Tony
@tonynicol3.bsky.social
Retired Water Industry Systems Engineer, no longer torturing wood on a lathe or mounting expeditions into the garden wilderness. Soup Dragon, First Class.
Political donations are Bribes!
Please don't send me crisis appeals, I support via UNICEF
Political donations are Bribes!
Please don't send me crisis appeals, I support via UNICEF
Reposted by Tony
Cold, darkness, drones: the grid crisis didn’t end with the blackout.
Overnight into Monday, Russia attacked again, injuring 4 in Cherkasy Oblast. In Uman, a boiler plant shut down, cutting heat to parts of the city at -20C.
One failure cascades—and the next hit lands before repairs catch up.
Overnight into Monday, Russia attacked again, injuring 4 in Cherkasy Oblast. In Uman, a boiler plant shut down, cutting heat to parts of the city at -20C.
One failure cascades—and the next hit lands before repairs catch up.
Ukraine’s grid collapse plunges Moldova into darkness as temperatures hit -20°C (INFOGRAPHICS)
Nationwide outages continue on Monday despite partial repairs.
euromaidanpress.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Cold, darkness, drones: the grid crisis didn’t end with the blackout.
Overnight into Monday, Russia attacked again, injuring 4 in Cherkasy Oblast. In Uman, a boiler plant shut down, cutting heat to parts of the city at -20C.
One failure cascades—and the next hit lands before repairs catch up.
Overnight into Monday, Russia attacked again, injuring 4 in Cherkasy Oblast. In Uman, a boiler plant shut down, cutting heat to parts of the city at -20C.
One failure cascades—and the next hit lands before repairs catch up.
Reposted by Tony
And perhaps, behind it all, this sea of dark money and kompromat
February 2, 2026 at 3:38 PM
And perhaps, behind it all, this sea of dark money and kompromat
Reposted by Tony
February 2, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Reposted by Tony
He should give the FIFA 2026 Peace Prize to Putin
February 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM
He should give the FIFA 2026 Peace Prize to Putin
Reposted by Tony
🚨🚨Striking but welcome development in Portugese politics: To stop the explosive growth of the ultranationalist #Chega party, Portugal’s leading conservatives are doing the previously unthinkable: endorsing the center-left candidate for president. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/port...
www.politico.eu/article/port...
Portugal’s conservatives back left-wing candidate to avoid a far-right president
Center-right leaders are taking pains to publicly reject the ultranationalist contender ahead of the country’s Feb. 8 vote.
www.politico.eu
February 2, 2026 at 2:33 PM
🚨🚨Striking but welcome development in Portugese politics: To stop the explosive growth of the ultranationalist #Chega party, Portugal’s leading conservatives are doing the previously unthinkable: endorsing the center-left candidate for president. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/port...
www.politico.eu/article/port...
Reposted by Tony
Get in, losers, we’re flipping Texas.
February 1, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Get in, losers, we’re flipping Texas.
Reposted by Tony
Tr**p says he's suing Trevor Noah because he made a joke about Tr**p visiting Epstein's Island as he claims he never went there.
Discovery is going to be interesting, isn't it?
Number of people Tr**p has sued for calling him a paedophile: still zero.
Discovery is going to be interesting, isn't it?
Number of people Tr**p has sued for calling him a paedophile: still zero.
February 2, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Tr**p says he's suing Trevor Noah because he made a joke about Tr**p visiting Epstein's Island as he claims he never went there.
Discovery is going to be interesting, isn't it?
Number of people Tr**p has sued for calling him a paedophile: still zero.
Discovery is going to be interesting, isn't it?
Number of people Tr**p has sued for calling him a paedophile: still zero.
Reposted by Tony
“Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous,” a group of 18 survivors of Epstein’s abuse said in a joint statement reacting to the release of data exposing their identities.
DOJ Released Unredacted Nude Images in Epstein Files
A note from investigators in the files said some images Epstein had were "POSSIBLE CSAM."
www.404media.co
February 2, 2026 at 3:45 PM
“Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous,” a group of 18 survivors of Epstein’s abuse said in a joint statement reacting to the release of data exposing their identities.
I wonder how many there might be, in the remaining files that they're refusing to release?
February 2, 2026 at 1:26 PM
I wonder how many there might be, in the remaining files that they're refusing to release?
Reposted by Tony
Peter Thiel celebrated Brexit with Jeffrey Epstein.
It was never about 'freeing' the UK.
It was about making it the USA's slave.
It was never about 'freeing' the UK.
It was about making it the USA's slave.
February 1, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Peter Thiel celebrated Brexit with Jeffrey Epstein.
It was never about 'freeing' the UK.
It was about making it the USA's slave.
It was never about 'freeing' the UK.
It was about making it the USA's slave.
Reposted by Tony
there's a lot in this piece but the Mandelson email about angling for some kind of job at JP Morgan because 'i do not want to live by salary alone' just exemplifies everything people hate about politicians, the City, and revolving doors between the two www.ft.com/content/91e8...
JPMorgan should ‘threaten’ UK over banker tax, Mandelson told Epstein
Former business secretary has quit the Labour Party in an effort to avoid causing it ‘further embarrassment’
www.ft.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:28 AM
there's a lot in this piece but the Mandelson email about angling for some kind of job at JP Morgan because 'i do not want to live by salary alone' just exemplifies everything people hate about politicians, the City, and revolving doors between the two www.ft.com/content/91e8...
Reposted by Tony
BREAKING on ft website:
Lord Peter Mandelson leaked a sensitive UK government document to Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary that proposed £20bn of asset sales and revealed Labour’s tax policy plans
www.ft.com/content/fdf7...
Lord Peter Mandelson leaked a sensitive UK government document to Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary that proposed £20bn of asset sales and revealed Labour’s tax policy plans
www.ft.com/content/fdf7...
Mandelson leaked sensitive UK government tax plans to Epstein
Former ambassador forwarded memo from special adviser to Gordon Brown to late sex offender in 2009
www.ft.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM
BREAKING on ft website:
Lord Peter Mandelson leaked a sensitive UK government document to Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary that proposed £20bn of asset sales and revealed Labour’s tax policy plans
www.ft.com/content/fdf7...
Lord Peter Mandelson leaked a sensitive UK government document to Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary that proposed £20bn of asset sales and revealed Labour’s tax policy plans
www.ft.com/content/fdf7...
It's Monday, and it's dark and rainy again. And the forecast is for seven more days of rain (or sleet or snow).
I hate it that the weather stations you can interrogate have no rain data, but I'm betting this is the wettest start to a year for many a decade.
I hate it that the weather stations you can interrogate have no rain data, but I'm betting this is the wettest start to a year for many a decade.
a panda bear is sitting on a tree branch and looking at something .
Alt: a panda bear is sitting on a bench in torrential rain, staring into space and occasionally kicking its feet.
media.tenor.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:44 AM
It's Monday, and it's dark and rainy again. And the forecast is for seven more days of rain (or sleet or snow).
I hate it that the weather stations you can interrogate have no rain data, but I'm betting this is the wettest start to a year for many a decade.
I hate it that the weather stations you can interrogate have no rain data, but I'm betting this is the wettest start to a year for many a decade.
Reposted by Tony
The second correction here is incredible, a bit like declaring that 95% of the population is currently wearing nappies.
The Times has now published a correction of some of the multiple errors in its front-page splash interview of Alan Milburn on NEETs/SEN.
Of course, having published Milburn's invented numbers, they don't bother to give their readers the actual ones.
Original article here: archive.ph/I0f49
Of course, having published Milburn's invented numbers, they don't bother to give their readers the actual ones.
Original article here: archive.ph/I0f49
February 2, 2026 at 10:55 AM
The second correction here is incredible, a bit like declaring that 95% of the population is currently wearing nappies.
Reposted by Tony
Alistair Darling and the official Treasury were always aware that investment banks had an inside track to Number 10. But the brazen nature of that inside track is rather breath-taking.
Who leaked this Number 10 discussion to Jeffrey Epstein? And are there consequences for the leaker?
It’s an internal discussion re. getting markets moving in the aftermath of the financial crisis. No doubt of great interest to Epstein and his financial market clients.
It’s an internal discussion re. getting markets moving in the aftermath of the financial crisis. No doubt of great interest to Epstein and his financial market clients.
February 2, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Alistair Darling and the official Treasury were always aware that investment banks had an inside track to Number 10. But the brazen nature of that inside track is rather breath-taking.
Reposted by Tony
Not sure ‘botched’ Brexit is the way to go. Particularly as Farage agrees, blames the Tories and threatens to make it even worse.
At some point you need to tell the truth. It’s not botched. It’s exactly what you get when you prioritise prejudice over pragmatism.
app.independent.co.uk/2026/02/01/2...
At some point you need to tell the truth. It’s not botched. It’s exactly what you get when you prioritise prejudice over pragmatism.
app.independent.co.uk/2026/02/01/2...
February 2, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Not sure ‘botched’ Brexit is the way to go. Particularly as Farage agrees, blames the Tories and threatens to make it even worse.
At some point you need to tell the truth. It’s not botched. It’s exactly what you get when you prioritise prejudice over pragmatism.
app.independent.co.uk/2026/02/01/2...
At some point you need to tell the truth. It’s not botched. It’s exactly what you get when you prioritise prejudice over pragmatism.
app.independent.co.uk/2026/02/01/2...
Reposted by Tony
Reposted by Tony
worth scanning the whole 50-page document here, but even this topline is stunning. imagine if, say, the fbi had a crime rate like this.
February 1, 2026 at 10:12 PM
worth scanning the whole 50-page document here, but even this topline is stunning. imagine if, say, the fbi had a crime rate like this.
Reposted by Tony
Do you remember when people were saying "I think my phone is listening to me, i'm getting ads for stuff I spoke about" and people said "They arent listening to you, they're just this good at predicting your interests"?
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users
Class-action lawsuit alleged that Google's voice assistant illegally recorded and shared private conversations with advertisers.
www.cbsnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Do you remember when people were saying "I think my phone is listening to me, i'm getting ads for stuff I spoke about" and people said "They arent listening to you, they're just this good at predicting your interests"?
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Reposted by Tony
An extreme Kansas bill will invalidate the drivers license of every trans person in the state. It was passed alongside a particularly extreme bathroom bill, meaning that the implications of every trans Kansan losing legal ID overnight has largely been missed.
Kansas Bill Will Strip Driver’s Licenses from Every Trans Resident Who Changed Gender — Assigned
As Kansas passes a bathroom bill, another bill that will invalidate the driver’s license of every trans resident has been deemphasized in the coverage. Also, Trump’s Department of Education says San J...
www.assignedmedia.org
February 2, 2026 at 11:01 AM
An extreme Kansas bill will invalidate the drivers license of every trans person in the state. It was passed alongside a particularly extreme bathroom bill, meaning that the implications of every trans Kansan losing legal ID overnight has largely been missed.
Reposted by Tony
Pump this directly into my veins:
A top GOP official in Texas says, "It looks like we f***ed ourselves with our gerrymandering. We watered down all the red districts to steal as many blue ones as possible and now the electorate hates us and our turnout is collapsing."
May this not be just a fluke.
A top GOP official in Texas says, "It looks like we f***ed ourselves with our gerrymandering. We watered down all the red districts to steal as many blue ones as possible and now the electorate hates us and our turnout is collapsing."
May this not be just a fluke.
February 2, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Pump this directly into my veins:
A top GOP official in Texas says, "It looks like we f***ed ourselves with our gerrymandering. We watered down all the red districts to steal as many blue ones as possible and now the electorate hates us and our turnout is collapsing."
May this not be just a fluke.
A top GOP official in Texas says, "It looks like we f***ed ourselves with our gerrymandering. We watered down all the red districts to steal as many blue ones as possible and now the electorate hates us and our turnout is collapsing."
May this not be just a fluke.
Reposted by Tony
These moments will be crucial - not just in establishing who can provide a viable electoral vehicle to progressive voters, but also in aggressively demonstrating to Labour the danger of adopting a Reform position on immigration.
Betting market now suggesting Hannah Spencer, Green, more likely to win Gorton & Denton than not, 51% probability; Matthew Goodwin, Reform, 32%; Angeliki Stogia, Labour, 18% www.oddschecker.com/politics/bri...
February 2, 2026 at 11:09 AM
These moments will be crucial - not just in establishing who can provide a viable electoral vehicle to progressive voters, but also in aggressively demonstrating to Labour the danger of adopting a Reform position on immigration.
Reposted by Tony
Every accusation is a confession.
February 2, 2026 at 5:45 AM
Every accusation is a confession.
Reposted by Tony
Some thoughts on this interesting exchange between @robertsaunders.bsky.social and @igmansfield.bsky.social To Iain, I would suggest his piece underplays the mounting evidence of harm to the British economy. And to Robert, an alternative argument on EU membership 'expanding Britain's global role'. 1
Post-Brexit Britain should look to Canada, not to nostalgic dreams of Empire, as its model and inspiration.
A response to @robertsaunders.bsky.social 'Brexit in Historical Perspective'.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/six-years-...
A response to @robertsaunders.bsky.social 'Brexit in Historical Perspective'.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/six-years-...
Six Years of Brexit
A response to Dr Robert Saunders: Brexit in Historical Perspective
www.edrith.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Some thoughts on this interesting exchange between @robertsaunders.bsky.social and @igmansfield.bsky.social To Iain, I would suggest his piece underplays the mounting evidence of harm to the British economy. And to Robert, an alternative argument on EU membership 'expanding Britain's global role'. 1
America's biggest fear. And it's happening.
Xi Jinping has called for the renminbi to become a global reserve currency, in some of his clearest comments on his ambitions for China’s currency as Beijing seeks to play a greater role in the international monetary system.
Xi Jinping calls for China’s renminbi to attain global reserve currency status
Latest commentary details ambitions for ‘powerful currency’ to play a greater role in trade and forex
www.ft.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:21 AM
America's biggest fear. And it's happening.