New Mandelson files being published today

I love border collies as much as the next person but Bluesky I don't need to see an announcement from every single owner of one when it "crosses the rainbow bridge"

This but addressed to women!

Good morning lovely people! Let’s start the day with beautiful flowers and take it from there! A happy, peaceful, kindly day to you!

16 years old!

One of the most interesting things I read this week was a paper on how the mountains of state media published to the internet went into the sausage machine of generative AI training data and how it affects what comes out the other end. TLDR your AI chatbot may be quietly laundering state propaganda.

A video analysis of the difference between dog joining cat and cat joining the dog. Original post

I could watch this on repeat all day

British friends, please read this! And pass it on! bylinetimes.com/2026/05/08/r...

A really tough week. I am doing everything I can to spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. You can help me by subscribing to Democracy Docket for free and sharing its content with everyone you know. Thanks. bit.ly/4qmEiFz

Speechless

Keeping track of developments in the conflict with Iran. crisisandstrategy.substack.com/p/iran-war-d...

Hey everyone, I’m trying out regular posts about the Iran War. I’d really appreciate it if you gave it a try. 😊

45 seconds of Zen: Kettle River Canyon, yesterday.

Putin says Спасибо 🙏

Sorry, Bungalo, but that's too much. You need to dial it down a bit. That level of cuteness is almost kitsch, it's just crazy.

What are we doing? www.nytimes.com/2026/04/25/n...

Taviton brook near Whitchurch Down today, lovely to see the wild yellow flag irises out, #Dartmoor, #Devon. #photography

When I was a kid I thought this was the ideal man.

My dad's picture of the oak buds showing green finally today

flipping through a proof of yet another book from a somewhat well known liberal voice diagnosing “where the left went wrong” and i’m struck, again, by the fact that a large part (if not most) of the liberal commentariat simply does not believe that the political right has agency.

My most liberal idpol radlib take is that I think it's pretty bad that right wing forces are actively intervening on behalf of the Klan with the full weight of the state legal apparatus

Sunrise, Saturday, 18 April, from Makorori Headlands, Aotearoa / New Zealand. The low rumble is waves rolling beach rocks. 😊 Ata mārie / Good Morning ☀️

A mesmerizing sight on Florida's coast, eagle rays surf the waves in groups, conserving energy while hunting for food in shallow waters. Nature's beauty in motion awaits you.

The pear tree that @hellokerry.bsky.social and I bought for our dad @picsbymydad.bsky.social finally flowered! This is his picture. I love it.

A less than regular visitor came by this afternoon, a male Costa’s hummingbird with that amazing purple gorget! Also some nice squeaks and wing hums. #birds #BirdBuddy cam

It's not just that Orbán losing inspires hope in other competitive-autocratic countries ruled by right-wing nationalist authoritarians. It's that his loss materially changes things in those other countries, because he's been operating as a headquarters and funding source...

🚨🚨MAJOR BREAKING: Opposition leader Péter Magyar WINS the election for prime minister of Hungary, defeating Putin and Trump’s ally Viktor Orbán. 🇭🇺

Tulip Falls.

I'm assuming they'll put a big gold Trump Logo on it that's visible from earth. www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

I hope this work-around is effective! A model for other states...

This is terribly sad news. Doug Allan, the photographer for many of David Attenborough’s wonderful series has died while trekking in Nepal of altitude sickness. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/a...

Beautiful

Happy 50th anniversary to “All the President’s Men” — a film that owes its existence to Redford, who bought the film rights, developed the script and cajoled a reluctant Woodward & Bernstein. I thought it was “a great character study,” he said later. But, for months, “they didn’t return my calls.”

Common loons call out in the morning quiet: 🔊 #AGoodPlace Source: www.reddit.com/r/NatureIsFu...

BREAKING: JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE LEADERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, ITALY, GERMANY, CANADA, DENMARK, NETHERLANDS, SPAIN, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND JAPAN.

Also, it’s Igor Danchenko

🧵It's strange to read a paper on false narratives that's perpetuating a false narrative. On the Steele dossier pee tape they say "many other claims in the Steele dossier have been proven false, and Ivan Danchenko, the primary source for the “pee tape” story, was arrested for lying to the FBI."

This waterfall is on the back of my property. A 15 second palate cleanser...

Have a good Monday everybody

a few seconds of raging river to get you started on the week ahead. you've got this!

He never became a professional artist, even though it's what he loves. He's color-blind and couldn't go to art school back then. This is the first time more than a handful of people have seen his drawings. My sister asked him about why he draws.

A lovely little colony of Capillary Threadmoss (Bryum capillare). On our Village Hall garden wall, Devon. tinyurl.com/bryum-capill... #moss #bryophyte

I'd like everyone who liked and shared and commented on this post to know my dad is astonished and very very touched. He's read every comment and wanted to thank all of you. What a beautiful thing to happen! He's called Robin Shaw and I'll post more of his pictures on @picsbymydad.bsky.social

Stumbled upon this waterfall while hiking around Sooke potholes

movie about all the world's nations working together to stave off an environmental apocalypse succeeds by completely avoiding politics

My 91 year old dad's latest drawing of the garden. I'm so proud.