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johnconnett.bsky.social
Beer, computers, eco home, environment, public transport, steam and so on.
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🚨BREAKING: New report shows private eye companies treating NHS patients are putting their profits before patient care. Take 1 minute to send our letter to your MP: weownit.org.uk/act-now/save...

Private shareholders made dividends of £3.6 billion from owning our trains in the last decade. Yet the government is leaving our trains fully privately owned. Sign We Own It's petition to demand they take our trains into public ownership: weownit.org.uk/act-now/take...

“They were careless people, they smashed up things and people, and then retreated back into their money," The Great Gatsby. F Scott Fitzgerald. 100 years old today.

We can reveal that the director of Luxe Lifestyle – a firm that bagged a £25.7m PPE contract during Covid, has been arrested. This is what happened.

As @aptshadow.bsky.social has just announced, we've started a new podcast called Starship Alexandria. It's cosy, nerdy and relentlessly positive. We take it in turns to recommend a beloved book/film/graphic novel to each other and discuss it enthusiastically. starshipalexandria.com/episode-1-th...

Take 2 mins to demand that Meta stop targeting you with creepy personalised ads and content! goodlaw.social/gk0i

I don't drive and don't have a current passport. What about a non-driver ID (as in the USA) as a widely accepted government issued photo ID? #bbcpm

38d.gs/6v7r

Wes Streeting wants to sack 100,000 NHS staff. He could do that. But he will make it hopelessly inefficient and vastly less productive as a result. It's as if Labour wants to sacrifice everything of value - and all for the sake of Rachel Reeves' spreadsheet. www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/04...

EXPOSED: Fake water nationalisation tag would still save £3 billion a year. University of Greenwich research shows how taking back control of our water delivers a better deal for the public. Sign our petition to bring water into public ownership: weownit.org.uk/act-now/lets...

If, as Mr Starmer believes, AI is the magic wand that will solve our problems, why employ a human Chancellor blindly to follow a self-destructive algorithm, when a machine would do it just as well?

You think you’re making up your own mind. But are you? Manipulators use psychological shortcuts to shape what you believe, feel, and do. Let’s break down the science of “manufacturing consent” — and how to resist. 🧵 #MassManipulation #MediaPsychology nafoforum.org/magazi...

Another day in the world of UKHE: while thousands of academics around the country face redundancy, the Manchester VC is on #bbcpm talking about attracting US ‘talent’.

There are days in life that shake you. I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University & academic career... 1/🧵

Shutting down Mauna Loa CO₂ observations while atmospheric CO₂ keeps skyrocketing is like turning off a fire alarm because you don’t like the noise www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/c...

Similarly, my business model of stealing all your shit won't work if you don't allow me to steal all your shit.

The people who produce this Mauna Loa atmospheric CO₂ record have a lab in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, about 50 miles (80 km) from the observatory. By closing the lab, it'll be really difficult to maintain the CO₂ observations.

The closure of Mauna Loa will cause irreversible harm to the scientific record and our understanding of our impact on the atmosphere. But the symbolism feels even more massive than that.

*Reminder: The state gives us PUBLIC SERVICES* How incredible that "DOGE" language from America has invaded our country Labour and Cons now copying attacks on the state Your top priority should be giving voters BACK public services we've lost over 14 years 👇👇👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XN4...

What does Friday need? www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwh5...

US Science has been under sustained attack for the last month. I've been thinking about the vulnerabilities in UK science. In a new post, I've imagined a dystopian but *possible* future for UK science - as a way for prompting discussions on how we can protect it. open.substack.com/pub/christin...

Rachel Reeves might slash the tax-free cap on cash ISAs (after meeting with bankers) to push savers into moving their money to riskier stocks & shares. No one should be forced to gamble their savings to make more💷for big banks. Sign to #ProtectCashISAs: actionnetwork.org/petitions/pr...

Privatised water has failed. Just look at your water bills or the sewage pouring into our rivers. Steve Reed - include public ownership as an option in your independent commission on the water sector. Sign the petition weownit.org.uk/act-now/stev...

I've just signed "Marks & Spencer - stop advertising on GB News" - Will you support the campaign too? actionstorm.org/petitions/ma... @StopFundingHate

What happens when a small country decides to play Monopoly... with an ENTIRE US state? 🤯 Buckle up:" denmarkification.com?utm=.share.b...

Armoured Teslas should be know as DOGE'em Cars! www.snopes.com/news/2025/02...

Another of the almost uncountably pieces of very sinister news coming out of the US

"I’m scared to open my computer every morning,” says one EPA scientist who asked for anonymity because they fear reprisal. 1,000 employees tasked with regulating air pollution, researching the health effects of toxic chemicals have been notified last week that they might be fired. 🧪

This where we are.

1,260 CDC fellows and postdocs have been laid off. They are the future of epidemiology and public health in the United States. This ranks among the most stupid and short-sighted decisions of the last three weeks.

🏫 Sunday School: Hold Your Nerve 📚 @pimlicat.bsky.social and @sturdyalex.bsky.social discuss a stunning new report on the UK/EU reset, Musk's vandalism of US federal depts & dark clouds on the Reform UK horizon. Spotify 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/4K4v... Apple 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Here’s @lizneeley.bsky.social’s latest newsletter, documenting the ongoing attacks on science and higher ed, and figuring out what to focus on: buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

This is amazing - over *32,000* people are now supporting @goodlawproject.bsky.social's Ofcom complaint action over anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric on GB News. Please keep supporting and sharing this! action.goodlawproject.org/ofcom-stop-g...

A new approach to academic publishing: just pour right-wing money into your own vanity journal. “Peer reviewers” paid $500 per review but are not allowed to advise against publishing the article. Wonder who’s on the editorial board… www.importantcontext.news/p/a-new-acad...

Subscribe now to get the very first posting of our March edition printing next week. Buy a real paper! subscribe.bylinetimes.com

We've hit 2,000 articles! 🎉 Since 2021, East Anglia Bylines has been fighting the decline of local news, breaking major stories, and amplifying unheard voices. Now, we need your help to grow! Read more: eastangliabylines.co.uk/regions/angl...

I've signed: action.greenpeace.org.uk/greenpeace-u...

The NSF, one of the United States’ leading funders of science and engineering research is planning to lay off between a quarter and 1/2 of its staff in the next two months. The Trump administration continues to drag the US scientific community backwards. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/04/s…