Even the Murdoch-owned, climate-sceptic Australian newspaper gets what's happening: "Renewables are cheap, domestic and they cannot be blockaded. China also sees an industrial advantage. It manufactures 80% of the world’s solar panels and dominates battery production." archive.ph/fkweS#select...

China's Xinhua news agency has just published this editorial cartoon in response to Trump's rejection of climate policies. It is pretty clear that China views this as a HUGE geopolitical fumble by the US leaving the field clear for China's to win the global race to clean-tech hegemony

I think I will be using my Substack for only one thing... To inform people about the strategic abuse of writers like Tolkien for neo-fascist ends - to change the narrative to a pro-extremist-right stance. These two quotes by JRRT were abused by one of the most dangerous groups - only months ago.

What's happening here is that too often the judiciary infantilises trans people - it does not listen hard enough to what they say is the reality of their existence. That has to change if trans people are to enjoy protection under the law - my personal take on where the UK judiciary is going wrong.

Here are our FAQs on what the High Court's judgment means. goodlawproject.org/resource/faq...

This is our news read out: "Service providers may lawfully allow trans women to use women’s facilities without being forced to open them to cis men" and "the EHRC’s exclusionary draft Code of Practice does not accurately reflect the law and the Minister will have to send it back to be rewritten."

Let's take a moment to talk about the hidden misogyny in all this. Here we see the Daily Telegraph in its natural state, printing things it knows to be untrue, a practice commonly known as lying. There is more to this particular lie than it might seem. It's not only a lie about trans people.

Ok this is WILD 🏺 paging my repatriation community peeps www.Bloomberg.com/news/article...

Two years ago, the #DarwinDayLecture was given by @lemoustier.bsky.social. It tackled one of the BIGGEST questions in evolution – when do humans become ‘human’ Chaired by @profaliceroberts.bsky.social. It's always cool to learn neat facts about Neanderthals! www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVuL...

Hi I’m Abby, I’m writing historical fantasy, and my favorite treat is chocolate (most types). #SFFChat

Happy 70th Birthday to Peter Hook of #JoyDivision, #NewOrder and #PeterHookandTheLight

The Manchester United owner has apologised for saying immigrants have colonised the UK, but says it needs discussing. Okay then, Jim. Let's do that: FREE POST: open.substack.com/pub/fleetstr...

Electric vehicle batteries are typically retired once they reach about 80 per cent of their original capacity, but they could be repurposed in electricity grids to balance out slumps in renewable generation

Exploring narratives which I do not want to experience but recognize that others have likely traveled through. I find I am a better person when I can empathetically related to others feelings and experiences. Orphaned 48" x 36" Oil on Panel 2010

#ReformUK free speech warriors are busy

They're all in the grift shop. 🐢💨

Hard to believe that none of the Reform MPs turned up for the debate on Russian interference in our politics. Maybe they were visiting their former Kremlin talking points Welsh leader Nathan Gill in prison? Or en route to their next BBC interview to act as commentators on why Starmer should go?

“I had also been diagnosed with psychotic post-natal depression and it was so hard to make sense of things. I am so angry that [@DailyMail publisher] Associated did this to me thought it was okay to profit from someone going through so much pain.” Sadie Frost in #MailTrial tinyurl.com/yfypnb4c

My place of work for the next 6 months at least - the University of Liverpool where a team of volunteers are combing through the biggest declassification of atomic secrets in British history.

Even in this grey February, our drifts of snowdrops are are a welcome sign of Spring approaching. Our season for tours begins on 1 March, but our grounds are always open, so do come for a walk to enjoy this glorious sight.

Today is Plimsoll Day, an annual celebration of the life of social reformer and MP Samuel Plimsoll (born 1824), and his radical campaign to improve ship safety and protect seafarers' lives. (1/6)

The Phial of Galadriel 11" x 14" Watercolor Pencil and Chalk on Toned Paper Working on a commission of Sam and Frodo last month and tackled this moment in their confrontation with Shelob, Rotated the view point into Shelob's space, seeing what it feels like to have nasty hobbits' burn your eyes 🙂

Another edition of the Roving Ranger has just been sent to its subscribers. Including: German TS fighting the New Right; Oxonmoot open; Lure happening; Forodrim 54; A Light in the Darkness; a tide of ill; Tolkien doesn't like the plate; his macaroni; and more... steady.page/en/thetolkie...

Last week - the PM scolded the opposition at PMQs for daring to question the Cabinet Secretary. This week - the PM sacked the Cabinet Secretary.

NEW Three reasons why the Mandelson disclosure exercise will be a shock for the government Ministers and officials usually are in control of disclosure exercises - but here they will not be - and why that matters A detailed post by me: emptycity.substack.com/p/three-reas...

One of the first oil paintings from the Earth & Sea series, and likely one of the most popular. Thank you to models Grant Newton and my daughter Naomi for making this a successful painting! Progeny 36" x 60" Oil on Panel 2009 private collection

How is Tuesday going for you? These folk found in MS. B.2.25 have been waiting for a tea break since the 14th century. mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

Good to see Lewis Goodall at least addressing this, a thing nobody else I’ve seen has had a go at.

Trying to explain the half-assedness of eighteenth-century ancien regime French censorship by noting that sure, there was technically censorship, but there was also a brisk market in manuals of Satanic ritual magic.

Yes. This is why you should beware of people who speak of the lessons or verdict of history as if future students of evil will always judge it harshly rather than glorify and aspire to it. If history teaches anything it is that history will not conform to your pleasant delusions at some later date.

Meet the 1591 cat man. I am counting 7 cats on and near him. #catcontent

The use of public money to fund the ritual genital cutting of children is entirely inappropriate. Our human rights lead is quoted on why the Scottish Government must heed the calls for reform coming from within the NHS itself👇 www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow...

"Advancement of religion has been recognised as a charitable purpose for centuries. But this head of charity now seems archaic." mentioned in this latest piece from Prof. Russell Sandberg on why charity law must be urgently reformed👇 sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/02/09/r...

How your email finds me

Latest piece, in which I’m trying to puzzle out Tolkien’s strange little reference in a draft of “On Fairy-stories” to a plate his daughter Priscilla had been given. Featuring fairies and other insectoid beings! dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/why-did-to... @tolkiensociety.org @uofgfantasy.bsky.social

"By tackling [housing costs] through comprehensive action, the government can make our country affordable again for everyone." Read my article for @bigissue.com on why the government should prioritise making housing - and the private rented sector - affordable. www.bigissue.com/opinion/priv...

My graphic novel MOONCOP will be out in paperback from @DandQ in the autumn. Details here: www.drawnandquarterly.com/books/mooncop-paperback/

Steve is wondering if anyone saw that...

And here is my story: ‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...

"The British Olympic Association... is understood to be relaxed that Kenworthy has given a personal opinion on a subject that sits outside the Games." www.thetimes.com/sport/winter...

Someone just finished writing a novel. Spoiler: It was me. It's called "Monsters of Ohio," it's my 20th novel, and it'll be out in November. I hope you'll like it. I'm very tired.

I didn't have TikTok on my phone when it was Chinese spyware, I'm not going to have it on my phone when it is US spyware

Britain's most violent prisoner Charles Bronson has urged the country to vote Reform UK

For #SuperbOwl Sunday, a thread of superb owls by artist Morris Graves. First up: Morris Graves, "Owl on a Stone," 1968

I was really excited to share this image of a particularly superb owl, given that today is #superbowl Sunday, but unfortunately, it soared away with its bedtime snack before I could get the photo...

The most #SuperbOwl of them all, Flaco. Fly high, beautiful boy. ❤️🪽

This superb owl is courtesy of the National Diet Library of Japan. It’s a Blakiston’s fish-owl, the largest owl native to Japan. Painter: HATTORI Sessai in Kinka kin Fu (Pictures of Birds by Ito Keisuke), 1872, compiler: ITO Keisuke. vol.11 <寄別11-10> #SuperbOwl

Happy superb owl Sunday 🏈🦉 #SuperbOwl

Happy #SuperbOwl Sunday!

Great Horned Owl 🪶 #SuperbOwl