Karin
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karinsmiles.bsky.social
Karin
@karinsmiles.bsky.social
60 followers 57 following 27 posts
Knitter, crafter - so many crafts, so little skill. Fast walker, slow runner.
Temporarily at the beck and call of the best ginger cat ever.
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Reposted by Karin
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Gold octopus-shaped ornaments from Bronze Age Mycenae, Grave IV, Grave Circle A.

The curled tips of the arms create eyelets for stitching the ornaments onto a garment or shroud some 3,500 years ago.

National Archaeological Museum, Athens. 📷 by me

#Archaeology
My photo shows a display of octopus-shaped funerary gold ornaments excavated from Grave IV, Grave Circle A, at ancient Mycenae, Greece. Each octopus is 6.8 cm wide and has seven writhing arms with suckers. The curled tips create small holes enabling them to be sewn onto fabric. They were probably sewn onto a funerary garment or shroud. Dated 1,500 BC. On display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens
December 14, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Karin
sarahmay1.bsky.social
Re-posting with alt text because the post accompanying this is obviously wrong, it's clearly a picture of a woman on a Crosscountry train having found a place to sit on the floor and read, her coffee cup beside her, folks queuing for the loo behind her
Paddington The Magdalen Reading, c. 1435, oil on panel, fragment of altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden, influential Flemish artist (c.1400-1464), pupil of Robert Campin, court painter to Duke of Burgundy. National Gallery London A woman in a glowing green dress and a white head dress is sitting on the floor leaning against a cabinet. She is delicately turning the page, beside her, on the floor is a small alabaster jar, presumably of ointment. In the background two figures are standing in blue and red robes, we can't see their heads, behind them a window looks out onto green fields.
December 12, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Karin
goodlawproject.bsky.social
“This is a moment that requires bravery. Organisations that value trans people should know not just that the law is on their side – but so, also, are many people who will step up to defend them if they have the courage to take a stand” – @jessothomson.co.uk
https://bit.ly/44CyMa3
The WI and Girlguiding have been pressured to exclude trans women – yet the law is clear as mud | Jess O’Thomson
Since the supreme court decision, organisations have faced lobbying and legal threats. But trans people are protected by discrimination law too, says Jess O’Thomson of the Good Law Project
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Karin
goodlawproject.org
The line our disgraceful press NEVER quotes from the For (Some) Women Scotland decision finally gets its day in the sun.
goodlawproject.org Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 21d
This is a real disaster for those - pretty much the entirety of the British media - advancing a maximalist reading of the For (Some) Women Scotland decision.
796. Thirdly, the claimant’s contention was in our view not consistent with the court’s comment that “we have concluded that a biological sex interpretation would not have the effect of disadvantaging or removing important protection under the EA 2010 from trans people (whether with or without a GRC).” 797. After that comment the court explained that a person with gender reassignment as a protected characteristic could pursue a claim of direct or indirect discrimination, or of harassment, if the circumstances so warranted. There was no qualification to it to the effect that that was not applicable in, for example, the context of a single sex space under Part 5 of the Act. If their decision had been that all trans persons must be excluded from the changing rooms or toilets for the sex they identify with because it was not the sex assigned at birth, and may also be excluded from the changing rooms or toilets of their biological sex, that in our view certainly does impact on their rights under section 7. 798. Were the claimant’s contention to be correct that would have the effect of materially reducing the extent to which that protected characteristic could be relied on by trans persons, to their disadvantage. What was desired by the trans person when living their life may not be permitted in a large number of practical instances, and would not have been consistent with the view expressed by Lady Hale in Work and Pensions, and the line of authority in relation to human rights. Such a construction in our view would also not be consistent with the interpretation of the Equal Treatment Directive from the CJEU and its predecessor as referred to above, which remains as assimilated law, and would not be consistent with a purposive interpretation still required. The development of the law in relation to what is now the protected characteristic of gender reassignment is set out above. At the very least we would have expected these considerations to have been addressed speci…
December 8, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Karin
goodlawproject.bsky.social
Today’s judgment in the Sandie Peggie case says exactly what we have been saying – For Women Scotland does not require a trans bathroom ban:
Screenshot of a paragraph from the judgment, with the final sentence highlighted: “797. After that comment the court explained that a person with gender reassignment as a protected characteristic could pursue a claim of direct or indirect discrimination, or of harassment, if the circumstances so warranted. There was no qualification to it to the effect that that was not applicable in, for example, the context of a single sex space under Part 5 of the Act. If their decision had been that all trans persons must be excluded from the changing rooms or toilets for the sex they identify with because it was not the sex assigned at birth, and may also be excluded from the changing rooms or toilets of their biological sex, that in our view certainly does impact on their rights under section 7.”
December 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Karin
trungles.com
Oh damn, Pantone can paint a room but can’t read one
December 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Reposted by Karin
wolct.bsky.social
Christmas Fayre – Tomorrow from 11am!
Join us at the Visitor Centre for community celebration packed with festive cheer!

Stalls & Gifts
Fundraising Fun
Festive Treats - home-baking, deluxe hot chocolate, mulled punch.
Craft Activities
• Wreath Making – £10
• Crafts for Adults & Children – £5
December 5, 2025 at 4:21 PM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
I count this as a small token of good news today.

BBC News - Woman loses sex discrimination case after toilet complaint
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Woman loses sex discrimination case after toilet complaint
Maria Kelly took legal action against Leonardo UK alleging harassment and discrimination after seeing a trans colleague in female toilets.
www.bbc.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Karin
jessothomson.co.uk
Contact us if you have been affected by the policy changes of Girl Guiding or the Women's Institute. This could be as an individual, or because you lead a local Brownie group who don't want this policy change. We want to help protect trans inclusion.

goodlawproject.org/about/contact/
December 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
Peak Guardian.
December 2, 2025 at 7:49 PM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
You really need to read this whole thread on how AI is never going to "create meaningful literature", but I really wanted to highlight this phrase so I'm reposting from halfway down.

"It can plaster a deep fake smile onto the corpse of zombie capitalism".
thomasdlee.bsky.social Thomas D. Lee @thomasdlee.bsky.social · Nov 27
All of which illustrates how infuriating it is when dipshits say that AI can 'help me to brainstorm ideas'. It can't do that. It can plaster a deepfake smile onto the corpse of zombie capitalism as it shambles towards the precipice of climate catastrophe, but it can't create meaningful literature.
November 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
I think I need to stitch this into a tapestry.
c0nc0rdance.bsky.social c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · Apr 18
Let's learn about the Wonky Wolf of Leeds.

Discovered 1840 in Aldborough, North Yorkshire, the mosaic dates to ~300 AD & probably represents a Roman provincial artist's attempt to tell the story of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf, the founding myth of Rome.
A mosaic of a tree, a black wolf (badly drawn, with no detail in the face besides a smile and two round white eyes) and two babies with black faces and orange bodies that look like something from an 80's arcade game: pixelated and crude.
November 17, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Karin
gaelynnlea.bsky.social
My heart is heavy as I reflect on the passing of Alice Wong. She was bold, unapologetic & unflinchingly honest—yet compassionate, kind & fiercely loving + supportive of the disability community. I'm grateful to have met her briefly & for her writing, advocacy & example for living. Shine on, Alice. 🕯️
Alice Wong, an Asian-American woman with dark hair sitting in an electric wheelchair, wearing a biPap machine and a camo jacket, is posed next to Gaelynn Lea, a white woman with brown hair sitting in an electric wheelchair wearing a bright pink dress. This was the first time they met, at an event at the San Francisco library.
November 17, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Reposted by Karin
suw.bsky.social
Perhaps try reading this, written by Sharon Begley in 2021 before she died, as a counter to all the "Oh, Watson wasn't really sexist or racist. His denigration of Franklin was a bit to show that biology was fun, and hey, he went to Africa!" hagiographies.

www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:27 AM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
I imagine the next shit show is already steaming down the road, but it's a pleasant change to start the day on a note of optimism and hope.
November 5, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Reposted by Karin
colleendoran.bsky.social
Saddest thing is seeing all these aspirants looking for the magical art space or situation or person that will make their art life dreams come true.

There isn't one. If you can't work through the bad stuff, you'll never get to the good stuff.
October 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
There are so many reasons not to shop at Tesco if you don't have to. Here's another.
kariebookish.bsky.social Karie Bookish @kariebookish.bsky.social · Oct 21
The local Tesco cafe now has self-service screens. The cafe is popular with older folk and disabled adults who rely on staff helping them with orders. I bet the screens look great on the bottom line but for the local community, it's another place where lack of digital skills will marginalise folk.
October 21, 2025 at 1:58 PM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
I've had a single glass of wine and I've just called Nigella Lawdon Nigellecipé and I think she should probably adopt it as her brand name.
October 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
I just thought of a joke. You can use it for free if you like.

Why are there no aspirins in the jungle?

Acetaminophen.

You're welcome.
October 3, 2025 at 8:05 AM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
I noticed a Biscuit Manufactury on the 1876 map in this thread and I wondered if @threadinburgh.scot had a thread on biscuit factories in Edinburgh, and indeed he does threadinburgh.scot/2023/07/24/t...
September 13, 2025 at 11:59 AM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
@anthemsprinter.bsky.social I think this podcast might have been made for you.
timharford.com/2025/08/caut...
Cautionary Tales – “Genius Still Unrecognised”; The Worst Poet in the World
William McGonagall’s poems are something else. The jarring meter, the banal imagery, the awkward rhymes: they made him a laughing stock in 19th Century Scotland and are still derided to this …
timharford.com
September 9, 2025 at 8:31 AM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
Found a visitor on my bathroom wall this morning.
Rosemary beetle - very pretty but not a native species (comin' over 'ere, eatin' all our rosemary, lavender and thyme!).
Didn't include anything for scale, but it's maybe 6mm nose to tail.
Metallic green beetle with dark red stripes on a white background.
July 15, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Karin
mooseallain.bsky.social
The replies to this are fantastic. Funny, poignant, occasionally icky, they are a window into social history, product branding, and surprisingly often, how we memorialise the past. Well worth your time.
mooseallain.bsky.social Moose Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · Jul 2
At the back of your kitchen cupboard is something pickled or preserved in a jar that you were given for Christmas several years ago that you’ve never quite felt like eating.

Throw it out now.
July 3, 2025 at 9:42 AM
karinsmiles.bsky.social
I'm sure @threadinburgh.scot had a thread on Redhall house....
Oh aye, here it is -
share.google/RaqsO1rYtdrK...
June 30, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Karin
kenjennings.bsky.social
TIRED: “learn to code!”
WIRED:
Become a jamón expert at our Ham School
June 30, 2025 at 12:35 AM