PlsUseYourBrain
@useyourbrain.bsky.social
humanism, secularism, realism, anti-theism, anti-superstition, anti-irrationalism, anti-supernaturalism, anti-fucking-stupidism.
Pinned
2025 was fucking grim.
2026 may well be too.
And it's all too easy to get caught up in the doomscrolling/posting, even here on Bluesky.
So, I'm planning to somewhat counter this by noticing and posting at least one postive moment from my day, every day this year.
Join me in celebrating #SmallJoys
2026 may well be too.
And it's all too easy to get caught up in the doomscrolling/posting, even here on Bluesky.
So, I'm planning to somewhat counter this by noticing and posting at least one postive moment from my day, every day this year.
Join me in celebrating #SmallJoys
Reposted by PlsUseYourBrain
January 17, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Queenslanders are the best houses.
January 17, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Queenslanders are the best houses.
"Jewish-Australians who condemn the violence risk alienation from family and community as “not Jews” or “self-hating Jews” by those who block out the live-streamed horror. The torrent of videos is discounted as fake even when... posted with laughing soundtrack by Israeli perpetrators."
#FuckIsrael
#FuckIsrael
Australians' freedom of speech is under attack because Palestinians are seen as less than human
A coalition of forces is working to stop Australian speech and protest that criticises Israel. Cultural landmarks like Meanjin and the 2026 Adelaide Writers Week festival are victims.
substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:36 AM
"Jewish-Australians who condemn the violence risk alienation from family and community as “not Jews” or “self-hating Jews” by those who block out the live-streamed horror. The torrent of videos is discounted as fake even when... posted with laughing soundtrack by Israeli perpetrators."
#FuckIsrael
#FuckIsrael
Reposted by PlsUseYourBrain
The weekend might be a good time to catch up with this. The Right (formerly free speech absolutists) is crushing our speech, cultural treasures & protest rights bc they despise us. They despise Muslims even more than us “woke” irritants. Networked & funded hate. open.substack.com/pub/lucyham2...
Australians' freedom of speech is under attack because Palestinians are seen as less than human
A coalition of forces is working to stop Australian speech and protest that criticises Israel. Cultural landmarks like Meanjin and the 2026 Adelaide Writers Week festival are victims.
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:43 AM
The weekend might be a good time to catch up with this. The Right (formerly free speech absolutists) is crushing our speech, cultural treasures & protest rights bc they despise us. They despise Muslims even more than us “woke” irritants. Networked & funded hate. open.substack.com/pub/lucyham2...
Reposted by PlsUseYourBrain
Thinking about this cynically, I suspect they maybe always planned to split it and basically pass the gun bits with the Greens and expose the Coalition for calling for all these changes to be rushed in and then imploding when there was a proposal. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Labor to separate gun control from proposed laws to address hate speech, PM says
Anthony Albanese says government will not proceed with racial vilification provisions, which in current form ‘do not have the support of the Senate’
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:16 AM
Thinking about this cynically, I suspect they maybe always planned to split it and basically pass the gun bits with the Greens and expose the Coalition for calling for all these changes to be rushed in and then imploding when there was a proposal. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
I no longer think there's anything cynical in suspecting that #AlboTheLiar is deceitful and duplicitous.
Despite his PROMISE to "do politics differently".
Despite his PROMISE to "do politics differently".
January 17, 2026 at 7:18 AM
I no longer think there's anything cynical in suspecting that #AlboTheLiar is deceitful and duplicitous.
Despite his PROMISE to "do politics differently".
Despite his PROMISE to "do politics differently".
017 – #SmallJoys
I love our Aussie critters.
This beauty visited today. Possibly looking for a place to wait out the storm.
I love our Aussie critters.
This beauty visited today. Possibly looking for a place to wait out the storm.
January 17, 2026 at 7:16 AM
017 – #SmallJoys
I love our Aussie critters.
This beauty visited today. Possibly looking for a place to wait out the storm.
I love our Aussie critters.
This beauty visited today. Possibly looking for a place to wait out the storm.
Reposted by PlsUseYourBrain
COVID pandemic enters 7th year with no end in sight.
"It's strange to think that the COVID-19 pandemic, which sent the world into lockdown 7 years ago never ended. It continues to kill and cripple us, to this day. We simply stopped talking about it."
boingboing.net/2026/01/16/c...
"It's strange to think that the COVID-19 pandemic, which sent the world into lockdown 7 years ago never ended. It continues to kill and cripple us, to this day. We simply stopped talking about it."
boingboing.net/2026/01/16/c...
COVID pandemic enters seventh year with no end in sight
It's strange to think that the COVID-19 pandemic, which sent the world into lockdown seven years ago never ended. It continues to kill and cripple us, to this day. We…
boingboing.net
January 17, 2026 at 4:06 AM
COVID pandemic enters 7th year with no end in sight.
"It's strange to think that the COVID-19 pandemic, which sent the world into lockdown 7 years ago never ended. It continues to kill and cripple us, to this day. We simply stopped talking about it."
boingboing.net/2026/01/16/c...
"It's strange to think that the COVID-19 pandemic, which sent the world into lockdown 7 years ago never ended. It continues to kill and cripple us, to this day. We simply stopped talking about it."
boingboing.net/2026/01/16/c...
What blathering nonsense.
When have the Greens ever promoted anything remotely like 'some more equal than others'?
When have the Greens ever promoted anything remotely like 'some more equal than others'?
January 17, 2026 at 2:09 AM
What blathering nonsense.
When have the Greens ever promoted anything remotely like 'some more equal than others'?
When have the Greens ever promoted anything remotely like 'some more equal than others'?
Reposted by PlsUseYourBrain
Gift article #auspol
Defence experts say while Australia keeps meeting downpayments on the promised Virginia-class nuclear submarines, it is getting nothing in return for a deal that shows signs of failure on several fronts.
By Karen Barlow.
Defence experts say while Australia keeps meeting downpayments on the promised Virginia-class nuclear submarines, it is getting nothing in return for a deal that shows signs of failure on several fronts.
By Karen Barlow.
‘Rich dummy’: How the AUKUS deal is set to fail
Defence experts say while Australia keeps meeting downpayments on the promised Virginia-class nuclear submarines, it is getting nothing in return for a deal that shows signs of failure on several fron...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
January 17, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Gift article #auspol
Defence experts say while Australia keeps meeting downpayments on the promised Virginia-class nuclear submarines, it is getting nothing in return for a deal that shows signs of failure on several fronts.
By Karen Barlow.
Defence experts say while Australia keeps meeting downpayments on the promised Virginia-class nuclear submarines, it is getting nothing in return for a deal that shows signs of failure on several fronts.
By Karen Barlow.
I also have a visceral reaction to tortured idioms.
"Can't see the forest from the trees"
no. No. NO.
"Can't see the forest from the trees"
no. No. NO.
January 17, 2026 at 12:59 AM
I also have a visceral reaction to tortured idioms.
"Can't see the forest from the trees"
no. No. NO.
"Can't see the forest from the trees"
no. No. NO.
Reposted by PlsUseYourBrain
The Greens are ready to work with the government to pass gun laws next week.
The rest of the omnibus bill however needs too much reworking to meet community concerns.
We need to keep all people in the community safe from discrimination and hatred, but good laws don’t come from rushed work.
The rest of the omnibus bill however needs too much reworking to meet community concerns.
We need to keep all people in the community safe from discrimination and hatred, but good laws don’t come from rushed work.
January 16, 2026 at 11:31 PM
The Greens are ready to work with the government to pass gun laws next week.
The rest of the omnibus bill however needs too much reworking to meet community concerns.
We need to keep all people in the community safe from discrimination and hatred, but good laws don’t come from rushed work.
The rest of the omnibus bill however needs too much reworking to meet community concerns.
We need to keep all people in the community safe from discrimination and hatred, but good laws don’t come from rushed work.
Reposted by PlsUseYourBrain
“a ferocious, fast-moving grass fire flattened 17 homes & tore through 8,000 hectares..Fire crews could not match the speed..this fire offers a glimpse into a new & faster kind of bushfire & the vulnerability of communities as climate change fuels dangerous conditions”
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
No time to warn or to prepare: Natimuk met the fire of our future
The anatomy of the Natimuk fire offers a glimpse into a new and faster kind of bushfire — and the growing vulnerability of communities as climate change fuels dangerous conditions.
www.abc.net.au
January 16, 2026 at 11:11 PM
“a ferocious, fast-moving grass fire flattened 17 homes & tore through 8,000 hectares..Fire crews could not match the speed..this fire offers a glimpse into a new & faster kind of bushfire & the vulnerability of communities as climate change fuels dangerous conditions”
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
016 – #SmallJoys
A few years ago I found the perfect tiny canvas backpack. Good quality and beautifully designed.
I raved about it so much that a colleague also bought one.
Before Christmas I lost mine.
The company no longer exists.
My colleague no longer uses his, so he gifted it to me. 😁
A few years ago I found the perfect tiny canvas backpack. Good quality and beautifully designed.
I raved about it so much that a colleague also bought one.
Before Christmas I lost mine.
The company no longer exists.
My colleague no longer uses his, so he gifted it to me. 😁
January 16, 2026 at 11:18 AM
016 – #SmallJoys
A few years ago I found the perfect tiny canvas backpack. Good quality and beautifully designed.
I raved about it so much that a colleague also bought one.
Before Christmas I lost mine.
The company no longer exists.
My colleague no longer uses his, so he gifted it to me. 😁
A few years ago I found the perfect tiny canvas backpack. Good quality and beautifully designed.
I raved about it so much that a colleague also bought one.
Before Christmas I lost mine.
The company no longer exists.
My colleague no longer uses his, so he gifted it to me. 😁
Awesome to see someone else keeping the wisdom of Bugs Bunny alive 👍
January 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Awesome to see someone else keeping the wisdom of Bugs Bunny alive 👍
Albanese PROMISED No One Left Behind™ at both of the past two elections.
Since then, he has done Fuck All® to make this a reality, despite his power to do so.
#MostDisappointingPM
#AusPol
Since then, he has done Fuck All® to make this a reality, despite his power to do so.
#MostDisappointingPM
#AusPol
Australia has had a rise of 237,000 children living in poverty. Which brings the total up to 950,100 which means this year we are at risk of it surpassing 1 million bcec.edu.au/media/anothe...
Another 237,000 Australian children in poverty in four years - BCEC
Almost a quarter of a million children have been plunged into poverty in just four years - a 33 per cent increase.
bcec.edu.au
January 16, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Albanese PROMISED No One Left Behind™ at both of the past two elections.
Since then, he has done Fuck All® to make this a reality, despite his power to do so.
#MostDisappointingPM
#AusPol
Since then, he has done Fuck All® to make this a reality, despite his power to do so.
#MostDisappointingPM
#AusPol
January 16, 2026 at 10:23 AM
The Albanese government is trying to ram through a new set of vilification laws,
...
Labor calls it the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, but that title alone tells you what’s going on, one form of racism gets special priority, right there at the top.
@michaelwestbiz.bsky.social
...
Labor calls it the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, but that title alone tells you what’s going on, one form of racism gets special priority, right there at the top.
@michaelwestbiz.bsky.social
The OmniBus Crash of the Hate Speech Laws | The West Report
YouTube video by The West Report
youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:15 AM
The Albanese government is trying to ram through a new set of vilification laws,
...
Labor calls it the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, but that title alone tells you what’s going on, one form of racism gets special priority, right there at the top.
@michaelwestbiz.bsky.social
...
Labor calls it the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, but that title alone tells you what’s going on, one form of racism gets special priority, right there at the top.
@michaelwestbiz.bsky.social
Never apologise for a well placed comma.
January 16, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Never apologise for a well placed comma.
Yet another example of disappearing literacy in our media.
It is so EASY to construct a headline which cannot be misconstrued as police shooting a dead man.
What's going on?
It is so EASY to construct a headline which cannot be misconstrued as police shooting a dead man.
What's going on?
January 16, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Yet another example of disappearing literacy in our media.
It is so EASY to construct a headline which cannot be misconstrued as police shooting a dead man.
What's going on?
It is so EASY to construct a headline which cannot be misconstrued as police shooting a dead man.
What's going on?
Reposted by PlsUseYourBrain
He's a deceitful motherfucker.
January 16, 2026 at 8:33 AM
He's a deceitful motherfucker.