BetterBert
@betterbert.bsky.social
Improved, convalesced, slightly less unpleasant
... featuring the lovely Gina #DogsOfBluesky
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... featuring the lovely Gina #DogsOfBluesky
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Fishback, head of mackerel.
December 1, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Fishback, head of mackerel.
Bad gardening advice here. Ginger spice attracts vermin.
December 1, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Bad gardening advice here. Ginger spice attracts vermin.
Just south of Bayswater Road, this.
#DogsOfBluesky
#DogsOfBluesky
November 30, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Just south of Bayswater Road, this.
#DogsOfBluesky
#DogsOfBluesky
Strong endorse for "Forward Together"
But only if the candidate's a tory woman.
But only if the candidate's a tory woman.
November 30, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Strong endorse for "Forward Together"
But only if the candidate's a tory woman.
But only if the candidate's a tory woman.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
It's Option B, by 51.7%
This will be hilarious.
It's Option B, by 51.7%
This will be hilarious.
November 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Ha ha ha ha ha.
It's Option B, by 51.7%
This will be hilarious.
It's Option B, by 51.7%
This will be hilarious.
(Gilliam you know. This is Charles McKeown👇🏻)
November 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
(Gilliam you know. This is Charles McKeown👇🏻)
Witkoff is finished, surely.
November 27, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Witkoff is finished, surely.
Anthropoid [/ˈanθrəpɔɪd/] (adj.) - resembling a human being in form
November 27, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Anthropoid [/ˈanθrəpɔɪd/] (adj.) - resembling a human being in form
View from the top of Primrose Hill earlier.
The city feeling cold and grey today.
The city feeling cold and grey today.
November 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
View from the top of Primrose Hill earlier.
The city feeling cold and grey today.
The city feeling cold and grey today.
The worst bit, although every bit of it reeks:
November 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The worst bit, although every bit of it reeks:
Witkoff transcript, alt text included:
![[...]
SW: Well listen. I am going to tell you something. I think, I think if we can get the Russia-Ukraine thing solved, everybody’ll be jumping for joy.
YU: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you need to solve only one problem. [laughs]
SW: What?
YU: Russian-Ukrainian war.
SW: I know! How do we get that solved?
YU: My friend, I just want your advice. Do you think that it will be useful if our bosses will talk on the phone?
SW: Yes, I do.
YU: You do. And when you think it could be possible?
SW: I think as soon as you suggest, my guy is ready to do it.
YU: Ok, ok.
SW: Yuri, Yuri, here’s what I would do. My recommendation.
YU: Yes, please.
SW: I would make the call and just reiterate that you congratulate the president on this achievement, that you supported it, you supported it, that you respect that he is a man of peace and you’re just, you’re really glad to have seen it happen. So I would say that. I think from that it’s going to be a really good call.
Because — let me tell you what I told the President. I told the president that you - that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal. That’s my belief. I told the president I believe that. And I believe the question is — the issue is is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise and when we do, we’re going to have a peace deal. I’m even thinking that maybe we set out like a 20-point peace proposal, just like we did in Gaza. We put a 20-point Trump plan together that was 20 points for peace and I’m thinking maybe we do the same thing with you. My point is this...
YU: Ok, ok my friend. I think that very point our leaders could discuss. Hey Steve, I agree with you that he will congratulate, he will say that Mr. Trump is a real peace man and so and so. That he will say.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5tgvmuah4q2ekqo6vv7icm5x/bafkreifpbbo7apipcn3oknputlkpzdpvfru3gv3udb3rtxd3emdslr5bpq@jpeg)
![[...]
SW: But here’s what I think would be amazing.
YU: Ok, ok.
SW: What if, what if... hear me out...
YU: I will discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you. Ok?
SW: Yeah because listen to what I’m saying. I just want you to say, maybe just to say this to President Putin, because you know I have the deepest respect for President Putin.
YU: Yes, Yes.
SW: Maybe he says to President Trump: you know, Steve and Yuri discussed a very similar 20-point plan to peace and that could be something that we think might move the needle a little bit, we’re open to those sorts of things — to explore what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done. Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere. But I’m saying instead of talking like that, let’s talk more hopefully because I think we’re going to get to a deal here. And I think Yuri, the president will give me a lot of space and discretion to get to the deal.
YU: I see...
SW: ...so if we can create that opportunity that after this I talked to Yuri and we had a conversation I think that could lead to big stuff.
YU: Ok, that sounds good. Sounds good.
SW: And here’s one more thing: Zelenskiy is coming to the White House on Friday.
YU: I know that. [chuckles]
SW: I will go to that meeting because they want me there, but I think if possible we have the call with your boss before that Friday meeting.
YU: Before, before — yeah?
SW: Correct.
YU: Ok, ok. I got your advice. So I discuss that with my boss and then I come back to you, ok?
SW: Ok Yuri, I’ll speak to you soon.
YU: Great, great. Thank you so much. Thanks you.
SW: Bye, bye.
YU: Bye.
[Call Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5tgvmuah4q2ekqo6vv7icm5x/bafkreiblaawhukh4eaan6rn5vmu3czxsqc7a5ohkmwqjoynto4bbngrxme@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Witkoff transcript, alt text included:
Moscow, 1987. Trump at the Winter Palace with Ivana.
He buried her on his Bedminster golf course, as another man might a dog.
He buried her on his Bedminster golf course, as another man might a dog.
![Trump. Moscow, 1987
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[photo credit: TASS (yes, *that* TASS)]
used in this New Republic article:
https://newrepublic.com/article/143586/trumps-russian-laundromat-trump-tower-luxury-high-rises-dirty-money-international-crime-syndicate](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5tgvmuah4q2ekqo6vv7icm5x/bafkreicezmgjro4kmnxeemk2winmv3w4alxvuqfuqvsmme6urycwjihdqa@jpeg)
November 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Moscow, 1987. Trump at the Winter Palace with Ivana.
He buried her on his Bedminster golf course, as another man might a dog.
He buried her on his Bedminster golf course, as another man might a dog.
Nice line of work, clemency consultancy. You get repeat business.
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www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/n...
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www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/n...
November 21, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Nice line of work, clemency consultancy. You get repeat business.
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www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/n...
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www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/n...
![In the spring [Trump] pardoned two convicted fraudsters: Trevor Milton, the founder of an electric-truck manufacturer, and Paul Walczak, a health-care executive. Mr Milton and his wife had donated $1.8m to the president’s 2024 campaign. Mr Walczak’s mother had recently paid $1m to attend a dinner at Mar-a-Lago; he cited her donation history in his pardon application. Normally the Department of Justice (DoJ) requires pardon-seekers to wait five years after conviction or release to apply: better to show remorse and reform. By contrast the pardons for Mr Milton and Mr Walczak came quickly, sparing both men prison and multi-million-dollar restitutions.
Such pardons have ignited a lobbying frenzy among white-collar convicts. Sam Mangel, a clemency consultant, says he has been retained by 28 applicants this year, up from one during Joe Biden’s entire term. He gets inquiries daily. Some lobbyists who market “executive relief” charge seven-figure success fees on top of their retainers. The practice is a throwback to the Tudor court—except today’s intercessors don’t accept falcons. Meanwhile Mr Trump’s neutering of Congress has shifted K Street’s focus away from Capitol Hill and given rise to a new crop of lobbyists with ties to the White House.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5tgvmuah4q2ekqo6vv7icm5x/bafkreicfsbm3vzhfunirfe3sc3bvycryglaumso36dcvsadz6pipcfyrmu@jpeg)
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Gina in the park in the autumn sunshine
#DogsOfBluesky
#DogsOfBluesky
October 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Gina in the park in the autumn sunshine
#DogsOfBluesky
#DogsOfBluesky
The original Shepard Fairey poster: 'Progress'.
The campaign got involved and it was changed to Hope (with Fairey's cooperation). 'Hope' had been successful for Bill Clinton in '92, and tested well in focus groups.
The campaign got involved and it was changed to Hope (with Fairey's cooperation). 'Hope' had been successful for Bill Clinton in '92, and tested well in focus groups.
October 13, 2025 at 8:15 AM
The original Shepard Fairey poster: 'Progress'.
The campaign got involved and it was changed to Hope (with Fairey's cooperation). 'Hope' had been successful for Bill Clinton in '92, and tested well in focus groups.
The campaign got involved and it was changed to Hope (with Fairey's cooperation). 'Hope' had been successful for Bill Clinton in '92, and tested well in focus groups.
Choosing to address that audience as children. Grande ecole condescension. Quel con.
September 28, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Choosing to address that audience as children. Grande ecole condescension. Quel con.
Hyde Park, painting from 2014
September 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Hyde Park, painting from 2014
Sunflowers in Hyde Park, late September
(Winter is Coming)
(Winter is Coming)
September 18, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Sunflowers in Hyde Park, late September
(Winter is Coming)
(Winter is Coming)
And looking lovely.
September 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
And looking lovely.