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Wen

@Wen@mastodon.scot

I am a climber, runner, cyclist and swimmer. In between that I run a small (but perfectly formed) analytics company, splitting my time between Edinburgh, The Highlands and The Borders, campaign for Scottish independence, bake bread and occasionally dabble in bad art.

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Wen, to UKpolitics
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Jail for holding a placard? Protest over the climate crisis is being brutally suppressed

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/13/climate-crisis-protest-activism-repression

Not only jailed for peaceful protest, but also now facing being struck off by the GMC. The state is working hard to suppress protest in all of its forms in the UK. We have been warned, ignore these signs at your peril.

Wen, to disability
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Rishi Sunak to strip GPs of right to sign people off sick

http://archive.today/2024.04.19-062257/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rishi-sunak-gps-sign-people-off-sick-ill-rr353jstv

GPs face being stripped of the right to issue sick notes, as the prime minister says doctors are too readily writing people off as unfit for work. Specialist teams linked to the benefits system will instead assess the sick and decide how best to keep them in work.

Be afraid, very afraid. Those will be the same private companies who have already stripped benefits with no due concern.

Wen, to environment
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Judge throws out case against UK climate activist who held sign on jurors’ rights

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/22/judge-throws-out-case-against-uk-climate-activist-trudi-warner-sign-jurors-rights

Don't worry, Westminster will introduce new laws to deal with that… Probably as well thought out as declaring Rwanda a safe country!

A ridiculous case - but we still have the GMC putting their oar in on behalf of the malevolent, incompetent maladministration.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/16/uk-doctors-involved-in-climate-protests-face-threat-of-being-struck-off

Wen, to art
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Coracle building in Perthshire

With the amazing Jane Wilkinson

http://specialbranchbaskets.com/about.php

The frames will then be covered by hides or canvas.

Photo: two people work on a frame
Photo: the frame is anchored in the ground and when formed needs to be lifted from its ‘vice’
Photo: before the canvas is fitted, an almost complete farm with the seat installed.

Wen, to environment
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Labour scrapping £28bn green pledge could leave UK colder, sicker and poorer

Replace could with will. Labour - incapable of vision, innovation or original thinking.

Kinnock describe the consequences of a Tory government below. I wonder what he thinks now?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/02/labour-scrapping-green-pledge-leave-uk-colder-sicker-poorer

Dont be young, don’t be old, don’t be poor, don’t get old?

Wen, to random
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😂

Wen, to random
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Tom Lehrer

For anyone who doesn’t think that Americans can do biting satire, I would like to remind you of the brilliant Tom Lehrer, born 1928 and still with us, having released his music into the public domain.

For a few apposite pieces, as relevant today as they were when he wrote and sang them I give you

We Will All Go Together When We Go - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frAEmhqdLFs

and Be Prepared https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoEVPtVk9nE

Delightful in their observation and humour (much more available)

Wen, to Scotland
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Silent Sunday

Banchory last summer, and yes it is a real rainbow

Wen, to random
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Fears for future of Gaelic language as community workers’ jobs under threat

-language campaigners and MSPs have protested furiously about plans to axe a network of Gaelic community workers, raising fresh fears about the survival of the language.

Up to 27 Gaelic development workers based in Hebridean islands, rural counties and Scotland’s major cities are being laid off after the government cut funding to Bòrd na (BnG), the body charged with protecting and reviving Gaelic.

Wen, to random
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Whoever attached their bike (probably pricy given the look of the wheels) really should have paid attention to the frame 😳

Wen, to privacy
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Jacob Rees Mogg is wrong: Britons do want ID cards

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/06/would-id-cards-be-such-a-bad-thing-if-they-could-make-things-work-better

Martha Gill is ill informed. Many ‘Britons' are wary of the growing collection of unified data on every ‘citizen’ and the way, when combined with image recognition it can and undoubtedly will be misused my a malignant government (and we have had many, all trying to push the envelope).

Wen, to UKpolitics
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Labour may fail to grab target seats as young voters turn away over Gaza and climate

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/11/labour-may-fail-to-grab-target-seats-as-young-voters-turn-away-over-gaza-and-climate

And that is before they ask voters in Scotland (this being a very SE England centric paper). The only Labour voters I know here (all in their 40s and 50s) won’t, it’s not just muslim and younger voters who are disgusted.

Wen, to delhi
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Wales to change guidance on 20mph speed limits, transport minister says

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/20/wales-to-change-guidance-on-20mph-speed-limits-transport-minister-says

And the troglodytes win. With help from the media - Guardian INCLUDED. No one ever looks at the very successful roll out in the Scottish Borders (Conservative council). Grumbles maybe, but I know of no one who wants to go back from safer, more pleasant towns and villages. But what can you expect from a Starmerite?

Wen, to running
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Morning run.

A lovely day, bright but a bitter northerly breeze. We ran along the road before climbing up to Fatlips Castle and from there cross country to Minto, over the Mintos and back along the old Borders railway. Damp, but relaxing. 24.5k, lots of climbing.

And better still, partner has been out for some emergency this morning, so we’ll meet in St. Boswells later this afternoon and get out along the Tweed. And a coffee. 🥳

Wen, to random
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Collateral Genocide: Inside Israel’s Official ‘Legalisation’ of Mass Civilian Killings

https://bylinetimes.com/2024/04/12/collateral-genocide-inside-israels-official-legalisation-of-mass-civilian-killings/

Wen, to UKpolitics
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Ban smacking children in England and Northern Ireland, say doctors

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/17/ban-smacking-children-in-england-and-northern-ireland-say-doctors

It has already been banned (rightly so) in Wales and Scotland. Why are England and NI so slow to do so? I browsed the Time coverage of the same story and had my answer. Full of comment along the lines of ‘it never did me any harm’ and ‘parents have the right to control their own children’. 🥴

Wen, to UKpolitics
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Hillsborough, 35 years on: the pain of injustice remains raw as ever

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/15/hillsborough-35-years-on-the-pain-of-injustice-remains-raw-as-ever

Despite vindication over police and media lies that followed the disaster, families and survivors lament lack of accountability.

Of course they are. The Media wer never held to account, the police lied, and one particular b*****d Johnson b became Mayor of London before screwing the whole of the U.K.

NO WONDER THEY ARE BITTER.

Wen, to UKpolitics
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A not too bad summary of the evidence that Alan Bates gave to the PO enquiry

https://archive.is/Mkv7x (web archive)

The 14 key takeaways from the Post Office inquiry

A damning indictment of The Post Office, Vennals (and other senior managers) and Fujitsu.

I have to take my hat of to Bates and his sheer bloody mindedness (for want of a better word) in getting towards justice against those who stole from and ruined the lives of any.

Wen, (edited ) to random
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Carer convicted over benefit error worth 30p a week fights to clear his name

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/12/carers-allowance-benefit-error-30p-a-week-dwp

The DWP strike again. It is worth reading the full article, and imho the behaviour of the judge was reprehensible and the DWP unpardonable. But that do they care? One clear result, at east one life irreparably damaged and additional support costs incurred by DWP actions.

Chanegs to corrict my bad spliing.

Wen, to Scotland
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BBC Scotland apologises for Hate Crime Act coverage

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24270906.bbc-scotland-apologises-hate-crime-act-coverage/

Now, the BBC has apologised for falsely claiming "in some of our output" that the act made it a criminal offence in Scotland to make “derogatory comments” based on the legislation's protected characteristics.

Of course as many have pointed out, a lie has got half way round the world before the truth has pulled her socks on. The BBC imho contributed to the ignorant hysteria.

Wen, to running
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Evening run

Our river/old railway return. The lambs get under the fence by the river and unlike their mums are unclear what a collie is all about. For the moment.

He is well behaved (working a couple of days a week at our neighbours farm) but a little puzzled..

9k, mainly tracks, lovely temperatures.

Wen, to UKpolitics
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Met police to pay ‘five-figure sum’ to French publisher arrested under anti-terror laws

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/29/met-police-to-pay-five-figure-sum-to-french-publisher-arrested-under-anti-terror-laws

Should we be surprised? Anti terror laws and surveillance have been used against antisocial dog walkers, miners, students, ecologists, climate change activists and many others for years. Widely drawn legislation, poor framing and negligent application was always going to happen.

I don’t think it was (all) a mistake.

Wen, to Scotland
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Police Scotland fear missing golden eagle has been shot and killed

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24291548.police-scotland-fear-missing-golden-eagle-shot-killed/

Another one! And that is ignoring the Kites, Harriers and Ospreys that have disappeared. While I welcome the new Wildlife bill, it it time sanctions/penalties became serious. Jail time and removal of Grouse licences shopuld be just a start.

#Scotland #Wildlife #GoldenEagle #Moors #Hunting

Wen, to Israel
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Israel and Israel Alone Kicked Off This Escalation — In a Bid to Drag U.S. Into War With Iran

https://theintercept.com/2024/04/14/israel-iran-drag-us-war-netanyahu-biden

'Contrary to the words of some sycophantic U.S. politicians, the interests of the two countries are not identical and, today, do not even appear to be aligned.’

Wen, to running
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31st half marathon, 31 days

Pheeew. Made it on Sunday with a last run from Galashiels, up to Maigle Hill, Torwodlee Broch and return. The Broch is one of three in the Borders and is overlooked by one at last weekends run.

A gorgeous day and a stiff run 480 metres of climbing and steep with it. Slowest run of the month. 2 hrs 5 mins.

A fundraiser with two colleagues (one cycling, one swimming) for the Borders Food Banks.

Photo taking a water break by the masts at Meigle Hill, bright day with the Collie waiting to get going again
Photo The view down towards Gala, blue sky, the neighbouring Broch can just be made out in the distance
Photo The remains of Torwoddle Broch, ditch and what remains of walls. More obvious on the ground

Wen,
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We drew lots to swim 1k open water, run 1 half marathon a day, and cycle 50 miles every day for March, to raise funds for Borders food banks.

I hate food banks, an indictment of the callous barstewards in Westminster who can not even be excused of knowing the cost of everything. Funds matched by our company (we are employee owned) and as of last night a total of £41000 and a few pennies).

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