Ralph Houston

Walter Koenig, who many will recognise as Chekhov from the original Star Trek, has sadly died aged 90. bsky.app/profile/jess...

Looks like no-one has read Sir David Bell's report. This is on page 30.

What did anyone expect? His lips were moving. BBC News - Ukraine says Starlink still restricted after Trump says limits lifted www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I know 'the algorithm' is becoming alarmingly good - but this tracking number anticipated me placing the order by several hours!

This looks amazing! (Hope it's valid...) bsky.app/profile/gove...

Well! If you want to be cheered up, don't read this! catandgirl.com/theyre-going...

World economy at risk? Not in the least. When the time is right, the insider traders will again short their manufactured 'crash' to become still richer, bilking pension funds etc. out of their money. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

What I want to know is how did Noem and Guilfoyle make it into the Bottle Blond Bimbo coterie in the first place?

Well, Zoe Williams of The Guardian, how does to not 'dignify [Reform]'s policy platform with a response' gel with dedicating your entire column to just that - yet again? Pic of Maisie this time, to avoid reposting a pic of Yusuf... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Why are the media so fascinated by Mr Toad? Every diarrhoeic spatter is awaited with breathless anticipation and reported in enervating detail. Even if they do succeed in getting his party into No 10, he'll never do any of it, as he's bone idle. Here's Muppet. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Another great mind gone. news.mit.edu/2026/margare...

Blew it? Because he couldn't call Zionism the cancer that it is without offending anyone? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Without Comment. ‘The Great Polden Hills Mangelwurzel Day will see vegetables judged in categories like “Biggest Girth”, “Best Looking Legs”, and looking “Most like Donald Trump”.’ (BBC, 18 September) From news.ansible.uk/a471.html

Please don't circulate the fake Carl Sagan quote - I'm looking at you @codfather.bsky.social www.democraticunderground.com/100221541107

The English government is learning that it is a small fish with very little authority or power. But it can still affect two things: education and small-scale criminal justice. What's needed is a grown-up discussion of what both of these things are for. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

This hits the spot! www.smbc-comics.com/comic/script...

Is the internet on the way out? Everything is taking longer and longer to load, pages reload themselves multiple times and jump around before settling (usually), no doubt we will soon need three-factor authentication...

This grew from a seed from last year's plants, and did very little. Last week in September, it suddenly remembers it's an annual and needs to get a move on.

Our super-timid Muppet in a sanctuary spot while decorating proceeds.

Finally getting round to having this place decorated, having lived here 20 years. A bit of history - as far as we can decipher it: 'Papered by Mart (and?) Lang 'Paste boy Cairney (?) 'November 1950'

A warning to US citizens. Votesafe<dot>org is an Elon Musk data collection site, not what it seems. This is the non-partisan site you need: www.vote.org www.snopes.com/fact-check/v...

Well, there's a shock! bsky.app/profile/clou...

The Guardian is losing it. What are pensioners to live on? The UK state pension is one of the stingiest in Europe. I'm so grateful I lived in a civilised, socialist country for 10 years (Netherlands, late 90s) and built up something to live on in retirement. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This is revealing. Heaven forbid it should be widely shared! bsky.app/profile/cidb...

If Charles Spencer had a shred of self-awareness, he'd realise he's the 'cancerous influence'.

And here's why you shouldn't share stuff by Mr Toad, Cheeto Man, or any of the others. www.smbc-comics.com/comic/roach-2

Someone posted about the ubiquity of 'fuck'. I went to find this and of course the original post is lost to the algorithm. Anyway, here you are. youtu.be/BaqsOL-Nv24

Net zero by 2050 Mr Burnem? That's 20 years too late. Andy Burnham: UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

There's a terrible dilemma here. Being a soldier means you must accept being bullied and abused. Euphemistically known as 'following orders'. How else are you going to kill people when told to? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

If you say you're against data centres, you need to stop using AI, and store your data locally. Otherwise, you're a nimby hypocrite.

Very disappointing that the BBC's reporting on the Thirlwall report just takes Letby's guilt as read. Yes, she is currently legally guilty. Did she do it? Highly unlikely. www.private-eye.co.uk/special-repo... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

If Mr Toad defunds the BBC and he loses all the publicity he gets from them, will he use some of his ill-gotten gains to expand GB News?

A kill switch? Have none of these people read "The Answer" by Fredric Brown (1954)? BBC News - UK government rejects 'kill switch' idea for dangerous AI - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Iran and the Houthis have taken Perim Island. The insider traders have pushed oil futures over $100 a barrel. Diesel here in Scotland will exceed £2 a litre shortly. Are we having fun yet? www.reuters.com/world/iran/

Only in Cheeto Man's US could you have something as tasteless and disrespectful as this. 🤢 www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Geewhillikers, that's unexpected (not)! BBC News - Anthropic researcher believes more than 10% chance AI 'could kill all humans' - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How is a resource-hungry egoboo machine going to achieve this? My old talking Action Man had more intelligence than AI - or Haas. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Why are all current politicians devoid of intellect, personality and morals? The blind following of 'economic growth' as essential is pathetic. We need a new system to replace capitalism completely. Impounding the wealth of the ultra-rich should be the first step.

Is there a trend to make things so bad the public stays away and then they can be cancelled? I'm looking at you, BBC Radio 4. Mr Toad has not bothered to show up at his own conference, so they're filling in with blanket recordings of his hateful, dishonest, scaremongering, pro-establishment voice.

I'm not a tattoo person, but this is a masterpiece! bsky.app/profile/jona...

The enshittification continues! This still appeared here. Google Image search finds only two hits with AI (on Tumblr and Pinterest) and no real ones, and I think misidentifies the film and actress. I suspect it's 'Il bacio di una morta': www.imdb.com/title/tt0071...

I saw a post about a book on 'the truth in the bible, revised edition' a few minutes ago, but of course cannot find it again. Still, it's interesting how that goes. (The purple cover is a retranslation of some books that were arbitrarily removed from the bible, as far as I know.)

Well, my policy of 'treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen' seems to work on orchids too!

What film could you not sit through? I'll start with 'Wanted' - had to leave the cinema to not spoil others' enjoyment by laughing out loud... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanted_...

Hallowe'en? Ye gods, people, there's one sixth of the year left before that!

It suddenly struck me that Ms Parton bemoaned having to work 9 to 5. We're now being conned into working longer than that, and being available on evenings and weekends too. youtu.be/UbxUSsFXYo4?...

To @rachelschine.bsky.social - as you have disabled comments, how do you expect to get any tips? Are we obligated to follow you?

There's one single benefit to the BBC's sudden focus on this irrelevant bollocks. It temporarily pushes out their blanket coverage of Mr Toad's fascist squealing. BBC News - Will Harry's return heal deep-rooted rift with William? - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Pair of cannons on a roundabout on Lord St., Douglas, Isle of Man @arsecannonpics.bsky.social

On the Isle of Man for a few days. Douglas Station on the Steam Railway.