LXJohn
@lxjohn.bsky.social
Interested in Scotland, culture, and the world
Reposted by LXJohn
Reposted by LXJohn
This is a good read. Cory Doctorow on how Trump Tariffs are actually an opportunity for the rest of the world to break the grip of US tech companies.
Trump may be the beginning of the end for ‘enshittification’ – this is our chance to make tech good again | Cory Doctorow
The US president is weaponising tech, but his tariffs and Brexit provide a surprising opportunity to gain back digital control of our lives, says science fiction author, activist and journalist Cory D...
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 11:20 AM
This is a good read. Cory Doctorow on how Trump Tariffs are actually an opportunity for the rest of the world to break the grip of US tech companies.
Reposted by LXJohn
This is a crucial relationship tip. I usually go with "is this for advice or sympathy" but may add "or for entertainment purposes" too.
my partner, listening to me talk problems with my new bike saddle, has just asked if I can preface any future discussion, irregardless of subject, with "whether it is for information, action, or entertainment"; she says this will help because sometimes she is "doing the wrong sort of listening"
January 11, 2026 at 11:32 AM
This is a crucial relationship tip. I usually go with "is this for advice or sympathy" but may add "or for entertainment purposes" too.
Reposted by LXJohn
Renee Nicole Good was shot in self-defence in the same way that people who oppose Putin keep falling out of windows.
January 8, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Renee Nicole Good was shot in self-defence in the same way that people who oppose Putin keep falling out of windows.
Reposted by LXJohn
Reposted by LXJohn
Probably one of the best road safety adverts from TfL.
If you've never seen it before - I can guarantee you will watch it twice.
If you've never seen it before - I can guarantee you will watch it twice.
January 8, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Probably one of the best road safety adverts from TfL.
If you've never seen it before - I can guarantee you will watch it twice.
If you've never seen it before - I can guarantee you will watch it twice.
Reposted by LXJohn
Ok but, hear me out: it is though, isn’t it? And the angrier she gets the more hilarious it becomes. Comedy gold.
January 8, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Ok but, hear me out: it is though, isn’t it? And the angrier she gets the more hilarious it becomes. Comedy gold.
Reposted by LXJohn
Starmer at PMQs: “Can I begin by saying I hope all colleagues had a happy Christmas.
“It probably feels quite a long time ago now, but not for Reform, of course, because today is the day that they celebrate Christmas in Russia.”
“It probably feels quite a long time ago now, but not for Reform, of course, because today is the day that they celebrate Christmas in Russia.”
January 7, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Starmer at PMQs: “Can I begin by saying I hope all colleagues had a happy Christmas.
“It probably feels quite a long time ago now, but not for Reform, of course, because today is the day that they celebrate Christmas in Russia.”
“It probably feels quite a long time ago now, but not for Reform, of course, because today is the day that they celebrate Christmas in Russia.”
Reposted by LXJohn
It's the 3rd of January 1939, your name is professor James Smith and you are staring at a drawing of a fish. It's not a regular fish. It is a completely impossible fish.
January 6, 2026 at 10:27 PM
It's the 3rd of January 1939, your name is professor James Smith and you are staring at a drawing of a fish. It's not a regular fish. It is a completely impossible fish.
Reposted by LXJohn
Before Christmas the Baroness Amos report into maternity and neonatal care was pretty horrific reading. Women not being listened to, mums and babies being harmed or even dying.
And perhaps most depressing of all...none of it was a surprise. Multiple reports over multiple years have told us the same
And perhaps most depressing of all...none of it was a surprise. Multiple reports over multiple years have told us the same
January 7, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Before Christmas the Baroness Amos report into maternity and neonatal care was pretty horrific reading. Women not being listened to, mums and babies being harmed or even dying.
And perhaps most depressing of all...none of it was a surprise. Multiple reports over multiple years have told us the same
And perhaps most depressing of all...none of it was a surprise. Multiple reports over multiple years have told us the same
Reposted by LXJohn
"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to prop up interest in a franchise."
Sir Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood will reunite as Gandalf and Frodo in ‘THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM’
Production will begin in May.
(via: Gollumgram)
Production will begin in May.
(via: Gollumgram)
January 6, 2026 at 8:34 AM
"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to prop up interest in a franchise."
Reposted by LXJohn
A completely frozen Lochan na h-Achlaise, with the Black Mount in the background, from this afternoon.
Fun fact. I’ve been learning Scottish Gaelic for two years now and had to double check when I heard this name, but yes, Lochan na h-Achlaise does indeed translate to Loch of the Armpit.
#Scotland
Fun fact. I’ve been learning Scottish Gaelic for two years now and had to double check when I heard this name, but yes, Lochan na h-Achlaise does indeed translate to Loch of the Armpit.
#Scotland
January 5, 2026 at 6:24 PM
A completely frozen Lochan na h-Achlaise, with the Black Mount in the background, from this afternoon.
Fun fact. I’ve been learning Scottish Gaelic for two years now and had to double check when I heard this name, but yes, Lochan na h-Achlaise does indeed translate to Loch of the Armpit.
#Scotland
Fun fact. I’ve been learning Scottish Gaelic for two years now and had to double check when I heard this name, but yes, Lochan na h-Achlaise does indeed translate to Loch of the Armpit.
#Scotland
Reposted by LXJohn
Sunrise inside Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
January 4, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Sunrise inside Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Reposted by LXJohn
Discworld QOTD, from Guards! Guards!
December 31, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Guards! Guards!
Reposted by LXJohn
She is a British citizen. She was groomed by grown men when she was a CHILD. I’m not saying there should be no consequences, but stripping her of citizenship is wrong. She’s also had children who died. My goodness, she has learned the hard way. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Shamima Begum: Home secretary to 'robustly defend' citizenship decision
The ECHR questions whether it was considered if Shamima Begum was a victim of grooming and trafficking.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 8:18 PM
She is a British citizen. She was groomed by grown men when she was a CHILD. I’m not saying there should be no consequences, but stripping her of citizenship is wrong. She’s also had children who died. My goodness, she has learned the hard way. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by LXJohn
Reform’s previous leader in Wales has just been jailed for 10 years after admitting to being a Russian asset.
December 31, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Reform’s previous leader in Wales has just been jailed for 10 years after admitting to being a Russian asset.
Reposted by LXJohn
January 1, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Reposted by LXJohn
Reposted by LXJohn
Begum may be 'distasteful', but it is pretty clear she was a victim of grooming and trafficking. The decision to make her defacto stateless is also clearly incompatibile with the principles of international law. Labour doubling down doesn't change that it is bad. 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Shamima Begum: Home secretary to 'robustly defend' citizenship decision
The ECHR questions whether it was considered if Shamima Begum was a victim of grooming and trafficking.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Begum may be 'distasteful', but it is pretty clear she was a victim of grooming and trafficking. The decision to make her defacto stateless is also clearly incompatibile with the principles of international law. Labour doubling down doesn't change that it is bad. 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by LXJohn
The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.
Reposted by LXJohn
Poem with a subliminal message.
January 1, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Poem with a subliminal message.
Reposted by LXJohn
Beautiful. The alt text is brilliant 🙂
As the year draws to a close, I’m signing off 2025 with a magical find!
An ancient amber bear. Carved some 10,000 years ago, it washed up on a beach at Fanø, Denmark, from a submerged Mesolithic settlement in the North Sea.
✨ Happy New Year all! ✨
National Museum of Denmark
📷 by me
#Archaeology
An ancient amber bear. Carved some 10,000 years ago, it washed up on a beach at Fanø, Denmark, from a submerged Mesolithic settlement in the North Sea.
✨ Happy New Year all! ✨
National Museum of Denmark
📷 by me
#Archaeology
December 31, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Beautiful. The alt text is brilliant 🙂
Reposted by LXJohn
It's Hogmanay here in Scotland, and that means another year without Scotch and Wry or Rikki Fulton. A retrospective is in order, so here's a look back at The Last Television Show Of The Year, links to the classic sketches, and the power of a sad "hullo..." to make a country laugh.
Rikki Fulton, Mr Hogmanay
“Hullo… I’ve had a helluva year” Every Scot who stayed up for the bells in their youth knew Rikki Fulton. For everyone else, this is Scotland’s Hogmanay legend.
ewanspence.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 10:02 AM
It's Hogmanay here in Scotland, and that means another year without Scotch and Wry or Rikki Fulton. A retrospective is in order, so here's a look back at The Last Television Show Of The Year, links to the classic sketches, and the power of a sad "hullo..." to make a country laugh.
Reposted by LXJohn
went to the austin kinokuniya and the store manager sure is Going Through Some Shit.
also man bro should not be running a bookstore bro should become an artist
also man bro should not be running a bookstore bro should become an artist
December 29, 2025 at 11:50 PM
went to the austin kinokuniya and the store manager sure is Going Through Some Shit.
also man bro should not be running a bookstore bro should become an artist
also man bro should not be running a bookstore bro should become an artist
Reposted by LXJohn
Excellent point in great thread. Just as an illustrative example, in the Budget, Rachel Reeves hiked taxes on essentially all post-2012 graduates and announced her intent to hike taxes on everyone who saves a decent amount into their pension. These groups are both core Labour voters!
And the reasons for that are not hard to find - Starmer’s unpopularity among left-liberals is the logical, arguably even intended consequence of 18 months of comms and policy which alienates and angers left-liberals while winning over no one on right. This is the cake his team have baked themselves.
December 31, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Excellent point in great thread. Just as an illustrative example, in the Budget, Rachel Reeves hiked taxes on essentially all post-2012 graduates and announced her intent to hike taxes on everyone who saves a decent amount into their pension. These groups are both core Labour voters!