Martman
@martcos75.bsky.social
Politics. Religion. Philosophy. Writing. Rants. Debate. Sarcasm. All with love x
Reposted by Martman
Happy Advent to you and your kin! And everyone else's kin too, come to that. As every December so far this decade, I'm going to do an Advent Calendar of beautiful and brilliant carols, with each day's added to a YouTube playlist and also to the ongoing Spotify one, now in its sixth(!) year.
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December 1, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Happy Advent to you and your kin! And everyone else's kin too, come to that. As every December so far this decade, I'm going to do an Advent Calendar of beautiful and brilliant carols, with each day's added to a YouTube playlist and also to the ongoing Spotify one, now in its sixth(!) year.
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
Reposted by Martman
#Newsnight 1030pm BBC 2
• the budget ….with
One of the world’s top economists Mohamed El-Erian
Former Chief Economist at Bank of England Andy Haldane
Director of the IFS Helen Miller
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray
Shadow Business & Trade Minister, Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin
• the budget ….with
One of the world’s top economists Mohamed El-Erian
Former Chief Economist at Bank of England Andy Haldane
Director of the IFS Helen Miller
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray
Shadow Business & Trade Minister, Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin
November 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
#Newsnight 1030pm BBC 2
• the budget ….with
One of the world’s top economists Mohamed El-Erian
Former Chief Economist at Bank of England Andy Haldane
Director of the IFS Helen Miller
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray
Shadow Business & Trade Minister, Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin
• the budget ….with
One of the world’s top economists Mohamed El-Erian
Former Chief Economist at Bank of England Andy Haldane
Director of the IFS Helen Miller
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray
Shadow Business & Trade Minister, Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin
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Today’s violence at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc is horrific and heartbreaking.
My heart aches for the victims, their families, and the community impacted by this tragedy. I’m grateful to the first responders for their quick action to prevent even greater loss.
My heart aches for the victims, their families, and the community impacted by this tragedy. I’m grateful to the first responders for their quick action to prevent even greater loss.
September 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Today’s violence at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc is horrific and heartbreaking.
My heart aches for the victims, their families, and the community impacted by this tragedy. I’m grateful to the first responders for their quick action to prevent even greater loss.
My heart aches for the victims, their families, and the community impacted by this tragedy. I’m grateful to the first responders for their quick action to prevent even greater loss.
Thank you, Mehdi - a lone, rational voice among millions of hypocrites and haters!
Charlie Kirk called me a ‘lunatic’ and a ‘prostitute’ and demanded I be deported.
Nothing, *nothing*, justifies killing him, or robbing his kids of their dad.
We don’t know the identity or motive of the shooter but murder can *never* be the response to political disagreements.
Nothing, *nothing*, justifies killing him, or robbing his kids of their dad.
We don’t know the identity or motive of the shooter but murder can *never* be the response to political disagreements.
September 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Thank you, Mehdi - a lone, rational voice among millions of hypocrites and haters!
Reposted by Martman
My feed is almost entirely people condemning violence and telling others not to celebrate this.
they just decide what they think we’re like and proceed as though
September 10, 2025 at 9:18 PM
My feed is almost entirely people condemning violence and telling others not to celebrate this.
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I'm getting predictably wound up by stupid attacks on the UK as failing. People who can't remember endless strikes, over 3 million unemployed, rampant football hooliganism, crime rates a multiple of current levels, desolate inner cities, pensioner poverty, actual race riots need some perspective 1/
August 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I'm getting predictably wound up by stupid attacks on the UK as failing. People who can't remember endless strikes, over 3 million unemployed, rampant football hooliganism, crime rates a multiple of current levels, desolate inner cities, pensioner poverty, actual race riots need some perspective 1/
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Labour homelessness minister Rushanara Ali threw four tenants out of her east London townhouse before relisting the property for £700 a month more in rent, The i Paper can reveal trib.al/E59gUNW
August 6, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Labour homelessness minister Rushanara Ali threw four tenants out of her east London townhouse before relisting the property for £700 a month more in rent, The i Paper can reveal trib.al/E59gUNW
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Dramatic changes to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program could drive drugmakers from the market, threatening access to shots, experts say.
“If (Kennedy’s) unstated goal is to basically destroy the vaccine industry, that could do it.”
By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social
“If (Kennedy’s) unstated goal is to basically destroy the vaccine industry, that could do it.”
By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social
RFK Jr. Wants to Overhaul a Vital System That Supports Childhood Immunization
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program stabilizes the nation’s childhood immunization system while paying those harmed by rare side effects. If the program topples, it could threaten access to vaccin...
www.propublica.org
July 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Dramatic changes to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program could drive drugmakers from the market, threatening access to shots, experts say.
“If (Kennedy’s) unstated goal is to basically destroy the vaccine industry, that could do it.”
By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social
“If (Kennedy’s) unstated goal is to basically destroy the vaccine industry, that could do it.”
By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social
Did you know?
In 2017, Virgo was “clothed with the sun,” moon at her feet, 12 stars above, and Jupiter exited her “womb” after 9 months, mirroring Revelation 12.
Not the first time. Not a miracle.
But it happened.
Patterns…
In the sky.
In time.
In us.
Are we still reading the skies?
In 2017, Virgo was “clothed with the sun,” moon at her feet, 12 stars above, and Jupiter exited her “womb” after 9 months, mirroring Revelation 12.
Not the first time. Not a miracle.
But it happened.
Patterns…
In the sky.
In time.
In us.
Are we still reading the skies?
July 6, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Did you know?
In 2017, Virgo was “clothed with the sun,” moon at her feet, 12 stars above, and Jupiter exited her “womb” after 9 months, mirroring Revelation 12.
Not the first time. Not a miracle.
But it happened.
Patterns…
In the sky.
In time.
In us.
Are we still reading the skies?
In 2017, Virgo was “clothed with the sun,” moon at her feet, 12 stars above, and Jupiter exited her “womb” after 9 months, mirroring Revelation 12.
Not the first time. Not a miracle.
But it happened.
Patterns…
In the sky.
In time.
In us.
Are we still reading the skies?
Reposted by Martman
Want to win a writing contest? It takes more than good prose.
You need voice. You need craft. You need intentionality.
Here’s what contest screeners and judges actually look for—straight from behind the curtain.
A thread 🧵🪓
#writingcommunity
You need voice. You need craft. You need intentionality.
Here’s what contest screeners and judges actually look for—straight from behind the curtain.
A thread 🧵🪓
#writingcommunity
a man in a blue shirt is standing in front of a curtain
Alt: a man in blue pajamas flinging open a curtain
media.tenor.com
June 20, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Want to win a writing contest? It takes more than good prose.
You need voice. You need craft. You need intentionality.
Here’s what contest screeners and judges actually look for—straight from behind the curtain.
A thread 🧵🪓
#writingcommunity
You need voice. You need craft. You need intentionality.
Here’s what contest screeners and judges actually look for—straight from behind the curtain.
A thread 🧵🪓
#writingcommunity
Reposted by Martman
BBC News - Thames Water fined £122.7m in biggest ever penalty - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thames Water fined £122.7m in biggest ever penalty
Thames Water must pay a £104.5m penalty for sewage breaches and £18.2m relating to shareholder dividends.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
BBC News - Thames Water fined £122.7m in biggest ever penalty - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Unsolicited writing advice, no. 17:
If you're unpublished, try not to tell everyone you know you're writing a book. Everything takes longer than you think. Writing, rewriting, editing, copy-editing, submitting, waiting. Unless you want to answer questions every step of the way, keep it to yourself.
If you're unpublished, try not to tell everyone you know you're writing a book. Everything takes longer than you think. Writing, rewriting, editing, copy-editing, submitting, waiting. Unless you want to answer questions every step of the way, keep it to yourself.
April 29, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 17:
If you're unpublished, try not to tell everyone you know you're writing a book. Everything takes longer than you think. Writing, rewriting, editing, copy-editing, submitting, waiting. Unless you want to answer questions every step of the way, keep it to yourself.
If you're unpublished, try not to tell everyone you know you're writing a book. Everything takes longer than you think. Writing, rewriting, editing, copy-editing, submitting, waiting. Unless you want to answer questions every step of the way, keep it to yourself.
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Our statement on the passing of Pope Francis:
April 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Our statement on the passing of Pope Francis:
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Sometimes, the Moon passes directly in front of the beautiful Pleiades star cluster in a celestial event called an occultation! This composite image from Spain captures the Moon's visit. These monthly occultations last until 2029, then not again until 2042!
Credit: Cayetana Saiz
Credit: Cayetana Saiz
April 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Sometimes, the Moon passes directly in front of the beautiful Pleiades star cluster in a celestial event called an occultation! This composite image from Spain captures the Moon's visit. These monthly occultations last until 2029, then not again until 2042!
Credit: Cayetana Saiz
Credit: Cayetana Saiz
Reposted by Martman
If your great novel idea feels… a little thin, you might be missing the other thing.
As Tony Earley said, “Every story is about the thing and the other thing.”
Enter: the subplot.
A thread 🧵🪓
#writingcommunity
As Tony Earley said, “Every story is about the thing and the other thing.”
Enter: the subplot.
A thread 🧵🪓
#writingcommunity
April 7, 2025 at 11:21 PM
If your great novel idea feels… a little thin, you might be missing the other thing.
As Tony Earley said, “Every story is about the thing and the other thing.”
Enter: the subplot.
A thread 🧵🪓
#writingcommunity
As Tony Earley said, “Every story is about the thing and the other thing.”
Enter: the subplot.
A thread 🧵🪓
#writingcommunity
Reposted by Martman
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 116: a short thread.
1. Don't rely on publicists to promote your work. It's great if your publisher has provided you with one, but publishers' publicists are overworked and underpaid, and have no time to think up miracles.
1. Don't rely on publicists to promote your work. It's great if your publisher has provided you with one, but publishers' publicists are overworked and underpaid, and have no time to think up miracles.
April 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 116: a short thread.
1. Don't rely on publicists to promote your work. It's great if your publisher has provided you with one, but publishers' publicists are overworked and underpaid, and have no time to think up miracles.
1. Don't rely on publicists to promote your work. It's great if your publisher has provided you with one, but publishers' publicists are overworked and underpaid, and have no time to think up miracles.
Reposted by Martman
I had heard tell of the Harold Hill deer, a herd of fallow deer who graze an outer London housing estate. I was not prepared for the scale of it.
March 16, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I had heard tell of the Harold Hill deer, a herd of fallow deer who graze an outer London housing estate. I was not prepared for the scale of it.
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Scientists have developed a solar-powered device that can pull pollution from the air and convert it directly into fuel for cars and planes.
Cambridge scientists turn pollution into fuel in climate breakthrough
Solar-powered reactor takes inspiration from photosynthesis to turn CO2 into car fuel
www.the-independent.com
February 14, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Scientists have developed a solar-powered device that can pull pollution from the air and convert it directly into fuel for cars and planes.
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Hate speech on X has seen a significant jump since billionaire Elon Musk took over the popular social media app, experts say.
Hate speech on X increased under Elon Musk’s leadership, researchers say
Still, researchers say they cannot draw firm conclusions about a cause-effect relationship between Musk’s purchase of X and their findings
www.the-independent.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Hate speech on X has seen a significant jump since billionaire Elon Musk took over the popular social media app, experts say.
Reposted by Martman
Reposted by Martman
Nice to have given the headline in The Times' preview of this evening's "The Michelle Mone Scandal: Where Did Our Money Go?" 9pm on Channel 5.
January 20, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Nice to have given the headline in The Times' preview of this evening's "The Michelle Mone Scandal: Where Did Our Money Go?" 9pm on Channel 5.
Reposted by Martman
Start your own website. Run your own blog. Use decentralized and open-sourced platforms
@ghost.org is a great open-sourced blogging platform and website builder
Pixelfed is doing great work for images and runs on the social web
Support open social projects so your homes on the web don't fall apart
@ghost.org is a great open-sourced blogging platform and website builder
Pixelfed is doing great work for images and runs on the social web
Support open social projects so your homes on the web don't fall apart
January 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Start your own website. Run your own blog. Use decentralized and open-sourced platforms
@ghost.org is a great open-sourced blogging platform and website builder
Pixelfed is doing great work for images and runs on the social web
Support open social projects so your homes on the web don't fall apart
@ghost.org is a great open-sourced blogging platform and website builder
Pixelfed is doing great work for images and runs on the social web
Support open social projects so your homes on the web don't fall apart
Reposted by Martman
Why can't we understand one another?
January 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Why can't we understand one another?
Reposted by Martman
I’m not sure how many of my employees in total became millionaires , but I know it’s more than 300. And I don’t know how many millionaires my investments in start ups created. But I’m pretty sure it’s well over 1k.
Which government official could do the same with that time and money ?
Which government official could do the same with that time and money ?
January 6, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I’m not sure how many of my employees in total became millionaires , but I know it’s more than 300. And I don’t know how many millionaires my investments in start ups created. But I’m pretty sure it’s well over 1k.
Which government official could do the same with that time and money ?
Which government official could do the same with that time and money ?