Dion Winton-Polak

We're casting weird fairy tale magic all month, beginning with the Russian classic The Soldier and Death! FREE EPISODE!
(link in comments)

Screenshot of a quote by Green Party leader Zack Polanski from the Guardian live blog: This is exactly why we need a cap on political donations. Democracy should never be for sale. Every party should compete on ideas, not on the size of their donor spreadsheet. While Reform pockets eye-watering cheques, Greens are building a movement powered and funded by people through thousands of new members. When we win elections, it will be because of the tens of thousands of people volunteered, not the people who donated tens of thousands. If we want a politics that serves the public, not billionaire backers, then capping donations is essential. Let’s end the influence of big money and put democracy back where it belongs: in the hands of voters.

@zackpolanski.bsky.social in the Guardian responding to the £9m donation from a crypto investor to Reform UK.

a man is sitting in a chair with a red button that says the voice on it Alt: arrogant looking man is sitting in a chair with a red button in front of him which he strikes violently with his elbow

When the need for services is rising you can a: provide more services like decent fucking human beings or you can b: change the definition of ‘need’ and chuck vulnerable people under the bus like a rancid piece of shit. Think carefully now, Wes. Decency or being reprehensible.

Wes Streeting needs to get in the fucking sea.

What is autism?

Autism happens in the brain.

It's not a bunch of observable traits.

It's a PROCESSING difference...

In the brain.

Black and white photo of a boy blowing soap bubbles is standing near a brick wall and we see the shadows of the boy and the bubbles on the wall

Chicago — Vivian Maier, 1961

Artwork featuring a view looking down and across a snow covered rural landscape with a tiny human figure in a field

'Way home' by contemporary German artist Katja Lang #WomensArt

Painting featuring a badger in a hollow den protected from the ice and darkness under a full moon

December's #FullMoon is known as the #ColdMoon. Artwork by Catherine Hyde, contemporary UK artist #womensart #ArtAdvent

Thread of corruption.

The book cover for Batman Revolution features a stylised bat symbol on a yellow badge, surrounded by green smoke against a black background.

Finished the audiobook of #BatmanRevolution by @farawaypress.com and I was hugely impressed. In his Burtonverse books, Miller’s added depth & context to the movies while creating his own stories that perfectly capture the vibe. If anything, Revolution was even better than Resurrection. More please!

A comic of two foxes, one of whom is blue, the other is green. In this one, Blue and Green are sitting at a little bonfire, gazing restfully into the flickering flames. Blue: Do you ever think of the ways your life could've gone differently? Green: No. Blue: Like if you could start over with everything that you know now? Green: Nope. The odds of finding you again in the right place at the right time are way too low. Blue: You'd rather have me than a new chance? Green: Having you is the best possible life.

Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF CC: Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State (Minister for Local Government and Homelessness) Dear Steve and Alison, Government funding for Housing First We are writing to welcome your commitment to delivering a new national homelessness strategy. As you have both made clear, rebuilding a prevention-first system and restoring effective partnership between central and local government is essential if we are to turn the tide on homelessness in this Parliament. As part of this work, we strongly encourage you to ensure that Housing First is a central component of the new strategy. The evidence from the three major pilots in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Liverpool City Region is clear: Housing First delivers for people with the most complex needs who are currently cycling in and out of rough sleeping, hostels, crisis healthcare and the criminal justice system. Independent evaluations show tenancy sustainment rates approaching 80–90%, significant reductions in A&E admissions, fewer interactions with police and emergency services, and marked improvements in wellbeing and long-term stability. The Centre for Social Justice’s (CSJ) recent No Place Like Home report provides a compelling financial case for expanding this provision nationally. The report shows that for an investment of just over £100 million between now and the end of this Parliament, Government could increase the number of Housing First places in England from around 2,500 to over 5,500. That means more than doubling the current capacity, giving local authorities the tools to support those with the most entrenched and complex needs. Crucially, this investment also represents good value for money. The CSJ analysis estimates that every £1 invested in Housing First returns around £2 in savings across health, criminal justice and temporary accommodation budgets over time. …

local areas to design wraparound support that works. It is a practical, compassionate and evidence-led approach that complements this government’s wider mission to rebuild public services, strengthen local partnerships and shift the system towards early intervention. With the new homelessness strategy in development, now is the moment to secure the continuity and scale that Housing First needs. National leadership, supported by a modest, targeted investment would give local commissioners the certainty to plan sustainably and would prevent the loss of hard-won progress from the pilots. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and to support the department’s work in any way that would be helpful. We look forward to your response Yours sincerely, Paula Barker MP Kate Osborne MP Dr Simon Opher MP Kim Johnson MP Jonathan Brash MP Jon Trickett MP Mary Glindon MP Danny Beales MP Yasmin Qureshi MP Patrick Hurley MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP Neil Duncan-Jordan MP Alex Sobel MP Dr Allison Gardner MP Chris Hinchliff MP Afzal Khan MP Margaret Mullane MP Navendu Mishra MP Marie Rimmer MP Nadia Whittome MP David Smith MP Jeff Smith MP Brian Leishman MP Chris Webb MP Connor Naismith MP Ian Byrne MP Ian Lavery MP Karl Turner MP Andrew Cooper MP Derek Twigg MP Gill Furniss MP

Mary Kelly Foy MP Richard Burgon MP Grahame Morris MP Sean Woodcock MP Justin Madders MP Maya Ellis MP Clive Lewis MP Peter Dowd MP Charlotte Nichols MP Lee Barron MP

I have written to the government, alongside 40 of my colleagues, calling for Housing First to be rolled out nationwide as part of the upcoming homelessness strategy.

Please find the letter below.

Thank you to @csjthinktank.bsky.social

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If you happen to be looking for an alternative audiobook listening platform, there are many out there, including us at Libro.fm 👋

We aim to build community in many ways, including by supporting independent bookshops with every purchase you make—versus tearing communities apart.

Ice sense a theme here. Snow joke when the kids get a new hyper-focus, but you’ve gotta chill, dude. Let it go.

Fucking right

Yesssss

Dessert

Landscape of mountains. Two pink leaves tree are grwing on the cliff in the foreground. A little samurai silhouette is sitting under a tree and a cat is hiding somewhere. Brushed ink on paper

Daily sketch 🪾🌸🥷🐈‍⬛️

Can you spot the cat ?

Have a wonderful day ✨️🩵

#art #artsky #sketch #ink

Woah, there’s a Gemmell there that I’ve never heard of!

For the quiet ones #mentalhealth #anxiety #ADHD #autism #neurodiversity

uk.bookshop.org/p/books/norm...

Good on you.

Diffr’nt Strokes: What You Talkin’ ‘Bout, Willis?

Another shed roof fox ! Have you spotted a fox atop a roof ? If so , please share it !
Thanks to @billiegee.bsky.social for today's #FoxOfTheDay

Today the news will be about the government's proposals for juries.

Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.

10 years ago Wales became the first UK nation to introduce an opt-out system for organ donation.

Here's how our landmark law continues to help people all over Wales 👇

2nd night in a row I’ve had a stress dream involving shopping with an unsatisfactory outcome. Ah, yes. Christmas is coming…

Funnily enough, I’ll be watching the original uncut edition over Christmas. (Not seen the modern remake, but hard to see how it could top this.)

After a night out at the King Charles pub in London; the Herald has returned to Innsmouth determined to impose some new ground rules on the local drinking haunts... no sexists, no racists, no fascists Idea to try and imitate real lizard looks shamelessly copied from @immaterial_creations amazing Blood Bowl work on Instagram

After a night out at the King Charles pub in London; the Herald has returned to Innsmouth determined to impose some new ground rules on the local drinking haunts... no sexists, no racists, no fascists Idea to try and imitate real lizard looks shamelessly copied from @immaterial_creations amazing Blood Bowl work on Instagram

Mini of the month - deep one herald

Entry 11 by @chrisabernethy.bsky.social

The Rules of the Pub

In Welsh it's mis Rhagfyr, which means 'the month of foreshortening'. Does what it says on the tin, I guess.

A new month, a new episode of @neverseenpod.bsky.social! This month, Jenni chose coming-of-age drama Dead Poets Society as both Lee & I hadn't seen it.

CW: Discussion of suicide and its portrayal in the film.
neverseenpod.podbean.com/e/never-seen...