Barry Tong
@barytonhg.bsky.social
Player of early stringed instruments including baryton; painter of mostly portraits.
Reposted by Barry Tong
There's a one hour special on Nigel Farage and Reform UK, and whether they are ready to lead, on BBC2
Presumably, there will be a similar one hour special on Zack Polanski, and whether The Greens are ready to lead, as well?
Presumably, there will be a similar one hour special on Zack Polanski, and whether The Greens are ready to lead, as well?
February 4, 2026 at 9:38 PM
There's a one hour special on Nigel Farage and Reform UK, and whether they are ready to lead, on BBC2
Presumably, there will be a similar one hour special on Zack Polanski, and whether The Greens are ready to lead, as well?
Presumably, there will be a similar one hour special on Zack Polanski, and whether The Greens are ready to lead, as well?
Reposted by Barry Tong
One week to go ⌛
UK-based period instrument ensembles have until 12 February at midday to apply for Continuo Foundation Grant Round 11 funding! Find full details and how to apply at https://www.continuofoundation.co.uk/grant-round-eleven ⭐
UK-based period instrument ensembles have until 12 February at midday to apply for Continuo Foundation Grant Round 11 funding! Find full details and how to apply at https://www.continuofoundation.co.uk/grant-round-eleven ⭐
February 5, 2026 at 5:15 PM
One week to go ⌛
UK-based period instrument ensembles have until 12 February at midday to apply for Continuo Foundation Grant Round 11 funding! Find full details and how to apply at https://www.continuofoundation.co.uk/grant-round-eleven ⭐
UK-based period instrument ensembles have until 12 February at midday to apply for Continuo Foundation Grant Round 11 funding! Find full details and how to apply at https://www.continuofoundation.co.uk/grant-round-eleven ⭐
Reposted by Barry Tong
Zack Polanski, "Palantir.. £240 million contract last month"
"That was lobbied by Global Counsel which is Peter Mandelson's lobbying group"
"The idea that a defence company from the US has its fingerprints all over our healthcare system, alongside Peter Mandelson"
"That was lobbied by Global Counsel which is Peter Mandelson's lobbying group"
"The idea that a defence company from the US has its fingerprints all over our healthcare system, alongside Peter Mandelson"
February 4, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Zack Polanski, "Palantir.. £240 million contract last month"
"That was lobbied by Global Counsel which is Peter Mandelson's lobbying group"
"The idea that a defence company from the US has its fingerprints all over our healthcare system, alongside Peter Mandelson"
"That was lobbied by Global Counsel which is Peter Mandelson's lobbying group"
"The idea that a defence company from the US has its fingerprints all over our healthcare system, alongside Peter Mandelson"
Reposted by Barry Tong
This is a tough thing to face. But on the left we *must* uphold the standards we preach. It concerns me that this is the only article by a leftist I've yet read that handles the issue honestly. Otherwise I've seen only tortured apologetics & gross hypocrisy. www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?art...
Noam Chomsky's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein says a lot about progressive politics - Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières
The Left icon overlooked sexual violence, much like India's literary and cultural progressives have embraced a man whose rape conviction was (…)
www.europe-solidaire.org
January 26, 2026 at 1:11 PM
This is a tough thing to face. But on the left we *must* uphold the standards we preach. It concerns me that this is the only article by a leftist I've yet read that handles the issue honestly. Otherwise I've seen only tortured apologetics & gross hypocrisy. www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?art...
Reposted by Barry Tong
Orion's Treasures over Snowy Mountains apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26012...
Rising over a frozen valley in the Tatra Mountains, the familiar stars and nebulas of Orion dominate this wide-field nightscape. The featured deep photo was taken in southern Poland's highest mountain range last month.
Rising over a frozen valley in the Tatra Mountains, the familiar stars and nebulas of Orion dominate this wide-field nightscape. The featured deep photo was taken in southern Poland's highest mountain range last month.
January 27, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Orion's Treasures over Snowy Mountains apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26012...
Rising over a frozen valley in the Tatra Mountains, the familiar stars and nebulas of Orion dominate this wide-field nightscape. The featured deep photo was taken in southern Poland's highest mountain range last month.
Rising over a frozen valley in the Tatra Mountains, the familiar stars and nebulas of Orion dominate this wide-field nightscape. The featured deep photo was taken in southern Poland's highest mountain range last month.
Reposted by Barry Tong
Two families with money to burn apparently want the world to do the same:
Murdoch
Rothermere
Murdoch
Rothermere
Two things to learn from this.
1. The rightwing newspapers are lobby groups whose purpose is to advance the class interest of their proprietors.
2. Lobbyists for the rich and powerful lose their jobs if they are not prepared to lie.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
1. The rightwing newspapers are lobby groups whose purpose is to advance the class interest of their proprietors.
2. Lobbyists for the rich and powerful lose their jobs if they are not prepared to lie.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
Analysis: UK newspaper editorial opposition to climate action overtakes support for first time - Carbon Brief
Nearly 100 UK newspaper editorials opposed climate action in 2025, a record figure that reveals the backlash against net-zero in the right-leaning press
www.carbonbrief.org
January 26, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Two families with money to burn apparently want the world to do the same:
Murdoch
Rothermere
Murdoch
Rothermere
Reposted by Barry Tong
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
January 24, 2026 at 8:29 PM
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
Reposted by Barry Tong
Hear His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts playing music from two turbulent centuries of English history in a venue that has hosted kings and queens, feasting, dancing and music for over 500 years 👑🎺
⭐ Supported by a grant from Continuo Foundation
🔗 Full info on our website
⭐ Supported by a grant from Continuo Foundation
🔗 Full info on our website
January 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Hear His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts playing music from two turbulent centuries of English history in a venue that has hosted kings and queens, feasting, dancing and music for over 500 years 👑🎺
⭐ Supported by a grant from Continuo Foundation
🔗 Full info on our website
⭐ Supported by a grant from Continuo Foundation
🔗 Full info on our website
Reposted by Barry Tong
Left: President Trump claims that there are no wind farms in China
Right: There are 6,619 wind farms in China, and they create 40 % of the world’s wind electricity generation
Right: There are 6,619 wind farms in China, and they create 40 % of the world’s wind electricity generation
January 21, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Left: President Trump claims that there are no wind farms in China
Right: There are 6,619 wind farms in China, and they create 40 % of the world’s wind electricity generation
Right: There are 6,619 wind farms in China, and they create 40 % of the world’s wind electricity generation
Reposted by Barry Tong
Join Oxford Bach Soloists and cellist Jonathan Byers this Saturday (24 Jan) for the latest in their series of JS Bach's adored Cello Suites, plus performances from their choral scholars and co-principal keyboardists.
⭐ Supported by a Continuo grant
🔗 https://go.continuoconnect.com/whats-on
⭐ Supported by a Continuo grant
🔗 https://go.continuoconnect.com/whats-on
January 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Join Oxford Bach Soloists and cellist Jonathan Byers this Saturday (24 Jan) for the latest in their series of JS Bach's adored Cello Suites, plus performances from their choral scholars and co-principal keyboardists.
⭐ Supported by a Continuo grant
🔗 https://go.continuoconnect.com/whats-on
⭐ Supported by a Continuo grant
🔗 https://go.continuoconnect.com/whats-on
Reposted by Barry Tong
Reposted by Barry Tong
Where are the trees?
We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.
We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.
January 17, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Where are the trees?
We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.
We have A LOT of this landscape and less than 4% native woodland. This should be a rich mosaic of habitats, moor, bog, woodland, montane scrub…We force it to remain in this artificial state. We don’t need to give every inch of our uplands over to sheep, grouse and deer stalking.
Reposted by Barry Tong
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California at Davos, does not hold back in criticising Keir Starmer and the European Union for capitulating to Trump,
"I can't take this complicity, people rolling over, I should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders"
"Trump has a police state"
"I can't take this complicity, people rolling over, I should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders"
"Trump has a police state"
January 20, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California at Davos, does not hold back in criticising Keir Starmer and the European Union for capitulating to Trump,
"I can't take this complicity, people rolling over, I should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders"
"Trump has a police state"
"I can't take this complicity, people rolling over, I should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders"
"Trump has a police state"
Reposted by Barry Tong
An ancient cairn of rocks, thought to be a late Neolithic burial barrow, in the forested hills above Tintern Abbey. Misty enough to pull you back through time.
January 18, 2026 at 3:25 PM
An ancient cairn of rocks, thought to be a late Neolithic burial barrow, in the forested hills above Tintern Abbey. Misty enough to pull you back through time.
Reposted by Barry Tong
It’s cold and I’ve been on my belly for hours with my Nikon and wide-angle lens hoping to catch an emperor fly like missile from the sea.
Although I can barely feel my fingers, I couldn’t be happier. My heart is singing and I can’t help but smile.
More: glass.photo/cm/2x0JKhym2...
Although I can barely feel my fingers, I couldn’t be happier. My heart is singing and I can’t help but smile.
More: glass.photo/cm/2x0JKhym2...
January 18, 2026 at 11:23 PM
It’s cold and I’ve been on my belly for hours with my Nikon and wide-angle lens hoping to catch an emperor fly like missile from the sea.
Although I can barely feel my fingers, I couldn’t be happier. My heart is singing and I can’t help but smile.
More: glass.photo/cm/2x0JKhym2...
Although I can barely feel my fingers, I couldn’t be happier. My heart is singing and I can’t help but smile.
More: glass.photo/cm/2x0JKhym2...
Reposted by Barry Tong
January 19, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Reposted by Barry Tong
January 18, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Barry Tong
China criticises the US for using China as a reason to take over Greenland
Even the Chinese are sick of Trump's imperialism
Even the Chinese are sick of Trump's imperialism
January 19, 2026 at 1:50 PM
China criticises the US for using China as a reason to take over Greenland
Even the Chinese are sick of Trump's imperialism
Even the Chinese are sick of Trump's imperialism
Reposted by Barry Tong
Left: Mike Johnson criticising Iran, "We do want to encourage a version of freedom"
Right: ICE agents jump a dancing fox at an ati ICE protest
Right: ICE agents jump a dancing fox at an ati ICE protest
January 18, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Left: Mike Johnson criticising Iran, "We do want to encourage a version of freedom"
Right: ICE agents jump a dancing fox at an ati ICE protest
Right: ICE agents jump a dancing fox at an ati ICE protest
Reposted by Barry Tong
Reposted by Barry Tong
2026 is going to be a very dark year for US foreign policy, where everything that was built over many decades by leaders for collective security is torn apart by one madman, but only because people in his own party remain silent.
January 19, 2026 at 12:04 PM
2026 is going to be a very dark year for US foreign policy, where everything that was built over many decades by leaders for collective security is torn apart by one madman, but only because people in his own party remain silent.
Reposted by Barry Tong
President Trump, "I may put tariffs on countries that don't go along with letting the US have Greenland"
Curious to see how Keir Starmer's special relationship is going to manage this one...
Curious to see how Keir Starmer's special relationship is going to manage this one...
January 16, 2026 at 3:52 PM
President Trump, "I may put tariffs on countries that don't go along with letting the US have Greenland"
Curious to see how Keir Starmer's special relationship is going to manage this one...
Curious to see how Keir Starmer's special relationship is going to manage this one...
Reposted by Barry Tong
Anatomy of folly…
…but Trump still might attempt it.
…but Trump still might attempt it.
January 15, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Anatomy of folly…
…but Trump still might attempt it.
…but Trump still might attempt it.
Reposted by Barry Tong
Benmore’s Giant Redwood(s), Dunoon, Argyll & Bute form part of the entrance avenue to Benmore Botanic Gardens. Seems likely they came from seeds sent to Scotland by the son of Scottish landowner Patrick Matthew (1790-1874) who was involved in the Californian Gold Rush. #ThickTrunkTuesday worthy!
January 13, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Benmore’s Giant Redwood(s), Dunoon, Argyll & Bute form part of the entrance avenue to Benmore Botanic Gardens. Seems likely they came from seeds sent to Scotland by the son of Scottish landowner Patrick Matthew (1790-1874) who was involved in the Californian Gold Rush. #ThickTrunkTuesday worthy!
Reposted by Barry Tong
