lee Hooker
Iris DeMent
Jordi Savall
Alfred Brendel.
November 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you have seen.
Sonny Rollins
Fairport Convention
Chet Baker
Roy Harper
Sheila Jordan
Sonny Rollins
Fairport Convention
Chet Baker
Roy Harper
Sheila Jordan
Reposted by Ian Watt
“The BBC continues to be really stupid, I think, and there’s no cure for stupidity.”
Salman Rushdie criticises the BBC’s self-censorship in a Reith lecture, saying it hands ammunition to those who want to take down public broadcasting.
@jonsopel1.bsky.social | @lewisgoodall.com
Salman Rushdie criticises the BBC’s self-censorship in a Reith lecture, saying it hands ammunition to those who want to take down public broadcasting.
@jonsopel1.bsky.social | @lewisgoodall.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:52 PM
“The BBC continues to be really stupid, I think, and there’s no cure for stupidity.”
Salman Rushdie criticises the BBC’s self-censorship in a Reith lecture, saying it hands ammunition to those who want to take down public broadcasting.
@jonsopel1.bsky.social | @lewisgoodall.com
Salman Rushdie criticises the BBC’s self-censorship in a Reith lecture, saying it hands ammunition to those who want to take down public broadcasting.
@jonsopel1.bsky.social | @lewisgoodall.com
Reposted by Ian Watt
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Ian Watt
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
November 23, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Reposted by Ian Watt
Incredible not just that this happened, but that it’s not even a second or third tier news story, let alone something Farage will actually be held accountable for. Doesn’t make the top 15 stories on either the BBC or the Guardian! Filed under “Wales”.
November 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Incredible not just that this happened, but that it’s not even a second or third tier news story, let alone something Farage will actually be held accountable for. Doesn’t make the top 15 stories on either the BBC or the Guardian! Filed under “Wales”.
Reposted by Ian Watt
It's always the ones you most expect...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:47 AM
It's always the ones you most expect...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ian Watt
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss
Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, publishes a biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact.
grist.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:40 AM
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
According to @mlpoulter.bsky.social I(*) am a 'Knowledge Philanthropist'.
I like that term very much.
* not just me, but the many #Wikipedia, #wikicommons, and #wikidata contributors!
I like that term very much.
* not just me, but the many #Wikipedia, #wikicommons, and #wikidata contributors!
November 20, 2025 at 6:14 PM
According to @mlpoulter.bsky.social I(*) am a 'Knowledge Philanthropist'.
I like that term very much.
* not just me, but the many #Wikipedia, #wikicommons, and #wikidata contributors!
I like that term very much.
* not just me, but the many #Wikipedia, #wikicommons, and #wikidata contributors!
Reposted by Ian Watt
I'm sure the Londinistan guys will be delighted to read this... really good news... they'll be talking about something else altogether now... sure of it... because they were genuinely concerned weren't they
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I'm sure the Londinistan guys will be delighted to read this... really good news... they'll be talking about something else altogether now... sure of it... because they were genuinely concerned weren't they
Reposted by Ian Watt
How does a website with no corporate advertising and no paywall stay online?
Only 2% of readers give, but this small group makes all the difference. This grassroots support keeps Wikipedia independent and free.
If you can, donate today ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/give/
Only 2% of readers give, but this small group makes all the difference. This grassroots support keeps Wikipedia independent and free.
If you can, donate today ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/give/
November 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
How does a website with no corporate advertising and no paywall stay online?
Only 2% of readers give, but this small group makes all the difference. This grassroots support keeps Wikipedia independent and free.
If you can, donate today ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/give/
Only 2% of readers give, but this small group makes all the difference. This grassroots support keeps Wikipedia independent and free.
If you can, donate today ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/give/
Reposted by Ian Watt
Reposted by Ian Watt
Do you rely on others for support?
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
November 18, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Do you rely on others for support?
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
I suspect that this form will be the most popular page on @teamlabouruk.bsky.social website today.
labour.org.uk/resources/re...
#labourparty
labour.org.uk/resources/re...
#labourparty
Resign your Labour Party membership – The Labour Party
labour.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I suspect that this form will be the most popular page on @teamlabouruk.bsky.social website today.
labour.org.uk/resources/re...
#labourparty
labour.org.uk/resources/re...
#labourparty
Reposted by Ian Watt
When you go to Auschwitz they have piles of jewellery and watches which were confiscated from those arriving.
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
November 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
When you go to Auschwitz they have piles of jewellery and watches which were confiscated from those arriving.
Reposted by Ian Watt
Today's odd footnote: a tiny neutral condominium on the Belgian-German border, drawn up in 1816 to avoid conflict over a mine, finally abolished at Versailles.
(After the mine ran out they tried to run the economy on stamps, gin, gambling & ... Esperanto?) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral...
(After the mine ran out they tried to run the economy on stamps, gin, gambling & ... Esperanto?) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral...
November 16, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Today's odd footnote: a tiny neutral condominium on the Belgian-German border, drawn up in 1816 to avoid conflict over a mine, finally abolished at Versailles.
(After the mine ran out they tried to run the economy on stamps, gin, gambling & ... Esperanto?) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral...
(After the mine ran out they tried to run the economy on stamps, gin, gambling & ... Esperanto?) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral...
Reposted by Ian Watt
I wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
Reposted by Ian Watt
Reposted by Ian Watt
New map produced by RTVE, Spanish national TV, of the 6000 mass graves in Spain. In the last 25 years some 17,000 bodies of men, women and children have been exhumed out of the ~120,000 dumped in mass unmarked graves by the Franco regime.
www.rtve.es/noticias/fos...
www.rtve.es/noticias/fos...
November 15, 2025 at 11:40 AM
New map produced by RTVE, Spanish national TV, of the 6000 mass graves in Spain. In the last 25 years some 17,000 bodies of men, women and children have been exhumed out of the ~120,000 dumped in mass unmarked graves by the Franco regime.
www.rtve.es/noticias/fos...
www.rtve.es/noticias/fos...
Reposted by Ian Watt
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
November 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
Reposted by Ian Watt
Aleister Crowley Reads Occult Poetry in the Only Known Recordings of His Voice (1920)
Aleister Crowley Reads Occult Poetry in the Only Known Recordings of His Voice (1920)
Image by Jules Jacot Guillarmod, via Wikimedia Commons
In 2016, we brought you a rather strange story about the rivalry between poet William Butler Yeats and magician Aleister Crowley.
www.openculture.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Aleister Crowley Reads Occult Poetry in the Only Known Recordings of His Voice (1920)
Reposted by Ian Watt
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
emptycity.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
