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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 23h

O.K. I'll say freedom of movement would be a benefit. We had it and lost it (-ive message); in rejoining, we would get it back (+ive message).

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 1d

I assume this means the U.S. will "pull out of, and no longer recognise", the Nobel Prize? Perhaps AFPI will sponsor a new "beautiful" peace prize, and Trump will be anointed. "A lot of people, you know, people were saying I couldn't win, but we did it...".
#NobelPeacePrize

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 1d

Indeed. I assume this means the U.S. will "pull out of, and no longer recognise", the Nobel Prize? Perhaps AFPI will sponsor a new "beautiful" peace prize, and Trump will be anointed. "A lot of people, you know, people were saying I couldn't win, but we did it...".

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 1d

Might there also be a small role for both the politicians and an undiscriminating (mostly English) electorate in this descent to dangerous levels of irresponsibility? However,.yes. "If these results were repeated at a GE..." is arrant nonsense.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 1d

Like the fact the Urban Dictionary has this as "heavy duty" kissing. I associate heavy duty with footwear or paint stripper; kissing not so much. Maybe that's where it all went wrong.

Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 1d

Yes. A digital ID repository will be compromised. Separately, you know when politicians are not to be trusted when they use expressions like "taken forward". Teenage kids. Labour, just stop for one second. Step back and consider what you will be doing to people's lives, the society in which we live.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 5d

Very upsetting news about "Crazy Horse". Best back row in an England/Tigers jersey. But rugby can't continue like this? Or is it life? Give it a rip doing what you want until something cracks? Probably. If I had a son, what would I be telling him? I don't know, but I do know this is bitter #mnd 🌹

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 5d

If the party does these things for long enough there comes a point where it is "Labourish". Whatever the history of the party and any core values it purports to have, it is, in the end, what it does.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 6d

So. This is interesting to me. Thanks. Used to be confident in my analysis of lots of life things. I had a belief in a simple, linear view of cause and effect. Now I realise, except for basic things, I can never have enough "data" to plan. So much is unknowable *in principle*. Bit frightening.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 6d

7 across. 9 letters. "That Saturday morning feeling". Fantastic.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 7d

Agreed. Part of the problem is that the description "short black" exists at all when there is a perfectly valid term: ''espresso". You can't mess with "espresso". "Short black" just sounds like nonsense marketing, and you can put anything in that. Just as well you didn't order a Martini.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 8d

Now you're talking. I wasn't going to drink tonight, but, in honour of German unity, I'll get a few down. #Einheit ✊

Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 8d

I'm still an amateur on these matters, but I cannot recommend enough @brianklaas.bsky.social's book, "Fluke". It has reshaped the inside of my head when it comes to randomness, chance, evolution, predetermination and free will. #Fluke

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 8d

Great! Been reading about Epicurus' idea.👏 Thanks. I wasn't thinking everything is inevitable: our free choices influence our future options ("El jardin de senderos que se bifurcan"); the choices (unknown) others make, likewise. Randomness, just pure chance, plays probably the biggest hand of all.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 8d

It's a bit like #Heisenberg. I decided to post about having posted 777 times, but then, all of a sudden, I hadn't. Made me remember that everything we do changes everything. #PhilSky

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 9d

Love the posts and photographs, Andreas. These are very much the trips I'd like to be able to do. Thanks. 🌞

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 9d

The gift of a book. My beautiful 1909 edition of Thomas Mann's masterpiece, "Buddenbrooks", subtitled "Verfall einer Familie". This was gifted to me when I was in my teens by a lady from Graz. I have always treasured it. #BookSky

The cloth cover of Thomas Mann's (1875-1955) novel, "Buddenbrooks" first (published in 1901). 1909 edition. The fabric of the cover is light grey and finely mottled brown. It has the rough texture of an old wallpaper. Woven into the fabric in thin, red cotton is the depiction of the front aspect of what appears to be a fine town house. Beneath this drawing, also in red, is the title. The spine is of brown leather with gold lettering.

The first page of "Buddenbrooks", in a traditional, "gothic" typeset. I could be wrong; I'm no expert here.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 10d

The reality is, whatever UK governments say about limiting requests for private data access (appropriateness of warrants, etc.), you will never know who's watching unless this gross intrusion is stopped, full stop

Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 10d

1. Companies whose offerings depend upon an encryption pledge (IM, secure email, etc.) will have to quit the UK rather than accede to govt. pressure, leaving us with inferior protection.
2. it is ethically bankrupt to expose the majority of law-abiding citizens thus because crime/threats exist.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 10d

"If this new order [for access to Apple user data in the UK] isn't stopped, the UK Government will likely issue similar orders to other companies, too." Caroline Wilson Palow, legal director for Privacy International.

The new pursuit of Apple could leave every UK citizen less safe online.

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 11d

Working on my indefinite leave to remain.

A small pile of books on a table, stacked on their side. From bottom to top: "Fowler's (English Usage)", Roget's Thesaurus, a Collins (Compact) English dictionary, "The Approach to Latin (Part I)", "My Grammar and I" and "i before e".

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Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 11d

Appropriate the spider was forced to fast on an Ember Day.

Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 11d

To think, when Supergrass went dark for a while, we might have lost all this; well, at least, the gigs. It's been a great couple of years. #KeepMusicLive

Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 12d

Perhaps Labour should start with the BBC website. Based upon prevailing standards of grammar, spelling and punctuation there, I would suggest the new policy puts some of the site's contributors in jeopardy.

Ron Manton @ronmanton.bsky.social · 12d

Absolutely amazing effort, man. I'm in awe. Completely inspiring. Well done. 🌞