gmartin - Network

This seems as good a time to say it as any: I don't understand the naivety of the #ScottishIndependence movement.I remember saying to...

This seems as good a time to say it as any: I don't understand the naivety of the #ScottishIndependence movement.
I remember saying to friends before Brexit was finally done that the #WarOnScotland was coming next - that it was the natural direction for the #Tories, as the default party of England, to pivot towards. (I make no claim to predicting the anti-Trans stuff, it was self-evident).
They need to replace Northern Ireland as the enemy within in case they can't hold on anymore.

I see a lot of analysis of anti-protest/strike legislation that places it within the Culture Wars or in some kind of 'Power Obsessed...

I see a lot of analysis of anti-protest/strike legislation that places it within the Culture Wars or in some kind of 'Power Obsessed Tories' category. I see very little that names it as a sign of subservience to investment capital. Like, yes, the Tories will find their jobs easier, but I'm convinced that's the point. Legislation in 21st UK is a business asset first and foremost. Private equity hates human rights.

Why did no one tell me that Elon Musk's Jet is on Mastodon? I mean, of cause it would be, but I've only just found it. (Its in...

Why did no one tell me that Elon Musk's Jet is on Mastodon? I mean, of cause it would be, but I've only just found it. (Its in Oakland, California. Again). Check out
@elonjet

Scotland's Gender BillThe SNP's Gender Recognition Bill is a good bill that deserves to become law. Its commendable that they are...

Scotland's Gender Bill

The SNP's Gender Recognition Bill is a good bill that deserves to become law. Its commendable that they are pushing it, despite the well-funded hostility. But if, as is quite possibly the case, they had already seen legal opinions stating that they couldn't pass the legislation due to the law around register births/marriages/deaths, then I'm not really cool with them having attracted this attention on a vulnerable group. But maybe they hadn't - both seem plausible.

Bullying, Trauma, Royal dramaDisappointed with the number of recent social media posts I've seen elsewhere that rely on common forms of...

Bullying, Trauma, Royal drama

Disappointed with the number of recent social media posts I've seen elsewhere that rely on common forms of #bullying to make a joke about a certain #royal. Some are very similar to experiences I had as a child.

Your easy joke about royal entitlement will do more to resurface #trauma than it will achieve in any other way.

Green Sky at Night, Orcadians' Delight! #Aurora is known locally as the Mirrie Dancers in #Orkney. And tonight, they put on a big show -...

Green Sky at Night, Orcadians' Delight! #Aurora is known locally as the Mirrie Dancers in #Orkney. And tonight, they put on a big show - normally you'd need to be out of town to see this much detail.

I dislike the Tories talking about becoming Singapore on Thames. Singapore has strong social policies, even if it has few democratic rights...

I dislike the Tories talking about becoming Singapore on Thames. Singapore has strong social policies, even if it has few democratic rights and a largely rotten parliament. What the Tories actually want is to turn Britain into Dubai on Thames: rightsless workers, no social safety net, an Oligarchs' playground, high tech luxury for the few, misery for the rest of us.

Pretending to want 'Singapore' is a sick joke.

Things that are grinding my gears right now: Adverts for Holidays in Saudi Arabia. It is not an acceptable holiday destination (and a...

Things that are grinding my gears right now: Adverts for Holidays in Saudi Arabia. It is not an acceptable holiday destination (and a holiday is very different to pilgrimage). Stop habilitating a violent and barbaric regime. If you find it a fun and relaxing place, you are directly benefiting from all kinds of oppression, beyond anything you would benefit from whilst staying home.

Transphobia, AntisemitismOn the one hand, "Equivalences" are dangerous and so very often disrespectful to other marginalised...

Transphobia, Antisemitism

On the one hand, "Equivalences" are dangerous and so very often disrespectful to other marginalised groups.

On the other, how do people not realise that "The Trans Debate" is to early 21st Century public discourse what "The Jewish Question" was in the 20th: a non-controversy that does nothing but get people taking notice of the Far Right.

Happy Birthday to Greta Thunberg. Person of the Year at 16, Owner of the Internet at 20.#GretaThunberg

Happy Birthday to Greta Thunberg. Person of the Year at 16, Owner of the Internet at 20.

#GretaThunberg

Just reading @netpol 's review of the year. One line stands out more than any other:"Despite the best efforts of the [UK]...

Just reading @netpol 's review of the year. One line stands out more than any other:
"Despite the best efforts of the [UK] government, though, protest is still legal. We still retain the right to dissent, and people are still continuing to take action because there is no other choice."

Important words going into 2023.

World Politics: Good news from BrazilThis is great news for Planet Earth and great news for the most vulnerable in #Brasil. #Lula has a hell...

World Politics: Good news from Brazil

This is great news for Planet Earth and great news for the most vulnerable in #Brasil. #Lula has a hell of a job ahead of him, but after several years where the lungs of both planet (the Amazon) and people (due to COVID) have been exposed to such violence, this is (excuse the pun) a breath of fresh air.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/01/brazil-lula-presidency-new-era?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I have a new alt-account for Christian & Religious tooting. You can find it @FurtherNorth .It needs a photo and some other work, but...

I have a new alt-account for Christian & Religious tooting. You can find it @FurtherNorth .

It needs a photo and some other work, but I'm starting to post stuff to it.

Feeling a bit weird looking back on 2022. Personally, it was a year of many more ups than downs. It was totally out of step with most of my...

Feeling a bit weird looking back on 2022. Personally, it was a year of many more ups than downs. It was totally out of step with most of my friends and, indeed, most of the world. Some of it was down to privilege, some of it was luck.

I'm worried that what I say might come across as poor taste or triumphalist. It just brings home how broken and unjust the world is, I guess.

Here in #Orkney, it's so dark at this time of year that we'll stick fairy lights on anything! In this case, the masts of many of the...

Here in #Orkney, it's so dark at this time of year that we'll stick fairy lights on anything! In this case, the masts of many of the boats in the marina. The mild weather this Christmas Eve made it much easier to get this shot than last year!

Capitalism and DisabilityI am, once again, pondering the massive gap between what #Disabled people mean and what #Neoliberal politicians...

Capitalism and Disability

I am, once again, pondering the massive gap between what #Disabled people mean and what #Neoliberal politicians mean by the phrase #IndependentLiving. One implies having the support to fully interact with society, whilst the other wants Disabled people to piss off and stop taking up resources. Ultimately, these are irreconcilable polar opposites.
#Disability

Just to be clear: I support striking nurses as well as posties and train guards.No one suggested otherwise, but I'd hate anyone to be...

Just to be clear: I support striking nurses as well as posties and train guards.
No one suggested otherwise, but I'd hate anyone to be wrong on this.

#NHSstrike #PostalStrikes #RailStrike #TradeUnions

Today in #orkney it is 3C, 4mph winds, dry and mostly cloudy becauseFUN FACT: It does not perpetually get colder the further north you go!In...

Today in #orkney it is 3C, 4mph winds, dry and mostly cloudy because

FUN FACT: It does not perpetually get colder the further north you go!

In fact, because its so still right now, even with wind chill, its warmer here than northern England, let alone the actual 'Frozen North' around Inverness and Aberdeenshire.

You would think after 18 months living here, I would know that my front door mysteriously opening and closing mid-morning is a parcel being...

You would think after 18 months living here, I would know that my front door mysteriously opening and closing mid-morning is a parcel being delivered. #Orkney has a different way of doing things, because we're a small enough and functional enough #community that we can leave our front doors unlocked. It's something I absolutely love.

(Also, the big delivery companies don't come here - they give everything to a local company to bring across and deliver. So much better).

Seeing as my last post containing Shompy, the #Kirkwall Tesco #cat did so well, here's Shompy guarding the carbonated beverages...

Seeing as my last post containing Shompy, the #Kirkwall Tesco #cat did so well, here's Shompy guarding the carbonated beverages yesterday.

I had to wait for Shompy to stop cleaning his bits to get the photo. You're welcome.