DDOwen
@llyfrgellbabel.bsky.social
Un sy'n ceisio cerdded i ffwrdd o Omelas. Ffuglen wyddonol ac yn y blaen. "Lies written in ink can never disguise facts written in blood." -Lu Xun
Reposted by DDOwen
One of the best worldbuilding guides you can read is Tolkien's notes on translation, where he talks about the fact that *everything* you write is in practice being translated into English; is is no more anachronistic to use the word "September" than it is use the word "sword" or "house" or "hello".
Not sure how I feel when a book tells me that instead of "12 months" they have "10 arcs," which are each 40 days long, and they all have names like Blossomarc, Flamearc Snowarc,.... I appreciate the world building, but couldnt we have just kept the calendar the same?
November 30, 2025 at 4:20 AM
One of the best worldbuilding guides you can read is Tolkien's notes on translation, where he talks about the fact that *everything* you write is in practice being translated into English; is is no more anachronistic to use the word "September" than it is use the word "sword" or "house" or "hello".
Reposted by DDOwen
It’s wild how providing much-needed aid to the survivors of the fire - before the government even felt like doing it - is now considered a national security threat
Next level paranoia.
“We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to ‘disrupt Hong Kong through disaster’. No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable & strictly punished under the Hong Kong national security law & the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.”
“We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to ‘disrupt Hong Kong through disaster’. No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable & strictly punished under the Hong Kong national security law & the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.”
Anger mounts in Hong Kong over apartment fires as Beijing warns against ‘anti-China disruptors’
Police on Saturday detained one person who was part of a group that launched a petition demanding accountability
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:34 AM
It’s wild how providing much-needed aid to the survivors of the fire - before the government even felt like doing it - is now considered a national security threat
Reposted by DDOwen
Sedition (petitioning the government to house the displaced and investigate construction companies)
A HK man has been arrested on suspicion of sedition in relation to the fatal Tai Po fire, according to local media reports, citing unnamed sources. In full: buff.ly/Uzgm1Oj
HK man arrested for alleged sedition in relation to fatal Tai Po blaze
A HK man has been arrested on suspicion of sedition in relation to the fatal Tai Po fire, according to local media reports, citing unnamed sources.
buff.ly
November 30, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Sedition (petitioning the government to house the displaced and investigate construction companies)
Reposted by DDOwen
always worth reminding that Blue Labour aren't just conservatives, they are actually insane people.
Not sure - 14 years into project - Blue Labour ever previously set out actual proposals before, so this is new
1. Abolish Treasury
2. Leave ECHR
3. Closr/refound half of unis
4. Double army size for anti-EU alliance with Ukraine
5. PM to lead grooming inquiry with arrest powers + televised trials
1. Abolish Treasury
2. Leave ECHR
3. Closr/refound half of unis
4. Double army size for anti-EU alliance with Ukraine
5. PM to lead grooming inquiry with arrest powers + televised trials
November 30, 2025 at 2:08 AM
always worth reminding that Blue Labour aren't just conservatives, they are actually insane people.
Reposted by DDOwen
On every public policy committee I sat on - gambling, drugs, animal experiments, law of homicide and others - someone would ask ‘But what would the Daily Mail say about our recommendations?’ I now regret that we never gave the right answer. ‘We shouldn’t care.’
November 30, 2025 at 7:37 AM
On every public policy committee I sat on - gambling, drugs, animal experiments, law of homicide and others - someone would ask ‘But what would the Daily Mail say about our recommendations?’ I now regret that we never gave the right answer. ‘We shouldn’t care.’
Reposted by DDOwen
the new Scorcese film, "Good Fathers", already looks like a banger.
November 29, 2025 at 10:30 PM
the new Scorcese film, "Good Fathers", already looks like a banger.
Reposted by DDOwen
More people need their Biblical professor dad sitting next to them in the interlocking cushion chairs (iykyk) with the original text up on his phone, clucking his tongue in disapproval of the pastor's translation and interpretation
tired of hearing sermons where the Hebrew or Greek is mentioned as some secret revelation the congregation won’t be aware of, about what the reading *actually* means, and it never stands up to basic scrutiny when checked afterwards.
Sometimes the Bible translators have *shock horror* got it right
Sometimes the Bible translators have *shock horror* got it right
November 29, 2025 at 10:08 PM
More people need their Biblical professor dad sitting next to them in the interlocking cushion chairs (iykyk) with the original text up on his phone, clucking his tongue in disapproval of the pastor's translation and interpretation
Reposted by DDOwen
This does not surprise me, and it's exactly why slogans like "trust science" aren't really helpful. Conspiracy theorists often think of themselves *as* scientists: they are looking at evidence and developing theories. They trust the method of science, but think it's been perverted in this case.
Well-reported, this story is quite revealing.
It seems that RFK, Jr. may be genuinely trying to evaluate scientific evidence, but he cherry-picks evidence to support his preconceived views and dismisses other evidence as corrupt.
#ScienceNotScience
1/4
It seems that RFK, Jr. may be genuinely trying to evaluate scientific evidence, but he cherry-picks evidence to support his preconceived views and dismisses other evidence as corrupt.
#ScienceNotScience
1/4
NEW: When RFK Jr. first told Trump that Tylenol might cause autism, the president wanted to tweet out a warning. Kennedy told him not to do that. There was nuance, and the drug companies would push back. “I don’t give a shit about that,” Trump responded. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This does not surprise me, and it's exactly why slogans like "trust science" aren't really helpful. Conspiracy theorists often think of themselves *as* scientists: they are looking at evidence and developing theories. They trust the method of science, but think it's been perverted in this case.
Reposted by DDOwen
RIP Tom Stoppard.
Hardly his most important work, but I remember having my mind blown by learning he had rewritten most of the dialogue on INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, one of the funniest movies ever made
Hardly his most important work, but I remember having my mind blown by learning he had rewritten most of the dialogue on INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, one of the funniest movies ever made
November 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
RIP Tom Stoppard.
Hardly his most important work, but I remember having my mind blown by learning he had rewritten most of the dialogue on INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, one of the funniest movies ever made
Hardly his most important work, but I remember having my mind blown by learning he had rewritten most of the dialogue on INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, one of the funniest movies ever made
Reposted by DDOwen
Did you know... under the streets of Cardiff’s shopping centre, there's a restaurant serving Yunnanese food. And it serves the perfect antidote to cold, dark nights...
www.theplatelickedclean.co.uk/u-mi-chinese...
www.theplatelickedclean.co.uk/u-mi-chinese...
November 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Did you know... under the streets of Cardiff’s shopping centre, there's a restaurant serving Yunnanese food. And it serves the perfect antidote to cold, dark nights...
www.theplatelickedclean.co.uk/u-mi-chinese...
www.theplatelickedclean.co.uk/u-mi-chinese...
Reposted by DDOwen
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
Reposted by DDOwen
This is an excellent thread, and if I might add, with care, that I think our academic staff are also all exhausted as well, by so many things that were not always a part of their role, as well as the pressure and precariousness of academia. Students feel that, too - the whole environment is fraught.
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This is an excellent thread, and if I might add, with care, that I think our academic staff are also all exhausted as well, by so many things that were not always a part of their role, as well as the pressure and precariousness of academia. Students feel that, too - the whole environment is fraught.
Reposted by DDOwen
This doesnt sound like the asylum seekers are doing anything wrong, though. Sounds like the taxi companies are scamming thr government. Shouldn't they be cracking down on fraud by taxi dispatchers.
November 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
This doesnt sound like the asylum seekers are doing anything wrong, though. Sounds like the taxi companies are scamming thr government. Shouldn't they be cracking down on fraud by taxi dispatchers.
Reposted by DDOwen
Fuck.
Next year, Shabana Mahmood is going to have you tortured at a black site if you’re caught performative reading Sally Rooney novels on the tube
November 29, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Fuck.
Reposted by DDOwen
Hong Kong fire update: 128 people have been confirmed dead, and 150 remain unaccounted for.
The two towers with the least damage have been fully searched, with no human remains found. Five towers still need to be searched.
The two towers with the least damage have been fully searched, with no human remains found. Five towers still need to be searched.
November 29, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Hong Kong fire update: 128 people have been confirmed dead, and 150 remain unaccounted for.
The two towers with the least damage have been fully searched, with no human remains found. Five towers still need to be searched.
The two towers with the least damage have been fully searched, with no human remains found. Five towers still need to be searched.
Reposted by DDOwen
Watching this play out in HK is a shock to the system, but to anyone who’s seen it happen time and again in the mainland, it’s also all too familiar and predictable.
After any disaster, “stability maintenance” (維穩) and “stabilising public sentiment” (穩定社會情緒) are always foremost official priorities.
After any disaster, “stability maintenance” (維穩) and “stabilising public sentiment” (穩定社會情緒) are always foremost official priorities.
November 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Watching this play out in HK is a shock to the system, but to anyone who’s seen it happen time and again in the mainland, it’s also all too familiar and predictable.
After any disaster, “stability maintenance” (維穩) and “stabilising public sentiment” (穩定社會情緒) are always foremost official priorities.
After any disaster, “stability maintenance” (維穩) and “stabilising public sentiment” (穩定社會情緒) are always foremost official priorities.
Reposted by DDOwen
This piece about Mills et al "A reassessment of the “hard-steps” model for the evolution of intelligent life" pushes all my buttons, and I hugely look forward to reading the paper, sitting down and talking with Phil about it and then hearing Andy Watson's view.
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
November 29, 2025 at 1:34 PM
This piece about Mills et al "A reassessment of the “hard-steps” model for the evolution of intelligent life" pushes all my buttons, and I hugely look forward to reading the paper, sitting down and talking with Phil about it and then hearing Andy Watson's view.
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
Reposted by DDOwen
The demands being distributed by the flyer & petition were not in anyway unreasonable.
1. Continue to support residents affected by the fire
2. Establish an independent commission
3. Re-evaluate construction safety guidelines
4. Hold the elected officials who are accountable for this disaster
1. Continue to support residents affected by the fire
2. Establish an independent commission
3. Re-evaluate construction safety guidelines
4. Hold the elected officials who are accountable for this disaster
Inmediahk reports that HK university student Miles Kwan, who was seen handing out fliers linking to a petition demanding an independent investigation and accountability for the Tai Po fire was detained and taken to the police station. The online petition and related media has since been deleted.
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The demands being distributed by the flyer & petition were not in anyway unreasonable.
1. Continue to support residents affected by the fire
2. Establish an independent commission
3. Re-evaluate construction safety guidelines
4. Hold the elected officials who are accountable for this disaster
1. Continue to support residents affected by the fire
2. Establish an independent commission
3. Re-evaluate construction safety guidelines
4. Hold the elected officials who are accountable for this disaster
Reposted by DDOwen
The asylum seeker (not "illegal immigrant") who needed a 200 mile taxi journey had been relocated against his will but was required to attend a hospital appointment. The government refused to allow him to take public transport.
It's 100% a government failure, but easier to scapegoat the innocent
It's 100% a government failure, but easier to scapegoat the innocent
November 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The asylum seeker (not "illegal immigrant") who needed a 200 mile taxi journey had been relocated against his will but was required to attend a hospital appointment. The government refused to allow him to take public transport.
It's 100% a government failure, but easier to scapegoat the innocent
It's 100% a government failure, but easier to scapegoat the innocent
Reposted by DDOwen
Ah @ng1978.bsky.social has unearthed the press release and fancy that, the media are indeed parping out the Home Office’s attempts to blame asylum seekers for a mess of its own creation
If somebody had to travel 250 miles for a medical appointment then yes there’s a problem but the taking a taxi ain’t it
November 29, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Ah @ng1978.bsky.social has unearthed the press release and fancy that, the media are indeed parping out the Home Office’s attempts to blame asylum seekers for a mess of its own creation
Reposted by DDOwen
If you want to go back to a world where my mum was forced to leave school at 15 you can just fuck right off.
November 29, 2025 at 10:47 AM
If you want to go back to a world where my mum was forced to leave school at 15 you can just fuck right off.
Reposted by DDOwen
I don’t want people who come to this country seeking safety to be holed up in a single room and unable to engage in some semblance of a normal life, and it’s so fucking weird that so many politicians and journalists assume that I do
November 29, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I don’t want people who come to this country seeking safety to be holed up in a single room and unable to engage in some semblance of a normal life, and it’s so fucking weird that so many politicians and journalists assume that I do
Reposted by DDOwen
When these proposals were circulated to Cabinet - which they will have been - who, in Labour's "wealthy must bear the cost" Government, was responsible for pointing out these calamitous effects. DWP (or are they just cutters), Health (the precarious care sector) ... anyone? Or did no-one notice?
This started pretty much immediately, I have already heard several examples, as well as people looking to withdraw change of conditions applications and decideling not to apply. Families will be left destitute
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
November 29, 2025 at 9:32 AM
When these proposals were circulated to Cabinet - which they will have been - who, in Labour's "wealthy must bear the cost" Government, was responsible for pointing out these calamitous effects. DWP (or are they just cutters), Health (the precarious care sector) ... anyone? Or did no-one notice?
Reposted by DDOwen
So depressing to hear the note of triumph in bbc coverage of the decision to make life harder for asylum seekers who need medical treatment by taking taxis away from them because of File on Four ‘investigation’. The amounts of money involved are tiny, the harm done is significant.
November 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM
So depressing to hear the note of triumph in bbc coverage of the decision to make life harder for asylum seekers who need medical treatment by taking taxis away from them because of File on Four ‘investigation’. The amounts of money involved are tiny, the harm done is significant.
Reposted by DDOwen
Mephistophiles: anyway lets seal this faustian pact
Faustus: sorry. The what pact
Mephistophiles:
Faust: is it called faustian pact after me? Because it ends very well for me?
Mephistophiles: listen do you want the pact or not
Faustus: sorry. The what pact
Mephistophiles:
Faust: is it called faustian pact after me? Because it ends very well for me?
Mephistophiles: listen do you want the pact or not
November 26, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Mephistophiles: anyway lets seal this faustian pact
Faustus: sorry. The what pact
Mephistophiles:
Faust: is it called faustian pact after me? Because it ends very well for me?
Mephistophiles: listen do you want the pact or not
Faustus: sorry. The what pact
Mephistophiles:
Faust: is it called faustian pact after me? Because it ends very well for me?
Mephistophiles: listen do you want the pact or not