Steve Cook

I've got two upcoming events with East Mercia Rivers Trust a talk on rivers and a screening of Britains Hidden Fishes and best of all they are both free to attend!

Pet treatments could be harming freshwater life — Freshwater Biological Association The FBA have produced a Scientific Info Note on how the use of flea treatment on pets could be causing problems in English rivers and lakes. Read more now.

Over the next few years I’ll be studying how our beloved pets might be unwittingly spreading pesticides into terrestrial ecosystems in the UK. The terrestrial impacts of this are not well characterized, and many of the affected organisms remain poorly studied. Great background here:
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Pemsbrey sits, glum and dejected, at his favorite table. Robotecca, his automaton assistant with huge naturals, stands waiting to give her sage advice. PEMSBREY: Robotecca, I ain’t feeling too good. ROBOTECCA: My programmed response is to say words that express a sympathy I can not truly feel. PEMSBREY: I get it. Ain’t too different from people in that way. PEMSBREY: Everyone’s out to shut me up or shut me down. And I mean, EVERYONE! I live the most PERSECUTED life IMAGINABLE! ROBOTECCA: This information is noted and added to memory. PEMSBREY: Why are things so HARD. Why can’t I just be HAPPY? ROBOTECCA: It’s a good question—one worthy of serious contemplation. It seems like your feelings are quite justified. ROBOTECCA: After all, everyone is out to shut you up or shut you down. Astonishing as it may sound, you live the most persecuted life imaginable. PEMSBREY (agitated): I KNEW IT!

I mean, an echo is technically a second opinion

Wondermark #1577; The Objective Oracle

www.riverflies.org/keydocuments...

💧Crayfish Guidance!

In England's rivers we have both native and invasive non-native species of crayfish.

👀 They are pretty hard to tell apart. Learn what to do and not to do if you come accidentally come across one in your Riverfly sample.

👉231027+Riverfly+Guidance+VB.pdf

This week I’m trying to catch 24 species in 24 hours as I’m joined by Hugh Miles

youtu.be/qaIhtr_4Vlw?...

Zack Polanski wears a white poppy as he overlooks remembrance ceremony at the cenotaph

If they only knew how to zoom in, they might just be able to make out the red poppy too....

The sacrifices you make.🤣

I asked the gamekeeper how many beagles he lost. He reckoned he had "wastage" of about 3 beagles a week. Said sometimes they turned up months or even a year later.

People have already decided to fry me because my professional path crossed that of Dick Cheney in not one but three of my jobs in my career

I tried to take out a paid promotion of Hannah Berry interviewing Darryl Cunningham about his fabulous graphic novel, Elon Musk: American Oligarch. What a surprise YouTube turned down the advert for some made-up bullshit. Suss.

www.sevenstories.com/books/4749-e...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYy7...

I just know it as a garden spider.

Handsome arachnid! Any idea what type? x

Tear gas in use during a strike in the 1930s

OK, as promised, here's my thread about the links between tear gas/pepper spray and the arms trade and gun industry.

Hazel Dormouse © Derek Middleton

The next few days are crucial - please contact your MP and ask them to keep vital nature protections.

It takes two minutes via our platform. More info and links:

sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/an-urge...

📷 Hazel Dormouse © Derek Middleton

Looking up death statistics (always fun and surprising) half of the 21,000 or so accidental UK deaths are falls, poisonings claim a quarter, far more than road accidents (7%) Knife/sharp object deaths account for around 260, guns 29.
Less than 600 homicides per year seems remarkable for 70m people.

👉 Last chance to influence the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Yes, I know, you may be sick of reading about this or feel you’ve already written to your MP several times or are running out of energy on this long running saga - BUT - please, for nature’s sake, write one more time. 1/3

I’ve got two ponds with no fish currently in them and deciding what species to stock any suggestions?

Beyond the usual suspects can't really think of anything interesting. The one with the window in would be good for sticklebacks as it would be easy to see the males defending the nest.

Maybe.
Piranha?
Burbot?

On the left, the refurbished Lincoln bathroom. On the right, picture I took in Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra in 2005.

Log In Welcome to the National Trust 2025 voting website, hosted by independent voting service provider Civica Election Services.

If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight.

Use the Quick Vote option.

Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them

Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand

secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...

We had this 2" monster turn up earlier in the week. Not sure if it was trick or treating.

HappyToast print sale 1

HappyToast print sale 2

HappyToast Halloween Print Sale, lots of horror related A4ish pictures, £10 each, 2 for £15 or 3 for £20. Not many of each, DM me. For clearer pictures check my site. I'll add a reply saying if any are sold out, so check before ordering.

📊 Our September data roundup is here!

👏 Riverfly volunteers submitted a huge 821 surveys across the UK — thank you for every single one.

💙 This work is supported by our amazing funders at the Environment Agency and @esmeefairbairn.bsky.social.

👉https://www.riverflies.org/riverflyreports

I remember reading somewhere that sticklebacks have the most regional names of any fish in Britain but I'm struggling to find any online what do you call this fish locally?

Stickies is the only other name I know.

Panache, for Men Alan has been using Nix, Martin has been adding panache to his terminal, and Mark’s been playing Rimworld Odyssey.

Episode 67 of Linux Matters: Panache, for Men 🐧️🎙️

Alan has been using Nix, Martin has been adding panache to his terminal, and Mark’s been playing Rimworld Odyssey.

Surrey study finds contactless payment security loopholes The University of Surrey says its study exposed weaknesses that allowed unauthorised transactions.

Well I never.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Home Office squandered billions on ‘failed and chaotic’ asylum accommodation Commons committee describes successive governments’ failures to manage hotel use, contracts, spending and safeguarding

The problem is not the migrants but the appalling mismanagement of the system by successive governments www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

BBC Radio 4 - You're Dead to Me, The History of Timekeeping Join Greg Jenner at the literal beginning of time to explore the history of timekeeping.

The clocks go back tonight, which is my perfect excuse to share my fave episode of BBC You’re Dead To Me about the History of Timekeeping (from 2022)

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...