iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Well of course he fecking did. Trump is not only Putin's poodle, the Orange Felon is now directly and overtly using American $ to fund Putin's murder of Ukrainians to try to get his own ass out of the unlawful and unwarranted fire he lit in Iran.

The Guardian 09/10/26: Trump says he struck a deal with Putin for Russia to sell diesel to US, weeks after signing Russia sanction law.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

ICE uniforms, just waiting for their badges and guns and impunity from prosecution.

Demonstrators wearing all black and balaclavas blocking Dover's roads, UK, 06/09/26

ICE officials, wearing black and balaclavas, Minneapolis.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Bloody hope not. That Reform plan to "declare a 'national emergency' on day one in power, not letting judges or officials 'get in our way'", ie impose a fascist state immediately, makes it even more imperative that they don't get anywhere near.

Guardian 04/09/26: "Reform says it would declare 'national emergency' on day one in power, not letting judges or officials 'get in our way'".

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Ah, Reform UK's wannabe ICE having a practice run. Wankers.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

If you need just one reason not to vote Reform, this is it. 👉 "Reform UK says it would declare 'national emergency' on day one in power, not letting judges or officials 'get in our way'." see feed @11.16 BST – UK politics live www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Reform UK says it would declare 'national emergency' on day one in power, not letting judges or officials 'get in our way'
Guardian: The Reform UK undercover investigation has wiped out coverage of the overnight announcement from Nigel Farage about how the party will introduce a “national emergency” if it takes power.

Farage will say that “if the Lords, judiciary or civil service get in our way they will discover just how determined we are” and will commit to doing “anything and everything to make the first 100 days work”.
Guardian: While “national emergency” makes a good headline, it is hard from this to gauge what it actually means. It could be largely rhetoric; or it could be anything up to martial law.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I had to laugh reading your posts on this theme this afternoon, while sitting in a cottage on the Isle of Lewis with a pot of tea, a plate of scones, and a good book, with the wind howling its socks off outside. Shame it's the last day of my holiday, but spooky...

The green moors of Eileen Chalium Chille (Isle of St Colm) at Cromore, Isle of Lewis, across the horizon and rising to the right. The causeway is invisible beneath the incoming tide from the foreground to the right, and the seaweed covered rocks of the Lewis side of the crossing are to the left foreground.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Trump posted this image on his TS before deleting it. There are no words 😳 www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Trump's Truth Social post image depicting himself as Jesus.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Just sharing this photo I took in a neighbour's garden a few years back 😸

Cat curled up inside roofed bird table with eyes open awaiting unsuspecting feathered arrivals...

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Meanwhile, this week's #EscapePlan: a morning in bed reading The Big Steal, the latest fabulous book by the fabulous #CiamhMcDonnell.

Photo of book The Big Steal by Ciamh McDonnell lying on a cream quilt with a cup of coffee held at the side.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

THIS is Reform: ‘Handmaid’s Tale future’: Reform’s Matt Goodwin sparks outcry with fertility comments www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Image from The Handmaid's Tale: several women wearing red cloaks, red face coverings, and white cowl bonnets.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Loving my @nethertonfoundry wok, hand-made using traditional methods and locally-sourced materials close to where my old cast-iron trivet commemorating the first Iron Bridge built at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, UK, completed 1779, was also made! I knew that old trivet was waiting for something....

@NethertonFoundry wok hand-made using traditional methods and locally-sourced materials close to where my old cast-iron trivet commemorating the first Iron Bridge built at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, UK, completed 1779, was also made.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Well, if you're going to be laid up for a while with a fracture, you couldn't pick a better week to start (and have the time for a whole series re-read ❤️) as the perfect lead-in to enjoying the new #SlowHorses novel #mickherron : on to #LondonRules already ❤️

Latest Mick Herron Slow Horses book 'Clown Town' pictured alongside 4 of the preceding novels in the series.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

A happy little something (well, lots of little somethings) to brighten my day. I saved a Garden Spider last summer who was about to be inadvertently squished, and popped her in a good alternative spot in the garden where she made a huge web and thrived. Now look what she's left for us all:

Dozens of newly-hatched Garden Spiders (Araneus diadematus) sunning themselves and awaiting a good breeze in preparation for leaving the nest.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

#meanwhile one of the great pleasures in life: receiving your latest order of the incredibly, amazingly, fragrant and delicious herbs and spices from @seasonedpioneers.bsky.social . Not only guaranteed #glutenfree but really blooming marvelous!

Array of various gluten free spices and herbs from Seasoned Pioneers, just unpacked and lined up for deciding which to use first!

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

#HappyMother'sDay to my mum, who I still miss. (1/) We had a challenging relationship ("You could be so pretty if you made an effort/wore a dress/had your hair done" being fairly typical refrains) but she fought to keep myself and my brother...

Small curly-haired child with her mother in a garden, 1960s.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

#meanwhile Sunday morning and Mother's Day - I've been saving this one especially as words really are my one true love: Guilty by Definition @susiedent.com, and, so far, every bit as good as I was hoping ...

Book 'Guilty by Definition' by Susie Dent lying on a bed, suggesting a lounging morning reading a good book for pleasure.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Remembering a beautiful soul 💜 who would have celebrated his birthday today, and determined to fight for other young people struggling with mental health, not least against failing MH Services and an awful disability benefits system looking to cause other beautiful souls even more anguish.

Stickle Tarn and Pavey Ark in the Langdales, Cumbria.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

A leisurely paddle on Coniston Water in the "Mad Mango" today. Bliss.

View down Coniston Water from a kayak; still water perfectly reflecting the clouds and peeps of blue sky.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

And said hello to several fab trees along the way.

Tall pine or fir tree with a long bare trunk and a lot of top growth.

Very blasted old tree which has lost its top half (which is lying down to the tree's left) and looks like an Ent.

Tall pine tree with huge roots growing either side of a large slate boulder.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Another Grand Day Out in Cumbria, walking a long clockwise "loop" from Skelwith to Knipe Fold to Tarn Hows to Oxen Fell to High Park to Skelwith Force (not so much of the force today) then up Spy Glass Hill (not sure if it's actually called that but cracking view of the Langdales from the top).

Spanning across left to right: Wetherlam, I think Crinkle Crags, Pike o' Blisco, and Bow Fell.

Small pool leading in to the tarn at Tarn Hows.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Resist. Buy lots of copies of banned books to share.

Front cover of Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451'

Front cover of Markus Zusak's 'The Book Thief'.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Grand walk over Loughrigg Fell today.

Craggy view of Loughrigg Fell above Lake Windermere, with blue sky and white clouds.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Not a Democrat blue-wish but ongoing 🟠🤡👹 plans: Trump dreams of a Maga empire – but he’s more likely to leave us a nuclear hellscape | Alexander Hurst www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Screenshot from "End Wokeness" X account showing map of US as also owning Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and a multitude of other islands and archipelagos in the Western Hemisphere.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Oh US citizens, if you please, do not let the Orange Onceler moron anywhere near your trees!

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

#meanwhile Happy World Book Day! 📚 What book are you currently reading (when you can tear your eyes away from the news and Bluesky)? I'm re-reading Mick Herron's entire and utterly fantastic Slough House series, currently on "The Secret Hours".

Front cover shot of Mick Herron's Slough House book "The Secret Hours", showing two figures in silhouette meeting on a rainy bridge.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Well, you're not giving the whole of Europe any other choice. Vanker.

Quotes from Vance following on from his disrespectful comments about Europe's ability to help Ukraine after the US withdraw military support.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Man looks relieved to be meeting sane contemporary, unlikely to rage and shout incoherent lies into his face at the drop of a hat whilst holding him and his country to ransom. (And thanks for giving him the promised hug, Keir. My god, I bet he needed that.) 💙🇺🇦💛

A smiling President Zelenskyy of Ukraine being hugged by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Pic courtesy BBC News.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Good to stay grounded with a stilled moment every day: here's today's little moment of beauty. Night all.

Clump of open snowdrops close to camera, with sunlight shining through the petals and the woodlands blurred in the background.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Cheered meself up no end with a lie-in on my day off to finish reading the excellent C. K. McDonnell's @caimhmc.bsky.social latest #StrangerTimes offering 'Relight My Fire'. Grand.

Front cover of C. K. McDonnell's book ' Relight My Fire' and a coffee mug with a quote by Michael Moore that Librarians are subversive, plotting the revolution while "sitting at their desk, all quiet and everything".

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Thought I might revisit the snowdrops just coming out in my garden.

Snowdrops just opening in a garden, end of January.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Inspired by all the lovely pics of Gulf of Mexico sharing around the Blue Sky today. Anyone got some great pics of Mount Denali to share? Lovely wintery pic of Mount Denali here (from Wikipedia)

Snowy peaks and blue sky peering around low cloud covering part of Mount Denali, Alaska. Pic courtesy Wikipedia.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Well, that was a Grand Day out on Longridge Fell 🤍

3 sets of boots in snow while the wearers are stretched out enjoying the snowy view.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Epic fail trying to get the tree outside without losing the rest of the needles ... 😂 🎄

Christmas tree decorated with silver tinsel, red and silver baubles, and cool white fairy lights.

Christmas tree without decorations in process of being wrapped in a sheet to carry outside.

Millions of pine needles in a long trail across the floor.

Vary bare and sad-looking post-Christmas tree out in the garden.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

In 2007, we locals successfully opposed a river barrage & 4,000 homes proposal on floodplain save-the-ribble.blogspot.com/2007/12/ribb... See pics below from yesterday: the entire area is regularly underwater; & see my "reply" follow-on post below for why any little thing we can do is so important:

Extensive flooding across fields alongside the River Ribble in Walton le Dale, Penwortham, and Preston in Lancashire on 1st January 2025. ©️jbrunning.

Flooded fields between the Rivers Darwen and Ribble in Lancashire on 1st January 2025. ©️jbrunning

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

New Year tidying some bookshelves and wondering, yet again, how certain people can't cheer us all up by keeping even his smallest promises... @ledbydonkeys.org

2017 quote from Farage promising to leave Britain if Brexit is a disaster, put on a poster and the front cover of their first book by #LedByDonkeys

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

For us not (yet) vegans, a small but significant way to reduce fossil-fuel distribution there & back again across the country, do good for local producers & improve on supermarket "pay" rates, reuse rather than recycle glass, & create less plastic - & a welcome sight on a dark morning: doorstep milk

Three pints of milk and 1 pint of orange juice, and a box of eggs.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Up! We couldn't decide on midwintery or party, so went with both 🎄

Christmas tree decorated with wintery white lights and silvers white, and red baubles.

Christmas tree decorated with multicoloured lights and baubles.

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BabelBrunning @ribblebabel.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

I think you mean he confuses it with this.

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