Ron Manton
@ronmanton.bsky.social
Unit of capitalist production. Never TPFP. Aspiring musician. Keeper of wolves.
Pinned
"Making sense of what I've heard
And what is on my mind..."
And what is on my mind..."
Great news re Svalbard polar bears.
January 29, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Great news re Svalbard polar bears.
When the defection of Labour MPs starts in earnest, where will the majority end up? I wonder. The Green Party, the Liberal Democrats? Or, outside England, to the SNP, Plaid Cymru? #ukpol
January 28, 2026 at 7:28 PM
When the defection of Labour MPs starts in earnest, where will the majority end up? I wonder. The Green Party, the Liberal Democrats? Or, outside England, to the SNP, Plaid Cymru? #ukpol
"Making sense of what I've heard
And what is on my mind..."
And what is on my mind..."
January 26, 2026 at 1:09 PM
"Making sense of what I've heard
And what is on my mind..."
And what is on my mind..."
Now I understand. I didn't realise he had calcium build up in his heels.
January 24, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Now I understand. I didn't realise he had calcium build up in his heels.
I realise things are somewhat fraught at the moment, but, when the dust settles, I'd love to take the Danish PM to a #Supergrass gig. I guess I'd have to accept Gaz might steal her heart. Anyway #HooHa #indieFriday @supergrasshq.bsky.social
youtu.be/6EPHk16mO20?...
youtu.be/6EPHk16mO20?...
Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha Man (Official HD Video)
YouTube video by Supergrass
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 12:55 PM
I realise things are somewhat fraught at the moment, but, when the dust settles, I'd love to take the Danish PM to a #Supergrass gig. I guess I'd have to accept Gaz might steal her heart. Anyway #HooHa #indieFriday @supergrasshq.bsky.social
youtu.be/6EPHk16mO20?...
youtu.be/6EPHk16mO20?...
I like this one. Paradoxically, the more random a data stream, the more information is "carried" by each new bit. Since a stream of language is not random, a new letter is "limited" by its predecessors; *combinations* have statistical likelihood. So, subsequent bits convey less information.
January 21, 2026 at 10:47 PM
I like this one. Paradoxically, the more random a data stream, the more information is "carried" by each new bit. Since a stream of language is not random, a new letter is "limited" by its predecessors; *combinations* have statistical likelihood. So, subsequent bits convey less information.
Just stop now, HMRC. Haven't you got some politicians or Covid VIP lane fraudsters to bombard with emails and texts? Can I suggest a simple heuristic? "Citizen has nothing to pay = stop harassment". #TaxDoesntHaveToBeTaxing
January 21, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Just stop now, HMRC. Haven't you got some politicians or Covid VIP lane fraudsters to bombard with emails and texts? Can I suggest a simple heuristic? "Citizen has nothing to pay = stop harassment". #TaxDoesntHaveToBeTaxing
Given current world events, I think it might have been better to have slightly delayed paying my HMRC tax bill. Good to know I'm paying for "fiscal headroom" which will most likely soon be zeroed by special relationship trade tariffs.
January 20, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Given current world events, I think it might have been better to have slightly delayed paying my HMRC tax bill. Good to know I'm paying for "fiscal headroom" which will most likely soon be zeroed by special relationship trade tariffs.
Only a metaphor taken from thermodynamics, but Coleman's ideas on political and social entropy are intriguing, and appear to have some new resonance in current geopolitics. NATO on the edge, attacks on the UN, and stresses in the EU all indicate a rapid institutional decay and critical instability.
January 19, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Only a metaphor taken from thermodynamics, but Coleman's ideas on political and social entropy are intriguing, and appear to have some new resonance in current geopolitics. NATO on the edge, attacks on the UN, and stresses in the EU all indicate a rapid institutional decay and critical instability.
Basic principle. If a team decides to walk off the pitch because it disagrees with an official it should simply forfeit the fixture. If a team is required to leave, for example by public authorities, or because of a safety/medical concern, fine. For the integrity of sport, AFCON/FIFA must act?
January 19, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Basic principle. If a team decides to walk off the pitch because it disagrees with an official it should simply forfeit the fixture. If a team is required to leave, for example by public authorities, or because of a safety/medical concern, fine. For the integrity of sport, AFCON/FIFA must act?
I must stop engaging with this absurdity. I plan to (again). For now though, it appears some UK Labour MPs are unhappy the Prime Minister ditched Digital ID. Instead they were hoping his replacement would, "...to signal a change in direction". I guess they will have to create a new u-turn, then.
January 14, 2026 at 4:41 PM
I must stop engaging with this absurdity. I plan to (again). For now though, it appears some UK Labour MPs are unhappy the Prime Minister ditched Digital ID. Instead they were hoping his replacement would, "...to signal a change in direction". I guess they will have to create a new u-turn, then.
BBC. '[The Chief Constable]...admitted the mistake was the "result of a use of Microsoft Co Pilot" - an AI tool.'
So, it would appear the UK West Midlands force is on the bleeding edge, and has moved from "community" to "hallucinatory" policing methods.
You couldn't make it up. Oh, hold on...
So, it would appear the UK West Midlands force is on the bleeding edge, and has moved from "community" to "hallucinatory" policing methods.
You couldn't make it up. Oh, hold on...
January 14, 2026 at 4:10 PM
BBC. '[The Chief Constable]...admitted the mistake was the "result of a use of Microsoft Co Pilot" - an AI tool.'
So, it would appear the UK West Midlands force is on the bleeding edge, and has moved from "community" to "hallucinatory" policing methods.
You couldn't make it up. Oh, hold on...
So, it would appear the UK West Midlands force is on the bleeding edge, and has moved from "community" to "hallucinatory" policing methods.
You couldn't make it up. Oh, hold on...
UK Digital ID will no longer be required to apply for work in the UK, but, according to a government spokesperson, is now a "route to the digital transformation of customer-facing public services". My guess is for "the digital transformation of" you can just read "access".
January 13, 2026 at 10:28 PM
UK Digital ID will no longer be required to apply for work in the UK, but, according to a government spokesperson, is now a "route to the digital transformation of customer-facing public services". My guess is for "the digital transformation of" you can just read "access".
I suppose it could be useful in some ways to have all the rats in one barrel.
January 12, 2026 at 12:02 PM
I suppose it could be useful in some ways to have all the rats in one barrel.
A few years ago, through a friend in Florida, I bought a large supply of Ernie Ball "Super Slinky" 9s. This is the last packet. I'm not buying any more - and not for musical reasons. I used to love travelling to and in the U.S., but I can't imagine it now. Sad, really.
January 10, 2026 at 5:11 PM
A few years ago, through a friend in Florida, I bought a large supply of Ernie Ball "Super Slinky" 9s. This is the last packet. I'm not buying any more - and not for musical reasons. I used to love travelling to and in the U.S., but I can't imagine it now. Sad, really.
"Strange attractors" in phase space, and *universality* across different non-linear dynamic systems. The concepts are mind-blowing. The idea of some deep, underlying pattern(s) to chaos. This is some of the most philosophically interesting material I have ever encountered. But, man, it's hard.
January 8, 2026 at 11:44 PM
"Strange attractors" in phase space, and *universality* across different non-linear dynamic systems. The concepts are mind-blowing. The idea of some deep, underlying pattern(s) to chaos. This is some of the most philosophically interesting material I have ever encountered. But, man, it's hard.
If you cannot assert, when questioned, that something which is illegal under international law is illegal, you cannot reasonably claim to be "sovereign" in a practical sense. Brexit recovered no real sovereignty; nor did membership of the EU cede any. Starmer will claim the realpolitik defence.
January 5, 2026 at 4:52 PM
If you cannot assert, when questioned, that something which is illegal under international law is illegal, you cannot reasonably claim to be "sovereign" in a practical sense. Brexit recovered no real sovereignty; nor did membership of the EU cede any. Starmer will claim the realpolitik defence.
I note a man has admitted dressing up as a fake admiral and attending an annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony. This, clearly, is extremely disrespectful. As is the behaviour of Charles III, who routinely, throughout the year, masquerades as a fake head of state.
#RepublicUK
#RepublicUK
January 5, 2026 at 11:55 AM
I note a man has admitted dressing up as a fake admiral and attending an annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony. This, clearly, is extremely disrespectful. As is the behaviour of Charles III, who routinely, throughout the year, masquerades as a fake head of state.
#RepublicUK
#RepublicUK
If someone in the US military hasn't telephoned ICE, he won't get into the country.
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 PM
If someone in the US military hasn't telephoned ICE, he won't get into the country.
#NYE is a time for reflection. So, I was thinking about my mate, @chrisr2001.bsky.social, and standing around in N. Sydney (Oval) for 26 miles of pain. Foo Fighters "Times Like These" was, well, made for times like those. Thanks, Chris, mate. #RightArmInTheFire #Sydney2025.
youtu.be/rhzmNRtIp8k?...
youtu.be/rhzmNRtIp8k?...
Foo Fighters - Times Like These (Official HD Video)
YouTube video by foofightersVEVO
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 10:16 PM
#NYE is a time for reflection. So, I was thinking about my mate, @chrisr2001.bsky.social, and standing around in N. Sydney (Oval) for 26 miles of pain. Foo Fighters "Times Like These" was, well, made for times like those. Thanks, Chris, mate. #RightArmInTheFire #Sydney2025.
youtu.be/rhzmNRtIp8k?...
youtu.be/rhzmNRtIp8k?...
Have retreated from the festive nonsense being offered up by BBC TV (note NOT Radio 3, which remains magnificent) to "Moon Zero Two" on YouTube. Saw this as a kid at the cinema in Sheldon (distant past), and it is an exquisitely kitsch sci-fi film (q.v.). No, look, it's not Fellini, but love it.
December 27, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Have retreated from the festive nonsense being offered up by BBC TV (note NOT Radio 3, which remains magnificent) to "Moon Zero Two" on YouTube. Saw this as a kid at the cinema in Sheldon (distant past), and it is an exquisitely kitsch sci-fi film (q.v.). No, look, it's not Fellini, but love it.