duboddity.bsky.social

duboddity.bsky.social

@duboddity.bsky.social

4 Billion Dead

199 followers273 following99 posts

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

RMT Union
@rmtunion.bsky.social

Every year, £6 BILLION leaves our public services in profits for outsourcing giants. That would pay for: 🏫 2 years of free school meals 👵 300,000 adult social care workers 🏠 30,000 council houses a year 🏥 200,000 nurses for the NHS It’s time to Insource Now! #Budget2026

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Lynne #TaxTheRich #WelfareNotWarfare. Eco-Socialist. Pro-🇵🇸
@bebsdotteragain.bsky.social

I live on doorstep of ‘cluster’ of Data Centres, in Blyth Northumberland. I only learnt recently a previously planned energy site was to be used to house these toxic monsters. An area of high poverty levels… Most locals even now know nothing about them! europeanpowell.substack.com/p/zoned-by-t...

europeanpowell.substack.comZoned by the Applicants: AI Growth Zones and the Data Centre Map of BritainThe map was drawn before the zone

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Guy Shrubsole
@guyshrubsole.bsky.social

Big day today for ending centuries of secrecy about who owns our land! A new government consultation will propose revealing who owns the vast majority of England and Wales. To get this over the line, I’ll need your help to send in supportive evidence! www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.comLandowners could scupper free Land Registry access plans, campaigners warnProposed lifting of paywall would reveal who owns vast majority of land in England and Wales

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Byline Times
@bylinetimes.bsky.social

The Conviction of Estonia’s ‘Lord Haw-Haw’ Links Russian Intelligence to Moscow’s Interference on Brexit A 'diplomat' who launched the 'Conservative Friends of… https://bylinetimes.com/2026/10/26/the-conviction-of-estonias-lord-haw-haw-links-russian-intelligence-to-moscows-interference-on-brexit/

bylinetimes.comThe Conviction of Estonia’s ‘Lord Haw-Haw’ Links Russian Intelligence to Moscow’s Interference on BrexitA 'diplomat' who launched the 'Conservative Friends of Russia' group has now been identified as a Russian intelligence officer involved in an attempted European disinformation campaign

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

A.V. Deggar
@avdeggar.bsky.social

Replying to @avdeggar.bsky.social

Conveniently, there's not a standard measurement for fuel poverty across the UK, but in England alone 1 in 3 households were required to spend >10% of income after housing costs on energy in 2025. That's what successive govts have decided is absolutely fine and dandy for the serfs to tolerate

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Bylines Network
@bylinesnetwork.co.uk

Were Brexit’s “useful idiots” for Russia guilty of treason – or just rank stupidity? Also in Pecksniff: 61 departed Reform councillors, Kemi Badenoch’s ECHR problem and Liz Truss’s latest bid for relevance. The week in politics, with teeth. @eastangliabylines.co.uk @pecksniffsdiary.bsky.social

eastangliabylines.co.ukPecksniff: Brexiters as Russia’s useful idiots: treason or stupidity?In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Al Jazeera Investigates
@ajiunit.com

"Of course we haven't got a f***ing printer, we're terrorists." When you're trying to set up a fake rally for a foreign government and your paramilitary pals have no office equipment. #Glasgow #Zimbabwe

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Dorset Eye
@dorseteye.bsky.social

The Great Billionaire Getaway: Too Greedy to Pay Tax, Yet Happy to Profit from Britain dorseteye.com/the-great-bi...

dorseteye.comThe Great Billionaire Getaway: Too Greedy to Pay Tax, Yet Happy to Profit from Britain - Dorset EyeMichael Sherwood’s move to Jersey reignites the debate over Britain’s tax burden. But behind the warnings of a super-rich exodus lies a bigger question: why should the interests of billionaires take p...

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Miles King
@milesking.bsky.social

Latest offering from Stewart Lee for @thenerve.news, noting that 9 stand-up comics generate the same employment as the Jackdaw gas field. But has Lee Missed something? Perhaps the Jackdaw field is itself a piece of art, holding up a mirror to our burning world. www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...

thenerve.newsStewart Lee: ‘Burn Them’ Burnham is going to set the world ablaze. But at least he’ll create 27 jobsThe prime minister’s new, remote-controlled Jackdaw gasfield will generate less employment than nine standup comedians going on tour – and is considerably more likely to be hacked

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Birmingham 81
@birmingham81.bsky.social

RIP Derrick Harriott. Now playing the fab reggae version of Marlena Shaw’s Woman of the Ghetto he recorded with Kim Harriott (who I think was his niece), plus the sublime instrumental version featuring Dean Fraser 🇯🇲🔊▶️ youtu.be/4V6vV4qm634

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Dr. Hilary Agro, PhD 🍄
@hilaryagro.com

If you give fascists an inch, they will always take more. This is because what they claim will make them happy will never actually make them happy, because they are deeply wounded. Only culture change and healing can chip away at their misery. Don't budge an inch on trans rights.

Erin Reed@erininthemorning.com

There are people, even some trans people, who think that we can give up sports to appease bigots. That if we give up on sports, this all goes away. That is a lie. I have reported on this for years, and EVERY state that passed a sports ban as a moderate compromise has gone on to pass worse.

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Leicester Gazette
@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Al Jazeera Investigates
@ajiunit.com

Coming soon: Al Jazeera uncovers disturbing links between British right wing activists, the far right and loyalist paramilitaries. #Glasgow #Belfast #London

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Greg Jericho
@grogsgamut.bsky.social

Isabella Weber is THE economist to be listening to right now “Fascism is rising from frustration, born out of a crisis of livelihoods,” says Weber. “So, we need to reclaim these essentials now.” www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.com‘People’s dignity, and democracy, is at stake’: meet the economist ditching ideology for realityExclusive: Isabella Weber prescribes a common-sense solution to poverty, inequality and fascism – making life’s essentials affordable for all

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

MMTAction
@mmt-action.bsky.social

"There's a black hole in the public finances." A black hole is a forecast gap against self-imposed fiscal rules. Westminster issues the pound. The real limit is real resources, not a spreadsheet. Build your Budget rebuttal with Argument Builder. #MMT #UKGreenParty #Economics #UKPolitics

mmtaction.comArgument Builder — MMTAction — Economics for PeoplePaste the economic claim you're struggling to counter and get a fact-based rebuttal, built on Modern Monetary Theory. Free, no account needed.

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

THE NERVE
@thenerve.news

For the first time, the British government has acknowledged that Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. So who did BBC Newsnight invite on to discuss what happened? Sergei Markov, Putin’s former spokesman. Par for the course, says Nerve co-founder @carolecadwalla.bsky.social 1/

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

The Quietus
@thequietus.com

'The music and worldview of the Cabs is resonating again in the current moment. “In society, sadly, those issues are still there,” Mallinder says. “Like ‘Sex, Money, Freaks’, like 'The Crackdown', those things have meaning.” Northern Mantra: #CabaretVoltaire say Goodbye buff.ly/pFRWtWH

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Adam Bienkov
@adambienkov.bsky.social

You may have seen reports about the campaign for charities to be more 'transparent' about who funds them. Well it turns out the mysterious new right-wing think tank behind it won't say who funds or runs them, and used fake names for the authors of the report which launched their campaign

bylinetimes.comMysterious Right-Wing Think Tank Demanding Charity 'Transparency' Won’t Say Who Runs or Funds ItEXCLUSIVE: A group with no legal status and using fake names for the authors of its first published report, has won widespread media coverage, despite refusing to say who is behind it

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Andy Marshall
@fotofacade.bsky.social

Sometimes we need reminding that the world still holds moments of wonder. At Ripon Cathedral, a little incense, sunlight and a 30-second exposure revealed something extraordinary. But there's a rarely told story behind this photograph - read it here ✨ 👉 www.digest.andymarsh...

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Dave Vetter
@davidrvetter.bsky.social

The fact that the CEO class are all now going mask-off tells us about the world that they're anticipating - a world in which the very concept of justice is just a memory. We must deny them that world.

KetAnthropic JoshAI@ketanjoshi.co

The CEO of TotalEnergies says "a world of disruption rather than a peaceful world" because it creates more opportunities www.reuters.com/business/ene...

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Bertrom.
@bertrom.bsky.social

Martin Lewis who died in obscurity in 1962 was a retired art teacher who had found some success in his early career, but was largely forgotten. He spent his last three decades teaching other people how to etch, including Edward Hopper. History chose Hopper, but Martin Lewis was his mentor.

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Dr AM Sardar
@amsardar.bsky.social

Replying to @jennyflower.bsky.social

BBC News argument for relentlessy promoting Reform was they were leading in the polls. Turns out to be a blatent lie - Reform haven't been leading in the polls for months but no perceivable effect on the BBC News output.

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

National Emergency Briefing
@nebriefing.bsky.social

This weekend we passed an incredible 5,000 screenings on the map. Tens of thousands of people coming together to do the job the government ought to be doing We CAN rise to this challenge, but first we need leaders with the courage to face it. It’s #TimeToStepUp #NationalEmergencyBriefing

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Prof Bill McGuire
@profbillmcguire.bsky.social

#FOTW Daily Post 12 A Mars-sized object hit the young Earth and made the Moon -without this: no tides, no axial tilt, no seasons, and probably no us. Today's climate is the last link in a long chain of crazy serendipity that we're now pulling apart Pls share + tag 2 #DeepTime #FateOfTheWorld

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Jonathan Bird
@londonknee.bsky.social

Replying to @jdportes.bsky.social

I’m confused why tax paying migrants helping to pay for an aging population with a falling birth rate would be a “catastrophic burden on the future economy”?

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Defend Our Juries
@defendourjuries.bsky.social

SOLIDARITY FOREVER 161 were arrested under the Terrorism Act for peacefully holding paper signs outside Labour’s conference in Liverpool. Labour must Lift The Ban on Palestine Action, or face prosecuting thousands of civilians under the Terrorism Act.

duboddity.bsky.social reposted

Carla Denyer
@carladenyer.bsky.social

Labour seems poised to repeat the mistakes of the last energy price crisis if they cut funding that would help families choose fossil-free heating. We cannot afford to plunge the sector into uncertainty and risk stalling growth in heat pump installations when we need it most.