John
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johnpbh.bsky.social
John
@johnpbh.bsky.social
Retired, finding out how much I enjoy being slothful, and I ran away from the Brexit nasties and now live in the crazy place called Europe.
Reposted by John
Corporate money and hospitality should be kept the hell away from politicians and the political system, and meetings between ministers and companies/trade associations/trade unions should take place in the ministry over weak tea and cheap biscuits with a a civil servant taking notes.
What’s your thing that shouldn’t be controversial in today’s politics but somehow is?

I want people to vote.
September 23, 2024 at 8:23 AM
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noooooooooooooo
It's awful here you really really really don't want to be here 😱
The perfect autumn beach getaway holiday that won’t break the bank
Tiem to discover a home away from home
www.independent.co.uk
September 16, 2024 at 3:45 PM
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The gunman at Trump’s golf course has been charged with two counts of illegal firearms possession which sounds about as far from an “assassination attempt” as it gets.
September 16, 2024 at 3:46 PM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #758,828!

So there you go... Who knew.
September 17, 2024 at 5:20 AM
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We must make sure this lunatic never steps foot in The Oval Office.
September 10, 2024 at 12:45 PM
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August 14, 2024 at 11:26 PM
What she said..!!
August 19, 2024 at 6:04 AM
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Love this

Having provided feedback on many undergraduate essays and postgraduate theses over the years, I’m particularly taken by points 3, 5 & 8
C.S. Lewis' advice to a young girl on how to become a better writer:
August 18, 2024 at 8:50 AM
A cynophobic postman is found frozen in a river. Suspicion falls on Midsummer Itchington’s nerd, disturbed that a busload of Daleks might threaten the production of gay porn.
August 17, 2024 at 12:39 PM
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"May I beg a favour?" Vetinari added, as they walked away together. "All those I reaped..."

YOU WISH TO KNOW THEIR NUMBER?

"No." Vetinari said, quietly. "I wish to know their names."

Death paused.

THAT MAY TAKE SOME TIME.

"I have made the time."

TIME AND KEBABS, THEN?

"Time and kebabs"

/END
August 16, 2024 at 8:49 PM
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For a brief moment, Vetinari thought about asking what that meant. But only briefly. Emotions are a cloak, and when you have spent a lifetime wearing them heavily, you learn to spot others who are doing the same.

"Then to this Susan we must go." He said simply, standing up. Death nodded.

16/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:46 PM
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I HAVE... NEVER HAD A KEBAB.

"Oh really?" Vetinari asked. "Well then this will be an opportunity for us both. But where will we find one?"

If you'd asked Vetinari if a skull could smile before this conversation, he'd have said "no." Now he wasn't so sure

THAT IS DEFINTIELY A SUSAN QUESTION

15/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:45 PM
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"Well," Vetinari said, "next up, according to a certain former watchman and current Patrician, is a thing I have been informed I should not miss out on the opportunity to discover: A 'decent' kebab'."

A DECENT KEBAB? Death asked.

"A decent kebab." Vetinari confirmed.

14/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:43 PM
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"But it made me think." Vetinari continued. "About what we do when the people... the places... we love no longer need us."

Vetinari pulled out a piece of paper. Death only got a quick glance at it, but they could see that 'drinks with little umbrellas" was crossed out on a list.

13/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:42 PM
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"Tell me," Vetinari said eventually, looking up. "Do you know what a Bucket list is?"

A LIST OF BUCKETS?

"You would think that." Vetinari conceded. But apparently not. According to Sargeant Colon, and I quote, it is:

"A list of things you do before... you know"

KNOW WHAT

"I don't know"

12/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:40 PM
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Vetinari starred out across the sea. In the distance, if you squinted, you could see the masts of ships heading into the harbours of Ankh-Morpork. Suddenly, small pricks of light appeared. Gas lights on her streets being lit as the sun began to set.

"Yes. For love." He agreed.

11/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:39 PM
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"And if you decided to stop?"

STOP REAPING? I CANNOT.

"You could choose not to."

I... TRIED THAT.

"And what happened?"

I CHOSE TO REAP AGAIN

"Why?"

Death paused to consider. There are some things you know in your soul, but only finally understand when asked.

FOR LOVE.

10/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:38 PM
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This time it was Vetinari who spoke first.

"So," He asked, "why do YOU reap?"

BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED. IF I DON'T REAP... IT ENDS.

Vetinari nodded. On the horizon, the heat-haze of Ankh Morpork was just visible from the beach. Or at least he hoped that's what the haze was.

9/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:37 PM
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It was hard to say how long the silence lasted this time.

There is, in fact, a god of awkward pauses. There are just very few temples to her on the Disk due to her habit of showing up to divine interventions late.

She briefly thought about showing up here, but decided to stay well clear.

8/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:36 PM
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I HAVE... NEVER ASKED THAT BEFORE.

"And yet you ask it of me. Why?"

Death held up the egg timer. He felt it was as close as he could get to an explanation.

"Well, tell me," Vetinari asked. "Do YOU regret it?"

REGRET WHAT?

"The killing."

I DON'T KILL. I REAP.

Vetinari smiled. "Me too."

7/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:35 PM
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DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY? Death asked.

"No need." Vetinari continued. "I have a reasonable idea."

For a while there was just the sound of the waves.

DO YOU REGRET IT?

"Now THAT is a question." Vetinari replied, placing his now empty drink on the ground. "Do you ask that of everyone?"

6/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:34 PM
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Death looked at the former Patrician, quisically.

"Do you know how many people I've killed?" Vetinari asked, trying to spike some pineapple with his straw.

DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY?

"Is there a difference?"

SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK SO.

"Really? How odd." He held up the pineapple. "Got it" 5/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:33 PM
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Death looked at the egg timer again and, because there are some narrative forces that even an anthropomorphic representation is unable to fight against, he shook it.

Nothing happened. The final grain of sand still failed to move.

Vetinari raised an amused eyebrow. He sipped his drink again.

4/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:31 PM
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"I find it intriguing." Vetinari mused, stirring the drink. "You'd think the little umbrella wouldn't make a difference. But it really does."

"I'd never normally have tried one." He added. "But... Well. Have you ever met Nobby Nobbs?"

PARTS OF HIM, YES.

"Well he insisted I give it a go." 3/17
August 16, 2024 at 8:29 PM