Fragarach

Link please:
I'm after a t-shirt with the Banksy cartoon of a bewigged judge beating a protester with a placard please.
I thought the NewsThump shop would have it, but can't see it there.
I want it to make a point for something in a couple of weeks.
#UK #Banksy

2026-05-24 10:43:06 UTC

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My feeling is that, while there are obviously multiple factors at work, a lot of it harks back to the 2008 banking crash. Austerity policies were introduced, and have been kept up ever since, whether or not they call it that. With a variety of scapegoats being used for why peoples lives got worse, teachers' pensions, the EU and lately immigrants, those actually responsible have escaped any penalties.
At the last GE, there was a widespread desire for change, and Labour promised to deliver that change. There is no real perception that they've either done so, or are on the way there.
The desire (and need!) for change is even stronger, and while I feel strongly that the Green options are preferable, the reality is that, with the active help of the majority of the media, Reform's marketing is much, much better.
#politics

2026-05-12 06:43:33 UTC

Oh dear!
I can understand the possible reasons behind it: it wouldn't have occurred to me that a houseboat is liable for council tax. Surely that should be covered in the mooring fees?
But the billionaire owned press are going to wet themselves over this.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy02wdzrg6jo
#UKPolitics #ZackPolanski

2026-03-18 07:04:21 UTC

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Or, possibly, because the increasing likelihood of a lasting agreement didn't suit the Israeli agenda?
#Iran #geopolitics

2026-03-05 17:05:51 UTC

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There's a lot said about increasing the use of renewables, and that's a good thing.
But, humans being human and stuck in the capitalist mindset, we're going to consume more and more and still more.
And unlike Malthus's postulate, we're going to take a majority of species with us.
Maybe, if the marmalade moron manages to precipitate the world war he seems to be trying for, enforced degrowth will follow from the ashes.
Or, we could follow Luigi Mangione's lead and start eliminating CEOs?

2026-03-01 09:35:37 UTC

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Took me a while to find this!
https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/116/153/185/465/022/862/original/213528ea2af0b5cd.jpg

2026-02-27 18:14:34 UTC

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Got it, thanks. So I have henchies.

2026-02-27 17:56:40 UTC

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Question (for clarification): are henchmen minions, or are they mere accomplices?

2026-02-21 20:46:22 UTC

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https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/116/110/575/699/495/748/original/2439e1a7bafb49c4.jpg

2026-02-17 14:14:19 UTC

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Try going for a drive?
https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/116/086/384/579/652/206/original/30b91871b2a7c636.jpg

2026-01-28 16:12:31 UTC

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In the high and far-off days, every single child would be back in the house in time to watch "The Man from UNCLE" because if you missed this weeks episode, that was it. No repeats or catchup from the 2, later 3 channels we had.
Now the BBC and,for some things Netflix, are bringing that back, so you have to wait until next week.
I like it, the enforced suspense adds to the enjoyment for me.

2026-01-24 15:10:52 UTC

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Amen to that!
https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/115/950/711/600/132/497/original/3e74cd1513be0f7e.jpg

2026-01-17 21:06:06 UTC

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I think that, in the current circumstances, dissociation from all US based tech (and that includes machinery and weaponry) is simply prudent.
And the UK military's contracts with Palantir should be got rid of immediately.
#EU #Greenland #anticircumvention

2025-12-22 18:09:16 UTC

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If there's a war, you can't hold elections, is that right?
#USPol #Greenland

2025-11-29 09:07:59 UTC

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An acquaintance of mine was complaining last night when I saw him about the rules. He missed a deadline (his own fault) and now has 10 weeks to come up with £3k for his whatever sort of leave to remain he needs.
While he has the money, although he'd undoubtedly choose to spend it on something else, he's lived here for 19 years.
The only benefits he's accessed while here has been the NHS for vaccinations and the usual things of life.
As he says, "Go home? There's no-one I know there any more, my job, my pension funds, my family are all here".
It's harsh.
#politics #migrants

2025-11-25 16:46:43 UTC

So, if you want to buy stuff, if it's audio or TV related, one of the companies to come out the best is Richer Sounds.
A company who, having bought several things from, I can wholeheartedly recommend.
https://news.sky.com/story/most-black-friday-offers-are-not-as-good-as-you-think-survey-shows-13475179
#BlackFriday

2025-11-14 06:48:44 UTC

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And also that HMG knows that the country's financial situation is a mess, and doesn't have anyone clever enough (or brave enough?) to make a significant difference.
I don't like the term "the economy", to me, it focuses attention on banking and businesses, not people who actually pay the price of decisions.
#politics

2025-11-11 13:42:57 UTC

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I'm still with Harry Patch and his view of Armistice Day.
I paraphrase: "In a railway carriage in Compiègne, the leaders of many countries sat down and signed an agreement to live in peace. Why the fuck they didn't do that five years and several million lives previously has never been explained".

2025-11-04 18:30:56 UTC

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I just read in a toot by Jack the Rebel Cat about how the Chancellor could raise some additional funds. It was mentioned that financial services aren't currently subject to VAT. Why ever not? We pay it on fuel, power, insurance premiums, all sorts of things that aren't discretionary purchases. So why should financial services be exempt?
https://mastodon.scot/@JackTheCat/115492686311825979
#politics

2025-10-15 10:02:54 UTC

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"cottage industry" implies the possibility of remuneration.
Stump up, Professor! 😁
#TellEveryone

2025-10-14 11:29:17 UTC

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https://social-cdn.vivaldi.net/system/media_attachments/files/115/372/284/720/601/408/original/63d599e5df9821db.jpg

2025-10-08 15:47:10 UTC

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Yes, her actions and the results from those and her colleagues led to a complete change in the approach to ambulance provision, and led to the introduction of paramedics.
A real hero.

2025-10-03 12:57:58 UTC

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Meanwhile, after the Jaguar / Landrover fuck-up, I see Renault have now been hacked.
Yet we're supposed to believe that even more sensitive data will be safe with Crapita or Fujitsu, or most likely likely Thiel's Palantir.
By the way, did no-one explain to various governments that the Palantir was absolutely not a good thing in the stories?
#DigitalID

2025-10-02 13:00:42 UTC

In today's bit of good news, the Co-op is selling beer brewed on the Palestinian West Bank:
https://www.co-operative.coop/hdccbt
Oh, and that link has another link to a UK petition in this UN Year of Co-operation.
#Palestine #UK

2025-09-27 11:06:16 UTC

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That's lovely! Thank you for sharing!
It's interesting how people can overcome disadvantages that might be thought reduce them in some way.
There's a man in his sixties who lives near us. He's autistic, and officially registered as learning disabled as a child. But he doesn't want to stop working, and still employs several people in his landscaping business. For which he himself is required to hold a number of safety certications.

2025-09-27 08:07:52 UTC

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Many years ago, I took part in a local library initiative, which involved helping adults with reading difficulties to improve their reading skills. To cut a long story short, I was ashamed of my preconceptions. Many weren't slower people who couldn't read, they'd been let down by the education system, by their families, by society at large. Although the coping strategies they'd developed were impressive.
I imagine the issue hasn't improved since then.
#schools #politics #education

2025-09-25 05:44:58 UTC

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Perhaps because the Conservatives attempt to create or continue a "Northern Poorhouse" has always been misspelt? 😏