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David Redfern

@jmbgeog.bsky.social
754 followers 2.5K following 463 posts

Geographer; writer; speaker; retired Deputy Head and former Chief Examiner. Born in Huddersfield. Woke, 'educated idiot'. Substack: dredfern.substack.com

PostsRepliesMedia
David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
I love this feed.... but sometimes I look and think the USA is stuck in a 19th century time warp.
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Parody Nigel Farage @parodypm.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Hmmm… who to believe… Andy Burnham or the compulsive liar who got sacked twice for lying, lied to Parliament, lied to The Queen, cheated on two wives and ignored the Ministerial Code. Tricky one.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Quite the scoop here by Goalhanger over the BBC/SKY. Also, their 'new' branch into drama with Bear Hunt is worth listening to.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Do these women ever breathe.... and why do they all sound like a gatling gun?
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Roman Sheremeta @rshereme.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Ukraine responds to Trump’s deal with Putin by striking russian fuel export terminal in Rostov.
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James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Another resounding victory for Kemi Badenoch. They’ll have to extend the tapestry now…
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Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
NEW: Kemi Badenoch’s flagship party conference policy document, The Right Way, overestimated the cost of net zero by nearly £500bn, seemingly after someone accidentally double-counted figures on a spreadsheet. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Tories overstate net zero cost by nearly £500bn in apparent spreadsheet error
Exclusive: Badenoch’s flagship conference policy document cites £957bn estimate, twice the total in climate advisers’ data
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Yes, Pierre is ok, so far, after watching 2 episodes... but it is strikingly similar in plot to 61st Street on Netflix.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Listened, forced myself, to these. Gove is a horrible, lying, mendacious, ..... I can't say the word! Never again Alastair.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I've just suffered the episodes. Reinforced my view that Gove is such a slimy, duplicitous toad. He can't communicate without pausing, considering each and every word, just to make sure he doesn't upset his horrible 'friends', including the IDF. Now I need to get some fresh air.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Looks like Tui did a good job, in the geographical circumstances. BBC News - We spent thousands on a Tui river cruise but ended up on coach trips www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
We spent thousands on a Tui river cruise but ended up on coach trips
Passengers have described their anger after their itineraries changed to involve hours spent on coach trips instead.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I've done that same holiday, with water in the river. What else could Tui do... the boats couldn't move. Cancel? Surely you want to see Vienna, Salzburg, Bratislava etc more than drink endless cocktails on a boat?? Sounds like Tui did what they could.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Kemi Badenoch has just KILLED downsizing in retirement Welcome to millions of frail, single pensioners, in homes far too big for them, refusing to move for fear of the tax hit giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Tory conference live: Kemi Badenoch pledges to scrap inheritance tax on family homes
Conservative leader pledges to slash levies while accusing Andy Burnham of ‘spending money we don’t have’
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
First Gulf of Mexico hurricane coming for the first time in ages??? theeyewall.substack.com/p/tropical-d...
theeyewall.substack.com
Tropical Depression 9 likely to threaten the central or eastern Gulf Coast as a hurricane by the weekend
Isaias is the next name, and it looks likely to form in a day or so.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Which was a load of tosh.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Turns out some middle-eastern-looking guy went up to 5 unemployed young blokes in an east London pub and said I'll pay you a few hundred quid each to drive 3 white vans to Gloucestershire with some cans of petrol in them.... and a week later the USA airforce got frit and left. #Superpowers
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Very true. The 21st century Boudica.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Are they in an underground car park?
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
And paying my taxes to support you, and anyone else who needs help.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
In which case you know how pensions work, whether state or private. The rules are the rules; people pay in, in a variety of ways, and if they live long enough they take out. That's how it is. To argue semantics about which pound you're actually receiving is daft.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Can she be sure her parliamentary party agree with her? Methinks not.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Don't vote Tory, or Reform, then.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Your point B is totally correct. That is, and always was, the basis of state pensions. That's how it works. As to whether it continues, then that is up to the younger generations to decide what they want, and stop moaning.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
By that logic, I'm paying for yours. And, I did pay for my private pension, employer contributions were part of the deal.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Tell me another political feature that has over 50% support from all age groups. In today's political environment over 50% is pretty universal in my book.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Yes, all I get out is what I paid in. And, I happily pay tax on that. Burnham has indicated that pensions will continue to go up, in line with 2+ factors. If you want a better pension all round, then that is a different argument from maintaining the triple lock.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Caught up with the 2 programmes of 70 Up. The prog has been with me all my adult life - watched 7 Up and 14 Up as part of my PGCE. Great to see what some have done in their lives eg. John the lawyer, Symon who fostered hundreds. Also, interesting to see how manipulative M Apted (the Director) was.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Have you been asleep? Burnham has articulated his policy, and it has met with universal approval, across the ages. Yours, a pensioner.
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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 30/09/2026
NEW ANALYSIS: Record wind and solar save UK from gas imports worth £5.9bn during Hormuz crisis 🌤️ wind/solar generation up 14% in 2026 to date 🏭 gas down ~10% 🚢 >100 LNG cargoes avoided
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is brilliant. Burnham sold the plan so well yesterday...
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Just on the last point though, and it is minor, it does gall me that the pre-populated part of the SA tax form lumps together my TP with my AVC as if it was one. I know the AVC bit got tax relief at the time, but I opted to save for that element - it wasn't automatic. Happy to pay tax on it now.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Calling all teachers... Having recently completed my self-assessment tax form, I am prompted to repeat to you: Do not reduce your payments into your Teacher Pension Do not cash-out early or take a lump sum before your retire Contemplate adding an AVC to your pension - you won't regret it...
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
As a pensioner... is that the best you've got Zack? It was a brilliant speech, and gives me hope for my younger family.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Kuenssberg has her own agenda, she wants soundbites that the BBC etc can clip NOW, and Burnham is not playing by her rules. He's saying wait... I'll say what, why, when in my time. Good for Burnham.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
A warm afternoon and 4 of these little blighters have woken up. How do I get them back to bed??
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A bit of autumnal weekend reading for A Level Geography students... dredfern.substack.com/p/an-essay-w...
dredfern.substack.com
An essay-writing set of reposts.
[Almost 500 people have subscribed in the last few weeks, and I suspect most of these are A level students.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Fascinating insight into how people are responding to data centres in their local area in the US... including the new campaign by Erin Brockovich. mapoftheweek.substack.com/p/erin-brock...
mapoftheweek.substack.com
Erin Brockovich’s AI Data Center Map
I recently saw an interview with consumer advocate Erin Brockovich. She put together an interactive data center map to keep track of the data center issues across the United States.
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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I’ve written to my MP, the Home Secretary and the PM this morning demanding that the government take action to defend the RNLI and clamp down on these far-right “activists”, who need to be arrested and charged for the criminal offences in this thread alone, as well as others in recent weeks.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
It's laughable that anyone could envisage Gove as a PM.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Ha! Been labelled as 'Adult content' for the first time.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The role of the key word 'Culture' in Geography. dredfern.substack.com/p/a-key-key-...
dredfern.substack.com
A key ‘Key word’
Culture
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Watching Series 5 of Fauda on Netflix... Just watched episodes 7 and 8. Not a comfortable watch (they portray Oct 7th). Presuming this has been shown in Israel, how can anyone vote for Netanyahu when he knew something was to happen up to a week ahead??
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Read it this afternoon. Very good.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
And... his football team is useless, and his stadium is dirty and uncomfortable, and... he should get a bloody hair cut. Harrumph!
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Says Monaco-living, non tax-paying pillock. Ratcliffe can go forth and multiply. BBC News - Billionaire Man United owner says he has lost confidence in the UK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.
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Alon Pinkas @alonpinkas.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
That security deal effectively existed before and without Trump’s hollow and reckless threats. The US has a base in Greenland; Greenland is part of Denmark which is a founding-member of NATO. Nothing to see here other than another spectacular backtracking by Trump
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Interesting article in the Scientific American.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Yes, except the whole series became absolutely unbelievable tosh. The plot twists became more and more convoluted, and I finally had enough when in the middle of crisis-facing-humanity #3, the two leads started arguing about who had looked after their child more.
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Latest Substack... the Dubai Tower, nowhere near Dubai, but sailing across the 'top' of the world, with all its ramifications. dredfern.substack.com/p/the-northe...
dredfern.substack.com
The Northern Sea Route
Global systems – The Polar Silk Road
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David Redfern @jmbgeog.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A bit rich from this guy. When he was CEO of Outwood they kicked out a lot of the 'disadvantaged and vulnerable'.
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