Melinda Batchelor
@melindab.bsky.social
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Imagine coming up with a proposal so stupid, so unworkable, so thoughtless, that it makes Robert Jenrick look sane by comparison.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Jury trials could be scrapped except in most serious cases
Only cases of alleged murder, rape or manslaughter will be decided by a jury under new proposals to cut court backlogs.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Imagine coming up with a proposal so stupid, so unworkable, so thoughtless, that it makes Robert Jenrick look sane by comparison.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
In many of the red wall towns Labour is desperate to hold, the university is major employer, often the biggest employer. If it were a steel mill, the government would be falling over itself to pump in money, but because it's a university they're happy to see it die on its arse.
Obviously this government are wantonly reckless and idiotic and their treatment of universities, and see this as a disciplining of an out of touch elite.
But what all of this unwillingness to intervene means is that a critical industry will collapse and a lot of ordinary people will be unemployed.
But what all of this unwillingness to intervene means is that a critical industry will collapse and a lot of ordinary people will be unemployed.
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
November 25, 2025 at 1:02 PM
In many of the red wall towns Labour is desperate to hold, the university is major employer, often the biggest employer. If it were a steel mill, the government would be falling over itself to pump in money, but because it's a university they're happy to see it die on its arse.
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Here's another thing which won't be mentioned by either the government or the BBC. #wato
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit...
Brexit Is Costing The UK Up To £90 Billion A Year In Lost Tax
The Treasury is missing out on £250 million every day, new analysis shows.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Here's another thing which won't be mentioned by either the government or the BBC. #wato
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
True tale: A Baltimore police colonel called a rival at 3 a.m. from a crime scene: "Leon, I got you now. You fucked up. You wrote "POLICE" backwards on the front of the EVU truck."
"Eddie, that's so it reads correctly in a rear view mirror."
Long pause.
"Aw Leon, you got an answer for everything."
"Eddie, that's so it reads correctly in a rear view mirror."
Long pause.
"Aw Leon, you got an answer for everything."
November 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
True tale: A Baltimore police colonel called a rival at 3 a.m. from a crime scene: "Leon, I got you now. You fucked up. You wrote "POLICE" backwards on the front of the EVU truck."
"Eddie, that's so it reads correctly in a rear view mirror."
Long pause.
"Aw Leon, you got an answer for everything."
"Eddie, that's so it reads correctly in a rear view mirror."
Long pause.
"Aw Leon, you got an answer for everything."
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Two of our volunteers spoke to the BBC about the government's announcement that The National Covid Memorial Wall will be made permanent - and of the Wall's importance in bridging institutional accountability with public grief. ❤️
The Covid tribute wall 'bridging accountability with grief'
The half-mile stretch of red hearts along the South Bank will be preserved as a permanent memorial.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Two of our volunteers spoke to the BBC about the government's announcement that The National Covid Memorial Wall will be made permanent - and of the Wall's importance in bridging institutional accountability with public grief. ❤️
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
I'd previously seen reports of this in San Diego specifically. I'm assuming they're testing this for a wider rollout, which is horrific. They've always deferred to USCIS to make a decision (in which the overstay is not a factor) before enforcement.
But these are lazy people with arrest quotas.
But these are lazy people with arrest quotas.
ICE arrests, detains British woman with US husband and newborn when she shows up for her green card interview. She’s now in a detention center, separated from her 6-month-old. No criminal record. She had overstayed her visa.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
British mum detained by ICE agents in California as six-month old baby and stunned husband watch on | LBC
Katie Paul, 33, was in the process of applying for a green card when she was ambushed by immigration agents
www.lbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I'd previously seen reports of this in San Diego specifically. I'm assuming they're testing this for a wider rollout, which is horrific. They've always deferred to USCIS to make a decision (in which the overstay is not a factor) before enforcement.
But these are lazy people with arrest quotas.
But these are lazy people with arrest quotas.
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Kelly: “All servicemembers are reminded that they do not have a legal obligation to obey unlawful orders.”
Department of War: “Scandalous! we will be investigating.”
Also Department of War: “All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation to obey lawful orders.”
Department of War: “Scandalous! we will be investigating.”
Also Department of War: “All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation to obey lawful orders.”
Hegseth is now threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty in order to court martial him.
November 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Kelly: “All servicemembers are reminded that they do not have a legal obligation to obey unlawful orders.”
Department of War: “Scandalous! we will be investigating.”
Also Department of War: “All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation to obey lawful orders.”
Department of War: “Scandalous! we will be investigating.”
Also Department of War: “All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation to obey lawful orders.”
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
A detailed run through of literature and claims concerning vaccines and autism. Long story shot: vaccines do not cause autism.
No, Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism—Here’s the Proof Parents Need to See
Countless studies have shown no link between vaccines and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder. But some parents still hold onto that belief.
www.parents.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A detailed run through of literature and claims concerning vaccines and autism. Long story shot: vaccines do not cause autism.
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Striking bit of @moreincommonuk.bsky.social's pre-budget briefing (watch in full on their channels). Voters think means-testing winter fuel benefit was *WORSE* that partygate and as bad as profiteering on PPE. And gov't breaking its pledge on tax would be worse than all of the above. 👀👀👀 ~AA
November 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Striking bit of @moreincommonuk.bsky.social's pre-budget briefing (watch in full on their channels). Voters think means-testing winter fuel benefit was *WORSE* that partygate and as bad as profiteering on PPE. And gov't breaking its pledge on tax would be worse than all of the above. 👀👀👀 ~AA
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
This is the way.
You wouldn't need to do this more than a couple times to break them of the habit.
You wouldn't need to do this more than a couple times to break them of the habit.
November 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This is the way.
You wouldn't need to do this more than a couple times to break them of the habit.
You wouldn't need to do this more than a couple times to break them of the habit.
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Clearapathra is genius 🙏
Just saw the list of gritter names for this year and they have outdone themselves
These always make me smile
These always make me smile
November 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Clearapathra is genius 🙏
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Excerpt from the last book that President Trump read, Lord of the Flies, which he was required to read while at boarding school in the 1950s:
November 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Excerpt from the last book that President Trump read, Lord of the Flies, which he was required to read while at boarding school in the 1950s:
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Trump v the BBC cont'd: an odd and desperate letter from the US media regulator
Or: why you should have your evidence in place before you threaten a law suit
A new post by me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/trump-v-th...
Or: why you should have your evidence in place before you threaten a law suit
A new post by me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/trump-v-th...
Trump v the BBC cont'd: an odd and desperate letter from the US media regulator
Or: why you should have your evidence in place before you threaten a law suit
emptycity.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Trump v the BBC cont'd: an odd and desperate letter from the US media regulator
Or: why you should have your evidence in place before you threaten a law suit
A new post by me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/trump-v-th...
Or: why you should have your evidence in place before you threaten a law suit
A new post by me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/trump-v-th...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
It's that time of year
November 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
It's that time of year
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Please remember that the UK had seen what happened in Wuhan (China) and Lombardy (Italy) when they had to decide in the end how to mitigate for Covid in 2020. And the evidence was that unmitigated SARS-CoV-2 spread was recipe for disaster
November 22, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Please remember that the UK had seen what happened in Wuhan (China) and Lombardy (Italy) when they had to decide in the end how to mitigate for Covid in 2020. And the evidence was that unmitigated SARS-CoV-2 spread was recipe for disaster
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
In this tough and moving essay, Caroline Kennedy's 35-year-old daughter Tatiana Schlossberg reveals that she is terminally ill with leukemia. She has some choice words about how her cousin Bobby has made the limited time she has left worse. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
A Battle with My Blood
When I was diagnosed with leukemia, my first thought was that this couldn’t be happening to me, to my family.
www.newyorker.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:31 PM
In this tough and moving essay, Caroline Kennedy's 35-year-old daughter Tatiana Schlossberg reveals that she is terminally ill with leukemia. She has some choice words about how her cousin Bobby has made the limited time she has left worse. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Not waning immunity against SEVERE disease that appears to remain pretty robust at 1 year.
BUT the more people who can get infected the more opportunity for the virus to shape shift into more infectious and greater severity. So continuous monitoring matters
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
BUT the more people who can get infected the more opportunity for the virus to shape shift into more infectious and greater severity. So continuous monitoring matters
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
Study suggests COVID-19 infection no longer grants long-lasting immunity
New research suggests that natural immunity after a COVID-19 infection has fallen sharply since Omicron became the dominant variant.
www.gavi.org
November 22, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Not waning immunity against SEVERE disease that appears to remain pretty robust at 1 year.
BUT the more people who can get infected the more opportunity for the virus to shape shift into more infectious and greater severity. So continuous monitoring matters
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
BUT the more people who can get infected the more opportunity for the virus to shape shift into more infectious and greater severity. So continuous monitoring matters
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
The Confidence Trick That Put Boris Johnson Into Power Is Now Being Used on Nigel Farage
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
Some reflections www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Vote for competent leaders, not entertainers – that’s what I wish the Covid report could say | Devi Sridhar
To prevent a future pandemic we’d need agile leadership, smart decision-making, humility and trustworthiness. How does one build those into a political system, asks Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global ...
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Some reflections www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Melinda Batchelor
thread on the coming 'pop'.
You can tell the AI bubble’s going to pop - and they’ve known for a while - by checking the new titles / Smart Thinking display in a big bookshop. It’s all about the grift and the coming collapse (quite the reverse a year or so back). Since it’s all wild speculation anyway, that’s a fatal sign.
November 22, 2025 at 11:47 AM
thread on the coming 'pop'.