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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · 3d

Long have I believed that a political party was akin to a bus, not a taxi - if elected to power it would take you fairly close to where you wanted to be, but not to the precise destination. The Greens, led by @zackpolanski.bsky.social, are a taxi. They are heading for precisely where I want to be.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · 7d

For the first time in my (58 year) life I am a member of a political party. For the first time in my life I recognise a party that seems to think the way I think. For the first time in my life I see a party that values equality and kindness. @greenparty.org.uk @zackpolanski.bsky.social
#zackpolanski

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · 19d

We took our (home schooled) son to our local synagogue a few weeks ago as part of his religious education. The welcome was warm & the time spent was so lovely. We’ve just sent a message of support to the man who showed us around. How he & his congregation are feeling now is hard to fathom. So sad.

Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · 22d

Thank you, Stevie.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · 22d

I went on the Stop Trump demo and a while back I marched locally in support of trans rights. I’ve written to Home and Foreign Secs about Netanyahu’s treatment of Palestinians and try to speak with kindness to those who seem to be driven by hatred of others. But it feels futile… almost pointless… 2/2

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · 22d

The question that weighs heaviest for me is, “what can I, an individual, do?” I have delivered chocolates with a welcome message to two of our local “asylum hotels” and I wear a “Refugees welcome” T-shirt when I’m feeling brave, but I fear even these small acts risk raising the temperature. 1/2

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · 25d

Yeah - long and loud, Carl. 😁

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · 25d

As a young, inexperienced biker (Suzuki GS125 no less) on my way to Devon for a camping holiday, I was chased briefly by a big bloke on a big bike waving a big stick. Utterly terrified as he drew alongside, shouting at me. At his third attempt I realised he was shouting, “You dropped this tentpole!”

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Sep 18

Re 3. The desirable course would have been neither (a) a break with the US nor (b) the appalling display of fawning, near vomit-inducing sycophancy seen these past days. We must surely have been perfectly able to plot a diplomatic heading that avoided (a) while staying well clear of (b.)

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Aug 28

Good to see you here, Garret and Sabrina. Hope you and the little ones are doing well.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Aug 21

You’re right. I’m grateful for the correction. Thank you. Mx

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Aug 21

“Legitimate concern” is the new “patriotism” (i.e. Oscar Wilde’s “last refuge of the scoundrel.”) And the focus is never on the tax-avoiding billionaire, the non-dom slum landlord or the far right, multi-millionaire rabble rouser. They’re only ever “legitimately concerned” about the vulnerable.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Aug 12

@brianklaas.bsky.social Final message, I promise. Finished Fluke just now. Apart from taking issue with the “reacting to false positives is an evolutionary good” (works if it’s a lion, not if it’s what looks like it could be prey or water or shelter,) it has been magical. Thank you. Brilliant work.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Aug 12

@brianklaas.bsky.social Hello again, Brian. Just finished Chapter 7 - The Storytelling Animal. Not only am I compelled to tell (read) your stories to my wife, but to tell the story of my telling your stories to you. Storytelling Animal? Moi? Ha ha!

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Aug 10

You’re absolutely right. Unimaginably lucky. And, since I abandoned my belief in free will many years ago, that feeling of being very fortunate quickly overtook my initial despondency at my lack of agency. And yes, LTEE is an absolute exemplar of the scientific method. Thanks again. M

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Aug 10

@brianklaas.bsky.social Hi, Brian. Finished Sapolsky’s “Determined” and now enjoying “Fluke.” Just read your (beautifully written) account of Lenski & Blount’s LTEE. Moved me to tears. And all the countless flukes that combined to enable me to (inter alia) read this leave me feeling very lucky. 🙂

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Jul 23

Ian doing likewise.

Picture of a black cat, mouth wide open with white fang-like front teeth bared.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Jun 22

Does this lovely place work for finding like-minded folk? I don’t know. But let’s try…

Parenting
Dinosaurs
Photography
The Cramps (Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, not US period pains)
John Grant
Patrick Caulfield
Horror
An American Werewolf In London
Powder
Cosmology
Trans Rights
Minority Support

Mx

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Jun 4

Hula Hoops. Barbecue flavour. Probably from a twelve-pack. And, if you’re anything like me, almost certainly not your first packet of these today.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Jun 1

Yeah, that’s the latest theory - cooling’s another less flashy (less “cool,” ironically) idea from a few years ago. Triceratops is also the only ceratopsian (whose remains we’ve found) that had a solid bone frill, too. The animal that inspired my lifelong non-avian dinosaur fascination. 😎

Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · Jun 1

Strong choices, AJ. Triceratops for me. I favour T. horridus over T. prorsus, but both animals must have been truly awesome to behold.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · May 30

Ha ha! I love the smell of “n’est pas” in the morning.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · May 29

French Fancy.

Not a biscuit but not French or particularly fancy either.

No nutritional value but the aesthetic crowning glory of the working class, melamine kitchen table.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · May 15

This is the left’s equivalent of “Musk performed a Roman gesture.” Starmer’s phrase, “island of strangers,” does echo Powell’s words. And Starmer is seeking to appeal to exactly the kind of people Powell was.

If a dog-whistle sounds and leftists can’t/don’t/won’t hear it, it’s still a dog-whistle.

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Mark Lavous @photokind.bsky.social · May 3

Overheard on Nottingham local radio two drag queens being interviewed: the Blige sisters; Isla and Sheila.

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