William Avery
@willavery.net
Retired IT bod from Bristol.🏳️🌈🇪🇺
Interested in science, open source tech, 中文.
Interested in science, open source tech, 中文.
Reposted by William Avery
It says a lot about how out of touch with reality this Labour government are, that they think people are overweight because they are eating too much in restaurants.
December 8, 2025 at 5:34 PM
It says a lot about how out of touch with reality this Labour government are, that they think people are overweight because they are eating too much in restaurants.
Reposted by William Avery
Written by Michael Mo, a former district councillor (elected to office in the 2019 District Council elections) now living exile in the UK who was born in the Tai Po area where Wang Fuk Court is located.
The colossal failure of regulatory oversight across governmental departments is clear – and Hong Kong has quashed the civilian watchdogs that used to close the gaps.
Hong Kong’s Tragic Fire Shows the Consequences of a Hollowed-out Civil Society
The colossal failure of regulatory oversight across governmental departments is clear – and Hong Kong has quashed the civilian watchdogs that used to close the gaps.
buff.ly
December 6, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Written by Michael Mo, a former district councillor (elected to office in the 2019 District Council elections) now living exile in the UK who was born in the Tai Po area where Wang Fuk Court is located.
Reposted by William Avery
Good analogy “attacking American companies over garbage”.
Yes, the polluters should pay.
The toxic sludge created by US Tech should be fined like any other ‘externality’ — like oil spills, chemical leaks, poisoning rivers.
Yes, the polluters should pay.
The toxic sludge created by US Tech should be fined like any other ‘externality’ — like oil spills, chemical leaks, poisoning rivers.
December 6, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Good analogy “attacking American companies over garbage”.
Yes, the polluters should pay.
The toxic sludge created by US Tech should be fined like any other ‘externality’ — like oil spills, chemical leaks, poisoning rivers.
Yes, the polluters should pay.
The toxic sludge created by US Tech should be fined like any other ‘externality’ — like oil spills, chemical leaks, poisoning rivers.
Reposted by William Avery
Starting to suspect FIFA might not be an entirely reputable organisation.
December 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Starting to suspect FIFA might not be an entirely reputable organisation.
Reposted by William Avery
Americans will no longer get free entry to federal parks on Martin Luther King Day.
They will, however, on Trump’s June 14 birthday.
Literally the sort of thing dictators do.
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
They will, however, on Trump’s June 14 birthday.
Literally the sort of thing dictators do.
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
National parks change prioritizes Trump birthday over days honoring Black people
Free entrance days at national parks no longer include MLK Day and Juneteenth.
www.sfgate.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Americans will no longer get free entry to federal parks on Martin Luther King Day.
They will, however, on Trump’s June 14 birthday.
Literally the sort of thing dictators do.
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
They will, however, on Trump’s June 14 birthday.
Literally the sort of thing dictators do.
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
Reposted by William Avery
The broken X reporting system is in systemic breach of legal obligations under the Online Safety Act and Equality Act, if anybody responsible cared to look at the evidence in good faith. It is partly that there is next to no human oversight & no staff in Europe.
But even the AI can spot an n-word.
But even the AI can spot an n-word.
December 4, 2025 at 8:46 AM
The broken X reporting system is in systemic breach of legal obligations under the Online Safety Act and Equality Act, if anybody responsible cared to look at the evidence in good faith. It is partly that there is next to no human oversight & no staff in Europe.
But even the AI can spot an n-word.
But even the AI can spot an n-word.
Reposted by William Avery
1. The European Parliament’s attempt to ban plant-based foods from being sold as “sausages”, “burgers” etc is a direct response to livestock industry lobbying. This is a short thread on how utterly bleeding ridiculous it is. 🧵1/6
December 3, 2025 at 10:26 AM
1. The European Parliament’s attempt to ban plant-based foods from being sold as “sausages”, “burgers” etc is a direct response to livestock industry lobbying. This is a short thread on how utterly bleeding ridiculous it is. 🧵1/6
Reposted by William Avery
This is how Chris Mason, like a child filled with wonder, described "the choreography and theatre that surrounds a Budget" in Feb 2024, when a male Tory Chancellor was in post.
"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
December 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM
This is how Chris Mason, like a child filled with wonder, described "the choreography and theatre that surrounds a Budget" in Feb 2024, when a male Tory Chancellor was in post.
"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
Reposted by William Avery
Important read by @athenaktong.bsky.social outlining how the tragedy in Hong Kong, a manmade one, was made all the more likely to take place because of the crackdown on watchdog orgs and institutional actors that push for transparency and oversight
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-...
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-...
Athena Tong (@athenaktong.bsky.social)
Hongkonger in Tokyo with cats 🗼🇯🇵🐱🐱
UTokyo | CSRI | Researcher
Fighting for freedoms 🌏
Researching info ops, geopolitics & economic security
athenaktong.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Important read by @athenaktong.bsky.social outlining how the tragedy in Hong Kong, a manmade one, was made all the more likely to take place because of the crackdown on watchdog orgs and institutional actors that push for transparency and oversight
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-...
asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-...
Reposted by William Avery
I find it interesting that every single TV political journalist opened with an editorialising comment, while all the newspaper ones just asked questions. I suspect, because the latter know the question won't be in the write-up, while the former are trying to craft a clip that is all about them. ~AA
December 1, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I find it interesting that every single TV political journalist opened with an editorialising comment, while all the newspaper ones just asked questions. I suspect, because the latter know the question won't be in the write-up, while the former are trying to craft a clip that is all about them. ~AA
Reposted by William Avery
Watched BBC 6 o clock news. Just a completely unserious broadcast. Chris Mason, acting like a children's entertainer, giving a prolonged impenetrable editorial. Not a whiff of informative content about the Budget or what it means for the country. Just playschool blah blah bollocks.
December 1, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Watched BBC 6 o clock news. Just a completely unserious broadcast. Chris Mason, acting like a children's entertainer, giving a prolonged impenetrable editorial. Not a whiff of informative content about the Budget or what it means for the country. Just playschool blah blah bollocks.
Reposted by William Avery
the only thing Rachel Reeves needs to do for more favourable coverage on BBC News is threaten to sue them for £1 billion
December 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
the only thing Rachel Reeves needs to do for more favourable coverage on BBC News is threaten to sue them for £1 billion
Reposted by William Avery
31 years ago this month, I warned that America was becoming a two-tiered society composed of a few winners and a larger group left behind, whose anger and disillusionment could be easily manipulated.
I took a lot of heat for this speech. Watch and tell me if I was wrong.
I took a lot of heat for this speech. Watch and tell me if I was wrong.
A Warning from 1994 of a Two-Tiered Society | Robert Reich
Robert Reich
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 9:01 PM
31 years ago this month, I warned that America was becoming a two-tiered society composed of a few winners and a larger group left behind, whose anger and disillusionment could be easily manipulated.
I took a lot of heat for this speech. Watch and tell me if I was wrong.
I took a lot of heat for this speech. Watch and tell me if I was wrong.
Tintin is a twink? In those trousers?🧐
Le saviez-vous ? Dans la série d’animation Netflix Q-Force, Twink est un twink 🤨📺. fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twink
#LeSaviezVous #DidYouKnow
#LeSaviezVous #DidYouKnow
November 28, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Tintin is a twink? In those trousers?🧐
Reposted by William Avery
Maybe the most 'I am someone the 20th century didn't happen to' post imaginable, in which you think that 'the far right take power' and the consequence is just that after five years, boom that's over but your preferred political outgroup is out of action.
We have to start thinking about what we want Britain to look like in 2034 after the far right have been in power. There will be no status quo to return to. Centrism will be stone cold dead.
November 27, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Maybe the most 'I am someone the 20th century didn't happen to' post imaginable, in which you think that 'the far right take power' and the consequence is just that after five years, boom that's over but your preferred political outgroup is out of action.
Reposted by William Avery
Spain is prosecuting its politicians for COVID corruption, and has just jailed a former minister pending trial, and yet the UK's Johnson, Gove, Hancock, Mone and many other senior Tories still walk amongst us.
Spain’s Supreme Court ordered lawmaker and former Public Works and Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos to be jailed without bond today after deeming him a flight risk ahead of his corruption trial.
Judge jails former Spanish minister ahead of trial, deepening deadlock in parliament
The imprisonment of José Luis Ábalos makes it virtually impossible for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to pass legislation.
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Spain is prosecuting its politicians for COVID corruption, and has just jailed a former minister pending trial, and yet the UK's Johnson, Gove, Hancock, Mone and many other senior Tories still walk amongst us.
Reposted by William Avery
"We cannot negotiate with people who say 'what's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable'."
John F. Kennedy
25 July 1961
re: The Berlin Crisis
John F. Kennedy
25 July 1961
re: The Berlin Crisis
Putin: “When Ukrainians troops withdraw from the territories they hold, then we will cease hostilities; If they don’t leave, we will achieve this by military means “
November 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
"We cannot negotiate with people who say 'what's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable'."
John F. Kennedy
25 July 1961
re: The Berlin Crisis
John F. Kennedy
25 July 1961
re: The Berlin Crisis
Reposted by William Avery
Friends living abroad have messaged to ask how I am. The Tai Po fire has received a lot of international coverage. Probably because the images of it are so arresting.
My thoughts are with the residents of Wang Fuk Court. But, please, think of Hong Kong's political prisoners too.
Thank you.
My thoughts are with the residents of Wang Fuk Court. But, please, think of Hong Kong's political prisoners too.
Thank you.
November 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Friends living abroad have messaged to ask how I am. The Tai Po fire has received a lot of international coverage. Probably because the images of it are so arresting.
My thoughts are with the residents of Wang Fuk Court. But, please, think of Hong Kong's political prisoners too.
Thank you.
My thoughts are with the residents of Wang Fuk Court. But, please, think of Hong Kong's political prisoners too.
Thank you.
Reposted by William Avery
Only a sixth of the public know that immigration is now falling (significantly) from its peak levels. It is a challenge to the politicians and the media to do their distinct jobs more effectively by communicating this, so we can have a more informed debate
www.britishfuture.org/immigration-...
www.britishfuture.org/immigration-...
Immigration falling but public still thinks it is going up – new research - British Future
Findings from the British Future/Ipsos Immigration Attitudes Tracker into what the public thinks about immigration for work, study and asylum
www.britishfuture.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Only a sixth of the public know that immigration is now falling (significantly) from its peak levels. It is a challenge to the politicians and the media to do their distinct jobs more effectively by communicating this, so we can have a more informed debate
www.britishfuture.org/immigration-...
www.britishfuture.org/immigration-...
Reposted by William Avery
Steve Witkoff isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What Is Steve Witkoff Trying to Do?
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war.
www.theatlantic.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Steve Witkoff isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by William Avery
This petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy already has over 30,000 signatures. Let’s get it to 100,000 this week.
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy already has over 30,000 signatures. Let’s get it to 100,000 this week.
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by William Avery
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by William Avery
The only reason Gill stopped being the Reform UK leader in Wales was because he failed to win a seat in the 2021 Senedd election.
Zia Yusuf keeps trying to make this sound like this is ancient history, and Reform washed their hands of him, but nothing is further from the truth.
Zia Yusuf keeps trying to make this sound like this is ancient history, and Reform washed their hands of him, but nothing is further from the truth.
November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The only reason Gill stopped being the Reform UK leader in Wales was because he failed to win a seat in the 2021 Senedd election.
Zia Yusuf keeps trying to make this sound like this is ancient history, and Reform washed their hands of him, but nothing is further from the truth.
Zia Yusuf keeps trying to make this sound like this is ancient history, and Reform washed their hands of him, but nothing is further from the truth.
Reposted by William Avery
Most accounts on Twitter turn out to be Russian MAGA bots. Here’s why Bluesky has an intellectual diversity problem
November 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Most accounts on Twitter turn out to be Russian MAGA bots. Here’s why Bluesky has an intellectual diversity problem
Reposted by William Avery
X is in clear + systemic breach of its legal duties in the UK to remove unlawful content from its platform.
Proof: when X users abuse + harass others with the racial slur "paki", X reporting system defends the racist abuse in more than 90% of cases reported.
A new thread documenting this.
Proof: when X users abuse + harass others with the racial slur "paki", X reporting system defends the racist abuse in more than 90% of cases reported.
A new thread documenting this.
November 13, 2025 at 12:43 AM
X is in clear + systemic breach of its legal duties in the UK to remove unlawful content from its platform.
Proof: when X users abuse + harass others with the racial slur "paki", X reporting system defends the racist abuse in more than 90% of cases reported.
A new thread documenting this.
Proof: when X users abuse + harass others with the racial slur "paki", X reporting system defends the racist abuse in more than 90% of cases reported.
A new thread documenting this.