Christopher Kelly
@hfmatters.bsky.social
Family guy | wide interests | keeping active | politics | whisky | 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 Human Factors nerd, Research Psychologist (CErgHF, CPsychol, AFBPsS) in another life... https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Kelly-11
Apologies: I’m not online much, I haven't paid any attention to Rod Liddle for a long time, I didn't really know his extremes. I do now: I wouldn’t have posted if I'd known. I’ve seen death of difficult people up close (and its impact on others): that’s the only reason it was on my mind as an issue.
There is a danger that by arguing the amount, we end up conceding the framing. Britain's welfare is ungenerous, the spend in total is mid-to-low table, and below past peaks. Benefits need reforming because they're unfit for purpose and trap, instead of enabling people. Not to make fantasy savings.
66 seems a young age for Rod Liddle to die. Talented comic writer, insightful about football.obvs took much pleasure in transgressing political correctness But just lied when caught being much more indefensibly racist+ sexist online in his Millwallmonkey persona www.theguardian.com/media/2026/a...
Sunday Times and Sun columnist Rod Liddle dies aged 66
Tributes paid across industry to provocative journalist who died after short illness
theguardian.com
Evidence of the great benefits of AI: it used to take a huge amount of time and effort to make yourself look this stupid; now AI allows you to humiliate yourself almost instantly.
PBS News@pbsnews.org · 6d agoThe State Department said it takes "full responsibility" for "hastily" altering and then presenting a map of Africa at a global AIDS conference that mislabeled every single country it highlighted. An analysis by Reuters found a watermark in the map image that suggests it was made with OpenAI.
Across the country, wildfires are raging. The Prime Minister needs to call a COBRA meeting and treat the climate crisis with the urgency this moment calls for.
Senator Patty Murray/Washington state: “I blocked Senate Republicans' petty and offensive resolution that implied Canada is letting their own forests burn just to spite us. I know my Republican colleagues want to show the President how much they agree with him, but please.” Thank you 🇨🇦 #Canada
Our government should be ashamed of privatisation. Not satisfied with the public being fleeced, they look the other way. Ofwat unfit for purpose. Water co's profiting whilst the infrastructure collapses & our entire eco system too. Not fit for purpose through sheer neglect and greed.
Andy Burnham wants “growth in every postcode”. But how has UK growth actually fared under different governments? I played around with 80 years of data and came to a slightly awkward conclusion: which government grew Britain fastest is probably the wrong question. open.substack.com/pub/eoinaldo...
And in all seriousness: if Burnham is so stupid and chooses to appoint her, which seems the case, he’s done before he’s even started. I understand politicians have to juggle complex competing demands. But honestly: Mahmood is toxic; her policies are toxic. It would be an incredibly bad start.
The Jewish leaders and rabbis quoted here are profoundly out of touch. Kairos II reflects how most of the world sees the situation. This is not likely to change. Judaism needs to be pro-Palestine in order to have a future. www.thejc.com/news/uk/chie...
Chief Rabbi warns ‘genocide’ document due to be discussed by Church of England Synod will ‘harm peace’ - The Jewish Chronicle
Kairos Palestine text brands Israel a ‘colonial settler entity’ and criticises Abrahams Accords
thejc.com
Ann Widdecombe, 'strong christian values'? Whatever 'values' she held, christian charity, love, respect, were not among them. Amazing how these people are alleged to have allegiance to a dark skinned Palestinian man, while ignoring his teachings, and dehumanising other dark skinned people today.
Ah, I missed the report about death of Les Mills. He and his wife created a fantastic fitness programme and suite of exercise classes like #bodypump #bodycombat etc which I've been doing (and enjoying) for past 30 years RIP www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Les Mills, New Zealand Olympian behind global gym chain, dies aged 91
He and his wife opened first Les Mills gym in Auckland in 1968 and family later introduced workout programs including BodyPump taught worldwide
theguardian.com
Unsurprising to see Farage, a billionaire-backed politician who can hardly be bothered turning up to Parliament most of the time, attempting to further distract from his dodgy finances with this stunt. We cannot afford to underestimate or overlook the corrosive effect of dark money on our politics.
A special 25th anniversary version of the "sweetest kick" which the #SpookyMensChorale are very proud of, and would like everyone to hear... thespookymenschorale.bandcamp.com/track/sweete...
Sweetest Kick in the Heart (25th Anniversary Version), by The Spooky Men's Chorale
track by The Spooky Men's Chorale
thespookymenschorale.bandcamp.com
Labour wasn't prepared for govt? Gosh, what a surprise (not) #McSweeney bsky.app/profile/hfma...
Christopher Kelly@hfmatters.bsky.social · 2y agoLike many who voted Labour in, I’m disappointed the govt hasn’t hit the road running and is flailing on so many issues. A Commission to ponder how to build the National Care Service is a feeble response to well-known crisis. It seems Streeting can't think big www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
10/ 6️⃣ Know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke Heat exhaustion can often be treated by cooling down and rehydrating, but heat stroke is a medical emergency. If someone becomes confused, loses consciousness, or has a very high body temperature, call 911 immediately.
Awesome
Seán Doran@theseaning.bsky.social · last mo."Crazy Beautiful!" 5,234 images from 2 time-lapse sequences photographed by Sophie Adenot & Jessica Meir on ISS Expedition 74 are repaired, remastered & retimed to create this video of aurora australis with music by Andreas Vollenweider. 11m19s 4K youtu.be/22mTjdmpG1M
Every minute of this podcast, William says something thoughtful and interesting. And just as he's coming to the end of his point - he then sparks off another thought. It really is a brilliant conversation where we discuss India, Pakistan, Palestine and so much more! 👇🏼
Dr Luke Walker@drlukewalker.com · last mo.🔥 What a combination - @zackpolanski.bsky.social and @willdalrymple.bsky.social! So much here: - Palestine - India - absence of colonial history in schools - wilful ignorance of politicians & media - and the East India Company's lasting corruption of British democracy 🤑 youtu.be/13zQVPW9LjU?...
Excellent if sad reflections about Brexit from Elif Shafak. Totally agree about it breaking or straining family relations and friendships - it happened in mine and still not fully resolved...
David Oliver@mancunianmedic.bsky.social · last mo.FWIW, the source of the newspaper text is a 4-page article by Francis Molena in Popular Mechanics dated March 1912... www.logboekweer.nl/Actueel/Popu... #climatechange
Climate Dad@climatedad.bsky.social · last mo.“We’ve only had 114 years to do something, let our kids sort it out!”
Literally everyone I know or read who expressed an opinion about Starmer has been saying this since 2024 and I really don't understand why it didn't sink in. It's not a complex point
thepig993@thepig993.bsky.social · last mo.“Don’t piss off every section of the coalition that elected you” is advice that most political scientists would give you for free
