Alwin
@netherschot.bsky.social
Dutch living in Gtr Manchester, with a Scottish accent and a penchant for proper journalism and green politics. Fan of travel by cycle and motorbike, keen on miniature rail and other small adventures. Former poet, aspiring novelist #FBPE #FBSI
Pinned
Alwin
@netherschot.bsky.social
· Nov 26
It's time to start using Hitchens' razor in politics.
"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."
With a slight adjustment.
"Those who assert without evidence should be dismissed without an appeal to reason."
It'd be the end of many a political career.
"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."
With a slight adjustment.
"Those who assert without evidence should be dismissed without an appeal to reason."
It'd be the end of many a political career.
Reposted by Alwin
Bluesky isn’t perfect but at least its owner isn’t demanding violent insurrection in the UK from thousands of miles away
September 14, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Bluesky isn’t perfect but at least its owner isn’t demanding violent insurrection in the UK from thousands of miles away
Reposted by Alwin
Government is treating human beings like pawns on a chess board, indifferent to the human suffering caused by this inhumane system.
The idea we would keep someone apart from their family, who they're entitled to join in the UK, as a negotiation tactic, is heartbreaking.
www.ft.com/content/f40a...
The idea we would keep someone apart from their family, who they're entitled to join in the UK, as a negotiation tactic, is heartbreaking.
www.ft.com/content/f40a...
UK and France in talks over a migrant returns agreement
Britain would be able to deport one person in exchange for the French sending another individual the other way
www.ft.com
April 17, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Government is treating human beings like pawns on a chess board, indifferent to the human suffering caused by this inhumane system.
The idea we would keep someone apart from their family, who they're entitled to join in the UK, as a negotiation tactic, is heartbreaking.
www.ft.com/content/f40a...
The idea we would keep someone apart from their family, who they're entitled to join in the UK, as a negotiation tactic, is heartbreaking.
www.ft.com/content/f40a...
Reposted by Alwin
Die Nachricht aus #Örebro erschüttert mich zutiefst. Wenn ein Ort des Lernens zum Schauplatz tödlicher Gewalt wird, macht das fassungslos. In diesen schweren Stunden sind meine Gedanken bei den Opfern & ihren Familien. Unser ganzes Mitgefühl gilt unseren Freunden in #Schweden.
February 4, 2025 at 7:32 PM
If this were a Scottish Parliament election the SNP would go from 62 to 53 seats, Labour would go from 22 to 24, Cons from 31 to 15 as Reform go from 0 to 15, Lib Dems from 4 to 12, Greens from 7 to 10 and Alba from 1 to none.
The news may say Reform is surging. Really the Cons are split is all.
The news may say Reform is surging. Really the Cons are split is all.
New Survation Scottish Parliament poll.
Constituency vote:
SNP 35%
LAB 23%
RUK 14%
CON 13%
LD 8%
Green 5%
Alba 1%
Constituency vote:
SNP 35%
LAB 23%
RUK 14%
CON 13%
LD 8%
Green 5%
Alba 1%
January 15, 2025 at 1:37 PM
If this were a Scottish Parliament election the SNP would go from 62 to 53 seats, Labour would go from 22 to 24, Cons from 31 to 15 as Reform go from 0 to 15, Lib Dems from 4 to 12, Greens from 7 to 10 and Alba from 1 to none.
The news may say Reform is surging. Really the Cons are split is all.
The news may say Reform is surging. Really the Cons are split is all.
Reposted by Alwin
Villain of "You've been Trumped" who wrecked the natural environment in Scotland shocks the world by wrecking the environment back home.
The unusual pronouncement makes it sound as though there will soon be two sets of environmental rules in the US: one for the wealthy, and one for everybody else.
futurism.com/elon-musk-tr...
futurism.com/elon-musk-tr...
Elon Musk Gloats as Trump Announces Billionaires Will Be Exempt From Normal Environmental Rules
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is dancing with joy now that Donald Trump has promised him that he will no longer have to abide by environmental rules.
futurism.com
December 11, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Villain of "You've been Trumped" who wrecked the natural environment in Scotland shocks the world by wrecking the environment back home.
Curious how Assad managed to get a flight across two active war zones, surviving a staged plane crash to then get asylum in Moscow.
The Kremlin found it easy to kill all passengers and crew of MH17 ten years ago, so what's changed? Have their rockets got in-built tyrant-avoidance?
The Kremlin found it easy to kill all passengers and crew of MH17 ten years ago, so what's changed? Have their rockets got in-built tyrant-avoidance?
December 9, 2024 at 10:09 AM
Curious how Assad managed to get a flight across two active war zones, surviving a staged plane crash to then get asylum in Moscow.
The Kremlin found it easy to kill all passengers and crew of MH17 ten years ago, so what's changed? Have their rockets got in-built tyrant-avoidance?
The Kremlin found it easy to kill all passengers and crew of MH17 ten years ago, so what's changed? Have their rockets got in-built tyrant-avoidance?
Reposted by Alwin
Reposted by Alwin
"An agreement to sell The Observer to news start-up Tortoise Media prompted a row at an all-staff company meeting hours after the deal was struck.
"Bosses were jeered & accused by staff of concocting an 'establishment stitch-up' & 'riding roughshod over our values'"
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
"Bosses were jeered & accused by staff of concocting an 'establishment stitch-up' & 'riding roughshod over our values'"
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
Observer sold to Tortoise Media despite strike by Guardian staff
The Sunday title will go behind a paywall as the buyer pays ‘nominal amount’ and pledges to invest £25 million
www.thetimes.com
December 7, 2024 at 11:54 AM
"An agreement to sell The Observer to news start-up Tortoise Media prompted a row at an all-staff company meeting hours after the deal was struck.
"Bosses were jeered & accused by staff of concocting an 'establishment stitch-up' & 'riding roughshod over our values'"
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
"Bosses were jeered & accused by staff of concocting an 'establishment stitch-up' & 'riding roughshod over our values'"
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
Reposted by Alwin
Yesterday my voice-to-text heard me ask: why were gigabytes Spanish from Scotland?
That is a good question with some interesting answers, but did nothing to solve my real query: why were Jacobites banished from Scotland?
That is a good question with some interesting answers, but did nothing to solve my real query: why were Jacobites banished from Scotland?
December 6, 2024 at 7:35 PM
Yesterday my voice-to-text heard me ask: why were gigabytes Spanish from Scotland?
That is a good question with some interesting answers, but did nothing to solve my real query: why were Jacobites banished from Scotland?
That is a good question with some interesting answers, but did nothing to solve my real query: why were Jacobites banished from Scotland?
Reposted by Alwin
Bloody windy in Blackpool today!
December 7, 2024 at 12:08 PM
Bloody windy in Blackpool today!
Reposted by Alwin
I think it's going to be a bigger hellscape than anyone could have imagined.
“This is an enormous heist. They’re just backing the truck up to the government in front of all of us. A massive bailout to the crypto world,” says @chrislhayes.bsky.social on the GOP crypto bill.
December 7, 2024 at 10:48 AM
I think it's going to be a bigger hellscape than anyone could have imagined.
Reposted by Alwin
Reposted by Alwin
Where's our Referendum?
December 4, 2024 at 10:38 PM
Where's our Referendum?
Reposted by Alwin
What a great description.
December 5, 2024 at 7:38 AM
What a great description.
Totez makes sense that Christianity started with a male Karen feeling wronged.
JOSEPH: got any rooms
INNKEEPER: no
JOSEPH: i want to see your manager
INNKEEPER: okay but i think it’s pronounced “manger”
INNKEEPER: no
JOSEPH: i want to see your manager
INNKEEPER: okay but i think it’s pronounced “manger”
December 4, 2024 at 9:25 PM
Totez makes sense that Christianity started with a male Karen feeling wronged.
Somewhat depressingly my top song in 2024 is pure escapism. The theme tune to a long forgotten BBC conedy-drama set in the Scottish Highlands. Dreamy.
#SpotifyWrapped
open.spotify.com/wrapped/shar...
#SpotifyWrapped
open.spotify.com/wrapped/shar...
My top song of 2024 – listen now
2024 Wrapped
open.spotify.com
December 4, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Somewhat depressingly my top song in 2024 is pure escapism. The theme tune to a long forgotten BBC conedy-drama set in the Scottish Highlands. Dreamy.
#SpotifyWrapped
open.spotify.com/wrapped/shar...
#SpotifyWrapped
open.spotify.com/wrapped/shar...
Reposted by Alwin
In July, I FOI'd the Home Office for the full breakdown of spending on the Rwanda scheme
I was refused because the government planned to publish the data in future, and today is the day. These numbers are in millions
www.gov.uk/government/p...
I was refused because the government planned to publish the data in future, and today is the day. These numbers are in millions
www.gov.uk/government/p...
December 2, 2024 at 5:24 PM
In July, I FOI'd the Home Office for the full breakdown of spending on the Rwanda scheme
I was refused because the government planned to publish the data in future, and today is the day. These numbers are in millions
www.gov.uk/government/p...
I was refused because the government planned to publish the data in future, and today is the day. These numbers are in millions
www.gov.uk/government/p...
"Freedom Of Movement" is now a scary word for Labour. What a shower of cowards.
Oh come on Labour - so depressing to hear Pat McFadden say UK has no plans for a youth mobility scheme with the EU. We have schemes with NZ, Australia, Canada, Japan, Iceland, Uruguay & more - only reason not to have one with EU is fear of right wing press. Such cowardice @bbclaurak.bsky.social
December 2, 2024 at 7:00 PM
"Freedom Of Movement" is now a scary word for Labour. What a shower of cowards.
The previous Labour government invented the CIC. Community Interest Company.
If only they could now implement Leveson 2, then insist all media companies trading in the UK reform to CICs or Co-ops.Yeah, including social media companies.
If only they could now implement Leveson 2, then insist all media companies trading in the UK reform to CICs or Co-ops.Yeah, including social media companies.
“Just three companies, News Corp (Murdoch family), Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT, Viscount Rothermere) and Reach plc, control over 80% of daily newspaper circulation…
The hyper-rich continue to invest huge sums in acquiring control of media”
We need a free press - ie free from the billionaires.
The hyper-rich continue to invest huge sums in acquiring control of media”
We need a free press - ie free from the billionaires.
We need a free press
It’s vital for democracy that we receive verifiable information that is not manipulated or controlled
sussexbylines.co.uk
December 2, 2024 at 6:53 PM
The previous Labour government invented the CIC. Community Interest Company.
If only they could now implement Leveson 2, then insist all media companies trading in the UK reform to CICs or Co-ops.Yeah, including social media companies.
If only they could now implement Leveson 2, then insist all media companies trading in the UK reform to CICs or Co-ops.Yeah, including social media companies.
As a Dutchman this "going English" is something I can fully endorse 😂
Out for lunch with a friend, he suggested we 'split the bill down the middle', it was £47.22. So I did it vertically £47 for him, 22p for me. Perfect.
December 2, 2024 at 3:15 PM
As a Dutchman this "going English" is something I can fully endorse 😂
The US President pardons his own son from prosecution. Bit dodgy. Explains he did it because the prosecutors have been interfered with by political opponents. True, but what an indictment of US justice and politics in one fell swoop.
Rules don't apply anymore.
Rules don't apply anymore.
BREAKING: President Biden has signed a presidential pardon for his son Hunter Biden, a reversal from previous statements he would grant him neither a pardon nor commutation.
Joe Biden pardons Hunter Biden
"No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion."
www.axios.com
December 2, 2024 at 1:07 AM
The US President pardons his own son from prosecution. Bit dodgy. Explains he did it because the prosecutors have been interfered with by political opponents. True, but what an indictment of US justice and politics in one fell swoop.
Rules don't apply anymore.
Rules don't apply anymore.
Very much looking forward to a new season of #BBCTheTraitors on New Year's Day. Finger licking telly.
Though that's also just 5 days afore #USATheTraitor gets a vote count and - nevermind the antics in 2021 - keys to the presidency.
Though that's also just 5 days afore #USATheTraitor gets a vote count and - nevermind the antics in 2021 - keys to the presidency.
December 1, 2024 at 8:13 PM
Very much looking forward to a new season of #BBCTheTraitors on New Year's Day. Finger licking telly.
Though that's also just 5 days afore #USATheTraitor gets a vote count and - nevermind the antics in 2021 - keys to the presidency.
Though that's also just 5 days afore #USATheTraitor gets a vote count and - nevermind the antics in 2021 - keys to the presidency.
Reposted by Alwin
“This is beginning to really f*** me off."
Feargal Sharkey is back testing rivers for toxins, and he’s far from impressed by what he’s found in the River Wylye.
Feargal Sharkey is back testing rivers for toxins, and he’s far from impressed by what he’s found in the River Wylye.
November 29, 2024 at 9:55 AM
“This is beginning to really f*** me off."
Feargal Sharkey is back testing rivers for toxins, and he’s far from impressed by what he’s found in the River Wylye.
Feargal Sharkey is back testing rivers for toxins, and he’s far from impressed by what he’s found in the River Wylye.