Reposted by Richard 2018jackheathwriter 📚 @jackheathwriter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026I think about that ball machine every time someone brings up AI-generated music. Yes, the ball machine can do perfect pitch. No, sports fans do not want to watch it 0862
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Conviction would take too long now. He'd be constantly appealing to SCOTUS at every step. Impeachment just needs the votes from Congress. 020
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/08/2026You're forgetting to count all the unemployed children in the US… 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 07/08/2026It's not just FPTP. We've always had FPTP in the UK, yet now there are more parties than ever. Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, the Greens and Reform are all serious contenders for significant seats nationally, and until recently the SNP dominated in Scotland. 110
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 07/08/2026I'm old enough to remember when we were constantly reminded of how flu is and how infrequently we catch actually it. 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 02/08/2026I'm even more confused about how someone could graffiti the grass by dipping their hand in the reflecting pool 🤷 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 23/07/2026I went to a Church of England service last year. We were asked to pray for the people of Gaza, and for people affected by climate change. I guess Christianity is a bit different across the Atlantic. 110
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 19/07/2026I'm with Cartman on this one. Worth it every time. 010
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 01/07/2026I assume she's referring to this story: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... Which is about the local council in Oxfordshire. Not exactly all of Europe.theguardian.com‘Not a culture war’: the council that won its case over England flags on lamppostsLeader of local authority in Oxfordshire faces backlash over injunction ‘to maintain neutral, safe space for residents’ 000
Reposted by Richard 2018MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 18/06/2026Wikipedia now officially lists the result of the 2026 Iran War as an "Iranian victory" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Ir... 29764122331
Reposted by Richard 2018James Talarico @jamestalarico.bsky.social · 17/06/2026When we win, the first bill I’m filing is a comprehensive anti-corruption package: Overturn Citizens United Ban corporate PACs and super PACs Ban members of Congress from trading stocks Once we defeat the most corrupt politician in America, we can defeat this entire corrupt system. 1105334528387
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Wait, I thought men couldn't give birth? Michelle Obama has 2 children. I wish these people would make up their minds! 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 30/05/2026They're so obsessed with transgender people that they now have to invent transgender people who don't actually exist. 010
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 24/05/2026So what is the definition of a country under international law? The main definition that I'm aware of is that of the Montevideo Convention, under which Taiwan easily meets the criteria of a country. 000
Reposted by Richard 2018Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 22/05/2026EXCLUSIVE: Leaked video shows how employees are responding to Meta's mass layoffs Watch 🎥 8277126
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 16/05/2026It's even closer than that – Seattle to Taipei is 6,000 miles. Alaska is closer still. Weird of him to focus on 9,500 miles – that's the distance from Puerto Rico to Taiwan. 100
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 16/05/2026That's a admirable aspiration, but the reality right now is that Puerto Rico is entirely governed by the United States. In stark contrast to Taiwan and China. 110
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Puerto Rico is not a country. It's subject to US federal laws, it has no military other than the US military, and it's people are US citizens with US passports. 251
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/05/2026"nobody knows how to define it" Actually, everybody knows how to define it. It's a country. Just that few people have the balls to actually call it that. 1823
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/05/2026He would still get opposition from Taiwan. See Russia vs Ukraine for an idea of how that might work for China… 110
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/05/2026The other reason they won't declare independence – a very important one – is that *they are already independent*. 100
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/05/2026It's a good thing that the Taiwan issue remains unresolved. Because any "resolution" with China means denying Taiwan's very existence. 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/05/2026In what way is Taiwan not independent? They have a government that pays no respect any laws but its own, and which enjoys exclusive rule over a stable territory, populated by millions of citizens. It has its own military, border controls, currency and trade policy. How is that not independent? 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Just to note that Taiwan is *already* independent. It doesn't need encouragement, and has no need to declare independence again. 100
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 14/05/2026"... but on the other hand, freedom, democracy and people's lives are not very important." 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 14/05/2026Just to be clear, China does *not* need to take Taiwan. 010
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 14/05/2026I think the locals will put them straight on that one. 010
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 14/05/2026I think it's perhaps a good thing that CBS's correspondent will be surrounded by people with informed and enlightened opinions on Taiwan. 020
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Make sure to emphasise that Scotland *already* has PR for local elections. It just needs to be rolled out countrywide. 100
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 10/04/2026No they're not. That's the opposition leader talking Xin Jinping. She does not hold any office of government of any kind. In any case, what is there to negotiate? 🇹🇼 Taiwan is an independent country, and is determined to remain one. China won't accept that at all. 100
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 10/04/2026China has not moved on. It still refuses to accept that 🇹🇼 Taiwan is already an independent country. 200
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 24/01/2026To be clear, Netanyahu is not Israel's president – the president who met Starmer is Isaac Herzog. Your post is misleading. 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 09/01/2026"defending his life" By shooting the driver dead, he caused the car (now uncontrolled) to speed up and eventually crash. Make it make sense! 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 08/01/2026Notice how the car *speeds up* right when the first shot is fired. The ICE agent actually made it much *more* likely that he'd get run over, and the car becomes completely out of control. 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 07/01/2026Yeah, but name one positive contribution that Trump has made? 031
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 07/01/2026(Like seriously, the ban covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, but not Taiwan. It's almost as if Taiwan isn't part of China…) 010
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 07/01/2026"Beijing banned two Taiwanese ministers from entering China" Which is awkward given that China claims that where they live is part of China. 110
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 06/01/2026If this is the case, then the whole hemisphere should be allowed to vote in US elections. 110
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 05/01/2026Update: "Spain 'strongly condemns' violation of international law in Venezuela" www.reuters.com/world/americ...reuters.comSpain 'strongly condemns' violation of international law in Venezuela, PM saysSpain condemned what it called a violation of international law in Venezuela, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote in a letter sent to members of his Socialist Party on Sunday after U.S. President Donal... 010
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 05/01/2026The Korean war was at least worth fighting: it rescued South Korea from the awful dictatorship of North Korea, following North Korea's unilateral invasion of 1950. (It also had UN approval at the time.) 130
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 02/01/2026Any US soldiers in Taiwan/ROC were invited there by the Taiwanese government. No reason for them to leave. 100
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 02/01/2026It also misses the fact that China definitely does want Taiwan, and yet it hasn't managed to take it. 020
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 01/01/2026The US doesn't have any military bases in Taiwan... 100
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 01/01/2026If they really valued reunification over all else, that's clearly what they would do. 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 31/12/2025Because contrary to what Xi Jingping says, Taiwan is not the property of the People's Republic of China, and never has been. 120
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 30/12/2025In terms of armed forces though, Taiwan and China are much closer. Taiwan's total active and reserve forces have ~1.8 million personnel. China's have ~2.5 million. (According to Wikipedia) 000
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 24/12/2025Well, the Supreme Court ruled it legal for the president to commit crimes, so it's hard to say… 131
Richard 2018 @richard2018.bsky.social · 15/12/2025This comes shortly after Netanyahu's blaming of the Bondi Beach shooting on the recognition of the State of Palestine. Clearly Trump didn't want to be outdone. 020
