Alan Smith
@mralanjohnsmith.bsky.social
[Something vaguely political but non-committal]
[Own views disclaimer]
He/him
[Own views disclaimer]
He/him
Reposted by Alan Smith
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
I guess he wants to be the richest fascist since Augustus Caesar without having to bother about running a country
Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm thanked the electric-vehicle maker's shareholders on Monday for approving CEO Elon Musk's $878 billion pay package.
Tesla chair thanks investors for approving Musk's $878 billion pay package
Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm thanked the electric-vehicle maker's shareholders on Monday for approving CEO Elon Musk's $878 billion pay package.
reut.rs
November 10, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I guess he wants to be the richest fascist since Augustus Caesar without having to bother about running a country
Redundancy after fifth word.
When considering rainbow text, don't forget to consider readability and legibility. Text filled with rainbows can be difficult to read. Same with complex rainbow backgrounds. Putting each word or letter in a different color of the rainbow could force readers to work harder.
November 10, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Redundancy after fifth word.
This is worth a read.
So many of my friends are anti-BBC, which infuriates me. It's like being anti-NHS because the Tories made cuts to your hospital. Would you rather have US-style healthcare? I think the BBC is an important thing to defend, improving it as it goes.
So many of my friends are anti-BBC, which infuriates me. It's like being anti-NHS because the Tories made cuts to your hospital. Would you rather have US-style healthcare? I think the BBC is an important thing to defend, improving it as it goes.
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
This is worth a read.
So many of my friends are anti-BBC, which infuriates me. It's like being anti-NHS because the Tories made cuts to your hospital. Would you rather have US-style healthcare? I think the BBC is an important thing to defend, improving it as it goes.
So many of my friends are anti-BBC, which infuriates me. It's like being anti-NHS because the Tories made cuts to your hospital. Would you rather have US-style healthcare? I think the BBC is an important thing to defend, improving it as it goes.
Reposted by Alan Smith
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Alan Smith
We deserve our doom, and I am just really sorry for everyone else we're taking with us.
A new four-lane highway cutting through tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest is being built for the COP30 climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belém.
www.bbc.com/news/article... @paulisci.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article... @paulisci.bsky.social
Amazon rainforest cut down to build highway for COP climate summit
The infrastructure required to host COP30 in Belém is undermining the cause, campaigners say.
www.bbc.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:00 PM
We deserve our doom, and I am just really sorry for everyone else we're taking with us.
Reposted by Alan Smith
Just a little more gold and it will be perfect
November 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Just a little more gold and it will be perfect
Here. And it's brilliant.
It’s Trouble At Mill day! We’re all ready for action, set-up went smoothly and we absolutely didn’t cause any drama or get into trouble 😬🔥
We can’t wait to see you all for a noisy riot later!
We can’t wait to see you all for a noisy riot later!
November 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Here. And it's brilliant.
Reposted by Alan Smith
Was this the best use of my time today? No. Is it the most amusing way I could have spent the last 90 minutes? Absolutely. Pattern is free here: bit.ly/4nGGCGc
November 6, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Was this the best use of my time today? No. Is it the most amusing way I could have spent the last 90 minutes? Absolutely. Pattern is free here: bit.ly/4nGGCGc
Just putting this image out there, because it is probably useful
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Just putting this image out there, because it is probably useful
Reposted by Alan Smith
Regressive, anti-environment talk from… the Lib Dems’ Tim Farron.
I dare @timfarron.bsky.social to publish the ‘evidence’ he claims to have here that Sea Eagles “would not enhance biodiversity” & would be a “huge threat” to lambs
Ignorant & scaremongering
www.wfelibdems.uk/news/article...
I dare @timfarron.bsky.social to publish the ‘evidence’ he claims to have here that Sea Eagles “would not enhance biodiversity” & would be a “huge threat” to lambs
Ignorant & scaremongering
www.wfelibdems.uk/news/article...
Tim Farron calls for rethink over plans to reintroduce sea eagles to Cumbria
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has written to the Lake District National Park Authority, raising concerns about the impact the potential reintroduction of sea eagles will have on sheep farms i...
www.wfelibdems.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Regressive, anti-environment talk from… the Lib Dems’ Tim Farron.
I dare @timfarron.bsky.social to publish the ‘evidence’ he claims to have here that Sea Eagles “would not enhance biodiversity” & would be a “huge threat” to lambs
Ignorant & scaremongering
www.wfelibdems.uk/news/article...
I dare @timfarron.bsky.social to publish the ‘evidence’ he claims to have here that Sea Eagles “would not enhance biodiversity” & would be a “huge threat” to lambs
Ignorant & scaremongering
www.wfelibdems.uk/news/article...
Did AI summarise the article for this post?
Poundland has pulled a bag of nuts from its shelves after the product was found to contain glass, making it unsafe to eat.
Poundland issues urgent 'do not eat' warning as snack could contain glass
www.mirror.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Did AI summarise the article for this post?
Reposted by Alan Smith
“More people could have died in the past week in El Fasher, and this is without hyperbole, than died in the past two years in Gaza,” says Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director at Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, who joins Mehdi remotely.”
zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
Sudan's Death Toll Could Exceed Gaza’s. Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Two experts on Sudan explain how the killing in El Fasher is worse than anyone knows.
zeteo.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:27 AM
“More people could have died in the past week in El Fasher, and this is without hyperbole, than died in the past two years in Gaza,” says Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director at Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, who joins Mehdi remotely.”
zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
Reposted by Alan Smith
The crucial bit of this tactical 'only Labour or Reform can win here' VI poll, though, is that Labour and Reform would be tied.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The crucial bit of this tactical 'only Labour or Reform can win here' VI poll, though, is that Labour and Reform would be tied.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
Not enough Lib Dem or Green voters are (right now) prepared to tactically vote for Labour to offset the number of Tories willing to tactically vote for Reform.
I'm with the 3% on this, when I'm in a purist mood, with the 13% when feeling pragmatic.
With i News recently hosting a debate on whether it is possible to be an ethical landlord, we asked Britons - is being a landlord immoral?
Always immoral: 3%
Usually, with exceptions: 13%
Usually not, with exceptions: 46%
Never immoral: 19%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Always immoral: 3%
Usually, with exceptions: 13%
Usually not, with exceptions: 46%
Never immoral: 19%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
November 5, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I'm with the 3% on this, when I'm in a purist mood, with the 13% when feeling pragmatic.
Reposted by Alan Smith
The racism is boiling over - what have we become?
Conservative Councillor Accused of 'Old-Fashioned Racism' After Saying 'Young Black Males' Are 'Flooding' the UK
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/05/c...
Conservative Councillor Accused of 'Old-Fashioned Racism' After Saying 'Young Black Males' Are 'Flooding' the UK
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/05/c...
Conservative Councillor Accused of 'Old-Fashioned Racism' After Saying 'Young Black Males' Are 'Flooding' the UK
EXCLUSIVE: Pauline Giles defended her comments to Byline Times, saying that "we cannot sustain the volume of young black males" that "jeopardises the security of our country"
bylinetimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The racism is boiling over - what have we become?
Conservative Councillor Accused of 'Old-Fashioned Racism' After Saying 'Young Black Males' Are 'Flooding' the UK
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/05/c...
Conservative Councillor Accused of 'Old-Fashioned Racism' After Saying 'Young Black Males' Are 'Flooding' the UK
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/05/c...
Wes Streeting may be right that Mamdani's election has lessons for progressives the world over. The lesson would be: ditch the shit candidates with policies barely discernable from your opponents and choose genuine progressives instead.
November 5, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Wes Streeting may be right that Mamdani's election has lessons for progressives the world over. The lesson would be: ditch the shit candidates with policies barely discernable from your opponents and choose genuine progressives instead.
Reposted by Alan Smith
The lesson of history is that tyrants cannot be appeased.
Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.
Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.
But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.
Remember this.
Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.
Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.
But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.
Remember this.
November 5, 2025 at 5:28 AM
The lesson of history is that tyrants cannot be appeased.
Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.
Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.
But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.
Remember this.
Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.
Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.
But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.
Remember this.
Teen Vogue had been a surprising (surprising to me, since it's not on my reading list) source of resistance to right wing hatred in the USA through its politics content for young people (see link for examples). Recent sackings included all their politics journalists. www.teenvogue.com/news-politics
November 5, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Teen Vogue had been a surprising (surprising to me, since it's not on my reading list) source of resistance to right wing hatred in the USA through its politics content for young people (see link for examples). Recent sackings included all their politics journalists. www.teenvogue.com/news-politics
Reposted by Alan Smith
The far right want you to believe that immigration causes an explosion of crime.
It's simply untrue.
Crime has gone down - and crucially, we are a markedly less violent society than we once were.
It's simply untrue.
Crime has gone down - and crucially, we are a markedly less violent society than we once were.
November 5, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The far right want you to believe that immigration causes an explosion of crime.
It's simply untrue.
Crime has gone down - and crucially, we are a markedly less violent society than we once were.
It's simply untrue.
Crime has gone down - and crucially, we are a markedly less violent society than we once were.
The joke that ‘Guy Fawkes was the last honest man to enter Parliament,’ annoys me. This was pre-democracy. Fawkes wanted to kill a protestant monarch and replace them with a Catholic monarch. For the last 98 years we and our neighbours have been responsible for who sits in parliament.
November 5, 2025 at 8:36 AM
The joke that ‘Guy Fawkes was the last honest man to enter Parliament,’ annoys me. This was pre-democracy. Fawkes wanted to kill a protestant monarch and replace them with a Catholic monarch. For the last 98 years we and our neighbours have been responsible for who sits in parliament.
Reposted by Alan Smith
Gozer the Destroyer’s final form has been chosen.
Inflatable monster falls from Nottingham rooftop
The inflatable monster fell from the rooftop of the Victoria Centre on Saturday morning.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Gozer the Destroyer’s final form has been chosen.
Reposted by Alan Smith
It's not in this article but the government asserts that the sandwich was thrown at "point blank range", which implies subway sandwiches have defined effective weapon ranges of varying lethality, and I would like to see the government's chart of these ranges.
Trial Begins for Man Accused of Lobbing a Sandwich at a Federal Agent www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
Trial Begins for Man Accused of Lobbing a Sandwich at a Federal Agent
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:14 PM
It's not in this article but the government asserts that the sandwich was thrown at "point blank range", which implies subway sandwiches have defined effective weapon ranges of varying lethality, and I would like to see the government's chart of these ranges.
There's a way of being in political circles that thinks people who disagree with you can be treated badly until they're driven away and your view prevails. But what if your view is wrong, and your wrong end was used to justify wrong means? But I guess everyone thinks they're right, so it's fine?
November 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
There's a way of being in political circles that thinks people who disagree with you can be treated badly until they're driven away and your view prevails. But what if your view is wrong, and your wrong end was used to justify wrong means? But I guess everyone thinks they're right, so it's fine?