@adrianfry@mastodon.scot
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

adrianfry

@adrianfry@mastodon.scot

Musician and repairer/restorer of many things (reuse/recycle). Aberdeenshire. Lover of nature, leftwing, green, atheist, pacifist. Pro- democracy, electoral reform (PR not FPTP), republic, international cooperation (not Brexit), and steady-state economics. Deeply concerned about climate change. Scotland should be allowed a vote on independence.

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Wen, to UKpolitics
@Wen@mastodon.scot avatar

Labour parachutes

http://archive.today/2024.05.27-060522/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/labour-islington-north-ignored-democratic-process-jeremy-corbyn-opponent-llkfl9298

Labour activists in Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency have accused the national party of an “egregiously undemocratic selection process” after it chose a candidate without consulting the local branch.

Photo titled Praful Nargund founded a chain of IVF clinics with his mother, Geeta. He was anointed without even meeting the local Labour branch, activists said.

Watch Scotland folks…

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@Wen I'm increasingly worried about the prospect of a disUK government led by and his cabal. He's totally abandoned the left.

My hope is that the majority of voters in continue to support the who have by and large been a leftwing force for good in this country. I fear that significant Labour GE gains here would be catastrophic for devolution and for Scotland in general.

Whatever your views on independence, vote for your country, not England.

JimsPhotos, to nature
@JimsPhotos@ohai.social avatar

3 Variants of the same photo.

Original and 2 crops (Original reduced in quality as too many pixels for mastodon.

Sedge Warbler

Sedge warblers are sandy brown. They are paler underneath and streaky above, with a dark, streaked cap. They have a distinctive white eyestripe.
Sedge warblers are sandy brown. They are paler underneath and streaky above, with a dark, streaked cap. They have a distinctive white eyestripe.

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@JimsPhotos Beautiful photo, Jim!

What length lens do you usually use for such photography? I've a Canon 70-200 L-series f/4 IS USM which equates to around 314mm on my 60D. I find that I'm often cropping significantly and this inevitably affects the resolution/quality of the 'processed' (raw) image. I'm pondering something longer, but cost (and weight) are serious considerations.

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@JimsPhotos Thank you for this recommendation. Just to clarify, do you mean the (discontinued) APO 150-500 or one of the current 'Contemporary' or 'Sport' 150-600 models?

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@JimsPhotos Given that you're using a prime lens and I already have a great zoom, perhaps I should consider a long(er) prime for my wildlife photography rather than another zoom that would spend 95% of its life at maximum magnification. Thank you for your advice - very much appreciated.

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@JimsPhotos I rarely manage anything decent when 'surprise birds' appear - I'm just not practised enough to react and get acceptable framing and focus!

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@JimsPhotos Wise words indeed. Your photographs are fabulous and I love how you make the most of whatever appears.

simon_brooke, to random
@simon_brooke@mastodon.scot avatar

I've been listening to the second half of The Rest Is Politics interview with , and my take away is what TRIVIAL people everyone involved is. Kwarteng is supposed to be one of the intellects of the party, but they can none of them – not Kwarteng, not Campbell, not even Stewart – string two concepts together.

Leading: 74. Kwasi Kwarteng: Liz Truss, becoming Chancellor, and Britain on the brink (Part 2)

Episode webpage: http://therestispolitics.com/

Media file: https://pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/A27C8C/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLT7979855855.mp3?updated=1715358972

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@simon_brooke Rory Stewart is an arse.

Wen, to UKpolitics
@Wen@mastodon.scot avatar

Nadhim #Zahawi: We were wrong to oust Boris #Johnson

http://archive.today/2024.05.18-173553/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nadhim-zahawi-boris-johnson-pm-d5xk8w3ps

'In his first newspaper interview since leaving the cabinet, the former chancellor says the ex-PM was the ‘most consequential leader since Thatcher’ — and reveals his own biggest mistake in the tax scandal that led to his sacking’

They just don't get it do they? Worth a read to get confirmation of the bat shit stupidity, arrogance and greed that drive them.

#ToryCorruption #ToryStupidity #BrokenBritain #UkPolitics

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@Wen This is a quite remarkable read. Even by the standards of the average head-up-own-arse, self-centred, greedy #Tory this is exceptional.

Here are a couple of phone numbers and an email address of his new employer, just in case you'd like to let them know what you think of their new appointment:

https://www.theverygroup.com/media/news/2024/the-very-group-appoints-nadhim-zahawi-as-non-executive-chair/

#Zahawi #NadhimZahawi #ToryCorruption

adrianfry, to Fashion
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

Patrick Grant. Top bloke.

“The jumpers that I bought from Marks & Spencer in the 80s, I’ve still got some of them. They’re brilliant. And the jumpers that you buy now, they’re total shit. This is what’s happened in clothing, in footwear, in the homes that we live in. Does that make our lives any ­better? Does it bollocks. We’ve binned five and a half million jobs making these things well, and it’s absolutely killed communities.”

#PatrickGrant #fashion #capitalism

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/article/2024/may/18/is-this-what-people-wear-now-sewing-bee-host-criticises-ms-jumpers-and-socks

cstross, to random
@cstross@wandering.shop avatar

UK government adviser on disruptive protest accused of conflict of interest:

John Woodcock, whose review proposes bans for protest groups, has lobbying links to firms in arms and fossil fuel sectors (and is recommending bans on protests against both those industries)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/17/government-adviser-on-disruptive-protest-accused-of-conflict-of-interest

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@simon_brooke @BashStKid @HighlandLawyer @glitzersachen @cstross Whilst I agree that the House of Lords should be abolished, that comes with the caveat that first the House of Commons and our political system (FPTP) must be reformed.

The HoL actually works very well in controlling the actions of an omnipotent government elected by a minority of the electorate, whose MPs are often whipped to abide the wishes of the executive, not their constituents.

adrianfry, to news
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

I'm fed up with the poor-quality and biased reporting from the Guardian and BBC websites. I source international news from the Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera website. Can anyone recommend an online source of quality news that is balanced and isn't skewed towards the perspective of the South of England?

RichardJMurphy, to random
@RichardJMurphy@mas.to avatar

Tory plans to deny access to foreign students wanting to study in the UK are already causing massive harm to UK universities and the economy of the country https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/05/14/tory-plans-to-deny-access-to-foreign-students-wanting-to-study-in-the-uk-are-already-causing-massive-harm-to-uk-universities-and-the-economy-of-the-country/ Overseas applications to UK universities are tumbling as a result of new visa rules that appear to be motivated by racism. The knock on effects are going to be considerable, for the country, for students and even the viability of many universities who have come to reply on this income.

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@RichardJMurphy A minority of the electorate voted for 14 years of chaos and indeed for Cameron's disastrous gamble. Rightwing policy is destroying the disUK, which desperately needs ethical, climate-friendly politics of cooperation, compassion and reason.

The only person who is in a position to change this pattern is by introducing a form of , so that the left (as opposed to ) has a voice.

Sadly, I don't believe he will do this.

adrianfry, to random
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

What is the most effective action individuals can take to mitigate against #ClinateChange?

Most experts (76%) backed voting for #politicians who pledge strong climate measures, where fair #elections take place.

This is not possible in #England as neither of the only two parties represented by the #undemocratic FPTP system pledge strong climate measures.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/09/what-are-the-most-powerful-climate-actions-you-can-take

adrianfry, to nature
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

A few photographs from our visit to the National Reserve in yesterday.

A young herring gull with mottled juvenile plumage flies overhead against a deep blue sky with its feathers backlit by the sun.
A sunlit seal, its head well above the water, looks inquisitively at the camera.
A flock of two dozen ringed plovers fly over the sea. The breaking waves beneath and the grass-covered dunes with blue sky are in the background.

ChrisMayLA6, to random
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar

The triangular relationship between workers, employers & the Labour Party is getting more fraught as power looms in the mid-distance...

Business want to influence Labour not to 'over' regulate their business, unions want to ensure their members (and other workers) have rights restored & extended.... and the Labour Party, what does it want?

Well, in the age of declining mass-membership, it needs wealthy donors; the unions can wield their contributions but may be outgunned by business interests?

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@ChrisMayLA6 It seems to me that Labour's transition away from union funding/influence is complete as their policy is now that of neo-liberal capitalism. Any policy that principally benefited the workforce (for instance ending 'zero hours' contracts) has been either watered-down or has sunk without trace.

simon_brooke, to random
@simon_brooke@mastodon.scot avatar

floorboards loaded up to go up to site.

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@simon_brooke Tell us more about this roundhouse?

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@simon_brooke What a fabulous dwelling!

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@simon_brooke Your place is stunning. Must be lovely to be beneath the canopy there.

I very much look forward to seeing the Roundhouse develop.

fkamiah17, to random
@fkamiah17@toot.wales avatar

Does anyone else get the feeling that, rather than listen to their own or their constituents' humanity and stop the genocide, the Powers That Be ™️ have decided to drop the last vestiges of pretence that the west is any kind of a democracy and go full fascist?

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@fkamiah17 Yes :-(

adrianfry, to Scotland
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

Yet again the shows it's unionist anti-Scotland by failing to mention that it is that leads the in access to points.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/05/uk-installs-record-number-of-public-electric-vehicle-chargers

ChrisMayLA6, to Health
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar

So now cash-strapped NHS trusts are being required to balance their books, and as such are being forced to choose between repairing buildings or retaining staff.

This engineered crisis of the NHS looks to be accelerating as the Tories use their last months in Govt. to squeeze the health service some more & ensure the maximum mess for Labour to deal with on gaining power (a mess so big the Tories will soon start blaming Labour for not clearing it up).

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/may/05/cuts-will-result-in-patient-deaths-hospitals-shed-medical-staff-after-being-told-to-balance-the-books

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@ChrisMayLA6 The Tories repeatedly tell us that 'their plan is working'.

That plan would appear to be the destruction of the NHS, pollution of rivers and seas, economic decline, voter suppression, international isolation, fascism, etc.

#ToryCorruption #ToryLiars #ToryFascism #TorySewageParty

adrianfry, to Bulgaria
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

I'm incensed to see say ”Winning the trust of people across past divides, such as leave and remain, or yes and no in Scotland, is vital.”

and independence are not past divides, they're current. Leaving the has been a disaster which in no way resembles the promises of the Leave campaign. deserves to be able to reassess the union as so much has changed since the vote a decade ago.

is continuity .

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/04/its-time-to-end-the-uks-divisions-labour-is-for-everyone

axbom, to random
@axbom@axbom.me avatar

How people trust this software for decision-making is beyond me…

https://chat.openai.com/share/534ac2bd-332c-43d5-a26c-4b1bd8050c38

adrianfry,
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

@axbom Whilst the AI has the veneer of politeness, it's actually deeply lacking in intelligence. As such, it's it'd be difficult to distinguish many MPs responses from that of an AI given the same questions.

adrianfry, to Israel
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

Reading the news this morning makes me wonder how any rational person can interpret 's actions as anything other than a mission to kill as many people as possible.

This is without any doubt whatsoever yet the focus is not upon preventing this, but preventing demonstrations against it.

I despair.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/5/4/israels-war-on-gaza-live-talks-in-egypt-set-to-steer-wars-direction

adrianfry, to random
@adrianfry@mastodon.scot avatar

The 'super rich' (whom I prefer to call the 'obscenely rich') would leave the disUK if is eradicated? Excellent.

However, I suspect that will perform yet another U-turn and this policy will be abandoned.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/may/02/i-am-moving-tycoon-bassim-haidar-non-dom-tax-status-super-rich-exodus

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