Sign in

Skerral

@snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social
155 followers 229 following 1.4K posts

Politics, science, economics, cross-Europe holidays by train and ferry, beer, bread, and regrettably life-altering Long Covid (4.5yrs, 9th April 2022). 🏡🌐🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Crieff/ Glasgow/ Bute

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Skerral
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
This summer: Thousands of deaths from extreme weather. This weekend in the media: What's the point of the Green Party? This morning from the Labour party 👇
Ministers preparing to slash heat pump subsidies to fund defence spending
751584582
Reposted by Skerral
Die Booth @diebooth.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Holy crap I did not notice this but yes and I will now never unsee it. Capitalism really ruining everything right across the board. www.youtube.com/shorts/Mi7dc...
youtube.com
The real reason movies are boring and lifeless now #film #movies #filmtok #television #acting
YouTube video by Treehouse Detective
10256105
Reposted by Skerral
Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This is it, isn't it? It's the assumption that Questions Are Being Asked is a force in politics in itself, and that only works when parties particularly care about the views of The People Asking the Questions.
316521
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Weird how I enjoy Origin Story, and find it fair and balanced, whilst disagreeing and being disappointed with almost every time Ian expresses a political opinion.
000
Reposted by Skerral
Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Labour once more attacking the vulnerable and already marginalized. Yes, more needs to be done to help young people, along with others, find employment, but not at expense of disabled people's lives. It's irrelevant someone's age if they need disability support 1/ www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Key disability benefit for young people may be axed under major welfare changes
Exclusive: Plan under discussion involves intensive support to help young people into employment
918180
Reposted by Skerral
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
“The Conservatives will win the next election” is one of those mathematical equations that we’ve all known is almost certainly right since November 2024, but “everything Kemi says or does” continually gives you a “maybe I should check my working again” feeling:
1316420
Reposted by Skerral
Isabella M. Weber @isabellamweber.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Remember Kalecki! Today's price spikes and the subsequent rise in employment will only fuel the far-right. 🌹 We must be bold and tackle insecurity with an economics of essentials.
24415
Reposted by Skerral
Rick @flipchartrick.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Though I still reckon there is a bit of room for manoeuvre here. If you cut employee NI and raised income tax by the same amount, most employees wouldn’t pay any more. When I tried it on the @theifs.bsky.social gizmo, I shifted 5p and got £15bn extra.
141
Reposted by Skerral
Rick @flipchartrick.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
In which @robertshrimsley.bsky.social puts into words that nagging feeling I’ve been having. www.ft.com/content/122a...
9217
Reposted by Skerral
Jon Douglas @atranscendedman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
University of Glasgow researchers, 9,312 Scottish adults. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Long COVID was reported by 4.9% with no activity limitation, 9.2% limited a little, and 14.4% limited a lot. The study shows a strong disability gradient, not which came first. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Severity of activity limitation and prevalence of long COVID: a nationally representative cross-sectional study of adults in Scotland - Tropical Medicine and Health
Background Long COVID is a persistent contributor to population morbidity, and people with disabilities experience substantial and often avoidable health disadvantage worldwide. Whether long COVID is ...
155
Reposted by Skerral
Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The fact that all the leading transphobes now also have beef with neurodivergence really tells you what they’re motivated by (clue: not feminism)
621132
Reposted by Skerral
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Here's today's column on the astonishing, ongoing mistreatment of people with #ME/CFS. Please spread it far and wide: the only thing which can break the media's wall of indifference is seeing an article about the issue go viral. Thank you. 1/2 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Abandoned, dismissed and gaslighted: there is no excuse for the way ME sufferers have been betrayed | George Monbiot
Changes in guidance and science seem to have little impact on millions of devastated lives. It’s a social crisis playing out behind closed doors, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
17925431732
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Enjoyed the new bake off. Like the bakers, like Nigella. Glad it's back. The new reaction show, though, Second Helpings... It's flat. What's this obsession with filming podcasts? It just makes for dull, don't watch TV. #gbbo
050
Reposted by Skerral
Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Nick Candy and Holly Valance. Britain’s most expensive house. A £265m sale. Usual consequence: £32m of stamp duty. But five small flats were included in the sale. By an extraordinary happy accident, that cut the tax by £18.5m. The curious sale of Nick Candy’s mansion A 🧵:
12414209
Reposted by Skerral
The Onion @theonion.com · 18/09/2026
Trans Teen Hatches Nefarious Plot To Undergo Years Of Medical Treatments And Counseling To Win At Swimming theonion.com/trans-teen-hatches-nef…
Trans Teen Hatches Nefarious Plot To Undergo Years Of Medical Treatments And Counseling To Win At Swimming
66129152820
Reposted by Skerral
Alistair Davidson @moh-kohn.eurosky.social · 15/09/2026
I don't think "I want to be able to talk about the 230 people seriously hurt and 2-3 killed by cyclists each year without anyone on social media bringing up the 28,000 seriously hurt and 1,500 killed by cars" is a demand that is ever likely to be met. (UK figures)
2103
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Increasingly of the view that there is no such thing as a British person, ex-NI. People are English or Welsh or Scottish even if they call themselves British. Britishness is a made-up thing, and an anachronism. There's no shared identity, any behaviour people call British is actually English.
210
Reposted by Skerral
MꙬse Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
A man in a face covering talks to another man who is looking disappointedly at a small box he is holding. Man 1 “What's that?”. Man 2 “Baklava. I misread the WhatsApp”
533843893
Reposted by Skerral
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 08/09/2026
Monty Don steps down from BBC’s Gardeners’ World after 23 years
theguardian.com
Monty Don steps down from BBC’s Gardeners’ World after 23 years
Final series to be hosted by the ‘utterly unique’ presenter will continue to be broadcast until later this year Monty Don, the longest serving head gardener on the BBC’s Gardeners’ World programme, will step down at the end of the current series. After 23 years leading the show, which he has hosted from his own garden in Herefordshire since 2011, Don said it was “the right time for a change”. He will continue working with the BBC on other programmes, as well as pursuing his own projects, such as writing books. Continue reading...
116913
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
In Stirling station, destination Montenegro. #trains
010
Reposted by Skerral
Andrew Curry @andrewcurry.com · 11/08/2026
The man's skeletal injuries looked like a train hit him, but he died in 1304 CE. At #ppa26Berlin last week, @uniofbradford.bsky.social scientist Jo Buckberry concluded he was likely whacked by a flying boulder, making him the first confirmed trebuchet death in the archaeological record. @science.org
science.org
Shattered skeleton in Scottish castle is first confirmed death from trebuchet
“Devastation” across body of 14th century warrior indicates horrific demise from flying boulder
982954927
Reposted by Skerral
Conor Browne @brownecfm.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
'Furthermore, vaccinated and subsequently challenged cohorts failed to transmit the virus to naïve animals, demonstrating a *complete block of onward transmission*'. * my emphasis. Extraordinarily promising research. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
A single-dose amber codon carrying live attenuated vaccine elicits pan-sarbecovirus immunity and blocks SARS-CoV-2 transmission - npj Vaccines
npj Vaccines - A single-dose amber codon carrying live attenuated vaccine elicits pan-sarbecovirus immunity and blocks SARS-CoV-2 transmission
514057
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Interesting. Sounds like AI is automating and liberating consultancy and legal advice for the masses. In theory a great thing, good advice no longer only available to the well-off, but in practice it'll will gum up adminstrative systems that society is run by. So those systems will need to change
000
Reposted by Skerral
James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Appreciate this is 'make it make sense' howling into the void, but the failure (with some exceptions) of government, politicians, media, and business to point at the heatwaves and fires and state 'this is why climate action matters' is a serious problem. www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/45...
businessgreen.com
Summertime silence
The right of British politics has stepped up its attacks on climate action in recent weeks, so why has the rest of the political spectrum largely failed to seize the 'teachable moment' presented by cr...
913244
Reposted by Skerral
Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 04/08/2026
saying this not as a dig to Paul but as a general point, but it does worry me that we've ended up in a world where the two options are seemingly "leftist bubble" or "oh hey the nazis are here" - surely we should be able to have a politically heterogenous platform with tight rules on hate speech etc?
941207133
Reposted by Skerral
flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Partygate: (verb) Sudden, very public recognition that a senior politician is a tedious crook who behaves horrendously, and the creation of a national outrage to hound him from office, intended to prevent him further embarrassing and inconveniencing his previously cooperative media allies.
1559
Reposted by Skerral
flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
You can use “to Watergate” as a verb, to describe process of a scandal when government officials are caught committing crimes. In that sense, I would say that Farage is instead getting Partygate: it’s been agreed that he is now surplus to requirements, so his horrendous behaviour is being noticed.
2529
Reposted by Skerral
Met Office - weather and climate @metoffice.gov.uk · 03/08/2026
July 2026 was an exceptional month for the UK's climate statistics, with records challenged or broken for rainfall, temperature and sunshine. Read more in our press release ⤵️ www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
Met Office graphic with the text “July’s weather was…” alongside an illustration of a three-scoop ice cream cone, introducing a summary of July weather statistics.Graphic titled “Dry”. Text states: “Driest July on record for England and Wales” and “Southern England’s driest month ever recorded.”Graphic titled “Sunny”. Text states: “UK’s sunniest July on record” and “Sunniest month ever recorded for England and Wales.”Graphic titled “Hot”. Text states: “Southern England’s warmest July on record”, “UK’s 2nd warmest” and “Wales’s joint warmest.”
67442
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
That Sandi Thom song is awful. Did AI write it?
000
Reposted by Skerral
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 02/08/2026
Devolution plans strengthen case for written UK constitution, says Burnham
theguardian.com
Devolution plans strengthen case for written UK constitution, says Burnham
PM argues for codified model of decentralisation that would fundamentally change centuries-old workings of state Andy Burnham has said his programme of devolution strengthens the case for a written constitution for the UK, a move that would fundamentally alter the workings of the state that have developed over centuries. The prime minister has long believed the UK’s “antiquated” political system needs a dramatic overhaul if opportunity is to be shared equally across the country. Continue reading...
277123
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
A deeply odd thread, suggesting abuse was widespread in the schools the people replying went to. Maybe it was, but maybe it was only certain types of schools. /
100
Reposted by Skerral
Euronews @euronews.com · 01/08/2026
Record-low water levels have exposed the bones of a large mammoth in the riverbed near the village of Ryahovo in Bulgaria. Experts believe it is a woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius).
l.euronews.com
Danube dries in heat: skeleton of giant mammoth uncovered in Bulgaria
Record-low water levels have exposed the bones of a large mammoth in the riverbed near the village of Ryahovo in Bulgaria. Experts believe it is a woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius).
04416
Reposted by Skerral
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
This would be a very good move. I'm a recent convert to mandatory voting and increasingly messianic about it open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...
102951234
Reposted by Skerral
Patrick Harvie @patrickharvie.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Burnham says he'll end 40 years of neoliberalism and undo the damage of the 1980s... ...and we're asked to believe that the Chancellor who'll do it is a 'class of 97' New Labour figure who 6 weeks ago demanded more cuts to public services to pay for the military. I have my doubts.
414460
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Interesting as a non-American. The most common replies seem to be : Ohio, Indiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, Connecticut and South Carolina. That's a top 9, one more for a top 10. Either South Dakota or Nebraska. A few others get mentioned, but most don't get mentioned at all.
000
Reposted by Skerral
EdinburghMinute.com @edinburghminute.com · 20/07/2026
1am update: Photo of the fire on the Crags in Edinburgh by Minute subscriber Adam Johnston.
110370
Reposted by Skerral
Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 18/07/2026
Really enjoyed this article in defence of meritocracy as.ft.com/r/5afd25c1-e...
715832
Skerral @snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Is anyone keeping a tally? Good ideas v obvious mistakes.
000
Reposted by Skerral
The War on Cars @thewaroncars.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Nobody disputes that having access to a car in a car-dominated society is good. It gives one access to jobs, healthcare, food, education, social opportunities and more. All we're asking is for people to go one step deeper and ask why access to such basic rights requires buying and operating a car.
472899580
Reposted by Skerral
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 15/07/2026
Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s popular defence minister
theguardian.com
Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s popular defence minister
Mykhailo Fedorov, credited with transforming the ministry, ousted in reshuffle after six months in post Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Ukraine’s popular defence minister, despite pleas from foreign partners and civil society for him to keep his job, as part of wide-ranging government reshuffle. In a post on Telegram Mykhailo Fedorov announced that he was leaving his position, saying it had been a “great honour” to serve the Ukrainian people. He was widely credited with transforming the defence ministry and reducing corruption. Continue reading...
52511
Reposted by Skerral
NOELREPORTS @noelreports.com · 15/07/2026
Quite shocked by Zelensky’s decision. Fedorov’s removal feels like Ukraine just threw away one of the few reforms that was visibly working. He expanded drones, tightened procurement, challenged corruption, and pushed deep strikes. Replacing him now, with no clear public case, is a terrible look.
3856076
Reposted by Skerral
Jared Wade @jaredwade.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
England up 1 deciding to sit back and do nothing with 9 in the box for a half hour against Argentina in the World Cup
272993597
Reposted by Skerral
Oldfirmfacts @oldfirmfacts.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
By now, you should’ve somehow realised what you’re not to do
58522
Reposted by Skerral
𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔫𝔢𝔱𝔰 🧲 @magnets.eurosky.social · 15/07/2026
starmer putting off resigning so now he has to go and watch argentina versus spain in the world cup final is, you have to say, one of the funniest things to ever happen
1027963
Reposted by Skerral
Rosie (she/her) @airfriedrosie.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Remember Streeting's review into whether young people are being overdiagnosed with ADHD, autism, and mental health issues? Well, the interim report is out, and there's a reason the media are silent on it (spoiler: it proves what a lot of us have been saying all along)
In others, notably ADHD and autism, rising diagnoses and referrals appear to exceed changes in underlying epidemiological prevalence and are likely to reflect a combination of:

improved recognition
changing help-seeking behaviour
institutional incentives
pressures within existing service pathways
Across both ADHD and autism, best currently available population-based estimates remain relatively stable, while administrative diagnoses, self-identification and recorded service demand have increased substantially. In autism, the evidence also points to particularly rapid growth in identified need within educational systems, including increasing identification among girls and among young people without learning disability.These patterns suggest that rising demand is not simply the result of increasing prevalence, but of several processes operating simultaneously, including:

real increases in distress in some groups
improved recognition of previously unmet need
changing expectations about support
systems that frequently rely on formal diagnosis as the primary route to assistance
Across the system, support is too often accessed through pathways that are slow, fragmented and heavily dependent on diagnostic categorisation. While diagnosis remains essential for some forms of clinical decision-making, the evidence suggests that current arrangements do not always provide the most effective or efficient way of identifying and responding to need. In particular, where access to support depends heavily on formal diagnosis, demand for diagnostic assessment can increase more rapidly than systems are able to respond, generating long waiting times, duplication of assessment and pressure on specialist services.

The next phase of the review will therefore focus on clarifying the relationship between distress, diagnosis and need, and on examining how systems might respond more effectively to these patterns. A central objective will be to identify opportunities for developing more coherent, evidence-informed care pathways that enable support to be provided earlier and more proportionately, while ensuring that specialist services are available in a timely and appropriate manner for those whose needs are most complex.
3729481267
Reposted by Skerral
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Same with Haaland's push/Anderson's dive that took away the tying Norway goal. It's not that any of these VAR calls, in a vacuum, are wrong. It's that there are <dozens of similar things> that are left uncalled & the bias always tilts toward the higher-ranked team, especially when that team is 🇦🇷
2444466
Reposted by Skerral
Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 10/07/2026
NEW: Eight facts about air conditioning amid an overheated global debate KEY FACT: Many European cities, on the world's fastest-warming continent, never needed AC in the past For some strange reason – I can't imagine why – many commentators prefer to ignore this
12285126
Reposted by Skerral
Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
On my way, Clacton.
576152733460
Reposted by Skerral
Kieran Hurley @kieranhurley.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Americans excusing Balogun-gate on the basis the on-field call was wrong, rather than missing the point, are merely enacting a deep cultural conviction that ends always justify means when serving their interests, brought on by sustained propaganda in support of imperial foreign policy. In this essay
15714
Reposted by Skerral
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Sprawl car dependent development. Not building (on/with) places. Not thinking about how people (want to) live at all. The antithesis of town and place. BBC News - Where's our doctor, dentist, new school? The sprawling Glasgow suburb lacking basic amenities - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Where's our doctor, dentist, new school? The sprawling Glasgow suburb lacking basic amenities
About 2,000 new homes are currently being built in Robroyston, but residents say no amenities are being provided alongside them.
1174