Brilliant!

Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce

The Boss has spoken.

While independent bookstores are giving out free whistles, hosting protest sign making events, and donating proceeds to mutual aid, Amazon is *checks notes* providing technology that assists ICE in their terrorizing of communities.

Independent bookstores deserve your support. Amazon does not.

Art of the Deal 0
Art of the Seal 1

The Carney doctrine Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech

Mark Carney's speech really is terrific: full text is here and very much worth your time.

And there it is.

A museum piece of toddler-king illiterate petulance… for eternity.

Nobel Peace Center post: t measures 6.6 cm in diameter, weighs 196 grams and is struck in gold. On its face, a portrait of Alfred Nobel and on its reverse, three naked men holding around each other’s shoulders as a sign of brotherhood. A design unchanged for 120 years. Did you know that some Nobel Peace Prize medals have been passed on after the award was given? A well‑known case is Dmitry Muratov’s medal, which was auctioned for over USD 100 million to support refugees from the war in Ukraine. And the medal displayed at the Nobel Peace Center is actually on loan and originally belonged to Christian Lous Lange, Norway’s first Peace Prize laureate. But one truth remains. As the Norwegian Nobel Committee states: “Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.” A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot.

Hours before Trump is due to meet María Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Center restates:

"A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot."

Nadim Zahawi arrived in the UK from Iraq as a child refugee. His family claimed asylum once they were here. Today he has joined Reform who will stop all in country asylum applications. Under his new party, his own family fleeing persecution would be immediately deported.

The Bertvent books

Giveaway!

I’m giving one lucky person the chance to pick one shelf of books from our Bertvent bookcase.

Follow and repost by midday on Saturday 27th and I’ll pick someone at random! Which shelf will you choose?

(UK only)

Lots of parallels between #Ashes defeat and what Labour voters in 2024 are feeling about the govt right now.. "its the hope that kills you". "It was supposed to be different this time". you wait 15 years for a win in Australia/regain power and then it all falls to pieces super quickly

Pleased to discover that slightly misnaming the national chess championship you won as a school child is a much more serious offence than repeatedly racially abusing your fellow pupils and telling them they should go to the gas chamber

There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?

Oh.

We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.

stop thinking right now

An admirably clear statement from Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish Leadership Council

Starmer to end asylum ‘golden ticket’ of resettlement and family reunion rights People granted asylum will have to earn right to invite family in plan charities call ‘straight from populist playbook’

Labour has a chance now to turn a corner and win support from people who want it to succeed. Or it can continue with this type of vicious populist filth and alienate everyone. It's your call guys.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Sadiq Khan hits back at ‘racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic’ Trump Khan’s comments come after US president used speech at UN to call London mayor ‘terrible’

London mayor Sadiq Khan hits back at ‘racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic’ Trump.

About time. Trump spreads lies about every country.

Trump is doing so much harm at home/abroad - undermining the UN. NATO, US economy, human rights, free speech, tolerance

Will he ever be held to account?

To ‘ultra-crepidate’ (19th century) is to lecture others on subjects you know very little about.

Live from this afternoon’s joint press conference between the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States.

This is moving in exactly the wrong direction! Education & meaningful activity in prison is crucial to reducing violence and improving outcomes

"If you've had enough of politicians, if you don't trust Westminster, join us."

What a revolting, cynical statement for a man who was an MP of the party that ruled for 14 years until five minutes ago - and David Cameron's speech writer before that.

What contempt for voters. ~AA

Sky News says police are "overwhelmed by the numbers". Met coped perfectly well with 2x as many at the pro-Gaza rally, 5x as many at the anti-Brexit march, and 15x as many at London Pride.

They're not overwhelmed by the numbers. They're overwhelmed by the ratio of violent thugs in those numbers.

“The dense interconnectedness of the human family… means that in terms of our biology, there are no different races. We can all claim ancestry from across the world. Nevertheless, our politics is obsessed with distinctions based on national identity…” Gaia’s article more relevant than ever:

Outstanding.

For me, the BBC’s image choice here is reprehensible…

…it glorifies these thugs who were intimidating refugees - makes them look like they are protesting for some sort of freedom… rather than the targeted harassment of the vulnerable.

A perspective on the Salt Path expose from publishing. Like so many others, I’m annoyed at being duped. And the ramifications of these revelations are so far-reaching, as the line between fact and fiction is challenged…

The Gaza discourse has been Vylanised – but that diversionary strategy just doesn’t work any more | Archie Bland Those appalled by Israel’s actions in Gaza, and the kind of media frenzy prompted by Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury appearance, are finding their voice, says Archie Bland, editor of the Guardian’s First Edit...

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...