Paul N
LightNews LightNews
paulnuk.bsky.social
Paul N
@paulnuk.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.2K following 5.8K posts
Signed up member of the tofu eating wokerati.

#fbpe
Posts Replies Media Videos
paulnuk.bsky.social
Tonight's astronomy photo from my back garden is the Triangulum Galaxy M33.

2.73 million years ago some photons left the galaxy, and 2.73 million years later some hit the sensor in the back of my telescope near Bristol.

#seestar
#astronomy
A bright spiral galaxy in a sea of stars.
November 18, 2025 at 12:21 AM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Reposting with alt-text so the visually disabled can read it.
I am now being contacted by private security firms with warnings for my safety as a hot bed of threats against me are being fueled and egged on by the most powerful man in the world. The man I supported and helped get elected. Aggressive rhetoric attacking me has historically led to death threats and multiple convictions of men who were radicalized by the same type rhetoric being directed at me right now. This time by the President of the United States. As a woman I take threats from men seriously. I now have a small understanding of the fear and pressure the women, who are victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal, must feel. As a Republican, who overwhelmingly votes for President Trump's bills and agenda, his aggression against me which also fuels the venomous nature of his radical internet trolls (many of whom are paid), this is completely shocking to everyone.
November 15, 2025 at 6:21 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Alt-text added for visually disabled followers.
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018. Earlier on the same day he spoke at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg." Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow..." Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
November 15, 2025 at 8:22 AM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Toad.

@nigelslater.bsky.social recipe.

The best on a gloomy wet Monday.

Mmmm mmm mmm.
Toad in the hole with bubbly crispy brown batter and browned sausages. Mmmm.
November 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
I do like odd street names. Here's one from Bristol.
A street sign that says JOHNNY BALL LANE in capital letters.
November 8, 2025 at 8:43 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
It's been a week since we saw @prolapseband.bsky.social and I'm still buzzing.

Here's a little clip of the brilliant chaos.

@derrymick.bsky.social @patdelay.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Hi @bristolgreenparty.bsky.social @robbryher.bsky.social @carladenyer.bsky.social

So disappointed that the new pedestrianised entrance to Bath Street is immediately being used as a free car park.

Is there anything you can do about this? Any progress on the pavement parking initiative?
A large Mercedes car parked on a brand new pavement.
November 5, 2025 at 1:37 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
The question is, who is the guy on the left? Do your thing, internet.
An unmasked ICE agent assaulting a young woman after dragging her out of her car.
November 3, 2025 at 10:35 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Added alt-text version for people unfortunate enough to be visually disabled.

Any chance of just posting the text next time, or at least adding alt-text to screenshots of text?
This is the essence of Farageism: hypocrisy as policy, politics that bends to every audience. It only works if you don't look too closely, if you accept contradiction as part of the deal. Workers hear rhetoric about fairness; bosses get promises of deregulation. Young people are told they've been written off by politicians, then told that their pay is too high. The country is too poor for public investment, yet somehow must be made more comfortable for the rich.
November 3, 2025 at 9:40 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
I love gig photography. Here are the two singers of the band Prolapse giving it their all.
Mick and Linda from Prolapse.
November 2, 2025 at 6:57 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
A few photos.
The two singers of Prolapse very close together. The drummer with a crazed look admires the singer. Mick with beer in hand giving it all. The bass player and both singers
November 2, 2025 at 6:54 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Prolapse were great tonight!
Prolapse the band on a very small stage. An action shot with the female singer dancing and the much taller male singer at the front of the stage
November 2, 2025 at 12:12 AM
paulnuk.bsky.social
This afternoon's listening
An image of the album cover for Dorothy Ashby's Afro-Harping (Cadet LPS-809), which features the track "Soul Vibrations"
October 31, 2025 at 2:21 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
I'm getting into chess and I've been setting up some openings on my dad's old RNIB board. The white pieces have points on top of them, and each piece is wonderfully formed so that they are easily recognised by touch.

It's missing a few pawns so I've got some odd sized replacements (cont).
An opening on an RNIB chess board. There are holes to stand each piece in, and a line of holes at each end to store taken pieces. A white and a black pawn.
October 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Reposting with alt text, so visually disabled users can read it too.
Liz Jarvis Liberal Democrat, Eastleigh To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress the Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner has made in recovering public money lost through pandemic-related (a) fraud and (b) non-delivered contracts. Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 20 October 2025, cW) James Murray The Chief Secretary to the Treasury The government is leaving no stone unturned to investigate and recover public funds lost to fraud and error during the pandemic. The Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner will report to Parliament by the end of his term in December 2025. In his first phase, the Commissioner focused on £1.4 billion of disputed personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts. This revealed that that c. 16% of pandemic era PPE contracts failed. Recovery action has resulted in some PPE suppliers being referred to the National Crime Agency for suspected fraud.
October 28, 2025 at 4:47 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
This is what shifting your electricity consumption can do to your bills.

On Saturday I charged my battery up on very cheap electricity overnight, then drained it by washing, drying, cooking etc. At midday Octopus had a 3 hour slot of "free above usual usage", so
A graph showing my electricity consumption over twenty four hours. Medium consumption midnight to 6am. Nothing 6am to midday. Massive consulting 12-3pm, nothing for the rest of the day A graph for my electricity cost over the day. There is a standing charge of about 2p an hour, some very low or negative costs overnight, and some peaks in the 12-3 period. Total cost was £1.03. Excluding the standing charge of 66p that's about 1.3p per kWh
October 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Well that was a nice 3 hours of free energy from @octopus.energy

All devices charged.
Home battery charged up for later.
Moussaka cooked.
Towel rail cosy.
Oil and fan heaters warmed the house.
Two loads of washing and drying done.
Dishwasher ran.
Smart meter in the red.

Green energy rocks!
A graphic from the Givenergy app that shows the following figures: Overview Home Consumption 21.5 kWh Breakdown Generation to Home 1.1 kWh Grid to Home 16.1 kWh Battery to Home 4.3 kWh A slightly crispy moussaka in a large cooking dish
October 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
That photo is so reminiscent of a young Roy Harper
Roy Harper with long fair hair,a beard and a hat. He's playing an acoustic guitar.
October 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
After 15 years of my daughter's violin sitting in the corner after she gave up lessons, her violin has found a new home, at the East London School of Classical Music.

If you have any instruments that you no longer use, you can donate them here:

The Nucleo Project share.google/eZdUcOLZAi1B...
A half sized violin in a blue case.
October 21, 2025 at 10:41 AM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Nothing like showing JavaScript on your Facebook adverts... Thanks Zuckerberg.
A Facebook advert that is showing JavaScript source code when it shouldn't be.
October 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Groan, another post with no alt-text so that visually disabled people can't read it.

Here I've done your job for you:
The position of the Russians hasn't changed. They want us to withdraw from Donbas not the entire East, but specifically Donbas, that is, completely from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. I made it clear that Ukraine's stance in this context remains unchanged. I explained this both to President Trump and to Mr. Witkoff. We understand that Mr. Witkoff is simply conveying what Russia means; this does not necessarily reflect his own view, at least according to him. I made it clear to him that there are some misleading impressions. The story is that the Russians claim they supposedly held a referendum among the Russian people in Donbas, and that they supposedly want to join Russia. But first there was the occupation, and only afterward did something uncontrolled and clearly illegal happen, which they called a "referendum." Moreover, I would say that these signals from the Russians are so far from reality that ten years passed between the start of the occupation and the so-called "referendum." Do you see where it doesn't add up? Mr. Witkoff points out that it was incorporated into their constitution. So I explained to Mr. Witkoff once again that if tomorrow Putin adds something else to their constitution, after the war ends in one way or another, will we need to withdraw from some territory again? And if, for example, I amend the Constitution of Ukraine to include two regions of the Russian Federation, would they then leave those territories? This is a non-functional model.
October 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
The main thing the Republicans should be investigating is what the hell they have been smoking, as they've gone completely insane.

Meanwhile, the speaker is watching his soul leave his body as the body is no longer human.
Red arrow pointing at the speaker who looks very uncomfortable.
October 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
paulnuk.bsky.social
At this time of year we go mushroom hunting in the woods nearby, just taking photos.

This is a new one for us, we think it's actually a slime mould, possibly the red raspberry slime mould.
A damp dark log with what looks like a slimy raspberry on it. There's a short trail of slime behind it.
October 19, 2025 at 10:55 AM
paulnuk.bsky.social
"Alt text describes images for blind and low-vision users and helps give context to everyone."
Flunk and disorderly The current legislative and regulatory framework means "it would be unlikely that the OfS could secure reasonable outcomes for students if a large multi-faculty university closed," the regulator has said in its evidence to the House of Commons Education Committee. In case of a disorderly exit, the consequences for students could be "severe", OfS warns. Its submission highlights the ensuing risks to students in the event of a large closure, which include loss of access to students' academic records, students not receiving awards for courses already completed, inability to secure suitable transfer options, disruption to accommodation arrangements, and financial harm. Student groups said to face particular issues in the face of a closure include students with work or caring responsibilities, mature students, disabled students, and research students whose work is closely tied to a particular supervisor or research environment, for whom finding suitable transfer options may be "difficult or impossible". The OfS response to the committee again puts forward the idea that a bespoke clearing service for students affected by an institutional closure could be beneficial. The submission to the committee's inquiry on higher education and funding comes ahead of the first hearing next Tuesday.
October 17, 2025 at 8:39 AM
paulnuk.bsky.social
Reposted with alt-text for visually disabled users.
In December 1961. the British fascist, Oswald Mosley, sent Bertrand Russell two of his books. Mosley wrote of 'the two root differences between us' in international politics, and subsequently invited Russell to lunch. On 22 January 1962, Russell declined the invitation in these terms. Dear Sir Oswald, Thank you for your letter and for your enclosures. I have given some thought to our recent correspondence. It is always difficult to decide on how to respond to people whose ethos is so alien and, in fact, repellent to one's own. It is not that I take exception to the general points made by you but that every ounce of my energy has been devoted to an active opposition to cruel bigotry, compulsive violence, and the sadistic persecution which has characterised the philosophy and practice of fascism. I feel obliged to say that the emotional universes we inhabit are so distinct, and in deepest ways opposed, that nothing fruitful or sincere could ever emerge from association between us. I should like you to understand the intensity of this conviction on my part. It is not out of any attempt to be rude that I say this but because of all that I value in human experience and human achievement. Yours sincerely, Bertrand Russell
October 16, 2025 at 5:10 PM