This is absolutely fascinating. Consider your assumptions well and truly challenged... mine were.

Suw@suw.bsky.social · 3d ago

Crops grown underneath solar panels produce more, require less water and are more resistant to extreme weather, even during a hot, dry summer. We need agrivoltaics to be rolled out asap, for both the electricity and the better growing conditions. microgridmedia.com/solar-panels...

John Crace, @mrjohncrace.bsky.social, in @theguardian.com is always excellent but this one is purest gold... www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Even GB News cringes as Reform turns dementia patients into a political football | John Crace

Honest Bob was rattled at the idea of joining cross-party talks on social care. Why bother behaving as a serious opposition?

theguardian.com

I absolutely do not need any more books for my holiday TBR pile. So you'll all be pleased to hear I only bought another three. #books

This was such a fun night. Thank you to everyone who came along to listen. And remember... order a copy of The Iron Code, edited by the magnificent Ian Whates, and published by NewCon Press. It's out on 28th July. The list of contributors is amazing.

Ben Adam Sohawon@bensohawon.bsky.social · 3w ago

Panel discussing David Gemmell & his work, with Ian Wates: @worrad.bsky.social @barculator.bsky.social @julietemckenna.bsky.social @karisperring.bsky.social @gavingsmith.bsky.social Stephen Deas @mikecarey.bsky.social #BookSky @srfantasyclub.bsky.social @allgoodbookshop.co.uk

I am attending, along with other fine folk, to talk a bit about this excellent anthology... 14th July. SRFC, I've been away too long.

Super Relaxed Fantasy Club@srfantasyclub.bsky.social · 2mo ago

SRFC is back on 14th July, and we're very pleased to be hosting the launch The Iron Code - short stories in honour of David Gemmell! 👇The confirmed list of writers is SO LONG that we've had to move it to the post replying to this one 👇 Reserve your free spot here: srfcjul2026.eventbrite.com

This is the round up on the insanity that you need for your sanity.

Simon Marks@simonmarksfsn.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The Iron Code - an anthology edited by Ian Whates, is a tribute to the late, great and much missed David Gemmell. The list of contributing authors is stellar and the kick starter has gone live today! Please back it, it's going to be very special... www.kickstarter.com/projects/igw...

The Iron Code

Original Stories in Honour of David Gemmell.

kickstarter.com

I feel this is a very important article. The vulnerability of our food chain is shocking. I've always been a bit of a prepper but I do think that if you can afford to keep a week (at least) of shelf-stable food in your house, you should. And maybe some more for those that can't...

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 5mo ago

UK must stockpile food in readiness for climate shocks or war, expert warns

.@thenotoriousguy.bsky.social I think it's probably time to have another listen to The Fall... Guardian reporting this morning on our vulnerability to a food crisis in the even of conflict. Those wise words of yours and JPs to keep a week of shelf-stable food in the house ring truer every day.

A typically incisive analysis laying bare the moral vacuum and wilful ignorance at the heart of the discourse on Iran. More and more we need people like @iandunt.bsky.social and @mrjamesob.bsky.social to provide some balance to counter the unending insane drumbeat of right wing voices. @lbc.co.uk

Ian Dunt@iandunt.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Anyone who wants Britain to join the war in Iran needs their head examined open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...

Obviously listening to Simon Marks live on James O'Brien's show is the correct way to go but if you haven't come across him before, Simon's analysis is brilliant every single time. Should be compulsory to hear it.

Simon Marks@simonmarksfsn.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Mine earlier today with @mrjamesob.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk as we continue to track the Trump administration's inability to keep its own story straight about why it attacked Iran, and what it hopes to achieve. 🎧: audioboom.com/posts/886933...

I’m really happy for ex-Tory aid James Price that he has such a nice relationship with his American mother-in-law… but frankly I don’t think that’s enough for us to be unquestioningly following Donald Trump’s America into another illegal war🤷‍♀️

Astounding, definitely. Deranged and deluded, certainly. Dangerous and divisive, without a shadow of a doubt.

Twlldun@twlldun.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Astounding statement on *so* many levels

JFC, the state of these headlines.

Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · 5mo ago

So the Telegraph is taking this well

Rob Grant's death has hit hard. He was a lovely man, an incredible writing talent, a good friend and the purveyor of sound advice. When I first met him, I asked him advice on how to cope with going full time as an author. 'Get dressed in the morning,' he said. Very wise words. RIP mate.

Listened to this fascinating piece on the dog walk this morning. Another great policy subverted by right wing nutjobs. What fascinates me is how the nutters manage to persuade anyone that if you live in, say, Kingston, you won't be allowed to drive to Richmond. The logical fallacies are endless.

Origin Story@originstorypodcast.bsky.social · 5mo ago

⏲️ New episode out 🌆 @iandunt.bsky.social and @dorianlynskey.bsky.social are back with a bonus episode on 15-Minute Cities. How did such a sensible and benign approach to urban planning give birth to a wild conspiracy theory about authoritarianism? Listen / watch now ➡️ linktr.ee/originstoryp...

These people are poison. They will unleash racist thugs on the streets of this country and call it security. They will subjugate us to the US and call it patriotism. They must be stopped. There is no more important task in politics.

When I'm imagining a fight for a novel, you need to know these are EXACTLY the images rattling around in my head.

Dr. Nasrullah Anwar@noorajahangir.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Writing fight scenes with @barculator.bsky.social youtube.com/shorts/Q-Bzd...

Yes, tragically, it's me, jawing on for ages. On the other hand, Nasrullah is a lovely human being. This was such fun to do. Watch. You know you want to.

Dr. Nasrullah Anwar@noorajahangir.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Heroic fantasy's current king @barculator.bsky.social joins me for a discussion on the genre, the legacy of David Gemmell and writing fight scenes. youtu.be/QVnq0bm_UFk

I listened to this on my dog walk this morning and it is horrifying. Brilliant but horrifying.

Origin Story@originstorypodcast.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🚨 BONUS EDITION 🚨 The mystery of #BlueLabour – What is it, where did it come from… and is Maurice Glasman’s brainchild as powerful as it wants us to think? 🎙️ @dorianlynskey.bsky.social & @iandunt.bsky.social tide you over between seasons with this special edition 📳 Listen linktr.ee/originstoryp...

I was there last night (my far more talented wife's plus-one). I was delighted to hear him speak like this. We have to have more of it. We have to face what has been done to the UK by the Brexit calamity and the liars who brought it about.

Best for Britain@bestforbritain.org · 8mo ago

👏 Keir Starmer PM: "How Brexit was sold and delivered was wrong. Wild promises were made to the British people and not fulfilled." "The idea that leaving the EU was the answer to all our cares and concerns has clearly been proved wrong."

Just one more reason to sign this petition petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...

Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy

We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...

petition.parliament.uk

Best for Britain@bestforbritain.org · 8mo ago

🇷🇺 From 2019 - isn't that odd?!? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/10/brexit-party-meps-vote-against-measure-to-combat-russian-propaganda

I've been neck deep in a first person present manuscript for so long that writing my current short story commission in the third person is a fucking nightmare.

If you haven't come across @originstorypodcast.bsky.social yet, please look it up and get listening. You have the joy of seven seasons to catch up on and a brilliant eighth season on the story of socialism happening now. It is thoughtful, intelligent, funny, jaw-dropping, engaging... a proper treat.

This is a superb piece of research journalism by @skynewsrss.bsky.social. It confirms pretty much everything we feared about the malign influence of Musk and 'X' on UK political discourse. The UK Government should be calling the platform and its owner out for what they are and leave it immediately.

Michael Savage@michaelsavage.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Kudos to Sky News for a project trying to measure the political bias of the X algorithm. Looks like a lot of work involved here: news.sky.com/story/the-x-...

Everything Carole does is worth your time and your attention.

Carole Cadwalladr@carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 10mo ago

NEW: The British politician, his Russian intelligence handler & a Kremlin plot against the US & Ukraine. My new piece about Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage for @thenerve_news in which we ask: Why, even now, is no-one asking questions? t.co/BUTtpK9C4S

We Live Here Now by @sarahpinborough.bskyb.social is out in the UK today and it is superb. Pace, turmoil, fear, character, plot… I could go on. Everything about it works to perfection. Buy it and love it, and be prepared…it’s a read-in-one-sitting book.

Sarah Pinborough@sarahpinborough.bsky.social · last yr.

Out on thursday in the UK;-)

It is now the law that when anyone uses the phrase 'When push comes to shove' you must interrupt them with 'I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love.' If they are confused by this, show them where to buy tickets. Message ends. #Hamilton

@mrjamesob.bsky.social @lbc.co.uk Reflux, James, Reflux. The ideal name for a party that is bilious, corrosive and fundamentally unpleasant.

Boosting this for all authors who have had their work stolen by Meta. That's pretty much everyone, by the way.

Dr Russell Jones@russjoneswrites.bsky.social · last yr.

Writers, if your book was stolen by Meta to train AI, the following advice has been given by The Authors Guild and The Society of Authors: 1) Tell your publisher and/or agent 2) Write to your MP 3) Write to Meta (simple template here: actionnetwork.org/letters/auth... )