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Rachel

@rappinrach.bsky.social
607 followers 1.2K following 423 posts

Love learning, nature, being inspired. Hate prejudice & injustice. Work for a trade union. Norwich, UK

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Reposted by Rachel
George McGavin @georgemcgavin.bsky.social · 10h
Lots of insects depend on ivy flowers for survival....don't cut ivy!
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Kari Maaren @angrykem.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
This Is Just to Say I have trained the AI to read to our baby the one you were probably expecting me to interact with Calm down AI is awesome so sweet and so cold
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Rachel @rappinrach.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I fully expect woodlice to survive the impending days of doom judging by my flower pots. And possibly rats judging by the holes around the garden.
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🫣 stuart reeves 🫣 @5tuartreeves.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
there needs to be a wide-ranging investigation into the role of highly-paid consultants siphoning off vast quantities of cash from UK universities, and their role as silent partners in the radical reshaping of UK institutions that is taking place right now
facehugger from Alien attached to Kane's face
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Make Votes Matter @makevotesmatter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
❗️Important point by our youth coordinator Livvy Gibbs: FPTP is the only system that could allow an extreme government take 100% of the power on under 30% of the vote, putting our rights and freedoms at risk. PR would not just make our democracy healthier now, but also help safeguard its future.
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Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 @brexitbin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Dear Suella Braverman, Here are the criteria the Nazis used for people to be considered "German". You are now using similar fascist criteria to define those who can be considered "English".
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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
“The central economic problem of resilience,” said Lang, “is that it asks capitalism to do what it doesn’t want to do at the moment.” giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... @willoyd.bsky.social has started writing for the FT! this is good news. Nothing in this article is, though...
giftarticle.ft.com
How resilient is Britain?
As climate and geopolitical risks cast doubt on the UK’s ability to cope in a crisis, leaders are turning from ‘just in time’ to ‘just in case’ as a governing philosophy
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John Gallagher @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I will always remember fondly the student who finished an essay with the line "In conclusion, the early modern period marked a massive shit in European history."
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Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
You know that saying about how the way they treat asylum seekers is the way they’d treat everyone else if they thought they could get away with it? Well,
The Tories said the reduced subsistence allowance would be loaded onto pre-paid card that would not allow cash withdrawals, and would "prevent spending" on alcohol, cigarettes, or gambling.
The party is yet to detail how its proposal would work, but shadow welfare secretary Helen Whately said it would be "a version" of the pre-paid Aspen card issued to asylum seekers living in government-funded accommodation.
These cards cannot be used to make contactless, telephone or internet payments, whilst asylum seekers whose applications have failed cannot withdraw cash.
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M a r c u s 🏳️‍🌈🇧🇧🇬🇧 @marcusjdl.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
There is no point building houses to ease the crisis when they then put them on sale for £400,000
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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
every day of my life I think about the people using “she” to describe this computer program who still need to be convinced to use it for trans women
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Sir Basil @sirbasil.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Ratcliffe and now this...is it National Wanky Billionaire Twat day and I simply didnt notice?
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Tom Clark @tom-clark.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The BBC has decided that this constitutes news… A man who left for Monaco several years ago declaring he’s ’lost confidence’ in the UK His qualification for making the headlines? Owning £15bn Broadcasting like democracy already died! 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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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
How is this news? billionaire oil person says uk needs to drill more and tax less, though, of course, he‘s actually in Monaco. And he would do more in the uk if the state subsidised him more. Dear BBC, that‘s like me saying the uk‘s problem is underpaid law profs. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
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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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Billionaire Brexiteeer and Man United owner says he has lost confidence in the UK. Lives in Monaco to avoid UK taxes, owns several luxury properties. Demands state subsidies, including for building a Man U stadium. Why do billionaires resent people getting decent NHS, social care, public services?
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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Tade "Will Eat Your Heart in the Marketplace" Thompson @tadethompson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
So I got chatting with my GP today and we each talked about our practice. It turns out we've both noticed the same thing: the last eight months have seen more racist incidents in healthcare environments. They've had to stop home visits to some areas for this very reason. Concerning.
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LukeBMTB @lukebmtb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I'm tired of reading stories like this. Politicians see a need to do nothing, excused by 'listening to legitimate concerns', when they ought to stepping up with action and condemnation. www.theargus.co.uk/news/2655625...
theargus.co.uk
Sea shanty gig postponed after threats against RNLI volunteers
Selsey Shantymen postpone September 20 RNLI gig in West Sussex after online far-right threats against crews who rescued 120 Channel migrants, Sussex…
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Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Beyond the hype... "There is really shockingly poor evidence that AI actually makes an impact on patient outcomes” www.ft.com/content/3431...
ft.com
Medical AI has a proof problem
The technology’s advances have not yet translated into big improvements in real-life care
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David Mead @seethingmead.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Gordon Brown’s beacon beams ever more strongly among the darkness of greed generated by former senior Labour figures
theguardian.com
Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson joins Palantir
Peer takes full-time position at the controversial company as it fends off pressure from both Andy Burnham’s government and Sadiq Khan
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Shirley @ztarfizh.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
‘If you’re taking money from a company what are they getting out of it? At least print the contract. Tell us what you are being employed for” Ian Hislop, Committee on Standards 2022. Tom Watson is not being paid for his wisdom or insight. He has sold his House of Lords vote to #Palantir
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the babahuck @tylerhuckabee.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
god this is good
flight of the concords scene with murray, brit and jemaine. 

"How's this, then? Ed Sheeran, beloved by all, left without an opening band at present. Enter you two."

"What if we want a free Palestine, Murray?"

"I reckon you'll get lots of things for free when you're proper rockstars. This might be your ticket."
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Rachel @rappinrach.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
So apparently Joseph Conrad's link with Lowestoft commemorated by a spoons pub is that he arrived there in a small boat.
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Rachel @rappinrach.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Saw Stewart Lee Vs man wulf for 2nd time. Much better view in marina theatre Lowestoft than London. I love this show.
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Molly Scott Cato @greenpartymolly.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Listening to Scaramucci saying he was wrong about globalisation Like so many others who are still dominating the airwaves While I and my many friends who were right about it have always struggled to be heard and still do
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Little Green Space 🐝 @lgspace.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
8 easy ways to get micro-rewilding in your garden or local area: 🐞 Let the grass grow 🐝 Ditch the poison 🍃 Embrace some mess 🌳 Plant trees 🌿 Scrub-up 🌻 Plant with nature in mind 🐸 Go wild for water 🌱 Look after the soil 🐾 More: bit.ly/2P4TYBQ #biodiversity #nature #wildlife
Orange and brown-coloured Comma butterfly on a green bramble leaf
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The English Oak Project @thekentacorn.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Who wants to see an acorn grow into an oak tree inside our house this winter?
Acorns and acorn vase
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Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I think talking about the scope creep of AI development as being about power and control turns a lot of people off, so what if we think of it as greed? Pac-man bots eating up all the knowledge and joy in the world till 3 or 4 companies have it all and then use it to autocomplete marketing emails
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Saul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Ranvir Singh: "The Times was able to find 13 posts on X that named individual RNLI crew members.. one of these posts said 'first the traitors, then the invaders', which is a far right slogan, & it was shared by Elon Musk along with the photo of a gun. This is the stuff of 1939"
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Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I’ve reached the point - well actually, I reached it a while ago - where I’m militantly anti-AI. Fine - use it in bioscience labs and radiology where it might help analyse data more effectively. Use it sparingly for systems engineering. Everywhere else, it can fuck off.
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Amy Borrett @amyborrett.ft.com · 08/09/2026
Britain’s state-owned electricity system operator has awarded Palantir a £21mn contract without inviting rival bids, arguing critical processes are too reliant on its tech to run a competitive procurement process Latest for @financialtimes.com: as.ft.com/r/7fe6c0b7-2...
as.ft.com
Britain’s grid operator gave Palantir contract without inviting rival bids
Neso cited a legal exemption that removes the requirement to consider other suppliers if dependencies leave no alternative
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Sean Jones KC @seanjones.org · 05/09/2026
I’m flat out begging politicians to stop trying to win votes with a little light xenophobia. All you do is feed the racists without ever satiating them. Stop legitimizing hate
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Nick Stone @typejunky.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Meanwhile in Norwich the Normans, pulled down at least six existing churches to build a motte and bailey in a residential burb, and dropped a cathedral on a further four or so in an established market place. But yeah, ‘Normans’ civilising ‘largely pagans’.
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Reform UK, which promises to "defend free speech" at all costs, has again banned Byline Times from its conference
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Asylum Matters @asylummatters.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
This is what banning people from work means. Skilled, talented people with so much to share feeling like they've lost a part of themselves. It's time to lift the ban, and let people work.
Quote reads: “I have the skills and experience to contribute to society, but I cannot use them. It makes me feel empty and worthless at times, like I’ve lost a part of myself. 
I’ve been doing everything I can to stay positive... I want to be ready to work as soon as I can.”

- Rania, Masters’ degree in pedagogy
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Spooky Snigdha @snig.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
In July this year, an 86-year-old pensioner with Parkinson’s disease was convicted, using the Single Justice Procedure, for an accidental unpaid car tax bill of £3.34. The man told the court about his health difficulties and that his wife, suffers from Alzheimer’s. www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/s...
standard.co.uk
Pensioner with Parkinson’s convicted in fast-track court over £3.34 car bill
The DVLA launched a criminal prosecution over a six-week period when the car had not been properly taxed.
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Rachel @rappinrach.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Royal Mail should be renamed Royal Fail. Trying to get an item redelivered and even waiting 40 mins for a human hasn't worked. Now trying the App which hangs on the last screen. Rubbish.
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Grumpenstein’s Monster @maxwellshabbsby.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
To pay higher tax rate (40%) a pensioner would have to have income over £50k. To pay top rate (45%) it would be over £125k. I’m not sure these are the people in society we should all be worrying about too much to be honest!
MILLION OAPS HIT WITH TOP-RATE TAX BILLS
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Sebas @ohlookbirdies.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
If you're not using asbestos yet, you are being left behind. Everyone is using asbestos, there's no point in trying to fight it. Asbestos is the future.
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VenetiaJane’s Garden @venetiajane.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.” Found for this week’s #WildflowerHour: snake’s head fritillary, wild carrot, selfheal, common knapweed, yellow rattle, oxeye daisy, and cock’s-foot. #Seedheads
Collage of seven wildflower seedheads in soft late-summer shades of gold and brown: snake’s head fritillary, wild carrot, selfheal, common knapweed, yellow rattle, oxeye daisy and cock’s-foot. The large central photograph shows the intricate, basket-like seedhead of wild carrot.
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@s4r4h-l @s4r4h-l.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
#Wildflowerhour #seedheads with a very helpful fox and cubs sporting flowers and seeds yesterday. Lovely flowers and the seedheads are pretty too. #Preston #Lancashire @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #bloomscrolling
Flowers with seedheads behindClose up of the seedheadsClose up of the flowers
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George McGavin @georgemcgavin.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
The Isles of Scilly is home to amazing marine life, but South West Water plans to pump untreated sewage straight into these protected waters. They deserve the best sewage treatment, not a cheap fix. Help protect this beautiful ecosystem and add your name: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/gi...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Stop untreated sewage polluting the Isles of Scilly
South West Water plans to pump untreated sewage into one of the UK's most protected marine environments. Add your name to demand the highest standard of sewage treatment for the Isles of Scilly and he...
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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 28/08/2026
I don't have time to write properly about all this but I remain beyond frustrated that, from what I can see, literally no one seems interested in the basic Q of whether the mechanics of the 100% renewable mandate actually mandates 100% renewables or not. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
No special carve-out for states using fossil fuel to power datacentres, Chris Bowen insists, despite new conditions
Energy minister says states can apply to use coal and gas supply to power datacentres but must prove it is cheaper than renewables
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
'The DfE data shows a Plan 2 borrower with an average loan balance of £52,100 who earns the UK’s average annual salary of £39,039 would see their loan balance actually increase by £1,692 a year.' A quarter of graduates with average earnings a decade after their degree will pay their loan in full.
timeshighereducation.com
Graduates need to earn £63K to begin to reduce student debt
Just a quarter of those earning average UK salary 10 years after repayments kick in predicted to pay off their Plan 2 loans in full
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
What is so important to the ultra-rich that they must seize and destroy the world's resources, hold down wages and crush organised labour, capture politics to reduce the tax they pay, fund the far right to stifle democracy? Here's an answer. A Hermes Birkin 35 Diamond Bag. On sale for £449,555.68
Hermes Birkin 35 Diamond Blanc Himalaya Matte Crocodile Limited Edition Bag
£449,555.68
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Danielle Ryan (Lestat Era) @danirat.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I think another lesson to take from the loss of both Dolly and Tim Curry is that neither of them took themselves seriously but they took the work dead serious that's the most important thing pour all of yourself into the craft but have fun and don't get an ego.
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✨𝕊𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕒 - Teh-REDACT-all✨📎 @samiamnurnot.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
🚨Just a gentle reminder- Chapter 13 of Project 2025 spells out how they will create food insecurity by cutting safety nets and slashing regulations and restrictions on food production and safety inspections. Just in case anyone finds it interesting.
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richard mortimer @richardmortimer.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
This. This is fucking capitalism. When the shareholders of the firm that knowingly supplied the flammable cladding that sent 72 souls (18 children) up in a terrifying tower of flame got paid more compensation for 'financial loss' than the victims families for loss of life. Disgusting bastards.
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David Mead @seethingmead.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The arrest of a SERCO employee for misconduct in public office after they disclosed data - asylum seeker addresses in Thetford - is going to raise very interesting public law/s6 HRA questions about the public/private divide
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