Brendan Paddy
@bjpaddy.bsky.social
Looking to make the outdoors for everyone as director of Ramblers Scotland but these are personal views. Expect pics of walks, posts on politics/world news, risidual overseas aid and guest appearances by a small hairy murderer named Pixie.
Election looming, 10 points behind in the polls, starting to panic www.politico.eu/article/hung...
Orbán slams EU membership plan for Ukraine as ‘declaration of war’
Hungarian prime minister says Brussels and Kyiv want to see him lose crucial April election.
www.politico.eu
February 12, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Election looming, 10 points behind in the polls, starting to panic www.politico.eu/article/hung...
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
The Australian police punched and pepper sprayed protesters in Sydney who were demonstrating against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit on February 9.
The police’s use of force to prevent protests is a further erosion of basic rights in Australia.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/45Zn0ah
The police’s use of force to prevent protests is a further erosion of basic rights in Australia.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/45Zn0ah
February 11, 2026 at 8:31 PM
The Australian police punched and pepper sprayed protesters in Sydney who were demonstrating against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit on February 9.
The police’s use of force to prevent protests is a further erosion of basic rights in Australia.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/45Zn0ah
The police’s use of force to prevent protests is a further erosion of basic rights in Australia.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/45Zn0ah
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
Forced choice head 2 head on preferred prime minister.
🌹Starmer v.narrowly edges Farage and Polanski but loses to Davey & Badenoch
🌳Badenoch wins all four head to heads
🔶Davey beats Starmer & v.narrowly Farage, but loses to Badenoch
🌹Starmer v.narrowly edges Farage and Polanski but loses to Davey & Badenoch
🌳Badenoch wins all four head to heads
🔶Davey beats Starmer & v.narrowly Farage, but loses to Badenoch
February 10, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Forced choice head 2 head on preferred prime minister.
🌹Starmer v.narrowly edges Farage and Polanski but loses to Davey & Badenoch
🌳Badenoch wins all four head to heads
🔶Davey beats Starmer & v.narrowly Farage, but loses to Badenoch
🌹Starmer v.narrowly edges Farage and Polanski but loses to Davey & Badenoch
🌳Badenoch wins all four head to heads
🔶Davey beats Starmer & v.narrowly Farage, but loses to Badenoch
Claude is software that uses a ton of data & probably to create plausible combinations of words it doesn't understand. Unlike say a pigeon we've trained to peck sensors in exchange for a reward, it has no selfhood
Researchers working with the A.I. system Claude have come to understand that the model’s selfhood, like our own, is a matter of both neurons and narratives. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/kEX1vV
February 11, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Claude is software that uses a ton of data & probably to create plausible combinations of words it doesn't understand. Unlike say a pigeon we've trained to peck sensors in exchange for a reward, it has no selfhood
Tech companies turning over personal data to this US administration before they are legally compelled to do so is collaboration
techcrunch.com/2026/02/10/g...
techcrunch.com/2026/02/10/g...
Google sent personal and financial information of student journalist to ICE | TechCrunch
The tech giant handed over the personal information of a journalist and student who attended a pro-Palestinian protest in 2024. This is the latest example of ICE using its controversial subpoena power...
techcrunch.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Tech companies turning over personal data to this US administration before they are legally compelled to do so is collaboration
techcrunch.com/2026/02/10/g...
techcrunch.com/2026/02/10/g...
When even the corporate PR industry starts asking awkward questions about whether your behaviour is appropriate...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/pr-firm-pr...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/pr-firm-pr...
PR firm probed over Labour Together investigating journalists
Investigation into APCO Worldwide deepens questions for Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:47 AM
When even the corporate PR industry starts asking awkward questions about whether your behaviour is appropriate...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/pr-firm-pr...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/pr-firm-pr...
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
300,000 children face 10-year wait for settled status under UK plans, says IPPR
The consultation closes on Thursday. What is being proposed is dreadful. Can I encourage you to engage with the consultation and put your dissent on record?
The consultation closes on Thursday. What is being proposed is dreadful. Can I encourage you to engage with the consultation and put your dissent on record?
February 10, 2026 at 5:43 AM
300,000 children face 10-year wait for settled status under UK plans, says IPPR
The consultation closes on Thursday. What is being proposed is dreadful. Can I encourage you to engage with the consultation and put your dissent on record?
The consultation closes on Thursday. What is being proposed is dreadful. Can I encourage you to engage with the consultation and put your dissent on record?
I for one welcome our new feline overlord
February 10, 2026 at 8:55 AM
I for one welcome our new feline overlord
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
SpaceX to focus on Moon settlements instead of Mars?!? Wow, it is hard to overstate what a change -- what a climb-down -- this is for Musk. It has always been Mars for him. Full stop. Supposedly the goal behind *everything* he does.
February 9, 2026 at 2:53 AM
SpaceX to focus on Moon settlements instead of Mars?!? Wow, it is hard to overstate what a change -- what a climb-down -- this is for Musk. It has always been Mars for him. Full stop. Supposedly the goal behind *everything* he does.
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
The story of the past decade has been the fracturing of the right.
For reasons that are beyond me instead of just saying "great, let's win elections and govern well in broadly centre-left ways" some in Labour have instead gone - let's get involved with culture wars and fracture ourselves too.
For reasons that are beyond me instead of just saying "great, let's win elections and govern well in broadly centre-left ways" some in Labour have instead gone - let's get involved with culture wars and fracture ourselves too.
February 9, 2026 at 10:44 AM
The story of the past decade has been the fracturing of the right.
For reasons that are beyond me instead of just saying "great, let's win elections and govern well in broadly centre-left ways" some in Labour have instead gone - let's get involved with culture wars and fracture ourselves too.
For reasons that are beyond me instead of just saying "great, let's win elections and govern well in broadly centre-left ways" some in Labour have instead gone - let's get involved with culture wars and fracture ourselves too.
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
Loch Coruisk in its typical mood!
February 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Loch Coruisk in its typical mood!
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
Yesterday......blue sky for all of 3 minutes. Today......ACTUAL SUNSHINE!!! 😲 For all of 7 minutes 😆
February 8, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Yesterday......blue sky for all of 3 minutes. Today......ACTUAL SUNSHINE!!! 😲 For all of 7 minutes 😆
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
Nice to be up in the snow though.....even if it was sopping wet 😉
February 8, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Nice to be up in the snow though.....even if it was sopping wet 😉
More than 10 years too late and not because it was the right thing to do but because it threatened to come back to embarrass him & undermine his position. So, no, I'm afraid Davey deserves no credit for this at all.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
It’s years too late, but at least Ed Davey is learning fr...
The Lib Dem leader has finally taken action against a peer who was at the centre of 2013 inquiry involving complaints by four women
observer.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 10:03 PM
More than 10 years too late and not because it was the right thing to do but because it threatened to come back to embarrass him & undermine his position. So, no, I'm afraid Davey deserves no credit for this at all.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
It's a mystery how Norway managed such a rapid transition to electric vehicles. "Taxes on zero-emission vehicles were reduced while taxes on polluting vehicles were increased.
As EV adoption soared, the country rolled out an extensive charging network." Oh...
electrek.co/2023/01/03/n...
As EV adoption soared, the country rolled out an extensive charging network." Oh...
electrek.co/2023/01/03/n...
I went to Norway to see an electric vehicle paradise, but I found something more surprising
We often hear about how Norway is an electric car utopia, an example of a country that went all in...
electrek.co
February 8, 2026 at 7:12 AM
It's a mystery how Norway managed such a rapid transition to electric vehicles. "Taxes on zero-emission vehicles were reduced while taxes on polluting vehicles were increased.
As EV adoption soared, the country rolled out an extensive charging network." Oh...
electrek.co/2023/01/03/n...
As EV adoption soared, the country rolled out an extensive charging network." Oh...
electrek.co/2023/01/03/n...
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true
February 7, 2026 at 11:35 AM
The untold story that is told constantly and isn’t really true
Great little AGM with the North Strathclyde folk of @ramblersscotland.bsky.social followed by a city walk around Kelvingrove Park & the University (Although sad to read about the demise of the Lowland Haggis)
February 7, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Great little AGM with the North Strathclyde folk of @ramblersscotland.bsky.social followed by a city walk around Kelvingrove Park & the University (Although sad to read about the demise of the Lowland Haggis)
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
Hhhmmm.
Can’t see any of the likely successors making *major* changes to borrowing. You might get more taxes & more spending.
And don’t rule out a more pro-growth attitude to immigration.
www.ft.com/content/c855... Starmer camp warns leadership challenge risks economic chaos
Can’t see any of the likely successors making *major* changes to borrowing. You might get more taxes & more spending.
And don’t rule out a more pro-growth attitude to immigration.
www.ft.com/content/c855... Starmer camp warns leadership challenge risks economic chaos
Starmer camp warns leadership challenge risks economic chaos
Investors also signal concern at prospect of a more leftwing government
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Hhhmmm.
Can’t see any of the likely successors making *major* changes to borrowing. You might get more taxes & more spending.
And don’t rule out a more pro-growth attitude to immigration.
www.ft.com/content/c855... Starmer camp warns leadership challenge risks economic chaos
Can’t see any of the likely successors making *major* changes to borrowing. You might get more taxes & more spending.
And don’t rule out a more pro-growth attitude to immigration.
www.ft.com/content/c855... Starmer camp warns leadership challenge risks economic chaos
This is fun on the similarities between platform moderation and church management
Woohooooo, here we go! Episcopal consecration without permission is a "latae sententiae" excommunication, ie, the excommunication is automatic and at the instant the offense is committed. www.vatican.va/archive/cod-...
February 7, 2026 at 7:40 AM
This is fun on the similarities between platform moderation and church management
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
You can catch me on this week's @thecourier.co.uk / @pressandjournal.co.uk Stooshie podcast with @justinbowie1997.bsky.social, talking about the prospects for each party in May, with a good bit more detail and nuance possible across a solid 20 minutes of chat!
Electoral crystal ball gazing with Ballot Box Scotland
The Scottish Parliament election is three months away and every party is starting their campaign conference, beginning with Jeremy Corbyn’s new left alternative party meeting in Dundee this…
pocketcasts.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:34 PM
You can catch me on this week's @thecourier.co.uk / @pressandjournal.co.uk Stooshie podcast with @justinbowie1997.bsky.social, talking about the prospects for each party in May, with a good bit more detail and nuance possible across a solid 20 minutes of chat!
Reposted by Brendan Paddy
Epstein said he was ‘asked everyday’ for advice on #MeToo: ‘So many guys reaching out to me’ www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Epstein said he was ‘asked everyday’ for advice on #MeToo: ‘So many guys reaching out to me’
Files released by DoJ reveal the financier engaging in efforts to blunt the impact of the movement as it was gaining ground
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Epstein said he was ‘asked everyday’ for advice on #MeToo: ‘So many guys reaching out to me’ www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
