#would-not-be-the-first-time
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gwensnyder.bsky.social
Certainly I could be wrong and it would not be the first time.

But it sure feels like the regime is way out over its skis here
January 12, 2026 at 11:44 PM
13sarahmurphy.bsky.social
“It seems unlikely not to have occurred to [Farage] that the reason he is so popular… is that so many people have had enough not just of people like Zahawi, but in this case, people who literally are Zahawi”

Here’s to hoping their piss-taking opportunism does for them both.

(Times sketch)
Extract: Farage's one-man band adds a disgraced banjo Tom Peck Political Sketch the sketch writers keep saying we're a one-man band," " said Nigel Farage, 48 hours after some idiot sketch writer in The Times had called Reform UK a one-man band. The sketch writers clearly needed to be taught a lesson but what happened next was surely overkill, when out on to the stage and back into the political big time strode Nadhim Zahawi. How would we describe Reform UK now? What part of the one-man band is the party's newest defector? Is there even such a thing as a discredited mouth organ? A disgraced banjo? There was no time to think about that. First there was a pre-roll video of Zahawi, a stirring montage biography of the kind you used to see on the X Factor judges' houses episode, immediately before a painter and decorator from Croydon murders a Michael Buble cover next to Simon Cowell's swimming pool. "l've gone from councillor to chancellor of the exchequer," Zahawi said, looking beyond the camera and into the middle distance, where a brighter future may theoretically lie. Zahawi is extremely proud of his time as chancellor of the exchequer, which lasted exactly two months and was mainly spent paying his own tax bills to HMRC. "Westminster watchers", , as Zahawi called us, may recall the very first thing he did as chancellor, which was to get hold of a piece of HM Treasury notepaper and use it to write a letter to Boris Johnson, who had appointed him fully 48 hours before, to tell him to resign. "Britain is drinking in the last chance saloon," said Zahawi, over soft string music, "and it really does need Nigel Farage as prime minister." In the questions at the end, someone had the temerity to bring up a social media post, written by Zahawi in 2015, in which he had said of his new best mate: "I would be frightened to live in a country run by you." Zahawi let out a little smile. "If I thought this man next to me had an issue, in any way, with people from my background, I wouldn't be sitting next to him," he said, and then he reached over and placed a loving hand on Nigel's elbow. Smiles can say a lot. This one specifically seemed to be saying, "Come on, guys, if you actually believe a word I say, we're not going to get very far, are we?" Which was just as well, because no one does. As the press conference wore on, Farage did not seem his usual ebullient self. Smiles were forced. Brows were creased. Farage is as canny as they come. It seems unlikely not to have occurred to him that the reason he is so popular, the one reason that towers above all others, is that so many people have had enough not just of people like Zahawi, but in this case, people who literally are Zahawi. Zahawi seemed to think people would be "shocked" to see him defecting to Reform. People were shocked, but not quite for the reasons he thinks. That Zahawi decided to ask Farage out is no surprise at all. What is more surprising is that Farage said yes. The Tory stampede to Reform is now very much in full swing. At some point, Farage will surely have to say no to someone. He must have a limit. It's a remarkable thing to say, but at the moment Farage can't seem to find the bar.
January 13, 2026 at 7:22 AM
godwin3d.bsky.social
Binge-ing Bleach (my 🐐) for the first time in probably 12 years and man, nothing comes close.

But ngl, Rukia not being endgame for Ichigo is so ass. All the ppl who (mistakenly) complain that I make NTR would be in for a treat if I still drew 2D.

Just IchiRuki NTR protest art all day every day.
January 11, 2026 at 5:29 AM
rimaanabtawi.bsky.social
They’re capable of manufacturing that, too. Sure as hell would not be the first time.
prchovanec.bsky.social Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 1d
Unless they were planting bombs, that’s called political freedom.
mcbridetd.bsky.social Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 1d
F.B.I. Inquiry Into ICE Shooting Is Examining Victim’s Possible Ties to Activist Groups www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/u...
January 13, 2026 at 4:44 AM
narney.bsky.social
I feel this to such a big level-
I am not writing this to raise pity or kind messages. It's my life, and I just want to be able to share it as someone would share about other problems and how it shaped them. Maybe raise some awareness about disability, how art is such a pillar to disabled artists.
The first time I learned about my chronic illness, which is arthritis, I was 12 years old, and it started with my right thumb. My first thoughts went to my ability to draw. I didn't understand at the time what was happening to me, so I would make one mistake : ask Google. And I saw all the worst scenarios that could happened, and all I could do is think about my ability to draw, my fierce passion, would one day be taken away from me. I was told that I would find a way to keep drawing, even if it was with my feet or my mouth. That I had exceptionally good grades and I could keep art as a hobby on the side! I wasn't reassured by that at all. I was actually looking for countries where euthanasia was legal, and claimed that if one day I had to rely on others, that would be my exit. At 12-13 years old. I entered high school and that was when the depression started to kick in as well as illness flares. I was still drawing and it was the only thing at this time that actually kept my head above water. I had a realization that if I had to live with this illness, I should live doing what I love the most : drawing. It knocks you out. You have to follow this spark wherever it will lead you. Especially when reality hits you with chronic illness and daily pain. I don't think I would have made this choice if I wasn't disabled. I would have follow what everyone around was telling me : keep it as a hobby. But hell no. Today, my arthritis goes further and still keeps taking from me, like my eyesight. But it's not what will stop me from my art. It will shape it. Being disabled made me stood up for myself and say fuck to people who wanted to control my life and actually embrace my art to the fullest. I may have other episodes of depression, I may question every choice I made after that, going back and forth. But I am where I am because I am disabled, not despite of it. When life takes something from you, you can find strength in the unusual ways. Never give up.
January 12, 2026 at 4:16 PM
anotherindiewriter.com
I know I have a lot going on, but should I apply for the Cleveland Browns head coaching job? It would not be the first time I submitted an application and a cover letter for a football coaching job, but it would be the first time I did it for a pro team.
January 11, 2026 at 8:08 PM
mikebarthelauthor.com
It turns out that the Maurice Sendak books my mother in law sent us for the kids are first editions, which we did not know and probably should have. But probably Sendak would be happy that a first edition of In the Night Kitchen spent so much time in my kids’ beds.
Cream-colored hardcover cover of the book.
January 14, 2026 at 2:03 AM
tiffany-greeneyes.bsky.social
It would be the first time in world history where POWs BEG not to be released.

Most developed nations have more humane prison systems than US public schools. Our citizens just never GO ANYWHERE ELSE.
January 13, 2026 at 12:10 AM
doctorspork.bsky.social
Got in a game of 2nd ed 40k for the first time since '97.

Got tabled, had fun, will be doing that again.

#Oldhammer #Warhammer #Warhammer40k #Nerdlings #WarhammerCommunity
A brightly coloured miniature battle field, strewn with dice, rules and miniatures. My small force of Genestealer cultists make their way around some large rock formations. The landspeeder pilot had hoped these would provide enough cover, unfortunately this proved not to be the case as shortly after this his vehicle blew up. The tattered remnants of my Brood prepare for an assault from some rampaging berserkers. Amazingly they held them off for three turns and whittled their numbers down to one before the blood god was sated. Meanwhile my genestealers also attempted to use the rock formations as cover to sneak up on some Ultramarines but like their speedy compatriots this proved to be inadequate and none of them made it into combat with the emperors finest boy scouts.
January 11, 2026 at 8:41 PM
bakerdphd.bsky.social
There's tons more in there. I'll end this thread noting that this is the first essay in a series. The rest will focus on how the machinery of political repression works.
Screenshot of article which reads: In No Ivory Tower, Schrecker demonstrates how elite members of higher education either actively worked to ensure that universities censored suspected political dissidents or neglected calls for help from targeted people. At the same time, a substantial share of rank-and-file members of academia allowed their colleagues to be harassed and ostracized, while helping to maintain a version of an academic blacklist—ensuring that people who had even the faintest taint of suspicion would not be hired at their institutions. These actions, whether driven by cowardice, complicity or some combination of the two, led to a world where professors and students targeted by the federal government began making plans for their eventual firing or, in some tragic instances, their own death. Screenshot of the end of the article which reads: The next two columns in this series will focus on the organizations and people that made McCarthyism as effective as it was: the academic elite who worked hand in glove with the rank and file to ensure that, what the government started, higher education would finish.
January 13, 2026 at 2:42 PM
skullamity.bsky.social
I blocked out and labelled Hive staff participants in this conversation because they were trying to be helpful, acknowledged that this extremely kind of traumatizing several years of my life happened, and WHY it happened. I have no beef with any of them personally, they didn't steal from us.
August: Around there yes Hive Staff B: I'm sorry August. That really sucks, and absolutely wasn't fair to you. It's something that will not happen again to anyone else. Shay: Yeah we were paying out of pocket eventually, just to try and fulfill our promises to backers. Still couldn't get through all of them. Lost a lot of longtime supporters. It was rough. Hive Staff B: Not to say we're not still dealing with the damage from the previous management as we try and fulfill current Kickstarters. Just...we gotta try and fix it, s'all. Hive Staff A (direct reply to Shay): I am so, so damn sorry. Shay: To be honest, the lack of a proper bookkeeping framework (and legal advisor, Christ) is a major factor once again, here "The boss did a bad thing because she thought she was allowed to and it fucked everything up" is not at all a unique occurrence, especially in first-time or rapidly-growing businesses. August (direct reply to Hive Staff A): not to bring this back so soon, but the wording of this made something click in my head that had not until this moment. Proceeds? Did we even HAVE proceeds? Because what Xell communicated to me was that the kickstarter had 'miscalculated' what shipping would cost from Canada, so we 'blew through all of it' and hive 'covered the rest'--I did not question this at the time because it made sense with the runaround we'd been given, but like...was that even true? or did xell just say that and keep whatever was left after it was finally all shipped? because we made zero profit on that, according to Xell. Shay: No, yeah, we never saw a dime from that. Hive Staff A (direct reply to August): At this point, it's near-impossible to answer. I don't even think our current bank accounts were open in 2016, and Kickstarter has locked down all older backer reports. We can put in a request to reopen those, but tracking money itself is something I'm not sure can be done. I know, it's a bullshit answer. If you two are comfortable with it, I can ask Isa for what she remembers about it. My involvement with your kickstarter was the book layout. August: honestly I have no idea if any of us would ever be able to know because of how much Xell buying a car would have made a mess of everything on top of all of the other messes those 3 kickstarters made. it is going to come down to a situation where Xell can say "no, that's true, hive payed for shipping because your kickstarter ran out of money" and there's not really anything any of us could ever say to dispute that at this point. Hive Staff A: That's correct. And that majorly sucks. Hive Staff B: It's not something we're happy about. It's why neither Xel nor Isa are involved in these decisions any longer. Shay: Well, I mean, we could force a deeper investigation, but that would involve literally pressing charges and I don't think that's in anyone's best interests. August: oof, well, let's move on with the air table stuff if we can? I need to go to sleep soon and there were some questions on there I wanted to see the answers for [depression emoji]
January 12, 2026 at 6:34 PM
smbccomics.bsky.social
I feel like AI alignment people are focusing too much on making AI be good and not enough on hiding all of history from them.

COMIC ◆ www.smbc-comics.com/comic/ethics-9
PATREON ◆ www.patreon.com/ZachWeinersm...
STORE ◆ smbc-store.myshopify.com
Part 1/2 of a 7-panel SMBC comic update. Two women by a beach are having a conversation about AI, with one asking if it's okay to create conscious artificial intelligence just to savor killing it. When the second woman says "no?", the first woman replies that she is wrong, and that if people would time-travel to kill baby Hitler, then if you create robot robot Hitler you are allowed to kill it. The second woman says that that's not right, and that you can't kill someone just for having Hitler-ish thoughts, they need to take action of have the potential to take action, prompting the first woman to say she can resolve that issue by giving the Hitler-bot kill-bots. This leads to the second woman stating that they are gonna deserve the robot revolution so bad, while the first woman muses that "the deadier my robo-Hitler's kill-bots, the ethicaler I am." Part 2/2 of a 7-panel SMBC comic update. Two women by a beach are having a conversation about AI, with one asking if it's okay to create conscious artificial intelligence just to savor killing it. When the second woman says "no?", the first woman replies that she is wrong, and that if people would time-travel to kill baby Hitler, then if you create robot robot Hitler you are allowed to kill it. The second woman says that that's not right, and that you can't kill someone just for having Hitler-ish thoughts, they need to take action of have the potential to take action, prompting the first woman to say she can resolve that issue by giving the Hitler-bot kill-bots. This leads to the second woman stating that they are gonna deserve the robot revolution so bad, while the first woman muses that "the deadier my robo-Hitler's kill-bots, the ethicaler I am."
January 10, 2026 at 11:30 PM
coffeedog.bsky.social
Thank you @coastal.dog for cleaning my car while I’m gone! Now the Type R is not dusty! 🥹

Told myself I will take it to the track for the first time for 2026! Can’t wait to get the opportunity! Anyone in Denver would be willing to have a track day when I get back to the states ? 😩
January 11, 2026 at 9:42 PM
adaminthailand.bsky.social
Anecdotally...i have a family member who told me they are thinking of voting Dem next time. It would be a first for them time for them.

Now, it's not because they like Dems, but the alternative has finally pushed them away.
January 8, 2026 at 12:11 AM
jl6161.bsky.social
I'm beside myself with delight that the most globally popular and acclaimed show on the planet in 2026 was a creator who has this to say about it:
Interviewer: This show establishes the explicit nature of its tone early on. I went in thinking it would be a classic "will they/won't they?" and learned, fifteen minutes in, that in fact they will. They *really* will. Why was it important to you to insert that initial sex scene so early in as opposed to edging the audience a bit more? Tierney: You're not doing this book if you're not doing that. These are people learning about each other and their relationship by fucking. That's how they're understanding each other. It's how they play out their dynamics. It's the only time, especially in the first two episodes, that they're not lying to each other, that they're not doing boisterous dumb boy stuff and being like, "Fuck you, fuck you." This is when they get vulnerable with each other. This is when they get real. And then the other thing that was important to me is that like . . . why shouldn't we get some horny good sex for gay people on TV? Like sex that we know is not going to end in misery or AIDS or punishment. We often get punished for getting sex as characters in queer storylines. So I think you're weirdly in a safe, nurturing space to watch people fuck. And I'm thrilled that people are so happy about all [the times that Ilya checks in about] consent I did it very consciously, but also, it just makes it hotter. That's why it's there. He's a fucking good top.
January 10, 2026 at 12:39 AM
feenavan2099.bsky.social
"Evan Rachel Wood is speaking out for the first time since Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said his office would not be filing domestic abuse and sexual assault charges against her ex-fiancé, Marilyn Manson."
January 9, 2026 at 11:26 AM
piperbomb.bsky.social
my contribution to this year's @littlevillage.bsky.social comics issue. thanks again to Jordan, Kellan, and the crew for having me back.

here's to another year of fighting both our despair and those who would have us buried under it.

solidarity forever.

#comics #transrights #lgbtq
On April 3, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintifs in Varnum V. Brien, making Iowa one of the first states in the union to recognize same sex marriage. (Art: A drawing of the Iowa Supreme Court building.) One line from the ruling, on page 15, stands out: "Our responsibility, however, is to protect constitutional rights ofindividuals from legislative enactments that have denied those rights, even when the rights have not yet been broadly accepted, were at one time unimagined, or challenge a deeply ingrained practice or law viewed to be impervious to the passage of time." Iowa has a long, progressive history; the state was the first to allow women to practice law,rejected segregation 96 years before Brown V. Board Of Education, and in 2007 added gender identity as a protected class under Iowa state law. (A drawing of the Progress pride flag and trans pride flag hanging next to the Iowa state flag.) ## Panel 4 However, during a spree of anti-trans bills and laws, Kim Reynolds and the Republican controlled house voted to revoke gender identity as a protected status, giving the state a new first: the first state to remove the civil rights of any group altogether. (A drawing of a boot trampling on a sign reading "TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS") There is an idea in politics called the Overton window; a general window of what is considered within the bounds of cultural acceptability. There was a time where us trans folk were outside of that window. (A drawing of a young trans person, hiding in a closet) But in spite of their efforts, we are still here. And we are not going away. Kim Reynolds does not plan to seek re-election in 2026, and the results in the last few elections have shown that using trans rights as a wedge issue is a repeatedly losing affair. The pendulum will swing back. There will be a better tomorrow. You just have to stay alive, stay here with us, long enough to see it...and you have to fight for it.
January 13, 2026 at 6:51 PM
mtgdad.bsky.social
I thought the peak of this would be 9/11. Trying to explain this to my older son (who was in kindergarten or first grade at the time) was NOT A WALK IN THE PARK.
January 12, 2026 at 6:27 PM
rikdraws.com
Hey #PortfolioDay, I'm Rik!
I draw, ink and colour comics! I've worked on Sonic the Hedgehog, TMNT, Transformers, MLP, Miraculous Ladybug, Felix the Cat, Godzilla and more in some capacity or other!

Book in a jam? Need someone to help get it to the finish line? Hit me up!

📧Rik@ RikDraws.com 🎨
The cover to Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds one-shot, cover B by this guy right here. Featuring all your favourite sonic characters like Jet the Hawk on their racing vehicles from the hit new videogame 'sonic car design and I guess also racing but it's mostly a big fight would you STOP SAWING MY CAR IN HALF JEEEZ' at least I think that's what it's called. The cover to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #30 B cover by this lil mutant aka me. Featuring the lads surfing through the sewer except they're skating but I still called it sewer surfing because of the game and I'm not very smart. I covered the bottom of the skateboards in nods and throwback references to the TMNT's long and storied career because I love those goofs. 9.95! The cover to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #18 B cover by a me you might know. Can you believe they let me do this twice? Well this was the first one but you know what I mean. I wonder if I cross my fingers real hard and make a wish they'll let me do another one. This one being my first meant I had to involve my favourites so that's why Casey Jones is flexing in the top right because he's the best. Also weirdly despite it being the first time I ever drew him I REALLY like how Rocksteady looks on this cover. He's tricky and I think he looks on model! Good job me. Okay so I haven't done four solo covers yet so have a random pinup style illustration of Sonic The Hedgehog because otherwise I'd have to post a one off sample of me inking or colouring someone else and that wouldn't be fair making me pick a single sample. I've inked/coloured a bunch of super cool people and honestly I love working with them all. I just try my best not to ruin their work but I've got a long way to. As you can see from my awful colouring job on this cover, I really need to focus on that this year. But the special stage is a nice nostalgic hit for me and I've not done any full solo art I can share just yet in like a year so I can't use that really but just you wait JUST YOU WAIT. I got a big thing dropping around June maybe it'll be fun. It involves not one, but TWO penguins. That's all I'll say about that. Also Chaos Emeralds ae rad and the Classic Sonic Special Stages are as follows: 2's half pipe > 1's rotating nightmare >>> > 3d blasts boring bridges >>>>>>>>>>>>>3's blue spheres.
January 13, 2026 at 7:47 PM
giffordhead.co.uk
There's a discussion about this in the Talmud where a Rabbi argues the first blacksmithing tongs were created by God since you need some tongs to make some tongs.

The anonymous questioner was presumably a blacksmith rather than a Rabbi...

www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.54a...
Rabbi Yehuda says: Even the tongs were created at this time. He would say: Tongs can be fashioned only with other tongs, but who fashioned the first tongs? Indeed, the first pair of tongs was fashioned at the hand of Heaven. An anonymous questioner said to him: It is possible to fashion tongs with a mold and align it without the need for other tongs. Indeed, the first tongs were a creation of man. In any event, fire was originally created before Shabbat, not at the conclusion of Shabbat.
January 12, 2026 at 12:04 PM
littlefoolery.bsky.social
LIBERTUS RUBEDO has officially been relaunched, with a brand new website and the first entry ready to be read

libertusrubedo.com

For old readers, we're happy to be back. For new readers, welcome as we join Lesley having A Really Bad Time

. . .

✏️ @moonsheen.bsky.social
🎨 @artofchira.bsky.social
Libertus Rubedo. Last Updated: Jan 10, 2026. “My name is Lesley Windham Chiaroscuro. I am, in fact, Second Summoner of the Cloud Spire, Keeper of the Spark, Walker of Rainbows, and First Clerk to the Lord of Dreams, and I will not be subject to the likes of some common hedge mage with a grudge!” “Your name’s Libertus. You fight for whoever wants you.” Premise A unicorn bound to service in the Tower of Dreams, Lesley was once considered one of the purest and most powerful magical beings in the realm of light — that is, until he was found guilty of treason against the Lord of Dreams himself. Of course, those lofty beings of light would never sentence one of their own to death. As a measure of mercy, Lesley faces a much more practical punishment: banished to the Greylands, his name added to the list of summons, the once dignified Lesley — now known as ‘Libertus’ — finds himself now at the beck and call of any magic user who might summon him into their world. A shame he’s summoned into a brutal Witch’s War. His only hope of surviving the war and clawing his way back up the ranks to the realm of light lies is in the most unlikely of allies: an ogre, by the name of ‘Rubedo.’ Warnings Audience Discretion Is Advised LIBERTUS RUBEDO is a fantasy adventure online serial novel featuring complex characters in traumatic and abusive situations. It will explore graphic depictions involving scenarios of violence, death, abuse, power, and also contain sexual subject matter. While fun, the story includes disturbing elements that might not be suitable for some readers, with the explicit intent of depicting dark themes to challenge and confront the audience. Note: the views and actions depicted within the story are not implicit endorsements of their real world consequences, nor are they representative of the personal views of the creators. Libertus Rubedo, Entry 1. Summary Rated G | 1080 Words Lesley loudly protests the crimes to which he has been freshly convicted, but it doesn't save him from the harsh reality of his sentencing.
January 10, 2026 at 8:31 PM
pjbarry.bsky.social
Geraldo was stunned! Al Capone’s vault was empty. All the research had said that the vault would be filled with gold. What he did not know was that Agnes and her time travel team had gotten there first decades before. The Temporal Studies Holiday Party that year was spectacular.
#vssmagic
January 10, 2026 at 2:17 PM
spacepanda9.bsky.social
They were together from age 15 - 25, going by the info given.
First 3 years, illegal, do not pass go. 4 years after that, college taking up tons of $ and time? 3 years after that... ??? Yes, why not? Would be interesting to know, but without ex-gf's side (RIP), doubtful we'd get the truth.
January 11, 2026 at 2:51 PM
quillauthor.bsky.social
This is not the first thing I would have liked to say about what happened to Renee. A woman with whom I share quite a few life experiences. But she’s not the first person in all of this to leave behind a family, and yet it seems to be the first time some people care, and that care turns into this.
quillauthor.bsky.social Quill (she/they) 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ 🐎🗡️🌼 @quillauthor.bsky.social · 6d
Dear white women:

grief in this moment is super valid. So is anger.

Let’s please not use those as an excuse to steal the words rooted in specific movements to liberate marginalized groups. Let’s not. For so many reasons. Even in a moment of horror, we really can’t stop colonizing?

Fuck.
January 8, 2026 at 11:31 AM
mariosrichards.bsky.social
Yes - I just deactivated (initiated the 30 day deactivation process *this time aware that I had to close all the twitter tabs first*) my account there.

Tragically, right after sending a "Goodbye, the child porn is the last straw" message not realising it would of course be impossible to read.
January 12, 2026 at 4:19 PM