ProfBeth

Securing homes in rural and island communities Funding for housing, farming and agricultural businesses.

I want more people to be able to put down roots in Scotland’s rural and island communities.

That’s why today I have launched a new Rural and Island Housing Grant, helping more first-time buyers and families afford a home.

If Gandalf had shaved and was on his way to watch the Wimbledon mixed doubles final.

Once I left the office and he was chatting to Sir Patrick Stewart in the corridor (rehearsing for ‘waiting for Godot’) and my first thought was ‘oh, there’s Gandalf chatting to the captain of the USS Enterprise. 🙂

The Strangers’ Case I don’t normally say this, but if you watch one thing on kottke.org today, this week, this month, make it this speech written by Shakespeare and performed by

The full clip, including McKellen's setup of the scene, is here, along with info about the riots (Evil May Day) and the text of the speech itself. kottke.org/26/02/the-st...

Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue

At a time when politics feels divisive, it's important to hold onto what really matters.

👉 Half a million kids out of poverty
👉 Ground rent capped at £250
👉 Sick pay for low earners
👉 Zero hour contracts banned

Real answers. Real change.

Met police launch investigation into alleged Mandelson-Epstein email leaks Epstein files appear to show then business secretary passing market sensitive information to child sex offender

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Australian tropical rainforest trees switch in world first from carbon sink to emissions source Researchers say carbon emissions change in Queensland tropical rainforests may have global climate implications

This research paper is the first time that a tipping point of a switch from a carbon sink to a carbon emission source in tropical rainforests has been identified clearly – not just for one year but for the last 20 years. Cause is a change in the local climate. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Never forget Epstein’s little helpers – the powerful men who knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway | Marina Hyde I’m sorry, but this is not just a political scandal. Time to refocus on the horrific mistreatment of women and girls, and the role of these ghouls, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Chaotic carnival of chancers latest:
- Jenrick and Braverman vote FOR the abolition of the two child limit while the other four Reform MPs vote against
- and of course Farage doesn’t even bother turning up to do his job

For anyone who did not see BBC 1 documentary about Steve Rosenberg work as Russia Correspondent "Our Man in Russia" i highly recommend it

A compelling watch and a deeply impressive man

🎧 ReSET Podcast Ep 4: Making Prevention Work
Peter Fonagy, Essi Viding, Jess Deighton & Ros Law:

✅ Why treatment alone can't meet demand
✅ The long-term evidence (complex but encouraging)
✅ How schools cut through the "shampoo ad interventions"
✅ Why preventing mental health problems IS education

Emily Thornberry re Mandelson

"Scandalous. You're in the cabinet and you are working against the country's interest with foreign governments and giving them inside information"

Oh sister. Just wait till those "Patriots" Farage, Tice and Yusuf are ministers

Measles is back. We need herd immunity, not herd instinct The UK has lost its measles elimination status. There were more than 1,000 cases of the disease across the country last year and its return shows we need to rethink our understanding of public health

observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

With the future of the Ospreys uncertain, Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart and I are hosting a public meeting to bring together local clubs, supporters, formers players and community leaders.

YouTube video by Rocket Won’t You Be My Neighbor? | Lady Gaga Original

Lady Gaga has put out a gorgeous anthem for Minneapolis.
youtu.be/e3o5FIXoK84?...

Yes!

When we talk about growth, opportunity and national renewal, we must think about the mental health of the next generation.

#FutureMinds report sets out many of the policy solutions to the mental health crisis. Worth reading – and acting on.

www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Bruce Springsteen’s angry anti-ICE song is on-the-nose in the right way The star’s urgent and to-the-point protest song is not subtle about its target and right now that’s why it works so well

Bruce Springsteen’s angry anti-ICE song is on-the-nose in the right way

Terror in Minnesota: The Putinisation of America (Question Time) Podcast Episode · The Rest Is Politics · 29/01/2026 · 55m

New @therestpolitics.bsky.social QandA - Minnesota and the Putinisation of America; the latest defection from Tories to Reform; oratory … and a deep dive on the horrific scale of the online child sex abuse industry

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

School-based interventions after natural disasters reduced PTSD, depression and anxiety in children 🌍

Meta-analysis of 13 studies found large immediate effects on PTSD symptoms. Effects persisted over time but were smaller at follow-up.

#ChildMentalHealth #ClimateChange #PTSD

🧵 THREAD

Taliban birth control ban: women ‘broken’ by lethal pregnancies and untreated miscarriages Women across Afghanistan describe the traumatic impact of disappearing clinics and contraception

Taliban birth control ban: women ‘broken’ by lethal pregnancies and untreated miscarriages

‘Of course I’m scared’: people confront their final days – in pictures Sibylle Fendt’s intimate photographs of terminally ill patients and their carers were inspired by the death of her own husband – a period in which she experienced pain, tenderness and love

‘Of course I’m scared’: people confront their final days – in pictures

And The Corpse Wore Tartan by Stuart MacBride Today I am sharing my thoughts on the Roberta Steele novel from Stuart MacBride – And The Corpse Wore Tartan. My thanks to publisher Macmillan for the advance copy for review. Here’s wh…

And The Corpse Wore Tartan by Stuart MacBride jenmedsbookreviews.com/2026/01/28/a... via @jenlucas.bsky.social

When you see a Green Eel
On a Web Camera Reel
That's a a Moray!
🎵

Opinion | Torsten Bell MP: How Swansea should spend its Pride in Place funding - Swansea Bay News Torsten Bell MP argues that Swansea’s Pride in Place funding should focus on the city’s gateway communities, including Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill and Hafod.

Swansea has £20m Pride in Place funding from the UK Labour Gov't to boost the renewal of our city.

My view on where that money is best spent 👇

swanseabaynews.com/opinion-tors...

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour WATCH: Philadelphia lawmakers introduce 'ICE Out' legislation to restrict federal operations in city

The City of Philadelphia has introduced legislation to limited ICE in the city. The Federal Agents can not be masked, must have ID visible, must have arrested warrants signed by federal judges. They can't attack people. If they can't do this, they will be arrested.
youtu.be/i5Yvg_HHfbE?...

Never stop talking about the Epstein Files, a criminal rapist dictator who is guilty AF is currently hiding them.

Never stop talking about the Epstein Files, a criminal rapist dictator who is guilty AF is currently hiding them.

Never stop talking about the Epstein Files.

'Deacon Blue vs Reform in Scotland: whose side are you on?' Reform’s Scottish leader has offended Deacon Blue by claiming to love their left wing anthem Dignity. Neil Mackay looks at the politics behind…

‘It’s like the Queen loving the Sex Pistols, or an Irish Republican saying The Sash is a banger’

My column on the multimillionaire leader of Reform in Scotland fan-boying over the Deacon Blue song Dignity

It’s about a road sweeper buying a dingy. He owns two yachts

In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free

Trump sold the oil from a seized Venezuelan tanker for $500,000,000.. Where is the money? He deposited it in a bank in Qatar where Congress can't get to it.
He stole the oil from Venezuela, but he stole the money from America.
Why has Congress not impeached and imprisoned him for his crimes?