Richard James Foster
@richardjamesfoster.bsky.social
Artist & writer. History & art buff. The Museum of Photocopies. Quietus. Guardian. Louder than War. WORM. Write about music, NL, & my family history. #MDANT. 2nd book, The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club is out. All stuff here. https://linktr.ee/richardfoster
Pinned
I’m delighted to say that you can now order the Punk Rock Birdwatching Club teeshirt and tote bag from the redoubtable @weare1of100.bsky.social link below!
weare1of100.co.uk/the-punk-roc...
weare1of100.co.uk/the-punk-roc...
Very insightful thread.
So, US climbdown on Greenland as the end of global turmoil for now?
Nope. Yesterday the EU in effect said China must agree to voluntarily hobble its own economy otherwise the WTO is dead.
We are entering very dangerous territory indeed. So what is happening?
(extract from EU paper below)
Nope. Yesterday the EU in effect said China must agree to voluntarily hobble its own economy otherwise the WTO is dead.
We are entering very dangerous territory indeed. So what is happening?
(extract from EU paper below)
January 22, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Very insightful thread.
Syd Dale… a name on the lips of breathless young things in the 1990s.
Syd Dale - Forewarning a. [UK, Library ] (1967) - this spooky yet hauntedly beautiful track was used as incidental music in the late 60s Spider-Man cartoon series.
https://redd.it/mqzsa3
https://youtu.be/mCOpwRNGWp0
https://redd.it/mqzsa3
https://youtu.be/mCOpwRNGWp0
Syd Dale - Forewarning a. [UK, Library ] (1967) - this spooky yet hauntedly beautiful track was used as incidental music in the late 60s Spider-Man cartoon series.
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Syd Dale… a name on the lips of breathless young things in the 1990s.
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Protecting nature isn’t optional.
Biodiversity loss isn't just bad for wildlife; it will have catastrophic consequences for people in the UK, and beyond.
We NEED nature. There's still time to protect it, but we need to act NOW.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Biodiversity loss isn't just bad for wildlife; it will have catastrophic consequences for people in the UK, and beyond.
We NEED nature. There's still time to protect it, but we need to act NOW.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn
Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Protecting nature isn’t optional.
Biodiversity loss isn't just bad for wildlife; it will have catastrophic consequences for people in the UK, and beyond.
We NEED nature. There's still time to protect it, but we need to act NOW.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Biodiversity loss isn't just bad for wildlife; it will have catastrophic consequences for people in the UK, and beyond.
We NEED nature. There's still time to protect it, but we need to act NOW.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Richard James Foster
This was absolutely the key point which so many people seemed to miss.
Guessing he had been unambiguously told by the JSC that military action was not on the cards and he had to say so explicitly, which he did.
Which is why he was so obviously frustrated. Because he’d already been told no.
Guessing he had been unambiguously told by the JSC that military action was not on the cards and he had to say so explicitly, which he did.
Which is why he was so obviously frustrated. Because he’d already been told no.
While I agree this speech is insane and bellicose, I would note how massively out of character it is for Trump to rule something out in any way. In some ways, the fact that he's been forced to do that by institutions likely has him absolutely feral.
January 21, 2026 at 8:41 PM
This was absolutely the key point which so many people seemed to miss.
Guessing he had been unambiguously told by the JSC that military action was not on the cards and he had to say so explicitly, which he did.
Which is why he was so obviously frustrated. Because he’d already been told no.
Guessing he had been unambiguously told by the JSC that military action was not on the cards and he had to say so explicitly, which he did.
Which is why he was so obviously frustrated. Because he’d already been told no.
Lord save us from European hubris in the coming years.
January 22, 2026 at 6:09 AM
Lord save us from European hubris in the coming years.
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Other work of the Ladybird artists.
‘Goldfinch’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
‘Goldfinch’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
January 21, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Other work of the Ladybird artists.
‘Goldfinch’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
‘Goldfinch’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Reposted by Richard James Foster
After another quiet uneventful day on planet Earth, it's comforting to relax at home watching Watford play Portsmouth.
January 21, 2026 at 7:47 PM
After another quiet uneventful day on planet Earth, it's comforting to relax at home watching Watford play Portsmouth.
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Drawing created by Martin Birch c.1970s, in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital where he was compelled to live.
I still maintain I know less than nothing, but I passed my viva this afternoon so this dickhead here is Dr Dickhead & I’ll thank you to use my full title from now on
I still maintain I know less than nothing, but I passed my viva this afternoon so this dickhead here is Dr Dickhead & I’ll thank you to use my full title from now on
January 21, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Drawing created by Martin Birch c.1970s, in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital where he was compelled to live.
I still maintain I know less than nothing, but I passed my viva this afternoon so this dickhead here is Dr Dickhead & I’ll thank you to use my full title from now on
I still maintain I know less than nothing, but I passed my viva this afternoon so this dickhead here is Dr Dickhead & I’ll thank you to use my full title from now on
I’m reading number one in the style of MARK E SMITH!
I'm reading number four in the style of Eric Morecambe.
January 21, 2026 at 5:08 PM
I’m reading number one in the style of MARK E SMITH!
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Important thread
TRUMP: I was the first man to speak French. bonjour I said one day and my doctor started throwing up. how are you doing that, he asked. it's medically not possible. I say baguette, the guy has a heart attack. very sad. his kids are orphans now
BBC NEWS: reassuring words on the EU from Trump
BBC NEWS: reassuring words on the EU from Trump
January 21, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Important thread
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Frontman Peter ten Seldam (1943-2025) van punkband Panic vloog als Sinterklaas in Paradiso bijna in de brand
Frontman Peter ten Seldam (1943-2025) van punkband Panic vloog als Sinterklaas in Paradiso bijna in de brand
www.volkskrant.nl
January 21, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Frontman Peter ten Seldam (1943-2025) van punkband Panic vloog als Sinterklaas in Paradiso bijna in de brand
I for one look forward to the mass abandonment of American accents, mannerisms and spelling among Dutch youth.
January 21, 2026 at 4:10 PM
I for one look forward to the mass abandonment of American accents, mannerisms and spelling among Dutch youth.
Reposted by Richard James Foster
I feel like we should all take a moment to remember that Ukrainians are still dying and this guy is just spitting bilge about fucking Greenland being "unprotected" from Russia.
January 21, 2026 at 3:03 PM
I feel like we should all take a moment to remember that Ukrainians are still dying and this guy is just spitting bilge about fucking Greenland being "unprotected" from Russia.
I for one would love @almurray.bsky.social at Davos.
Not keen on the Pub Landlord tribute.
January 21, 2026 at 3:26 PM
I for one would love @almurray.bsky.social at Davos.
Reposted by Richard James Foster
How hard is it to read a book?
January 20, 2026 at 9:47 PM
How hard is it to read a book?
Reposted by Richard James Foster
No one can be watching this Davos speech and reach any conclusion but that the President of the United States is mentally disturbed and that something is deeply wrong with him. This is both embarrassing and extremely dangerous.
January 21, 2026 at 2:49 PM
No one can be watching this Davos speech and reach any conclusion but that the President of the United States is mentally disturbed and that something is deeply wrong with him. This is both embarrassing and extremely dangerous.
With the backing of his version of Krupps, Faber, etc., etc.
Thread from Ackerman on Trump's Davos speech.
TL;DR: The headlines are lying, Trump's Davos speech is basically a full-on Hitler-in-1938 rant about the righteousness of force. 'I won't use force' here can only be taken as meaning 'I will [try to] use force.'
TL;DR: The headlines are lying, Trump's Davos speech is basically a full-on Hitler-in-1938 rant about the righteousness of force. 'I won't use force' here can only be taken as meaning 'I will [try to] use force.'
World-historical batshitness: "We probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength & force where we would be frankly, unstoppable. But I won't do that. Now everyone's saying 'oh good.' …I won't use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland."
January 21, 2026 at 3:10 PM
With the backing of his version of Krupps, Faber, etc., etc.
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Thread from Ackerman on Trump's Davos speech.
TL;DR: The headlines are lying, Trump's Davos speech is basically a full-on Hitler-in-1938 rant about the righteousness of force. 'I won't use force' here can only be taken as meaning 'I will [try to] use force.'
TL;DR: The headlines are lying, Trump's Davos speech is basically a full-on Hitler-in-1938 rant about the righteousness of force. 'I won't use force' here can only be taken as meaning 'I will [try to] use force.'
World-historical batshitness: "We probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength & force where we would be frankly, unstoppable. But I won't do that. Now everyone's saying 'oh good.' …I won't use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland."
Trump: Greenland “is the northern frontier of the Western hemisphere. It’s our territory.”
January 21, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Thread from Ackerman on Trump's Davos speech.
TL;DR: The headlines are lying, Trump's Davos speech is basically a full-on Hitler-in-1938 rant about the righteousness of force. 'I won't use force' here can only be taken as meaning 'I will [try to] use force.'
TL;DR: The headlines are lying, Trump's Davos speech is basically a full-on Hitler-in-1938 rant about the righteousness of force. 'I won't use force' here can only be taken as meaning 'I will [try to] use force.'
Soviet thinking
The Trump disbelief that the Norwegian govt doesn't control the Nobel process is deeply indicative of his thinking. He can't conceive that an institution could (or should) be genuinely independent of coercion or political power. That's the change he represents.
Trump: "I should have gotten the Nobel prize for each war...I saved millions and millions of people...and don't let anyone tell you that Norway doesn't control the shots. It's in Norway. Norway controls the shots. It's a joke. They've lost such prestige.“
January 21, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Soviet thinking
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Trump: “I was watching Emmanuel [Macron] yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses. What the hell happened?”
January 21, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Trump: “I was watching Emmanuel [Macron] yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses. What the hell happened?”
Reposted by Richard James Foster
some years ago a friend and I considered trying to finesse some passes for Davos because we wanted to play a game of "who can kiss the most evil person and/or the person with the longest name" and god, bring me back to that world, which now feels so alien and so soft
January 21, 2026 at 2:35 PM
some years ago a friend and I considered trying to finesse some passes for Davos because we wanted to play a game of "who can kiss the most evil person and/or the person with the longest name" and god, bring me back to that world, which now feels so alien and so soft
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Trump now talking about the Spanish Flu
“The soldiers were sick as dogs.”
“The soldiers were sick as dogs.”
January 21, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Trump now talking about the Spanish Flu
“The soldiers were sick as dogs.”
“The soldiers were sick as dogs.”
Reposted by Richard James Foster
And again, this is why Trump is unique, because his psychological imperative for flattery and no opposition is the key driver rather than any actual strategy. Which is why his business record (and first term) delivered little. We're unlikely to see this again from a US President.
January 21, 2026 at 7:38 AM
And again, this is why Trump is unique, because his psychological imperative for flattery and no opposition is the key driver rather than any actual strategy. Which is why his business record (and first term) delivered little. We're unlikely to see this again from a US President.
Reposted by Richard James Foster
Another reminder that Trump is not in fact winning. bsky.app/profile/samf...
So far the "Board of Peace" is Trump, Orban, Lukaschenko and Netanyahu.
Which if you wrote in a satire would be considered too outlandish and sent back.
Which if you wrote in a satire would be considered too outlandish and sent back.
January 21, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Another reminder that Trump is not in fact winning. bsky.app/profile/samf...