Steve Gilbert
@ombudsmans61pc.bsky.social
Time for ombuds schemes that are: pro-people and pro-justice.
And not: pro-business.
And not: pro-business.
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
Ancient DNA from Shimao reveals a patrilineal megasettlement built on local ancestry, distant contacts, and gendered ritual sacrifice. A rare glimpse into hierarchy before China’s earliest states. #Archaeology #AncientDNA #Anthropology #HumanEvolution www.anthropology.net/p/the-city-o...
The City of Skulls and Fathers: Ancient DNA Reshapes the Story of Shimao’s Neolithic World
How a mega-settlement on the Loess Plateau stitched together ancestry, hierarchy, and ritual violence in the centuries before China’s earliest states
www.anthropology.net
November 29, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Ancient DNA from Shimao reveals a patrilineal megasettlement built on local ancestry, distant contacts, and gendered ritual sacrifice. A rare glimpse into hierarchy before China’s earliest states. #Archaeology #AncientDNA #Anthropology #HumanEvolution www.anthropology.net/p/the-city-o...
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
#OtD 29 Nov 1830 "Captain Swing" farm workers fighting for better pay and more jobs attacked a farmer and a constable in Stour Provost, Dorset. Some were arrested, but were freed by sympathisers and rioting spread stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1012...
November 29, 2025 at 6:40 AM
#OtD 29 Nov 1830 "Captain Swing" farm workers fighting for better pay and more jobs attacked a farmer and a constable in Stour Provost, Dorset. Some were arrested, but were freed by sympathisers and rioting spread stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1012...
The chances of a public inquiry into the ombudsinjustice at Ombudsman Services at the time of CEO The Rev Lewis Shand Smith diminish with each passing Labour day.
You could substitute so many Labour initiatives for "Motability cuts" and this headline would still make sense. What a tragedy this Government is.
November 29, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The chances of a public inquiry into the ombudsinjustice at Ombudsman Services at the time of CEO The Rev Lewis Shand Smith diminish with each passing Labour day.
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
When it gets really cold bluebirds roost together in a pile using collective body heat to help them survive. They arrange themselves so they don’t smother & alternate positions within the pile. Photo by Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina (WRNC). Thank you Van Harris for sharing this. 🐦 #birds
November 29, 2025 at 2:37 AM
When it gets really cold bluebirds roost together in a pile using collective body heat to help them survive. They arrange themselves so they don’t smother & alternate positions within the pile. Photo by Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina (WRNC). Thank you Van Harris for sharing this. 🐦 #birds
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
#OnThisDay, 28 Nov 1967, Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovers the existence of pulsars - a new type of star.
#WomenInHistory #OTD #History #WomensHistory #WomenInSTEM 🗃️
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#WomenInHistory #OTD #History #WomensHistory #WomenInSTEM 🗃️
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November 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM
#OnThisDay, 28 Nov 1967, Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovers the existence of pulsars - a new type of star.
#WomenInHistory #OTD #History #WomensHistory #WomenInSTEM 🗃️
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#WomenInHistory #OTD #History #WomensHistory #WomenInSTEM 🗃️
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Reposted by Steve Gilbert
The Ancient of Days: Frontispiece to Europe a Prophecy, 1794, colour relief etching with added hand-colouring by William Blake, English poet, artist & visionary; born #OTD 1757.
British Museum
British Museum
November 28, 2025 at 5:56 AM
The Ancient of Days: Frontispiece to Europe a Prophecy, 1794, colour relief etching with added hand-colouring by William Blake, English poet, artist & visionary; born #OTD 1757.
British Museum
British Museum
7... The RICS "appointed" ombudsman's "illogical decisions" seemed to favour her fee-paying members.
There's a coincidence.
There's a coincidence.
Coincidence corner: Nigel Farage and crypto.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
November 28, 2025 at 10:47 PM
7... The RICS "appointed" ombudsman's "illogical decisions" seemed to favour her fee-paying members.
There's a coincidence.
There's a coincidence.
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
#OtD 28 Nov 1919 Faye Schulman, Jewish resistance partisan, was born in Lenin, Poland. She survived the massacre of local Jews and joined the partisans as a fighter, nurse and movement photographer. She survived and lived until the age of 101. stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1004...
November 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
#OtD 28 Nov 1919 Faye Schulman, Jewish resistance partisan, was born in Lenin, Poland. She survived the massacre of local Jews and joined the partisans as a fighter, nurse and movement photographer. She survived and lived until the age of 101. stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1004...
Solidarity
Lámh Laichtín • The Shrine of St Lachtin's Arm
This remarkable shrine in the shape of a forearm dates to around c.1120.
A hollow in the shrine is believed to have held the arm bone of St. Lachtin, a saint of the 6th century.
(some additional detail in the Alt-Text)
#Ireland #SpéirGhorm
This remarkable shrine in the shape of a forearm dates to around c.1120.
A hollow in the shrine is believed to have held the arm bone of St. Lachtin, a saint of the 6th century.
(some additional detail in the Alt-Text)
#Ireland #SpéirGhorm
November 28, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Solidarity
6... In order to keep an eye on their Property Ombudsman's decisions The RICS had two of its members sit on the Ombudsman Services' Board.
We said it would be a blueprint for the future.
Change? Obviously not.
We said it would be a blueprint for the future.
Change? Obviously not.
Judge in Palestine Action case has ties to Israel lobby
Campaigners are alleging a “stitch-up” after the British judge who was to consider the legal challenge to the ban on Palestine Action was replaced at the last minute.
electronicintifada.net/content/judg...
Campaigners are alleging a “stitch-up” after the British judge who was to consider the legal challenge to the ban on Palestine Action was replaced at the last minute.
electronicintifada.net/content/judg...
Judge in Palestine Action case has ties to Israel lobby
Victoria Sharp worked for Robert Maxwell and her twin brother sits on charity board with Trevor Chinn.
electronicintifada.net
November 28, 2025 at 5:28 PM
6... In order to keep an eye on their Property Ombudsman's decisions The RICS had two of its members sit on the Ombudsman Services' Board.
We said it would be a blueprint for the future.
Change? Obviously not.
We said it would be a blueprint for the future.
Change? Obviously not.
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
#OtD 28 Nov 1979 mostly Asian women workers at the Chix confectionery factory in Slough, were on strike. They had walked out in October for recognition of their union, and stayed out for eight months until they won stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1004...
November 28, 2025 at 7:10 AM
#OtD 28 Nov 1979 mostly Asian women workers at the Chix confectionery factory in Slough, were on strike. They had walked out in October for recognition of their union, and stayed out for eight months until they won stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1004...
5... DJS revelations showed the state of The RICS's Ombudsman Services performance to be Good For Business.
But desperately Bad For Complainants.
But desperately Bad For Complainants.
No 10 dismisses claim that OBR revelations show Reeves misled public about need for tax rises in budget – UK politics live
No 10 dismisses claim that OBR revelations show Reeves misled public about need for tax rises in budget – UK politics live
Downing Street brushes off claims that the chancellor misled voters about the state of the public finances ahead of the budget
The Office for Budget Responsibility has said that Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, was not at risk of breaking her fiscal rules because of its productivity forecast downgrade.
In a highly unusual move, Richard Hughes, chair of the OBR, has sent a letter to the Commons Treasury committee, giving details of the five assessments it sent to the Treasury ahead of the budget estimating whether or not the fiscal rules would be met.
Before any policy measures, Rachel Reeves was forecast to be running a small current budget surplus in her key year of 2029–30 and therefore meeting her fiscal rules. No fiscal repair job needed. Even after accounting for the U-turns on winter fuel payments and disability benefits since the spring, she was running only a very small deficit. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
5... DJS revelations showed the state of The RICS's Ombudsman Services performance to be Good For Business.
But desperately Bad For Complainants.
But desperately Bad For Complainants.
4... Ombudsman Services claimed to be, "entirely independent."
Yet it "appointed" the property ombudsman.
Had two of its senior executives sitting on the OS Board.
And a Memorandum of Understanding with its company.
Yet it "appointed" the property ombudsman.
Had two of its senior executives sitting on the OS Board.
And a Memorandum of Understanding with its company.
Wes Streeting calls BMA ‘impossible’ and says they made ‘misleading’ claims
Wes Streeting calls BMA ‘impossible’ and says they made ‘misleading’ claims
Health secretary responds to speech given by GP committee leader accusing Labour of ‘gaslighting’ behaviour
Wes Streeting has accused the British Medical Association (BMA) of being “impossible” and issuing “misleading” information in an escalation of tensions with the doctors union.
In an unusual move, the health secretary wrote on Thursday to England’s 50,000 GPs to convey his frustration with the BMA over recent changes that from last month made it easier for patients to contact them online between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:22 AM
4... Ombudsman Services claimed to be, "entirely independent."
Yet it "appointed" the property ombudsman.
Had two of its senior executives sitting on the OS Board.
And a Memorandum of Understanding with its company.
Yet it "appointed" the property ombudsman.
Had two of its senior executives sitting on the OS Board.
And a Memorandum of Understanding with its company.
3... with no jury to hold her accountable The RICS' property ombudsman was free to, "arrive at decisions in an illogical manner."
David Lammy is right to slash the use of juries – it’s an open-and-shut case | Simon Jenkins
David Lammy is right to slash the use of juries – it’s an open-and-shut case | Simon Jenkins
Barristers and criminals may not like the idea, but it’s key to reforming Britain’s antiquated and overloaded justice system, says the Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:14 AM
3... with no jury to hold her accountable The RICS' property ombudsman was free to, "arrive at decisions in an illogical manner."
2... and The RICS appointed its "approved" ombudsman to sit in judgement over complaints brought by the public.
Against its errant Members and Regulated Firms.
Against its errant Members and Regulated Firms.
Jury trials are flawed and unwieldy – but vital for justice being seen to be done | Gaby Hinsliff
Jury trials are flawed and unwieldy – but vital for justice being seen to be done | Gaby Hinsliff
The independence of UK courts and public confidence in the legal system could be the victims of David Lammy’s plan for justice on the cheap, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:10 AM
2... and The RICS appointed its "approved" ombudsman to sit in judgement over complaints brought by the public.
Against its errant Members and Regulated Firms.
Against its errant Members and Regulated Firms.
1 - Somewhere deep in the Amazon Rainforest a butterfly flapped its wings....
November 28, 2025 at 9:02 AM
1 - Somewhere deep in the Amazon Rainforest a butterfly flapped its wings....
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
🎄 Tis the season for red hats with bells, green capes and that…ummm…joyous feeling 🎄 - 14th century, British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV, f. 76r
November 28, 2025 at 5:24 AM
🎄 Tis the season for red hats with bells, green capes and that…ummm…joyous feeling 🎄 - 14th century, British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV, f. 76r
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
It’s here: Our list of 100 Notable Books of 2025. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
November 28, 2025 at 1:48 AM
It’s here: Our list of 100 Notable Books of 2025. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
Thank you for following !
Happy Friday all....❤️
Happy Friday all....❤️
November 28, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Thank you for following !
Happy Friday all....❤️
Happy Friday all....❤️
Rigged Market Capitalism rigs the market in ombudsjustice.
Being pro-business it's:Good For Business.
But: Calamitous For Democracy
Being pro-business it's:Good For Business.
But: Calamitous For Democracy
Why do so many feel like they've fallen behind?
It's not because of immigrants, trans people, DEI, the “deep state,” or any other bogeyman trotted out by the GOP.
It's because big corporations and billionaires have rigged markets and siphoned off most of the economy's gains.
It's not because of immigrants, trans people, DEI, the “deep state,” or any other bogeyman trotted out by the GOP.
It's because big corporations and billionaires have rigged markets and siphoned off most of the economy's gains.
November 27, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Rigged Market Capitalism rigs the market in ombudsjustice.
Being pro-business it's:Good For Business.
But: Calamitous For Democracy
Being pro-business it's:Good For Business.
But: Calamitous For Democracy
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
‘The Surrealists saw colonialism and imperialism as intrinsic to fascism, and from start to finish they campaigned against both.’
Hal Foster on the Surrealists and anti-fascism.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Hal Foster on the Surrealists and anti-fascism.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Hal Foster · Tightrope of Hope: Surrealism v. Fascism
The Surrealists saw colonialism and imperialism as intrinsic to fascism, and from start to finish they campaigned...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:30 PM
‘The Surrealists saw colonialism and imperialism as intrinsic to fascism, and from start to finish they campaigned against both.’
Hal Foster on the Surrealists and anti-fascism.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Hal Foster on the Surrealists and anti-fascism.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Gaslighting.
Gaslighting injures you, like physical abuse breaks bones.
Disinformation is referred to as
“Hybrid Warfare” for good reason.
In case you missed this, from @bulliedbrain.bsky.social - have a read (read the links too).
Manipulating, concealing Truth is abuse.
open.substack.com/pub/bulliedb...
Disinformation is referred to as
“Hybrid Warfare” for good reason.
In case you missed this, from @bulliedbrain.bsky.social - have a read (read the links too).
Manipulating, concealing Truth is abuse.
open.substack.com/pub/bulliedb...
Should the Law Protect the Truth like it does Property?
Gaslighting uses denial and erasure to commit violence against the truth but it doesn't appear to have protections
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Gaslighting.
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
27 Nov: feast of Secundinus (Sechnall) who is associated with #Dunshaughlin Co. Meath
Pre-Patrician saint, traditionally attributed as author of an early hymn.
Pre-Patrician saint, traditionally attributed as author of an early hymn.
November 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
27 Nov: feast of Secundinus (Sechnall) who is associated with #Dunshaughlin Co. Meath
Pre-Patrician saint, traditionally attributed as author of an early hymn.
Pre-Patrician saint, traditionally attributed as author of an early hymn.
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
In London. BM closed due to power outage. So at Sir John Soane’s Museum. A bricolage of casts and originals. And that’s just the antiquity. Fun museum.
November 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
In London. BM closed due to power outage. So at Sir John Soane’s Museum. A bricolage of casts and originals. And that’s just the antiquity. Fun museum.
Reposted by Steve Gilbert
Today is Thanksgiving in the US, or National Day of Mourning/"Unthanksgiving Day" for some Native Americans. Wampanoag people shared food with pilgrims in 1621 but were repaid with centuries of genocide. More on Indigenous resistance: shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/...
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Today is Thanksgiving in the US, or National Day of Mourning/"Unthanksgiving Day" for some Native Americans. Wampanoag people shared food with pilgrims in 1621 but were repaid with centuries of genocide. More on Indigenous resistance: shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/...