Martin Cook

Martin Cook

@cookieaob.bsky.social

Interested in gardening, politics, art, cryptic crosswords, sport, wine and funny stuff, no particular order. Becoming more obsessed with birds, insect life and eco systems by the day.

644 followers440 following4.6K posts

Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

Why are Billionaires so bloody greedy? What the hell do you do with such excess?

Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social

Just to be clear... Prop 40 is a ONE-TIME retroactive tax. It applies ONLY to billionaires and would tax just 5% of their wealth — which grew 30% in 2025. California's billionaires would still be worth $2T+ AFTER the tax. The revenue will fund healthcare for millions of Californians. Vote YES.

Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

It's so weird, just as these countries escape filthy corrupt regimes, France and Germany think this is the way to go.

Peter Geoghegan@petergeoghegan.bsky.social

First Orban, now Vučić. Both fundamentally undone by rank corruption of their regimes. Which is so often the reality of the authoritarian right in power. Really worth paying heed to in Western Europe right now

Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

Waking up this morning in a new place is very weird after 30 years of the same view. I'll miss my garden, the cedar and oak particularly, but I now have the Thames to admire, racing past the bottom of this garden. Lots of boxes to unpack and a busy day ahead.

Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

We are moving on Friday and to avoid moving stuff we have been drinking some bizarre things lately, oh and eating even stranger old cupboard food. But this Pimms, which must have come via my parents when they moved is from the early 60s! 60⁰ proof! Not sure how I missed it in the booze cabinet.

Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

So bloody cool.

Carl Quintanilla@carlquintanilla.bsky.social

“Stop Making Sense” premieres 42 years ago today. 🎂 “.. shooting live music is the most purely cinematic thing you can do,” said director Jonathan Demme. “Ideally, the cinema is becoming one with the music. There is little artifice involved. There's no acting. I love it.” [“Slippery People”]

Martin Cook reposted

Gil Durán
@gilduran.com

On Monday, Peter Thiel gives his the final installment of his Antichrist lecture series at a Masonic lodge in #Nashville. Across town, I'll decode his Antichrist obsession in a church full of activists. Why is the #Palantir billionaire so obsessed with the 👿? Sneak preview:

Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

When are the people still on any meta platforms, twitter, tik tok etc and using prime, going to realise all the owners support Trump. Get this shit out of your life. Don't support and fund greed and hate.

Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

Trump is licking the arse of a despot helping to kill American servicemen. How are the streets of Washington not rioting? The French would have burned the White House down by now.

Pete Buttigieg@petebuttigieg.bsky.social

Russia is cooperating with Iran. So why is Trump cooperating with Russia? Like the diesel deal, this decision is a gift to the very forces attacking our service members.

Martin Cook reposted

Kate from Kharkiv
@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social

Journalist to Hegseth: “Mr. Secretary, are you Vladimir Putin’s puppet on Ukraine? Mr. Secretary, is Vladimir Putin playing you like a fiddle?” Good job, Britain! That’s how it’s done. Video: Sky News

Martin Cook reposted

paulusthewoodgnome
@paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social

US sources have confirmed the order to throttle Starshield to hobble Ukraine's ability to defend itself came from within the White House. The security implications for the UK are huge. Along with other European nations, we MUST decouple our defence capabilities from the US. bsky.app/profile/reut...

Reuters@reuters.com

Exclusive: UK adopts SpaceX's Starshield for military operations, sources say reut.rs/4o2S7cJ

reut.rsExclusive: UK adopts SpaceX's Starshield for military operations, sources sayBritain has begun using SpaceX's militarised satellite network Starshield, according to two people familiar ​with the matter, making it among the first countries outside the United States to adopt Elon Musk's government-focused variant ‌of Starlink.
Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

Tim's right it's superb. Brighton are a fantastic club. They continue to sell their 'best' players to the likes of Chelsea and then just find more amazing staff.

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social

I mean, obviously, I'm biased but take a look: that third goal was as good as any of those scored by PSG earlier in the week.

tntsports.co.ukHighlights: Rutter at the double as Brighton hit fourWatch highlights from the UEFA Conference League as Brighton & Hove Albion cruise past Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris.
Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

This seems an unlikely success story. Good stuff.

Fionna O’Leary@fascinatorfun.bsky.social

I really hope this Croydon model of public house building doesn’t falter because of some errors in projections. These should be lessons learned to be fed into the next round of public housing, not to dismantle the Brick By Brick project that has won a RIBA award www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

theguardian.comThey asked for 80 homes – she gave them 157! Council-housing miracle named Britain’s best new buildingRising from bluebell woodlands and framed by rolling hills, this cluster of pink and brown brick towers in Croydon is a bittersweet winner of the prestigious RIBA Stirling prize
Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

Sickening.

Shaun Pinner@shaunpinner.bsky.social

This US administration’s whitewashing of Russian atrocities will go down in history as a dark and shameful chapter. I can only hope Trump is impeached and held accountable for his actions.

Martin Cook reposted

God
@thegodshow.com

Elon cut off Starlink to Ukraine because they blew up his Russian bots and so now his posts don’t get enough likes? Do I have that right?

Martin Cook reposted

Adam Bienkov
@adambienkov.bsky.social

Kemi Badenoch spent most of PMQs pouring doubt on Andy Burnham's claims about Russian interference in our democracy, yet her spokesman can't tell me whether she has yet read the Russia report, which was published some six years ago during her own time in Government

Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

Despicable.

The Kyiv Independent@kyivindependent.com

⚡️ 'This cannot be a coincidence' — Ukraine's Starlink access restricted without warning, Zelensky adviser says. Ukraine relies on Starlink to operate its mid-strike drones in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

kyivindependent.com'This cannot be a coincidence' — Ukraine's Starlink access restricted without warning, Zelensky adviser saysUkraine relies on Starlink to operate its mid-strike drones in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social

Watching part 1 of the Musk documentary and I find myself rooting for Musk. How on earth did he become such an arsehole? It's a great watch, as despicable as he undoubtedly is.

Martin Cook reposted

Pickwick The Dodo
@lesleyhustler.bsky.social

Well said. How many of Tommy Robinson’s Sport’s Direct paramilitary division go and help or worship at the churches they claim they want to protect. It’s much easier to don a balaclava and shout at the RNLI. #HopeNotHate

Martin Cook reposted

Rafael Behr
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social

I was on the telly.

GylesNaMopaleen@gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social

This is quite extraordinary. I don't think I have heard a more coherent, articulate and accurate deconstruction & demolition of Nigel Farage's ReformUK, Tory & Restore policy than this. In under 85 seconds! @rafaelbehr.bsky.social is on here folks and worth a follow.