C John Hughes
pen0lver.bsky.social
C John Hughes
@pen0lver.bsky.social
Retired Chartered Librarian BA (Open) Former ILM consultant. Rock, Jazz, Blues (Folk). Bolton Wanderers. Film/theatre/politics. Socialist.
Father of two and grandfather of four. I'm 82.
Reposts are lazy. No DMs pse.
Disagree but no sustained arguing.
I like the sound of this new county council strategy:

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
County council unveils ambitious strategy for a stronger future, built together | Gloucestershire County Council
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk
November 14, 2025 at 11:42 PM
It was tried once before with Preston Leyland and Chorley (which I named Presley when asked) but that was the wrong time. Now, I think the duplication savings could be enormous for the willing authorities:

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
Gloucestershire County Council signals support for single unitary proposal | Gloucestershire County Council
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
With the alternative PMs likely to be available at the next general election, why does The Guardian persist in going for Starmer? It feels like the issue of balanced reporting is back of the bus i.e. discriminatory.

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Starmer stands by McSweeney and says he has been ‘assured no briefings against ministers done from No 10’ – UK politics live
PM says he has ‘full confidence’ in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney amid calls for him to be sacked
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:59 PM
An interesting breakdown on who supports Reform UK and their reasons. This could be a basis for Labour to address all these groups individually, instead of believing that they will not be a threat at the next general election

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Who supports Reform and why? The charts that show who favours Farage’s party
Based on largest poll of supporters, these charts and maps show five distinct groups that could hand Reform a majority
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:47 AM
It is essential that Ukraine gains membership of the EU before 2030, although this piece doubts that will happen due to at least one far right veto.

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Zelenskyy calls for Ukraine to join EU before 2030 after commission delivers warning on corruption - as it happened
EU says reforms needed ‘with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law’ to have a chance to ‘provisionally close accession negotiations by the end of 2028’
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is updating its approach to presentation, in order to allow quality over quantity and create better guidance and trust in its support to government and others:

www.ons.gov.uk/news/stateme...
Letter from the ONS Permanent Secretary to Penny Young, Deputy Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, 12 November 2025 - Office for National Statistics
www.ons.gov.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM
The New Statesman has a negative view of Keir Starmer with the strapline "What Keir won't hear". He has stated clearly that he will reject all calls for him to resign, whether from within his party or beyond That should be clear enough. Compare him to the multitude of Tory PMs forced to resign.
November 12, 2025 at 10:06 AM
This new book by a former ambassador to both the UK and the US, João Vale de Almeida, is an interesting take on current world politics and the title says it all:

thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/...
The Divorce of Nations
Today, we find ourselves in arguably the most dangerous geopolitical situations of modern time. Outlining key moments over the last quarter century, this vital book represents the personal testimony o...
thehistorypress.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:53 AM
@archive.org

For anyone interested in the development of scientific discovery from the early 20th C to space exploration, these NASA collection images are an excellent start, and prove the worth of libraries and archives: posterity/

archive.org/details/grea...
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine
archive.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:54 PM
The Gloucestershire Equipment Loan Service is remarkable in itself, and to be able to celebrate with awards to the staff delivering it, is very appropriate.

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gcc-news/new...
Celebrating over 560 years of dedicated service | Gloucestershire County Council
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:56 AM
@uktvguy.bsky.social

I don't normally go for love stories, but this one has Gillian Anderson in the lead role in "Trespasses" on Channel 5. So, I may make an exception and watch it with my wife.

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Trespasses: ​Gillian Anderson steals every scene in this miraculous TV heartbreaker
Lola Petticrew and Tom Cullen’s chemistry in this tale of secret passion during the Troubles will floor you. But it is Anderson as a sour, ragey alcoholic who truly mesmerises
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Yes, but who created this chaotic legacy? I'm damn sure it wasn't Labour!

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Overcrowding, understaffing and old IT: chaotic context to prison release errors
Mistaken releases from HMP Wandsworth should come as little surprise given near-impossible circumstances
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:03 AM
The wall that Trump built in pictures. Actually a remarkable, though politically negative, structure:

www.theguardian.com/us-news/gall...
View from the border: the wall dividing the US and Mexico – in pictures
The structure, variously known as the border fence or border wall, is not continuous and only covers sections of the almost 2,000-mile boundary between the two countries. It consists of a series of ob...
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
UN chastises COP attendees for their inability to reach a 1.5 degees C target, calling it a "moral failure".

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Missing 1.5C climate target is a moral failure, UN chief tells Cop30 summit
UN secretary general António Guterres urges opening session in Brazil to bring about a ‘fundamental paradigm shift’
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Putin turns on his own: a sign of insecurity or just Trumpian?

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Putin’s repressive machinery turns inward to target pro-war figures
Analysts say a purge of the Russian regime’s own supporters is under way as rival factions turn on each other
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
He was an icon for fellow drummers and played with some of the greatest jazzers. I had an American drummer friend, Charles Connor, who admired him greatly too.

www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Jack DeJohnette obituary
Thrilling American jazz drummer, pianist and composer who played with some of the genre’s greatest stars
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:19 AM
In five years time, the EU could increase its hold in Europe by the addition of three countries, including Ukraine.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
EU could admit new members by 2030, says its foreign policy chief
Kaja Kallas tells reporters more countries could join 27-country bloc, including Montenegro, Albania and Ukraine
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
More good news for centrist politics. This time in a European country: Netherlands:

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Rob Jetten: anti-Wilders, ‘yes we can’ candidate poised to be next Dutch PM
As liberal-progressive D66 party makes huge gains in election, former junior athlete with ‘positive story’ and ‘vision’ leads race for power
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The pounding sound of Link Ray's "Rumble" hit us like a sledgehammer in the late 50s. When I play it now, it still has the same startling effect:

www.vintagerockmag.com/2025/08/stor...
Story Behind The Song: Link Wray’s Rumble
Link Wray’s Rumble practically invented the power chord, caused moral panic and inspired a whole generation to pick up an electric guitar
www.vintagerockmag.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Omer Bartov on Israel's stubborn refusal to respond to claims of genocide through its actions in Gaza.
bsky.app/profile/pros...
Prospect’s latest issue hits newsstands today! Here’s a preview of what you’ll find inside... 🧵

Our cover story is by Israeli genocide scholar Omer Bartov, who argues that Netanyahu’s onslaught against Gaza has been genocidal—but Israelis refuse to see it:
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/israel...
November 5, 2025 at 2:13 AM
The docudrama "Oslo" tonight is is excellent on the potential for peace between the Palestinians and Israel. The private secret talks between representatives of both sides brought together in Norway, almost worked. But once opened to the world via the US, failed.

www.tvguide.com/movies/oslo/...
Oslo
Learn more about the full cast of Oslo with news, photos, videos and more at TV Guide
www.tvguide.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:10 AM