Bertha Mason
@thornfieldhall.bsky.social
Firestarter
Maker of poor pottery
Creator of disappointing dinners
Hoarder of unfinished craft projects
Lefty, wokey, inclusivey
Sunny South East London
Maker of poor pottery
Creator of disappointing dinners
Hoarder of unfinished craft projects
Lefty, wokey, inclusivey
Sunny South East London
Gosh, listening to the parents of Harry Dunn (who was killed by an American driving on the wrongs side of the road) is absolutely heartbreaking. To think that Dominic Raab, as Foreign Secretary at the time, was rude & dismissive towards them and withheld information beggars belief. That poor family.
December 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Gosh, listening to the parents of Harry Dunn (who was killed by an American driving on the wrongs side of the road) is absolutely heartbreaking. To think that Dominic Raab, as Foreign Secretary at the time, was rude & dismissive towards them and withheld information beggars belief. That poor family.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
Just the way of the world, isn't it that people would rather believe some bloke than actually look up the facts. Kemi Badenoch even chose to use this nonsense as a diss of the Chancellor at PMQs.
Truly shocking that Rachel Reeves had the audacity to call herself the U14 girls chess champions when she won the U14 girls chess championship but some bloke thought she was talking about something else.
December 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Just the way of the world, isn't it that people would rather believe some bloke than actually look up the facts. Kemi Badenoch even chose to use this nonsense as a diss of the Chancellor at PMQs.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
I've written something about why banning kids from social media could be a terrible idea.
paulbernal.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/b...
paulbernal.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/b...
Banning kids from social media? A very bad idea…
As the idea of banning kids from social media is spreading round the globe – the new ban of under-16s from social media in Australia comes into action in a week or so – it is worth look…
paulbernal.wordpress.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:11 AM
I've written something about why banning kids from social media could be a terrible idea.
paulbernal.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/b...
paulbernal.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/b...
BBC Politics Live has a debate: Do environmental rules cost the UK economy?
It sickens me that some people seem to be happy to trash the environment for a bit of extra shareholder value.
Ask the people of Tunbridge Wells, Windermere or the millions affected by extreme weather, not think tank clowns
It sickens me that some people seem to be happy to trash the environment for a bit of extra shareholder value.
Ask the people of Tunbridge Wells, Windermere or the millions affected by extreme weather, not think tank clowns
December 3, 2025 at 11:54 AM
BBC Politics Live has a debate: Do environmental rules cost the UK economy?
It sickens me that some people seem to be happy to trash the environment for a bit of extra shareholder value.
Ask the people of Tunbridge Wells, Windermere or the millions affected by extreme weather, not think tank clowns
It sickens me that some people seem to be happy to trash the environment for a bit of extra shareholder value.
Ask the people of Tunbridge Wells, Windermere or the millions affected by extreme weather, not think tank clowns
Reposted by Bertha Mason
this is incredible. Art is incredible. Science is incredible. Great artists and great scientists are life changing.
December 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
this is incredible. Art is incredible. Science is incredible. Great artists and great scientists are life changing.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
🇷🇺🇸🇩 Sudan has offered Russia a 25-year deal for its first African naval base, giving control over the Red Sea and expanding Russia’s fleet range.
The base could host 300 troops and 4 warships, including nuclear-powered ships, in exchange for advanced Russian weapons at preferential prices.
The base could host 300 troops and 4 warships, including nuclear-powered ships, in exchange for advanced Russian weapons at preferential prices.
December 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
🇷🇺🇸🇩 Sudan has offered Russia a 25-year deal for its first African naval base, giving control over the Red Sea and expanding Russia’s fleet range.
The base could host 300 troops and 4 warships, including nuclear-powered ships, in exchange for advanced Russian weapons at preferential prices.
The base could host 300 troops and 4 warships, including nuclear-powered ships, in exchange for advanced Russian weapons at preferential prices.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
One more on this: for some kids - a significant number - the biggest danger is the parents. The kids need protection and an escape from their parents.
“"We stand firm on the side of parents and not on the platforms," Wells said.”
Yeah, because you think this is a conflict between parents and platforms, and the *kids* themselves don’t enter your thoughts.
It should be the kids’ rights and needs that matter.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Yeah, because you think this is a conflict between parents and platforms, and the *kids* themselves don’t enter your thoughts.
It should be the kids’ rights and needs that matter.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Social media ban: Australia won't be intimidated by tech firms, minister tells BBC
Anika Wells says she is 'ready to help' nations that wish to copy Australia's social media ban for under-16s.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 7:23 AM
One more on this: for some kids - a significant number - the biggest danger is the parents. The kids need protection and an escape from their parents.
Seems appeasing Trump is going to cost the NHS (and us) £3bn a year. At some point we need to wake up to the fact that the USA is not much of a friend and we were much better off more aligned to Europe. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
NHS to pay 25% more for innovative drugs after UK–US zero-tariff deal
Agreement could cost NHS an extra £3bn a year, industry sources estimate
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Seems appeasing Trump is going to cost the NHS (and us) £3bn a year. At some point we need to wake up to the fact that the USA is not much of a friend and we were much better off more aligned to Europe. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Both acknowledging the disaster, neither really accepting any responsibility…
Pretty striking to see these two pieces, side-by-side, in the Telegraph and Times last week. ~AA #BrexitDisaster
December 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Both acknowledging the disaster, neither really accepting any responsibility…
I'm going for Alec Guinness - everything from the Ealing Comedies to David Lean masterpieces, with a load of Star Wars (and some absolute 1980s shockers) thrown in filmwise...and then you get Tinker, Tailor, Soldiers, Spy and Smiley's People, too.
It’s probably just Jimmy Stewart. You get films from:
-Hitchcock
-Capra
-Ford
-Preminger
-Cukor
-Lubistch
-Mann
-Borzage
-Stevens
-Daves
Plus at least a couple dozen programmers to watch on top of it.
Maybe loses points for no Hawks.
-Hitchcock
-Capra
-Ford
-Preminger
-Cukor
-Lubistch
-Mann
-Borzage
-Stevens
-Daves
Plus at least a couple dozen programmers to watch on top of it.
Maybe loses points for no Hawks.
This is a Bill Simmons game, but you’re stranded on a desert island. You can only have one actor’s filmography. You get it all, including cameos. But just the one performer.
I’m taking Cate Blanchett: Talented Mr. Ripley, LOTR, Life Aquatic, Black Bag, Tár, Ponyo, Hot Fuzz, Eyes Wide Shut, Thor
I’m taking Cate Blanchett: Talented Mr. Ripley, LOTR, Life Aquatic, Black Bag, Tár, Ponyo, Hot Fuzz, Eyes Wide Shut, Thor
December 1, 2025 at 5:31 AM
I'm going for Alec Guinness - everything from the Ealing Comedies to David Lean masterpieces, with a load of Star Wars (and some absolute 1980s shockers) thrown in filmwise...and then you get Tinker, Tailor, Soldiers, Spy and Smiley's People, too.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Normal and great
> Microsoft triggered a viral furor when it revealed a Teams update to tell your company when you’re not at work. Now Google has done the same. Forget end-to-end encryption. A new Android update means your RCS and SMS texts are no longer private.
www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...
> Microsoft triggered a viral furor when it revealed a Teams update to tell your company when you’re not at work. Now Google has done the same. Forget end-to-end encryption. A new Android update means your RCS and SMS texts are no longer private.
www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...
Google Starts Sharing All Your Text Messages With Your Employer
Warning — what happens on your Android phone, doesn’t stay on your Android phone.
www.forbes.com
November 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Normal and great
> Microsoft triggered a viral furor when it revealed a Teams update to tell your company when you’re not at work. Now Google has done the same. Forget end-to-end encryption. A new Android update means your RCS and SMS texts are no longer private.
www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...
> Microsoft triggered a viral furor when it revealed a Teams update to tell your company when you’re not at work. Now Google has done the same. Forget end-to-end encryption. A new Android update means your RCS and SMS texts are no longer private.
www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...
Adorable wobbly cat alert...
And now for some of my very favourite Smol Paul moments in no particular order, starting with the first ever yeet
November 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Adorable wobbly cat alert...
This is perfect. Less is more.
Every year we treat ourselves to a new decoration or two for the Christmas tree and this year’s additions are just absolutely outstanding
Tempted to not add anything else as we basically have a muppet Christmas tree
Tempted to not add anything else as we basically have a muppet Christmas tree
November 30, 2025 at 4:56 PM
This is perfect. Less is more.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Lord Lebedev maintains his father doesn’t support Putin and has no links to his regime, but this photo (taken around the time Johnson was partying with the Lebedevs) suggests differently, as do Lebedev emails to Surkov about hosting conferences in Crimea
www.occrp.org/en/news/chan...
www.occrp.org/en/news/chan...
Channel 4: Ex-PM Overruled Security Concerns Over Nominee To House Of Lords
U.K. government officials asked Queen Elizabeth II to block the appointment of Russian-born British businessman Evgeny Lebedev to parliament’s upper chamber over concerns his father’s ties to the Krem...
www.occrp.org
November 30, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Lord Lebedev maintains his father doesn’t support Putin and has no links to his regime, but this photo (taken around the time Johnson was partying with the Lebedevs) suggests differently, as do Lebedev emails to Surkov about hosting conferences in Crimea
www.occrp.org/en/news/chan...
www.occrp.org/en/news/chan...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Since we released this @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social documentary two years ago, more information has come to light that Boris Johnson went to this meeting to discuss a 'backchannel' to Putin with Alexander Lebedev, who was working for the Kremlin in Crimea at the time
youtu.be/QkZzN3XHEPY?...
youtu.be/QkZzN3XHEPY?...
Boris Johnson's KGB Links EXPOSED - John Sweeney FULL Documentary
YouTube video by Byline TV
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Since we released this @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social documentary two years ago, more information has come to light that Boris Johnson went to this meeting to discuss a 'backchannel' to Putin with Alexander Lebedev, who was working for the Kremlin in Crimea at the time
youtu.be/QkZzN3XHEPY?...
youtu.be/QkZzN3XHEPY?...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Still getting to grips with #Russian influence on #Brexit and beyond...?
Don't miss this...
A beginner's guide to how #Putin launched hybrid war on the UK with @peterjukes.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social @goldbergradio.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Don't miss this...
A beginner's guide to how #Putin launched hybrid war on the UK with @peterjukes.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social @goldbergradio.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
A Beginners Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
Podcast Episode · Byline Podcast · 29/11/2025 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Still getting to grips with #Russian influence on #Brexit and beyond...?
Don't miss this...
A beginner's guide to how #Putin launched hybrid war on the UK with @peterjukes.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social @goldbergradio.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Don't miss this...
A beginner's guide to how #Putin launched hybrid war on the UK with @peterjukes.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social @goldbergradio.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Two final points.
In 2019 Boris Johnson celebrated his General Election Victory with Alexander Lebedev
In 2022, Canada sanctioned Alexander Lebedev for being on of Putin’s inner circle
Just ponder that.
In 2019 Boris Johnson celebrated his General Election Victory with Alexander Lebedev
In 2022, Canada sanctioned Alexander Lebedev for being on of Putin’s inner circle
Just ponder that.
Since we released this @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social documentary two years ago, more information has come to light that Boris Johnson went to this meeting to discuss a 'backchannel' to Putin with Alexander Lebedev, who was working for the Kremlin in Crimea at the time
youtu.be/QkZzN3XHEPY?...
youtu.be/QkZzN3XHEPY?...
Boris Johnson's KGB Links EXPOSED - John Sweeney FULL Documentary
YouTube video by Byline TV
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Two final points.
In 2019 Boris Johnson celebrated his General Election Victory with Alexander Lebedev
In 2022, Canada sanctioned Alexander Lebedev for being on of Putin’s inner circle
Just ponder that.
In 2019 Boris Johnson celebrated his General Election Victory with Alexander Lebedev
In 2022, Canada sanctioned Alexander Lebedev for being on of Putin’s inner circle
Just ponder that.
The moral cowardice of the people who 'lead' our institutions is shocking. The worst of this is that they have seen where appeasement leads and yet they still don't have the guts to do the right thing and stand up to bullying. Cambridge is wealthy enough to be able to say, 'no'.
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 1:56 PM
The moral cowardice of the people who 'lead' our institutions is shocking. The worst of this is that they have seen where appeasement leads and yet they still don't have the guts to do the right thing and stand up to bullying. Cambridge is wealthy enough to be able to say, 'no'.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
@chadbourn.bsky.social hard to tell if this is real or mad conspiracy stuff but right after Rahmanullah Lakanwal was named as the Washington shooter there was a huge spike in Google searches for his name. No problem. But a few hours *before* the shooting there was 36% of that peak traffic. Weird!
November 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
@chadbourn.bsky.social hard to tell if this is real or mad conspiracy stuff but right after Rahmanullah Lakanwal was named as the Washington shooter there was a huge spike in Google searches for his name. No problem. But a few hours *before* the shooting there was 36% of that peak traffic. Weird!
Reposted by Bertha Mason
The vaccine is pretty astonishing. Just look at that green line.
November 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
The vaccine is pretty astonishing. Just look at that green line.
Truly a great. Our trip to Leopoldstadt was cancelled because of Covid and we had a nightmare rebooking - so glad we persevered.
Tom Stoppard has died. He was an extraordinary playwright. When he was good, he was untouchable. I love that his last play, Leopoldstadt, may be his greatest play. There was no one like him and only fools tried to mimic his wit, his intelligence, his playfulness.
November 29, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Truly a great. Our trip to Leopoldstadt was cancelled because of Covid and we had a nightmare rebooking - so glad we persevered.