Echo

I think the 2 Ronnie's had this pretty nailed (can't believe nobody's mentioned it yet, what's happening to British culture - back in my day, etc)

Watching episode 3 of @davidolusoga.bsky.social's Empire series and we're up to the partition that created India/Pakistan.

'The violence that accompanied it became part of the histories of many people'

I just feel this is an experience I need to have in life!

Thought-provoking segment on ITV News this eve re immigration and social cohesion. My takeaway is @sathnam.bsky.social's comment:

"What we've got in Britain is the most successful multicultural living in the world"

(That, and chicken tikka kebab)

My new series - Empire With David Olusoga - starts 9pm on BBC Two. Whole series on @bbciplayer.bsky.social from tonight.

Only seen episode 1 of this but for me it joins up the idea of empire across the globe and how the areas interrelated/rose and fell based on each other, which I've not thought about before.

BBC Two - Empire with David Olusoga, Series 1, Episode 1 David Olusoga tells the story of the beginnings of the British Empire under Elizabeth I.

Don’t forget to watch this much needed and long overdue series on the British Empire. Remarkably, it’s not based on the opinions of a travelling ‘personality’, but on what historians who’ve actually researched it say!

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Tonight's poem is very apt #Parenthood

Ugh, the 'women should...' genre. Used to be the same re female footballers (society's default was you *must* be a lesbian if you played - if you're straight, don't play or you're unattractive to men! And men loved to tell you so...)

Real ladies don't enjoy sport. Whatever next, women liking sex? 😲

In the UK, you literally cannot access benefits without the Internet. In addition they will dock your benefits on the basis that you are not committed to looking for work.

Never owned a smart phone. Discriminated against because of that fact. How the hell have people like me survived?😱

Never take seriously those who ridicule low income people for having a smartphone or laptop.

“If they’re so poor how did they buy an iPhone???”

Because they’re trying to escape poverty, not the 1700s, genius. If you think basic tech access is luxury, survive a month without it.

This is only the latest version of a recurring pattern. In the 1930s it was ‘if they are so poor how can they afford to go to the cinema?’ The response is that poverty is revealed not in choices but the cost of choices. What do they have to sacrifice to do or have things others take for granted?

Not heard of Madison Cawein before but glad to have stumbled across her work.

Report: Britain’s new towns must build in space for faith A new report urges planners to treat faith and belief communities as full partners in shaping Britain’s new towns

A new report calls for a rethink of how we design our new towns.

Treating faith and belief as partners in planning can reduce loneliness and build more resilient communities through trusted networks providing support and care.

Read the report's findings ⤵️

@eastangliabylines.co.uk

We must make racism disgraceful again. This kind of shameless ugly inadequacy from Pochin should be career-ending, not career-enhancing. Honestly… the Little England nastiness is repulsive.

Exactly the kind of sentiment I want to see more of. Especially puncturing the stereotype of the Grim North

Apparently, some families do a four present Christmas such as 'something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read'.

Love this idea!

And Educating Rita, because nobody else has said them and they make you think about so many things, including what kind of teacher you want to be @lessoncopy.bsky.social

Goodbye, Mr Chips (2002 version)

When a chai latte is made well it's 👌 I'm in a 3am Horlicks habit these days - feels very mature until I doctor it with strawberry Nesquik.

Bet these AI have been trained on the data from so-called dating apps (long known to have bots talking to users or paying people to engage with them so that people use the platforms.

AI 'relationships' replacing real-life partners and dating...

Why is nobody saying this is the relationship of addiction?

People who think it combats loneliness aren't aware that the void is being filled by luring users in and psychologically manipulating them to stay there. @itvnews.bsky.social

It’s racist, it’s extremist and it’s immoral The right is still calling for deportations, and the government is still being cowardly about it. Also: London’s first green belt; some notes on a shark; and some news, on my next book.

"The idea of deporting people with settled status is disgusting, and anyone proposing it should be immediately drummed out of polite society. Breaking promises made in good faith to our friends and neighbours is racist, extremist and immoral."

I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.

Netflix (with Rufuuuus!)

The Diplomat... 😲

I don' think @samfr.bsky.social and our experiences are uncommon (we've experienced it several times). The baby has reflux to his kidneys so this 'small' failure in systems could be lifelong costly for him if the infection is scarring. I took him for help within the first 12hrs of symptoms.

...the baby has an infection resistant to both antibiotics we've tried. Results should've taken 48hrs or so. We will now be collecting the right medicine imminently and can only hope he picks up before the infection pulls him right down. 5 days with no effective treatment due to process failure.

Just phoned again and results still aren't there(!) We're now at 5 days of symptomatic UTI without knowing what we're treating specifically and the baby is still ill.

Luckily, one of the Dr's we saw Friday heard me call in today and took the phone. Dismayed no results yet. Chased annnnd...

This time:

His UTI was confirmed Weds lunchtime.

I saw antibiotics weren't working for him, took him through A&E Friday to check what meds he needs to be on... no results from Weds, treatment gets guessed at. Changed antibiotic.

Was supposed to be for one night but no results yesterday either.