KS_1968
@karenroberts.bsky.social
Twitter refugee. Enjoy politics, old movies & music esp Bowie.
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No DMs please.
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KS_1968
@karenroberts.bsky.social
· Sep 20
9 months gone. 39 more till the orange fartbag is history.
Reposted by KS_1968
Most men should not be screened for prostate cancer, says UK expert body
Most men should not be screened for prostate cancer, says UK expert body
It recommends that only men with a confirmed genetic risk of prostate cancer should be screened for the disease.
www.bbc.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Most men should not be screened for prostate cancer, says UK expert body
Reposted by KS_1968
For this week’s #FridayCocktail I present a Spiced Sidecar - the brandy infused with cinnamon, cardamom, star anise and ginger. Keeps out the chill, more fun than a blanket
November 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
For this week’s #FridayCocktail I present a Spiced Sidecar - the brandy infused with cinnamon, cardamom, star anise and ginger. Keeps out the chill, more fun than a blanket
Reposted by KS_1968
US Congressman Bacon says Ukraine has real independent law enforcement and courts — unlike Russia, where people are thrown out of high-rise windows. He welcomed the anti-corruption probe into former Presidential Office chief Yermak.
November 28, 2025 at 6:12 PM
US Congressman Bacon says Ukraine has real independent law enforcement and courts — unlike Russia, where people are thrown out of high-rise windows. He welcomed the anti-corruption probe into former Presidential Office chief Yermak.
Reposted by KS_1968
More footage of Trump walking up to his velvet roped-off table to the anti-famine fundraising song “We Are the World.”
The hypocrisy is off the charts.
The hypocrisy is off the charts.
November 28, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by KS_1968
Thank goodness it wasn’t permenantly closed for ever
November 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Thank goodness it wasn’t permenantly closed for ever
Reposted by KS_1968
A sensible solution on unfair dismissal will deliver faster improvements to conditions at work via the Employment Rights Bill.
Get our response here ⤵️ buff.ly/yIrc61I
Get our response here ⤵️ buff.ly/yIrc61I
November 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
A sensible solution on unfair dismissal will deliver faster improvements to conditions at work via the Employment Rights Bill.
Get our response here ⤵️ buff.ly/yIrc61I
Get our response here ⤵️ buff.ly/yIrc61I
So what?
Rachel Reeves has been accused of effectively means-testing the state pension after announcing that only some pensioners would be spared income tax bills
Reeves ‘is means-testing state pension’ with retirement tax
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
So what?
Scary that ppl are ignorant enough to believe this.
The UK Supreme Court hasn’t just ordered a general election
The UK Supreme Court hasn’t just ordered a general election – Full Fact
The news announced in a Facebook video has no basis in fact.
fullfact.org
November 28, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Scary that ppl are ignorant enough to believe this.
Reposted by KS_1968
Stephen Miller’s ancestors were Jewish refugees from the pogroms in czarist Russia. They came to the U.S. in the early twentieth century, even as racists said this same stuff about them.
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Stephen Miller’s ancestors were Jewish refugees from the pogroms in czarist Russia. They came to the U.S. in the early twentieth century, even as racists said this same stuff about them.
Aww. Poor little thing. So cute! Why isn't there a Disney film abt this little fella?
November 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Aww. Poor little thing. So cute! Why isn't there a Disney film abt this little fella?
Reposted by KS_1968
I'd be especially amused if Coburn *had* been taking bribes, as - admittedly years back - he would regularly troll me on Twitter accusing me of only saying what I was saying because the Commission was paying me (the Commission wasn't)
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Former Brexit Party MEP denies taking payment from pro-Russian campaign
A prominent former MEP for Nigel Farage's old party denies taking bribes in a pro-Russian campaign.
www.bbc.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I'd be especially amused if Coburn *had* been taking bribes, as - admittedly years back - he would regularly troll me on Twitter accusing me of only saying what I was saying because the Commission was paying me (the Commission wasn't)
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by KS_1968
I don't think it's all of it by any measure but I do absolutely believe that the political media's raging anti-intellectual streak has got worse with time and has ended up influencing the way MPs talk, and what they choose to talk/think about
I don’t think this is a “politicians have got dumber” issue for the most part. If you look at the *actual CVs* of previous cohorts of MPs, their background is not radically different when you account for, you know, the fact the economy is different! It is primarily a media and ecosystem issue.
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
November 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I don't think it's all of it by any measure but I do absolutely believe that the political media's raging anti-intellectual streak has got worse with time and has ended up influencing the way MPs talk, and what they choose to talk/think about
Reposted by KS_1968
Zelenskyy announced Yermak's resignation in his evening address after NABU and SAP conducted searches at Yermak's residence and workplace earlier today.
November 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by KS_1968
Kemi Badenoch - one of the many, many politicians since Margaret Thatcher to talk about learning from Margaret Thatcher who, IDK, maybe they saw a meme about her one time?
November 28, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Kemi Badenoch - one of the many, many politicians since Margaret Thatcher to talk about learning from Margaret Thatcher who, IDK, maybe they saw a meme about her one time?
Reposted by KS_1968
Coincidence corner: Nigel Farage and crypto.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
November 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Coincidence corner: Nigel Farage and crypto.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
Reposted by KS_1968
No deal better than a bad deal? www.ft.com/content/22db...
UK talks to join EU defence fund break down
Discussions failed after Britain refused to pay billions of euros in fees
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
No deal better than a bad deal? www.ft.com/content/22db...
Reposted by KS_1968
Also saw this fantastic chart. Red: pure age-related ratio of old to young. Green: number of old vs. number of employed. Employment boom post-2006 helped a lot.
(And led politicians to add new pension gimmmicks.)
(And led politicians to add new pension gimmmicks.)
November 28, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Also saw this fantastic chart. Red: pure age-related ratio of old to young. Green: number of old vs. number of employed. Employment boom post-2006 helped a lot.
(And led politicians to add new pension gimmmicks.)
(And led politicians to add new pension gimmmicks.)
Reposted by KS_1968
That means, those who paid about 30-35% during their work-life now want the young to pay 41%++ to fund pensioners' consumption and services.
In the debate, the burden of proof is on those what want (more) stable contribution rates.
In the debate, the burden of proof is on those what want (more) stable contribution rates.
November 28, 2025 at 12:43 PM
That means, those who paid about 30-35% during their work-life now want the young to pay 41%++ to fund pensioners' consumption and services.
In the debate, the burden of proof is on those what want (more) stable contribution rates.
In the debate, the burden of proof is on those what want (more) stable contribution rates.
Reposted by KS_1968
The German #pension debate has one big problem: the burden of proof is on the young, not the old.
Total social insurances* contributions were at 27% in 1970, 32% in 1980, 36% in 1990 and 41% in 2000.
*) pension, unemployment, health, care
Total social insurances* contributions were at 27% in 1970, 32% in 1980, 36% in 1990 and 41% in 2000.
*) pension, unemployment, health, care
November 28, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The German #pension debate has one big problem: the burden of proof is on the young, not the old.
Total social insurances* contributions were at 27% in 1970, 32% in 1980, 36% in 1990 and 41% in 2000.
*) pension, unemployment, health, care
Total social insurances* contributions were at 27% in 1970, 32% in 1980, 36% in 1990 and 41% in 2000.
*) pension, unemployment, health, care
Oh dear. This really is quite awful. Really cringey.
November 28, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Oh dear. This really is quite awful. Really cringey.
Reposted by KS_1968
Truly it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to pay more tax on their dividends
November 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Truly it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to pay more tax on their dividends
Reposted by KS_1968
As Jesus once put it: "what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and then have to pay the mansion tax?"
November 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
As Jesus once put it: "what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and then have to pay the mansion tax?"
Reposted by KS_1968
The story about her being mad that someone suggested that because she didn't have the grades to become a doctor she consider nursing instead and that being the 'tyranny of low expectations' is by far the most telling about her. She *thinks* she's smarter than everyone else by default
November 28, 2025 at 11:52 AM
The story about her being mad that someone suggested that because she didn't have the grades to become a doctor she consider nursing instead and that being the 'tyranny of low expectations' is by far the most telling about her. She *thinks* she's smarter than everyone else by default
Reposted by KS_1968
She is so profoundly intellectually incurious that I find myself fascinated how she ever learnt how to *speak*.
Also the Romans literally had a welfare system that included cash transfers for poor children. (And subsidised grain for low income workers...).
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
November 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
She is so profoundly intellectually incurious that I find myself fascinated how she ever learnt how to *speak*.