@debifry.bsky.social
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One other 7/7 thread today. Because I think how the bus network got running again is a real testament to some serious heroes that day:
The bus drivers and staff who got that network running again and got London home that night.
And TfL/the Mayor disobeyed the Security Services to make it happen /1
The bus drivers and staff who got that network running again and got London home that night.
And TfL/the Mayor disobeyed the Security Services to make it happen /1
July 7, 2025 at 10:28 AM
One other 7/7 thread today. Because I think how the bus network got running again is a real testament to some serious heroes that day:
The bus drivers and staff who got that network running again and got London home that night.
And TfL/the Mayor disobeyed the Security Services to make it happen /1
The bus drivers and staff who got that network running again and got London home that night.
And TfL/the Mayor disobeyed the Security Services to make it happen /1
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“Historically, no one lived past age 35”
"I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"
"I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"
There Were Still Old People When Life Expectancy Was 35.
A demography myth that won't die
jenndowd.substack.com
June 16, 2025 at 10:16 AM
“Historically, no one lived past age 35”
"I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"
"I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"
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OK, this is wild.
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
May 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
OK, this is wild.
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
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Some weeks ago, Mansfield College Oxford announced plans to tear down nearly half their buildings, and a bunch of you asked what I thought, so here’s the thread: yes good actually and so is Magdalen tearing down the Waynflete, too. this building conservator is in favour! 🧵
May 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Some weeks ago, Mansfield College Oxford announced plans to tear down nearly half their buildings, and a bunch of you asked what I thought, so here’s the thread: yes good actually and so is Magdalen tearing down the Waynflete, too. this building conservator is in favour! 🧵
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BREAKING: The constitutional crisis has arrived. We knew it was coming, just not when.
April 25, 2025 at 2:43 PM
BREAKING: The constitutional crisis has arrived. We knew it was coming, just not when.
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I have friends who are pretty well versed in how things work but still circle back to “I pay X a month and the council still can’t do Y”.
That is a FAIR criticism.
That is a FAIR criticism.
April 17, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I have friends who are pretty well versed in how things work but still circle back to “I pay X a month and the council still can’t do Y”.
That is a FAIR criticism.
That is a FAIR criticism.
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Your regular reminder that almost everything Trump is getting away with is not because of presidential strength, but because of congressional weakness and judicial deference.
The constitutional tools are already there to fix this, but those who can fix it are refusing to do so.
The constitutional tools are already there to fix this, but those who can fix it are refusing to do so.
April 14, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Your regular reminder that almost everything Trump is getting away with is not because of presidential strength, but because of congressional weakness and judicial deference.
The constitutional tools are already there to fix this, but those who can fix it are refusing to do so.
The constitutional tools are already there to fix this, but those who can fix it are refusing to do so.
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Because there is already an agreed plan for it.
Proposals also under review for Grangemouth (£250mln UK £50mln Scottish funding to transform).
Proposals also under review for Grangemouth (£250mln UK £50mln Scottish funding to transform).
April 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Because there is already an agreed plan for it.
Proposals also under review for Grangemouth (£250mln UK £50mln Scottish funding to transform).
Proposals also under review for Grangemouth (£250mln UK £50mln Scottish funding to transform).
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Some Phantom pencils from a few years ago.
April 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Some Phantom pencils from a few years ago.
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Some personal news: the Department of Homeland Security has given me, an immigration lawyer born in Newton, Massachusetts, seven days to leave the U.S. Does anyone know if you can get Italian citizenship through great-grandparents?
April 11, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Some personal news: the Department of Homeland Security has given me, an immigration lawyer born in Newton, Massachusetts, seven days to leave the U.S. Does anyone know if you can get Italian citizenship through great-grandparents?
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Don’t stop at Scunthorpe steel — nationalise water, mail, all of rail and energy.
Bring them all into public ownership.
Bring them all into public ownership.
April 12, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Don’t stop at Scunthorpe steel — nationalise water, mail, all of rail and energy.
Bring them all into public ownership.
Bring them all into public ownership.
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We only put the accent on when non-Brummies are about.
Birmingham accent ranked ‘most hated’ on BBC’s unofficial league table, Kate Adie reveals
Birmingham accent ranked ‘most hated’ on BBC’s unofficial league table, Kate Adie reveals
Journalist shares details of broadcaster’s dislike for Brummie accent as archives of her life and career to be catalogued
The BBC had an unofficial league table of the most loved and despised accents, the war correspondent Kate Adie has revealed. And the most hated? Brummie.
Geordie was liked, she told an audience in Sunderland, but from one end of the country to the other it was Birmingham that was particularly disliked. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
April 12, 2025 at 7:41 AM
We only put the accent on when non-Brummies are about.
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My son and daughter got social
Security payments because their mother died at 35. Jen earned that money and the family needed that little extra boost each month having lost a breadwinner. These people trying to shame recipients are monstrous.
Security payments because their mother died at 35. Jen earned that money and the family needed that little extra boost each month having lost a breadwinner. These people trying to shame recipients are monstrous.
Jeanine: We found out there are people who are between the ages of one and four who are getting social security
Jessica: That's the benefit for kids whose parents are dead.
Jessica: That's the benefit for kids whose parents are dead.
April 11, 2025 at 1:12 AM
My son and daughter got social
Security payments because their mother died at 35. Jen earned that money and the family needed that little extra boost each month having lost a breadwinner. These people trying to shame recipients are monstrous.
Security payments because their mother died at 35. Jen earned that money and the family needed that little extra boost each month having lost a breadwinner. These people trying to shame recipients are monstrous.
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Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen
April 9, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen
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It's one of the greatest things I have ever seen.
April 7, 2025 at 7:15 AM
It's one of the greatest things I have ever seen.
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The policy of the US under Trump can be fairly summarised in three impulses.
To be cruel to those they can be cruel.
To intimidate those whom they can intimidate.
And to gain leverage in respect of those they want to manipulate.
Almost everything comes down to one or more of these impulses.
To be cruel to those they can be cruel.
To intimidate those whom they can intimidate.
And to gain leverage in respect of those they want to manipulate.
Almost everything comes down to one or more of these impulses.
April 6, 2025 at 8:51 AM
The policy of the US under Trump can be fairly summarised in three impulses.
To be cruel to those they can be cruel.
To intimidate those whom they can intimidate.
And to gain leverage in respect of those they want to manipulate.
Almost everything comes down to one or more of these impulses.
To be cruel to those they can be cruel.
To intimidate those whom they can intimidate.
And to gain leverage in respect of those they want to manipulate.
Almost everything comes down to one or more of these impulses.
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Lots of news from US, and this is especially significant.
The DoJ suspends a lawyer for candour to the court when answering judge’s questions.
This is important, as any lawyer has duties both to client and to the court. The system breaks down otherwise.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
The DoJ suspends a lawyer for candour to the court when answering judge’s questions.
This is important, as any lawyer has duties both to client and to the court. The system breaks down otherwise.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
April 6, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Lots of news from US, and this is especially significant.
The DoJ suspends a lawyer for candour to the court when answering judge’s questions.
This is important, as any lawyer has duties both to client and to the court. The system breaks down otherwise.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
The DoJ suspends a lawyer for candour to the court when answering judge’s questions.
This is important, as any lawyer has duties both to client and to the court. The system breaks down otherwise.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
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Too late, it’s over.
Boasberg ends the hearing without a ruling.
March 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Too late, it’s over.
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Members of ‘UK Subs’ were detained and deported on entrance to the US.
Hope no one was looking forward to seeing any international bands here in the US any time soon, or ever again.
Hope no one was looking forward to seeing any international bands here in the US any time soon, or ever again.
March 21, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Members of ‘UK Subs’ were detained and deported on entrance to the US.
Hope no one was looking forward to seeing any international bands here in the US any time soon, or ever again.
Hope no one was looking forward to seeing any international bands here in the US any time soon, or ever again.
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Whenever it is pointed out that US government may not get its own way in court, some reply guy asserts I am “optimistic”.
I am a legal commentator: I am never optimistic.
I have a Brummie accent: I never sound optimistic.
This all could very badly for the courts and rule of law.
Not optimism.
I am a legal commentator: I am never optimistic.
I have a Brummie accent: I never sound optimistic.
This all could very badly for the courts and rule of law.
Not optimism.
March 21, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Whenever it is pointed out that US government may not get its own way in court, some reply guy asserts I am “optimistic”.
I am a legal commentator: I am never optimistic.
I have a Brummie accent: I never sound optimistic.
This all could very badly for the courts and rule of law.
Not optimism.
I am a legal commentator: I am never optimistic.
I have a Brummie accent: I never sound optimistic.
This all could very badly for the courts and rule of law.
Not optimism.
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The USA is now very close, if it is not already there, to a constitutional crisis of when court orders are freely ignored without any sanction.
The full picture is not yet clear, but it seems the federal government is now freely ignoring court orders - and facing no consequences.
The full picture is not yet clear, but it seems the federal government is now freely ignoring court orders - and facing no consequences.
When asked if the Administration will comply with court orders on fired federal workers, WH Press Secretary Leavitt says the orders are unconstitutional: You cannot have a low level district court judge filing an injunction to usurp the executive authority of the President…
March 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The USA is now very close, if it is not already there, to a constitutional crisis of when court orders are freely ignored without any sanction.
The full picture is not yet clear, but it seems the federal government is now freely ignoring court orders - and facing no consequences.
The full picture is not yet clear, but it seems the federal government is now freely ignoring court orders - and facing no consequences.
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Not only is this crass, it is highly significant.
Radosław Sikorski is perhaps the most Atlanticist major politician in Europe.
And this is how he is now being publicly treated by US/Musk.
They do not want us to be their friends, they do not want us to be their allies.
Radosław Sikorski is perhaps the most Atlanticist major politician in Europe.
And this is how he is now being publicly treated by US/Musk.
They do not want us to be their friends, they do not want us to be their allies.
March 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Not only is this crass, it is highly significant.
Radosław Sikorski is perhaps the most Atlanticist major politician in Europe.
And this is how he is now being publicly treated by US/Musk.
They do not want us to be their friends, they do not want us to be their allies.
Radosław Sikorski is perhaps the most Atlanticist major politician in Europe.
And this is how he is now being publicly treated by US/Musk.
They do not want us to be their friends, they do not want us to be their allies.
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