Keith
@keithcowans.bsky.social
A space for books, art, film, comedy, the world, the universe. Manager and co-owner of @thebookvault.bsky.social, Barnsley. "Empathises with chickens", Andy Zaltzman, The Bugle.
Reposted by Keith
Trump sues Everybody!
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Trump sues Everybody!
I got one of these codes and caught up and listened again to the downloaded tracks. Excellent music, will be exploring the rest.
Some free d/l codes here, for Falling but not Alone, a record from 2023:
a777-c3w3
hlsw-uep5
fclh-bu5e
pqe4-ecg5
rr74-3w2f
hx57-e5w2
lhd5-eaes
4e4g-ubrd
4rsn-ehhh
cl4l-u5p5
ccph-ju3r
worriedaboutsatan.bandcamp.com/yum
a777-c3w3
hlsw-uep5
fclh-bu5e
pqe4-ecg5
rr74-3w2f
hx57-e5w2
lhd5-eaes
4e4g-ubrd
4rsn-ehhh
cl4l-u5p5
ccph-ju3r
worriedaboutsatan.bandcamp.com/yum
November 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I got one of these codes and caught up and listened again to the downloaded tracks. Excellent music, will be exploring the rest.
If this is true then good, though if it is an ethical decision then the ethics haven't changed between the election and now. I would imagine there will be similar areas of spending to justify tax rises, not complex to figure out.
NEW: Rachel Reeves signals she intends to remove the two-child cap *in full*
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If this is true then good, though if it is an ethical decision then the ethics haven't changed between the election and now. I would imagine there will be similar areas of spending to justify tax rises, not complex to figure out.
Reposted by Keith
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
Every economics-based analysis I read before the election said the same thing. Labour knew they were going to win and could have been more progressive in this area. Despite many warnings, they chose the path they took.
While going through the proofs for "The British General Election of 2024" (out very soon!) I came across this - Paul Johnson of the IFS's verdict on Labour's manifesto last year. Labour's current attempts to claim the need to break their tax pledges was impossible to forsee don't stack up
November 10, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Every economics-based analysis I read before the election said the same thing. Labour knew they were going to win and could have been more progressive in this area. Despite many warnings, they chose the path they took.
Reposted by Keith
The Mamdani political sign generator is kinda fun https://homes.luddy.indiana.edu/ccshan/for/for.html
November 8, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The Mamdani political sign generator is kinda fun https://homes.luddy.indiana.edu/ccshan/for/for.html
My seat and many around me are a straight LAB/RFM contest at the moment. More votes to LD/G would mean they don't finish 4th and 5th in the next GE.
LAB/LD/GN will probably have more votes between them than RFM/CON, as they do now, and we will have a RFM MP.
LAB/LD/GN will probably have more votes between them than RFM/CON, as they do now, and we will have a RFM MP.
Notable in today's YouGov that the centre/left bloc - Lab/Green/LD/SNP are on 54%. With Reform/Tories on 43%. That's the biggest differential in a long time.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
November 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
My seat and many around me are a straight LAB/RFM contest at the moment. More votes to LD/G would mean they don't finish 4th and 5th in the next GE.
LAB/LD/GN will probably have more votes between them than RFM/CON, as they do now, and we will have a RFM MP.
LAB/LD/GN will probably have more votes between them than RFM/CON, as they do now, and we will have a RFM MP.
Second listen, @clppng.bsky.social just as good. Checked and it is the same Kid Koala I remember listening to on John Peel xx years ago. Occasionally listen to old Peel shows and have come across early Captain Ahab, Drexciya, amongst all else.
Thanks NPR Music
clipping.: Tiny Desk Concert
YouTube video by NPR Music
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Second listen, @clppng.bsky.social just as good. Checked and it is the same Kid Koala I remember listening to on John Peel xx years ago. Occasionally listen to old Peel shows and have come across early Captain Ahab, Drexciya, amongst all else.
Reposted by Keith
The fundamental problem:
58% of voters want public spending maintained or increased.
67% want taxes to stay at their current level or be cut.
In reality, it’s a binary choice. Taxes go up, or spending is cut. That’s it.
58% of voters want public spending maintained or increased.
67% want taxes to stay at their current level or be cut.
In reality, it’s a binary choice. Taxes go up, or spending is cut. That’s it.
October 31, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The fundamental problem:
58% of voters want public spending maintained or increased.
67% want taxes to stay at their current level or be cut.
In reality, it’s a binary choice. Taxes go up, or spending is cut. That’s it.
58% of voters want public spending maintained or increased.
67% want taxes to stay at their current level or be cut.
In reality, it’s a binary choice. Taxes go up, or spending is cut. That’s it.
Reposted by Keith
Reposted by Keith
![[Scene is a high school classroom. A teacher is writing on the whiteboard 'ACT 2 SCENE 3'.]
TEACHER:
OK class - open up Macbeth to Act 2 Scene 3...
TEACHER:
So - does anybody have any ideas on Shakespeares meaning behind the character of 'the Porter' in this scene?
[A voice comes from off-scene, behind the teacher's back[.
VOICE:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
TEACHER [turning round]:
Sorry….. who are you?
[We see a wider scene that shows it is the GHOST OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, hovering over the heads of the startled students]
SHAKESPEARE:
I'm the Ghost of Shakespeare and I've come back to say: this scene means *absolutely nothing*.
The Porter is a funny drunk bloke I lobbed in to cover a costume change!
I mean like, not everything I did was genius OK? Stop giving me the ick.
TEACHER:
So um...what do you suggest we study?
SHAKESPEARE:
The most important text in British culture!
TEACHER:
Which is...?
SHAKESPEARE:
'Bollocks People Say on the Internet.'
TEACHER:
You think we should study... bollocks people say on the internet?
SHAKESPEARE:
Yes.
TEACHER:
But Mr Shakespeare... your Porter scene was a question in a past GCSE paper...
We need to analyse it so the kids don't end up failing their exams...
SHAKESPEARE:
Yes, and I'm just suggesting you should analyse Bollocks People Say on the Internet instead, so they don't end up painting flags on roundabouts.
[Silent pause]
TEACHER:
OK class - open up your phones to X...
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibtvzkb3yqcbhukrxomiex5bcmtrsgbqu7fgx44upb3fgyewmcxbi@jpeg)
Reposted by Keith
Nelson's Victory crew included a Brazilian and a Russian, 2 Indians, 2 Swiss, 2 Portuguese, 3 Danes and 3 Norwegian sailors. There were 3 Germans, 4 Italians, 6 Swedes, 7 Dutchmen, 9 West Indians and an African, as well as 21 Americans, 63 Irish, 64 Scots, 441 English.... oh, and 3 French men, too.
October 22, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Nelson's Victory crew included a Brazilian and a Russian, 2 Indians, 2 Swiss, 2 Portuguese, 3 Danes and 3 Norwegian sailors. There were 3 Germans, 4 Italians, 6 Swedes, 7 Dutchmen, 9 West Indians and an African, as well as 21 Americans, 63 Irish, 64 Scots, 441 English.... oh, and 3 French men, too.
This would be good if we had PR (which we should) and you could the SNP seats in Scotland into a coalition. But we don't. We have fptp and so long as polling stays where it is, particularly Labour, things may go for the minority group.
Latest YouGov opinion poll:
Reform + Conservatives: 43%
Labour + Lib Dems + Greens: 50%
Reform + Conservatives: 43%
Labour + Lib Dems + Greens: 50%
October 21, 2025 at 11:42 AM
This would be good if we had PR (which we should) and you could the SNP seats in Scotland into a coalition. But we don't. We have fptp and so long as polling stays where it is, particularly Labour, things may go for the minority group.
Reposted by Keith
For what it's worth, I don't think the government should be commenting on every repulsive thing said by Conservative backbenchers. (Though their own leader should take a view).
What it *should* be doing is articulating a clear position of its own. It's *that* silence which is the big problem.
What it *should* be doing is articulating a clear position of its own. It's *that* silence which is the big problem.
Worth saying that despite asking for more than 12 hours we’ve had nothing back from Labour on this
A Conservative MP tipped as a future party leader has been condemned for saying large numbers of legally settled families must be deported, in order to ensure the UK is mostly “culturally coherent”.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
October 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
For what it's worth, I don't think the government should be commenting on every repulsive thing said by Conservative backbenchers. (Though their own leader should take a view).
What it *should* be doing is articulating a clear position of its own. It's *that* silence which is the big problem.
What it *should* be doing is articulating a clear position of its own. It's *that* silence which is the big problem.
Never used spotify, never will precisely for these reasons. Aside from something like YTube to check out someone I haven't heard before buying (if they aren't on bandcamp), I don't use any streamers. Support artists, buy their music, books, pictures, etc.
“Average musician makes $12 a month on Spotify. The fact that they are not even able to sell a record and it’s taken from them by rich motherfuckers on streaming platforms who get paid royally by record labels,Ticketmaster, merch companies. They’re all fucking getting paid, except for the musician.”
Garbage’s Shirley Manson Speaks Out Against Music Industry Economics: “This Is An Alarm Call”
Just before they kicked off their current run of dates, the ’90s alt-rock greats Garbage announced that it would be their final North American headline tour. When the band played at Denver’s Mission B...
www.stereogum.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Never used spotify, never will precisely for these reasons. Aside from something like YTube to check out someone I haven't heard before buying (if they aren't on bandcamp), I don't use any streamers. Support artists, buy their music, books, pictures, etc.
Reposted by Keith
![1
Nurse:
It’s become a real problem in this area
2
Nurse:
We’ve seen the whole community lost to addiction
3
Show a building sign posted:
Westminster ‘X’ Addiction Clinic
With various Westminster people or looking at their phones outside it
Nurse:
Ministers, Spads, Researchers…
4
Nurse:
Most mornings we’ll get a call about someone acting strangely
[Nurse on phone taking a call]
Ok - we’ll be right over
5
Nurse:
We just have a gentle chat
[Nurses approach a minister –Robert Jenrick? - standing in the Palace of Westminster
Minister:
I understand your concerns…
6
Nurse:
Are you OK love?
Minister:
Yes I’m just hearing legitimate concerns from real voters
7
Nurse:
That’s a robot, a Nazi and a poorly-disguised Russian
[Show that the people he is talking to are precisely these characters]
Nurse 2:
Give us your phone, love
8
Nurse:
At the clinic we put them in a Grass-Touching Pod, with a real voter to talk to
[We see them back at the clinic, holding the minister's head and pushing him into a glass isolation booth with a grass floor. And it is a baffled looking woman, on a chair, ready to talk to him.]
9
Minister:
YOU MUST BE WORRIED ABOUT THE COMING CIVIL WAR
[woman looks baffled]
10
woman:
I just want a bus service
Minister:
LOOK AT MY FLAG
[produces a St George's flag]
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreicahofq6s4xow7vowj7dx6odw6ejdwr4kwcmzta7qwi4hg2nvywji@jpeg)
Reposted by Keith
BRAND NEW Far Side from Gary Larson just dropped
October 16, 2025 at 6:24 PM
BRAND NEW Far Side from Gary Larson just dropped
Read this earlier, I note the only real publisher on this panel spoke out against. Though didn't get as much emphasis. No reputable publisher would go down this route.
The 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair heard that developments in AI audiobooks mean publishers will no longer have to decide whether to translate a book, but instead just choose which market to translate into 👇 #FBM25
AI audio means publishers ‘don’t have to choose whether to translate, only which market’, FBF hears
ebx.sh
October 15, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Read this earlier, I note the only real publisher on this panel spoke out against. Though didn't get as much emphasis. No reputable publisher would go down this route.
Reposted by Keith
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
October 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Happy 18th birthday to @thebugle.bsky.social! Day off, listened to Top Stories with Vanity Smurf, watched @alicefraser.bsky.social and @harikondabolu.bsky.social on the new ep. (go Team Bugle), and Alice again on Realms Unknown. Will get round to booking the livestream ticket soon.
October 15, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Happy 18th birthday to @thebugle.bsky.social! Day off, listened to Top Stories with Vanity Smurf, watched @alicefraser.bsky.social and @harikondabolu.bsky.social on the new ep. (go Team Bugle), and Alice again on Realms Unknown. Will get round to booking the livestream ticket soon.
Yes, though numbers are more transient. I still remember the first home number we had from a house we moved out of when I was 11. I have a new mobile and haven't the faintest idea of what the number is (yet) without looking it up.
If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.
October 13, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Yes, though numbers are more transient. I still remember the first home number we had from a house we moved out of when I was 11. I have a new mobile and haven't the faintest idea of what the number is (yet) without looking it up.
Sharing as I lose track of where to find these tracks. And because more people should see them.
Remembering that insane moment in time when music released on Deathbomb was performed not once, but twice on national television.
vimeo.com/203355384
vimeo.com/204706256
vimeo.com/203355384
vimeo.com/204706256
A Better Place on the Late Late Show
This is "A Better Place on the Late Late Show" by intoxicatingimmediacy on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
vimeo.com
October 12, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Sharing as I lose track of where to find these tracks. And because more people should see them.
Anyone know what time Scotland start playing?
October 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Anyone know what time Scotland start playing?
I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked. Never saw this coming.
*gasp*
October 5, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked. Never saw this coming.
The Empire Strikes Bollocks
Saving Private Bollocks
Jurassic Bollocks
The Bollocks of Wrath...
Saving Private Bollocks
Jurassic Bollocks
The Bollocks of Wrath...
Some Sunday evening fun.
I’ll go first;
Ferris Bueller’s Bollocks Off.
I’ll go first;
Ferris Bueller’s Bollocks Off.
October 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
The Empire Strikes Bollocks
Saving Private Bollocks
Jurassic Bollocks
The Bollocks of Wrath...
Saving Private Bollocks
Jurassic Bollocks
The Bollocks of Wrath...