@mickrab.bsky.social
Europhile boomer who appreciates how lucky I am. London accent with Yorkshire twinges, but heart in Galway.
Savage cynic, a bit sweary, no prisoners. Tax is the price you pay for a civilised society.
Savage cynic, a bit sweary, no prisoners. Tax is the price you pay for a civilised society.
Pinned
mickrab.bsky.social
@mickrab.bsky.social
· Jan 13
The absence of a clear answer from a politician normally means the politically inconvenient answer is the truth.
Save this,it is a maxim for the ages.
Save this,it is a maxim for the ages.
I thought it was the House of Lords.
This is a photo of all the workers who have spent more than five years restoring the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
December 12, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I thought it was the House of Lords.
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Members of the House of Lords arriving for work.
December 12, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Members of the House of Lords arriving for work.
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Super interesting reporting on Palantir‘s efforts to be used in Swiss governmental services and the military. They decided against it, because they worried Palantir was giving information to CIA and NSA and feared a loss of national sovereignty.
www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...
www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...
December 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Super interesting reporting on Palantir‘s efforts to be used in Swiss governmental services and the military. They decided against it, because they worried Palantir was giving information to CIA and NSA and feared a loss of national sovereignty.
www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...
www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...
Spoiler: they won't.
No political party will scrap the voting system that got them into power.
No political party will scrap the voting system that got them into power.
60% of the British public agree: our voting system is not fit for purpose.
The upcoming Elections Bill is a chance to fix it.
I just signed a @makevotesmatter.bsky.social petition to the Democracy Minister, calling for Proportional Representation. Add your name: actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe...
The upcoming Elections Bill is a chance to fix it.
I just signed a @makevotesmatter.bsky.social petition to the Democracy Minister, calling for Proportional Representation. Add your name: actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe...
Petition to Democracy Minister
First Past The Post undermines our politics.
It leaves most of us with MPs we didn't vote for, and keeps delivering results that don't represent public opinion.
The upcoming Elections Bill is a chan...
actionnetwork.org
December 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Spoiler: they won't.
No political party will scrap the voting system that got them into power.
No political party will scrap the voting system that got them into power.
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Barack Obama receiving an ACTUAL peace prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize.
December 7, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Barack Obama receiving an ACTUAL peace prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize.
@jimpowerecon1962.bsky.social
@chrisbjohns.bsky.social
For consideration next time you're thinking AI is the future.
@chrisbjohns.bsky.social
For consideration next time you're thinking AI is the future.
December 11, 2025 at 11:09 AM
@jimpowerecon1962.bsky.social
@chrisbjohns.bsky.social
For consideration next time you're thinking AI is the future.
@chrisbjohns.bsky.social
For consideration next time you're thinking AI is the future.
Fucking disgraceful. We should be culling peers, not increasing them.
A list of 34 new House of Lords appointments has just been published.
Our Director, Meg Russell, wrote a thread last week about the problems related to these appointments.
She highlighted that Keir Starmer is one of the most proliferate appointers of peers.
Read the list (and the thread below) 👇
Our Director, Meg Russell, wrote a thread last week about the problems related to these appointments.
She highlighted that Keir Starmer is one of the most proliferate appointers of peers.
Read the list (and the thread below) 👇
December 10, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Fucking disgraceful. We should be culling peers, not increasing them.
I've visited USA 7 times, 37 out of 50 states, enjoyed every minute.
It can now seriously fuck off.
It can now seriously fuck off.
Jeez. All tourists - including those from Britain - will have to undergo a social media screening before being allowed entry into the US under new plans being considered by the country's border force
news.sky.com/story/us-pla...
news.sky.com/story/us-pla...
US plans to start checking all tourists' social media
The potential social media mandate being proposed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would apply to anyone visiting, whether they require a visa or not.
news.sky.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I've visited USA 7 times, 37 out of 50 states, enjoyed every minute.
It can now seriously fuck off.
It can now seriously fuck off.
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Indeed. I still believe the majority of people want a fair & just society. The only thing that is missing is a government that will deliver such a deal. People should reflect on that every time there’s an opportunity to cast a ballot.
December 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Indeed. I still believe the majority of people want a fair & just society. The only thing that is missing is a government that will deliver such a deal. People should reflect on that every time there’s an opportunity to cast a ballot.
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Given a) Farage's past; b) the expanding story about Russia and former MEPs; and c) media enthusiasm for "what influence is being bought?" questions, if anyone to left of Mussolini is gifted so much as a cup of sugar, why is Reform facing no such questions about Friday's £9m crypto-bro donation?~AA
December 8, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Given a) Farage's past; b) the expanding story about Russia and former MEPs; and c) media enthusiasm for "what influence is being bought?" questions, if anyone to left of Mussolini is gifted so much as a cup of sugar, why is Reform facing no such questions about Friday's £9m crypto-bro donation?~AA
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Anyone interviewed Laure Ferrari’s conveyancing solicitors (like they did with Rayner’s) to find out how she passed the Anti Money Laundering checks and proved the source of funds were hers? If Farage paid for it, he’d already declared himself the beneficial owner in the press - so an implied trust!
September 8, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Anyone interviewed Laure Ferrari’s conveyancing solicitors (like they did with Rayner’s) to find out how she passed the Anti Money Laundering checks and proved the source of funds were hers? If Farage paid for it, he’d already declared himself the beneficial owner in the press - so an implied trust!
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Nothing is more symbolic of Europe's inherent weakness of resolve - EU and UK - than the failure of governments and institutions to leave X/Twitter en masse. It's easier to stay, so stay they do. Pathetic.
December 8, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Nothing is more symbolic of Europe's inherent weakness of resolve - EU and UK - than the failure of governments and institutions to leave X/Twitter en masse. It's easier to stay, so stay they do. Pathetic.
Unfortunately their electorate is even more stupid.
December 8, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Unfortunately their electorate is even more stupid.
December 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
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@reecedinsdale.bsky.social Well said, Reece!
December 7, 2025 at 12:04 PM
@reecedinsdale.bsky.social Well said, Reece!
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What people are not talking about: Russian drones were circling a French nuclear submarine yesterday. France shot them down.
December 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
What people are not talking about: Russian drones were circling a French nuclear submarine yesterday. France shot them down.
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It’s Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Take care of basic needs like food and shelter and people begin to flourish & grow.
December 4, 2025 at 10:18 AM
It’s Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Take care of basic needs like food and shelter and people begin to flourish & grow.
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I love soccer and I remember each World Cup with great intensity and always so much look forward to the next. But FIFA that was disgusting, even more disgusting than usual, and now I just can’t. And won’t.
December 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I love soccer and I remember each World Cup with great intensity and always so much look forward to the next. But FIFA that was disgusting, even more disgusting than usual, and now I just can’t. And won’t.
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It’s weird that news organizations like the BBC are covering this as if it’s a real thing with a real process behind it—and not clearly some nakedly invented “participation trophy” by a corrupt organization to curry favor with a corrupt and easily manipulated man-child. www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
Donald Trump: US president named inaugural Fifa Peace Prize winner
US President Donald Trump receives the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize before the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
www.bbc.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:23 AM
It’s weird that news organizations like the BBC are covering this as if it’s a real thing with a real process behind it—and not clearly some nakedly invented “participation trophy” by a corrupt organization to curry favor with a corrupt and easily manipulated man-child. www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
December 6, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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Starmer accuses the Brexiters of selling Brexit on lies and false promises. He’s guilty of pretence and obfuscation now. The EU won’t trust us or even consider major changes to the current deal if British politicians continue to lie, hedge and mislead. Act like a leader, Starmer. Damnit, man. LEAD.
December 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Starmer accuses the Brexiters of selling Brexit on lies and false promises. He’s guilty of pretence and obfuscation now. The EU won’t trust us or even consider major changes to the current deal if British politicians continue to lie, hedge and mislead. Act like a leader, Starmer. Damnit, man. LEAD.
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WOW! AN HONOR! — GCN
December 6, 2025 at 4:16 AM
WOW! AN HONOR! — GCN