Paul Cotterill
@bickerrecord.bsky.social
Nurse by training. Vagabond by nature. Imposter by syndrome.
A Habermas-influenced English pluralist, if that's a thing. An organiser of things, which are definitely things.
He/him/ally
A Habermas-influenced English pluralist, if that's a thing. An organiser of things, which are definitely things.
He/him/ally
Summary on Darlington nurse from BBC looks to be pretty dodgy, because para 1 is not in line with para i.e. judgment summary does not say Rose couldn't use her gender appropriate changing room, but does say other staff should not have been forced to use it.
January 16, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Summary on Darlington nurse from BBC looks to be pretty dodgy, because para 1 is not in line with para i.e. judgment summary does not say Rose couldn't use her gender appropriate changing room, but does say other staff should not have been forced to use it.
Can't find a link the Darlington nurse judgment so will reserve my own judgment till it's online
January 16, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Can't find a link the Darlington nurse judgment so will reserve my own judgment till it's online
Climate change as the spark for the protests in Iran are a very underreported bit of the whole story.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
How ‘day zero’ water shortages in Iran are fuelling protests
Supply failures are dramatic example of way climate crisis threatens basic human needs – and with it political stability
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Climate change as the spark for the protests in Iran are a very underreported bit of the whole story.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Right call, ofc, but just for clarity: Ofcom doesn't have the direct power under s.144 of the Online Safety Act 2023 to shut down X. It can only apply to the courts for "business disruption measures", which of course will take a bit of time.
No surprise to learn X is still permitting users to post these images generated by Grok despite claiming it had taken action. Enough is enough. @ofcom.bsky.social MUST use its powers to shut this down www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
X still allowing users to post sexualised images generated by Grok AI tool
Despite restrictions announced this week, Guardian reporters find standalone app continues to allow posting of nonconsensual content
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Right call, ofc, but just for clarity: Ofcom doesn't have the direct power under s.144 of the Online Safety Act 2023 to shut down X. It can only apply to the courts for "business disruption measures", which of course will take a bit of time.
I don't say this lightly but Maria Corina Machado may be a worse deal negotiatior than David Frost.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Machado presents Trump with her Nobel award at White House meeting
Trump thanked Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, calling it
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 8:42 AM
I don't say this lightly but Maria Corina Machado may be a worse deal negotiatior than David Frost.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
My overall takeaway from the Robert Jenrick defection is that Robert Jenrick is a total cunt.
Follow mr for more top analysis of recent developments.
Follow mr for more top analysis of recent developments.
January 15, 2026 at 5:31 PM
My overall takeaway from the Robert Jenrick defection is that Robert Jenrick is a total cunt.
Follow mr for more top analysis of recent developments.
Follow mr for more top analysis of recent developments.
The radically un-depressing solution here would be to write off loans, as per revised national accounts treatment, on a condition that write-off beneficiaries invest e.g. 50% what they would have been due to repay in a Community Benefit Society of their choice via non-transferable shares earning 4%
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 10:10 AM
The radically un-depressing solution here would be to write off loans, as per revised national accounts treatment, on a condition that write-off beneficiaries invest e.g. 50% what they would have been due to repay in a Community Benefit Society of their choice via non-transferable shares earning 4%
This is great news (tho the article doesn't explain effect of marginal pricing very well). This, combined with the big new push on locally owned solar and low carbon heat,does mean Net Zero is coming.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Offshore windfarm contracts to fuel 12m homes in Great Britain after record auction
Subsidies guaranteeing price for each unit of clean electricity generated given to 12 renewables projects
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:14 AM
This is great news (tho the article doesn't explain effect of marginal pricing very well). This, combined with the big new push on locally owned solar and low carbon heat,does mean Net Zero is coming.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Think we'll see quite a few of these 'I am desperate to keep my seat because I need/like the money and/or the prestige that goes with it' moves this month.
Another Merseyside Reform UK defection just announced
This time it is a St Helens councillor joining Nigel Farage's Party from the Greens...
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
This time it is a St Helens councillor joining Nigel Farage's Party from the Greens...
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
Another Merseyside Reform win as councillor joins from Greens
Nigel Farage's party has already announced the arrival of three Wirral councillors this morning
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Think we'll see quite a few of these 'I am desperate to keep my seat because I need/like the money and/or the prestige that goes with it' moves this month.
I have discovered a thing call Netflix in my old age. It costs money but may be worth it if you also have a television.
The Colombian rendition of 100 Years of Solitude in loads of parts is really good. I recommend it.
The Colombian rendition of 100 Years of Solitude in loads of parts is really good. I recommend it.
January 14, 2026 at 10:34 AM
I have discovered a thing call Netflix in my old age. It costs money but may be worth it if you also have a television.
The Colombian rendition of 100 Years of Solitude in loads of parts is really good. I recommend it.
The Colombian rendition of 100 Years of Solitude in loads of parts is really good. I recommend it.
I think this probably boils down simply to senior police in West Midlands not understanding what AI actually is,so they didn't get that the wrong tab had been clicked (Copilot vs Google search) by someone else who didn't know or just wanted to take it easy..
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c3...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c3...
Police chief admits misleading MPs after AI used in justification for banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans
An intelligence report referred to a football game that never existed - Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will make a statement later today.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 10:30 AM
I think this probably boils down simply to senior police in West Midlands not understanding what AI actually is,so they didn't get that the wrong tab had been clicked (Copilot vs Google search) by someone else who didn't know or just wanted to take it easy..
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c3...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c3...
Oh god. This kid's about 14.
This is grim
Africans recruited by Russia are referred to as “can openers”. Here’s a photo of one with a land mine strapped to him designed for detonating in a bid to "open" the 🇺🇦 bunker
Some “recruited“ as shop assistants/jobs in a shampoo factory find themselves at the front - cannon fodder
Africans recruited by Russia are referred to as “can openers”. Here’s a photo of one with a land mine strapped to him designed for detonating in a bid to "open" the 🇺🇦 bunker
Some “recruited“ as shop assistants/jobs in a shampoo factory find themselves at the front - cannon fodder
January 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Oh god. This kid's about 14.
In my humble opinion, the word in English that is spelled most wrong is 'veterinarian', which everybody really wants to spell "vetenarian', and should be. Even veterinarians think they should be vetenarians.
And 'spelled'. That should be 'spelt'.
And 'spelled'. That should be 'spelt'.
January 13, 2026 at 4:05 PM
In my humble opinion, the word in English that is spelled most wrong is 'veterinarian', which everybody really wants to spell "vetenarian', and should be. Even veterinarians think they should be vetenarians.
And 'spelled'. That should be 'spelt'.
And 'spelled'. That should be 'spelt'.
Well that's me told.
As more people defect from Twitter, a starter pack for UK socialist opinion on Bluesky
Apologies to those I've missed - please do reply with suggestions ...
go.bsky.app/4YbDaS9
Apologies to those I've missed - please do reply with suggestions ...
go.bsky.app/4YbDaS9
January 13, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Well that's me told.
I gather ultrarunner Sarah has been forced to pull out of the Montane Spine Race because of deaths threats. She is raising money for women's rights/welfare in Afghanistan, and some bigots don't like that.
Here's her donation page if you want to.......
www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-port...
Here's her donation page if you want to.......
www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-port...
Donate to Sarah Porter Spine Race 2026, organized by Maria Hughes
Run for freedom.
A challenge like no other for a cause like no other.
The Spine Ultram… Maria Hughes needs your support for Sarah Porter Spine Race 2026
www.gofundme.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:30 AM
I gather ultrarunner Sarah has been forced to pull out of the Montane Spine Race because of deaths threats. She is raising money for women's rights/welfare in Afghanistan, and some bigots don't like that.
Here's her donation page if you want to.......
www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-port...
Here's her donation page if you want to.......
www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-port...
Death by infuriation in 2025 Minnesota is a bit the same as death by affrightenment in 1632 England.
January 11, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Death by infuriation in 2025 Minnesota is a bit the same as death by affrightenment in 1632 England.
Good to see Washington National Opera taking a firm stand. Small thing but still good to see. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/a...
Washington National Opera Is Leaving the Kennedy Center
www.nytimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Good to see Washington National Opera taking a firm stand. Small thing but still good to see. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/a...
This got quite good pick up over w/e (for me). I'll draft a possible letter to the commissioners in next few days, though some of the content might be made sharper when we have an idea of what Ofcom's approach is going to be.
With the King renting posh office space to Elon Musk's sexual abuse business, here's an angle we could try.
I do wonder if there's a bit of freestyle aggravation to be given to Elon Musk here, given the location of his firm's London offices: 20 Air Street, Piccadilly (quite a plush place) 1/n
January 11, 2026 at 6:56 PM
This got quite good pick up over w/e (for me). I'll draft a possible letter to the commissioners in next few days, though some of the content might be made sharper when we have an idea of what Ofcom's approach is going to be.
This is good as far as it goes, though badging an issue as eternally overlooked then reviewing PtC etc innovation attempts is odd, but what it doesn't really address is why the small number of successes has not replicated at anything like the scale needed (tho tbf land hoarding if referenced). 1/n
Latest from me, on an eternally overlooked, sniffed-at issue that is politically huge www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK’s high streets have reached a tipping point – and Reform will reap the benefits | John Harris
When even Poundland and charity shops are closing, we’re near a point of no return. But there is hope, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:12 PM
This is good as far as it goes, though badging an issue as eternally overlooked then reviewing PtC etc innovation attempts is odd, but what it doesn't really address is why the small number of successes has not replicated at anything like the scale needed (tho tbf land hoarding if referenced). 1/n
Thinking of doing a Bluesky starter pack of semi-retired Registered General Nurses (general medicine & ophthalmics) who support Blackpool FC, used to be leader of a Labour group on council, are influenced by Habermas and are deeply embittered about not being a famous blogger anymore.
January 11, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Thinking of doing a Bluesky starter pack of semi-retired Registered General Nurses (general medicine & ophthalmics) who support Blackpool FC, used to be leader of a Labour group on council, are influenced by Habermas and are deeply embittered about not being a famous blogger anymore.
With the King renting posh office space to Elon Musk's sexual abuse business, here's an angle we could try.
I do wonder if there's a bit of freestyle aggravation to be given to Elon Musk here, given the location of his firm's London offices: 20 Air Street, Piccadilly (quite a plush place) 1/n
January 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM
With the King renting posh office space to Elon Musk's sexual abuse business, here's an angle we could try.
Oh well. Blackpool are out of the FA Cup. We will not be in Europe next year.
January 10, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Oh well. Blackpool are out of the FA Cup. We will not be in Europe next year.
Boo. All spoiled by Rico Lewis getting his second for goal no.10. Throw them out of the cup.
Nine different players have now scored for Man City, with a few mins to go. I think that may also be a record on FA Cup record day #facup
January 10, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Boo. All spoiled by Rico Lewis getting his second for goal no.10. Throw them out of the cup.
V much aside to main issue, but if the US does invade Greenland in some way, I guess parkrun will feel bound to remove the US from its system, as it did with Russia in 2022. I'll feel sorry for US participants but equal standards will be required. Arguably Venezuela action should have triggered ofc
January 10, 2026 at 4:56 PM
V much aside to main issue, but if the US does invade Greenland in some way, I guess parkrun will feel bound to remove the US from its system, as it did with Russia in 2022. I'll feel sorry for US participants but equal standards will be required. Arguably Venezuela action should have triggered ofc