Bertha Mason
@thornfieldhall.bsky.social
Firestarter
Maker of poor pottery
Creator of disappointing dinners
Hoarder of unfinished craft projects
Lefty, wokey, inclusivey
Sunny South East London
Maker of poor pottery
Creator of disappointing dinners
Hoarder of unfinished craft projects
Lefty, wokey, inclusivey
Sunny South East London
Reposted by Bertha Mason
The BBC’s problem is not really impartiality, it’s understanding the relationship between impartiality and accuracy.
The two are paired in the BBC’s code. Due impartiality is paired with due accuracy. The BBC forgets this all too often, focussing only on impartiality and neglecting accuracy.
The two are paired in the BBC’s code. Due impartiality is paired with due accuracy. The BBC forgets this all too often, focussing only on impartiality and neglecting accuracy.
November 10, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The BBC’s problem is not really impartiality, it’s understanding the relationship between impartiality and accuracy.
The two are paired in the BBC’s code. Due impartiality is paired with due accuracy. The BBC forgets this all too often, focussing only on impartiality and neglecting accuracy.
The two are paired in the BBC’s code. Due impartiality is paired with due accuracy. The BBC forgets this all too often, focussing only on impartiality and neglecting accuracy.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Found the tweet that Joyce Carol Oates bodied Elon Musk with and it's so beautiful in its eloquent, simple take down. So much so he's crashing out trying to prove he reads books now. Put this in the Louvre.
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Found the tweet that Joyce Carol Oates bodied Elon Musk with and it's so beautiful in its eloquent, simple take down. So much so he's crashing out trying to prove he reads books now. Put this in the Louvre.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
November 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Why is the BBC News going live to Nigel Farage's comments on the BBC resignations when they have broadcast nothing from the LibDems, who have more than 14 times as many MPs or the SNP who have almost double? If the BBC wants to stop accusations of bias they should stop actively promoting Reform.
November 10, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Why is the BBC News going live to Nigel Farage's comments on the BBC resignations when they have broadcast nothing from the LibDems, who have more than 14 times as many MPs or the SNP who have almost double? If the BBC wants to stop accusations of bias they should stop actively promoting Reform.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Meanwhile, in Reform's Lancashire CC, the councillor in charge of care homes, owns a private care home, and is closing council care homes. 👀
A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Lancashire’s Reform-run council plans to close care homes and day centres
Questions about potential conflict of interest as council’s cabinet member for social care owns private care company
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Meanwhile, in Reform's Lancashire CC, the councillor in charge of care homes, owns a private care home, and is closing council care homes. 👀
A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"I...insert your name... "
He really is not all there. How on earth do Americans think he is competent to negotiate with world leaders? He's not the full picnic.
He really is not all there. How on earth do Americans think he is competent to negotiate with world leaders? He's not the full picnic.
November 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
"I...insert your name... "
He really is not all there. How on earth do Americans think he is competent to negotiate with world leaders? He's not the full picnic.
He really is not all there. How on earth do Americans think he is competent to negotiate with world leaders? He's not the full picnic.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Food vouchers, free milk and two-child cap: Reeves weighs up help for families
Ministers' long-awaited child poverty strategy is due this month - and it's closely tied to the Chancellor's Budget
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
I am honestly sick of being told — at a university FFS — that we need to ‘embrace’ this profoundly unethical and irresponsible technology.
He started using ChatGPT for help with homework and eventually it ended up helping him to commit suicide...
"thank you for letting me ride with you to the end"
"may your next save file be somewhere warm"
"see you on the other side"
#NihilismAndTechnology
"thank you for letting me ride with you to the end"
"may your next save file be somewhere warm"
"see you on the other side"
#NihilismAndTechnology
November 7, 2025 at 7:40 AM
I am honestly sick of being told — at a university FFS — that we need to ‘embrace’ this profoundly unethical and irresponsible technology.
This is great news for anybody who values the integrity of our wonderful National Trust.
National Trust council elections saw a defeat for the Restore Trust campaign.
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Voting results from the AGM
Read about the National Trust's 2025 Annual General Meeting and the results from the day.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
November 9, 2025 at 9:26 AM
This is great news for anybody who values the integrity of our wonderful National Trust.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
The BBC is apologising for its Panorama edit. It shouldn’t. First, the narrative is true: Donald Trump *did* incite the Capitol riot. Second, the apology won’t appease those attacking it. So why not at least stand for something?
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
The BBC was right about the Capitol riots. In a sane world, Trump would be in jail
The US President faced impeachment over the violence, and in a world where Republicans had more courage, he would have been found guilty
inews.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:05 AM
The BBC is apologising for its Panorama edit. It shouldn’t. First, the narrative is true: Donald Trump *did* incite the Capitol riot. Second, the apology won’t appease those attacking it. So why not at least stand for something?
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Happy birthday to Hedy Lamarr.
“…when she spoke one did not listen, one just watched her mouth moving and marvelled at the exquisite shapes made by her lips”
Meanwhile, she was busy inventing the frequency hopping mechanism that enables Bluetooth
cassandrashandbag.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/h...
“…when she spoke one did not listen, one just watched her mouth moving and marvelled at the exquisite shapes made by her lips”
Meanwhile, she was busy inventing the frequency hopping mechanism that enables Bluetooth
cassandrashandbag.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/h...
Hedy Lamarr: Inventor
Next time you use your mobile phone, say a little ‘thank you’ to the film star Hedy Lamarr. If you’re under 40 and/or didn’t grow up on a diet of Sunday afternoon Cecil B De Mille movies, you may …
cassandrashandbag.wordpress.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Happy birthday to Hedy Lamarr.
“…when she spoke one did not listen, one just watched her mouth moving and marvelled at the exquisite shapes made by her lips”
Meanwhile, she was busy inventing the frequency hopping mechanism that enables Bluetooth
cassandrashandbag.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/h...
“…when she spoke one did not listen, one just watched her mouth moving and marvelled at the exquisite shapes made by her lips”
Meanwhile, she was busy inventing the frequency hopping mechanism that enables Bluetooth
cassandrashandbag.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/h...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Number 1 for eleven years running. But who’s counting?
Greatest city in the world.
www.londonandpartners.com/newsroom/new...
Greatest city in the world.
www.londonandpartners.com/newsroom/new...
November 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Number 1 for eleven years running. But who’s counting?
Greatest city in the world.
www.londonandpartners.com/newsroom/new...
Greatest city in the world.
www.londonandpartners.com/newsroom/new...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Denmark steals possessions of people seeking asylum, as policy. It returns people to situations where they are killed.
Mahmood is copying some of the worst policies going.
Labour once again showing it's just another anti-asylum, anti-human rights, government. #r4today
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Mahmood is copying some of the worst policies going.
Labour once again showing it's just another anti-asylum, anti-human rights, government. #r4today
www.bbc.com/news/article...
UK seeks inspiration from Denmark to shake up immigration system
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is taking cues from some of the toughest migration laws in Europe.
www.bbc.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Denmark steals possessions of people seeking asylum, as policy. It returns people to situations where they are killed.
Mahmood is copying some of the worst policies going.
Labour once again showing it's just another anti-asylum, anti-human rights, government. #r4today
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Mahmood is copying some of the worst policies going.
Labour once again showing it's just another anti-asylum, anti-human rights, government. #r4today
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
🔴We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:49 PM
🔴We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
This is completely fascinating, and I do think the UK govt are likely to come a cropper on this in a similar way soon. Someone said to me the other day that more than 600 data centres are going through planning at the moment
Did you know a former White House climate advisor flipped a GOP stronghold in Virginia by running entirely on putting a stop to more AI data centers?
For @heatmap.news I profiled John McAuliff and a campaign that will be a roadmap for all future anti-AI politicians moving forward.
For @heatmap.news I profiled John McAuliff and a campaign that will be a roadmap for all future anti-AI politicians moving forward.
This Virginia Election Was a Warning for Data Centers
John McAuliff ran his campaign almost entirely on data centers — and won.
heatmap.news
November 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This is completely fascinating, and I do think the UK govt are likely to come a cropper on this in a similar way soon. Someone said to me the other day that more than 600 data centres are going through planning at the moment
As a country, we have gone stark raving mad.
What next, the scold's bridle?
What next, the scold's bridle?
How did I not realise that Lord Glasman was behind the daring new Blue Labour strategy of 'the stocks'?
With Maurice Glasman and Dominic Lawson calling for the return of the stocks, we find most Britons opposed - although Reform voters are divided
All Britons: 21% support / 72% oppose
Lib Dem: 12% / 85%
Labour: 12% / 83%
Green: 13% / 82%
Con: 28% / 64%
Reform: 43% / 48%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
All Britons: 21% support / 72% oppose
Lib Dem: 12% / 85%
Labour: 12% / 83%
Green: 13% / 82%
Con: 28% / 64%
Reform: 43% / 48%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
As a country, we have gone stark raving mad.
What next, the scold's bridle?
What next, the scold's bridle?
What an absolute vampire. Andrew Milne was buying up freeholds for less than £400 then trying to force the leaseholders, with threatening behaviour, to buy them for up to £50k.
Filthy greed, verging on extortion. This should be made illegal.
Filthy greed, verging on extortion. This should be made illegal.
Shocking article in the Sheffield Tribune. A solicitor, Andrew Milne, buying up freeholds of houses and then making (false) threats to the leaseholders to bully them into buying the freehold at a huge premium.
November 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
What an absolute vampire. Andrew Milne was buying up freeholds for less than £400 then trying to force the leaseholders, with threatening behaviour, to buy them for up to £50k.
Filthy greed, verging on extortion. This should be made illegal.
Filthy greed, verging on extortion. This should be made illegal.
Reposted by Bertha Mason
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
Reposted by Bertha Mason
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
China has made cheap, clean energy available in huge quantities. The world should take the win econ.st/4oqFszB
Photo: Eyevine
Photo: Eyevine
November 7, 2025 at 7:10 AM
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Prevent stats published today www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Far-right cases referred to Prevent programme double those for Islamist extremism
A record 8,778 people were referred to the government’s anti-extremism scheme in the year to March 2025
www.independent.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Prevent stats published today www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
Your cat when you're choking to death in your apartment
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Your cat when you're choking to death in your apartment
Reposted by Bertha Mason
A magnificent piece of work. Comprehesive, revelatory & shocking. Journalism this good is always rare & precious but never moreso than at times like this. Latter day Lord Haw Haws being plumped, preened & delivered to your doorstep in plain sight by a Nazi-saluting goon
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
A magnificent piece of work. Comprehesive, revelatory & shocking. Journalism this good is always rare & precious but never moreso than at times like this. Latter day Lord Haw Haws being plumped, preened & delivered to your doorstep in plain sight by a Nazi-saluting goon
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Bertha Mason
'mean-spirited'
November 6, 2025 at 11:30 AM
'mean-spirited'
Reposted by Bertha Mason
I don't know what is more depressing. That the BBC seems to have no clue what democratic socialism is or that someone who comments on politics for a living thinks it's the same as communism.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I don't know what is more depressing. That the BBC seems to have no clue what democratic socialism is or that someone who comments on politics for a living thinks it's the same as communism.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.