Margaret Nelson 🌦
@flashmaggie.bsky.social
Old, knackered. Cloud-spotter and dendrophile. Suffolk UK.
"The cure for boredom is curiousity. There is no cure for curiousity."
- Dorothy Parker.
"The cure for boredom is curiousity. There is no cure for curiousity."
- Dorothy Parker.
Reposted by Margaret Nelson 🌦
"the Department of Homeland Security has created a permissive institutional culture in which its agencies feel empowered to use violence with little fear of accountability."
thehill.com/opinion/cong...
thehill.com/opinion/cong...
thehill.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:27 PM
"the Department of Homeland Security has created a permissive institutional culture in which its agencies feel empowered to use violence with little fear of accountability."
thehill.com/opinion/cong...
thehill.com/opinion/cong...
It must be cake o'clock.
January 29, 2026 at 4:05 PM
It must be cake o'clock.
Considering that here I am, communicating with you through the ether via my mobile phone, I shouldn't be surprised to learn that my CPAP (continuous positive airwayay pressure) machine can send a record of my sleep apnea to the hospital clinic without me having to do anything. Isn't that clever?
January 29, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Considering that here I am, communicating with you through the ether via my mobile phone, I shouldn't be surprised to learn that my CPAP (continuous positive airwayay pressure) machine can send a record of my sleep apnea to the hospital clinic without me having to do anything. Isn't that clever?
It's ridiculous that women are still having to defend their single-sex spaces from intrusion by men who claim the impossible; that they're women.
sex-matters.org/posts/update...
sex-matters.org/posts/update...
The fight for single-sex spaces continues
Sex Matters is disappointed that our application for permission for a judicial review of the City of London’s decision to allow men into the women’s
sex-matters.org
January 29, 2026 at 3:12 PM
It's ridiculous that women are still having to defend their single-sex spaces from intrusion by men who claim the impossible; that they're women.
sex-matters.org/posts/update...
sex-matters.org/posts/update...
UK people, a message from my local volunteer fire crew:
"Please please get the What 3 words app on your phones. This app places your position in a 3 meter square anywhere. If you pass the three words to our control we can find you as quickly as possible."
what3words.com/fluid.essent...
"Please please get the What 3 words app on your phones. This app places your position in a 3 meter square anywhere. If you pass the three words to our control we can find you as quickly as possible."
what3words.com/fluid.essent...
///fluid.essential.drift
This is the what3words address for a 3 metre square location near Hadleigh, Suffolk.
what3words.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:00 PM
UK people, a message from my local volunteer fire crew:
"Please please get the What 3 words app on your phones. This app places your position in a 3 meter square anywhere. If you pass the three words to our control we can find you as quickly as possible."
what3words.com/fluid.essent...
"Please please get the What 3 words app on your phones. This app places your position in a 3 meter square anywhere. If you pass the three words to our control we can find you as quickly as possible."
what3words.com/fluid.essent...
Reposted by Margaret Nelson 🌦
Corporate power in the food system (graphic: @jennifer-clapp.bsky.social) #FoodStudies
January 28, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Corporate power in the food system (graphic: @jennifer-clapp.bsky.social) #FoodStudies
My cleaner saw Elsa Lanchester as the Bride of Frankenstein on my wall and asked if it was me! I should be flattered I suppose.
The horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein' was made in 1935. She was meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's monster, but didn't take to him at all, which was rather sad.
The horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein' was made in 1935. She was meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's monster, but didn't take to him at all, which was rather sad.
January 28, 2026 at 1:27 PM
My cleaner saw Elsa Lanchester as the Bride of Frankenstein on my wall and asked if it was me! I should be flattered I suppose.
The horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein' was made in 1935. She was meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's monster, but didn't take to him at all, which was rather sad.
The horror film 'Bride of Frankenstein' was made in 1935. She was meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's monster, but didn't take to him at all, which was rather sad.
I was a Mensa member, years ago. The local group was male dominated and I got rather bored with it. The test measures your IQ, not your social skills. So I'll watch the programme and hope the sexes are balanced, roughly 50/50.
mensa.org.uk/secret-geniu...
mensa.org.uk/secret-geniu...
Secret Genius launches on Channel 4 – Mensa
mensa.org.uk
January 28, 2026 at 1:04 AM
I was a Mensa member, years ago. The local group was male dominated and I got rather bored with it. The test measures your IQ, not your social skills. So I'll watch the programme and hope the sexes are balanced, roughly 50/50.
mensa.org.uk/secret-geniu...
mensa.org.uk/secret-geniu...
Reform UK has increased its membership, including with former Tory MPs, but when it comes to finding local authority or parliamentary candidates it seems they'll propose anybody, however nasty or stupid.
Their by-election candidate could lower the collective IQ of The House even more.
Their by-election candidate could lower the collective IQ of The House even more.
Reform’s Matt Goodwin is sure he’s the right man for Gorton and Denton. He just doesn’t know why… | John Crace
Introduced by an unsupervised Lee Anderson, the byelection candidate was out of his depth immediately
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Reform UK has increased its membership, including with former Tory MPs, but when it comes to finding local authority or parliamentary candidates it seems they'll propose anybody, however nasty or stupid.
Their by-election candidate could lower the collective IQ of The House even more.
Their by-election candidate could lower the collective IQ of The House even more.
Reposted by Margaret Nelson 🌦
Edith Clarke, the first female electrical engineer in the US, invented a calculator (the Clarke calculator) to solve electric power transmission problems, a precursor to modern smart grid technology. It was patented in 1925. #WomenInSTEM
It's International Day of #CleanEnergy!
It's International Day of #CleanEnergy!
January 27, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Edith Clarke, the first female electrical engineer in the US, invented a calculator (the Clarke calculator) to solve electric power transmission problems, a precursor to modern smart grid technology. It was patented in 1925. #WomenInSTEM
It's International Day of #CleanEnergy!
It's International Day of #CleanEnergy!
There's a power cut. Both Power Networks and my alarm centre have phoned to check I'm alright. Yes, I'm fine, but I would like a cup of tea. Must get a camping stove.
January 27, 2026 at 1:19 PM
There's a power cut. Both Power Networks and my alarm centre have phoned to check I'm alright. Yes, I'm fine, but I would like a cup of tea. Must get a camping stove.
Thanks to Facebook I've discovered an artist I hadn't heard of before, John Aldridge RA (1905-1983), who taught at The Slade.
This landscape from 1947 was probably painted near Great Bardfield in Essex, where he lived. It's lovely.
This landscape from 1947 was probably painted near Great Bardfield in Essex, where he lived. It's lovely.
January 27, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Thanks to Facebook I've discovered an artist I hadn't heard of before, John Aldridge RA (1905-1983), who taught at The Slade.
This landscape from 1947 was probably painted near Great Bardfield in Essex, where he lived. It's lovely.
This landscape from 1947 was probably painted near Great Bardfield in Essex, where he lived. It's lovely.
Perspective parliamentary candidates really ought to submit to some sort of psychological assessment process before they're selected. We keep being offered total nutcases.
Lovely hatchet job on the monstrosity that is Suella Braverman. Crace covers it all;
her dishonesty, disloyalty, nastiness, incompetence, her wild vanity… and her deep stupidity.
How dare these utter arses think we’d be persuaded by their swaggering nonsense.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
her dishonesty, disloyalty, nastiness, incompetence, her wild vanity… and her deep stupidity.
How dare these utter arses think we’d be persuaded by their swaggering nonsense.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Suella makes the ultimate sacrifice as she ditches Tories for Reform | John Crace
Most of those at Monday’s event had to remind themselves that Braverman hadn’t defected long ago
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Perspective parliamentary candidates really ought to submit to some sort of psychological assessment process before they're selected. We keep being offered total nutcases.
Only tp be expected, IMO.
The more you add to this sort of technology, the more there is to go wrong, which is why I don't share the excitement about AI.
The more you add to this sort of technology, the more there is to go wrong, which is why I don't share the excitement about AI.
Windows PCs ‘Suddenly’ Fail After Microsoft’s New Update
Windows PCs ‘Suddenly’ Fail After Microsoft’s New Update
Windows PCs may fail to start after update — Microsoft says this is the only workaround.
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Only tp be expected, IMO.
The more you add to this sort of technology, the more there is to go wrong, which is why I don't share the excitement about AI.
The more you add to this sort of technology, the more there is to go wrong, which is why I don't share the excitement about AI.
I resent Trump. I resent turning on the news and finding he's in it again. I resent finding myself wondering WTF he's done or is about to do today. It's probably a common feeling.
January 27, 2026 at 10:50 AM
I resent Trump. I resent turning on the news and finding he's in it again. I resent finding myself wondering WTF he's done or is about to do today. It's probably a common feeling.
The nice handyman who was due to do a little job for me today has written that he can't come, as "we have a virus in our household" that's made them very ill. As he's shared the symptoms I'm very glad he's not coming, poor man!
January 27, 2026 at 10:45 AM
The nice handyman who was due to do a little job for me today has written that he can't come, as "we have a virus in our household" that's made them very ill. As he's shared the symptoms I'm very glad he's not coming, poor man!
Whatever the weather, Carol Kirkwood has been a ray of sunshine. If she ever felt miserable it didn't show.
Carol Kirkwood: BBC Breakfast weather presenter to leave after 25 years
The 63-year-old said it had been an
www.bbc.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Whatever the weather, Carol Kirkwood has been a ray of sunshine. If she ever felt miserable it didn't show.
Jo Phoenix reflects on what has and hasn't happened in the two years since she won her discrimination case against The Open University, and the institutional resistance to reality and the law that's still forcing women to defend themselves against it.
jophoenix.substack.com/p/we-have-ar...
jophoenix.substack.com/p/we-have-ar...
We Have Arrived. The Problem Has Changed
Some thoughts on the 2nd anniversary of my win against The Open University
jophoenix.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Jo Phoenix reflects on what has and hasn't happened in the two years since she won her discrimination case against The Open University, and the institutional resistance to reality and the law that's still forcing women to defend themselves against it.
jophoenix.substack.com/p/we-have-ar...
jophoenix.substack.com/p/we-have-ar...
Don't know why, but I keep thinking of the story about a woman who got so pissed off with the stupidity of humanity that she took her dogs and went to live in the middle of a very big forest, a long way from everyone. And then the loggers came.
January 26, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Don't know why, but I keep thinking of the story about a woman who got so pissed off with the stupidity of humanity that she took her dogs and went to live in the middle of a very big forest, a long way from everyone. And then the loggers came.
Political parties are anachronistic. They're small groups of people who imagine they should government a country but are mostly unfit to do so.
Those who could do it are unlikely to have anything to do with a political party.
Those who could do it are unlikely to have anything to do with a political party.
The defection of Suella Braverman, who was sacked twice from Government in disgrace, spent £700m of taxpayers' money to send four volunteers to Rwanda on a deportation scheme that was then scrapped and has a public approval rating of minus 32 is currently being described as a "major coup" for Reform
January 26, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Political parties are anachronistic. They're small groups of people who imagine they should government a country but are mostly unfit to do so.
Those who could do it are unlikely to have anything to do with a political party.
Those who could do it are unlikely to have anything to do with a political party.
I'm expecting the tree surgeons today. So far, it seems very quiet, but I haven't put my hearing aids in yet. My cat looked as if she'd heard something.
January 26, 2026 at 9:24 AM
I'm expecting the tree surgeons today. So far, it seems very quiet, but I haven't put my hearing aids in yet. My cat looked as if she'd heard something.
When asked what he thought of Western civilization, Mahatma Gandhi said, "I think it would be a good idea."
January 26, 2026 at 9:18 AM
When asked what he thought of Western civilization, Mahatma Gandhi said, "I think it would be a good idea."
I think I read somewhere a couple of days ago that Trump thought the Roman Empire existed fairly recently, which wouldn't surprise me.
He has been compared to Caligula, who told a captain in the Praetorian guard that he sounded like a girl, and the Praetorian killed him.
He has been compared to Caligula, who told a captain in the Praetorian guard that he sounded like a girl, and the Praetorian killed him.
January 25, 2026 at 6:09 PM
I think I read somewhere a couple of days ago that Trump thought the Roman Empire existed fairly recently, which wouldn't surprise me.
He has been compared to Caligula, who told a captain in the Praetorian guard that he sounded like a girl, and the Praetorian killed him.
He has been compared to Caligula, who told a captain in the Praetorian guard that he sounded like a girl, and the Praetorian killed him.
It's Burns' Night.
It reminds me of my parents, who were members of a Caledonian Society for Scots on Merseyside.
They went to the Burns' Night dinner in all their evening finery, Dad in a dinner suit with patent leather dancing shoes, Mum in a lavender evening gown, smelling of Coty and Tweed.
It reminds me of my parents, who were members of a Caledonian Society for Scots on Merseyside.
They went to the Burns' Night dinner in all their evening finery, Dad in a dinner suit with patent leather dancing shoes, Mum in a lavender evening gown, smelling of Coty and Tweed.
January 25, 2026 at 4:45 PM
It's Burns' Night.
It reminds me of my parents, who were members of a Caledonian Society for Scots on Merseyside.
They went to the Burns' Night dinner in all their evening finery, Dad in a dinner suit with patent leather dancing shoes, Mum in a lavender evening gown, smelling of Coty and Tweed.
It reminds me of my parents, who were members of a Caledonian Society for Scots on Merseyside.
They went to the Burns' Night dinner in all their evening finery, Dad in a dinner suit with patent leather dancing shoes, Mum in a lavender evening gown, smelling of Coty and Tweed.
Was ambivalent about paying for a Guardian subscription, but did it anyway.
Don't think I'm really a Guardian reader, especially of the lifestyle stuff, some of which is risible.
Don't know what sort of a reader I am really. I just sneak around pay walls.
Don't think I'm really a Guardian reader, especially of the lifestyle stuff, some of which is risible.
Don't know what sort of a reader I am really. I just sneak around pay walls.
January 25, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Was ambivalent about paying for a Guardian subscription, but did it anyway.
Don't think I'm really a Guardian reader, especially of the lifestyle stuff, some of which is risible.
Don't know what sort of a reader I am really. I just sneak around pay walls.
Don't think I'm really a Guardian reader, especially of the lifestyle stuff, some of which is risible.
Don't know what sort of a reader I am really. I just sneak around pay walls.