Gordon Shorten
@gordonshorten.bsky.social
Systems Engineer, tech/network geek, space nerd and history buff. Not all in that order. Love dogs too!
Can't wait to see her fly. I got to enjoy a taxi ride in her last summer, and those 4 merlin engines are a joy to hear.
BBC News - Will third Lancaster bomber return to the skies?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Will third Lancaster bomber return to the skies?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Will third Lancaster bomber Just Jane return to the skies?
Andrew Panton is halfway through a 10-year project to make Just Jane airworthy.
www.bbc.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Can't wait to see her fly. I got to enjoy a taxi ride in her last summer, and those 4 merlin engines are a joy to hear.
BBC News - Will third Lancaster bomber return to the skies?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Will third Lancaster bomber return to the skies?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This quote is something "Longer to build equity", no mention at all of how much more interest you will be paying.
Kevin Hassett: "The 50 year mortgage is just one of many many policies that are currently being studied ... the argument for it is that it would really lower the monthly payment. The downside is it would take longer to build equity in the home."
November 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This quote is something "Longer to build equity", no mention at all of how much more interest you will be paying.
The Empty City substack is one to follow just for amazing lines like this gem.
"Legal letters should be instruments, not ornaments."
"Legal letters should be instruments, not ornaments."
NEW
Performative Litigation Letters
How certain lawyer letters are intended for news and social media consumption
By me, on the legal threats of Truss and now Trump
emptycity.substack.com/p/performati...
Performative Litigation Letters
How certain lawyer letters are intended for news and social media consumption
By me, on the legal threats of Truss and now Trump
emptycity.substack.com/p/performati...
November 13, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The Empty City substack is one to follow just for amazing lines like this gem.
"Legal letters should be instruments, not ornaments."
"Legal letters should be instruments, not ornaments."
Reposted by Gordon Shorten
Sky at Night always used to have an early repeat - and we're back, with our collaboration with the Curious Cases team on at 7pm tomorrow on BBC4. Please watch if you possibly can - support your local science program! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Four - The Sky at Night, Space Mysteries: The Sky at Night Meets Curious Cases
Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain join the team to answer viewers' burning queries about space.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Sky at Night always used to have an early repeat - and we're back, with our collaboration with the Curious Cases team on at 7pm tomorrow on BBC4. Please watch if you possibly can - support your local science program! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Maybe now really isn't a good time to be thinking of flying in US airspace.
Sean Duffy: "The secretary of war texted me yesterday and said, 'I might have some air traffic controllers. If you could use them, I'm gonna offer them to you.' I don't know that I can, Jake, because they're not certified in the airspaces that we need them. But if I can, I'm going to use them."
November 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Maybe now really isn't a good time to be thinking of flying in US airspace.
Frankly, I don't think Canada cares one way or the other about what Harry Windsor does.
BBC News - Harry apologises to Canada for wearing LA Dodgers cap during World Series
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Harry apologises to Canada for wearing LA Dodgers cap during World Series
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Prince Harry apologises to Canada for wearing Dodgers hat during World Series
Critics had said he disrespected the commonwealth and the only Canadian team in Major League Baseball.
www.bbc.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Frankly, I don't think Canada cares one way or the other about what Harry Windsor does.
BBC News - Harry apologises to Canada for wearing LA Dodgers cap during World Series
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Harry apologises to Canada for wearing LA Dodgers cap during World Series
www.bbc.com/news/article...
I wonder how many farmers are saying,"Sure, that has to be the presidents main priority. I don't mind my family business going bankrupt while the president gets his ballroom."?
Leavitt: "At this moment in time, of course, the ballroom is really the president's main priority."
October 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I wonder how many farmers are saying,"Sure, that has to be the presidents main priority. I don't mind my family business going bankrupt while the president gets his ballroom."?
Reposted by Gordon Shorten
Figured out what this picture reminded me of...
October 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Figured out what this picture reminded me of...
This is going to be happening at Reform lead councils across the country. My own trumpeted their DOGE initiative. What do we hear about the savings? Crickets!
This is very funny.
‘Sorry residents of Kent.
There are no savings to be made.
In fact, your council tax is going up.’
Reform UK Party Ltd’s ‘DOGE team’ failed.
Here they are at KCC, incl. Russian asset and Farage bankroller Arron Banks (left), and bullshitter and bully Zia Yusuf (centre).
‘Sorry residents of Kent.
There are no savings to be made.
In fact, your council tax is going up.’
Reform UK Party Ltd’s ‘DOGE team’ failed.
Here they are at KCC, incl. Russian asset and Farage bankroller Arron Banks (left), and bullshitter and bully Zia Yusuf (centre).
October 6, 2025 at 6:21 AM
This is going to be happening at Reform lead councils across the country. My own trumpeted their DOGE initiative. What do we hear about the savings? Crickets!
Well, it is no wonder that I'm politically homeless. As one of those horrible PMC, I am hated by both major parties. Why are the Labour Party and Conservatives still stuck in the 1980s? An excellent thread by Ben Ansell on this self-destruction.
On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n
British Politics' Midlife Crisis
Why British Parties Can't Make Peace with Their Actual Voters
benansell.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Well, it is no wonder that I'm politically homeless. As one of those horrible PMC, I am hated by both major parties. Why are the Labour Party and Conservatives still stuck in the 1980s? An excellent thread by Ben Ansell on this self-destruction.
Russia also said they had no intention of invading Ukraine, so I would take any comments from them with a hefty pinch of salt.
BBC News - Russia has no intention of attacking EU or Nato states, foreign minister says
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Russia has no intention of attacking EU or Nato states, foreign minister says
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Russia has no intention of attacking EU or Nato states, foreign minister says
Sergei Lavrov has been highly critical of Western countries and Israel in his speech at the UN General Assembly.
www.bbc.com
September 27, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Russia also said they had no intention of invading Ukraine, so I would take any comments from them with a hefty pinch of salt.
BBC News - Russia has no intention of attacking EU or Nato states, foreign minister says
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Russia has no intention of attacking EU or Nato states, foreign minister says
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Gordon Shorten
Statement from The Atlantic’s editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg:
September 26, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Statement from The Atlantic’s editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg:
Reform cloak themselves in British patriotism and restoration of British values. How is this cruel policy showing a fair, caring culture?
Reform's plans to end indefinite leave to remain go to the post I wrote last week on their slide towards chaotic authoritarianism.
The British constitution would allow them to do it if they had a majority but at vast cost to our society and way of life.
samf.substack.com/p/the-route-...
The British constitution would allow them to do it if they had a majority but at vast cost to our society and way of life.
samf.substack.com/p/the-route-...
The route to chaotic authoritarianism
Why Reform’s deportation plan would have consequences well beyond asylum
samf.substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Reform cloak themselves in British patriotism and restoration of British values. How is this cruel policy showing a fair, caring culture?
Goes to show that moral righteous is not implicit in someone who claims to be religious.
Two pieces of context:
1. Cardinal Dolan has also been warm to Trump and sits on the president’s religious freedom commission.
2. Kirk *within the last year* criticized Catholicism at length and suggested the late Pope Francis was a heretic: religionnews.com/2025/09/12/i...
1. Cardinal Dolan has also been warm to Trump and sits on the president’s religious freedom commission.
2. Kirk *within the last year* criticized Catholicism at length and suggested the late Pope Francis was a heretic: religionnews.com/2025/09/12/i...
September 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Goes to show that moral righteous is not implicit in someone who claims to be religious.
Reposted by Gordon Shorten
this is the actual attack on free speech that can be seen from outer space
www.ft.com/content/41cc...
www.ft.com/content/41cc...
Disney capitulation over Jimmy Kimmel sparks fears for US media under Donald Trump
Bob Iger’s suspension of comedian’s show on ABC over Charlie Kirk comments fuels free speech controversy
www.ft.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
this is the actual attack on free speech that can be seen from outer space
www.ft.com/content/41cc...
www.ft.com/content/41cc...
Wow, what a start to one of my favourite weekends of the year at #WehaveWaysFest. Loads of tanks, tankards and WWII waffle.
September 12, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Wow, what a start to one of my favourite weekends of the year at #WehaveWaysFest. Loads of tanks, tankards and WWII waffle.
This is a silly statement. Getting all the oil and gas out of the North Sea would be not economically viable. If the Conservatives want to be taken seriously again, they need to be serious about policy.
BBC News - Tories pledge to get all oil and gas out of North Sea
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Tories pledge to get all oil and gas out of North Sea
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Tories pledge to get 'all our oil and gas out of the North Sea'
The government warns Kemi Badenoch's plans would "only accelerate the worsening climate crisis".
www.bbc.com
August 31, 2025 at 7:46 AM
This is a silly statement. Getting all the oil and gas out of the North Sea would be not economically viable. If the Conservatives want to be taken seriously again, they need to be serious about policy.
BBC News - Tories pledge to get all oil and gas out of North Sea
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Tories pledge to get all oil and gas out of North Sea
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Gordon Shorten
Ultimately it matters not if your constitution is written or unwritten or codified or uncodified…
…once those in power do not recognise political or legal rules higher than their own personal or partisan advantage it is constitutional ‘game over’.
Constitutions need constitutionalism, most of all.
…once those in power do not recognise political or legal rules higher than their own personal or partisan advantage it is constitutional ‘game over’.
Constitutions need constitutionalism, most of all.
February 5, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Ultimately it matters not if your constitution is written or unwritten or codified or uncodified…
…once those in power do not recognise political or legal rules higher than their own personal or partisan advantage it is constitutional ‘game over’.
Constitutions need constitutionalism, most of all.
…once those in power do not recognise political or legal rules higher than their own personal or partisan advantage it is constitutional ‘game over’.
Constitutions need constitutionalism, most of all.
I love this quote
"Twitter started to suck and all the cool people were moving to Bluesky."
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
"Twitter started to suck and all the cool people were moving to Bluesky."
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Bluesky now platform of choice for science community
It’s not just you. Survey says: “Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky”…
arstechnica.com
August 31, 2025 at 6:16 AM
I love this quote
"Twitter started to suck and all the cool people were moving to Bluesky."
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
"Twitter started to suck and all the cool people were moving to Bluesky."
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Just another example of how the current US administration deals with immigration issues. Imagine being shipped with your child to a detention centre at the other end of the country with no idea what will happen to you.
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
New Zealand mother and son released after being detained in U.S. for weeks due to Canada trip
A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in U.S. immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her ...
www.ctvnews.ca
August 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Just another example of how the current US administration deals with immigration issues. Imagine being shipped with your child to a detention centre at the other end of the country with no idea what will happen to you.
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
Oh, the irony, this is coming from an administration that has masked agents seizing people off the streets based on nothing more than skin colour and incarceration them without due process.
BBC News - US says UK human rights have worsened in past year
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - US says UK human rights have worsened in past year
www.bbc.com/news/article...
US says UK human rights situation has worsened in past year
The report criticises restrictions on freedom of expression after the Southport attacks and abortion buffer zones.
www.bbc.com
August 13, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Oh, the irony, this is coming from an administration that has masked agents seizing people off the streets based on nothing more than skin colour and incarceration them without due process.
BBC News - US says UK human rights have worsened in past year
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - US says UK human rights have worsened in past year
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This reminds me so much about how some in politics and the media talk about London, like it is some version of Port-au-Prince in Haiti ruled by armed gangs.
Rick Scott: "The first thing I tell everybody when they're gonna come to DC is I say, 'You need to be careful. You need to be careful where you stay, you need to be careful where you walk, you shouldn't be out after dark.' You've gotta be very careful up here."
August 12, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This reminds me so much about how some in politics and the media talk about London, like it is some version of Port-au-Prince in Haiti ruled by armed gangs.
Finally got around to booking my tickets for #WeHaveWaysFestV looking forward to tanks, talks and tankards with the other "Afflicted" for lots of WWII waffle.
August 10, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Finally got around to booking my tickets for #WeHaveWaysFestV looking forward to tanks, talks and tankards with the other "Afflicted" for lots of WWII waffle.
Very sad news, a true hero and an inspiration. Fair winds and following sea commander. Ad astra.
BBC News - Jim Lovell, who guided Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, dies aged 97
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Jim Lovell, who guided Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, dies aged 97
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Jim Lovell, who guided Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, dies aged 97
Commander of Apollo 13, who rescued his men from a near certain death in space, has died aged 97.
www.bbc.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Very sad news, a true hero and an inspiration. Fair winds and following sea commander. Ad astra.
BBC News - Jim Lovell, who guided Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, dies aged 97
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Jim Lovell, who guided Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, dies aged 97
www.bbc.com/news/article...