Randy

A tweet from Sky News reading 'Aston Villa fan Andrew Fox says he has received online abuse and even death threats following the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the match in Birmingham.' A follow up tweet says 'This is a correction of a previous post that incorrectly identified Mr Fox as Jewish'.

A page from the Henry Jackson Society website for Andrew Fox, Research Fellow, which says he joined HJS in 2014 and that 'Andrew specialises in Defence, the Middle East, and disinformation'.

Sky News is platforming a guy who says he's from a Jewish Aston Villa supporters group, but it turns out that the guy a) isn't Jewish, b) the group doesn't exist, and c) he works for the right wing Henry Jackson Society, whose website says he 'specialises in disinformation'. Well, quite.

Realised that I’m now treating funny viral videos in the same way footballers celebrate goals —

1) initial joy,
2 sudden panic it might be AI/offside
3) lengthy investigation as joy saps away
4) conclusion, joy modulated through fatigue if proven legit/onside, but angry and gutted if AI/offside

In the late 19th century, millions of migrants left Germany as a result of religious persecution, economic hardship, and political uncertainty. Among them was Nikolaus Schrod, a cabinet maker from Frankfurt who - along with his wife Bina - moved to London to start a new life in the 1850s. Nikolaus died aged 45. But his and Bina's only son, Carl, the son of these immigrants who had arrived in the "German wave" of the 1850s showed demonstrated how migrants can assimilate. Changing his name to Charles he got a job with the Post Office and married an English girl, Ellen Abbott. Their daughter, Gladys, later married a descendant of French Huguenots called Harry Farage... and Gladys and Harry are the grandparents of this man. Maybe someone should ask him who of his ancestors he'd have liked to deport.

I hope @ottoenglish.bsky.social will forgive me for screenshotting his short thread. It is just perfect, so much so that I thought it should hit it one single blow, with no scrolling involved.

Every day Labour MPs delay in getting rid of Starmer and replacing him with someone who recognises that radical action is required brings Britain a day closer to a far-right government.

The challenge is existential not just for the Labour party but for Britain as a multi-racial democracy.

YouTube video by The Pitch Inspection Gaza's Vanishing Stadiums. The Football Story That Is Being Ignored.

Israel's genocide in Gaza has killed more than 300 footballers. Its deliberate obliteration of civil infrastructure and cultural identity has destroyed every stadium and training pitch. A yet Fifa and Uefa take no action.
youtu.be/cfjDXFif8Yw

A powerful film from @thepitchinspection.bsky.social

Can't fault the clarity of Labour's message on protest. There are BAD protesters who must be punished (Irish musicians, anti-genocide vicars) and there are GOOD protesters whose views deserve respect (masked thugs with petrol bombs trying to start a pogrom)

UK ban on Palestine Action at odds with international law, says UN rights chief Volker Türk says the Home Office proscription restricts right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly The UK government’s ban on Palestine Action limits the rights and freedoms of people in the UK and is at odds with international law, the UN human rights chief has said. Volker Türk, the UN human rights commissioner, said ministers’ decision to designate the group a terrorist organisation was “disproportionate and unnecessary” and called on them to rescind it. Continue reading...

UK ban on Palestine Action at odds with international law, says UN rights chief

How on earth can this country still hold the World Cup and Olympics next year??

Feels like a story that the whole of football should be talking about: a player legally in the US who has been deported without due process to foreign prison... for having a Real Madrid tattoo.

So basically just sort of banning people who enjoy a sport for fun really?

4 panel comic Panel 1: Weird Pink Potato Guy struts down the street saying: “Tee Hee Hee. Can’t wait to get home and post more AI Studio Ghibli content on the internet” Panel 2: Potato Guy arrives at his front door, looks directly at reader and says “I’m A Artist. Panel 3: Potato Guy disappears inside his house Panel 4: Potato Guy whistling in the foreground, taking off his hat. He has failed to notice the man in the shadows. It’s Miyazaki, and he’s screwing a silencer on to a pistol…

to the people posting Studio Ghibli AI slop. May Miyazaki bless you 🙏

Amidst all these Studio Ghibli style AI creations doing the rounds at the moment, here's the great Hayao Miyazaki chastising AI creators to their faces. You can see how devastated they are with his reaction. And how devastated he is with what they're doing.

Transfer deadline day - 1994

Back when you could sign players at anytime up to the end of March.

No transfer windows. No dedicated TV coverage. No bright yellow banners.

Just clubs quietly going about their business, and the way to find out was good old Ceefax.

Simpler times.

Every time Saquon does something amazing, the Giants should be docked draft picks.

Today in "We're making improvements" news from Thames Water.

These are planned works, not a ruptured pipe.

YouTube video by Channel 4 News Tulip Siddiq: MP quizzed over abducted man in Bangladesh

The Channel 4 News report referred to is here: youtu.be/E5_jIpcu0_0

Astounding to me that anyone could have watched it, with her response to perfectly legitimate questions, and thought her fit for ministerial office.

Easy and long overdue decision after today’s charade:
Josimar will no longer publish a word about Fifa’s competitions from a sporting POV, but we will continue to cover it from a geopolitical, economic and human rights angle.

Shared link doesn't work, others have linked to it in the replies

Global: FIFA produces whitewash of Saudi Arabia World Cup bid and ignores own report to provide compensation for migrant workers in Qatar Reacting to FIFA’s evaluation of Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 men’s World Cup, Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Labour Rights and Sport, said: “As expected, FIFA’s evaluation of Saud...

The only football story which matters at the moment. On 11 December, on Zoom, supine federations will designate - by acclamation, no vote, and en bloc - Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Shame on every single one of those cowards and moral zombies.
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

I went to see a band on a ship. It was great.

Screenshot of Morecambe fans' protest group, with photos of fans protesting and marching

Looks like a great turnout from Morecambe fans yesterday in their protest against their owner, Jason Whittingham.

Tomorrow. #1920Union #UTS 🦐 #JasonOut @uglygame.bsky.social @portvalefc.bsky.social @pwupodcast.bsky.social @hylands.bsky.social

First: Hundred Reasons/Ash
Last: Maxïmo Park
Next: We Are Scientists

First: Swindon vs. Leicester (not *that* one)
Last: Swindon vs. Colchester
Next: Swindon vs. Morecambe

Why did they call it The Day of the Jackal and not The Man With The Foldin' Gun.

Mock duck donburri bowl

Itadakimasu