John Shields
@avochie.bsky.social
Practical, evidence-informed conservation in the UK and Zambia, and calcium carbonates without the carbon @longcliffe. Fan of German wirehaired pointers, unlike Kristi Noem.
Nothing better says "relax"
November 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Nothing better says "relax"
I'm old enough to remember when we used to use apps for this kind of thing.
a man in a white robe says what a fascinating modern age we live in
ALT: a man in a white robe says what a fascinating modern age we live in
media.tenor.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I'm old enough to remember when we used to use apps for this kind of thing.
Yes I remember us talking about Rio in geography class. I seem to recall they got us quite hopeful. My geography teacher's main message at the time was that the future would belong to the person who could make the best batteries.
November 13, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Yes I remember us talking about Rio in geography class. I seem to recall they got us quite hopeful. My geography teacher's main message at the time was that the future would belong to the person who could make the best batteries.
'Idol' with an its faintly yonic ripoff-AirBnB logo, an aimless AI robot drifting out of the spotlight, broken shards of veneer, helpless humans, a veil, a stage...
Can one sometimes have too many metaphors?
Can one sometimes have too many metaphors?
November 13, 2025 at 12:07 PM
'Idol' with an its faintly yonic ripoff-AirBnB logo, an aimless AI robot drifting out of the spotlight, broken shards of veneer, helpless humans, a veil, a stage...
Can one sometimes have too many metaphors?
Can one sometimes have too many metaphors?
"Look how fantastic this technology is in [apocalyptic dystopian novel where billions die miserably]! Let us honour this [visionary-and-terrified author] by adopting it wholesale!"
November 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
"Look how fantastic this technology is in [apocalyptic dystopian novel where billions die miserably]! Let us honour this [visionary-and-terrified author] by adopting it wholesale!"
You can take the landlord out of the slum, but...
November 12, 2025 at 9:57 AM
You can take the landlord out of the slum, but...
"What will people think looks flashy and impressive; I must do that..."
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 AM
"What will people think looks flashy and impressive; I must do that..."
Except it isn't the Middle Ages, so it comes across like WWE cosplay. The very use of the words Hall of Fame also makes it clear he sees his role as a kind of celebrity, and - importantly - celebrities aren't leaders; almost by definition they're slaves to the crowd. That's not power; it's weakness.
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Except it isn't the Middle Ages, so it comes across like WWE cosplay. The very use of the words Hall of Fame also makes it clear he sees his role as a kind of celebrity, and - importantly - celebrities aren't leaders; almost by definition they're slaves to the crowd. That's not power; it's weakness.
"Brief: please make the White House look like the unfinished interior of a Russian private hospital."
November 12, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Reposted by John Shields
"Brief: please make the White House look like the unfinished interior of a Russian private hospital."
November 12, 2025 at 5:47 AM
"Brief: please make the White House look like the unfinished interior of a Russian private hospital."
Those brought up under the Soviet system certainly, but those under the age of about 45 - the vintage who dropped out of school as the Russian education system collapsed in the mid 90s... That's the kind of level we're talking: street thug.
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Those brought up under the Soviet system certainly, but those under the age of about 45 - the vintage who dropped out of school as the Russian education system collapsed in the mid 90s... That's the kind of level we're talking: street thug.
It's the staggering lack of grace, of elegant and cultivated deliberation - in every thought and action - that really marks Trump out as so infantile. He has the taste of an ill-educated Russian oligarch, which isn't surprising really.
November 12, 2025 at 5:58 AM
It's the staggering lack of grace, of elegant and cultivated deliberation - in every thought and action - that really marks Trump out as so infantile. He has the taste of an ill-educated Russian oligarch, which isn't surprising really.
Aptly, this is the gesture one makes when miming flossing one's brain through the ears.
November 12, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Aptly, this is the gesture one makes when miming flossing one's brain through the ears.
"Brief: please make the White House look like the unfinished interior of a Russian private hospital."
November 12, 2025 at 5:47 AM
"Brief: please make the White House look like the unfinished interior of a Russian private hospital."
Yup. Planting trees and all that.
November 9, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Yup. Planting trees and all that.
So that would be a 'mort gage'
November 9, 2025 at 8:15 AM
So that would be a 'mort gage'
Every single train arriving in Glasgow now is running late, each with a different excuse.
November 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Every single train arriving in Glasgow now is running late, each with a different excuse.
Surely 'Ouvre' would have been better?!
November 6, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Surely 'Ouvre' would have been better?!
And the EXCUSES. 'Objects on overhead lines' is the current one. But the train is half an hour later than it was when the objects were first identified. Is it pushing them?! And "inconvenience we may [sic] have caused". Lateness is de facto inconvenient. Aaaaahhhhh!
November 6, 2025 at 4:06 PM
And the EXCUSES. 'Objects on overhead lines' is the current one. But the train is half an hour later than it was when the objects were first identified. Is it pushing them?! And "inconvenience we may [sic] have caused". Lateness is de facto inconvenient. Aaaaahhhhh!
With the changes to BPR and APR, there's also about to be an absolute flood of forced closure/firesale of family businesses and their assets.
Absolute boom time for private equity and multinationals keen to hoover stuff up on the cheap.
Absolute boom time for private equity and multinationals keen to hoover stuff up on the cheap.
November 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
With the changes to BPR and APR, there's also about to be an absolute flood of forced closure/firesale of family businesses and their assets.
Absolute boom time for private equity and multinationals keen to hoover stuff up on the cheap.
Absolute boom time for private equity and multinationals keen to hoover stuff up on the cheap.
The thing that's driving me nuts is the indecision. It's ruinous to business. They need to get on with it and create a climate of certainty.
November 5, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The thing that's driving me nuts is the indecision. It's ruinous to business. They need to get on with it and create a climate of certainty.