Alan Fresco
@alanf.bsky.social
An opinionated Edinburger mainly interested in the outdoors, science and politics.
Currently raging against the dying of the light.
Currently raging against the dying of the light.
Reposted by Alan Fresco
With looser restrictions on cannabis come more studies showing how it can benefit people in pain. www.wsj.com/health/welln...
A Surprising Treatment for Chronic Lower Back Pain: Cannabis
Two new drug trials find a THC-based cannabis extract could help with the condition that affects millions.
www.wsj.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:01 AM
With looser restrictions on cannabis come more studies showing how it can benefit people in pain. www.wsj.com/health/welln...
Sitting in the cafe at the Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh at a long table and Norman Lamont sat next to me. We said nothing.
He was smaller than I thought he was. He had a glass of red wine.
He was smaller than I thought he was. He had a glass of red wine.
Paying for a breakfast pastry in Valvona & Crolla, Edinburgh; glancing to my left to see Princess Anne buying cheese then seeing my embarrassingly massive double take.
Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction.
Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction.
Being the only person in the lounge at Manchester Airport apart from Alex Ferguson.
I didn't say anything, in case I drove him into an uncontrollable rage.
I didn't say anything, in case I drove him into an uncontrollable rage.
December 30, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Sitting in the cafe at the Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh at a long table and Norman Lamont sat next to me. We said nothing.
He was smaller than I thought he was. He had a glass of red wine.
He was smaller than I thought he was. He had a glass of red wine.
Reposted by Alan Fresco
If Marjorie Taylor Greene *really* cared about the Epstein victims, she would read the names of the perpetrators on the House floor (where she would have immunity) before she leaves office.
December 29, 2025 at 8:24 PM
If Marjorie Taylor Greene *really* cared about the Epstein victims, she would read the names of the perpetrators on the House floor (where she would have immunity) before she leaves office.
I think these measures seem sensible but the cynic in me can't stop thinking that China is building these regulations as a potential weapon against the US companies who own the chatbots.
The Chinese understand all too well the risks of letting AI manipulate vulnerable human beings. We need to catch up fast.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
China drafts world’s strictest rules to end AI-encouraged suicide, violence
China wants a human to intervene and notify guardians if suicide is ever mentioned.
arstechnica.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I think these measures seem sensible but the cynic in me can't stop thinking that China is building these regulations as a potential weapon against the US companies who own the chatbots.
A fascinating if over long insight into the character of MTG. It doesn't quite tell you who she really is but does give the reader a lot of clues.
Gift article
I Was Just So Naïve’: Inside Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Break With Trump www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/m...
I Was Just So Naïve’: Inside Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Break With Trump www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/m...
‘I Was Just So Naïve’: Inside Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Break With Trump
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A fascinating if over long insight into the character of MTG. It doesn't quite tell you who she really is but does give the reader a lot of clues.
An authoritative account of the sinking of the Russian ship Ursa Major last year.
The reactors were probably for a N. Korean nuclear submarine and the explosions that holed it occurred outside the hull, not inside.
share.google/tuIJ3WErohUk...
The reactors were probably for a N. Korean nuclear submarine and the explosions that holed it occurred outside the hull, not inside.
share.google/tuIJ3WErohUk...
Report: Lost Russian Ship Was Carrying Nuclear Submarine Reactor Parts
The special cargo aboard the Russian arms ship that went down off Cartagena last year was not what its crew initially reported, according to Spanish...
share.google
December 29, 2025 at 12:49 PM
An authoritative account of the sinking of the Russian ship Ursa Major last year.
The reactors were probably for a N. Korean nuclear submarine and the explosions that holed it occurred outside the hull, not inside.
share.google/tuIJ3WErohUk...
The reactors were probably for a N. Korean nuclear submarine and the explosions that holed it occurred outside the hull, not inside.
share.google/tuIJ3WErohUk...
Reposted by Alan Fresco
🛳️ Spanish investigation has found that the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major, which sank near Cartagena in December 2024, was carrying a secret strategic cargo, - Militarnyi
The ship was carrying two VM-4SG nuclear reactors intended for North Korea.
The ship was carrying two VM-4SG nuclear reactors intended for North Korea.
December 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
🛳️ Spanish investigation has found that the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major, which sank near Cartagena in December 2024, was carrying a secret strategic cargo, - Militarnyi
The ship was carrying two VM-4SG nuclear reactors intended for North Korea.
The ship was carrying two VM-4SG nuclear reactors intended for North Korea.
Reposted by Alan Fresco
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky with their delegations has concluded. They are now holding a video conference with European leaders.
December 28, 2025 at 9:10 PM
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky with their delegations has concluded. They are now holding a video conference with European leaders.
Reposted by Alan Fresco
Worth noting that the report covers 2014 - 2024, so the figures are averaged over that period.
Final publication of the year: I examined 10 years of panellists on BBC Question Time. Some interesting findings - thread below:
(1/6)
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
(1/6)
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Constructing impartiality in a polarised news environment: An analysis of BBC Question Time contributors 2014-2024 - Matt Walsh, 2025
Televised panel discussions are an increasingly used form of journalism, providing cheap content without expensive newsgathering. In recent years, panel constru...
journals.sagepub.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Worth noting that the report covers 2014 - 2024, so the figures are averaged over that period.
Reposted by Alan Fresco
I’m pretty sure the US President is going to try and put his name on New York and suggest it should be called Trumpton. At which point, farce as we know it ceases to exist!
December 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I’m pretty sure the US President is going to try and put his name on New York and suggest it should be called Trumpton. At which point, farce as we know it ceases to exist!
Reposted by Alan Fresco
Extraordinary beauty this morning in Braemar. The Morrone birkwood is high enough to retain the freezing fog longer into the day. And then, even after the fog clears and the hillsides warm up, the Braemar frost hollow keeps the woodland cold.
December 27, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Extraordinary beauty this morning in Braemar. The Morrone birkwood is high enough to retain the freezing fog longer into the day. And then, even after the fog clears and the hillsides warm up, the Braemar frost hollow keeps the woodland cold.
Reposted by Alan Fresco
Oh my goodness - this has to be prophetic for 2026...
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Oh my goodness - this has to be prophetic for 2026...
Reposted by Alan Fresco
Reposted by Alan Fresco
Alas! It is 31 years since the world was deprived of one of its more colourful culinary characters: Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey – better known as double bigamist, child abandoner, amphetamine user, dangerous driver, and celebrity cook Fanny Cradock
December 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Alas! It is 31 years since the world was deprived of one of its more colourful culinary characters: Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey – better known as double bigamist, child abandoner, amphetamine user, dangerous driver, and celebrity cook Fanny Cradock
Reposted by Alan Fresco
4-year-old Kristina was buried today.
She was killed on the morning of December 23rd when a russian suicide drone struck her apartment in the western 🇺🇦Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr.
She was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries a few hours later.
Source: x.com/i/status/200...
She was killed on the morning of December 23rd when a russian suicide drone struck her apartment in the western 🇺🇦Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr.
She was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries a few hours later.
Source: x.com/i/status/200...
December 26, 2025 at 10:39 PM
4-year-old Kristina was buried today.
She was killed on the morning of December 23rd when a russian suicide drone struck her apartment in the western 🇺🇦Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr.
She was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries a few hours later.
Source: x.com/i/status/200...
She was killed on the morning of December 23rd when a russian suicide drone struck her apartment in the western 🇺🇦Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr.
She was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries a few hours later.
Source: x.com/i/status/200...
Reposted by Alan Fresco
I'm looking for anyone who downloaded ALL Epstein Files released on December 19th 2025. I have obtained some files and I want to verify they are authentic. If so, I have discovered MAJOR DISCREPANCIES in Data Set 8 Folder content - especially Folders 10 & 11. Has anyone else noticed this?!
FTR!!!
FTR!!!
December 26, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I'm looking for anyone who downloaded ALL Epstein Files released on December 19th 2025. I have obtained some files and I want to verify they are authentic. If so, I have discovered MAJOR DISCREPANCIES in Data Set 8 Folder content - especially Folders 10 & 11. Has anyone else noticed this?!
FTR!!!
FTR!!!
Does anyone else think that linear tv has given up on Xmas. Zero new Xmas specials but loads of old films and repeats.
December 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Does anyone else think that linear tv has given up on Xmas. Zero new Xmas specials but loads of old films and repeats.
Reposted by Alan Fresco
Let's do it again. Reach as many people as possible to get informed about Ukraine. Repost the original post below.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Dear community, last time you helped us reach lots of new BlueSky followers. Now that we see that there is an exodus on X, it is important that these people can also find us on BlueSky for all necessary updates about Ukraine.
Would you like to share this message, preferably with a quote? Thanks!
Would you like to share this message, preferably with a quote? Thanks!
December 25, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Let's do it again. Reach as many people as possible to get informed about Ukraine. Repost the original post below.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Reposted by Alan Fresco
It stayed below freezing today until 13:45....and then got up to 0.5C before falling back below freezing again just a short while ago. If you can't have a white Christmas, a whitish Christmas is the next best thing 😉
December 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It stayed below freezing today until 13:45....and then got up to 0.5C before falling back below freezing again just a short while ago. If you can't have a white Christmas, a whitish Christmas is the next best thing 😉
Reposted by Alan Fresco
Merry Christmas to all. defector.com/what-did-we-...
What Did We Get Stuck In Our Rectums Last Year? | Defector
This is the time of year to be grateful for not having things stuck in our asses, and to think of those less fortunate than us. So spare a thought for those Americans who misjudged the capacity of the...
defector.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Merry Christmas to all. defector.com/what-did-we-...
Q: What does George Michael have in common with a wellington boot?
A: They've both been sucked off in a bog.
A: They've both been sucked off in a bog.
George Michael died on Christmas Day in 2016.
He will be remembered for his incredible songwriting talent, his gorgeous vocals and for the greatest non-apology video of all time, following his arrest for cottaging.
He will be remembered for his incredible songwriting talent, his gorgeous vocals and for the greatest non-apology video of all time, following his arrest for cottaging.
December 25, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Q: What does George Michael have in common with a wellington boot?
A: They've both been sucked off in a bog.
A: They've both been sucked off in a bog.
Merry Christmas everybody.
The days are getting linger and spring is just around the corner.
🌱
The days are getting linger and spring is just around the corner.
🌱
December 25, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Merry Christmas everybody.
The days are getting linger and spring is just around the corner.
🌱
The days are getting linger and spring is just around the corner.
🌱
Reposted by Alan Fresco
After buying it for $18.8 billion, Walgreens' new private equity owner has eliminated paid holidays for all hourly workers on Christmas and New Year's.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
December 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
After buying it for $18.8 billion, Walgreens' new private equity owner has eliminated paid holidays for all hourly workers on Christmas and New Year's.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
Search your first name (definitely not ‘fist name’; unfortunate typo…), then ‘glamour shot’, and post a photo:
December 24, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Search your first name (definitely not ‘fist name’; unfortunate typo…), then ‘glamour shot’, and post a photo: