Richard Appleby
@rmappleby.uk
Ex-IBMer, currently "economically inactive". Interested in science, technology and the environment. Fan of rational thought, citizenship and the common good.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Reposted by Richard Appleby
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Private apologies are worthless. If ministers really thought Brexit was a mistake, they’d say so publicly not grovel in Brussels while posturing as “tough on the EU” at home.
This is pure cop-out politics: cynical, dishonest, and designed to avoid asking the electorate to face the damage done.
This is pure cop-out politics: cynical, dishonest, and designed to avoid asking the electorate to face the damage done.
January 3, 2026 at 12:02 PM
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Reposted by Richard Appleby
I keep marvelling at this. Dumber things will be said today, but not by people who might be the next British prime minister. Imagine thinking that Russia and China will be cowed by a *failure* to abide by international law.
January 3, 2026 at 11:44 AM
I keep marvelling at this. Dumber things will be said today, but not by people who might be the next British prime minister. Imagine thinking that Russia and China will be cowed by a *failure* to abide by international law.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
LOL
👺 Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it called US armed aggression against Venezuela on 3 January and said it is deeply concerned.
www.pravda.com.ua
January 3, 2026 at 11:41 AM
LOL
Less “closing”, more “condemned” judging by its appearance.
RIP FLAT ROF PUBE U R IN HEVEN WITH DA ANGLES N PRICNESS DI N ALL THE PEEPLE WHO GOT DONE IN THEIR
Beloved Essex pub locals call a 'second home' to shut for good
It will be closing on January 4
www.essexlive.news
January 3, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Less “closing”, more “condemned” judging by its appearance.
Absolutely this ⬇️
Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s illegal action in Venezuela.
Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate dictator, but unlawful attacks like this make us all less safe.
Trump is giving a green light to the likes of Putin and Xi to attack other countries with impunity.
Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate dictator, but unlawful attacks like this make us all less safe.
Trump is giving a green light to the likes of Putin and Xi to attack other countries with impunity.
January 3, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Absolutely this ⬇️
Reposted by Richard Appleby
After this, the EU should absolutely proceed on the assumption that Trump meant what he said about Greenland. Nothing is off the table anymore.
January 3, 2026 at 10:41 AM
After this, the EU should absolutely proceed on the assumption that Trump meant what he said about Greenland. Nothing is off the table anymore.
This is a GREAT thread on US / EU / Russia as we move into 2026. Worth a few minutes of everybody’s time to help understand the challenges we (here in Europe) all face.
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
January 2, 2026 at 9:32 PM
This is a GREAT thread on US / EU / Russia as we move into 2026. Worth a few minutes of everybody’s time to help understand the challenges we (here in Europe) all face.
Interesting read, and yet another reason (IMHO) not to adopt US cloud solutions without a lot of careful deliberation.
Europe gets serious about cutting digital umbilical cord with US big tech. A handful of public authorities in Austria, Germany and France, alongside the International Criminal Court in The Hague, are taking steps to regain control over their IT.
Europe gets serious about cutting US digital umbilical cord
Feature: Public bodies migrate in the bloc as hyperscalers claim sovereignty
www.theregister.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Interesting read, and yet another reason (IMHO) not to adopt US cloud solutions without a lot of careful deliberation.
This is great news; it might stop the current trend for ever-bigger, truck-like EV SUVs, powered by huge battery packs (to give ever higher performance) and force manufacturers to package their cars better, and stop pandering to the 3 tonne “sports car” crowd.
China to enforce world’s first mandatory EV energy standard in 2026, capping two-tonne models at 15.1 kWh per 100 km share.google/ioIpSfYdchTQ...
China to enforce world’s first mandatory EV energy standard in 2026, capping two-tonne models at 15.1 kWh per 100 km
China will implement the world’s first mandatory electric vehicle energy consumption standard in January 2026.
share.google
December 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This is great news; it might stop the current trend for ever-bigger, truck-like EV SUVs, powered by huge battery packs (to give ever higher performance) and force manufacturers to package their cars better, and stop pandering to the 3 tonne “sports car” crowd.
😳 I’ve led such a sheltered life. Thank god.
No shark toys this year, breaking an 8 year streak
What did we get stuck in our rectums last year? defector.com/what-did-we-...
December 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
😳 I’ve led such a sheltered life. Thank god.
Sad to hear that Chris Rea has died. Prolific song writer, great bottleneck slide guitarist, and motor racing afficianado. RIP
December 22, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Sad to hear that Chris Rea has died. Prolific song writer, great bottleneck slide guitarist, and motor racing afficianado. RIP
OMG. It takes tasteless to a whole new penthouse level.
Surely it’s an elaborate hoax? No one could live there. I mean, the stuffed housekeeper is nothing short of terrifying…
Surely it’s an elaborate hoax? No one could live there. I mean, the stuffed housekeeper is nothing short of terrifying…
My wife is now going through this picture by picture muttering obscenities with the occasional gasp and I’m pretty sure she just denied God
I've never lived so close to a What Are We Even Doing Here real estate listing, and I am here, gifting you this experience, make sure to open the pictures
www.redfin.com/MI/Ann-Arbor...
www.redfin.com/MI/Ann-Arbor...
December 22, 2025 at 12:44 AM
OMG. It takes tasteless to a whole new penthouse level.
Surely it’s an elaborate hoax? No one could live there. I mean, the stuffed housekeeper is nothing short of terrifying…
Surely it’s an elaborate hoax? No one could live there. I mean, the stuffed housekeeper is nothing short of terrifying…
Why do I guess that Vance has never apologised for being white, ever?
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 21, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Why do I guess that Vance has never apologised for being white, ever?
Wonder if America stops vaccinating its kids by default, at what point will countries start wanting to see vaccination certificates as part of their customs processes for Americans?
A recent modeling study in JAMA showed that if MMR vaccine rates drop 10% (easy to see happen with this), we’re back to 400,000-500,000 cases a year. Our current outbreak is 2,000. This turns the clock back to 1950 🚨🚨🚨
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
December 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Wonder if America stops vaccinating its kids by default, at what point will countries start wanting to see vaccination certificates as part of their customs processes for Americans?
JFC. The irony. It actually hurts.
Google lawsuit says data scraping company uses fake searches to steal web content reut.rs/44zcyWj
Google lawsuit says data scraping company uses fake searches to steal web content
Google on Friday sued a Texas company that "scrapes" data from online search results, alleging it uses hundreds of millions of fake Google search requests to access copyrighted material and "take it for free at an astonishing scale."
reut.rs
December 20, 2025 at 12:17 AM
JFC. The irony. It actually hurts.
And worryingly for the citizens of the USA, he has more grievances with other Americans than he does with anyone outside the USA…
⬇️
⬇️
It might get me labeled as a Crazy Bluesky Radical, but I don’t think it’s great that our nuclear arsenal is at the disposal of a demented old man who’s just an exposed nerve of grievances and hatreds with absolutely no impulse control.
December 17, 2025 at 1:23 AM
And worryingly for the citizens of the USA, he has more grievances with other Americans than he does with anyone outside the USA…
⬇️
⬇️
Reposted by Richard Appleby
The final promise of a cult
December 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The final promise of a cult
Reposted by Richard Appleby
There’s only so much Choir Of King's College Cambridge (or Michael Bublé) one can stand. So I was updating my Christmas playlist when I came across this from Fascinating Aida (who I’m amazed are still going!). It’s joyous, and VERY NSFW. Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vBXFAyUXBc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vBXFAyUXBc
FASCINATING AIDA Their 'Rudest Christmas Song Ever' 2024
YouTube video by Fascinating Aïda
www.youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:46 PM
There’s only so much Choir Of King's College Cambridge (or Michael Bublé) one can stand. So I was updating my Christmas playlist when I came across this from Fascinating Aida (who I’m amazed are still going!). It’s joyous, and VERY NSFW. Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vBXFAyUXBc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vBXFAyUXBc
Maybe it’s time to start pushing back then?
New MI6 boss says Russia ‘testing us in the grey zone’ in first speech
www.channel4.com/news/new-mi6...
www.channel4.com/news/new-mi6...
New MI6 boss says Russia ‘testing us in the grey zone’ in first speech
The new head of MI6 has used her first major public speech in the job to warn of the growing threat Russia poses.
www.channel4.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Maybe it’s time to start pushing back then?
Reposted by Richard Appleby
As we hear about yet another mass shooting in the US, it's worth remembering that I described the UK ban on handguns as "ludicrous" and said our gun laws were "repressive".
December 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
As we hear about yet another mass shooting in the US, it's worth remembering that I described the UK ban on handguns as "ludicrous" and said our gun laws were "repressive".
🧐
New evidence suggests that alcohol was a surprisingly big motivator in our monumental transition from hunting and gathering to farming – but was beer really more important to us than bread?
Did ancient humans start farming so they could drink more beer?
New evidence suggests that alcohol was a surprisingly big motivator in our monumental transition from hunting and gathering to farming – but was beer really more important to us than bread?
www.newscientist.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:18 AM
🧐
Very cool idea for municipal heating ⬇️
Using old coal mines to heat homes?
Gateshead is doing it.
Their mine-water project—the UK’s largest—draws 15°C water from boreholes, uses heat pumps to boost it to 80°C, and sends that heat through an underground network.
The system now warms 350+ homes and 23 buildings.
Gateshead is doing it.
Their mine-water project—the UK’s largest—draws 15°C water from boreholes, uses heat pumps to boost it to 80°C, and sends that heat through an underground network.
The system now warms 350+ homes and 23 buildings.
December 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Very cool idea for municipal heating ⬇️
Similar to the petitioning of the UK Government, except the EU actually seem to take it seriously, and do something as a result, rather than score political points off each other for an hour, mark it “done”, and forget about it, like we do here in the UK.
Another example.of EU democracy at work.
#RejoinEU 🇪🇺
#RejoinEU 🇪🇺
We registered a new European Citizens’ Initiative last week.
Since 2012, the ECI has enabled citizens to bring their ideas onto the EU’s policy agenda. Once signature collection opens, you will be able to support this new idea.
Learn more: link.europa.eu/97PkMD
#EUTakeTheInitiative
Since 2012, the ECI has enabled citizens to bring their ideas onto the EU’s policy agenda. Once signature collection opens, you will be able to support this new idea.
Learn more: link.europa.eu/97PkMD
#EUTakeTheInitiative
December 13, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Similar to the petitioning of the UK Government, except the EU actually seem to take it seriously, and do something as a result, rather than score political points off each other for an hour, mark it “done”, and forget about it, like we do here in the UK.