Alec Finlay

October 7th changed the West forever This war has rippled far beyond Palestine, Israel and the Middle East, affecting communities and politics around the world

An excellent example of political parley on the latest NS podcast, on Gaza and how it has torn communities apart. Kudos to both contributors. www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/pol...

Scottish Outdoor Access Code recognises that specific routes may need to be managed for deer stalking on specific days, but not blanket bans like this.

Section 14 of Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives councils the power to remove non-compliant signs.

@perthandkinross.bsky.social must act now.

Scientists develop first ‘accurate blood test’ to detect chronic fatigue syndrome Research could offer hope for ME patients – but some experts urge caution and say more studies needed

ME/CFS is a devastating condition that has long been denied, dismissed, psychologised and underdiagnosed. Research is at last starting to catch up with it, with glimmers of hope for those who have been left untreated for so long.
There's a huge BUT coming ...🧵
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

'I can dream walking / but not leaps / I long to float / in the mid- / air touching nothing– / free of pain (after Shiki, for Abby Ryder-Huth)

This is very, very, very good

"Ten Dispatches About Endurance in Face of Walls” (October 2004) I The wind got up in the night and took our plans away (Chinese proverb) #everynightapoem #ofsorts

The wind got up in

the night and took our plans away

-John Berger,
"Ten Dispatches About Endurance in Face of Walls”

#everynightapoem #ofsorts

I never saw a doctors bill until I moved from Montreal to NYC—I almost cried. How pathetic, for a country with so much wealth to devalue and monetise human life to the extent of putting a literal dollar value to our right to health. What an outright theft & bankruptcy of human dignity, on all sides.

let’s agree that if you squeeze
The Statue of Liberty she
scweems and scweems

let’s agree with Amy and Ben, out there
it’s wetter than an otter’s pocket

let’s agree that come autumn, your aquarium
can become a leaf garden

7.X.25

more let’s agree

let’s agree there is no recipe
for another of my green soups

let’s agree he felt a little off-colour
after winning the paint
drinking competition

let’s agree I am in their bag
and on their case

let’s agree the world has got
too hyperstitious

6.X.25

for every law against repeated protests, a law against repeated wrongs.

Your 'doom quote' for today:

"Then there is the third possibility, the one that I as a scientist believe is most likely: the ice sheets melt rapidly, the sea rises ferociously, and all the scenarios set forth in this book come to pass."

www.biblio.com/book/flooded...

think luggage, for journey, these are all free.
poetry.

word-mntn (Creag an Choin-Leth, the half-dog half-wolf crag, or lurcher's crag)

Does a wider path, made by missteps, then gather a central green strip, verdant with hope?

it's an observable fact.

'our mis- / steps // widen / the path'

Storm Amy

the rain came, right
enough, but the storm,

that was late – so
tell me, which of us

will be telling her
that to her face?

4.X.25

Rudolf Hess unavailable again, drat.

YouTube video by Long Covid Kids Covid 19 Inquiry | Module 8 Oral Evidence of Sammie McFarland, Long Covid Kids | 01 10 2025

The kids are not, and never were, OK💔

Brave testimony from @sammiemc.bsky.social on the impact of #LongCovidKids on her own, & 1000s of other families.

The gaslighting & influence of certain "public health" figures what wholly unacceptable 🤬

@longcovidkids.bsky.social

youtu.be/DFykYkqr5Z4?...

word-mntn (Airgiod Meall, Silver Tump)

my back garden holiday
was with the butterflies
from where I imagined
a world of warmth
and blue and everything

3.X.25

But perhaps it should also be noted it doesn't look like a judging panel from the 1950s?

Descriptions, by Action for ME track by Action for ME

descriptions, a description of ME by people with ME, performed by Mark Bonnar. descriptions.bandcamp.com/track/descri...

word-mntn (Creag a' Chalmain, rock dove crag). The Rock Dove is the wild ancestor of our domestic pigeon.

A discussion of day of access

Rent controls passed! homes are for living in, not for profiteering.

🚨BREAKING

40 years ago Margaret Thatcher abolished rent controls in Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament just passed a Bill introduced by the Scottish Greens, which will allow them once more!

This will keep rents affordable and offer safety and stability to renters. 🙌

🎧: Listen to last week’s live ep of Media Confidential on ITV’s The Hack. Prospect’s @arusbridger.bsky.social is joined by Toby Jones—who plays him in the show—along with writer Jack Thorne, producer Patrick Spence and journalist @janemartinson.bsky.social.
www.prospectmagazine...

word-mntn (Cairngorm, bluey-cairn)