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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 4h

An incredibly hurtful figure 18, 457: the number of children killed in Gaza. It's almost unimaginable for Gazans, who are still suffering under Israel's attacks. And it's not about Jews. It's about raging politics from those in power on both sides of terrorism.

www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead

Every name on a list compiled by health authorities in Gaza of the child victims of Israel’s offensive

www.theguardian.com

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 4h

The American Internet Archive (IA) has been under attack from publishers and record labels because of its open access policies, but the Archive continues to flourish and a new European version, based in Amsterdam, is another healthy sign.
I've used the IA many times.

mailchi.mp/6727300b9f36...

Peek Behind the Shelves of the Internet Archive

mailchi.mp

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 8h

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I know the real Handsworth – it’s a far better place than Robert Jenrick’s toxic vision of Britain | Nazia Parveen

The shadow justice secretary complained of a lack of integration in an area that has shown, time and time again, that it is for everyone, says Nazia Parveen, an assistant managing editor at the Guardi...

www.theguardian.com

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 11h

I watched this worrying documentary last night. As a retired librarian it made me shudder. McCarthyism applied to culture and just as brutal. On school libraries, but we know that Trump's culture wars include all libraries, archives and universities.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Storyville - The Librarians

A Storyville documentary that explores how librarians across the US are risking their safety to defend free speech as book bans and censorship threaten democracy from within.

www.bbc.co.uk

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 1d

The madness of Jenrick: is he now a Whig? The Whigs ran a one-party state, which he would love, but their politics would be too liberal for his far right views I suspect. He clearly admires Trump's views on judges and will add to the Tories' demise.

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Jenrick accused of racism over ‘no white faces’ comments and his attack on judges labelled ‘serious mistake’ – UK politics live

Labour mayor of the West Midlands says Jenrick’s comments about Handsworth were racist

www.theguardian.com

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 1d

Poppy Noor of the Guardian makes a crass distinction with regard to the Home Secretary: the freer responsibilities of a backbench MP cannot be compared with someone in a senior Government role.

www.jewishnews.co.uk/starmer-call...

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Starmer calls again for investigation into killings of Gaza medics as he is grilled by MPs - Jewish News

The PM told the Liaison Committee while moves towards a two-state solution seemed 'remote today' the UK 'needs to put our foot in the door for a process'

www.jewishnews.co.uk

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

The 1979 TV mini-series with David Soul and James Mason was much better.

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

To be honest I much preferred the one with Jeff Goldblum which benefitted with enhanced special effects and some humour, always necessary in the best horrors.

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

To be honest I much preferred the TV mini-series with David Soul. The scene where the vampire boy is floating outside his friend's window was terrifying and James Mason was perfect as the horrific vampire Mr Barlow's helpmate.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem%2...

Salem's Lot (1979 miniseries) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

The 1958 original was good with David/Al Hedison (Brundle) and Vincent Price, but the one with Jeff Goldblum as Brundle was much better:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fly...

The Fly (1986 film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

I'm old enough to remember all the Hammer films of the '50s and '60s and have most of them on DVD/BluRay and a wonderful book, "The Hammer Vault", by Marcus Hearn which he signed for me at an event at Cheltenham Literature Festival some years ago. Here it is:

www.amazon.com/Hammer-Vault...

The Hammer Vault: Treasures From the Archive of Hammer Films

The Hammer Vault: Treasures From the Archive of Hammer Films [Hearn, Marcus] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Hammer Vault: Treasures From the Archive of Hammer Films

www.amazon.com

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

@chris-daly.bsky.social
Whoops, I misread your reason for referencing a newspaper piece that you disagree with.
Many apologies, as we're in tune on Palestine

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

@chris-daly.bsky.social
We don't agree with recognising the Palestine state in advance of an eventual two-state solution, but I do like your other posts, so I'm following you.

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

I saw "The Wicker Man" on first release (as a second feature!) and have enjoyed it many times. However, this piece shows that good films can be produced even when writer and director have serious disagreements:

www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

‘An unkind film’: letters reveal rift between director and writer of The Wicker Man

Exclusive: Documents show ‘hostile’ director and ‘self-indulgent’ writer were at loggerheads during production of 1973 cult horror film

www.theguardian.com

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

Sick of scrolling through junk results, AI-generated ads and links to lookalike products? The author and activist behind the term ‘enshittification’ explains what’s gone wrong with the internet – and ...

www.theguardian.com

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

I do like the concept of "enshittification", a view that everything is getting worse under populist culture. it's getting more difficult to find the good stuff, though it is there if you can look past newspaper headlines and well, online shit.

Blusky, more or less shitless, is one place to start.

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 2d

Could this be the last Conservative Party Conference? I sincerely hope so. Here is an assessment of that possibility (likelihood?):

samf.substack.com/p/last-rites...

Last Rites

What happens if the Conservatives completely disintegrate?

samf.substack.com

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 4d

It's interesting that on Newsnight recently, Abbott admired Starmer's speech to Conference, as did I. We may differ on Labour, but I like your other comments, so I will follow you.

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 4d

I've just finished listening to the mostly humorous "News Quiz" on BBC Radio 4, after which for a while most serious pieces of news sound like jokes. It fades after a time, but the fact that the UCL Policy Lab will be attending the Conservative Party Conference made me smile: what's the point?

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 4d

The Guardian's editor says "On that score, at least, (Starmer) seemed determined to set out his stall, at last. In a powerful speech about diversity and community, Starmer spoke up for progressive values ...

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 4d

I think it's worth repeating this Guardian piece on the Labour PM's speech to Conference, and elsewhere it's put in the context of the terrorist attack on a synagog.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Starmer brings the steel – and draws up battle lines with Reform UK

Prime minister answers his critics in conference speech but the real challenges still lie ahead

www.theguardian.com

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 6d

Completely the wrong move by Badenoch. Trying to compete with the far right is not "one-nation conservatism" if it ever was.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Kemi Badenoch expected to announce plan to leave ECHR

Move to come if Conservatives win next election and is calculated to head off growing support for Reform UK

www.theguardian.com

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C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 6d

The UCL Policy Lab's reflections on the Labour Party Conference and their own input to it:

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Standing up for the places and communities that we love

We reflect on lessons from the UCL Policy Lab programme and conversations at Labour Party Conference 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 6d

As it's Black History Month I thought I'd share this fascinating story of formerly enslaved choristers (The Jubilee Singers) and their tour of the UK during Queen Vistoria's reign:

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-...

Photograph of the Jubilee Singers

This photo shows an African American student choir who toured the UK and whose performances were attended by Queen Victoria and the Prime Minister.

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

C John Hughes @pen0lver.bsky.social · 6d

The Guardian today raises the issue of changing attitudes towards the EU and Brexit, and the Euroopean Movement noticed those changes earlier this year:

www.europeanmovement.co.uk/the_brexit_f...

The Brexit Files: From Referendum to Reset - Review

Mark English, Policy and Media Adviser to European Movement UK reviews The Brexit Files: From Referendum to Reset by UK in a Changing Europe

www.europeanmovement.co.uk