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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 23h

This is a fascinating concept Alan. It's relatively straightforward to imagine this point (now you've shone a light on it) as a logical step in emerging consciousness, yet at the same time, it is awe-inspiring to imagine it as an experience. A tiny but vast leap from 1 state of life into another.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 1d

The reasons the Nobel Committee gives for awarding the Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado make clear the fundamental link between democracy and peace. Their citation reads like a manifesto for the resistance to authoritarianism, so hopefully, they've ruled out DJT forever.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 1d

Kudos to the Nobel Committee. Their reasons for awarding the Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado make clear the fundamental link between democracy and peace. This reads like a manifesto for the resistance to authoritarianism + hopefully rules out DJT forever.
www.nobelpeaceprize.org/articles/nob...

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 to Maria Corina Machado - Nobel Peace Prize

for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

www.nobelpeaceprize.org

MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 2d

Alan, would you equate this in some way with Freud's (in my view, more simplistic and less detailed) concepts of Id, Ego, and Superego?

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 8d

Hugh Grant and other phone hacking victims have set up a petition to demand fair, independent regulation of the press. You can sign via this link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/a-...

A Free Press, Not a Free Pass – It's Time for Fair Regulation

For too long, the UK press have bullied people, harassed grieving families, and destroyed lives, all to sell papers. We’ve all seen the heartbreaking consequences. They’ve hacked phones, listened to ...

you.38degrees.org.uk

MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 8d

I'm grateful, Bear, for a well-documented and detailed 'keeping the receipts' piece that makes a point with evidence. In a different vein, I look forward to the time when you are ready to take questions (footnote 3), with interest.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 8d

This week, I've been mostly fighting fascism.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 8d

Ahh! Brexit the Elephant hasn't appeared in my Bluesky feed for some time, even though I see you posted him a few times, so it's lovely to see him pop up again. I'm keen not to be another person who doesn't see him when really he's there, large as life, all the time. Thanks for your efforts, Andrew.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 9d

True, and as you get older it may be harder to hear what people are saying but easier to understand what is being left unsaid.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 11d

Chaplin made this speech in an American film 85 years ago and now every word of it needs to be restated. Especially from 1.45 onwards in this clip: “You the people have the power.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GY...

Charlie Chaplin - Final Speech from The Great Dictator

YouTube video by Charlie Chaplin

www.youtube.com

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 11d

This is important Oliver. Fascists have their playbook so the resistance needs to create its own that can be clearly followed. That should inc. a chapter on the importance of early mockery, satire and ridicule before fear and conformity take over. alancolquhoun.substack.com/p/the-event-...

The Event Horizon of Fear

Why human fallibility makes autocracy self-destructive and democracy the only rational defence...

alancolquhoun.substack.com

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 11d

Oliver explains the importance of feeling the fear but resisting fascism anyway with mockery, satire and ridicule. There are historical footsteps to follow in from those who tried to deflate the power of the Nazi regime e.g. Charlie Chaplin, Spike Milligan. DJT trying to ban Kimmel makes the point.

Oliver Kornetzke @kornetzke.bsky.social · 11d

open.substack.com/pub/oliverko...

Big Scary Government, Tiny Balls

I keep seeing people post that the new White House memorandum on “anti-American, anti-capitalist, and anti-Christian rhetoric or activities” terrifies them.

open.substack.com

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 11d

Fascism… “builds quietly, passes a threshold where no gentle cure remains, and must be mocked, opposed, and punctured early — while laughter and law still work. Beyond that threshold the physics of fear do the work, and history’s correction comes only in wreckage.” ✔️✔️✔️ @alancolquhoun.bsky.social

Alan Colquhoun @alancolquhoun.bsky.social · 11d

open.substack.com/pub/alancolq...

The Event Horizon of Fear

Why human fallibility makes autocracy self-destructive and democracy the only rational defence...

open.substack.com

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Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 12d

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. Except it doesn’t bend on its own—it bends because we pull it in the direction of justice. What keeps me hopeful during times like these is being surrounded by people who are doing just that.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 14d

I hope this doesn't sound odd, given the seriousness of what you write, but I found your piece very beautiful in many ways: Beautifully written, transporting your felt experience to the reader (like music), and capturing the depth of your love and ⸫ the pain inherent in loss. Take care of you too.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 14d

Thanks for telling me that story, Marcus, it's just what I would have hoped for from him. That's cheered me up!

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 14d

Fabulous writing from Oliver Kornetzke. @kornetzke.bsky.social

ohmpills.bsky.social @ohmpills.bsky.social · 19d

Behold.

The festering carcass of American rot shoved into an ill-fitting suit: the sleaze of a conman, the cowardice of a draft dodger, the gluttony of a parasite…

It is America's shadow made flesh, a rotting pumpkin idol…

- Oliver Kornetzke

MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 14d

Oh wow, you had Feynman as a lecturer! From the T.V./ and video I've seen of him, he seems charismatic and inspiring. I wonder if that was true in real life or if it was a case of 'never meet your idols'. I hope it was the former.

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Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 18d

Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey slams the UK media's "easy ride" for Farage:

"As he lies, as he divides, the BBC and others give Farage so much time... They never hold him to account for all the damage he has already done. The damage of Brexit... So much of what is broken today is broken thanks to Farage."

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 18d

Government responded to this petition: Ofcom consulted on changes to the rules. “The proposed changes aim to make it clear … that a politician cannot be used as a newsreader, news interviewer, or news reporter in any type of programme.”
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71... Let's see what happens

Petition: Ensure plurality of political coverage across UK broadcast media at all times

We want to ensure that a plurality of views from all political parties in Westminster are represented and the nations parliaments are heard all year round, not just election times. The rules for cover...

petition.parliament.uk

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Negan @rogernegan.bsky.social · 18d

This

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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 20d

Sir Ed Davey has branded Elon Musk a criminal and called for him to be prosecuted for "allowing online harm to children" on his social media platform X

news.sky.com/story/sir-ed...

Sir Ed Davey brands Elon Musk a criminal and calls for his arrest for 'allowing online harm to children'

The world's richest man was accused of inciting violence by several politicians after telling a rally last week, "violence is coming to you".

news.sky.com

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Colin Sydes aka Lord SydesJokes #FBPE #FBR #Resist #Resistance @sydesjokes.bsky.social · 22d

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Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 26d

Elon Musk’s dangerous rhetoric is an attack on our democracy.

No one—no matter how wealthy or powerful—should get away with using their platform to incite violence or inflame division.

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MandyB @mandy1b.bsky.social · 26d

Trump v The Truth: UK Channel 4 17th Sept from 10pm. Unpicking >100 of Trump’s inaccurate statements. "The longest uninterrupted reel of untruths, falsehoods and distortions ever broadcast on TV.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Channel 4 to mark Trump’s UK visit with ‘longest uninterrupted reel of untruths’

Broadcaster to dedicate Wednesday night schedule to unpicking US president’s false or misleading statements

www.theguardian.com

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