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Andy Smart

@andysmart1948.bsky.social

130 followers 73 following 1.5K posts

Ex (not very good) youth worker and (slightly more useful) manager of youth workers. Edinburgh & SW France. Opinionated.

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · Jul 14

pluralistic.net/2024/11/02/u...

Pluralistic: Bluesky and enshittification (02 Nov 2024) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

pluralistic.net

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 4h

Q: What could be worse than Palantir managing our NHS data in the basis of what will make Peter Thiel even richer?
A: Them managing our data to advance Thiel's vision of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

archive.ph/2025.10.11-1...

archive.ph

Reposted by Andy Smart

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 8h

Private equity wrecked UK high street, says Iceland Foods boss

PE model - low wages, cut staff/investment, high debt, profiteering, tax abuse.

PE devoured Debenhams, Maplin, Byron Burger, Cath Kidson, Comet, Flybe, Poundworld, Toys R Us.

Controls care homes, vets, supermarkets.
archive.ph/tJVkV

Private equity has wrecked the high street, says Iceland boss

Richard Walker says private buyers take out costs and fail to invest then sell to the highest bidder in a cycle that makes retailers steadily worse

www.thetimes.com

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 9h

"For many in Gaza, there is no home to return to, as the war has reduced their neighbourhoods to dust after two years of heavy bombardment."

Naughty, naughty war! War must faces charges at the International Criminal Court.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Donald Trump and Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to chair Gaza peace summit on Monday

Meeting will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh and include leaders of the UK, Italy, Spain and France

www.theguardian.com

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 19h

The official SNP answer to your question is that we will make everybody march up to the top of the hill and then back down again. Rinse. Repeat. Look, the hill got tired!

Reposted by Andy Smart

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 2d

Also, if you're "in bed with flu", it's almost certainly Covid.

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 2d

After a long pause, I've just done another England Covid & NHS update as we head into the autumn/winter season.

TLDR: we're in a significant Covid wave now, the NHS is stretched, get boosted if you're eligible.

christinapagel.substack.com/p/england-is...

England is now experiencing a significant Covid wave, after 10 months of relative quiet

The latest Covid situation in England and a look at where NHS services are as we head into winter

christinapagel.substack.com

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 22h

Trump says Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado accepted the award for him

www.nbcnews.com/now/video/tr...

Trump says Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado accepted the award for him

When asked by a reporter for his reaction to Maria Corina Machado winning the Nobel Peace Prize, President Trump said he spoke with her on the phone. Trump said Machado told him she was accepting the ...

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Andy Smart

Reverend Jesus "H" Christ @reverendjesus.com · 1d

How to keep troops loyal: make them beg for food from the people you want them to oppress

Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 1d

Military families on day 9 of the shutdown lining up at the food bank

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 22h

Punters reconciled to the collapse of the economy may wish to invest in Dutch Tulips - prettier than data centres, no worse on water and better on energy.
Tulip mania - Wikipedia share.google/4cqQEmfqPMVp...

Tulip mania - Wikipedia

share.google

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 23h

If the SNP is really going to stop blocking conference motions calling for this action and stop expelling members who are anxious to see some action, we must break out the fatted calf pasties.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 23h

Stephen Flynn must put a little vaseline on the zip on the back of his head. Wouldn't want it to get stuck the umpteenth time we get promised this.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 23h

Looks a bit like wheesht 1 & 2.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 23h

Interesting! I was thinking of voting "Both Votes Nicola" as we were originally told. Do you have a suggestion as to how women wanting women only spaces and services should vote? (Asking for a friend)

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 23h

Wait 25 years. No compliments. Just "Oh, so you're still alive. Are you?"

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 1d

Stewart Lee: The thugs have taken my flag. So I’ve taken theirs
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...

Stewart Lee: The union jack thugs have taken my flag. So I’ve taken theirs

What do you do with a lot of cheap banners hanging from motorway bridges once you’ve torn them down?

www.thenerve.news

1 2

Reposted by Andy Smart

Fathom Deep @fathomdeep.bsky.social · 2d

I'd really consider voting Green if it wasn't for this homophobic nonsense.

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 1d

Six in ten Scots back SNP 'rebel' alternative independence plan ahead of crucial conference vote

#SNP25
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2553360...

SNP rebels boost with public support for independence plan ahead of key debate

SNP rebels have been given a boost after polling reveals public support for their independence strategy.

www.heraldscotland.com

4 6

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 1d

Is it some kind of curse that causes any possible focus for a Left opposition to the status quo to implode like this? First Corbyn and Sultana now the Green Party!

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Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

Because of the Westminster government! (And despite the Holyrood one?)

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

Put money in the pockets of people who'll spend it on goods and services (and grow the economy) instead of 'financial instruments' and Swiss yachts? This is the Marxism Nige has been warning us about.

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

Maybe there should be an additional prize this year: the Nobel peacetake prize?

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

Not enough! If we're all to be too pished to notice the arse has fallen out of the economy, they'll need to provide free beer as well.

Reposted by Andy Smart

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 4d

🎵 They did the Monster Slash 😭 @ellecordova.bsky.social

12 390 860

Reposted by Andy Smart

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 3d

Post Office Horizon IT scandal victims to get new appeals process & funded advice, says govt.

Good.

Now do the same for infected blood, mortgage prisoners, Orgreave, Hillsborough, nuclear tests, Grenfell, 1950s women, bank frauds, other victims of injustice up against corporations and govt depts.

All Post Office Horizon victims entitled to free legal advice for first time

Responding to the first stage of the inquiry into the scandal, the government said it had accepted all but one of the recommendations.

www.bbc.co.uk

4 55 140

Andy Smart @andysmart1948.bsky.social · 2d

No, it's a good plan. Everybody knows Donald Trump is an honourable man and there is no chance of him pulling out of a deal he's struck. Just no chance he'll see surrendering an inch as a welcome mat for him taking amother mile.